《My Husband Wants Me Dead (Esther and Bradley)》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¡°She¡¯s Mr. Bradley¡¯s wife, whom he personally sent into prison for five years?¡± ¡°Mr. Thomas was so nice to her, yet she removed his oxygen mask back then. What a venomous woman she is¡­¡± ¡°I wonder if Mr. Thomas regretted giving 1/3 of his shares to her in hisst moment!?¡± ¡°What do you expect from a homewrecker¡¯s daughter? The Warners helped her, and she bit the hand that fed her. I really don¡¯t know how she has the cheek to attend Mr. Thomas¡¯ funeral!¡± It was cold in spring, but Esther Quill, who had juste out of prison, appeared at the funeral of Thomas Warner, the Warners'' patriarch, in just a sleeveless dress. Bouquets of flowers were thrown at the thin and frail woman. Even then, she walked toward the coffin in determination. ¡®Grandpa Thomas, I¡¯m here to send you off¡­¡¯ Before Esther could go to Thomas¡¯ coffin, Bradley Warner¡¯s wless face appeared before her. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Bradley,¡± she could not help but murmur. ¡°Esther Quill, who allowed you out of prison? ¡°Who allowed you here!?¡± Fury colored Bradley¡¯s face. Esther shook in fear and turned pale. ¡°I¡­ I¡­ want to send off Grandpa Thomas personally.¡± Bradley smirked cruelly and scoffed. ¡°You think you¡¯re in a position to do it?¡± Esther took a deep breath and fell to her knees in front of all the mourners to beg Bradley. ¡°Please, let me send Grandpa Thomas onest time.¡± Bradley was brimming with iciness as he gnashed his teeth. His beautiful eyes were now ring murderously. Before everyone could react to it, he grabbed Esther by her hair and dragged her out of the funeral without a care for her struggle and the mourners¡¯ whispers. This was his grandfather¡¯s funeral. He forbade this heinous woman from tainting his grandfather¡¯s way to the light. The icy floor was piercingly cold. Esther¡¯s delicate skin was immediately rubbed red by the uneven surface. Bradley opened the car door and violently threw her to the back of the limited-edition Rolls-Royce Phantom. Like a bloodthirsty wolf, he pounced at her with burning killing intent. ¡°Esther Quill¡­¡± He choked her neck with one hand and tore her dress off with the other. ¡°Bradley Warner, this is Grandpa Thomas¡¯ funeral. What are you doing?¡± Esther had never seen Bradley like this. She was both afraid and anxious as she struggled to get up. Bradley suddenly swooped down and bit her shoulder de upon seeing how much she struggled. The coppery scent of blood filled his mouth, and he felt nauseated. He let a cold sneer, his eyes impassive and mocking. ¡°Esther Quill, you wanted a child with me, right? I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Bradley pulled and yanked her dress¡­ Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Esther had never seen Bradley like this. She struggled, shaking and crying. ¡°Bradley Warner, let go of me! ¡°Let me go!¡± As Esther thought she would be devoured by the wolf that was Bradley, the window was knocked in haste. Bradley, overwhelmed by anger, calmed down and got up from Esther in disdain. He opened the car door and got out. ¡°What is it?¡± Cole Johnston held a phone and told him anxiously, ¡°Mr. Bradley, Mr. Felix¡¯s condition has worsened. Ms. Anstey says that the hospital just gave her the notice of critical condition¡­¡± When Bradley heard that, he pulled the car door open and told Cole, ¡°Keep an eye on the funeral.¡± Bradley¡¯s full attention was on his son in the hospital. Ten minutes or soter, he stopped the car at a Warner private hospital. He opened the car door and dragged Esther, who was barely dressed. Esther staggered before Bradley tossed her to the doctor and nurses. ¡°Check if she¡¯s a match right now!¡± In unison, the doctor and nurses answered, ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± The clueless Esther was pushed into theb department. ¡­ ¡°Brad!¡± As soon as Bradley appeared at the door of the emergency ward, Liliane Anstey threw herself into his arms tearfully. ¡°Felix was fine in the morning, and he coughed blood just now! ¡°Why am I so useless? I¡¯m his mother, yet I¡¯m not a match¡­¡± Bradley put an arm around Liliane¡¯s waist andforted her. ¡°Liliane, Felix will be fine.¡± Five years ago, Esther had goaded Thomas to drug Bradley just to get in his bed. Somehow, he had slept with Lilian instead, and they had Felix. It was unexpected that Felix had been diagnosed with leukemia shortly after his birth. He was named Felix because they hoped he would be lucky and win this battle. It was just that despite howrge in scale the Warners were, they had not been able to find a matching bone marrow for their son. Liliane stayed in Bradley¡¯s arms as she sobbed. Bradley patted her back, and a gleam of cruelty shone on his icy face. ¡°I found Esther to test as a match. She might have higher chances.¡± ¡°My sister?¡± Liliane asked in rm. ¡°Brad, you met my sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s got out of prison. Liliane, she¡¯s your younger sister. Maybe she can be a match.¡± Liliane hesitated. ¡°But will she be willing even if she is a match? Didn¡¯t Grandpa Thomas specifically mention in his will that only you and her child can inherit the Warner Group? Will she¡­¡± Bradley answered coldly, ¡°If she refuses, I¡¯ll tie her up in the operation theater if I have to.¡± Liliane took a deep breath and said, ¡°As long as she is a match, I¡¯ll beg her on my knees! She can ask me to do anything as long as she¡¯s willing to save Felix.¡± Half a day passed by, and the expedited results of theb tests came out. The doctor said, thrilled, as he held theb''s report, ¡°Mr. Warner, the preliminary tests show that Ms. Esther Quill and Mr. Felix match. We can move on to the next test.¡± Liliane asked in delight when she heard that, ¡°Really? Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go on!¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. The doctor hesitated for a few seconds before he said, ¡°Ms. Quill¡¯s asking to see Mr. Warner. She refuses to proceed with the next test if Mr. Warner doesn¡¯t meet her.¡± Liliane rushed to the doctor and asked anxiously, ¡°Where¡¯s she?¡± ¡°The doctor¡¯s office at theb department.¡± Liliane ran off without waiting for Bradley¡¯s reaction. The doctor and Bradley followed her. Liliane pushed the door open to see Esther, who was weak and barely surviving. Thetter was malnourished, and she looked like she was dead now that so much of her blood had been taken for the tests. Glee shed in Liliane¡¯s heart as she saw Esther like this. However, she adjusted her expression swiftly and fell to her knees before Esther, begging her meekly, ¡°Sis, please, be Felix¡¯s donor. I can do anything for you as long as you¡¯re willing to do it.¡± Esther turned in resentment and mocked Liliane when she heard her voice. ¡°Liliane Anstey, you did this to me and want me to save your son? I won¡¯t!¡± Liliane pinched her thigh as hard as she could, and tears welled in her eyes. With those reddened eyes, she sobbed. ¡°Esther, I know you hate, begrudge, and me me. But Felix¡¯s innocent! He¡¯s just a poor child. He doesn¡¯t know anything.¡± Esther looked at Bradley, who rushed over, and sneered. ¡°Having a heinous mother like you is his original sin¡­¡± Liliane cried hard, but she cackled deep down. ¡®Esther, one day¡­ I hope you remain this resolute after finding out about Felix¡¯s true birth!¡¯ Liliane lowered her head at Esther in front of Bradley. As Esther watched the pitiful and lowly Liliane and thought of how arrogant and smug she used to be, she could not help the emotions she felt when thetter could give up on everything for the sake of her child. Esther thought she would be willing to do anything for her child if her child was still alive. A hint of sympathy had just surfaced, but she steeled herself and shook her head in the next moment, inwardly reminding herself not to be a saint. She had Liliane to thank for ending up like that today. She reminded herself of her children who had never gotten to see this world¡­ Esther mocked Liliane viciously. ¡°Liliane, do you know why your child¡¯s ill? It¡¯s your karma! This is all your karma.¡± Liliane sobbed hard. ¡°Whatever you say, Esther. I beg you to just please save my son.¡± Esther gripped Liliane¡¯s jaw and asked, ¡°And if I ask you to leave Bradley?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to save my son, I¡¯ll take him and leave. I won¡¯t appear before you and Bradley again, I promise¡­¡± Esther was slightly dazed. At that moment, Bradley pushed Esther away and carefully helped Liliane, who was on the floor, and passed her to the nurse. Liliane clutched Bradley¡¯s hand and pleaded, ¡°Brad¡­¡± Bradley nodded lightly. She then passed out in the nurse¡¯s arms in relief. Esther scoffed, looking at Liliane. Bradley pulled a chair over to sit down in front of Esther. When his thin lips parted, his cold and aloof words felt like poisoned arrows that shot through Esther¡¯s dejected heart. ¡°Esther, I¡¯ve underestimated your viciousness!¡± Esther pushed some stray hair off her face and chuckled. ¡°Bradley, I¡¯m not even the least bit up to Liliane in that regard.¡± Liliane had pulled off Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask, yet everyone thought Esther had done it. Bradley had even sent her to prison because of it and branded her as a wicked woman to the public. ¡°Esther, other than the position of Mrs. Warner, I can offer you a deal!¡± Esther smiled. ¡°Do you think I still yearn for you to this day, Bradley? I¡¯m disgusted once I think of my name being put next to yours¡­¡± She gnashed her teeth. Her initially bright eyes were like a cold, bottomless abyss now. Bradley interrupted her. ¡°If you refuse to save Felix, I¡¯ll match him with your kids¡­¡± Esther was stunned as she questioned in disbelief, ¡°Kids? What kids!?¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Bradley looked at Esther¡¯s pale face with interest and reminded, ¡°Esther, the kids you spent ten months carrying, they¡¯re still alive!¡± Esther rose to her feet in shock. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± She had gone to prison being pregnant, but her children had been announced dead once they were delivered, having suffocated in her womb for too long. ¡°How¡¯s that impossible?¡± Bradley leaned back on the chair confidently. ¡°It¡¯s easy for the Warners to take a pair of babies out of prison. Don¡¯t forget you¡¯re still my wife legally. You think I had no right to handle the b*stards you carry?¡± Bradley¡¯s words overwhelmed Esther. She looked at him as if she was trying to determine how true what he said was. ¡°Work with me obediently, and I might be kind enough to tell you where those b*stards are.¡± Esther stood up shakily and looked up at the ruthless man, asking seriously, ¡°Are my kids really alive?¡± ¡°Do I have to lie to you?¡± Esther shook her head. She dared not trust him, yet she hoped that everything Bradley said was true. ¡°Bradley, I don¡¯t believe you.¡± Bradley¡¯s long fingers clenched Esther¡¯s jaw, and he mocked her cruelly. ¡°Do you have another choice other than believing me?¡± Esther looked at Bradley. His resentment felt like thin needles that stabbed deep into her heart. This man had lit up her entire youth, yet he was now her biggest nightmare. The memorable love had transformed into searing hatred. She hated him so much that she wanted to rip into him and drink his blood¡­ There was no telling where Esther got her courage from; she opened her mouth and bit between Bradley¡¯s thumb and index finger while he did not pay attention. Bradley grabbed her hair with the other hand immediately. The taste of blood spread in Esther¡¯s mouth, and a discreet sense of tion filled her heart. Bradley tossed her aside as blood dripped from his finger to the floor. Esther wiped the blood on the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and sneered. ¡°Bradley Warner, you¡¯ll regret this.¡± ¡°Regret¡¯s not a word in my dictionary.¡± There was a sinister look in Bradley¡¯s eyes. ¡°If there¡¯s something I should regret in my life, it¡¯s that I shouldn¡¯t have married you.¡± Bradley then turned to tell the nurse at the door, ¡°Continue with the next check-up and give me a shot for rabies.¡± Esther stood frozen on the spot as she watched Bradley slowly disappear from her sight. She had wanted to take revenge no matter the price after she attended Thomas¡¯ funeral. After seeking revenge against Liliane for framing her, she would leave the ce and have nothing to do with Bradley. However, what Bradley just said injected Esther with an unprecedented motivation to stay alive when she had considered death. She was going to keep living. Yes, she had to keep living. She wanted to personally watch Bradley discover that Liliane, whom he had always protected and doted on, was the culprit who caused Thomas¡¯ death. ¡°Bradley Warner¡­¡± Esther stopped him when he was about to leave with a hoarse voice and asked hesitantly, ¡°Where are my children?¡± Bradley stopped and told the hopeful woman, ¡°You¡¯ll see them after youe out of the operation theater.¡± ¡°You swear?¡± Esther asked emotionally with clenched fists. Bradley trained an icy gaze on her as his thin lips curled into a smirk. He looked at her like an ant he could easily squash. He did not give Esther the promise she wanted. He was more certain than anyone that Esther would not dare risk this. She would definitely do as he said. It was ironic that a savage woman like this had such a loving heart. ¡°When can she go for the surgery?¡± Bradley asked the doctor outside the door. The doctor took a nce at Esther inside the room. As a doctor, even if he sympathized with Esther, he knew that she would be able to redeem her sin if she could save Felix. ¡°Mr. Warner, from the check-ups we ran on Ms. Quill, she¡¯s been malnourished all year long. It¡¯ll be dangerous for her to go for surgery right now. My suggestion is to give her one to two weeks to recuperate.¡± Bradley¡¯s dark eyes shed with cruelty. ¡°A weekter. Schedule the surgery.¡± After Bradley left the room, Esther went to the door and asked the nurse keeping an eye on her, ¡°Miss, could I borrow your phone?¡± The nurse hesitated but passed her phone to Esther. Esther took it over and dialed the number she had burned into her brain. ¡°Jasper, it¡¯s me, Esther. I¡¯m in the hospital now. Can youe over?¡± Jasper Searle was stunned when he received Esther¡¯s call. She was out of prison? When? ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up, Jasper tapped the bouncing icon on his phone screen and only then realized that the group chat was filled with video clips of Esther being mocked at the funeral. He instructed his secretary, ¡°Get me a few size S outfits and size 36 shoes.¡± The secretary was inwardly surprised but replied respectfully on the outside, ¡°Yes, Mr. Searle.¡± After that, he called the number he had saved as ¡°Y¡± on his contacts, but the call remained unanswered. - The nurse had already dressed the wound on Liliane¡¯s head in the hospital. There was a small piece of gauze on her forehead, but it did not affect her beauty at all. Felix looked at Liliane in worry and asked in concern, ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± Liliane looked at Felix, who was cute like an angel, and replied softly, ¡°My dear boy, it won¡¯t hurt anymore after you blow it for me.¡± Felix remembered that the nanny who took care of him previously would blow on his wound carefully each time he fell, so he copied what she did and blew on Liliane¡¯s wound. Given how long Liliane had kept the image of a loving mother, there was no way she would expose herself at this critical juncture. ¡°My boy¡¯s so amazing. Mommy doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± This was the loving scene that Bradley saw when he entered. He did not love Liliane, but he was the one who ended up sleeping with her back then and had a cute child, Felix. Just for the son, he should give Liliane the official title of Mrs. Warner. ¡°Daddy!¡± Felix called out happily when he saw Bradley. Bradley hugged him and told Liliane, ¡°Felix will have the surgery one weekter.¡± Liliane asked in surprise, ¡°She¡­ She agreed?¡± Bradley did not tell her about his deal with Esther. He did not want his son toe across such a dark reality too young. ¡°Yes.¡± Liliane put her hands together and eximed in delight, ¡°Thank goodness!¡± Bradley looked at Liliane, who was genuinely happy for Felix, and softly told her, ¡°Felix¡¯s surgery will be sessful.¡± Liliane held Felix¡¯s face, which looked so much like Bradley, in her hands and gave him a loud kiss, telling him gently, ¡°Felix, this is mommy¡¯s happiest day.¡± Felix did not know why Liliane was happy, but he replied either way, ¡°I¡¯m happy too if Mommy¡¯s happy!¡± Because he was always ill, he looked thinner and weaker than his peers. His small face was sickly pale. Bradley felt bad for him. He did not understand what he had done wrong that God had to punish him like this. He would rather be the one who was ill and had to go through the treatment than for an innocent child like Felix to shoulder all these. ¡°Liliane, I¡¯ll leave Felix under your care.¡± Liliane nodded understandingly. ¡°Sorry, Brad. It¡¯s Grandpa Thomas¡¯ funeral today, and I still called you over. Go back to it. Felix, say bye-bye to Daddy.¡± Felix waved at Bradley. ¡°Bye, Daddy.¡± Bradley rubbed Felix¡¯s hair and told him, ¡°Listen to Mommy well and call Daddy if anything happens, okay?¡± ¡°Yes, Daddy. I¡¯ll be good.¡± Bradley had just left the ward when Cole stepped up and greeted him, ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± Bradley looked at him coldly and indifferently asked, ¡°All done?¡± Cole was his assistant for a long time, and they had a certain degree of tacit understanding. ¡°The bodyguards are protecting Mrs. Warner.¡± ¡°Mrs. Warner?¡± Bradley asked icily. ¡°Ms. Quill¡­ I have people stationed 24 hours to keep her safe.¡± ¡°Keep a close eye on her. I¡¯ll hold you responsible if anything happens.¡± Bradley had just stepped into the lobby with Cole when he ran into Jasper, who wasing in haste. Jasper was not alone. His assistant and secretary behind him were pulling along two suitcases. What N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. was kept in there were the clothes, shoes, and daily necessities that he had asked them to buy for Esther earlier. ¡°Jasper.¡± Bradley looked at the man before him and sneered. ¡°Five years, and you¡¯re still hung up on the woman I don¡¯t want.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Jasper was in a navy suit, and his hair was slightly long and curled. He smirked and asked indifferently, ¡°I¡¯d also love to know when you will divorce Esther, Mr. Warner.¡± Bradley snickered. ¡°Jasper, as your business rival, consider this a kind word of advice from me. There are plenty of fish in the ocean. Why waste your time on a murderer?¡± ¡®Murderer?¡¯ Jasper shook his head in his mind. He could not fathom why the sharp and ruthless Bradley in the business world was this stupid about women. ¡°Bradley, you must be blind not to see Esther¡¯s worth.¡± Jasper and Bradley stood at loggerheads. Theirmanding presence put their assistants and secretaries in distress. ¡°If you divorce Esther right now, I¡¯ll marry her right off the bat.¡± Bradley smirked cruelly and went straight to the point. ¡°Your family won¡¯t agree.¡± Jasper shrugged, saying, ¡°I graduated from Stanford. Even without the Searle family¡¯s background as support, I won¡¯t starve my wife. You, however, shouldn¡¯t you give a title to the woman who has given birth to your child?¡± There was a dark glint in Bradley¡¯s eyes. It was like Jasper did not see it as he uttered nonchntly, ¡°See you.¡± He walked past Bradley and entered the elevator. As the elevator¡¯s doors were closing, Bradley suddenly turned around and stared at the closing doors, meeting Jasper¡¯s challenging gaze. It suddenly felt like it was a cold winter. Cole stepped away discreetly and carefully avoided being hit by Bradley¡¯s frosty aura. The elevator doors opened. Jasper found the hospital ward Esther was in. An ache swept past his heart as he saw her like this out of the blue. In the past five years, Jasper had wanted to visit Esther in prison numerous times, but she refused to see him. This was their first meeting after what had happened five years ago. Esther was no longer the bright and sunny girl she used to be. She was all skin and bones, like a walking skeleton. Her empty eyes had lost their sparkle. Jasper took a deep breath and greeted her hoarsely. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Esther cracked a smile when she turned around to look at Jasper. ¡°You look more and more like a boss now, Jasper.¡± Jasper gestured for his assistant and secretary to drop the suitcases and entered the ward alone. ¡°You didn¡¯t want to see me or ept what I sent these five years. Are you punishing yourself, Esther? Or are you ming me for not saving you?¡± Esther paused before she shook her head lightly. She said in exhaustion, ¡°I¡¯ve never med you. After what happened, those people I used to know avoided me like the gue, but you were the only one who believed my innocence. I¡¯m grateful for that.¡± There was no doubt that Jasper believed in Esther. Thomas had been treating her like family and was the one who had contributed to her marriage. There was no reason for her to kill him. He even suspected that the video Bradley had shown in court had been edited, but the evaluation of the professionalputer expert confirmed that it was original. Whatever it was, Jasper would not believe that Esther would do anything to harm Thomas. ¡°Mr. Thomas seemed to have woken up once after you were sent to prison, but the Warners had blocked the news. As such, I can¡¯t be sure how true it is. ¡°Not too long ago, though, thewyer announced his will after Mr. Thomas passed. You get to inherit 1/3 of his shares in the Warner Group. ¡°Esther, I¡¯ll help you if you want to prove your innocence.¡± Esther asked self-deprecatingly, ¡°My innocence is no longer important. The truth of the incident doesn¡¯t matter anymore, either. Because even if the evidence is ced before Bradley, he won¡¯t believe it. He¡¯ll only believe what he thinks.¡± Jasper then asked, ¡°Will you get a divorce?¡± ¡°Divorce? That¡¯s for sure.¡± There was an unprecedented certainty in Esther¡¯s tone. She used to see marrying Bradley as her biggest dream in life. To fulfill it, she had given up on her career and thrown her pride away to be Bradley¡¯s wife. She used to naively think that she would be the happiest woman marrying Bradley, only to find that the marriage was the start of her life to hell. Jasper was quiet for a moment before looking up gently. ¡°I can introduce a professional divorcewyer to you if you want to do that.¡± Esther was sincerely thankful. ¡°Thank you, Jasper. But I have something I need your help with.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Jasper straightened up. ¡°Please find my kids for me.¡± Esther had thought that her children were really dead, so the time she had spent in jail was muddled and agonized. Now, Bradley had actually told her that they were still alive. She knew him well; he would be too disdained to trick her into the surgery with a lie like this. Since Bradley had said that her kids were alive, that meant they really were. ¡°Your kids?¡± Jasper looked at her in shock and asked in disbelief, ¡°Didn¡¯t you have a premature delivery in prison and they passed?¡± At the thought of that, her heart ached so much that it was hard to breathe. Her eyes were reddened as she answered hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯ve always thought the same, but just a few hours ago, Bradley told me that as long as I go through with the surgery, he¡¯ll tell me where the kids are. Do you think he¡¯ll trick me with it, Jasper?¡± Jasper stroked his chin and replied after pondering, ¡°No. He doesn¡¯t have to tell a weak lie like this. If he said that the kids were still alive, they must still be around. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve never heard of there being other kids around him. Besides, your kids are probably an insult to him.¡± Esther had been overjoyed when she found out she was pregnant. Even Thomas had been ted. He had even gifted her an expensiveke-view mansion in the city center that was $90,000,000 in value. However,, an indecent video of Esther had been exposed on the Inte, and Bradley was immediately teased for being a cuckold. Thomas had not believed that Esther was someone like that and had wanted to find the culprit behind it. On the way to meet thewyer, the Bentley he had been in coincidentally had a busted tire, and the ident put him on the verge of death. Bradley had spent a fortune hiring the best experts from overseas to treat Thomas, but Esther removed his oxygen mask just when thetter turned better. Even though Esther insisted that she had never done it in court, she was sentenced due to the solid evidence. This also meant that Bradley had sent the pregnant Esther to prison himself five years ago. ¡°Jasper, the kids I carried are Bradley¡¯s.¡± Esther corrected him and said disappointedly, ¡°I didn¡¯t apply for a paternity test back then because I was told they died from the difficultbor. I regret it so much now. Why wasn¡¯t I determined to do it?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Esther took over the slightly fragranced handkerchief and wiped the tears on her face, interrupting Jasper. ¡°It¡¯s not important now. I just want to find my kids.¡± Esther thought that she would never stay a second longer by Bradley¡¯s side once she found her children. She would leave with them forever and never meet him again. Jasper looked at how thin Esther had gotten andforted her, ¡°You¡¯re too weak now. Take care of yourself so that you can take good care of your kids when you find them.¡± His phone rang, and only a ¡°Y¡± appeared on the screen as the caller. ¡°Esther, I have something to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave first. There are daily necessities you¡¯ll need in these suitcases, and I¡¯ve prepared a phone for you with my contact information added there. Just text me if you need me.¡± It was expected that Jasper was busy since he was running the Searle Group. Their friendship was thus precious since he could still make time for her despite his busy schedule. ¡°Jasper, please find out about my children for me.¡± Jasper promised, ¡°Look forward to good news from me.¡± Esther opened the suitcases after he left. Jasper was a considerate and gentle man. Not only were there clothes that Esther would need, but there was also a bank card with her ID number marked as the password on the back of it in consideration. Before Jasper came, Esther had been watching television, trying to process what had transpired in the With the phone that Jasper had given her now, she searched for the Warner Group, the Ansteys, the Searles, and everything else that she wanted to know. A few hours flew by, and she took a shower and got changed. As she opened the door of her hospital ward, she saw a female bodyguard in a ck suit standing outside. ¡°Ms. Quill, what can I help you with?¡± Esther looked at the bodyguard and told her, ¡°I¡¯d like to visit my mother¡¯s grave.¡± The bodyguard replied politely, ¡°The order I¡¯ve received is that you can¡¯t leave the ward. Please return now. I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill your other requests if there are any.¡± Esther fell silent and pulled out her phone to press a series of digits she had memorized. ¡°Bradley Warner, you¡¯re locking me up like a criminal?¡± Bradley sneered on the other end of the line. ¡°Thew can take your crime away, but you¡¯re unpardonable to me.¡± ¡°Unpardonable¡± felt like a blow to Esther. It was as if an invisible hand had clutched her heart, and she saw ck. ¡°Ms. Quill! ¡°Doctor, Ms. Quill fainted.¡± The doctor was worried that Esther¡¯s condition would affect the surgery a weekter, so he gave her an IV drip on the spot. Esther was groggy in fever and wanted to just die, but the will to live filled her up once she thought of her children she had never seen since birth. Groggily, she saw a thin boy in ck pajamas with dinosaur prints standing by her bed while hugging a husky plushie. ¡°Son?¡± She extended a hand weakly to touch the boy¡¯s face. ¡°Are you my son?¡± Felix, who heard Esther¡¯s sleeptalking, thought she was talking to him and answered cutely, ¡°I¡¯m not¡­¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. When she heard it, despair and pain could be seen on Esther¡¯s flushed face from her fever. He was not? Then where were her children? ¡°Bradley, Bradley. ¡°Bradley Warner, where did you hide my kids? ¡°Bradley, give them back to me! ¡°Give them back to me!¡± Felix looked at the sleep-talking Esther curiously and ced the husky plushie by her side after a while. He left but sneaked back soon. Pulling a fever-cooling patch for children out of his cartoon pajama''s pocket, he easily opened the packet and stuck it on Esther¡¯s forehead softly. As his hand smoothed the patch over, he said, ¡°You¡¯ll be okay after this¡­¡± He then pulled out a milk candy from his pocket and carefully opened the wrapper to pop it into Esther¡¯s mouth. Esther, who felt parched and tasted bitterness from her fever, was greeted with a sweet milk vor. It slowly cleared up her mind, and she asked in surprise when she saw the face that looked so much like Bradley, ¡°What¡­ What¡¯s your name?¡± How did this child look so much like Bradley? Was he their son? ¡°I¡¯m Felix Warner.¡± Felix saw Esther had woken up and looked delighted. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Esther struggled to sit up. She had a high fever and sweated profusely, so she was ufortably drenched right now. Her gaze on Felix, however, was fervent and dangerous. She was so feverish that she saw the cutie before her as her son, whom she had been forced to part with since birth. She wanted to hug Felix as if to hug the gem in front of her into her arms. Before she could touch Felix, Liliane barged into the room, grabbed the boy, and kept him in her arms. Liliane looked at Esther in shock and used her first. ¡°Esther, I can understand if you hate me and resent me. But why are you hurting my son!?¡± Liliane scowled and passed Felix to the nanny, who rushed over. They left the ward before she stabbed Esther¡¯s broken heart with her vicious words. ¡°Your kids are dead. Don¡¯t think about abducting mine!¡± Esther jolted from Liliane¡¯s words. She looked back in disbelief and asked semi-consciously, ¡°He¡¯s your son. Then where are mine?¡± Liliane looked at the weak and delirious Esther in alert as she barked, ¡°Stay away from my son!¡± What Liliane saidpletely woke Esther up from her daze. Once she thought about how close she had been to Liliane¡¯s son just now, she could not help being disgusted. ¡°Liliane, do you know why your son¡¯s sick? It¡¯s your karma for doing evil things!¡± Liliane got angry upon hearing it and wanted to p Esther, but thetter avoided it and grabbed her hair instead. A p thennded on Liliane¡¯s supple cheek. The loud sound echoed in the room. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°Liliane, this p is for Grandpa Thomas! ¡°This p is for my¡ª¡± Esther pped Liliane several times, but soon a furious Bradley came due to the ruckus in the hospital ward. ¡°Esther, what are you up to again!?¡± Bradley grabbed Esther and threw her to the bedside cab. Blood streamed from her forehead because of the blow, which looked frightening. Liliane put a hand over her swollen cheek and exined weakly, ¡°Brad, her kids died in prison. She must miss them too much while she¡¯s sick. I can understand it.¡± Esther retorted harshly, ¡°My kids aren¡¯t dead! They¡¯re still alive. You can¡¯t curse them!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Bradley nced at Esther, his gaze filled with resentment and hatred. Esther felt like a thousand arrows pierced through her heart then. Her beloved now looked at her like she was poison. Although she had decided to stop loving him, her heart still ached so badly that she could barely breathe. ¡°Esther, you¡¯ll get to see them after the surgery.¡± Bradley fixed his cold gaze on the weak Esther and warned her with cruelty. ¡°But if you dare y tricks before that, I¡¯ll ensure you never see them.¡± From the corner of her eye, Esther saw Liliane look at her with a sympathetic and sad gaze. A scary and absurd thought bubbled within her. Why did she believe what Bradley said so much? What if Bradley and Liliane lied to her so that she would willingly donate her bone marrow to Felix? What if her kids being alive was just a huge lie? The moment Bradley turned around, Esther grabbed a ss from the table and crashed it into the wall, shattering it. Bradley looked back in extreme impatience and annoyance. Esther picked up a shard from the floor and grabbed Liliane by her hair. Thetter was shocked as Esther held the shard against her neck. ¡°Brad!¡± Liliane was taken aback. Bradley¡¯s cold gaze brimmed with abhorrence. Esther¡¯s beautiful eyes welled up with tears while the reddened corners of her eyes spoke of a sense of fragility. Her hand holding the ss shard could not stop shaking. ¡°Bradley, I don¡¯t trust you. I don¡¯t believe that my kids are still alive unless¡­¡± A tear slid down Esther¡¯s eye. ¡°Unless you prove it to me.¡± ¡°Do you think you have the right to negotiate with me?¡± Bradley mocked. Esther pressed the shard harder against Liliane¡¯s skin, and the sharpness that pierced thetter made her frown. ¡°I¡¯ll kill Liliane right now if you don¡¯t prove it.¡± Liliane trembled in fear. She knew that Esther would totally do what she said now that she was forced into a corner. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. There was a strong killing intent in Bradley¡¯s eyes. He questioned icily, ¡°You¡¯re still this vile after five years in prison¡­¡± Esther snorted, looked at Bradley in mockery, and retorted hoarsely, ¡°You¡¯re the one who has no right to negotiate with me, Bradley. You have two choices. Either you prove that my kids are still alive, or I¡¯ll die with Liliane!¡± Despite Esther¡¯s thin arms, she was somehow so strong that she locked Liliane in her hands and took her to the balcony. ¡°Bradley, the countdown begins. Ten, nine, eight, seven¡­¡± Bradley had never imagined the bright and dazzling Esther to turn into theplete lunatic she currently was. ¡°Let go now, and I¡¯ll forget it. Otherwise¡­¡± The night breeze blew on Esther¡¯s hair, and her gaze was resolute and ruthless. ¡°Brad, save Felix,¡± Liliane pleaded tearfully. Bradley was furious as he said to Cole. ¡°Cole, give me the b*stards¡¯ photo.¡± Cole quickly handed him a photo. The thin photo was mped between Bradley¡¯s long fingers as he said coldly, ¡°They¡¯ll be buried with Felix if anything happens to him.¡± Esther¡¯s gazended on the twin girls in the photo. She scrutinized them, realizing that their eyes looked so much like hers. She finally believed that her children were still alive¡ªher children with Bradley were still alive. Bradley looked coldly at the delighted Esther and said sternly, ¡°Sign these two contracts if you want the photo.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sign them!¡± Esther shoved Liliane away without hesitation. Cole passed the divorce paper and agreement to give up on the shares to Esther courteously, but she did not even browse the content. She took the pen and signed her name where she should. ¡°Can you give me the photo now?¡± Bradley spoke aloofly. ¡°I can, but I want you to swear.¡± ¡°I swear,¡± Esther hurried to say after seeing the photo. ¡°If you break our deal, you¡¯ll never see your kids.¡± Esther put up three fingers by her temple and swore. ¡°If I, Esther Quill, don¡¯t give Felix my bone marrow, I¡¯ll never meet my kids again.¡± Bradley threw the photo onto the floor and took Liliane out of the room. ¡°Keep an eye on her 24/7!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner,¡± the bodyguards answered in unison. Esther quickly caught and held the photo in her hands. There was a pair of twin girls with short hair in the photo who wore the same new floral dress. They smiled sweetly for the camera. Esther was engrossed looking at it. She carefully studied their faces. The girls were like her, so fair and dark-haired with sweet dimples when they smiled. ¡°Babies, it¡¯s Mommy. ¡°Babies, we¡¯ll meet very soon.¡± Esther held the photo and kissed the children on it. Her tears fell as her heart clenched. ¡°Babies, my babies.¡± There was no telling how long she had cried before falling asleep. Even then, she gripped the only photo she had tightly. While Esther was deep asleep, the door to her room was opened. A cute head popped in cautiously¡­ Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Felix approached Esther as softly as he could. He carefully ced a lollipop beside her pillow, saying gently, ¡°Pretty madam, the medicine is bitter, but it won¡¯t be with the lollipop.¡± Esther had actually woken up before Felix came in. She was unwilling to interact with him because he was Liliane¡¯s kid. She was afraid she would involuntarily project her hatred for Liliane on this innocent child. However, there was an inexplicable jolt in her heart when Felix approached her. She wanted to be close to him for no reason. ¡°You¡­ Why are you here?¡± Esther asked in a hoarse voice. Felix¡¯s clear eyes glittered when he saw that she was awake and answered, ¡°Ma¡¯am, you¡¯re awake?¡± Esther touched the boy¡¯s cheek and asked softly, ¡°You¡¯re alone?¡± ¡°Daddy and Mommy went to work!¡± Felix tried to climb up to her bed clumsily, but he was too short. Thus, he was unable to do so despite several attempts. Esther could not help carrying him up. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Felix looked so alike to Bradley, yet he was so innocent and guileless when he spoke. Esther was in a conflict to ignore him, but she could not hold back from patting and hugging him. ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡± Although Esther had not done the bone marrow match voluntarily, she felt happy when she heard Felix thanking her. What wrong had the child done? Liliane was the one at fault! ¡°You¡¯re very cute.¡± Felix lowered his head and said disappointedly, ¡°I¡¯m not at all.¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± Esther asked in puzzlement. ¡°If I¡¯m cute, why do Daddy and Mommy want a divorce?¡± Esther could not steel herself when facing such a cute and innocent face. She also could not transfer her grudge toward Liliane to Felix. ¡°Your daddy and mommy aren¡¯t divorced.¡± Felix looked up and asked, ¡°How do you know?¡± Esther racked her brain to make up a lie that would not be easily exposed, but the photo on her nket swiftly attracted Felix¡¯s attention. He pointed at the twins and called out in glee, ¡°Pixie and Tinkerbell.¡± ¡°Felix, do you know them?¡± Esther asked carefully. Felix nodded. ¡°They¡¯re my best friends.¡± Esther grabbed his arms emotionally and urgently asked, ¡°Where did you get to know them, Felix? They¡­¡± Felix was always ill, so he was very thin. Esther¡¯s urgency hurt him. He scrunched up his nose and cried tearfully, ¡°Ow¡­¡± Esther quickly let go and took a deep breath. She pressed down her overflowing emotions and toned down her voice to sound softer. ¡°Felix, can you tell me where you¡¯ve met them?¡± Felix pointed at the peach blossom tree at the back in the photo. ¡°It¡¯s Sunflower Welfare.¡± Overwhelming delight swept over Esther. She could not care less that Felix was her enemy¡¯s son as she hugged him tightly. Felix actually blushed when Esther hugged him so suddenly. Esther held the boy¡¯s face and kissed his forehead. ¡°Thank you, Felix!¡± Felix was still blushing from the kiss as his eyes twinkled. ¡°Are you Pixie and Tinkerbell¡¯s mommy?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Esther sobbed with a nod as her eyes became wet. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you living with them then?¡± Esther was rendered speechless despite Felix¡¯s innocent question. She could not tell him that it was because of his mother that she had spent five years in prison. She also could not tell him that she had loved and trusted the wrong person when she was younger, causing her to lose everything now. ¡°Felix, I¡¯ll live with Pixie and Tinkerbell from now on.¡± Esther thought of the bodyguard outside her door and had an idea. ¡°Can you help me?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Felix nodded seriously. Esther wanted to visit her mother¡¯s tomb, but the bodyguard did not allow her. She could not possibly leave the hospital openly. ¡°I want to see Pixie and Tinkerbell at Sunflower Welfare. Can you stay in my room and say that I¡¯m sleeping when the bodyguardes?¡± Felix patted his chest confidently and promised, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the mission is aplished.¡± Esther¡¯s heart melted at the sight. She did not expect a vile woman like Liliane to be able to give birth to a kind and pure kid like Felix. ¡°Thank you, Felix.¡± Esther pulled Felix into a tight hug. As Felix breathed in Esther¡¯s fragrant scent, he was inexplicably happy. Esther let go of him and went into the bathroom with a suitcase. She was going to meet her daughters for the first time, so she wanted to meet them looking her best. Jasper had good taste, and all the clothes in the suitcase were branded. Even so, the skinny Esther looked fragile in these expensive dresses, as if she would be gone with the wind. She braided her hair to the side and wore a sleeveless silk dress inside, putting on a thin-knitted cardigan on the outside. The size 36 ballet ts felt slightly tight on her feet. She pulled out a stick of lipstick and dabbed it on her pale lips in front of the mirror, looking much better in color. When Esther opened the bathroom door, Felix praised her with sparkling eyes. ¡°Wow, ma¡¯am, you¡¯re so beautiful.¡± Esther¡¯s uneasiness was eased a little. ¡°I¡¯ll be going off now, little Felix.¡± Felix saluted her with his chin up proudly. ¡°Go, go.¡± Esther¡¯s hospital ward was on the third floor. It would be unrealistic to jump to the garden on the first floor from here, but she could slide down there using the sewer pipe outside of the balcony. Felix stood on tiptoe by the balcony, waving excitedly when he saw that Esther hadnded safely. Esther clutched her bag and waved back at Felix who was on the balcony from the garden. She was eager to meet her daughters, barely able to wait for a second longer. She hailed a cab outside the hospital hastily. ¡°To Sunflower Welfare, please!¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Esther pulled out her phone to call Jasper from the cab¡¯s backseat. ¡°Jasper, it¡¯s me. My daughters are in Sunflower Welfare.¡± Jasper arched his brow and asked, ¡°How do you know?¡± Esther told him about how she and Felix had worked together, and Jasper asked with a frown, ¡°Esther, do you fully believe what a child says? Aren¡¯t you afraid that it¡¯s a trap?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t care as much now. Even if there¡¯s only a sliver of a chance, I want to give it a go.¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll meet at the welfare hometer.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Esther had lost her freedom behind bars for five years. Now that she sat in the backseat of the cab, she appreciated the bright neon lights of the city at night. The cool breeze kissed her face, and she took a deep breath before smiling genuinely. This was the smell of freedom. The map showed that Sunflower Welfare was on the other side of the city. Even though it was not peak hours, the roads were still congested. The experienced cab driver ended up stuck on the overpass a kilometer away from the welfare home. ¡°Mister, may I know how long till we¡¯re there?¡± The cab driver swiped the navigation app and pointed at the red route. ¡°At least 20 minutes with how we¡¯re currently stuck.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it just one kilometer?¡± Esther asked anxiously. ¡°From the map, it is only one kilometer, but we can¡¯t turn left right away after the overpass. We have to go up front and make a U-turn at the junction. You saw it too. They¡¯re building a subway here¡­¡± Esther paid for the sum on the meter. ¡°Mister, I¡¯ve paid you. Please unlock the door. I¡¯ll get off now.¡± The cab driver agreed easily. ¡°Watch out for the cars, miss.¡± Esther saw Sunflower Welfare once she got out of the car. With her bag, she ran toward where her daughters were at. The night breeze swept her hair, and her heart thumped. Just as she ran off the overpass, an ambnce sped past her, its siren ring. Her shoes did not fit. Despite that, she was eager to meet her daughters, so she ran so fast that her heart felt like it was leaping out of her throat. Impatient drivers were honking in a frenzy as they were stuck in the congestion. The loud honks drowned the ringing of Esther¡¯s phone in her purse. In the end, she held her ts in her hands and ran for Sunflower Welfare with some stumbling. When she dropped her shoes to wear them again, a luxurious Bentley car stopped beside her. Jasper, who was in a suit, got out from the back and caringly helped Esther to the car¡¯s backseat when he saw the blood on her feet. The affluent heir slowly crouched down and attentively picked up Esther¡¯s foot to wipe the blood off with his handkerchief. ¡°Esther, this is your first time meeting the girls. You have to leave them with a good impression.¡± Esther looked at Jasper¡¯s hair and pulled her foot back in embarrassment. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Tidy your hair so that we can meet them sooner.¡± Jasper ced Esther¡¯s feet on his knees and wiped the blood off softly until they were all clean. After he saw the blisters on her toes and heels, he asked with a frown, ¡°Esther, the shoes don¡¯t fit?¡± ¡°I wear shoes of size 37 now.¡± Esther did wear size 36 before she was pregnant, but C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. her shoe size went up a notch after she gave birth. The shoes Jasper had sent over were size 36. Esther could still fit in them if she squeezed her feet in. It was just that the shoes were too small and gave her blisters. Jasper paused before he said apologetically, ¡°Sorry, I thought you were still wearing size 36. Hold on. I¡¯ll get my assistant to bring a new pair.¡± ¡°Jasper, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯d like to see the kids first.¡± Jasper could only agree weakly. ¡°Alright.¡± At the same time, he texted his assistant to send size 37 shoes over. Esther stood wearing the rtively small shoes. Her feet still hurt. Compared to the joy of meeting her daughter soon, though, the pain was nothing. ¡°Jasper, let¡¯s go in.¡± Jasper put out a hand to help Esther, who was not walking quite well into Sunflower Welfare slowly. When the security guards saw how they were dressed and the outstanding aura they exuded, they thought they were a couple who came here to adopt a child. They greeted them warmly. ¡°Are you two here to adopt a child? Children here are very well behaved¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to make a donation.¡± The guard beamed at them upon hearing what Jasper said. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll let the director know right now.¡± Sunflower Welfare was a charity project, but there were plenty of orphans, most of whom were terminally ill. Although the financial and management situation was not the worst, it was not easy. The security guard made a call, and Cam Jenner weed Jasper and Esther to the guest lounge personally. Cam praised them. ¡°You two make a great pair. I thank you for your kindness on behalf of the children here.¡± Jasper ced a check of $150,000 in front of Cam. ¡°Madam Jenner, a pair of twin girls were sent over in August five years ago, correct?¡± Cam¡¯s expression looked unnatural for a moment before she pushed some stray hair away and answered with reservation, ¡°I wasn¡¯t the director yet five years ago, so I¡¯m not too sure about the particr situation.¡± Esther opened her purse with shaky hands and took out Pixie and Tinkerbell¡¯s photo to ce it in front of her. ¡°Madam Jenner, can I see them?¡± Cam picked up the photo and took a closer look after putting on her sses. ¡°This is Pixie and Tinkerbell. Who are you to them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m their mother,¡± Esther admitted eagerly. Cam put down the photo and scanned Esther judgingly for a few seconds before saying gently, ¡°I can see that you¡¯re quite well-to-do. Why did you abandon your daughters?¡± Esther¡¯s heart ached. She had delivered prematurely in prison five years ago. The doctor had said back then that it was critical as her prematurebor caused an amniotic fluid embolism. The doctor had done their best and only managed to save the mother. She had not even gotten to see her babies when they were taken away. All these years, Esther had been under the impression that her children were no longer around. If Bradley and Liliane¡¯s son, Felix, did not need her bone marrow, she guessed that a cruel man like Bradley would permanently punish her by separating her and her children. ¡°They were born in prison.¡± Cam actually did not ask further after hearing this. She just asked, ¡°Are you here to bring them back from the home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Esther wanted to take her kids back. She wanted topensate for the five years she owed them. ¡°ording to the procedure, we can¡¯t let you take them away for the time being. After all, we can¡¯t just believe what you said. I think we¡¯ll get the officials tomorrow as witnesses and do a maternity test with you and the kids. Once we confirm that you¡¯re their mother, we¡¯ll further discuss it.¡± Esther understood Cam¡¯s considerations and worries, so she naturally agreed. ¡°Can I see them now?¡± Cam checked the time on her watch. Before she could answer, Jasper pushed a bank card to her. She kept the check and the bank card and got up to take them to the lobby outside the office. There were children reading books in twos and threes. Esther looked over and spotted the girl crying in the corner at first nce. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Regardless of the director and Jasper beside her, Esther hurried to the girl and crouched slowly. She was so nervous that her voice was shaking. ¡°Why¡­ Why are you crying?¡± Esther saw the girl¡¯s teary eyes right away. Her heart clenched, and she wanted nothing more than to hug her and coax her into smiling. The girl had her guard up and ignored Esther. She scurried to Cam like a nimble little bunny and hugged her hand as she called her softly. ¡°Mama Madam.¡± Cam put an arm around the girl¡¯s shoulder and asked gently, ¡°Tinkerbell, why are you crying?¡± ¡°I miss my sister¡­¡± Tinkerbell felt like crying again once she thought of her sister, Pixie. Cam patted her softly and told her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Your sister¡¯s having a good time now.¡± ¡°Mama Madam, can I go see her in the future?¡± asked Tinkerbell. Camforted her. ¡°Sure. Maybe you¡¯ll be living with her not too longter?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Tinkerbell was delighted. Cam nodded and wiped Tinkerbell¡¯s tears, saying with a smile, ¡°Of course. When have I lied to you?¡± ¡°You never lie to us,¡± Tinkerbell said and hid back behind Cam timidly after she turned to look at Esther and Jasper, who stood at the side. Cam noticed her reaction and told her, ¡°Tinkerbell, read some books first. I have things to talk to them about.¡± Tinkerbell waved at Cam understandingly and said cutely, ¡°Bye-bye, Mama Madam.¡± She picked out a book and went to read it in a corner obediently. Only then did Cam take the uncontrobly emotional Esther to a side and tell her, ¡°Tinkerbell and Pixie are twins. Pixie was adopted just a few hours ago.¡± ¡°Only Pixie?¡± Esther asked in shock. ¡°Yes.¡± Cam looked at her and exined, ¡°They¡¯ve only adopted Pixie because Tinkerbell¡¯s ill. You both know how much it costs to raise a child nowadays. What¡¯s more, Tinkerbell¡¯s a sick child¡­¡± Esther, who had always been well-mannered, couldn¡¯t care less and asked nervously, ¡°What does she have?¡± ¡°Acute leukemia.¡± Cam exined patiently, ¡°They wanted to adopt both of them, but they only adopted Pixie when they found out that Tinkerbell has acute leukemia. Acute leukemia requires a bone marrow transnt. We¡¯ve registered with the National Bone Marrow Bank and will go on with the transnt surgery once there¡¯s a bone marrow that matches Tinkerbell.¡± Never in Esther¡¯s mind had she expected to receive such bad news just as she found Tinkerbell. ¡°I¡¯m her birth mother. My bone marrow might work.¡± Jasper, who stood on the side, expressed his initiative as well. ¡°I can go for the test too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best if you¡¯re willing to test if you match.¡± Cam took a long look at Esther and said, ¡°Ms. Quill, you can spend half an hour with Tinkerbell, but I don¡¯t rmend telling herN?velDrama.Org exclusive content. you¡¯re her birth mother before the maternity test result is out. The children here are sensitive. I don¡¯t want you to give her hope and let her down.¡± Esther¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper looked at Esther and said gently, ¡°Esther, go spend some time with Tinkerbell. I¡¯ll ask Madam Jenner about the family who adopted Pixie.¡± ¡°Thanks, Jasper.¡± After Cam and Jasper left, Esther went to Tinkerbell. Perhaps because Esther hade with Cam, Tinkerbell no longer hid from her when she saw Esther sit down next to her. She blinked and asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you here to pick a child too?¡± Esther had a lump in her throat upon hearing the genuine question. ¡°Ma¡¯am, pick other kids as your child. Don¡¯t choose me.¡± Tinkerbell was around four years old. She was adorable and good with words. ¡°Because I¡¯m sick.¡± Tinkerbell¡¯s voice was soft and cute. ¡°I hear Mama Madam say that my sickness needs a lot, a lot, and a lot of money¡­¡± Tinkerbell¡¯s sensible opinion broke the dam in Esther, and her tears fell. Tinkerbell pulled out her own handkerchief and softly wiped her tears for her. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Tinkerbell shook her head and said bravely, ¡°Nope. I¡¯m super brave.¡± Esther could not help but pull Tinkerbell into her arms. ¡°Tinkerbell, you¡¯re so brave!¡± How could she not know that her daughter had suffered so much? How could Bradley be so cruel that he had bought the doctor and made up such a lie? He had made her daughters lose their mother just as they were born! He had made their daughters lose their carefree childhood at their young age! Did he know that they were his daughters!? Tinkerbell heard Esther¡¯s restrained sobs and patted her back. ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you feeling sick?¡± Esther let go of the girl and held her face, sobbing. ¡°My heart hurts.¡± Her heart felt like a thousand arrows had pierced through it. Bradley coulde at her for any grudge and resentment he had. Why¡­ Why did he not let go of such little children? ¡°Ma¡¯am, let¡¯s read together.¡± Tinkerbell pushed the storybook in her hands in front of Esther. ¡°This is my favorite book.¡± Esther sat on the small chair and read Tinkerbell¡¯s favorite book with her. The book was about a brave girl catching a star after going through many challenges. Rather than Esther reading with Tinkerbell, it was more like Tinkerbell was keeping Estherpany while she read. Tinkerbell talked about the book seriously, and her bright eyes looked like the whole universe was in them. Esther wasforted by the fact that Tinkerbell had grown up so well and behaved despite her not being around. However, her heart ached that the little girl had to be in pain from the illness at this young age. Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Tinkerbell kept the book on the book rack and approached Esther to remind her softly, ¡°Ma¡¯am, remember, don¡¯t pick me.¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Esther understood what Tinkerbell meant. She was trying to say that she was ill and did not want to be a burden. ¡°Tinkerbell, you¡¯re not a burden. You¡¯re the best, best, best gift God has given me.¡± With her big eyes, Tinkerbell looked like she did not understand what Esther said. It took her some time before she said, ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t want you to be my mommy!¡± Without giving Esther any chance to react, she ran away. Esther¡¯s legs felt extremely weighed down as she was reluctant to take even one step. Jasper approached her and advised, ¡°Esther, the kids are going to bed. We should leave too.¡± ¡°Jasper, can I take¡­¡± Jasper coughed and reminded her, ¡°I understand what you feel, but it¡¯s too reckless to assume Tinkerbell¡¯s your daughter owing to a photo. Besides, they won¡¯t let you take the child away just because you im to be her mother as they have their rules and regtions. ¡°If you want to take Tinkerbell home sooner, do two things now. One, go for the bone marrow transnt test. You have higher chances of matching if you¡¯re Tinkerbell¡¯s mother.¡± Jasper calmly analyzed the current situation with Esther. ¡°Two, you need to write an application to exin yourself. The home will arrange for a third party to do a maternity test for you. Once the result confirms that you¡¯re Tinkerbell¡¯s mother, you can reasonably and legally take her back without the three months of probation.¡± Esther nodded seriously. ¡°Jasper, you¡¯re right. Let¡¯s go to the hospital for the test now.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Jasper took Esther to the hospital. ¡°Esther, this is a public hospital. Their hematology department, especially, is famous nationwide. Go for the preliminary test now. The more detailed ones can only be done when the other departments are working tomorrow.¡± The public hospital was unlike private ones where one could do all the tests as long as they were able to pay. Jasper registered Esther for an emergency and exined the reason at the ward. The doctor there wrote her some referrals for the preliminary check-up. After the tests were done, Esther checked the time and realized that she had been away for nearly three hours. She wondered whether Felix had been caught. She did not want to anger Bradley at this point either because she needed to persuade him for a matching test if her bone marrow was not a match. ¡°Jasper, I¡¯ll go back first.¡± Jasper sent her back to the hospital under the Warner Group personally and stopped her before she got out of the car. ¡°Esther, hold on.¡± He got out and stood before the door on Esther¡¯s side, going on one knee to take off the ts that did not fit her feet. He then put on the size 37 whitembskin shoes for her. ¡°Esther, have a good rest. I¡¯ll keep an eye on Tinkerbell¡¯s situation,¡± Jasper told her softly. ¡°I¡¯ll also do my best to find the couple who adopted Pixie. I believe you¡¯ll reunite with them very soon.¡± Esther looked at the man gratefully. After what happened to her five years ago, the others avoided her like the gue, but Jasper treated her just the same. ¡°Jasper, thank you.¡± Jasper patted her hair and teased her. ¡°Nonsense! Go in now. Don¡¯t upset Bradley.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper stood at the hospital entrance and watched Esther enter with a gentle gaze. After he could not see Esther, he looked up at Bradley at the faraway balcony challengingly. He smirked and turned away nonchntly to get in the car. When Esther sneaked to her hospital ward, the room door opened abruptly. The bodyguard nced at her and said with a nk face, ¡°Mr. Warner¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Once she heard that Bradley was waiting for her, her heart skipped a beat. She entered the room in fright. Bang! Bradley threw a luxurious crystal ss at Esther mercilessly. The crystal ss shattered against the door beside Esther, and the sttering shards flew past her. One of the thin shards brushed past Esther¡¯s face, and a line of blood immediately appeared on her fair face. The crimson This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. was incredibly ring. ¡°Esther Quill, very bold of you!¡± Bradley had checked the surveince recording and found out that Esther had escaped through that pipe on the balcony. What was more infuriating was that she had used a child like Felix. He got up from the chair and marched to Esther, clenching her chin and asking aggressively, ¡°How dare you teach Felix to lie!?¡± Once Esther thought of Tinkerbell¡¯s illness, she dared not anger the man further. What if Tinkerbell could use his bone marrow? She exined nicely, ¡°Bradley, I found out from Felix that they were at Sunflower Welfare and couldn¡¯t help but go see them.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t help?¡± Bradley snickered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hold back well during the four years you spent in prison?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? You bought them over to tell me that my babies had died! If I had known¡­¡± Esther could not help getting emotional. ¡°If I had known that they were still alive¡­¡± She would have been on her best behavior and tried to get released on parole. No, no. She would have made an appeal if she had known that her children were well and alive. She could not bear her daughters to carry the title of a murderer¡¯s daughter once they were born. ¡°Use Felix again, Esther, and I¡¯ll ensure you won¡¯t find them for the rest of your life.¡± Bradley released her and sneered when he caught a glimpse of the red mark on Esther¡¯s pale face. ¡°Bradley, is your bone marrow record in the National Bone Marrow Bank?¡± Esther quickly asked when she thought of Tinkerbell¡¯s state and when Bradley was going to leave. ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± Bradley asked coldly. Esther grabbed his arm. ¡°Please, just tell me. It¡¯s important to me.¡± Tinkerbell was his daughter. If his bone marrow record was in the bank, this meant that Tinkerbell would have a higher chance of finding a match. ¡°If I could choose, I wouldn¡¯t want my son to have anything to do with you.¡± Bradley had undergone tests to check whether he was a match when he found out that Felix had leukemia. He had also registered his data in the bank in hopes that his bone marrow could help someone one day, like how he wished someone¡¯s bone marrow could help his son. It was just that¡­ never in his wildest dreams did he expect that the person was Esther. She was Felix¡¯s hope of survival. Bradley forbade anything from happening to Esther here. He warned her ruthlessly, ¡°Stay in the hospital. If you escape one more time, I¡¯ll tie you to the operation theater myself!¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 After Bradley left the ward, he told the doctor, ¡°Run aprehensive check on Esther tomorrow. Nothing can go wrong in Felix¡¯s surgery.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± Esther¡¯s legs gave way, and she slid to the floor after Bradley left. She got on the bed with difficulty and fetched her phone to read up on acute leukemia. Each case was terrifying, and she read with a thumping heart. She had done the first check in the hospital tonight, and the result would onlye out tomorrow. Only then could she be determined to carry on with the second detailed check. If the second one was fine, she could donate her bone marrow to Tinkerbell. Esther read up on the information and memorized the knowledge she found about leukemia, including aftercare and more. As she read, she fell asleep gradually. Bradley returned to Felix¡¯s ward, where the boy and Liliane were drawing with oil pastels. ¡°Daddy,¡± Felix greeted him crisply. Once Bradley recalled that Felix had helped Esther trick the bodyguard, his face fell. ¡°Who allowed you to see her?¡± he asked. Felix was quite scared of the angry Bradley, so he stiffened and didn¡¯t dare to speak. Liliane quickly stood in front of Felix and exined, ¡°Brad, don¡¯t me Felix. Maybe he overheard it when I was talking about it with the nurses. You know him. He¡¯s the kindest¡­¡± Bradley sat down before Felix and asked softly, ¡°Felix, how did you know they¡¯re in Sunflower Welfare?¡± ¡°I took him there for charity before.¡± Liliane sobbed with reddened eyes. ¡°After Felix was diagnosed, I thought I¡¯d do more charity and took him to the welfare home a few times. He probably got to know them then.¡± Felix looked up. ¡°Daddy, is the prettydy really Pixie and Tinkerbell¡¯s mommy?¡± Bradley stroked his son¡¯s hair and said softly, ¡°Yes.¡± Felix¡¯s eyes, which were exactly like Bradley¡¯s, crinkled when he smiled. ¡°That¡¯s great. Pixie and Tinkerbell have their own mommy too¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s heart sank when she looked at the happy boy. Was this what they said about being bonded by blood? How could Felix feel so close to Esther and her daughters? It seemed that bing Mrs. Warner had to be expedited lest the longer it dragged on, the more issues would ur! ¡°Felix, do you like that prettydy who¡¯s donating her bone marrow to you?¡± Liliane¡¯s smile was friendly, but she inwardly cursed him for being ungrateful. She had been taking care of him for over four years, and he liked Esther the first time he saw her. Felix answered gleefully, ¡°Yes! But I like Mommy the most in this world.¡± Liliane was slightly appeased as she pinched Felix¡¯s face and said enviously, ¡°I thought I raised an ungrateful brat¡­¡± Felix furrowed his brows and asked Bradley in confusion, ¡°Daddy, what¡¯s an ungrateful brat?¡± Bradley shot Liliane a warning look. Thetter¡¯s heart clenched. Sh*t! She nearly exposed her true thoughts! Liliane quickly diverted the topic. ¡°Felix, what are you drawing?¡± Felix approached Bradley and talked about his drawing seriously. ¡°This is Daddy, this is Mommy, this is me, this is little sister¡­¡± As Felix talked, a drop of blood fell from his nose andnded on the drawing paper. Liliane eximed, ¡°Felix¡¯s bleeding!¡± Bradley pulled some tissue to wipe Felix¡¯s nose, but the blood simply would not stop. Liliane pressed the emergency bell, and the doctor and nurses rushed in. ¡°Mr. Warner, please make way.¡± Felix was wheeled away for rescue. Bradley looked at Liliane, who was at a loss, and told her hoarsely, ¡°Stay here.¡± ¡°Brad, I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Liliane was pale in panic. Bradley took a long look at her before turning around to go to Esther¡¯s ward and kicking her door open. ¡°Who is it?¡± Esther was startled awake from her dream. Bradley did not give her any chance to react as he forcefully dragged her up from the bed. ¡°Bradley, what¡¯s gotten into you again?¡± Esther asked anxiously, ¡°What happened?¡± Bradley ignored her and dragged her to the doctor. ¡°Run the second test on her right now and arrange for the surgery as soon as the result is out.¡± Bradley had wanted to give Esther a week of rest, but he could not wait upon seeing how critical Felix¡¯s condition was. Compared to the woman¡¯s damned life, Bradley hoped his son could live healthily. The doctor followed his order and ran the second test on Esther. The second one was moreprehensive and detailed than the first, so Esthery still like a puppet as the doctor and nurses did all sorts of tests on her. When everything waspleted, she was sent back to her room. The nurse told her softly, ¡°If the second test is a match, the surgery will start immediately. You can¡¯t eat or drink for the time being.¡± Esther bit her lips and nodded lightly. ¡°I understand.¡± The nurse then continued to tell her some precautions, which Esther took a mental note of. Felix¡¯s emergency care came to a stop, and the exhausted doctor went to Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Bradley and Liliane. ¡°Mr. Warner, Ms. Anstey, Mr. Felix¡¯s condition has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. If there¡¯s nopatible bone marrow for the transnt, he¡¯ll¡­¡± The doctor did not finish, but Liliane understood what he meant. She looked at Bradley in worry. ¡°Brad, what do we do about our Felix!?¡± Bradley was weighed down with worry, but he spared some effort to console Liliane. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already asked for the second round of tests to be run on Esther. Once the result matches, the surgery can start anytime.¡± Liliane asked fretfully, ¡°But what if¡­ What if they aren¡¯tpatible?¡± ¡°No what if!¡± Bradley¡¯s gaze was dark and icy. ¡°Esther¡¯s bone marrow will definitely be a match.¡± Liliane looked tearfully at Felix in the ward but thought it was only natural for Esther¡¯s bone marrow to be a match. After all, she was Felix¡¯s birth mother! It was just that she would by no means let Esther donate her bone marrow to Felix. A gleam of viciousness shed in Liliane¡¯s eyes. ¡®Esther, oh Esther. I wonder what you¡¯ll do when both your son and daughter need your bone marrow at the same time.¡¯ Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Esther¡¯s phone rang in the ward. She looked at the anonymous number and answered it without hesitation. ¡°Hello?¡± It was an incredibly sweet voice on the other end of the line. ¡°Hello. Is this Ms. Esther Quill?¡± ¡°Yes. Who¡¯s speaking?¡± ¡°Hi, I¡¯m a hematology doctor at People¡¯s Hospital. ording to the result of your first test for bone marrow donation with us, you¡¯re preliminarily confirmed to match one of our patients. Pleasee to the hospital for a second, moreprehensive test as soon as you can¡­¡± ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± When Esther heard that it was a call from People¡¯s Hospital and was informed that her bone marrow was a match, she naturally assumed that she could donate it to Tinkerbell. She stood up in joy and quickly got changed to go to the hospital for the second test. Esther went to the balcony, only to discover that a female bodyguard was sitting on the first floor¡¯s garden. ¡°Ms. Quill?¡± The bodyguard greeted Esther when she saw her on the balcony. At the same time, she pressed the emergency contact on her phone. Esther knew that the balcony would not work and hurried to the door. Before she could open it, the female bodyguard entered. ¡°Ms. Quill, can I help you with anything?¡± Esther thought about it and chose to be honest. ¡°I want to go to People¡¯s Hospital. I just received a call from them saying that the result of my first test matches one of their patients¡­¡± The bodyguard patiently listened to her but mercilessly rejected her request to leave. ¡°Ms. Quill, I¡¯m sorry. Without Mr. Warner¡¯s order, you cannot leave this room.¡± Once Esther thought of how Tinkerbell was still waiting for her bone marrow transnt, she quickly said, ¡°I understand that this is your job. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t run away. If you¡¯re worried, you can follow me. I promise¡ª¡± ¡°Ms. Quill, please don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± Esther using Felix to leave the hospital previously had caused the bodyguard to be punished. This time, she would not give Esther any chance to leave the hospital. ¡°Alright, I understand.¡± Esther sat back down on the bed helplessly. The bodyguard replied politely, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to rest then. Good night, Ms. Quill.¡± After she left, Esther took out Pixie and Tinkerbell¡¯s photo. She stared at it for a moment and took a deep breath, deciding to call Jasper. ¡°Jasper, it¡¯s me.¡± Jasper woke up from sleep groggily. His voice was a sleepy drawl. ¡°Esther? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Jasper, People¡¯s Hospital called me just now saying that the result of my first test shows my bone marrow matches a patient. This means that my bone marrow is definitelypatible with Tinkerbell. I thought I¡¯d go to the hospital now for the second round of tests, but I¡¯m trapped here because of Bradley. I can¡¯t go anywhere. Can you help me leave?¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Let me figure something out. Wait for my update.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jasper.¡± Esther was no longer sleepy after ending the call. She could not help imagining the pleasant daily life after she reunited with her daughters. She would look for a house. It did not have to be huge. Just four rooms would be enough. Her daughters would have a room each, and the extra one would be turned into a study room. She would make the house feel homey and warm. If her daughters liked ying the piano, she would buy a piano. She would turn the living room into a practice room if they liked dancing. She would make plenty of delicious meals and feed them well. She would also learn how to tailor to make them unique dresses. She would also learn how to braid hair and give them different hairstyles daily. Esther would dote on them till they were the happiest little princesses in the world. In the same hospital¡­ Felix was still in emergency care as all his data did not do well. Not only were the doctors on duty there, but even those on leave and the pediatric experts from People¡¯s Hospital and experts from other cities had all rushed over. Despite the countless experts, they came to the same conclusion after their diagnoses. Felix¡¯s current state could only be helped with a bone marrow Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. transnt¡ªthe sooner, the better. If it happened toote and his organs began to deteriorate, the transnt could not save him either. After Bradley listened to the experts¡¯ opinions, he questioned with a glower, ¡°When can Esther¡¯s second test resulte out?¡± A doctor wiped the sweat on his forehead and stammered, ¡°One more hour.¡± Bradley took a deep breath. His eyes were deadly and icy. ¡°Get the operation ward ready now. Carry out the surgery as soon as the result¡¯s out.¡± All of Bradley¡¯s hope was in Esther¡¯s second test result. What if the result turned out not to be ideal? ¡°Cole.¡± Bradley¡¯s assistant, Cole, responded. ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Update the reward online. As long as they¡¯re willing to sign and be a bone marrow donor, pay them $1,500 each. $15,000 for those who did the first round of tests and $150,000 for those who did the second round. Once the test turns out to be a match, they¡¯ll be rewarded with $15,000,000 in cash and provided with a permanent position in the Warner Group with an annual sry of $150,000 after taxes and a bonus package equivalent to that of thepany¡¯s GM level.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll publish it now,¡± replied Cole. Bradley¡¯s hands balled into fists, and the veins on his forehead popped. He exuded an aura of coldness. No matter the price, he would save Felix. Cole was efficient. Jasper saw the information online right away. He did not browse theizens¡¯ments but called Esther. ¡°Esther, I saw Bradley raising the reward money online just now. Do you know what this means? It means that his son¡¯s condition has worsened. He probably won¡¯t let you out of the hospital now.¡± Esther could barely breathe upon learning that Felix¡¯s condition had worsened. She put a hand over a chest and rubbed the unreasonable pain and suffocation away. ¡°Jasper, pick me up first. I want to do the second test in the hospital. If the result is a match, I can donate to Felix and then Tinkerbell.¡± Jasper was taken aback and asked in concern, ¡°Do you think bone marrow donation is as simple as blood donation? Given your current state, how could you possibly go through two bone marrow transnt surgeries within a short time?¡± ¡°Jasper, Felix¡¯s a child. It¡¯s not his fault that Liliane¡¯s his mother,¡± Esther said self-deprecatingly. ¡°Besides, no one can be sure that my bone marrow is Esther and received a call from Sunflower Welfare¡¯s director, Cam. ¡°Mr. Searle, I¡¯m Jenner from Sunflower Welfare.¡± Cam sounded agonized. ¡°I have bad news for you!¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡°Please go on!¡± Jasper replied seriously. ¡°Tinkerbell fell down when she went to the bathroom at midnight. She has been sent to the hospital now. Please go to the hospital as soon as you can if you¡¯re N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. able to,¡± said Cam. ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Jasper hung up and hesitated but called Esther in the end. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s me. Madam Janner just called me and said that Tinkerbell fell at midnight when she went to the bathroom. She has been sent to the hospital already. I¡¯ming to pick you up now. We have to go to the hospital now.¡± ¡°Okay,e quickly!¡± Upon hearing that Tinkerbell had gotten hurt, Esther felt her heart throb in pain. She could finally understand why her chest hurt just now. Was this because they were bonded by blood? ¡°Esther, I¡¯ll get someone to shut down the main electricity of the Warners¡¯ private hospital for a moment, but the supply will return shortly because they have their own electricity generators. You have to leave during that time. Can you do it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Esther replied confidently. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the gate.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Esther answered and thought of Felix. ¡°Jasper, if the electricity¡¯s cut off temporarily, will it affect Felix?¡± ¡°No. Big hospitals like this have their own generators. Usually, the critical areas won¡¯t be affected, but the regr wards will definitely feel it. Since Felix is in a critical state, he is surely in ICU.¡± Esther breathed in relief. She did not want anything to happen to Felix because of her. If that happened, how would she face Grandpa Thomas, who had been so nice to her? Esther checked her things again, keeping her phone and stuff in her purse. She kept looking at the light in her room nervously, deciding to dash out once the supply was cut. Five minutester, the private hospital experienced a ckout! Esther opened her door swiftly and saw Liliane stumbling out of the next door. ¡°Felix, Felix¡­¡± The bodyguard guarding Esther¡¯s door went over to hold Liliane up. ¡°Ms. Anstey, be careful.¡± Liliane grabbed the bodyguard¡¯s arm and asked anxiously, ¡°Hurry, take me to Felix now. I¡¯m worried about him¡­¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you to Mr. Felix right away.¡± Liliane hummed a response and eximed worriedly, ¡°Felix, he¡¯ll be all good!¡± ¡°Yes, he will. He is a good kid¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s vicious gaze, however, was on Esther. She thought that she had already prepared the opportunity for thetter. Esther better not let her down! While Liliane kicked up a ruckus, Esther ran down the fire exit staircase. ¨C At the same time, the doctor approached Bradley with the result of Esther¡¯s second test. ¡°Good news, Mr. Warner! Ms. Quill¡¯s bone marrow ispatible with Mr. Felix¡¯s. She can donate it to him.¡± Delight washed over Bradley instantly, and he immediately ordered, ¡°Get the operation ward ready for the surgery.¡± Liliane, who had rushed over escorted by the bodyguard, hurried to Bradley when she heard that and asked in delight, ¡°Brad, Felix can undergo surgery already?¡± Despite that, Bradley¡¯s gaze was on the bodyguard. His eyes were as dark as night before dawn. ¡°Why are you here?¡± The bodyguard reacted promptly and pulled out her phone to contact her coworker. ¡°Check if Ms. Quill¡¯s in her room right now.¡± The furious Bradley red darkly at the careless bodyguard and called Cole as he stomped away. ¡°Cole, get the hospital¡¯s surveince recording right now and tell me where Jasper is hiding Esther!¡± Cole¡¯s fingers worked speedily, and he answered, ¡°Mr. Searle drove his car and picked up Ms. Esther in front of the hospital.¡± It was within Bradley¡¯s expectation that Esther wanted to run away. He just did not expect that she would ask Jasper to cut the hospital¡¯s electricity to do it. What difference did her action make from killing Felix? Bradley hung up in a rage and took the elevator down to the basement car park. He drove the ck Rolls-Royce Phantom into the night. ¨C Three minutes ago¡­ Esther finally escaped the bodyguard¡¯s watch and the hospital she was locked in. ¡°Esther, over here.¡± Jasper sat in the car and said with a frown seeing the sweaty woman. ¡°Get in first.¡± Esther was panting from her sprint. She dared not stop for even half a second, worried that Bradley and the bodyguards would realize something was wrong and pursue her. ¡°Jasper, we¡¯ll talkter. I want to see my daughter¡­¡± Esther¡¯s vision went ck, and she nearly fell. Jasper, who had gotten out of the car, pulled her into his arms tightly and stroked her hair gently. ¡°Esther, I have something to tell you, but don¡¯t get too emotional.¡± Esther was suddenly filled with an ominous feeling. She struggled to look up and asked shakily, ¡°Was Bradley the one who injured Tinkerbell?¡± ¡°Not him. That was an ident.¡± Jasper tasted bitterness in his mouth. He could not understand why the kindhearted Esther had to endure so many challenges. ¡°Get in first. I¡¯ll tell you in the car.¡± Jasper shoved Esther into the car and gripped her soft hands. He took a deep breath and told her the cruel truth. ¡°I received the news earlier. The adoptive parents have taken Pixie abroad. It might take a bit longer to find her.¡± Esther understood what Jasper meant and asked in a hurry, ¡°Then what about Tinkerbell now?¡± ¡°The ambnce sent Tinkerbell to the hospital.¡± Jasper squeezed Esther¡¯s hand and consoled her. ¡°Esther, Tinkerbell has leukemia too. She¡¯s in a critical state. The hospital says that she has to do a transnt right away.¡± Esther¡¯s heart clenched at the cruel reality. ¡°I¡¯ll do the second test at the hospital right now and do the transnt once we¡¯re tested to bepatible.¡± Her Tinkerbell actually had leukemia like Felix and needed a bone marrow transnt too! Esther did not want to give up on either of them. She wanted to save them both! ¡°We¡¯ll go to the hospital now and have Tinkerbell¡¯s surgery.¡± Jasper slung an arm over Esther¡¯s shoulders and coaxed her softly like a big brother. ¡°Esther, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here regardless of what happens!¡± ¡°If something happens to me, Pixie¡­¡± Esther said in worry. Jasper¡¯s gaze fell on the neon light far away. As the light illuminated his handsome face, the reflected dim lighting felt dreamy. ¡°Esther, I¡¯ve already hired the best detective overseas to find where Pixie is. I believe that there¡¯ll be news of her soon. Let¡¯s go to the hospital for Tinkerbell¡¯s surgery first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The Bentley car zoomed on the street. Esther felt bitter as she thought of Tinkerbell. Her daughter must have been so afraid. Injections hurt so much, and medicines were so bitter. Other children had their mothers coaxing and cating them, but Tinkerbell¡­ Esther looked at the photo on her phone and rubbed a finger on Pixie¡¯s and Tinkerbell¡¯s faces. ¡®Girls, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s Mommy¡¯s fault. ¡®Mommy lost you. ¡®Sorry, I¡¯m so sorry.¡¯ Droplets of tears fell on the phone screen. Jasper took a handkerchief out of his suit pocket and gently wiped Esther¡¯s tears for her. ¡°Esther, stop crying. You¡¯re their mother. You¡¯re going to make up for five years¡¯ worth of motherly love that you owed to them.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Esther wiped her tears and forced a smile. ¡°Jasper, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re friends,¡± Jasper said easily. ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me like you used to five years ago. No matter what happens, even if the whole world turns its back on you and abandons you, I¡¯ll forever be your best friend and the person you can trust the most.¡± With that, Jasper¡¯s chauffeur mmed on the brake. ¡°What happened?¡± The chauffeur looked at the Rolls-Royce blocking the front of their car and identified the car license te before he answered carefully, ¡°Mr. Searle, I think it¡¯s Mr. Warner¡¯s car in front?¡± ¡®Bradley?¡¯ Esther choked the moment she heard the name. Terror washed over her. Did he catch up so fast? Bradley did not care that he was in the center of a busy street. He got out of his car and went over to pull the car door open forcefully. His tall figure looked like a murderous ghost in the dark. Half of Bradley¡¯s face was hidden from the streetlight. Gone was his usual grace and poise as he felt like he hade from hell, bloodthirsty and brutal, with no one daring to stop him. His frosty, killing aura engulfed Esther, and her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes were filled with terror as she pleaded shakily, ¡°Bradley, listen¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes were brimming with killing intent as he violently interrupted her, ¡°Esther Quill, you¡¯re asking to be killed!¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Noting their disadvantage, Jasper ordered the chauffeur, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The chauffeur started the car, and the Bentley brushed past Bradley. Bradley looked at the car that sped off and returned to his own, stomping down on the elerator and crashing into the car. With a bang, two luxury cars collided harshly. Esther¡¯s repeated escape had only made Bradley¡¯s rage burn his rationale away. He stepped on the pedal again to run the Bentley onto the pavement. Jasper kept Esther in his arms during the collision and nearly passed out from the collision. Bradley looked at the Bentley in front of him with a N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. dark look and pulled out his phone to make a call. ¡°Cole, get some men over.¡± Even with Jasper¡¯s protection, Esther¡¯s forehead was busted. Blood flowed like a small stream. She looked at Bradley, who felt murderous outside the car, and trembled in fear. Bradley got out of his car, looking like he could kill, and kicked the Bentley¡¯s door open to pull Esther out brutally. His eyes were screaming bloody murder as he choked Esther by the neck and mmed her against the Bentley¡¯s door. Esther felt like Bradley was going to snap her neck and pushed him on the chest as much as she could. It was just that her strength was nothing before the man. ¡°How dare you escape twice within the same night, Esther!? ¡°You should feel lucky that you¡¯re still useful or else¡­¡± If Felix was not in the hospital waiting for this woman¡¯s bone marrow to save him, Bradley could not hold himself back from breaking her neck with his own hands. Bradley kept squeezing, and Esther¡¯s face turned purple. Her oxygen was running out from her lungs bit by bit. Death shadowed Esther, but she thought of Tinkerbell in the hospital and punched the car hard. Jasper, who was disorientated from the collision, heard Esther¡¯s cry for help and forced himself out of the car. He shakily staggered between Esther and Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, your son¡­ will be dead if Esther dies!¡± Bradley sneered. ¡°Jasper, a sl*tty b*tch like this is worth sacrificing your life?¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, even though your marriage with Esther isn¡¯t perfect¡ª¡± Before Jasper finished, Bradley chuckled coldly. ¡°This marriage is a humiliation in my life.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression was menacing as he warned Jasper. ¡°Don¡¯t get involved!¡± He let go of his chokehold on Esther abruptly. Like a drowning person, Esther held the Bentley door and took in gulps of fresh air. She stood before Bradley with a bloodied face and could not help blurting Tinkerbell¡¯s birth when she thought of how the girl had been sent off in an ambnce. ¡°Bradley! Pixie and Tinkerbell in Sunflower Welfare are our daughters. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can do a paternity test right now!¡± Not only did Bradley not believe her, but his eyes also brimmed with mockery. ¡°I don¡¯t believe a word you say, Esther!¡± Bradley then yanked Esther¡¯s arm and pulled her to his car without a care. Jasper hurried forward to catch up and advised hoarsely, ¡°Bradley Warner, calm down!¡± Calm down? When his son was on the brink of death? And the person who promised to save him kept pushing his limits!? It was then a few ck cars skidded to a stop in front of Bradley. A squad of trained men in ck got out and approached Bradley in a uniform stride. ¡°Mr. Warner!¡± Jasper remained relentless despite being outnumbered by Bradley. ¡°Bradley, walk over me if you want to take Esther away today!¡± Bradley nced at Jasper and ridiculed him. ¡°I don¡¯t take threats from anyone, Searle. Your life is unworthy of a mention to me. Help her again, and I¡¯ll wipe out the Searles.¡± Bradley looked at his men and instructed them, ¡°Take good care of Mr. Searle.¡± The men in ck went up and surrounded Jasper securely. ¡°Bradley, let me save Tinkerbell, please! I promise I won¡¯t run away again. I¡¯ll save Felix.¡± Esther begged Bradley, trying to stir thest bit of his sympathy. Unfortunately, her voice only fueled his rage when he heard her. There was only nk bloodthirst on his handsome face as he impatiently sealed Esther¡¯s mouth with yellow tape. He also wrapped her hands and feet with tape to prevent her from running off. Bradley tossed her to the backseat and tied her up with the seatbelt before pulling out his phone. ¡°Get the operation ward ready. Operate on Felix as soon as I arrive.¡± The car sped toward the hospital without care. Esther closed her eyes in despair¡­ ¡®Tinkerbell, hold it out a bit more! ¡®Mommy will save you! ¡®Wait for me!¡¯ The car came to a stop in front of the hospital, and Bradley pulled Esther out to hand her over to the doctor and nurses. Without Bradley¡¯s instruction, no medical professional in the hospital dared free Esther of her restraints. Esther was still tied up when she was sent into the preparation room. After all the prep work was done, she was then sent to the operation ward. Bradley, who hadpletely disinfected himself, entered wearing a sterile surgical gown. His gentle gaze fell on another operation theater, where Felix was under anesthesia. Esther¡¯s bone marrow waspatible with Felix, meaning the boy could bid farewell to being sick from then on. He could run, skip, and go to preschool like a regr kid. Bradley would raise him into the most outstanding heir of the Warner Group, so his grandfather would rest in peace knowing it. On the other side, Esther looked at Bradley pleadingly as she struggled in the operation theater. The doctors and nurses could not quiet her down. Bradley approached her and looked down at the girl, who was like a helpless beast. He tore the tape off her mouth. Esther spoke up quickly. ¡°Bradley! Tinkerbell¡¯s just a child. What wrong has she done!?¡± Bradley squeezed her lower jaw. His answer was a soft murmur, but it was disheartening. ¡°She¡¯s your daughter. It¡¯s an original sin she carries!¡± Esther stubbornly wanted to tell him the truth about their daughters to try and rouse his feelings. ¡°Bradley, Tinkerbell has acute leukemia. She has to be operated on at once or she¡¯ll die! ¡°Please, Bradley, I beg you! Let me go! ¡°She¡¯s your daug¡ª¡± Bradley choked Esther¡¯s neck once more until she could not make another sound. The surgical shadowlessmp shone on Esther¡¯s face, making her look paler while her eyes brimmed with sorrow that stunned Bradley. He could not help loosening his hold on her neck. ¡°Another word of nonsense, and I¡¯ll kill those b*stards right now!¡± Esther used the promise you can ask me anything as long as she¡¯s safe. ¡°I¡¯ll donate my bone marrow to Felix, Bradley, trust me. I¡¯ll really donate it to him.¡± Bradley felt the irony when he heard Felix¡¯s name leaving Esther¡¯s lips. ¡°How does the b*stard you gave birth to worth beingpared to my son?¡± Tears of despair welled in Esther¡¯s eyes. She cried helplessly, ¡°Bradley, Tinkerbell¡¯s really your daughter¡­ Why don¡¯t you believe it?¡± ¡°You really could say anything just to save that little b*stard, huh?¡± Bradley mocked her. He did not want to listen to her lies anymore and taped her mouth again. ¡°Tie her down.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± The nurses restrained Esther, who kept struggling to the operation theater right in front of Bradley. The moment Esther was tied down, she lost hope. Her eyes were tearful as she looked at Bradley, who donned the gown. The anesthesiologist had prepared the anesthetic and was going to inject Esther when Bradley went over and told him, ¡°Give it to me.¡± Esther struggled with pained sobs on the table, her tearful, desperate eyes pleading. ¡®Bradley, no! ¡®Don¡¯t! ¡®Tinkerbell¡¯s still waiting for me! Our daughter¡¯s still waiting for me to save her!¡¯ Bradley looked at Esther, who still wanted to break free despite being tied up in the operation theater. His surgical glove-d hand grabbed her fragile neck forcefully, forcing her to look at his cold eyes as he told her cruelly, ¡°Esther Quill, it¡¯s your blessing to be able to save my son.¡± He let go with that and mercilessly pushed the syringe of anesthetic into Esther with a nk face. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Esther¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred as she stared at Bradley¡¯s back when he left. She gritted her teeth. The pain gave her a moment of consciousness, and blood dripped from the corner of her mouth following the tape. A tear slowly slid into her hair from the corner of her eye. It was resentment that supported her as she clearly felt the cold needle push into her bone marrow¡­ Under the anesthetic effect, the pair of resentful eyes finally closed in helplessness, indignation, and despair. Bradley held his chest tightly the moment he left the operation ward. He felt as if his heart was stabbed by hundreds and thousands of needles. Esther¡¯s frenzied words echoed in his mind, and he turned around abruptly to look at the tightly shut doors of the operation ward. He pulled out his phone and instructed hastily, ¡°Cole, get the samples of the twins at Sunflower Welfare to do a paternity test with me right now.¡± Cole did not understand why Bradley wanted to do that, but he replied respectfully anyway, ¡°Okay.¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Bradley thought of Esther¡¯s hateful eyes on the table and snickered. He must have lost his mind! He had never even touched Esther-how could she carry his children? Asexual reproduction!? He fished out his phone again to send Cole a text. [No need to do it.] He had nearly swayed because of the crazy woman¡¯s words. Esther was crazy enough to harm his grandfather. She could definitely lie through her teeth in order to save the b*stards. Those b*stards could never be his children! Bradley suppressed the agitation and looked at Felix in the operation ward. His thin lips were pressed into a line, and his clenched jaw hinted at his anxiousness. His tall body tensed like a string pulled taut as if he would break anytime. The digits of the clock on the wall of the operation ward kept blinking. Everyone in the operating ward looked grim as they did their best toplete the difficult operation. Everyone only had the same thought-the surgery must be sessful. Cole looked at Bradley¡¯s text on his phone and was conflicted for a few seconds before he went to the hospital where Tinkerbell was in. Since Bradley suspected her birth, a paternity test would solve the mystery. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Searle.¡± Cole respectfully greeted Jasper, whose forehead was dressed with gauze. Jasper nced at him coldly and scoffed. ¡°What? Bradley sent you here to check if I¡¯m dead?¡± Cole exined awkwardly, ¡°You must be joking. Mr. Warner was worried about Mr. Felix. I believe you¡¯d understand a father¡¯s love for his son¡­¡± Jasper snorted and ignored Cole. Instead, he looked at Tinkerbell, whom the doctors were trying to save. ¡°Cole, Esther says that Tinkerbell¡¯s her and Bradley¡¯s child. Do you believe it?¡± Cole looked shocked, wondering if that was true. Jasper¡¯s gazended on Tinkerbell¡¯s lifeless face, and he said slowly, ¡°I believe it. You and I both know how much Esther loved Bradley. Mr. Thomas knew it too. He didn¡¯t believe that she would cheat on him till his death. Do you believe that she¡¯d betray him?¡± Cole looked at Tinkerbell, who was dying, and thought of twins he had personally carried out of prison back then. It was a pair of newborns, and he had personally handed them to the director of Sunflower Welfare. The director had reassured him that she would raise them well. These five years, Cole had made time to visit them, aside from regrly sending money and items to the welfare home. What if the twins were indeed Bradley and Esther¡¯s daughters? How could he live with all that Thomas had done for him? No, if Esther had carried Bradley¡¯s children, why hadn¡¯t she pleaded with him in court back then? Why hadn¡¯t she told the truth? Tinkerbell¡¯s emergency care came to a stop in the emergency ward. The pediatrician approached Jasper with his mask. ¡°Mr. Searle, Tinkerbell¡¯s not doing great. Her organs are showing signs of failure¡­¡± Jasper asked in shock, ¡°She has acute leukemia, right? Why is organ failure happening so fast!?¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°The patient¡¯s condition changes rapidly.¡± The pediatrician was quiet momentarily before saying heavily, ¡°As doctors, we can¡¯t be certain how the illness will progress next, either. I suggest seeking a the better.¡± ¡°Run a detailed test on me.¡± Jasper volunteered. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get the nurse to do it for you now.¡¯ Jasper held the doctor¡¯s hand sincerely and pleaded, ¡°No matter how much money or the price, please save her. You have to save her.¡± Cole watched as Jasper left with the nurse. He could not move a step as his legs felt so heavy. ¡°Doctor, can I go in and see her?¡± Cole could barely imagine that the cutie pie who called him ¡°Uncle Cole¡± so sweetly would be lying on the cold hospital bed like this. ¡°Yeah.¡± Cole entered the emergency ward. Tinkerbell was hooked up with various tubes from various machines that were beeping gratingly. Cole observed her face seriously. Perhaps Jasper¡¯s words were hinting. He actually recognized some simrities with Bradley through Tinkerbell¡¯s features. He hesitated but ultimately stroked Tinkerbell¡¯s head and took some of her hair. When he left the ward, he told the nurse, ¡°Please do a bone marrow match test for me too.¡± The nurse was delightfully surprised. ¡°Sure, pleasee with me.¡± Jasper met Cole again when they were both going to be tested. There was a wash of worry on Jasper¡¯s handsome face as he said, ¡°Cole, you should know that direct family members have bigger chances in surgeries like a bone marrow transnt. I suggest you persuade your Mr. Bradley here for a test. Even if he doesn¡¯t love Esther, the kid is innocent.¡± As Bradley¡¯s assistant, Cole was naturally biased toward Bradley. ¡°Mr. Searle, you must be kidding. We can¡¯t even be sure if Tinkerbell¡¯s Mr. Warner¡¯s daughter.¡± Jasper scoffed and uttered, ¡°Cole, people might lie, but not data. The paternity test will tell you the truth whether Tinkerbell is Bradley and Esther¡¯s daughter.¡± Cole had already retrieved Tinkerbell¡¯s hair, but he said without letting anything slip, ¡°Mr. Searle, I¡¯m just an assistant. I can¡¯t decide anything for Mr. Warner. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ry everything you said tonight to him.¡± After Cole was done with the tests, he returned to the private hospital under the Warner Group that Felix was in from People¡¯s Hospital. Felix and Esther were currently in operation. Bradley, who was always busy, had put aside all his work to wait outside the hospital¡¯s operation ward. ¡°Mr. Warner,¡± Cole greeted respectfully. ¡°I brought you and Ms. Anstey some food.¡± Liliane shook her head in worry. ¡°I don¡¯t have an appetite.¡± No one knew what was happening in the surgery ward, and Bradley had no idea how Felix was doing. He would be uninterested even if a luxurious feast was presented to him now. ¡°Mr. Warner, Ms. Anstey, Mr. Felix¡¯s recovery after the surgery is crucial. You should have some in order to take care of him better.¡± Bradley turned to Liliane, seated on the bench, and tried to persuade her softly. ¡°Liliane, go have some food.¡¯ ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll eat for Felix.¡± If it were not to keep up her act, Liliane would not have waited outside the operation ward for so long. She pretended to look worried as she passed by Cole with the food. Once she returned to the hospital ward, she discarded all pretenses and revealed her triumphant and brazen self. Bradley had promised to marry her after Felix¡¯s surgery, and the boy would lose his value by then. She was tired of acting like a considerate wife and loving mother for over four years! As for Esther, she was a piece of trash! She was given a hand to escape, yet Bradley had still caught and brought her back! What a pity! Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Liliane had assumed she could get rid of Esther and Felix in one go, but it was fine, though. There was no guarantee that Felix would survive after the surgery. Liliane enjoyed the delicious food while she scrolled through her phone and nned how to best maximize her gains from Felix¡¯s death. ¡®Dear Felix, don¡¯t me me for being brutal. me yourself for being Esther¡¯s son!¡± A beep indicated that Liliane had received a text on her phone. She only took a nce, and the device dropped to the floor with a thud. She picked it up in a fluster and repeatedly verified the number that had texted her. The person who had helped her frame Esther five years ago was back again!? Chapter 17 Chapter 17 The light above the door of the operation ward finally turned from red to green. In his surgical gown, the top-ss surgeon approached Bradley and said in delight, ¡°Mr. Warner, Mr. Felix¡¯s surgery is a sess. His recovery follows after this. If all goes well, he can go back to living a normal life.¡± Bradley, who had been having butterflies in his stomach, finally felt relieved. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Cole, reward all the medical personnel involved in the operation with an additional one-year bonus.¡± Cole replied, ¡°Yes, sir.¡± There was a wash of joy in Bradley¡¯s eyes. He looked at Felix in the room through the ss and asked, ¡°When can I go in and see him?¡± ¡°After 72 hours.¡± Bradley nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll leave him to you then.¡± As for Esther, who was in the surgery ward, Bradley did not even have it in him to spare her a nce. Now that Felix¡¯s surgery was a sess, she had lost her value. ¡°Cole, inform thepany¡¯s finance department to give every employee a three-month bonus.¡¯ ¡°Yes, sir,¡± answered Cole. ¡± Bradley left the hospital ward in strides. He was going to the cemetery to tell the good news to his grandfather. After Bradley left, Cole was responsible for sending Esther to her hospital ward from the operation ward. He took some hair from her and gauze with Felix¡¯s blood before he headed to the hospital¡¯sb test department. ¡°Mr. Johnston, what can I help you with?¡± the head of the department asked politely. Cole passed the samples he had individually prepared to the man and said seriously, ¡°Run these samples for a paternity test.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± the head of the department agreed without hesitation. ¡°When will the result be out?¡± asked Cole. ¡°Usually, 72 hours is a minimum, even if it¡¯s expedited. But I¡¯ll try to get you the result within 24 hours.¡± The head of the department knew that Cole was Bradley¡¯s right-hand man, so he naturally wanted to curry favor with him. ¡°Please keep this confidential,¡± said Cole. After thinking something was off, he added, ¡°Do the test yourself. I want nothing to go wrong.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Ten hours after the surgery, Esther finally woke up. When she opened her eyes, she saw the white fluorescent light on the ceiling and smelled the stinging scent of antiseptic. She feltpletely drained of energy. She did her best to support herself up, but her whole body was soft and limp. Esther bit the tip of her tongue and tasted blood in her mouth. Her foggy mind due to the anesthesia regained a brief moment of rity. She took out her phone from the bedside cab and realized its battery had run out, so she could only struggle to look for the adapter and charge it. Once it was charged, she called Jasper right away. ¡°Jasper, where are you? How¡¯s Tinkerbell?!¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Jasper¡¯s anguished voice came from the phone. ¡°Esther, you finally called. The doctor says that Tinkerbell¡¯s organs are showing signs of failure. Come over now¡­¡± There was a hint of a sob in Jasper¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯ll be toote otherwise.¡± Esther had just gone through surgery, and the anesthesia¡¯s effect had yet to wear out, but she was already greeted with such cruel news. Without any hesitation, she pulled off the needles and cables on her and stumbled out of the hospital ward, disregarding that she was still in a patient gown. She rushed to the elevator with a stagger. ¡°Esther Quill, where are you going?¡± The nurse on duty put herself in front of Esther as she cried frantically, ¡°You¡¯ve just gone through surgery. You have to take a good rest¡­¡± ¡°I have no time. Move away.¡± ¡± Esther pushed the nurse off and dashed into the elevator. As she leaned against the smooth wall inside, she panted harshly. The other patients and their families in the elevator avoided her, assuming she was a psychiatric patient. Esther could care less about what they thought. She just wanted to see her daughter in the hospital as soon as she could. She rushed out of the hospital building with a stumble, and Cole saw from afar how sickly she was, like she would faint at any time. He hurried to her and held her arm, asking in concern, ¡°Madam, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Cole!¡± Esther grabbed his arm and pleaded, ¡°Can you send me to People¡¯s Hospital right now?¡± Cole immediately realized that she wanted to go see Tinkerbell. Without a second thought, he agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll send you there now.¡± He helped the extremely weak Esther toward the car park, but they saw Bradley in their way just as they arrived at the elevator. ¡°Cole, you¡¯re my special assistant.¡± Bradley¡¯s handsome face was icy and merciless. Chills ran down Cole¡¯s spine. ¡°Mr. Warner, Madam-¡± ¡°Madam?¡± Bradley smirked mockingly. ¡°Her?¡± He brushed past Cole and Esther gracefully but said ruthlessly, ¡°Cole, three seconds¡­¡± Esther was afraid that she would cost Cole his job and struggled to pull her arm from thetter¡¯s hold as she thanked him weakly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Without looking back, she dragged her fatigued body toward the hospital exit. Cole hurried to catch up to Bradley and exined on Esther¡¯s behalf, ¡°Mr. Warner, the kid from the welfare home has acute leukemia. Her organs are failing¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s expression was impassive, not at all caring about Esther¡¯s pitiful state or Tinkerbell¡¯s life and death. Esther finally hailed a cab by the road and arrived at the hospital. ¡°Esther, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Jasper received Esther at the hospital lobby, who looked like she would pass out any second. Esther could care less about how weak she felt as she gripped Jasper¡¯s hand and pleaded, ¡°Jasper, take me to the doctor, please. I can go for a more detailed test now. I can proceed with the surgery at any time.¡± Jasper held Esther and advised her in worry, ¡°Esther, I know you¡¯re anxious, but we should trust the doctor now that Tinkerbell¡¯s in the hospital.¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. If he had not been holding Esther, she might just faint at any time. Fortunately, Jasper spotted a wheelchair rental and rented one for Esther, considering her weakness. He then wheeled her to the floor, where Tinkerbell¡¯s ward was. As soon as they got out of the elevator, they saw doctors and nurses sprint toward Tinkerbell¡¯s room Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Jasper wheeled Esther to the hospital ward and saw the medical professionals wheeling Tinkerbell off for emergency care. Esther grabbed the doctor¡¯s hand and begged, ¡°Doctor, I¡¯m Tinkerbell¡¯s mother. My bone marrow surely matches. Please, please operate on my daughter right now.¡± The doctor pried her hand away and hurried off without a word. Jasper held Esther¡¯s shoulders and told her sadly, ¡°Esther, I¡¯ll take you to the nurse now for a detailed test. Let¡¯s not keep the doctor from saving Tinkerbell.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Esther was brought to the nurse, and thetter immediately saw the scattered marks from having blood drawn on her arm. She took a nce at how weak Esther looked and said seriously, ¡°Ma¡¯am, we can understand your feelings, but your current state can¡¯t support you through this surgery at all.¡± This was a public government hospital with dutiful and ethical doctors who would not turn a blind eye to the patient¡¯s condition. ¡°Please, I beg you to run the test on me first. Please!¡± Jasper pleaded for Esther from the side as well. ¡°Miss, the patient is her daughter. Please understand a mother¡¯s heart. Let her do the test first. If it¡¯s a match, we can do the transnt when her body allows it.¡± The nurse took a look at Esther meaningfully. With Tinkerbell falling ill, Jasper had been upied attending to it, and now he was so close to Esther, so the nurse naturally assumed that they were a married couple. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you took care of your kid. How could you wait till she is this ill to send her to the hospital? You¡¯repletely unqualified to be her parents.¡± The nurse followed the procedure and took Esther¡¯s blood to send it forb tests. After Esther had her blood taken, Jasper pushed her wheelchair outside of the operation ward. As Jasper saw her dried lips and extremely weak state, he texted his men to send some easy-to-digest food. Tinkerbell was still being treated in the operation ward, while Esther¡¯s test result was not out yet. At the moment, each second was torture to Esther. Jasper could not help feeling bad seeing her teary eyes and told her softly, ¡°Esther, close your eyes for a short break. You¡¯ve found Tinkerbell now. It won¡¯t be long until you get to spend quality time together.¡± A tear slid off the corner of Esther¡¯s eye. When the nurses wheeled Tinkerbell for emergency care, she immediately saw Tinkerbell¡¯s adorable face she was so cute and obedient. She was such a wonderful child, but why¡­ why she has to suffer from this? ¡®I¡¯m the one who has done wrong. I¡¯m the one who loved the wrong person. ¡®If I have to pay the price for that, why is it my daughter who is suffering? ¡®Why is it my daughter who has to bear the oue?¡¯ Esther thought bitterly to herself. Her heart ached so much that she could barely breathe. She thumped her chest and sobbed heartbrokenly. ¡®Bradley Warner, how could you be so ruthless? ¡®You can hate me and begrudge me. Why must you be so cruel to sneak my children away just as they were born and lie to me that they were dead? ¡®Felix isn¡¯t your only child. ¡®Pixie and Tinkerbell are your children, too. ¡®They aren¡¯t just my daughters. They¡¯re your kids! ¡®Why don¡¯t you believe me? ¡®Why don¡¯t you? ¡®Why!?¡¯ Jasper patted Esther¡¯s back gently with an anguished look.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 The doors to the operation ward opened. Jasper wheeled Esther to the doctor. ¡°Doctor, Tinkerbell¡­¡± The doctor shook his head grimly. ¡°We¡¯ve done our best. Our condolences.¡± Esther questioned in shock, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Condolences? What did he mean? She sprang out from the wheelchair, aggressive like she had never been, as she clutched the doctor¡¯s surgical gown and questioned again tearfully, ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re supposed to save your patients! Go back now¡­ Go back and save my daughter!¡± Jasper wrapped an arm around her shoulder and coaxed her hoarsely, ¡°Esther, calm down. The doctors have done their best.¡± ¡°No! No! No!¡± Esther could not believe this brutal reality. She had finally found her daughter and did not even get to hug her or tell her that she was her mother - and she was already gone! Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. This must be a nightmare! She must still be dreaming! Esther raised a hand to p herself harshly. As the loud p resounded, Jasper quickly caught her hand and sobbed. ¡°Esther, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m dreaming, right, Jasper?¡± Jasper hugged Esther, who was berserk from the news, and coaxed her like he would coax a child. ¡°Tinkerbell¡¯s still waiting for you. Experts say hearing is thest sense that remains for dying patients. ¡°You can still tell Tinkerbell that you¡¯re her mother. She can hear it. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see her, Esther.¡± Jasper kept Esther in his arms as they came to Tinkerbell, who was covered in a white cloth. Esther shakily reached out to pull a corner of the cloth off. Tinkerbell looked as if she had just fallen asleep and looked so endearing. ¡°Tinkerbell, it¡¯s Mommy. Tinkerbell, wake up. Open your eyes and look at me! ¡°Mommy¡¯s here, Tinkerbell. Mommy¡¯s taking you home. We¡¯re going home.¡± Esther bent down to carry Tinkerbell, but her current state was so bad that walking alone was an issue, let alone carrying a child. Jasper looked away and discreetly wiped his tears before patting Esther¡¯s shoulder gently. ¡°I¡¯ll be outside, Esther. Talk to Tinkerbell. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to ept something like this, but you don¡¯t just have Tinkerbell. You still have Pixie. You¡¯ve got to pull yourself together for her. ¡°Don¡¯t do silly things, Esther. I¡¯m just outside. Call for me if you need me.¡± Jasper closed the door in consideration as he left. Esther and Tinkerbell were the only two left in the spacious operation room. Esther knelt on the floor as she kept puffing air to warm Tinkerbell up. ¡°Tinkerbell, Mommy¡¯s here. Stop sleeping, okay? ¡°It¡¯s Mommy¡¯s fault. Mommy¡¯ste. You can scold me or hit me, but d-don¡¯t give me the cold shoulder. ¡°Tinkerbell, open your eyes, okay? Please, Mommy says please, open your eyes and look at me¡­ Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Jasper could still hear Esther¡¯s anguished voice through the door. His eyes were slightly reddened. He tapped on his phone contacts and found Bradley¡¯s name but left the app after a few seconds of Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. hesitation. There was no telling how long it had been since his assistant came to him with some food. ¡°Mr. Searle, I¡¯ve asked Octagon to prepare some easily digestible food ording to your instructions.¡± Jasper gestured for the assistant to put away the food. How would Esther be in the mood to eat now? He took a deep breath and pushed open the door in front of him. In the room, Esther had passed out in tears on Tinkerbell. ¡°Esther!¡± Jasper gasped and darted forward to help her up. ¡°Doctor, doctor!¡± The doctor rushed over and sent Esther away to be treated. Jasper followed them hastily while his assistant remained to take care of the rest. The morgue staff who came put Tinkerbell into a body bag, and the assistant followed them to wheel Tinkerbell to the cold locker in the morgue. After the procedures were taken care of, he then reported everything that happened to Jasper. Esther had just donated her bone marrow to Felix and did not get any rest after the surgery as she rushed to this hospital. Moreover, she was shocked by Tinkerbell¡¯s death. The various reasons had caused her to faint. The medical staff had done their best to pull her back from the verge of death, and the attending physician found Jasper to tell him about Esther¡¯s condition objectively. ¡°Mr. Searle, the patient¡¯s been malnourished for a long time and is in very bad health. She¡¯s barely holding on now. I suggest you find a slow-paced, scenic ce and a nutritionist to treat her, or at this age, she¡¯ll¡­¡± The doctor shook her head. She had been practicing for decades and had never seen any patients. waste their bodies away like her. Jasper responded instantly, ¡°Thanks, doctor. Can I see her now?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve given her some sedating medication with a nutrient IV drip. She might be sleeping for hours. 11 ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± Jasper went to the hospital ward and looked at the bony woman on the bed.. He could always remember when she was 16. Back then, he had gone back to the Searles for the first time as an illegitimate son. Everyone would bully him, but she was like an angel that had barged into his world. Both pitiful young souls sought warmth and salvation from each other. When he said that he wanted the Searles, she gave him all her allowance for his investment. When she said she loved Bradley, he made ns to fulfill her dream. Jasper took a seat and held Esther¡¯s bony hand in pain. His chest felt heavy and constricted. He took a deep breath suddenly and told his assistant to keep an eye on Esther before he drove to the Warner Group to look for Bradley, who was working at the moment. ¡°Mr. Searle, Mr. Searle! You can¡¯t go in!¡± Bradley¡¯s secretary stopped him the best she could, but it was futile. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡­ I really can¡¯t stop him.¡± Bradley nodded and coldly asked, ¡°Yes, Mr. Searle?¡± Jasper dashed to Bradley and grabbed his cor to punch him without a word. Bradley was well-trained and would never give Jasper a chance to hit him. He caught thetter¡¯s fist and mocked him. ¡°Mr. Searle, are you being angry over a woman?¡± Jasper lifted his leg to kick Bradley, and the two men started to fight. The brawl went on for over ten minutes. No one got the best of the other one, and the office was a mess. ¡°Jasper, are you done!?¡± Bradley glowered and shoved away Jasper, who was like an enraged lion. He slowly wiped the blood on the corner of his lips with his hand. ¡°For a wh-¡± Jasper did not wait for Bradley to finish, interrupting stiffly, ¡°Esther¡¯s daughter is dead! Bradley Warner, that¡¯s your daughter, too!¡± Bradley snickered. ¡°Jasper Searle, Esther¡¯s child could be any man¡¯s kid but never mine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a ruthless man!¡± Jasper¡¯s forehead was wounded. ¡°How could you be so ruthless to a woman who¡¯s liked you since she was 16!? Esther¡¯s liked you since she was 16-her diary, her dream, her everything was about you, Warner. Tell me, how could a woman who held you so dearly in her heart possibly betray you?¡± Bradley walked to his chair and sat down, crossing his legs elegantly. ¡°What are you getting at, Searle? That the video clip was made up?¡± Jasper mmed two hands on the marble table in front of Bradley and said through gritted teeth, ¡± Face-changing AI technology¡¯s so developed now. Why is it so impossible?¡± Bradley raised his brow and answered tly, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t think that I didn¡¯t verify whether the clip is real or not? My grandfather got into an ident because of that clip. I found the culprit a long time. ago. Do you know why Esther was in that room? Because the person she wanted to set up was me. But she was caught in it herself in the end.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Jasper refuted swiftly, ¡°Esther wouldn¡¯t do something like that. Warner, you¡¯ll pay the price for your arrogance one day.¡± With that, Jasper turned to leave but turned around again when he got to the door. He looked at Bradley, who had got back to work. ¡°Bradley Warner, do you know why Mr. Thomas insisted you marry Esther?¡± Bradley looked up aloofly and asked, ¡°You do?¡± Jasper was quiet for a moment before he replied slowly, ¡°I do. But you don¡¯t deserve to know the reason now. You don¡¯t deserve Esther¡¯s open and pure love for you.¡± He left after saying that. As Bradley held the pen in his hand, his thoughts werepletely disrupted because of what Jasper said. Why did his grandfather urge him to marry Esther? What was the reason? Bradley picked up his jacket and went back to Warner Manor, entering Thomas¡¯ study room straightaway. rk, the butler who had always served Thomas, was cleaning the his belongings. He asked in surprise when he saw Bradley walk in, ¡°Mr. Bradley, what can I help you with?¡± ¡°rk, why did my grandfather insist I marry Esther?¡± rk quietly picked up a book from the bookshelf and passed him a yellowed photo. When Bradley took it, he recognized that the boy in the photo was him at a nce but had no impression of the girl. ¡°Who¡¯s this girl?¡±N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Bradley had a vague answer, but he could not say it aloud in certainty. rk put on the sses hanging in front of his chest and took the photo from Bradley. He scrutinized it for some time before answering, ¡°Mr. Bradley, she¡¯s Madam. Your parents went on a business trip and were caught in an ident. It¡¯s Madam who stayed nearby who saved you on the spot. Because you witnessed your parents¡¯ death, you¡¯ve selectively forgotten the memory.¡± Bradley jolted. He stared at the girl in the photo in disbelief. She had eyes exactly like Esther¡¯s. ¡°S-So¡­¡± rk nodded and said in certainty, ¡°Sir, Madam¡¯s your savior.¡± Bradley felt like his world was flipped upside down in an unnatural silence. He had never expected the woman he hated and resented to be his childhood savior. ¡°W-Why¡­ didn¡¯t you all tell me?¡± asked Bradley. rk shook his head wryly and exined, ¡°You didn¡¯t even have that piece of memory. Telling you the truth would only add to your pain for nothing. You got to know Madam far earlier than you thought. Whatever happened, she saved your life. Please stop holding grudges against her. I also don¡¯t believe that she¡¯s the one behind Mr. Thomas¡¯ passing.¡± rk¡¯s every word prated Bradley¡¯s mind like a needle. He felt a splitting headache as much as misery. He did not know it. He did not know that Esther was his savior. If he had known, would he not have treated her that way? If he had not been so impassive and ruthless to her, would the many tragedies after that not have happened? ¡°rk, I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Bradley denied the photo rk produced after he calmed down. He had no memory of it. Technology was so advanced now. He could produce hundreds and thousands of simr photos if he wanted to. Just one photo could not represent anything. rk then retrieved a thumb drive and yed its content on the study¡¯s projector. It was a surveince recording. A Mercedes-Benz flipped several times in the air and dropped to the ground. Fuel leaked from the back of the car, and a hand stretched out from the inside of it. A girl ran over from a distance and bravely pulled a boy out of the vehicle. Just when the two of them tried stopping cars by the road to ask the driver for help, the car exploded. The boy who was closer to the car bore the brunt of the explosion and passed out from the force while. the girl used all her might to drag the boy to the side. At the same time, passing cars finally stopped. ago, Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Sir, this is the surveince recording clip Mr. Thomas got from the police. It was a long time and the resolution¡¯s not very high, but you can still see that it¡¯s you in the video,¡± rk said and paused for a moment before saying slowly, ¡°I have nothing to say if you still want to deny it.¡± As if a masochist, Bradley watched the surveince clip again and again. He tried to spot traces of editing in the video and tried to tell himself that the brave little girl was not Esther. Despite that, it was in vain, ¡°Sir, you probably now understand why Mr. Thomas¡¯ will is written like that.¡± Bradley only tasted a bitter taste in his mouth. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Bradley had never imagined that he and Esther had crossed paths 20 years ago. rk did not say anything and just looked at him in silence. Bradley stood up. The moment he left the study, he pulled out his phone to call Jasper. ¡°Jasper, which hospital is Esther in?¡± Jasper sat next to Esther in People¡¯s Hospital ward with the injuries he suffered from his brawl with Bradley. When he saw the iing call on his screen, he answered it and slowly walked to the balcony. ¡°Mr. Warner, as you wish, Esther¡¯s half dead now. If youe now, you might be in time to collect her corpse.¡± Jasper¡¯s tone was menacing and mocking. Bradley hung up without a word and called Cole. ¡°Cole, which hospital is Esther in?¡± ¡°People¡¯s Hospital.¡± By the time Bradley drove to the junction in front of People¡¯s Hospital, he received Liliane¡¯s call. ¡°Brad, Felix¡¯s awake! Felix woke up!¡± Bradley, who had nned to see Esther, asked his chauffeur to turn to the Warner Group¡¯s private hospital without hesitation when he received Liliane¡¯s call. Jasper stood on the balcony and took a deep breath before returning to Esther¡¯s side. Esther, who was on the bed, cried in her dream. Jasper patted her arm and called out softly, ¡°Esther. Esther, wake up¡­¡± Esther was startled awake from her nightmare. She looked at Jasper in tears and sobbed. ¡°Jasper, I N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. had such a scary nightmare. I dreamed that Tinkerbell died.¡± Jasper turned away quietly when he heard that so Esther would not see his reddened eyes. Esther immediately recognized that Tinkerbell¡¯s death was not a dream from his reaction. Her daughter¡­ Her daughter, whom she had yet to reunite with, had died right before her eyes. ¡°Esther, I know that Tinkerbell¡¯s death is hard to ept, but it has already happened. We have to be brave and look forward. ¡°Tinkerbell isn¡¯t with us anymore, but Pixie is still here. I¡¯ll look for her with you and rpense everything Tinkerbell didn¡¯t get to have to her. ¡°And Tinkerbell grew up in the welfare home. She never got to know what a princess life is like. Esther, if that incident didn¡¯t happen, Tinkerbell would have been the apple of your and Bradley¡¯s eyes. ¡°We should give her a nice funeral now and let her say goodbye to this world like a princess.¡± When Esther heard that, an unprecedented feeling of hatred shot up from the bottom of her heart. She pulled the IV drip off her wrist in front of Jasper, not caring that blood was dripping to the floor from where she was pierced with the needle. She ran barefoot toward the morgue. ¡°Esther!¡± Jasper gave chase and saw Esther finding Tinkerbell in the morgue. She did not care that the staff was stopping her as she forcefully hugged Tinkerbell in her arms. ¡°Jasper, I want to see Bradley. I want to prove to him that Tinkerbell¡¯s really his daughter!¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Jasperforted Esther when he saw her hugging Tinkerbell¡¯s remains. ¡°Esther, you just need a paternity test to prove it to Bradley.¡¯ ¡± Esther was in grief, but her eyes were roaring with hatred. ¡°No! I want Bradley to see Tinkerbell with his own eyes, to see that it¡¯s him-he¡¯s the one who caused her death. He killed our daughter! Jasper, help me! Help me!¡± Jasper would never reject Esther¡¯s request. Holding his tears back, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you. Of course, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Esther was brimming with destructive hatred. She hated Bradley¡¯s mercilessness so much. She hated that he pinned her to the operation theater personally. If he had not been so cruelst night, perhaps Tinkerbell would not have died as long as she made it to the hospital. He killed Tinkerbell. It was Bradley, Tinkerbell¡¯s biological father, who killed her with his own hands. Esther could not let Tinkerbell leave this world alone. She wanted Bradley to know the truth-she wanted him in as much pain as she was in! She wanted¡­ She wanted him to regret Tinkerbell¡¯s death for life! Esther wanted to leave with Tinkerbell, but she was weak, and her legs did not have even an ounce of strength in them. Before she even took a step, the morgue staff stopped her. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m sorry. You can¡¯t leave with her yet.¡± Esther questioned with anguished tears, ¡°I¡¯m her blood mother. Why can¡¯t I leave with her?¡± The morgue staff member, who was already used to life and death, did not let her leave out of pity just because of what she said. Instead, he answered almost emotionlessly, ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make things difficult for us. This is the hospital rule.¡± Jasper filled in a check on the spot and passed it to the employee discreetly. ¡°Who can leave with her then?¡± ¡°The child¡¯s legal guardian.¡± The staff nced at the check that brimmed with sincerity, and his attitude softened. ¡°You can ask the director of Sunflower Welfare here to collect her. Or go to the welfare home with the maternity test result to change the guardian to her name.¡± Jasper held Esther¡¯s shoulder and told her gently, ¡°Esther, why don¡¯t you wait for me here? I¡¯ll get the director¡­¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m already here.¡± Cam entered the morgue sadly. Two employees who wore the ID tags for the National Organ Transnt Bank stood next to her. ¡°This is Tinkerbell¡¯s birth mother whom I mentioned to you. You should talk to her about Tinkerbell¡¯s C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. cornea and heart.¡± Jasper put himself in front of Esther and asked hostilely, ¡°Madam Jenner, these are?¡± ¡°Hi, Ms. Quill. We¡¯re from the National Organ Transnt Bank.¡± The staff showed Esther their ID tags and exined patiently, ¡°Tinkerbell¡¯s heart matches one of our children. We¡¯d like to ask you to donate her heart and cornea.¡± 1 Esther shook her head in refusal swiftly. ¡°No, I¡¯m not donating.¡± Her daughter had never spent a good day while she was alive. Who was she to let her lose her heart. and cornea now? Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Ms. Quill, we can understand your grief,¡± the organ donation staff said humbly. ¡°But have you thought that if Tinkerbell managed to get a match for her bone marrow, she could get the transnt and survive? I believe that if she were still alive, she¡¯d want to save her peers too-¡± Before the employee could finish, Esther broke down in tears. Yeah, her Tinkerbell was so kind -so kind that she thought that she was there to adopt a child and repeatedly reminded her not to adopt a sick child like her. Her Tinkerbell was so kind, but why were the heavens so cruel? It was her fault. Why must she listen to the director? Why did she not tell Tinkerbellst night that she was not there to adopt a child? She was there specifically to see her because she was her mother. Jasper nced at Cam, and thetter cleared her throat before speaking assertively. ¡°Ms. Quill, before the maternity test result is out, I¡¯m still Tinkerbell¡¯s guardian, and I have the right to agree to donate her heart and cornea. I didn¡¯t do so because I empathize with your grief as a mother. ¡°Tinkerbell¡¯s your daughter. We can understand what you feel. But put yourself in another perspective. If Tinkerbell were to find a match, but the other party wasn¡¯t willing to donate, you¡¯d plead with them, N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. right? ¡°You¡¯re a mother, and the other woman¡¯s a mother too. Your love for your daughters is the same. You all hope for your child to live healthy and safe.¡± Jasper stepped in front of Esther once more and scowled at the director and the staff, growling, ¡± You¡¯re forcing her!¡± The organ donation staff replied seriously, ¡°Mr. Searle, it¡¯s not that we¡¯re forcing her, but the heart won¡¯t be able to save anyone if we wait any longer! We¡­ We¡¯re doing this for a sliver of hope for the girl.¡± ¡°I¡­ I agree.¡± Esther gave in. She agreed to donate the organs because she knew how kind her Tinkerbell was. If Tinkerbell were still alive, she would hope that her cornea and heart could save other children too. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Quill. I thank you on behalf of the girl as well.¡± The organ donation staff was delighted. The teary-eyed Esther looked up and asked shakily, ¡°Can I know to whom my daughter¡¯s heart- ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Organ donation remains confidential to both parties.¡± The staff rejected her request coldly. Jasper added, ¡°We just want to know who used the heart. We promise we won¡¯t disturb their lives.¡± ¡°We have the duty to keep it confidential for the recipient.¡± The staff remained fair and formal. Esther had looked up information about leukemia when she discovered that Tinkerbell had it. One of the aspects was organ donation, so she knew that donations like the kidney or heart were kept undisclosed. Although she would never know whose chest Tinkerbell¡¯s heart would beat in, she weakly urged them to proceed with the surgery. ¡°Alright.¡± The medical personnel took Tinkerbell¡¯s heart and cornea away for the organ donation. The maternity test result was yet to be produced, so Esther currently did not have the right to sign the donation agreement. It was Cam who did it. Cam looked at Esther, seated on the bench outside the operation ward, and asked in worry, doesn¡¯t look okay. Mr. Searle, you should seek a psychologist to help her.¡± ¡°She Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Jasper looked up aloofly. ¡°Sign the paper, and Tinkerbell will be ours then.¡± ¡°Mr. Searle, it¡¯s not how things work,¡± Cam replied stiffly. Jasper retorted, ¡°Rules are dead, and people aren¡¯t. We¡¯ll give you the maternity test result once it¡¯s out, and mywyer will take care of the rest of the procedures.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Cam answered and checked her watch for the time. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now. My condolences to both of you.¡± After a long moment, Jasper slowly sat beside Esther and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ve talked to Madam Jenner. We can take Tinkerbell now!¡± ¡°I can take her to see Bradley now?¡± asked Esther. Jasper answered softly and sadly, ¡°Yes, but you can¡¯t carry Tinkerbell back now since they just operated on her. I¡¯ll ask my secretary to order her a customized coffin. What do you think?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Esther¡¯s heart throbbed in pain. ¡°Choose the best.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll also ask my secretary to buy a beautiful dress for Tinkerbell, and you wear it for herter, okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± answered Esther. Jasper walked off with his phone to call his secretary while Esther stared at the lit-up sign above the operation ward doors. Taking her heart out was not aplicated surgery, so the light went off in less than half an hour. The doctor came out and told Esther, ¡°I thank you and Tinkerbell on behalf of the child.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Esther stood up mechanically, like an emotionless statue, and asked, ¡°Can I take her home now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When Esther entered the room, it was empty and silent. Tinkerbell¡¯s thin body was covered with a piece of white cloth. Esther pulled a corner of it away to reveal the girl¡¯s quiet face. She could no longer hold her tears back. Droplets of tears fell on Tinkerbell¡¯s face. Jasper came to her with a paper bag. ¡°Esther, a princess dress, crystal shoes, and a tiara are in the bag. Put them on Tinkerbell.¡± Esther epted the bag with shaky hands and sobbed. ¡°Okay.¡± 2 Jasper was a man and was not rted to Tinkerbell, so he left the room without Esther¡¯s reminder. Esther carefully put away the cloth on Tinkerbell. She could see the wound left by the surgery on her easily. After the doctor had taken her heart, he had patiently stitched the wound up and dressed it in gauze to prevent blood from seeping. Esther could not help tearing up in heartache again. She opened the paper bag and retrieved an Elsa dress that all little girls loved to wear for Tinkerbell clumsily. It was her first time dressing a child, and she was not familiar with it. Just one dress and she was already soaked in sweat. She gently put Tinkerbell back on the operation table and put the crystal shoes on her. They fit just nicely. Finally, she pulled ab from the paper bag andbed the girl¡¯s hair. ¡°Tinkerbell, I¡¯m mommy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve told youst night that I¡¯m your mother. ¡°I¡¯m not a mommy who¡¯s adopting you. I¡¯m your real mommy. ¡°I¡¯m too stupid and naive. I didn¡¯t know you two are still alive. If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t let you two suffer so much. ¡°Tinkerbell, don¡¯t be scared of the cold. Mommy will be with you very soon. ¡°Mommy will stay with you forever. No one will separate us again.¡¯ Esther kept talking to Tinkerbell as shebed her a pretty princess hairstyle. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Esther then lightly ced the diamond tiara Jasper had brought over on Tinkerbell. Jasper knocked on the door and asked, ¡°Esther, can Ie in now?¡± Esther was happy with Tinkerbell¡¯s appearance, and her gaze on the girl was incredibly tender. ¡°Yes.¡± Jasper came in with a pink coffin. ¡°Esther, do you want to do it, or should I?¡± Esther carried Tinkerbell up and gently ced her in the pink coffin as if the action took everything from her. The coffin was not a big one, and it was pink in color. There were beautiful hand paintings inside of it, while the outside was embedded with gems and extravagant embossment. After securely cing Tinkerbell in the coffin, Esther smoothed down her hair and dress before adjusting her tiara. ¡°Also¡­¡± Jasper handed an envelope to Esther. ¡°Your maternity test result with Tinkerbell is out.¡± Esther took the envelope and flipped through the result swiftly. She went to thest page impatiently. The number stated there was a 99.99% match. This meant that Tinkerbell was her daughter. ¡°Tinkerbell, I¡¯ll take you to see daddy, okay?¡± She was Bradley¡¯s daughter. He should know of her existence, and he should know that it was due to his callousness that she died. He should be responsible for her death! Esther clutched the maternity test result and kissed between Tinkerbell¡¯s eyes tearfully. ¡°The car¡¯s ready. Let¡¯s go.¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Jasper closed the coffin and left the hospital with it and Esther. They took the hearse to the private hospital under the Warner Group. The hospital¡¯s employees were happy today since Bradley¡¯s son had a sessful surgery. The man was delighted and gave everyone a bonus. The hearse stopped in front of the hospital, and Jasper stepped into the lobby with Esther as he pushed the coffin with him. ¡°Mr. Searle, this is?¡± Cole rushed over once he received the news to try and stop what they were doing. Esther, who was white as a sheet, looked at him without much hope for life. ¡°Cole, I want to see Bradley. Ask him to see me!¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡± Cole¡¯s heart dropped for no reason when he saw Jasper pushing the pink coffin. Did Tinkerbell die? ¡°What is this for?¡± Felix¡¯s surgery was a sess, and Bradley was in a good mood. Why would Esther pop in at this moment to¡­ annoy him? ¡°Cole, tell Bradley Warner that if he doesn¡¯te and see me¡­¡± Esther¡¯s eyes were glistening with hatred. ¡°I¡¯ll make him regret it for life!¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Esther gripped her fists. If Bradley did note to see her, she wanted his and Liliane¡¯s son to die with Tinkerbell. ¡°Madam¡­¡± Cole sighed. He did not expect Tinkerbell, who had been lively and fine, to be gone so soon either. ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll call Mr. Warner.¡± The clients of this private hospital under the Warner Group were either rich or influential. Although Esther had spent five years in prison, most people could still recognize that she was the main character of that wedding of the century back then, and that she was also the woman Bradley had personally sent to prison five years ago. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. They were curious, probing, and confused as they looked at Esther and the mini coffin next to her. Esther put a hand on the lid of Tinkerbell¡¯s coffin as if the girl would give her strength somehow. Cole called Bradley to tell him about the situation in the lobby. Thetter paused, and a glimpse of panic shed in his eyes, Many people moved about in the hospital lobby, but Esther remained unfazed as the people scanned her and took videos of her. With a ¡°ding¡± from the elevator, Bradley walked to Esther in long, hurried strides, looking moody. Ever since he discovered that Esther had saved his life, he could no longer be as determined and cold to her when facing her. ¡°Esther, you-¡± Esther did not give him a chance to speak as she threw the maternity test result in her hand on his face. With reddened eyes, she questioned, ¡°Bradley Warner, how does it feel killing your own child?¡± Bradley caught the test result with both hands and flipped to thest page. He scowled and asked impassively, ¡°You still think that those b*stards are mine?¡± ¡°Tinkerbell is your daughter!¡± Esther cried in anger and resentment. ¡°Do a paternity test!¡± Bradley looked at the pitiful state Esther was in and could not help recalling the young Esther, who was so small yet so incredibly brave in the surveince recording. ¡°Will you stop fussing as long as I go through with the paternity test?¡± Bradley gave in in the face of his savior. ¡°Yes, do the paternity test, and Tinkerbell and I will never disturb you again.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes were cold, and his tensed jaw brimmed with indescribable intimidation. ¡°As you wish.¡± He turned around promptly, and in that instant, his back and the back Esther saw in the operation ward ovepped. Last night, he had been this cruel and cold as he robbed her of her freedom and forced her to donate her bone marrow to Felix. If it were not for him¡­ Tinkerbell might not have died! Tidal waves of hatred devoured Esther¡¯s rationale, and she tasted blood. She swiped at the crimson. liquid on the corner of her lips. Her pale face was barely colored, the only exception being the blood on her lips that screamed bloodthirst. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Jasper entered the elevator pushing the small coffin, following Esther and Bradley. With so many people in the elevator, the space felt crowded. Cole stood beside Bradley, at a loss. There were times he wanted to tell his boss that he had actually done the paternity test, but¡­ the result was yet to be out. It would be futile even if he told him. Moreover, Esther seemed to have be obsessed and overwhelmed by Tinkerbell¡¯s death. If she did not see the sample being taken personally, she would constantly suspect the authenticity of the test, Rather than doing it again by then, they might as well let Esther watch the sample being taken. She and Bradley could face reality together when the result was out. The group came to theb test department. The nurse took samples of blood from Bradley, Esther, and Tinkerbell. ¡°The fastest the results will be out is 24 hours.¡± Bradley threw the cotton swab with his blood into the medical waste bin and looked at Esther condescendingly. ¡°Esther, I¡¯ve done the paternity test as you wished. Do not appear before me again.¡± Esther gritted her teeth, asking hoarsely as she looked at Bradley¡¯s cold and distant face, ¡°And what if Tinkerbell¡¯s tested to be your daughter!?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯d have a delusion like this, but¡­¡± Bradley noticed that his rage was too easily stirred up by Esther and tried to tone himself down a little to talk to her more calmly. ¡°It¡¯s impossible that she¡¯s mine.¡± ¡°And if she is?!¡± Esther questioned relentlessly. Bradley¡¯s icy gaze swept across Tinkerbell¡¯s face, and he smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll give her a grand funeral then. Happy?¡± ¡°Get out! Get out!¡± roared Esther. Bradley looked at Jasper and said, ¡°Mr. Searle, she¡¯s not doing very well mentally. Get her a psychiatrist.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nobody but you who forced her to this state, Mr. Warner.¡± Jasper carefully closed the coffin lid and held Esther¡¯s hand to say softly, ¡°Esther, let¡¯s go to the funeral parlor.¡± Esther nced at Bradley hatefully and recalled his viciousness, iciness, and mercilessness. Like a lion, she sprinted to the man from his back and chomped down on his shoulder with all her might. Bradley did not move but let her bite him in venting her emotions. His feelings for her were too This woman was both his savior and his enemy. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. Esther¡¯s bite was deep as she loathed Bradley so much that she wanted to tear a piece of his flesh off him, so he felt the pain of her losing her daughter too. Blood trickled into her mouth, and she suddenly found it repulsive. Taking a step back, she spat the blood on Bradley¡¯s back. The man¡¯s white shirt was instantly stained with a stter of red. He suppressed his disgust and turned to look at Esther, who was frenzied like she was possessed. He locked his frosty eyes on her face and clenched her jaw with one hand. ¡°Have you vented enough? Done being crazy?¡± ¡ü Esther was still vengeful and lowered her head to bite on the flesh between Bradley¡¯s thumb and forefinger. The pad of Bradley¡¯s thumb rubbed her lips, which were glistening with blood, as he told her fiercely, ¡°Esther Quill, I felt the same pain five years ago! It¡¯s finally your turn now!¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Five years ago, Esther had pulled off Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask, causing him to nearly die. Thomas would have sumbed five years ago if the doctor hadn¡¯t intervened in time. Moreover, Esther¡¯s malicious actions were the cause of Thomas¡¯atose state, rendering his condition irreversible. The doctor had advised Bradley countless times, asking if he wanted his grandfather to have a dignified death, but he refused. Even if the chances were slim, he hoped that his grandfather could wake up! It was too bad that his grandfather had still passed away due to multiple organ failures. Bradley reached out with another hand to grab Esther¡¯s hair, forcing her to look into his eyes. Esther looked up abruptly and saw the pain in Bradley¡¯s cold eyes. She jolted slightly. Her teeth that were on the skin between Bradley¡¯s thumb and index finger loosened up slowly. ¡°Bradley, I didn¡¯t pull Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask five years ago!¡± Bradley sneered when he heard Esther¡¯s stubborn denial. ¡°Esther, anyone who watched that video N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. knows how malicious you are.¡± ¡°Whether you believe it or not, I¡¯m not the one who caused Grandpa Thomas¡¯ ident five years ago.¡± Despair filled Esther¡¯s eyes. The young man who had once dazzled her youth had be cruel and unpredictable. She could not help but wonder if she could start this life over again. She would never, ever fall in love with him again. The love was too bitter and painful for her to bear. ¡°Esther, are you still trying to argue at this point?¡± Bradley let go of Esther¡¯s hair as he looked at the woman in front of him with disdain. He heartlessly plunged a knife into her heart. ¡°The death of your daughter is your retribution for your wrongdoing.¡± Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s ruthless words, Esther could not help butugh. Sheughed with a slight tremble in her chest, and her beautiful eyes were tinged with a hint of redness. A tear slowly dripped. from the corner of her eye, and she seemed toe alive when she had just seemed so lifeless. ¡°Bradley Warner, everything that¡¯s happened is the retribution for me loving the wrong person,¡± Esther said and walked resolutely to Jasper¡¯s side, even giving Bradley a nce. ¡°Jasper, let¡¯s go to the funeral parlor.¡± Jasper looked deeply at Esther, who looked alive, and asked worriedly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you waiting for the paternity test result anymore?¡± ¡°No.¡± It did not matter anymore. Bradley did not love her-not five years ago and not five yearster. For a man who did not love her, it did not matter whether Tinkerbell was his daughter or not. The only person who cared about Tinkerbell was her. ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper reached out to help Esther, but she did not let him this time. ¡°I can walk.¡± Esther pushed the casket and walked step after step out of Bradley¡¯s scorching world. The moment her back disappeared from Bradley¡¯s sight, his heart suddenly twitched in pain, as if something important was about to disappearpletely from his world. ¡°Mr. Warner?¡± Cole noticed that Bradley looked a little pale and asked in concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Cole, send some flowers to the funeral.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 When Cole considered Esther¡¯s certainty, he could not help asking softly, ¡°Mr. Warner, what if Tinkerbell¡¯s really your daughter when the paternity test result is out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Bradley said and strode into the elevator. As the elevator doors slowly closed, Bradley caught his reflection on the elevator wall out of the corner of his eye. There were speckles of red on his back. He looked down at his hand and saw the clear bite mark on his purlicue. Esther hated him to the core. She was like him. They were supposed to be happy childhood sweethearts, but somehow, they had be the ones who hated each other the most in this world. Bradley had no idea that someone wearing a mask and a white robe switched out a tube of blood on the machine just five minutes after all of them left. The staff in theb did not notice this person who appeared and disappeared out of the blue either. Bradley got out of the elevator and unbuttoned his shirt slowly. He took it off as he entered the hospital ward and tossed it into theundry basket before putting on a ck silk shirt from the closet. While he buttoned it up, Liliane came in with a thermos. She saw the shirt in theundry basket right away. ¡°Brad, you got hurt?¡± she asked. Bradley nced at her tly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Soup my mom made.¡± Liliane ced the thermos on the table and rambled in exnation, ¡°My mom heard from others that one has to replenish nutrients post-surgery, so she and my father drove to the mountains to buy some pure grain-fed chickens from farmers for Felix. They even kept the chickens in our vi, and the neighbor next doorined to the property management because of the smell. ¡°You know that my mom¡¯s always been a fussy one, but for her grandson Felix, she- Bradley interrupted Liliane, speaking overbearingly. ¡°Arrange for your parents to meet with me so we can discuss the wedding date.¡± Liliane was overjoyed and asked, ¡°Really? Brad, are you really going to marry me?¡± When Bradley said those words, a vague sense of regret spread in his heart. ¡°You¡¯ve done a lot these years.¡± Bradley thought about Liliane¡¯s patience and wholehearted effort for Felix and said slowly, ¡°After Felix recovers from the surgery, he¡¯ll have to go to preschool after some rest. It¡¯ll be difficult to fill out the enrollment form if we don¡¯t get married.¡± Things were pure in the children¡¯s world. He did not want Felix to be called a b*stard child when he C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. went to school. ¡°Brad, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Liliane was overjoyed. It was great. She finally got what she wanted. ¡°I¡¯ll contact my parents and ask them when they¡¯re free.¡± Bradley cleared his throat and said coldly, ¡°Wait until Felix¡¯s condition is stable before we arrange anything.¡± Liliane¡¯s pretty face was still full of joy, but there was a douse of disappointment again. ¡®Felix again?¡¯ ¡°Mm, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Liliane agreed meekly. Bradley walked to the door of the ward and turned around to look at Liliane. ¡°The wedding dress needs to be customized in advance. If you have a designer you like, you can tell Cole. He¡¯ll be responsible for contacting them.¡± Liliane smiled sweetly and asked softly, ¡°Brad, can we design your suit together?¡± ¡°Up to you,¡± replied Bradley. He had been married once before, so he did not have much anticipation for the wedding. If it were not for Felix, there would be no need for this wedding Liliane smiled and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll contact the wedding nningpany toe up with a proposal. Without waiting for Bradley to leave, Liliane took out her phone and asked in her chat groups. [Do you have any reliable wedding nningpanies to rmend?] Chapter 33 Chapter 33 [Liliane, are you getting married to Bradley?] [Congrattions on bing Mrs. Warner!] [Mrs. Warner, aren¡¯t you celebrating?] Liliane¡¯s dream came true, and she was happy about it, so she generously put up some lucky money for grabs in the group chat. The socialites and heiresses who managed to snag some lucky money responded obsequiously. [Congrattions! Congrattions!] [Mrs. Bradley, don¡¯t forget to send me the wedding invitation!] [How could you be forgotten? Just remember to bring along a nice gift to celebrate Mrs. Bradley.] Amidst the heaps of congrattory messages, someone still stepped up to rain on the parade. [Liliane, I heard that Esther caused a scene in the hospital lobby and demanded a DNA paternity test with Mr. Warner! You need to be careful.] After staring at the text message on the screen and thinking for a moment, Liliane typed a response leisurely. [Her child died, and she may not be able to ept it for now. She¡¯s actually very pitiful. Let¡¯s not N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. discuss this topic. Go ahead chatting. The nurse¡¯s asking for me!] Liliane may have typed that she had to go but lurked in the group chat. [Esther¡¯s child died? She deserves it, right? Forget that she cheated on Mr. Bradley. She harmed Mr. Thomas, who doted on her. This is karma!] [If you ask me, it¡¯s good that the child died. Got to pick a decent mother before the child goes into the next life. Don¡¯t pick a vicious woman like Esther as the mother anymore.] [Go on about Esther if you want. What wrong did the child do? It¡¯s not like the child can choose who the mother is.] Liliane watched the heated discussion on her screen and logged out of her ount to log back in with her alternate ount. She easily tapped for the lucky money and sent a congrattory message to herself before she sent some money to the group chat and typed an insincere message. [I¡¯m not currently in the country and won¡¯t be able to go to the funeral in person. If anyone¡¯s going to the funeral parlor, can you please help me send some flowers?] Her message was met with enthusiastic responses from the wealthy heiresses and socialites. [Yes, let¡¯s go see Esther!] [We must tell her the great news of Liliane¡¯s uing wedding!] [Who¡¯s joining?] [Count me in!] Liliane was satisfied with how things were going in the chat group and logged out of her alternate ount. She casually opened the lid of her thermos and sipped the delicious chicken soup. The ingredients were all top-notch, but she was unsure if the little fellow, Felix, would survive after drinking it. There was nothing in this world one could not do as long as one had the money. Jasper was willing to spend, so it took only half an hour for the staff from both the funeral parlor and flower shop to set up a princess-themed funeral for Tinkerbell. The flowers used at the funeral were colorful. The theme was a romantic princess style that matched Tinkerbell¡¯s princess dress. Walking into the carefully decorated funeral hall did not feel like a funeral at all. Instead, it felt like stumbling into a garden by ident. The funeral hall was beautifully decorated with pink baby¡¯s breath arranged in the shape of stars, hanging down from the ceiling in a beautiful, intricate manner. Pink roses were arranged into a beautiful pink castle, while white roses formed the railing. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Blue, yellow, ck, and purple roses made up the windows. Bright sunflowers were made into a carriage with a horse that was not real but a colorful one made of fresh flowers in seven different colors. A pink caskety in the carriage. From the hall¡¯s entrance, the path leading to the coffin was sprinkled with flower petals, with clovers on both sides of the path. The rich heiresses and socialites were shocked by what they saw. They never imagined that Esther would be willing to hold such a grand funeral for a deceased child. They looked at each other and gathered the courage to walk from the petal path to the carriage. ¡°Esther, is this your daughter with Mr. Warner? Why does she look nothing like you both?¡± Esther coldly warned them. ¡°If you¡¯re here to send my daughter on herst journey, I wee you. But if you¡¯re here to mock me, you can leave now!¡± The socialites and rich heiresses became even more furious and hurled sarcastic remarks after hearing Esther¡¯s arrogant words. ¡°Esther, do you really think we¡¯re here to send your daughter off on herst journey?¡± ¡°In fact, we¡¯re here to tell you that Mr. Warner¡¯s marrying Liliane!¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t refused to sign the divorce papers while in prison, they would have already gotten married!¡± ¡°Esther, here¡¯s a piece of advice. Be kinder. You¡¯re just too cruel. Your daughter- Before the heiress dressed in Chanel could finish her sentence, Esther pped her stic face hard. ¡°Esther, you f*cking-¡°The heiress was about to fight back, but Esther gripped her delicate wrist tightly and spoke with a cold and sinister expression on her pretty face. ¡°You all say that I¡¯m cruel, so don¡¯t be too surprised that I¡¯ll make all of you apany my daughter in death!¡± ¡°You crazy woman!¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± The socialites and heiresses who ganged up to mock Esther were frightened when they heard what Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. she said. They took a step back, not daring to provoke her. Esther was already this crazy since she had dared to harm Thomas! If they angered her, would she really do something to them? ¡°Scared now?¡± Esther¡¯s mocking gaze swept over the hypocritical faces in front of her. When she was still Bradley¡¯s wife, they had been fawning over her like a group ofp dogs, pandering to her. ¡°Get out of here!¡¯ The heiress Esther had pped was furious, as she had been unjustifiably hit and spoke recklessly.¡± Esther, your daughter¡¯s dead, but Felix¡¯s still alive. What do you think this is? This is karma!¡± After saying that, she, like the other socialites and rich heiresses, fled the funeral scene quickly, disregarding that she was running on a pair of ten-centimeter high heels. Jasper jogged into the funeral parlor and saw the fleeing women. He walked worriedly to Esther¡¯s side. and asked, ¡°Esther, did they bully you?¡± Esther shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Jasper frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, ¡°If they bullied you, you don¡¯t have to hide it for them. I can¡¯t do anything against the Warner Group, but I have more than enough power to deal with a few smallpanies.¡± ¡°Jasper, they really didn¡¯t.¡± Esther looked at him gently and said slowly, ¡°They¡¯re all afraid of me now. After all, I have nothing.¡± ¡°Who said you have nothing?¡± Jasper patted Esther¡¯s shoulder andforted her, saying, ¡°You still have me and Pixie. I have already contacted the couple who adopted Pixie. As long as we find them, you can be reunited with Pixie.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to find her.¡± Esther¡¯s voice was clear. ¡°Maybe Pixie will only be able to get both a father and mother¡¯s love from them, things I¡­ I can¡¯t give her.¡± Jasper¡¯s eyes dimmed. He begged in a barely noticeable tone, ¡°Esther, if you¡¯re willing, I can¡­¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 ¡°Is it time for cremation?¡± Esther interrupted what Jasper was going to say, asking with a reluctant gaze as she held Tinkerbell¡¯s cold hand. Jasper asked in shock, ¡°Aren¡¯t you waiting for the paternity test result? I believe that Bradley will send Tinkerbell off if he learns that she¡¯s his daughter.¡± ¡°Him?¡± Esther scoffed and said frostily, ¡°He better note taint my daughter¡¯s path to the afterlife. ¡± Jasper tried again. ¡°Esther, if you¡¯re reluctant, we can¡­¡± Esther shook her head. ¡°Let her rest in peace so she can be reincarnated soon. I hope Tinkerbell doesn¡¯t meet a mother like me or a father like Bradley in her next life. I hope shees to this world under the anticipation of her parents and gets a happy family.¡± Jasper could not help turning away and saying, his voice choking up, ¡°Things will be as you wish.¡± Esther did not have real friends or family here. Tinkerbell¡¯s funeral, grand and luxurious, ended only after half a day. Esther watched Tinkerbell, who was on the cart, and crouched down to hug her longingly, giving her onest hug with all she had. ¡®Tinkerbell, sorry. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡®It¡¯s Mommy¡¯s fault for losing you. ¡®Don¡¯t run into a careless mother like me in your next life. ¡®My dear Tinkerbell, farewell.¡¯ Esther let go of Tinkerbell softly and pressed a kiss on her forehead with so much longing before she slowly stepped aside. The funeral parlor¡¯s staff gently pushed Tinkerbell into the furnace, and raging mes engulfed the small casket in the blink of an eye. Esther sent Tinkerbell off with reddened eyes and unshed tears. After the cremation, Jasper took Esther to the cemetery. With his help, she buried Tinkerbell next to her mother, Faye Quill¡¯s tomb. It was just that Esther did not want to erect a tombstone for her. She shoveled a pit and nted a four - year-old apple tree. She put the tree into the pit and scattered Tinkerbell¡¯s ashes before patting the soil with both hands. She then watered the tree and hung a customized stainless steel te that read: ¡°Tinkerbell, a four- year-old girl¡±, and her birthday. Behind the te, it read: ¡°She came to this world for a look and. wasn¡¯t happy with her parents, so she left.¡± The wind blew gently, and the apple tree leaves swayed, like Tinkerbell bidding farewell to Esther. After burying Tinkerbell, Esther paid respect to her mother and Thomas, not saying a word throughout the process. She thought there was no need to say anything, for she would meet them soon. By then, she would slowly recount her grievances, indignation, and pain. Jasper kept an eye on Esther constantly, worried that she was only putting up a strong front and would be gone once she fell through. ¡°Esther, why don¡¯t I send you to the hospital? You just had surgery. It¡¯s easy to have seque without proper rest.¡± ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll go to the hospital where I had the surgery.¡± Esther agreed easily. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jasper sent her to the hospital quietly. She stayed in the same hospital ward and cooperated with the doctor¡¯s checkups and nurses¡¯ medicating her like a good patient. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Jasper specifically reminded the doctor that Esther was not in a particrly good state of mind, and the doctor added some sedatives in her drips, considering that. Jasper got up and left quietly when he saw that Esther had fallen asleep. Once Esther heard the soft click of the door closing, she yanked the needle out of the back of her hand right away. Without caring that the back of her hand was bleeding, she sat up and got some pen and paper to write her will. There were some assets under her name that she nned to ask Jasper to donate to the welfare home after she died. Her will was simple and clearly stated in short sentences. She estimated the time and sneaked into Felix¡¯s ward while the nurses on the night shift briefed those on the next shift. N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. The first thing she did after entering was lock the door from the inside. It was not until she confirmed the door was locked that she went to Felix¡¯s bed softly. They had gone for the surgery together, and the boy had yet to wake up. He was born with a silver spoon and was doted on by Bradley, but their daughters¡­ remained as unwanted children. Until the girl¡¯s death, she did not know that her real parents had caused her demise. Esther¡¯s eyes fogged up as an evil thought bubbled deep in her heart-she wanted to kill Felix! She wanted Bradley to experience the excruciating pain too. However, a tiny current zapped her when her finger came into contact with Felix¡¯s skin. She could not help recalling the scene where the boy had put a cooling fever patch on her. He was such a good, endearing boy. She could not do it. Esther was not that ruthless. She could not get herself to hurt an innocent child to punish Bradley. ¡°Felix, I don¡¯t really want to hurt you, but I need you to work with me for a bit.¡± Esther stroked Felix¡¯s face and said with tears in her eyes, ¡°When you grow up, look for Pixie. She¡¯s your half-sister. You share the same father. If she¡¯s not doing well, please help her, okay?¡± Esther wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and made up her mind. She gestured like she was going to choke Felix and took a selfie to send it to Liliane, Esther: [Your son should die with my daughter!] Esther turned on the oxygen tank right after she sent the text. She held a lighter in her hand and looked at the door of the ward warily. This time, she wanted to threaten Liliane to tell the truth in exchange for Felix¡¯s life. She wanted Liliane to tell Bradley herself that she was the one who had harmed Thomas. Meanwhile, Liliane covered her mouth in shock when she saw the photo Esther had sent her. She was. afraid that others would see through her because she was overjoyed. She had seeded! The stupid woman, Esther, finally dug her own grave sessfully! Liliane instantly adjusted to the state of a loving mother and called Bradley, who was working overtime. ¡°Br-Brad¡­ Felix¡­ Something happened to Felix!¡± Bradley asked in worry, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my sister. Esther¡¯s in Felix¡¯s ward. She said¡­ She said that¡­¡± Liliane sobbed timely, ¡°She said that she wants Felix to die with her daughter!¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t panic first. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Bradley got up from his leather chair, rage rampant on his cold face. There was a destructive iciness around him as his stern face looked murderous. ¡°Cole, to the hospital.¡± Cole could not help turning pale when he heard the fury in Bradley¡¯s voice. ¡®What happened? Did something happen to Felix again?¡± Cole could not care less that he was not yet done with whatever task he had as he immediately caught up to the infuriated Bradley. ¡°The b*tch Esther kidnapped my son. Cole was baffled when he heard what Bradley gritted through his teeth. ¡®Madam kidnapped Mr. Felix? Has she gone crazy? Why would she do that?¡¯ Bradley¡¯s eyes glinted dangerously. He had been so nice to Esther that she repeatedly provoked him without care and even threatened him with Felix¡¯s life. Both men got into the car, and the chauffeur drove out of the Warner Group. The night was creeping in outside the window as the lights slowly flickered into life. It was like the city had put on a dazzling coat once more. Arge 3D digital screen on a towering building yed thetest cosmeticmercial. Couples walked under the streetlight on the pavements on either side of the road with their fingersced together. Caught in the continuous stream of traffic, the chauffeur kept honking and asionally looking down at the red line on the navigation system. ¡°Mr. Warner, there¡¯s traffic congestion ahead. It seems that there¡¯s been an ident. The estimated travel time is at least 30 minutes.¡± Bradley disregarded his personal safety and forcefully opened the car door, getting out of the car and N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. directly blocking a speeding motorcycle with his body. ¡°Who are you? Don¡¯t stand in front of me even if you want to die!¡± The man on the motorcycle looked at Bradley and quickly mmed on the brake, the tires harshly scraping against the asphalt and making a piercing sound. The young man wearing an anime. motorcycle helmet removed his helmet and cursed at Bradley. ¡°Get off.¡± The owner of the motorcycle grumbled, ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Bradley reached out and pulled the owner off the motorcycle without saying a word. With a stride, he started the motorcycle engine and rode off. The owner of the motorcycle was bbergasted. Someone was shameless enough to steal his motorcycle in broad daylight!? He had to call the police! Such an arrogant person must be subjected to legal sanctions! The biker took out his phone and was about to call the police when Cole hurriedly stopped him and gently said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, our boss¡¯ son is hospitalized in critical condition. The hospital just called us, and we urgently needed your bike. How about this, how much is your motorcycle worth? I¡¯ll buy it from you right now!¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯re all that just because you¡¯re rich?¡± The biker did not recognize that Bradley, who had just stolen his motorcycle, was the famous CEO of the Warner Group. He was simply furious. ¡°My bike¡¯s very expensive. Can you afford it?¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¡°Name a price?¡± Cole asked nicely. The biker was still angry and stated an amount that even he found ridiculous without thinking twice.¡± $150,000.¡± Cole did not expose him and wired the sum to him through his phone directly, adding a note that this was the fee for the motorcycle while he did. ¡°This is my business card. If it¡¯s not a problem, give me your number too, and I¡¯ll have someone contact Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. you for the ownership transfer.¡± The motorcycle was not even worth $150,000, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Cole generously paid and saved the biker¡¯s number before bidding him goodbye nicely, leaving the ¡°Zack, how much longer?¡± Zack nced at the navigation system and answered, ¡°It¡¯s probably another 20 minutes.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯ll go get a shared electric bike and head to the hospital first.¡± Cole got a bike by the roadside and rode it to the hospital as fast as possible. Just as he parked the bike outside the hospital gate, his phone rang. ¡°Hello, Mr. Johnston? It¡¯s me. The DNA paternity test results that you entrusted me with yesterday are out. Come to me to collect the results when you¡¯re free.¡± Cole replied swiftly, ¡°Sure. I have something urgent to attend to right now. I¡¯ll go to youter.¡± He then rushed to Felix¡¯s hospital ward. The hallway outside the room was crowded with medical staff. Bradley¡¯s furious figure was particrly eye-catching among them. ¡°Esther Quill! If you don¡¯t open the door by the time I count to three, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly as he looked extremely fierce. Liliane burst into tears but grabbed Bradley¡¯s arm tightly to plead hypocritically, ¡°Brad, please don¡¯t provoke her anymore.¡± Bradley coldly replied, ¡°Liliane, crying won¡¯t solve anything. ¡°But Felix¡¯s inside. Brad, give me some time to convince her. If it doesn¡¯t work¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s eyes. flickered slightly as she said with a vicious thought, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you, okay?¡± Bradley¡¯s expression turned cold, and he said, ¡°Five minutes.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Liliane walked to the door and knocked it lightly with two knuckles. She spoke softly after three knocks. ¡°Esther, you wanted to see me, right? I¡¯m here! Open the door and let me in.¡± Esther had a sinking feeling in her heart and a strong sense of hatred in her deep gaze once she heard. Liliane¡¯s voice from where she was inside. She turned to the side and looked at the unconscious Felix, saying in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Felix. Please forgive me for using you as a bargaining chip. I¡­ I had no choice.¡± Liliane was too good at disguising herself. Everyone, including Bradley, did not believe Esther¡¯s words. Esther was the only one in this world who knew that the person who had removed Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask back then was Liliane, not her. Esther knew that Liliane was a very cautious person. She had not nned to use her phone to record anything from the beginning. Instead, she stuffed a pen recorder that was already recording under Felix¡¯s pillow. ¡°Liliane, I¡¯ve turned on the oxygen in the room. If you barge in, I¡¯ll light up a fire directly and die with Felix.¡± Liliane stood before the door and said hoarsely, ¡°Esther, I¡­ I¡¯lle in alone. Don¡¯t hurt Felix.¡± Bradley was furious upon hearing Esther¡¯s threat. He wanted nothing more than to barge into the hospital ward and rip Esther to shreds. Five minutes? He did not even want to wait a minute longer right now. ¡°Esther Quill!¡± Bradley mmed on the door and said violently, ¡°I¡¯m counting to three. I¡¯ll make sure your daughter doesn¡¯t rest in peace if you don¡¯t open the door!¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Despite that, Liliane, who ¡°loved her son too much¡±, stopped Bradley. With tears in her eyes, she begged him sorrowfully, ¡°Brad, please, let me go in first. If it doesn¡¯t work, then you cane in. I beg you.¡± Bradley stood tall. His beautiful eyes simmered with enormous energy akin to a volcanic eruption.¡± You have three minutes,¡± he said for thest time. ¡°If you don¡¯te out after three minutes, I¡¯ll break in.¡± N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Okay.¡± Liliane turned to the nurse and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the key?¡± ¡°This is a special ward,¡± the nurse replied. ¡°Unless the door is opened from the inside, it cannot be opened from the outside.¡± Liliane took a deep breath and said, ¡°Esther, open the door.¡± Esther walked to the door and gently opened it. Liliane was worried that Bradley would mess things up, so she quickly slipped into the ward. ¡°Lock the door,¡± said Esther. Liliane leisurely locked the door. Her gaze fell on Felix, who was lying on the hospital bed. He still had an oxygen tube in his nose, and the instrument¡¯s screen disyed his heart rate. What a pity! Esther had not made a move on him! If Esther had killed Felix with her own hands before Liliane told her the boy¡¯s true identity, Liliane reckoned¡­ Esther would go insane! ¡°Esther, I¡¯m here.¡± Liliane slowly moved to the foot of the bed, facing away from the camera, and looked at Esther with a fierce gaze. ¡°Why are you threatening me openly with Felix? What do you want me to do?¡± Esther¡¯s arm holding the lighter trembled slightly. She looked up at the camera on the ceiling and asked bitterly, ¡°Liliane, you were the one who personally disconnected Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask five years ago. Why did you try to frame me?¡± A cold sneer appeared on Liliane¡¯s face. ¡®Oh, Esther, Esther¡­ ¡®Why are you still so naive? ¡°Do you think Bradley would believe you in this situation? ¡®He would never! ¡®Even if I admitted it, he wouldn¡¯t believe it. He¡¯d only think I was doing it out of desperation.¡¯ ¡°Esther, you can say whatever you want. I only ask that you don¡¯t hurt my son.¡± Liliane suppressed herughter with her head lowered. Because she was facing away from the camera, it appeared to Bradley, Cole, and the others watching the surveince footage that she was crying out of fear. ¡°Liliane, do you know that you and Bradley are the people I hate the most in this world?¡± Esther¡¯s sight began to blur. Despite this, she still insisted on exposing the truth from five years ago and revealing it to the public. Liliane was clearly the real culprit who had caused Thomas¡¯atose state. She had to let Bradley know this truth. ¡°Liliane, unless you tell the truth from five years ago or I¡­ I¡¯ll die with you and your son today.¡± Liliane noticed how Esther sounded weak and approached her slowly as she spoke. ¡°Yes, I was the one who removed Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask five years ago.¡± Liliane approached Felix with a shaky voice, like a mother who was protecting her child with her life. ¡°Can you let Felix now? He¡¯s just gone through surgery. He can¡¯t take this.¡± go Esther thought Liliane was apprehensive because she was scared she would harm Felix. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°Then what happened to the surveince footage?¡± Esther could not figure this out. She had not done anything. Why did the evidence that was the hospital surveince footage show that she had removed Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask? ¡°Esther put the lighter down, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Liliane¡¯s wet eyes were smiling teasingly like a cat catching a mouse. ¡°Please, Esther.¡± Esther looked at Liliane, who was showing her true colors, and abruptly put her guard up. Something was off! Liliane felt off. What did she want? Suddenly, Liliane reached out and turned off themunication line connecting the nurse station in the hospital room. She approached Esther, who was extremely weak. Her voice sounded like a ghost with a sinister, murderous aura. As her hand gripped Esther¡¯s cor tightly and her crimson lips went close to Esther¡¯s ear, she said in a chilling tone, ¡°Esther, don¡¯t you want to know how I fooled everyone back then?¡± Esther clutched the lighter and roared in anger, ¡°Speak louder. I can¡¯t hear you.¡± Liliane wiped away the tears on the corners of her eyes and looked at Esther with a smile. She said one word at a time slowly, ¡°Esther, what will your obsession with the truth bring you?¡± Liliane¡¯s next words were heart-wrenching. ¡°Even if you force me to tell you the truth you want to know, Brad still won¡¯t believe it.¡± Liliane¡¯s red lips parted as she spoke, and her eyes sparkled with a sense of joy and satisfaction as if she were ughtering her enemy. ¡°Esther, do you want to know how that old b*stard died?¡± Taking advantage of Esther¡¯s body as her cover, Liliane lightly pulled the oxygen tube under Felix¡¯s nose and yanked it out with gnashed teeth. ¡°Back then, 1 yanked that old b*stard¡¯s oxygen mask like that too.¡± A vicious and icy smirk gleamed in Liliane¡¯s eyes. Just as Esther was stunned by her cruel words, Liliane grabbed Esther¡¯s body and forcefully pushed her face in front of Felix. ¡°Esther, have you seen his face clearly?¡± Liliane was somewhat too full of herself. She even wanted Esther to kill Felix in front of her. When Esther killed Felix, she would tell Esther that Felix was her own son. She would kill her by stabbing her heart! Nothing could be more perfect than that! ¡°Kill him if you¡¯re that capable!¡± Liliane leaned close to Esther¡¯s car and spoke using a very low voice, like a demon enticing a kind angel. ¡°Unfortunately, you dare not! A useless person like you can¡¯t do it! A strange feeling rose in Esther¡¯s heart. She always felt that Liliane¡¯s attitude toward Felix was somewhat strange. It waspletely unlike the way a mother would treat her child! ¡°Liliane, whose child is Felix?¡± After saying that, Esther, who had been holding on, could no longer support herself and spat at Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. mouthful of blood on Liliane¡¯s face before she fainted next to Felix¡¯s pillow. Liliane wiped the blood off her face with her hand and pushed the barely breathing Esther. She turned around and shouted to the monitoring camera, ¡°Brad, Felix is okay now.¡± Liliane knew that the door of the ward was locked from the outside and could not be opened by others. This was the best time for her to reveal the secret. She leaned close to Esther¡¯s ear and slowly revealed a shocking secret. ¡°Esther, Felix is actually your and Bradley¡¯s biological son!¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Liliane had kept that secret for five whole years. Today, especially, the secret rushed past her heart like a surging wave when she saw Esther acting foolishly ording to her n. Liliane could not describe the gratification she felt as she could finally reveal this secret only she knew. It was just too bad that Esther had fainted and did not hear the truth about Felix¡¯s birth. It was fine. There would be a next time. ¡®Next time, you¡¯ll kill Felix with your own hands, Esther. ¡®You¡¯ll kill your son yourself. ¡®How I anticipate the arrival of that day¡­¡¯ ¡°Useless.¡± Liliane¡¯s cherry lips parted to mock Esther. ¡°This was all she got? She did not even hurt a strand of Felix¡¯s hair. She is really useless.¡¯ Liliane¡¯s eyes scanned the removed oxygen tube, and she curled her lips slowly into a smirk with an icy gaze. What would be of Felix now that he was without the oxygen tube? Liliane took a deep breath and switched to the image of a gentle, caring mother in a split second. The menacing, shameless, and vicious Liliane vanished as if it were just an illusion. She rubbed her eyes until they were red before she turned around and went to the door. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. What Liliane did not know was that the moment she turned around, Felix, who was on the bed, clutched the nket tightly. His subtly quivering body exposed his current distress and fear. Felix could not help recalling the words Liliane had said next to his ears just now. Everyone thought that Esther was a bad person for hurting him, but the person who was really harming him was the mother he had been calling ¡°Mommy¡± for four years-Liliane. Was what she said true? Was he really Esther and Bradley¡¯s child? If what Liliane said was true, did that mean Tinkerbell, who had passed away, was his actual sibling? Felix was frightened terribly by the sudden change of events. He dared not open his eyes, Liliane would kill him if she knew that he had been awake this whole time. scared that Felix could not help cracking a slit in his eyes and saw that Liliane had already opened the door of the ward. She met Bradley¡¯s angry face with tearful eyes as she said, ¡°Brad, Esther coughed up blood. She definitely didn¡¯t mean to harm Felix. She just lost her mind due to the pain of losing her daughter.¡± Bradley gently pushed Liliane aside and cut her off coldly. ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t let her fool you!¡± Bradley had been soft-hearted because Esther had saved his life as a child. However, when she threatened him with Felix¡¯s safety, his tolerance became a joke. He tookrge strides to the bedside. Looking at Esther, slumped next to Felix and on the verge of death, he grabbed her arm to throw her off like she was a piece of unimportant garbage. Fortunately, Cole, who had followed him in, was quick enough to catch Esther. Otherwise, Bradley would have thrown her directly onto the cold floor. Esther, who was in Cole¡¯s arms, was barely breathing, her pulse sometimes present and sometimes not. The once bright and beautiful Esther was now left with herst breath. Cole did not dare to bother Bradley with Esther¡¯s condition. He picked her up and rushed out of the ward, telling the medical staff outside the door, ¡°Quickly, prepare to save her.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Cole was scared that Esther would die if it was a second toote. For some reason, he only had one thought in mind-Esther could not die. She must absolutely not die. Back in the hospital ward, Bradley was enraged upon seeing the oxygen tube that had fallen off by the pillow. The b*tch Esther was back to her old tricks. When Bradley was going to reattach the oxygen tube, Felix slowly opened his eyes and met Bradley¡¯s furious ones. The boy jolted and shrank in fear, stammering, ¡°D-Daddy¡­¡± When Liliane heard Felix¡¯s voice, she threw herself hard at him and hugged him tightly. She buried her head into the nket and sobbed. ¡°Oh, thank goodness, thank goodness you¡¯re alright, Felix¡­¡± As Felix was tightly in Liliane¡¯s embrace, her ruthless words echoed in his ears, and he could not help the goosebumps he got, shaking uncontrobly. He was terrified. However, would his father believe him if he told him everything that had happened just now? Felix was not sure and did not dare bet on it! He thought of someone else-Grandpa rk, who was with him growing up. Grandpa rk had told him that he would believe everything he said. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m hungry¡­¡± When Liliane heard Felix¡¯s cute kittenish voice, she pulled back timely and said with feigned concern, ¡°Our Felix¡¯s hungry. Wait here. I¡¯ll go get some chicken soup for you. It¡¯s your grandmother¡¯s homemade chicken soup. It¡¯s so delicious!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mommy, thank you, Grandma.: Felix thanked her obediently with an innocent and naive, lovable expression. Liliane tugged at his ear affectionately, seeming to be ying with him. However, she used a lot of force, and the boy¡¯s ear turned red in an instant. ¡°As long as you¡¯re safe and sound, we¡¯re willing to do anything.¡± Liliane retracted her hand just in time. When her gaze fell on Felix¡¯s blood-red ear, she could not help but sneer. When would this annoying little bratpletely disappear from her world? ying the best mother in the world every day was really exhausting! ¡°I¡¯ll leave Felix to you, Brad.¡± Liliane left the ward with slightly reddened eyes. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Felix grabbed Bradley¡¯s finger and looked at him pitifully with his wet eyes. ¡°Daddy, can I see the pretty woman who donated her bone marrow to me?¡± ¡°Felix.¡± Bradley¡¯s attitude suddenly became firm. ¡°No.¡± He would never give Esther a chance to hurt Felix again. Felix¡¯s eyes fogged up slightly, and he exined in an innocent voice, ¡°But¡­ she saved me.¡± ¡°Take care of your health first.¡± Bradley hid all his anger toward Esther from Felix and calmly told the doctors and experts at the side, ¡°Do a full body examination for him immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The doctors and experts surrounded Felix at once. Bradley stepped out of the circle and stepped on something hard on the ground. He frowned and looked down, picking up a lighter from the floor. When he saw the pattern on the lighter clearly, his eyes widened, and his lips trembled slightly. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 The lighter had ¡°Eternal Love Cemetery¡± printed on it. This was the lighter that Esther had threatened him with just now? There was no liquid in the mint green lighter. What did it mean? Bradley gripped the lighter, knuckles and nails turning white. His lips were pressed hard together, and his burning gaze was as if he was going to burn holes through the lighter. The doctors and experts ran a detailed full body check on Felix. Five minutester, a doctor approached Bradley and said gently, ¡°Mr. Bradley, Mr. Felix¡¯s doing fine. It¡¯s just¡­¡± The doctor hesitated, unsure if he should bring it up. ¡°Just what?¡± asked Bradley. ¡°Just that there¡¯s a fingernail mark on Mr. Felix¡¯s ear,¡± replied the doctor. While the doctor spoke to Bradley, Felix took the chance to sneak his hand under the pillow to grab the pen recorder, his heart pounding at a loss. Should he hide the pen recorder? Where should he hide it? Where should he hide it so that Liliane would not find it? Felix¡¯s eyes scanned the room swiftly, but he could not find a suitable spot to hide his treasure. He thought about it and tucked the pen recorder into his shirt pocket, clutching it with his hand. His eyes then fell on his smartwatch on the bedside table, and he picked it up to find rk¡¯s number and call him. ¡°Grandpaw rk, I¡¯m Felix. I miss you so much!¡± rk chuckled openly when he heard Felix¡¯s voice. ¡°I miss you too, Mr. Felix. Were you brave in the Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. surgery?¡± ¡°I was super brave!¡± Felix said cutely, ¡°Grandpaw rk, can you bring me Thor into my room?¡± ¡°Anything else you want aside from Thor?¡± Felix whined adorably, ¡°I want to see you too, Grandpaw rk.¡± ¡°I miss you too, Mr. Felix.¡± Bradley did not disturb Felix and rk¡¯s call since the boy was fine. When Felix hung up, Bradley asked, ¡°Felix, why did you suddenly want Thor?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Felix said, blinking his bright eyes, ¡°I want to fight bad guys like Thor!¡± ¡°What bad guy?¡± Liliane came with a thermos. Upon hearing Felix¡¯s lively voice from afar, she could not help thinking how lucky the kid was to still be alive. ¡°Mommy, I want to beat the bad guys up badly like Thor!¡± Liliane reached out to pat Felix¡¯s head affectionately, but he dodged andined seemingly unintentionally, ¡°Mommy, my ear still hurts from when you pinched it just now.¡± Liliane froze and forced a smile. ¡°Let me see?¡± ¡°Look!¡± Felix showed his ear to Liliane and said loudly, ¡°The doctor said that there¡¯s a mark!¡± Bradley looked closely and found a faint fingernail mark, as expected. The crescent mark was a light red. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Felix. I got carried away and hurt you. Mommy will be careful next time.¡± Liliane apologized begrudgingly, thinking of how Felix never dared to tell Bradley about it in the past but actually did it now. ¡°I forgive you, Mommy.¡± Felix then blinked his big eyes as he told Bradley, ¡°Daddy, you can¡¯t be mad at Mommy. We have to be nice people.¡± Bradley was rendered speechless. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Liliane still broke the strange atmosphere as she told Felix, ¡°Here, Felix, try the chicken soup.¡± Liliane fed him some soup, caringly. But the chicken soup had been cooked long ago and had gone a little stale being kept in the thermos. It had a light gamy smell because of that. As soon as it came close to Felix¡¯s lips, he looked like he wanted to throw up. Bradley asked in worry, ¡°Felix, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It smells bad!¡± Felix covered his nose and mouth with a hand andined, ¡°I feel like vomiting.¡± Liliane was rendered speechless. Bradley took a nce at the chicken soup. It had gone cold, and ayer of yellow fats floated on top of the liquid. As Felix grew up, his meals were prepared ording to nutritionist¡¯s recipes by professional chefs. It was normal that he found the soup gamy now. ¡°Then don¡¯t drink it,¡± Bradley said softly, rubbing the boy¡¯s hair. ¡°What do you feel like having, Felix? I¡¯ll ask the chefs at home to make them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll eat anything the doctor says I can eat.¡± Felix was incredibly endearing with how well he was behaving. The doctor walked in just then and saw the chicken soup in Liliane¡¯s bowl. He reminded her calmly, Ms. Anstey, Mr. Felix¡¯s just had surgery and shouldn¡¯t drink such a nourishing tonic. If he¡¯s too weak to handle it, it will have the opposite effect.¡± Liliane quickly put the bowl on the bedside table, replying frantically, ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I almost hurt him.¡± Bradley looked at Liliane¡¯s profile and felt something strange. He could not help but think of everything he had seen on the surveince footage. Esther had threatened Liliane with Felix¡¯s life to reveal the truth from five years ago. Could it be that Liliane was really responsible for his grandfather¡¯s ident five years ago? No¡­ That was impossible. The chain of evidence had beenplete at the time, and all the evidence, including witnesses and physical evidence, proved that Esther had unplugged his grandfather¡¯s oxygen mask with her own. hands. Moreover, thewyer assigned to Esther had also consulted with the experts and proved that there was no sign of the video being edited. Bradley sneered. Esther must have deliberately wanted to make him suspect Liliane! Her daughter was dead, but she still did not repent and wanted to provoke his rtionship with Liliane. Her intentions were sinister, and she deserved to be condemned. Cole stood outside the operating room, staring at the red light shing above the door. He asionally nced at his phone screen, anxiously wondering how the situation was going on Bradley¡¯s side. Cole scrolled to a name on his phone contacts and went ahead to make the call after a moment of hesitation. ¡°Mr. Searle, how much longer until you arrive?¡± Cole was Bradley¡¯s special assistant and could not stay outside the operating room this whole time. He Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. did not trust the nurses to take care of Esther, given her situation, so he had to call Jasper and ask him toe and take care of her. ¡°I¡¯m at the intersection in front of the hospital. I¡¯ll be there in three minutes.¡± Jasper asked urgently, ¡°How¡¯s she? How¡¯s her condition?¡± Cole thought about Esther coughing up blood and fainting in the surveince footage. His tone was heavy. ¡°Not optimistic.¡± Jasper arrived outside the operating room in less than three minutes, sweating profusely. The operating room door opened simultaneously, and a doctor in surgical scrubs came out holding a critical illness notice. ¡°Which one of you is Esther¡¯s family member? Please sign here.¡± Jasper and Cole read the document¡¯s content and eximed in unison, ¡°Critical illness notice?¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 The doctor looked at the two handsome men in front of him and contemted before professionally and carefully exining Esther¡¯s state in the operation ward. ¡°Ms. Quill has just undergone a bone marrow transnt surgery and has been emotionally stressed. Her body is under attack from both the inside and outside, so there are issues with her health. As doctors, we¡¯ll do our best to save her. Please sign the critical illness notice immediately and don¡¯t dy treatment.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sign it.¡± Jasper took the critical illness notice without any argument. His hand was trembling so much that he could not even hold the pen, let alone sign the critical illness notice. Cole could not bear to watch and took the critical illness notice from Jasper¡¯s hand and calmly signed his own name on it. ¡°Will she die?¡± Jasper¡¯s voice was trembling. ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of whether she will die now but whether she wants to live,¡± Cole said wearily. Jasper¡¯s sharp eyes fell on Cole¡¯s face as he asked in a low voice, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Half an hour ago, Madam kidnapped Mr. Felix and imed that he would be buried with Tinkerbell!¡± ¡°Felix¡¯s okay?¡± Jasper sneered and asked surely as he slowly leaned against the wall outside the operating room. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± Cole asked confusedly, ¡°Why? Did you wish something bad upon him?¡± Jasper took a deep look at Cole. As the hallway light shone on Cole¡¯s face, there was nonchnce but also iciness. ¡°She did it on purpose, to provoke Bradley.¡± Jasper covered his face with both hands and said shakily, ¡°She didn¡¯t want to live anymore. Maybe she did it because she wanted to die in the hands of the man she loves the most.¡± Cole was shocked and panicked. ¡°How¡¯s that possible? Madam is still so young.¡± ¡°But she has nothing.¡± Jasper turned around, propping himself up against the wall with his hands. and burying his head in his arms. He hoarsely exined, ¡°The man she loved sent her to prison for five years, and her daughter, who she was rted to by blood, died because she missed the optimal time for treatment due to Bradley¡¯s forced imprisonment. Cole, she has no friends, no lover, and not family in this world. Do you think she still has any attachment to this world?¡± Jasper¡¯s heart sank like a stone as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss. Cole¡¯s gaze was empathetic. He looked at Jasper and opened his mouth but found that Jasper¡¯s words made a lot of sense. Esther had nothing and had lost all attachments to this world. Cole suddenly thought of what Esther had told Liliane in the ward and could not help but feel a little suspicious. Did the fact that Esther had forced Liliane to reveal the truth about five years ago mean that Liliane was actually the one who had caused Thomas¡¯ ident? Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cole stood quietly outside the operating room, his mind wandering over everything that had happened five years ago. Esther had never admitted that the person in the surveince video was her. Back then, everyone had been under the impression that she was arguing shamelessly because there were witnesses and evidence. What if Esther was telling the truth? What if she really was not the one who had pulled the oxygen mask and caused Thomas¡¯ condition to worsen until it was untreatable? The phone¡¯s vibration disrupted Cole¡¯s train of thought. He pulled his phone out of the suit jacket and answered hoarsely, ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Esther Quill right now?¡± Once Bradley settled Felix down, he wanted to settle the score with Esther. ¡°She¡¯s in the operating room right now.¡± Cole¡¯s voice wasced with grief. Bradley mocked coldly, ¡°What trick is she ying now?¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 ¡°Mr. Warner, the doctor just issued a critical illness notice. She-¡± Cole did not get to finish his sentence as Bradley hung up the phone with a bang. Less than five minutester, he appeared outside the operating room with killing intent. His handsome face was dark, like he was brewing a storm. ¡°Is she dead already?¡± When Jasper heard Bradley¡¯s cold and heartless words, he raised his slightly red eyes and sneered coldly. ¡°Bradley, did youe here in such a hurry because you were worried that Esther would die? Or because you were afraid that something would happen to her?¡± ¡°Jasper.¡± Bradley gritted his teeth. Cole was worried that Bradley and Jasper would fight again outside the operating room, so he stood between the two and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Warner, Mr. Searle, should we arrange for a consultation with a specialist for Madam?¡± As soon as Cole finished speaking, Bradley¡¯s thin lips parted slightly for a cold question. ¡°Is this how you do things?¡± Cole was rendered speechless. Did he do something wrong? Five secondster, a realization struck him, prompting him to swiftly turn around and attend to the necessary preparations for the expert consultation. Bradley and Jasper also calmed down because of Cole¡¯s words. They stared at each other without backing down. In the end, they sat silently on the bench outside the operating room. Although they were outside of an operating room, they sat with dominance as if they were at an international financial forum. After a while, Jasper¡¯s secretary walked up to him respectfully with a letter in her hand. ¡°Mr. Searle, this is a will Ms. Quill left in the room.¡± Bradley and Jasper reached for the will at the same time, and neither of them was willing to let 1. ¡°Mr. Warner, look carefully. It says ¡®To Jasper¡¯ on it. Do you understand?¡± Bradley awkwardly withdrew his hand. Jasper took the envelope and took out the will. He recognized the handwriting on the letter at a nce, which Esther herself wrote. After he was done reading the letter word by word, he suddenly punched the wall fiercely. He had been careless. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Esther¡¯s emotions had been too calm since they returned from the cemetery. Jasper had assumed that she had epted Tinkerbell¡¯s death, but he never thought that all of this was because she had lost hope in this world. After calming himself down, Jasper choked up and said, ¡°Bradley, you wanted to see her will, right? Look at it! You better read it word by word. If Esther can¡¯t be saved today, you¡¯re the one who killed her¡­¡± A drop of tear fell from Jasper¡¯s eyes as he was overwhelmed with grief. He roared like a lion, ¡± Bradley, you killed the woman who gave birth to your child with your own hands!¡± Esther¡¯s suicide note was just a thin sheet of paper, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds in Bradley¡¯s hands. Though the will did not mention Bradley¡¯s name, it referred to him in every sentence. Every word was sincere and heartfelt, and every sentence was a mix of love and hatred. It felt as though someone had punched Bradley¡¯s chest with all their might, and a piercing pain spread throughout his body from his heart. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Bradley clutched the will, his vision darkening as the memory of Esther¡¯s gaze on the operation theater shed in his mind. That look in her eyes felt like a poisoned knife that was torturing his heart. His hands trembled uncontrobly, and a nameless sense of panic gripped him. Jasper nced at Bradley coldly and asked, ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Regret? How could he regret Esther¡¯s death? Bradley stood up and threw the letter into Jasper¡¯s arms, coldly and arrogantly stating, ¡°When she dies, I¡¯ll celebrate with two boxes of fireworks.¡± 1 Jasper was furious and did not even spare a nce at Bradley. He slowly opened his mouth and said coldly, ¡°Then please leave now, Mr. Warner. Don¡¯t dirty Esther¡¯s way out.¡± Bradley looked deeply at Jasper before turning and leaving the hallway outside the operating room. When he walked into an empty staircase, he clutched his chest in pain and slid down slowly against the wall, feeling weak, tired, and lonely. He was like a drowning person, greedily gasping for thest bit of air. Every word in Esther¡¯s will seemed toe to life in Bradley¡¯s mind. He looked at his hands under the dim light. His fingers were clean and slender, but they seemed to be stained with Esther¡¯s blood. He unconsciously curved his fingers into an arc that coincidentally matched Esther¡¯s neck. He stared at his hand nkly and felt an inexplicable fear. ¡°Mr. Warner?¡± As Cole walked up the stairs, he unexpectedly encountered Bradley and tentatively called out to him. Bradley instantly switched back into his guise as a dignified, elegant, cold CEO. He slowly rose to his feet and casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The expert team is already looking at Madam¡¯s condition.¡± Cole calmly finished his sentence, then cautiously nced at Bradley. ¡°May I ask if you have any other orders?¡± ¡°Arrange for the best cardiac specialist for me.¡± Bradley coolly and distantly gave his orders. Cole hurriedlyplied, ¡°Yes.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Bradley strode up the stairs with his long legs, making his way to the rooftop of the building. The night was thick and inky, the sky filled with stars twinkling above his head. As he looked into the distance, the entire city was shimmering with dazzling lights, as if the stars had fallen to earth, brilliant and beautiful. Bradley stood at the rooftop¡¯s edge, taking several deep breaths in silence, the numbness and tremendous pain in his heart only slightly relieved. Since his grandfather¡¯s ident, Bradley has always paid attention to his physical health and had regr check-ups yearly. He believed his body was incredibly healthy, but when the pain spread throughout his body, he immediately thought it was a problem with his heart. Felix was still young, so he could not afford anything to happen to him. He had to live well and healthily. Until Felix grew into an adult capable of standing on his own, Bradley would not allow any issue to cause problems in his own body. He deliberately put aside Esther¡¯s life and death and took out his phone to make a call to his secretary. Due to Felix¡¯s situation, thepany affairs had piled up into a small mountain, and he had to handle them promptly. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 ¡°It¡¯s me. Send the affairs I need to sort through to the hospital.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± After an online discussion among various experts from everywhere across the country, they fixed an effective treatment n. An hourter, the door to the operation ward opened slowly. The doctor walked out looking tired and told Jasper and Cole outside, ¡°We managed to save her for now, but whether she can survive depends on her will to live.¡± Cole asked in confusion, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°During our effort to save her, she¡¯s been quite negative,¡± said the doctor. He had never seen someone so determined to die. It was as if any treatment they tried was useless. Even subconsciously, she resisted our treatment methods. I suggest that if you really want her to live, you need to stimte her will to live. Otherwise, even the best doctor can¡¯t cure a patient who¡¯s determined to die.¡± Jasper gripped the doctor¡¯s hand and said gratefully, ¡°Thank you, doctor. You¡¯ve worked hard. I¡¯ve arranged for my secretary to bring you some supper to replenish your strength.¡± ¡± Surgeries were extremely exhausting, and the doctors would do their best to save every patient. They had to be mentally focused in the operating room and their physical endurance was tested. ¡°This is our duty as doctors. You¡¯re too kind,¡± replied the doctor. Jasper then asked, ¡°Does she need to stay in the ICU now?¡± ¡°After staying in the ICU for 24 hours, she can leave and go to a regr ward,¡± the doctor said with fatigue. ¡°However, since she had a bone marrow transnt surgery before, I do not rmend that you go to the ICU to see her now. If there¡¯s a post-op infection, it¡¯ll be troublesome.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, doctor.¡± Of course, Cole and Jasper could not go to see Esther in the ICU. Cole naturally asked, ¡°Mr. Searler, what can we do to make her have the will to live? Is Pixie an option?¡± In Cole¡¯s view, though Tinkerbell was gone, Pixie was still there. As a mother, Esther could not ignore another daughter. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°The couple who adopted Pixie took her overseas,¡± Jasper said weakly with a bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s like a drop of water in the ocean. It¡¯s too difficult to find her.¡± In surprise, Cole suddenly raised his voice and asked, ¡°What did you say? Pixie has been adopted?¡± It could not be! When he took Pixie and Tinkerbell to the orphanage from prison, he had told the director very clearly to take care of them well and that their mother would be back for them in a few years. He had also repeatedly warned that the two children should not be adopted. For this reason, he had been sending money and items to Pixie and Tinkerbell for the past few years. In other words, Pixie and Tinkerbell were only being fostered at Sunflower Welfare. How could the director of the welfare home have the right to send Pixie away? Jasper did not notice Cole¡¯s abnormality as he handed the will to him and said weakly, ¡°Instead of searching for Pixie like looking for a needle in a haystack to stimte Esther¡¯s will to live, it¡¯s better to use Bradley. After all¡­. He was the man that Esther loved but could not have. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¡°Uh¡­¡± Cole understood what Jasper meant despite his unfinished sentence. Once he thought of asking Bradley to wake Esther up, his temples throbbed. ¡°It¡¯s too difficult.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why¡­¡± Jasper said sadly, ¡°To a man who doesn¡¯t love her, anything she does is wrong. Her life was unworthy of mention to him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Cole sighed and said warmly, ¡°I¡¯ll try to persuade Mr. Warner.¡± Jasper took a deep look at Cole and said slowly after a while, ¡°Esther said she has no friends, but if you ask me, you¡¯re her friend too.¡± Cole smiled awkwardly. He was not. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. If he had treated Esther as a friend, he would not have hidden the fact that her daughters were still alive for five years. How many five years would one have in life? Esther¡¯s most beautiful youthful years had been spent in prison. If he had defied Bradley¡¯s orders and disclosed to Esther that her daughters were still alive, she might have been released sooner. She might even have been able to see Thomas for thest time. The small decision Cole had made had changed Esther¡¯s entire life. ¡°Cole, this is the hospital under the Warner Group, so you must be more familiar. Could you introduce a caregiver to take care of Esther?¡± Jasper coughed lightly and said with careful consideration, ¡°It¡¯s not too appropriate for me to do it since I¡¯m a man.¡± ¡°Okay, leave it to me,¡± replied Cole. He got the list of caregivers from the hospital logistics department. All caregivers who worked in the private hospital under the Warner Group had obtained a professional nursing certificate and had undergone various checks. After all, the patients in this hospital were either rich or powerful. It would not be good if anything went wrong due to the caregiver¡¯s behavior. Cole selected a female caregiver who was friendly, capable, and had a lively and cheerful personality for Esther. After arranging everything, he was about to go to Bradley when he suddenly remembered the call he had received from the head of theboratory. He took a detour to theboratory. The head of theboratory greeted Cole when he saw him from afar. ¡°Mr. Johnston, you¡¯re here!¡± Cole smiled gently and said, ¡°Sorry, something came up suddenly and took some time.¡± ¡°Look at you. You¡¯re the busy man around Mr. Warner. I certainly can understand if you have official duties,¡± theboratory head said, handing two brown paper envelopes to Cole. ¡°This one contains what you gave me, and this one is for Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Cole took the two brown envelopes for DNA paternity testing. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a meal another day.¡± ¡°I¡¯d want good food,¡± theboratory head said with a smile. Cole alsoughed heartily, saying, ¡°Surely enough food and alcohol.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s drink and talk then. You go ahead and carry on with work.¡± ¡°See you around.¡± After bidding farewell to the head of theboratory, Cole took the brown paper envelopes and entered the elevator, intending to go to the parking lot. As he was about to press the elevator button, he thought of the envelopes in his hand. After some thought, he pressed the button for the underground parking lot instead. He found his car and unlocked it, then bent down to keep the DNA paternity testing envelope with his surname in the car¡¯s password box. He turned on his phone, intending to call the director of Sunflower Welfare to ask some questions, but he thought it was toote and decided to visit the welfare home himself tomorrow. Cole picked up another DNA paternity testing envelope and walked into the elevator from the underground parking lot. ww Bradley returned to Felix¡¯s ward with some chilliness from the rooftop. The boy was watching The Avengers with rk. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 ¡°Daddy.¡± Felix subconsciously hugged the Thor figurine in his arms tighter when he saw Bradley. rk greeted him politely as well. ¡°Mr. Warner, you don¡¯t look too good. Do you feel unwell somewhere?¡± rk had watched Bradley grow up. One nce was all the older man needed to see that Bradley was not in the right mood. ¡°rk, you¡¯re here?¡± Bradley said gently, seeing Felix cling to the Thor figurine fondly, ¡°Felix¡¯s happy to see you.¡± rk patted Felix¡¯s head. ¡°Mr. Felix¡¯s in a brighter mood because he¡¯s gotten healthy now.¡± He paused to think for a moment and asked, ¡°Ms. Quill donated her bone marrow to Mr. Felix. Mr. Bradley, I could prepare some nutritious meals for her these days. What do you think?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Once Bradley thought about Esther, whose fate was unknown in the operating room, he stiffly rejected the idea. ¡°She has Mr. Searle taking care of her. No need to consider her so much.¡± ¡°Mr. Bradley, Mr. Searle¡¯s care is his effort. Ms. Quill is still Mr. Felix¡¯s savior. She gave him a second chance at life.¡± rk sighed helplessly in his heart. He had already told Bradley that Esther was his savior, but he still had this attitude. It was clear that the two of them were ultimately not meant to be together. Never mind. Matters of the heart could not be forced. Now that they had both found otherpanions, rk could only wish them well. He wished for them to find true love and be together for a lifetime. ¡°As you wish.¡± Bradley walked into his suite in a gloomy mood, trying to numb himself with the mountain of work piled up in front of him. Cole stood at the door and knocked on it. ¡°Come in.¡± Cole pushed open the door, walked in quickly, and closed the door behind him. ¡°Mr. Warner, the DNA paternity test between you and Tinkerbell is out.¡± Bradley raised his eyebrows slightly and sarcastically asked, ¡°Do you think I need to look at it?¡± Cole respectfully said, ¡°After Tinkerbell passed away, Madam insisted on doing a DNA paternity test.¡± Bradley reached out his hand toward Cole, and thetter respectfully handed over the envelope. Bradley cut open the sealed envelope with a pair of scissors and pulled out a DNA paternity test report, flipping through it carelessly until he reached the line for the final data. When his indifferent gaze fell on that ordinary set of numbers, his nonchnt gaze suddenly became fierce and ferocious. ¡°Cole, who gave you the courage to bring me a fake DNA paternity test?¡± Cole was dumbfounded! What was fake? He hurriedly exined, ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯ve never opened this envelope. I don¡¯t even know what the result of the DNA paternity test is.¡± Bradley quickly flipped through the DNA paternity test. His slender fingers seemed to want to manifest something out of this DNA paternity test report. His sharp gaze was like an eagle trying to see through the report. His trembling lips revealed his anxiety and restlessness. This could never be! It was absolutely impossible! How could Esther¡¯s daughter, Tinkerbell, be his daughter!? Chapter 51 Chapter 51 How could Esther¡¯s daughter be his daughter? How could Tinkerbell possibly be his daughter? Bradley searched each corner in his memory and failed to find any about him sleeping with Esther. He rubbed between his brows with his slender fingers. What had gone wrong? If the DNA paternity test had been done at a different hospital, he might have suspected that there was a problem with the test. However, the paternity test was done at a hospital owned by the Warner Group there could be no problem with the test. When he opened the envelope, there were no traces of it being opened and resealed. This meant that it was an authentic DNA paternity test report. Bradley held the test report tightly in his hand, feeling a wave of inexplicable sadness in his heart as he stared at the numbers ¡°99.99%¡± on the paper. After a long moment, he asked in a cold voice, ¡°Did Esther give birth to twins back then?¡± ¡°Yes, Madam gave birth to twin girls in prison,¡± Cole replied honestly. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this paternity test. Use my sample to do another paternity test with the other girl.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Bradley was significantly confused with this result. He had to do another paternity test to confirm his suspicions. Cole apologetically said, ¡°Mr. Warner, Madam¡¯s two daughters, the one called Pixie, has been adopted by kind-hearted people and taken abroad. As for Tinkerbell, Madam¡¯s already cremated her and buried her!¡± Bradley raised his sharp gaze and locked Cole in with his icy re. ¡°Who allowed them to adopt her without my permission?¡± Bradley vented all his anger on Cole. ¡°Cole, use your brain before you do anything. When you sent the children to the welfare home, didn¡¯t you tell the director that you were just fostering them there?¡± Cole was also quite distressed about this. ¡°Mr. Warner, when I sent the children over, I told the director that their mother woulde for them. when she was released from prison. Over the years, I¡¯ve also paid for their foster care monthly. It wasn¡¯t until Mr. Searle told me tonight that I learned Pixie was adopted.¡± Bradley grabbed the paternity test in a fit of rage and hurled it at Cole. ¡°Go check!¡± The paternity test showed that Tinkerbell and Pixie were his daughters. Even though these daughters had note into the world in his anticipation, they were still his daughters and not for anyone else to adopt. ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯ll check on the couple who adopted Pixie immediately.¡± Cole picked up the paternity test from the floor and respectfully ced it back on Bradley¡¯s desk. Just as he was about to turn around, Bradley called out to him coldly, ¡°Stop.¡± Cole straightened his body and turned around mechanically. ¡°Mr. Warner, do you have any other orders?¡± Bradley asked coldly and heartlessly, ¡°Is she dead yet?¡± Cole answered respectfully, ¡°Madam¡¯s saved and needs to spend 24 hours in the ICU. She¡¯ll be transferred to a regr ward tomorrow. But the experts say that she has no will to live¡­¡± ¡°Go tell her.¡± Cruel words spilled from Bradley¡¯s thin lips. ¡°Good¡­ Good if she¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cole left the suite and went to the underground parking lot when Bradley waved a hand. With Tinkerbell and Pixie bing Bradley¡¯s daughters, he dared not ck and went right to Sunflower Welfare. After Cole left, Bradley tried to return to work, but the digits on the DNA paternity test echoed in his mind like a curse. He threw the report in the drawer instead but was still unable to concentrate on the words of his work document. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Bradley could not recall the time he had spent with Esther, no matter how hard he racked his brain. Under what circumstances did they have Tinkerbell and Pixie? Why did he have no recollection of it? Bradley was extremely frustrated and annoyed. He pulled out a box of cigarettes and lit one up by his lips. The flickering me danced in front of him. He then took his phone to call Cole. ¡°Cole, I want all the video material from that hotel from five years ago.¡¯ ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Everything.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Bradley went through stick after stick of cigarettes. The air reeked of cigarette smoke, and he was barely aware of it. He let himself loose and dove into the reminiscence of five years ago, trying to seek the smallest clue from the sealed memories. It was all in vain. He had no impression of being together with Esther five years ago. He only remembered his head bing heavy after his grandfather passed him a ss of wine. When he opened his eyes again, the person lying next to him was Liliane. As a man, he would not reach the extent of not being able to distinguish if he had done anything. It was also after the video of Esther being exposed that he knew she had conspired with his grandfather to give him a ¡°special¡± wine. The unexpected coincidence had fulfilled Liliane¡¯s wish instead and caused Esther to suffer the consequences. The memories of five years ago were not wonderful, If it were not for this DNA paternity test, Bradley would have wished never to mention the ¡°shame¡± of five years ago again. rk stood at the door and knocked gently. Considering Felix¡¯s health, Bradley had never smoked in front of him. He instinctively extinguished his cigarette when he heard the knock and turned on the venttion system to circte the smoke out of the room before clearing his throat. ¡°Come in.¡± rk entered the room. He saw the ashtray on the table at a nce but did not stop Bradley from smoking. ¡°Mr. Bradley, Mr. Felix wants to see the stars. Can I take him to the rooftop for it?¡± Bradley looked deeply at rk, reminding him, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. Be careful not to let Felix spend too long there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± rk took a few steps before he turned back, looking at Bradley, who was on the verge of losing control, and said with a serious tone, ¡°Mr. Bradley, I think if Mr. Thomas knew, he¡¯d want you to be friends, not enemies.¡± Bradley remained silent, sitting quietly like a sculpture under themp. rk gently closed the door and took Felix to the rooftop. There was no one there. The night breeze blew gently, and the stars sparkled. Felix looked around cautiously, made sure that no one else was on the rooftop, and then handed over Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. the pen recorder he had been hiding to rk. ¡°Grandpaw rk, I suspect that I am not Mommy¡¯s son. 53 53 rk thought that he was only fulfilling Felix¡¯s wish to stargaze on the rooftop, only to hear something so shocking. ¡°Mr. Felix, why¡­ Why would you think so?¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Felix and Bradley had done a DNA paternity test, which confirmed they were really father and son. ¡°You¡¯ll understand after you listen to this, Grandpaw rk.¡± Felix, who was in a wheelchair, looked at rk with a serious expression. rk transferred the content of the pen recorder to his phone and listened to the voice recording with his Bluetooth earphones. He could easily recognize that the voices of the two women in the recording were Esther and Liliane. ¡°Liliane, do you know that you and Bradley are the people I hate the most in this world?¡± ¡°Liliane, unless you tell the truth from five years ago or I¡­ I¡¯ll die with you and your son today.¡± ¡°Yes, I was the one who removed Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask five years ago.¡± ¡°Esther, you just wanted to know how I managed to lie to everyone back then, right?¡± ¡°Even if you force me to tell you the truth you want to know, Brad still won¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Esther, do you want to know how that old b*stard died?¡± ¡°Back then, I yanked that old b*stard¡¯s oxygen mask like this too.¡± ¡°Liliane, whose child is Felix?¡± ¡°Esther, Felix is actually your and Bradley¡¯s biological son!¡± Two voices alternated in rk¡¯s ears. His expression froze instantly, especially when he heard Liliane confess that Felix was Esther and Bradley¡¯s son. ¡°Mr. Felix, did you tell anyone about the recorder?¡± rk¡¯s mood was extremelyplicated. He heard Liliane admit with his own ears that she had unplugged Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask five years ago. Five years ago, Esther had denied the crime. It was just that the person who had appeared in the surveince video was indeed Esther. If¡­ the person who had unplugged Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask five years ago was not Esther but Liliane, Esther would have been wrongly imprisoned for five years!? Moreover, what about Felix being Esther and Bradley¡¯s son? Grandpaw rk, Daddy¡¯s going to marry her!¡± Felix looked up at the starry sky above his head with extreme sadness. ¡°Can you help me?¡± rk held the recorder tightly. He was older than Felix and was the one who had watched Bradley grow up. He understood Bradley better than anyone else. Without solid evidence, he could not prove that Thomas¡¯ death was rted to Liliane based solely on the content in the recorder. Even if it was indeed Liliane who had done it five years ago, she could easily argue that she had confessed to such a crime at that time for the safety of Felix. Unless he could find evidence of Liliane¡¯s actions five years ago. What about Felix? rk carefully recalled the scene when Felix came to the Warners. That day, Liliane¡¯s mother brought him to the Warners¡¯ manor, iming he was Bradley¡¯s son. 54 54 rk was the one who had collected the samples for Bradley and Felix¡¯s DNA paternity test and picked up the report in the hospital. Up till now, the test report was still in his safe. Liliane¡¯s mother had said back then that since Bradley would not marry Liliane, she had prohibited her from bing an unmarried mother. Liliane, who had rushed over after catching wind of it, had gotten on her knees on a rainy night to beg Bradley to return Felix to her so they would not be separated. She had passed out after that. From that day onward, Bradley had also silently acknowledged Liliane¡¯s presence around Felix. A DNA maternity test sufficed to prove whether Felix was or was not Esther¡¯s son. However, even if Felix¡¯s birth was confirmed, how had Liliane taken Felix away from Esther back then? 11 ¡°Mr. Felix, don¡¯t tell anyone about this tonight.¡± rk held Felix¡¯s hand and said seriously, Especially in front of Liliane. Don¡¯t show that you know about your birth. If all this is true, that woman is terrifying.¡± The woman had begun nning five years ago. Each step was calcted with precision. If a woman like her found out that Felix knew her secret, then¡­ Felix would be in danger. ¡°But Daddy¡¯s getting married to her!¡± Felix was filled with worry. rk reached out and gently patted Felix¡¯s head, soothingly saying, ¡°Mr. Felix, your most important task right now is to take care of yourself and strive to reunite with Madam as soon as possible.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know that I am her son yet.¡± Felix lowered his head, his face sad and lonesome. ¡°She fainted and coughed out blood.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if she doesn¡¯t know. Our Mr. Felix knows.¡± rk encouraged him. ¡°Mr. Felix¡¯s a little man and will protect her, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m super brave!¡± ¡°Our Mr. Felix¡¯s as brave as Thor!¡± Felix had just undergone surgery and was still in the recovery period, so rk did not keep him on the rooftop for too long. He secretly took some of Felix¡¯s hair, intending to visit Esther tomorrow and take some of her hair or blood to redo the DNA maternity test. He could not simply rely on Liliane¡¯s words alone to determine that Esther was Felix¡¯s mother. He believed that science would give him a perfect answer. ¡°rk, thank you.¡± When rk and Felix returned to the hospital room from the rooftop, Bradley¡¯s mood had returned to normal. Felix obedientlyy on the hospital bed, and rk put on his favorite clips of The Avengers. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Mr. Bradley, I heard that you¡¯re going to marry Ms. Anstey?¡± Bradley¡¯s burning gaze fell on Felix, and he spoke frankly. ¡°After Felix recovers, he¡¯ll be starting elementary school soon. Sometimes, the school requires mothers to participate in parent activities. If I don¡¯t get married and give her a status, Felix will beughed at by his ssmates.¡¯ rk readily expressed his understanding. ¡°Your marriage is a big deal. There¡¯s no need to rush it. If you and Ms. Anstey don¡¯t mind, I can take care of it for you.¡± ¡°Thank you for the kind offer, rk.¡± Liliane came out of the bathroom, her smile bright like a blooming flower. ¡°I have nothing to do, so I can talk to the wedding nningpany myself. If you¡¯re free, could you please take care of Felix at the hospital? I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t have time to take care of him when I get busy.¡± rk looked at Felix, who had closed his eyes and was resting, with a loving gaze and said, ¡°Ms. Anstey, if you ever be unavable, I can take care of Felix anytime.¡± Liliane walked to Bradley¡¯s side and hugged his arm, joking intimately, ¡°If Grandpa Thomas were still alive, he¡¯d be happy to see Felix recover and our family happy and content, right, Brad?¡± rk¡¯s burning gaze immediately caught the sh of viciousness deep in Liliane¡¯s eyes. 55 55 The sh of viciousness stunned rk. If Felix had not given him the pen recorder, he would never expect a woman who loved her son so much to have such a callous gaze. If she were the one who had pulled off Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask, what was her purpose in doing that? rk suppressed his distress and anger to look at Bradley and ask gently, ¡°Mr. Bradley, before you get married to Ms. Anstey, should you divorce Ms. Quill first?¡± Liliane looked at rk gratefully upon hearing what he asked. Although she had been by Bradley¡¯s side all these years as Felix¡¯s birth mother, they were raising him at most. Liliane was well aware that Bradley regarded her because she was Felix¡¯s biological mother. Given the man¡¯s heartlessness, he would not spare her a nce if she were not the boy¡¯s birth mother. All these years, she and her parents had been ying good guys and bad guys, respectively. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Her mother had pressured Bradley to marry her, but he rejected it indirectly, iming that Esther was still in prison and they were unable toplete the divorce procedure at the office. Now that Esther was released, Liliane hoped that Bradley could divorce the b*tch as soon as possible. Only then would she be the official Mrs. Warner. ¡°No need for the has sle.¡± Bradley said cruelly, ¡°I¡¯ll be widowed very soon.¡± As an adult, rk felt a chill down his spine upon hearing Bradley¡¯s words, let alone Felix who heard them. He calmly held the boy¡¯s hand andforted the poor child with the warmth of his palm. ¡°Ms. Anstey, talk to Mr. Bradley. Ms. Quill is Mr. Felix¡¯s savior, after all. For Mr. Felix¡¯s men tal health, Mr. Bradley shouldn¡¯t- Before rk finished his sentence, Liliane hugged Bradley¡¯s arm and looked up to say delicately, ¡± Brad, Esther¡¯s quite pitiful for losing her daughter. We-¡± ¡°Stop mentioning her!¡± Bradley remembered the set of digits ¡°99.99%¡± without a forewarning. The DNA paternity test was proven with scientific data. Tink erbell was his biological daughter. Even when he hated and resented Esther, he would never be ruthless to his own blood as a man. Liliane was startled and widened her eyes, asking in surprise, ¡°Brad, I-¡® 11 ¡°Do not mention Esther Quill¡¯s name in front of me from now on,¡± Bradley said and nced at rk coldly before softening his tone to tell Liliane, ¡°I¡¯ll send you back.¡± ¡°O-Okay!¡± Liliane had never forgotten to keep up a good motherly fa?ade in front of Bradley. She looked at rk sincerely. ¡°rk, please look after Felix.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I should do.¡± Bradley walked off in arge stride, and Liliane had to jog in her high heels to catch up to him. ¡°Brad, walk slower. My feet hurt.¡± Bradley suppressed the annoyance deep in his heart and halted his steps, only entering the elevator together when Liliane came over. Bradley¡¯s parents had passed away when he was very young. Even when his grandfather gave him all the love he could, it could not rece the love from his parents. Although he had never mentioned it, he envied children whose parents spent a lot of time with them. He did not want his son to experience what he had gone through. He hoped that Felix¡¯s childhood could be his most treasured possession. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Cole to pick out a few designers for you. Your shoes will be tailor-made by them from now on. Liliane was pleasantly surprised. She looked at Bradley in astonishment and asked softly, ¡°Will that be too much trouble?¡± ¡°My woman deserves the best of everything in this world.¡± 56 56 Liliane blushed as soon as Bradley said that. She walked closer to him and rested her forehead against his arm, sobbing out of happiness. ¡°Brad, you finally¡­ Finally¡­¡± Liliane sobbed, dainty and aggrieved. ¡°I¡¯ll be a good Mrs. Warner in the future and won¡¯t embarrass you.¡¯ Five years of careful nning¡­ Five years of enduring hardship and persevering¡­ All of it, at this moment, dissipated into nothing. She had finally entered Bradley¡¯s heart. Her status had also changed from Felix¡¯s mother to Bradley¡¯s woman. ¡°You¡¯re fine.¡± Bradley thought of Liliane¡¯s sacrifices for Felix during these five years. He thought of her facing pressure from her parents for five years and her facing iprehension from her rtives and friends. ¡°Liliane, you¡¯re Felix¡¯s mother. You don¡¯t need topromise.¡± Bradley lowered his head and caught a glimpse of the hair whorl on Liliane¡¯s head. Suddenly, a scene he had never seen before shed across his mind. It passed in a sh like a shooting star. The elevator door opened with a ding. Bradley stepped out first, and Liliane followed him, overjoyed. They got into the Maybach parked in the garage. Bradley had the DNA paternity test in his mind, so he was perfunctory toward Liliane in attitude. Despite that, Liliane did not mind. She knew better than anyone that countless women liked Bradley. Only she could be Mrs. Warner officially. Liliane¡¯s group chat notifications were ringing nonstop. While waiting at a traffic light, she tapped on a picture of a wedding dress in the group chat. ¡°Brad, do you think this looks nice?¡± The picture Liliane tapped open was the new seasonunch of a famous foreign luxury brand, which no one in the world had ever worn. It was said to be modeled in fall¡¯s fashion show. ¡°This is the work of the famous wedding dress designer, Anna, called The Wedding Dress from Heaven. Thece on the wedding dress is handmade by French craftsmen, and the diamonds iid on it are all real diamonds. The whole dress took three years to be made¡­¡± Liliane was fascinated by this wedding dress at first nce. It was not that she liked the ssical style of it. What she liked was the diamonds on the dress and that it was the only and only in the world. Without waiting for Liliane to finish, Bradley called Cole directly. ¡°Cole, it¡¯s me. Contact the wedding dress designer Anna. I want The Wedding Dress from Heaven she designed!¡± Liliane was delighted but pretended to resist and said, ¡°Brad, this wedding dress is really too expensive. It¡¯s not necessary¡­¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°The price is up to her! You have three days to air freight the wedding dress back from overseas!¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 The feeling of Bradley disying his wealth before Liliane felt amazing to her! It was not like she had no suitors these years, but all of them added together were not even Liliane patted herself on the back for her good taste, If she wanted to get married, she would marry the best man there was in the world. If she wanted to wear a wedding dress, she would wear the best one there was in the world. Liliane then contemted. She was going to look online to see if there was some impressive jewelry. She wanted to look her best at her wedding-she wanted everyone to know that she was Bradley Warner¡¯s wife. Bradley personally drove Liliane to the outside of the Ansteys¡¯ vi. Liliane invited him into the vi, saying, ¡°Brad, why don¡¯t youe in?¡± ¡°I have something else to do. I¡¯lle another day.¡± Liliane smiled gently and reminded him, ¡°Then drive safely.¡± She stood outside the vi gate and watched the Maybach disappear into the distance before she hurriedly walked back to the vi. ¡°Mom, Mom¡­¡± Liliane could not control her excitement and started shouting as soon as she entered the house. Leah Walpole was applying a face mask. When she heard her beloved daughter¡¯s voice, shezily said, ¡°Liliane, you¡¯re a youngdy!¡¯ Liliane did not want to be a youngdy at all. She ran to Leal¡¯s side and proudly showed her a picture. of a wedding dress. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bradley¡¯s buying me this wedding dress!¡± Leah was so shocked that her face mask fell off when she saw the wedding dress clearly. ¡°Is he for real?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Liliane raised her eyebrows in triumph. ¡°It¡¯s just a wedding dress. He wouldn¡¯t deceive me! Mom, do you think I should match it with a luxurious crown, like the antique crown worth $ 850,000,000 in the private museum?¡± Leah took a closer look at the wedding dress. The diamonds on it shone brightly under the light. ¡°Of course.¡± Leah was proud to see her daughter achieve what she wanted. ¡°The money you spend is just a drop in the bucket for Bradley!¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Liliane slid herself down to pillow her head on Leah¡¯s thighs and spoke in a cold tone. ¡°That woman, Esther, is going to die! Are you happy, Mom?¡± When Leah thought of Esther, she thought of Esther¡¯s biological mother, Faye, and a bloodthirsty resentment surged in her heart. 272 Before Esther appeared, Leah thought she was the happiest woman in the world. She had a husband who loved her, a well-behaved and sensible daughter, and even her inws were kind to her. However, Esther¡¯s appearance had created a permanent, irreparable rift in her perfect life. Although Esther grew up with her inws and was not an eyesore to Leal, her existence was like a thorn in Leah¡¯s throat. ¡°She¡¯s dying?¡± Leah snorted coldly, and her fierce eyes seemed to be filled with poison. ¡°Is she finally going to meet her mistress of a mother?¡± Leah hated Faye, who had destroyed her marriage! She hated the mistress¡¯ daughter, Esther, even more! Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Of course, the person Leah hated the most was still her father-inw. Not only was it a p in her face from him, but he had even taken in this mistress¡¯ daughter and match-made her to Bradley! ¡°Yeah, the doctors in the hospital say that she has no will to live!¡± Liliane¡¯s gaze was vicious, just like Leah¡¯s. ¡°The critical illness notice is out. It¡¯ll probably happen in the next two days!¡± Leah stroked Liliane¡¯s hair lightly and said seriously after she calmed down, ¡°Liliane, what¡¯s most important now isn¡¯t her but you. You and Bradley should have a child of your own sooner.¡± Liliane stayed silent. She understood the significance of it and wanted a child of her own too. But she could not do it! Unless she got another woman to give birth to a baby for her. ¡°Mom, can we try when you meet him next time?¡± Liliane scoffed inwardly. Esther had benefited from it five years ago. This time, she must make sure nothing went wrong. ¡°By the time you have your own kid, that b*tch Esther¡¯s b*stard son can die¡­¡± Leah reminded Liliane coldly, ¡°He¡¯s not your blood. He won¡¯t be devoted to you.¡± ¡°I know, Mom,¡± Liliane agreed and said ruthlessly, ¡°I¡¯ve thought of it. I¡¯ll maximize the gains of that b*stard¡¯s death. Too bad, I thought Esther could kill her son with her own hands, but her so-called abduction was just child¡¯s y.¡± ¡°So you mustn¡¯t be soft-hearted!¡± Leah gritted her teeth as she spoke. ¡°If you don¡¯t eliminate the issue at its root, it¡¯ll keeping back!¡± ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Liliane¡¯s father walked in drunkenly and heard the mother and daughter seemingly discussing something from afar. Leah¡¯s well-maintained face was cold as she stabbed her husband with her words. ¡°Your daughter¡¯s almost dead!¡± The man hurried to Liliane and asked tipsily, ¡°Liliane, is it your heart? Don¡¯t scare me!¡± Leah was angry, looking at how the man babied Liliane. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Billy Anstey! Don¡¯t curse my daughter!¡± Leah gnashed her teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯m talking about your other daughter, the one Faye Quill gave birth to!¡± When Billy heard Faye¡¯s name, his drunken gaze showed a hint of rity. He opened his mouth, looked at Leah, and asked hoarsely, ¡°Honey, can I visit Esther?¡± ¡°Have I tied up your legs with a rope?¡± Leah spat and stomped upstairs. Liliane scolded her father furiously as well, ¡°Dad, it¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know Mom hates hearing Esther¡¯s name. Why did you bring her up!?¡± Billy looked at his wife and daughter leave and slumped on the couch weakly. He pulled out his phone Ludpier JO and went through Faye¡¯s photos from her social media. ¡®Faye! Tell me, have I really done wrong?¡± Billy cried soundlessly, holding his phone. Who knew how long he had cried before he wiped the tears dry and made up his mind? ¡®Faye, don¡¯t you worry! I¡¯ll take good care of your daughter.¡± Leah smirked as she watched her husband cry, looking at Faye¡¯s photos through the surveince camera in the living room, and said coldly, ¡°When you and Bradley¡¯s wedding ends, I¡¯ll send this man to meet his Faye!¡± 59 59 Liliane could not help looking at her father on the surveince camera screen in shock when she heard what Leah said. She pleaded, ¡°Mom, he¡¯s my father.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Liliane, he stopped being my husband the moment he betrayed me.¡± Leah turned off the tablet¡¯s surveince screen and seriously told Liliane, ¡°The men who betray me are like bills stained with sh t. You can still use it, but it¡¯s disgusting! If it weren¡¯t for your parents¡® divorce affecting your marriage, I would¡¯ve stopped tolerating it long ago.¡± Liliane knew her mother was ruthless but did not expect her mother to want to kill her own father. ¡°Mom, if you don¡¯t want to see Dad, you can divorce him¡­¡± Leah interrupted Liliane and said coldly, ¡°Liliane, believe it or not, if I divorce him, with his character, he¡¯ll have an illegitimate child within a year, and that child will be splitting assets with you! Do you want a half¨Csibling with the same father but a different mother?¡± Liliane shook her head subconsciously. ¡°So, never be soft on your enemies, Liliane.¡± Leah reached out and held her daughter¡¯s hand, gently brushing her hair away from her forehead. ¡°Liliane, if it weren¡¯t for that illegitimate daughter Esther, our family would still be as happy as before.¡± Liliane could not help but think of Esther¡¯s blood type. She remembered that Esther¡¯s blood type was O, while her father¡¯s blood type was B. ¡°Mom, do you know what blood type the woman named Faye has?¡± asked Liliane. Leah¡¯s tone was unfriendly. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Mom, Esther is type O, and my dad is type B. Do you think Esther might not be his daughter¡­¡± Liliane thought of the past few years during which her father and Esther interacted ¨C they were not close like regr father and daughter. She said, ¡°I remember you investigated Faye¡¯s information back then. Can you show me?¡± Leah had always loved her daughter and knew that Liliane could not ept anything happening to her father. For her, Billy was a scum who had betrayed her, but for Liliane, the man was her father. ¡± Hold on.¡± Leah walked to the safe, entered the password, and opened it. She took out a folder from the bottom of the safe. The contents of the folder were information about Faye. Liliane saw Faye¡¯s blood type at a nce. ¡°Faye Quill, blood type AB,¡± Liliane said in shock, hesitantly asking. ¡°Mom, ording to the principles of gic inheritance, people with blood types AB and B cannot have children with blood type O, right?¡± Leah took the information from Liliane and looked at it. Faye¡¯s blood type was indeed AB, while Billy¡¯s blood type was B. ¡°Perhaps Esther is the child of Faye and another man.¡± Leah became even angrier at the thought of it. She had never imagined that Billy would be such a foolishly infatuated man. ¡°Mom, we¡¯ll know if Esther is my father¡¯s daughter by doing a DNA paternity test. Did you never do a DNA paternity test back then?¡± Liliane asked, still confused. ¡°No,¡± replied Leah. Back then, she had been so furious when Billy brought back a daughter that she went straight to her mother¡¯s home. Later, the father of her supposed husband spoke up, saying that they would raise. Esther and never allow her to appear in front of Leah. After weighing everything, Leah had agreed to continue living with Billy. ¡°Mom, give my father a chance, please?¡± Liliane did not want her mother to kill her own father. ¡°If the DNA test shows that he¡¯s not Esther¡¯s biological father, then it means he did not betray you¡­¡± Leah was firm in her attitude. ¡°Liliane, both physical and emotional betrayals are betrayals.¡± ¡°Mom, I know, but I want to know the answer. What if my father never had another woman besides. you?¡± Liliane pleaded, ¡°Regardless of your decision, please wait until we do the DNA paternity test, okay?¡± Faced with her daughter¡¯s plea, Leah caved. 60 60 Even then, Leah had a thousand ways to kill Billy. She just could not let her own daughter hate her. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the result of the DNA paternity test you do then.¡± Liliane was delighted and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get it done at the hospital tomorrow.¡± ¡°Oh, right, didn¡¯t you say that Esther¡¯s dying? Do you want to try her heart?¡± ¡°Mom, you mean¡­ ¡°1 Liliane could not be too emotional due to her heart problem. The biggest issue with that was, of course, the inability to have children. ¡°I hope my daughter has a healthy heart.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go ask the doctor tomorrow¡­¡® Leah stopped Liliane as soon as she said that. ¡°Liliane, I¡¯ll handle this. Don¡¯t get involved. If it gets exposed one day, you can stay out.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re too good to me.¡± Liliane hugged Leah tightly, and thetter swiped a finger across the tip of her daughter¡¯s nose, saying jealously, ¡°I¡¯m so good to you, but you still think of that jerk of a man?¡± ¡°Aww, Mom, that¡¯s my dad!¡± ¡°And I¡¯m your mother!¡± ¡°My mom¡¯s the best! My mom¡¯s awesome! My mom¡¯s the best mother in the world!¡± After Bradley left the Ansteys¡®, he drove straight back to the hospital. He did not go to Felix¡¯s room directly, but his feet somehow brought him to Esther¡¯s ward. Esther was in the ICU currently, and the ICU wards had standard visiting hours. Bradley was an exception, though. He was the boss of this hospital, so he had the right to enter the ICU anytime he wanted. ¡°Mr. Warner,¡± the nurse on duty said a little shakily when she saw Bradley, who was like an ice¨Ccold statue the moment she came over to do her rounds. Bradley reeled his cold gaze from Esther, who was in the ward, to look at the nurse, saying with a cold voice, ¡°I want to go in.¡± ¡°Please follow me.¡± The nurse put a sterile suit on Bradley and handed him a mask. She purposely knelt in front of him and put the shoe covers on his feet. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Bradley ignored the nurse¡¯s deliberate actions. He exuded a chilling aura and pushed open the door to the ICU ward with an indifferent face. The smell of disinfectant permeated the room. When Bradley walked to Esther¡¯s side, his heart felt like it had been stabbed deeply with a knife, and he was in unbearable pain. He instinctively reached out and supported himself on the bed, hisrge handnding on Esther¡¯s cold hand. The coldness spread through Bradley¡¯s body from his fingertips like a tiny electric current flowing into his body. ¡°Beep¡­¡± The piercing rm sounded sharply in the quiet ward. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Amidst the piercing sound of the rm, the line on the electrocardiogram monitor turned into a deadly straight line. The digits on the screen went from double digits to ¡°o¡±, while rms sounded from the other instruments in session. The on-duty doctor rushed in. It felt chaotic inside the ICU room, but the medical staff were systematically and urgently trying to save Esther. They did their best to sna tch Esther from the clutches of the Grim Reaper. Bradley was squeezed into a corner. Even though he was the boss, no medical staff paid attention to him. His heart was pounding relentlessly. The lively heart seemed as if it would jump out of his chest following the cessation of another heart. Bradley was facing someone¡¯s death directly for the first time in his life. The person being rescued by the medical staff before him was his enemy. In the past, if Bradley had seen Esther in this state, he would have felt extreme pleasure. However, ever since he found out that she had saved him in his childhood and that Tinke rbell was his daughter, he could not bear to let Esther leave this world. He rushed to Esther¡¯s side abruptly and tightly held her hand. As Esther¡¯s vital signs gradually disappeared, he gnashed his teeth and said with a fierce and threatening tone, ¡°Esther, listen carefully. If you die, I¡¯ll personally kill Pixie and let you and your daughters reunite in another world¡­ Perhaps Bradley¡¯s threat was effective! With the final defibritor shock, the t line on the monitor turned into a curve again. The medical staff carefully examined Esther¡¯s various data with sweat drenching their backs. The doctor on duty looked at Bradley and said earnestly, ¡°Mr. Warner, Ms. Quill responded to your words. Please talk to her!¡± They were doctors-doctors who saved lives and treated the injured. However, no doctor in this world could save a person who desperately sought death. The medical staff hurriedly arrived and left like a tide. Bradley gently walked to Esther¡¯s side with long strides, extended his finger, and ced it under her nose. The warm breath puffed onto his slender finger, instantly convincing him. She was still alive! Esther was still alive. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Bradley reached out and touched Esther¡¯s hand again. Her hand was still ice-cold. He held it with great force and eyes that brimmed with indescribable sorrow. ¡°Esther, the result of the DNA paternity test is out. Tink erbell is my daughter.¡± When Bradley uttered those words, it seemed like this terrifying truth had taken away all his strength. He looked down at Esther from a superior position, his scorching eyes falling on her lifeless and beautiful face. The former Esther used to be radiant and lively, like a blooming sunflower, always full of vitality. Light was wherever she was. A light like that was so bright and dazzling that it hurt his eyes time and again. ¡°Esther, you know me. I always do what I say!¡± Bradley did not even notice that his tone at this moment was gentle and full of pity. ¡°If you dare to die without my permission, I¡¯ll kill Pixie with my own hands to send her to you aspany.¡± If someone were outside the ward at that moment, they would see Bradley, who was decisive and strategic in the business world, using the fiercest expression but the gentlest tone in saying these scariest words. ¡°Esther, I read the will you left for Jasper. You don¡¯t naively believe that Pixie¡¯s really been adopted, right?¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 ¡°You¡¯d be naively silly then. You¡¯re my enemy. How could I not hold something against you? ¡°Esther, you might think I wouldn¡¯t kill Pixie cruelly after finding out she¡¯s my daughter. ¡°No, I¡¯m telling you now, I won¡¯t!¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes were dark, and his expression looked icy. ¡°Even you, her birth mother, have abandoned her, so why would you think I¡¯d be nice to the daughter of my enemy?¡± Bradley was a man. He had never experienced carrying a child for ten months, so he did not have much fatherly love for Pixie, whom he had never met. To him, the girl was only a tool. Of course, he could threaten Esther with Pixie¡¯s life and death, but he forbade others from adopting her simultaneously. ¡°Dead or alive? You choose!¡± Bradley said and aloofly let go of Esther¡¯s hand to leave the ICU ward. The moment he turned around, the finger of Esther¡¯s hand that he had been holding twitched slightly. Bradley looked at the doctor on duty who sat on the bench by the door, saying coldly, ¡°Her life¡¯s yours. She lives, you stick around. She dies, you¡¯re out!¡± The doctor on duty shuddered. It tasted bitter in his mouth as cold sweat trickled down his back. He was just a regr doctor-he was no g o d! He could not save someone who sought death! Bradley wasted no time with the doctor and spread his long legs to go to Felix¡¯s room. Ever since Felix had undergone the bone marrow transnt, Bradley could tell that the boy was doing Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. much better. He could not help feeling relieved. It was also inevitable that he thought of Pixie, who was adopted. ¡°Daddy.¡± Felix opened his eyes blearily and said, ¡°I dreamed of the pretty woman who donated me her bone marrow.¡± Bradley sat by the bed, tucking the boy in, and asked gently, ¡°What was the dream about?¡± ¡°The pretty woman hugged me, said she was going somewhere, and asked me to listen to you,¡± replied Felix. Felix knew that he was Esther¡¯s son, so he was saddened to dream of a nightmare like this. He sat up and crawled into Bradley¡¯s embrace, hugging thetter¡¯s neck tightly. ¡°Daddy, I want to see her tomorrow.¡± Bradley wrapped his hands around Felix and rubbed their foreheads together. He thought that Esther might be being resuscitated when Felix dreamed of her. ¡°Felix, take care of yourself first. Eat and sleep well, then I¡¯ll take you to see her,¡± said Bradley. Felix¡¯s eyes sparkled once he heard that, and he put out a pinky to say seriously, ¡°Promise, Daddy?¡± Bradley had always doted on Felix, so hepleted the pinky promise with his son. ¡°Good night, Daddy.¡± Felix scrambled back to his bed and seriously pulled the nket over himself before closing his eyes in obedience. There was obvious glee on his face as he thought, ¡®Mommy, you must take your medication, eat, and sleep well. I¡¯lle to see you soon!¡¯ Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Tink erbell¡¯s pale face automatically resurfaced in Bradley¡¯s mind when he saw how well-behaved Felix was. They were all his children, but Felix was born with a silver spoon and countless people serving him. Tink erbell? She had been separated from her mother just as she was born because of his revenge. She had grown up in Sunflower Welfare, and when her mother was finally released from prison to pick her up, they were separated once more because of her illness. Bradley¡¯s eyes were rimmed red as he got up to sit down at the study table in the suite. His eyes locked on the green lighter. This was the lighter Esther had used to threaten him with in the hospital ward-but the lighter was empty. Bradley tried to flick it alright, but it was futile. It could not be lit at all. ¡°Hah¡­¡± He sneered through his clenched jaw. Esther purposely wanted to die in his hands? Bradley kept the lighter in the drawer, called Cole, and asked, ¡°Cole, who adopted Pixie?¡± Cole was standing in front of his car as he answered in a deep tone, ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯m at Madam C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Jenner¡¯s. I¡¯m going to ask her for information on the adoption.¡± Cole had been busying about relentlessly tonight. He had first contacted the wedding dress designer, Anna, with the intention to purchase The Wedding Dress from Heaven that she had designed, but the Anna. Artists like that were entric. Cole could not force her to sell it just because the Warner Group was a conglomerate. After Cole ended the call with Bradley, he rang the doorbell of Cam¡¯s home with a box of high- quality Manuka honey. The doorbell rang for some time before Cam came out slowly with a shawl draped over her. She looked at Cole in surprise and politely asked, ¡°Mr. Johnston, what brings you here thiste?¡± ¡°Madam Jenner, I¡¯m here to find out who are the couple who adopted Pixie,¡± Cole said directly without skirting around the topic. Cam took a faint nce at the honey Cole held and answered indifferently, ¡°Mr. Johnston, ording to the welfare home¡¯s rules, we have to keep the adopters confidential. It¡¯ll vite our rules if I tell you who they are.¡± Cole¡¯s tone hardened when Cam tried to brush him off. ¡°Madam Jenner, we were only fostering Pixie and Tink erbell in Sunflower Welfare. ording to the fostering agreement we signed, you have the duty to inform us when you let others adopt Pixie- || Cam shirked the responsibility off right away, interrupting Cole tly. ¡°Mr. Johnston, I don¡¯t know about any fostering agreement. Even if there is one, it¡¯s not through me.¡± Cam looked like she was not going to say more and wanted to send him off. ¡°If you have any objection, you can press charges against Sunflower Welfare ording to the agreement. As the welfare home¡¯s director, I¡¯m certainly considering Pixie. Rather than letting her grow up parentless in the home, I want her to be like a regr kid and have the happiness that regr kids have. If you have nothing else, please leave!¡± Cole furrowed his brows and asked coldly, ¡°Didn¡¯t the former director tell you about fostering Pixie and Tink erbell?¡± ¡°Mr. Johnston, Madam Johnston before me has had dementia for years. She forgot to tell me plenty of things, and that¡¯s normal,¡± Cam exined in a softer tone. ¡°If you want to find out about the couple who adopted Pixie, I suggest you apply to the department superior to me. Once they approve it, I¡¯ll let you know as soon as I can.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Cole ced the honey in front of Cam and got into his car. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Just as Cole got into the car, Cam took out her phone and sent a message to an anonymous number. [Mr. Johnston from the Warner Group came to inquire about the identity of the couple who adopted Pixie.] Within three seconds of sending the message, the recipient responded with a cold and simple: [.] Cam nced at the Manuka honey that Cole had brought and estimated its value in her mind before she took it into her house. After Cole got in the car, he made several phone calls and found out where the former Sunflower Welfare director, Joan Johnston, currently lived. Cam was unaware that Cole was raised as an orphan in Sunflower Welfare. A few orphans during then, including Cole, took on Joan¡¯s surname-Johnston and affectionately referred to her as ¡°Mama Johnston¡±. Because Cole excelled in his studies, Joan had specifically instructed him to study hard, as only through education could he change his destiny. Cole¡¯s diligence and outstanding academic performance had caught the attention of Thomas, who sponsored him all the way until hepleted his master¡¯s degree abroad and became Bradley¡¯s special assistant. Joan now lived in a sanatorium not far from the Warner Group. After Cole registered at the front desk, a staff member from the sanatorium escorted him to her room and exined, ¡°Madam Johnston doesn¡¯t sleep much most of the time. She¡¯s usually awake around this time!¡± When Cole entered the room, Joan was awake, sitting by the desk by the window and writing. Joan¡¯s handwriting was elegant with exquisite features, and Cole had managed to pick up her calligraphy skills. ¡°Mama Johnston,¡± Cole called out. Joan, who was writing at the moment, turned around slowly and carefully examined Cole¡¯s appearance. ¡°Cole, how¡¯s your new job? The pay and benefits at the Warner Group are good. You must work hard and not let down Mr. Thomas¡¯ support.¡± Upon hearing Joan¡¯s affectionate words, Cole¡¯s eyes were rimmed red instantly, and he choked up. Mama Johnston, I¡¯m working very diligently, and I even received a bonus.¡± Joan put down the pen in her hand and walked slowly to stand in front of Cole, reaching out to touch C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. his face. ¡°Cole, you must take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well¡­¡± Cole suddenly reached out and hugged Joan tightly, frightening her with his sudden closeness. Joan struggled fiercely in his arms. The staff members who had been nearby quickly stopped Cole and separated him from Joan. ¡°Mr. Johnston, you scared Mada Cole looked somewhat bewildered as he stared at Joan, who timidly hid behind the staff member and asked hesitantly, ¡°Who¡­ Who are you?¡± The staff member exined, ¡°This is her condition now. Sometimes, she¡¯s clear-minded, and other times she¡¯s confused.¡± Cole quickly took out his phone and front of her. ¡°Do you still remembo owed Joan a photo of Pixie and Tink erbell, holding it up in Joan shook her head. them?¡± Cole then showed her a photo of Tink erbell and Pixie when they were one year old, anxiously asking, Five years ago, on a snowy night, I handed you a pair of twin girls. Do you remember?¡± Joan pointed at the photo on Cole¡¯s phone with her finger and said, ¡°They don¡¯t have birthmarks.¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 ¡®What birthmarks?¡¯ Cole was a bit confused, and he was uncertain how credible Joan¡¯s words were, given her current condition. Joan pointed to the necks of Tink erbell and Pixie in the photo and gestured to her own neck, her eyes clear and her expression gentle as she said, ¡°The children you sent, they had birthmarks here. They don¡¯t have them.¡± ¡°The children I sent had birthmarks?¡± he asked. ¡°They do,¡± Joan whispered. ¡°Every child sent to the welfare home is carefully examined from head to toe because it could serve as proof for them to reunite with their biological parents in the future.¡± Upon hearing Joan¡¯s words, Cole quickly retrieved his phone and opened the cloud album. He often reced his phones, not because of poor phone quality but due to work reasons. It was because he had too much work to handle every day, and the phone memory would quickly fill up. He could not delete the work-rted content as he might need to find some information that he could directly ess on the old phone. Of course, this included chat records, received files, and ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. photos. With ease, Cole quickly found the photo from five years ago when he took the twins out of prison that he showed to Bradley. The photo depicted two infants wrapped in pink nkets, just entering this world with their eyes closed. The two were snuggled close together,pletely unaware of the difficulties they would face in the future. He downloaded the photo from the cloud album, erged it carefully, and zoomed in. After zooming in to a certain degree, he could faintly discern a deep red birthmark on the babies¡¯ necks. The birthmarks on the two infants were identical, in the same position but in opposite directions. Upon closer inspection, the birthmarks looked like a symbol of love in the shape of a heart when they were put together. Cole asionally flipped through other photos of the babies and gradually noticed something wrong. It was the appearance of the babies when Joan was present. Their appearance waspletely different from when Cam was around. Even the birthmarks had disappeared. What was going on? Could birthmarks suddenly disappear? Cole raised his astonished gaze and looked at Joan, who had been helped back to the desk by the staff. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask for the truth, but he did not know how to ask. The staff gestured for Cole toe out and said in the corridor, ¡°Madam Johnston¡¯s condition fluctuates. Sometimes, she doesn¡¯t recognize her children, even when theye. I saw she recognized you just now. If you have time in the future, please visit her more often.¡± ¡°I will. Thank you for taking care of her,¡± replied Cole. Since Joan retired, Cole¡¯s contact with her had be less frequent. They had heard her children had taken her abroad, so they could only greet her through text messages. They did not know that Joan, who was said to be living afortable life overseas, was now alone in a sanatorium. Cole¡¯s mind was buzzing as he left the sanatorium. He sat in the car and carefully examined the photos of Pixie and Tink erbell from infancy to the present. In particr, there was a three-month period when he could not go to Sunflower Welfare due to work. When he went there again, Pixie and Tink erbell were already able to walk unsteadily. At that time, he was somewhat surprised by how much the children had grown in just three months. Could it be that the children had been switched during that time? Cole held his phone, unable to find an answer for the time being. He drove away from the sanatorium. As his car approached an intersection, he caught a glimpse of a man hurriedly walking with an envelope. Suddenly, he remembered the DNA paternity test in his car¡¯s password-protected box. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Cole stepped on the brake abruptly, stopping the car by the roadside. He got out of the car, opened the trunk, and took out a sealed brown envelope from the car¡¯s password-protected box. He eagerly sat back in the driver¡¯s seat and turned on the small overhead light. In the dim light, he opened the brown envelope containing several DNA paternity test documents. When Cole provided the samples to the head of theb testing department, he did not use full names but letters to represent the names. The bag containing Bradley¡¯s sample had the letter ¡°W¡± written on it. The bag containing Esther¡¯s sample had the letter ¡°Q¡± written on it. The bag containing Felix¡¯s sample had the letter ¡°X¡± written on it, while the bag containing Tink erbell¡¯s sample had the letter ¡°B ¡± written ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. on it. Cole found the paternity test between ¡°W¡± and ¡°B¡±. Without bothering to read the previous content, he went straight to thest page to look at the set of numbers written on it. The number was ¡°o¡±, indicating no biological rtionship between the two individuals. Cole was stunned. ¡®H-How could this be?¡¯ The DNA paternity test conducted using samples from Bradley, Esther, and Tink erbell at the hospital confirmed a clear father-daughter rtionship. Cole turned to thest page of the paternity test report, located between ¡°Q¡± and ¡°B,¡± and discovered that the content was identical to the previous paternity test result. This meant that Tinke rbell had no blood rtionship with Esther or Bradley. If it was only the case with Bradley, it could still be possible that Esther was carrying someone else¡¯s child. If Tink erbell had no rtionship with Esther either, what was going on? These twins were the ones he had personally taken out of prison all those years ago. Esther was also the only one who had given birth in the prison hospital, making it impossible for a mix-up to ur. What exactly had gone wrong? A massive conspiracy suddenly emerged in Cole¡¯s mind. Esther always refused to admit that she had unplugged Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask. She also always believed that she had been carrying Bradley¡¯s child. If Tin kerbell and Pixie were not Esther¡¯s daughters, then where had the twins he had carried out of the prison gone? Why did the DNA paternity test conducted at the hospital under the Warner Group show that Tinke rbell was the biological daughter of Esther and Bradley? Various questions lingered in Cole¡¯s mind, knotted like a tangled mess of thread that he could not unravel. The truth was shrouded in a thick fog, making it difficult to see clearly. This matter was of great importance and involved Bradley, so Cole did not dare to make a decision on his own. He started the car and headed toward the Warner Group¡¯s hospital, wanting to report histest findings to Bradley. At that moment, a speeding cement truck crashed heavily into the Mercedes-Benz Cole was driving. Under the powerful impact, the car was thrown off the bridge and mmed into the water, creating a huge ssh. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 The tremendous impact forced the driver of the cement truck to step on the brake ande to a stop. The driver got out of the truck and looked at the sinking car, his legs trembling as he fell to his knees and called the police. ¡°Hello, is this the traffic police? I just had an ident and the car¡­ The car¡­ It fell into the water! Pleasee and rescue them!¡± Cole, who was in the Mercedes-Benz, could only think of one possibility while he was sinking. Had someone discovered his search for the truth and intentionally tried to kill him to silence him? If this was just an ident, did it not seem too coincidental? Cole could swim, so he held his breath and tried to push open the car door. A man wearing a wetsuit and carrying an air tank appeared outside the passenger seat. He smashed the window of the car with a sharp ss breaker, opened the door after the window shattered, quickly picked up several DNA test documents from inside, and turned to swim away from the car. At first, Cole thought it was a kind personing to rescue him, but he now realized that the person had a motive and came straight for the documents. These DNA test documents were crucial evidence, so Cole tried swimming toward the man. Cole and the man wrestled in the water. The man did not want to engage with him for long and fiercely smashed the back of Cole¡¯s head with the ss breaker. Instantly, blood filled the water, creating a dense red color. Cole fell into unconsciousness due to the heavy blow. The professional diver with an air tank on his back took a deep look at the unconscious Cole, took the DNA test documents, and silently swam out of the area before the rescue team arrived. Police cars and ambnces arrived with sirens ring on the bridge. The professional rescue team also arrived at the scene in the shortest possible time. A crane lifted The wrecked Mercedes-Benz out of the water, but they did not find the car¡¯s owner. They discovered that the side window ss was broken and thought the owner had escaped, so they thoroughly searched the water in that area. The Mercedes-Benz involved in the ident was registered under the Warner Group¡¯s name. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Eventually, the traffic police contacted thepany. The person in charge of the group¡¯s external affairs checked the vehicle¡¯s usage records and confirmed that it was Cole who had driven away with the car. Cole was Bradley¡¯s special assistant, so the matter was not decided solely by the person in charge but was reported to the secretary¡¯s office. The secretary at the office immediately made a phone call to Bradley upon receiving the news of Cole¡¯s ident. With the faint dawn breaking in a hazy mist, Bradley, who received the news, woke up from his sleep and drove to the site of the ident. A section of the bridge was destroyed, and the rescue team was searching the vast river surface. The search had been going on for nearly three hours, but they had found nothing. ¡°Mr. Warner, these are the items found in Mr. Johnston¡¯s car.¡± The secretary handed a water-soaked DNA test document and Cole¡¯s phone to Bradley. Bradley gripped these two items, his gaze dark and fixed on the thick fog over the river surface, as he asked in a deep voice, ¡°Where¡¯s the driver responsible for the ident? Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ¡°Mr. Warner, the driver involved in the ident has already given the traffic police his statement. Due to drunk driving, he¡¯s been detained¡­¡± Bradley angrily asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± Cole had graduated with a master¡¯s degree abroad and joined the Warner Group six years ago, bing Bradley¡¯s special assistant. They had spent the most time together. Cole was exceptionally capable, and Bradley trusted him with many tasks, knowing that they would be well taken care of. Cole was quick-witted and efficient, not onlypleting the assigned work excellently but also being well-liked by everyone in thepany. Bradley never expected that the person who was full of energy and vitality yesterday would suddenly disappear today without a trace! ¡°The driver involved in the ident is currently with the criminal investigation department.¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fell on the rescue team, searching diligently for Cole on the river¡¯s surface. ¡°Each person participating in the rescue will receive $150,000 aspensation, and the person finds Cole will receive an additional $1,500,000!¡± Bradley took a few steps away, then turned back and instructed his secretary through his gritted teeth, ¡°If Cole¡¯s alive, I want to see him. If he¡¯s dead, I want to see his body too. Put aside all your current tasks and prioritize Cole¡¯s personal safety.¡± who Bradley was filled with anger as he arrived at the criminal investigation unit. The driver involved in the ident immediately knelt before Bradley and repeatedly pped his own face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m not human! I shouldn¡¯t have drunk and driven! Why isn¡¯t it me who died?¡± The investigators were also worried that Bradley would have a violent confrontation with the driver and cause a disturbance leading to casualties, so they stopped Bradley, who was full of rage. ¡°Mr. Warner, let me exin the case to you.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. They could not afford to handle the case carelessly since it involved a major taxpayer in the city. Bradley looked deeply at the driver¡¯s face and memorized it in his mind. ¡°Was it an ident, or was it intentional?¡± The investigator said, ¡°We investigated the driver¡¯s activities before the incident. During the day, he worked as a ride-hailing driver. This morning, his son received an eptance letter from Chini National University, and he was very happy. They had dinner at the well-known Octahouse in the city, and he had a few drinks to celebrate his son¡¯s achievement. ¡°When the family was about to return home, he received a call from a friend asking him to cover a shift due to an emergency. At first, he refused, butter, considering that his son needed money for university, he agreed. ¡°He might have taken a chance, thinking that there were no traffic police conducting checks for drunk driving during that time period, so he took a risk for the money and ran into what happened next.¡± Bradley¡¯s initial thought was whether it was revenge from a business rival. He furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Did he or his family receive arge sum of money through a bank transfer?¡± The investigator replied, ¡°ording to our investigation, they didn¡¯t receive anyrge transfers of money.¡± The investigator could not help but sigh inwardly. The driver¡¯s son¡¯s biggest dream was to be a military officer, but now his dream was destined to be shattered. One instance of drunk driving changed his son¡¯s life forever. ¡°Keep investigating,¡± said Bradley. After leaving the criminal investigation unit, Bradley immediately called thepany¡¯s legal department and asked them to closely monitor the case. He made it clear that the driver involved must pay the appropriate price. After the call, Bradley looked at the DNA test documents in the car and nced at Cole¡¯s phone. He reached out and picked up the test results, flipping through their contents. The names were Q and X. He turned to thest page, reading the final conclusion-the two individuals were biologically mother and son. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Bradley was aware that Cole was an orphan who had grown up in a welfare institution. When he saw the water-soaked DNA test document, he instinctively assumed that it was a maternity test between Cole and his biological mother. If that were the case, could Cole¡¯s death be rted to this DNA maternity test? Bradley then picked up the water-damaged phone from the stic bag, but it was no longer functional since it had been in the water for so long. He brought these items found in Cole¡¯s car back. to thepany headquarters. The news of Cole¡¯s ident quickly spread within thepany. Since Cole was skilled at dealing with people, everyone was worried about him. They even discussed going to the most famous local temple. that weekend to pray for his safe return. Bradley usually assigned tasks to Cole, but he was still working normally now that something had happened to Cole. When the employees of the Warner Group saw that Bradley was still working as usual, they all realized that the world kept turning, no matter who was not around. One would see their work as their life, but one would discover that health was more important in the face of life and death! While Bradley was working at the Warner Group headquarters with a heavy heart, Liliane made an early morning phone call to rk, asking him to take care of Felix at the hospital today. She had made Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. arrangements with a weddingpany to select a wedding venue. For Liliane, Felix was nothing more than a tool for her to get closer to Bradley. Now that Bradley was going to marry her, she did not pay as much attention to Felix as before. Since rk had listened to the recording, he had been privately investigating Liliane. The more he investigated, the more he found inconsistencies in Liliane¡¯s behavior. For example, Liliane appeared to dote on Felix, but in reality, she only treated him kindly when Bradley was around. Otherwise, she would be busy ying on her phone when it was just the two of them. Furthermore, a nanny had always taken care of Felix since he was young, relieving Liliane of the constant need to worry about him. ¡°Grandpaw rk, can we go see Mommy?¡± Felix naturally referred to Esther as Mommy when it was just rk and Felix. rk gently stroked Felix¡¯s hair and said in a warm voice, ¡°Felix, I can take you to see her, but you have to promise me that we¡¯ll keep it a secret until the truth is fully investigated. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Although Felix did not fully understand it, he bit his lip and nodded in agreement, ¡°Felix, trust me, the truth wille to light soon,¡± said rk. Felix continued to ask in his baby voice, ¡°Grandpaw rk, when can we go?¡± rk lifted Felix from the hospital bed and gently ced him in a wheelchair. He pushed the wheelchair and arrived at the ICU room where Esther was in. Felix saw through the thick ss that Esther was barely clinging to life and could not help but tear up. Tears fell from his eyes. rk could not express the pain he felt, seeing Esther, who was once radiant and confident, reduced. to such a state. As an elder who had watched Esther grow up, he knew better than anyone that she would never be the one who had removed Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask. rk did not believe that Esther was responsible for that incident back then. Now, after listening to the recording between Liliane and Esther in the hospital room, he was even more certain that the person who had removed the oxygen mask was definitely not Esther. It was just that, why had Liliane removed Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask? Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Was it because Thomas had discovered Liliane¡¯s evil deeds? Had Liliane decided to kill him to silence ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. him once and for all? rk knew better than anyone that if Thomas were alive, he would never allow Liliane to marry into the Warners, even if she was pregnant and brought the child to the door. ¡°Doctor, can we go in and see her?¡± rk sought the permission of the doctor in the ICU. After ncing at the tablet with information about Esther¡¯s condition, the doctor said straightforwardly, ¡°You two don¡¯t have to go into the ICU for now. I¡¯m arranging to transfer her to a regr ward, but her condition is rather unusual. She personallycks the will to live, so if you can awaken her will to live, that¡¯ll be the best.¡± Felix clenched his fists and said obediently, ¡°We¡¯ll do our best.¡± rk asked with a sympathetic expression, ¡°Is her condition very bad?¡± ¡°Especially bad.¡± The doctor also showed sympathy and said, ¡°She just had a bone marrow transnt surgery and received a strong emotional trauma. Her current condition is really poor. You should spend more time with her.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you, doctor.¡± The nurses transferred Esther from the ICU to a regr ward. She was ced in a room next to Felix¡¯s with rk¡¯s intervention. rk walked to Esther¡¯s bedside and discreetly plucked a few strands of hair from her head, intending to use them for a DNA maternity test with Felix. ¡°Felix, you stay here and behave. I¡¯ll go out to handle something,¡± said rk. Felix cutely replied, ¡°Grandpaw rk, I¡¯ll be good and wait for you here. rk did not dare to do the DNA maternity test at the hospital under the Warner Group. He was uncertain whether the DNA data obtained here would be different, so he specifically contacted an old friend in another city and entrusted him to do the DNA maternity test at a hospital there. However, due to the distance between the two ces, it would take some time to get the DNA test results. It was at least, a more secure option. He did not believe Liliane could influence another city¡¯s DNA test data. Of course, rk also prepared Bradley¡¯s sample when he prepared Esther and Felix¡¯s samples. Everything was done very discreetly. When rk went to mail the package, Felix was left alone in Esther¡¯s room. Felix¡¯s health had improved significantlypared to Esther¡¯s. He got off the wheelchair and approached Esther¡¯s side with his stubby legs. He reached out his little hand and gently touched Esther¡¯s pale face. Tears fell from his eyes as his heart ached. ¡°Mommy, wake up! ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m Felix!¡± Esther remained motionless on the hospital bed. It was as if she were simply sleeping-not even her eyshes twitched. Felix was not discouraged. He climbed onto the bed, carefully avoiding the intravenous tube on the back of Esther¡¯s hand, and nestled himself into her embrace. He tilted his small face upward to press it gently against Esther¡¯s chest, and the familiar sound of her heartbeat resonated in his ears. Felix brought his lips close to Esther¡¯s ear and whispered softly, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll tell you a secret. I¡¯m actually your son!¡± Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Leah arrived at the attending physician¡¯s office for Liliane¡¯s heart condition, Dr. Wilson Birch. He was a renowned cardiac expert in the country, and Liliane had been his patient since she was young. Leah gently pushed a brand card toward him and said, ¡°Dr. Birch, I¡¯d like you to help me with something.¡± Looking at Leah, Wilson remembered that she used to be his goddess, but she had married someone else. Though he had also settled down and built his family and career, Leah remained an unattainable love in his eyes. ¡°Leah, you know I¡¯d never turn you down,¡± he said. Wilson¡¯s affectionate expression made Leah smile wide. ¡°With this card, you can go to any Herm¨¨s store and im a limited edition Himyan handbag.¡± As a man, Wilson did not have much knowledge about handbags. However, Leah, being a woman, was different. She casually said, ¡°I remember your wedding anniversary ising soon. If your spouse receives such a handbag, she¡¯ll surely be delighted.¡± Upon hearing that, Wilson no longer hesitated and asked, ¡°Your husband¡­¡± ¡°He cheated on me a long time ago, not like you don¡¯t know.¡± Leah was annoyed at the mention of Billy. With a touch of destion, she added, ¡°Please don¡¯t bring him up in front of me. I don¡¯t have any other thoughts now. I just hope my daughter¡¯s safe and healthy.¡± ¡°Liliane¡¯s recent health condition has been quite good, and she hasn¡¯t had any episodes for a long time.¡± Wilson paused for a moment and continued. ¡°I¡¯ve also asked people to keep an eye out for a suitable heart. If there¡¯s a match avable, it¡¯ll be best to consider a heart transnt.¡± ¡°Dr. Birch, I have a rather unusual request. My spouse has a love child, and her condition recently. deteriorated severely. I was wondering if we could see if her heart¡¯spatible with Liliane.¡± Leah. exined, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand me. I don¡¯t mean to harm her for her heart. She¡¯s currently hospitalized in a private hospital under the Warner Group. They¡¯ve already issued several critical condition notices. Since they share the same father but have different mothers, there might be a chance of a heart match.¡± After listening to Leah¡¯s exnation, Wilson could not wait to express his position and said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to have her heart examined then.¡± After a brief silence, Leah hesitated and said, ¡°Forget it, Dr. Birch. Just consider what I said as nonsense! She¡¯s not my biological daughter, but she¡¯s still my spouse¡¯s daughter. If I were to do Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. something like that¡­ would I still be a human?¡± Wilson advised Leah to go for it instead when he saw her back out. ¡°Leah, hearts aren¡¯t like other org ans. Thepatibility has to be incredibly high to be eligible for a transnt. Besides, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re sure her heart matches Liliane¡¯s. We¡¯re just checking.¡± Leah shook her head again and said hypocritically, ¡°No, don¡¯t check it. If her heart is a match, I won¡¯t be able to control my greed to take her heart away to give it to Liliane. If I did do it, what would be the difference between me and a murderer? Dr. Birch, forget what I said.¡± A nurse came to knock on the door of the doctor¡¯s office. Leah picked up her limited edition Birkin bag in time and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to work then. Let¡¯s go for a dip in the hot spring whenever you and your spouse are free.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Wilson watched Leah walk away reluctantly, determined to make the call anyway. He could not ear it whenever he saw his goddess frown. le could not understand why Billy Anstey did not cherish her either. How could he cheat on such a onderful wife? Chapter 72 Chapter 72 If Wilson had married Leah back then, he would have treated her like a princess, showering her with love, and he would not bear to see her suffer even a bit. Wilson picked up the phone and called a doctor from the Warner Group. ¡°It¡¯s me, Wilson. I have a favor to ask. Can you help me check if there¡¯s a girl named Esther Quill in your hospital?¡± ¡°Oh, Wilson, what¡¯s going on?¡± The doctor teased him. ¡°She¡¯s not even dead yet, and you¡¯re so eager to get her heart?¡± Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡°Just checkingpatibility to see if it¡¯s suitable. Just send me the test data.¡± Wilson was willing to sacrifice his hospital¡¯s interests to get what he wanted. ¡°You wanted to visit our hospital¡¯s artificial heart ¡°Wilson, you better not trick me!¡± ¡°I never lie. You have my word,¡± Wilson assured him. After a brilliant performance, Leah returned to her car. Over the years, she had never hesitated to manipte Wilson with her sweet words-Wilson had orchestrated it all, including Liliane¡¯s fake pregnancy and childbirth. Back then, Wilson did pursue her, but she never regarded this man from a small town as someone worth her attention. Of course, Leah never anticipated that the man she once looked down upon would marry the daughter of his mentor, inherit all the mentor¡¯s connections, and be one of the country¡¯s most formidable experts in cardiology. For Leah, there was no better tool than Wilson in this world. She believed that as long as she acted pitiful, shed a few tears, and pretended to be even more fragile, Wilson would willingly be the knife and personally procure Esther¡¯s heart for Liliane¡¯s transnt. Leah sneered with a mocking smile. ¡®Esther, don¡¯t think I¡¯m heartless! ¡°Your birth is your innate sin! ¡®Both the mistress and the mistress¡¯ daughter deserve to die!¡± On the other side, a cardiac surgeon entered Esther¡¯s ward, where Felix was sleeping in her arms. The mother and son were nestled together, their breathing rhythms in sync. The heart surgeon could not bear to wake either Felix or Esther with such a heartwarming scene. ¡°They¡¯re mother and son?¡± he asked. The nurse in charge of Esther exined, ¡°No, Ms. Quill donated her bone marrow to Mr. Felix. He probably heard that Ms. Quill has little will to live and came specifically to awaken her will to survive.¡± After listening to the nurse¡¯s exnation, the cardiac surgeon said gently, ¡°Take Mr. Felix back to his ward. I¡¯ll check her heart.¡± Bradley stood at the door of the ward, his cold gaze falling on the cardiac surgeon¡¯s face. His voice sounded chillingly cold. ¡°Why do you need to check her heart?¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 The cardiac surgeon did not hide his intentions from Bradley and responded honestly, ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯ve heard that Ms. Quill¡¯s condition is particrly poor, and there are many patients in our department in urgent need of a heart transnt, so I thought if Ms. Quill-¡± ¡°Get out right now!¡± Bradley heard the cardiac surgeon¡¯s words and grabbed his white coat to forcefully push him out of the ward. ¡°Heart donation requires the consent of the patient and their family.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes turned cold, and his expression was menacing. ¡°As Esther¡¯s husband, I¡¯m telling you that I don¡¯t agree to donate her heart to anyone. You don¡¯t need to use arguments about benefiting other patients to ckmail me morally. Leave.¡± Seeing the situation, the cardiac surgeon did not linger outside the ward and quickly left the floor where the ward was located. In fact, he understood that Bradley was right. Org an donation was based on fairness, openness, and transparency. If they, as doctors, disregarded medical ethics and went against the wishes of the parties involved, what was the difference between their actions and murder? Bradley gently closed the door and walked slowly to the bedside. Felix was tightly pressed against Esther, his little arms hugging her tightly. It was a warm and beautiful scene. Felix was Bradley¡¯s son, and he knew better than anyone that Felix, although seemingly well- behaved and cute, was not easy to open up. Since he was little, he slept in a baby crib andter stayed in the hospital. At least Bradley had never seen Felix and Liliane sleep together so intimately. Anyone who saw Felix sleeping with Esther like this would feel ripples in their hearts. There was a time when Bradley wished more than anyone for Esther to die. It was as if only her death could quell his anger. Now¡­ Bradley, more than anyone else, wanted her to stay alive. Only if Esther stayed alive could he learn from her mouth why Tinke rbell was his daughter. Bradley was not a promiscuous person. Unlike other wealthy heirs of prestigious families, he did not Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. y around with different women. He could not tolerate the ways of a womanizer. In Bradley¡¯s memory, he had never shared a bed with Esther, so he did not understand why she became pregnant with his child. Of course, Bradley had never sowed his seeds outside, either. He knew better than anyone that he could only find out from Esther to unravel the mystery of Tinke rbell¡¯s birth. Felix, who was sleeping in Esther¡¯s arms, woke up peacefully. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at Bradley standing by the bedside. He instantly called out in fear, ¡°Daddy.¡± Felix was terrified, and his voice trembled softly. He hade to Esther secretly because he feared his father would scold his mother. No! He was a little man! He absolutely would not allow anyone to scold his mother, not even his father. ¡°It was me who wanted toe to¡­ Mom-¡± Felix stopped himself just in time, reluctantly calling out, ¡°The pretty woman!¡± Bradley reached out and picked up Felix from Esther¡¯s embrace. His voice turned cold as he asked, ¡°Did Grandpaw rk bring you here? Chapter 74 Chapter 74 ¡°No!¡± As a brave little man, Felix dared to own up to his action and said in a childish voice, ¡°Daddy, why is the pretty woman still sleeping?¡± Bradley did not want his son to be exposed to life and death too early, so he reassured him, ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s very tired. When she¡¯s had enough sleep, she¡¯ll wake up.¡± ¡°Daddy, the pretty woman smells really nice!¡± Felix ced his little hand under Bradley¡¯s nose, asking softly, ¡°It¡¯s sweet, like a sweet peach.¡± Perhaps Felix¡¯s description was too detailed. Bradley actually smelled a faint peach fragrance from Felix¡¯s little hand, a fragrance so familiar that it made his heart race. Bradley, who looked fierce and menacing before Esther, had a rare gentle expression as he asked his son, ¡°Felix, do you want peaches?¡± Felix nced deeply at Esther, then at Bradley, struggling and hesitating in his heart. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Bradley asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Can I give the pretty woman a kiss?¡± asked Felix. Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡°A kiss?¡± asked Bradley. ¡°The prince kisses Sleeping Beauty to wake her up!¡± Felix proudly puffed out his chest and said in a childish manner. ¡°I¡¯m a little prince, so I¡¯ll kiss her first! Maybe if I kiss the pretty woman, she¡¯ll wake up like Sleeping Beauty.¡± Bradley wanted to tell Felix that fairy tales were lies, but he could not say it. He did not want to shatter Felix¡¯s innocence. He indulgently put Felix back on the hospital bed, allowing him to try and wake up Esther with a kiss. Felix leaned closer to Esther¡¯s face and kissed her cheek loudly. ¡°Huh?¡± Felix looked at Esther, who still showed no signs of waking up, and felt a bit discouraged.¡± Daddy, why isn¡¯t the pretty woman waking up?¡± A trace of helplessness shed across Bradley¡¯s face. He reached out and gently rubbed Felix¡¯s puzzled little face, exining, ¡°Maybe Sleeping Beauty hasn¡¯t had enough sleep yet.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Felix snapped his fingers excitedly. ¡°I know!¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Felix¡¯s eyes sparkled as he looked at Bradley and said slyly, ¡°It must be because I¡¯m not a real prince!¡± Bradley rubbed his temples, feeling a headache. He was just about tofort Felix, but the boy grabbed his arm as if he had discovered something new and said, ¡°I¡¯m a little prince, so my energy isn¡¯t enough. Sleeping Beauty definitely needs the big prince to wake her up! Daddy,e and kiss the sleeping beauty to wake her up!¡± *Felix!¡± Bradley sternly and seriously stopped Felix¡¯s whimsical thinking, his tone harsh and cold.¡± No more nonsense.¡± Felix burst into tears with a loud cry and sobbed. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m not talking nonsense! The prince¡¯s kiss awakens Sleeping Beauty! If you kiss Sleeping Beauty, she¡¯ll definitely wake up¡­¡± Bradley remained unmoved with his cold and handsome face. Felix cried even louder, ¡°Ahh¡­ If the pretty woman didn¡¯t give me the bone marrow transnt, she wouldn¡¯t be sick¡­ Woo!¡± Bradley scooped Felix up and was about to carry him out of the ward without hesitation. ¡°Felix, not more nonsense!¡± Tears glistened on Felix¡¯s little face, and his pitiful appearance suddenly made Bradley¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Daddy, just give Sleeping Beauty a kiss!¡± Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Bradley carried a crying Felix back to the boy¡¯s room with a stern expression and gently ced. Felix on the bed. Tears still glistened on Felix¡¯s face, making him look pitiful and lovable. ¡°Felix.¡± Felix¡¯s small shoulders slumped, and he choked out grievously. ¡°Daddy, the pretty woman saved me, and¡­¡± Bradley sat beside him, took out a tissue, and gently wiped away the tears on Felix¡¯s face. ¡°Felix, she has nothing to do with you. Once Felix thought of Liliane¡¯s fierce look and how his father refused to kiss Esther, he figured it must be because his father liked Liliane, the bad fake Mommy. ¡°It has to do with me. Felix huffed. Tinkerbell died, and the pretty woman is sad.¡± Bradley¡¯s heart trembled as he suddenly heard Felix mention Tinkerbell. He tried to console him in a gentle voice, ¡°Felix, you shouldn¡¯t go see her anymore¡± ¡°No! I want to go!¡± Felix stubbornly insisted. ¡°Daddy, I want to take care of the pretty woman for Tinkerbell.¡± Looking at Felix in this state, Bradley could not help but wonder if this was the intimacy of blood. rtions. They had be good friends even before he knew that Felix and Tinkerbell were siblings. Then why did he have no feelings for Tinkerbell, even though she was his daughter? Tinkerbell was C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. just a stranger to him previously. rk entered the room from outside with the fruits he had bought. He looked at Felix and Bradley. teasingly asking. ¡°Mr. Felix, why are you crying?¡± As soon as Felix saw rk, he immediatelyined in a stubborn tone, ¡°Grandpaw rk, the book says that a prince can wake up Sleeping Beauty with a kiss, but Daddy didn¡¯t want to do it.¡± rk took a deep look at Felix andforted him. ¡°Could it be that your father is just shy?¡± Upon hearing rk¡¯s words, Felix widened his eyes and looked at Bradley. ¡°Daddy, are you shy?¡± ¡°Tm not,¡± Bradley¡¯s face remained cold and stern as he denied the unintentional lifeline rk had thrown at him. rk did not dwell on the matter and instead softly asked, ¡°Felix, do you want some fruits?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Felix answered cheerily, ¡°I want to get better quickly and take care of the pretty woman for Tinkerbell¡± He was determined to eat, sleep, and keep his body strong to care for his mother. rk took the fruits to the kitchte, skillfully prepared a beautiful fig tter, and brought it to Felu ¡°Wow! It¡¯s so beautiful! Felix took the fork from rk and thanked him in an endearing voice,¡± Thank you, Grandpaw rk.¡± He ate the fruits in big bites-figs, crunchy apricots, watermelons, strawberries, peaches, oranges, and more. His little mouth was filled to the brim, and he exuded an indescribable joy. ¡°Mr. Bradley, let¡¯s talk,¡± rk said as he entered Bradley¡¯s office area in the suite. Bradley followed him into the room and elegantly sat on the leather office chair, raising an eyebrow. ¡°rk, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I have noments about you and Esther getting divorced, and I won¡¯t stop you because it¡¯s your life,¡± rk said. He held a brown envelope, bringing over the diary that Esther had written about her secret crush. during her youth from the manor¡¯s attic. After listening to the contents of the pen recorder and witnessing Bradley¡¯s indulgence toward Liliane, he recalled the diary. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 ¡°When I took Mr. Felix to see Esther today, the doctor said that she has lost her will to live. ¡°You and Esther are both children I watched growing up. I don¡¯t know what kind of life Esther had in Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. prison these past five years, but I know that if she still had a trace of attachment to this world, she wouldn¡¯t have lost her will to live.¡± rk handed Bradley her secret crush diary, cing it on his desk. ¡°This is a diary she wrote before. I happened toe across it while tidying her things. Perhaps the man mentioned in the diary can awaken her will to live.¡± After saying that, rk pondered for a moment and said in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t believe Esther would harm Mr. Thomas. Perhaps there were other conspiracies in the case from years ago that we haven¡¯t discovered. Mr. Bradley, even if you don¡¯t love Esther, please spare her for the sake of her saving you and giving birth to Tinkerbell and Pixie for you.¡± rk left the study after conveying his thoughts. Bradley looked at the diary in front of him. The diary had a girly pink cover with a pattern of golden and pink clouds, beautifullyyered and intertwined. Esther¡¯s handwritten words with a fountain. pen were on the beautiful cover-¡°Secret Love Diary¡±. Bradley reached out and picked up the notebook. After a deep gaze at the words ¡°Secret Love Diary¡±, he silently threw it into the drawer. He had no interest in Esther¡¯s infatuation from her youth. He did not need anyone else to awaken Esther. Her life belonged to him. Unless he wanted her dead, no one, including the Grim Reaper, could take her life from his hands. After a deep nce at the closed drawer, Bradley suddenly stood up and left the study, heading straight to Esther¡¯s ward. There was a new caregiver in Esther¡¯s ward. When the caregiver saw Bradley, she was startled and stammered, ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± asked Bradley. The caregiver quickly exined, ¡°I¡¯m the caregiver Mr. Johnston requested for Ms. Quill.¡± ¡°Go out first.¡± The caregiver did not care what Bradley wanted to do. She did not want to stay with him, so she quickly fled the ward and stood at a distance, waiting at the door. Esther¡¯s hospital ward was ordinary, devoid of flowers or nts, and was eerily empty. The air was filled with the strong smell of disinfectant. Still unconscious, Esthery quietly on the hospital bed, under the soft and cloud-like nket. Her long hair was spread out, and her pale lipscked any trace of color. Bradley looked at Esther, who resembled a dead person, and his heart cleriched. A sharp pain spread through his body from his heart, causing his vision to momentarily flicker into darkness. Bradley instinctively held onto the railing of the hospital ward, his tall figure enveloping Esther as if they were embracing intimately. ¡°Esther, this is my final warning. If you dare to die, I¡¯ll kill your Pixie to keep youpany!¡± Bradley warned through gritted teeth, but Esther remained motionless and showed no response. She was alive, but there was no difference from being dead. In that instant, Bradley thought of Felix¡¯s innocent words and, as if possessed, lowered himself to press his thin lips against Esther¡¯s¡­ Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Just as Bradley¡¯s lips were about to touch the corner of Esther¡¯s lips, he took a few steps back as if awakening from a dream. He looked deeply at Esther and sarcastically said, ¡°Esther, you don¡¯t think I¡¯m about to kiss you, do you?¡± Esthery motionless on the hospital bed, offering no response. Bradley felt an inexplicable sense. of frustration and annoyance welling up within him. He held a hand over his heart, which felt like it was being pricked by needles, and stared at Esther, warning once again, ¡°Esther, this is yourst chance. If you don¡¯t wake up by sunrise tomorrow, I¡¯l kill your daughter and then personally strangle you to atone for my grandfather.¡± After saying that, Bradley walked out of the ward with determined steps, resolute and unattached. ¡°Mr. Warner,¡± said the caregiver. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Bradley looked coldly at the caregiver and said in a deep voice, ¡°Is this how you perform your duties as a caregiver?¡± The caregiver was confused. Had he not asked her to leave? After leaving the caregiver confused with his words, Bradley took out his phone and instinctively called Cole. ¡°Cole-¡± A cold, mechanical voice responded on the other end of the phone. Bradley stood in the bustling corridor. His tall figure seemed to be shrouded in boundless loneliness. ¡°Mr. Warner?¡± Bradley looked at the man standing in front of him. It was the doctor who had examined Esther¡¯s heart earlier. ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± asked the doctor. Bradley raised his head and saw the namete on the corridor wall. He responded indifferently,¡± Yes.¡± ¡°Pleasee in.¡± The cardiac surgeon led Bradley back to his office, where medals, certificates, and ques were disyed, all proving his exceptional medical skills. ¡°Mr. Warner, if you¡¯vee to see me because of the heart examination for Ms. Quill, I can exin further.¡± The cardiac surgeon was quite anxious aftering out of Esther¡¯s ward. He feared that his momentary negligence would cost him his current job. The cardiac surgeon was currently employed in a private hospital owned by the Warner Group. He had previously looked down on private hospitals until he started working here and realized the conveniences they offered him. Moreover, the patients in this hospital were either wealthy or influential. He no longer had to deal with regr patients who could not afford medical treatments, and his ie had significantly increased. Even if he had research projects, as long as he applied to thepany, they would not hesitate to provide financial support. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 ¡°You¡¯re already thinking about her heart before she¡¯s dead?¡± Bradley¡¯s tone was harsh and cold. The cardiac surgeon was taken aback but still fearlessly exined, ¡°Mr. Warner, I can¡¯t speak for other doctors, but I¡¯d never do such a thing. Without an organ donation form signed by the person involved, I¡¯d not use her heart to save anyone.¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fell on the face of the cardiac surgeon, whose features appeared gentle and kind, with clear and serene eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll remember what you said today.¡± Bradley¡¯s tone was indifferent, with a hint of threat. ¡°I don¡¯t want any medical scandals to happen in my hospital.¡± The cardiac surgeon looked at Bradley, who was clutching his heart with a painful expression, and asked in surprise, ¡°Mr. Warner, is your heart feeling unwell?¡± Bradley thought about the abnormality in his heart these past few days and subconsciously replied with a faint hum. ¡°Heart issues can be big or small.¡± The cardiac surgeon took his stethoscope and approached Bradley. ¡°Would you mind if I listen?¡± Bradley did not refuse. The cardiac surgeon carefully listened to Bradley¡¯s heart with the stethoscope, furrowing his brows and hesitating. Based on the auscultation alone, there seemed to be no issues with his heart. ¡°To determine if there are any specific problems with the heart, we need to perform a 24-hour dynamic electrocardiogram monitoring. Mr. Warner, if it¡¯s convenient for you, I suggest you undergo a heart CT scan.¡± Upon hearing the cardiac surgeon¡¯s words, Bradley¡¯s heart sank. Could it be that his heart was really having problems? Upon noticing the change in Bradley¡¯s expression, the cardiac surgeon quickly exined, ¡°Mr. Warner, please don¡¯t misunderstand. Based on the current examination results, your heart function is normal. To be sure, we¡¯ll have to do other tests.¡± Just then, a nurse entered the room and said, ¡°Dr. Holden, Dr. Birch called asking about the results. of Ms. Esther Quill¡¯s heart examination?¡± The cardiac surgeon nced at Bradley and saw his cold gaze intensify upon hearing the keywords ¡°Dr. Birch¡±, ¡°Esther Quill¡±, and ¡°examination results¡±. Scott Holden, the cardiac surgeon, exined, ¡°Dr. Birch is my senior colleague. He asked me to examine Esther¡¯s heart as a favor and, in return, allowed me to visit hisb. Both our hospitals are currently conducting research on artificial hearts, and it¡¯s said that his research has made significant progress.¡± ¡°Dr. Holden, this matter ends here. Please tell your colleague that Esther¡¯s heart is not something he can covet!¡± Bradley stood up, looking down at Scott with a chilling gaze, and said with extreme coldness, ¡°If any of Esther¡¯s medical information is leaked, I¡¯ll hold you ountable.¡± Upon hearing that, Scott quickly assured Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, please rest assured. I¡¯d never do anything that vites medical ethics.¡± After that, he personally took Bradley to undergo detailed heart examinations. Half an hourter, they had the results of the other tests except for the 24-hour electrocardiogram - monitoring that had yet to be done. Scott carefully went through the results of Bradley¡¯s heart examination page by page, confirming that there was no abnormal sign. Then, he asked slowly, ¡°Mr. Warner, may I ask what kind of abnormalities your heart usually experiences? Is there any specific time, person, or thing that triggers the abnormality?¡± Thinking about how his heart only acted up every time something happened to Esther, Bradley wondered if it could be that Esther had put a curse on him. ¡°It¡¯s a stabbing pain in the heart, and the pain spreads throughout the body¡­¡± Bradley lightly spoke of his heart¡¯s abnormality. Scott could not help but examine the data from Bradley¡¯s heart examination again. After a long time, he This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. softly said, ¡°Mr. Warner, based on the current examination results, your heart function is normal. As for the pain in your heart, could it be due to what happened to your wife? Perhaps it¡¯s the result of excessive worry affecting your heart¡­ Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Bradley categorically denied it after Scott finished speaking. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely impossible!¡± How could he worry about Esther? He was the one, more than anyone else in this world, who wished for Esther to atone for her sins with death. Scott looked at Bradley in astonishment, surprised by his quick denial. Was it true that he was not worried, or was he turning a blind eye to the truth? ¡°Mr. Warner, then I still suggest that you observe it. If your heart continues to ache, I rmend that you be admitted to the hospital for aprehensive examination,¡± said Scott. Bradley¡¯s indifferent gaze swept across the various trophies, certificates, and banners in Scott¡¯s office, raising doubts in his mind about whether Scott¡¯s medical skills were truly as brilliant as stated in his resume. ¡°No need.¡± Bradley refused coldly. He underwent regr medical checkups every year, and his heart had never had any problems. He thought that it might be due to the recent events involving Felix that he was feeling so mentally strained, and that must be the cause of his difort. (B d l e y) stood up and walked out of the cardiac surgery office. Scott watched Bradley¡¯s departing figure and could not help but wipe the cold sweat off his forehead, wondering if he would be fired. He needed to call Wilson back to remind him not to act recklessly since Esther was Bradley¡¯s wife. He took out his phone and called Wilson. The other end of the line remained unanswered. Scott sent a detailed text message exining the specific situation before he finally informed the nurse to arrange for the next patient toe in for a consultation. Bradley strode back to Esther¡¯s room with his long legs. The moment he pushed open the door, he noticed the changes in the ward. The once-empty room had transformed into a vibrant disy of flowers. Bouquets adorned the space, carefully arranged in crystal vases that were casually scattered around. A row of hydrangeas swayed gently on the ward¡¯s balcony in the breeze. The once pungent scent of disinfectant had been reced by a delicate floral fragrance that lingered in the air. However, the hospital bed was empty. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Bradley heard the sound of flowing watering from the bathroom, so he walked to the bathroom door and lightly knocked on the ss. ¡°Esther?¡± Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s voice, the caregiver pushed Esther out of the bathroom in a wheelchair. ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± Bradley¡¯s sharp gaze fell upon Esther, who was in the wheelchair. She was changed into a long, white silk dress, and her long hair was braided into a fishtail braid with a colorful ribbon tied at the end, hanging loosely on her right side. There was still no makeup on her face. The only difference was that her pale lips were now slightly tinted. ¡°Where are you nning to take her?¡± asked Bradley. The caregiver respectfully responded, ¡°Mr. Warner, when Mr. Searle sent the flowers earlier, he asked me to dress Ms. Quill. He¡¯s going to take her out!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t allow it,¡± said Bradley. A gloomy expression spread across Bradley¡¯s handsome face. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 A trace of ferocity flickered in Bradley¡¯s deep eyes. Jasper was dressed in a high-end tailored white suit and stood at the door of the hospital ward with a cold face as he questioned icily, ¡°Bradley, from the moment you signed the divorce papers, you no longer have the right to say ¡®I don¡¯t allow it¡±.¡± ¡°Jasper Searle!¡± Instead of backing down when he heard Jasper¡¯s words, Bradley took a step. forward and sneered. ¡°Let me remind you that I haven¡¯tpleted the divorce procedures with. Esther. Legally speaking, I¡¯m still her husband. She¡¯s lost her capacity to act now, and I¡¯m her only guardian.¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Jasper casually plucked out a red rose and a white rose from the vase. There was a glint of mockery that shed in his bright eyes. ¡°Bradley, red rose or white rose? Pick one.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression was aloof, and he parted his thin lips slightly to taunt, ¡°Just remember one thing, Jasper. Unless I don¡¯t want it myself, anyone who tries to take away what¡¯s mine will fail.¡± Jasper snapped the flowers off their stalks in his hands and rubbed them, turning them into a cold and gorgeous color.. ¡°The doctor said that in the case of someone like Esther, taking her to a famir environment might give her a glimmer of hope in life. The longer we wait, the more unlikely it is for her to wake up.¡± Jasper raised an eyebrow and coldly asked, ¡°Bradley, are you sure you want to stop me from waking her up?¡± Bradley indifferently replied, ¡°Esther¡¯s my wife. Keep that in mind.¡± Jasper shrugged indifferently. Like taking a casual stroll, he walked up to Esther and slowly squatted down. He gently ced the flower petals in her palm. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Esther, if life could start over, you must never fall in love with him again.¡± Jasper challengingly nced at Bradley, who showed no emotions like a sculpture, and said, ¡°He¡¯s not worthy.¡± After Jasper finished speaking, he stood up slowly and told Bradley, ¡°I heard that your special assistant, Cole, was caught in an ident?¡± Bradley coldly snorted. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± Jasper hummed disdainfully. He said with a hint of arrogance, ¡°If you need my help, I can help you find him¡­ After all,pared to a boss like you whocks any sense of humanity, Cole¡¯s so much. more likable.¡± Jasper nced at the caregiver and instructed, ¡°Take good care of her. Take her to the balcony for some sun every day. I¡¯ll give you a bonus for how well you take care of her.¡± The caregiver was silent. Was there such a good thing? Her sry was not low, and with the additional bonus from Jasper, she could be considered quite well-off! ¡°Get lost!¡± Bradley eximed fiercely. Jasper whistled like a thug and deliberately congratted Bradley, ¡°I heard that you and Liliane will be getting married soon. Congrattions in advance on your wedding, Mr. Warner!¡± He did not care about Bradley¡¯s chilling and frightening expression after speaking. He waved his hand and left the room. Bradley nced at Esther, who was in the wheelchair. His eyes were gloomy as he sternly questioned the caregiver, ¡°Who allowed you to dress her in this dress?¡± Jasper wore a white suit, while Esther wore a white dress. Jasper¡¯s tie and the ribbon at the end of Esther¡¯s hair had the same pattern. Their attire seemed like a couple¡¯s outfit. The caregiver was at a loss and whispered, ¡°These are the clothes Mr. Searle brought over.¡± ¡°Take it off!¡± ordered Bradley. The caregiver hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Warner, Ms. Quill has no other clothes.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Bradley red at the caregiver. With possessiveness burning strongly within him, he picked up Esther from the wheelchair, threw her onto the hospital bed, and roughly tore the dress off her. The moment the dress was torn apart, Bradley saw countless scars of different shapes peppered over Esther¡¯s snowy skin. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Some of the scars on Esther¡¯s body had been caused by burning cigarette butts, while nail scratches had inflicted others. Esther had only spent five years in prison, so why did her body bear so many wounds? These old scars deeply pained Bradley¡¯s eyes. He extended a finger and gently ran it along the cesarean section scar on Esther¡¯s abdomen. It reminded him of the past when she was delicate, like a princess. Even a minor scrape on her arm would make her teary-eyed. An inexplicable sense of anger surged in Bradley¡¯s heart, and he could not bear to look at the cesarean section scar for a second time. He pulled the nket over Esther¡¯s body, covering herpletely. ¡°Esther, who did this to you?¡± Bradley asked in a pained voice, but there was still no response. Bradley stood silently at the end of the hospital bed, watching her sleep. After who knew how long, he finally turned and left. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g The caregiver stood timidly outside the ward, secretly thinking that Bradley was too moody. Compared to him, Jasper was much more of a gentleman.. If she were Esther, she would also choose the gentle and considerate Jasper. She would not be so foolish as to choose Bradley! Bradley returned to Felix¡¯s hospital room. When the boy saw his gloomy expression, he softly asked, ¡± Daddy, are you unhappy?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bradley walked up to Felix, picked him up without asking for his opinion, and carried him into Esther¡¯s room. ¡°If you¡¯re bored, you can talk to her.¡± Bradley thought that Tink erbell¡¯s death was the final straw that crushed Esther. If Felix could wake her up, he would learn how she carried his children. He would also understand why Esther, who had only spent five years in prison, was so battered. ¡°Really?¡± Felix¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement. Bradley nodded gently. Felix hugged Bradley, thrilled, and gave him a peck on his gloomy face. ¡°Thank you, Daddy.¡± Bradley looked at the delighted Felix and asked, ¡°Why do you like her so much?¡± How could Felix like the malicious Esther? Felix would keep his promise to rk and would resolutely not tell Bradley that Esther was his biological mother until the investigation results were out. ¡°Daddy, she gave me life!¡± Felix chose a vague reply. He believed that his smart father would. eventually uncover the secret. ¡°Felix, the one who gave you life is Liliane,¡± said Bradley. Upon hearing that, Felix clenched his small fists in anger and pouted. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re so silly!¡± His mother was not that bad woman, Liliane. Bradley coughed lightly and softly said, ¡°Alright, talk to her.¡± Felix held Bradley¡¯s hand tightly, his eyes shining, and he said in a childish and tender voice, ¡°Daddy, can I pretend to be the son of the beautiful woman?¡± Bradley asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because¡­ Tinke rbell is no longer here!¡± Felix made up a serious story. ¡°If I call her ¡®Mommy¡¯, she might think I¡¯m her son. Who knows? Maybe she won¡¯t continue sleeping anymore!¡± ¡°Then, you can give it a try.¡± Felix held Esther¡¯s hand and prepared himself emotionally before sweetly calling out, ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s me, Felix. Please open your eyes and look at me!¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t leave me! Daddy¡¯s going to marry a stepmother, and she¡¯ll mistreat me! ¡°Woo! A child with a mother is loved, but a child without a mother is like a stray. Felix doesn¡¯t want to be a stray¡­ Watching Felix¡¯s dramatic performance, Bradley could not help but palm his forehead. He should not let the boy watch those messy, melodramatic TV series in the future. As if truly hearing Felix¡¯s plea, Esther¡¯s fingers moved ever so slightly! With tear-filled eyes, Felix looked at Esther in excitement and shouted, ¡°Daddy! Mommy¡¯s finger moved!¡± Upon hearing that, Bradley¡¯s sharp gaze involuntarily fell on Esther¡¯s fingers. Esther¡¯s fingers had indeed made a tiny movement. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Daddy, Mommy really moved!¡± Felix eximed in excitement, ¡°Daddy, call the doctor quickly!¡± Bradley pressed the call button. In less than a minute, the doctor arrived swiftly. Bradley exined what he had just discovered to the doctor, who then carefully examined Esther before calmly speaking. ¡°Mr. Bradley, Mr. Felix, if Ms. Quill¡¯s finger really moved, it means she¡¯s responding to the outside world.¡± Felix eagerly asked, ¡°Doctor, does that mean she¡¯ll wake up if I keep calling her?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Felix.¡± With joy in his eyes, Felix looked at Esther on the hospital bed, and tears of excitement slowly rolled down his porcin-like cheeks. ¡°Daddy, did you hear that?¡± Bradley thought Esther would wake up, but it turned out to be just an illusion. ¡°I heard.¡± Felix clenched his small fists and said energetically, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best!¡± After the doctor left the hospital ward, Felix once again leaned on Esther, continuing to y the pitiful card. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m so miserable! Now that there¡¯s a stepmother, there will be a stepfather too! ¡°Mommy, Felix misses you so much. I want to hug you! ¡°Mommy, woo! Please wake up! ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m a little man, and I¡¯ll protect you in the future!¡± Felix kept calling out to Esther, trying to awaken her lost will to survive. With each call, he would say ¡°Mommy¡± before it, which made the caregivers outside the door feel extremely sentimental. ¡°Daddy, why isn¡¯t Mommy waking up?¡± Felix really wanted Esther to wake up. Despite that, even after calling for so long, Esther did not respond, and Felix¡¯s anxiety grew. He was afraid that his mother would sleep forever and leave this world like his great-grandfather. Bradley took a long look at Esther on the hospital bed andforted Felix in a deep voice. ¡°She¡¯s probably just exhausted.¡± Suddenly, an idea shed in Felix¡¯s mind, and he said softly, ¡°Daddy, maybe if you kiss Mommy, she¡¯ll wake up.¡± A hint of hesitation washed over Bradley¡¯s wless and handsome face. Felix, being wise beyond his age, sighed. ¡°If Daddy feels embarrassed, I can cover my eyes.¡± With that, the boy extended his small hands to cover his eyes and turned away. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m ready. You can kiss Mommy now.¡± Bradley, as if possessed, approached Esther. He gazed intensely at her and slowly leaned forward, his cool lips lightly touching her rosy ones. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Covering his eyes with his little hands, Felix secretly peeked at Bradley. When he saw Bradley leaning toward Esther to kiss her, a mischievous smile appeared on his adorable little face. ¡°Daddy, can I open my eyes now?¡± Felix¡¯s sweet voice instantly brought Bradley back to reality from his fantasy. He looked at Esther, who was so close to him, and stood up as if he had been shocked. He extended his fingers to gently rub his brows, and his thin lips curved into a faint indifferent line. What was he doing just now? He almost kissed that wicked woman Esther. Bradley felt tight in his chest due to his momentarypse of reason. He reached into the small refrigerator in the ward and took out a bottle of water. After drinking a whole Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g bottle in one breath, the restlessness and uneasiness in his heart gradually subsided. Felix, who was sitting on the hospital bed, had not heard Bradley¡¯s voice for a long time, so he let go of his little hands, looked at Bradley with a puzzled expression, and asked, ¡°Daddy, are you sick? Bradley waved a hand. His gaze was elusive, deliberately ignoring Esther on the hospital bed. ¡°Felix, I¡¯ll go out for a moment. You stay here and behave,¡± Bradley said in a deep voice. ¡°Okay.¡± Felix nodded excitedly. He would obediently stay with his mother and would definitely wake her up. ¡°Brad, you and Felix are here¡­¡± When Bradley pushed open the door of the ward, Liliane stood outside with a smile in her eyes. She was wearing avender dress and carrying a limited edition Birkin bag. ¡°Liliane,¡± greeted Bradley. Liliane took a step forward and reached out to hold Bradley¡¯s arm, taking the opportunity to enter the ward. When Liliane¡¯s gaze fell on Felix sitting on the hospital bed, a glint of anger shed through her. almond eyes. Felix was indeed not her own child. What an ingrate! She had raised him for so many years, putting in all her effort, yet he was sitting in Esther¡¯s embrace. Suppressing her anger and resentment, Liliane smiled at Bradley. ¡°Brad, please have a seat.¡± Bradley sat on the chair, his ears burning, while Liliane took out a tablet from her bag and handed it to him. ¡°Brad, take a look. These are the wedding ns designed by the weddingpany. There are castle weddings, ind weddings, and even snowy mountain weddings. Which one do you like?¡± When Felix heard Liliane mentioning weddings, his little face instantly drooped, and he looked worriedly at Esther. ¡®Mommy! If you don¡¯t wake up soon, Daddy will marry a bad woman!¡¯ Liliane presented the wedding ns given by the weddingpany to Bradley, but he only nced at them casually and replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s a small matter. You decide.¡± Liliane pouted slightly and said in a coquettish tone, ¡°Brad, this is our wedding. I hope we can n it out together. That way, when we¡¯re old, we can revisit these beautiful memories through photo albums and videos.¡± ¡°Daddy, we can¡¯t have a wedding on a snowy mountain!¡± Being exceptionally clever, Felix remembered rk¡¯s instructions that they must not reveal ws. He climbed down from the hospital bed and approached Bradley, looking at the contents on the tablet. ¡°If we have a wedding on a snowy mountain, Mommy won¡¯t be able to wear a beautiful wedding dress!¡± Liliane¡¯s expression softened upon hearing Felix¡¯s words. She reached out and touched Felix¡¯s small face, pinching it forcefully and yfully asking. ¡°Then, would you like to have a wedding on a snowy mountain when you grow up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still young. I can¡¯t get married.¡± Felix¡¯s eyes were bright as he held a hand over his face that Liliane was pinching, angrily saying, ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re pinching my face again!¡± Of course, Liliane did it on purpose. Over the years, she had intentionally pinched Felix many times, and the service staff dared not say anything even when they saw it. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 If others were to witness it, Liliane would only say in feigned innocence, ¡°Oops, it was an ident!¡± Because everyone knew that Liliane was Felix¡¯s mother, no one would assume she intentionally hurt him. ¡°Let me see!¡± Liliane looked at the red mark on Felix¡¯s face and felt quite satisfied inside, but she still expressed concern on the surface. ¡°Oops, I went a little too hard!¡± ¡°I¡¯m angry!¡± Felix crossed his arms and had a look of e andfort me, or I¡¯ll stay angry forever¡±. Bradley also noticed the red mark on Felix¡¯s face. Of course, he did not think that Liliane had done it intentionally, so he gentlyforted him. ¡°Felix, Mommy didn¡¯t mean it!¡± ¡°Huaa!¡± Felix instantly turned into a little drama king and started crying. ¡°Mommy and Daddy don¡¯t love me anymore!¡± Liliane also did not expect such a drastic change in Felix¡¯s emotions after his surgery. In the past, even if she identally hurt him, he would not cry, let alone make such a fuss. Could Esther¡¯s bone marrow transnt have changed Felix¡¯s thinking? ¡°Who said we don¡¯t love you anymore?¡± Bradley was somewhat amused and exasperated. Felix sniffled and said, ¡°Just¡­ When you get married, you¡¯ll definitely have a baby!¡± Liliane thought to herself that she certainly wanted to have her own child since Felix was not her biological son. ¡°Felix, there won¡¯t be any other children!¡± Bradley recalled the tremendous effort that felt like an eternity during the years when Felix was in the hospital and the constant search for a suitable bone marrow transnt. He did not want to go. through the same thing again. ¡°Huh?¡± Felix stopped pretending and looked at Bradley and Liliane in surprise. His voice still carried a hint of sob. ¡°You really won¡¯t have a younger brother or sister?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Bradley nodded solemnly. ¡°Yes, just you.¡± Felix tilted his little head and looked at Liliane as if waiting for her answer. Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s words, Liliane¡¯s heart dropped. How could she not have a child? ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re lying!¡± Felix cried in an exaggerated manner, ¡°You¡¯ll definitely have a younger brother or sister, and then you¡¯ll only love them and not me¡­¡± Hearing Felix¡¯s unbearable crying, Liliane could not help but think of the past. Even when Felix cried, it was a soft sob-not this annoying and bratty tantrum. ¡°Felix, we¡¯ll only have you as our child,¡± Bradley reassured him. Felix wiped away his tears with the back of his hand. ¡°Then let¡¯s record a video as proof!¡± Liliane was rendered speechless. Bradley was amused by Felix¡¯s serious demeanor and reached out to embrace him, asking, ¡°When has Daddy ever broken his promise?¡± Felix shook his head. That had never happened. However¡­ Liliane was a big liar! ¡°Daddy, I believe you, but I don¡¯t believe Mommy¡­! Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Liliane wanted to establish the image of a gentle and caring mother in front of Bradley, so she asked, ¡°Felix, Mommy¡¯s never lied to you!¡± ¡°You did!¡± Sitting in Bradley¡¯s arms, Felix counted on his little fingers and listed all of Liliane¡¯s lies. ¡°You said you¡¯d take me to the amusement park to ride the Ferris wheel, but you didn¡¯t. ¡°You said you¡¯d take me to the beach to collect seashells, but you didn¡¯t. ¡°You said my grandparents love me, but Grandma doesn¡¯t like me at all!¡± Although Felix was young, he was intelligent and had a good memory. Liliane had made many empty promises to him without fulfilling any of them, and he took the opportunity to expose them all. Upon hearing Felix¡¯s usations, Bradley realized that Liliane had indeed promised many things. to Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Felix but never followed through. ¡°Liliane, is what Felix said true?¡± asked Bradley. Liliane had no choice but to put on a pitiful appearance and said with extreme sadness, ¡°Brad, in the past, Felix wasn¡¯t in good health, so how could I dare to take him out to y? Felix, now that you¡¯ve undergone surgery and your health has improved, Mommy can take you out to y at any time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Felix¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°Can I go on the pirate ship?¡± Liliane instinctively put a hand over her heart. She had congenital heart disease and could not even ride the Ferris wheel, let alone something as thrilling as a pirate ship. ¡°I¡¯ll take you on a merry-go-round,¡± she said. ¡°No!¡± Felix said angrily, ¡°If you take me on the pirate ship, I won¡¯t be angry anymore!¡± Liliane had no choice but to agree. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll take you on the pirate ship when you¡¯re discharged from the hospital.¡± ¡°Pinky promise.¡± Felix extended his pinky finger to hook with Liliane¡¯s. After making the promise, Felix picked up his iPad and skillfully opened the camera, switching to video mode. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, will you have more little babies in the future?¡± Liliane smiled on the surface but cursed Felix in variousnguages in her heart. This troublemaker was really a curse! Why did he not die in the operating theater? How long did she have to pretend. to be a virtuous wife and loving mother? In contrast to Liliane¡¯s frustration, Bradley remained calm and assured in the video that they would only have Felix as their child. Having achieved his goal, Felix saved the video on his iPad. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, when I grow up, I¡¯ll take good care of you!¡± Hearing Felix¡¯s innocent words, Bradley smiled and said, ¡°As long as you¡¯re healthy and safe, nothing else matters.¡± Liliane suddenly pped her forehead as if she had just remembered something. ¡°Oh, right, Brad, the nurse said Felix needs to take a drip. Let¡¯s take him back to the room.¡± Bradley picked up Felix. The boy knew that this was not the time to be stubborn, as he had to be healthy to protect his mother. The three of them walked to the ward¡¯s door. Liliane watched Bradley and Felix enter the room before she quickly turned back to Esther¡¯s ward, looked down at Esther, confirmed that there was no one else in the room, and then revealed her true colors. Liliane sat on the chair carefully and went closer to listen to Esther¡¯s heart. She used a voice that only the two of them could hear and mocked her. ¡°Esther, you heard that? Your son¡¯s calling me Mommy! ¡°How could there be such a foolish woman like you in this world? You can¡¯t even recognize your son when he¡¯s just standing before you! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t kill him now. He still has little value to me. Once he loses that, I¡¯ll kill him with my own hands.¡± Liliane then put a hand on Esther¡¯s chest. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Esther¡¯s heart beat under Liliane¡¯s palm. At that moment, waves of jealousy surged in Liliane¡¯s eyes. She was truly jealous of Esther, so much so that she wanted her dead. From the moment Liliane was born, she had congenital heart disease, and her parents kept her condition hidden for fear of affecting her future marriage prospects. Over 20 years had passed, and they still had not found a suitable heart for transnt. Her father had even donated a substantial amount of money to Wilson¡¯sboratory, hoping for the sess of artificial heart research soon. However, the research on artificial hearts progressed slowly, and Liliane did not know if she could wait for the day when an artificial heart would be avable. She had been like a porcin doll since childhood, fragile and unable to participate in games with her ssmates. School outings, sports events, and various activities were just spectacles for her to watch from the sidelines. Esther? She could do anything she wanted. One could say that from the moment Esther appeared in her world, she effortlessly took away everyone¡¯s favor. Her grandparents doted on her. Thomas doted on her. Even more, she had an outstanding fianc¨¦ like Bradley. Liliane was clearly the true granddaughter of the Ansteys, but Esther, the illegitimate daughter, outshone her. The happier Esther was, the more Liliane resented her-to the point of wanting to destroy everything and take it all away from her. Now, she would finally have her wish. Esther¡¯s fianc¨¦ would soon be her husband. Esther¡¯s son had be her son. A sinister smile crept onto Liliane¡¯s beautiful face. She parted her lips slightly, indifferent and ruthless, as she said, ¡°Esther, your heart will soon belong to me as well.¡± Before that, Liliane had never thought about taking Esther¡¯s heart. It was only after Leah¡¯s reminder that Liliane realized that since Esther would die, why not take her heart? Once she received the transnt of Esther¡¯s heart, she would truly be a woman. She could be intimately connected with Bradley as husband and wife. She could give birth to a lovely pair of children with Bradley. She could make up for all the shorings in her life over the past 20 years. Liliane slowly withdrew her hand from Esther¡¯s chest. She looked at Esther, who appeared lifeless and leisurely took a transparent medicine bottle out of her bag. She opened the bottle cap and sniffed the scent inside This medicine was a new drug from the ck market abroad, unseen in the domestic pharmaceutical field. It was colorless and tasteless but had powerful lethality. As long as she fed it to Esther, thetter¡¯s organs would gradually fail within 24 hours. Even the top forensic examination could not determine her true cause of death. Previously, she had personally fed it Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g to Thomas, and the drug¡¯s effects were surprisingly effective. Liliane sneered coldly, pinching Esther¡¯s jaw and forcing her lips to part. She aimed the bottle¡¯s opening at Esther¡¯s mouth¡­ Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Without any warning, a nurse entered the room with a bouquet of flowers. Liliane heard the noise at the door, and her fingers trembled slightly. The liquid from the medicine bottle flowed following the corner of Esther¡¯s mouth and stained her dress. ¡°You are?¡± the nurse asked curiously, looking at Liliane standing so close to Esther. Liliane calmly tucked the medicine bottle in her palm andposedly replied, ¡°I¡¯m her elder sister. The nurse looked at Liliane and then at Esther, puzzled by the fact that these two sisters did not resemble each other in the slightest. Liliane¡¯s dark gaze fixed on the valuable liquid that slid into Esther¡¯s dress cor, feeling a slight pity. Liliane picked up her bag and turned away indifferently. ¡°Take good care of her.¡± After Liliane left, the nurse approached Esther. When she saw the damp area on the cor of Esther¡¯s dress, she wiped it with a tissue, quite puzzled. Liliane walked out of Esther¡¯s hospital room, pretending to be calm. She nced at the medicine. bottle in her hand and casually threw it into her bag. ¡°Mommy! You¡¯re back?¡± Felix had been anxiously watching the door. When he saw Liliane had not returned, his little heart. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. pounded nervously. He was afraid that Liliane would harm his biological mother while she was. sleeping. ¡°Mm.¡± Liliane was not in the mood since her n had been interrupted, and she certainly did not want to deal with the ingrate. Felix sat up straight on the hospital bed, his fair little face tilted upward, and asked in a childish. voice, ¡°Mommy, can you have the wedding with Daddy a bitter, please?¡± Liliane suppressed her annoyance and asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I want to be the ring bearer.¡± Liliane stayed quiet. Seeing that Liliane did not immediately agree, Felix asked cutely, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t you want to?¡± ¡°How could I not?¡± Liliane raised an eyebrow, pretending to be angry. ¡°You must be in Daddy and Mommy¡¯s wedding, Felix.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Felix grabbed a fairy-tale storybook and handed it to Liliane. ¡°Mommy, can you tell me a fairy tale story?¡± ¡°Then sit properly,¡± she said. Liliane casually ced her limited edition handbag at the end of the bed, took the storybook, and started reading the story to Felix. Felix obediently listened as Liliane read the innocent fairy tales from the book, but Liliane thought she really did not want to pretend anymore! She really did not want to be a virtuous wife and mother. She just really wanted to kill Felix. As Liliane read the story, Felix fell asleep. She finally breathed a sigh of relief, gently closed the book, and walked over to Bradley, who was handling business affairs, diligently massaging his shoulders. She asked, ¡°Brad, it seems like Felix really wants to participate in our wedding.¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Bradley stopped what he was doing and casually asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want him to?¡± ¡°Brad, how could you think that of me?¡± Liliane only rubbed his shoulders a few times before moving to sit on the nearby single sofa. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about Felix¡¯s health. He just underwent a bone marrow transnt, and I¡¯m afraid something might happen in a busy wedding.¡± Bradley was extremely indifferent as he said, ¡°The doctor said Felix¡¯s recovering well. Your concerns are unnecessary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m scared.¡± Liliane covered her chest, still feeling a lingering fear. ¡°Felix¡¯s been sick. for so many years, and I¡¯m truly¡­ afraid.¡± ¡°We can postpone the wedding until Felix fully recovers and can participate.¡± Bradley thought that since Felix wanted to attend the wedding, he must fulfill Felix¡¯s wish. Liliane felt somewhat frustrated but dared not show it. She pretended to be unaware and asked, ¡± Brad, the wedding nningpany needs our marriage certificate. When do you think it¡¯s convenient for us to get it?¡± ¡°After thepany¡¯s legal department resolves my marital status with Esther. Then we can go get the certificate,¡± he replied. Liliane could not help but feel ted. ¡°Brad, I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news.¡± Once she and Bradley obtained the certificate, Felix would lose his value of usefulness. She absolutely would not keep the boy around to hinder her ns. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, you can go back. I¡¯ll stay here with Felix,¡± Bradley said considerately. ¡°Brad, I¡¯d rather stay and take care of him. Aren¡¯t you busy with thepany? There still isn¡¯t news about Cole. I wonder how he¡¯s doing right now.¡± Whenever Cole was mentioned, Bradley became quite worried. Over ten hours had passed since Cole¡¯s ident, and the rescue team still had no news. ¡°Cole has a professional rescue team searching for him. It doesn¡¯t require my personal involvement,¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Bradley said with an unfazed expression. ¡°I can stay with Felix.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll head back first.,¡± Liliane stood up and eagerly left the ward. Bradley watched Liliane¡¯s slender figure and could not help but recall the look in Esther¡¯s eyes on the operating theater-the resolute and resentful gaze. His heart suddenly skipped a beat. Bradley lost all interest in his work. He took out his phone and called the legal department. ¡°It¡¯s me. Come to the hospital to pick up the divorce papers. Start the process for my divorce with Esther.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner,¡± answered the other party. Bradley stood up from his chair and walked to the window, gazing at the lush garden outside. His gaze involuntarily fell upon Jasper, who was holding a box of small cakes. Bradley swiftly entered Esther¡¯s ward. She was still sleeping soundly like Sleeping Beauty. His kiss had no effect on her whatsoever. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jasper entered the room carrying the small cakes and immediately spotted Bradley. He sneered sarcastically. ¡°Mr. Warner, feeling free today?¡± ¡°Jasper, let me remind you that Esther is my wife,¡± Bradley asserted possessively. Jasperzily raised his eyebrows and challengingly asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you divorce Esther?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be disappointed. Legally speaking, Esther is still my wife!¡± Bradley, like a dominant lion, had an intense possessiveness over Esther. ¡°Now, please leave.¡± ¡°Bradley, the person who should leave is you.¡± Jasper did not back down at all. ¡°Take a moment to seriously recall who¡¯s responsible for Esther¡¯s current state. It¡¯s you! It was you who drove Esther to seek death. Bradley, if you don¡¯t love her, set her free¡­¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Jasper¡¯s words instantly ignited Bradley¡¯s heart with mes of anger! The fiery anger consumed all his rationality. He to ok a step forward and firmly grabbed Jasper¡¯s cor, arrogantly saying, ¡°Jasper, Esther is mine. Unless I don¡¯t want her, no one, including you, can touch her even a bit.¡± Jasper sneered coldly. ¡°Have you lost your mind? Esther is still unconscious. If she wakes up, the first t hing she will do is distance herself from you¡­¡± ¡°Jasper Searle¡­¡± Bradley clenched his fist and fiercely swung it toward Jasper¡¯s face. Jasper caught Bradley¡¯s fist with his hand, tauntingly inviting, ¡°If you want to fight, we can meet at the b oxing gym. This is a hospital ward, not a ce for fighting.¡± Bradley slowly released his grip on Jasper¡¯s cor and took a step back. A glimpse of a chilling glow shed in his dark eyes. ¡°Jasper, you can leave now,¡± said Bradley. Jasper not only did not leave but also opened the cake box in his hand. There was a square tiramisu ca ke inside that was exquisitely made and looked appealing. ¡°Bradley, you keep saying that Esther is your wife, but do you really know her? ¡°Do you know her preferences? Do you know her favorite food? ¡°Do you know her favorite color? Do you know what she enjoys doing the most? hapter 89 ¡°No, you don¡¯t know anything. Do you think that having a marriage certificate makes you and her an inv incible couple? ¡°No!¡± Jasper looked at Bradley and spoke each word slowly. ¡± Bradley, from the moment you forcibly to ok Esther away to donate bone marrow to Felix, there could only be deep¨C seated enmity between you two! You and her, for the rest of your lives, can only be enemies - never lovers, never husband and wife.¡± Bradley¡¯s fists clenched tightly, his expression fierce, and a chilling and sinister aura surged in his eyes. ¡°The reason you stopped me from seeing her is nothing more than your pride. You want Esther to rema in forever asleep.¡± Jasper looked at Esther on the hospital bed with deep affection, softly murmuring, ¡°Unlike you, I don¡¯t want to have Esther. I support and want her to be happy. I hope she can wake up and have a regr woman¡¯s happiness.¡± Jasper spoke with a soft voice. ¡°Even if the man who brings her happiness is not me, I¡¯ll ept it willing ly.¡± Bradley looked at Jasper¡¯s profile. Memories of everything Jasper had done for Esther over the years r ushed back to his mind, and a hint of jealousy surged in his heart. He sneered and mocked him. ¡°Jaspe Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g r, no matter how selfless you sound, you can¡¯t hide your despicable act of coveting someone else¡¯s wife .¡± Jasper pped his hands upon hearing that. ¡°Bradley, you¡¯re right. I do covet your wife. But so what? I never tried to destroy your marriage. I guarded her silently from behind.¡± Jasper¡¯s deep eyes seemed to ripple like a deep Tapter go blue sea. ¡°And you? Even though she¡¯s your wife, you¡¯re the man who¡¯s hurt her the most in this world, Bradley. In her heart, you¡¯ll forever be the killer of her daughter. Your hands. are stained with your daug hter¡¯s blood!¡± Bradley¡¯s expression froze, and a tinge of regret welled up in his eyes. Yes. It was he who had personally tied Esther to the operating theater. However, he had no other choice at that time for Felix¡¯s life. He truly did not know that Tinkerbell was their daughter. If he had known, he would never have done it¨C never. ¡°This is Esther¡¯s favorite cake. Do you know what message this cake carries?¡± Jasper¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, filled with extreme sorrow. ¡°The meaning of tiramisu is ¡®take me away¡®.¡± Bradley suddenly recalled that there was always such a dessert on the dining table and in the fridge at t he Warners. It was just that he did not like that type of dessert. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 ¡°Bradley, this is thest time I¡¯m tolerating you.¡± A tear slowly slid down the corner of Jasper¡¯s eye as he choked back his sobs and said, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you, nor am I helpless against you. It¡¯s just that I want her to wake up.¡± Jasper reached out to wipe away the tear on his face and left hastily. He seemed to be afraid of his we akness being discovered as he walked fast with hurried steps. There was only boundless loneliness in the spacious hospital room as various medical instruments emi tted piercing sounds in the quiet room. Bradley suppressed the panic in his heart and walked up to Esther. He held a hand over his pounding heart and threatened fiercely, ¡°Esther, my patience is limited. If you don¡¯t wake up, I¡¯ll send your daughter to meet you personally.¡± Esther remained in a deep sleep on the hospital bed. She felt as if she were locked in a dark room with no trace of light. It wasplete darkness all around her. She stumbled like a blind person, groping and moving forward in the pitch- ck room. Suddenly, a door opened in the distance, and a beam of light shone through. Esther instinctively shielded her eyes from the intense light, only getting adjusted to the brightness after a while, and ran toward the direction of the light with all her might like a child. She ran, following the dir ection of the light. There were various scenes around the beam of light. In those scenes, she was youthful, radiant, and dazzlingly beautiful. The man she had once loved with all her might repeatedly pushed her into an abyss of despair. She had loved so passionately, only to be covered in wounds. If given a chance to start over, Esther would rather never have loved him. No, she would rather have never met him. ¡°Esther, I¡¯m counting to three. If you don¡¯t wake up, I¡¯ll kill her!¡± Bradley looked at the tear that slowly rolled down Esther¡¯s face on the hospital bed. He could not help but joyfully hold Esther¡¯s hand. ¡°One, two, three¡­¡® || Before the sound of the word ¡°three¡± fell, Esther suddenly opened her eyes as if there was telepathy. H Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g er clear and bright gaze fell on Bradley¡¯s handsome face. She looked at him in silence, her eyes reflecting a glimmering gxy. In her gaze, there was no endles s hatred or hysterical resentment. Her eyes were pure and clean, like a pristine mountain spring. ¡°Brad.¡± Bradley tightly held Esther¡¯s hand, his voice stern. ¡°Esther, what trick are you ying now?¡± Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s words, Esther¡¯s beautiful eyes immediately welled up with wetness, and she tearfully used him, ¡°Brad, you¡¯re so mean to me!¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 My Husband Wants Me Dead By Spring Sprout Chapter 91 Crystalline tears fell like a broken string of pearls, sliding off Esther¡¯s porcin face drop after drop. Bradley stared at Esther with a mix of anger and frustration welling up inexplicably in his heart. He released his grip on her hand and forcefully held her jaw, coldly and cruelly questioning, ¡°Esther Quill, what are you up to!?¡± Esther widened her eyes, looking at Bradley with fear as tears streamed down her face uncontrobly. ¡°It hurts, Brad.¡± A tear fell onto the back of Bradley¡¯s hand he used to squeeze Esther¡¯s jaw. It felt like he had been s shed with scalding oil, causing him to let go instantly. He looked at her with a gaze filled with scrutiny and confusion, observing the stark contrast between the current Esther and the one he knew before. ¡°Mommy!¡± Felix cautiously poked his head out from the doorway of the hospital room. When he saw Esther regain consciousness from hera, hepletely forgot that he was still hooked up to an IV, r ushed into her embrace, and called out in a sweet and adorable voice, ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re awake?¡± ¡®It is great that Mommy woke up!¡® Esther reached out and hugged Felix, nting a loving kiss on his forehead. ¡°Why is my son so handso me?¡± Bradley watched the interaction between Esther and Felix and felt as if his eyes were ying tricks on him. What exactly was going on with these two people in front of him? Why did everything feel so eerie? Bradley reached out to take Felix from Esther¡¯s embrace. Felix,e here. She¡¯s not your mother.¡± ¡°She is, Daddy¡­¡± Felix was overjoyed,pletely forgetting rk¡¯s reminder. He just wanted to live ha ppily ever after with his parents¨Coh, and Pixie. The four of them would stay together forever. Bradley did not want to stall with Felix, so he forcefully and dominantly attempted to snatch him away, b ut Esther refused to let go. She lowered her head and bit Bradley¡¯s hand hard. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to take my son!¡± The astute Felix gradually noticed that something was off with Esther. He poked his little head out from her embrace and gently said, ¡°Daddy, call the doctor.¡± Helpless, Bradley let go, and Esther held Felix even tighter as if afraid that the boy would vanish if she l et go. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Bradley rubbed his temples, feeling a headache, and pressed the call button. The doctor arrived promptly in the hospital ward and looked at Bradley in confusion upon seeing Esther tightly clutching Felix. What was going on? Bradley¡¯s expression was gloomy and extremely indifferent as he said, ¡°Check her head.¡± Esther looked pitifully at Bradley with her hands tightly wrapped around Felix. The doctor noticed the IV needle in Felix¡¯s hand and kindly suggested, ¡°Ma¡¯am, let me examine you firs t, okay?¡± Esther nced at the doctor and then at Felix. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed that the blood had started flowing back into the IV needle on Felix¡¯s hand and spoke softly. ¡°Please check on my son first.¡® The doctor could onlyply with Esther¡¯s request and began examining Felix¡¯s small hand. ¡°The blood is flowing back a bit, but the needle hasn¡¯te out of ce. It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± the doctor reassured them but added a cautionary note, ¡°Mr. Felix, please try to remain still. If the needle gets disl odged, we¡¯ll have to administer another injection.¡± ¡°Doctor, please check on my mommy first.¡± Felix sat obediently on the bed, not moving, as he watched Esther intently. ¡°Mommy, let the doctor examine you.¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Esther was still holding Felix¡¯s hand tightly, afraid that he would disappear if she let go. Fortunately, Felix was clever and quickly reassured Esther, making her happy, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll stay here with you.¡± Upon hearing Felix¡¯s words, Estherplied with the doctor¡¯s examination. The doctor began by thoro ughly checking her body and confirming that all her physical measurements were within normal ranges. She had been malnourished before, but the doctor had given her a lot of nutrition fluids during her hosp italization. Now, she looked much better than when she had just been released from prison. The doctor came to a conclusion after he finished the examination. ¡°Mr. Bradley, there¡¯s nothing wrong with Ms. Quill physically.¡± Bradley pointed to Esther¡¯s head and stated, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with her head.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bradley, something is wrong with your head!¡± Esther retorted fiercely. For a moment, Bradley could not help but think of their early days of marriage. Back then, she was as lively and vibrant as a fully bloomed rose, radiant and beautiful. The doctor asked Esther, feeling a headacheing on, Ma¡¯am, who do you think this is?¡± ¡°My husband!¡± Esther answered calmly, her eyes showing no signs of evasion. The doctor felt that something was off and asked again, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°My son, Felix!¡± The doctor was rendered speechless. ¡®Could this be selective amnesia?¡® ¡°And As Esther¡¯s attending physician, he was more familiar with her physical condition and emotional experi ences than anyone else. If Esther had not lost her memory, considering her past with Bradley, she woul d never have shown such a rxed andfortable expression today. Between the two of them, there were two lives at stake. ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you know why you¡¯re in the hospital?¡± asked the doctor. Esther furrowed her brows angrily and grabbed a pillow to throw at the doctor. ¡°You¡­ Do you also susp ect that there¡¯s something wrong with my mind?¡± The quick¨C thinking doctor caught the pillow that Esther threw and awkwardly said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m just conducting a r outine. check.¡± ¡°All of you, get out! I don¡¯t want to see any of you!¡± Esther got off the bed and pushed Bradley away, dis ying a spoiled and arrogant demeanor of being fed up with them. Upon seeing that, the doctor quickly gave Bradley a signal. Bradley looked at the now lively Esther and suddenly had a bizarre thought in his mind. ¡®Actually, she was not bad like this.¡® After the doctor and Bradley left, Esther reached out and held Felix¡¯s hand. As bright as stars, her eyes gazed at Felix¡¯s little face. ¡°Does it hurt, darling?¡± she asked. Felix shook his head and jumped into Esther¡¯s embrace, smiling happily. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m not hurt.¡± Esther gently cupped Felix¡¯s face with her hands, and her voice was as soft as a cloud floating in the sk y. It was gentle and tender as it knocked right into Felix¡¯s heart. ¡°Mommy¡¯s brave little boy.¡± Felix¡¯s face was filled with pride. ¡°Because I¡¯m a little man, I¡¯ll protect Mommy.¡± Outside the ward, the doctor considered his word choice before slowly speaking. ¡°Mr. Bradley, based o n my initial observation of Ms. Quill, I suspect she may be experiencing selective amnesia.¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¡°Selective amnesia?¡± Bradley said coldly, ¡°Is it an illness?¡± ¡°Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not considered an illness,¡± the doctor exined slowly, ¡°In fact, it¡¯s the brain¡¯s self ¨C defense mechanism. When a person experiences a reality that they cannot ept, the brain instinctivel y chooses to avoid it. ¡°This avoidance manifests as selectively forgetting painful memories. In some cases, the brain may even create false memories d ue to the extreme pain experienced. I¡¯m not entirely sure what memories Ms. Quill currently has, but if we want to further confirm it, we need to conduct a more detailed psychological examination.¡± Bradley furrowed his eyebrows slightly and asked coldly, ¡± Then tell her the truth.¡± ¡°Mr. Bradley, you can choose to tell her the truth but not right now.¡± The doctor slowly tried to persuade Bradley. ¡°Ms. Quill has just awakened from aa. If we tell her the truth now, it¡¯s highly likely that her memories will be distorted and confused, leading to irreparable consequences. My personal rmendation is that we conduct a more detailed examination on her first and then confirm the next steps of treatment.¡± Bradley was decisive and efficient in business matters. When faced with Esther¡¯s situation, simrly, he was not indecisive or caught in a dilemma. ¡°Find a psychologist to hypnotize her and awaken her mem ories.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The doctor quickly rejected Bradley¡¯s proposal and said in a Chapter Gh low voice, ¡°Mr. Bradley, I don¡¯t rmend seeking psychological intervention from a psychologist at this time. The fact that she has chosen to forget that p eriod of her life indicates that those memories are something she cannot ept. If a psychologist forcef ully awakens those memories and she cannot handle it, it can lead to extreme and irreparable consequences.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression was calm, but there was a sense of struggle in the depth of his eyes. If forgetting the past was her choice, should he respect her decision? In the end, he said, ¡°I understand.¡± The doctor asked again, ¡°Should I arrange for a psychological assessment for Ms. Quill?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Bradley nodded in agreement with the doctor¡¯s suggestion. He stood at the door of the ward and took a deep breath to adjust his mindset calmly before he pushed the door open to enter the room. Felix and Esther were chatting inside the ward, sitting side by side. There was an unprecedented fondness in Felix¡¯s expression. Felix sensed Bradley¡¯s return and hesitantly called out, ¡® Daddy.¡± ¡°Felix, go back to your own room,¡± said Bradley. Before Felix could respond, Esther held him tightly. She fixed her sparkling eyes on Bradley and slightly parted her cherry lips as she said, ¡°My son¡¯s not going anywhere.¡± Bradley was about to say that Felix was not her son but went silent upon recalling the doctor¡¯s words. ¡°Daddy, when can Mommy and I leave the hospital?¡± Bradley cleared his throat and said solemnly, ¡°Whenever the doctor says you can leave the hospital.¡± Felix hugged Esther¡¯s arm and pleaded, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s get the doctor to examine you to see if you¡¯re alright. If the doctor says you¡¯re fine, then we can leave the hospital and go home, okay?¡± Esther smiled, her eyes brimming with happiness. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to my son.¡± Felix was even more excited and kissed Esther¡¯s cheek lightly, saying softly, ¡°Mommy is the best!¡± Chapter 94 Chapter 94 The scene before Bradley gave him an indescribable sense of warmth and wholesomeness. He calmly observed Esther. The current Esther was gorgeous, pleasant like a beautiful orchid in a secluded valley, and charming like a rose covered in morning dew. She and theatose Esther seemed like two different people. Theatose Esther appeared frail an d withered as if nearing the end of her life, but right now, she seemed to have been infused with boundless vitality, radiating the unique charm of her age. ¡°Then I¡¯ll arrange for a doctor to examine you now,¡± said Bradley. All Esther could see was Felix¡¯s adorable face. She raised her eyebrows and readily responded, ¡°I¡¯ll list en to my son.¡± ¡°Mommy, be a good girl!¡± Felix spoke to her like he was coaxing a child, gently stroking Esther¡¯s head. Bradley was rendered speechless. With Bradley¡¯s arrangements, a psychologist promptly conducted a psychological health assessment fo r Esther. When rk received a call from Felix informing him that Esther had awakened, he hurriedly arrived at the hospital. ¡°Mr. Bradley, how¡¯s Esther doing?¡± asked rk. Bradley sat on a chair, his expression cold and his voice indifferent. ¡°The doctor said she cannot ept reality and has selective amnesia.¡± rk understood the situation. He knew that there was not much for Esther to hold onto in this world after losing her dau ghter. Selectively forgetting those immensely painful memories might be a way for her to start anew. Felix excitedly chimed in. ¡°Grandpaw rk, she called me her son.¡± Bradley looked at Felix¡¯s indulgent behavior and said sternly,¡± Felix, sit and stand properly.¡± In an instant, Felix¡¯s eyes welled up with a sense of grievance, and in his childlike voice, he uttered, ¡°D addy, you never used to ask me this before.¡± In the past, Bradley did not have any strict demands of Felix as his health had been poor and his life ex pectancy had been uncertain. As long as Felix was healthy, nothing else mattered to Bradley. What about the current Felix? His health had improved. He would inherit the Warners¡® business in the future, so Bradley naturally had higher standards and ex pectations for him. ¡°Mr. Felix, Mr. Bradley just hopes that you can make Mommy proud in the future,¡± rk interjected, tryi ng to mediate the situation. Felix¡¯s slightly reddened eyes glittered instantly as he proudly patted his chest and vowed, ¡°I¡¯ll definitely make Mommy proud.¡± rk quietly shielded Felix behind him. The results of the DNA maternity test he had arranged were not out yet, and he could not just rely on the audio recording to tell Bradley about Esther and Felix¡¯s rtionship. Only when the DNA test results were avable would rk have secure evidence to reveal the truth to ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Bradley. The more evidence there was, the more likely Bradley would believe the truth. At the same time, rk hoped that he would not be discovered by Liliane while collecting evidence. If it turned out that Liliane was responsible for Thomas¡® death, then it was highly possible that she would r esort to murder to cover up her tracks once she found out he was investigating Felix¡¯s identity. Moreover, rk suspected that Cole¡¯s coincidental car ident and subsequent disappearance were rted to Cole¡¯s doubts regarding Tinkerbell¡¯s identity. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 rk said, ¡°Mr. Bradley, I¡¯d like to take care of Esther if she does have selective amnesia.¡± Upon hearing that, Felix volunteered as well. ¡°I can do it too.¡± rk reached out and gently stroked Felix¡¯s head, saying in a warm voice, ¡°Mr. Felix, before you take c are of someone else, you need to take care of yourself.¡± Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡­¡± Felix paused for a moment, then softly said, ¡°I think I can leave the hospital now too.¡± rk casually suggested, ¡°Esther is Ms. Anstey¡¯s sister. I think she¡¯ll be happy knowing that Esther has woken up. How about discussing with Ms. Anstey to bring Esther back to the estate? I believe that her memory will slowly recover once she¡¯s in a familiar environment.¡± Bradley rubbed his slightly throbbing temples with his long fingers as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for the results of the psychological evaluation.¡± rk agreed. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll follow the doctor¡¯s advice.¡± The waiting time felt long and difficult. Felix¡¯s little face was filled with worries. When the nurse saw that he was done with the IV, she also removed the needle from his hand. rk held Felix¡¯s hand, pressed a cotton ball against the needle site, and carefully prevented any blee ding. After some time, the door to the doctor¡¯s office opened. Esther ran happily to Felix and reached out to hug him. ¡°Felix, the doctor said Mommy can leave the ho spital!¡± Felix asked eagerly, his eyes full of excitement, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeap!¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand and said softly, ¡°I really hate hospitals!¡± Felix agreed with her. ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t like hospitals either.¡± ¡°Felix, let¡¯s go back to the ward first,¡± Bradley interrupted their mother¨Cand¨Cson interaction. Felix held Esther¡¯s hand and said in a cute manner, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go back to the ward and wait for Dad dy toplete the discharge procedures.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Felix and Esther walked away from Bradley¡¯s sight holding hands. Just by looking at their figures from behind, Bradley felt an unprecedented sense of joy. His gaze soften ed at that moment, bing incredibly gentle. ¡°Are you both family members of Ms. Quill?¡± asked the psychologist. Bradley instantly switched to his domineering CEO mode and replied coldly, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Pleasee into the office so we can have a detailed discussion.¡± rk and Bradley entered the psychologist¡¯s office. Bradley immediately sensed the psychologist¡¯s professionalism as he entered the counseling room. The room was arranged in aforting manner, with soft and calming music ying in the background. The atmosph ere naturally induced a sense of rxation, casing the tension in one¡¯s nerves. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 ¡°This is the psychological evaluation I¡¯ve done on Ms. Quill just now.¡± The psychologist slid a thick stack of information to Bradley. Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Bradley took the document and went through it carefully, asking seriously, ¡°What do these answers me an?¡± ¡°Ms. Quill¡¯s psychological state is extremely poor.¡± The psychologist exined calmly, ¡°Inyman¡¯s term s, she¡¯s like a fragile porcin doll now. She looks fine and pretty on the outside, but there are cracks e verywhere. If she¡¯s taken care of carefully, the porcin doll can stand there perfectly intact. But the sli ghtest external force will shatter the porcin doll, never for it to recover again.¡± rk asked in worry, ¡°Then what should we do now? Do we tell her the truth? Or do we act along?¡± ¡°From the professional viewpoint of a psychologist, I suggest that you don¡¯t tell her the truth. With her current capability to ept things, sh e might possibly resort to something extreme the moment she learns the truth.¡± rk asked with furrowed brows, ¡°Do we go along with her now, then?¡± ¡°Follow her perception of her world as closely as possible,¡® the psychologist said frankly. ¡°It would be be st for her to receive therapy once a week during this period. With your coboration, I am confident we can help her achieve a stable psychological state. Doing so will make i t more difficult for her to resort to extreme measures when she eventually learns the truth.¡± rk took a nce at Bradley and asked gently, ¡°Mr. Warner, what do you think we should do next?¡± ¡°rk, Grandpa died because of her,¡± said Bradley. Once Bradley thought about how Esther had harmed Thomas, who was so fond of her, he could never f orgive her. rk recalled Liliane¡¯s confession in the recording and could not help but exin on behalf of Esther, ¡° Mr. Warner, you and Esther both experienced the loss of your daughter, Tinkerbell.. If you both keep giv ing tit for tat, the grudges you hold will never be resolved.¡± ¡°rk, Grandpa died.¡± Bradley gritted his teeth and repeated viciously, ¡°Grandpa died because of her.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, Tinkerbell died too. To Esther, Tinkerbell died because of you.¡± rk was rarely this firm in front of Bradley. ¡± Mr. Thomas is important to you, but Tinkerbell is Esther¡¯s life. No matter how much you hate her and begrudge her, she has give n birth to your children. The jurisdiction system gave her a five¨C year sentence. Are you giving her a life sentence? Or do you want her to repay a life for a life?¡± There was a warning tone in rk¡¯s words. Bradley¡¯s fists clenched tightly, causing veins to protrude on his forehead, neck, and the back of his ha nds. Maintaining a professional demeanor, the psychologist analyzed the situation. ¡°The pain of losing her d aughter has dealt a severe blow to Esther. From her medical history, I can see that her heart stopped in the ICU. While I don¡¯t know the exact reason it started beating again, I do know that given her fragile condition, even a seemingly insignificant trigger or thoughtless remark could be the catalys t for her to contemte ending her life.¡± rk and Bradley looked at the doctor in unison. The psychologist said, ¡°There¡¯s only one reason for her to choose death, but she needs countless reas ons to stay alive.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, if you really don¡¯t want to see her, I can take her to stay elsewhere.¡± rk¡¯s eyes were rim med red. Once he thought that Esther was not the culprit that had taken Thomas ¡® life, then everything she had been through these five years¡­ had been for nothing. If that ident had not happened, Thomas would not have missed the best time for treatment. He woul d still be alive. Esther would then have given birth to Bradley¡¯s children, and they would not have gone through so much hardship as a family. sa ¡°As long as we find her other daughter, Pixie, she¡¯ll have a reason to keep living. Mr. Warner, I plead wit h you to forgive her and let her live.¡± Bradley¡¯s heart, tough and frozen like ice, eventually cracked. Thoughts of his lost daughter, Tinkerbell, and the uncertainty surrounding Pixie¡¯s whereabouts flooded his mind. At that moment, as he reflected on Esther¡¯s role in giving him two daughters, he sumbed topromise, swayed by rk¡¯s plea. ¡°She¡¯s forbidden from stepping into the Warners¡® manor,¡± said Bradley. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 rk let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. He was truly afraid that Bradley would stubbornly insist on wanting Esther¡¯s life. ¡°Mr. Warner, rest assured. I won¡¯t let her disturb you and Ms. Anstey¡¯s wedding,¡± assured rk. Bradley¡¯s lips curled slightly as he coldly said, ¡°rk, keep her away from Felix.¡± Bradley felt ufortable at the thought of Esther waking up and calling Felix her son. rk also thought about this issue and hurriedly asked the psychologist, ¡°Doctor, why does Esther call Mr. Felix her son after waking up?¡± ¡°From a psychological perspective, it¡¯s because something happened to her that she couldn¡¯t ept he rself, so her brain automatically changed her memories.¡± The psychologist carefully examined Esther¡¯s medical records and said, ¡°The pain of losing a daughter is a devastating blow to her, and she may subconsciously perceive Mr. Felix a s her deceased child.¡± rk and Bradley frowned upon hearing that. ¡°What if we tell her that Mr. Felix isn¡¯t her son?¡± asked rk, The psychologist shook her head and kindly advised, ¡°I personally suggest not to stimte her for the ti me being. In fact, if she can consider Mr. Felix as her deceased child, it might actually help her recover y.¡± rk eagerly awaited the results of the DNA maternity test he had arranged for. Once the DNA test con firmed that Felix was Tapter 97 Esther¡¯s child, then¡­ Liliane would have no chance of marrying Bradley. ¡°So, you mean we should try to amodate her for now?¡± Bradley asked in a cold voice. ¡°Yes, she is currently a patient. Although for many people, psychological illness is not considered a real illness, it¡¯s actually more challenging to treat than physical illnesses. I suggest that you cooperate with her as much as possible. After she receives psychological treatment from me for some time, we can sel ectively reveal the truth to her,¡± said the psychologist. Bradley nced coldly at the psychologist. If it were not for the fact that this hospital was a private hosp ital under the Warner Group and the doctors there were the most professional, he would have suspected that Esther had sent the psychologist. ¡°Is there a possibility that she¡¯s pretending to be ill?¡± Bradley asked indifferently. The psychologist shook her head in astonishment. ¡°Mr. Warner, please trust my professional expertise. Based on the results of the psychological assessment I conducted, she¡¯s not pretending to be ill.¡± rk looked at the psychologist and hesitantly asked, ¡°Can she really be discharged now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said the psychologist. ¡°Given her current psychological state, it¡¯s better for her to leave the hospit al than to stay. However, I still rmend avoiding significant stimtion and preferably letting her live in a familiar environment ast familiarity aids in her psychologic al recovery.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± rk took out his phone and made a call. ¡°It¡¯s me. Prepare Primus Mansion.¡± rk then covered the phone and asked the psychologist, ¡± Will it help her condition if she sees her Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g past belongings?¡± ¡°Naturally, it might have a positive effect,¡± replied the psychologist. rk calmly instructed someone to tidy up Primus Mansion. As Bradley examined Esther¡¯s psychological evaluation report, his countenance grew cold and fierce, h is eyes filled with an unending gloom. ¡°Do you have any other questions?¡± asked the psychologist. rk shook his head. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Bradley coldly got up and left the psychologist¡¯s office, returning to Esther¡¯s hospital room. The atmosphere inside was lively. The mother and son, Esther and Felix, were ying a childish game of rock¨Cpaper- scissors. When Esther caught sight of Bradley¡¯s gloomy face, she sweetly called out, ¡°Darling, you¡¯re back?¡± Upon hearing Esther call him ¡°darling¡°, Bradley felt a sense of irony. He casually asked, ¡°What did you just call me?¡± ¡°Darling!¡± Esther blinked her eyes which were shining like stars, and asked softly, ¡°Why do you seem u nhappy?¡± Bradley sneered coldly, about to explode with anger. However, rk quickly intervened, interrupting the peculiar atmosphere in the room. He gently asked, ¡°Esther, the doctor said you can be discharged. Sh all we pack up and go home now? 11 Felix was excited upon hearing that and eximed, ¡°Mommy, hurry, let¡¯s go home!¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Bradley pressed his hand on Felix¡¯s shoulder and coldly said, ¡± You can¡¯t leave the hospital yet.¡± || ¡°Daddy!¡± Felix blinked his wet eyes and pleaded pitifully,¡® Can you let me stay with Mommy? Just for one night? Please?¡± Anyone who saw Felix in such a state would be moved. Bradley was no exception. §³§á§Ñ§â§ä§Ñ§Ü 98 ¡°Mr. Bradley, why don¡¯t we ask Mr. Felix¡¯s attending physician? If he says that Mr. Felix can be discharg ed¡­¡± Ever since rk heard the recording between Liliane and Esther, he naturally leaned toward Esther¡¯s s ide. Especially when he learned that Esther was Felix¡¯s biological mother, he instinctively sided with her . In rk¡¯s personal opinion, he also hoped that Bradley and Esther could reconcile. After all, it was also Thomas¡® wish. ¡°rk, I¡¯ve already made mypromise,¡± Bradley said coldly. rk reached out and touched Felix¡¯s hair as he coaxed him. Mr. Felix, let¡¯s listen to the doctor.¡± Felix called out in grievance, ¡°Mommy, I won¡¯t be at home, so you have to be good, okay?¡± Esther reached out to hug Felix and nted a kiss on his face. Mommy doesn¡¯t want to let you go.¡± I Felix looked at Bradley with harmless heat, thenmented. helplessly, rubbing his forehead, ¡°Daddy i s a dummy.¡± ¡°Felix, say that again.¡± Bradley looked like he was ready to beat someone up. Esther instantly shielded Felix behind her, her delicate figure standing between Bradley and Felix as if t o say over her dead body if he wanted to hit the boy. rk¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as he witnessed that scene. Involuntarily, he thought that perhaps this was what a real mother was like. As a mother, protecting her child was always instinctual. ¡°Mr. Bradley,¡± rk softly called out and asked calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Esther and Mr. Felix look like m other and son?¡± Bradley¡¯s cool gaze swept across Esther¡¯s beautiful face and fell upon Felix¡¯s cute, endearing face. He casually remarked, ¡± rk, if your eyes are bad, I can make an ophthalmologist. appointment for you to get them checked.¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 How could his son and that malicious woman resemble a mother¨Cand¨Cson pair? rk and Felix went quiet. The two of them exchanged a nce, both sighing helplessly in their hearts. Bradley¡¯s phone rang. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Bradley answered the call while walking out of the hospital room to the corridor. Awyer in a suit walked up to Bradley with a briefcase and respectfully greeted him, ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Bradley pushed open the door of the hospital ward and signaled thewyer to follow him into the study. He handed the pre¨C signed divorce agreement from Esther to thewyer and asked in a deep voice, ¡°With this divorce. agre ement, I entrust you to handle all the rted procedures.¡± The divorce agreement, bearing Esther¡¯s personal signature, was meticulously drafted by thiswyer. T he terms of the agreement were stringent, ensuring the utmost protection of Bradley¡¯s interests. ¡°Mr. Warner, ording to the regr process, after signing the divorce agreement, both parties need to bring their relevant documents to the office to obtain a divorce certificate, ¡°said thewyer. Bradley thought of Esther¡¯s selective amnesia and could not help but ask with a headache, ¡°Under wha t circumstances does ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. it not require both parties to be present?¡± ¡°ording to our country¡¯s marriagews, if one party cannot be present due to other factors, such as being imprisoned or in aatose state, you can file for a divorce directly in such cases, and the court will approve the divorce straightaway,¡± replied thewyer. Bradley asked coldly, ¡°What if she has amnesia?¡± ¡°If Ms. Quill is in a state of amnesia, she voluntarily apanies you to the office for the divorce proce dures, or you may proceed with filing for divorce independently. However, under the current circumstances, there¡¯s usually a cooling¨Coff period for a normal divorce. ¡°In the case of filing for divorce, the court generally does not grant the divorce on the first application. It¡¯ ll consider the divorce on the second application. At the same time, if the wife¡¯s amnesia is involved, th e court will also carefully consider this,¡± exined thewyer. Bradley rubbed his temples, feeling a throbbing pain. If he had known that divorce would be so troublesome, he should have brought the divorce to court dire ctly when Esther was imprisoned. ¡°Start preparing to file for a divorce now,¡± he demanded. Thewyer held the divorce papers and solemnly reminded, Mr. Warner, if you want to divorce your wif e, I personally suggest that the best and safest way is to proceed with divorce by consent. This is beca use the Warner Group is a publicly listedpany. The public will also scrutinize your marital life. Moreover, your wife is a beneficiary of Mr. Thomas¡® will hapter 10 Once this divorce agreement is exposed, it will be extremely detrimental to you and thepany.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression froze slightly. After closing his eyes and pondering for a while, he said lightly, ¡°File for the divorce.¡± As for whether Esther could take it psychologically or not, that was not something he should consider. Thewyer replied, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll submit the relevant documents to the court early tomorrow morning. ¡°Thank you,¡± Bradley said without much emotion. Thewyer answered, ¡°It¡¯s my duty. Oh, by the way, the legal department has found some clues regardi ng Mr. Johnston¡¯s ident.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression darkened as he asked, ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, we suspect that this car ident wasn¡¯t an ident but intentional.¡± Thewyer retrieved a surveince video from his phone. ¡°Take a look. Since Mr. Johnston left Madam Jenner of Sunflower Welfare, this ck sedan with a fake license te has been following his car. Mr. Johnston¡¯s navigation was set to the hospital after leaving the sanatorium, but¡­ an ident happened on his way to the hospital.¡± Bradley watched as Cole¡¯s Mercedes¨CBenz was hit and fell into the river. He ordered resolutely, ¡°Dig deep into the driver¡¯s socialwork. I want them to pay a painful price.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± Meanwhile, Esther¡¯s things were all packed up. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Considering Esther¡¯s previous care arrangement during her time at the hospital, rk requested that th e same nursing worker continue to be her caretaker for convenience. Of course, the main reason was that rk was worried that if they brought in a servant from the estate, the servant might inadvertently reveal the truth, leading toplications in Esther¡¯s recovery. Felix followed closely behind Esther, looking at her with pitiful and aggrieved eyes, which made others f Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. eel sorry for him. rkforted him, saying, ¡°Mr. Felix, once you¡¯re feeling better, I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡± ¡°Grandpaw rk, you have to take good care of Mommy!¡± Felix was deeply worried. What if that wicked woman found out that his mother had awakened and tried to harm her again? What should he do to stay by his mother¡¯s side openly and protect her? He longed to grow up q uickly so that he could protect her. ¡°Mr. Felix, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of her,¡± said rk. rk and the caretaker packed up Esther¡¯s belongings to leave the hospital. The mother and son held hands, reluctant to part, and the scene pained rk¡¯s heart. ¡°Felix,e here,¡± Bradley called Felix with a cold expression. Felix hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly let go of Esther¡¯s hand. Looking up with his chubby little face, he said, ¡± Mommy, listen to Grandpaw rk. Eat and sleep well, and I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± ¡°Okay. You have to be good too.¡± There was a hint of inexplicable joy in Esther¡¯s voice. rk and Bradley knew very well that the current Esther had lost her memories of the past five years, or more urately, she had falsely constructed the memories of these five years. She found the past five years to be excruciatingly painful, leading her to create a beautiful alternate real ity to escape the unbearable and distressing memories from that time. ¡°Mr. Bradley, we¡¯re leaving now,¡± said rk. As Esther watched Bradley¡¯s cold indifference toward her, she grouched inwardly. # rk drove personally and took Esther to Primus Mansion. Primus Mansion was the marital home prepared for Esther and Bradley while Thomas was still alive. It was a 1,000¨Csquare ¨C meter luxury bungalow with a helipad on the top floor and a nearly 500¨Csquare¨C meter terrace. When rk and the caretaker, Melinda, arrived at Primus Mansion, Melinda was shocked. She had no idea that such a luxurious seaside mansion existed in this prime location. Primus Mansion boasted stunning views from every angle. The expansive sea stretched out on one sid e, offering a cool. evening breeze. On the other side, the night skyline dazzled with its shimmering light s. As Esther stepped out of the elevator, an unsettling feeling began to build within her. It reached its peak when her eyes fell upon the enormous wedding photo adorning the living room wall of Primus Mansion. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Considering Esther¡¯s previous care arrangement during her time at the hospital, rk requested that the same nursing worker continue to be her caretaker for convenience. Of course, the main reason was that rk was worried that if they brought in a servant from the estate, the servant might inadvertently reveal the truth, leading toplications in Esther¡¯s recovery. Felix followed closely behind Esther, looking at her with pitiful and aggrieved eyes, which made others feel sorry for him. rkforted him, saying, ¡°Mr. Felix, once you¡¯re feeling better, I¡¯lle to pick you up.¡± ¡°Grandpaw rk, you have to take good care of Mommy!¡± Felix was deeply worried. What if that wicked woman found out that his mother had awakened and tried to harm her again? What should he do to stay by his mother¡¯s side openly and protect her? He longed to grow up quickly so that he could protect her. ¡°Mr. Felix, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of her,¡± said rk. rk and the caretaker packed up Esther¡¯s belongings to leave the hospital. The mother and son held hands, reluctant to part, and the scene pained rk¡¯s heart. ¡°Felix,e here,¡± Bradley called Felix with a cold expression. Felix hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly let go of Esther¡¯s hand. Looking up with his chubby little face, he said, ¡°Mommy, listen to Grandpaw rk. Eat and sleep well, and I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± ¡°Okay. You have to be good too.¡± There was a hint of inexplicable joy in Esther¡¯s voice. rk and Bradley knew very well that the current Esther had lost her memories of the past five years, or more urately, she had falsely constructed the memories of these five years. She found the past five years to be excruciatingly painful, leading her to create a beautiful alternate reality to escape the unbearable and distressing memories from that time. ¡°Mr. Bradley, we¡¯re leaving now,¡± said rk. As Esther watched Bradley¡¯s cold indifference toward her, she grouched inwardly. rk drove personally and took Esther to Primus Mansion. Primus Mansion was the marital home prepared for Esther and Bradley while Thomas was still alive. It was a 1,000-square-meter luxury bungalow with a helipad on the top floor and a nearly 500-square- meter terrace. When rk and the caretaker, Melinda, arrived at Primus Mansion, Melinda was shocked. She had no idea that such a luxurious seaside mansion existed in this prime location. Primus Mansion boasted stunning views from every angle. The expansive sea stretched out on one side, offering a cool evening breeze. On the other side, the night skyline dazzled with its shimmering lights. Esther entered the bathroom and proceeded to remove her dress. As she caught sight of herself in the bathroom mirror, she was taken aback by the various scars adorning her body. She couldn¡¯t hold back her tears as she lightly touched the wound on her chest with trembling fingers.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Scenes of being beaten and bullied shed through Esther¡¯s mind. In that instant, her head throbbed with pain. She held her head and sat under the shower head. Ice-cold water flowed out of the shower head. Like a person on the verge of death, Esther sat panting for cold air under the water. A shadow of pain flickered in her shining eyes that were like a cluster of stars. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g After spending what felt like a long time in the bathroom, Esther eventually emerged, wearing a bathrobe. She casually selected a dress from the closet and proceeded to dry her hair with a hairdryer. ¡°Madam?¡± Melinda lightly knocked on the door. Esther opened the door and asked, looking at Melinda outside, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready,¡± replied Melinda. Esther sat alone for dinner in the spacious dining room. Looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see the bustling city lights, the twinkling lights scattered like stars in the world. Since this house used to be the marital home of Bradley and Esther, everything there was in pairs. There were especially their wedding photos in every corner of the rooms. I Chapter 103 Chapter 103 In all the photos, Esther wore a radiant smile, while Bradley, as the groom, looked cold and reluctant, with an unwilling expression. Esther had no appetite, so she just ate a few bites of dinner hastily. Melinda asked in surprise, ¡°Madam, are you not eating anymore?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have much of an appetite,¡± replied Esther. Alone, Esther sat on the terrace in the slightly salty sea breeze. As the sea breeze brushed through her long hair, her gaze was empty and lonely. Melinda, seeing Esther in this state, walked up to her as someone who had gone through simr experiences and said softly, ¡°Madam, even though I don¡¯t know the conflicts between you and Mr. Bradley, husbands and wives may fight, but one of them eventually has to yield.¡± Esther raised her teary eyes and asked curiously, ¡°Do you and your husband fight too?¡± ¡°We do! How could there be no arguments in a marriage? We don¡¯t just argue. We fight!¡± Melinda mysteriously said, ¡°But my husband is easily cated. Men, well, they respond to gentleness, not harshness. If you act coquettish and make something delicious, he¡¯ll cave.¡± Melinda did not know the unspeakable past between Esther and Bradley. She was just Tik Tok When you are lost in your thoughts sband. ¡°But what if he wants a divorce from me?¡± Esther asked in a dazed manner. ¡°How could that be? You already have a child together. When a married couple with children considers divorce, they must also consider the child¡¯s feelings. You¡¯re still young, so you don¡¯t know that children are the glue that holds a couple together. I don¡¯t think Mr. Felix wants you to divorce. Don¡¯t worry. You won¡¯t be able to divorce,¡± Melinda reassured her. Esther asked with uncertainty, ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course! If you don¡¯t believe it, why not do as I say?¡± Melinda patted her chest, saying, ¡® Prepare a Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g delicious dinner tomorrow and invite the man and the child back. Then, give in¡­¡± ¡°How do I give in?¡± Melinda cleared her throat lightly with a blush before she leaned close to Esther¡¯s ear and whispered, exining her way of cating her husband. A blush suddenly appeared on Esther¡¯s face like a vivid sunset. She shyly twisted her fingers and said in a trembling voice, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try then. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Certain things were a matter of principle, and Bradley would neverpromise. Meanwhile, Felix, who was buried under the nket, thought that since his father did not want him to see his mother, he would secretly go see her anyway. As long as he was careful, he would not be found out. Bradley took a long nce at Felix, who was hidden under the nket and was about to walk over when he heard his phone ring. He entered the study and picked up the call indifferently after a look at the caller ID on his phone. ¡°Liliane.¡± Liliane was extremely excited as she said, ¡°Brad, my mom! A friend of my mom knows the wedding dress designer Anna. Anna happens to be doing a local tour showcasing her wedding dress, ¡®The Wedding Dress from Heaven¡¯. If you¡¯re avable, can you go see her with me?¡± Bradley asked tly, ¡°When?¡± ¡°This Friday.¡± Liliane held her phone, her eyes full of smiles, as she said, ¡°Brad, if Anna¡¯s willing to sell me the dress, let¡¯s have a tropical ind theme wedding, okay?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Bradley did not care much about the scale and style of the wedding. To him, it was just to give Felix a legal status. As for him and Liliane, they happened to be Felix¡¯s biological parents. ¡°Brad, then¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s voice carried a hint of timidity. ¡°When should we register our marriage?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll register once thewyerpletes the divorce proceedings.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Liliane did not want to continue talking to Bradley and spoke softly. ¡°Rest early, Brad. Good night, muah!¡± Liliane¡¯s kiss made Bradley furrow his brows slightly. He heard the beeping sound from the other end of the line and rubbed his temples. He then continued to sit at the desk and attend to official matters. After finishing the pile of paperwork that resembled a small mountain, he opened the drawer to put Cole¡¯s old phone inside. Unexpectedly, he found the girly diary that rk had given him. Bradley took it out from the drawer and hesitated for a few seconds before putting it back. He had no interest in Esther¡¯s past emotional experiences. Likewise, he had no interest in Esther¡¯s secret crush diary. If his grandfather were alive, he would rather not have any interaction with Esther in this lifetime. Bradley took onest look at the diary filled with girlish thoughts, closed the drawer, and washed up before going to sleep by Felix¡¯s side. The moment Bradley went to sleep with Felix, the boy¡¯s little arm unconsciously wrapped around his arm, and his voice was soft as he murmured in his sleep, ¡°Mommy¡­ I miss you so, so much.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Felix, sleep well. I¡¯ll have your Mommye to apany you tomorrow.¡± Meanwhile, Liliane¡¯s expression turned frighteningly dark after she hung up. With cold and ruthless eyes, she looked at the teddy bear on the side and suddenly vented her anger by grabbing a pair of scissors and violently cutting it into pieces. Leah did not stop her outburst. Instead, after Liliane had finished venting, she gently handed her a ss of water. ¡°Liliane, do you feel better now?¡± Liliane silently nodded and asked indignantly, ¡°Why did Bradley hide the news of Esther waking up from me?¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Leah exined, ¡°Perhaps he isn¡¯t intentionally keeping it from you, but rather there¡¯s a difference in thinking between men and women. What you consider important may be trivial to Bradley. Liliane, the more such times, the more you must stay calm andposed.¡± ¡°Mom, you have no idea. I almost sent that b*tch to that dead old man¡¯s side today!¡± Once Liliane thought about the wasted drug bottle, she was so angry that her lips trembled. Leah calmly reprimanded, ¡°Liliane, think twice before you act. I¡¯ve already asked Dr. Birch to examine Esther¡¯s heart. Once her heart is deemed suitable, we can create an ident and transnt her heart into you.¡± Liliane drank the ss of water and finally calmed down from her mixed feelings of anger and betrayal. She took a deep breath and sat across from Leah, asking softly, ¡°Mom, if Esther really has selective amnesia, will she be a threat to me again?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Leah¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of cruelty. ¡°Liliane, have you forgotten? You hold an ace in your hand. As long as Felix is in your hands, she¡¯ll never cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Mom, why is that b*tch so lucky?¡± Leah sneered. ¡°B*tch and b*tch¡¯s luck.¡± Looking at the remains of the teddy bear, Liliane consoled herself and Leah, saying gently, ¡± Mom, actually, it¡¯s best if Esther wakes up. Death would be too easy for her. Killing her heart and soul is theProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. ultimate revenge. Do you think I should make her a bridesmaid at my wedding? Let her witness the man she loves most marry me?¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand, speaking with emphasis. ¡°Liliane, you hate her, and I hate her too. We both wish she were dead but remember. She¡¯s currently the savior who donated bone marrow to save your son. You need to treat her like she¡¯s your benefactor. Besides, we can also see whether her amnesia is real or fake.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, Mom. Should I go to the hospital tomorrow?¡± asked Liliane. Leah shook her head and said softly, ¡°No, don¡¯t go. You need to give them a chance to get along, to give Esther hope. When the timees, you can appear and shatter her hope. Do you understand what I mean?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Liliane looked worried as she said, ¡°Mom, I can¡¯t be at ease until I obtain the marriage certificate with Bradley.¡± ¡°The marriage certificate is not important. What matters is that you have a wedding,¡± Leah said calmly andposedly. ¡°Esther spent five years in prison. In the eyes of thew, her marriage with Bradley the wrong, Liliane. If his grandfather were alive, he would rather not have any interaction with Esther in this lifetime. Bradley took onest look at the diary filled with girlish thoughts, closed the drawer, and washed up before going to sleep by Felix¡¯s side. The moment Bradley went to sleep with Felix, the boy¡¯s little arm unconsciously wrapped around his arm, and his voice was soft as he murmured in his sleep, ¡°Mommy¡­ I miss you so, so much.¡± ¡°Felix, sleep well. I¡¯ll have your Mommye to apany you tomorrow.¡± Meanwhile, Liliane¡¯s expression turned frighteningly dark after she hung up. With cold and ruthless eyes, she looked at the teddy bear on the side and suddenly vented her anger by grabbing a pair of scissors and violently cutting it into pieces. Leah did not stop her outburst. Instead, after Liliane had finished venting, she gently handed her a ss of water. ¡°Liliane, do you feel better now?¡± Liliane silently nodded and asked indignantly, ¡°Why did Bradley hide the news of Esther waking up from me?¡± Leah exined, ¡°Perhaps he isn¡¯t intentionally keeping it from you, but rather there¡¯s a difference in thinking between men and women. What you consider important may be trivial to Bradley. Liliane, the more such times, the more you must stay calm andposed.¡± ¡°Mom, you have no idea. I almost sent that b*tch to that dead old man¡¯s side today!¡± Once Liliane thought about the wasted drug bottle, she was so angry that her lips trembled. Leah calmly reprimanded, ¡°Liliane, think twice before you act. I¡¯ve already asked Dr. Birch to examine Esther¡¯s heart. Once her heart is deemed suitable, we can create an ident and transnt her heart into you.¡±1 Liliane drank the ss of water and finally calmed down from her mixed feelings of anger and betrayal. She took a deep breath and sat across from Leah, asking softly, ¡°Mom, if Esther really has selective amnesia, will she be a threat to me again?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Leah¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of cruelty. ¡°Liliane, have you forgotten? You hold an ace in your hand. As long as Felix is in your hands, she¡¯ll never cause any trouble.¡± ¡°Mom, why is that b*tch so lucky?¡± Leah sneered. ¡°B*tch and b*tch¡¯s luck.¡± Looking at the remains of the teddy bear, Liliane consoled herself and Leah, saying gently,¡± Mom, actually, it¡¯s best if Esther wakes up. Death would be too easy for her. Killing her heart and soul is the ultimate revenge. Do you think I should make her a bridesmaid at my wedding? Let her witness the man she loves most marry me?¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand, speaking with emphasis. ¡°Liliane, you hate her, and I hate her too. We both wish she were dead but remember. She¡¯s currently the savior who donated bone marrow to save your son. You need to treat her like she¡¯s your benefactor. Besides, we can also see whether her amnesia is real or fake.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, Mom. Should I go to the hospital tomorrow?¡± asked Liliane. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 ¡°Mommy!¡± Esther reached out and hugged Felix in her arms, ruffling his hair. In an instant, his neat hair gained a touch of messy charm. ¡°Felix, did you sleep wellst night? Mommy made breakfast for you. Do you want to try it?¡± asked Esther. Felix nodded eagerly. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then be a good boy and go wash up,¡± said Esther. Felix dashed into the bathroom while Esther arranged the containers she brought on the table one by one. As Bradley entered the ward after he finished his morning run, he saw the abundant variety of breakfast on the table and Esther, who should not be there. With a dark expression, he questioned, ¡°Esther, who allowed you toe here?¡± Remembering Melinda¡¯s teachings fromst night, Esther suppressed her nervousness and uneasiness and called out sweetly, ¡°Darling, I came to bring you breakfast.¡± Bradley¡¯s gaze fell on the various types of breakfast, questioning with a mocking tone, ¡± Esther, from which breakfast shop did you buy these? Don¡¯t you know that Felix can¡¯t eat food from outside?¡± ¡°I made them myself.¡± Esther¡¯s eyes welled up with tears of grievance. She extended the back of her hand to show Bradley the blister. ¡°Look, this is a blister I got when the oil sshed while I fried the eggs.¡± Melinda, beside them, also testified, ¡°Mr. Bradley, Madam prepared these dishes. She woke up at 4:00 a.m. to cook.¡± Bradley¡¯s sharp gaze carried cold scrutiny. How could Esther know how to make such avish spread of breakfast? How was this possible? Before she went to prison, she didn¡¯t even know how to boil water! She did not know how to make instant noodles! Could it be that spending five years in prison was equivalent to attending an express culinary course? ¡°Esther, take your breakfast and get out of the ward,¡± Bradley coldlymanded. He was not willing to let Esther intrude into his and Felix¡¯s world without a sense of propriety. Furthermore, he did not want to specte on the hidden motives behind her various actions. ¡°Daddy!¡± Felix, who had finished washing up, immediately rushed between Esther and Bradley. ¡°I want to have Mommy¡¯s breakfast.¡± Bradley gnashed his teeth and coldly reprimanded, ¡°Felix.¡± Felix stood unwaveringly in front of Esther, but his stance was somewhat weakened. ¡°They say on TV that wasting food is shameful. Many children on Earth don¡¯t have food to eat.¡± Esther ced her hand on Felix¡¯s shoulder, her eyes slightly reddened. She softly said, ¡± Darling, please try the breakfast I made, okay?¡± Bradley remained cold and indifferent. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve poisoned it.¡± Upon hearing that, Felix went to the dining table and immediately put a steamed shrimp into his mouth. ¡°Daddy, Mommy didn¡¯t poison it.¡± Bradley cast a cold nce at Felix, then at the currently oblivious Esther, his chest filled with stifled anger, and he turned into the bathroom. Felix pulled Esther to sit at the dining table, looking at the blister on her hand with concern. ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± he asked. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 In the morning light, Esther looked gorgeous, like a fairy fallen to earth. She lowered her starry gaze and replied sweetly, ¡°Felix, blow on it, and Mommy won¡¯t feel pain anymore.¡± Felix obediently blew on her blister for a while before Esther fed him broli. Felix opened his mouth and had a satisfied expression. When Bradley came out of the shower, he saw Esther and Felix feeding each other in the morning glow. He turned around in confusion and changed into a suit. While he was tying his tie, Esther approached him, extending her slender fingers and skillfully helping him with the tie. The sudden intimacy from Esther made Bradley¡¯s body stiffen. After Esther finished tying the tie attentively, she suddenly reached out and hugged Bradley on the waist, burying her head in his chest. She could hear the man¡¯s heartbeat next to her ear. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s not argue anymore, okay?¡± she asked. Bradley¡¯s heart began to race uncontrobly. It felt as if the blood in his body was boiling. He lowered his head and looked at Esther, who was embracing him tightly. At that moment, as he gazed at the top of her head, unfamiliar yet strangely intimate images shed involuntarily in the depths of his mind. Feeling like he had been electrocuted, he pushed Esther away, grabbed a towel, and covered his arm to conceal his embarrassment. ¡°Esther, don¡¯t call me darling,¡± he said. Bradley¡¯s ears had turned red with embarrassment. Esther looked at him tearfully, standing there at a loss like a child who had done something wrong. A tear rolled down her eye and fell onto the small red mole on her corbone. ¡°Bradley, I¡­ I think there¡¯s something wrong with my brain,¡± Esther said pitifully. ¡°I seem to have forgotten a lot of things, but darling, I don¡¯t want to be separated from you. Can we start over, please?¡± Bradley felt a dryness in his mouth, suddenly at a loss facing Esther in this state. From a rational standpoint, he should cruelly and coldly tell Esther all the truth. He should tell her that they were not husband and wife, but enemies, that there were two lives between them, that there was deep-seated enmity between them. For some reason, he could not bring himself to say it. Although the current Esther seemed at little crazy and unpredictable, he felt grateful that she could live like a regr personpared to when she was hanging between life and death in the ICU. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Bradley¡¯s temples throbbed painfully. ¡°Esther, there¡¯s no possibility for us to start over.¡± Bradley thought that if his grandfather were still alive, if none of the things from the past had happened, he would be willing to be a regr husband and wife with Esther. After all, their fates had been intertwined very early on. She had already saved his life when she was still a child. Esther took a step forward, disregarding everything, and hugged Bradley. She stood on her tiptoes tearfully and gently kissed Bradley¡¯s thin lips. In an instant, Bradley froze in ce. He had not expected this from Esther, who had selective amnesia. His mind was suddenly filled with scenes from five years ago, and he instantly felt a wave of nausea churning in his stomach. He cruelly pushed Esther away, feeling extreme disgust, and rushed into the bathroom. Esther was shoved to the corner of the office desk by Bradley like a fallen flower. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Esther whimpered, feeling a pang of heartache that she could not control. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! im Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Bradley desperately washed his lips with water in the bathroom as if trying topletely clean off the warm touch from his lips. His eyes, filled with a dark and fierce glint, looked at his reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, the image of the small red mole on Esther¡¯s corbone shed in his mind. In astonishment, he took out his phone and essed a hidden folder where he found a video. It was a This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. widely circted video from five years ago featuring a woman who had the same facial features as Esther. The only difference was that the woman in the video did not have the vivid and tempting small red mole on her corbone. Bradley carefully examined the woman in the video,paring her facial features to Esther¡¯s. They were exactly the same. Bradley seemed to realize something and paused the video. He pushed open the bathroom door and walked menacingly toward Esther. Startled and filled with fear, Esther took a step back and ended up leaning against the desk. Bradley pressed her against the desk and forcefully rubbed the vivid small red mole on her corbone with his fingers. He rubbed so hard that the surrounding fair skin turned an embarrassing shade of red. ¡°Darling, it hurts¡­¡± Esther winced, tears swirling in her eyes. She did not understand why Bradley was being so rough with her corbone. Bradley suddenly reached out and tightly gripped Esther¡¯s chin, forcing her to face him in the same position as the woman in the video. Their eyebrows, eyes, and mouth were identical, but the ears were different. The woman in the video had small ears, while Esther had pixie ears with cute, chubby earlobes. Additionally, the woman in the video did not have the small red mole on her corbone like Esther did. It was as if Bradley could not believe his eyes as he repeatedly confirmed it. Yes! Esther and the woman in the video were not identical. What¡­ What was going on? Could it be that the woman in the video was not Esther? ¡°Mr. Bradley¡­¡± rk, who Felix had informed about the strange situation between Esther and Bradley, was afraid that Bradley would reveal the truth in a fit of anger, causing Esther to lose her sanity and triggering a series of adverse reactions. Unaware of the scene he was about to witness, rk opened the door to see such a suggestive scene. ¡°Go on!¡± rk discreetly blocked Felix¡¯s worried gaze with his hand and considerately closed the door. Bradley looked at the tearful Esther lying on the desk, feeling a mixture of emotions. Five years ago, he believed that Esther had betrayed him, leading to her pregnancy with another man¡¯s children and causing his grandfather¡¯s ident. What if the Esther from five years ago had never betrayed him in the first ce? The moment the question arose in Bradley¡¯s mind, his hatred toward Esther diminished by at fraction. Seeing Bradley hold his phone in a daze, Esther snatched it from his hand. As she grabbed the phone, the paused video began to y. The racy sounds filled the air in the room. Esther¡¯s lips trembled, and she asked with a fearful and teary expression, ¡°This woman in the video¡­ She isn¡¯t it me? Right?¡± Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Bradley gazed at Esther, her tears flowing like broken pearls. His heart burned with searing pain, causing him to instinctively step back. Without Bradley¡¯s restraint, Esther immediately sat up on the desk. She lowered her head and carefully examined the woman in the video,paring every detail of her eyes, lips, and nose to hers. They were exactly the same. Suddenly, Esther also noticed that the woman in the video did not have the small red mole on her corbone that she always had. She hastily thrust the phone screen in front of Bradley¡¯s face, eagerly defending herself word by word. ¡°Bradley, look closely. The woman in the video is not me!¡± Bradley forcefully snatched the phone from Esther¡¯s hand and mocked icily, ¡°Esther, look carefully, this is your face¡­¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not me.¡± Esther could not control her tears and meekly exined, ¡°Look, I have a small red mole here, but the woman in the video doesn¡¯t.¡± Esther pointed to the red mole on her corbone, her eyes filled with tears, hoping desperately that Bradley would believe her. ¡°Bradley, please believe me. The woman in the video is not me. I truly, truly did not betray you. || Bradley looked at the small red mole on Esther¡¯s corbone and suddenly felt a pang of heartache. That moment of heartache was like a shooting star, crossing his heart and disappearing in an instant. ¡°Esther, your acting skills are truly pathetic.¡± Bradley thought that even if the woman in the video was not Esther, his grandfather had still gotten into an ident because of that video. His grandfather had also turnedatose because of her. His grandfather treated her even better than him, yet this malicious woman was heartless enough to take his grandfather¡¯s life. Esther trembled, grasping Bradley¡¯s hand and pleading, ¡°It¡¯s true! The woman in the video is not me. You have to believe me¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s heart melted in that instant. So what if the woman in the video was not Esther? Five years ago, that video had been exposed on the Inte, and he had been ridiculed by people worldwide. Because of that video, he had lost his only rtive in this world. If it were not for Lilier giving birth to Felix, he would have been a lonely person in this Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g world. Bradley pushed the tear-stained Esther into the bathroom and spoke indifferently. ¡°You¡¯re too dirty.¡± Having said that, he closed the bathroom door. He felt a faint ache in his heart for the first time when he saw Esther crying. He had hated her for five years, believing she had betrayed him for five years. Now¡­ he realized that the woman in the video from five years ago was not her. Even the children she carried were not illegitimate-they were his children. When the truth suddenly appeared in his world without any warning, Bradley felt a sense of panic, not knowing how to face Esther. The bathroom door mmed shut with a ¡°bang¡±. It was as if Bradley had shut Esther out of his world from then on. The scenes from the video were reyed in Esther¡¯s mind. Those raunchy scenes felt like knives, dividing her and Bradley into two worlds. For a moment, Esther felt as if she was covered in filth. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Esther walked mechanically to the shower head in the bathroom, letting cold water pour down from above. She repeatedly applied shower gel to her body and vigorously rubbed every inch of her skin. She knew very well that the woman in the video was not her, but for everyone else, the woman in the video was her. Esther felt as if her body had been smeared with eternal, irreparable filth. She squatted under the shower, scrubbing with all her might, as if only by doing so could she make her body clean and pure. Bradley heard the rushing sound of water from the bathroom and walked to the door with some concern, intending to knock, but he silently withdrew his hand. Half an hour passed. The sound of water continued running inside the bathroom. Bradley lightly knocked on the door and called her name, ¡°Esther.¡± No response came from the bathroom. Bradley knocked forcefully several times on the ss door of the bathroom. ¡°Esther?¡± Still, there was no answer. Without reason, Bradley began to panic. He twisted the doorknob and opened the bathroom¡¯s ss door, entering inside. In that instant, Bradley saw everything in the bathroom. Esther had fainted on the cold floor of the bathroom, and the water from the shower head continued to ssh on her body. He immediately reached out and turned off the shower. Bradley saw the red marks that Esther had just scratched on her body as well as the old scars crisscrossing her fair skin. His heart twisted into a knot. He tentatively extended his hand beneath Esther¡¯s nose until he felt the warmth of her breath. Relieved, he reached for a towel from the towel rack and tightly wrapped Esther in it. Bradley ced Esther on his own bed and urgently gave instructions. ¡°rk, call the doctor.¡± Feeling worried and resentful at how Bradley tormented Esther, rk followed his order and called for a doctor. rk was thorough and reliable in his work. Not only did he call for a doctor, but he also arranged for a psychologist toe. The doctor examined Esther and confirmed that she had only suffered from shock and had fallen unconscious. At least for now, there were no physical problems. As for her mental health, they could only rely on a professional psychologist for an exnation. Seeing Esther in such a tormented state, the psychologist could not help but wear a cold expression on her pretty face as she sternly rebuked, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to provoke her? She¡¯s a patient with a psychological illness. Why didn¡¯t you listen to the doctor¡¯s advice? What¡¯s the point of calling us if you keep tormenting her like this? It¡¯d be better to send her directly to the crematorium and be done with it.¡± rk and Felix looked at Bradley with condemning gazes while Bradley¡¯s handsome face remained cold and indifferent. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°This was an ident.¡± The psychologist disregarded Bradley¡¯s position as her boss and spoke even more bluntly. ¡± Mr. Warner, you¡¯re an adult. If you¡¯re willing to reconcile with her, there are countless ways to do so. The reason you haven¡¯t is simply because you don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t need to know your history with her, but I must say that if you truly despise her, then it¡¯s better to end it once and for all. Torturing a living woman like this reflects poorly on your character as a man. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Since Esther fainted, the psychologist could not conduct a psychological assessment of her right away. However, as a woman, she had eyes and could see the fresh red marks on Esther¡¯s arms. In order to better treat Esther, the psychologist had also looked into the rtionship between Esther and Bradleyst night. After the research, the psychologist believed that the person responsible for causing Esther¡¯s severe psychological illness was none other than Bradley himself. This man had pushed Esther step by step into an irreparable abyss. ¡°Mr. Warner, weren¡¯t you¡­ fine with each other?¡± rk and Felix, having seen them intimate on the desk, had assumed they had already made up after their fight. Bradley nced at Melinda, his voice cold as he said, ¡°Take Felix down to the garden.¡± Felix refused to leave, seeing Esther, who was on the verge of death. He held her hand tightly and asserted himself, ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡± rk doted on Felix and indulged him even more. However, he knew that Bradley had something to say that he did not want Felix to hear. He took out a pair of red Bluetooth earphones and put them on Felix, ying some music. ¡°Okay, he¡¯ll behave.¡± Felix stared with worry, endless concern filling his gaze. Without needing instructions from Bradley, Melinda left the hospital room. ¡°Esther discovered the video from five years ago,¡± exined Bradley. rk furrowed his brow and coldly said, ¡°Mr. Bradley, Esther didn¡¯t admit that the person in the video was her five years ago. Even Mr. Thomas found new evidence back then. That was why¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes flickered with weariness. ¡°The woman in the video is indeed not her.¡± Five years ago, Al face-swapping technology was not as mature as it was now, and very few people Property ? N?velDrama.Org. were aware of it. At that time, due to Esther¡¯s betrayal and his wounded pride, Bradley had not carefully verified each frame of the video. As a result, it triggered a series of chain reactions. rk looked at Bradley in astonishment and asked, ¡°Mr. Bradley, when did you realize it?¡± Bradley hoarsely replied, ¡°Just now.¡± rk¡¯s gaze fell on Esther¡¯s face, and he could not help but feel a pang of heartache. ¡°Mr. Bradley, if only you had trusted Madam a little more and listened to her exnation, many things that followed would not have happened.¡± Back then, Bradley was furious after seeing the video and even forcibly took Esther to the hospital, wanting her to terminate the pregnancy. Thomas had desperately sought the truth to prevent Bradley from doing such a thing. Unfortunately, he was met with a car crash before the truth was revealed. ¡°rk!¡± rk mournfully said, ¡°From beginning to end, Mr. Thomas had always believed in Esther, believed that she wouldn¡¯t betray you. Esther also continuously denied the authenticity of the video. Even when you personally sent her to prison, she still didn¡¯t admit that the woman in the video was her or that she pulled the oxygen mask herself. ¡°Mr. Bradley, have you ever considered that maybe everything that happened wasn¡¯t really done by her?¡± As the psychologist listened to this shocking revtion, she could not help but feel that the world of the wealthy was truly treacherous. Esther, especially the young and pretty Esther- why did she have to trap herself in this mess when she could have done something else? It was truly¡­ the folly of love. Bradley was unwilling to admit that all the events that happened back then were the bitter fruits of his own arrogance. ¡°rk, right now, it¡¯s just that the woman in this video is not her. But she did pull off my grandfather¡¯s oxygen mask herself!¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Once rk thought of the content of the voice recorder, he retorted in a deep voice, ¡°Mr. Bradley, did you see it with your own eyes? Did you hear Madam¡¯s confession with your own ears? If that video could be fabricated, then why couldn¡¯t the video of Madam removing Mr. Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask be fabricated?¡± ¡°rk, why do you believe her so much?¡± Bradley could not understand why his grandfather believed her after everything had happened. rk believed her too. When everyone in the world was condemning and berating her, they still firmly believed in her. ¡°Because she¡¯s worthy of our trust,¡± said rk. His voice slowed down, earnestly pleading,¡± Mr. Bradley, please allow me to reinvestigate the truth from five years ago.¡± Bradley coldly replied, ¡°Do as you wish.¡± rk thought of the recording again and wondered what if the investigation revealed a connection to Liliane. By that time, Bradley would have already married her, and the investigation would be in vain. ¡°Mr. Bradley, give me three months. I¡¯ll investigate the truth,¡± rk stated firmly and seriously. ¡°But during these three months, you and Ms. Anstey cannot obtain a marriage certificate or hold a wedding.¡± Bradley raised an eyebrow coldly and asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I think you should give Madam a chance,¡± replied rk. rk had watched Esther grow up, just like Thomas, and they both hoped that Esther and Bradley could live a happy and harmonious life together. Even if he found evidence after Liliane and Bradley were married, it would be of no use. Felix subconsciously looked toward Bradley and saw his father¡¯s deep, unfathomable eyes being fixed on Esther. There was a hint of aggressive fierceness in the depths of them. Subconsciously, Felix clutched Esther¡¯s hand, thinking, ¡®Mommy, don¡¯t be afraid! I¡¯ll protect you. I¡¯ll definitely protect you.¡¯ ¡°Fine.¡± Bradley agreed. rk could not help but wipe away the happy tears from the corner of his eyes, thinking that these three months were just temporarily holding Bradley and Liliane back. Once he received the results of the DNA maternity test, he would be able to confirm whether Felix was Esther¡¯s child or Liliane¡¯s child. He did not reveal the truth for now because he did not want to startle anyone too early. Telling Bradley that Felix might be his and Esther¡¯s child would only lead to uncontroble developments without concrete evidence. rk sighed softly and asked, ¡°Doctor, will she wake up?¡± The psychologist shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but if someone¡¯s willing to coax her, there may still be hope.¡± Felix, rk, and the psychologist all looked at Bradley simultaneously. Bradley coldly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°For a woman who loves you, she doesn¡¯t need any sweet words from you. As long as you¡¯re willing to talk to her, even if it¡¯s reading the news or having a chat, she¡¯ll feel that you are calling her with love.¡± The psychologist gently stroked Esther¡¯s wet hair and advised, ¡°I suggest you blow-dry her hair.¡± The psychologist gave a signal to rk, who understood it and carried Felix with him as he left the ward. Bradley and Esther were the only ones left in the spacious ward. He took out a hairdryer from the bathroom and sat beside Esther, gently blowing her hair. In the roar of the hairdryer, a man who was an excellent business strategist like Bradley apologized to Esther for the first time. ¡°Esther, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 ¡®Sorry. If I could¡¯ve calmed down, listened to your exnation back then, and believed that you never betrayed me, perhaps my grandfather wouldn¡¯t have had the ident while seeking the truth.¡¯ Bradley ran his fingers through Esther¡¯s hair. The contrast between the dark strands and his porcin- like fingers was dazzling. The hairdryer buzzed. A deep sense of guilt surged in Bradley¡¯s heart. Esther had saved him when he was young-she was his lifesaver. If he had known that Esther was his lifesaver back then during their marriage, would their rtionship have turned out differently and not fraught with conflict? Property ? N?velDrama.Org. For the first time, Bradley blew dry a woman¡¯s hair. With hisck of skill, he ended up creating small tangles instead of making it smooth. After using his fingers to untangle the knots, Bradley leaned closer to Esther, meticulously smoothing out the tangled hair, strand by strand. His profile was exceptionally handsome, while his attitude was strict and serious. Through the ward¡¯s ss door, rk nced at the two individuals inside, wishing that Bradley would set aside his pride after this incident and engage in a calm and honest conversation with Esther to resolve their unresolved past issues. ¡°Doctor,¡± said rk The psychologist, Xara Sandler, handed over her business card and spoke gently. ¡°Mr. rk, my surname is Sandler.¡± ¡°Dr. Sandler, Madam¡­ She¡­¡± rk expressed his worries. Xara nced at Bradley inside the ward without revealing any emotions and said gently, ¡°Her mental state is very poor. If Mr. Warner¡¯s willing to cooperate with her, perhaps psychological therapy can still be effective. But if she continues being provoked, she may one day choose to leave this world.¡± rk felt extreme heartache. Esther had always been obedient and sensible, never bing spoiled or willful despite being showered with love from many people. She had a kind heart. Whenever she received a mary gift, she asked Thomas to donate it to children in the mountainous areas. Even now, there were schools established in remote areas in her name. ¡°Dr. Sandler, please save her,¡± asked rk. Xara said, ¡°Mr. rk, the person who can save her is not me but Bradley Warner. The sickness of the heart requires the medicine of the heart. Only by unraveling her emotional knots can she fearlessly embrace the rest of her life.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll persuade Mr. Warner,¡± said rk. Xara nodded slightly and said calmly, ¡°I have other patients to attend to. I¡¯ll leave first. If Ms. Quill has any questions, she can contact me anytime. My phone is avable 24 hours.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After seeing Xara off, rk opened the door and entered the ward. Bradley looked up, his eyes filled with a mysterious and enchanting allure. ¡°rk.¡± rk earnestly pleaded, ¡°Mr. Bradley, can you save her? ¡°Act alongside her in the y, fulfill her dream¡­ When the dreames to an end, all the truths will be revealed.¡± By then, the fate of their rtionship could be determined by both of them. ¡°I¡¯m not a psychologist.¡± Bradley¡¯s attitude was cold and distant, implying that he could not save her. ¡°Mr. Bradley, have you read the diary I gave you?¡± rk took a deep breath. ¡°You were her youth, the dream she longed to fulfill. If you¡¯re willing to cooperate, she¡¯ll be able to leave the darkness.¡± Bradley responded apathetically, ¡°What is fake will remain fake.¡± ¡°Mr. Bradley, her love for you is real,¡± rk said softly. ¡°Love can conquer all, even death.¡± Bradley¡¯s icy gaze fell on the unconscious Esther. Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! im Chapter 114 Chapter 114 After a prolonged period, the hospital room remained engulfed in silence. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. rk¡¯s phone rang, and he quietly left the ward after a nce at the device. Felix sat obediently across from Bradley inside the room, both of them guarding the unconscious Esther on either side. ¡°Daddy, can I read Mommy a story?¡± asked Felix. Bradley remained silent, so Felix took it as his consent. He picked up a storybook and narrated the story cutely and innocently. However, Bradley¡¯s gaze fell on the various nutritious breakfast dishes bathed in the morning light. From what he remembered, Esther was a dainty youngdy who did no chores. When did she start learning to make these delicious meals? Although Bradley had not tasted them, he could feel the thoughtfulness put into them just by ncing at them. The bnced nutrition and color coordination wereparable to those of top restaurants. His gaze shifted from the array of breakfast items back to the wound on Esther¡¯s wrist. What had she experienced in the past five years? A doubt slowly arose in Bradley¡¯s heart. Felix¡¯s tender and innocent voice was like the most beautiful music in the world as it echoed in the quiet hospital room. However, their serene and beautiful moment was shattered by the buzzing sound of a phone. Bradley got up from his chair and went to the study to answer the call. ¡°Good morning, Brad!¡± Liliane was on the other end of the phone, full of energy. Bradley subconsciously nced at the unconscious Esther and asked indifferently, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Brad, didn¡¯t you say to arrange a time for you to meet with my parents? How about today at noon?¡± Liliane¡¯s voice was light and filled with excitement. Bradley¡¯s hand on the phone clenched involuntarily, and he pressed his lips together before saying, ¡°You can arrange the time and ce.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet at Octagon¡¯s Triton room during noon today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Liliane did not want Felix to be present when they were discussing their marriage, so she softly suggested, ¡°Since Felix just had surgery not long ago, why not let rk take care of him for now?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll arrange to meet after Felix can be discharged from the hospital,¡± Bradley said, CS CamScanner which displeased Liliane. She suppressed her resentment and straightforwardly replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to the hospitalter to pick him up. Are youing directly from thepany?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll bring Felix myself,¡± Bradley said in a cold tone and hung up directly. After ending the call with Liliane, he went over to Felix and Esther. He instructed the nurse coldly, ¡°Take her back to the ward now.¡± Felix held onto Esther tightly, fiercely protecting his mother. ¡°No, Mommy isn¡¯t going anywhere!¡± Bradley roughly pulled Felix away from Esther. It was at this moment that Esther woke up. She opened her eyes and saw Felix bravely confronting Bradley, so she painfully pleaded, ¡°Bradley, let go of my son.¡± Upon hearing Esther¡¯s words, Bradley and Felix stopped their actions. Esther¡¯s awakening bloomed in Bradley¡¯s heart like a firework, silently but beautifully. His heart felt as if it were submerged in a honey jar, bubbling with sweetness. Felix eximed with joy, ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re awake!¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Despite Bradley¡¯s grip on Felix, the young boy managed to free himself and rushed into Esther¡¯s arms. Without any shyness, he kissed her cheek tenderly, his small hands gently cradling her face while tears welled up in his eyes. In a choked voice, he uttered, ¡°Mommy, I thought you didn¡¯t want me anymore.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± Esther reached out and tightly embraced Felix, their foreheads touching and their noses brushing against each other. ¡°Even if Mommy doesn¡¯t want the whole world, Mommy will always want you.¡± ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Felix called out in a soft voice. Bradley turned around and entered the study. He threw a white shirt from the wardrobe to Esther before forcefully lifting Felix from Esther¡¯s embrace. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Felix eximed as his body was lifted into the air. ¡°Change your clothes,¡± said Bradley. Only then did Esther realize that her current state was not suitable for such closeness with Felix. She watched Bradley carry Felix away in his arms and felt a slight warmth in her heart. The long shirt from Bradley looked like a dress when Esther wore it. She meticulously buttoned every button, ensuring they were securely fastened. Then she rolled up the sleeves, revealing her fair arms. With just these adjustments, she appeared to be drowned in the shirt. Esther opened the closet and picked out a red tie. She tied it around her waist, entuating her perfect waistline. After doing all these, she lightly smoothened out the wrinkles on the shirt at the waist, giving off a casual yet elegant air. When Esther opened the door to the hospital room, and Felix saw the transformed Esther, he could not help but exim in admiration, ¡°Mommy, you look so beautiful! Like a fairy!¡± A hint of astonishment flickered in Bradley¡¯s indifferent eyes. Esther was not wearing any makeup, yet she had a natural charm. Her long hair cascaded casually, and the simple white shirt had a unique charm being worn on her. Although she was covered from head to toe, she exuded an alluring purity that she was Property ? N?velDrama.Org. unaware of. ¡°So ugly,¡± remarked Bradley. Felix widened his eyes and looked at Bradley, fiercely defending, ¡°Daddy, you have no taste!¡± Felix ran up to Esther, grabbing her hand and tilting his little face up to say proudly,¡± Mommy, you¡¯re the most beautiful fairy. Daddy doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate your beauty!¡± ¡°Felix,¡± Bradley coldly admonished. Fearlessly, Felix made a funny face at Bradley and said in a cute voice, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go. shopping. I have a lot of gift money, and I want to buy you a lot of beautiful clothes.¡± Esther touched Felix¡¯s little face, her voice gentle. ¡°Mommy has money.¡± ¡°But Mommy¡¯s money belongs to Mommy.¡± Felix patted his chest like a little man. ¡°Your son earns money to buy beautiful clothes for Mommy.¡± A sudden pang hit Bradley¡¯s heart. He had been so good to Felix all these years, yet this little rascal never mentioned buying him anything. ¡°My son is so adorable!¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand and said softly, ¡°Shall we go shopping now? ¡± Esther was still in Bradley¡¯s shirt and could not help but feel its suggestive tone. In the depths of her heart, there was a sense of unease. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 ¡°Sure!¡± Felix held Esther¡¯s hand and led her out of the hospital confidently. Esther¡¯s outfit looked great, but¡­ under normal circumstances, how could a woman be wearing a man¡¯s shirt? Upon seeing Esther and Bradley, most women could not help but exchange knowing smiles. There were also a few men who smirked teasingly when they saw Esther. Bradley¡¯s icy gaze swept past them with a hint of warning, causing the men to instantly lower their heads as if they had not seen anything. Seeing some men ogling Esther with those indecent looks along the way, Bradley could not help but take off his coat and forcefully drape. it over Esther¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Put it on!¡± Esther was bewildered. Before she could refuse, Felix took the initiative toin, ¡°Daddy, it¡¯s so ugly!¡± ¡°Put it on!¡± Bradley¡¯s tone was cold and firm. Esther had no choice but to wear Bradley¡¯s suit and go to the nearby shopping mall. Actually, more people looked at Esther like this. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. As the family of three arrived at the mall, Felix behaved like a shopping maniac, pointing at the disyed clothes and confidently saying, ¡°This one, this one, and this one. Wrap them all up.¡± As a young child, Felix naturally drew dissatisfaction from the sales assistants due to his unconventional way of shopping. The sales assistant said with a smile on her face, ¡°Kid, this brand is a foreign luxury brand- Felix frowned and coldly interrupted her, ¡°I have money!¡± Standing at the entrance, Felix eagerly waved to Esther, who was walking over slowly in high heels, saying, ¡°Mommy,e faster!¡± Esther¡¯s attire attracted even more disdain from the sales assistants. ¡°She¡¯s your mother?¡± Proudly, Felix said, ¡°Mommy is super beautiful.¡± The sales assistant quickly nced at Esther, taking in her exquisite features and remarkable temperament, which left asting impression. However, upon noticing Esther¡¯s outfit, a man¡¯s clothes with a hint of crimson at her corbone, a mischievous thought crossed the sales assistant¡¯s mind. She wondered if Esther had juste out of a big shot¡¯s room. Felix pointed at a pinkce dress and asked, ¡°Mommy, do you think this dress is pretty?¡± The sales assistant looked at the pinkce dress and put on a fake smile. ¡°Kid, this dress costs Upon hearing that a regr-looking dress cost that much, Esther gently told Felix, ¡°Son, I¡¯m not really fond of pink.¡± Felix pointed at a white silk dress after Esther said she did not like pink. ¡°Mommy, this one is really beautiful! Why don¡¯t you try it on?¡± Seeing that Esther was reluctant to buy even a dress worth $30,000, the sales assistant concluded that her sugar daddy must not be rich and looked down on her, showing her disdain explicitly. ¡°This dress is priced at $130,000. It¡¯s embroidered by an embroidery master, depicting a grand The sales assistant¡¯s attitude was extremely arrogant that even a child like Felix could sense her contempt. Felix had never experienced such grievances and scowled, asking sternly, ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you think we can¡¯t afford it?¡± The sales assistant was embarrassed and angry when Felix exposed her thoughts. She scolded, ¡°Hey, kid, who are you calling ¡®ma¡¯am¡¯? Hasn¡¯t your mother ever taught you to call beautiful women ¡®miss¡¯?¡± Esther kept Felix in her arms, extremely displeased. Her beautiful face glowered as she said in a chilling tone, ¡°My son¡¯s manners aren¡¯t for you toment on!¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! im Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Nestled in Esther¡¯s arms, Felix¡¯s little face contorted with anger as he red at the sales. assistant. His expression resembled that of a small tyrannosaurus rex as if he were ready to breathe fire at any moment. ¡°Manners?¡± The sales assistant sneered as she looked at the suit on Esther, ¡°A woman like you who just crawled out of another man¡¯s bed has the audacity to talk about manners?¡± Esther¡¯s expression turned cold and indifferent. She nced at the condescending sales assistant and said indifferently, ¡°Is this the professionalism of your brand¡¯s sales assistant?¡± The sales assistant crossed her arms and pushed Esther and Felix, coldly saying, ¡°Get lost. I don¡¯t want your business.¡± ¡°The one who should leave is you!¡± Felix popped his head out of Esther¡¯s arms, looking cute and fierce. ¡°This mall belongs to our family.¡± Esther remained silent. Felix poked his head out and called out to Bradley, ¡°Daddy, someone¡¯s bullying me and Mommy!¡± Hearing Felix¡¯s call, Bradley walked gracefully toward Esther and Felix. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The sales assistant turned pale with fear upon seeing Bradley¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Daddy, she insulted me and Mommy!¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fell on the sales assistant, and he asked in response, ¡°Repeat what you just said?¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, I was wrong, I didn¡¯t recognize the situation¡­¡± The sales assistant was stunned. She never expected that the woman she looked down upon and even insulted would turn out to be Bradley¡¯s woman. It was no wonder Felix had said that the mall belonged to their family. It was true! Bradley could not be bothered with these insignificant people and instead made a phone call to the manager in charge of the mall¡¯s operations. Feeling extremely anxious, the manager rushed over when he received the call. As he approached Bradley, his mind was filled withplex thoughts. He could not help but wonder if he had done something wrong recently that summoned Bradley to him. With a deeply nervous and uneasy feeling, the mall manager walked up to Bradley and respectfully greeted him. ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Send a contract termination letter to this brand, notify the other malls that the Warner Group is terminating the cooperation with this brand, and refuse to coborate with any of Felix pointed at a pinkce dress and asked, ¡°Mommy, do you think this dress is pretty?¡± The sales assistant looked at the pinkce dress and put on a fake smile. ¡°Kid, this dress costs $ 30,000.¡± Upon hearing that a regr-looking dress cost that much, Esther gently told Felix, ¡°Son, I¡¯m not really fond of pink.¡± Felix pointed at a white silk dress after Esther said she did not like pink. ¡°Mommy, this one is really beautiful! Why don¡¯t you try it on?¡± Seeing that Esther was reluctant to buy even a dress worth $30,000, the sales assistant concluded that her sugar daddy must not be rich and looked down on her, showing her disdain explicitly. ¡°This dress is priced at $130,000. It¡¯s embroidered by an embroidery master, depicting a grand The sales assistant¡¯s attitude was extremely arrogant that even a child like Felix could sense. her contempt. Felix had never experienced such grievances and scowled, asking sternly, ¡°Ma¡¯am, do your think we can¡¯t afford it?¡± The sales assistant was embarrassed and angry when Felix exposed her thoughts. She scolded, ¡°Hey, kid, who are you calling ¡®ma¡¯am¡¯? Hasn¡¯t your mother ever taught you to call beautiful women ¡®miss¡¯?¡± Esther kept Felix in her arms, extremely displeased. Her beautiful face glowered as she said in a chilling tone, ¡°My son¡¯s manners aren¡¯t for you toment on!¡± Nestled in Esther¡¯s arms, Felix¡¯s little face contorted with anger as he red at the sales. assistant. His expression resembled that of a small tyrannosaurus rex as if he were ready to breathe fire at any moment. ¡°Manners?¡± The sales assistant sneered as she looked at the suit on Esther, ¡°A woman like you who just crawled out of another man¡¯s bed has the audacity to talk about manners?¡± Esther¡¯s expression turned cold and indifferent. She nced at the condescending sales assistant and said indifferently, ¡°Is this the professionalism of your brand¡¯s sales assistant?¡± The sales assistant crossed her arms and pushed Esther and Felix, coldly saying, ¡°Get lost. I don¡¯t want your business.¡± ¡°The one who should leave is you!¡± Felix popped his head out of Esther¡¯s arms, looking cute and fierce. ¡°This mall belongs to our family.¡± Esther remained silent. Felix poked his head out and called out to Bradley, ¡°Daddy, someone¡¯s bullying me and Mommy!¡± Hearing Felix¡¯s call, Bradley walked gracefully toward Esther and Felix. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The sales assistant turned pale with fear upon seeing Bradley¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Daddy, she insulted me and Mommy!¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fell on the sales assistant, and he asked in response, ¡°Repeat what you just said?¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, 1 was wrong, I didn¡¯t recognize the situation¡­¡± The sales assistant was stunned. She never expected that the woman she looked down upon and even insulted would turn out to be Bradley¡¯s woman. It was no wonder Felix had said that the mall belonged to their family. It was true! Bradley could not be bothered with these insignificant people and instead made a phone call to the manager in charge of the mall¡¯s operations. Feeling extremely anxious, the manager rushed over when he received the call. As he approached Bradley, his mind was filled withplex thoughts. He could not help but wonder if he had done something wrong recently that summoned Bradley to him. With a deeply nervous and uneasy feeling, the mall manager walked up to Bradley and respectfully greeted him. ¡°Mr. Warner.¡± ¡°Send a contract termination letter to this brand, notify the other malls that the Warner Group is terminating the cooperation with this brand, and refuse to coborate with any of this brand¡¯s subsidiary and parent brands.¡± The mall manager was perplexed as he asked in shock, ¡°Mr. Warner, this is a high-end luxury brand from overseas¡­¡± ¡°The training of this brand¡¯s staff does not meet the standards of the Warner Group. Make a copy of the surveince video from 15 minutes ago until now and send it together with the termination letter to the brand¡¯s person in charge,¡± said Bradley. Although the mall manager did not understand exactly what happened, he nodded earnestly and said, This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do it immediately.¡± Bradley¡¯s swift and decisive actions filled the sales assistant with a chill. If the Warner Group terminated the contract with the brand because of her, she could face a heftypensation request from the brand and even bepletely cklisted from the industry. ¡°Mr. Warner, I was wrong. I beg you, please don¡¯t terminate the contract with thepany¡­¡± she pleaded. Bradley reached out and wrapped an arm around Esther¡¯s shoulder, dominantly stating, ¡°You must pay the price for disrespecting my wife.¡± Legally speaking, he and Esther were still married. Insulting Esther was no different from insulting him. The sales assistant spoke to Esther. ¡°Mrs. Warner, I was wrong, please spare me¡­ Felix said in an endearingly fierce manner, ¡°This is the price for insulting Mommy.¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Felix was acting bossy and fierce toward the sales assistant, but his attitude turned adorable and cute when it came to Esther. His transition between these two styles was incredibly natural. ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go shop next door,¡± suggested Felix. Felix, Esther, and Bradley, the family of three, went to the luxury brand store next door. These two brands werepetitors, so the incident that happened at the entrance naturally caught the attention of this current brand¡¯s sales assistants. As soon as Bradley arrived with Esther and Felix, the sales assistants approached them warmly. ¡°Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Warner. Please have a seat,¡± greeted one of the sales assistants who was adept at handling customers. They immediately started serving Esther and the others, even temporarily closing off the entrance to prevent other customers from disturbing their shopping experience. ¡°Mrs. Warner, this is our brand¡¯stest haute couture collection catalog. Please have a look. ¡°Mr. Warner, this is our brand¡¯s specially crafted beverage. Feel free to have a taste.¡± Sitting between Esther and Bradley, Felix leaned forward and nced at the catalog. He pointed his tiny finger at a ck dress. It looked like a regr off-shoulder dress, but it could perfectly let one show off one¡¯s back. ¡°This dress is our brand¡¯stest design, and the only one in the country is conveniently avable in our store. Why don¡¯t you try it on, Madam?¡± suggested the sales assistant. Looking up at Bradley, Felix asked in an adorable manner, ¡°Daddy, does Mommy want to try it?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± replied Bradley. Bradley did not enjoy shopping. Throughout his life, he never had the need to go shopping. His clothes were either sent directly to the estate by various brands or personally customized by top designers. This was his first time apanying Esther on a shopping trip. ¡°Mrs. Warner, this way, please,¡± said the sales assistant. Esther also wanted to change out of the suggestive white shirt, so she followed the sales assistant into the fitting room. The sales assistant warmly wanted to help Esther try on the simple dress. However, as soon as Esther saw the exposed back of the dress, she gently voiced her concern. Do you have other dresses? This one¡¯s a bit too revealing for me.¡± ¡°We do have other options,¡± said the confused sales assistant, who was ready to find a different dress for Esther anyway. Watching the sales assistante out of the fitting room with the ck dress in hand, Bradley stood up and walked over, furrowing his brows as he asked, ¡°Is it the wrong size?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s Mrs. Warner. She wants to try a different dress,¡± exined the sales assistant. Bradley casually took the dress from the sales assistant and walked straight into the fitting room. SWith a clear and cold gaze, Bradley stood at the door and addressed Esther, ¡°Felix chose this for you. Why aren¡¯t you wearing it?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t suit me!¡± Esther looked at the ck dress and spoke gently. ¡°It¡¯s too revealing!¡± ¡°Put it on!¡± demanded Bradley. Bradley was domineering since he did not want Felix to be disappointed. Reluctantly, Esther nced at the dress in Bradley¡¯s hand and slowly took off her suit jacket. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g She unbuttoned the shirt, revealing her back covered in crisscrossed scars. They looked hideous against her fair skin. ¡°Are you sure you want me to expose my wounds to our son?¡± she asked. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 In the small and cramped fitting room, the atmosphere grew heavy and stagnant as Esther revealed her wounded back. The lights illuminated her figure, entuating her thinness, which only added to the heart-wrenching sight. Bradley looked at the wounds on Esther¡¯s back, and his breathing became heavy and intense. He reached out and grabbed the cor of her shirt. Esther took the opportunity to reach out and hug his waist, resting her head against his chest. ¡°The woman in the video isn¡¯t me,¡± Esther said in a low and hoarse voice. ¡°She really isn¡¯t me. Bradley stiffened and spoke calmly with a hoarse voice. ¡°I know it¡¯s not you.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Esther lifted her tear-filled eyes and asked softly, her voice distant like fluttering. snow, ¡°Let¡¯s not fight or get a divorce, okay?¡± Bradley lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on the hair swirl on top of Esther¡¯s head. Esther¡¯s breath was light and shallow against his chest. ¡°Okay.¡± Esther was exhrated upon hearing that. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± Overjoyed, Esther tiptoed and pressed a light kiss on the corner of Bradley¡¯s lips. Her kiss was like a petal gentlynding on Bradley¡¯s lips and disappeared in an instant. A sob-like sound resembling a gentle breeze in the woods escaped Bradley¡¯s throat. His gaze involuntarily fell on Esther¡¯s face, where a faint blush like the morning glow painted her porcinplexion. ¡°You can go out now.¡± Blushing, Esther pushed Bradley out of the fitting room. As soon as Bradley stepped out of the fitting room, he saw the sales assistant holding other clothes. ¡°Mr. Warner?¡± Bradley replied indifferently, ¡°Let her try them on.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The sales assistant entered the fitting room with the clothes while Bradley walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Felix. ¡°Daddy, Mommy would look really good in this one, this one, and this one!¡± Felix excitedly pointed at the clothes in the catalog and said non-stop, ¡°Daddy, what do you think?¡± ¡°Whatever you like,¡± Bradley replied, sitting on the couch with one hand resting on the armrest. His fingers unconsciously touched the corner of his lips that Esther had just ldssed. Her light kiss was like a spark that ignited his heart, and now a fire was burning within him. He felt his mouth dry. Unable to control himself, he picked up the drink on the table and finished it in one gulp. The drink with ice cubes could not cool down the heat inside him. Instead, it made his mind wander even more. Under the lights, she appeared pure and ethereal, like a goddess, while the scars on her skin, which he Property ? N?velDrama.Org. did not know how they came to be, caused an imperceptible pain in his heart. Esther changed into the new dress and cautiously walked out to Bradley and Felix. ¡°Do I look¡­ look good?¡± she asked anxiously. Felix looked at Esther and eximed with great joy, ¡°Mommy, you look like a fairy from heaven!¡± Esther¡¯s dress was from the same series as the previous ck one. Both were with a simple and clean cutting. It was just that this one on her was in white. It was an off-shoulder sleeveless dress with clean lines on the upper body and a stunning design resembling clouds on the lower half. As Esther walked, the skirt swayed, making her look like a fairy descending from the clouds. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 ¡°Daddy, do you think Mommy looks pretty?¡± asked Felix. Bradley replied coldly, ¡°She¡¯s okay.¡± Felix widened his eyes and huffed. ¡°No, Mommy, try something else. Daddy said it doesn¡¯t look good!¡± For one whole hour, Esther kept trying on the clothes Felix chose. From dresses to formal gowns to everyday styles, each different outfit gave Esther a different look. Looking at Esther, who constantly changed clothes, Bradley could not help but tell the manager beside him, ¡°Send all the clothes she just tried to Primus Mansion.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± replied the manager. The sales assistants could not contain their excitement. They had just hit the jackpot with such a big customer, and their bonuses for this month would definitely be substantial. After trying on clothes for an hour, Esther was exhausted. She looked at Bradley and softly called out, ¡°Darling, do I really not look good in all of them?¡± The word ¡°darling¡± was like a kitty wing gently at Bradley¡¯s heart. It felt ticklish and tingling. An unfamiliar feeling of affection quietly took root and sprouted in Bradley¡¯s heart. ¡°Just this one.¡± Bradley looked at the dress Esther was wearing. It was a light blue one that seemed to embody the depths of the sea. Esther looked like a mermaid who silently swam from the deep sea to his side. ¡°Daddy, we still need to buy Mommy bags, shoes, jewelry¡­¡± Felix held Bradley¡¯s hand, prompting Bradley to pick him up. Bradley¡¯s lukewarm tone leaked affection as he told Esther, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll get other things.¡± Esther shook her head and waved her hands in fear. ¡°I don¡¯t want to shop anymore.¡± Felix hugged Esther¡¯s arm and acted cute. ¡°Mommy,e on! It¡¯s Daddy¡¯s duty to dress you up beautifully!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Bradley took Esther and Felix as they swept through the mall. Such extravagance naturally brought smiles to the sales assistants in various stores. Some of the sales assistants posted the news of Bradley bringing Esther to the mall on their social media ounts, This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. prompting some of Liliane¡¯s friends to immediately send her messages upon seeing the news. [Liliane, Mr. Warner¡¯s really doting on you! I heard from the sales assistant that you guys. bought out the entire mall today.] [Liliane, what did Mr. Warner buy for you? Show us, let us see and broaden our horizons.} When Liliane received the first message, she went to ask a familiar sales assistant about what had happened instantly. Only then did she find out that Bradley and Felix were on a shopping spree with Esther at the mall. Even though none of Liliane¡¯s rich heiresses and socialite friends knew the truth, their words. felt like sharp knives that pierced her heart. ¡°Esther Quill, why didn¡¯t you just die!?¡± Leah looked at Liliane, whose face turned pale with anger, and was afraid that her heart could not take it, so she quickly grabbed Liliane¡¯s heart medication and fed it to her. ¡°Liliane, take a deep breath! Good girl, listen to me!¡± Listening to Leah¡¯s instructions, Liliane took deep breaths, but the frustration in her heart just could not dissipate. ¡°Mom, I really want to kill her! I really, really, really want to kill her!¡± A chilling killing intent began to spread on Leah¡¯s beautifully maintained face as she saw her daughter so angry because of Esther. ¡°Liliane, I won¡¯t let her be an obstacle on your path to marry Bradley. You have to trust me!¡± Leah would kill anyone who dared to destroy her daughter¡¯s happiness-anyone! Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Liliane stretched out her hands and tightly embraced Leah, screaming in anguish, ¡°Mom, everyone¡¯s saying that Bradley took Mrs. Warner shopping! But he¡¯s supposed to marry me, yet he¡¯s taking that despicable Esther shopping! What will people think of me? They must see me as a joke all these years!¡± Leah was afraid that her daughter would be too agitated and have heart problems, so she quickly We¡¯re supposed to have lunch with Bradley today, right? I¡¯ll ask him then. Maybe it¡¯s just an ident!¡± Liliane¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, filled with a chilling, killing intent. ¡°Mom, I hate her! I hate her so much!¡± Leah was deeply distressed looking at her daughter like this. She gently held Liliane in her arms and said, ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t let anything external affect you now. You just need to be yourself. Trust me, trust Mom. I¡¯ll handle everything and won¡¯t let you suffer even a bit.¡± She would protect her daughter, the daughter she had carried for ten months, herself. Anyone who dared to harm her daughter would be repaid tenfold and even a hundredfold. 1 With Leah¡¯s gentle reassurance, Liliane gradually calmed down, though a hint of lingering resentment still flickered in her eyes. Leah felt sorry seeing this and said, ¡°Liliane, let me take you for a makeover.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± Liliane had no interest in doing anything, thinking about the messages she received. Leah¡¯s tone suddenly became stern. ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t make a big deal out of this. Pull yourself together. We havee this far and absolutely cannot lose.¡± ¡°Mom, think of a way for me. I really want to kill Esther with my own hands!¡± The fact that Esther was alive would always be a threat to her. Only when Esther died would all the secrets be buried in the grave, unknown to anyone. ¡°My daughter¡¯s hands mustn¡¯t be stained with blood.¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand gently and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with her.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best.¡± Leah swiped Liliane¡¯s nose with a finger, scolding without heat, ¡°Well, I gave birth to you, right?!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s heavy mood instantly eased a lot. ¡°I¡¯m much better now. Let¡¯s go and get a makeover.¡± [Liliane, Mr. Warner¡¯s really doting on you! I heard from the sales assistant that you guys. bought out the entire mall today.] [Liliane, what did Mr. Warner buy for you? Show us, let us see and broaden our horizons.] When Liliane received the first message, she went to ask a familiar sales assistant about what had happened instantly. Only then did she find out that Bradley and Felix were on a shopping spree with Esther at the mall. Even though none of Liliane¡¯s rich heiresses and socialite friends knew the truth, their words. felt like sharp knives that pierced her heart. ¡°Esther Quill, why didn¡¯t you just die!?¡± Leah looked at Liliane, whose face turned pale with anger, and was afraid that her heart could not take it, so she quickly grabbed Liliane¡¯s heart medication and fed it to her. ¡°Liliane, take at deep breath! Good girl, listen to me!¡± Listening to Leah¡¯s instructions, Liliane took deep breaths, but the frustration in her heart just could not dissipate. ¡°Mom, I really want to kill her! I really, really, really want to kill her!¡± A chilling killing intent began to spread on Leah¡¯s beautifully maintained face as she saw her daughter so angry because of Esther. ¡°Liliane, I won¡¯t let her be an obstacle on your path to marry Bradley. You have to trust me!¡± Leah would kill anyone who dared to destroy her daughter¡¯s happiness-anyone! Liliane stretched out her hands and tightly embraced Leah, screaming in anguish, ¡°Mom, everyone¡¯s saying that Bradley took Mrs. Warner shopping! But he¡¯s supposed to marry me, yet he¡¯s taking that despicable Esther shopping! What will people think of me? They must see me as a joke all these years!¡± Leah was afraid that her daughter would be too agitated and have heart problems, so she quickly We¡¯re supposed to have lunch with Bradley today, right? I¡¯ll ask him then. Maybe it¡¯s just an ident!¡± Liliane¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, filled with a chilling, killing intent. ¡°Mom, I hate her! I hate her so much!¡± Leah was deeply distressed looking at her daughter like this. She gently held Liliane in her arms and said, ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t let anything external affect you now. You just need to be yourself. Trust me, trust Mom. I¡¯ll handle everything and won¡¯t let you suffer even a bit.¡± She would protect her daughter, the daughter she had carried for ten months, herself. Anyone who dared to harm her daughter would be repaid tenfold and even a hundredfold. 1 With Leah¡¯s gentle reassurance, Liliane gradually calmed down, though a hint of lingering resentment still flickered in her eyes. Leah felt sorry seeing this and said, ¡°Liliane, let me take you for a makeover.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± Liliane had no interest in doing anything, thinking about the messages she This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. received. Leah¡¯s tone suddenly became stern. ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t make a big deal out of this. Pull yourself together. We havee this far and absolutely cannot lose.¡± ¡°Mom, think of a way for me. I really want to kill Esther with my own hands!¡± The fact that Esther was alive would always be a threat to her. Only when Esther died would all the secrets be buried in the grave, unknown to anyone. ¡°My daughter¡¯s hands mustn¡¯t be stained with blood.¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand gently and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with her.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best.¡± Leah swiped Liliane¡¯s nose with a finger, scolding without heat, ¡°Well, I gave birth to you, right?!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s heavy mood instantly eased a lot. ¡°I¡¯m much better now. Let¡¯s go and get a makeover.¡± [Liliane, Mr. Warner¡¯s really doting on you! I heard from the sales assistant that you guys bought out the entire mall today.] [Liliane, what did Mr. Warner buy for you? Show us, let us see and broaden our horizons.] When Liliane received the first message, she went to ask a familiar sales assistant about what had happened instantly. Only then did she find out that Bradley and Felix were on a shopping spree with Esther at the mall. Even though none of Liliane¡¯s rich heiresses and socialite friends knew the truth, their words. felt like sharp knives that pierced her heart. ¡°Esther Quill, why didn¡¯t you just die!?¡± Leah looked at Liliane, whose face turned pale with anger, and was afraid that her heart could not take it, so she quickly grabbed Liliane¡¯s heart medication and fed it to her. ¡°Liliane, take a deep breath! Good girl, listen to me!¡± Listening to Leah¡¯s instructions, Liliane took deep breaths, but the frustration in her heart. just could not dissipate. ¡°Mom, I really want to kill her! I really, really, really want to kill her!¡± A chilling killing intent began to spread on Leah¡¯s beautifully maintained face as she saw her daughter so angry because of Esther. ¡°Liliane, I won¡¯t let her be an obstacle on your path to marry Bradley. You have to trust me!¡± Leah would kill anyone who dared to destroy her daughter¡¯s happiness-anyone! Liliane stretched out her hands and tightly embraced Leah, screaming in anguish, ¡°Mom, everyone¡¯s saying that Bradley took Mrs. Warner shopping! But he¡¯s supposed to marry me, yet he¡¯s taking that despicable Esther shopping! What will people think of me? They must see me as a joke all these years!¡± Leah was afraid that her daughter would be too agitated and have heart problems, so she quickly We¡¯re supposed to have lunch with Bradley today, right? I¡¯ll ask him then. Maybe it¡¯s just an ident!¡± Liliane¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, filled with a chilling, killing intent. ¡°Mom, I hate her! I hate her so much!¡± Leah was deeply distressed looking at her daughter like this. She gently held Liliane in her arms and said, ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t let anything external affect you now. You just need to be yourself. Trust me, trust Mom. I¡¯ll handle everything and won¡¯t let you suffer even a bit.¡± She would protect her daughter, the daughter she had carried for ten months, herself. Anyone who dared to harm her daughter would be repaid tenfold and even a hundredfold. 1 With Leah¡¯s gentle reassurance, Liliane gradually calmed down, though a hint of lingering resentment still flickered in her eyes. Leah felt sorry seeing this and said, ¡°Liliane, let me take you for a makeover.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± Liliane had no interest in doing anything, thinking about the messages she received. Leah¡¯s tone suddenly became stern. ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t make a big deal out of this. Pull yourself together. We havee this far and absolutely cannot lose.¡± ¡°Mom, think of a way for me. I really want to kill Esther with my own hands!¡± The fact that Esther was alive would always be a threat to her. Only when Esther died would all the secrets be buried in the grave, unknown to anyone. ¡°My daughter¡¯s hands mustn¡¯t be stained with blood.¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand gently and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with her.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best.¡± Leah swiped Liliane¡¯s nose with a finger, scolding without heat, ¡°Well, I gave birth to you, right?!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s heavy mood instantly eased a lot. ¡°I¡¯m much better now. Let¡¯s go and get a makeover.¡± Naturally, Leah went along to make her daughter happy. Meanwhile, Esther was exhausted after shopping for the whole day. She sat in the car¡¯s back seat, hugging Felix, and asked softly, ¡°Felix, are you tired?¡± Felix tilted his little face and sweetly replied, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m not tired at all. I can still shop!¡± ¡°My son is so capable.¡± Esther¡¯s gaze was full of affection, her voice fond. ¡°But Mommy is tired. How about we go home, okay?¡± Felix obediently said, ¡°Okay.¡± Bradley nced at Esther and Felix from the rearview mirror, feeling inexplicably stunned. The two of them clearly had no blood rtion, but the harmony between them as mother and son was so evident. Could it be because of the bone marrow transnt? ¡°What does my son want to eat for lunch?¡± asked Esther. Felix was an adorable little kid. He stayed cuddling in Esther¡¯s arms and said softly, ¡°I like whatever Mommy makes!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll make tomato scrambled eggs for you, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122 They arrived at Primus Mansion. Although Thomas had originally prepared Primus Mansion for Bradley and Esther¡¯s wedding, this was the first time Bradley hade here. Naturally, it was Felix¡¯s first time as well. When Felix saw the wedding photo in the entryway, his eyes widened in amazement, and he could not help but exim, ¡°Wow! Daddy and Mommy are so well-matched!¡± ¡°Your Daddy didn¡¯t cooperate at all during the photoshoot. Just look at how he¡¯s not smiling!¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand. Felix tilted his head for a nce, thinking of himself as the brave wingman, and said, ¡°Mommy, Daddy¡¯s smiling. Just look at his eyes¡­¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Esther ruffled Felix¡¯s hair. She could not tell him how impatient Bradley had been during the wedding photoshoot. She had carefully selected all the wedding photos hanging in this house from tens of thousands of photos. ¡°Darling, y with Felix for the time being. I¡¯ll go to the kitchen-¡± Esther was about to enter the kitchen when Bradley reached out and grabbed her delicate. wrist, saying in a low voice, ¡°No need to bother. Felix and I have a lunch appointment.¡± Although Bradley did not hate Esther as much as before, deep inside his heart, he was still rational and clear that the woman he was going to marry was Felix¡¯s biological mother, Liliane. ¡°Bradley, I¡¯ll be quick. It won¡¯t dy your schedule.¡± Esther¡¯s clear eyes carried a deep plea. The words of refusal reached Bradley¡¯s lips, but they turned into words of agreement. ¡°Alright. 11 Esther happily entered the kitchen and quickly tied on an apron. Her waist was slim and appeared even slimmer when the pink apron was tied around it. For the convenience of working in the kitchen, Esther casually took a hair tie and braided her hair into a side ponytail, letting it hang down in front of her chest. She rinsed some grains, skillfully ced them in the pot, and opened the refrigerator and surveyed its contents like a queen. Her mind listed various recipes: broli sd, tomato scrambled eggs, nched shrimps, celery stir- fried beef, mushroom and potato soup, and more. Bradley stood at the kitchen door, observing Esther as she busied herself. He recalled that she had never known how to boil water before, but now, she skillfully and confidently handled everything in the kitchen, exuding an aura of control. ¡°Mommy!¡± Felix stood beside Bradley, his voice soft and tender. ¡°Do you need help?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Esther handed a few cloves of garlic to Felix and gently said, ¡°Please help Mommy peel the garlic!¡± Felix proudly puffed up his chest and assured her. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m super good at peeling garlic!¡± ¡°Wow! My son is amazing!¡± After hearing Esther¡¯s praise, Felix took the garlic and walked to the sofa in the living room. It was impossible that Felix, who was born with a silver spoon, knew how to peel garlic! He was not afraid, though, because he had his father as his backup. ¡°Daddy, teach me, please!¡± In fact, Bradley was unfamiliar with even the task of peeling garlic. Throughout his childhood and into adulthood, everything he consumed or used was prepared by others. Seeing garlic in this form was a After searching for a garlic-peeling video, the father and son earnestly watched it. Bradley looked at Felix, peeling the garlic attentively, and softly asked, ¡°Felix, why do you like her so much?¡± While Felix peeled the garlic seriously, he naturally replied, ¡°Because she¡¯s Mommy!¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 The current Bradley had no idea that Felix had already told him the truth so early on and that he missed the chance to confront it. Peeling garlic required technique, but fortunately, Felix was gifted and could remember anything after seeing it once. He earnestly battled with the garlic Esther had entrusted to him, peeling it until it was clean and beautiful. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ve peeled the garlic!¡± Felix held the peeled garlic in the kitchen and waited for Esther¡¯s praise. Esther looked at the well-peeled garlic and leaned down to nt a kiss on Felix¡¯s little face. ¡± You¡¯re amazing!¡± Felix was ted by Esther¡¯s praise and instantly asked, ¡°Mommy, is there anything else I can do?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Esther handed Felix a bunch of scallions. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Felix patted his chest and assured her. ¡°Mommy, leave it to me!¡± Felix went to seek assistance with the scallions while Esther continued to work methodically in the kitchen. She peeled and diced the tomatoes, beat the eggs, cooked them in a pan until fluffy, added the diced tomatoes, saut¨¦ing them until the tomato juice blended with the eggs, and finished with a pinch of salt for seasoning. The broli was cut into small pieces, soaked in lightly salted water for a few minutes, boiled in hot water until cooked, and then mixed with minced garlic, salt, and sesame oil. The mushroom and potatoes were ced in a pressure cooker to stew into a delicious soup. The celery was cut into uniform strips, and stir-fried with marinated beef. The resulting beef dish featured vibrant colors with green celery and red and yellow bell peppers. As for the nched shrimps, it was a simple dish, but Esther added her own touch to it. ¡°Mommy, Mommy, here are the scallions!¡± Felix came holding the scallions, and Esther reached out to embrace him, having him wash the scallions under the faucet. She then taught Felix how to chop the scallions. ¡°Mommy, how do we use these scallions?¡± ¡°Sprinkle some on the tomato and scrambled eggs.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Felix imitated Esther¡¯s technique-he sprinkled a handful of chopped scallions onto the tomato and scrambled eggs. ¡°Is it done?¡± asked Felix. Esther replied, ¡°Yes, our Felix¡¯s fantastic. He can help Mommy with tasks now.¡± Instead of feeling shy from Esther¡¯s praise, Felix felt proud and said, ¡°It¡¯s because I am a little man!¡± ¡°Then, little man, go tell Daddy to wash his hands ande eat.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Felix ran to Bradley¡¯s side like a whirlwind. ¡°Daddy, wash your hands, and let¡¯s eat!¡± Bradley nced at the time. It had been less than an hour, and Esther had already prepared the meal? Esther ced the four dishes and one bowl of soup she had cooked on the marble table. The mushroom and potato soup was still steaming, so she intentionally ced a basin of ice cubes under the soup bowl to cool it down. ¡°Wow¡­ Mommy is amazing!¡± Felix climbed onto his chair using his little arms and legs without needing Bradley¡¯s help. ¡°Time¡¯s a bit tight today, but I¡¯ll cook delicious food for you in the future.¡± Felix eximed excitedly, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll help you!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 If Bradley had not witnessed it with his own eyes, he would have thought that Esther had ordered the delicious spread on the table as takeout. From his critical perspective, the dishes Esther had prepared were at least visually appealing. As for the taste, that could only be determined after trying them. Esther ced the tes in front of Felix and Bradley. She sat across from Bradley and skillfully peeled the nched shrimps Since Felix was a child and could not take spicy food, his condiment dish had no chill peppers However, in the condiment te prepared for Bradley, there was a small amount of colorful chili pepper, ¡°The taste might not be on par with a professional chef¡¯s, so if you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t force. yourself,¡± said Esther Felix showed full support as Esther¡¯s biological son. He used a small spoon to scoop up a spoonful of tomato scrambled eggs, took a bite, and excitedly gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s super delicious!¡± Esther¡¯s eyes sparkled as she asked, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really.¡± Felix¡¯s little mouth did not stop moving, and he had a satisfied and happy expression. ¡°Mommy¡¯s cooking, is the best in the world!¡± Originally, Bradley was not very eager to pick up his cutlery, but seeing how much Felix enjoyed the food, he could not help but take a bite. No normal person could resist good food, and Bradley was no exception. The crisp broli, the aromatic beef¡­ Bradley, who usually did not pay much attention to his food, could not stop once he started eating. As for the date with Liliane and her family, hepletely forgot about it. At Octagon. Liliane kept dialing Bradley¡¯s phone. She had called so many times that Bradley¡¯s phone automatically shut down. Leah looked at the well-dressed Liliane and asked with concern, ¡°Liliane, are the calls not getting through?¡± ¡°No!¡± Liliane¡¯s expression was ring in anger. ¡°He isn¡¯t answering.¡± When Liliane¡¯s words reached Billy¡¯s ears, he felt sorry for his daughter and gently said, ¡± Line, we don¡¯t have to rely on him. If it doesn¡¯t work out, let¡¯s not get married. You can raise Felix on your own.¡± Upon hearing what Billy said, Leah spoke in a sarcastic tone. ¡°Anstey, you¡¯re hoping that our Liliane will back out so you can fulfill your ns for your other daughter¡­¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Arghh!¡± Liliane heard the message notification on her phone and nced at the screen before she grew so angry that she fiercely threw her phone against the wall. At the same time, her vision went ck, and she fainted! Leah paled with worry. She helped Liliane up while Billy immediately took out the emergency heart medication from his suit pocket and handed it to Leah. Since Liliane was diagnosed with a heart condition, Billy and Leah would always carry emergency heart medication with them in case of unexpected situations. Under Billy and Leah¡¯s quick cooperation, Liliane slowly regained consciousness. ¡°Liliane, are you okay?¡± Billy looked at Liliane¡¯s pale face and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we take you to the hospital?¡± ¡°Mom, Bradley is with that b*tch Esther!¡± Leah asked with a frown, ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Look at Dad¡¯s page!¡± Liliane and Leah turned their eyes to the puzzled Billy. He took out his phone to check and saw Esther¡¯s recent post in his news feed. Esther: [Father and son¡¯s superb support! Today¡¯s another aplished day!] Through the reflection on the spoon, Liliane could still recognize Bradley and Felix in the photo despite Esther¡¯s post only showing empty tes. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ¡°What¡¯s going on with Bradley?¡± Billy was also shocked. ¡°I¡¯m going to see him now!¡± Leah was also angry and resentful when she saw Esther¡¯s post and directed all her rage toward Billy. ¡°Billy Austey! Do you want Liliane and me, or do you want that despicable b*tch Esther? You decide for yourself!¡± Leah then embraced Liliane, who had just awakened, and said softly, ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t be upset. It¡¯s not worth harming your health over it.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane was trembling with anger. She never expected that Esther would dare to taunt her in her social media post! The thought of so many people seeing Esther¡¯s post meant one thing-Liliane had be a ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. Let¡¯s go to the hospital first.¡± Leah helped Liliane up. Billy reached out to assist Liliane, but Leah pushed him away. ¡°Get lost!¡± Leah helped Liliane into the car and made a phone call to Wilson while driving. After the mother and daughter arrived at the hospital, Wilson conducted a full-body examination on Liliane. The results of the examination were not good. Leah sat beside Liliane, holding her hand, and gently asked, ¡°Dr. Birch, how is Liliane¡¯s condition?¡± ¡°Liliane¡¯s health has deteriorated,¡± Wilson said calmly, flipping through the examination. report in his hand. ¡°Compared to the previous report, her data has worsened significantly. For Liliane¡¯s safety, I suggest finding a suitable heart as soon as possible for a heart transnt.¡± Leah understood that a heart transnt was crucial for Liliane¡¯s survival. However, unlike kidney or bone marrow transnts, a heart transnt involved the sacrifice of one life to save another. It relied on finding a suitable donor heart. Finding a suitable donor heart had been a challenge since Liliane¡¯s diagnosis, and her condition could only be temporarily managed. ¡°Dr. Birch, please help me find a heart, no matter the cost. I¡¯m willing to do anything.¡± Leah¡¯s eyes shone with ruthless determination. As long as she could find a suitable heart for Liliane, even if it meant sacrificing her own life, she would do it willingly. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Wilson looked at Liliane and said gently, ¡°In Liliane¡¯s condition, avoiding emotional fluctuations is crucial. Keeping a calm and stable mood is especially important. 1 suggest you take a vacation somewhere.¡± ¡°Dr. Birch, please, I have a request,¡± said Leah. Wilson looked at his goddess and said warmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to request anything. Just tell me.¡± ¡°Can you provide a medical report stating that Liliane¡¯s heart condition is caused by childbirth?¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Leah thought that since Liliane had a heart condition, she would make that condition work in their favor. She firmly believed that Bradley would take responsibility upon learning that Liliane had developed a heart condition due to childbirth. ¡°That¡¯s a small matter. I can handle it.¡± Leah replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± After settling Liliane down, Leah made a phone call to Billy. ¡°Billy Anstey, Dr. Birch said that if Liliane can¡¯t find a suitable heart transnt soon, she¡¯ll be in danger!¡± Leah delivered her final blow to Billy. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if anything happens to Liliane, I¡¯ll personally kill Esther and you!¡± As Billy listened to the voiceing from the other end of the line, his mouth tasted bitter. He hesitated for a moment but still drove to Primus Mansion. There was a scale in his heart, and his biological daughter¡¯s life was the most important. At Primus Mansion. The four dishes and one bowl of soup Esther had made had been eaten clean. She got up to clean the dishes, and Felix volunteered, saying, ¡°Mommy, let me help you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Felix!¡± Felix smiled brightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s what I should do! Daddy, Mommy cooked, and we¡¯ll wash the dishes, okay?¡± It was a parent-child moment that Bradley had never experienced before, so he readily agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Bradley and Felix entered the kitchen. Esther wanted to help, but Felix pushed her out of the kitchen. ¡°Mommy, Daddy and I are super capable! We¡¯ll make sure to wash the dishes really clean!¡± Esther looked worriedly at Bradley, who coldly said, ¡°I can handle it.¡± ¡°You can put the tes and utensils directly in the dishwasher. Just clean the pots and stove top,¡± said Esther. ¡°Okay.¡± Esther went to the bathroom and checked her phone there. She noticed that her most recent post had already received numerous likes andments. After casually taking a shower and washing her hair, she changed intofortable loungewear before heading to the kitchen. Bradley and Felix had already tidied everything up in the kitchen. Like a little mischief, Felix pretended to yawn as he was afraid that his father would take him and leave. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m so tired!¡± Esther reached out and picked up Felix, gently saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go take a nap.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Felix let Esther carry him into the master bedroom. It was Bradley¡¯s first time entering the master bedroom of their newlywed home. The bedroom also had Esther and Bradley¡¯s wedding photo. Bradley nced coldly at the wedding photo and said, ¡°I have something to do. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Felix nced at Bradley, then at Esther, and immediately came up with a n. He pretended to fall asleep in Esther¡¯s arms. Bradley could leave if he wanted to, but Felix was not going anywhere! He wanted to stay by his mother¡¯s side. ¡°Since Felix¡¯s asleep, I won¡¯t send you off,¡± Esther said softly, looking down at the sleeping Felix. ¡°I¡¯lle to pick him upter,¡± said Bradley. Esther looked at Bradley¡¯s handsome face and warmly said, ¡°Darling,e here for a moment. Bradley, puzzled, walked up to Esther. She reached out and grabbed his tie, nting a light kiss on the corner of his lips. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m so happy today.¡± Bradley¡¯s gaze fixated on Esther¡¯s face, captivated by her delicate and fair skin resembling the finest jade. Her clear and bright eyes seemed to hold the warmth of thick honey. His heart raced uncontrobly, and in a sudden panic, he hastily retreated. Esther smiled, observing Bradley¡¯s hurried departure before softly patting Felix¡¯s back and humming a familiar nursery rhyme. The doorbell rang. Bradley, who was just reaching the door, opened it. Billy was standing outside, wearing a worried expression. ¡°Mr. Warner, let¡¯s talk.¡± Bradley instinctively did not want to disturb Esther and Felix, so he closed the door and led Billy to the winter garden next to the house. ¡°Speak. What¡¯s the matter?¡± Billy did not bother with pleasantries and went straight to questioning him coldly, ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯d like to know which of my two daughters you are going to choose.¡±Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Bradley sat gracefully on the sofa, casually crossing his legs, and spoke calmly and indifferently. ¡°Mr. Anstey, please have a seat.¡± Billy took a seat, visibly frustrated. He looked at Bradley, who exuded a powerful aura despite his young age, and could not help but worry for his two daughters. ¡°Mr. Warner, I don¡¯t want Esther and Liliane to be enemies because of you,¡± said Billy. If possible, he, more than anyone, wanted Bradley to make a clear decision. ¡°Mr. Anstey, let me make one thing clear. It¡¯s not me who chose them, but they chose me.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression remained cold and indifferent, with a hint of bloodthirsty coldness flickering in his deep eyes. ¡°As for me, I have only one choice, and that¡¯s Felix.¡± ¡°So¡­¡± Billy quickly reacted. ¡°You¡¯ve chosen Liliane? Then why did you cancel the appointment today?¡± If Bradley had chosen Liliane, why would he not turn up? ¡°I¡¯m still legally married to Esther. She¡¯s still my wife.¡± Bradley raised an eyebrow coldly and said casually, ¡°Mr. Anstey, I don¡¯t need to exin my actions to anyone, and I suggest you not show up at Primus Mansion again in the future.¡± Esther was currently ill, and Billy¡¯s presence could worsen her condition. Bradley did not want him to disturb her peace. ¡°Mr. Warner, Esther is my daughter,¡± said Billy. Bradley sneered mockingly. ¡°Do you know when she got released from prison? Do you know what she went through after her release? A father doesn¡¯t be one through a chance sowing of seed. You This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. don¡¯t deserve that title!¡± Billy thought of the dilemma he faced over the years, caught between Esther and his wife and daughter, and suddenly vented his grievances. ¡°Bradley, you don¡¯t know anything, so how can you say that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to know your difficulties.¡± Bradley stood up coldly, his voice icy. ¡°If you continue toe to Primus Mansion without being invited, I won¡¯t be pleased. And once I¡¯m displeased¡­¡± Billy was overwhelmed with frustration and angrily shouted, ¡°Bradley, what do you want? As a man, you swing back and forth between my two daughters. What entitles you?¡± ¡°If you want to defend your daughter, I can have thepany¡¯s legal department discuss with Liliane regardingpensation for her youth. After that¡­¡¯ Billy thought of Liliane, who had copsed in Octagon. His face turned pale, and he muttered, ?? No, don¡¯t do it!¡± Liliane had a heart condition. If Bradley really chose to abandon her, her heart would not be able to bear it-she would die. Bradley looked at Billy and felt a twinge of heartache and pity. ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of being at father.¡± Everyone knew that Esther was an illegitimate daughter, but she was innocent. If she had a choice, she would never choose such a father. Abandoning a child was a sin. With a hopeless look, Billy firmly stated to Bradley, ¡°No! Esther is not my biological daughter. ¡°The agony in his voice was palpable as he continued. ¡°I made the decision to publicly dere her as my daughter, but the truth is, she is not biologically rted to me.¡± Bradley¡¯s sharp gaze pierced Billy¡¯s face, emanating a chilling intent as he asked in an indifferent tone, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Esther is not your daughter?¡± As a father, Billy understood the weight of his words. While he had epted Faye¡¯s request to raise Esther, his paternal instinctpelled him to prioritize Liliane when faced with the choice between Liliane and Esther. ¡°Yes, she is not my daughter,¡± Billy confessed, sinking into despair as he sat on the sofa. He sped his head in his hands, his anguish evident as he exined, ¡°Esther¡¯s mother entrusted her to me, wanting her to be raised in my family. However, I didn¡¯t want Esther to feel like she was living under someone else¡¯s roof at such a young age, so I made the decision to publicly dere her as my daughter.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 In his youth and arrogance, Billy never anticipated that Esther¡¯s presence would be a source of pain for Leah. He never imagined that Esther and Liliane, two non-blood-rted sisters, would both develop feelings for the same man and eventually be enemies. because of him. Bradley was indifferent, stating, ¡°Whether Esther is biologically rted to you or not doesn¡¯t matter. As long as we¡¯re still married, she is my wife, and I won¡¯t tolerate anyone interfering with her life.¡± Billy opened his mouth, feeling helpless. He wanted to see Esther, to beg her. He wanted to plead with her, reminding her that he had treated her well all these years. He hoped she would willingly leave Bradley and fulfill Liliane¡¯s love. ¡°Mr. Warner, I beg you, let me go see her,¡± Billy pleaded. ¡°No!¡± Bradley coldly retorted. ¡°I¡¯ll go see her, and I¡¯ll tell her¡­ about her birth¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes gleamed with fierce killing intent. ¡°She¡¯s sick, and you cannot go and upset her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s sick?¡± Billy asked with concern, ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about her birth from anyone else.¡± Bradley stood up slowly and threatened openly, ¡°If Esther is even slightly disturbed by your nonsense, I¡¯ll make daughter, Liliane, apany her to her grave!¡± your ¡°Mr. Warner, Liliane¡¯s given birth to a child for you! Do you know how much risk she took to give birth to your child?¡± 1 Bradley cruelly replied, ¡°In consideration of Felix, I will marry her. As for when I¡¯ll marry her, that¡¯s my business.¡± Billy understood the meaning behind Bradley¡¯s words-either endure it or leave! As a father, Billy naturally wished for his biological daughter, Liliane, to be spared from harm. However, to his dismay, Bradley seemed to prioritize Esther over Liliane when faced with a choice between them. This realization sent shivers down Billy¡¯s spine. He couldn¡¯t believe it. How would Liliane cope if she discovered Bradley¡¯s preference? It would be an unbearable blow for her. ¡°Mr. Warner, you can¡¯t treat Liliane like this! Do you know that for you, she¡¯s-¡± Billy¡¯s words were interrupted by a sudden ringing of the phone. Bradley looked at the caller ID on his phone screen and casually answered the call. ¡°Yes?¡± Leah¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m Liliane¡¯s mother. Can youe to the hospital now?¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fell on Billy¡¯s desperate face as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Liliane copsed at Octagon,¡± Leah said in a sorrowful tone. ¡°The doctor examined her and discovered she developed a heart condition due to giving birth to Felix¡­ She¡­ Her condition is very critical now. Can you¡­ Can youe over? I beg you!¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 After hanging up, Bradley nced at Billy and swiftly walked out of the winter garden. Billy caught up with Bradley and pleaded, filled with sorrow, ¡°Mr. Warner, I beg you! Please, don¡¯t hurt my daughter. Her biggest dream is to marry you! I¡­¡± Bradley swept his cold gaze and stated indifferently, ¡°Women in this world who want to marry me can form a line from Earth to the moon.¡± Billy fell silent. Meanwhile, as Bradley and Billy were on the way to the hospital, Leah reached out and adjusted the nket on Liliane, who was lying on the hospital bed. Waves of heartache surged deep in her eyes. Liliane¡¯s condition had worsened again. Regardless, Leah would never allow anyone to harm. her daughter. Her daughter¡¯s wish was to marry Bradley, so she would make ite true no matter how many schemes and plots it took. And then there was Esther¡¯s heart¡­ If¡­ only if¡­ If Esther¡¯s heart was a match for Liliane, Leah would be willing to do anything-even if it meant digging Esther¡¯s heart out for her daughter. ¡°Mom, will hee?¡± asked Liliane. Leah replied gently, ¡°He¡¯ll definitelye.¡± Leah had the idea of pressuring Bradley into marrying her daughter using public opinion if he didn¡¯t want to do it willingly. She was determined to continue until Bradley agreed to marry Liliane. Half an hourter, Bradley and Billy arrived at the hospital. Inside the ward, Liliane¡¯s mental state was extremely poor. Billy looked at her with deep concern and asked, ¡°Liliane, are you okay?¡± Leah walked to Billy¡¯s side, took his arm, and angrily eximed, ¡°Can¡¯t you choose your words!?¡± Bradley nced at Liliane and asked softly, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°Let me take you to meet Liliane¡¯s attending physician.¡± Leah almost forcefully brought Billy along to Wilson¡¯s office. Leah said, ¡°Dr. Birch, this is Bradley Warner, my daughter¡¯s fianc¨¦. Could you please exin Liliane¡¯s condition to him in detail?¡± After the three of them were seated, Wilson began slowly exining the condition that had been prearranged with Leah. ¡°Mr. Warner, Liliane¡¯s condition is extremely rare. It¡¯s caused by childbirthplications, leading to a heart problem. Initially, it was a minor issue, but due to the recurrent nature of the condition, she has now reached the stage where she needs a heart transnt. Given her current condition, if we cannot find a suitable heart for transntation, she may have only three months to live.¡± Upon hearing Wilson¡¯s words, Billy became even more confused. Was Liliane not born with a heart condition? How did it be a result of childbirth? Afraid that Billy, a strong but simple-minded man, would ruin her ns, Leah forcefully pinched the inside of his arm. Billy instinctively turned his head to look at Leah, only to meet herpelling gaze, urging him to agree with Wilson¡¯s statement. Bradley coldly said, ¡°Then proceed with the heart transnt.¡± Wilson sighed and said, ¡°Mr. Warner, heart transntation is not an easy procedure.¡± ¡°Find one, search the entire world. No matter the cost, spare no effort,¡± replied Bradley. Wilson smiled bitterly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to find a suitable heart, but the patient¡¯s emotional state is also crucial. Try to keep her in a positive mood. If we can¡¯t find a suitable heart for transntation, This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. she only has three months to live. Personally, I¡¯d suggest making sure she has no regrets.¡± Upon hearing that, genuinely emotional tears welled up in Leah¡¯s eyes. Billy anxiously asked hoarsely, ¡°Apart from a heart transnt, are there no other options?¡± Wilson shook his head. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Naturally, Bradley did not suspect that the doctor would joke about such a serious condition. His thin lips parted in indifference as he said, ¡°Prepare a copy of her medical records for me.¡± Leah looked at Wilson with worried eyes. Wilson calmly exchanged a reassuring look with her and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Alright.¡± The three of them left the doctor¡¯s office, and Bradley went straight to Liliane¡¯s hospital room. Liliane looked at Bradley with a mix of genuine and feigned emotions on her face as she said, Brad, can I be discharged? I still want to meet the wedding dress designer, Anna.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about the wedding dress,¡± replied Bradley. There was no trace of pity or concern in Bradley¡¯s expression. If rk and the psychologist, Xara, were present, they would immediately recognize the double standards in Bradley¡¯s attitude toward Esther and Liliane¡¯s conditions. up Liliane¡¯s heart sank uncontrobly. She even wanted to question why Bradley had stood her at noon today. Why were he and Felix with Esther? However, everything ultimately condensed into one sentence. ¡°Brad, I can¡¯t take care of Felix with my current condition. I guess I¡¯ll have to trouble rk to take care of him,¡± said Liliane. This was the result of her discussion with Leah. If she kept Felix by her side every day, not only would she be exhausted, but she also feared that she would break down emotionally and fail to maintain her facade in front of Felix. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about Felix,¡± Bradley said coldly and distantly. ¡°Focus on recovering. ¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Liliane¡¯s eyes reddened instantly when she thought about her ns over the years. ¡°Brad, why don¡¯t¡­ we just cancel our wedding?¡± past five Liliane wanted to retreat in order to advance, but she was afraid that if she truly retreated, Bradley would agree to it. Her heart felt as if it were soaked in bitter medicine, as it was sore and bitter. ¡°Focus on recovering. I¡¯ll consult other specialists with your medical records,¡± Bradley said coldly. Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s words, Liliane¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. She looked at Leah with worry, and ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Leah quickly spoke up. ¡°Liliane, Bradley¡¯s still waiting for you to recover and be his most beautiful bride.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane silently shed tears. Bradley took Liliane¡¯s medical records from Wilson and said coldly, ¡°Focus on recovering. I¡¯ll get specialists to consult on your case.¡± ¡°Anstey, send Bradley off,¡± instructed Leah. Billy hurriedly caught up with Bradley, and together they arrived at the elevator outside the hospital room. With Liliane¡¯s three-month prognosis weighing on his mind, Billy pleaded as a father, ¡°Mr. Warner, I beg you to save my daughter.¡± Bradley coldly and restrainedly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, Liliane¡¯s greatest dream¡­ is to marry you.¡± Bradley took a step forward, gripping Billy¡¯s cor and pushing him against the elevator wall. ¡°The moment you publicly dered Esther as your daughter, she became your responsibility.¡± Billy stared into Bradley¡¯s intense gaze and trembled as he spoke. ¡°Esther still has plenty of time, but Liliane only has three months!¡± At that moment, Bradley understood Esther¡¯s condition in the ICU. She truly had nothing. No one cared for her, not even her supposed father. To Esther, there was nothing left to hold onto in this world. If Esther chose death, every single one of them would be the executioner! ¡°Get lost!¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Billy had never seen Bradley like this before. He seemed like a bloodthirsty demon crawling out of hell, his eyes shining with horrifying crimson. ¡°Mr. Warner!¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes were fierce and ruthless. He released his grip on Billy¡¯s cor, causing thetter to involuntarily lose strength in his legs and almost fall down on the ground. ¡°Get lost!¡± Billy could not understand Bradley¡¯s emotions. Why the sudden change? However, he did not dare to be in the same elevator with a Bradley like this either, so he hastily fled from the elevator and hurriedly returned to the hospital ward. ¡°Why? Why did you lie to him?¡± Billy was extremely fearful. He had done nothing, yet Bradley was already so terrifying. If Bradley found out that they had lied to him about Liliane¡¯s condition, would he spare them? To the massive Warner Group, Billy¡¯spany was nothing more than a tiny boat in the financial market. With a flick of Bradley¡¯s finger, hispany would go bankrupt! Leah walked up to Billy and pped him hard across the face. She coldly asked, ¡°Are you awake now?¡± ¡°If Bradley finds out wel ¡°As long as you keep the secret, he¡¯ll never find out.¡± Leah¡¯s eyes were vicious and full of malice as she stared at Billy¡¯s terrified eyes. She warned him, enunciating each word, ¡°If you dare to cause any trouble, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Honey, don¡¯t you know how¡­ terrifying Bradley is?¡± At that moment, Billy felt like his heart was about to stop beating due to Bradley¡¯s frightening gaze. ¡°Remember, Liliane has a heart disease because of Felix,¡± said Leah. Liliane looked tearfully at Billy, pitifully asking, ¡°Dad, do you want me to die now? To let Esther and Bradley be together? Do you want the son I¡¯ve risked my life for to be Esther¡¯s son?¡± ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Leah reached out andforted Liliane, her eyes filled with a venomous gleam. She coldly told Billy, ¡°Get lost!¡± Billy looked at Leah and Liliane, dejected and wounded, and sat down on a bench outside the hospital ward. He covered his face with both hands in pain as tears of regret, frustration, and despair slowly streamed through his fingers. Had he made a mistake? Should he have told Leah from the beginning that Esther was not his biological daughter? If he had been honest about Esther¡¯s background from the start, would the current situation. between Liliane and Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Esther have been different? If he had been more open at the beginning, would his marriage with Leah have avoided reaching such a difficult and precarious situation? Liliane cuddled in Leah¡¯s arms inside the hospital room, silently shedding tears. She said, Mom, I don¡¯t want to die.¡± Leahforted her. ¡°Liliane, you won¡¯t die. I won¡¯t let you die. Be good, listen to me, don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± ¡°But¡­ I only have three months to live,¡± said Liliane. ¡°That won¡¯t happen, Liliane. You¡¯ll live a long and healthy life. Trust Mom. I¡¯ll give you everything you want. You are my daughter, and I¡¯ll give you everything you desire as long as you obediently follow the doctor¡¯s instructions.¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s arm, her eyes filled with tidal hatred. Why? Why was her daughter burdened with illness from birth? Why did the daughter of that despicable woman, Faye, get to enjoy everything? Why was God so unfair!? Chapter 132 Chapter 132 ¡®A b*stard like Esther should die like that wh*re Faye! ¡®No! She should give her heart to Liliane before that!¡¯ Bradley took Liliane¡¯s heart report and went to see Scott from the hospital under the Warner Group. ¡°Mr. Warner,¡± greeted Scott. Bradley pushed Liliane¡¯s medical record to the front directly and asked Scott calmly, ¡°Take a look at this medical record. Can it be treated?¡± ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Scott carefully examined the case file and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Based. solely on this medical record, I believe a heart transnt is the best and most direct treatment option. However, it¡¯s widely known that the chances of a sessful heart transnt are very low because not all hearts arepatible, and each person only has one heart.¡± ¡°Study the report. I¡¯ll arrange an appointment for you to meet the patient,¡± said Bradley. Scott nced at the signature on the medical report and said warmly, ¡°Mr. Warner, Dr. Birch mentioned here is my senior. I¡¯ll contact him.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is Dr. Birch the one who asked you to examine Esther¡¯s heartst time?¡± asked Bradley. His memory was exceptional, and he recalled it as soon as Scott mentioned it. ¡°Yes,¡± Scott assured him. ¡°But he might have been inclined to take unconventional measures upon hearing that your wife was in aatose state. Rest assured. I can vouch for my senior¡¯s character. He wouldn¡¯t do anything to disregard human life.¡± ¡°Give me a treatment n as soon as possible,¡± said Bradley. Scott nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± Liliane¡¯s health condition meant that she was no longer suitable to take care of Felix, and rk would not have time either since he wanted to investigate the case from five years ago. Meanwhile, Felix¡¯s rtionship with Esther had be exceptionally close due to the bone marrow transnt. After consulting Felix¡¯s attending physician, Bradley decided to let Felix live with Esther temporarily. On the one hand, Felix had no one to take care of him. On the other hand, if Felix¡¯s presence. could console Esther in her grief over losing her daughter, it would be a good thing. Considering that Felix had been recovering well and no longer needed intravenous therapy but only medication on schedule, Bradley packed up some of Felix¡¯s belongings in the hospital and personally delivered them to Primus Mansion. Esther and Felix had just woken up from their afternoon nap in the mansion. The two of them were snuggled up, watching a documentary and eating fruits. As soon as Felix heard Bradley¡¯s footsteps, he joyfully called out. ¡°Daddy!¡± When Bradley entered the living room, he saw the two of them cuddling together. They were sitting on avish andfortable rug and leaning against a giant panda on either side. Various snacks were on the round marble coffee table in front of them. Just by looking at this scene, it was evident that they were content and happy. ¡°Darling, what did you bring with you?¡± Esther asked curiously, seeing that Bradley had several suitcases. Bradley cleared his throat, feeling slightly ufortable, and said, ¡°These are Felix¡¯s things.¡± Felix blinked his beady eyes excitedly and asked in a sweet and clingy voice, ¡°Daddy, will I be living with Mommy from now on?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bradley replied calmly. Felix happily pounced on Bradley and tightly hugged his long leg. He said sweetly and affectionately, ¡°Daddy, I love you the most!¡± Esther nced at the suitcases and asked with anticipation, ¡°And¡­ what about you?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Bradley gazed into Esther¡¯s eyes, which were as clear as a vast starry sky, shining and dazzling, captivating him irresistibly. ¡°I¡­¡± Bradley hesitated subconsciously upon hearing Esther¡¯s question. After a moment, he answered slowly, ¡°I will also stay here.¡± ¡°Really? Really? Really?¡± In disbelief, the adorable Felix repeated the question three times like a parrot when he heard that his father would also be staying here. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Esther reached out and held Felix¡¯s little hand, tenderly saying, ¡°Daddy never lies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Felix bounced around Esther and Bradley joyfully like a woond elf. ¡°So, can we sleep together tonight? I really, really, really want to sleep in the middle of Daddy and Mommy!¡± The children on TV all slept with their parents. His father would also read him lovely bedtime stories. He was on cloud nine. ¡°Mommy! Mommy!¡± Felix happily bounced in front of Esther, tilting his small face, and asked in a cute voice, ¡°Do you see bubbles on my head?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Esther was momentarily puzzled by Felix¡¯s train of thought and said, still a bit confused, ¡°There are no bubbles!¡± ¡°Yes, there are.¡± Felix pointed to his hair, speaking nonsense seriously. ¡°Look, aren¡¯t there lots of happy bubbles popping out here?¡± Esther could not help butugh. ¡°So, you¡¯re bubbling with happiness?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A smile of pure happiness spread across Felix¡¯s little face. His originally fair and slightly thin face was now chubby and cute. Not only that, but he also seemed like a stagnant pool that had been infused with vitality. It was as if he hade alive. His bright and clear eyes were like the purest spring in the world, making one want to protect his innocence forever. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Daddy, sit!¡± Felix pulled Bradley to sit on the sofa. He happily hopped to the fruit te and skewered a round watermelon ball with a silver fruit fork, feeding it to Bradley¡¯s mouth. ¡°Daddy, is it sweet?¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes were deep. ¡°It is.¡± Felix then skewered another round watermelon ball and fed it to Esther. ¡°Mommy, have a sweet watermelon ball.¡± Bradley noticed that Felix did not switch to a different fork but used the one he had just used. For some reason, the phrase ¡°indirect kiss¡± shed in his mind suddenly, and he felt his heart warm and fiery. An inexplicable restlessness spread through his body as if every pore of his was dancing, desperately craving for more sweetness. Bradley clenched his fist against his lips and coughed lightly. Felix and Esther looked at Bradley as if asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you sick?¡± ¡°Felix, can you watch TV by yourself?¡± asked Bradley. Felix asked, ¡°Do you both have something to do?¡± ¡°We need to tidy up your things. Before Bradley finished speaking, Felix eagerly volunteered, ¡°I¡¯ll help too.¡± ¡°Alright, the three of us will do it together.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Felix jumped up from the sofa. He went to a travel suitcase taller than himself and ced his hands on the edges of the suitcase, asking, ¡°Mommy, where¡¯s my room?¡± ¡°The first room on the right,¡± replied Esther. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 IAt the beginning, when Thomas was setting up their new home, he intentionally prepared two children¡¯s rooms alongside the master bedroom. One room was adorned in a serene blue, resembling an underwater universe, while the other embraced a princess castle theme with shades of pink. This was Thomas¡¯ heartfelt desire-for Esther and Bradley to live harmoniously, raise their children, and enjoy a blissful life together. As Bradley passed by the room adorned with the pink princess castle meant for a little girl, he instinctively nced inside. Thoughts of Tinkerbell¡¯s DNA paternity test surfaced, causing him a dull ache. Tinkerbell was no longer present, but Pixie was still alive. Eventually, this pink princess castle would find its rightful owner. Primus Mansion weed its young owner for the first time since its renovation. As Felix, the young owner, pushed open the bedroom door, he couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Wow! Daddy, Mommy, is this the room you prepared for me? I love it!¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Felix was like a happy little elf wandering around his room. Tilting his head, Brendan gazed up at the sparkling stars and the vast universe above. Beneath his feet, the waves rolled, and the room walls were adorned with hand-painted whales and other sea creatures. ¡°Mommy, this is a starfish, this is a whale, this is a seashell¡­¡± Felix was quite excited, and his face was filled with curiosity and exploration of the ocean of knowledge. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. You¡¯re right about all of them!¡± remarked Esther. Felix patted his chest proudly and said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m Daddy and Mommy¡¯s son!¡± There was no need for Bradley and Esther to personally sort out Felix¡¯s daily necessities, but they saw it as a rare opportunity for parent-child bonding. They both had a tacit understanding and chose not to ask Melinda for help, as they enjoyed seeing Felix so happy. No one had lived in this room before, and it had always been empty, although rk had arranged for someone toe and clean it regrly. As Felix¡¯s belongings were ced in various ces in the room, the empty room was instantly filled with a warm and homely atmosphere. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, will the lights on the ceiling all light up?¡± asked Felix. ¡°Yes, they will.¡± Esther took a remote control from the wall and handed it to Felix. The boy happily yed with his new toy, which featured the sr system¡¯ss. Each, including Earth, Mercury, and Jupiter, had lights proportional to their sizes. With a press of the remote control, thes emitted their own unique light. ¡°Wow¡­ I love it!¡± Bradley looked at the joyful Felix and could not help but think of Thomas. If his grandfather were still alive, he would be delighted to see Felix loved the room he had decorated so well. Suddenly, his gaze fell on Esther. She was wearing a white silk blouse with a dark green skirt underneath. She wore a pair of silk slippers, and her gentle eyes were smiling at Felix. This version of her could fulfill any man¡¯s ultimate fantasy of a wife. Bradley covered his slightly throbbing chest and walked to the floor to ceiling ss window to take a deep breath, forcing himself to push away this image of Esther from his mind. ¡°Daddy.. ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Felix called out a few times, but Bradley was lost in his own world and did not hear the boy¡¯s voice. Esther held Felix¡¯s hand and walked up to him, gently patting his shoulder and asking in a warm and soft voice, ¡°Darling, what are you¡­ thinking about?¡± When Esther¡¯s hand touched Bradley¡¯s shoulder, he almost instinctively grabbed her neck and forcefully pressed her against the colorful coral-shaped couch in front of the floor-to-ceiling ss window. ¡°Darling, it hurts¡­ Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Felix was also startled. He lowered his head and fiercely bit onto Bradley¡¯s arm. Bradley regained his rationale instantly. He released his grip on Esther¡¯s delicate neck as if he had been shocked and avoided her teary eyes. He exined in a hoarse voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. Felix looked at the red mark due to Bradley¡¯s choke on Esther¡¯s porcin-like neck. Tears welled up in his clear eyes as his heart ached. ¡°Mommy, does it hurt?¡± Esther felt the hot throbbing pain in her neck, but she softly reassured Felix with a slightly hoarse voice, ¡°Mommy is not hurt.¡± ¡°Liar!¡± Felix looked at the red mark on the fair skin and could not help but shed tears. ¡°It clearly hurts a lot. Daddy is a bad guy!¡± Esther reached out and embraced Felix, exining gently, ¡°Daddy was lost in thought, and when Mommy suddenly appeared, Daddy thought it was a bad person, so he defended himself. ¡± Tears rolled down Felix¡¯s little face. ¡°Daddy, is it true?¡± Bradley looked at the affectionate scene between Felix and Esther, nodding gently. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Daddy, you can¡¯t treat Mommy like that anymore. Mommy is Mommy. Mommy isn¡¯t a bad person.¡± Bradley replied lightly, ¡°Okay.¡± Esther took out a tissue and gently wiped away Felix¡¯s tears from his cheeks, praising softly,¡± My son is amazing. You know how to protect Mommy now!¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m a little man!¡± Felix was immensely proud despite his red eyes. Esther yfully poked Felix¡¯s nose with her finger and jokingly teased him. ¡°A little man who cries?¡± Felix felt no embarrassment at all and cutely said, ¡°When I protect Mommy, I¡¯m a little man. When I¡¯m by Mommy¡¯s side, I¡¯m Mommy¡¯s baby.¡± ¡°Let me see if my baby has honey in his mouth.¡± Esther yfully reached out to y with Felix, and Felix giggled in her embrace, innocent and pure. It seemed this was the first time Bradley discovered a child¡¯s mischievous and lively side in Felix. Before this, Felix had always been proper, speaking softly and never daring to be yful like he was today. What was this? Could it be that the magic of the bone marrow transnt was so powerful? Powerful enough to change Felix¡¯s mood like that? ¡°Mommy, it tickles!¡± Felix squirmed. Esther was afraid he might fall when trying to dodge her, so she held him tightly in her arms, Seeing that they were about to tumble from messing around without caring about their surroundings, Bradley reached out and embraced Esther-the three of them fell to the floor together. Bradley held Esther in his arms, and Esther held Felix tightly. The three of them became a tangled mess on the floor.. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Felix was overjoyed, eximing, ¡°Mommy, Daddy, this is so fun! I still want to y!¡± In the instant that Esther fell into Bradley¡¯s embrace, he clearly felt her softness. He rarely got so close to a woman, and his skin flushed with a tinge of embarrassment. ¡°Felix, y by yourself for a while,¡± said Bradley. ¡°Why?¡± Felix curiously asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to apply ointment on Mommy.¡± Bradley looked at Esther in his arms. He had exerted too much force just now, leaving quite asting red mark on her neck. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 It would turn into an unsightly bruise if the ointment was not applied in time. ¡°Daddy, I¡¯ll go with you,¡± said Felix. ¡°You should familiarize yourself with your room first,¡± said Bradley. Bradley¡¯s gesture of putting a hand around Esther¡¯s slender waist to lead her to the master bedroom was forceful and dominant, leaving no room for refusal. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Bradley¡¯s deep gaze carried a hint of apology. Esther bit her lip and nodded gently. ¡°It does.¡± Bradley opened the medical kit and found a spray bottle. He looked at Esther¡¯s fair neck, then nced at the instructions on the spray bottle, saying, ¡°It might sting a little after the spray. Bear with it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bradley sprayed the medicine onto Esther¡¯s neck, and a strong herbal scent filled the air. The misty liquid formed tiny droplets as it was sprayed onto Esther¡¯s neck, slowly sliding down onto her blouse. The pain from the spray was more intense than Esther had expected. She teared up, looking pitiful and delicate. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± asked Bradley. Esther¡¯s voice quivered with a hint of agony, ¡°It does, darling. It hurts so much.¡± Bradley looked at Esther, who was acting so coquettishly, and a somewhat absurd thought appeared in his mind. If she had been able to act this way back when they had just gotten married, would they have be the couple his grandfather had hoped for? No, they would not have. Bradley thought that even if he had seen Esther acting cute at that time, he would have only considered her extremely hypocritical. Now? Upon learning that Esther was his childhood savior and realizing that she was not the protagonist of the widely circted video from five years ago, all the hatred Brendan had felt transformed into a deep sense of guilt. This guiltpelled him to willingly cooperate with her in this wed show. ¡°Just a bit more,¡± said Bradley. The instructions said to vigorously rub the area after applying the medicine, allowing it to prate the skin. Bradley supported Esther¡¯s head with one hand and vigorously rubbed her neck with the other. Esther tilted her head, her gaze fixed on Bradley¡¯s handsome face. Hisrge hand traced a fiery path along her neck, igniting a burning sensation. The pain was unbearable, coursing through her entire body as if she were being scorched. Her nose turned a tender shade of red, and tears welled up in her beautiful eyes, evoking a deep sense of empathy. ¡°Done.¡± The moment Bradley released his hand, Esther immediately threw herself into his embrace like a wronged child, holding him tightly. She whimpered in Bradley¡¯s arms, ¡°Darling, I feel so happy that everything before my eyes feels like a dream.¡± Bradley stiffened all over. Mechanically, he reached out and held Esther, saying, ¡°This is not a dream.¡± Esther emerged from Bradley¡¯s embrace with a pitiful and helpless face. She asked fragilely, ¡± Is it true? It¡¯s really not a dream?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bradley could not bring himself to say anything cruel to her in this state. ¡°Everything is real.¡± Esther gently brushed away the tears on her face with her dainty fingers and said pitifully, I¡¯ve always thought this was a dream. I am so afraid that everything I see now will turn into bubbles of nothing Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. when I wake up¡­ Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Bradley looked at Esther, who had be sensitive and emotional due to her worry, and said firmly, ¡°Stop overthinking.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a dream since you say it¡¯s not. I trust you!¡± Esther wiped away her tears and broke into a smile, then quickly changed the subject, feeling a bit uneasy. ¡°What do you feel like eating tonight? How about ravioli?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too much work!¡± Even though Bradley had never personally made ravioli, he knew it was quite a hassle. ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Esther said joyfully, her eyes brimming with happiness. ¡°Seeing you all finish the meals I prepare gives me a great sense of aplishment.¡± Esther tidied up her hair and walked while speaking warmly. ¡°I can make three types of fillings¡­¡± Bradley grabbed Esther and reminded her, ¡°You need to change your shirt.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡±Esther casually walked into the wardrobe and selected a white T-shirt to wear. As she put on the shirt, her city-woman elegance radiated. The pure white fabric revealed a hint of her slender waist, peeking out between the T-shirt and her ck skirt. Her waist resembled a graceful willow branch, swaying gently in the breeze. ¡°Isn¡¯t this T-shirt a bit too short?¡± asked Bradley. Esther looked down and exined seriously, ¡°It¡¯s not short. This is the style.¡± Bradley watched as Esther walked toward the kitchen. Esther first took out a bag of flour from the cupboard and poured an appropriate amount into a basin to make the ravioli dough. The flour and water were tamed by Esther and turned into a smooth and beautiful dough. She then ced the dough in a ss bowl and covered it with a damp cloth to let it rest. ¡°What should I do?¡± asked Bradley. Esther handed a bunch of spinach to Bradley, which she had taken out from the refrigerator. ¡°Pick the spinach. Today we¡¯ll make three different fillings: spinach and ricotta, meat and cheese, and creamy shrimp. How does that sound?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Bradley, the dignified CEO of the Warner Group, had never done such delicate. work in the kitchen. Esther watched Bradley clumsily pick the spinach and could not help but ask, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s something you can¡¯t do? I thought you could do everything.¡± ¡°I can do it,¡± Bradley retorted, unwilling to admit defeat. ¡°You focus on your tasks.¡± Bradley gave a signal to Melinda, who understood and acted as an external aid. As an outsider, Melinda also felt that Esther and Bradley were incredibly happy as a couple. With Melinda¡¯s demonstration, Bradley quickly followed suit and learned fast. Meanwhile, Felix, who had been waiting for his parents in his room and growing impatient, decided to head to the living room. As he entered, his eyes immediately fell upon Esther, who was busily moving about in an apron. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, what are you doing?¡± Using her hands covered in flour, Esther lightly tapped Felix¡¯s nose. The boy¡¯s nose instantly gained a small white dot, making him look cute and mischievous. ¡°I¡¯m making Property ? N?velDrama.Org. delicious ravioli for my son tonight!¡± said Esther. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 ¡°Wow¡­¡± Felix excitedly climbed onto a high stool next to the kitchen ind and sat down, saying in a cute voice, ¡°I really love ravioli!¡± ¡°What kind of filling does Mommy¡¯s good boy like?¡± Esther made ravioli with spinach and cheese while speaking gently. ¡°Mommy will make whatever you want for you.¡± ¡°I like it as long as you¡¯ve made it.¡± While the family of three was harmoniously making ravioli in the kitchen, rk received the DNA maternity test result his friend sent. The moment the document arrived in rk¡¯s hands, he immediately opened it. Ever since listening to the recording between Liliane and Esther, he had felt uneasy. The main reason he had not told Bradley about Felix¡¯s true identity was that he did not have concrete. evidence. He worried that if he revealed Felix¡¯s true parentage, Bradley would not believe him, and the truth would Property ? N?velDrama.Org. rm the enemy. rk flipped through the pages of the maternity test result, and as he looked at the data at the back, he was both shocked and filled with doubts. ording to the DNA maternity test report, Felix was the son of Esther and Bradley. It was just that based on Felix¡¯s birth date, Esther had been in the prison hospital at that time, so how did Liliane manage to secretly take Felix out of the prison hospital? Who was her aplice? Who gave her such confidence? Furthermore, was it really Liliane who caused Thomas¡¯ death? And¡­ rk took a deep breath. Who fabricated all the medical records and rted reports of Liliane¡¯s delivery? Countless questions lingered in rk¡¯s mind. He hesitated for a while with the freshly received DNA maternity test report, but eventually, he decided to put it in the safe. He could not afford to alert anyone at this moment. He had to go to the prison hospital first and investigate who had taken Felix out of the prison hospital. rk drove directly to the prison hospital. Several years had passed since the incident, and there had been several shifts of staff at the prison hospital. With the help of generous incentives, rk finally arrived at the room where all the medical records were stored. Nervously, he sat in front of theputer and typed ¡± Esther Quill¡± into the search bar. The screen disyed all of Esther¡¯s information. rk clicked on the first page, which contained the examination of when Esther had first entered the prison. The report revealed that Esther was pregnant with triplets. Despite mentally preparing himself, rk was still shocked when he saw the ultrasound image showing three small ck shadows. rk diligently copied all the data onto a USB drive as he continued examining the information. His surprise grew when he reached thest page, which detailed Esther¡¯s difficultbor with her twin daughters. He carefully noted the name of the person who had handled the delivery,mitting it to memory. After copying all the data, rk left the records room. He handed a generous bonus to the staff member who took him here and asked, ¡°Is Dr. Shane Hoyer still at the hospital?¡± ¡°Are you referring to our director Mr. Hoyer?¡± the staff member asked curiously. ¡°Mr. Hoyer is out for a meeting today. If you want to see him, you¡¯ll need to make an appointment in advance.¡± rk asked, ¡°When was Mr. Hoyer promoted to the position of director?¡± ¡°He was the vice director four years ago and became the director the year beforest!¡± replied the staff member. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± rk shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The staff member, grateful for the bonus rk had given him, respectfully escorted him to the hospital entrance. Meanwhile, Shane Hoyer, the hospital director attending a meeting outside, passed by rk. Several stepster, Shane couldn¡¯t help but turn around and steal a nce at rk¡¯s figure. In the depths of his eyes, a terrifying fear emerged. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Shane stood on the steps, watching rk walk into the parking lot outside the hospital. After confirming that rk was the butler of the Warners, he quickly stepped into the security room of the prison hospital. ¡°Mr. Hoyer,¡± greeted the security guard. Shane was friendly and amiable as he casually threw a pack of cigarettes to the security guard in the room, saying, ¡°Take these cigarettes and enjoy them.¡± The security guard received the cigarettes with a smile and looked at the logo on the cigarette box, shocked. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, these are good cigarettes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t smoke, so I can¡¯t appreciate them.¡± Upon hearing Shane¡¯s words, the security guard joked, ¡°Mr. Hoyer, these cigarettes are the best of the best. I¡¯ll try them.¡± Without waiting for a response, the security guard opened the cigarette box and took out a stick to breathe in the scent deeply. Shane coughed ufortably, and the security guard, sensing the atmosphere, said, ¡°I¡¯ll go outside to smoke.¡± Taking advantage of the security guard¡¯s break, Shane deliberately checked the hospital¡¯s surveince footage. When his gaze fell on rk in the records room, he could not help but suck in a deep breath. Why did the Warners¡¯ butlere here? It could not be just for a casual visit. The only with a connection to him was Esther. Could he be here to investigate herbor? person Shane furrowed his brows. He took out his phone, intending to tell Leah about this. However, he suddenly realized that reducing contact during this sensitive period would be more appropriate. After all, he had just be the director of the prison hospital and had not made enough money yet. He did not want anyone to ruin his good fortune. When the security guard returned after smoking, his steps were light and bouncy. Shane reminded, ¡°Do your job well.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hoyer.¡± Shane returned to his office. As the director, he had the authority to ess all the information in the database regarding Esther¡¯s childbirth. Yet, he couldn¡¯t help but regret not using that authority earlier to rece her records. If he had done so, even if the Warner family¡¯s butler conducted a personal investigation, he would have found nothing incriminating. However, with the recent update in the prison system, any modifications made to the delivery records would leave a trace in the system. Shane couldn¡¯t afford to have any loopholes jeopardizing the hard- earned position he held. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Opening his social media ount, he confirmed that Leah was apanying Liliane at the hospital. A n quickly took shape in his mind, prompting him to reach for his phone and call one of his subordinates. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a car license te number. He just left the prison hospital. Keep an eye on him and see who he meets and what he does. Remember to be discreet and not alert anyone,¡± he instructed. rk leisurely walked to the parking lot outside the hospital, opened the car door, and sat inside. However, he did not start the car right away. Instead, he took out his phone and dialed a number, speaking in a deep voice. ¡°Are you at the detective agency now? I have something to entrust to you.¡± ¡°rk, I¡¯m in the office.¡± After leaving the prison hospital, rk went straight to a game house hidden in a residential building. Although it appeared to be just a game house on the surface, it was a secret detective agency. ¡°rk, have a seat.¡± A bald, middle-aged man led rk into his office. Skillfully, he brewed a cup of coffee while rk wasted no time and handed him a USB drive. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 ¡°Make a copy of the contents in this USB drive and investigate the events of Mr. Thomas¡¯ hospitalization five years ago, the videos of Esther, and what happened to her in prison and during childbirth,¡± rk instructed, his mind filled with thoughts of the recorded Property ? N?velDrama.Org. conversation. ¡°Pay special attention to Liliane¡¯s matters.¡± The bald man began copying the data from the USB drive while sharing some gossip he had heard with rk. ¡°I heard that Mr. Bradley is nning to marry Ms. Anstey. Investigating her privately like this, isn¡¯t it¡­¡± ¡°Our young Mr. Felix isn¡¯t Liliane¡¯s biological son, but the son of Esther and Bradley¡­¡± Even as a private detective who had witnessed numerous dark secrets within wealthy families, the bald man was left speechless with shock. ¡°Are you suggesting¡­¡± rk took a sip of his premium coffee and calmly stated, ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact details of what happened back then, but I can confidently say that Mr. Thomas¡¯ death had nothing to do with Esther.¡± ¡°If Mr. Thomas¡¯ death truly isn¡¯t connected to Esther, then that poor girl has suffered immensely!¡± Spending the prime five years of her life in prison and being separated from her child right after giving birth? What kind of grudges and resentments must have tormented Esther all this time? ¡°I¡¯ve copied the data, and I¡¯ll investigate slowly. However, as you know, this is an incident. from five years ago, so it¡¯ll be challenging to investigate,¡± said the bald man. rk looked at the middle-aged man in front of him and said gently, ¡°What may be extremely difficult for others is just a trivial matter for you.¡± In this world, birds had their own way, and snakes had their own path. As a detective, the bald man also had his own methods. ¡°rk, I¡¯ve always felt that you¡¯re too talented to be just a butler in the Warners.¡± ¡°Mr. Thomas once saved my life,¡± rk said calmly andposedly. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for him back then, my whole family would have been doomed. He saved me and our family. Now that he¡¯s gone, I want to stay in the Warners and wait for Bradley¡¯s life to be on the right track. Then, I can let go of everything and reunite with my wife and child abroad.¡± ¡°rk, you¡¯re just too kind.¡± The bald man thought that with the Warners¡¯ wealth, saving rk¡¯s family would be an effortless task. However, over the years, rk had transitioned from being a driver to bing a butler in the Warners¡¯ household, firmly rooted like apass needle. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave the matter to you. Keep me informed if you have any updates. I¡¯ll also investigate privately,¡± said rk. The bald man personally escorted rk to the entrance of the residentialplex. His eyes fell on a white car not far away, and his detective instinct made him shudder. He quickly stepped up to rk and advised, ¡°rk, someone¡¯s following you. You drive ahead and try to lead them to a sparsely popted area. I¡¯ll tail them.¡± rk¡¯s expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, ¡°Take care of your safety.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get in the car in a hurry. Check first to see if they¡¯ve tampered with your car.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After rk got into the car, he started the engine and left the residentialplex. Meanwhile, the man in the white car made a phone call to Shane. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, that butler rk has left the old residentialplex. Should we follow him?¡± ¡°Follow him!¡± Shane¡¯s expression turned cold and fierce. ¡°Stay in touch with me at all times.¡± Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Shane arrived at the hospital, made his way to Scott¡¯s office, and greeted him. ¡°Scott.¡± Scott was pleasantly surprised. ¡°Shane, what brought you here, my friend?¡± ¡°I was just passing by the hospital on business and thought I¡¯d drop by to see you.¡± Shane ced the gift. he was carrying on Scott¡¯s desk and smiled. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve made new discoveries in the field of artificial hearts. Congrattions!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit early for congrattions now. Wait until I develop an artificial heart that can truly be imnted in the body, then you can congratte me,¡± Scott joked with Shane, the atmosphere lively from the banter of two clever people. Scott thought about how Shane had once shown an interest in the goddess he admired and how he had grown close to her over the years. He felt a sense of pride. After all, the goddess who was once out of reach now actively contacted him repeatedly because of her child. He thoroughly enjoyed the way the goddess tried to please and get close to him. ¡°Shane, do you remember our medical school goddess, Leah?¡± asked Scott. Shane thought, ¡®If it weren¡¯t for Leah, would Ie to see you? What¡¯s so great about a grown man like you?¡± ¡°I do. What about her?¡± replied Shane. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Scott was pleased with himself as he said, ¡°She¡¯s at the hospital. How about we have dinner together tonight?¡± ¡°I can do that, but I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s convenient since she¡¯s a married woman,¡± Shane said with a hint of bitterness. Scott instantly thought that Shane still held unresolved feelings and said with a smile, ¡°Shane, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still such a romantic fool!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯m a married man. If my wife hears you, she¡¯ll make me sleep in the doghouse,¡± Shane said seriously but nonsensically. ¡°I never expected you to be afraid of your wife!¡± remarked Scott. Shane said in a low voice, ¡°Scott, you¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m not afraid of my wife. I cherish her! She gave birth to our offspring and takes care of our parents. Shouldn¡¯t I treat her well? But you wouldn¡¯t understand this feeling. After all, you married our professor¡¯s most precious gem. You have to treat her like a queen, right? ¡°You¡­¡± Scott felt a wave of turmoil. When he was young, he chose a shortcut in life in order to avoid decades of hard work. Little did he know that this shortcut seemed easy to take but was filled with invisible dangers. As a son-inw, his wife had the support of his professor, and even their children didn¡¯t bear hisst name. The bitterness and sorrows he carried in his heart were indescribable. People only saw his outward shine, unaware of the inner pain he had no one to share with. ¡°Scott, you mentioned that Leah is at the hospital. Why? Is she ill?¡± asked Shane. ¡°No, it¡¯s her daughter who¡¯s ill with a serious heart condition. If they can¡¯t find a suitable heart soon, won¡¯tst another three months!¡± replied Scott. she Shane furrowed his brows. ¡°I remember she only has one daughter. If something happens to her daughter, can she handle it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I suggested having dinner together tonight, so we can chat about our youthful days and ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll ask my wife for permission,¡± Shane said, ying along. As Shane sought permission from his wife, Scott had to leave him alone in the ward as he had an emergency surgery to attend to. Liliane¡¯s spirits remained high inside the ward as she and her mother sifted through wedding proposals sent by a wedding nningpany, making their choices Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Someone knocked on the door, and Leah¡¯s clear voice invited them in. It was Shane who pushed the door open, and as soon as Leahid eyes on him, she had a premonition. Leah and Shane had always met privately throughout the years, making this their first open appearance together. ¡°Leah?¡± ¡°Shane?¡± They spoke simultaneously and then said in unison, ¡°You¡¯re still the same.¡± They exchanged smiles, disying their strong understanding of each other. Liliane¡¯s curious eyes observed Shane, who wore gold-rimmed sses and a well-tailored suit, exuding refinement and gentlemanliness. ¡°Mom, who¡¯s this?¡± asked Liliane. Leah openly exined, ¡°This is Shane, my college ssmate. Shane, this is my daughter, Liliane.¡± Shane generouslyplimented, ¡°Your daughter bears a striking resemnce to you when you were young. Leah smiled and replied, ¡°My daughter inherited her father¡¯s good genes and looks even better than I did in my youth!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane blushed. Leah knew that Shane must havee with a purpose but was wary of raising suspicion if they prepared by the weddingpany to Liliane. ¡°Liliane, take a look at these first. I¡¯ll have a chat with Uncle Shane.¡± As old ssmates, it was only natural for Leah and Shane to catch up when they met. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s already time for dinner. Why don¡¯t you invite Uncle Shane to have a meal?¡± suggested Liliane. ¡°Do I need you to remind me? Just take a good rest!¡± said Leah. In front of others, Leah and Shane pretended not to be familiar at all. As soon as they entered the restaurant¡¯s private room, they dropped the facade and became familiar and close again. Shane poured a ss of water for Leah attentively and looked at her charming face with concern. ¡°Leah, don¡¯t worry too much about Liliane¡¯s illness.¡± Since Liliane¡¯s condition worsened, Leah had trouble eating and sleeping, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes. She took a sip of water and scolded him, ¡°Shane, don¡¯t pretend tofort me. Let me tell you, I¡¯m different from you. Liliane¡¯s my only daughter. Unlike you, with a wife and son, This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Liliane is my everything. If something happens to her, I don¡¯t want to live anymore.¡± ¡°Leah, Liliane¡¯s my daughter too. She didn¡¯t grow up by my side, and I owe her a lot. Don¡¯t worry. I will find a suitable heart as soon as possible. Once she undergoes the heart transnt surgery, all the problems will be solved.¡± Shaneforted Leah softly. ¡°Liliane needs someone to take care of her, so you have to take good care of yourself as well.¡± Leah looked deeply into Shane¡¯s eyes and sighed weakly. ¡°Shane, I n to divorce that useless man Anstey after Liliane gets married to Bradley.¡± If it were not for the fact that Leah needed to give Liliane a legal identity, she would never have married that useless man Billy in the first ce. She thought she could control that useless man, but unexpectedly, he had a secret daughter to disgust her! Since that was the case, she should not be med for being heartless and unfaithful. Shane thought about his recent discovery in the prison hospital and reminded her, ¡°The Warner butler came to our prison hospital.¡± As soon as Leah heard Shane say this, all the jumbled thoughts in her mind disappeared instantly. ¡°Why did he go to the hospital? Why are you only telling me now?¡± Seeing Leah so flustered, Shane firmly kissed her on the face and confidently said, ¡°What we could do five years ago, we can do now. What are you panicking about? You have me for everything!¡± Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Leah snuggled in Shane¡¯s embrace, her slightly panicked heart being miraculously soothed by him. Liliane is sick!¡± Shane said with a frown, ¡°I heard from Scott. All we need to do is find a suitable heart for her transnt.¡± ¡°You say it so easily. We¡¯ve been searching for a heart for Liliane since she was born. Have you found a suitable one?¡± Leah¡¯s heart thumped rapidly, feeling as if something bad was about to happen. ¡°Why did that old man suddenly want to go to the hospital?¡± ¡°He checked the records of Esther¡¯sbor.¡± Shane reassured, ¡°But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve made modifications to those records.¡± Leah finally breathed a sigh of relief. She instructed, ¡°Arrange for someone to follow him and see what he¡¯s up to. Liliane¡¯s health isn¡¯t good right now, and we can¡¯t let her be disturbed even slightly.¡± ¡°Liliane¡¯s my biological daughter. Of course, I know how to take care of her!¡± Leah pinched Shane¡¯s arm and scolded angrily, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you going abroad back then and me not being able to contact you, would I have found Billy Anstey as a recement?¡± Shane said, ¡°Leah, my baby, I was wrong. Come here. I¡¯ll give you a kiss.¡± Leah could not help butugh at Shane¡¯s deliberate attempt to please her. She looked at him seriously and said, ¡°I remember that Esther should¡¯ve undergone an examination in the prison hospital. Check if her heart is suitable for Liliane¡¯s transnt.¡± Shane was shocked. ¡°Are you suggesting¡­¡± Leah sneered. ¡°Do you want to transnt your own son¡¯s heart to our daughter instead?¡± Shane initially hesitated, but when he thought about his biological son, he gave up the idea. It would be better to use Esther¡¯s heart, after all. Besides, they had harmed Esther before, so there was no turning back. Esther was always there to obstruct Liliane¡¯s path anyway. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the hospital tomorrow to check. Get our daughter¡¯s examination data from Scott too,¡± said Shane. Shane and Leah were once a couple when they were young, but they broke up due to various circumstances. Later, they both formed their own families, but they continued to have secret contact with each other. It was just that their interactions were not obvious, and nobody had found out about it! Moreover, they had a daughter together, which signified their deepest bond. ¡°Why don¡¯t we tell Lili the truth?¡± Leah thought about her daughter, who knew nothing about her own identity. Shane shook his head and rejected that idea. ¡°No, Liliane isn¡¯t in good health. If we tell her this news and she can¡¯t ept it, what if something happens?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait until after the heart transnt surgery¡± Leah¡¯s eyes suddenly turned red, feeling deeply sorry for Shane. He knew that his daughter was right in front of him, but they could not reunite with each other. She said softly, ¡°Have someone keep an eye on rk and, if necessary¡­¡± Leah made a throat-slitting gesture. Shane leaned close to Leah¡¯s face and kissed her deeply. ¡°Whatever you say, baby, I¡¯ll do it as your Property ? N?velDrama.Org. husband.¡± The two of them cherished every moment they had together, making the most of every minute and second. Even when the restaurant server delivered their food, their hands were still tightly intertwined. When Scott finished the surgery and entered the private room, what he saw was the two of them sitting upright, appearing unfamiliar with each other. Scott did not notice their hidden rtionship and even intentionally or unintentionally disyed how close he was to Leah in front of Shane. Shane¡¯s evident jealousy delighted Scott, and he became even more talkative. The three people in the private room each had their own thoughts, and a storm was brewing. In Primus Mansion. Meanwhile, Esther was teaching Felix how to wrap ravioli step by step. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 TThe ravioli had a unique shape that caught Felix¡¯s astonishment as he watched his mother make them.¡± Mommy, the ravioli you made are so pretty!¡± Esther had gathered fresh flowers and leaves from the garden on the terrace. She skillfully arranged the flowers and leaves as she rolled out the dough, creating exquisite ravioli. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Daddy, did you take photos?¡± As the bridge between Esther and Bradley, Felix praised Esther with sweet words. He urged Bradley to capture his mother¡¯s most beautiful moments. ¡°I did.¡± With flour-covered hands, Felix leaned over to see the photos on Bradley¡¯s phone. Esther¡¯s hands, face, and asional expressions were captured in the frame. The Esther in the photos looked stunningly beautiful, radiating an ethereal aura. ¡°Daddy, you made Mommy look so pretty!¡± As Esther continued making ravioli, she raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Does that mean Mommy isn¡¯t pretty normally?¡± ¡°You are!¡± Felix said adorably, ¡°Mommy¡¯s the most beautiful in the world.¡± The family of three worked together to make ravioli, turning what could have been a mundane dinner preparation into a precious bonding moment thanks to Felix¡¯s innocent words. This lively and joyful side of Felix was new to Bradley. Unlike the previous quiet and seemingly lifeless Felix, he now exhibited the innocence and loveliness unique to his age. Felix tilted his head and asked sweetly, ¡°Daddy, is Mommy beautiful?¡± Bradley nced at Esther, who was focused on making ravioli. As she lowered her head, a strand of hair fell, giving her a gentle and delicately vulnerable look. ¡°She is,¡± Bradley said honestly. Even though Bradley held resentment and grievances toward Esther, he could not bring himself to say she was not beautiful, for she was honestly beautiful. Esther¡¯s skin had a paleplexion, and the warm light entuated its porcin-like fairness, giving her an ethereal glow. Her hair was thick and lustrous, creating a striking contrast that further highlighted the beauty of her skin. Her expression carried a sense of ruthlessness and weariness when she was released from prison. However, now, with selective amnesia, her expression resembled a blossoming rose, captivating and enchanting. Perhaps the unbearable pain of the five years in prison had led her to selectively forget that period, creating a beautiful illusion for herself. As Bradley gazed at the captivating Esther, a sense of guilt washed over him. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Esther, his savior, waking up from this dream-like state. A foolish notion emerged within him.. He resolved to do everything in his power to uphold the beautiful illusion she had created, wishing for her to forever maintain her current smile and inner peace. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Felix eximed with pure delight, his innocent face glowing with the charm of his young age. With a warm smile, Esther assigned Felix a small task, saying, ¡°Felix, can you count how many ravioli Mommy made?¡± Felix stood up on the dining chair and began counting the te of ravioli Esther had prepared. ¡°One, two, three¡­¡± Concerned that Felix might lean too far and fall, Bradley reached out and gently held him in his arms. ¡°Mommy, there are 99 ravioli!¡± Felix announced proudly! Esther gave him a thumbs up, showing her approval. Felix¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as he swayed in Bradley¡¯s embrace. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, let me tell you a secret. I¡¯m a genius!¡± Felix eximed, although his parents didn¡¯t quite grasp his meaning. Nevertheless, they smiled at each other and praised him in unison, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a genius.¡± Felix¡¯s face lit up with joy as he sat snugly in Bradley¡¯s arms, eagerly looking at Esther. ¡°Mommy, can we cook the ravioli now?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Esther pointed to the ravioliid out on the board and spoke gently. ¡°Some of these are for steaming, and some are for boiling.¡± ¡°I want to eat them all!¡± Felix dered with enthusiasm. ¡°Okay,¡± Esther agreed, and she instructed Melinda to start boiling water in two pots. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Esther quickly prepared the sauces while Melinda assisted in the kitchen, making the process smoother. As the water began to boil, Esther carefully ced the raw ravioli into the pot, with Melinda¡¯s help making the task easier. Nestled in Bradley¡¯s arms, Felix asked innocently, ¡°Daddy, how did you and Mommy meet? ¡°Why do you ask so many questions, little brat?¡± Bradley¡¯s tone suddenly turned cold. With his chin supported by his little hand, Felix tilted his head and pondered for a moment before saying, ¡± Daddy, you should treat Mommy well. Otherwise-¡± Bradley interrupted, asking, ¡°Otherwise, what?¡± Felix¡¯s mischievous expression left Bradley speechless as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll find another Daddy!¡± Observing Felix¡¯s happiness, Bradley decided not to disclose Liliane¡¯s illness to him. Since there were doctors taking care of Liliane, he didn¡¯t want to dampen Felix¡¯s spirits. Melinda assisted Esther in the kitchen as she ted the ravioli and carefully added the sauces. The dish looked like a work of art. ¡°Wow¡­ Mommy¡¯s amazing!¡± Felix apuded, bringing joy to Esther¡¯s heart. She longed to hug her sweet son and shower him with kisses. ¡°Just in case they don¡¯t taste good, you must let me know, okay?¡± Felix vigorously shook his head. ¡°Mommy¡¯s cooking is the most delicious in the world!¡± Skillfully, Felix scooped up a ravioli and took a bite. The vors exploded in his mouth, but the heat. caused tears to well up in his eyes. Reacting quickly, Esther held out her hand, positioned her palm beneath Felix¡¯s small mouth, and gently said, ¡°Felix, spit it out. Don¡¯t burn yourself.¡± Felix shook his head vehemently. No! Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Esther¡¯s ravioli were super delicious, and Felix didn¡¯t want to be a bad kid who wasted food. His little mouth was puffed up, giving him an adorable look. However, Bradley frowned and scolded him, reminding him not to eat things that were too hot. With a slightly swollen tongue, Felix exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but Mommy¡¯s ravioli are too tempting. I couldn¡¯t control myself¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s handsome face showed a hint of anger. ¡°If you behave like this again, I won¡¯t allow you to Esther fiercely defended Felix, saying, ¡°Bradley, it¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t let the ravioli cool down to the right temperature before serving them. Felix is just a child. What does he know? You can¡¯t treat our child like this as a father.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Mommy¡¯s fault. I was just too impatient!¡± Felix interjected, afraid that Bradley would separate him from Esther. Their simr expressions, filled with protectiveness and defense, unsettled Bradley. He quickly dismissed the ludicrous thought that crossed his mind, reminding himself that Esther and Liliane were half-sisters, so it was natural for Esther and Felix to resemble each other. 1 Once again, the truth slipped through Bradley¡¯s fingers. ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Bradley said, his expression turning serious. ¡°No more gobbling up your food. Pay attention to table manners,¡± ¡°I know!¡± grumbled Felix. Esther picked up a steamed ravioli and ced it in Felix¡¯s bowl. Felix sweetly thanked her, saying, ¡°Thank you, Mommy.¡± ¡°Eat slowly. If you like it, I¡¯ll make more for you in the future,¡± Esther said with a warm smile. Felix ate the ravioli gracefully and cheerfully eximed, ¡°I like anything as long as Mommy makes it!¡± Bradley, ustomed to luxurious delicacies, recognized that Esther¡¯s ravioli didn¡¯t use any precious ingredients, but they were exceptionally delicious. The seasoning was just right, the sauce was vorful, and the ravioli skin was chewy. It was wless. Unconsciously, Bradley ate a lot and dropped his cutlery in panic when he realized he had exceeded his usual appetite. He looked at Felix, who had a round and satisfied belly with a happy and satisfied face. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mommy, it was so good!¡± Felix eximed. As Melinda tidied up the dining table, she noticed Felix had eaten a bit too much and reminded Esther, Madam, you might need to help Mr. Felix digest, or else he might have indigestion tonight.¡± ¡°Felix, let¡¯s go to the terrace and water the nts,¡± suggested Esther. ¡°Okay!¡± Felix eagerly agreed. Hand in hand, Esther and Felix made their way to the terrace. It was adorned not only with flowers but also with various vegetables and fruits. Esther took the hose and sprayed water on the nts, creating a mist that turned into a beautiful rainbow under the sunlight. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s a rainbow!¡± eximed Felix. Esther asked, ¡°Do you want to y?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Felix replied eagerly. Esther handed Felix the watering hose and said, ¡°Felix, the flowers and nts need water too.¡± ¡°Mommy, I can do it!¡± Felix eximed proudly. Felix held up the hose and let the water mist spray onto the nts. As the water nourished the leaves, they stretched out, seemingly enjoying the kiss of the water mist. An artificial rainbow enveloped Esther and Bradley, enhancing their image as a perfect couple destined for each other. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I love you so much! Muah!¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! y Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Esther happily watched as Felix yed with the water, capturing the beautiful scene with her phone.¡± Darling, our son looks so handsome!¡± Bradley, entranced by the tenderness in Esther¡¯s eyes, felt his heart race. It was as if he was seeing Esther¡¯s beauty up close for the first time. Her beauty was not loud or aggressive but rather a flowing beauty like water-dreamlike and dazzling. ¡°Esther¡­¡± Confused, Esther turned to Bradley when she heard him call her name with seriousness and sincerity. Her bright eyes met his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sitting on a wicker chair, Bradley remained silent, simply watching her intently. With a backdrop of roses in various colors, Esther stood before him. The evening sun illuminated her, and a gentle breeze tousled her hair. Her skirt swayed gracefully. She was a stunning sight, like a painting. ¡°Darling, what were you going to say?¡± Esther asked again, noticing Bradley¡¯s silence. Bradley shifted his gaze away and spoke with indifference. ¡°Don¡¯t spoil him too much.¡± Upon hearing that, Esther couldn¡¯t help but mischievously smile. ¡°Darling, you can be the strict father, and 1¡¯ll be the loving mother! Childhood is fleeting, and soon he won¡¯t be able to act cute in front of me like he does now.¡± Esther sat down beside Bradley in the soft breeze, naturally resting her head on his shoulder. The couple sat together, gazing at Felix in the distance and sharing the same tenderness and joy in their eyes. ¡°Darling, do you like girls?¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Esther¡¯s question made Bradley instinctively tense. His throat felt dry, and his voice came out hoarse as he asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± At that moment, he felt a surge of panic. He feared that Esther would regain her memories. He feared that the beautiful illusion of Esther before him would vanish like foam. ¡°Darling, why are you suddenly so nervous?¡± Esther tilted her pretty face and looked at Bradley, slowly saying, ¡°I was just thinking that our son¡¯s growing up. Maybe we should consider having a second child?¡± Bradley subtly let out a sigh of relief. ¡°One is enough.¡± ¡°But I hope our second birth can be a pair of twin daughters. Then we can dress them up prettily. Since Felix is a boy, he can¡¯t wear matching outfits with me. But daughters are different. I can wear matching outfits with them, and we can even have cute hairstyles together¡­¡± Bradley inevitably thought of his daughter, Tinkerbell, who he never had the chance to meet before she left this world. Tinkerbell and Pixie could fulfill all of Esther¡¯s fantasies. However, due to a twist of fate, Tinkerbell had passed away, and Pixie was not in the country. Once he found Pixie, he would definitely bring her to Esther, ensuring that her life had no regrets. ¡°Darling, if we really have a pair of twin daughters, should we name them Tinkerbell and Pixie? Or should we name them Twinkle and Sunshine?¡± Tinkerbell and Pixie-these two lovely names cut through Bradley¡¯s heart like a knife. An indescribable pain spread in his heart. ¡°How did youe up with these names?¡± Bradley¡¯s voice trembled with pain. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Esther pointed to the tree toppers on the trees that Felix was watering and said, ¡°Felix¡¯s watering on Tinkerbell and Pixie!¡± ¡°Are Twinkle and Sunshine because you see stars and the sun in the sky?¡± Bradley did not even realize that his voice carried a sense of relief. ¡°Yes!¡± Esther nodded vigorously, excitedly saying, ¡°Darling, you really understand me! Look, the stars are out¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re naming them too casually?¡± Bradley argued. Esther yfully asked, ¡°How is it casual? They¡¯re clearly the best names in the world! Darling, let¡¯s have a second child. I heard that we can have a pair of twins through IVF.¡± Bradley took out his phone, searched for a picture, and handed it to Esther. ¡°There¡¯s a long needle like this to retrieve your eggs without anesthesia. You don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be painful?¡± he asked. Esther quickly shook her head and murmured, ¡°No, it¡¯s too painful!¡± ¡°Then do you still want to go with IVF?¡± asked Bradley. Esther leaned close to Bradley¡¯s ear and whispered softly, ¡°Then let¡¯s conceive naturally!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Bradley was about to speak, but Esther clung to his arm, acting sweetly. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s have a second child. I promise I¡¯ll take care of them myself after giving birth. I absolutely won¡¯t bother you!¡± she said. ¡°No!¡± Bradley could not evenprehend how Tinkerbell and Pixie came into existence yet. How could he possibly have a second child with Esther? ¡°Ah¡­¡± Esther¡¯s eyes vaguely raked below Bradley¡¯s waist. ¡°Darling, so you can¡¯t do it¡­¡± Esther¡¯s words showed a trace of disappointment, and Bradley was enraged. He covered Esther¡¯s mouth firmly, gritting his teeth and saying, ¡°Who says I can¡¯t do it!?¡± Esther said in a muffled voice, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. Unless¡­ you let me try.¡± Bradley looked at how Esther was blurting shocking words and pushed his lips close to her ear to say with gritted teeth, ¡°Esther, no more nonsense.¡± If he could not do it, how had Felixe into existence? How had Pixie and Tinkerbelle into existence? ¡°I¡¯m not spouting nonsense.¡± Esther lightly drew circles on Bradley¡¯s abdomen with her finger. ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife! Wanting a second child is just answering the country¡¯s call!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to!¡± Bradley¡¯s mind was preupied with finding Pixie. How could he have the intention of having a second child? ¡°You¡­¡± Esther suddenly teared up,ining in a coquettish manner, ¡°Are you disgusted with me? Do you dislike how my figure has changed after giving birth?¡± Bradley rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on. He firmly held back Esther¡¯s mischievous hand and sternly said, ¡°Esther, I don¡¯t dislike you¡­¡± ¡°Really?¡± The light in Esther¡¯s eyes shone like brilliant stars. ¡°You really don¡¯t dislike me?¡± Bradley helplessly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t dislike you.¡± ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll spare you!¡± Esther retracted her hand and sat up straight with a sly glimmer Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. shing in her eyes. As long as she did not put him off, that was enough! She had ways to make Bradley have a second child with her. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 When Esther moved her hand away, Bradley¡¯s heart had an inexplicable sense of regret. Originally, he was not a highly sensual man, but for some reason, when Esther was coquettishly acting spoiled, an almost absurd thought came to his mind-he wanted to make Esther cry in his arms. Esther leaned on the armrest of the wicker chair, searching for lingerie on her phone. A faint blush of shyness tinged her ears as she looked at the details of the pictures. Seeing Esther suddenly be so quiet, Bradley felt somewhat ufortable and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Esther did not dare to let Bradley know that she was looking at lingerie for some naughty time. She blushed and whispered, ¡°I was thinking that it¡¯s still a bit early to go to bed. How about we go to the cinema to watch a movie?¡± Felix, who was watering the flowers, heard the mention of watching a movie and excitedly ran over to Esther and Bradley, saying in a sweet voice, ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I want to go watch a movie!¡± Bradley shot down the idea. ¡°No, you can¡¯t go to crowded ces yet.¡± Knowing that he could not persuade Bradley, Felix tried another approach and said, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go. watch a movie together. I¡¯ve never been to a cinema before!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Esther opened the ticket booking app and asked in a gentle voice, ¡°How about we watch The Great Sage? Is that good?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Esther went ahead and bought the tickets. Bradley cleared his throat as she selected two seats and said, ¡°Three tickets.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Daddy, I thought you didn¡¯t watch movies?¡± Felix asked knowingly. Esther smoothly resolved the awkwardness for Bradley and said, ¡°Felix, shouldn¡¯t a beautiful Mommy like me have a knight in shining armor?¡± Felix vigorously nodded. ¡°Yes!¡± Felix hugged Bradley and yfully said, ¡°Daddy, let¡¯s be Mommy¡¯s knights!¡± Bradley lifted Felix in his arms and indifferently said, ¡°The movie starts in half an hour.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go watch the movie!¡± Felix¡¯s clothes got wet while ying with water, prompting Bradley to take him to change into casual clothes. Meanwhile, Esther, who had been busy in the kitchen for a long time, changed into a going-out outfit. ¡°Wow¡­ we¡¯re wearing matching outfits!¡± Bradley wore a suit with a blue tie. Esther also wore a blue dress. As for Felix, he wore clothes in the same color scheme. When the three of them stood together, it was a perfect family outfit. ¡°Hurry, we¡¯re running out of time!¡± They raced all the way and managed to arrive at the cinema just in time for ticket collection. Esther took her phone to collect the tickets, while Bradley took Felix to buy popcorn and soda. After the three of them collected their tickets, they followed the instructions and found their seats. ¡°Mommy¡¯s the queen. Sit in the middle.¡± Felix, the little cutie, intentionally wanted to create an opportunity for Bradley and Esther to get closer. ¡°Felix, you sit in the middle,¡± said Esther. Felix shook his head and refused, saying, ¡°No, I want to sit next to Mommy. Daddy and I are your bodyguards today!¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Esther was about to say something, but the movie started ying. Bradley raised his index finger to his lips and whispered, ¡°Shh! The movie¡¯s starting!¡± The Great Sage was an animated film, but most of the people who came to watch the movie were young couples who sweetly cuddled together. The air was pink and sweet with love. Felix rested his chin on his hand and tilted his head, wondering when rk would bring him the good news. At first, Felix was still thinking about his parents, but his attention was gradually captivated by the colorful animation. Therge movie theater was quite crowded, mainly filled with couples in love. For them, watching a movie was just another way of dating. They affectionately fed each other popcorn, shared a cup of soda, and some even kissed! Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Esther sat in her seat, thinking about what she had just seen, and suddenly had an idea. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bradley looked at Esther, who suddenly stood up, and asked, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a moment.¡± Esther bent over and left the theater to go to the restroom without disturbing the viewers in the back row. She sat on the toilet in the restroom and quickly selected a few styles of trendy and highly-rated lingerie from a shop near Primus Mansion on her phone. She also sent a message to Melinda asking her to help with the package¡¯s delivery. Afterpleting this series of tasks, Esther walked out of the restroom with flushed cheeks and a racing heart. She ced her phone on the sink and sshed some cold water on her face. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s really you!¡± Esther looked at the unfriendly socialite before her and asked, raising an eyebrow coldly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Do you know that Liliane and Bradley are getting married? Yet, you still came out to watch a movie with Bradley at a time like this. What¡¯s the difference between your behavior and being a mistress?¡± The socialite was indignant on behalf of Liliane, who had been so close to Bradley for the past five years, even having a son like Felix. She wanted to defend Liliane¡¯s rights. ¡°Miss, do you understand thew? I am Bradley¡¯swful wife.¡± Esther calmly pulled out a tissue and wiped her hands, speaking coldly. ¡°As long as I¡¯m not divorced from Bradley, you and all these women who admire him will forever be nothing more than shady mistresses!¡± The socialite had not expected that Esther would reveal her most hidden desire. She was infuriated and pped Esther¡¯s face. Esther grabbed the socialite¡¯s hand and pped her back. ¡°Esther, how dare you¡­¡± The socialite was furious and ready to fight Esther, but thetter did not give her a chance. She immediately threw herself into Bradley¡¯s arms outside the door, tearfullyining, ¡°Darling, she called me a mistress¡­¡± Before Bradley could speak, Felix was the first to defend his own mother. ¡°My Mommy is my Daddy¡¯s legal wife. She¡¯s Mrs. Warner with a marriage certificate!¡± The socialite looked at everything in front of her and felt somewhat bewildered. What was going on? Why did Liliane¡¯s son call a b*tch like Esther his Mommy? Why was Bradley looking at her with such terrifying eyes? ¡°Mr. Warner, this cheap-¡± The socialite did not get to finish her sentence before Bradley grabbed her chin, his expression icy and domineering as he warned, ¡°Esther is my wife. If you can¡¯t respect her with the use of politenguage, I¡¯m more than willing to help you cut off your tongue.. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 The socialite was thoroughly confused as she looked at Bradley¡¯s handsome face, which was filled with anger. She couldn¡¯t understand what was happening. How could Bradley be preparing for a wedding with Liliane and still be entangled with Esther? Bradley said, ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone else to know what happened today. If you dare say a word¡­¡± Felix stood up for Esther with a stern face. ¡°Your family will go bankrupt by the next sunrise!¡± Esther could not help butugh at Felix¡¯s domineering and bossy demeanor. She reached out and held his small hand, moved as she said, ¡°My son is the best. He knows how to defend his Mommy!¡± Felix¡¯s adorable little face blushed even more when Esther praised him. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, and I are your bodyguards!¡± Bradley nced at Esther and Felix, who seemedpletely unaware of their surroundings, and slowly withdrew his hand from the socialite¡¯s chin. With a fierce expression, he uttered, ¡°Get lost!¡± The socialite had never witnessed this side of Bradley before. In her memory, he had always been an elegant and noble man, like a flower on a distant peak, untouchable. She had fallen for him. During the time when Esther faced troubles, she, like other jealous women who resented Esther¡¯s position as Mrs. Warner, had tried to bring her down. She had spread nderous and vulgar words through anonymous troll ounts, ridiculing Esther. The socialite and herpanions had attended a wild nightclub party on the day Esther was imprisoned, silently reveling in their shared understanding. These socialites had assumed that Bradley and Esther would be bitter enemies, given that he had personally sent her to prison. Thus, they felt immense satisfaction when they witnessed Esther¡¯s presence. at the funeral, being mocked by Bradley. However, the socialite had never anticipated seeing Bradley actually taking Esther to the movies tonight while she herself hade with her young boyfriend. Seizing the opportunity, she approached Esther when she was alone, only to unintentionally discover This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. that Bradley, who should have despised Esther with every fiber of his being, was fiercely protecting her in this manner. His eyes, in particr, were icy and ruthless, brimming with merciless cruelty. Bradley ced his arm around Esther¡¯s shoulder, and Esther held Felix¡¯s little hand as they walked together as a family of three towards the screening hall, The socialite trembled all over. She took out her phone shakily, trying to call Liliane to ask what exactly was going on. Why was Liliane¡¯s son calling Esther ¡°Mommy¡±? Just as the socialite was about to make the call, Bradley turned his head slightly, and his warning gaze seemed to contain endless killing intent that engulfed her. The socialite was so frightened that the phone slipped from her hand and fell with a thud onto the carpet. Before she could pick it up, it started ringing. After the phone rang for a while, the socialite, as if waking up from a dream, picked up the phone. Her voice was trembling as she slowly called out, ¡°Dad¡­¡± ¡°Where are you now? Come back within half an hour and pack your things to leave the country!¡± ¡°Why, Dad? Why so suddenly?¡± she asked. ¡°You are asking me why? Let me ask you, why did you provoke Mr. Warner? Is he someone you can easily. provoke? If our family goes bankrupt, you will be the one to me!¡± The socialite¡¯s legs gave out, causing her to fall to the ground in disbelief. She had never anticipated that Bradley would go to such extreme lengths for Esther. At that moment, fear and panic overtook her. She took a deep breath, struggling to regain her The thought of going bankrupt terrified her. She didn¡¯t want to live a life filled with constant worry over a few dors each day. Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! y Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Esther, Bradley, and Felix returned to the cinema, resuming their movie-watching experience. The flickering light from the screen cast an ethereal glow on Esther¡¯s face, creating a dreamlike aura around her. As Felix and Esther shared popcorn, their act of feeding each other filled the scene with warmth and beauty. At that moment, Esther turned her head and caught Bradley¡¯s gaze fixed on the popcorn in her hand. A sudden idea sparked in her mind, and she decided to offer him a taste. She delicately picked up a piece of popcorn and gently fed it to Bradley. Instinctively, Bradley bit into the popcorn, savoring thebination of chocte coating and the lingering warmth left by Esther¡¯s touch on his lips. Esther leaned close to Bradley¡¯s ear and asked softly, ¡°Darling, is it good?¡± Bradley responded with a hum ufortably. Esther lowered her voice and whispered to Bradley, ¡°Thank you for standing up for me just now, darling.¡± At first, when Bradley heard Esther calling him ¡°darling¡±, he thought she might be crazy. After hearing her call him ¡°darling¡± repeatedly, it sounded quite pleasant to his ears. ¡°You¡¯re my legal wife, Esther,¡± said Bradley. As long as Bradley and Esther had not gone through the divorce procedures, Esther remained his legal wife. What difference did bullying Esther make from insulting him? ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Esther reached out and pinched Bradley¡¯s arm, then turned around and sat with Felix to eat the popcorn and watch the movie. Bradley was rendered speechless. What kind of tantrum was Esther throwing? The young couple sitting behind Bradley observed Esther¡¯s coquettish behavior and Bradley¡¯s obliviousness. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The boyfriend whispered into his girlfriend¡¯s ear, ¡°How can a man like him, who seems clueless, have a wife and child?¡± Equally puzzled, the girlfriend looked at Esther and her family and murmured, ¡°Such an oblivious man. probably doesn¡¯t even realize he¡¯s done anything wrong!¡± Bradley turned his head and nced at the couple seated behind him. At that moment, the young couple realized their whispered conversation had been audible to Bradley. In an attempt to cover up the awkwardness, they simultaneously began feeding each other popcorn, pretending as if nothing had happened and continuing to watch the movie. Bradley, who possessed a keen ability to learn, quickly snapped out of his trance. He nced at the popcorn in front of him, reached out, and grabbed a handful. Without uttering a word, he fed it to Esther, cing it in her mouth. Caught off guard by this unexpected popcorn assault from Bradley, Esther¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at him with a slightly reproachful expression Bradley wondered if she had wanted him to feed her, considering she had fed him earlier. Unable to contain themselves any longer, the couple sitting behind them burst intoughter. They raised their popcorn and soda, using them to shield themselves from the incredibly awkward scene unfolding before them. Perplexed by theughter from the couple behind them, Esther and Bradley were left feeling bewildered The young couple exchanged nces and silently relocated to empty seats further away from Bradley and Esther. They couldn¡¯t fathom how someone could still be so emotionally oblivious and socially inept in this day and age! Chapter 153 Chapter 153 After the movie ended, the family of three walked out of the cinema. Esther, still sulking, paid no attention to Bradley. She held Felix¡¯s hand and walked slowly ahead. Noticing that Bradley wasn¡¯t following them, Felix ran back and grabbed his hand. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I want to swing too!¡± Felix eximed. The movie they had just watched, ¡°The Great Sage,¡± was an animated film that attracted mostly couples. and families with children. Felix had noticed a couple in front of them, holding their daughter¡¯s hands and yfully swinging her as they walked. With wide-open eyes and a cute expression, Felix indicated that he wanted to do the same. 1 ¡°Let¡¯s fulfill Felix¡¯s wish!¡± Esther dered. Esther showered Felix with immense affection, causing Bradley to raise an eyebrow and coldly remark,¡± It¡¯s not appropriate in public.¡± ¡°Bradley Esther¡¯s face turned stern and serious, ¡°Our Felix is well-behaved and adorable. Childhood is fleeting, and I don¡¯t want our son to envy other children. If other children have something, our son should have it too!¡± ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Felix embraced Esther and cutely said, ¡°I¡¯ll take good care of you in the future!¡± ¡°Mommy will be waiting!¡± Esther replied with a smile. Felix nodded, saying, ¡°Okay!¡± Bradley observed the family of three walking ahead and was moved. He tightly held Felix¡¯s hand and whispered to Esther, ¡°On the count of three!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do the counting!¡± Felix¡¯s face lit up with excitement. Esther agreed, saying, ¡°Alright, Felix will count.¡± With Felix held between them, Bradley and Esther synchronized their movements and quickly found their rhythm. ¡°One, two, three¡­¡± When Felix finished counting to three, Bradley and Esther simultaneously lifted their arms, and Felix swung out like a little swing ¡°It¡¯s so much fun! I want to y more!¡± said Felix. Just as Esther had said, she would do her best to fulfill whatever Felix wanted because he was her son. Esther and Bradley swung Felix like a swing all the way back to Primus Mansion. Melinda had already packed everything neatly in Primus Mansion. When she saw Esther and Felix returning, she respectfully said, ¡°Madam, I¡¯ve disinfected the things you bought and put them in your wardrobe Upon hearing Melinda¡¯s words, Esther blushed and said in a low voice, ¡°Thank you, Melinda.¡± Felix had been giggling all the way, and his little face was still rosy. His hair stuck to his face, making him even cuter ¡®Daddy, I want to take a bath!¡± Esther volunteered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a bath¡± ¡°No, Daddy should do it,¡± Felix earnestly refused. Tm a boy, so Daddy should bathe me.¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°My son is amazing!¡± Esther praised Felix for having such awareness at such a young age. She looked at Bradley and said softly, ¡°Could you please give Felix a bath?¡± Bradley¡¯s heart pounded like a drum as he looked at Esther standing under the light. Carrying Felix, he entered the boy¡¯s room. Since all the rooms in Primus Mansion were suites, Felix¡¯s room had a bathtub for bathing. Melinda followed them into the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water. She added children¡¯s bubble bath salts and ced some cute toys in the water. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 After the preparations wereplete, Melinda left Felix¡¯s room. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Bradley looked at the ready Felix, reached out to lift him into the bathtub, and asked, ¡°Felix, who used to bathe you before?¡± With an innocent expression, Felix replied, ¡°Grandpaw rk!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t your Mommy ever bathe you?¡± asked Bradley. Understanding that Bradley was referring to Liliane as ¡°Mommy¡± instead of Esther, Felix sat in the foamy bathwater and looked at Bradley seriously. He corrected him, saying, ¡°Daddy, my Mommy is not Liliane. It¡¯s Esther!¡± Bradley chuckled, wondering if Felix had grown fond of being Esther¡¯s son. ¡°So, Liliane never bathed you?¡± Felix shook his head and said, ¡°Nope. She said I¡¯m a boy, and she¡¯s a girl, so she can¡¯t bathe me ¡± Furrowing his brows slightly, Bradley couldn¡¯t help butpare Esther to Liliane at that moment. It seemed that, in an instant, he could sense that Esther was more like a mother figure. It was no wonder Felix called her his Mommy. ¡°If time allows, I¡¯ll bathe you from now on,¡± said Bradley, With a small rubber duck in his hand, Felix made it squeak. ¡°Daddy, when will you find Pixie?¡± Felix believed that Esther would be really happy if she saw Pixie! ¡°Pixie has been adopted and taken abroad. I¡¯m currently having people search for her whereabouts,¡± Bradley exined, treating Felix as an equal. ¡°Once we find Pixie, we¡¯ll bring her back to the country ¡± When Pixie returned, it would be the right time to reveal the truth to Esther Bradley believed that even if Esther couldn¡¯t fully ept it, her love for Pixie would give her the strength to endure. However, if Esther learned everything, would she hate him? Would she allow Pixie to reunite with him as her father? At that moment, a discreet thought popped up in Bradley¡¯s mind. He secretly hoped that every day from now on would be as joyful and fulfilling as today. ¡°Daddy, when Pixiees back, let¡¯s take a family photo!¡± suggested Felix Liliane would always take him and Bradley for family photos in the past, but she wasn¡¯t his real mother! She was a wicked and evil woman-super, super, super wicked! Felix grew angry and squeezed the rubber duck even harder. Bradley didn¡¯t stop Felix¡¯s yful behavior and continued to carefully wash his hair with shampoo. Meanwhile, Esther noticed Melinda emerging from the suite and said, ¡°Melinda, you can rest now.¡± Being experienced, Melinda could sense Esther¡¯s intentions from the simple, elegant lingerie she had purchased ¡°Madam, keep it up.¡± Melinda encouraged her Blushing, Esther headed to the bathroom for a shower She used a hairdryer to dry her hair, meticulously brushed her teeth, applied fragrant lotion to her body, and finally slipped into a silk bathrobe. Then she opened the wardrobe, pulled open the drawer where she stored her lingerie, and chose a set of seemingly simple but intricately designed ckce lingerie Chapter 155 Chapter 155 The fabric used for the product was scarce, possibly an attempt by the seller to maximize profit. It barely covered certain parts, causing Esther to blush as she examined her reflection in the full-length mirror. After selecting a beautifully designed cotton pajama dress for herself, Esther tidied her hair and made her way to Felix¡¯s room. Inside, Bradley was blow-drying Felix¡¯s damp hair. Upon hearing Esther¡¯s voice, Felix eagerly emerged from the bathroom and embraced her. ¡°Mommy, can I sleep between you and Daddy tonight? Please?¡± Felix pleaded, his hair still damp. Bradley coldly rejected the request, saying, ¡°No.¡± ¡°But Mommy, I¡¯ve never slept with both of you before,¡± Felixined pitifully. ¡°I used to sleep alone, and I was so scared!¡± Esther had no reservations when it came to Felix. Seeing his pitiful expression, she turned to Bradley and implored, ¡°Darling, let him sleep with us tonight! Please! Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Daddy, please!¡± Felix chimed in, adding to the pleas. Confronted with the two pitiful faces before him, Bradley reluctantly acquiesced. ¡°Just for one night?¡± Felix joyfully eximed, ¡°Thank you, Daddy! Love you, cross my heart!¡± Bradley sighed, feeling exasperated by Felix¡¯s dramatic behavior. Esther took Felix¡¯s hand and spoke softly. ¡°Darling, I¡¯ve prepared the bath. Go take a bath, and Felix and I will choose a book to read together.¡± Esther and Felix selected a storybook that was suitable for all three of them to enjoy. Meanwhile, Bradley made his way to the bathroom, where his clean clothes were already prepared. The fragrance of peaches filled the air. After taking a shower and stepping out of the bathroom, Bradley found Esther and Felix engrossed in the story. They had intentionally saved a space for him. The electric curtains remained open, revealing the distant city lights that resembled a dazzling sea of stars. ¡°Daddy,¡± Felix called out. Bradley, dressed in his pajamas, sat next to Felix and joined them in reading the storybook. However, Felix, being a tired child after a day full of activities, fell asleep in Esther¡¯s arms before they could finish the book. Esther gazed at Felix¡¯s adorable sleeping face and couldn¡¯t resist kissing his cheek gently. With a tender smile, she turned to Bradley and said, ¡°Darling, our son is so cute!¡± Bradley looked at Felix, peacefully slumbering, and then at Esther, who radiated a warm maternal glow. He softly agreed, ¡°He¡¯s truly well-behaved and adorable.¡± In the past, when Felix had to receive injections while sick, he neverined about the pain. Bradley recalled other children at the pediatrician¡¯s office throwing tantrums, rolling on the floor, and adamantly refusing to get their shots. Their parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents would resort to coaxing and deceiving, making promises of various rewards, until the children reluctantly Felix, on the other hand, never disyed such behavior. At most, he would silently endure the pain and shed a few tears. Chap 155 Unbeknownst to Bradley, Felix had never resorted to such embarrassing antics because even children. had their own perceptions. The boy knew who wouldfort him and shower him with affection. ¡°Darling, would you like a drink?¡± Esther leisurely extended the invitation. Bradley promptly declined, saying, ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll go to the study to do some work. You should get some rest.¡± After spending the de with Felix, Bradley umted numerous tasks requiring his attention. It was of them. time for him to take care Chapter 156 Chapter 156 ¡°Thene to bed early,¡± said Esther. Esther had put effort into dressing up, hoping to spend time with Bradley. However, he had to attend to work, leaving her feeling a bit disappointed. Despite her feelings, she chose not to express them. Meanwhile, Bradley made his way to the study and opened one of the suitcases. His attention was drawn to Esther¡¯s diary titled ¡°Secret Crush Diary.¡± Normally, he would respect her privacy and refrain from reading it. But this time, he inexplicably decided to open it. On the first page, Esther had written a warning in her elegant handwriting: ¡°This is Esther¡¯s Secret Crush Diary, no peeking.¡± Following the warning, she had sketched a simple yet fierce and cute little girl. A faint smile yed on Bradley¡¯s lips. Just as he was about to delve into the contents, Esther entered the room carrying a tray. Hastily, he concealed the diary behind him and, with forcedposure, asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I prepared some food for you in case you have to workte into the night. There¡¯s coffee to keep your awake, milk to help you sleep, cake, and some fruits,¡± replied Esther. ¡°Leave the coffee and take the milk away,¡± Bradley requested, not particrly fond of milk. Esther quietly ced the tray on the desk. As she picked up the milk to remove it, she saw a familiar diary hidden behind Bradley.. Curiosity getting the best of her, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Bradley¡¯s reaction was exaggerated as he quickly stood up, concealing the diary behind him. He attempted to appear calm andposed. ¡°Nothing!¡± ¡°Oh, dear¡­¡± Esther hadn¡¯t anticipated Bradley¡¯s sudden movement. Their elbows identally bumped into each other, causing the milk in the ss to spill onto her. The white dress she was wearing became soaked, clinging to her skin and revealing the contours of her lingerie underneath, adding to the unexpected situation. Bradley¡¯s nose tingled, a warm sensation coursing through it. Unaware of the tissues¡¯ whereabouts, Esther improvised by using her sleep dress to wipe away his nosebleed, despite it already being damp. ¡°Honey, why are you having a nosebleed?¡± Esther asked, concerned. rmed, Bradley couldn¡¯t help but wonder why his heart had been behaving strangelytely, with unexined palpitations. Now, experiencing a nosebleed when he had always been in good health, he began to worry if he had a terminal illness. As Esther hurriedly attended to him, Bradley¡¯s nosebleed eventually subsided. However, Esther¡¯s sleep dress was nowpletely ruined, its bloodstains stark against the fabric like red plum blossoms in the snow. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up!¡± Esther said, her worry evident. Bradley responded coldly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for the trouble.¡± His mind was consumed by thoughts of the diary and his eagerness to send Esther away. ¡°First, go and change out of that sleep dress,¡± he instructed. With a concerned expression, Esther suggested, ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay here with you. I promise not to make any noise and won¡¯t disturb your work.¡± Denying Esther the chance to showcase her virtue, Bradley lifted her up and forcefully carried her back to the dressing room. Esther removed her sleep dress in front of Bradley and casually discarded it. As he caught sight of her reflection in the mirror, he noticed the scars on her back. Despite them, her body ignited an unprecedented temptation within himUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Struggling to keep the nosebleed at bay, Bradley found himself unable to stop it. His reflection in the mirror showed the distressing sight of blood trickling from his nose. Esther noticed his condition and rushed to his side, abandoning her task of changing clothes. She anxiously tried to wipe away the blood, unintentionally captivating Bradley with her allure, causing his nosebleed to worsen. Brushing Esther aside, Bradley hurriedly made his way to the bathroom. Seeking relief, he sshed cold water on his face, attempting to regainposure. As he gazed at his reflection, he saw a restless soul, a lone wolf filled with dissatisfaction and inner turmoil. Taking a seat on the toilet, he reached for his phone and messaged a friend overseas. Bradley: [When will you be returning to the country?] Kevin: [?] Bradley: [! need to undergo aprehensive medical examination.] Kevin: [Why?] Bradley: [Lately, my heart has been beating fast, and I¡¯ve had two nosebleeds. I suspect it might be a heart condition or even leukemia.] Kevin: [¡­] Kevin: [A fast heartbeat could be attributed to infatuation. But you, perpetually single, can¡¯t possibly be infatuated with another woman!] Kevin: [As for the nosebleeds, they could be a normal physiological reaction for a man. However¡­ it seems like you¡¯ve lost the joy of being a man ever since that ident five years ago!] Kevin: [I¡¯ll be back next week. I¡¯ll arrange a full-body check-up for you then.] Infuriated by his friend¡¯s words, Bradley simply responded with a curt [F*ck off]. Five years ago, Esther had unknowingly given him something he should never have consumed, leading to an unforgettable night with Liliane and the subsequent existence of Felix.. Apart from Kevin de, no one else knew about Bradley¡¯s declining health following that incident. He felt a deep disgust toward the female body and avoided any form of closeness with women. Living like a celibate monk, devoid of desire, became his way of existence. This was a secret he couldn¡¯t share with anyone. Besides Kevin, he didn¡¯t want anyone else to know this side of him. Initially, he believed Felix was his only child in this lifetime. Who could have anticipated that he also had twin daughters, Tinkerbell and Pixie? The thought of Esther being the cause of it all ignited a surge of resentment in his eyes, akin to a beast. breaking free from its restraints. Esther tapped gently outside the bathroom door and called out, ¡°Darling, are you alright?¡± Hearing Esther¡¯s voice, Bradley forcefully swung open the bathroom door, his face dark and ruthless. He pulled her inside, dorninating her against the cold wall, Esther looked at him fearfully, her eyes widening. Confronted with this version of Bradley, she stammered, ¡°You¡­ What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Bradley brazenly examined Esther¡¯s features, his once wless face now adorned with a mischievous and wicked expression. He held her chin, savoring her reaction as she resembled a startled deer caught in headlights. ¡°By dressing like this, you¡¯re merely seeking¡­¡± Bradley interrupted and interrogated Esther, who blushed and clenched her teeth. Esther, gripping his cor tightly and trembling with fear, leaned against the bathroom¡¯s ss door. She Property ? N?velDrama.Org. hadn¡¯t expected Bradley to see through her intentions. ¡°Darling, I¡­ I just want us to have a second child together!¡± Nervously, Esther stumble Bradley raised an eyebrow, sneering. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re deserving?¡± through her words. Esther bit her lip firmly, gazing at the man she had been in love with throughout her youth. Determined, she stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed Bradley¡¯s cold lips. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Esther¡¯s audacity took aback Bradley. He roughly pushed her away, gripping her arm with disgust, and tossed her into the water-filled bathtub. ¡°Now, are you calm?¡± In the mirror, Bradley caught a glimpse of his slightly warm lips from Esther¡¯s boldness. Without saying a word, he left. Esther sat in the bathtub, watching Bradley¡¯s determined departure. She felt a sense of daze ovee her. The sparkle in her eyes vanished, reced by numbness and emptiness. Putting on his clothes, Bradley headed straight to a private club. The manager, surprised to see him, asked, ¡°Mr. Warner-¡± ¡°Give me a private room. Get a few girls, innocent and pure.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± replied the manager. Seated on a red velvet sofa, Bradley exuded elegance and mystery, his face illuminated by the colorful This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. lights. He held a crystal ss delicately, appearing cold and aloof. The manager led a group of young, beautiful, and tall girls into the private room. ¡°Mr. Warner, they are all college girls and clean.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Bradley shouted in anger. At that moment, he realized he had feelings for Esther in the bathroom. He had feelings for the very person who had brought him to such a state. How absurd! How ridiculous! He needed to confirm whether he had recovered or if his feelings were only for Esther. Not daring to provoke Bradley, the manager signaled the girls before tactfully leaving the room. As the girls gathered around Bradley, he was overwhelmed by a mixture of cheap and repulsive fragrances, causing him to feel nauseated.. Despite Bradley¡¯s cold and icy expression, one of the girls boldly reached out to touch his fingers, only to be harshly flung away. Bradley felt disgusted and repelled by any woman other than Esther. He shouted furiously, ¡°Get out!¡± Terrified, the girls quickly fled the room, their faces pale with fear. Sitting on the red velvet sofa, Bradley sent another message to Kevin. Bradley: [I have feelings for a woman.] Kevin: [Then why are you just standing there? Go and experience the joy of being a man!] Bradley. [It can¡¯t be her.] Kevin: [Is she a married woman? What are you afraid of? Fight for her! Do you understand?] Kevin: [How about trying someone else?] Kevin: [If you have feelings for only one person, then I suggest you stop being so pretentious! It¡¯s either Chap 158 her or you¡¯ll never be a man!] Kevin: [You don¡¯t remember that night five years ago.] Upon reading his friend¡¯s remarks, Bradley¡¯s face darkened. He got up and wrote a check, tossing it to the manager. When the manager saw the amount on the check, he smiled and personally escorted Bradley out of the club, saying, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Warner. Please visit again. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Bradley drove back to Primus Mansion and found Esther still sitting in the cold bathtub, looking pathetic and shivering. Without hesitation, he strode into the bathroom and lifted Esther out. Silently, he carried her back to the master bedroom. As Esther gazed at Bradley¡¯s handsome face, her own face pale and blue, she asked resentfully, ¡°Are you going to marry Liliane?¡± Pausing in his tracks, Bradley met Esther¡¯s tear-streaked eyes and softly questioned, ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°Just answer me, yes or no,¡± Esther pleaded, her tears flowing more intensely. Realizing that Esther, as a patient, couldn¡¯t handle additional stress, Bradley fought to control his emotions. He couldn¡¯tprehend why he always lost control when he was around her. As an adult, he shouldn¡¯t be arguing with a patient, especially one who had saved him in childhood, given birth to his daughters, and was legally his wife. ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Bradley replied, suspecting that a socialite they had encountered at the cinema had spread false rumors to Esther. ¡°You¡¯re my wife, legally.¡± Hearing Bradley emphasize the word ¡°legally,¡± Esther smiled through her tears. She clung tightly to him. and choked. ¡°Darling, I was just scared, I feared that if you left, you would never return. I was afraid you¡¯d abandon me and our son¡­ Bradley held Esther close, whispering in a gentle voice, I just had something on my mind and stepped out for a moment.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t abandon us, will you?¡± Esther asked, her tear stained face filled with uncertainty. Pity surged within Bradley as he replied, ¡°Crybaby, why do you cry so easily?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just scared.¡± Esther sobbed, her tears flowing even more. ¡°It all feels like a dream right now. I¡¯m so frightened! Darling, please hold me¡­¡± Bradley tenderly embraced Esther as she nestled, trembling, in his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s get you out of those wet clothes.¡± Taking advantage of his doting, Esther whined, ¡°Help me take them off.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Bradley looked down at Esther in his arms. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Or have you grown tired of me already?¡± Bradley wanted to test himself, to see if he had truly recovered. But in that instant, all the past grievances and conflicts resurfaced in his mind, and he realized he couldn¡¯t ovee that hurdle in his heart. Esther¡¯s eyes were dazzling in the dark night, like a gxy filled with stars, irresistibly pulling people Property ? N?velDrama.Org. in. Bradley took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions and keeping hisposure. ¡°Rest early.¡± Esther looked at Bradley in confusion. She was certain there was a moment when Bradley didn¡¯t hate her as much, but why did he still pull back? ¡°Daddy? Mommy?¡± Felix, sleeping beside Esther, woke up. He sat up abruptly, half-asleep, and asked, ¡± What are you doing?¡± Bradley quickly covered Esther securely with a nket. I¡¯m tucking Mommy in!¡± Felix nced at Esther, rubbed his eyes, and then looked at Bradley. He cutely said, ¡°Daddy, you should sleep on this side¡­¡± Bradley was rendered speechless. Esther suppressed her smile and told Bradley, ¡°Go on, go over there.¡± After seeing Bradley lie down, Felix obediently went back to sleep. He pursed his lips and cutely said, Goodnight, Daddy. Goodnight, Mommy.¡± Bradley dared not move, afraid of startling his little prince again. It was truly¡­ headache-inducing. Unknowingly, Esther fell asleep. She was tired today, and her mind hadn¡¯t rxed for even a moment. ¦§ Bradley half-supported his body and noticed Esther was still wet. He carefully picked out a set of pajamas and clumsily helped her change. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Bradley, who initially intended to work, lost interest and decided to nap instead. That night, he had a dream-a first for him. In his dream, he found himself stumbling into a hotel room while drunk. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re here¡­¡± The dream¡¯s details were fuzzy, and he couldn¡¯t recall them clearly. ¡°Mommy! Mommy¡­¡± Meanwhile, Esther was still immersed in a beautiful dream, vaguely reminiscent of that night in a hotel room five years ago. Felix, an early riser, woke up and began softly calling out, ¡°Mommy¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, baby?¡± Esther, her sweet dream interrupted, showed no signs of annoyance as she looked at Felix¡¯s innocent face. She reached out, pulled him into her embrace, and greeted him gently, ¡°Good morning, Felix.¡± ¡°Good morning, Mommy.¡± Felix rubbed his little deted belly and spoke in an adorable, childlike voice. Mommy, your son is hungry!¡± Bradley instantly woke up from his slumber upon hearing Felix¡¯s voice. He stared absentmindedly at Felix and Esther, feeling as if he were in a dream. Had he truly dreamtst night? Did it actually happen? Or was it just a dream? ¡°Felix, shall we go make breakfast?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Esther coaxed Felix, saying, ¡°How about you go to the bathroom and squeeze some toothpaste for Mommy? Can you do that?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Felix darted into the bathroom. Esther rose from her bed. She realized she was wearing pajamas and inquired, ¡°Did you change my clothes?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Bradley quickly denied. Esther simply responded with an ¡°oh¡± and headed into the bathroom, where the sound of rushing water. soon filled the air. Bradley casually picked up his phone, finding a slew of messages from Kevin. Kevin: [Calling Bradley!] Kevin: [??? No reply?] Kevin: [It¡¯s been two hours, and you still haven¡¯t responded? Have you disappeared?] Kevin, as talkative as ever, had bombarded him with messages. Bradley sent a single reply. Bradley: [It¡¯s not what you think. I¡¯ll exin when you return. Also, could you rmend a psychologist specializing in hypnosis? I want to uncover what exactly happened at the hotel five years ago.] Kevin promptly replied: [What happened to youst night???] Hearing the running water from the bathroom, Bradley discreetly rolled up the nket and discarded it on the floor. He entered the walk-in closet, feeling a strong sense of regret, and changed into fresh pajamas. The joyful family of three gathered in the dining room for breakfast. On the other side, Shane, the director of the prison hospital, attempted to contact his subordinate but couldn¡¯t reach him. Meanwhile, the subordinate sat at a gaming table in the game room. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve truly disclosed everything I know. I honestly¡­ don¡¯t understand why Shane wants me to track him! Please, allow me to rest. I can¡¯t handle this any longer!¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Theckey¡¯s misfortune was simply a stroke of bad luck. He had unwittingly epted favors from Shane and helped him with a small task, never expecting to encounter such trouble. While tailing rk, he had a minor ident involving the bald man¡¯s car. As a result, he was taken by several intimidating individuals to a ce where he had no choice but to participate in a night of relentless games. If he was slow, he would be beaten If he yed the wrong cards, he would be beaten. Even if he won, he would still be beaten¡­.¡ª It was easy to imagine that not only did he lose all his money, but he also ended up borrowing a significant sum. He swore never to y cards again in his life! The mere sight of cards made him nauseous. After a while, the bald man, lighting a cigarette, spoke with a sinister look. ¡°You¡¯re Shane¡¯sckey. You must know the wicked things he¡¯s done!¡± Nervously, theckey replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± ¡°Say it again. I didn¡¯t hear you clearly.¡± The bald man extinguished his cigarette with a menacing gaze, causing theckey to be on the verge of wetting his pants. After contemting for a moment, he finally said, ¡°I genuinely don¡¯t know what he¡¯s done. If you don¡¯t believe me, go investigate. I was released from prison this year, and my family gave money to Shane, so he arranged for me to have a reduced sentence. Just think about it, I¡¯m a neer. Shane wouldn¡¯t trust me with any illegal activities, would he?¡± When the bald man captured Shane¡¯sckey, they had already conducted a background check and most of what he said was true. ¡°If Shane inquires about the surveince, how will you respond?¡± Theckey was at a loss. Even if he was foolish, he knew that telling the truth would surely result in his demise. ¡°Sir, can you please tell me what to say?¡± Theckey cautiously nced at rk and the bald man after speaking. The bald man gave him an approving look and said, ¡°Just say he went gambling and umted a substantial amount of debt¡­¡± Theckey nodded repeatedly, feeling bitter inside. Wasn¡¯t that describing himself? rk spoke coldly. ¡°Now go back to Shane¡¯s side and gather evidence of his crimes for us.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Theckey nervously said, ¡°I can¡¯t engage in any illegal activities!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t stalking someone illegal?¡± The bald man ominously listed the criminal charges against theckey, each one causing him to tremble with fear. He weakly asked, ¡°If I do it and get caughtter, can you testify that I did it to redeem myself?¡± ¡°Do you have the right to negotiate?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Although theckey didn¡¯t know the full extent of Shane¡¯s criminal activities, he was well aware that as the director of a prison hospital, Shane wouldn¡¯t have been able to arrange for his early release without resorting to questionable mearis. If he continued down the wrong path with Shane, he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison. In any case, he consoled himself and decided to side with justice. ¡°Now, get lost!¡± Feeling dizzy and weak, theckey stumbled out of the gambling parlor. As he gazed up at the ordinary facade, he felt as if he had just returned from hell. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. He settled back into the car, plugged in his phone to charge, and noticed an iing call from Shane. Clearing his throat, he mustered the energy to return the call. Seeing the call was from theckey, Shane answered and immediatelyunched into a furious scolding. The exhaustedckey, leaning against the genuine leather seat, weakly exined, ¡°The owner of that car went into a gambling parlorst night. I followed him inside to investigate, but my phone ran out of battery.¡± Shane suppressed his anger and asked, ¡°What did you find out?¡± ¡°He has umted a significant amount of gambling debt.¡± Spin to im Your Surprise Reward! yb Chapter 162 Chapter 162 ¡°How much is it?¡± Shane asked. ¡°I heard it¡¯s in the millions, but I couldn¡¯t find out the exact amount. But it seems like he¡¯s in a desperate situation!¡± replied theckey. ¡°Keep an eye on him,¡± Shane instructed. Theckey whined, ¡°Mr. Hoyer, can you rece me? I really don¡¯t want to y cards anymore!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m asking you tomit murder or arson¡­¡± ¡°No, Mr. Hoyer, they¡¯re ying for high stakes, and I don¡¯t have that kind of money. You know about my family situation¡­¡± Without a word, Shane transferred arge sum of money to theckey. Hearing the sound of the money transfer on his phone, theckey happily responded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hoyer.¡± After hanging up, theckey counted the zeros. Shane had directly transferred $15,000 to him. A prison director was giving away $15,000 just like that! Damn, did the wind blow this money in? Either he had done a lot of evil deeds, or the person he was asked to track was quite formidable. That was why he was willing to spend a lot of money on it! Regardless of which it was, theckey felt extremely lucky. He must keep enough evidence to protect himself. In case something happened one day, he could defend himself. After learning about rk¡¯s situation, Shane immediately called Leah. ¡°It¡¯s me. How¡¯s Liliane?¡± Shane asked. Leah stood on the balcony, observing Billy and Liliane having breakfast together, and whispered, ¡°Wilson said she shouldn¡¯t be stressed. How are things on your side?¡± ¡°Myckey said that the Warner butler is gambling and owes arge sum. You don¡¯t need to worry anymore,¡± Shane confidently said. ¡°In this world, anything that can be solved with money is not a problem. Shane contemted taking action if money couldn¡¯t solve the problem. With hiswork of indebted individuals, he knew someone would always be willing to help for the right reward. Leah expressed her disbelief. ¡°rk gambling? He doesn¡¯t strike me as the type.¡± ¡°At first, gambling addicts never do, but they eventually lose everything,¡± Shane reminded her. ¡°Just focus on taking care of Liliane, and leave the rest to me. I won¡¯t let anyone bully you two.¡± Leah anxiously brought up the heart transnt. She preferred her daughter to have Esther¡¯s heart and live a healthy life without constant fear. ¡°I¡¯m analyzing the data,¡± Shane reiterated. ¡°The previous data is only a temporary reference. We need to reevaluate its suitability. Once I have the results, I¡¯ll inform you.¡± Leah thanked him and ended the call. She walked over to Liliane and lovingly said, ¡°Liliane, Uncle Shane asked about you when we met yesterday.¡± Hearing this, Billy raised his gaze and looked at Leah, questioning, ¡°Uncle Shane?¡± ¡°Dr. Birch¡¯s old ssmate,¡± Leah exined lightly. She couldn¡¯t let Billy know Liliane¡¯s true identity until she inherited the Anstey assets. ¡°He¡¯s helping us find a heart for Liliane.¡± Billy trusted her without suspicion and suggested, ¡°Honey, let¡¯s invite him for a meal to show our gratitude. ¡°Do you feel like eating now?¡± Leah couldn¡¯t help butpare Shane to Billy. Both were fathers, but the difference was striking. Shane was proactive in solving their problems, while Billy seemed useless. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. If it weren¡¯t for her pregnancy and the Anstey assets, she would never have married such a worthless person. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Unaware of Leah¡¯s disgust, Billy assumed her anger was rted to Liliane¡¯s illness. He attempted to appease her, saying, ¡°Darling, I didn¡¯t mean to burden others with Liliane¡¯s situation. We should establish a good rtionship with him. If you¡¯re not in the mood to eat, we can wait until Liliane gets better¡­¡± ¡°Wait until Liliane gets better? If it wasn¡¯t for your illegitimate daughter outside, would Liliane even be sick?¡± Leah angrily pointed at Billy and scolded, ¡°Let me tell you, if anything disrupts Bradley and Liliane¡¯s wedding, I¡¯ll immediately take Liliane abroad.¡± ¡°No!¡± Billy assured, ¡°Their wedding will proceed smoothly.¡± ¡°Billy, I don¡¯t expect you to visit the hospital every day, but focus on Bradley¡¯s affairs and avoid causing more trouble.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go now.¡± Billy intended to leave, but Liliane, feeling sorry for him, handed him a ss of milk. ¡°Dad, have some before you go.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m going to see Bradley.¡± With that, Billy departed from the hospital and drove to Primus Mansion. However, upon reaching the mansion, he could not enter as he was on the visitor cklist, courtesy of Bradley, who had prevented him from meeting Esther. Inside the mansion, Esther and Bradley were having breakfast with Felix. Bradley cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke in a cold tone. ¡°Felix, eat quickly. We¡¯ll bete for school!¡± Although Felix had been unable to attend kindergarten due to his health in the past, now that he had recovered, Bradley wanted him to gradually integrate into society. Upon hearing that he had to go to school, Felix¡¯s little face instantly fell, and he wailed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. to school.¡± ¡°No, you have to,¡± Bradley and Esther said simultaneously, halting Felix¡¯s protests. Felix pouted, expressing his grievances. He pitifully said, ¡°But I¡¯m still sick, and I don¡¯t want to go to school.¡± Estherforted him softly, ¡°Felix, when you go to kindergarten, you can make new friends¡­¡± Looking even more upset, Felix scrunched up his small face and said pitifully, ¡°I don¡¯t want new friends. I only want Mommy¡± He wondered what would happen if he wasn¡¯t with Esther and someone bullied her. Bradley spoke with seriousness and determination. ¡°Felix, we can¡¯t be by your side forever. There will independence.¡± Felix took a step back and made a request. ¡°Then, will Mommy and Daddye with me?¡± Esther smiled and agreed, ¡°Of course! Today is your first day of school, a memorable day. Mommy and Daddy will apany you to school.¡± In a cold tone, Bradley added, ¡°Only this time.¡± ¡°Okay, okay¡± After having breakfast, the family of three headed to the kindergarten It was the city¡¯s top kindergarten, with monthly fees that ordinary people would not dare to imagine. The road outside the kindergarten resembled a luxury car exhibition, with multimillion-dor cars being amon sight, showcasing their wealth. Like the previous night, Bradley and Esther swung Felix between them as they reached the kindergarten entrance Chapter 164 Chapter 164 As a VIP client, Bradley¡¯s enrollment procedures were personally handled by the principal Felix stood by Esther¡¯s side, gazing at the friendly principal, and softly requested, ¡°Madam Principal, can you take a photo of me. Mommy, and Daddy?¡± ¡°Of course¡± The principal kindly captured the meaningful family photo ¡°Daddy Mommy, can you be the first ones to pick me up after school?¡± Esther lovingly held Felix¡¯s face, nting a kiss on his forehead, and warmly replied, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Daddy, Mommy, I¡¯m going in now! With a small backpack on his back, Felix entered the Dolphin ss. A teacher guided him into the ssroom while another teacher politely added Bradley and Esther to their contacts and the parent group chat ¡°Mr and Mrs Warner, this is the parent group chat for the Dolphin ss. We will notify you in the group chat for any important information.¡± Bradley and Esther joined the parent group chat for the Dolphin ss, and the other parents warmly weed them Esther greeted them politely as well. The teacher exined. ¡°For children in the Dolphin ss, school ends promptly at 5:00 p.m. If you are unable to pick up your child due to work or other reasons, please provide us in advance with a photo and contact information of the designated person. Additionally, when you leaveter, please obtain a pick-up authorization card from the security office.¡± ¡°Understood The teacher looked at the elegantly dressed couple in front of her and respectfully added, ¡°The instructions for downloading the ssroom surveince app are pinned in the group chat. Your ount will be your mobile phone number, and the password will be thest six digits of your ID card¡± Esther smiled and softly replied. ¡°Please take good care of Felix¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course As Bradley and Esther left the kindergarten, he asked coldly. ¡°Do you have any ns for today?¡± ¡°You can go to work I¡¯ll take a leisurely stroll for a while and then head back to Primus Mansion,¡± she replied Bradley looked deeply at Esther and retrieved a ck card from his wallet He nonchntly said. ¡°Use this card however you like Esther didnt pretend to decine and dly epted the ck card, smiling as she asked. ¡°Will there be a spending lima ? ¡°Esther, you have no idea about my financial resources Bradley said Instantlyprehending. Esther eximed, ¡°Unlimited Got it! Then I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Bradley coldly nced at Esther, who was ted by the limitless ck card and couldn¡¯t help feeling a slight annoyance Why did he feel like he was less important to her than a mere piece of stic?? ¡°Take care on your way With an indifferent demeanor, Bradley turned around and entered the Rolls-Royce Phantom. He observed Esther walking alone under the towering trees and made a phone call to rk. ¡°rk, arrange two discreet bodyguards to protect Esther.¡± The incident at the cinema had taught him a lesson. He didn¡¯t want Esther to uncover the truth until she formed a new bond. A luxury car whizzed past Esther, and she waved in excitement. Catching a glimpse of her exuberant expression, Bradley couldn¡¯t help rubbing his forehead, feeling a headacheing on. How childish! As Esther continued her stroll, a BMW pulled up beside her. Billy, who was in the car, called out to her, Esther, let¡¯s talk.¡± Esther stood tall,posed herself, and coldly replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to talk about.¡± ¡°Esther, let¡¯s discuss your mother.¡± Billy knew he was in the wrong, but for the sake of Liliane, he had to put on a brave face and plead with Esther. ¡°Your mother left something for you. Don¡¯t you want to know what she left behind?¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Billy¡¯s words sessfully caught Esther¡¯s attention. She reluctantly opened the car door and sat in the back seat, avoiding engaging in conversation with him. ncing at Esther through the rearview mirror, Billy noticed how different she looked from her mother, Faye. Perhaps it was because Esther resembled her biological father more. Billy believed that he had fulfilled his duty over the years, treating Esther neither well nor poorly. However, when conflicts arose between Esther and Liliane, Billy prioritized Liliane¡¯s protection. Between his biological daughter and his adopted daughter with no blood ties, Billy would selfishly choose his own. flesh and blood. He didn¡¯t think he could be med for that. He wasn¡¯t a saint-just an ordinary man and a father. His true love naturally belonged to Liliane, his biological daughter. It was a Esther remained silent in the back seat of the BMW, not speaking to Billy. Instead, she opened the surveince app of the Dolphin ss to check on Felix. As Felix was attending kindergarten for the first time, he seemed a bit out of ce. Despite the teacher¡¯s efforts to encourage him to y with the other children, hecked enthusiasm. Regarding Billy, Esther had mixed feelings. He had been treating her with indifference over the years, neither good nor bad. Even when she was wrongly imprisoned due to Bradley¡¯s false usations, he had only sent a message through thewyer, advising her to confess and seek redemption. He had also offered to visit and send her things during her time in prison, but she had declined. She thought that perhaps she was an unlucky person. She had lost her mother, lost her beloved Grandpa Thomas, and also lost¡­. Esther dimmed the screen of her phone, and her cold and distant expression reflected on the car window. Billy didn¡¯t take Esther back to the Ansteys¡¯ vi. He knew that Leah didn¡¯t like Esther, and there was no prepared room for her in the house. When Esther used to stay with the Ansteys, she lived with Billy¡¯s parents. The two of them sat in a quiet cafe. In front of them, a girl dressed in a formal gown sat at a ck piano, her slender fingers gracefully dancing on the ck and white keys, producing enchanting melodies that filled the serene space. The waiter served Esther and Billy a ss of lemon water each. ¡°Blue Mountain,¡± Billy said. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The waiter politely asked, ¡°And for thedy?¡± ¡°Milk,¡± Esther replied. The waiter acknowledged the order and left gracefully Esther and Billy sat face to face in the booth. Billy felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he looked at Esther in front of him. When he brought her back, she was still a small child. Now, she had grown so big that she no longer needed him to provide shelter for her. Esther straightened her back, proud like a graceful swan. ¡°What did my mother leave for me? Chapter 166 Chapter 166 ¡°Esther. ¡± Billy¡¯sposed face showed a trace of inexpressible embarrassment. His voice turned hoarse as he tightly held the cup, his expression unreadable. He could have revealed Esther¡¯s true birth to leverage. gratitude, but doing so would make him no better than a despicable person. When Faye entrusted Esther to him, it was based on trust. Faye had only wanted Esther to be fostered by him. Concerned that Esther might feel like a burden, he had imed she was his daughter. But as an adoptive father, he hadn¡¯t taken good care of her all these years. If Faye were to discover his actions from the underworld, she would surely hate and me him. ¡°Can you leave Bradley?¡± Billy couldn¡¯t bring himself to reveal Esther¡¯s true identity in the end. Esther¡¯s cold eyes flickered with disgust. Parting her red lips slightly, she asked coldly, ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Esther, I beg you, spare Liliane.¡± Billy thought of Liliane, pitifully left with only three months to live in the hospital. As Liliane¡¯s father, he was willing to do anything for her survival. ¡°You should tell that to Liliane. She knows Bradley is my husband, so why is she still trying to steal him?¡± Esther¡¯s tone carried an unconscious hint of anger. ¡°Since I arrived at the Ansteys, she¡¯s been trying to take everything from me. After taking away my possessions, she even wants to take my husband. As a father, have you ever cared about her actions?¡± Billy felt ashamed and mumbled to exin, ¡°Esther, you have to understand that Liliane¡¯s situation is special¡­¡± ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the child of a legal marriage, and I¡¯m the mistress¡¯ daughter,¡± Esther said indignantly, her face filled with resentment. Her words were like poisoned knives, piercing Billy¡¯s heart. ¡°My birth is the sin I was born with. You shouldn¡¯t have gotten together with my mother in the first ce¡­¡± ¡°Esther, it¡¯s not what you think.¡± Billy struggled to find the right words to exin to Esther that his actions were not solely because Liliane was his daughter but rather because Liliane was a patient with a serious heart condition. Each day that Liliane lived was precious to their family, and he wanted her to have her way without any regrets while she was still alive. ¡°I don¡¯t need to know your struggles, and I don¡¯t expect to understand the difficulties you face,¡± Esther stood up and looked down at Billy, her heart aching at the sight of his aging form. The man who had once stood tall now appeared worn and gray-haired. Yet, throughout all these years, the daughter he had cherished and protected was never her. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°For Liliane¡¯s sake, you resorted to deceiving me with my own mother. If you want to be Liliane¡¯s loving. father, then continue doing so forever. But please stay away from me. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not heartless. When you turn 70, I will find you a good retirement house¡­¡± As Esther uttered these callous words, Billy felt a sharp pain in his heart. He pleaded desperately, ¡°Esther, -try to understand my situation. I couldn¡¯t help it either. Liliane¡­ Liliane¡­¡± Billy remembered Leah¡¯s warning and ultimately chose not to reveal Liliane¡¯s congenital heart condition to Esther. Disappointed, Esther walked away, but Billy grabbed her hand and pleaded pitifully, ¡°Esther, what do you. want me to do for you to leave Bradley?¡± Esther coldly pried open Billy¡¯s hand and asked with indifference, ¡°Dad, am I really your daughter?¡± Chapter 167 Chapter 167 ¡®If I were your daughter, how could you ask me to give up everything I have now and fulfill Liliane?¡± Billy opened his mouth, but his throat felt constricted, rendering him speechless. He knew that revealing Esther¡¯s true identity could sway her decision, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He didn¡¯t want to be seen as a despicable person in Esther¡¯s eyes. Esther¡¯s eyes glistened with tears as she dered, ¡°This is thest time I call you Dad. From now on, we¡¯re strangers.¡± ¡®Do you even realize that Liliane has ruined my life? She has destroyed everything. I spent five years in prison because of her. She is responsible for the bloodshed of Grandpa Thomas and Tinkerbell. How can a murderer like her deserve happiness? She doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡¯ With cold indifference, Esther turned away. At that moment, Billy took a deep breath and dropped to his knees behind her, a loud thump echoing through the cafe. ¡°Esther, I beg you, please leave Bradley.¡± The upscale cafe fell silent, its other patrons ncing over at themotion. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Esther was taken aback by her father¡¯s act of kneeling for Liliane. Tears streamed down her face. Someone in the crowd criticized her. ¡°How dare you!? How can you let your father kneel before you? Aren¡¯t you afraid of bad luck?¡± ¡°You seem heartless. Your father is begging you like this, yet you remain unmoved.¡± Another voice chimed 1. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen her before. Wasn¡¯t she the murderer from five years ago?¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I remember. Wasn¡¯t she imprisoned? When did she get released?¡± As Bradley arrived at the scene, he witnessed Esther being verbally attacked by ignorant onlookers in the cafe. Someone even recorded the incident of Billy kneeling before Esther and uploaded it as a short video on the Inte. Malice formed an invisible that tightly enveloped Esther, making it hard for her to breathe. Bradley held Esther tightly in his arms, his handsome face filled with anger. He acted as her protector, shielding her from the torrential malice and attacks. ¡°Shut up!¡± Bradley¡¯s voice was firm andmanding. He gave instructions to the bodyguards, demanding retrieval- of surveince footage from the cafe and gathering information about the attackers. He wanted their identities, names, and workces known. If any video surfaced online, even for a second, he wanted legal action taken within half an hour. Bradley was worried that these people¡¯s actions would trigger Esther¡¯s selective amnesia, causing her to lose her will to fight. ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner,¡± the bodyguards said promptly. As the city¡¯s top taxpayer, Bradley had been featured in financial magazines and had been interviewed by television stations. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Furthermore, even if someone failed to recognize Bradley¡¯s true identity, he could rely on his bodyguards¡¯ imposing presence to take control of the situation effortlessly. As soon as the onlookers heard Bradley¡¯s words, they quickly deleted the videos. However, within a minute, Esther¡¯s video had already spread across the Inte. The man who initially posted the video had a pale face and said, ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯ve deleted the video, but-¡± ¡°You did well!¡± Bradley coldly interrupted his exnation, his icy gaze filled with a lethal intent. He turned to his bodyguards andmanded, ¡°There are still 29 minutes left. Ensure he receives the The cool and refreshing aura exuded by Bradley, akin to the scent of a snowy pine, enveloped Esther, making her feel safe and protected in his embrace. Her anxious heart gradually calmed down. ¡°Darling, take me away,¡± she whispered. Bradley held Esther¡¯s slender waist, his gaze filled with a chilling resolve as he nced at Billy¡¯s pale and remorseful face. Billy never anticipated that his impulsive act of kneeling would once again thrust Esther into the spotlight. ¡°Okay,¡± Bradley replied. His warning gaze swept across the cafe, seemingly etching the faces of every individual present into his memory. Those who had merely watched the spectacle a moment ago now lowered their heads, fearful of provoking this vengeful deity. Considering Esther¡¯s emotional state, Bradley decided against taking her back to Primus Mansion. Instead, he took her directly to the psychologist, Xara, for care. Esther fell asleep in Bradley¡¯s arms during the car ride. Gently, he ced her on the couch in Xara¡¯s consultation room, careful not to disturb her slumber. ¡°Dr. Sadler, please conduct a counseling session with her once she wakes up,¡± Bradley instructed. ¡°Understood,¡± Xara replied. As Xara observed Esther¡¯s serene sleeping face, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh. How could there be a woman with such a tragic destiny in this world? Suppressing his anger, Bradley stormed out of the psychologist¡¯s consultation room, his emotions erupting like a volcano. He confronted Billy in a wild and furious manner, using him, ¡°Did you want to kill her?¡± Billy quickly denied, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t my intention. ¡°By publicly kneeling before her as her father, did you consider her mental strength? Do you know that she lost all will to live and only wanted to die after losing her daughter? What difference does your action make from killing her?¡± With a guilty expression, Billy exined, ¡°I truly didn¡¯t want to harm her or push her toward death. Bradley, you need to understand that my daughter-Liliane, she only has three months to live. Her This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. greatest wish is to be your bride. What am I supposed to do? ¡°I¡¯m caught between a rock and a hard ce! If you think I¡¯m at fault, then you should bear even more responsibility. Why did you involve them? You¡¯re the one who made sisters turn against each other!¡± ¡°Hah¡­¡± Bradley coldly sneered, ¡°Liliane knew that I was married and still chose to sleep with me. Do you really think I have no clue what she¡¯s after?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Billy asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Liliane always takes what belongs to Esther? ¡°If Liliane genuinely suspected something was wrong with me back then, why didn¡¯t she report it to the police? Why didn¡¯t she call the emergency services? ¡°I was drunk and unaware, but she was sober! If she had no ulterior motives, she could have easily called the police! ¡°She didn¡¯t, and instead willingly became the third party that ruined my marriage with Esther. So why is she pretending to be so innocent now?¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Billy never imagined that Bradley would think of his daughter in such a way. Liliane had willingly risked her life to give birth to Felix just to preserve their bloodline. The hardships and pains she endured went unnoticed by Bradley. ¡°Bradley, do you realize that Liliane almost died giving birth to your son?!¡± Billy eximed. Bradley sarcastically pped his hands and mocked, ¡°So, should I thank her for breaking the agreement and secretly giving birth to my child?¡± Billy couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. He clenched his fist and fiercely threw a punch at Bradley. How could he, as a father, tolerate this man insulting his daughter? ¡°Do you know¡­ Do you know that she risked her life to give birth to your child¡­¡± Billy¡¯s voice trembled with anger. Bradley didn¡¯t dodge or evade. Instead, he grabbed Billy¡¯s hand, his eyes shing with a fierce light, and questioned, ¡°Then why did she secretly give birth to the child without telling me?¡± Billy was infuriated. He thought Bradley was only indifferent and heartless toward Esther, but he now realized that Bradley was equally cold-blooded toward his own daughter. ¡°Bradley, if you have an ounce of conscience, you shouldn¡¯t be so cruel to the woman who gave birth to your child¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes turned icy, emanating a chilling aura, and his slightly parted lips revealed even more cruel. words. ¡°When she woke up next to me back then, I had my assistant buy contraceptives and personally watched her take them. I even paid $15,000,000 for rted expenses. ¡°She took my money and didn¡¯t abide by the agreement¡­ I¡¯ve already shown great magnanimity by not holding her ountable. And now you want to ckmail me with this? Who gives you the right?¡± Bradley¡¯s words contained shocking information that left Billy stunned. He asked, ¡°What $15,000,000?¡± ¡°A sky-high payment for that night!¡± Billy had never heard Leah or Liliane mention anything about this sum. He waved his hand decisively and said, ¡°It¡¯s impossible! My wife and Liliane would never do such a thing!¡± ¡°I can show you the agreement we signed back then anytime,¡± Bradley said, his gaze filled with an ominous light. ¡°Consider it a favor because you¡¯re Esther¡¯s father. You¡¯d better behave.¡± Billy couldn¡¯t bear to imagine how his wife would mock him if she found out that his trip had been in vain. ¡°Bradley, Liliane isn¡¯t just anyone. She is my daughter and the biological mother of your son. You can¡¯t ¡ª¡± Bradley coldly interrupted him, his tone indifferent and confident, ¡°Felix carries the Warner surname. Do you think you can win a custody battle against me?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Billy knew they had no chance of winning. The legal department of the Warner Group had never failed. Even when Esther didn¡¯t plead guilty back then, Bradley still had the legal department send her to prison for five years. A mere custody battle was a plece of cake for the Warner Group¡¯s legal department ¡°Get lost,¡± Bradley uttered coldly, Billy stumbled away from the private hospital under the Warner Group, his steps unsteady. Sitting in his BMW, he trembled, covering his face with his hands. For a long, long time, he didn¡¯t dare to start the car. From a moral standpoint, he knew his daughter was at fault for snatching Esther¡¯s husbandProperty ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 But what could Billy do? He had only one daughter and couldn¡¯t bear to watch her leave this world with regrets. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t even transnt his own heart to Liliane. If he could, he would willingly sacrifice himself for her. Calming himself down, Billy drove back to the hospital slowly. Upon seeing Billy¡¯s disheveled appearance, Leah rolled her eyes in disdain. Without waiting for him to Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. speak, she coldly said, ¡°Follow me.¡±. The couple made their way to the downstairs garden. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Can¡¯t you take care of your appearance? I¡¯m begging you, at least do it for Liliane¡¯s sake,¡± Leah said, looking at Billy with extreme disdain. Her words grew sharper and bitter. ¡°You¡­ You know we¡¯re preparing for Liliane and Bradley¡¯s wedding, yet you still¡­¡± Billy sat heavily on a bench, and his voice sounded hoarse and exhausted as he asked, ¡°Why did Bradley say you epted $15,000,000?¡± ¡°What $15,000,000?¡± Leah quickly retorted. ¡°Why did you go to see Bradley? Are you trying to make things worse?¡± ¡°I went to see Esther. I begged her. I knelt and begged her to leave Bradley¡­¡± Leah scrutinized Billy with her eyes and questioned him word by word, ¡°What did you say? You went to see Esther?¡± ¡°Yes, I begged her. I begged her to leave Bradley and make way for our Liliane,¡± Billy said in extreme sorrow. ¡°Even if our Liliane only has three months left to live, I don¡¯t want her to leave with regrets-¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± When Leah heard Billy¡¯s words that seemed like a curse on Liliane, her anger intensified. ¡°Stop talking. Our Liliane will live a long and healthy life. What did Bradley say?¡± ¡°He said you epted $15,000,000 from him!¡± Billy couldn¡¯t believe that his wife and daughter had actually taken money from Bradley. ¡°It can¡¯t be true, right? You don¡¯t need the money. How could you-¡± Leah coldly interrupted Billy¡¯s delusion and calmly said, ¡°No, it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Billy was utterly bewildered. He had never treated his wife and daughter poorly when it came to money. Why would they ept money from Bradley? ¡°Why?¡± Leah instantly turned the tables and snarled, ¡°Back then, Bradley threatened us. He would have ruined you financially if we didn¡¯t take the money. What choice did we have? He was determined to sever ties with us. Reluctantly, I had to ept the money.¡± Billy had never anticipated this turn of events and cried out in agony, ¡°You should have told me! Even if the Ansteys aren¡¯t as wealthy as the Warners, I would never let Bradley insult my wife and daughter with money.¡± ¡°Tell you?¡± Leah coldly snorted, obscuring the matter. ¡°What would you have done if you knew? Let¡¯s not dwell on the past. Liliane wants to marry Bradley, and we¡¯ll help make her wishe true, thanks to Felix.¡± Upon recalling Bradley¡¯s protective behavior toward Esther, Billy quickly cautioned Leah, preemptively reminding her, ¡°But what if Bradley doesn¡¯t want to marry Liliane?¡± ¡°He will.¡± Leah¡¯s gaze turned sharp, her voice suddenly cold. How many more years could a woman have? For five long years, her daughter had endured ridicule and mockery from the world because of Bradley. She would not allow him to break his promise. Since Bradley had pledged to marry Liliane, then he must fulfill that promise. Leah would force Bradley into the wedding if he dared to backtrack, even if she had to tie him up. ¡°Liliane and Bradley have Felix!¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Billy refrained from sharing his spection with Leah, keeping his thoughts to himself. He clenched his teeth, contemting giving Bradley another chance. If Bradley truly broke his promise, Billy would resort to using Esther¡¯s birth as leverage to make her willingly give up on Bradley. However, he didn¡¯t want to break his promise to Faye unless it was absolutely necessary. ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you say the wedding designer ising? I can drive you there!¡± Billy suggested. Leah red at him irritably and replied, ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t drive or we don¡¯t have a chauffeur? You worry about things you shouldn¡¯t and neglect what you should be concerned about. If you truly care about Liliane, prepare a proper wedding gift. We may not be as wealthy as the Warners, but I don¡¯t want our gift to be too modest and be a subject of ridicule.¡± ¡°I have already prepared a gift for Liliane,¡± Billy reassured her. Leah seemed appeased and pointed at him, saying, ¡°I want to make it clear in advance. Everything you have now is our joint property as a couple. If I find out that you¡¯ve given something to Esther without my permission, I can take legal action to reim it. Ultimately, it will be your embarrassment.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t given her anything,¡± Billy quickly denied. ¡°If I had something to give, I would have informed you beforehand.¡± ¡°Good, you know better,¡± Leah said, ncing at her wristwatch. ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs first. Liliane needs her infusion.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head back to thepany. Let Liliane know that I¡¯ll visit her after work.¡± ¡°Drive safely.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Leah watched Billy leave, but before leaving herself, she made a phone call to Shane. ¡°Shane, how are things going? Is her heart a suitable match? Leah asked. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Shane replied in a deep voice, ¡°Based on the previous examinations conducted on Esther in prison, we can preliminarily conclude that her heart is a potential match for Liliane. However, further detailed examinations are still required to determine the feasibility of the transntation.¡± ¡°In that case, should we consider arranging a car ident for Esther?¡± Leah suggested. Shane replied in a low tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just focus on being with Liliane.¡±. Having built awork of people over the years, Shane had individuals willing to carry out such tasks for a fee. ¡°By the way, the wedding dress designer that Liliane likes ising. I¡¯m going to meet her with Liliane,¡± Leah informed. Shane inquired, ¡°Has the wedding date been set?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Leah replied. ¡°I know a talented fortune-teller. Shall I invite him to determine the wedding date for Liliane and Bradley?¡± Shane suggested. ¡°I trust your judgment.¡± After ending the call, Leah returned to Liliane¡¯s ward. ¡°Mom, what were you and Dad talking about?¡± Liliane asked. Leah gazed at her daughter, weakened and tired even with makeup. Her eyes were red and swollen. ¡°We were discussing the wedding date for you and Bradley, so we should also start preparing your wedding gift. Liliane, even though we may not possess great wealth, we¡¯ll ensure you have a magnificent wedding with Bradley.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane reached out and tightly embraced Leah. ¡°Your and Dad¡¯s good health is the greatest gift for me.¡± ¡°You silly girl.¡± Leah couldn¡¯t help but shed a tear. Why did fate have to be so cruel to her kind-hearted daughter? If there were any sins, they would be hers. Why did her daughter have to endure all of this? A nurse entered, and Leah watched as the nurse began Liliane¡¯s infusion. She then discussed the meeting time and location with the fortune-teller rmended by Shane. While receiving the infusion, Liliane grew exceedingly bored and took out her phone to call Felix¡¯s smartwatch. There was no response. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Liliane dialed Bradley¡¯s number, and he answered. ¡°Brad, what are you doing?¡± Liliane asked. Bradley nced at Esther in the psychologist¡¯s office and casually replied, ¡°Anything important?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I reach Felix on his smartwatch?¡± Liliane¡¯s conversations with Bradley always revolved around Felix. It seemed that besides Felix, they had no other topics. ¡°Is he mad at me?¡± Bradley cleared his throat and coldly replied, ¡°No, Felix is at kindergarten.¡± Liliane was shocked and questioned in astonishment, ¡°Why is Felix at kindergarten? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± A sense of control slipping away began to emerge within Liliane. No! She couldn¡¯t stay in the hospital any longer. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. Impatience tinged Bradley¡¯s distant tone as he coldly asked, ¡°Felix is growing up. Why can¡¯t he go to kindergarten?¡± Liliane felt her previous tone was inappropriate and quickly rectified, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just worried about his health. What if he catches an illness at kindergarten?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about Felix. Take care of your own health¡­¡± Xara opened the door and said, ¡°Mr. Warner, Mrs. Warner has awakened.¡± Upon hearing ¡°Mrs. Warner¡± from the other end of the line and thinking of Bradley being with that woman, Esther, Liliane was infuriated. She threw her phone against the wall, causing it to shatter into pieces. Her already fragile heart became even weaker, unable to bear such a burden. Liliane¡¯s vision went ck, and she copsed onto the hospital bed. ¡°Doctor! Ms. Anstey fainted!¡± Bradley ended the call with Liliane in a cold manner before entering the room with an elegant stride.¡± Esther was seated on the couch, gently sipping honey lemon tea from a mug. Like a serene sea, the mildly sweet beverage brought a sense of calmness. ¡°Esther,¡± Bradley called out. Esther¡¯s starry eyes shifted to Bradley¡¯s handsome face. An inexplicable nervousness enveloped Bradley, his entire body tense. ¡°Mr. Warner, please have a seat.¡± Xara gestured for Bradley to join them. Bradley naturally sat beside Esther, reaching out his broad palm to hold her small hand firmly. Esther slowly withdrew her hand, but Bradley refused to let go. He tightly grasped her hand. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s get a divorce,¡± Esther uttered. Bradley¡¯s eyes filled with anger upon hearing Esther¡¯s words. He stared at her with a cold gaze, asking through his gritted teeth, ¡°Esther, repeat what you just said!¡± 27 As tears streamed down Esther¡¯s bright eyes and fell onto the back of Bradley¡¯s hand, they felt scorching and painful, like fire burning at the core of his heart. ¡°What more do you want from me? Tell me! My father knelt before me, begging me to leave you for Liliane! Divorce seems to be the only solution I can think of.¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Esther¡¯s face was streaked with tears, her silent words trapped within her as they dissolved into a stream. of hot tears. Seeing Esther cry like a helpless kitten, Bradley unintentionallyced his voice with indulgence. He pulled out a tissue and gently wiped away her tears, yfully teasing, ¡°You want a divorce? What about our son?¡± With determination in her reddened eyes, Esther asserted, ¡°I carried our son for ten months. He belongs with me!¡± # ¡°In your dreams!¡± Bradley swiped at Esther¡¯s nose, his tone filled with fondness. ¡°Our son belongs with me. ¡°No¡­¡± Esther vehemently countered. ¡°In that case, don¡¯t even think about divorcing me,¡± Bradley dered, tossing the tissue into the trash. ¡°If you want a divorce, I won¡¯t let you have our son.¡± Esther¡¯s anger surged, and she raised her fist, pounding Bradley¡¯s chest fiercely. ¡°Do you even have a heart?¡± Xara, who had been silently observing, couldn¡¯t bear the lovey-dovey banter any longer. She interjected,¡± Can you two continue thister?¡± Esther¡¯s face instantly reddened like a tomato. Maintaining his stoic expression, Bradley asked, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°I suggest that you take a vacation,¡± Xara said, her tone indifferent. ¡°A vacation?¡± Esther eximed. ¡°Why do we need a vacation?¡± ¡°You can take leave from the kindergarten,¡± Xara replied nonchntly. ¡°A vacation can reignite your rtionship. Love conquers all.¡± Drawing from the psychological counseling Xara had provided, it was Bradley who had reignited Esther¡¯s will to live. Bradley was her youthful dream and her husband. If Bradley was willing to warm Esther¡¯s heart with love, even if she woke up from selective amnesia one day, she wouldn¡¯t choose death again. Because¡­ the person she loved was right there. ¡°I¡¯ll consider it,¡± Esther replied. Xara nced at her watch, calmly stating, ¡°Alright, I have something to attend to. I won¡¯t keep you two This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. any longer. Apologies for the interruption.¡± Esther held Bradley¡¯s hand, and they left the room. As she was about to depart, she cast a meaningful nce at Xara, seated on the single sofa. For some inexplicable reason, Esther felt as though Xara had seen through every aspect of her yet willingly cooperated. Why was that? Bradley left the office with Esther, but his phone rang as soon as they stepped out. It was Leah¡¯s hurried and anxious voice on the other end. ¡°Bradley,e to the hospital right now. Something happened to Liliane.¡± Disgusted, Bradley raised an eyebrow and looked at Esther. He ended the call without uttering a word. Calmly, he informed Esther, ¡°I need to take care of something. I have to leave for a moment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have any ns either. I¡¯ll wait for Dr. Sadler to finish her work, and then we can have a meal together¡± ¡°If you need anything just call me ¡°Okay¡± Esther watched as Bradley departed and then found a bench in the hospital garden, where she checked her phone for messages The video clips from the cafe had all vanished, as if they were never there having no impact on her life She switched to the surveince app for the kindergarten and save Falle among the other children Despite the moming passing by he thil appeared unsettled and out of ce From upstairs, Xara noticed Esther in the garden and brought two cups of coffee before joining her Madam Esther arched an eyebrow with indifference andected ¡°You can call me Esther ¡°Esther Xara offered a faint smile and calmly remarked To be honest, I don¡¯t like coffee No matter how much sugar and milk you add it still cames a lingering erness that never fades away¡± Esther nodded in agreement Chapter 174 Chapter 174 ¡°What a coincidence, me too.¡± Two stunning beauties sat quietly on the bench, admiring the blooming flowers in the distance. A gentle breeze brushed past, causing the flowers to sway and releasing a delicate floral scent into the air. ¡°Shall we have lunch together?¡± ¡°Do you want to grab lunch together?¡± Simultaneously, they spoke and exchanged smiles upon hearing each other¡¯s words. ¡°Should we exchange numbers first?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Esther agreed, and Xara checked the time on her phone. ¡°I still have a patient. It should be finished by 11: 30 a.m. Meet me in the garden, and we can decide where to have lunch.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Little did Esther know that she would forge a precious and genuine friendship with Xara during this time. In the hospital, Wilson and others were working tirelessly to save Liliane. Upon learning about Liliane¡¯s condition, Bradley promptly arranged for Scott, a doctor from his hospital, to assist in the rescue efforts. Scott swiftly entered the operating room and joined Wilson in the mission to save Liliane¡¯s life. Leah stood anxiously outside the operating room, overwhelmed by feelings of nervousness, fear, and panic. Negative emotions swarmed her heart like ants, gnawing at her from within. ¡°Liliane¡¯s condition has suddenly deteriorated¡­¡± A hidden ruthlessness flickered in her eyes as Leah absorbed the caregiver¡¯s words. She couldn¡¯t help but me everything on Bradley. In her mind, he was the source of all the misfortune. If¡­ If¡­ If something happened to Liliane, she would make Bradley pay for it. No, she would make everyone else pay for it too. She wanted everyone to apany her daughter in death. Filled with sorrow, Leah knelt before Bradley and pleaded, ¡°Mr. Warner, I have only Liliane as my daughter. Regardless of the circumstances, I want to grant her wish. Can you¡­ Can you marry her in three days?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bradley¡¯s response was resolute, without any hesitation. If he had to choose between hurting Esther and hurting Liliane, he would choose to hurt Liliane. Not only because Esther had saved his life when he was a child but also because Esther was currently ill. Leah questioned in shock, ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t you promise to marry her? Why are you going back on your This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. word?¡± Bradley paid no attention to Leah¡¯s kneeling posture and calmly sat on a bench. His voice was detached as he exined, ¡°Five years ago, when you took $15,000,000 and left, I dered that we had no further connection. ¡°Four years ago, when you brought Felix to my doorstep, I made it clear that I would only acknowledge Felix and not marry her. You agreed to that as well. ¡°And now, you¡¯re pressuring me for marriage? Do you believe that now, with Felix in the picture, you have something to hold over me?¡± Bradley¡¯s words dripped with venom, revealing his icy and heartless nature. Leah finally realized that the man standing before her had nopassion. Five years ago, he had willingly sent the pregnant Esther to prison! And now, five yearster, he could witness the death of his own daughter without remorse! Hatred surged within Leah like tidal waves, but she suppressed her anger and pleaded meekly, ¡°Mr. Warner, could you please consider having a pretend wedding with Liliane and fulfill her dream?¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 ¡°No,¡± Bradley said coldly and indifferently. ¡°Since she¡¯s Felix¡¯s biological mother, I will find a heart for her and help with the transnt.¡± Leah couldn¡¯t control her tears any longer. She angrily questioned, ¡°Bradley, Liliane got a heart disease because she wanted to have a child for you!¡± Bradley remained expressionless. ¡°Your attempts to manipte me won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Bradley, I¡¯ll ask you onest time. Are you really refusing to marry Liliane? Won¡¯t you even pretend?¡± ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t marry her.¡± Bradley thought of Esther, the crybaby. If she found out he had secretly married Liliane, even if it was a fake marriage, the crybaby might do something unexpected. ¡°Fine, fine, fine.¡± Leah rose from the floor, her knees weak, swaying like a withering leaf in the autumn wind. ¡°Mr. Warner, please leave now.¡± Bradley¡¯s lips parted, his words merciless. ¡°In the future, you and your husband are not allowed to disturb Esther. Otherwise¡­¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Leah¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot, filled with hatred. After Bradley disappeared from Leah¡¯s sight, she looked at the sign above the operating room and quietly called Shane. ¡°It¡¯s me. Liliane¡¯s condition has worsened, and she¡¯s in critical condition. If we don¡¯t find a heart¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± Scott and Wilson, the leading cardiac surgeons, coborated in the operating room to save Liliane. Despite their efforts to stabilize her condition temporarily, they knew a heart transnt was necessary for her full recovery. During the surgery, Scott made a shocking discovery. Based on his professional expertise, he realized that Liliane¡¯s heart condition didn¡¯t develop after giving birth but had likely existed prior. This discrepancy raised concerns, as the information provided by Bradley didn¡¯t align with the medical data. Despite his growing unease, Scott maintained hisposure and continued assisting Wilson as a surgical assistant. Upon learning about Liliane¡¯s deteriorating condition, Shane immediately called one of his subordinates. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Arrange a car ident for Esther,¡± hemanded. The request took aback the subordinate. ¡°Remember, make sure she survives!¡± Shane added, wary of the potential consequences if Esther were to be killed and her heart rendered unusable. ¡°Now?¡± the subordinate inquired. Shane¡¯s voice remained cold and emotionless. ¡°Yes, immediately. She is currently at the private hospital owned by the Warner Group. Go there now.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± the subordinate replied, still puzzled. After some hesitation, he decided to contact rk using the phone the bald man had provided to him. At 11:30 a.m., Xara finished her morning consultations and left the hospital with Esther. Since Xara had afternoon workmitments, they agreed to have lunch at a nearby block. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Due to their proximity, Xara and Esther decided not to drive. As they walked together on the street, they made a beautiful sight. While crossing a traffic light, a speeding car suddenly lost control and veered toward them. Unfortunately, Esther, wearing high heels, couldn¡¯t dodge in time. Reacting swiftly, Xara pulled Esther with her and rolled to the ground, narrowly avoiding a fatal collision. As the car was about to hit them again, theckey who had been tracking Esther panicked and elerated, crashing into the car. Esther and Xara sustained minor injuries, mostly superficial wounds, but Esther ended up spraining her ankle due to her high heels. ¡°Esther, are you alright?¡± Xara asked softly. Esther replied in a low voice, ¡°I think I sprained my ankle.¡± ncing at Esther¡¯s foot, Xara confirmed the sprain, though it wasn¡¯t severe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, It¡¯s not a serious injury. Just wait here for a moment. I¡¯ll call for assistance to take you to the hospital.¡± A plump woman emerged from the intentionally crashed car and approached Xara, grabbing her hair and shouting, ¡°You stole my man!¡± Unaware of the woman¡¯s presence while tending to Esther, Xara suddenly found herself under attack. She swiftly defended herself, subduing the woman with one hand while using her phone with the other to call the police and request an ambnce. The police and ambnce arrived simultaneously. Esther was ced in the ambnce, where the medical staff assessed her injuries, speaking softly. ¡°It¡¯s not serious, but we should take you to the hospital for further examination and start an IV drip.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The medical staff exchanged a nce and proceeded to administer the pre-prepared IV drip to Esther. Esther didn¡¯t feel much initially, but her eyelids gradually grew heavy. Once the medical staff confirmed Esther¡¯s unconscious state, one of them quickly dialed a number on their phone. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, she¡¯s unconscious!¡± ¡°Take her to the hospital right away!¡± Unconscious, Esther was swiftly transported to the hospital. A medical assistant discreetly whispered something in Wilson¡¯s ear in the operating room. Wilson nced at Scott and said, ¡°Dr. Holden, I¡¯ll leave the operating room to you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After Wilson left the operating room, he immediately went to check on Esther. ¡°Examine her heart and determine if it matches Liliane¡¯s.¡± Wilson looked at the unconscious Esther and felt conflicted. He hoped Esther¡¯s heart wouldn¡¯t be a match for Line, so he wouldn¡¯t have to make an ethically challenging decision. At the same time, he secretly wished for a match, as it would solidify his ce in Leah¡¯s heart. Inside the operating room, while Wilson was absent, Scott specifically reviewed Liliane¡¯s medical data and reached a conclusion. Liliane¡¯s heart condition was congenital and not caused by childbirth. Then why had they told Bradley otherwise? After the surgery, as Scott changed clothes with the other medical staff, he overheard a few assistants discussing quietly. ¡°Why is Dr. Birch so concerned about Liliane? If we didn¡¯t know any better, we¡¯d think she¡¯s his daughter!¡± ¡°What do you mean? Dr. Birch is currently having someone check if a woman named Esther¡¯s heart matches Liliane¡¯s.¡± ¡°No way! Dr. Birch wouldn¡¯t actually use a living person¡¯s heart for transntation, would he? If this gets exposed, it can ruin his career¡­¡± Scott was certain that the ¡°Esther¡± they mentioned was Bradley¡¯s wife. Anxious, he quickly took out his phone and dialed Bradley¡¯s number as he stepped into the stairwell. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Mr. Warner! Mrs. Warner is in trouble!¡± Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Scott¡¯s voice reached Bradley through the phone, and Bradley responded coldly, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I suspect Mrs. Warner may be in danger, but I don¡¯t have all the details¡­¡± Bradley immediately recalled previous incidents involving Esther and asked angrily, ¡°Tell me!¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s urgent, and I don¡¯t have time to exin fully. Pleasee to the hospital quickly.¡± After ending the call, Scott started recording a video on his phone and headed to Wilson¡¯s office. Conducting a body check on Esther was a minor task that didn¡¯t require Wilson¡¯s constant presence. He could give instructions, and his assistants and interns would handle it. Scott called out, ¡°Wilson.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Wilson nced at Esther¡¯s recent heart examination report and said with slight guilt, ¡°Scott, have a seat.¡± Scott sat down and asked directly, skipping pleasantries, ¡°The patient I just operated on, she has congenital heart disease, right?¡± Wilson knew that the fabricated data could only deceive those who hadn¡¯t seen Liliane¡¯s real condition. Doctors like Scott, who had just performed surgery with him, couldn¡¯t be fooled. ¡°Yes.¡± Scott frowned, his voice stern as he questioned, ¡°If she has congenital heart disease, she shouldn¡¯t be able to have children.¡± Liliane¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t handle the strain of childbirth, making it impossible for Felix to be born to her. ¡°Scott, this is none of your business. Don¡¯t meddle,¡± Wilson warned, his first time speaking to Scott like that. ¡°Knowing too much isn¡¯t good for you.¡± ¡°Wilson¡­¡± Scott was exasperated, trying to awaken Wilson from his delusion. ¡°You¡¯re our teacher¡¯s proudest apprentice. Have you forgotten our original intention of studying medicine? We¡¯re here to treat and save people, not to harm.¡± Wilson maintained a defiant attitude, saying, ¡°I haven¡¯t harmed anyone.¡± ¡°Then why do you need Esther¡¯s heart data?¡± Scott¡¯s eyes turned red with anger. He couldn¡¯t bear to see this rising star in the medical field go down a criminal path. ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me by saying you need the data for your artificial heart. That¡¯s impossible.¡± Wilson stood up indifferently, calmly stating, ¡°If you ignore this, we can still be friends¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Scott rose from his chair, exuding a stronger presence than Wilson, representing justice. ¡°We¡¯re doctors. Our duty is to treat and save patients, not to use the guise of practicing medicine for injustice and inhumanity¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t n to kill her,¡± Wilson confessed his intentions, attempting to persuade Scott to join him. ¡°Why do you need her heart data if you don¡¯t n to kill her?¡± Wilson argued, ¡°I want to switch her heart with Liliane¡¯s. She won¡¯t die-¡± Scott angrily interrupted Wilson, questioning, ¡°Why should she exchange her healthy heart for a faulty one? Have you considered the consequences? Can you bear the wrath of the Warners?¡± ¡°No one will know, and besides, my artificial heart is about to undergo clinical trials¡­ Once it¡¯s sessfully tested, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Scott furrowed his brow, doubtful. ¡°Wilson, Liliane isn¡¯t your daughter, is she? Why would you risk your career and life for her?¡± Wilson replied, ¡°As long as you stay silent, no one will find out.¡± ¡°You, me, and the universe know,¡± Scott firmly stated, his expression cold and just. ¡°My professional integrity won¡¯t allow me to stand by and watch youmit such inhumane acts¡­¡± Seeing Scott¡¯s determined face, Wilson realized further persuasion was futile. He reluctantly suppressed his unease and said, ¡°I won¡¯t do it. I won¡¯t, alright?!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Scott couldn¡¯t believe he had actually convinced Wilson. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 ¡°Yes.¡± Scott¡¯s guard was down when Wilson suddenly grabbed a nearby flower vase and ruthlessly smashed it on the back of his head. Holding his bleeding head, Scott reached out to grab Wilson¡¯s hand, his eyes filled with disbelief as he gradually lost consciousness. ¡°You won¡¯t die. I was careful with my strike, but I¡¯m going to perform the surgery,¡± Wilson dered. After settling Scott on the sofa, Wilson took a seat on his office chair, picked up his phone, and began arranging for the surgery. He examined the heart data of Esther and Liliane. Despite not being a perfect match, theirpatibility was 87%, making a heart transnt still possible, though with potentialplications. Wilson anticipated progress in the clinical research of his artificial heart within six months. By then, he would be able to rece the damaged heart that belonged to Liliane in Esther¡¯s chest with an artificial heart. ¡°It¡¯s me. Prepare the operating room. Surgery will start immediately,¡± Wilson instructed over the phone. Looking at Scott, who had lost a significant amount of blood and was slipping into unconsciousness, Wilson felt guilt wash over him. ¡°Liliane isn¡¯t my daughter. ¡°I couldn¡¯t bear to see Leah suffer in sadness. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°And¡­ I won¡¯t be killing anyone.¡± He wasn¡¯t taking a life-he was saving one. His n was to temporarily extend Liliane¡¯s life using Esther¡¯s heart until his artificial heart was ready. As for Esther, she was a deserving criminal who deserved to die. Taking a deep breath, Wilson opened the door to the room and briskly walked out of his office, making his way directly to the operating room. Scott struggled to keep himself conscious, biting his tongue fiercely before picking up his phone and. dialing Bradley¡¯s number. Trembling, he urgently informed him, ¡°Mr. Warner, hurry! He¡¯s taking her to the operating room. Mrs. Warner¡¯s heart will be lost if we¡¯re toote¡­¡± As Scott uttered those words, he sumbed to unconsciousness. Bradley was already aware of Esther¡¯s ident, thanks to his bodyguards. His face betrayed his anger as he instructed his men to bring Wilson¡¯s wife and child while simultaneously pressuring the hospital through a phone call. Upon learning of Wilson¡¯s actions, the hospital director swiftly responded, rushing to the operating room without dy. With preparations for the surgeryplete, Wilson cautiously entered the operating room, knowing the risk it posed to his own career. To his surprise, the operating room was empty. The anesthetist, assistants, and nurses were nowhere to be found. Confusion enveloped Wilson as the operating room doors were forcefully pushed open, and Bradley entered with a group of people apanied by department heads. ¡°You¡­¡± Startled, Wilson dropped the surgical knife he was holding, the sound of it hitting the floor echoing through the room. Bradley¡¯s gaze fixed on Esther lying on the operating table. The anger that had consumed him finally found an outlet. He grabbed the cor of Wilson¡¯s clothes and ruthlessly struck him in the face with his iron-like fist. A tooth, stained with blood, flew out, sttering on the floor. ¡°Who gave you the audacity? How dare you touch my woman!?¡± Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Bradley brutally punched Wilson, sending him crashing to the ground. Wilson sprawled on the floor, desperately trying to defend himself. ¡°She¡¯s a murderer¡­¡± What use was there for a murderer? She was a product of an illicit affair, a love child. Her very existence was tainted with sin. And to harm Thomas, who had treated her as his own, was unforgivable. Such a wicked woman was a drain on society, better off serving as an organ donor to help others. Bradley stared down at Wilson with a cold and stern gaze, demanding, ¡°Tell me, who ordered you to do this?¡± Knowing Wilson¡¯s unwavering loyalty to Leah, he would never betray her. Wilson simply confessed, ¡°No one ordered me! It was my own doing¡­¡± Just as Bradley was about to strike again, the police intervened. ¡°Mr. Warner, he will face legal consequences for his actions. You don¡¯t need to dirty your hands,¡± said the police officer. The police lifted Wilson from the ground like a lifeless carcass. Wilson had pondered the consequences of exposure, but he never expected it toe so soon. What worth did a murderer like Esther have in staying alive? It would be best if she died! That would serve everyone. As Wilson was forcefully taken away, Leah was filled with shock. She clutched her pounding heart, her gaze fixed on Wilson, who appeared abandoned. She worried intensely if he would expose her. Leah¡¯s concern seemed like genuine worry in Wilson¡¯s deluded eyes. He offered Leah a reassuring look before walking past her. In the operating room, Esther remained unconscious. Bradley clenched his fists tightly, veins pulsating on his handsome face. It had been too close, dangerously close¡­ Esther¡¯s heart could have been imed by someone else! Bradley felt grateful that Scott had reported in time. Otherwise¡­ Bradley bent down and gently lifted Esther from the operating table, cradling her in his arms as if she weighed nothing. Leaving the hospital, he instructed the bodyguards to locate Scott. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Scott was covered in blood and was promptly taken to the operating room. Thankfully, Wilson¡¯s attack had been calcted, and though Scott had lost blood, his life was not in immediate danger. Unsure of the extent of Esther¡¯s injuries, Bradley wasted no time arranging aprehensive examination for her upon returning to the private hospital under the Warner Group. Thankfully, the results indicated that Esther had only been exposed to a small amount of anesthesia and would recover with proper rest. Bradley finally felt a sense of relief. With Esther entrusted to Xara¡¯s care, Bradley swiftly made his way to Scott¡¯s ward. Scott¡¯s paleplexion was evident, his head bandaged. ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯ve been looking for you.¡± Scott eagerly spoke as he yed a video he had recorded. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Bradley¡¯s expression darkened as he focused on the screen of Scott¡¯s phone. Though the video was a covert recording, it clearly showed Wilson¡¯s upper body. It was brief, yet it contained crucial information. After watching the video, Bradley furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°Are you saying Liliane¡¯s heart condition Is congenital rather than acquired?¡± Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Scott confidently presented the medical records Bradley had given him earlier, stating, ¡°Liliane¡¯s heart. condition is indeed congenital. It¡¯s impossible for her to have children.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Warner, Liliane¡¯s genuine medical records should be at the hospital. You can obtain them there,¡± Scott asserted. With certainty, Scott continued. ¡°Based on my observations and Wilson¡¯s confirmation, Liliane¡¯s heart condition is undoubtedly congenital. Girls with congenital heart conditions like Liliane cannot have children or engage in intimate rtionships¡­¡± Bradley had never suspected that Liliane was deceiving him. He never imagined that she would use a child obtained elsewhere to impersonate his son! What made it even more despicable was that he had lost his own daughter because of this illegitimate child. ¡°Scott, take care and get some rest,¡± Bradley said, sending Scott¡¯s secretly recorded video to his phone. A chilling aura emanated from Bradley¡¯s deep eyes as he left the ward. ¡®Liliane Anstey!¡¯ Tinkerbell¡¯s death pierced Bradley¡¯s heart like a thorn. Discovering that Liliane couldn¡¯t conceive Felix, he felt like a fool. If Felix wasn¡¯t his biological son, what about the paternity test from before? Who had aided Liliane in fabricating all the information, from her pregnancy to childbirth? Xara instinctively tightened her grip, observing Bradley filled with killing intent as she voiced her suspicions. ¡°Mr. Warner, I suspect that the car ident we just experienced wasn¡¯t an ident.¡± When Esther was taken away by the ambnce, it should have been one from the nearest hospital under the Warner Group¡¯s jurisdiction. Even if it was a private hospital, arranging for her to be transported to a distant facility was not feasible. During Xara¡¯s statement at the police station, she discovered that the driver was there to apprehend the mistress but ended up targeting the wrong person. It was hard for her to believe that it was merely a coincidence. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± Bradley stated. As Bradley nced at the still-unconscious Esther, the realization that her heart could have been harvested if he had arrived even a momentter sent shivers down his spine. Xara contemted her appearance at the police station today, knowing that her identity could no longer remain concealed. She would have to resign once again. ¡°Furthermore, Mr. Warner, I¡¯m submitting my resignation.¡± Xara asserted. Bradley, asserting his dominance, replied coldly, ¡°I won¡¯t allow it.¡± Considering Esther¡¯s psychological condition, Bradley wondered what would happen to her if she left. ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯m only resigning from the hospital. Rest assured. I¡¯ll continue to provide care for your wife until she recovers.¡± Bradley looked deeply into Xara¡¯s eyes and retorted, ¡°Dr. Sadler, what are you afraid of?¡± Xara forced a smile, not wanting to reveal her true feelings buried deep within. She simply stated, ¡°Mr. Warner, when we signed the contract, I made it clear that you must allow me to leave if I desired.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford to take any risks. She would lose her hard-earned freedom once again if he discovered her whereabouts. The mere thought of that unpredictable and vtile man, akin to a devil, made Xara instinctively yearn to escape to the farthest corners of the earth-somewhere he could never find her. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 ¡°I approve your resignation, but please take care of her for the time being,¡± Bradley said, considering Property ? N?velDrama.Org. various candidates in his mind and realizing that he could trust Esther only to Xara in the end. ¡°The bodyguards are stationed outside the door. If you need anything, you can inform them.¡± Xara nced at Esther, who was in a simr state, and silently nodded, biting her lip. Once Bradley had made the arrangements for Esther, he called the hospital¡¯s director to request Liliane¡¯s medical records. He also wanted to personally meet Wilson, the one who had attempted murder in the name of medicine. Liliane¡¯s digital medical records and previous examination reportsnded in Bradley¡¯s hands. Due to the specialized nature of the information, he could only pass these documents to Scott and ask him to carefully review all the details. Meanwhile, Wilson had been arrested! Leah was in a state of panic. She dreaded the possibility of Wilson revealing the truth that Liliane had never been pregnant. What would their fate be if Bradley discovered that they had been deceiving him for five years? Bradley was a merciless man, even to his own wife. He wouldn¡¯t let them off easily if he learned that they had deceived him. Leah looked at the oblivious Liliane lying on the hospital bed and contemted the worst- case scenarios. She thought they might have to leave the country if things didn¡¯t work out. Leah grabbed her phone and headed to the downstairs garden. ¡°Shane, it¡¯s me.¡± Upon hearing Leah¡¯s voice, Shane¡¯s tone turned slightly tense as he asked, ¡°Has the surgery taken ce?¡± ¡°No, he was arrested!¡± Shane¡¯s voice grew deeper as he inquired hoarsely, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know all the details either. What I do know is that he was taken away from the operating room. And to make matters worse, Bradley took that woman, Esther, with him. ¡°Shane, what should we do now? Liliane¡¯s life is hanging by a thread, and Bradley hasn¡¯t made it clear if he intends to marry her. If he finds out Liliane never gave birth, I can¡¯t imagine how he¡¯ll seek revenge against us¡­¡± Shane hadn¡¯t expected Bradley to be so fixated on Esther. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a throbbing headache and rubbed his forehead. He should have let Esther die in prison, ending everything back then. Taking a deep breath, Shane reassured the anxious Leah in a gentle voice, ¡°He won¡¯t expose you.¡± ¡°What I¡¯m worried about now is¡­ what if¡­¡± A terrifying glint of anger shed in Shane¡¯s eyes, and he spoke in a low voice. ¡°No matter what Bradley says, insist firmly that Liliane did give birth. Let him conduct a DNA paternity test if he doesn¡¯t believe it. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With Shane by her side, Leah finally managed to calm down a bit. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. If things don¡¯t work out, you can take Liliane out of the country. No matter how powerful Bradley is, he won¡¯t be able to harm you both abroad. I¡¯ve saved some money in foreign banks over the years, so you don¡¯t have to worry about your livelihood.¡± Leah asked again, ¡°What good is money if Liliane still doesn¡¯t have a heart?¡± ¡°If Esther¡¯s heart is a suitable match, we can use it for Liliane. We¡¯re temporarily cing Liliane¡¯s heart in Esther¡¯s body for now.¡± Shane still regretted it. If only he had known earlier that Esther¡¯s heart would be a suitable match for his daughter. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Shane should have dug Esther¡¯s heart and transnted it to his daughter straightaway back when Esther was in the prison hospital giving birth. ¡®It is fine. We can take it slow.¡¯ Shane would eventually get Esther¡¯s heart for his daughter. The news of Wilson performing live heart extractions quickly spread throughout the hospital, causing panic among some patients who feared they might have been subjected to hical practices during their hospital stay. Requests for discharge flooded in as patients sought to escape any potential harm. The hospital administration was deeply troubled by the scandal, as it had severely damaged their reputation and would undoubtedly lead to numerous inquiries from concerned patients. The entire hospital was enveloped in an atmosphere of unease and uncertainty. The hospital administration desperately hoped that Bradley would not pursue the matter further, and they were willing toply with any demands he had. Meanwhile, Bradley was currently at the detention center, where the undeniable evidence of Wilson¡¯s crimes awaited him. During the interrogation, Wilson did not attempt to deny his actions and readily confessed to the atrocities he hadmitted. Bradley entered the detention center¡¯s visiting room and sat, his eyes fixed on the handcuffed Wilson. ¡°Dr. Birch, who gave you the audacity to repeatedly target my wife for her heart?¡± Bradley questioned, his tone filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. Wilson defiantly raised his head and met Bradley¡¯s gaze with a mocking smile. ¡°She¡¯s not your wife. She¡¯s a murderer.¡± Without hesitation, Bradley forcefully kicked Wilson¡¯s shin, momentarily silencing the doctor with a sharp surge of pain. ¡°Thew has not dered her a murderer, so how dare you make such usations?¡± Bradley demanded, his expression darkening. Despite the agony coursing through his body, Wilson stubbornly retorted with a flushed face, ¡°Mr. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Warner, didn¡¯t you yourself im she was a murderer? Didn¡¯t you personally ensure her imprisonment? Isn¡¯t that right? Why are you pretending to be a caring husband now?¡± Even in the face of intense pain, Wilson remained defiant and haughty, continuing his tirade. Mr. Warner, you should know that even if Imitted a crime, it would only be attempted murder at most. Thew cannot keep me imprisoned for long, and my wife will not abandon me¡­¡± Wilson remained oblivious to the gravity of his situation. He persisted in his arrogance, boldly dering, ¡°Mr. Warner, unless you keep Esther by your side at all times, her heart will eventually be mine!¡± Deep down, Wilson knew he couldn¡¯t present himself as a love-stricken man. He needed to portray himself as a man consumed by his academic pursuits. This way, Leah and Liliane would be innocent victims if he were to face the consequences one day. He refused to let the woman he loved face society¡¯s condemnation and insults. Since Leah¡¯s husband was already a failure, he would wholeheartedly sacrifice himself and be her protector. A chilling and terrifying hint of killing intent flickered in Bradley¡¯s cold gaze. He raised an eyebrow calmly, his lips slightly parted as he coolly remarked, ¡°Your wife and son will be targets for public outrage.¡± Infuriated, Wilson mmed the table and shouted recklessly, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare! Leave my family out of this!¡± ¡°When you sought to take my wife¡¯s heart, did you ever consider them?¡± Bradley questioned. ¡°When you falsified Liliane¡¯s medical records, did you ever think about them? ¡°Open your eyes and witness what I will subject your wife, son, parents, and siblings to¡­ Bradley rose slowly, his icy gaze firmly fixed on Wilson¡¯s disbelieving expression. ¡°This is the price you pay forying a hand on my wife!¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Wilson seethed with impotent rage as he was restrained in a chair, his movements hindered. The desire to charge at Bradley and bring them both to their end burned within him, but it remained nothing more than a futile fantasy. Having served as Liliane¡¯s attending physician for many years, Wilson was well aware of the situation in her family. With a sinister smile, he targeted Bradley¡¯s vulnerable spot. ¡°Mr. Warner, is this how you protect your beloved?¡± He sneered. ¡°Or is it that the mighty Mr. Warner has fallen for a murderer? Esther¡­ She killed your grandfather. It was because of her that he died¡­¡± Wilson¡¯s maniacalughter filled the air. ¡°That wretched Esther deserves to die! Wilson¡¯s words pierced Bradley¡¯s heart like venom. He took a step forward, gripping Wilson¡¯s chin forcefully. Wilson felt his jaw straining as if Bradley could shatter his bones at any moment. ¡°Birch, my wife is not to be spoken ill of by anyone,¡± Bradley dered with a crazed and ruthless expression. His deep eyes burned with a fierce determination to kill. ¡°Whether she lives or dies is my decision!¡± A cryptic chuckle escaped Wilson¡¯s throat as he met Bradley¡¯s mocking gaze. ¡°She¡¯s guilty. That¡¯s her burden. None of you have the right to deny her the right to live just because she¡¯s guilty! ¡°No matter how noble your reasons may seem, a crime is a crime, and murder is murder!¡± Bradley released his grip on Wilson¡¯s chin and casually pulled out a silk handkerchief from his suit pocket, wiping his fingers with nonchnce. Disgust and a menacing aura filled Bradley¡¯s eyes, sending a chill down Wilson¡¯s spine. ¡°Now, I want the truth.¡± There was no way Wilson could reveal the truth to Bradley. He couldn¡¯t disclose his n to forcibly take Esther¡¯s heart for Liliane¡¯s sake. ¡°The truth is, I want Esther dead. I want her heart¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze swept over Wilson¡¯s deranged face. Without uttering a word, Bradley turned around and left the room. Outside the room, an elegantly dressed woman carrying a limited-edition Birkin approached Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner-¡± Property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Save your breath,¡± Bradley interrupted, looking down at the boy standing beside the woman. His voice was distant and cold. ¡°As the saying goes, confess and you may receive leniency, resist and you will face severe consequences. It¡¯s his choice.¡± Wilson had made his choice, and Bradley was seeking his revenge. The doctor who was supposed to save lives turned out to be a merciless killer! Such scum deserved to pay for their actions. ¡°H-He¡­¡± The woman attempted to say something, but Bradley walked past her with indifference. Letting out a sigh, she took her son¡¯s hand and entered the detention center. When Wilson caught sight of his wife, Sarah Romney, and child, Tom, a wave of guilt washed over him. Sarah said, preparing to reveal the truth, ¡°Wilson, we are both doctors. I understand why you did this-¡± However, Wilson sternly interrupted her. ¡°She deserves to die.¡± Chapter 184 Chapter 184 ¡°Wilson, when you pursued me back then, it was to salvage decades of hard work. ¡°When you were young, your goals were sess and fame, but as you grew older, you wanted to rekindle an old me. ¡°I didn¡¯t mention, ask, or talk about it, not because I¡¯m naive, but because I pretended to be oblivious for the sake of giving our son aplete family!¡± Sarah looked at her son and calmly said, ¡°Take a good look. This is your father. He¡¯s the one who has put you in such a miserable situation for the sake of reuniting with his young love.¡± ¡°What are you talking about Wilson panicked. Despite his wrongdoing, he still wanted to be respected and admired by Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. his son. ¡°You can do it, but I can¡¯t say anything?¡± With sorrow and anger, Sarah asked, ¡°When you broke the school when the truth came out? He would be isted, mocked, and even bullied! Since you never thought about us, mother and son, I¡¯vee here today to tell you that we should get a divorce!¡± Wilson and Tom were stunned. ¡°Mom, why do you want a divorce?¡± asked Tom. Sarah sneered and said, ¡°I don¡¯t need a cheating husband.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have a rtionship with her!¡± Wilson weakly argued. He had the intention, but he never took it further with Leah. ¡°Having the intention butcking the courage is even more disgusting.¡± Sarah looked at Tom coldly and asked indifferently, ¡°So, what¡¯s your choice today? Are you going abroad with me or staying here? ¡°If you choose to stay, I¡¯ll send you to boarding school. You¡¯re not a three-year-old child anymore, so you should know what your father¡¯s behavior means. If you suffer and are mistreated at school because of this, remember, the person who caused this to happen is not. me. It¡¯s your father!¡± ¡°Mom, Dad has realized his mistake. Why do you want a divorce?¡± Sarah turned on her phone and handed her son all the evidence she had collected. ¡°Take a good look. This is your father!¡± ¡°Cheating, embezzling¡­¡± Wilson had always been a very good father figure in front of his son, and he never expected his wife to be so brutal. ¡°W-Why are you ruining my image?¡± Wilson whispered, his voice filled with disbelief. Sarah took the phone from her son¡¯s hand and said coldly, ¡°Because this is the real getting a divorce, and he needs to choose who his guardian will be.¡± ¡°Going abroad? How will you take care of him after you go there?¡± Wilson retorted. you. We¡¯re ¡°I have a job. I am a doctor and earn a living with my own hands and skills!¡± Sarah replied, her voice firm and resolute. Tom, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ll go abroad with Mom.¡± Since the incident erupted, he had received countless ¡°concerns¡± from his ssmates. His personal social media ount had also been exposed, and he knew that if he did not leave, he would only be known as the ¡°son of a murderer¡± here. ¡°Will that person you lovee to see you? When you no longer have any use, will she still treat you kindly?¡± Seizing the opportunity, Sarah took out the divorce agreement and ced it in front of Wilson, then took out a pen from her purse. ¡°If you still have an ounce of paternal love left, sign it! Give your son a way out.¡± Wilson signed his name with a gloomy face, and the mother and son left briskly with the divorce agreement bearing their signatures. ¡°Mom, did Dad really cheat on you with the nurse?¡± asked Tom. ¡°Do you want to see videos? Photos?¡± she asked back. Sarah¡¯s revenge came swiftly. After entrusting the divorce proceedings to herwyer, she boarded the ne with her son. Before the ne took off, Sarah sent all thepiled videos, photos, threats from the mistress, and more to tabloids. Immediately, a disastrous storm raged on the Inte, and Leah, who was at the center of the storm, became the target of public criticism, even within the hospital. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Leah checked the news link sent to her phone, quickly ncing at the content. She used the excuse of Liliane needing rest to take away her daughter¡¯s phone and tablet, not wanting to be seen as promiscuous in her eyes. At the same time, Leah felt relieved that she had kept Wilson on the hook. Otherwise, she could have been the woman in those pictures today. However, she knew they couldn¡¯t continue staying in the hospital. After some thought, she decided to call Bradley immediately. ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s not suitable for Liliane to stay here with her current condition. Can you help coordinate her transfer to your hospital?¡± Unaware that Bradley already knew about Liliane¡¯s congenital heart disease, Leah had a sudden idea to use the current Inte talk to force Bradley into marriage. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it,¡± Bradley replied. After hanging up, Bradley went straight to Scott¡¯s ward. Despite his injuries, Scott was still busy handling other tasks in the hospital. ¡°Everyone else can leave,¡± Scott instructed as soon as he saw Bradley enter. ¡°Liliane will be transferred here. Don¡¯t let her know that I already know about her congenital heart disease. Also, when you have the chance to examine her, check if she¡¯s given birth. Once she¡¯s transferred here, we, along with Felix, will undergo a DNA test. I want you to oversee it personally.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it, Mr. Warner,¡± Scott replied in a low tone. Bradley¡¯s expression softened as he said, ¡°Get well soon.¡± Leaving Scott¡¯s ward, Bradley headed to Esther¡¯s room. Xara had conducted aprehensive examination of Esther. ¡°Mr. Warner, here are the test results from Esther¡¯s full-body examination,¡± she said. Bradley casually flipped through the data, setting it aside. He thanked Xara in a gentle tone. ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯ll leave work now,¡± Xara said, eager to pack up and be ready to leave at any time. Bradley sat by Esther¡¯s bedside, looking at her serene and angelic face. His brows slightly furrowed, and his incredibly handsome face exuded a strong chill. ¡®Wilson imed I have fallen in love with this murderer, Esther? ¡®Hah¡­ impossible.¡¯ He wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to tarnish his reputation. As long as Esther didn¡¯t divorce him, she represented a part of his reputation! Bullying Esther or insulting Bradley, what was the difference? Under Bradley¡¯s gaze, Esther woke 1. Opening her eyes, Esther noticed the obscure and cold glint in Bradley¡¯s eyes. Surprised, she asked, ¡°Darling, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Bradley¡¯s tone was cold as he replied, ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Esther nodded gently and said, ¡°I was hit by a car, and I almost-¡± ¡°We need to pick up Felix from kindergarten.¡± Upon hearing that, Esther quickly sat up from the bed, checked the time on her phone, and eximed, ¡°It¡¯s already sote?¡± ¡°I told the teacher we¡¯d arriveter,¡± said Bradley. Esther hurriedly got out of bed, though her feet were still sore. Bradley reached out and supported her as she stood, and Esther leaned against him, saying in a C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. coquettish tone, ¡°Darling, it hurts. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Esther tightly wrapped her arms around Bradley¡¯s neck, disying a sweet and dependent demeanor. Observing this scene, Bradley could only carry her and leave the ward. Meanwhile, an ambnce pulled up beside Esther and Bradley. Leah and Liliane, who were inside the ambnce, witnessed the affectionate moment between Esther and Bradley, and a surge of killing intent flickered in their eyes simultaneously. Liliane impulsively wanted to push open the car door and confront them about what was happening. However, Leah firmly held her hand and subtly shook her head. Bradley gently settled Esther in the car and chivalrously fastened her seatbelt. ¡°Thank you, darling,¡± Esther whispered, lightly kissing Bradley¡¯s cheek. A faint blush appeared on the tips of Bradley¡¯s ears. It was only when Bradley¡¯s car disappeared from Liliane¡¯s view that she released her bloodied hands. She looked at Leah, pain evident on her face, and cried out, ¡°Mom¡­¡± How could Bradley dare to insult her like this? How could he continue to treat Esther that way when their wedding was approaching?! Why? Why wasn¡¯t that wretched Esther dead? ¡°Liliane, my dear, don¡¯t be upset. Your wedding with Bradley will not be canceled!¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand and calmly led her back to the ward. After considering for a moment, she decided to send her premeditated n for a forced marriage to a familiar paparazzo. Chaos ensued on the Inte. Dr. Wilson Birch, the surgeon who had contemted extracting a heart from a living person, became the target of public outrage as the ¡°Killer Doctor.¡± Wilson¡¯s affair came to light. alongside this explosive news, spreading his infamy across the Inte. At the same time, a tabloid ount by a paparazzo began revealing information, stating that Liliane was engaged to Bradley, the Warner Group¡¯s owner, and warning people not to involve her, as they might receive a legal letter from the Warner Group¡¯s legal department. Subsequently, it was exposed that Liliane and Bradley¡¯s wedding was imminent. A wedding nning revealed that Liliane¡¯s wedding dress was the exclusive and exquisite ¡°The Wedding Dress from Heaven.¡± Initially, everyone¡¯s attention was fixated on the scandal. With the help of various tabloid news ounts, the love triangle between Liliane, Esther, and Bradley flooded the Inte. Theizens transformed into eager spectators, using various means to expose Liliane¡¯s premarital pregnancy and her willingness to bear Bradley¡¯s child, which led to her heart condition. Simrly, the all-knowingizens dug up Esther¡¯s broken rtionships and unsightly secrets, including This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. her infidelity. Soon, the audience reveled in the melodramatic saga involving these three high-profile individuals. ¡°Daddy, Mommy!¡± Upon seeing Esther and Bradley, Felix ran toward them, eager to throw himself into Esther¡¯s arms. Bradley swiftly lifted Felix by his cor, his tone cold and distant as he said, ¡°She¡¯s injured.¡± The thought of Felix not being his biological child made Bradley inexplicably ufortable. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to abandon Felix and ignore him by sending him to an orphanage. ¡°Mommy, Mommy, what happened to you?¡± Felix asked with innocent concern, hurt? Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°Are you Snuggled in Bradley¡¯s embrace, Esther caressed Felix¡¯s hair gently with her hand. Her eyes were warm and kind as she replied, ¡°Give Mommy a kiss, and the pain will go away.¡± Felix was about to kiss Esther when Bradley forcefully grabbed his arm. Bradley¡¯s voice showed a subtle trace of jealousy as he coldly stated, ¡°Get your backpack.¡± Felix pouted and eximed, ¡°Daddy is so mean!¡± Simultaneously, Bradley¡¯s phone began to ring. ¡°rk,¡± Bradley answered. Upon seeing the news on the Inte, rk immediately called Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, you must not proceed with the wedding with Liliane!¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Bradley¡¯s eyebrows sharpened, exuding a chilling and intimidating aura. ¡°There won¡¯t be a wedding.¡± Liliane had deceived him, yed him for a fool. How could he marry her? rk was taken aback and asked in astonishment, ¡°But the details of your wedding are spreading online!¡± Before Bradley could respond, rk said solemnly, ¡°Mr. Warner, I¡¯m currently investigating what happened five years ago and have made some progress. Please wait a little longer, and I¡¯ll soon share something very important with you.¡± Bradley replied indifferently, ¡°Stay safe.¡± Still concerned, rk added, ¡°Mr. Warner, treat Esther better.¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡®I don¡¯t want you to do something you¡¯ll regret for the rest of your life.¡¯ After ending the call coldly, Bradley opened the car door and sat inside. Unaware that Esther could see his every move at the kindergarten through surveince cameras, Felix animatedly recounted his day to her, thinking she was unaware of what had happened. Esther looked at the lively Felix, gently caressing his chubby face with her hand. She softly asked, ¡°Felix, did you have fun at kindergarten?¡± Felix, cute and soft, replied, ¡°I had so much fun!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really, I¡¯m super happy.¡± Esther couldn¡¯t help but hug Felix, lowering her head to kiss his forehead and speaking gently. ¡°I¡¯m your Mommy, Felix. You can tell me how you truly feel.¡± Embraced by Esther, Felix breathed in her sweet peach fragrance, thinking it must be his Mommy¡¯s scent-sweet and lovely. ¡°Mommy, I really love kindergarten. ¡°I like when you and Daddy take me to school, and I like when you and Daddy pick me up from school. ¡°I¡¯m the happiest child in the whole world.¡± Esther looked at Felix, content with the simple joys of life, a hint of tender affection gleaming in her eyes. ¡°Then Mommy will still take you to school tomorrow, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The soft and sweet conversation between Felix and Esther filled the space in the quiet car. Meanwhile, Bradley nced at the news on his phone about Liliane forcing their marriage. He couldn¡¯t help but sneer and smirk. Liliane was quite interesting. She thought she could pressure him into marriage using public opinion? Then¡­ Deep within Bradley¡¯s dark eyes, a surge of killing intent stirred. He would make sure someone like Liliane, who had deceived him, would face the consequences she deserved. The car arrived at Primus Mansion. Bradley supported Esther while Felix eagerly ran ahead, pressing the elevator button for Bradley. The three of them returned to Primus Mansion. ¡°Sir, Madam.¡± Once a professional caregiver, Melinda now served as the Primus Mansion¡¯s nanny. ¡°Dinner is ready.¡± Bradley handed Esther to Melinda, his demeanor cold as he said, ¡°She injured her foot. Take care of her.¡± ¡°Darling, where are you going?¡± asked Esther. Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Esther watched with concern as Bradley turned to leave, and she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is everything okay? Take care of yourself.¡± A cold and indifferent smile formed on Bradley¡¯s lips as he replied, ¡°There¡¯s something at thepany I need to attend to. I¡¯ll be backter.¡± Esther stood under the orange lights, her eyes filled with worry that flickered like shining stars After Bradley entered the elevator, Esther washed her hands with Melinda¡¯s help and sat at the dining table with Felix. They enjoyed a sumptuous dinner prepared by Melinda. ¡°Felix, it¡¯s just Mommy now. Can you tell me secretly if you¡¯re happy at kindergarten?¡± Esther had watched a surveince video where Felix seemed out of ce among the other children. He appeared reluctant to join in their games and interactions. Although the teacher had tried to encourage him, he would be isted as soon as the teacher looked away. Felix insisted, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m really, really super happy.¡± Esther looked at her son, sensing his hesitation to express his true feelings. She asked in confusion, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe that Mommy will always stand by your side, no matter what?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Felix confessed under Esther¡¯s gentle and trusting gaze. ¡°The other kids are too childish.¡± ¡°Childish?¡± Esther questioned, puzzled. ¡°Yeah, the books they read, the songs they sing, the games they y¡­ they¡¯re all so childish.¡± Felix continued eagerly. ¡°And some of the other kids are so dumb. Even after the teacher exins it several times, they still can¡¯t understand. It¡¯s really simple!¡± Esther gently exined, ¡°Felix, everyone has different strengths. Some people are good at studying, while others are not. Maybe those other kids simply struggle with learning.¡± With a cute expression, Felix asked, ¡°Mommy, what am I good at?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Esther replied honestly, ¡°But we can explore together and discover what you¡¯re good at.¡± Suddenly, Felix excitedly snapped his fingers and said cutely, ¡°Mommy, I know what I¡¯m best at!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Esther asked, curious. ¡°I¡¯m best at loving Mommy!¡± Felix rushed over and hugged Esther, saying in a sweet and cute tone, ¡°Mommy, I love you the most in the whole world!¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Esther looked at Felix and warmly embraced him, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes. ¡°1 love you the most too.¡± Melinda, who observed this heartwarming scene, couldn¡¯t help but think of her own son. She opened the photo album on her phone and looked at his pictures, staring at them for a while before finally sending him some money. She made a resolution that once she settled in, she would apply for leave and take her son on a trip. The night was enchanting, and online gossip enthusiasts continued to discuss the scandalous drama surrounding the wealthy family. No one could resist the allure of such a scandal involving a wealthy family, especially when Bradley, a peerless scion with looks and wealth, captivated theizens¡¯ eyes. They became fanatics, admiring Bradley¡¯s divine appearance. Someizens even thought Esther, Bradley¡¯s ex-wife, must be crazy to give up such a perfect man for an affair! They believed the person she had an affair with wasn¡¯t even worthy of cleaning Bradley¡¯s shoes. Simultaneously, the viral video from the past resurfaced once again. Observing the chaos online and the attacks and insults directed at Esther, Bradley immediately made a phone call to the legal department of his corporation. ¡°Find the distributors and creators of the video and send them all cease-and-desist letters,¡± Bradley instructed in a chillingly cold tone. ¡°Notify the PR department to prepare a crisis. management n to handle any potential PR crises.¡± Chapter 189 Chapter 189 In the hospital, Scott ced Liliane in a private ward, which eased Leah¡¯s worries. Initially, Leah was worried that Scott would find out that Liliane had a congenital heart condition, as some things but the condition of one¡¯s health could be concealed, Hiding the condition could lead to Scott making a misdiagnosis and potentially have serious and unpredictable consequences. Leah had two reasons for transferring Liliane to this hospital. Firstly, Scott, like Wilson, was a cardiac specialist. Secondly, it was a private hospital under the Warner Group, ensuring better confidentiality and minimizing disruptions to Liliane¡¯s recovery. ¡°Dr. Holden, regarding my daughter¡¯s condition¡­¡± Leah began, her concern evident. Scott maintained a strict and professional demeanor as he responded, ¡°Based on Ms. Anstey¡¯s current condition, a heart transnt is the best treatment option.¡± Leah was well aware that a heart transnt was the optimal choice for Liliane. However, the challenge have hinted to Wilson about obtaining Esther¡¯s heart. It wasn¡¯t all in vain. If Esther¡¯s heart proved to be a match for Liliane, she would seize the opportunity. As a mother, she was willing to do whatever it took for Liliane¡¯s survival, even if it meant taking a life. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Holden,¡± Leah expressed her gratitude before asking, ¡°Are there any specific precautions we should take for my daughter¡¯s current condition?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Scott maintained his professional demeanor as a doctor. ¡°Maintaining a positive mood. and minimizing stress and worries is crucial. Heart conditions are highly sensitive to stimtion, and excessive stimtion could endanger her heart.¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I understand. Thank you, Dr. Holden.¡± Leah made a gesture as if to offer a bank card to Scott. Scott shook his head, firmly refusing, ¡°I have a sry, and I can support myself. Please don¡¯t insult my integrity by offering something like this.¡± Leah watched Scott¡¯s retreating figure, feeling worried. She wanted Scott to keep her daughter¡¯s congenital heart condition a secret from Bradley. If he refused the bank card, her n would be Leah was troubled, hoping that Scott was a dedicated doctor who would not unnecessarily interfere in front of Bradley. Taking a deep breath, she pretended everything was normal and returned to Liliane¡¯s room. ¡°Liliane.¡± Full of worry, Liliane asked, ¡°Mom, how did it go? Did Dr. Holden agree? He won¡¯t tell Bradley about my true condition, right?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Leah reassured Liliane firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything will be fine.¡± Liliane breathed a sigh of relief. She held Leah¡¯s hand and expressed her distress, ¡°If Dr. Holden reveals my true condition to Bradley, he¡¯ll know that it¡¯s impossible for me to have children due to my health. Then he¡¯ll definitely question where Felix came from. If he finds out that Felix is Esther¡¯s child, wouldn¡¯t it¡­¡± ¡®All be in vain?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen,¡± Leah said with conviction ¡°Liliane, focus on recovering your health for now. Your well- being is more important than anything else.¡± ¡°Mom, it¡¯s all because of Esther. If it weren¡¯t for her ¡°Liliane¡¯s voice was filled with anger and resentment, sharp and cutting ¡°My heart was perfectly fine during the five years Esther was in prison, but as soon as she was released, my condition became so severe.¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Leah grasped Liliane¡¯s hand firmly and spoke with a serious tone. ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t concern. yourself with C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. someone who is no longer alive. Right now, the most important thing is for your to focus on your health and be a beautiful bride.¡± ¡°But Mom, Bradley and Esther are back together. Will he still marry me?¡± ¡°He will.¡± Leah¡¯s gaze turned sharp and fierce, her voice suddenly cold. ¡°He will marry you.¡± She had publicly announced Bradley and Liliane¡¯s impending wedding, so there was no turning back now. Bradley arrived at the door of the ward and lightly tapped on it. Thinking it was a nurse, Leah said, ¡°Come in.¡± Bradley,posed and dignified, entered as he pushed the door open. Worry shed in Leah and Liliane¡¯s eyes upon seeing Bradley¡¯s sudden appearance. They were unsure if he had overheard their earlier conversation. ¡°Brad,¡± Liliane sweetly called out. Bradley¡¯s icy and indifferent gaze fell upon Liliane¡¯s pale face, revealing the signs of her illness that he had never noticed before. She had always made an effort to conceal her congenital heart condition with makeup whenever they met. ¡°Can your body handle the demands of a full wedding?¡± Bradley asked. Liliane¡¯s spirits instantly lifted like a withered flower brought back to life. Joy bloomed in her heart. ¡°Brad, I¡¯m fine. I can handle the wedding¡­¡± Leah couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of aplishment. Their strategy of pressuring Bradley through public opinion seemed to be working. ¡°Mr. Warner, I consulted a master fortune teller who suggested an auspicious wedding date based on your birth charts. There¡¯s a favorable dateing up soon.¡± Bradley replied, ¡°You have made the arrangements with the wedding nningpany.¡± Leah and Liliane failed to grasp the true meaning behind Bradley¡¯s words, thinking that he had sumbed to the pressure of public opinion and agreed to the wedding date. They felt a secret. sense of aplishment. ¡°Brad, if you have any suggestions, please let us know. We canmunicate with the wedding nningpany in a timely manner.¡± Bradley remained expressionless, a stoic iceberg standing before Liliane. Completely absorbed in the excitement of having a wedding date set, Liliane failed to notice. the storm brewing within the man before her. ¡°You have handled everything well.¡± Bradley¡¯s voice was firm andmanding, revealing no hint of the emotions he was experiencing. ¡°So, are we going to do the wedding photos tomorrow?¡± Every woman eagerly anticipated her own wedding day, and Liliane was no exception. Since the day she fell in love with Bradley, she had dreamed of bing his bride. She envisioned herself as the most beautiful, radiant, and blissful bride in his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time,¡± Bradley tly refused. ¡°Your health also doesn¡¯t allow you to engage in strenuous activities for long periods. You should rest and recover in the ward. On the wedding day, I will give you a grand surprise.¡± Liliane felt a tinge of disappointment upon hearing that Bradley didn¡¯t have time for wedding photos. However, the prospect of a grand surprise instantly filled her with joy. Liliane entertained a mischievous and vindictive idea sparked by what she had witnessed in the ambnce earlier. ¡°Brad, can I have my younger sister as my bridesmaid?¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Leah¡¯s voice turned cold as she interrupted Liliane¡¯s proposal, ¡°No, I will never allow Esther to tarnish your wedding.¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Liliane sweetly coaxed. Leah¡¯s tone remained cold as she continued. ¡°There¡¯s no room for discussion on this matter.¡± A cold smirk curved on Bradley¡¯s lips, his deep gaze filled with scorn and mockery. He spoke with icy words. ¡°Liliane, if that¡¯s your wish, I will allow Esther to be present at the wedding.¡± Liliane¡¯s joy was evident as her smile bloomed. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± She wanted Esther to be there at her wedding with Bradley. She wanted Esther to know that no matter what schemes or plots she used, Bradley would always belong to her-Liliane. Brendan looked at Liliane for a moment and then turned to Leah, speaking in a low voice, Regardless of your awareness of Dr. Birch¡¯s case, you are still involved. I suggest you stay at the hospital and let the wedding nningpany handle the rest.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Liliane readily agreed but hesitated when she thought of the wedding dress. She voiced her concerns. ¡°But don¡¯t I need to personally try on the dress to get the right measurements?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Bradley replied nonchntly. ¡°The wedding nningpany will find a model with a simr figure to yours to try on the dress for you.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Liliane pouted in dissatisfaction. ¡°This is the wedding dress I¡¯m going to wear at my wedding. I don¡¯t want someone else to wear it! Can¡¯t the designer bring the dress to the hospital for me to try it on myself and then make the necessary adjustments?¡± Leah, skilled at reading expressions, sensed Bradley¡¯s displeasure. Taking the initiative, she said, ¡°Liliane, your priority now is to recover. Let¡¯s follow Mr. Warner¡¯s suggestion regarding the wedding dress.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Liliane couldn¡¯t believe it. Leah was actually going along with Bradley¡¯s idea. Leah firmly held Liliane¡¯s hand and said in a cold voice, ¡°Liliane, if the wedding dress designer, Anna, doesn¡¯t want to sell the dress to you because it¡¯s too troublesome, what will you do? Will you settle for another dress?¡± ¡°No!¡± Liliane thought that she had already seen the most beautiful wedding dress. She did not want to wear any other ordinary dresses. She wanted to wear the best dress and be the most beautiful This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. bride. ¡°Listen to Mr. Warner. If your health allows it by then, we can reconsiderter.¡± Reluctantly, Liliane agreed. Bradley looked at the despicable mother and daughter in front of him, a trace of disgust rippling in his deep eyes. Esther was Billy¡¯s illegitimate daughter. If anyone was to be med, it should be directed at Billy. Why did Leah and Liliane treat Esther this way? To say that the mother and daughter had no involvement in Wilson taking Esther¡¯s heart would be the most foolish joke in the world. ¡°Give your guest list directly to the wedding nningpany. I want this wedding to be live streamed worldwide,¡± said Bradley. Liliane asked with excitement, ¡°Live-streamed?¡± ¡°Yes¡± A faint sense of mockery appeared on Bradley¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Don¡¯t you want the whole world to know that you¡¯ve be Mrs. Warner?¡± ¡°I do!¡± Liliane was ted. This was probably the happiest moment for her since her condition worsened Everything was progressing toward the perfect oue Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Liliane¡¯s heart brimmed with satisfaction as she envisioned her wedding with Bradley as the ultimate solution to rid herself of the bothersome presence of Esther and Felix. Her life would be smooth sailing with their departure, victorious in every aspect. In a cold and disrespectful tone thatcked the humility expected of a son-inw toward his mother-in- He carried himself with an air of superiority, emitting a strange contradiction. The seamless progression of events made Leah¡¯s temples throb uncontrobly. Suddenly, an important question struck her mind-had Esther and Bradley already divorced? ¡°Mr. Warner, your divorce certificate¡­¡± A sinister glint quietly blossomed in Bradley¡¯s eyes as he gazed at Leah, calmly stating, ¡± Esther has signed the divorce agreement, and thewyers are handling the proceedings.¡± Liliane was also aware of Esther signing the divorce agreement. She held Leah¡¯s hand and coquettishly remarked, ¡°Mom, Brad This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. doesn¡¯t need to personally handle these matters. Thewyers will take care of it. Don¡¯t you have confidence in the legal department of the Warner Group?¡± Leah¡¯s remaining concerns dissipated as well. She looked at Bradley and casually responded, Mr. Warner, although the Ansteys may not be as wealthy as the Warners, we are notcking. We will prepare a generous wedding gift for Liliane¡­¡± ¡°No need for that.¡± Bradley¡¯s deep gaze fixed upon Liliane¡¯s delicate face, resembling a flower. ¡°Bradley Warner¡¯s wife won¡¯t need to rely on her family¡¯s wealth.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different-¡± Leah attempted to say something more, but Bradley nced at his wristwatch and coldly interjected, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Rest early. If you have any ideas, contact the wedding nningpany directly. I have more than enough money, so there¡¯s no need for you to save it on my behalf.¡± ¡°Brad, let me see you off!¡± Liliane¡¯s happiness overflowed like that of a little girl. At that moment, all her schemes and maniptions were forgotten. ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± Bradley opened the door of the hospital room and calmly departed. Leah anxiously watched Bradley¡¯s retreating figure and felt an inexplicable unease settling within her. ¡°Mom, Mom, Mom, I¡¯m so happy!¡± Liliane threw herself into her mother¡¯s embrace, hugging her tightly, brimming with joy and happiness. Leah had no choice but to bury all her worries and concerns deep within her heart. She was just an ordinary mother and hoped her daughter would experience this level of happiness for the rest of her life. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll undergo the heart transnt once I¡¯m married. And after the transnt, I¡¯ll have my own child. I¡¯ll love it dearly and cherish it like a precious pearl.¡± Leah gently brushed away the bangs from Liliane¡¯s forehead, speaking slowly. ¡°Is this how happy my daughter is?¡± Leah believed that Esther and Felix should not taint her daughter¡¯s happiness during her wedding. As for the useless Billy, she would find a way to prevent his presence at the wedding. . That way¡­ the person leading Liliane down the aisle, holding her hand, would be her biological father, Shane. Regarding the Ansteys¡¯ assets, they could conveniently be transferred to Liliane¡¯s name as a rightful wedding gift. Once the Ansteys¡¯ assets were secured, Billy would no longer be worth her attention. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve finally obtained what I wanted!¡± Liliane gleefully uttered the most malicious words, wearing a gleeful expression. ¡°Mom, what kind of fate do you think we should bestow upon Esther and her son?¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Bradley had entrusted all the wedding arrangements to the wedding nningpany. Initially, the of the Warner Group due to the leaked wedding details. However, now that they had received Bradley¡¯s delegation, they breathed a sigh of relief and guaranteed that no simr leaks would ur. Upon Bradley¡¯s return to Primus Mansion from the hospital, he found Felix already bathed and reading a picture book with Esther. ¡°Daddy!¡± Felix eximed as he spotted Bradley rushing toward him with outstretched arms, wanting to be carried. Reluctantly, Bradley lifted Felix up, his demeanor cold and distant as he addressed Esther, Since your foot is injured, you should sleep alone tonight. I¡¯ll take Felix to rest.¡± Felix pouted and used his sweet voice to plead, ¡°Daddy, I want to sleep with you and Mommy tonight too.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bradley tly refused. Felix looked at Esther with a huff and softly pleaded, ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡± Esther, always soft-hearted, especially when Felix acted cute, couldn¡¯t help but want to give him the best of everything in the world. ¡°Why don¡¯t-¡± Bradley held Felix tightly and spoke firmly. ¡°A doting mother spoils her son, understand? Felix, go to bed with Daddy.¡± Bradley carried Felix back to the boy¡¯s room, where Felix stubbornly pulled the nket over himself, covering his entire body. He peeked out with his fuzzy little head and obediently said, ¡°Daddy, I can sleep by myself. You go take care of Mommy!¡± ¡°Felix¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s tall figure enveloped Felix¡¯s small body, providing him with an endless sense of security. Bradley felt somewhat ufortable when he thought that Felix might not be his biological child. But he calmed his mind, gently caressed Felix¡¯s little face, and reminded himself that even though Felix might not be his biological son, Pixie was his biological daughter. When he found Pixie, he would raise Felix as a son-inw. The boy would have the best of both worlds as both a foster son and a son-in- ¡°Daddy,¡± Felix innocently responded with a sweet voice. Bradley slightly parted his lips to ask, ¡°Do you really like Esther?¡± ¡°Daddy, she¡¯s Mommy!¡± Felix spoke honestly, and Bradley¡¯s expression softened, radiating warmth. He gently tucked Felix¡¯s nket and said, ¡°Sleep well.¡± ¡°Good night, Daddy.¡± ustomed to sleeping alone, Felix closed his eyes and soon fell asleep. After Bradley freshened up, he settled into a guest room for the night. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. As a couple, Bradley and Esther apanied Felix to kindergarten the next day. Considering Esther¡¯s injured ankle, although it didn¡¯t hinder her ability to walk, it was still best for her to rest and recover. ¡°Darling, where are you taking me?¡± Esther asked while sitting in the car, observing Bradley engrossed in his work, his gaze fixed on official matters disyed on the tablet. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when we arrive,¡± he replied. Half an hourter, the car stopped at the entrance of an exhibition hall. Esther stepped out of the car, her eyes fixed on the artistic vibe emanating from the exhibition hall. She instinctively nced at Bradley beside her. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Warner, good morning. Our designer, Anna, is waiting for you in the exhibition hall.¡± Bradley walked up to Esther and extended his hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. They walked in synchronized, elegant strides, leisurely entering the exhibition hall. Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Inside the hall was the fashion designer Anna Vanderbilt¡¯s personal exhibition, showcasing her decades of work. The exhibition featured a wide range of designs, including seasonal wear, casual wear, fashion pieces, high-end custom creations, and wedding dresses. It epassed clothing for women from childhood to adulthood. ¡°Anna, Mr. and Mrs. Warner have arrived!¡± announced the assistant. Spotting Anna standing at the show¡¯s focal point, Esther observed her elegant ck fitted dress, radiating a soft shimmer. Anna¡¯s hair was styled in an intricate updo, revealing a graceful neck and wless makeup. She wore a valuable jade bangle on her wrist. Esther couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of familiarity as she gazed at Anna, who seemed to feel the same way. ¡°Mrs. Warner, have we met before?¡± Anna inquired. Esther shook her head, responding crisply. ¡°If I had the pleasure of meeting someone as remarkable as you, Anna, I certainly wouldn¡¯t forget.¡± Anna¡¯s expression momentarily froze, but she quickly regained her amiable demeanor and asked, ¡°Mrs. Warner, do you like this wedding dress?¡± For Anna, this was the most perfect and satisfying wedding dress she had ever designed. She had an underlying obsession with creating a captivating wedding dress that would leave asting impression. ¡°I really like it,¡± Esther replied, captivated by the breathtaking design and impable details. Anna assessed Esther¡¯s measurements and softly suggested, ¡°Would you like to try it on?¡± ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need,¡± Esther declined, aware that she had no use for a wedding dress. Bradley interjected, gripping Esther¡¯s hand tightly, his expression indifferent as he said, ¡°You should try it on. Wear this wedding dress if you like it, and we¡¯ll take a family portrait together. Esther hesitated, unsure of the idea. Smiling, Anna reassured her, ¡°Mrs. Warner, the size of this wedding dress was predetermined. If it fits you, it means it¡¯s meant for you.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± Esther said. In the face of such an indescribably beautiful wedding dress, nobody could resist its allure, and Esther C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. was no exception. Apanied by Anna, Esther entered a changing room, where Anna personally helped her into the wedding dress that she had poured her heart and soul into. Anna noticed the numerous scars on Esther¡¯s back and the pink butterfly-shaped birthmark on her right shoulder, sparking her curiosity. ¡°Mrs. Warner, has the butterfly-shaped birthmark on your right shoulder always been there?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s always been there,¡± Esther confirmed. Anna¡¯s slender fingers gently caressed the birthmark, her voice warm as shemented, ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful shape, very distinctive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a birthmark, nothing special,¡± Esther replied modestly. As Anna looked at the butterfly birthmark, her heart raced, and a sense of familiarity washed over her once again. ¡°Mrs. Warner, are you absolutely sure we haven¡¯t met before?¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Esther observed Anna carefully as she helped her with the wedding dress in the mirror. After a while, she shook her head gently. ¡°We¡¯ve never met before.¡± If Esther had encountered such an elegant and graceful artist like Anna, there was no way she would have forgotten it. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s just my imagination.¡± Anna nced once again at the butterfly birthmark on Esther¡¯s right shoulder. She smiled faintly and said, ¡°You look stunning in this wedding dress, Mrs. Warner.¡± As a designer, Anna had strict requirements for her creations. Every piece of fabric, thread, and diamond had been meticulously examined countless times. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. This wedding dress represented all of Anna¡¯s hard work. After designing and making it, she had been unable to find a suitable model. However, when Esther put on this intricate and magnificent dress, Anna was instantly amazed. It seemed as if the dress had been tailor-made for Esther, fitting perfectly in terms of bust, waist, and hips. It was neither too loose nor too tight, wlessly embracing Esther¡¯s figure. Satisfied with how Esther looked in the dress, Anna said softly, ¡°Mrs. Warner, please wait a moment. I will have a makeup artist create aplete look for you.¡± ¡°No need for the trouble,¡± said Esther. No woman could resist the allure of this dress, and Esther was no exception. She raised her gaze and looked at herself in the mirror, astonishing even herself. ¡°You have to trust me. I¡¯ll make you the most beautiful bride in the world,¡± imed Anna. Since Anna insisted, Esther did not refuse this time. The hairstylist casually styled Esther¡¯s hair, and Anna carefully ced a diamond crown, fit for a queen, on Esther¡¯s head. The makeup artist draped a makeup cover around Esther¡¯s neck and skillfully applied makeup. Using an eyebrow razor, the makeup artist tidied up the tiny hairs around Esther¡¯s already beautiful eyebrows. Esther¡¯s facial features exuded a soft charm with her oval face rather than the popr pointy-chinned structured type. Hence, a natural and gentle eyebrow shape was the most suitable for her, avoiding anything too straight or exaggerated. Preserving Esther¡¯s original eyebrow shape, which resembled distant mountains, calm and gentle without any aggressiveness, the makeup artist enhanced her features without heavy application. The light makeupplemented Esther¡¯s luxurious dress and highlighted her natural beauty. ¡°Mrs. Warner-¡± Esther tilted her head slightly and whispered, ¡°Anna, you can call me Esther.¡± ¡°Esther, you¡¯re truly beautiful,¡± eximed Anna. Anna adjusted and called her by her name, creating a friendlier atmosphere than the formal¡± Mrs. Warner.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Esther softly expressed her gratitude. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, not recalling how long it had been since she had dressed up like this. It felt surreal to her. ¡°Esther, are you ready? I¡¯m going to draw the curtain!¡± Anna asked. Esther took a deep breath and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡®Bradley, would you appreciate this version of me?¡¯ Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Esther looked ahead with a mix of anticipation and uneasiness. Therge electronic curtains in the dressing room began to slowly move from the middle to the sides, revealing Esther standing before Bradley in her wedding dress. Bradley¡¯s deep gaze fixated on Esther, and without uttering a word, everyone could see the awe and admiration in his eyes. As a beam of light illuminated Esther, her skin seemed to glow like porcin, and even the diamonds on her dress couldn¡¯t outshine her radiance. She was a stunning vision, like a dream or a fantasy, a goddess descending from the heavens. She seemed to vanish into the crowd with a gentle and ¡°D-Darling¡­¡± Esther¡¯s voice trembled as she looked at Bradley, who remained silent. After a long pause, she anxiously asked, ¡°Do I not look good?¡± Bradley didn¡¯t respond with words. Instead, he stood up from the sofa and approached Esther with an air of elegance ingrained in his every step. The indifference and disgust that once marred his handsome face had disappeared, reced by boundless infatuation. Bradley passionately wrapped his arm around Esther¡¯s slender waist and forcefully kissed her crimson lips. Anna and the others tactfully closed the electronic curtains, leaving only Bradley and Esther in the spacious dressing room. Bradley¡¯s gaze burned like a me, igniting a wildfire within Esther¡¯s eyes. Her once cold and heartless heart was now smoldered under his intense gaze. Tenderly, his fingers traced the smudged lipstick from their kiss, and a sentence brimming with endless imagination slipped from his lips. ¡°Esther, I want to keep you all to myself.¡± ?? A hint of shyness graced Esther¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°Darling, do I truly look this good?¡± ¡°So good,¡± Bradley affirmed. Seeing Esther oblivious to her own beauty, Bradley felt an irresistible urge to remove the obstructive wedding dress that clung to her body. ¡°Then let¡¯s take a photo,¡± Esther suggested. ¡°Okay.¡± Bradley remainedposed and restrained. Few things in the world could make him lose Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. control orposure. Standing by Bradley¡¯s side, Esther linked her slender arm with his, and as she affectionately gazed at him, he returned her gaze. Skilled in capturing beautiful moments, Anna pressed the shutter of her Proid camera at just the right time while other staff members recorded the scene with their phones and cameras. Esther and Bradley were a perfect match in height and appearance. Even with a casual press of the shutter, they created the most enchanting wedding photo. After the photoshoot, Esther changed back into her own clothes with the assistance of the staff. As the centerpiece of the exhibition, the wedding dress needed to be disyed for visitors to admire its beauty again. Esther held the photo that Anna handed her, carefully examining the image of herself and Bradley. It was perhaps the best photo they had ever taken together. ¡°Thank you,¡± Esther expressed her gratitude. Anna asked, ¡°Would you like to visit my workspace?¡± For some unknown reason, Anna felt a sense of familiarity with Esther and was reluctant to part with her. She wanted to spend more time in her presence. ¡°May 1?¡± Esther replied, epting the invitation. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Anna cleared her throat to hide her eagerness and said, ¡°If you have any ns today, that¡¯s okay. My fashion show will be on disy for a week, and you¡¯re wee to visit anytime.¡± Esther felt a strange sense of familiarity with Anna, despite not knowing where it came from. At that moment, both of them chose to draw closer to each other. ¡°I can visit with you today,¡± Esther said, ncing at Bradley in the distance. ¡°Just give me a moment to inform him.¡± Esther approached Bradley and exined the situation. He agreed without hesitation. Although Anna was the designer, she only handled the final adjustments for the exhibition. Other tasks were taken care of by her team members. Anna led Esther to her temporary office, which, while notrge, was filled with various fabrics. The trash can on the floor was scattered with crumpled balls of white paper. Esther casually picked up one of the paper balls, smoothed it out, and discovered a design sketch on it. ¡°These are all discarded drafts,¡± Anna exined. Despite the poprity of digital design, Anna insisted on hand drawing. Esther looked at the discarded draft and softly remarked, ¡°Your discarded drafts would be considered the best designs that other designers could only dream of.¡± ¡°Esther, look at this design. It¡¯spletely forgettable from beginning to end,¡±mented Anna. Esther grabbed a pencil from the holder and added a few strokes to the discarded draft. The design, whichcked distinctiveness, instantly became filled with charm. ¡°Esther, have you studied fashion design?¡± Anna was surprised by Esther¡¯s ability to transform something ordinary into something extraordinary. She couldn¡¯t help but be curious about the surprises Esther could bring. Anna gathered the other discarded drafts from the floor, smoothed them out, and handed them to Esther one by one. ¡°Would you like to give it a try?¡± Esther gently shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to cross any boundaries.¡± ¡°Esther, please give it a try. I don¡¯t mind,¡± Anna asserted. ¡°To you, these are my designs. But to me, they¡¯re just discarded drafts. If you can salvage them, you¡¯re giving them new life.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t formally studied fashion design,¡± said Esther. Strictly speaking, Esther had never received formal training in fashion design. During her difficult time in prison, studying became a way to numb herself, as if only through studying could her soul find a Content held by N?velDrama.Org. moment of peace. ¡°You have such a precisemand of color and lines without professional training. It¡¯s an innate talent that many people dream of. You should really give it a try. I can bring you into my team if your designs turn out well. You won¡¯t need to clock in or work fixed hours. You just need to submit design drafts to me.¡± Anna took the opportunity to recruit Esther. She could see the temptation in Esther¡¯s recognized her genuine talent. It would be a waste if Esther didn¡¯t pursue this path. ¡°Then, let me give it a try?¡± Anna encouraged her, saying, ¡°Believe me, you can do it.¡± eyes and Esther pulled up a chair and sat down. She smoothed out each crumpled design sketch and ced them on the table one by one, lost in thought. Observing Esther, Anna instructed the others not to disturb her. Esther was the sole presence in the spacious studio. Once she had a good idea, she would transfer it onto paper. With her exceptional artistic skills and a keen perception of colors, Esther¡¯s modifications and additions injected fresh inspiration into the original design sketches. Once she immersed herself, Estherpletely lost track of time. Her earnest and hardworking demeanor was truly beautiful. Suddenly, a ringing sound from Anna¡¯s workptop interrupted Esther¡¯s thoughts. She furrowed her brow and nced at theputer. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Theptop screen disyed a video call request. Just as Esther hesitated about whether to call for Anna, thetter entered the room and pushed the door open. Sitting in front of theputer, Anna answered the video call. On the other end of the call, two identical little girls appeared. ¡°Anna!¡± ¡°Anna!¡± The little girls cheerfully greeted Anna, and she waved back, asking softly, ¡°Sunshine, Twinkle, do you miss me?¡± In unison, the girls replied with a cute tone, ¡°Yes! We miss you a lot!¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Concerned, Anna asked, ¡°How are you feeling, Sunshine? You just had surgery, so you must listen to the doctor and behave.¡± ¡°Anna, I¡¯m doing well now. Twinkle has some good news to tell you.¡± In reality, Anna had already learned from Twinkle¡¯s piano teacher that Twinkle would join him on a world tour. However, when Sunshine mentioned it, Anna yed along and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Excitedly, Twinkle eximed, ¡°Anna, I¡¯m going to join the global tour with my teacher, and the first stop is the city where you are now. We will see each other very soon!¡± With a smile, Anna praised, ¡°Twinkle, you¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Twinkle¡¯s tone turned a bit down. ¡°Sunshine can¡¯te with me.¡± Anna reassured, ¡°When Sunshine¡¯s health improves, we¡¯ll bring her here too.¡± Sunshine approached the camera and said, ¡°Anna, I¡¯m already feeling better now!¡± Anna¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°No, you just had surgery. Your health is important.¡± ¡°O-Okay!!¡± As Anna was on the video call with the children, Esther couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by their cheerful voices. Her gaze fell upon the adorable twin girls on theputer screen. They were in a hospital, with one girl wearing a patient gown sitting next to another girl who held a smartphone and video-chatted with Anna. asionally, when the camera zoomed in, Esther noticed the birthmarks on their necks shaped like crescent moons. Anna adjusted the position of theptop, pointing the camera at Esther. ¡°Sunshine, Twinkle, this is Auntie Esther. She¡¯s my first friend here!¡± Esther was surprised to find herself shown on the screen. She turned to face the camera and waved at the girls. ¡°Hello, Twinkle and Sunshine!¡± ¡°Hello, Auntie!¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Auntie!¡± Anna simply wanted to let the children know that she was doing well. Speaking softly, she said, ¡°You have to be good, eat well, and study hard.¡± ¡°Okay, we know!¡± After Anna ended the video call with the children, Esther curiously asked, ¡°Are they your daughters?¡± ¡°No.¡± Anna exined, ¡°They¡¯re a pair of twins I encountered in church. It¡¯s said that a woman gave birth to them but couldn¡¯t raise them, so she abandoned them. Later, they were adopted by the nuns at the church. I met them when I went to the church for charity work. I didn¡¯t formally adopt them, but they¡¯re still my family.¡± As Esther listened to Anna¡¯s exnation, her heart suddenly twitched for some reason. A sharp pang spread throughout her body. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Esther reached out and gently felt her chest as she asked, ¡°I heard you mention that one of them is sick?¡± ¡°Yes, Sunshine has a heart condition. She recently underwent a heart transnt surgery and will need around six months of recovery before fully engaging in regr activities.¡± Anna, curious as well, inquired, ¡°I heard you have a son?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Esther replied with a wry smile. ¡°He had leukemia before and recently underwent a bone marrow transnt. Upon hearing about Esther¡¯s son¡¯s bone marrow transnt, Anna warmlyforted her and suggested, ¡°Since the children have gone through surgeries, they will soon recover. When Twinkle ¡°That sounds wonderful.¡± Esther thought about Felix¡¯sck of friends due to his illness, and she hoped he could y and have fun with children his age. ¡°My son also needs to make some friends. ¡°Previously, he was always in the hospital due to his illness, so it¡¯s understandable that he couldn¡¯t make friends. Now that he¡¯s undergone a bone marrow transnt, his health will improve, and he¡¯ll gradually make good friends.¡± Anna shifted the conversation by picking up papers from the table while Esther adjusted and redesigned 2/3 of her discarded drafts. As Anna flipped through the redesigned sketches, her eyes sparkled with excitement. Each design reinforced her determination to guide Esther onto the path of design. ¡°Esther, you have incredible talent.¡± Upon hearing Anna¡¯s words, Esther¡¯s previous anxiety and unease melted away. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Esther, join my studio,¡± Anna encouraged, urging Esther to embrace design and regain control of her life. ¡°Don¡¯t let your talent go to waste. You should fully utilize it.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Esther had never worked before, and she was uncertain about what having a job would entail. Moreover, she had a past of being in prison. ¡°Anna, I don¡¯t know if I can pursue design,¡± Esther confessed, not wanting her past as an inmate to be exposed one day. Anna expressed surprise, asking, ¡°Why not?¡± Esther held Anna¡¯s hand, finding sce in her genuine thoughts. ¡°Anna, I¡¯m telling you this in confidence. Please don¡¯t share it with anyone else.¡± Anna held Esther¡¯s hand and made a promise, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve spent time in prison.¡± As soon as Esther revealed this, Anna burst intoughter. She yfully patted Esther¡¯s hand and fearlessly dered, ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it serious?¡± Esther questioned, puzzled. ¡°What if people discriminate against me and look down on my designs-¡± ¡°Silly girl!¡± Anna lightly flicked Esther¡¯s nose and spoke with conviction. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t have faults? Making mistakes is okay as long as you learn from them. Esther, if you¡¯re worried about others discriminating against you because of your past, then you¡¯ll always be controlled by their judgments. Your life should be guided by you, yourself.¡± Esther had never experienced the guidance of a woman in her life, someone who would offer motherly advice andfort like Anna. This realization made Esther reflect on how her mother, Faye, would have guided and consoled her with gentle words if she were still alive. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 If Esther¡¯s mother were still alive, all the storms in the world would not pour on her because her mother would stand in front of her. ¡°Esther, if you¡¯re worried about these things, you can remain anonymous. Just send me yourpleted design drafts, and I¡¯ll handle the operation. Besides, as designers, mystery is also a kind of charm. How about I try these modified design drafts of yours during my solo exhibition this time?¡± Esther repeatedly declined, saying, ¡°No, these are your designs.¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re our designs,¡± Anna insisted. Anna scanned all the sketches into theputer and saved them as digital files. Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. ¡°Esther, you must see with your own eyes how popr your design drafts are in the exhibition¡­¡± Esther felt a slight unease in her heart but also a hidden sense of anticipation. She thought, if her designs were truly popr, would it mean that she could pursue a career in design? ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Just then, Esther¡¯s phone rang. Esther nced at the caller ID on the screen and immediately answered, asking softly, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Felix¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Felix¡¯s teacher. Felix got into a fight with another kid at school today. Can youe over?¡± Esther anxiously asked, ¡°Is Felix injured?¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t, but the other child is quite hurt.¡± Upon hearing that Felix was not injured, Esther felt less worried and replied warmly, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up, Esther looked at Anna apologetically. ¡°Anna, my son had a little incident at kindergarten, and I need to go there now. We¡¯ll keep in touch?¡± Anna noticed Esther¡¯s distress and said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll take a cab.¡± Anna watched Esther get into the cab, standing at the entrance of the exhibition hall before. turning and entering. She wanted to turn Esther¡¯s design drafts into reality. Only when they became real would Esther see how stunning her designs were to the world. Felix fiercely stared at the boy crying on his mother¡¯sp at the kindergarten. ¡°Miss, let me tell you, my son¡¯s nose is bleeding, and his face is bruised from being hit by him. He must be expelled from the kindergarten!¡± The well-dresseddy looked at Felix with disdain and arrogantly said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t your kindergarten check the family background when admitting students? Howe all sorts of riffraff end up in this prestigious kindergarten?¡± The teacher replied somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Mrs. Marsden, idents can happen when children y and roughhouse. Felix didn¡¯t do it on purpose-¡± Before the teacher could finish speaking, Felix fiercely interrupted, ¡°Miss, I did it on purpose!¡± Thedy, Megan Little, was furious and pointed at Felix¡¯s little face, speaking rudely. ¡°Miss, listen to what he¡¯s saying. He¡¯s simply a ruffiana hooligan. Our kindergarten is the best in the city for the rich, and we absolutely cannot let such an ill-bred child ruin its reputation.¡± This was what Esther heard Megan speaking about Felix when she arrived in a hurry. She immediately stood in front of Felix, her porcin-like face cold, and she spoke with a clear and chilly voice. ¡°Say it one more time and see what happens!¡± Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Upon seeing Esther, who possessed an air of beauty, height, and leanness, Megan Immediately looked down upon her In Megan¡¯s mind, Esther was an unfamiliar face in high society gatherings, suggesting she couldn¡¯t be an important figure Megan even perceived her as someone who was kept as a pet. canary by some men ¡°So you¡¯re this brat¡¯s ¡± Felix appeared as if he were about to charge at Megan, but Esther held him back ¡°Felix, remember, don¡¯t argue with idiots. You¡¯ll lose your grace. Esther settled down on the genuine leather sofa with Felix cradled in her arms. She cast a cold gaze upon Megan and her son Before arriving, Esther had reviewed the surveince footage She had clearly witnessed the entire sequence of events, where Megan¡¯s chubby son bullied Felix Esther felt relieved that despite Felix not having attended school before, he wasn¡¯t the type to be bullied without standing up for himself. He fearlessly tought back ¡°Miss, after reviewing the surveince footage, it was this boy who took my son¡¯s pen. My son requested its return, but he refused and even pushed my son In a way, my son¡¯s actions can be seen as self defense.¡± Megan couldn¡¯t help but sneer upon hearing Esther¡¯s words ¡°Girl, you¡¯re talking nonsense. With our family¡¯s ten houses, five cars, and threepanies, do you think your cheap pen could impress us?¡± There was a wicked glimmer in Esther¡¯s beautiful eyes as she responded casually, ¡°That¡¯s no ordinary pen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a pen. How expensive could it be?¡± Megan scoffed, disying her bias. ¡°I¡¯lpensate you with ten of them. But you must apologize to my son! We won¡¯t ask for medical fees. You won¡¯t be able to afford them, given how shabby you look! Just get out of the kindergarten!¡± Neither Esther nor Felix wore brand-new seasonal clothing or prominent brand logos. Both were Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. adorned in custom-made, high-quality attire not publicly avable from any brand. The pair of sports shoes on Felix¡¯s feet alone was more expensive than everything Megan wore. ¡°Miss, I want this boy to apologize to my son.¡± Esther¡¯s cold gazended on the chubby boy¡¯s arrogant face as she spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. ¡°Taking something without permission is considered stealing. As an educational institution, your prestigious kindergarten must address such thieving behavior.¡± ¡°Who are you using of stealing?¡± Megan¡¯s face flushed with anger, and her chubby cheeks. trembled. ¡°Over a pen¡­¡± Esther retrieved her phone and handed the teacher a photo of the pen, casually stating, ¡°This pen was a gift for Felix when he started school. It¡¯s a limited edition, one-of-a-kind, made of tinum and adorned with rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. It features 840 diamonds totaling over 20 carats.¡± Having never encountered such a pen before, Megan promptly denied its existence, eximing, ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Don¡¯t try to deceive me with some street stall item!¡± Esther reimed her phone from the teacher and ced it on the table before Megan. ¡°The purchase receipt and the valuation by collectors are all here.¡± Esther didn¡¯t intend to be confrontational, but Felix was not the one at fault, and he didn¡¯t need to apologize. If the other party disyed reasonableness and apologized after their child did so, Esther would also ask Felix to apologize. However, when faced with an unreasonable woman who referred to Felix as a little brat, Esther would protect her son until the end. No one could bully her child! Megan casually nced at the phone screen, and her eyes widened. Before she could say anything, the chubby boy in her arms interjected, ¡°That pen is mine!¡± Megan stared at her son, Timothy Marsden, in astonishment. Timothy appeared oblivious to his mother¡¯s reaction and confidently dered, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal the pen. He did! He¡¯s the real thief.¡± Timothy pointed at Felix, behaving like a spoiled child who believed his parents would support him no matter what. Esther finally understood how spoiled children came to be-it was a result of their parents¡¯ indulgence. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Megan hesitated briefly but ultimately decided to follow her child¡¯s words. ¡°My son said it was your son-¡® ¡°Ma¡¯am, the pen is in your son¡¯s pocket. We can easily determine the owner through an investigation,¡± Esther replied, holding Felix securely. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me or the kindergarten, we can call the police right now to resolve this matter.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Megan retrieved the pen from her son¡¯s pocket and realized its value when she saw the string of zeros on the purchase receipt. ¡°You im this pen belongs to you. Where is the evidence?¡± Esther¡¯s porcin-like face turned cold, and she spoke in a firm,posed voice. ¡°Hello, police? I would like to report a crime!¡± Not wanting to waste any more words, Esther immediately called Bradley after contacting the police. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m at the kindergarten. Please send awyer.¡± While Esther was on the call, Megan also contacted her husband. ¡°Honey, our son is being bullied at school!¡± Soon, the police arrived, and Esther exined the situation while the police reviewed the surveince footage. It was confirmed that Timothy had initiated the conflict, and Felix had only defended himself. ¡°Whose pen is this?¡± Felix and Timothy raised their hands simultaneously. ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°It¡¯s mine!¡± Wearing gloves, the police officer carefully examined the pen, which was worth a fortune. Esther showed the police officers a screenshot of the purchase receipt, and they nced at Megan, who stated, ¡°The receipt is with my husband.¡± Just as she finished speaking, Barry Marsden, Timothy¡¯s father, stormed in with an angry expression on his face. ¡°Honey, quickly. Tell the police that this pen belongs to our son.¡± Megan winked at her husband repeatedly while saying that. Barry looked at Megan and then at the pen in the police officer¡¯s hand. Without hesitation, he lied, ¡°Officer, this pen indeed belongs to my son. As for the purchase receipt, I have unfortunately misced it.¡± Megan looked at Esther triumphantly and said, ¡°This could have been resolved with a simple apology, but you had to involve the police. Was it really necessary?¡± Esther smiled sincerely. ¡°Parents are their children¡¯s first teachers. My son doesn¡¯t lie, and 1 would never encourage him to tell such an easily exposed lie. Proving the true owner of the pen is simple. Just shine a light on the diamonds in the dark, and we will know.¡± The Marsdens panicked, all three of them iming, ¡°The pen is ours!¡± A police officer used a shlight to illuminate the diamonds, and the name ¡°Felix¡± was reflected on the wall. In an instant, the three of them became flustered! Barry was the first to speak, ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m a shareholder of the Warner Group. You-¡± ¡°You¡¯re a shareholder of the Warner Group?¡± Bradley entered the office with amanding stride, his gaze cold and unyielding as he focused on the unfamiliar face before him. ¡°I have never seen you at any board meetings. Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Barry was instantly stunned by Bradley¡¯s single sentence, causing him to stammer and call out, ¡°M- Mr¡­ Mr¡­ Mr. Warner.¡± Upon seeing Bradley, Felix, who was in Esther¡¯s arms, became ecstatic and eximed, ¡°Daddy! Bradley elegantly took a seat beside Esther, exuding a chilling aura from his handsome face. Barry couldn¡¯t believe that his son had provoked Bradley¡¯s son. Cold sweat covered his chubby forehead, and Megan, observing her once-arrogant husband now meek in front of Bradley, had a foreboding feeling. Timothy, unaware of the situation, smugly taunted Felix while being held by Megan, saying, ¡± Scared, huh! My dad is super awesome!¡± Felix red at him and retorted, ¡°My dad is the most powerful in the world!¡± ¡°My dad is fat and can beat up ten dads like yours-¡± Megan quickly covered her son¡¯s mouth upon witnessing the icy and menacing expression on Bradley¡¯s face. Timothy¡¯s voice was muffled as he kicked and struggled in his mother¡¯s arms. Barry wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and humbly apologized, ¡°Mr. Warner, I didn¡¯t know he was your son. On behalf of my son, I apologize to Mr. Felix!¡± A cold smile curled on Bradley¡¯s lips as his indifferent gazended on Barry¡¯s chubby face. He asked, ¡°Are you apologizing because I am Bradley Warner of the Warner Group or because I am Felix¡¯s father?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. In truth, everyone knew that Barry was apologizing because Felix was Bradley¡¯s son, and Bradley was the head of the Warner Group. If it were someone else, the situation and oue. for Timothy¡¯s family would be entirely different. ¡°You¡¯re joking, Mr. Warner. Of course, it¡¯s because you¡¯re Felix¡¯s father,¡± Barry replied submissively. Bradley sneered lightly and remarked, ¡°You have a good sense of timing.¡± Megan also put on a smile and said, ¡°Mr. Warner, as adults, we should show great magnanimity. It¡¯s normal for children to y and fight with each other.¡± Megan hadn¡¯t expected to find herself facing someone like Bradley after getting her way her whole life. ¡°Officer, this young man snatched my son¡¯s pen, and due to its significant value, I believe it constitutes robbery. I hope you can teach him a lesson¡­¡± Barry hastily interjected with a smile, ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s just a yful fight between children. It¡¯s not robbery!¡± He knew very well that if a child of Timothy¡¯s age actually snatched something from another child, he wouldn¡¯t be sent to jail. However, if the police took Timothy away in this manner, he certainly wouldn¡¯t be able to remain in this kindergarten. ¡°Yeah, Mr. Warner, you¡¯re a magnanimous person. There¡¯s no need to dwell on us, insignificant people.¡± Bradley reached out and embraced Esther¡¯s slender waist, seemingly seeking her opinion. He asked, ¡°What do you think we should do?¡± ¡°Apologize! Leave the kindergarten!¡± Esther also understood that it was impossible to send Timothy for punishment given the circumstances. She wasn¡¯t the type of person to hold onto a situation, but since they had demanded the same from Felix earlier, they should follow through. ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s just a minor matter. There¡¯s no need to go as far as leaving the kindergarten¡­ Bradley didn¡¯t bother arguing with the family before him. Instead, he turned to the kindergarten staff and stated, ¡°This is our request.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Warner.¡± Chapter 204 Chapter 204 The Marsden family¡¯s behavior at the kindergarten had also annoyed the staff. It had all started with Timothy snatching something from Felix. Despite an exnation of the situation, the Marsdens stubbornly defended themselves, relying on their wealth and disregarding others. Little did they know that there were people in this world more formidable than them. Bradley nced at the police officer and made a request, ¡°Children¡¯s lies are harmless chatter, but when parents support them, it bes nder. I request that you enforce thew in this matter.¡± Megan¡¯s face turned pale as she looked at her husband with despair. ¡°Honey¡­¡± Barry wore a cold expression and sternlymanded, ¡°Shut up!¡± The police took Megan away, awaiting the full force of the Warner Group¡¯s legal department. As for the mischievous Timothy, he instantly became frightened upon seeing his mother being taken away. He sat silently on the leather sofa, ring at Felix with resentment. Barry forcefully grabbed Timothy, pressing his head down and forcing him to apologize to Felix. ¡°Timothy, apologize to Mr. Felix!¡± Timothy, ustomed to being spoiled by his family and always having his parents back him up, had grown used to being a tyrant in his ss. This was his first encounter with such a situation, and his chubby face turned red. Reluctantly, he shouted, ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Feeling extremely embarrassed, Barry bowed and apologized. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Warner, Mr. Felix, I apologize to all of you. We have failed in raising our child¡­¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Esther looked at Timothy¡¯s reluctant apology but did not push further. Timothy was not her child, and she did not need to worry about his education. Many people believed that children were innocent and oblivious, but little did they know that children were often the most perceptive when it came to judging a situation. Timothy, behaving like a little tyrant, was aware that he could cause trouble without consequences because his parents would always support him. ¡°Felix, do you ept his apology?¡± Felix pondered for a moment and generously said, ¡°Timothy, I forgive you.¡± Esther was pleased to see Felix¡¯s generosity. She hugged his shoulder and said gently, ¡°Even though it was self-defense, Timothy was also hurt. So we should¡­¡± Before Esther finished speaking, Felix took the initiative to apologize. ¡°Timothy, I¡¯m sorry! I shouldn¡¯t have been so heavy-handed!¡± Apologies were exchanged, and principles were upheld. Despite his young age, Felix had a clear sense of right and wrong. Timothy did not expect Felix to apologize to him. His face turned red as he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Bradley had no objections to Esther¡¯s approach. His indifferent gaze fell upon Barry, who looked like he got lucky. ¡°I¡¯ll have thepany¡¯s finance department repurchase your shares.¡± Barry was stunned. He panicked and said, ¡°I¡­ I won¡¯t sell!¡± The Warner Group had been thriving in recent years, and Barry had earned a substantial amount of money from his shares. If Bradley wanted to acquire his shares, it meant he would. lose a valuable asset. ¡°Sign the documents today. I¡¯ll transfer the funds to you at the market price.¡± Bradley stood up, holding Esther¡¯s hand, and looked down at Barry. With a bloodthirsty and merciless tone, he said, ¡°Just for causing trouble with your status as a shareholder of the Warner Group, I can press charges until you go bankrupt!¡± Barry immediately knelt in front of Bradley, begging in a humble tone, ¡°Mr. Warner, I was wrong! I beg you to spare me!¡± ¡°Keeping the dividends given by the Warner Group and bullying my wife and child? Who gave you the right? Huh?¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Barry felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss upon hearing Bradley¡¯s words. A chilling and eerie sensation enveloped him as if an invisible hand lightly gripped his throat. Weakness overcame his body, causing him to copse on the ground. Through tear-blurred eyes, he could only catch a glimpse of the Warners receding into the distance. Only when the Warners werepletely out of sight did Barry, drenched in a cold sweat, weakly sit up on the floor. He panted heavily as if narrowly escaping death. As Bradley, Esther, and Felix settled inside the car, the little boy obediently positioned himself beside Esther, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Bradley. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± Bradley observed Felix¡¯s fearful expression and couldn¡¯t help but soften his gaze. ¡°Why are you afraid of me?¡± ¡°She said Daddy doesn¡¯t like children who misbehave,¡± Felix cautiously replied, his eyes ncing at Bradley with unease. ¡°She said?¡± Bradley caught on, realizing that the ¡°she¡± Felix was referring to was Liliane. ¡°You haven¡¯t done anything wrong. If someone bullies you, it¡¯s brave to stand up for yourself, Bradley assured him. He knew his son hadn¡¯t suffered a loss, and it pleased him. Whether he won or not was another matter, but the Warners were never cowards! ¡°Really?¡± Felix¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Bradley reached out and tousled Felix¡¯s hair, encouraging him. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t bully others, but don¡¯t be afraid if other kids bully you. Mommy and Daddy will always be on your side.¡± ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re the best.¡± Felix threw himself into Bradley¡¯s arms, his expression ted. ¡°Can I skip kindergarten then?¡± ¡°No!¡± Bradley immediately rejected the idea without hesitation. Esther reached out and took Felix from Bradley¡¯s embrace, holding him in her own arms. She pouted and scolded, ¡°No? What do you mean, no? Listen to what the child has to say first. Don¡¯t be so decisive and assertive like you are in thepany! If you keep it up, our son won¡¯t confide his true feelings to you.¡± ¡± After Esther finished scolding Bradley, she turned her head to the side and asked gently, Felix, everyone has to go to school. If you don¡¯t want to go to kindergarten, do you want to go. directly to elementary school?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Felix, sensing the attitude of Esther and Bradley, grew more confident and lively. ¡°The things they teach in kindergarten are too childish!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still a child¡­¡± Bradley was about to assert his parental authority but then remembered what Esther had said earlier. He changed his approach, neither firm nor lenient, and said, ¡°You have to go to school, but if you don¡¯t want to go to kindergarten, 1 can find a suitable elementary school for you. However, if you want to go to elementary school at your age, you¡¯ll have to take an exam to see if you have the required abilities!¡± ¡°Daddy, I want to take the exam!¡± Felix eagerly raised his hand, his tone light and cheerful. ¡°I can take the exam right now!¡± ¡°Felix, how about we study a little at home first?¡± Esther thought Felix had only been in kindergarten for a short time. Was it not too soon for him to want to take the elementary school exam? Felix wriggled around excitedly in Esther¡¯s arms, his little face brimming with confidence. ¡± Mommy, I¡¯m super smart.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll take you to the elementary school for an exam right away,¡± Bradley said. Esther asked in surprise, ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Now.¡± Esther anxiously looked at Felix, fearing that he might struggle with the questions and lose his confidence. Felix noticed Esther¡¯s worry and reassured her in a childish and yful voice, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m super amazing!¡± Half an hourter, the Warners sat in the principal¡¯s office of the city¡¯s finest private elementary school. Chapter 206 Chapter 206 The principal observed Felix, who sat between Bradley and Esther, with a slight frown. He sought confirmation once again. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Warner, are you certain that you want him to take the elementary school exam at such a young age?¡± Bradley replied in a deep voice, ¡°Let him attempt the test papers first.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± The principal ced two first-grade test papers in front of Felix. Felix nced at them casually and remarked, ¡°I want the ones from third grade.¡± Surprised, the principal kindly warned, ¡°They might be a bit challenging for you.¡± ¡°Mr. Principal, I want to give it a try,¡± Felix said. With no other option, the principal reced the papers with two third-grade test papers and presented them to Felix. Swiftly, Felix began answering the questions using a pencil. Starting with the math paper, Felix demonstrated his remarkable speed and uracy. Each of his answers was correct, leaving the principal astonished. While the principal initially had little confidence in Felix, mathematics, which tested logical thinking abilities, proved to be his forte. Felixpleted the third-grade math test paper in just 20 minutes. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to check your answers, Felix?¡± Esther inquired. Confidently, Felix patted his chest and replied, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sure I got everything right.¡± After considering it, the principal handed Felix a fifth-grade math test paper. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Felix finished it in just half an hour, and all of his answers were wless. The principal marked the test papers right then and there. Even the fifth-grade paper received. a perfect score. ¡°Mr. Warner, did you hire a private tutor for your child?¡± the principal asked. Bradley shook his head, saying, ¡°No, he was in the hospital due to his poor health, so I didn¡¯t. force him to study. ¡°Based on his performance in mathematics, it¡¯s evident that he is highly skilled,¡± the principal eximed, his eyes gleaming with awe as he looked at Felix. He couldn¡¯t help but think that with Felix¡¯s intelligence, he could participate in elementary school mathematics.petitions. ¡°How about letting him skip to the fifth grade?¡± Hearing the principal¡¯s suggestion, Esther voiced her concerns, ¡°He¡¯s so young. Can he handle. the fifth grade?¡± She worried that if older and bigger ssmates surrounded Felix, he might face bullying at school. ¡°Mrs. Warner, you needn¡¯t worry about your son¡¯s safety. Our school provides a supportive and friendly environment. Considering his health condition, our homeroom teacher will give him extra attention,¡± the principal assured, regarding Felix as a potential math prodigy. ¡°With the level of knowledge he possesses, it would be a waste of his talent to keep him in a lower grade.¡± As this decision concerned their child¡¯s education, Esther turned to Bradley for his opinion. Darling, do we really want Felix to skip grades?¡± Furrowing his brows, Bradley looked at Felix, who was diligently answering the fifth-gradenguage paper. He answered firmly, ¡°Let Felix study in the fifth grade.¡± The principal swiftly retrieved his phone to call the head teacher. ¡°I have found an exceptional fifth C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. grader. Pleasee over to proceed with the enrollment procedures.¡± Felix earnestlypleted the fifth-gradenguage test paper. While he didn¡¯t showcase the same exceptional talent as he did in mathematics, he still scored well, with only minor. deductions for remarkably high. The principal couldn¡¯t contain his excitement as he examined the well-writtennguage test paper. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Warner, your son is truly gifted. He¡¯s a rare prodigy!¡± Flushed with excitement, the principal added, ¡°Once you entrust your son to us, I guarantee that within a year, he¡¯ll be a prodigy sought after not only by junior high schools and high schools but even universities.¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 After Felix started attending elementary school, Esther and Bradley became even busier. Esther would help out at Anna¡¯s exhibition during the day and thene home to study with Felix in the evenings. Felix used to think that the children in kindergarten were childish and boring. It wasn¡¯t until he became a fifth-grade elementary school student that he discovered the fascinating ocean of knowledge. His private school was the city¡¯s best, with most of his ssmatesing from affluent families. The annual tuition fee alone equaled the price of an average person¡¯s house. Moreover, there were study trips during winter and summer vacations. Given the wealthy background of the students¡¯ families, education was given special emphasis. Felix, who had always considered himself a genius, became more humble and started studying diligently in this environment. Esther would y documentaries in multiplenguages to develop Felix¡¯snguage skills while helping him with his homework. Bradley took on the responsibility of teaching Felix golf. Felix also wanted to learn a musical instrument, so he chose folk music from the many options avable. However, the pleasant and heartwarming days were short-lived. The wedding date announced. by the weddingpany was fast approaching. In order to be the most beautiful bride, Liliane had prepared herself in the best possible condition. She didn¡¯t want to get married in a hospital room and instead returned to the Ansteys¡¯ vi well in advance. The wedding dress would only be worn during the ceremony, so the wedding nner was working on Liliane¡¯s reception hairstyle. Liliane sat in front of the dressing table, allowing the stylist to create the most beautiful hairstyle for her. Billy and Leah, dressed in formal attire, entered the room. Leah looked at her precious daughter, This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. dressed so beautifully, and couldn¡¯t help but shed tears. Seeing her teary-eyed reflection in the mirror, Liliane softly said, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t cry. You should be happy for me!¡± Leah wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and smiled through her tears. ¡°My daughter looks so beautiful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to my parents.¡± Once the stylist finished the hairstyle, Leah asked the stylist for some privacy. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Anstey.¡± Only the Ansteys remained in the spacious room. Leah gestured to Billy, who took out arge folder and handed it to Liliane. ¡°Liliane, this is the wedding gift your mother and I have prepared for you.¡± Liliane opened the folder and was shocked to find the property deed and stock certificates inside. She eximed, ¡°Dad, Mom, this is too much!¡± Leah held Liliane¡¯s hand firmly and said in a choked voice, ¡°Liliane, your father and I only have you as our daughter. Since your birth, we¡¯ve been preparing for this. Although our family doesn¡¯t have the same wealth and business as the Warners, we¡¯ve done our best to provide you with a generous gift. This is your confidence in your new family.¡± Billy, who rarely shed tears, couldn¡¯t help but cry. He choked. ¡°Liliane, you and Bradley should be well. If he mistreats you, don¡¯t keep it to yourself. I¡¯ll support you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dad.¡± Liliane hugged her father and then hugged Leah?. As Leah embraced Liliane, she looked at Billy. Now that all of the Ansteys¡¯ assets were in her daughter¡¯s hands, there was no need for Billy to feel like an outsider anymore. Leah patted Billy¡¯s shoulder and gently said, ¡°Go and greet the guests.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Billy didn¡¯t think much of it and went downstairs directly. The Ansteys were filled with joy on this day. Wedding decorations adorned every corner, and rtives and friends from both the Ansteys and Walpoles gathered together, congratting Billy. Billy was overwhelmed with joy and indulged in hot and cold beverages. Chapter 208 Chapter 208 As the wedding approached, Billy suddenly clutched his stomach and rushed to the bathroom, clearly affected by thexative Leah had prepared for him. Standing at the bathroom door, Leah pretended to be angry as she scolded him. ¡°Billy Anstey, you¡¯re always so unpredictable. Today is Liliane¡¯s big day, and you¡¯re behaving like this!?¡± Billy, taken aback by the unexpected bout of diarrhea, couldn¡¯t believe it since he had always been in good health and had eaten everything. ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t know what I ate that was contaminated either.¡± Feigning anger, Leah replied, ¡°What am I going to do with you? You still have to escort Liliane on stage ¡°Honey, trust me, I won¡¯t mess up!¡± Billy promised. Leah sneered inwardly, wondering why she had given him thexative in the first ce. ¡°I¡¯ll go greet the guests first. If you haven¡¯te downstairs by then, we won¡¯t wait for so as not to dy the program,¡± she dered. you Billy sat on the toilet, clutching his stomach in pain, and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Take care of Liliane.¡± Resentfully, Leah muttered, ¡°At least you still act like a father.¡± She then took out her phone and sent a message to Shane. Leah: [Shane, dress up nicely today. You have to apany Liliane down the aisleter.] Shane: [?] Leah: [What? Are you still trying to keep a high moral? Oh, right, you must keep that b*tch Esther away! Don¡¯t let her show up at Liliane¡¯s wedding.] Shane: [I¡¯ve already made arrangements for it.] Leah habitually deleted the chat history with Shane, smiled, and went downstairs to greet the guests. Meanwhile, Liliane hesitated momentarily before posting the photos the stylist took on her social media. ¡®Esther, you¡¯ll see this, right? ¡®You should know that Bradley, the man I¡¯ve been longing for decades, is about to marry me now, and you can watch it happen!¡¯ C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Liliane¡¯s post was visible to everyone, and Esther naturally saw it. She looked at the elegantly dressed Liliane, snickered, and turned off her phone screen. ¡°Mommy, are you ready?¡± Felix happily ran to Esther¡¯s side, carrying his backpack Esther reached out and held his hand, her expression filled with affection. ¡°Mommy¡¯s ready.¡± She casually grabbed a purse and walked to the living room, holding Felix¡¯s hand. ¡°Esther, take Felix to school today. I have something to do, so I¡¯ll leave first!¡± Bradley said. Esther grabbed Bradley¡¯s hand, her eyes misty. She hesitated and asked, ¡°Darling, do you know what day it is today?¡± Bradley frowned. ¡°If you don¡¯t have time to send Felix, I¡¯ll have the driver do it.¡± He would finally address his rtionship with Liliane once and for all today. After dealing with Liliane- rted matters, he would seriously consider his rtionship with Esther. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 ¡°I don¡¯t need the driver. I¡¯ll take him myself,¡± Esther dered, holding Felix¡¯s hand as they entered the elevator with Bradley. Bradley departed in the car driven by the chauffeur while Esther stood there, gripping Felix¡¯s hand tightly until the car was no longer in sight. Reluctantly, she withdrew her gaze, opened the car door, and carefully ced Felix in the child safety seat. She leaned down to fasten his seatbelt and adjusted its angle. ¡°Mommy, are you not happy today?¡± Felix inquired. Esther affectionately swiped Felix¡¯s nose and replied, ¡°No, Mommy¡¯s very happy!¡± Curiously, Felix asked in his innocent voice, ¡°Then why are you happy?¡± Esther gazed at Felix¡¯s face with gentle eyes, a slight smile forming on her lips. Softly, she whispered, ¡°That¡¯s a secret.¡± Starting the car, Esther left the underground parking lot. However, her destination this time was not Felix¡¯s elementary school but the cemetery. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± After Felix got out of the car, he surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings, holding Esther¡¯s hand with a mix of anxiety and hesitation. He asked, ¡°Mommy, are we lost?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re not,¡± Esther reassured him, holding his hand firmly as they made their way the cemetery. Bradley, Felix¡¯s biological father, seemed to have forgotten that today marked Tinkerbell¡¯s three-month memorial. The poor Tinkerbell had departed from this world three months ago. Ironically, Bradley chose today to marry Liliane out of all the avable dates. ¡®Bradley, I gave you a chance¡­ ¡®But in the end, you disappointed me!¡¯ C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. into Felix, with his short legs, climbed the stairs with Esther. He looked up at her cutely and asked, ¡°Mommy, did you ask the teacher for permission?¡± ¡°Yes, I did!¡± Esther confirmed, not only having requested leave from Felix¡¯s teacher but also considering transferring him to another school. ¡°Thank you, Mommy.¡± Esther and Felix arrived in front of a slender apple tree, its branches adorned with a few apples. Felix observed the tree and asked in an adorable voice, ¡°Mommy, did Tinkerbell turn into an apple?¡± ¡°No,¡± Esther replied softly, squatting in front of the apple tree and setting aside the flowers and items she had brought. ¡°Tinkerbell has gone to heaven and be a little star.¡± ¡°Mommy, do people turn into stars when they die?¡± Felix asked, puzzled. Esther sadly nodded. Tinkerbell had passed away, and Pixie¡¯s whereabouts remained unknown. Now, she only had Felix. ¡°Mommy, please don¡¯t turn into a star.¡± Felix clung to Esther fearfully, burying himself in her arms. Choking back his emotions, he pleaded, ¡°I want Mommy to be by my side forever and ever.¡± Esther reached out to caress Felix¡¯s little face and couldn¡¯t help but kiss him tenderly. ¡°Felix, do you know who I am?¡± Esther asked, unable to contain her curiosity. Felix responded cutely, ¡°Yes, I know. You¡¯re my biological Mommy.¡± Esther¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment upon hearing his answer. She asked with wide eyes, ¡± Felix, when did you find out that I¡¯m your biological Mommy?¡± ¡°It was that day in the hospital. She said it herself, and I overheard it,¡± Felix promptly revealed, sharing everything he knew with Esther. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 ¡°Have you told Daddy?¡± Esther asked, her heart still holding onto a glimmer of hope. Felix nodded solemnly and replied, ¡°I did.¡± A bitter taste filled Esther¡¯s heart. So, even though Bradley knew Felix was her son, he still chose to proceed with his wedding to Liliane today? Resentment pierced Esther¡¯s heart like countless sharp des. She had thought that feigning selective amnesia would perfectly end her secret love of ten years. Little did she know¡­ it was all just wishful thinking. Bradley wouldn¡¯t soften his heart just because she was the birth mother of Tinkerbell, Pixie, and Felix! He wouldn¡¯t erase everything that had happened in the past simply because they had children together. Knowing this was a risky gamble, Esther still decided to take the chance. Finally, she understood that Bradley¡¯s heart didn¡¯t belong to her or their children. ¡°Mommy, please don¡¯t cry.¡± Felix reached out to wipe away Esther¡¯s tears. Esther tightly embraced him, unable to hold back her own sobs. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± Felix reassured her, gently patting her back. Esther regained herposure and held Felix¡¯s hand, silently speaking to Tinkerbell in her heart. ¡®Tinkerbell, Mommy brought your little brother to visit. Do you remember him? You met before at Sunflower Welfare. I¡¯m sorry for onlying to see you now. Please forgive Mommy. Tinkerbell, I won¡¯t give up on finding Pixie. Next time, I¡¯ll bring Pixie and Felix to visit you together.¡± Esther reached out and tenderly touched the wooden que hanging on the apple tree. Taking a deep breath, she led Felix to Faye¡¯s grave. ¡°Felix,e here. Let¡¯s greet your grandmother.¡± Following Esther¡¯s lead, Felix ced the flowers they had brought in front of Faye¡¯s tombstone. ¡°Grandma, hello. I¡¯m your grandson, Felix. My Mommy is your daughter, Esther.¡± Esther gently stroked Felix¡¯s hair and whispered, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s me, Esther. This is my son, Felix. Look, doesn¡¯t he resemble me when I was young? Mom, I¡¯m going to take Felix abroad to find Pixie. The next time Ie back, I¡¯ll bring Pixie with me to see you.¡± Esther then said, ¡°Felix, let¡¯s go.¡± Felix looked at Esther, sensing her somber mood, and sweetly said, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m a little man. I¡¯ll protect you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, my son!¡± As Esther and Felix left the cemetery, a handsome man in a trench coat walked past Esther, holding a bouquet of pure white horse-tail lotus flowers. He halted abruptly when he saw the fresh flowers ced in front of Faye¡¯s tombstone. Setting down his flowers, he hurriedly went to the cemetery office. ¡°Who ced the flowers at Faye Quill¡¯s grave?¡± he asked, breathless. The administrator, taken aback by the handsome man¡¯s appearance, responded, ¡°It¡¯s her daughter!¡± ¡°What? Her daughter?¡± The man was shocked. His elder sister had never been in a romantic rtionship, let alone married. Where did this daughter suddenlye from? ¡°It¡¯s her daughter!¡± The administrator pointed toward the Mercedes Benz that Esther had driven, Content held by N?velDrama.Org. offering a helpful reminder. ¡°The one inside that car, that¡¯s her daughter!¡± The handsome man rushed out of the cemetery and into the parking lot. He opened the car door, got inside, and began chasing after Esther¡¯s Mercedes Benz at lightning speed. Just as he was about to catch up, Esther¡¯s car crossed the bridge toward the airport. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Esther nced at Felix through the rearview mirror, stepped on the elerator, and drove toward the airport. Since learning that Felix was her own son, she had contemted using this opportunity to reveal the truth to Bradley. However, after what happened with Tinkerbell, she doubted it would make a difference even if Bradley knew Felix was her son. Moreover, she had no idea how Liliane had managed to take Felix away from the prison hospital back then. If she insisted on a DNA maternity test with Felix, there was a high chance that someone would tamper with the samples, leading to an inurate result. All the events from five years ago conveyed a painful truth to Esther-everything hinged on whether Bradley believed her. He wouldn¡¯t consider any DNA test she conducted as having any impact if he didn¡¯t. That¡¯s why Esther chose to feign selective amnesia, treating Felix as her own son and fostering a strong bond with him. Yet, a glimmer of hope lingered in her heart, hoping Bradley¡¯s attitude would Content held by N?velDrama.Org. change. Nevertheless, with Bradley¡¯s impending wedding to Liliane, his busy schedule, and the meticulous wedding preparations¡­ everything made Esther relinquish all hope. She wanted to leave with Felix and go abroad to search for Pixie. They would form their own happy family of three. As for Bradley? He had a new wife now. His new wife would bear his child. Esther didn¡¯t want Felix to be left in the hands of a wicked woman like Liliane. The Mercedes Benz parked in the airport lot, and Esther apanied Felix toplete the check-in procedures. Puzzled by their presence at the airport, Felix asked, ¡°Mommy, why are we at the airport?¡± Observing the bustling crowd, he couldn¡¯t fathom the reason for their visit. ¡°Felix, Mommy is taking you abroad to find Pixie,¡± Esther replied, her voice filled with determination. Having grown up with Bradley, Felix had developed a deep emotional bond with him. Upon hearing Esther¡¯s response, he asked anxiously, ¡°What about Daddy?¡± Esther didn¡¯t underestimate Felix¡¯s ability to understand the truth. ¡°Felix, Daddy is going to marry someone else,¡± she revealed, holding him in her arms. Felix immediately rejected the idea. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Daddy and Mommy will always be together!¡± Esther knew that Felix might struggle to ept the situation, but she couldn¡¯t shelter him. from the truth forever. essing the live stream of the wedding on her phone, she gently exined, ¡°Felix, today is Daddy¡¯s wedding with Liliane. It¡¯s also Tinkerbell¡¯s 3-month anniversary since her passing. Your Daddy doesn¡¯t have us in his heart anymore. If we stay here, we¡¯ll only be a burden to him. Besides, Liliane won¡¯t tolerate both of us.¡± Felix burst into tears, seeking sce in Esther¡¯s embrace. Through his sobs, he pleaded, ¡± Mommy, I can¡¯t let Daddy marry the bad woman!¡± 272 Esther¡¯s heart softened at the sight of her son¡¯s tears. She wiped them away gently, speaking in a soothing tone. ¡°Son¡­¡± Felix¡¯s tear-stained face conveyed his distress. At that moment, Esther¡¯s resolve wavered. She reached out and caressed Felix¡¯s cheek, saying softly, ¡°Daddy is an adult, and he will take care of himself.¡± ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go find Daddy, okay? Let¡¯s tell him that she¡¯s a bad person! She caused Great Grandpa¡¯s ident! Mommy, let¡¯s help Daddy, okay?¡± Felix pleaded through his tears, each drop falling onto Esther¡¯s hand, mirroring her deeply disappointed heart. ¡°Felix, what if Daddy still chooses to marry her, even after knowing the whole truth?¡± Esther had to disclose an excruciatingly harsh reality to Felix. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Felix cried uncontrobly, whining, ¡°No, Daddy and Mommy will always be together.¡± Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org. Upon seeing Felix¡¯s defense of Bradley, Esther made up her mind and decided to take the boy to the wedding venue. ¡°Felix, promise Mommy that no matter what happens at the wedding venue, you¡¯ll make sure to stay safe.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Felix nodded cutely and said, ¡°I promise.¡± Esther drove Felix from the airport to the wedding venue with no other choice. As he sat in the back seat, Felix repeatedly dialed Bradley¡¯s phone number, but there was no answer. Half an hourter, Esther parked the car at the wedding venue¡¯s parking lot. She got out of the car, opened the back seat, and unfastened Felix¡¯s seatbelt. Just as she was about to enter the wedding venue, holding Felix¡¯s hand, a group of men dressed in ck suddenly appeared. They covered Esther and Felix¡¯s mouths and noses with drug-soaked towels, forcefully dragging them away from the wedding venue. The time for the wedding had arrived. A convoy of 10 Rolls-Royce Phantoms slowly entered the beautiful vi area. Children were happily ying in the garden of the Ansteys¡¯ vi. When they saw the luxurious convoy, they excitedly pped their hands and cheered. ¡°The groom is here!¡± ¡°The groom hase to pick up the bride!¡± ¡°The wedding convoy is here!¡± The wedding convoy slowly stopped at the entrance of the Ansteys¡¯ vi. Bradley, dressed in an elegant ck suit, stepped out of the car. There was no hint of joy on his icy face, and event the chest of his suitcked the customary groom¡¯s boutonniere. Nevertheless, all the wedding guests knew that Bradley was Liliane¡¯s groom. Even without the boutonniere, there was no mistaking the groom¡¯s identity. The Anstey rtives approached Bradley from a distance to greet him. ¡°Mr. Warner, congrattions.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, happy wedding!¡± At that moment, a group of children held hands and blocked Bradley¡¯s path. ¡°We¡¯re the bride¡¯s bodyguards. If the groom wants to pick up the bride, he must pass our test.¡± The children stood in the doorway while the adults observed the scene. Bradley cast a cold nce at the children, unable to suppress thoughts of Felix¡¯s good behavior and cuteness. He took a step back. His groomsmen, who also served as his bodyguards, stepped forward as a group, each of them gently lifting one mischievous child and creating a clear path. This surprised the adult onlookers! What was Bradley thinking? The children¡¯s door-blocking prank could have been resolved with a simple mary token. Why was he resorting to force to im the bride? Watching the group of unknown children from the second-floor window, Liliane felt her anger boil within her. Whose unruly children were these? Why were they blocking Bradley¡¯s way? Although Bradley had shown patience with Felix, that patience was exclusive to him and did not extend to other children! The bridesmaids, who were also Bradley¡¯s female bodyguards, managed to clear a path to the bridal chamber within a minute. Liliane quickly nced at herself in the mirror, confirming that her makeup was wless. She took a deep breath, sat on the bed covered with arge bridal quilt, and tucked her bridal shoes into the skirt of her long dress. With anticipation, she quietly awaited Bradley¡¯s entrance. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Nervously, Liliane nced at the door as the hairstylist beside her reached out to adjust her earrings. Meanwhile, Bradley stood outside, observing the wedding party formed by Leah¡¯s friends. ¡°Make way.¡± Bradley¡¯s cold voice broke the silence. ¡°I have no patience.¡± Leah felt a surge of anger at Bradley¡¯s disrespectful demeanor. This was her only daughter¡¯s wedding, and she wanted it to be grand and glorious. But Bradley¡¯s attitude made it seem as though he was being forced into this marriage. When he married Esther, he didn¡¯t have such a sour expression, did he? He fulfilled all the necessary formalities and rituals back then. If it were anyone else, Leah, as the mother-inw, would boldly dere that her daughter wouldn¡¯t marry him! However, this was Bradley-the man Liliane longed to marry. Although Leah was filled with dissatisfaction, she didn¡¯t show it. Instead, she smiled at her friends and said, ¡°Ladies, make way for my son-inw.¡± ¡°Leah, you must be increasingly pleased the more you look at your son-inw!¡± Leah responded with a hidden meaning. ¡°They say the son-inw is like a son, so I should treat my son well, right? Make way!¡± ¡± To avoid further embarrassment, Leah deliberately led Bradley into the room. Inside, Liliane was already covered with a beautifully embroidered wedding veil. The wedding host from the weddingpany began. ¡°The bridesmaids have hidden the bride¡¯s shoes. Now, the groom needs to find the shoes and put them on the bride-¡± Before the host could finish speaking, the bridesmaid team brought by Bradley started. diligently searching the room while Bradley stood at the back, his gaze fixed on Liliane. Scott had conducted a DNA maternity test on Liliane and Felix, confirming that Felix was not Liliane¡¯s biological son. This revtion exposed Liliane¡¯s congenital heart condition, which prevented her from having children. In other words, Liliane had somehow brought in an illegitimate child and used fake birth records and a fabricated DNA test to pass him off as her own son. As an adult, Bradley wouldn¡¯t direct his anger toward Felix, who was just a child. Instead, he requested the weddingpany to live stream the event worldwide, exposing Liliane¡¯s family¡¯s conspiracy to a global audience. ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s not here.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s not here either.¡± After an exhaustive search, the bridesmaids couldn¡¯t find the wedding shoes. Leah cleared her throat and gently reminded Bradley, ¡°Bradley, you should ask my daughter about the shoes¡­¡± Bradley signaled his bodyguards, who swiftly moved forward and lifted Liliane, who was sitting on the wedding bed, into the air. Liliane, her face covered by the veil, was hoisted into the air unprepared. The well-hidden wedding shoes were revealed, and one of the female bodyguards, disguised as a bridesmaid, quickly helped Liliane put them on. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s done.¡± Bradley turned and left the room without saying a word, descending the stairs directly. The bodyguards escorted Liliane, the bride, downstairs as well. This shocking scene left all the guests in awe while Leah¡¯s expression darkened. Who did Bradley think he was to treat her daughter like this? Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Leah couldn¡¯t help but recall the time when Bradley reluctantly married Esther. Despite his reluctance, he maintained proper etiquette and paid attention to every detail. He even personally carried Esther to C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. the wedding car. But now, when it came to their daughter, Bradley disyed an arrogant attitude and showed no regard for them as parents. Leah was furious but had no outlet for her anger. When she saw Billy, who had been to the bathroom six or seven times, she unleashed her wrath on him. ¡°You¡¯re the only one dropping the ball at such a critical moment. How can I rely on you?¡± Concerned, Billy asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Anstey, you useless piece of trash¡­¡± Billy¡¯s stomach gurgled again, and he rushed to the toilet, telling Leah, ¡°Honey, I need to use the restroom.¡± Leah was seething with anger but couldn¡¯t vent her frustrations at Bradley. Instead, she put on a smiling face to greet the guests. The wedding procession was about to leave, and the Anstey and Walpole families¡¯ rtives followed in their cars to the venue. When Billy emerged from the restroom, therge vi was empty. Despite his difort, he stood alone in the center of the residence before driving a BMW out of the garage. However, after driving less than 50 meters, his stomach rumbled again, and he had to turn back. Leah stayed in touch with Shane on her phone while inside the car with her rtives. Leah: [That wretched Esther¡­] Shane: [Don¡¯t worry. Esther and the little b*stard have been taken away. No one will be foolish enough to disrupt my daughter¡¯s wedding.] Leah: [When you arrive at the hotel,e to the bridal suiteter to see Liliane. Our daughter looks beautiful today.] Shane: [I¡¯ve arranged for someone to hide Esther. After Liliane¡¯s wedding, I¡¯ll arrange for her to have the transnt surgery.] The wedding procession arrived at the venue. Although Bradley hadn¡¯t formally invited guests or sent out invitations to his business partners, many guests showed up uninvited. Those who could attend Bradley¡¯s wedding were elites from various fields and prominent families in high society. As soon as Bradley stepped out of the car, he was surrounded by people warmly greeting him. Dressed in a long gown, Liliane had to be escorted by bodyguards and take a dedicated elevator. Even with Liliane¡¯sck of shrewdness, she could sense Bradley¡¯s indifference. Anxiously sitting in the bride¡¯s waiting room, she nervously sped her hands. ¡°Mom, nothing unexpected will happen at my wedding, right?¡± Leah reassured her, ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen.¡± Liliane grabbed Leah¡¯s hand and ced it on her chest, saying, ¡°Mom, my heart is beating so fast. I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m nervous¡­¡± Dealing with Liliane¡¯s heart condition for many years, Leah had some understanding of it. She noticed that Liliane¡¯s heart rate was different than usual. Worried about any mishaps, she quickly gave Liliane two pills. ¡°Liliane, just be a beautiful bride without any worries.¡± A sinister light flickered in Leah¡¯s eyes. She would take their life if anyone dared to ruin her daughter¡¯s wedding! After taking the pills, Liliane felt her heart bing more at ease. Looking around, she asked, ¡°Mom, why haven¡¯t I seen Dad?¡± ¡°That useless man ate something bad and has been in the bathroom all morning.¡± Leah gently adjusted Liliane¡¯s hair and said, ¡°You should change into your wedding gown first. If your dad can¡¯t make itter, I¡¯ll have Uncle Shane walk you down the aisle¡­¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Liliane was unaware that Shane was her biological father, so she was slightly surprised and asked, ¡°Will he be willing to?¡± Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Leah believed that Shane would never refuse to apany Liliane into the venue. After all, they shared a special bond as father and daughter. Daughters were often considered their fathers¡¯ beloved Liliane. ¡°It would be a great honor for him to walk our Liliane down the aisle. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be more than willing,¡± Leah remarked confidently. As soon as she finished speaking, Shane appeared at the door. Leah went to open it, and they warmly embraced each other. ¡°Shane, we were just discussing you with Liliane. You know, Billy is always so unreliable. It¡¯s our daughter¡¯s big day, yet he¡¯s being irresponsible at this crucial moment. If he can¡¯t make it, can you please apany Liliane to the wedding?¡± Leah expressed her disappointment with Billy, and with her vague words, Shane readily agreed. ¡°I¡¯m d you thought of me,¡± Shane replied. He looked at Liliane, dressed elegantly, and couldn¡¯t help but get teary-eyed. His daughter had grown up and was about to get married. However, as a father, he had never fulfilled his responsibilities, to the extent that his daughter didn¡¯t even share hisst name. He felt an indescribable sense of guilt. He held an envelope and walked up to Liliane with great seriousness. ¡°Liliane, may you have a happy wedding.¡± Liliane nced at Leah, unsure if she should ept the envelope. Leah took it from Shane¡¯s hand and smiled and handed it to Liliane. ¡°Liliane, just ept it. It¡¯s a token of affection from Uncle Shane.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Shane.¡± Liliane felt the envelope and realized that it didn¡¯t contain cash-it was probably a bank card. Leah suddenly had an idea and suggested, ¡°How about we stop calling him Uncle Shane and call him This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Godfather instead?¡± Shane was taken aback. Leah continued. ¡°Just in case someone asks, it¡¯ll be easier to exin, right?¡± Liliane looked at Shane, who was dressed formally in a perfectly tailored suit, a stark contrast to her father¡¯s greedy appearance. Shane wore gold-rimmed sses, exuding a sense of culture, reserve, and refinement. It felt fitting for him to be her godfather. Moreover, if it weren¡¯t for him secretly helping them in the past, she and her mother wouldn¡¯t have been able to sessfully take Felix out of the prison hospital. Liliane agreed. Her affectionate address to Shane brought tears to his eyes, and he choked out, ¡°Good girl.¡± Leah was concerned that Shane¡¯s emotional state might raise suspicions in Liliane, especially considering her fragile heart condition and inability to handle shocking news. It would be better to wait until after Liliane¡¯s surgery to reveal her true background. ¡°Liliane, go change into your wedding gown. Your godfather and I will go greet our rtives and friends.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Leah and the seeminglyposed Shane left the bride¡¯s dressing room together. They reached an empty stairwell, and Leah asked with affectionate eyes, ¡°Are you happy?¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Shane nodded in understanding. ¡°He really can¡¯t make it here?¡± Leah nced at Shane with a hint of reproach. ¡°I administered a significant dose. Even if he manages toe, he won¡¯t be able to make it. Let¡¯s not mention him anymore. It¡¯s a joyous day. Let¡¯s go greet the guests. If anyone asks, I¡¯ll introduce you as Liliane¡¯s godfather.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Shane and Leah descended the stairs one after another. Although they didn¡¯t disy any overtly intimate gestures, the underlying affection between them caught the attention of the other guests. Liliane finally put on her long-awaited, exquisite wedding gown in the bride¡¯s dressing room. The shimmering diamonds added a touch of brilliance under the lights. The stylist carefully ced a priceless vintage crown on Liliane¡¯s head and couldn¡¯t help but express her envy. ¡°Mrs. Warner, Mr. Warner really spoils you. I heard this crown has a starting bid of $15,000,000 at auction.¡± The stylist never expected to witness such opulence in her lifetime. Filled with happiness and contentment, Liliane smiled at her reflection in the mirror, realizing her long- held dream. She was in a cheerful mood. ¡°Do you want to try it on?¡± she asked. The stylist shook her head. ¡°No¡­ I wouldn¡¯t dare. It¡¯s such an expensive crown. I can¡¯t afford to damage it.¡± Liliane smiled and said nothing. She took out her phone and checked her earlier social media posts. Many people had liked and Liliane went straight to the chat box with Esther and typed a somewhat insincere message. [Esther, it¡¯s my wedding day today. I hope I have your blessing.] After contemting for a while, Liliane finally pressed the ¡®Send¡¯ button. She didn¡¯t receive a reply and regretted not being able to witness Esther¡¯s helplessness and sadness firsthand. As the wedding time approached, Billy, who was still at the Ansteys¡¯ vi some distance away, tumbled down the stairs due to feeling unwell. He called Leah while lying in a pool of blood, but Leah merely nced at her phone indifferently, choosing not to answer. Unable to reach Leah, Billy had no choice but to dial the emergency number while nursing his injured body. While waiting for the ambnce to arrive, he turned on a live-streaming app and watched the wedding ceremony. The wedding nningpany had showcased Bradley¡¯s wealth to the fullest extent. Wherever the camera turned, there were exquisite flowers, and wherever the eyended, there was a disy of wealth. Suddenly, Billy spotted Leah and Shane chatting and smiling with the guests. Their smiles revealed an underlying affection. Leah, dressed in a purple gown, looked elegant and mature, with a slender waist entuated by the This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. dress. Her hair was styled in a ssic updo, adorned with a ruby hairpin. Shane stood close to Leah, wearing a well-fitted suit. His tie, whether intentionally or coincidentally, matched Leah¡¯s dress in color, giving the impression that they were coordinating outfits. Billy felt a surge of annoyance. He couldn¡¯t care less about it being Liliane¡¯s wedding day and immediately called her. ¡°Liliane, what is your mother doing? How can she allow Shane- Interrupting her father¡¯s angry voice, Liliane said with irritation, ¡°Dad, do you know what day it is today? It¡¯s my wedding day. With so many guests here, you can¡¯t attend because you¡¯re feeling sick, and Mom can¡¯t greet all the guests alone. Can¡¯t she ask Uncle Shane for help? Why are you being so petty?¡± Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Billy was stunned by Liliane¡¯s usation of being petty. He couldn¡¯t believe she would think that of him. How could he be considered petty when he was willing to give away his entire fortune as Liliane¡¯s wedding gift? ¡®Liliane, you¡¯re my daughter. How can you side with outsiders?¡± he said, feeling a mix of sadness and disappointment. Liliane, unaware of her father¡¯s true feelings, replied in a self-righteous tone, ¡°Dad, do you have any better suggestions? Should Mom face all the rtives and friends alone? Or should I walk down the aisle alone? If people ask, should I tell them you couldn¡¯t attend your own daughter¡¯s wedding because of diarrhea? Isn¡¯t that embarrassing? Billy felt a lump in his throat, and his injured leg seemed to ache even more. He tried to exin. ¡°Liliane. I¡¯m your father-¡± Unfortunately, the arrival of the ambnce interrupted him. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Realizing that arguing with her father on such an important day wasn¡¯t ideal, Liliane softened her tone and said softly, ¡°Dad, if you¡¯re feeling unwell, go to the hospital.¡± As Billy heard the beeping sound on the other end of the line, a sense of loneliness filled his heart. He was soon rushed to the emergency room due to an overdose of medication, leaving him with no time to dwell on his sorrow. Meanwhile, the phone call from Billy didn¡¯t dampen Liliane¡¯s mood as a bride. After hanging up. she noticed an envelope on the side and opened it. Inside was an overseas bank card with a note that read [The password is your birthday.] Liliane was puzzled Was Shane always so straightforward with his gifts? ¡°Mrs. Warner, are you ready? We¡¯ll be entering the venue in ten minutes.¡± A voice interrupted her train of thought. Looking stunning in her makeup, Liliane nodded with a smile and replied softly, ¡°I¡¯m ready. The bodyguards, disguised as bridesmaids, bent down to adjust the skirt of Liliane¡¯s wedding dress, creating a beautiful silhouette. Liliane took a deep breath, standing tall and elegant like a proud swan. Leah hurriedly arrived with Shane, both showing affection and doting expressions toward Liliane. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Liliane sweetly said. Shane and Leah shared the same adoration as they prepared to apany Liliane on her special day. ¡°Shane, put on this wireless earpiece. It¡¯s provided by the wedding nningpany. The person in charge will give you instructions on when to walk and when to stop through the earpiece,¡± Leah exined. Shane put on the Bluetooth earpiece and stood by Liliane¡¯s side. ¡°One moment!¡± Leah approached and adjusted the flower on Shane¡¯s chest, whispering, ¡°I¡¯ll take beautiful pictures of you and our daughter.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Shane replied, touched by the moment. He never imagined he would have the opportunity to give away his daughter on her wedding day. Though Liliane was unaware of her true identity, he had silently protected and cared for her from a distance. ¡°Now, Mrs. Warner, you¡¯ll hold Mr. Hoyer¡¯s arm. Mr. Hoyer, please take smaller steps as you walk. Mrs. Warner is wearing high heels, so be careful not to step on her dress,¡± the coordinator instructed. Shane nodded, feeling a hint of nervousness. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait for a while. The ceremony is still in progress inside. Once the doors open, we¡¯ll go straight in.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Chapter 218 Chapter 218 rk had been investigating the events from five years ago, but finding concrete evidence seemed impossible due to the passage of time and the deliberate targeting of Esther back then. As the three- month deadline agreed upon with Bradley approached, rk¡¯s progress had been. minimal. After careful consideration, rk made the decision to expose Liliane¡¯s true self at her wedding with Bradley. Thomas had shown him kindness, and he couldn¡¯t allow a malicious woman like Liliane to marry Bradley or harm Felix. With all the evidence prepared, rk got into his car and drove toward the wedding venue. However, his phone suddenly rang when he reached a crossroad just 500 meters away from the venue. ¡°rk, it¡¯s me.¡± Surprised, rk asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I just received a message from one of Shane¡¯sckeys. They¡¯ve kidnapped Esther and Mr. Felix¡­¡± rk mmed on the brakes and urgently inquired, ¡°When did this happen?¡± ¡°I received the message recently as well,¡± the bald detective replied. ¡°I¡¯m heading to theckey¡¯s location now. I¡¯ll send you the details soon.¡± Shane targeting Esther again like this was unexpected for rk. Without much thought, he realized that Shane was determined to obtain Esther¡¯s heart. As for Felix, they probably believed that once Liliane married Bradley, Felix would be expendable. Killing Felix would eliminate any potential issues he could pose. Ending the call, rk tried to contact Bradley but received no answer. He sent him messages instead. rk: [Mr. Warner, you cannot marry Liliane.] rk: [Felix is your and Esther¡¯s biological son. I have DNA test results for both of you!] rk: [Mr. Warner, something has happened to Mr. Felix. Reply to me immediately when you see this message!] After sending the messages, rk turned his car around urgently to meet up with the bald detective. The masked men threw Esther and Felix into a hospital filled with the scent of disinfectant. Esther¡¯s head hit the concrete floor hard, causing her pain. ¡°Ouch!¡± Esther winced but quickly shifted her focus to Felix, whom she quickly picked up. ¡°Felix.¡± Felix remained motionless, and Esther carefully checked his breathing. Thankfully, he was still breathing. Esther let out a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to observe her surroundings, two men dressed in ck entered, carrying a bundle of zip ties. ¡°Sir, I have money, a lot of money. I can give it to you¡­¡¯ One of the men grabbed Esther, who was attempting to bribe them and used the zip ties to bind her N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. hands and feet together. Shane assigned this task, and if they dared to ept the money and release this mother and son, they would find their bodies in the sea the next day. These men knew how cruel and bloodthirsty Shane could be. ¡°I¡¯d love to take your money, but I¡¯d rather not be alive to spend it!¡¯ Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Esther¡¯s heart sank, overwhelmed by a sense of despair. If even money couldn¡¯t sway them, did it mean their situation was dire beyond imagination? Suppressing her panic, she forced herself to calm down and analyze the predicament, determined to protect Felix at all costs. ¡°My son is unconscious. Please, I beg you, don¡¯t tie him up,¡± Esther pleaded, her voice filled. with desperation as tears welled up in her eyes. The ck-d man, who had been about to use zip ties on Felix, hesitated at her words. Esther continued, her voice pitiful and trembling. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t you have children of your own? Nephews or nieces? Please, understand the anguish of a parent. I implore you, don¡¯t tie up my son. He just had a bone marrow transnt¡­¡± Tears streamed down Esther¡¯s face as she pleaded, ¡°Please, I beg you. Don¡¯t tie him. won¡¯t try to escape.¡± 1. He Felix, nestled in Esther¡¯s arms, looked innocent and adorable, melting even the hearts of the ruthless men. ¡°Behave yourselves, and don¡¯t force us to take action! Do you understand?¡± one of the kidnappers warned. Esther nodded meekly, her voice hoarse as she replied, ¡°I understand.¡± The two men decided to keep Esther locked inside the operating room since it had only one exit. They stationed themselves at the door, confident that they could prevent any escape attempts. Without her phone, Esther was unable to call for help. She surveyed the dimly lit operating room, which appeared ordinary except for the faint word ¡°prison¡± written somewhere in the room. She searched for something she could use to cut or break the stic zip ties but found nothing. Holding Felix, who remained unconscious, she felt a deep sense of worry and unease. Outside the operating room, the two kidnappers sat together, enjoying beer and snacks while watching the live broadcast of Bradley and Liliane¡¯s wedding. The wedding was being streamed globally through various online tforms, as Bradley had spared no expense in promoting and publicizing the event. The cumtive viewership had already exceeded 300,000,000. The wedding venue was adorned with breathtaking decorations, resembling a fairytale setting. Amidst the mist, the venue¡¯s doors slowly opened, capturing the attention of all present. Liliane, wearing the ethereal wedding dress from Heaven that Esther had once tried on, walked gracefully with Shane, her arm linked with his, as they approached Bradley. Inside the operating room, silence enveloped Esther as she heard the broadcast through the door, where the kidnappers were sitting. She realized that Bradley¡¯s wedding had alreadymenced. Holding Felix tightly, Esther mustered the strength to approach the door. In a gentle voice, she made a request, ¡°I see you¡¯re watching Bradley Warner¡¯s wedding broadcast. Can I take a look?¡± The two men in ck exchanged nces, and one of them replied angrily, ¡°Why should you be allowed to watch? We¡¯ve already shown you enough kindness. Don¡¯t push your luck. Leave us alone¡­¡± Esther¡¯s tone turned cold as she replied, ¡°Bradley Warner is my husband, and I am hiswful wife. Tell me, don¡¯t I have the right to watch?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself¡± The other kidnapper interrupted hispanion with a mocking smile on his face. Heughed and taunted, ¡°The world of the wealthy is truly captivating, isn¡¯t it? How does it feel to helplessly watch your husband walk away with another woman?¡± They burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha,e on, you can witness what kind of person your man truly is.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 The two men gestured for Esther to join them in watching the live broadcast, asionally stealing nces at her to gauge her reaction. Esther¡¯s heart trembled as she looked at the familiar face shrouded in mist. Bradley was about to marry Liliane after all¡­ Seated in their ck attire, the men sipped on beer and indulged in meat, discussing the rtionship between Shane and the bride, Liliane. ¡°Why did Mr. Hoyer walk the bride down the aisle?¡± ¡°Could the bride be his daughter?¡± As they downed their beer, a casual joke seemed to unveil a hidden truth. Unintentionally, their words struck Esther¡¯s heart. She fixed her gaze on Shane and Liliane captured in the camera frame. Something was amiss. It was Liliane¡¯s wedding day, and knowing how doting Billy was, he would never miss the opportunity to apany her down the aisle. So why was Shane the one beside Liliane? ¡°Mr. Hoyer?¡± Esther asked, surprised. ¡°I remember the director of the prison hospital is also named Hoyer.¡± The two ck-d men turned to Esther simultaneously and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been in prison too?¡± Esther caught onto the word ¡°too¡± in their question, indicating that they had also experienced prison. ¡°Perhaps we were even cellmates,¡± Esther said, feigning nonchnce. The shared experience of being in prison instantly forged a connection between them, and one of the men handed Esther a bottle of beer. ¡°Why were you in prison?¡± Esther took a small sip from the bottle, not particrly fond of the taste of beer, but she pushed herself to drink to establish rapport. ¡°They used me of intentional murder.¡± One of the ck-d men teased, ¡°Murder? With your appearance?¡± Esther chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°Whether I actuallymitted the crime or not doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that they believe I did.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± one of the ck-d men blurted out, his curse revealing a mix of emotions directed at Esther This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. or something that had crossed his mind. Esther¡¯s gaze shifted to the propaganda posters adorning the wall outside the operating room, and she noticed the prison hospital logo at the bottom of the posters. ¡°Sir, I can sense that you¡¯re good people. Can I ask why you kidnapped me?¡± The ck-d men nced at Esther, then looked at the child in her arms. One of them 712 replied coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t ask. Even if you do, we won¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°Someone instructed you to prevent me from attending the wedding, didn¡¯t they?¡± The ck-d men remained silent, their brows furrowed. Understanding their reluctance to answer, Esther refrained from pushing further. She shifted her gaze back to the phone, watching the wedding broadcast together with them. As her eyes focused on the small screen, the realization that she was in the prison hospital sparked a whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. In a sudden sh of insight, she finally understood how Liliane had managed to snatch her son away from the prison hospital. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 The revtion of people they knew being in the prison hospital was the reason behind it all. Adding to that, they had lied to Esther, telling her that her child had died when she woke up after giving birth in the prison hospital. They even denied her the chance to see her child onest time, all with the intention of forcibly separating her from her children. The harsh reality of their past was brutally exposed before Esther¡¯s eyes, plunging her into an abyss of despair. She felt an urgent need to escape, to flee with Felix. If Shane was Liliane¡¯s biological father, he wouldn¡¯t simply want to keep her confined without disrupting the wedding, just like the previous car ident. What Shane truly desired was her heart. Esther had toe up with a n to escape. Clearly, she couldn¡¯t win over the two kidnappers, and trying to overpower them by force would be futile. The only way out was to outsmart them. Amotion erupted among the Anstey guests as soon as Shane and Liliane entered the venue. No one had expected that the man escorting the bride, Liliane, down the aisle would be Shane instead of Billy. There were quite a few people in attendance who were aware of Shane¡¯s background. After all, they had been involved in significant business dealings, often attracting a fair share of problematic rtives. For the right amount of money, Shane could obtain a medical parole certificate from the prison hospital and employ various means to evade legal consequences. However, nobody had anticipated that this ruthless and cunning prison director would have such a familiar connection with the bride-to-be. Liliane¡¯s high heels gracefully trod on the carpet, each step feeling as if she was walking on clouds, creating an ethereal and surreal atmosphere. The hall fell into a hushed silence, with only the sound of Liliane¡¯s heartbeat resonating like a drum, a pleasant melody to her ears. Liliane scanned the room, but Esther was nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately, Esther couldn¡¯t witness the man she loved marrying Liliane. The short distance between Liliane and Bradley felt like an insurmountable chasm. Finally, Shane led her to Bradley, who stood before her in formal attire. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Bradley, who was already handsome and noble, appeared even more divine and perfect in his formal attire, emanating a sense of wlessness from every strand of his hair. In terms of family background, appearance, character, and various other aspects, Bradley was the ideal choice as a husband. Shane held Liliane¡¯s hand and gently ced it in Bradley¡¯s palm. ¡°Bradley, I¡¯m entrusting Liliane to you. Please make her the happiest woman in the world.¡± A tinge of icy coldness flickered on Bradley¡¯s beautiful face, and his deep, profound eyes replied coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t ask. Even if you do, we won¡¯t tell you.¡¯ ¡°Someone instructed you to prevent me from attending the wedding, didn¡¯t they?¡± The ck-d men remained silent, their brows furrowed. Understanding their reluctance to answer, Esther refrained from pushing further. She shifted. her gaze back to the phone, watching the wedding broadcast together with them. As her eyes focused on the small screen, the realization that she was in the prison hospital sparked a whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. In a sudden sh of insight, she finally understood how Liliane had managed to snatch her son away from the prison hospital. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Bradley released Liliane¡¯s hand, surprising her. Before she could inquire, a female bodyguard dressed as a bridesmaid stepped forward to adjust her dress. Despite not standing in the designated position assigned by the weddingpany, Liliane interpreted Bradley¡¯s actions as his way of taking care of her. The priest held a Bible and walked to the center of Bradley and Liliane. ¡°May both of you ce your hands on the Bible.¡± Bradley and Liliane simultaneously ced their hands on the Bible. The priest addressed Liliane, ¡°Ms. Liliane Anstey, do you willingly marry Bradley as your husband, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others?¡± Blushing, Liliane looked at Bradley and said excitedly and tremblingly, ¡°I do.¡± Her lifelong wish had finallye true, filling her heart with indescribable joy. After hearing Liliane¡¯s reply, the priest turned to Bradley and asked gently, ¡°Mr. Bradley Warner, do you willingly take Liliane as your wife, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others?¡± Dressed in a suit that entuated his perfect figure, Bradley exuded an air of dignity and elegance. His facial features were astonishingly perfect, resembling a work of art. Not only that, but he also possessed an inexplicable charm that captivated women worldwide, coupled with a privileged family background, exceptional intelligence, and unparalleled looks. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± With slightly parted lips, Bradley withdrew his hand from the Bible. His suppressed killing intent was unleashed in that instant. The words ¡°I don¡¯t¡± reverberated through the microphone and live camera, reaching millions of people. The venue erupted into chaos! The guests were too shocked to maintain theirposure, staring at the couple on the stage in disbelief. Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s rejection, Leah and Shane approached to demand an exnation. However, before they could act, they were forcefully escorted onto the stage by the bodyguards, disying dominance. Leah had initially believed that Bradley¡¯s numerous bodyguards were for their protection. Now, she realized that they were meant to guard against them. Standing opposite Bradley, Liliane felt her mind go nk and her ears buzz upon hearing his rejection. It took her a moment to find her voice, trembling as she asked, ¡°Brad, did you say the wrong thing?¡± An icy frost covered Bradley¡¯s unparalleled handsome face. His words, like a sharp knife, pierced Liliane¡¯s heart deeply. ¡°Liliane, I have never considered marrying you.¡± Liliane staggered, nearly fainting. The nurse swiftly supported her, and Dr. Holden administered medication to keep her heart functioning and ensure she remained conscious to face the consequences of her actions. ¡°Brad, don¡¯t you care about Felix?¡± Bradley sneered coldly. ¡°Liliane, is Felix the only thing you care about now?¡± Suddenly, Liliane realized Felix was not present. No, to be precise, since discovering Felix and Esther together, any trace ofpassion she had for Felix had vanished. Her intention was to take Felix¡¯s life! Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°When you brought Felix to me, you imed he was my son. Now, in front of millions of viewers, tell me, is Felix my son?¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Liliane was caught off guard by Bradley¡¯s aggressive questioning in front of all the wedding guests. Momentarily flustered, she quickly regained herposure and started strategizing. After all, Felix was Bradley¡¯s son, and even if a DNA paternity test were conducted now, the result would remain the same. A sense of self-me washed over Liliane. She had pretended to be a good mother for so many years. Why did she have to be so reckless at such a crucial moment? ¡°Brad, of course Felix is your son. If you don¡¯t believe it, we can do a DNA paternity test right now.¡± Bradley angrily threw a DNA paternity test report at Liliane¡¯s face and sneered. ¡°Liliane, with your congenital heart condition, how did you give birth to Felix?¡± Liliane hadn¡¯t expected that Bradley had secretly conducted a DNA test without her knowledge! Did he already know that Felix wasn¡¯t her son? Why hadn¡¯t he arranged a private meeting between Felix and her after the bone marrow transnt? She had been immersed in the joy of finally being able to marry Bradley at that time. How could she have missed something so crucial? No, when had Bradley found out that Felix wasn¡¯t her son? ¡°Brad, I can exin about Felix¡­¡± Liliane gripped the DNA test report, faced with two choices -to admit that Felix wasn¡¯t her son or fabricate a biological mother for him. Either way, she couldn¡¯t tell Bradley that Esther was Felix¡¯s biological mother. In a split second, Liliane chose thetter path. She took a step forward, attempting to grab Bradley¡¯s hand and exin Felix¡¯s existence. ¡°Brad, Felix¡­ Felix is actually a child I had through surrogacy.¡± Liliane bit her lip and portrayed herself as a pitiful victim as tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the surrogacypany would-¡± With a cold and questioning gaze, Bradley looked at Liliane, who was spewing lies. ¡°Liliane, have you thought this through? Surrogacy is illegal in our country. By confessing so openly in front of a global audience, both you and the person who used my bloodline will face legal consequences. Liliane nced at the camera aimed at her and suddenly felt a surge of destion. At that moment, she finally understood why Bradley wanted the wedding to be broadcast live. He had nned from the This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. beginning to expose her in front of everyone. ¡°Brad, Felix is your son. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can do a DNA paternity test now.¡¯ || Liliane¡¯s legs weakened, her heart pounding, her bloodshot eyes fixed firmly on Bradley¡¯s incredibly handsome face. ¡°Brad, if you wanted to know the truth, you could have asked me earlier. Why didn¡¯t you? You let hundreds of millions of people discover Felix¡¯s birth. Have you ever thought about him as a child? Have you considered how he will face his future life?¡± Upon hearing Liliane¡¯s heartfelt words, Bradley couldn¡¯t help but apud her shamelessness. He had never imagined that she could be so eloquent and persuasive in an argument. Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Bradley stepped forward and forcefully grabbed Liliane¡¯s chin, his gaze filled with venom as he surveyed her delicate face. ¡°Liliane, even if Felix isn¡¯t my biological son, he¡¯s still a Warner,¡± he said with contempt.¡± Save your nonsense for the police.¡± He released his grip on Liliane, his expression cold and indifferent. Liliane¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as she fainted in the arms of a female bodyguard. The female bodyguard nced at Scott, who promptly administered another pill to Liliane. With the aid of the pill and acupressure, Liliane regained consciousness. ¡°Liliane, you were never the woman who slept with me five years ago,¡± Bradley stated, raising an eyebrow. Soon, arge electronic screen disyed surveince footage from a hotel five years ago. This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. In the video, Esther and Bradley were seen kissing as they entered the presidential suite. Two hours men in ck. They even arranged for the men in ck to create the impression that Esther had spent the night with a stranger. Meanwhile, Liliane pretended to spend the night with Bradley in his room. ¡°Five years ago, you imed we had sex, and for that, I gave you $15,000,000 as hush money.¡± Bradley continued, looking down at Liliane with a condescending gaze. ¡°Since you orchestrated everything from five years ago, then you and your aplicesmitted fraud! Bodyguards blocked Leah and Shane and couldn¡¯t get close to Liliane. Leah deeply regretted her actions and knew that Bradley was a ruthless man. While she had sensed that something was amiss with this wedding, she had arrogantly been under the impression that everything would be resolved once Liliane and Bradley were married. However, she never anticipated that Bradley would be willing to pay such a high price to expose their conspiracy in front of the wedding guests and the world. ¡°Brad, I love you so much. I did those things because I love you too much¡­¡± Liliane pleaded, her voice filled with anguish. Bradley¡¯s eyes brimmed with mockery as he spoke. ¡°Five years ago, I was a married man. Five years allow you to manipte me like a puppet on a string?¡± After uttering these words, Bradley¡¯s piercing gaze swept over all the guests. ¡°Dear guests, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to witness this performance. Thank you, Ms. Liliane Anstey and Ms. Leah Walpole, for your passionate acting. Feel free to stay or leave.¡± The police approached and took Liliane and Leah away for questioning. Shane didn¡¯t dare to get too close to Leah at that critical moment. He knew it was better to preserve their strength and not get involved in the chaos. Leah felt fortunate that she hadn¡¯t revealed to Liliane that Shane was her biological father. If things escted, it would harm Shane¡¯s career. Simrly, if Shane¡¯s actions and his illegitimate daughter were exposed, he would face his own troubles and wouldn¡¯t have the capacity to rescue them. As for the useless Billy, Leah had no hope for him whatsoever. When the police arrived, Leah finally had the opportunity to reach Liliane¡¯s side. She supported the limp Liliane and whispered in a low voice, ¡°Liliane, things haven¡¯t reached a point of no return. Trust me, I¡¯ll fight for justice for you.¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 ¡°Mom¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s heart pounded, fearing that everything was about to copse. She knew their actions against Esther in the past would nowe back to haunt them even more severely. ¡°I¡¯m here for you, Liliane.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m so scared.¡± Liliane trembled with fear, terrified of death and living under constant scrutiny and condemnation. As Leah supported Liliane and passed by Shane, she caught his gesture, a gesture that conveyed reassurance and support. Leah¡¯s frantic heart finally settled. She knew Shane was a responsible man who would never abandon them. Despite the canceled wedding, the banquet hall still buzzed with guests who indulged in the exquisite delicacies. The scandalous revtion had notpletely dispersed them. They formed small groups, relishing the food while sharing the gossip. Meanwhile, theizens reveled in the juicy gossip. Their expectations for a fairytale wedding were shattered, reced by a shocking revtion orchestrated by the groom himself. Bradley¡¯s phone buzzed incessantly with missed calls and unread messages. Concerned about Felix, he contacted Felix¡¯s homeroom teacher. ¡°Mr. Warner, Mrs. Warner took Felix on leave today!¡± Concerned, Bradley inquired, ¡°On leave?¡± ¡°Yes, she mentioned something about visiting his grandmother¡¯s grave¡­¡± Bradley ended the call and immediately dialed Esther¡¯s number. Esther¡¯s phone went unanswered. An ominous premonition gripped Bradley¡¯s heart. He summoned the head of the security team and instructed, ¡°Contact the bodyguards assigned to protect Esther¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, Madam¡¯s bodyguards were present at the venue today.¡± Bradley clenched his fists and demanded, ¡°In three minutes, I want to know Esther¡¯s current location.¡± Three minutester, the head of the security team approached Bradley and respectfully reported, ¡°Mr. Warner, Madam purchased tickets to nche, and the ne is scheduled to depart in 20 minutes!¡± Without uttering a word, Bradley entered the hotel elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. ¡°Contact the airport control tower and request immediate clearance for my helicopter tond.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Bradley swiftly boarded the helicopter. Fifteen minutester, the helicopter touched down on the airport apron. With authority, Bradley descended from the helicopter, positioning himself in front of the moving aircraft. The pilot stopped the ne, allowing Bradley to ascend the stairs. Like a furious lion, Bradley roared, searching the aircraft for Esther and Felix. ¡°Esther Quill,e out!¡± ¡®Esther! ¡®Fine! ¡®How dare you take Felix and leave!?¡¯ Bradley¡¯s furious roar elicitedints from other passengers on the ne. A flight attendant approached with a professional smile and spoke softly. ¡°Sir, the woman you mentioned, Ms. Esther Quill, did not board the ne despitepleting the boarding process. Naturally, Bradley doubted the flight attendant¡¯s words. He cast a cold nce at his bodyguards. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The bodyguards dispersed throughout the aircraft, meticulously searching every nook and cranny-the restrooms, under the seats, the cockpit, and even the storagepartments. ¡°Mr. Warner, no sign of her.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, no sign of her.¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 ¡°Mr. Warner, no sign of her either.¡± The airline manager informed Bradley respectfully, approaching him with a work tablet in hand. ¡°Mrs. Warnerpleted the necessary procedures but did not board the ne. We made several N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. announcements before takeoff as well.¡± The manager showed Bradley the surveince footage they had obtained. ¡°Mr. Warner, this is the airport surveince footage. She arrived at the airport but left with Mr. Felix again,¡± the manager exined, pointing to Esther holding Felix¡¯s hand as they got into a Mercedes- Benz sedan. ¡°Immediately trace the whereabouts of that car,¡± Bradleymanded. Bradley disembarked from the ne, and his bodyguards located the location of the Mercedes- Benz car based on its track. ¡°Mr. Warner, the car is outside the hotel,¡± one of the bodyguards reported. Giving the bodyguard a cold nce, Bradley boarded the helicopter again to return to the hotel. Eventually, the bodyguards found Esther¡¯s car in the hotel parking lot. To their surprise, the car door was unlocked, and Bradley discovered Esther¡¯s mobile phone inside. The bodyguards divided their tasks. Some went to review the surveince footage, while others at the scene examined the traces and came to a shocking conclusion. ¡°Mr. Warner, Madam might have been kidnapped!¡± one of the bodyguards eximed. Signs of dragging were found at the scene, and Felix¡¯s children¡¯s watch was discovered in the green area of the parking lot. Simultaneously, the bodyguards retrieving surveince footage. in the security office came across a vehicle that appeared to be involved in the abduction of Esther and Felix. Bradley watched the surveince video with a chilling tone. ¡°Find them! Dig up the earth if you have to! Bring them to me!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner,¡± the bodyguards acknowledged, dispersing to carry out their assigned tasks. Meanwhile, Bradley sat in the car, going through the items inside. His gaze fell upon Esther¡¯s handbag, and he opened it to find all of Esther and Felix¡¯s identification documents. Bradley mmed the steering wheel in anger. Esther, that woman, was really nning to leave with Felix? He realized he had been too lenient with her, allowing her to develop misguided notions. His hidden resentment, concealed beneath a facade of tenderness, surged within him like a hurricane. Living with Esther as a regr couple during this time, he had grown soft and didn¡¯t want her to face judgmental gazes at the wedding. But his kindness had been met with yet another betrayal from Esther. She actually intended to take Felix away from him. ¡®Esther! Just wait for me! I¡¯ll break your legs and imprison you in Warner Manor when I find you. You caused Grandpa¡¯s death, and I¡¯ll make you pay for it for the rest of your life within the manor. ¡®Esther, starting from the moment you made me lose my only rtive, you became unforgivable in my heart! ¡®Escape? No matter how far you run, I will find you!¡¯ A knock interrupted Bradley¡¯s thoughts. He turned his sinister gaze toward the handsome man outside the car. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Excuse me, may I ask where the female passenger in this car got off when it left the cemetery?¡± the man inquired. Bradley curled his lips coldly, mocking and taunting. ¡°She¡¯s dead.¡± The man¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief, but he quickly noticed the intimidating expression on Bradley¡¯s face. He took out a gold-embossed business card and handed it to Bradley. ¡°Sir, this is my business card. If you have any news about her, please contact me anytime. There will be a great reward.¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Bradley nced at the gold-embossed name on the business card-Oliver Quill. The business card had a simple and elegant design, with no job position orpany name, only a name and a string of digits. Disinterested, Bradley closed the car window and casually discarded the business card, whichnded in Esther¡¯s open handbag like a falling leaf in the autumn breeze. He started the car and drove away swiftly. Meanwhile, Oliver, still standing there, made a mental note of the license te number. He nned to ask someone he knew to investigate the car¡¯s route. Oliver got into his car and returned to the cemetery. When the cemetery manager saw him, they were about to speak, but Oliver silenced them by handing over an envelope. ¡°Do you need any assistance, sir?¡± the manager asked. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. In a gentle tone tinged with anger, Oliver replied, ¡°I¡¯d like to review the surveince footage.¡± ¡°Please follow me.¡± The manager led Oliver to the surveince room, where the staff retrieved the recent footage. Oliver watched the surveince footage of Esther and Felix, his heart twitching as he struggled to believe that this was histe sister¡¯s daughter. ¡°Does shee here often?¡± Oliver asked. ¡°She has beening frequently recently. There were some issues earlier,¡± the manager exined with a smile. ¡°I heard from the previous manager. She used to like sitting in front of the tombstone, even on weekends and holidays. Sometimes she would do her homework there. ¡°Do you know her?¡± Oliver inquired. The manager smiled awkwardly and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know her personally, but the previous manager did. She¡¯s a nice girl. It¡¯s said that she went through some terrible abuse¡­¡± Frowning slightly, Oliver wondered who could have mistreated a child from the Quill family. He handed a business card to the manager and said solemnly, ¡°If shees to the cemetery again, please call me.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Quill.¡± Realizing he should inform his family about his sister having a daughter, Oliver requested a copy of the surveince footage. As his main base was not in the city, he was unfamiliar with the local roads, which resulted in him losing track of Esther. Unbeknownst to him, she was currently trapped in a dangerous situation. The incident at the wedding between Bradley and Liliane had be widely known, including to Esther, who was shocked by Bradley¡¯s actions during the wedding. She had thought he genuinely wanted to marry Liliane, but it turned out that he only wanted to humiliate her, leaving her no chance to defend her past actions publicly. Esther was always soft-hearted. Now, with the videos Bradley yed, the suspicions of her supposed betrayal werepletely cleared. She naively thought that as long as she appeared before Bradley, they could put aside their grievances and live a happy and loving life together. However, the ck-d men holding her captive saw through her intentions. ¡°Mister, you¡¯ve seen it too. Bradley didn¡¯t marry Liliane. I¡¯m still his legal wife. If you release me¡­¡± One of the ck-d men nced at Esther and sneered. ¡°Mrs. Warner, are all wealthy people as naive as you?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of talking to someone like her? She knows nothing about the harsh realities. of life,¡± the other ck-d man added. ¡°Compared to what we¡¯ve experienced, her biggest setback was spending five years in prison. It means nothing to us!¡± Esther¡¯s head sank in despair. She had hoped to find an opportunity to make these men lower their guard, but now she realized it was merely wishful thinking. ¡°Mister, I need to use the restroom,¡± she pleaded. One of the ck-d men looked at Esther cruelly and replied, ¡°Hold it in.¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 ¡°I drank a bottle of beer, mister.¡± Esther confessed Another man dressed in ck stood up and grabbed Esther¡¯s arm. ¡°Mrs. Warner, your son is still in our hands Cooperate and don¡¯t try any tricks.¡¯ Esther anxiously replied, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare ¡°Bro, keep an eye on the child. I¡¯ll handle this woman,¡± the man instructed. A suggestive understanding passed between the men in ck ¡°Tll go first. You can jointer.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Be careful not to disrupt Mr. Hoyer¡¯s ns.¡± ¡°I understand The man pushed Esther into the women¡¯s restroom. Her hands and feet were bound tightly with stic zip ties, leaving a thin red mark on her pale wrists from the friction. ¡°Mister, can you loosen the zip ties for me?¡± Esther requested. The man gazed at Esther and couldn¡¯t help but have stray thoughts upon seeing her clear eyes. He had encountered many women, but someone as pure and seductive as Esther was a first for him He licked his dry lips and let out a sinister chuckle ¡°Do you want me to loosen them? A yful smirk appeared in the man¡¯s eyes, akin to a cat ying with its prey ¡°Beg me¡±¡± ¡°Mister, I¡¯m begging you, please remove them for me!¡± Esther pleaded. The man chuckled, eagerly anticipating what would unfold next Using a penknife, he cut the zip ties restraining Esther¡¯s wrists and ankles. Esther looked at the man with a shy expression. The man feigned gentlemanly behavior and said, ¡°Go into the cubicle and close the door. I¡¯ll turn around.¡± Esther entered the cubicle, pressing the flush button on the toilet and adjusting her clothes nervously With the hidden snack bone in her hand, she mentally rehearsed the pressure point techniques she had learned from a book during her time in prison. Knowing that she stood no chance against the men¡¯s strength as a physically weaker woman, she had to rely on her wits. She recalled a certain pressure point mentioned in the book, one that, when stimted, could cause a man to faint. Taking a deep breath, Esther stepped out of the cubicle. As the sound of the door opening reached his ears, the man in ck approached her, wearing a wicked smile. ¡°Feeling better now? The man¡¯s smile sent a chill down Esther¡¯s spine, and a look of panic crossed her porcin face ¡°Mister, I¡¯m Bradley Warner¡¯s wife,¡± Esther pleaded, hoping to evoke some hesitation. The man sneered. ¡°I love wives the most. It¡¯s thrilling!¡± Closing in step by step, he extended his w-like hand toward Esther¡¯s arm. However, she made a desperate move, forcefully stabbing the hidden bone into the man¡¯s pressure point. ¡°F*ck-¡± The man never anticipated that Esther would have a sharp little bone concealed in her hand. In a fit of rage, he attempted to grab Esther¡¯s neck but copsed into the narrow gap between the cubicle partition and the toilet. Quickly retrieving the bone and concealing it in her palm, Esther feigned fright as she ran toward the other man in ck. ¡°Mister, something¡¯s wrong. That guy fainted!¡± Upon hearing that, the man holding the unconscious Felix hurriedly rushed into the cubicle. ¡°Where is he?¡± Esther pointed at the cubicle and said with a terrified expression, ¡°I think he wanted to use the toilet¡­ but he suddenly copsed.¡± Chapter 229 Chapter 229 The ck-d man, caught off guard by Esther¡¯s unexpected resistance, swiftly ced Felix into her arms and approached the unconscious man to assess the situation. Esther quietly trailed behind him, gently asking, ¡°Is he drunk?¡± Seizing the opportune moment, as the man was about to tend to the unconscious individual, Esther fiercely thrust the bone she held in her hand into the man¡¯s pressure point. A groan escaped his lips as he crumpled to the ground. Swiftly, Esther retrieved stic zip ties from their bags and skillfully bound the hands and feet of both men. She ingeniously connected them together, buying them valuable time to make their escape. ¡°Mommy, are you finished?¡± Felix whispered softly. Esther nodded reassuringly and grasped Felix¡¯s hand as they exited the washroom. Spotting an old bed sheet in the distance, she twisted it into a makeshift rope, tying one end to the women¡¯s washroom door and the other to the men¡¯s washroom door. With that taskpleted, she led Felix by the hand, swiftly descending the stairs. It became evident to Esther that they were in an abandoned prison hospital that seemed to have been deserted for years. Dust covered the staircase, and spiderwebs adorned the walls. Guiding Felix into an open area overrun with tall weeds, Esther warily retreated, wary of hidden snakes lurking in the grass, Hastily, she made her way along the ground floor, heading toward the room housing the main entrance. ¡°Felix, can you keep running?¡± After only a short sprint, Felix¡¯s face reddened with exhaustion, having recently undergone a bone marrow transnt and with limited prior physical activity. Esther cast a concerned nce at Felix and, realizing his fatigue, lifted him into her arms. The mother and son continued their desperate run, with Felix¡¯s sturdy physique making it challenging for Esther to carry him. Nheless, she pressed on, aware that stopping was not an option. She knew all too well that if the two ck-d men captured them, their fate would be unimaginably tragic. As Esther eavesdropped, she heard voices discussing a kidney extraction scheduled for the day. ¡°Did you inform them about today¡¯s kidney extraction?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Esther concealed herself in a room, partially opening the door to observe the corridor outside. She glimpsed individuals in ck attire, simr to those who had abducted her. ¡°We¡¯ve already informed them.¡± ¡°Wait here. Once the person arrives, take them to the operating room.¡± ¡°But Mr. Hoyer has reserved the operating room for a surgery today.¡± ¡°What kind of surgery?¡± ¡°It appears to be a heart surgery.¡± ¡°As soon as the operating room bes avable, proceed immediately with the kidney extraction. We cannot afford to offend our benefactor.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Esther¡¯s legs weakened, and she trembled slightly as she clutched Felix¡¯s hand. These ck-d individuals were coborating, and those who had thrown her into the operating room intended to forcibly extract her heart. During the previous car ident, they had failed to obtain her heart. This time, they had kidnapped her directly, with the intention of extracting her heart forcefully. Esther listened intently, ensuring not to make any sudden movements that might draw the group¡¯s attention outside. The consequences would be fatal. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Pale with fear, Esther wasforted by Felix, who whispered in her ear to calm down. She gestured for silence, fearing that any noise would attract the ck-d men¡¯s attention. outside the corridor. Esther felt a sense of gratitude that they hadn¡¯t run out into the open field earlier. They would have be easy targets in the waist-high wild grass if they had. Worry flickered in Esther¡¯s bright eyes as she looked down at the dust on her white shoes. The stairwell they had just escaped from was filled with thick dust. Once the ck-d men upstairs woke up, they would easily track her through the footprints. What should they do now? Esther was frantic and at a loss. She had given up hope that Bradley woulde to her rescue. It was up to her to find a solution. Bumping her head lightly against the wall, she regretted wasting her time in prison, grieving over the deaths of her children. If she had known what terrors awaited her upon release, she would have focused on studying, reading books, and learning self-defense. ¡®Self-defense¡­¡± Suddenly, Esther remembered the wise words of Granny Grace, an elderly woman with medical skills she had met in prison. She forced herself to calm down and carefully considered Granny Grace¡¯s advice. Granny Grace had emphasized the importance of not panicking and thinking of a solution in any situation. As long as one was still alive, there was always a chance in life. Esther nced at the chicken bone stained with blood in her hand. After a moment of contemtion, she held Felix¡¯s small hand and used her finger to write in his palm: ¡°Felix,ter I¡¯ll distract them so you can quietly slip away and call the police?¡± Felix shook his head and wrote in her palm: ¡°Together.¡± Esther held Felix tightly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, ¡°Felix, if you go call the police, we have hope. But if you don¡¯t, both of us¡­¡± Esther didn¡¯t finish her sentence as the sound of a car engine in the distance caught their attention. They pressed against the door to get a glimpse outside and saw an ambnce parked nearby. A group of ck-d men emerged, pushing a young man out of the ambnce. ¡°He¡¯s so young¡­¡± ¡°The boss said to find a young man. Healthy kidneys, you know?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ healthy kidneys.¡± The ck-d men joked while pushing the young man inside. ¡°The elevator¡¯s here. You guys stay down here.¡± Esther¡¯s heart sank. She and Felix would be in danger if they brought the person to the operating room and discovered the two ck-d men who had fainted in the bathroom. She quietly guided Felix to the window and carefully ced him outside through the open window. Felix This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. held onto the window ledge, looking at Esther anxiously. ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s escape together! ¡°Felix, Mommy will teach you an important lesson now. Don¡¯t put all your eggs in one basket, understand?¡± Esther had no other choice. Felix, was just a child, and hiding was easier for him. ¡°You¡¯re the best, my son. Mommy believes in you.¡± Felix crouched silently in the bushes, doing his best to remain hidden. Esther pushed the door, causing it to creak. When the ck-d men guarding downstairs heard the noise, they turned their attention toward Esther. Determined to buy time for Felix to escape, she ran frantically, like the wind¡­ Chapter 231 Chapter 231 rk drove to the location provided by the bald detective and met up with the other two half an hour ¡°Recount everything to rk.¡± The undercoverckey didn¡¯t hold back and exined, ¡°I don¡¯t have the exact location, but I heard from someone that Shane has people waiting outside the wedding venue. They nned to capture Esther as soon as she appeared.¡± Anxiously, rk asked, ¡°Do you know where they¡¯re taking her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Theckey scratched his head, ¡°But I know they failed to get Esther¡¯s heart during thest car ident. It¡¯s likely they¡¯re kidnapping her this time for her heart.¡± rk felt deep concern. Finding a person without a specific lead in the city would be difficult. The bald detective spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Let me check if I can track her through the surveince system.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The bald detective opened hisptop, swiftly typing on the keyboard. He needed to find the surveince footage from outside the hotel as quickly as possible. rk and theckey stared at the screen, filled with a dizzying array of real-time surveince images. The bald detective rewound the videos, hoping to spot Esther. Unfortunately, the bald detective was one step toote. Bradley¡¯s team had already copied and deleted the surveince footage of the men in ck kidnapping Esther. The bald detective came up empty- handed. ¡°They¡¯re well-prepared, and the surveince footage is missing,¡± the bald detective. frustratingly reported. He absentmindedly rubbed his smooth, bald head, emitting a long sigh before continuing to search nearby surveince cameras for any clue. rk pulled theckey aside and asked, ¡°Can you find the person who provided this information? We can negotiate a price.¡± Theckey helplessly replied, wearing a bitter expression, ¡°Sir, I want to ask, but I genuinely dare not. If we¡¯re discovered, we¡¯ll all be in trouble.¡± ¡°Give it a try.¡± rk couldn¡¯t rely solely on the bald detective-he needed theckey to make one more effort. Theckey took out his phone, about to make a call, when the bald detective interrupted, ¡® rk, I¡¯ve got a lead.¡± rk and theckey leaned in, and the bald detective pointed at a van in the surveince footage, saying confidently, ¡°Ipared all the cars in the parking lot, and only this van seems the most suspicious¡­¡± ¡± At the same time, Bradley was also watching the surveince footage on his tablet in the backseat of his car. In the footage, two men in ck suits approached Esther and Felix from behind, covering their mouths and noses as they were about to enter the venue. The men forcefully dragged them toward the van and C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. threw them inside. One of the men noticed the smartwatch on Felix¡¯s wrist and roughly tore it off, carelessly throwing it into nearby greenery. ¡°Have you traced the final route of the van?¡± Bradley asked. The bodyguard in the front seat replied, ¡°Mr. Warner, we discovered that when the van passed through an underground tunnel, four identical vans with the same license tes and models appeared out of nowhere. They left the tunnel and dispersed in different directions.¡± Bradley smirked. ¡®Interesting!¡¯ These people knew Esther was his wife, yet they dared to target him like this? What did that mean? It meant they weren¡¯t afraid of him. Bradley was furious. He took out his phone and made a call, his tone terrifyingly cold, ¡°This is Bradley Warner. M wife and son have been kidnapped¡­¡± Bradley had received a proper education since childhood and had always been reluctant to us his connections. Perhaps his harmless appearance made people think he was a harmless ca Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Only someone audacious and fearless would dare to target Bradley like this! Those whoid a finger on his woman would pay the price! ¡°Look into it.¡± The city was equipped with surveince cameras, and many fugitives had been captured through the surveince system. Once they obtained the vehicle¡¯s license te number that took Esther and Felix, even if it was a fake te, they could continuously track it through the surveince system. They would find her, even if she went to a ce without surveince or a blind spot. They would search relentlessly, even if they had to dig three feet under! ¡°Mr. Warner, we¡¯ve found the suspicious vehicle!¡± The sound of a rushing wind filled Esther¡¯s ears as she ran as fast as she could, not daring to look back. She sprinted with such speed that she hardly felt the pain of ss shards piercing her feet. Her only goal was to draw attention to herself, allowing Felix to escape to safety as quickly as possible. Esther ran forward, but the waist-high wild grass slowed her down. In the distance, she spotted an abandoned telephone booth. After a moment of hesitation, she ran toward it. cing the ck receiver to her ear, Esther was relieved to hear a dial tone. She dialed the emergency number and anxiously spoke. ¡°Hello, is this the emergency hotline? My son and I have been kidnapped-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, a firm hand grabbed her cor, dragging her out of the booth. Without a word, the person harshly pped her across the face. The brutal p caused Esther¡¯s check to swell instantly, and her mouth filled with the taste of blood as it flowed from her lips. ¡°You b*tch, try running! Let¡¯s see where you can run to!¡± The sound of crashing waves echoed in Esther¡¯s ears. White seagulls soared across the azure sky. Esther tried to get up from the ground and continue her escape, but the ferocious man forcefully grabbed her hair, dragging her toward the abandoned building. The rough grass left numerous bloody scratches on Esther¡¯s fair, porcin skin. All Esther hoped for was that Felix had managed to hide, even if he couldn¡¯t escape. As long as he could remain hidden, it would be enough. Her Felix must not be captured! Her son must be safe and sound. Esther was pulled back into the building by the ck-d man, and the two men who had been guarding her regained consciousness. Upon seeing Esther, they both approached her, ruthlessly punching and kicking her delicate body. ¡°You audacious b*tch! Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°Damn it, we¡¯re doing you a favor!¡± Esther red at the ck d men in front of her, filled with resentment, and shouted, ¡°Do you know N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. who I am? I am Bradley Warner¡¯s wife! Aren¡¯t you afraid of his retaliation when you treat me like this?¡± Chapter 233 Chapter 233 The two men halted their actions, their already ferocious faces contorting into menacing smiles. ¡°You remind us, you damn woman!¡± One man forcefully tore open Esther¡¯s cor, exposing a patch of her radiant skin. ¡°We don¡¯t mind dying if it means we get to enjoy you!¡± He lunged toward her, and despite her weakened state, Esther struggled desperately. Blindly, she grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and threw it at the man¡¯s face, temporarily blinding him. Before Esther could attempt to escape, several other men rushed in and restrained her, pinning her hands and feet down. Now looking down at Esther from a higher position, the temporarily blinded man coldlymanded, ¡°Bring out that little brat.¡± Another man dragged Felix out, his mouth covered with a piece of yellow tape. Felix looked at Esther, surrounded by the menacing men, and fought angrily against his captor¡¯s grip. ¡°B*tch, behave yourself! If you dare to move again, I¡¯ll throw this little brat into the sea to feed the sharks right now!¡± The man forcefully tore open Esther¡¯s clothes in front of Felix, and a chilling breeze enveloped her, causing her teeth to chatter with fear. Just as the man was about to make a vile move toward Esther, an urgent whistle suddenly pierced the air. The man picked up a walkie-talkie and anxiously inquired, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°The police are here. We need to evacuate immediately!¡± These men in ck knew the dire consequences they would face if caught. Now was not the time to be consumed by their lust for women. The man grabbed Esther¡¯s arm and roughly pulled her toward an ambnce parked in the open space. With one hand, Esther desperately tried to cover herself, tying the torn clothes together to avoid This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. exposing too much skin. Felix was thrown to Esther¡¯s side by the men in ck. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Esther lowered her head and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Felix.¡± Just as Esther finished speaking, the man who had been pushed into the operating room was once again shoved into the vehicle. The other men in ck boarded the vehicle as well, starting the engine and driving the ambnce like a race car. Through the ss, Esther could see their destination clearly. It was an ind, Once a prison, the ind hadter been earmarked for tourism development, but the ns were temporarily put on hold due to an economic crisis. Wild grass grew everywhere, and even the exterior walls of the buildings were covered in lush ivy. With limited transportation options, the ind was rarely visited by residents or fishermen, making it the perfect location for crime. Anxiously, Esther wondered if her emergency hotline call had seeded. Would the operator continue to follow up, or would they dismiss her call as a prank? Upon reaching the pier, everyone boarded a yacht. However, the vehicle Esther and the others had been in was driven into the sea, leaving no trace behind. Esther gazed out at the boundless sea, feeling an overwhelming sense of fear. This vast ocean could be their grave if they were thrown into it, never to be seen again. But perhaps even more terrifying were the lecherous gazes of those men. Sensing the malice directed toward Esther, Felix stood in front of her like a little protector, shielding her from their wicked stares. ¡°Boss, what should we do? The benefactor called again!¡± The leader nced at Esther and her son with a worried expression. He delivered a harsh p to the two men who had kidnapped them. ¡°Who gave you permission to kidnap them? Do you have any idea how much danger we¡¯re in now?¡± Chapter 234 Chapter 234 The men in ck, after being pped, did not dare to resist and defended their actions of kidnapping Esther, stating, ¡°It was Mr. Hoyer who ordered us to kidnap her.¡± ¡°And you followed his orders?¡± the leader eximed angrily. ¡°Do you realize the risks we¡¯re facing now because of her?¡± ¡°Boss, why don¡¯t we just get rid of them once and for all¡­¡± One man made a throat-slitting gesture, disying his viciousness. All the men in ck turned their attention to Esther and her son, instinctively drawing closer to each other in fear. ¡°No!¡± The leader red at Esther and her son, speaking coldly. ¡°We live in a society governed byw now. We can¡¯t resort to violence without a second thought. Who gave you the audacity? If you want to end up in prison, don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡± One of the men asked in confusion, ¡°But what we did is illegal, right?¡± ¡°No,¡± the leader replied calmly. ¡°Each of them has signed consent forms for organ donation. Our actions arepletely legal.¡± Through the conversation among the men, Esther pieced together a horrifying truth. Her heart raced as if it might burst out of her throat at any moment. ¡°Lock them up first,¡± the leader warned with a sinister gaze. ¡°Control your impure thoughts, and don¡¯t The man¡¯s lips curled up coldly, emitting a terrifying aura. ¡°I¡¯ll personally throw you into the sea to feed the sharks.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The man¡¯s phone kept buzzing. ¡°Sir.¡± A sinister voice asked from the other end of the phone, ¡°Did you kidnap Bradley Warner¡¯s wife and son?¡± ¡°Sir, it was an ident.¡± The man couldn¡¯t help but sweat profusely at the thought of his boss ¡®methods. ¡°It was Shane Hoyer who ordered us to kidnap Mrs. Warner.¡± The boss behind the scenes asked, ¡°And you dared to harm his wife?¡± ¡°Sir-¡± The boss replied, ¡°Anyone whoys a hand on her, chop them up and throw them into the sea to feed the sharks! Understood?¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The man heard the beep on the other end of the phone and took a deep breath. He didn¡¯t know who the boss really was or what the boss looked like, He only knew that in front of the boss, they had no secrets at all! ¡°You, you, and you, step forward.¡± Three men in ck walked up to the man, confused. The leader threw an ax in front of them.¡± Which hand of yours touched her?¡± ¡°What?¡± The leader looked at the man who had torn Esther¡¯s clothes and coldly said, ¡°ce your hand on the table.¡± The man didn¡¯t understand and ced his hand on the table. The ax rose! And it fell! ¡°Arghh!¡± The man who had attempted to assault Esther screamed like a ughtered pig. The leader lifted the bloody severed hand and approached Esther, speaking respectfully and humbly. ¡°Mrs. Warner, this is the price he pays for touching you. I hope you have the magnanimity not to hold us all ountable.. Chapter 235 Chapter 235 The man¡¯s sudden disy of respect heightened Esther¡¯s alertness. The sight of the bloody severed hand added to the gravity of the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll throw this hand into the sea to feed the sharks,¡± the man dered before heading to the deck and disposing of the hand in the boundless sea. Esther heard the sound of the waves, and her temples throbbed. These ruthless individuals were capable of such brutality without hesitation. If they desired her and Felix¡¯s lives, it would be an effortless decision for them. Even before the man approached with the severed hand, Esther positioned herself to shield Felix from the view. Witnessing such a scene would be a nightmare for any adult, let alone a child like Felix. The man nced at the tape on Felix¡¯s mouth and the stic zip tie on his wrist before handing Esther a pair of scissors. ¡°Mrs. Warner, pleasee with me, along with Young Mr. Warner.¡± With the boss¡¯ orders, the leader treated Esther differently, acknowledging her importance. Esther used the scissors to cut the zip tie and remove the yellow adhesive tape from Felix¡¯s mouth. The tape¡¯s strong adhesion had caused swelling and redness around Felix¡¯s small mouth, prompting tears to well up in Esther¡¯s eyes out of concern. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt, Mommy,¡± Felix softly reassured Esther, blinking to prevent the tears from falling. The man led Esther and Felix to the bedroom on the yacht. ¡°Mrs. Warner, please rest here with your son.¡± The man thoughtfully provided them water, food, ointment, and ice packs. Esther and Felix were alone in the bedroom. Esther held Felix¡¯s small face and carefully examined his body. Fortunately, perhaps due to Felix¡¯s status as a child, the captors had not been excessively tight with the zip ties, and there were no wounds on his wrists or ankles. Reluctant to use unfamiliar medication, Esther used a towel and some ice cubes to reduce the swelling on Felix¡¯s reddened lips. ¡°Felix, are you hungry?¡± Neither Esther nor Felix had eaten or drunk anything since theirst meal in the morning. Felix nodded faintly. ¡°But can we eat these things, Mommy?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Esther hesitated, torn between the options of eating or not. Would they have the strength to escape if they chose not to eat? If they did eat, what if there was something in the food or drink that could harm them? Then let¡¯s not eat.¡± Esther held the trembling Felix in her arms. Since the kidnapping began, Felix had disyed remarkable bravery. However, deep down, Esther knew that Felix was just a child. Even she, as an adult, felt bewildered and helpless in this situation, let alone Felix. ¡°Felix, don¡¯t be afraid. Daddy wille to rescue us¡­ Felix reached out and embraced Esther tightly, innocently stating, ¡°Mommy, Daddy won¡¯te.¡± ¡°He will.¡± If only Esther had been kidnapped, there might be doubts about Bradley¡¯s arrival. However, their son was also among the captives. Bradley woulde. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m sleepy.¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 After escaping from immediate danger, Felix felt a bit listless. Esther reached out to touch his little face and noticed that he had a slight fever. With limited resources, all she could do for now was use ice cubes to temporarily lower his body temperature, hoping it wouldn¡¯t rise again. ¡°Felix, go to sleep. Mommy will always be by your side¡­ I¡¯ll never lose you again!¡± Esther gently patted Felix¡¯s back as he curled up in fear. It pained her to see him like this. Suddenly, Esther made a bold decision. She decided to have a meal with Felix. If the captors¡¯ attitude had changed after the phone call, it meant that they were temporarily safe. These men could take their lives at any moment, so they wouldn¡¯t bother with tricks like before. ¡°Felix.¡± Felix opened his eyes and weakly replied, ¡°Mommy¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat a little.¡± Esther ced water and food in front of Felix. ¡°Once we¡¯re full, we¡¯ll have the energy to escape.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As Felix and Esther ate, the other men exchanged nces, fear evident on their faces after the severed hand incident. ¡°I have to do what the boss says. ¡°Please remember, the mother and son in there aren¡¯t people you cany a finger on. ¡°If any of you don¡¯t believe it and insist on trying, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless when the boss finds out. ¡°You all know what kind of person the boss is. Don¡¯t think that he¡¯s unaware of what you¡¯re doing. He may turn a blind eye to some things, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s unaware, understand? The men in ck suits lowered their heads, filled with fear. Although they hadn¡¯t met the boss. personally, they knew how terrifying he was. ¡°Shane Hoyer asked you to kidnap Mrs. Warner, and you did as he asked? Use your brain! ¡°No matter how disliked she is, she¡¯s Bradley Warner¡¯s wife. She represents his reputation, and he¡¯s thergest taxpayer in the city. Do you think we have the guts to challenge the entire country?¡± The leader¡¯s reprimanding tone was stern and authoritative, causing the men in ck to lower their heads further. ¡°Proceed with the operation immediately. After the kidney transnt isplete, we¡¯ll leave first.¡± The leader looked at the man with the severed hand, saying coldly, ¡°As for you¡­ I don¡¯t need to give any further instructions, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Surgery would normally require a sterile environment, but they couldn¡¯t afford to dy the task due to unexpected circumstances. They had their own specialized doctor who was skilled and experienced. Their main objective was to obtain organs, not kill people. The fully armed man was stitching up the wound in a makeshift operating room. ¡°I¡¯ll administer some antibiotics, but it¡¯s not the best treatment. Whether he can survive or not depends on his fate and resilience!¡± This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Administer the medication to him first,¡± the leader instructed another man in ck. ¡°You guys ride the jet skis and head southwest. There will be someone there to meet you. Speed is crucial, and don¡¯t mess up the client¡¯s task.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As for the mess that remained, the leader would have to deal with it slowly. Killing witnesses was definitely not an option. However, if Esther and Felix found out about their actions, what would happen¡­ ¡°I remember you can hypnotize people?¡± The doctor who was suturing the wound raised an eyebrow, his tone indifferent. ¡°Thates with an extra cost.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the man said. ¡°Once you¡¯re done here, hypnotize the mother and son, but not too thoroughly. Just erase our appearance from their memories.¡± ¡°You pay, I¡¯ll do it. I understand. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 As time passed since the kidnapping, both rk and Bradley grew increasingly uneasy. With only two people, rk¡¯s progress was slower, but Bradley had the support of arger team, allowing him to quickly locate the dock. The van hadst been seen at the dock, so they carefully examined the surveince footage. After analyzing the recordings, they unanimously agreed that the dock was a crucial area to investigate. Bradley turned to the person beside him and asked, ¡°Do we have a map?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. A map was ced in front of Bradley, who studied the dock¡¯s location on the map and then. nced at the sea beyond. His gaze settled on a small ind marked on the map. ¡°What is this ce?¡± he inquired. The man began exining, ¡°Mr. Warner, this used to be a prison for dangerous criminals, but it was ¡± Bradley cut him off with an urgent tone. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the ind immediately!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the man responded. The group boarded a yacht, and after half an hour of sailing, they noticed ck smoke rising in the distance. Bradley¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he asked in a deep voice, ¡°Is that¡­ the ind?¡± ¡°ording to thetitude, yes.¡± ¡°Faster!¡± As they approached the small ind, their hearts raced, anticipation building. Before them, a fierce sea of fire unfolded. The mes consumed the abandoned buildings, creating thick ck smoke that billowed into the sky with the sea breeze. Even from a distance, the pungent odor filled the air. They quickly donned masks and took precautions. The yacht finally reached the shore, but they hesitated to approach. The tire marks on the sandy shore indicated a problem. ¡°Mr. Warner, it seems that Madam and the others are no longer on this ind,¡± one of the team members reported. Bradley stood on the white sandy shore, raising an eyebrow as he observed the tire marks.¡± Check the information from the maritime administration.¡± The maritime administration¡¯s website provided real-time tracking of marine vessel trajectories. They could quickly determine the yacht¡¯sst known position by analyzing the data. The massive fire had erased all evidence and sins, leaving nothing behind. Bradley and the others This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. were clueless about what had transpired on the ind. The crashing waves and soaring seagulls surrounded them, entuating the vastness of the sea. The fire continued to burn fiercely, radiating scorching heat even from a hundred meters away. Bradley remained focused on the vessel trajectory information disyed on the maritime. administration¡¯s website while the professionals diligently analyzed the data. After half an hour of intense scrutiny, one of the professionals eximed, ¡°Mr. Warner, we¡¯ve found it!¡± ¡°Tell me,¡± Bradley demanded, his handsome face exuding a menacing aura. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 The professional personnel spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Board the boat first.¡± The group reboarded the yacht. ¡°There¡¯s likely a signal jamming device on the ind,¡± the professional personnel stated confidently. ¡°Three boats arrived in this area, but two of them passed by. Only this one stayed here for a long time. Our tracking shows it is currently about 200 nautical miles away from us.¡± ¡°How long will it take, approximately?¡± ¡°If everything goes smoothly¡­¡± After suturing the surgical wound, the doctor followed the leader to a room. Esther and Felix felt drowsy after eating the food. The doctor took out a pocket watch and gently swayed it before Esther¡¯s eyes. Ten minutester, the doctor walked to the door and said in a low voice, ¡°The hypnosis isplete, but¡­¡± The man asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Because you put sleeping pills in her food, I can¡¯t guarantee how long this hypnosis willst¡­ || The man rubbed his temples with a headache and said in a deep voice, ¡°Let it be. Let¡¯s go!¡± The man turned around and faced the two ck-d men who had previously kidnapped Esther and Felix. He said, ¡°Mr. Warner ising. You know what to do?¡± ¡°We-¡± The man coldly reminded them, ¡°Think about your families. If you die in the line of duty, the boss will C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. take care of them. But if you mess up the boss¡¯ ns, I don¡¯t need to exin what methods the boss will use, especially since this disaster was caused by the two of you.¡± The leader tied the man who had just undergone surgery on his back, and the doctor sat behind him. Fortunately, none of the three were overweight, so the jet ski could bear their weight. The two ck-d men were now the only ones left on the yacht from the many simrly dressed men before. The man who had his hand severed nced at hispanion and gritted his teeth, saying, ¡°I can¡¯t ept this.¡± ¡°What can¡¯t you ept?¡± The other ck-d man said in a deep voice, ¡°Even if we get caught, as long as we don¡¯t expose what the boss has done and shift everything onto Shane Hoyer, we¡¯ll be jailed for a few years at most. But if we mess up the boss¡¯ ns, our families will be in danger!¡± ¡°Why!?¡± The man with the severed hand gnashed his teeth and looked in the direction where Esther was. ¡°I just want to-¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡± The man stood before the bedroom door and said, ¡°You need to understand why so many people are willing to follow the boss. It¡¯s because the boss rewards and punishes clearly. Right now, you¡¯ve only lost a hand, but if you dare to harm her, you¡¯ll lose the lives of your entire family! ¡°Yes, you¡¯re not afraid of death, but remember, you have a daughter Do you want to condemn your daughter to hell because of your momentary recklessness?¡± All the impulses of the man with the severed hand dissipatedpletely with his partner¡¯s words. ¡± ¡°In the end, the person who led us down this irreversible path is none other than Shane Hoyer. The man with the severed hand spat fiercely and said coldly, ¡°So what should we do?¡± ¡°Shift all the me onto him!¡± ¡°We cannot disclose anything about the boss!¡± After the two men discussed and made arrangements, they heard a piercing rm sound. ¡°We¡¯ll push one out each.¡± ¡°Remember, saving our lives is the priority.¡± ¡°As long as we survive, we can find another way. I understand this principle very well.¡± The two men entered the bedroom, each holding a pistol against Esther and Felix. ¡°Get up!¡± Esther immediately sat up, wanting to hold Felix. ¡°Don¡¯t try any tricks.¡± Felix had a high fever, and his face was flushed. He could barely walk steadily. ¡°Sea 404, you are surrounded. Put down your weapons and surrender immediately!¡± Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Esther and Felix were startled by the voices outside. Finally. Finally, someone hade to rescue them! ¡°Mommy, is Daddying to save us?¡± Felix asked innocently. ¡°Yes, he is. Daddy is here,¡± Esther replied, tears of joy streaming down her face. Considering the presence of Bradley¡¯s wife and son on the yacht and the unknown situation inside, the rescue team on Bradley¡¯s side refrained fromunching a direct assault. They relied primarily on verbal ¡°We can¡¯tunch a direct attack?¡± Bradley asked the chiefmander beside him. The chiefmander responded, ¡°Mr. Warner, the criminals might be desperate and unpredictable in such situations. If we¡­¡± Bradley remained silent, his gaze fixed on the deck. Eventually, Esther and Felix emerged onto the deck. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Anyone observant could immediately see that the two men in ck were each holding a pistol aimed at the back of Esther¡¯s and Felix¡¯s heads. Felix, always a brave little boy, burst into tears as soon as he saw Bradley. ¡°Daddy- The man with the severed hand fiercely struck Felix¡¯s head with the gun muzzle, causing the boy to sway. ¡°Shut up!¡± The other man, aiming his gun at Esther, surveyed Bradley, the boats surrounding them closely and the helicopter hovering above. He knew that escaping at this point was utterly impossible. ¡°Mr. Warner, we were instructed by Shane Hoyer to kidnap your wife and son. There¡¯s a cause for every injustice, and we were just following orders. If you want revenge, it¡¯s not us you should go after.¡± The man with the severed hand, observing the murderous expression on Bradley¡¯s face, smirked mockingly and asked, ¡°Who will you choose, your wife or your son?¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Just ying an exciting game!¡± The sudden actions of the man with the severed hand sent a chill down Esther¡¯s spine. She looked at Bradley in the distance and urged, ¡°Bradley, what are you waiting for? Choose our son!¡± Bradley gazed at Esther, then at Felix, and said indifferently, ¡°I choose Esther!¡± As soon as Bradley spoke, the man with the severed hand kicked Felix hard with his foot. Almost no one anticipated his sudden attack, and Felix was sent into the sea. Due to Felix¡¯s high fever, Esther, who had been closely watching him, also jumped into the sea the moment Felix fell. Witnessing the scene from afar, Bradley leaped into the ocean as well, moving like a fish. The two men in ck on the deck put down their guns and surrendered. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it thrilling?¡± Some of the rescue personnel also jumped into the sea to save them. Esther continued searching for Felix in the water. However, Felix disappeared without a trace once he fell into the sea. Bradley tightly embraced Esther and forcefully pulled her out of the water. ¡°You go ashore first. I¡¯ll find Felix!¡± Esther¡¯s face turned pale and purple from the cold water. She pped Bradley hard across his face. ¡°Bradley, that¡¯s Felix! Our son!¡± Esther never expected Bradley to abandon Felix! She couldn¡¯tprehend the psychological damage that choice would inflict on their son. ¡°Go up first!¡± Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Bradley forcefully brought Esther back onto the yacht, but she immediately jumped back into the sea once he released her. Despite the surface appearing calm, turmoil brewed beneath the water. In front of everyone, Felix was kicked into the ocean, followed by Esther and others diving in to search for him. Their efforts to find Felix proved fruitless, no matter how hard they tried. Just then, rk and hispany arrived in haste. Spotting, Esther and Bradley in the water, rk anxiously inquired, ¡°Sir, Madam, what are you searching for?¡± Upon hearing rk¡¯s voice, Esther found sce in the presence of a reliable adult and transformed into an aggrieved child. ¡°rk, Felix fell into the sea and disappeared¡­¡± rk¡¯s expression changed abruptly, and he asked in a deep voice, ¡°Mr. Felix is missing?¡± Enraged by rk¡¯s choice of address for Felix, Bradley gritted his teeth and said, ¡°He isn¡¯t my son.¡± In unison, rk and Esther eximed, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Liliane has a congenital heart condition, so she cannot bear children.¡± Bradley¡¯s heart twisted with pain and torment as he thought about his dedication to Felix all these years. Liliane brought Felix from somewhere. The b¡¯s-¡± Before Bradley could finish his sentence, Esther raised her hand and delivered a hard p across his face. ¡°Bradley, Felix is your biological son! He is our biological son!¡± Bradley grabbed Esther¡¯s hand and taunted, ¡°Esther, don¡¯t think that Felix is your son just because you took care of him for a few days¡­. Unaware that Esther had never lost her memory and suffered from selective amnesia, Bradley still believed she had mistaken Felix for her own son. ¡°Bradley, I¡¯ve never lost my memory.¡± Esther¡¯s face, purple from the freezing water, brimmed. with boundless hatred. ¡°The so-called selective amnesia was a lie I told you! I pretended to have amnesia because I knew Felix is my son. I wanted to take my son away from you¡­ Bradley struggled toprehend Esther¡¯s words, but he caught the phrase, ¡°Bradley, I¡¯ve never lost my memory¡±, making him realize that this wicked woman had deceived him once again! Filled with fury, Bradley pped Esther across the face, causing her mouth to fill with blood. She spat a mouthful of blood onto his handsome face, Bradley raised his hand again, preparing to strike Esther, but rk swiftly grabbed his hand. and urgently pleaded, ¡°Mr. Warner, we can discuss other matterster. Finding Mr. Felix is our priority!¡± ¡°What Mr. Felix? The Warner family never had a male descendant!¡± Bradley refused to let go, dragging Esther back to the yacht as if she were a lifeless body. ¡°Mr. Warner!¡± rk quickly retrieved a DNA paternity test and held it in front of Bradley, saying concisely, ¡°Mr. Warner, Mr. Felix is your biological son with Esther. Take a good look!¡± The two men in ck on the deck put down their guns and surrendered. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it thrilling?¡± Some of the rescue personnel also jumped into the sea to save them. Esther continued searching for Felix in the water. However, Felix disappeared without a trace once he fell into the sea. Bradley tightly embraced Esther and forcefully pulled her out of the water. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°You go ashore first. I¡¯ll find Felix!¡± Esther¡¯s face turned pale and purple from the cold water. She pped Bradley hard across his face. ¡°Bradley, that¡¯s Felix! Our son!¡± Esther never expected Bradley to abandon Felix! She couldn¡¯tprehend the psychological damage that choice would inflict on their son. ¡°Go up first!¡± Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Bradley tore the DNA paternity test that rk had brought and threw it onto the deck, where the shredded pages fluttered in the sea breeze. Esther and rk rushed over, picking up the torn test. Despite the evidence in front of him, Bradley refused to believe. ¡°Bradley, you only believe there¡¯s no blood rtion between Liliane and Felix, but have you ever considered¡­¡± Esther¡¯s tearful words dripped with pain. ¡°That I gave birth to Felix¡­ He¡¯s our biological son¡­¡± Bradley tightly grasped Esther¡¯s jaw, issuing a chilling warning, ¡°Esther, utter another word of nonsense and see what happens.¡± Esther¡¯s clothes were soaked, and she trembled in the sea breeze. Her eyes burned with deep hatred the once tender affection transformed into bone-deep animosity. ¡°Bradley, do you still refuse to believe that that wretched Liliane has yed you?¡± As Esther spoke, Bradley tightened his grip on her delicate neck, her tears falling like pearls, carried away by the sea breeze¡­ rk stepped forward,posed, and said, ¡°Is this the time for arguments? Finding Mr. Felix is our priority!¡± Esther stared at Bradley with lifeless eyes, grinding her teeth as she uttered each word, Bradley Warner, if Felix dies. rk interrupted her, his voice hoarse, ¡°Esther, Mr. Felix won¡¯t die. Don¡¯t be so pessimistic. Among the rescue team, there are many professional rescuers who have undergone specialized training. They will bring Mr. Felix back from the sea.¡± ¡°rk, Felix is sick! He has a high fever! He¡­¡± Esther choked on her words, and Bradley instinctively loosened his grip on her neck. Esther pushed him away and once again jumped into the icy water without hesitation. ¡®Felix, Mommy¡¯s Felix was adorable. They had a natural bond even before she knew he was her son. Especially during the past three months, she had poured all her motherly love onto Felix. He would cling to her neck and act cute, asking for hugs. Her son¡­ He would only disy this age-appropriate innocence and loveliness in front of her. The icy seawater rushed at Esther from all sides. Suddenly, her right leg started twitching. At that moment, she thought that if¡­ They should let her sleep forever in this vast blue sea with him if they could not find Felix. There was nothing in this world worth staying for anymore. rk knew that it was not the time to reveal all the truths. Bradley was in no condition to listen. He approached the bald detective nearby. ¡°Are you familiar with this area of the sea?¡± The bald detective shook his head pessimistically. ¡°rk, this sea area is notorious for its treacherous currents. The chances of survival are slim, despite the extensive search and rescue efforts.¡± rk staggered, unable to believe they would face such a situation after finally arranging the bone marrow transnt for Felix. ¡°rk, the odds may be against us, but we can¡¯t give up. What if¡­ there¡¯s a miracle?¡± Bradley stared fiercely at the sea¡¯s surface. Seeing that Esther had yet to resurface for a long time, he This is from N?velDrama.Org. leaped into the sea once again. Being an excellent swimmer, he quickly found Esther, who had let herself sink to the seabed. He swam to her side, grabbed her slender waist, and forcefully pulled her out of the water. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Esther teetered on the brink of death after ingesting arge amount of seawater. Bradley pressed against her chest, forcing the water out. When Esther opened her eyes and saw Bradley¡¯s handsome face, it felt like a nightmare. She fiercely bit down on his arm in a surge of pent-up anger. She hated him. She loathed him. They were two people frompletely different worlds, never meant to intersect. It was her fault. She had foolishly pursued an impossible love. It was her fault. She had been too greedy, hoping that Bradley would leave his past behind and be a true family with her and Felix. But it was all a foolish fantasy. Bradley didn¡¯t resist as Esther bit his arm. She continued biting until the taste of blood made her nauseous. Wiping the blood from her lips with the back of her hand, sheughed maniacally and said, ¡°Bradley, you better pray that nothing happens to Felix.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes darkened as he looked at Esther. In his turmoil, his words pierced her heart like knives. ¡°Esther, deep down, you know you are responsible for all this. ¡°You yed the amnesia card! ¡°You brought Felix to the wedding! ¡°You caused Felix to be kidnapped! ¡°Don¡¯t think you can absolve yourself by ming me! I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯ll settle the debt between us Content held by N?velDrama.Org. slowly.¡± Bradley red coldly at Esther and instructed the other bodyguards, ¡°Take her back to the Warners.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Esther refused to leave. Her son was missing. How could she leave? She would never leave! Bradley couldn¡¯t allow Esther to stay any longer. Her actions in the sea revealed her desire for death. But she had no right to die. Without his permission, how dare she? Her life was under Bradley¡¯s control. Whether she lived or died was up to him. The bodyguards hesitated to act forcefully, considering Esther¡¯s status. Bradley approached her, and she desperately reached out to grab his hand, pleading urgently, ¡± Bradley, the most important thing now is to find Felix¡­ He¡¯s our son-¡± Before Esther could finish her sentence, Bradley swiftly struck her neck with a hand chop. Esther went limp in his arms. He turned to the female bodyguards and said, ¡°You let her escape at the hospitalst time! If she escapes again this time¡­¡± The female bodyguards remained silent. ¡°Take her away.¡± The female bodyguards carried Esther onto a helicopter. Amidst the roaring sound of the helicopter, she left the sea where Felix had disappeared. With a terrifying expression, Bradley stared at the area where Felix had fallen into the sea. After a long silence, he told the nearby bodyguards, ¡°Inform the maritime bureau and offer a substantial reward to nearby civilian ships to keep an eye on the sea for any news of Felix.¡± Chapter 243 Chapter 243 With the incident involving the young heir of the Warner Group and the subsequentrge- scale operation, the fishing boats in the nearby sea area received distress calls and started paying attention to the sea. As time passed, Bradley¡¯s mood sank. With a gloomy expression on his handsome face, be swiftly walked toward the man with a severed hand who had thrown Feliz into the sea. He forcefully kicked the man¡¯s hand and repeatedly punched him with his strong fists. ¡°Tell me, who ordered you to kidnap Esther?¡± Another man, witnessing the handless man lying in a pool of blood, fearfully spoke up. ¡°Mr. Warner, Shane Hoyer from the prison hospital instructed us to guard outside the wedding, He ordered us to kidnap Esther and prevent her from attending the wedding¡­¡± ¡°Shane Hoyer? Prison hospital?¡± Bradley¡¯s lips parted slightly as his menacing gaze fell upon the terrified man¡¯s face. ¡°Do you know who they are?¡± The men remained silent. Bradley¡¯s expression turned cold and mocking. ¡°Have I been toow-abiding that you underestimated me?¡± The man quickly pleaded, ¡°Mr. Warner, we didn¡¯t know she was your wife initially Shane only provided us with a photo. We only discovered she was your wife when we watched the live broadcast of the wedding¡­¡± Bradley nced at the bodyguard and coldly stated, ¡°Tie their hands and feet and throw them into the sea¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Warner-¡± ¡°Mr. Warner!¡± The police chief, Joseph Zigler, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and advised, ¡°Mr. Warner, murder is against thew.¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m going to kill them?¡± Bradley responded coldly. ¡°They will be pulled out of the water once my son is found. Chief Zigler, can¡¯t you handle such a small matter? Joseph didn¡¯t expect these individuals to be so audacious as to harm Bradley¡¯s wife and child ¡°Mr. Warner, rest assured, I will handle it properly.¡± Joseph waved his hand and instructo subordinates, ¡°Throw them into the sea.¡± ¡°Tie their hands and feet with stic zip ties.¡± Bradley had noticed the marks of zip ties on Esther¡¯s wrists and ankles. ¡°Keep them alive!¡± Bradley watched as the two men who had kidnapped Esther and Felix had their hands and feet bound with thin zip ties and were thrown into the cold sea. After dealing with the two kidnappers, Bradley approached rk, who was observing the rescue team. ¡°rk.¡± rk asked anxiously, ¡°Mr. Warner?¡± ¡°Investigate the connection between Shane and Liliane. Also, find out how Liliane managed to smuggle Felix out of the prison hospital back then,¡± Bradley instructed in a low vole ¡°Mr. Warner, do you believe that Mr. Felix is your son now?¡± rk asked cautiously. Bradley raised an eyebrow coldly and replied, ¡°Felix carries the Warner surname.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, listen to this.¡± rk handed Bradley the recording pen that Felix had given him. He then approached the bald detective and whispered, ¡°Look into the rtionship between Shane and Liliane.¡± What kind of rtionship would drive Shane to risk his future and assist Liliane in deceiving Bradley? ¡°Okay, I will go to the hospital to investigate now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Bradley stood on the deck, listening to the conversation between Esther and Liliane. As he paid attention, he realized it was the recording of their conversation in Felix¡¯s ward on the day. Esther C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. attempted to kidnap him. ¡°Mr. Warner, I have always firmly believed that Esther had no motive to harm Mr. Thomas.¡± rk stood half a meter behind Bradley, ming himself. ¡°It¡¯s actually my fault. I was too arrogant and presumptuous. I always thought that you would believe in Esther¡¯s innocence if I found evidence. That¡¯s why I chose to hide the results of the DNA paternity test when they came out.¡± rk deeply regretted his actions. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 If rk had told the truth at that time, maybe Felix wouldn¡¯t have had an ident. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Warner. It¡¯s my fault,¡± rk apologized, his voice filled with remorse. Bradley looked at rk deeply and replied calmly, ¡°No, rk. It¡¯s my fault, not yours.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner¡­¡± rk¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. He gazed at the darkening sky and spoke softly. ¡°I will resign and take responsibility.¡± Ever since Thomas saved him, rk had been the butler for the Warner family, filled with gratitude. He wished for Bradley and Esther¡¯s happiness more than anyone else, as it was also Thomas¡¯st wish. Without saying a word, Bradley turned away. He had no interest in discussing who was to me with rk. All he wanted was to find Felix and have him safely by his side. The weather at sea was unpredictable. Suddenly, a strong wind blew, signaling an impending storm. The rescue team searching for Felix quickly boarded the ship for their own safety. Bradley didn¡¯t stop the rescue team froming up. Instead, he plunged into the icy cold sea himself. The once calm sea turned turbulent, with towering waves crashing against the ship. In the face of nature¡¯s power, humans seemed insignificant. The rescue team silently observed the sea, knowing that the chances of the poor child¡¯s survival were slim. ¡°Mr. Warner!¡± rk held onto the ship¡¯s railing, shouting at Bradley amidst the waves. ¡°Come back! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Unaware of rk¡¯s cries, Bradley continued to dive into the waves, searching again and again, encountering failure after failure. Finally, Bradley discovered one of Felix¡¯s shoes. Confirming that it belonged to Felix, everything went ck before his eyes, and his breathing became rapid and erratic. The storm arrived abruptly and departed just as quickly. Bradley returned to the ship as the rescue team prepared to resume the search for Felix after the storm subsided. Bradley was drenched in seawater, and his once immacte shirt lost its elegance. His handsome face appeared grim and menacing. He emanated a chilling aura from the cold. ¡°No need to search anymore,¡± Bradley dered. The rescue team members exchanged puzzled nces. Approaching Bradley, rk gazed at the small leather shoe in his hand and asked, his voice trembling, ¡°Is that Mr. Felix¡¯s shoe?¡± Ignoring rk, Bradley marched toward the helicopter. Both he and rk boarded the helicopter, one after the other. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Mr. Warner¡­¡± Bradley,pletely soaked, sat upright on the leather seat and coldly ordered, ¡°Take me to the hospital.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± rk turned his head and studied the shoe in Bradley¡¯s hand intently. It bore the exclusive Warner logo on the inside. Could this mean¡­ Felix was gone? Chapter 245 Chapter 245 rk clutched his chest, feeling intense pain that left him struggling to breathe. He couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the heartbreak and regret Bradley must be experiencing at that moment. Amidst the roaring helicopter des, theynded at the private hospital owned by the Warner Group. Bradley stepped off the helicopter with a determined stride, heading straight for the elevator. rk suppressed his grief and followed closely behind, catching a glimpse of Bradley¡¯s veins bulging and his bloodshot eyes filled with a burning me. Bradley made his way directly to theboratory department, rolling up his sleeve to reveal his sinewy arm. Hemanded theb personnel, ¡°Draw my blood.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the doctor replied. Carefully, the doctor drew a tube of blood from Bradley¡¯s arm. ¡°Conduct a paternity DNA test between Felix¡¯s blood and mine. Make sure to oversee this test personally,¡± Bradley instructed firmly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner,¡± the doctor acknowledged. Casually discarding the cotton swab stained with blood into the designated medical waste bin, Bradley exuded a cold and chilling aura. The once elegant and noble man now appeared disheveled and miserable. His extraordinarily handsome face disyed an unfathomable coldness and gloom. Observing him, the others in the hospital instinctively retreated, fearing his potential outburst. Only after Bradley left did the whispers and discussions about him fill the hospital corridors. ¡°Mr. Warner, please shower and change your clothes first. Take care of yourself!¡± Bradley stood in the elevator, his cold eyes reflecting rk¡¯s deeply concerned face. He sneered lightly and spoke in a cold voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t die.¡± What were a few hours of soaking in seawaterpared to what Felix had endured¡­ The pain in Bradley¡¯s heart felt like a knife twisting inside him. Leaning against the elevator wall, he clutched his aching heart. Unreleased sorrow and anguish tormented him. ¡°Mr. Warner!¡± rk called out urgently, reaching out to support Bradley. Bradley coldly withdrew his hand, his emotionless gaze fixed on rk¡¯s face. ¡°rk, keep a close eye on Shane. I want him alive!¡± ¡°Yes,¡± rk replied. rk had assumed Bradley would visit the hospital ward to find Liliane and inquire about the events from five years ago. Little did he know that after Bradley had his blood drawn, he would take a helicopter back to the Warner estate. Esthery in aa due to a high fever in the manor. ¡°Mr. Warner, Madam has a fever!¡± one of the bodyguards informed Bradley, rushing forward. ¡°Should we take her to the hospital?¡± ¡°She¡¯s worthless. She won¡¯t die.¡± Bradley entered the bedroom and nced at Esther, who was delirious from the high fever. Her pale and fragile appearance, with damp hair clinging to her face, tugged at his emotions. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Her colorless lips trembled slightly. ¡°Felix, Felix! Son, my son!¡± A burning fire of hatred consumed Bradley¡¯s heart. There was no sympathy or mercy left, only an overwhelming desire for vengeance. Ignoring Esther¡¯s weakened state, he forcefully grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the showerhead in the bathroom. He turned on the shower, and the icy water cascaded over Esther¡¯s body. Weakly opening her eyes, Esther finally recognized Bradley standing before her. In a desperate crawl, she reached out and grabbed the hem of Bradley¡¯s pants, pleading,¡± Bradley, I beg you, please go find Felix!¡± ¡°Esther Quill¡­¡± Bradley leaned down, his face contorted with malice, and he cruelly questioned her, ¡°Feigning amnesia? Pretending to be sick? Acting innocent? With such exceptional acting skills, it¡¯s a shame you didn¡¯t vie for the nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars!¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 your Ecornful anger surged in Esther¡¯s beautiful eyes. ¡°Bradley, do you think you can hide foolishness and ignorance by treating me like this? Five years ago, you caused Grandpa Thomas¡¯ ident. And now, because of you, Felix had an ident. It¡¯s all because of you believe that you can ease your guilt by shifting the me onto me?¡± you. Do Esther regretted her decision to feign selective amnesia. When Liliane revealed that Felix was her biological son, Esther had wanted to take him away, resorting to stealing or any means. necessary. It was a mistake. Bradley¡¯s fleeting disy of warmth had swayed her. Naively, she believed that sweetness would be enough tofort her for a lifetime, even if it was just for one day. ¡°Esther! Quill!¡± Bradley angrily grabbed Esther¡¯s jaw, causing her tough in anger. Tears streamed down her face, but she continued to defiantly gaze at Bradley. ¡°Bradley Warner, go ahead and strangle me with your own hands if you can!¡± Tinkerbell was dead. Felix was gone. Why should she continue living? ¡°You want to die?¡± Bradley mockingly released his grip, his voice cold and resolute. ¡°Esther Quill, I won¡¯t be fooled by you anymore.¡± A woman like Esther wasn¡¯t worth dirtying his hands for. Did she want to die? No! He was determined to keep her alive! He wanted her to live and atone-for his grandfather and Felix. Esther steadied herself against the shower railing, her voice trembling. ¡°Bradley, if you don¡¯t want to find Felix, I¡¯ll go find him!¡± Bradley¡¯s words pierced Esther¡¯s heart like a knife-cold and merciless, his voice icy. ¡°Felix is dead.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± As a mother, Esther couldn¡¯t believe that Felix had left this world. She needed proof. As long as she didn¡¯t find Felix¡¯s body, a glimmer of hope would remain in her heart. Esther took a step forward and grabbed Bradley¡¯s cor, despite being slightly shorter than him. Her aura was just as imposing. ¡°My son is still alive.¡± A dazzling light brighter than the stars burst from Esther¡¯s eyes. Urgently and with conviction, she spoke. ¡°Bradley, it¡¯s up to you whether you choose to believe Felix is dead. But I firmly believe-I am certain-that my son is still alive.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. With that firm statement, Esther left the bathroom unsteadily, barefoot. She couldn¡¯t copse. She couldn¡¯t break down. As an inadequate mother, she had sent her daughter, Tinkerbell, away with her own hands. She couldn¡¯t let Felix slip away as well. Esther gritted her teeth and took one step after another, making her way out of the bedroom. ¡°Felix, don¡¯t be afraid. Mommy ising! ¡°Even if the whole world says you¡¯re no longer here, Mommy believes you¡¯re still alive! ¡°Mommy will find you. Mommy will definitely, definitely bring you home!¡± As Esther reached the stairs, her body gave way, and she tumbled down¡­ Chapter 247 Chapter 247 ¡°Madam!¡± ¡°Madam!¡± ¡°Madam, watch out!¡± The female bodyguards rushed to Esther¡¯s aid as she stumbled due to her weakened condition. But Bradley¡¯s quick reflexes allowed him to swiftly pull Esther back into his arms before they could intervene. Esther was running a high fever. Even through their clothes, Bradley could feel the scorching heat emanating from her body, enveloping him entirely. Gently, he carried Esther in his arms, her weight barely noticeable, and ced her on the bed. One of the courageous female bodyguards, concerned about Esther¡¯s worsening condition, spoke up. ¡°Mr. Warner, a high fever can be dangerous. I suggest¡± ¡°Leave us!¡± Bradley snapped angrily. Another bodyguard quickly pulled herpanion away. Bradley looked at Esther, who was barely conscious, and reached for his phone to call Kevin. ¡°Kevin de, where are you?¡± Kevin had justnded when Bradley¡¯s call came through. Unaware of Felix¡¯s situation, he jokingly responded, ¡°Mr. Warner, do you have surveince tracking me!?¡± ¡°Come to the manor immediately.¡± Sensing the urgency in Bradley¡¯s voice, Kevin inquired with concern, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is Felix unwell? That shouldn¡¯t be the case. His surgery was sessful, and his attending physician said he¡¯s recovering excellently-¡± ¡°Stop the chit-chat and get here!¡± Bradley abruptly ended the call. Seeing Esther suffering from such a high fever, he swiftly removed her damp clothes and reced them with a long-sleeved nightgown. Skillfully, he retrieved a cooling patch from the medical kit and applied it to Esther¡¯s forehead. Afterpleting these actions, Bradley took a shower, changed into fresh clothes, and entered the bedroom, his wet hair shaking slightly. Esther¡¯s phone continued buzzing on the bedside table. He coldly nced at the caller ID on the screen and forcefully turned it off, furrowing his brows. As soon as Esther¡¯s phone was silenced, Bradley¡¯s phone began to ring. ¡°Bradley, I heard that Esther and Felix were kidnapped? How are they now?¡± Jasper¡¯s concerned and worried voice came through the receiver. ¡°Jasper, it¡¯s none of your business to worry about someone else¡¯s wife and child.¡± Jasper was momentarily taken aback but remainedposed. He casually replied, ¡°If Mr. Warner says so, then I can rest assured. I was just concerned about Esther and Felix-¡± Bradley hung up the phone coldly, not needing Jasper¡¯s feigned concern. Half an hourter, Kevin hurriedly arrived at the Warner residence. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. He learned about the situation during his journey, including Bradley¡¯s public refusal to get married, Esther¡¯s kidnapping, and Felix¡¯s disappearance. Kevin could hardly believe how much had unfolded in Bradley¡¯s life in just one day. He also understood that Bradley continued to stand strong because he dared not fall and couldn¡¯t afford to. ¡°Bradley?¡± Bradley looked at Kevin indifferently and said in a cold tone, ¡°Take a look at her. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Kevin noticed that Esther had a high fever, prompting his instincts as a doctor to grab an electronic thermometer and measure her temperature. The result was astonishing-Esther¡¯s forehead temperature reached 39.9¡ãC. ¡°Bradley, Esther¡¯s fever is extremely severe. I strongly rmend taking her to the hospital, ¡°Kevin said. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. A chilling coldness flickered in Bradley¡¯s eyes as he replied, ¡°Will you take responsibility if she escapes?¡± Kevin pointed at the unconscious Esther and firmly stated, ¡°Considering her current condition, if she isn¡¯t taken to the hospital soon, she may face serious face serious consequences.¡± ¡°Medicine.¡± Deciding not to allow Esther, whom he considered scheming, to go to the hospital, Bradley recalled how she managed to deceive a doctor thest time she feigned selective amnesia. He believed that if he sent her to the hospital this time, she would surely find a way to escape. In Bradley¡¯s eyes, Esther had zero credibility. ¡°Bradley, I won¡¯t be held responsible if anything happens to her,¡± Kevin warned. Kevin prepared some medication from the medical kit for Esther to take. Although her high fever persisted, he wrote down the necessary medications and sent one of the Warner drivers to retrieve them from the hospital. Esther¡¯s fever visibly subsided within an hour of taking the medication, perhaps due to her tenacity. The night at the Warner residence was unsettling and terrifying. Observing Esther¡¯s fever subsiding sessfully, Kevin nced at Bradley, who wore a menacing expression. Unaware of the truth, Kevin spected, ¡°Bradley, did Esther kidnap Felix out of resentment for your marriage to Liliane?¡± Kevin had no favorable impression of Esther. Growing up with Bradley since childhood, he knew firsthand how well Thomas treated Esther. However, even this kind and loving old man became a target of Esther¡¯s ruthless actions! Until the video was released, Kevin couldn¡¯t believe that such a heartless woman like Esther existed in this world, capable of harming an old man who showered her with love. Bradley rubbed his temples, throbbing with pain, and coldly said, ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s not the reason, then why?¡± Kevin cared deeply for Felix, a smart and clever child.¡± When Felix was previously unwell, he never encountered any danger. But ever since he came into contact with Esther, danger has followed him.¡± Bradley red at the talkative Kevin and walked to the door, instructing the nearby bodyguard, ¡°Bring me the dog¡¯s chain.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The dog¡¯s chain was quickly brought to Bradley, Bradley fastened one end of the chain to Esther¡¯s right wrist and the other end to the bed frame. Kevin stared in shock and asked, disbelief evident in his voice, ¡°Bradley¡­ isn¡¯t this illegal detention?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem if it¡¯s for Esther¡¯s safety?¡± Bradley responded. Kevin remained silent. Marks from the zip ties were visible on Esther¡¯s wrists, her fair porcin skin contrasting with the bright red blood. The cold iron chain grazed against the wounds, causing Esther to awaken from her nightmare. As she moved, the nking sound of the chain startled her, inducing panic. She looked in shock at the chain on her wrist and questioned fearfully, ¡°Bradley, what are you doing? What do you want!?¡± ¡°Esther!¡± Bradley tightly gripped Esther¡¯s delicate and fragile neck, his teeth gritted. ¡°You will stay here until Felix¡¯s funeral is over!¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be a funeral!¡± Esther felt the pressure on her neck and desperately tried to pry open Bradley¡¯s iron grip, her tear-filled eyes filled with despair. ¡°Felix isn¡¯t dead, Bradley. He¡¯s waiting for us to save him. He¡¯s definitely waiting for us¡­ Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Kevin looked at Esther¡¯s hypocritical expression with disgust and mocked, ¡°Esther, you must wish for Felix to have an ident more than anyone in this world!¡± ¡°Kevin, Felix is my son!¡± Esther screamed in despair, filled with anguish. ¡°How could I bear to see my son die? I¡¯d rather be the one in danger! I¡¯d rather be the one buried in the sea¡­¡± Kevin couldn¡¯t help but snicker at Esther¡¯s expression. If he weren¡¯t bound by his duty as a doctor to save lives, he would prefer Esther to die now and atone for Thomas¡¯ sake. It was so ironic and ridiculous that a woman as wicked and malicious as Esther would pretend to be so devastated by Felix¡¯s death. ¡°Esther Quill, before you start fabricating stories, please pay attention to logic. You and Bradley never had sex. How did you give birth to Felix? Besides, when Felix was born, you were still in prison. Can you exin how Liliane managed to secretly sneak baby Felix out of prison without anyone noticing? ¡°I think you¡¯re the one responsible for Felix¡¯s ident. You¡¯re jealous that Brad is marrying Liliane, so you¡¯ll do anything to separate them!¡± Kevin¡¯s words were like sharp knives, mercilessly piercing Esther¡¯s heart. She clutched her chest in pain and looked at Bradley in despair, her hopes shattered. ¡°Bradley, if you don¡¯t trust anyone else, at least trust Kevin. Let him do a DNA test. Let the evidence tell you whose child Felix is!¡± Bradley loosened his grip on Esther¡¯s neck, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as the undercurrent. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. He spoke with a nk face. ¡°Esther, you¡¯re the one responsible for Felix¡¯s ident.¡± Esther stared at Bradley in shock as if struck by lightning. She wanted to argue but realized she had no grounds for rebuttal. Yes. She was the one responsible for Felix¡¯s ident. She shouldn¡¯t have pretended to have amnesia after discovering that Felix was her son. She should have resorted to stealing, kidnapping, and using any means necessary to take Felix away. It was her foolish delusion that had harmed Felix. ¡°Bradley, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Esther looked at Bradley tearfully and uttered each word with despair, ¡°I¡¯m the one at fault. Why should Felix be the one in trouble? Bradley, even if the whole world believes that something happened to Felix, as parents, we shouldn¡¯t give up hope. If we give up too¡­¡± Bradley closed his eyes tightly and opened them again after a moment. In his bloodshot eyes, a raging anger surged. He took out the leather shoe he had salvaged from the sea and threw it into Esther¡¯s arms. Take a good look at whose shoe this is.¡± Esther hurriedly picked up the shoe beside her and carefully examined it inside and out. This was the leather shoe Felix had worn this morning. She had personally chosen the pair for him. Felix¡¯s shoes didn¡¯t have obvious brand logos because they were custom-made. The inside of these shoes also had the word ¡°Warner¡± engraved, a hidden embossing that indicated their status, which could also be found on Bradley and Felix¡¯s clothes. ¡°Esther, look out for yourself¡± Bradley dropped those emotionless words and walked out of the bedroom. Kevin caught up with him and urgently asked, ¡°Why is Esther iming that Felix is her son? Isn¡¯t Felix Liliane¡¯s child?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bradley¡¯s temples throbbed harshly, and he was barely holding on. Deep down, he knew the chances of Felix being alive were slim, but¡­ how could he not hold onto a glimmer of hope in his heart as well? He, more than anyone in the world, hoped for a miracle. ¡°No? Felix isn¡¯t Liliane¡¯s child? How is that possible?¡± Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Kevin was in disbelief. Considering Bradley¡¯s cautious nature, it was impossible for him not to conduct a DNA paternity test when Liliane appeared at their door with the child. And now, the result of the test¡­. ¡°Liliane has a congenital heart condition and cannot conceive.¡± Kevin¡¯s mouth hung open in astonishment, his handsome face filled with disbelief and shock. ¡°But¡­ that doesn¡¯t mean Felix is Esther¡¯s child, right? You and Esther never slept together¡­¡± ¡°Five years ago, the person who slept with Esther was most likely me.¡± Ever since Bradley discovered that the woman in the video from five years ago was not Liliane, he had been secretly investigating everything that happened back then. That was also the reason he could y the surveince video at the wedding. ¡°So, five years ago, Esther was really pregnant with your child?¡± Kevin asked in disbelief.¡± Then, doesn¡¯t that mean she- Kevin stopped himself just in time. Five years ago, when news of Esther¡¯s scandalous video with another man spread, Bradley became a subject of ridicule. Everyone believed the child in Esther¡¯s womb was illegitimate with an unknown father. No one believed that the child belonged to Bradley, except for Thomas, who wholeheartedly trusted Esther and even announced her pregnancy with great fanfare. What would that mean if Esther was carrying Bradley¡¯s child back then? It meant that Bradley had sent the woman carrying his own child to five years of prison! It also meant that Felix had been forcibly separated from his mother since his birth. Kevin couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful. If only he had advised Bradley to conduct an amniocentesis back then. He had been so shocked by Esther¡¯s shamelessness at the time that he had never thought about reminding Bradley to seek scientific evidence. ¡°What do we do now? Should we continue the search for Felix or¡­ hold a funeral?¡± When Kevin returned, he brought presents specifically for Felix, but now those presents had no one to give them to. ¡°We will continue the search,¡± Bradley dered with determination and conviction. ¡°Even if it¡¯s like searching for a needle in a haystack, I will find that needle.¡± Kevin let out a long sigh and hesitantly asked, ¡°But how did Liliane¡­¡± rk rushed over to Bradley, panting after getting out of the car, and urgently said, ¡°Mr. Warner, we suspect that Liliane is Shane¡¯s daughter!¡± ¡°rk, what are you saying?¡± Kevin asked in shock. Wasn¡¯t Liliane Esther¡¯s half-sister? How could she be Shane¡¯s daughter? Wait! Who was Shane? Kevin couldn¡¯t help but wonder what had happened during the years he was studying abroad that he didn¡¯t know about. ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± Bradley inquired. rk shook his head and spoke softly. ¡°The DNA paternity test results haven¡¯te out yet, but take a C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. look at this photo¡­¡± 251 251 rk handed Bradley the photo of Shane walking Liliane down the aisle during the wedding. rk said, ¡°Based on our investigation, Shane and Leah used to be a couple back in college. They broke up when Shane went abroad, and shortly after the breakup, Leah married Billy. It¡¯s rumored that Liliane¡¯s premature birth was a result of the strained rtionship between Leah and her mother¨Cin¨C ¡°However, if Liliane was actually born full¨Cterm, then the so¨Ccalled premature birth could be just an excuse fabricated by Leah to deceive others, don¡¯t you think?¡± Kevin contemted the implications of this revtion. If it turned out to be true, Billy would find himself in a heartbreaking situation. To have raised a daughter for so many years, only to discover that she was not his own¡­. ¡°If Liliane is indeed the biological daughter of Shane and Leah, then everything starts to make sense.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. rk continued in a softer tone. ¡°No one else could steal a child from prison, but Shane can. Money can solve many problems in this world, but only a father would risk losing his job to steal a child from prison. No one else would go to such lengths.¡± rk swiped the tablet screen to reveal more evidence. ¡°Today is Liliane¡¯s wedding day, and it would be logical for a father to be present. However, Billy conveniently developed severe diarrhea, and an ambnce took him to the hospital. So, Shane took his ce and walked Liliane down the aisle¡­¡± Kevin examined the photos of Liliane, Billy, and Shane closely. To his surprise, the resemnce between Shane and Liliane was striking, reaching about 70%. What could this mean? It meant that Billy had been unknowingly raising a daughter who was not biologically rted to him. Bradley nced at the photos, then turned and headed toward the bedroom. He called out to Esther, ¡°Esther, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital now. I hope you¡¯ll cooperate, but if you dare to make any move, I¡¯ll personally make sure you regret it.¡± Bradley unlocked the chain on Esther¡¯s wrist and firmly held her wrist as they made their way to the hospital together. Meanwhile, Leah and Liliane were taken into police custody for further investigation on charges of fraud. Shane had arranged for Leah to stay behind while Liliane, who was seriously ill, received outpatient treatment under his care. Among the top cardiac surgeons, only Scott had the expertise to treat Liliane¡¯s heart condition. Despite working at the Warner Group¡¯s private hospital, Shane ensured Liliane was admitted there. Bradley and Esther arrived directly at the ward where Billy was staying. Weak and frail, Billyy on the hospital bed while awyer sat beside him, discussing strategies to rescue Leah and Liliane. ¡°Mr. Anstey,¡± Bradley said. Hilly greeted Bradley angrily. ¡°What are you doing here? If it¡¯s about the $15,000,000, I¡¯ll gather the sum for you even if it means losing everything! Please, I beg you, consider the fact that Liliane has given birth to Felis for you. Show some mercy ¡°Felix¡¯s biological mother is not Liliane,¡± Esther interjected coldly,cking any emotional attachment to Billy ¡°It¡¯s me She had longed for fatherly love from Hilly, but all she had received was disappointment time and time again Upon hearing Esther¡¯s words, Hilly immediately refuted, ¡°Esther, I personally waited outside the operating room when Liliane gave birth I saw Felix being carried out by the nurse. How can Felix be your child? Don¡¯t try to sow discord between Bradley and Liliane.¡± 252 252 In Billy¡¯s view, Bradley had already decided to marry Liliane, so it must have been a carefully considered decision. As for why Bradley publicly backed out of the wedding, it must be because someone instigated it. ¡°Felix¡¯s biological mother isn¡¯t Liliane,¡± rk interjected on behalf of Esther. ¡°I personally conducted a DNA test, and the result shows that Esther is Felix¡¯s biological mother.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Billy quickly denied it. ¡°rk, all Liliane¡¯s prenatal examination reports are at home. If you have any doubts, I can show them to you right now¡­¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Bradley looked at Billy, who remained stubborn and unyielding. His expression turned cold as he said, ¡°Liliane has a congenital heart condition. With her condition, she isn¡¯t fit for childbirth.¡± Billy looked at Bradley in shock, disregarding his own weak state. He staggered out of bed and walked up to Bradley, pleading anxiously, ¡°Mr. Warner, Liliane already had a congenital heart condition when she was born. The doctors had predicted that she wouldn¡¯t live past 18. She¡¯s the apple of our eyes. If there¡¯s any misunderstanding between you and her, we can help resolve it. I beg you. Please don¡¯t be so cruel to Liliane¡­¡± Despite knowing that she had no ce in Billy¡¯s heart, Esther could not help but feel a pang as she watched Billy repeatedly sacrifice his dignity for Liliane¡¯s sake. She thought this was probably her retribution for being an illegitimate child. Her mother had passed away early, and her father was like a non¨Cexistent entity. She was forever alone in the bustling world amidst the sea of people. ¡°Billy, Liliane¡¯s current predicament is of her own making!¡± rk yed a recorded conversation on his phone in front of Bradley, Esther, Billy, and Kevin. Kevin could not believe his ears when he heard Liliane admitting in her own voice that she was the one who had removed Thomas¡® oxygen mask. Why would she do such a thing? As Billy listened to the recording, he refused to ept that it was Liliane who caused Thomas¡® death. ¡°Esther, how could you scheme against Liliane like this? You personally removed Thomas¡® oxygen mask. Why don¡¯t you dare to admit it? Why did you frame Liliane? Do you think her life hasn¡¯t been miserable enough?¡± Billy questioned. Esther trembled and had to hold onto the handrail of the hospital bed to steady herself. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again! Five years ago, I never removed Grandpa Thomas¡® oxygen mask.¡± Esther looked at Billy in anguish and revealed the whole truth about what happened five years ago for the first time. ¡°Someone had already removed Grandpa Thomas¡® oxygen mask when I arrived at the hospital room. I was actually trying to put it back on, but the medical staff who rushed in misunderstood and thought I was the one who removed it.¡± Billy sneered and mocked, ¡°Esther, every move of you removing the oxygen mask was clearly recorded on surveince, yet you say you didn¡¯t do it! Why is there evidence of it in the courtroom then?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how that video footage in the courtroom came to be, but I¡¯m telling you all, I didn¡¯t remove the oxygen mask. Grandpa Thomas treated me so well! How could I possibly repay his kindness with such an act!?¡± Esther¡¯s eyes burned with resolution as she looked at Billy, Bradley, and the others. ¡°Even now, I still won¡¯t admit to something I didn¡¯t do. You believe I did all of this because you never trusted me¡­¡° 253 253 Five years ago, nobody believed Esther. They used her of being an ungrateful traitor after watching the surveince video. Her denials were dismissed as cunning excuses. They never considered that they were helping the real culprit frame her if she wasn¡¯t responsible. ¡°Esther, everyone has a motive for their actions. If you im Liliane removed the oxygen mask, tell me, what would she gain from doing that?¡± Even now, Billy couldn¡¯t believe his biological daughter, Liliane, could be so scheming and deceitful. Esther¡¯s usation against Liliane was based on a dubious audio recording without any visual evidence. Was it fair to me Liliane solely based on that recording? ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Esther knew Liliane was capable of taking small steps to achieve her goals. Whether you believe me or not doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± Esther¡¯s priority now was to search for Felix by the sea, despite the slim chances. She refused to give up, firmly believing her son was still alive. ¡°Esther!¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡± Billy¡¯s anger grew after hearing Esther¡¯s words. He had promised Faye to keep Esther¡¯s true identity a secret. However, witnessing the animosity between Esther and Liliane, and their desire to destroy each other, his conviction wavered. Yes, he admitted he was selfish. Between his biological and adopted daughter, he would always side with Liliane because of their blood connection. On the other hand, Esther was his youthful decision when he believed he could be a hero. Little did he know that one decision had ruined his life. ¡°You can¡¯t hate Liliane. Your presence has taken away the love I had for her¡­¡± Esther sneered, frustration evident in her response. ¡°If I had a choice, I wouldn¡¯t want you as my father either! You¡¯re not worthy of being called my father.¡± Provoked by Esther¡¯s words, Billy lost his rationality and shouted, ¡°You were never my daughter!¡± Confused, Esther pressed for an exnation, ¡°What do you mean? I was never your daughter? Are you doubting my mother¡¯s faithfulness, or do you think you¡¯re so great that you raised a daughter unrted to you?¡± At that moment, filled with remorse, Billy decided to reveal the truth about Esther¡¯s identity. ¡± Esther, I had intended to keep your true identity a secret forever.¡± 254 254 Esther was taken aback by the revtion that Billy was not her biological father. She asked in astonishment, ¡°So I¡¯m not really your daughter?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not my daughter,¡± Billy replied with difficulty, letting out a sigh. ¡°You have no blood rtion to the Anstey family, Esther. ¡°While I may not have been the most responsible adoptive father, considering the years I provided you This is from N?velDrama.Org. with afortable life, can you please stop persecuting my daughter? Liliane has had a heart condition since birth, making her already more unfortunate than others. When she finally fell in love with a man, you took him away from her! ¡°Esther, if you have any ounce of gratitude left, please leave Bradley!¡± Billy¡¯s pleading made Esther feel a hint of submission. For years, she had believed she was an illegitimate child, which led her to endure Liliane¡¯s provocations and Leah¡¯s suppression due to her own identity. Now, Billy was telling her that she wasn¡¯t actually an Anstey. The situation seemed ridiculous and ironic. ¡°Mr. Anstey,¡± Bradley interjected, gracefully approaching Esther and cing a hand on her shoulder. With a face full of pity and sympathy, he coldly addressed Billy, ¡°Who are Esther¡¯s biological parents?¡± ¡°Her mother is Faye Quill, but I don¡¯t know who her father is,¡± Billy replied, gnashing his teeth. He recounted the circumstances when Faye entrusted Esther to him. ¡°When Faye fell seriously ill back then, she entrusted Esther to me. I brought Esther back to the Anstey household. Later on, I learned about Faye¡¯s death from others.¡± Esther had no recollection of Faye. In her adulthood, she discreetly consulted a psychologist to understand why she had no childhood memories. The psychologist exined that it was likely due to a traumatic event that her brain had suppressed. ¡°She didn¡¯t leave anything for me?¡± Esther inquired, unwilling to give up. Throughout the years, she had no photographs of Faye except for the one on her tombstone. Billy shook his head, his hands gripping his hair in anguish. Filled with remorse, he said, ¡°At the time, your mother didn¡¯t want to send you to an orphanage. She came to me to discuss. whether I¡¯d be willing to adopt you. ¡°I already had Liliane then. After much contemtion, I decided to bring you back to the Anstey family, using the excuse that you were my illegitimate daughter. Your mother wasn¡¯t willing. She believed that no woman in the world would ept her husband¡¯s illegitimate daughter without resentment¡­¡± Billy was aware that his actions had pierced Leah¡¯s heart like a thorn. ¡°I was too young at the time, and I didn¡¯t know how to be a good husband and father. It arrogantly believed I could fulfill those roles, but the reality was that I failed at all of them. ¡°Esther, because of you, I owe Liliane. Because of you, my marriage has faced problems. Can¡¯t I beg you beg you to spare my Liliane, considering that I did raise you for a while?¡± Taking a deep breath, Esther expressed her anguish, ¡°If my mom knew that this would be my life after you brought me home, she would have preferred to let me grow up in an orphanage rather than suffer in the Anstey household. As for Liliane, I have never harmed her. It was she who repeatedly framed and harmed me!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Billy vehemently denied, his tone harsh. ¡°Clearly, it was you who repeatedly-¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Esther interrupted him, her disappointment evident. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I agree with your plea, considering the fact that you raised me. From now on, I won¡¯t appear before the Ansteys anymore. As for Bradley, if Liliane wants him, she can have him-¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fell upon Billy¡¯s face, filled with deep affection for his daughter. He sternly interrupted Esther¡¯s words, his expression sinister with a touch of disdain. ¡°Mr. Anstey, are you so certain and convinced that Liliane is your biological daughter?¡± 255 255 Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s questioning words, Billy¡¯s expression turned cold, and he trembled with anger as he retorted, ¡°Bradley Warner, don¡¯t think that your charms can sway between Liliane and Esther. It¡¯s just that they are foolish to be attracted to your appearance. ¡°Don¡¯t feel too proud. You better pray that you never have a daughter. Your womanizing ways will one day be retribution upon your own daughter.¡± ¡± Bradley chuckled instead of getting angry, reaching out to throw a photo into Billy¡¯s arms. Open your eyes and take a good look. How much resemnce is there between Liliane and you? In the photo, Liliane stood in a pure white wedding gown, a delicate and beautiful flower. Standing beside her was Shane, also dressed formally, with their facial features showing a high degree of simrity. ¡°Bradley, what benefit do you gain from deliberately sowing discord? Did Esther tell you these things?¡± rk found a reasonable exnation for everything that had happened to Esther recently, knowing that Billy was not Esther¡¯s biological father. ¡°Mr. Anstey, all of this has nothing to do with Esther. It was Shane who orchestrated the kidnapping of Esther and Felix to prevent Esther from appearing at the wedding. The kidnappers imed that it was Shane who instructed them to kidnap Esther. ¡°Mr. Anstey, what kind of rtionship do you think it takes for Shane to risk ruining his reputation to kidnap Esther? How much do you think Shane truly loves Liliane for him to repeatedly target Esther¡¯s N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. heart? ¡°ording to my investigation, Shane and Leah were a couple during their school days. Only after Shane went abroad for further studies did you get together with Leah! Also, think about why you had diarrhea today. Was it really just an ident?¡± rk sent the information he had investigated to Billy¡¯s phone, urging him to take a look. Billy, though skeptical, was shocked when he saw the investigation data. He discovered that he had been deceived. Kevin nced sympathetically at Billy, feeling that the man was incredibly unlucky. None of his daughters were his own. ¡°Mr. Anstey, it¡¯s simple to find out whether Liliane is your biological daughter. Just do a DNA paternity test!¡± Bradley gripped Esther¡¯s wrist and briskly marched toward Liliane¡¯s ward. With his towering height, he covered the distance quickly while Esther stumbled along, barely keeping up. Upon reaching the ward, Bradley forcefully kicked open the door to Liliane¡¯s room, startling the medical staff inside. Liliane¡¯s condition was not optimistic. Her pre¨Cexisting heart condition had worsened, and the societal rejection added to her struggles. Shey on the hospital bed, relying on oxygen to breathe. 256 256 Bradley gritted his teeth fiercely, his voice seething with anger. Liliane¡¯s thoughts of Bradley¡¯s heartlessness during the wedding infuriated her, causing her eyes to turn red. She pointed at Bradley and Esther, mocking them, ¡°Mr. Warner, I have let you down, haven¡¯t I? I didn¡¯t end up in jail after all!¡± Fortunately, Shane¡¯s connections helped secure Liliane¡¯s release from the detention center on bail for medical treatment. Otherwise, she would have been forced to stay in that dreadful ce where no one would want to be. ¡°Liliane Anstey, who removed Grandpa¡¯s oxygen mask?¡± Bradley cut to the chase, his tone icy and devoid of warmth. Liliane reclined against the soft pillow at the head of the bed, casually ncing at Esther with a malicious smile in her eyes. She sneered. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you want to continue your rtionship with her? But you¡¯re afraid that she¡¯s the one who killed your grandfather, and you can¡¯t ovee this obstacle in your heart, so you want to me me instead?¡± ¡°Liliane, you admitted in front of Felix that you removed Grandpa Thomas¡® oxygen mask,¡± Esther C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. retorted, never expecting Liliane to try to argue her way out. She was furious as she continued. ¡°There¡¯s a recording as evidence. You can¡¯t deny it.¡± ¡°My dear sister, use your brain. At that time, under those circumstances, you clearly threatened me with Felix¡¯s life. What choice did I have but toply with your demands?¡± Liliane scoffed as she stared at Bradley, who had a grim expression on his face, and forced a sharine grin. ¡°The esteemed head of the Warner Group, Mr. Bradley Warner, should have no trouble distinguishing truth from lies, right? Besides, the judge and jury witnessed the scene where Esther removed the oxygen mask during the court proceedings. Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°Liliane Anstey!¡± Esther broke free from Bradley¡¯s grip and confronted Liliane, her beautiful face contorted with anger. ¡°It was you who removed Grandpa Thomas¡® oxygen mask!¡± ¡°Evidence is everything.¡± Liliane knew better than anyone that neither Esther nor Bradley had any evidence against her. Confidently, she stated, ¡°If you im that I removed the oxygen mask, then present the evidence. I believe you should understand thew. Your voice recording cannot be used as evidence in court.¡® Esther was incensed. She raised her hand and delivered a hard p to Liliane¡¯s face. ¡°Liliane, your actions do not go unnoticed by higher powers. Don¡¯t think that nobody knows about the things you¡¯ve done. One day, you will face the consequences!¡± Liliane tilted her delicate neck and locked eyes with Bradley¡¯s heartless face. She burst intoughter. ¡°Bradley, I heard that Felix died after falling into the sea. Do you believe that¡¯s karma for publicly breaking off the engagement?¡± Esther never expected Liliane to be so arrogant and shameless. A surge of intense hatred welled up within her like the tide of the sea. ¡°Liliane, Felix called you ¡®Mommy¡® for several years¡­¡± Liliane raised an eyebrow in annoyance and retorted, ¡°So what? Are you implying that I should sacrifice everything for him just because he called me ¡®Mommy¡®? Don¡¯t be ridiculous! I wished for his death ever since I found out he¡¯s your son!¡± Esther was nearly driven to madness by Liliane¡¯s words. She raised her hand once again to p Liliane. Liliane¡¯s head snapped to the side. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and mocked, ¡°Esther, you know what¡¯s truly unfortunate to me? The fact that he didn¡¯t die by your hands! But it¡¯s no different for him to perish at Bradley¡¯s hands. It¡¯s only fitting for a son to pay for his father¡¯s debt!¡± Esther attempted to p Liliane again, but Bradley swiftly grabbed her slender arm and coldly remarked, ¡°It¡¯s not worth dirtying your hands for trash like her.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Lilianeughed until tears streamed down her face. She elegantly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and maliciously stared at them. ¡°I¡¯m trash? Then what does that make you? A pair who can¡¯t even protect your own son? You¡¯re nothing but scum!¡° 257 257 Esther struggled in Bradley¡¯s arms, her resentful eyes locked onto Liliane, who was celebrating Felix¡¯s death. With desperation in her voice, she questioned Liliane, ¡°How did you manage to take Felix away from the prison? Why did the prison doctor tell me that my children had died?¡± When Esther first entered the prison five years ago, she never thought of ending her life, even when faced with bullying from the inmates. Her only desire was to bring her children into the world. She believed that as their mother, she would give them all the love they deserved, even if their father didn¡¯t. But the premature and difficult childbirth unexpectedly robbed her of her babies and shattered. her hope for the future. When others in prison bullied her, she fought back fiercely, not out of fear of death, but to find an end to everything within those prison walls. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Felix was your son,¡± Liliane defended herself. Shane had specifically reminded Liliane about it when she left the detention center. If it came down to choosing between her and Leah, both Shane and Leah agreed that Liliane¡¯s safety should be ensured. First and foremost, she was their daughter, and secondly, her poor health made her a priority. If the legal department of the Warner Group went all out, Liliane would face inevitable prison time unless someone else took the me for her crimes. Leah, who loved her daughter deeply, naturally became the primary candidate for shouldering that burden. ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Esther questioned hysterically. ¡°But you admitted it yourself!¡± Liliane weakly leaned back and nonchntly exined, ¡°Whether you believe it or not, I didn¡¯t know Felix was your son initially. Esther, if I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have taken him.¡± ¡°Then who handed Felix to you?¡± Esther pressed on. With a sarcastic tone, Liliane countered, ¡°Esther, since you don¡¯t have a mother, you wouldn¡¯t understand how a mother can do anything for her daughter.¡± ¡°So, it was your mother who took Felix from prison?¡± Esther quickly deduced. She realized that Leah¡¯s hatred for her and her mother might have driven her to execute such a n. Leah seemed to be avenging her daughter¡¯s death while also targeting Esther. ¡°And your mother made the prison doctor tell me that my children had died?¡± Liliane raised an eyebrow upon hearing Esther¡¯s words and provocatively taunted her, ¡± Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t know Felix was your son at the time. If I had known, I would¡¯ve dly killed him myself. Your love for your children is so great that your son became food for sharks. Why don¡¯t you go and join him? Or perhaps you should avenge your son by killing Bradley?¡± ¡°Enough, Liliane Anstey!¡± Kevin, who had been silent until now, stepped forward to shield Bradley, whose face was filled with anger. He genuinely feared that Bradley might lose control and harm Liliane. ¡°Don¡¯t think that by verbally provoking Bradley and Esther, you can manipte them into killing you and grant yourself relief! You¡¯re overestimating your significance!¡± Kevin¡¯s stern gaze moved across Liliane¡¯s exposed face. ¡°I will make sure you live. Living with the loss of everything N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. is the greatest punishment for someone like you.¡± ¡°Kevin!¡± Liliane red at Kevin, who was interfering in their affairs. She had sessfully provoked Esther, and all she needed was to provoke Bradley to achieve her goal. Kevin had ruined it by appearing out of nowhere. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to gain some intelligence during your years abroad! Bradley noticed Esther¡¯s pale and weak face from the corner of his eye. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she awkwardly brushed off his hand. Liliane¡¯s words felt like a knife piercing her heart. 258 258 There was some truth in what Liliane had said. Esther truly felt pathetic. Putting herself and her children in danger repeatedly for a man who didn¡¯t love her. Bradley Warner was her downfall. She couldn¡¯t avoid or escape it, but why did her children have to suffer? What had her children done wrong? Esther¡¯s actions enraged Bradley, and without hesitation, he forcefully grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the ward. He pushed open the door of an empty ward and roughly threw her onto the bed. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, Bradley?¡± Esther¡¯s fear instinctively rose as she looked at his bloodshot eyes and vtile emotions. ¡°You pretended to lose your memory just to seduce me, didn¡¯t you!?¡± Bradley grabbed Esther¡¯s chin Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. and hastily kissed her cool lips. Esther felt trapped by the chilling aura emanating from him. She struggled in Bradley¡¯s embrace, feeling both anxious and angry, but her strength was useless against his absolute power. Fiercely, Esther bit Bradley¡¯s lips, drawing crimson blood. ¡°Are you insane, Bradley?¡± Bradley gripped Esther¡¯s chin, forcing her to meet his bloodshot eyes filled with torrents of hatred. Esther trembled in fear. ¡°Esther, Felix is dead. I¡¯ll give you another son-¡± Esther¡¯s p across Bradley¡¯s face was firm and resounding. ¡°Felix is irreceable, Bradley! No one can take his ce!¡± Esther never imagined Bradley would entertain such a deranged idea. She feared he might actually act upon this madness someday. ¡°All I want is my Felix! If you can, dry up the entire ocean and find Felix for me!¡± Esther closed her eyes tightly, suppressing her feelings of powerlessness and fear. When she opened her eyes again, her determination and presence were stronger. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, then don¡¯t stop me from finding Felix.¡± Even if the whole world imed Felix was dead, Esther refused to believe it. She firmly believed her Felix was alive. ¡°Esther, Felix is dead.¡± Bradley¡¯s voice was hoarse, filled with extreme grief, as he thought of the shoe he found in the sea. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± Esther looked into Bradley¡¯s deep, cold eyes and corrected him, word by word, ¡°Bradley, Felix is only missing! He¡¯s still waiting for me to find him¨Cto save him!¡± 259 259 Shane quickly learned about Bradley and Esther taking Liliane to the hospital. He never expected that the two ipetent individuals he had hired for the task would throw Felix into the sea right in front of Bradley. The situation had escted beyond Shane¡¯s anticipation. As the head of the Warner Group and a prominent taxpayer in the city, if Bradley decided to take serious action, Shane would undoubtedly lose his job. However, the most critical concern was protecting his child. Shane and his wife, Jessica Gundy, had a son named Ben Hoyer, who was currently preparing for his university entrance examination at the crucial age of 18. If Shane¡¯s actions were exposed, his son This is from N?velDrama.Org. would likely face discrimination and istion from his ssmates. Although Shane treated Liliane fairly well, he still held deep¨Cseated traditional beliefs favoring sons over daughters. Furthermore, while Liliane had a congenital heart condition, Ben was a healthy and exceptional child. He consistently received schrships for his outstanding academic performance and had received multiple awards for his essays. He even earned a gold medal in mathematicspetitions. For all these reasons, Shane couldn¡¯t bear the thought of revealing his immoral deeds to his son. In fact, his son held him in high regard. Shane immediately went to the school to pick him up after arranging for Liliane¡¯s release on medical parole to prevent the exposure of his actions and protect Ben. ¡°Dad?¡± Shane was extremely anxious, but he managed to hide it behind a calm facade. He looked at his potential young man and spoke calmly. ¡°Ben, your grandmother is seriously ill overseas and wishes to see you. I¡¯ve already informed your teachers and taken leave. We¡¯ll be going abroad to visit her.¡± ¡°Will Mom being too?¡± Shane replied solemnly, ¡°Your mom went home to get her passport. We¡¯ll meet her at the airport.¡± As Ben sat in the car, he observed his father¡¯s profile and spoke reassuringly. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry. Grandma will be fine. Good things happen to good people.¡± Shane¡¯s voice trembled slightly, ¡°Son, your grandmother has always loved you. Perhaps seeing you will improve her condition.¡± ¡°Oh, Dad, by the way, I have good news to share.¡± Ben¡¯s voice carried a hint of excitement. Shane teased him, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to say you¡¯ve been epted into Capitellum. University?¡± ¡°Dad, how did you know? Did my teacher tell you?¡± Ben pouted unhappily. ¡°She promised to keep it a secret and let me tell you personally.¡± While Shane focused on driving, he exined, ¡°I just guessed. It¡¯spletely reasonable for my exceptional son to be admitted to Capitellum University. If your father doesn¡¯t have confidence in you, then who will?¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s not tell Mom yet. She¡¯ll definitely be overjoyed when she finds out.¡± Shane reached out and ruffled Ben¡¯s hair, feeling regretful. If only he hadn¡¯t gotten involved in all this and had stayed abroad back then¡­ Would he be fleeing in such a panicked state today? His marriage had been calcted and arranged by others. However, his son was the greatest gift that resulted from this union. Shane had witnessed his son¡¯s birth, watched him grow, and witnessed his numerous aplishments that made countless parents envious. Shane was immensely proud and happy. However¡­ Unstoppable waves of turmoil surged within his heart. 260 260 As Shane drove toward the airport, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Liliane, who was currently in the hospital. He knew that once he left, Leah would likely end up in prison. However, he took sce in the fact that Liliane was still legally Billy¡¯s daughter, and he was certain that Billy wouldn¡¯t ignore the situation. Shane also felt fortunate that he had given Liliane a card. The money inside would be enough for her to live the rest of her life without worries. Moreover, Liliane¡¯s true parentage had not been exposed, so Billy wouldn¡¯t abandon her. Feeling indebted to Liliane, his biological daughter, Shane regretted not having extracted Esther¡¯s heart from the beginning to give to Liliane. He couldn¡¯t provide her with a healthy body or a happy marriage, and he felt he owed her the presence of a father. While driving onto the highway toward the airport, Shane¡¯s phone suddenly rang. ncing at the caller ID, he immediately turned it off. ¡°Dad, why didn¡¯t you answer the call?¡± Ben asked. Shane replied helplessly, ¡°Ben, in my current position, people often approach me for favors. If I help them, Ipromise my principles. If I refuse, I¡¯m seen as the bad guy. Sometimes it¡¯s easier to just shut off my phone when I don¡¯t want to take those calls.¡± ¡°These people are annoying. Why do they ask you for favors? Wouldn¡¯t it be wrong if you helped them?¡± Ben huffed. ¡°I¡¯ll add the number to the cklist for you, Dad.¡± ¡°Silly boy, not everything in the world is ck and white. Some things¡­¡± Shane looked at the traffic ahead and spoke slowly. ¡°Can¡¯t be easily exined.¡± Shane¡¯s parents and siblings were all living abroad. He had nned to send his son abroad as well, thinking that it wouldn¡¯t affect him even if something happened to Shane back home. Little did he know that Ben had grown up naive, only seeing the facade Shane had put on and believing him to be an honest and good person. Shane parked the car at the airport parking lot and hurried inside, holding Ben¡¯s hand. Finally, they met Jessica at the check¨Cin counter. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Mom.¡± Jessica handed the passports to Ben and spoke gently. ¡°Ben, please take care of the procedures for us.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ben took the passports and smoothlypleted the task. Jessica pulled Shane aside and asked in a calm voice, ¡°Shane, tell me honestly, is your mother really sick?¡± Shane hadn¡¯t expected his wife to sense that something was wrong. He held her hand and led her to the side. ¡°Honey, it¡¯splicated. I¡¯ll exin everything once we¡¯re on board.¡± ¡°Shane Hoyer, I can turn a blind eye to your affair, but I¡¯m warning you. If you dare hurt my son because of what you did, I-¡± Shane hugged Jessica and softly reassured her, ¡°Everything will be alright. Trust me. Once we¡¯re abroad, everything will be fine-¡± Before Shane could finish his sentence, his gaze froze when he saw a familiar man standing next to Ben. His blood ran cold as his body stiffened, leaving him unable to utter a word. Standing beside Ben Bradley nonchntly waved at Shane, his eyes filled with a warning and a threat that made Shane¡¯s legs feel weak Chapter 261 Chapter 261 ¡°Shane, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Jessica asked, confused. Shane released his grip on her arm and was about to approach Bradley, but he froze as he witnessed Bradley putting his arm around Ben¡¯s shoulder and speaking coldly. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, I have a matter to discuss with your son. It may cause a slight dy, but rest assured. I will arrange a private jet to take you on your wayter.¡± Panic spread across Shane¡¯s face, and he desperately wanted to shout, ¡°Bradley, don¡¯t do anything reckless! Come after me if you must! But don¡¯t you dare harm my son!¡± But all that came out of his mouth were stammering words. ¡°M-Mr. Warner¡­¡± With his arm still around Ben¡¯s shoulder, Bradley forcefully led the boy toward his helicopter at the airport, leaving no room for refusal. Ben, captivated by the helicopter, innocently observed everything on board, unaware of the danger he was in. Bradley introduced Ben to Esther, stating, ¡°This is my spouse.¡± Polite and unsuspecting, Ben greeted Esther, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Warner.¡± As Esther looked at the boy¡¯s innocent face, she couldn¡¯t help but see Felix¡¯s adorable visage in her mind. This was Shane¡¯s son. If it weren¡¯t for Shane¡­ her Felix wouldn¡¯t have suffered. An eye for an eye! This was Bradley¡¯s act of revenge. But for Esther, revenge was thest thing she desired. All she wished for was Felix¡¯s safe return. The helicopter soared into the sky, and Shane copsed to his knees, his legs giving way. Finally, his wife realized that something was terribly wrong. ¡°Shane, what are you doing? Call the police!¡± Jessica grabbed her phone, ready to dial emergency services. Unaware of who Bradley truly was, she only knew that he had forcibly taken their son. ¡°No¡­ We can¡¯t involve the police.¡± Shane snatched the phone, adamantly preventing Jessica from making the call. He looked at her, determination in his eyes, and said through his gritted. teeth, ¡°Honey, trust me. Even if it means risking my life, I will bring our son back!¡± ¡°Shane, your enemies havee knocking at our door, and you still want to keep me in the dark?¡± Jessica¡¯s anger red, and she pped Shane across the face. Taking a deep breath, Shane urgently pleaded, ¡°Listen to me carefully. I know where they¡¯ve gone, and I¡¯m going there now. No matter what happens, don¡¯t ask questions, and don¡¯t panic. If something happens to me, don¡¯t let our son live a life consumed by hatred. Once he returns. to you, take him abroad-far away-and nevere back.¡± Jessica sensed the seriousness in Shane¡¯s voice and the foreboding in his words. Nervously, she asked, ¡°Shane, what exactly has happened? Please exin clearly.¡± ¡°Pay close attention. I opened a bank ount in our son¡¯s name in a foreign bank. The password is the safety deposit box in the same bank under your name. Inside, you¡¯ll find property deeds, stocks, and enough to sustain you abroad. Honey, thank you for giving me such a wonderful son.¡± ¡®In my next life, I promise to be a good husband. I will never engage in any illegal or immoral activities again.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. After speaking, Shane pushed Jessica away and quickly drove off. Jessica followed suit in her own car, disregarded traffic lights, and drove recklessly, matching Shane¡¯s desperate determination. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 The night view was enchanting, adorned with effervescent neon lights, a unique sight that Ben beheld from inside the helicopter. The countless sparkling lights of households resembled scattered stars on Earth, casting a dazzling and radiant glow. Unaware of the peril thaty ahead, Ben curiously admired the beauty outside the helicopter¡¯s cabin window. Eventually, the helicopter descended andnded on a ship amidst the vast sea. The ocean within a 50-mile radius, centered around the ship, was brightly illuminated, creating an awe- inspiring spectacle. The rescue team members tirelessly searched for Felix, diving time after time, and embarked on search dives without giving up. Esther and her group disembarked from the helicopter, and the sea breeze tousled Esther¡¯s hair while her cotton nightgown billowed like a raised sail. Observing the rescue personnel with air tanks scouring the sea¡¯s surface, Ben couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What are they searching for?¡± With sorrow welling up in her eyes, Esther sobbed. ¡°They are searching for my son.¡± Startled, Ben inquired, ¡°Your son?¡± Esther reached for her phone¡¯s photo album and tearfully showed him a picture of Felix. She exined, ¡°This is my son. He fell into the sea and is now missing.¡± Observing Felix¡¯s photo on Esther¡¯s phone screen, Ben asked dryly, ¡°How did such a young child end up in the sea? Did your enemies seek revenge against you?¡± Ben couldn¡¯t fathom how someone could target such a young child-it was truly despicable! Bradley snapped his fingers, and finally, the two kidnappers, who had been immersed in the seawater for a long time, were pulled up. Their skin had turned pale and wrinkled from the prolonged exposure to the sea. ¡°Mr. Warner, please, I was wrong¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, there¡¯s a reason behind all this. We were only following Shane Hoyer¡¯s orders¡­¡± Upon hearing the kidnappers¡¯ words, Ben¡¯s face darkened, and he questioned, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? My father would never do such things!¡± ¡°Your father?¡± The kidnappers looked at the boy, shivering from the cold sea breeze. Their faces and lips had turned blue and purple. ¡°Your father is Shane Hoyer?¡± ¡°Yes, my father is Shane Hoyer,¡± Ben replied indignantly. ¡°He is an honest and kind man. He would never instruct you to do something immoral!¡± ¡°Hoyer Jr., you are truly ignorant and fearless due to your father¡¯s protection!¡± The kidnappers sat slumped on the deck, attempting to expose Shane¡¯s crimes. They hoped to avoid being thrown back C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. into the sea. It was a fate worse than death. ¡°Your father is the most wicked man in this world! Do you know what your father asked us to do? Your father ordered us to kidnap Esther Quill. Do you know why? It¡¯s because he wants her heart!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Ben vehemently refused to believe it, and his expression filled with righteousness. ¡°My father is the director of a prison hospital. Why would he need someone else¡¯s heart?¡± ¡°Your father wants to give my heart to his daughter.¡± Esther spoke slowly, her frail figure evoking pity in the sea breeze. ¡°That¡¯s even more impossible! My father only has one son, and that¡¯s me!¡± Ben couldn¡¯t fathom that his remarkable father wouldmit such evil acts. ¡°Are you sure you haven¡¯t mistaken the identity of your enemy? Could it be that your enemy shares the same name as my father?¡± Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Laughter erupted from the man with a severed hand upon hearing Ben¡¯s words, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Hahahaha¡­ So, the abominable Shane Hoyer actually has such a naive and ignorant son? It¡¯s truly the most ironic thing in the world!¡± Anger flushed Ben¡¯s face as he fiercely defended his father, his body trembling. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to speak about my dad like that!¡± How could these people say such things about his father? His father was the best in the world. -a kind- hearted, upright, and selfless man. His father would never do anything wrong. He wasn¡¯t the person they described. ¡°You can¡¯t speak about my dad like that!¡± Ben¡¯s fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his temples. Esther couldn¡¯t bear to watch the boy in such a state. She turned away, clutching her skirt, and gazed out at the deep, dangerous sea. It was because of Shane that her son was in trouble. She and Bradley were attributing to Shane¡¯s son the consequences of Shane¡¯s actions against her and her child. What was wrong with that? It was only natural for a child to bear the consequences of their father¡¯s actions. It was fair and just. The sea breeze tousled Esther¡¯s long hair, its salty scent mingling with her thoughts. Her once dazzling eyescked their former luster. She furrowed her delicate brows, offering incessant prayers to any deities that might exist. If there were truly divine beings in this world, she hoped they would show mercy and save her son. Let all the storms and cmitiese for her. She was willing to use her weakened body to protect her child, ensuring his lifelong peace and happiness. ¡°Hoyer Jr., you may not know what kind of person your father is, but we know better than anyone¡­¡± The sea breeze chilled the kidnappers, their wrists and ankles bound by tightly fastened stic zip ties, the deep marks stained with crimson blood. This is from N?velDrama.Org. The man with the severed hand knew his chances of survival were slim. His hand had been severed and inadequately treated before being submerged in seawater for so long. Time was running out, so why should Shane have it any easier? If Shane hadn¡¯t ordered him to kidnap Esther, he wouldn¡¯t be in such a dire situation. ¡°You may not believe it now, but your father is probably on his way here. How about you cooperate with Mr. Warner here and put on a show?¡± Ben, wiping away his angry tears, turned to face Bradley standing on the deck. He recognized him. Bradley, the owner of the Warner Group, had previously donated a building to his school, and Ben had presented flowers to him as a student representative. If not for that, he would never have followed Bradley. Ben briskly walked toward the handsome man, earnestly exining, ¡°Mr. Warner, there must be a misunderstanding. My father is not the kind of person they¡¯re describing.¡± As he spoke, Ben took out his phone and opened the photo album, showing Bradley a picture of himself with Shane. ¡°Mr. Warner, my father is my idol. Look at all the honors he¡¯s received. He wouldn¡¯t have achieved all these honors if he were really a bad person, right?¡± Ben¡¯s phone album was filled with photos of Shane receiving various awards. In every picture, Shane appeared as a righteous and upright man, far from anyone who would harm Esther repeatedly for the sake of Liliane. ¡°Perhaps your father only lets you see his best side.¡± Shaking his head, Ben pleaded eagerly, ¡°No, Mr. Warner, my dad is truly a good person.¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s wait.¡± Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Bradley¡¯s eyes fixated on the distant location of the rescue team, his face etched with coldness and determination. ¡°But my dad said my grandma is sick overseas. She¡­¡± Ben¡¯s words trailed off as he encountered Bradley¡¯s cold and mocking gaze. Though his heart was in turmoil, he firmly held onto his belief that his father was not the viin they portrayed him to be. The night grew darker. On the deck, the two kidnappers ran a high fever, wrapped in nkets as a doctor administered intravenous drips to them. Their gazes met, filled with despair. They realized that being trapped between survival and death was more agonizing than they had ever imagined. If they could turn back time, they would never have be involved with Shane. Rescue efforts continued, but with each passing second, the chances of finding Felix alive dwindled. Esther leaned against the railing, her hand gripping it tightly as she stared down at the sea. Her body leaned forward involuntarily, tempted to plunge into the depths to join Felix in death. Sensing Esther¡¯s intentions, Bradley swiftly stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into a protective embrace. ¡°Esther, what are you thinking?¡± Esther looked at Bradley¡¯s serene profile, taken aback, before softly uttering, ¡°Felix would be cold.¡± The seawater was frigid, too cold for even adults to endure, let alone a child. Esther was overwhelmed with guilt. Her emotions spiraled out of control, and she pped herself in anguish. It was her fault. She had been holding Felix¡¯s hand, so why did she let go when Bradley arrived? Even if they had held her at gunpoint, she should have clung to Felix¡¯s hand, plunging into the sea with him when he was kicked into its depths. If she and Felix had fallen together, holding on tightly, there might have been a chance for survival. Her heart ached uncontrobly, tears blurring her vision as she looked at Bradley, desperately seeking reassurance. ¡°Bradley, we will find Felix, won¡¯t we?¡± Bradley remained silent, causing Esther to repeatedly reach out and strike his chest, consumed by grief N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. and anger. ¡°Our son will be found, won¡¯t he?¡± He had to be found! He had to be safe! Felix would be okay! Through tear-filled eyes, Esther whispered, her voice trembling, unable to see the deep pain mirrored in Bradley¡¯s expression as he stood before her. ¡°Bradley, Shane is here!¡± Kevin rushed over, holding binocrs, his words filled with urgency. That despicable man, Shane Hoyer, had nned to flee overseas with his wife and son. Fortunately, they discovered it in time. Otherwise, that scoundrel would have escaped! ¡°Hoyer Jr., open your eyes and your heart to truly see if Shane is a good man or a viin.¡± Ben¡¯s innocent face remained resolute and calm as he assured, ¡°My dad is definitely a good person.¡± Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Bradley signaled with his eyes, and Kevin tied Ben up with a rope. Kevin even used adhesive tape to cover the boy¡¯s mouth to make it more realistic. Ben cooperated throughout, showing no signs of frustration or unease. Kevin patted the boy¡¯s shoulder and spoke gently. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± They weren¡¯t Shane. They couldn¡¯t bring themselves to harm innocent people. Moreover, Kevin was a doctor and understood the value of life. He was only using the boy to intimidate Shane and had no intention of actually harming him. Kevin pushed Ben to the front of the ship, where a cruise ship appeared in the distance on the endless sea. Jessica, beside Shane, immediately spotted her son and couldn¡¯t help but confront Shane, her heart twisting in agony. ¡°Shane, no matter what happenster, you must protect our son. If you dare¡­¡± Shane looked toward his son in the distance with a squint, feeling a slight clench in his heart. He had been involved in numerous heinous acts, always treating other people¡¯s lives as worthless. However, it was only when it came to his own son that he realized he had vulnerabilities too. Unlike his daughter, Liliane, Shane had been involved in Ben¡¯s upbringing and growth, and he took pride in having such a son. If he had to choose between Liliane and Ben, he would undoubtedly choose thetter. The cruise ship drew closer, and Shane could see his son clearly. His hands and feet were bound, and his mouth was taped shut, making him look like a helpless victim waiting to be ughtered. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Shane and his wife boarded a boat to go on the ship. ¡°Stop!¡± rk shouted coldly. Shane, fearing the consequences, obediently stopped and stood silently to the side. He looked at Bradley, who was sitting in a chair, and said, ¡°Mr. Warner, you can bring anything up to me. Please don¡¯t trouble my son!¡± Jessica also pleaded, ¡°Mr. Warner, this is an affair among adults. It has nothing to do with our child!¡± Kevin kicked the two severely weakened kidnappers, and thetter suddenly regained some spirit. They no longer sought survival and only hoped that Bradley would give them a quick and painless death. ¡°Mrs. Hoyer, you may not be aware of what this man by your side has done,¡± one of the kidnappers said coldly, looking at both Shane and Jessica. ¡°Shane instructed us to kidnap Mr. Warner¡¯s wife and son!¡± Shane¡¯s eyes shed with a fierce re through his sses, and he gritted his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve never instructed you to do anything!¡± Shane couldn¡¯t possibly admit to such heinous acts in front of his son. He didn¡¯t want to shatter the image Ben had of him. The kidnapper sneered. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, don¡¯t be so quick to deny. We have evidence.¡± ¡°Shane, did you do it or not? Admit it if you did¡­¡± Jessica was anxious and at a loss. Looking at her son, who was being mistreated, she wished she was the one being restrained instead. Don¡¯t wager our son¡¯s life!¡± Shane growled, ¡°Shut up!¡± He couldn¡¯t admit it. If he did, all three of them would die! ¡± ¡°Mr. Hoyer, we have cloud backup recordings of each time you asked us to do something. The prison walls say that confess and receive leniency, resist and face strict punishment. I believe you¡¯re familiar with it.¡± Shane could clearly hear the kidnapper¡¯s threat, but he didn¡¯t expect these two to have evidence. Everyone present was intelligent enough to see through the pretense. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Shane gnashed his teeth tightly and admitted, ¡°Mr. Warner, I asked them to kidnap Esther, but only to prevent her from attending the wedding. I never intended to harm your son or have him kidnapped.¡± Bradley snapped his fingers in the air, signaling Kevin. ¡°Kevin.¡± Understanding the signal, Kevin pressed a button, causing Ben to plummet rapidly in mid-air. ¡°Ben!¡± ¡°Son!¡± Shane and Jessica screamed simultaneously. Casually leaning back in his chair, Bradley noticed Esther trembling beside him and reached. out to hold her hand. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, we all know why you ordered Esther¡¯s kidnapping!¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze fixed on Shane¡¯s contemptible face. His thin lips curled slightly as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll give you onest chance. If you refuse to tell the truth, I won¡¯t hesitate to let your son fall into the depths of the sea.¡± A shiver ran down Shane¡¯s spine as he nervously nced at his son. He closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them to face Bradley and Esther. ¡°Mr. Warner, will you release my son if I admit to everything?¡± Bradley pped his hands lightly and retorted arrogantly, ¡°Shane, you have no right to negotiate with me.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Shane¡¯s voice trailed off before speaking softly after a long pause. ¡°Yes, the ultimate purpose Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. of kidnapping Esther was to obtain her heart!¡± As Shane confessed, Ben, who was hanging in the air, struggled desperately. ¡®Dad, no! ¡®You¡¯re lying, right? ¡®She¡¯s still alive. How could you take her heart!?¡¯ Shane dared not meet his son¡¯s gaze and pleaded earnestly, ¡°Mr. Warner, I did everything, but it has nothing to do with my son. Please¡­ let him go!¡± Shane, who had always been ruthless, knelt before Bradley to save his son. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, my heart is perfectly fine, but you insist on forcibly taking it to give to Liliane. Is it simply because she¡¯s your daughter?¡± Suddenly, Esther, who had remained silent, spoke up, leaving Shane stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected her to uncover his deeply concealed secret! ¡°No, Liliane isn¡¯t my daughter,¡± Shane tly denied, shifting the me to Leah. ¡°It¡¯s because Leah paid-¡± Esther¡¯s face turned cold and resolute. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, the DNA paternity test results between you and Liliane are in. You are Liliane¡¯s biological father. And years ago, you took my children from the prison for her¡­¡± Shane was unaware that Esther hadn¡¯t actually conducted a DNA paternity test but was using her analysis to deceive him! ¡°Mr. Hoyer, not only did you steal my children for the sake of Liliane, but you also had the doctors tell me that my children had died!¡± Esther used, her words filled with anguish Because of you, my children were separated from me at birth Because of you, my son fell into the sea, and his whereabouts are unknown. Because of you, I have been in danger multiple times. ¡°Mr. Hoyer, today you will pay with blood for the debt you owel¡± Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Esther¡¯s words instantly angered Jessica, fueling her rage. Jessica stormed over to Shane, her eyes burning with fury, and bombarded him with intense questions. Her voice was hoarse and filled with emotion as she unleashed her frustration. Shane Hoyer, how many sinful things have you done behind our backs all these years? How could you¡­¡± Regret washed over Shane. He realized that he should have sent their son abroad earlier. If he had, at least they wouldn¡¯t have found themselves in this situation. While observing Shane¡¯s silence, Jessica¡¯s anger intensified. She forcefully pped Shane¡¯s arm and demanded, her voice strained, ¡°Shane, are you mute now? Speak up! Say something!¡± Shane¡¯s gloomy and calm gaze shifted toward their suspended young boy. That was their son, a child who embodied the best qualities of both parents. Yes, they could have another son in the future, but¡­ he wouldn¡¯t be the same as Ben. He wouldn¡¯t possess the same level of sensibility, obedience, and ambition. This child had never caused him any worry throughout his upbringing, and Shane had always been proud of him. ¡°Mr. Warner, this is an issue between adults. Please spare my son,¡± Shane pleaded, disregarding N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Esther¡¯s presence. In his eyes, Esther was docile and harmless. He had onlye here today because Bradley had taken his son. If it weren¡¯t for that, why would he risk losing everything? ¡°Shane, I¡¯ll release your son when you find mine,¡± Bradley stated calmly, rising from his seat and positioning himself behind Esther. His expression was cold and sinister, his words sending shivers down the spines of those. present. ¡°If you fail to return my son, as my wife mentioned, your son will pay for the blood. debt.¡± Bradley¡¯s voice exuded a chilling and murderous intent devoid of any warmth. Jessica dropped to her knees with a thud, fearing that Shane would truly provoke Bradley and Esther. ¡°Mr. Warner, Mrs. Warner, it¡¯s our fault as adults. If you seek revenge, direct it toward me, I beg you¡­ I implore you to spare my son.¡± Tears streamed down Jessica¡¯s face as she gazed at her son. She had been unaware of Shane¡¯s actions all these years. He had concealed them so well that even she, just like their son, believed Shane to be an honest and kind person. Only tonight did she discover Shane¡¯s ns to forcibly extract the heart of a living person. Even if it was for his illegitimate daughter, she couldn¡¯t ept it. That was a living person¡¯s heart! How could he be so cruel and heartless? How could he disregard thew in such a manner? Shane currently held the director position at the prison hospital, but he had started as a regr doctor, gradually ascending to his current role. When he entered the medical profession, he had sworn to dedicate his life to saving lives and aiding the injured. How could he¡­ How could he¡­ ¡°Mrs. Hoyer, is your son¡¯s life more valuable than my son¡¯s life?¡± Esther retrieved her phone and disyed photos of Felix. They depicted him making ravioli, tending to flowers, and studying diligently¡­. Each photo showcased an adorable and well-behaved Felix. Anyone who saw such images would adore and desire such a lovely child. Yet¡­ her son was gone! Chapter 268 Chapter 268 ¡°Mrs. Warner, please understand. You and I are both mothers. As mothers, we are willing to sacrifice our own lives for the well-being of our children. If¡­ If you truly believe in a life for a life, then take mine. I beg you, spare my son,¡± Jessica pleaded with an anguished expression on her well-maintained face. Her hands were sped together in a humble plea to Esther. ¡°Mrs. Warner, I can fullyprehend your feelings and empathize with your anger. But please¡­ Please consider this for a moment. Ever since I became pregnant with him, I¡¯ve aspired to be a good mother. I have raised my son well, and he has excelled in his endeavors. Recently, his teachers even mentioned the possibility of him being admitted to Capitellum University. Mrs. Warner, I may be halfway to the grave, but my son-he deserves a bright future.¡± Esther looked at Jessica, a fellow mother, but turned her head away, unable to bear the situation. She knew deep down that the woman before her was innocent, but¡­ wasn¡¯t her own son, Felix, innocent too? A cool sea breeze gently tousled Esther¡¯s long hair as she covered her mouth and coughed softly. ¡°Son, remember what I told you. Always be kind and upright. I love you, forever,¡± Jessica said, looking at Ben with teary eyes and a gentle, tender smile. Ben silently shed tears. He now understood. He realized that his father was not the exemry figure he had believed him to be. Heprehended that his father hadmitted something outrageous against a stranger. He just didn¡¯t understand why his father had taught him to be good and kind while failing to exemplify N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. those qualities himself. Jessica slowly stood up and walked toward Shane, raising her hand and delivering a fierce p across his face. ¡°Shane Hoyer, let¡¯s get a divorce!¡± Shane looked at Jessica in astonishment, but she remained unfazed and coldly dered, ¡°I don¡¯t want my son to have a father like you.¡± Shane sensed something amiss, but before he could fully grasp the situation, he saw Jessica turn around and sprint to the deck. Bradley, Esther, Kevin, rk, and others tried to stop her, but they were a step toote. With the unwavering determination to exchange one life for another, Jessica jumped into the sea, creating a tremendous ssh. The slightly salty seawater sshed on Ben¡¯s face, still carrying a hint of innocence as he struggled in the air, consumed by fear and panic. ¡®Mom! Mom! Mom! ¡®Mom, don¡¯t do something foolish!¡¯ Fortunately, there were already rescue teams in the area searching for Felix. Within a minute of Jessica jumping into the sea, the nearby rescue personnel pulled her up from the depths. At that moment, Kevin deeply understood the saying, ¡®A woman may appear weak but bes strong when she bes a mother.¡¯ Bradley looked at Jessica with a dark and unreadable expression, then nced at Esther. As Jessica was being pulled up, Esther quickly wrapped a towel around her. Jessica waved her hand, rejecting Esther¡¯s kindness. ¡°Mrs. Warner, don¡¯t save me.¡± She would be willing to die if her death could guarantee her son¡¯s safety. Esther thought of Shane¡¯s betrayal and deceit. She couldn¡¯t help but question the woman¡¯s actions before her. ¡°Is it worth it for such a man? Did you think we would let you go after you jumped into the sea? Have you considered the worst possible oue? Even if you die, he will continue to live carefree and at ease! He might even find a stepmother to mistreat your son¡­¡± Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Kevin keenly noticed that Ben¡¯s wrists were bleeding and looked deeply at Bradley. Seeing Bradley¡¯s silence, he refrained from speaking as well. Bradley exuded a chilling, murderous aura as he approached Shane. With a condescending tone, he addressed Shane, ¡°Mr. Hoyer, this time, it was your wife who jumped into the sea. Next time, it could be your son plunging into the depths of the ocean¡­¡± Shane hadn¡¯t expected his wife to be so resolute. Only when the team rescued her did he feel a sense of relief from the brink of disaster. He had always believed that he didn¡¯t love his wife, but unknowingly, he had fallen in love with this pure and silly woman. ¡°I will talk,¡± Shane took a deep breath and finally made the decision to reveal everything he knew. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know.¡± Bradley waved his hand, and Kevin released Ben from his restraints, understanding the gesture. As soon as Kevin untied the ropes binding Ben, he hurried to Jessica¡¯s side and anxiously asked, ¡°Mom, are you cold? Why did you do something so foolish? We¡¯re not the ones who should be damned! If anything happens to you, what will I do?¡± Jessica tightly held Ben¡¯s wrists, her heart aching as she looked at the bloodstains, and softly said, ¡°Son, you¡¯re hurt. Let me apply some medicine for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom.¡± The warmth between mother and son brought tears to Esther¡¯s eyes. She wondered if she would ever experience such a tender moment in her life. She longed for Felix, missing him intensely so much that it drove her to madness. Esther wished she could hold Felix tightly in her arms at that moment and ask him, ¡°Felix, are you cold? Are you scared, my son?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Liliane is my biological daughter. Leah and I fell in love during our university days, but we broke up when I went abroad for further studies. ¡°After returning from abroad and starting my job at the hospital, Leah informed me that she had married someone else in order to give our daughter legal status. ¡°Liliane has a congenital heart condition and cannot engage in strenuous activities. Leah concealed her condition by using the excuse of needing to get married in the future so as not to be pressured by the Ansteys into having a second child. ¡°We¡¯ve had asional private contact over the years, but ourmunication has been limited since we¡¯re both married. ¡°Five years ago, Leah came to me and asked me to take Esther¡¯s son away. I agreed! This is my debt to Liliane. ¡°Mr. Warner, I handled everything on my own. It has nothing to do with my wife or my son. I¡¯m ready to face any punishment as long as you spare the innocent ones.¡± Shane confessed everything but only revealed the details rted to Esther and Bradley. As for the secretive organ trafficking, he didn¡¯t dare mention it at all. He was well aware of the power wielded by the boss behind it. If he dared to disclose even a fraction of it, it wouldn¡¯t just be his son who would face retaliation, but his parents and siblings as well. ¡°Why did you tell me that the children died due to difficult childbirth?¡± Esther asked in immense pain, expressing her doubt. ¡°Even if you took Felix away, I still have two daughters¡­ ¡± This question had been haunting Esther all along, as she couldn¡¯tprehend the answer. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Who were her children bothering by being alive? Why did they have to tell her that her children died from difficult childbirth? Shane¡¯s dark gaze fell upon Bradley¡¯s handsome face, and a malicious intent shed in his eyes. His words added insult to injury to the already fragile rtionship between Esther and Bradley. ¡°Mrs. Warner, you shouldn¡¯t be asking me this question. You should be asking Mr. Warner who¡¯s by your side,¡± Shane said. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Esther looked at Bradley in astonishment, earnestly trying to discern the truth behind Shane¡¯s words. However, Bradley remained unfazed, choosing not to refute or exin. He simply epted the usations with silence. Esther¡¯s heart sank into the icy depths of the ocean. She opened her mouth but realized she had nothing left to say to Bradley. Upon learning the truth from five years ago, Esther let out a bitter smile, feeling as though a heavy burden had been lifted. She walked toward the other end of the deck alone, with rk hurrying to follow, afraid that she might do something foolish. ¡°Esther, are you okay?¡± rk asked, concerned. Esther turned and looked at rk, who genuinely cared about her. The sea breeze disheveled her hair, concealing her true emotions. Back then, when Thomas was involved in the ident, rk had med her for that. inexplicable video. However, even when Bradley heartlessly sent her to prison, rk still sent her things asionally. She rejected everything he sent. At that time, she only thought about the fact that the man she deeply loved had sent her to prison, feeling utterly hopeless. She never considered that she could rely on rk. As long as she kept telling rk that she did notmit those abominable and conscienceless acts toward Thomas, he would surely help her. She didn¡¯t trust anyone and couldn¡¯t rely on anyone back then. ¡°rk, are you worried that I¡¯ll seek death?¡± Esther¡¯s voice trembled gently in the sea breeze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do that. I haven¡¯t found Pixie yet, and Felix hasn¡¯t returned to me. What right do I have to seek death?¡± The words offort that came to the tip of rk¡¯s tongue were swallowed silently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Esther. It¡¯s all my fault. If I had told Mr. Warner the moment I obtained the recording from Mr. Felix, perhaps everything would have been different. At least¡­¡± rk confessed that his arrogance had harmed Felix. ¡°Mr. Felix wouldn¡¯t have gotten into trouble.¡± ¡°rk, none of this is your fault.¡± Esther¡¯s gaze was clear, and her expression was distant and indifferent. ¡°Even if you had given him the recording, he still wouldn¡¯t have believed me!¡± Bradley didn¡¯t love her. When a man didn¡¯t love a woman, even her every breath felt wrong. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true.¡± rk tried to exin for Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner just didn¡¯t see the DNA test. As long as the DNA test proves you¡¯re Felix¡¯s biological mother, he¡¯ll believe you¡­ ¡°rk.¡± Esther shook her head gently, casually pushing aside her hair from her fair face. She said, ¡°Even with a DNA test, he¡¯ll still think I forged it. Even if Liliane admits she unplugged Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask, he won¡¯t believe it. Because he never believed me from the beginning. Because everything between us has always been wrong.¡± She had forced it! The love at first sight and unwaveringmitment were all her one-sided assumptions. This failed marriage, for her, was not without gain. She had the most priceless treasures in the world but had identally lost them. But it was fine. She would search¡­ She would dig three feet under or cross the world if she had to-she would find her precious ones. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 rk stood silently by Esther¡¯s side, at a loss for how to persuade her to trust Bradley again. ¡°If Mr. Thomas were still alive and could see Felix, Tinkerbell, and Pixie, he would be pleased, ¡°rk said. Bradley remained cold and indifferent. Despite its grandeur, the Warner Manorcked warmth until Esther married into the family. Over time, the manor gained a cozy and homely. atmosphere. arrogance Thomas had been particrly fond of Esther, fearing that Bradley¡¯s coldness and would drive Esther away. rk had always believed that Esther would never leave Bradley, as her love for him was unwavering. But now, rk understood Esther¡¯s current state of mind. She no longer loved Bradley, and perhaps she no longer wanted him, either. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Could a woman¡¯s heart, once turned cold, be warmed again? ¡°Grandpa Thomas was the best grandfather in the world,¡± Esther said. When the viral video portrayed her as betraying Bradley, only Thomas had believed and supported her. He had tirelessly sought the truth. Esther med the car ident five years ago for her imprisonment and separation from her children. Bradley might not have sent her to prison if it hadn¡¯t happened. ¡°Mr. Thomas was a good person,¡± rk murmured, feeling a pang of guilt. He had promised Thomas that he would take care of Bradley and Esther, but he wondered if he had failed in that duty. Shane¡¯s confession ignited anger within Ben. He had always admired his father, but now he saw him as a fallen role model. ¡°Dad, I hate you,¡± Ben dered, wiping away his tears. ¡°You¡¯ve be the type of person I despise the most. But don¡¯t worry, from this day forward, I¡¯ll remind myself not to be like you. I want to be someone pure-hearted who never betrays their beliefs.¡± Ben helped his mother to her feet and turned to Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, if my fathermitted a crime, he should face the consequences. If you don¡¯t want to report him, I can do it on your behalf.¡± Shane felt a sense of relief seeing his son¡¯s determination and honesty. He saw his younger self reflected in Ben, remembering the time when he had been spirited and pure. But at what point had his life taken such an irreversible path? Bradley¡¯s icy gaze fell upon Ben¡¯s innocent face, and he couldn¡¯t help but think of Felix. Would Felix grow up to be as firm in his convictions as Ben? But Felix would forever remain as he was now, confined to the ocean. A pang shot through Bradley¡¯s heart, and a deep ache spread through his body. Kevin noticed Bradley¡¯s difort and reached out to support him, asking with concern, Bradley, are you alright?¡± Bradleyposed himself and waved his hand dismissively. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 ¡°Esther? Esther?¡± Kevin called out. Knowing how important Felix was to Bradley, Kevin personally supported Bradley and brought him to the room to use a stethoscope and check his condition. ¡°Bradley, I understand you¡¯re anxious about Felix¡¯s situation, but rushing things won¡¯t help,¡± Kevin said, seeing Bradley¡¯s gloomy expression. Sensing the need to change the subject, Kevin asked, ¡°What are you nning to do with Shane?¡± ¡°Leave it to Chief Zigler,¡± Bradley replied. Bradley made a phone call to Joseph and sent him a copy of Shane¡¯s confession video. He entrusted the rest, including how Shane would face legal judgment, to the police chief. ¡°Right.¡± Kevin responded coldly. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to dirty your hands with someone like him!¡± Bradley instinctively looked at his fingers-long, fair, and slender. When Felix was young, he used to y with Bradley¡¯s fingers and ask, ¡°Daddy, when will my hands grow this big?¡± in his childish voice. Bradley¡¯s mind was now filled with thoughts of Felix. Would he ever find his son again? Seeing Bradley lost in thought, Kevin left the room and went to Esther¡¯s side on the deck. rk took care of the arrangements for Ben and Jessica to leave while Esther sat alone, watching the rescue personnel in the distance, the sea breeze blowing against her hair and skirt. Kevin looked at Esther¡¯s slender figure and grew furious. ¡°Esther, are you deaf? Didn¡¯t you hear me calling you?¡± Esther¡¯s clear gaze met Kevin¡¯s face. Kevin had once fallen into the water, and Bradley had saved him, so he was Bradley¡¯s most loyal follower. Little did he know that Esther was the one who had noticed the ident and brought Bradley to save him. Upon learning of Thomas¡¯ ident, Kevin made the resolute decision to study medicine. Esther saw through Kevin¡¯s naive nature easily. ¡°Kevin, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re that close,¡± Esther replied calmly. Kevin huffed, looking at Esther with anger. ¡°Esther, don¡¯t think you¡¯re the only one saddened. by Felix¡¯s situation. You¡¯ve only been with Felix for a few days, and you¡¯re already so sad. Bradley, who personally raised him, is even more heartbroken-¡± Esther retorted coldly, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°What do you mean? What am I trying to say?¡± Kevin huffed and rolled up his sleeves, feeling like arguing with Esther. ¡°You should think about what you should do as Bradley¡¯s wife!¡± ¡°Let me correct you. I am not Bradley¡¯s wife,¡± Esther said, her voice devoid of emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve divorced Bradley.¡± ¡°Divorced?¡± Bradley¡¯s face turned chilling and terrifying, like a towering mountain blocking the only ray of light in front of Esther. ¡°Esther, say it again. Who did you divorce?¡±This is from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Kevin looked at Esther and Bradley with a confused and worried expression on his handsome face. He spoke gently. ¡°Bradley, you should talk to her nicely.¡± Kevin didn¡¯t want to interfere too much in the matter between Bradley and Esther. He gave Esther a look and slowly walked away, leaving the two of them alone. The night was dark and cool, resembling the calmness of the water. In the distance, the sea shimmered as the rescue team continued their search for Felix. Esther¡¯s beautiful face, resembling porcin, was concealed in the darkness, while Bradley¡¯s gaze held a hint of aggression. Esther would have been hurt and taken a step back in the past, but now, she calmly looked at Bradley and tly said, ¡°Mr. Warner, I believe I don¡¯t need to remind you that we¡¯ve already signed the divorce papers.¡± A cold light flickered in Bradley¡¯s eyes. Esther suddenly smiled and took a step forward, grabbing Bradley¡¯s cor. She brought her red lips close to his handsome face and sneered. ¡°Or have you just realized you¡¯ve fallen in love with me, Mr. Warner?¡± ¡°How could I ever fall in love with a shameless woman like you?!¡± Bradley retorted coldly, his teeth gritted. ¡°Even if all the women in the world were dead, I still wouldn¡¯t fall in love with you.¡± Esther knew very well that Bradley didn¡¯t possess a heart capable of being moved or falling in love with her. Despite that, a faint hint of sadness appeared in her eyes upon hearing his words. ¡°Is it because you suddenly developed a conscience and realized that sending the woman who carried your child to prison for five years was cruel, and now you want to make it up to me?¡± Bradley reached out and grasped Esther¡¯s face, his grip tightening. He growled resentfully, ¡± Esther, you went to prison because you disconnected my grandfather¡¯s oxygen mask!¡± ¡°Hah!¡± Esther mockinglyughed. ¡°Bradley, you not onlyck a conscience but alsock intelligence. How did I blind myself and fall in love with you back then?¡± Bradley¡¯s grip tightened further, but Esther fearlessly met his aggressive gaze, her smile shining even brighter. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Bradley¡¯sposed heart suddenly panicked. He leaned closer to Esther¡¯s ear, his voice chilling and terrifying. ¡°Esther, it was you who begged my grandfather to let you marry me back then. Let me tell you, divorce is out of the question! In my world, there¡¯s only widowhood, not divorce!¡± ¡°Bradley, do you hate me? Do you hate me to the point of wanting to kill me? Then why not just give me a gentle push, and I¡¯ll disappear from your world forever, never to bother you again.¡± Esther closed her eyes silently, offering no resistance as if she were amb waiting to be ughtered. Bradley rubbed her fair face, then let go as if disgusted, and moved away. Instead, he grabbed her slender neck, his captivating eyes gleaming wickedly. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t bring yourself to do it?¡± But the act of violence Esther anticipated from Bradley never came. When she opened her wet eyes, the small red mole at the corner of her eye had a seductive charm under the night sky. ¡°Mr. Warner, you don¡¯t want to divorce me? And you don¡¯t want to kill me? Could it be ¡± Before Esther could finish her sentence, Bradley fiercely embraced her, ignoring her struggles, and forcefully carried her back to the presidential suite on the ship. ¡°Bradley, what¡­ What do you want to do?¡± Fear filled Esther¡¯s eyes. With his arms crossed, Bradley looked at Esther, who appeared frightened, and a wicked and sinister thought rose in his mind. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 ¡°Esther, be good. Don¡¯t force me! Understand?¡± Liliane¡¯s physical condition was extremely poor. Even Scott, a renowned cardiac surgeon, knew that each day Liliane managed to survive was like snatching luck from the clutches of the Grim Reaper. Uncertainty crept into Billy¡¯s mind when he saw the photo of Liliane standing with Shane, despite his insistence that Liliane was his daughter. A nurse, holding ab report, approached Billy and said, ¡°Bed 48, your test results are here.¡± Taking theb report, Billy struggled to understand the meaning behind the numbers. Before the nurse left, he quickly asked, ¡°Miss, why did I have diarrhea?¡± The nurse looked puzzled and replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t you take thexatives yourself? Even if you were constipated, you shouldn¡¯t take random medication!¡± Billy clutched theb report, a sudden realization striking him as he recalled the ss of milk Leah had brought him that morning. At that time, he had been immersed in the joy of Liliane¡¯s wedding and had failed to notice Leah¡¯s subtle actions. ¡®Why did Leah do that? ¡®Was it because she didn¡¯t want me to attend the wedding, so she gave me diarrhea? ¡®Did she intentionally sabotage me to make way for Shane?¡¯ Fury burned within Billy¡¯s heart, prompting him to contact awyer and confront Leah. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. When Leah heard someone hade to see her, she assumed it was Shane. In an effort to maintain a favorable image in front of him, she purposely made herself look slightly pitiful. She harbored no fear regarding the incident. Even if she ended up in prison, Shane would take care of everything. It would only be a temporary change of residence, with the loss of freedom as the sole difference. Billy sat in the meeting room, his gaze fixed on the entrance. He didn¡¯t miss the fleeting disappointment in Leah¡¯s eyes. ¡°Leah, were you disappointed when you saw me instead of Shane?¡± Billy asked, his tone sharp. Leah was caughtpletely off guard by Billy¡¯s question. She defensively raised her voice. What nonsense are you talking about!?¡± ¡°Someone informed me that Liliane is Shane¡¯s daughter.¡± Billy¡¯s eyes glinted with venomous intensity. ¡°Tell me, should I believe it?¡± Leah was rendered speechless by Billy¡¯s revtion. Without a trace of guilt, she questioned, Did Esther tell you? What is she up to? Don¡¯t you know¨C¡± ¡°Beforeing here, I conducted a DNA paternity test with Liliane,¡± Billy interjected. Leah fell silent, realizing that the truth had been exposed. Contemting the Anstey Group shares that had been transferred to Liliane¡¯s name under the guise of a wedding gift, Leah boldly admitted, ¡°Yes, Shane is Liliane¡¯s biological father, and you¡¯re her adoptive father. Both of you are Liliane¡¯s fathers. Is there a conflict between the two?¡± ¡°Leah, I married you back then because you told me you were carrying my child!¡± Billy thundered with anger. Leah leaned back in her chair, no longer pretending, and looked at Billy contemptuously. In a cutting tone, she said, ¡°Anstey, take a look in the mirror. Are you worthy of me?¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Back in university, among all the men who pursued her, Leah couldn¡¯t help but wonder why she had chosen the seemingly useless Billy Anstey. Perhaps it was solely because his family had some assets, and she had tricked him into falling for her. Over the years, while Leah observed the other men thriving in their careers, Billy struggled to maintain Anstey Group andcked the courage to expand its business territory. ¡°Leah, were you ying me from the beginning?¡± Billy asked indignantly. With her hands handcuffed, Leah disdainfully brushed aside the hair on her forehead and replied softly, ¡°Yes, nothing happened between us that night.¡± Billy¡¯s pale face, already drained due to his diarrhea, turned even paler as he murmured in disbelief, ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re a fool with money!¡± Leah boldly revealed her true intentions to Billy. ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect you to be this stupid! Look at yourself. How could such a naive sone from clever parents like yours?¡± Leah¡¯s expression was full of contempt as she fearlessly continued. ¡°Liliane doesn¡¯t know her true identity yet. If you keep it hidden, you still have a daughter. But if you reveal the truth about her identity, you will have nothing!¡± Enraged, Billy pounded the table and shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve raised your daughter with Shane for over 20 years. Why do I still have to be a saintly father?¡± ¡°Anstey, you can go and tell Liliane now,¡± Leah arrogantly dered, as if she hadplete. control of the situation. ¡°But let me tell you a fact. The moment Liliane learns about her true identity, there will be no more Anstey Group in this world.¡± Confused, Billy furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. gave the Anstey Group to Liliane as her wedding gift.¡± Leah smiled charmingly and slowly revealed, ¡°I wonder if that illegitimate daughter of yours will take care of you when you have nothing.¡± At that moment, Billy remembered Leah had been constantly nagging him about the Warner family¡¯s vast wealth and business empire before Liliane¡¯s wedding. She had easily persuaded him to transfer all his assets to Liliane¡¯s name. ¡°Leah, I transferred my assets to Liliane on the condition that she¡¯s my daughter. Since she¡¯s not, then I have every right to take back everything. I¡¯m not locked up here like you, and Liliane is sick. I have plenty of time to deal with both of you. Moreover, I¡¯ll turn your story into a TV drama and movie for everyone to watch for free. I¡¯ll make you and your daughter infamous!¡± Leah couldn¡¯t believe that Billy, who had always been an honest person, would show such determination. She angrily pointed at him and eximed, ¡°How dare you!?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I dare?¡± Billy, provoked by Leah¡¯s shamelessness, turned aggressive. ¡°Liliane is not my biological daughter anyway. Even if she dies, it¡¯ll be your retribution for your evil deeds!¡± Leah pointed at Billy and cursed furiously, ¡°Anstey, if you dare to harm my daughter even the slightest bit, Shane will not let you off!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t give him the opportunity to mess with me. I¡¯ll report him for engaging in improper rtionships now! Tell me, when you and your daughter damage his career, will he choose his own future or you and your daughter- Before Billy could finish speaking, his phone beeped. He turned on the screen and saw a local news article. As he read the content, he suddenly burst intoughter. ¡°Leah, your adulterous partner has been reported and is now locked up! Should I use my connections to ensure you be a miserable pair of prison lovebirds?¡± Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Leah quickly denied, ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Billy shrugged and said, ¡°Since Shane dared toy a finger on Bradley¡¯s son, do you think Bradley wouldn¡¯t retaliate? Besides, Bradley imed that Felix is Esther¡¯s child. You and Liliane stole Felix from the prison with Shane¡¯s help, right? Isn¡¯t that child trafficking? The legal department of the Warner Group is known for its aggressiveness. Both of you will end up spending the rest of your lives in prison, you despicable scum!¡± Billy was in a great mood, while Leah¡¯s mood was in stark contrast. What should she do? She had initially thought that as long as Shane took care of things secretly, she would have nothing to fear, even if she ended up in prison. But if something happened to Shane, she would have to face prison. She had heard that it involved hardbor. After living a life of luxury for so many years, she could count on one hand the number of times she had stepped into the kitchen. How could she endure life in prison? And what would happen to Liliane when she and Shane were in trouble? ¡°Anstey¡­ Billy, everything is my fault.¡± In an instant, Leah thought of using Billy¡¯s obliviousness. ¡°Liliane doesn¡¯t know anything. She¡¯s innocent. Billy, I admit that you and Liliane are not biologically rted, but have you ever considered that you have been her father since she was born? ¡°You witnessed her first word, her first steps. Billy, blood ties are not important. What matters is the 20- plus years of father-daughter rtionship between you and Liliane.¡± Billy had a fleeting emotional moment when he heard Leah¡¯s words. However, it was only a moment, and he wouldn¡¯t be fooled by her again. ¡°Leah, I have raised Liliane for over 20 years. You know better than anyone how much effort. and money I have spent on her, but you¡­ How have you treated me? You actually drugged me because you didn¡¯t want me at the wedding?¡± Billy felt angry and resentful as he thought of himself suffering from stomach pain and passing out while Liliane and Shane happily walked down the aisle for the wedding. Fortunately, Bradley ruined the wedding on the spot, so the wedding didn¡¯t take ce sessfully. Otherwise, he would truly have had nothing! Life was fair. Shane and Leah, a pair of scums, were both going to prison. ¡°Drugged?¡± Leah pretended to be unaware. Billy snorted and said in a low voice, ¡°Leah, don¡¯t y dumb. If you want me to take care of Liliane, it¡¯s not impossible. Kneel down and bow to me 100 times, and I¡¯ll consider it for the sake of Liliane calling me ¡®Dad¡¯ for over 20 years. I¡¯ll take care of her in your ce.¡± Leah fell to her knees in front of Billy with a loud thud and started bowing without hesitation. When Billy reached 99, he grabbed Leah by the hair, forcing her to look into his eyes, and said coldly, Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Leah, so you also have such naive moments¡­¡± ¡°You lied to me!¡± Leah¡¯s eyes were filled with resentment. ¡°Leah, do you see the word ¡®fool¡¯ written on my face?¡± Billy asked sarcastically. Leah was furious and angrily shouted, ¡°Anstey, do you know why your parents died? It¡¯s because those two found out that Liliane isn¡¯t your daughter¡­ ¡°Tell me, how could I keep them around? You didn¡¯t know that I¡¯m the one who personally killed them! They even wanted to pass on a message to you before they died, but you were with Liliane at the hospital! Don¡¯t you think those two died without peace of mind¡­ Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Billy, yed by Leah, witnessed her unrestrained animosity toward him, revealing her malicious intentions without restraint. ¡°You¡¯re trulyughable. Did you actually think that the deaths of those two old folks were mere idents all this time?¡± Billy never imagined Leah could be so vile. Ignoring his own image, he angrily raised his hand and pped Leah across the face. ¡°Leah Walpole, do you even possess a shred of humanity? Hadn¡¯t my parents been treating you well since we got married, despite their opposing opinions before our marriage? If only you had an ounce of conscience¡­¡± Leah stuck out her tongue and licked the blood at the corner of her mouth. She viciously retorted, ¡°If they truly treated me well, would they have secretly conducted a DNA paternity. test behind my back? ¡°They even said that if I agreed to give birth to a second child for you, they wouldn¡¯t pursue the matter regarding Liliane. They even imed that the Anstey Group would belong to my son if we had a second child. Tell me, why should I bear a second child with you? Are you even worthy?¡± Billy never considered the extent of his parents¡¯ actions behind his back. Suddenly, he felt like an inadequate son-apletely unfilial child. His parents would still be alive and well if it weren¡¯t for his foolishness and falling into Leah¡¯s clutches. ¡°Leah, I¡¯m unworthy? Would you have chosen me if I were unworthy?¡± Billy trembled with rage. He Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. pointed a finger at her face and fiercely questioned, ¡°Have I disrespected your ancestors? Is that why you treat me this way?¡± Leah looked at Billy, consumed by remorse, with a mocking smile and taunted, ¡°Anstey, your parents were quite entertaining. Why would I need a second child if I wanted the Anstey Group? Once I got rid of them and then you, I¡¯d be thepany¡¯s true owner whenever I pleased.¡± Regrettably¡­ Leah thought with great pity. If only she had killed Billy sooner¡­ She shouldn¡¯t have thought that Liliane would face ridicule without a father. ¡°Heh¡­¡± Billy couldn¡¯t be bothered to say another word to Leah. An abominable woman like her didn¡¯t deserve his attention. ¡°You¡­ Good luck.¡± Billy sought awyer to handle the shares of the Anstey Group and hired a private detective to investigate his parents¡¯ cause of death. He needed enough evidence to ensure that Leah would spend the rest of her life in prison. Billy realized that he had been ruthlessly deceived by Leah and Liliane all these years. He even reflected on how he had repeatedly hurt and neglected Esther for the sake of Liliane, believing the Billy now understood how terribly wrong he had been. Filled with revenge in his heart, he headed straight to the hospital after his rage toward Leah. Scott, the skilled cardiac surgeon, had once again saved Liliane from the clutches of death as her condition worsened. Lilianey in the hospital bed, clearly feeling the difort in her body. Overwhelmed by grief, she held her chest and thought, ¡®What should I do? Will I really die if there isn¡¯t a suitable heart for transntation?¡¯ No! She didn¡¯t want to die! She wanted to live. Who would save her? Who woulde to her rescue? Chapter 278 Chapter 278 As Billy entered the ward, he saw Liliane silently weeping, clutching her chest. ¡°Dad.¡± Liliane looked at Billy with teary eyes and suddenly thought of Leah, who was captured. Urgently, she pleaded, ¡°Dad, Mom¡¯s been arrested. Hurry and save her!¡± Billy examined Liliane from head to toe. He had once believed firmly that Liliane was his biological daughter and saw simrities between them. But now, the cruel truth stood before him, and he could no longer deceive himself into thinking that Liliane resembled him in any way. ¡°Liliane, return the wedding gift to me,¡± Billy stated. Caught off guard by her father¡¯s request, Liliane asked in astonishment, ¡°Dad, why do you want something that¡¯s already been given away?¡± Billy stood in front of Liliane¡¯s hospital bed and exined, ¡°It was meant as your wedding gift, but since you haven¡¯t gotten married, there¡¯s no need to keep it with you for now.¡± Confused, Liliane turned her head to look at her father¡¯s emotionless face. She weakly protested, ¡°Dad, Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. you only have me as your daughter. Everything in the Ansteys will eventually belong to me¡­¡± ¡°Who says you¡¯re the only daughter of the Ansteys?¡± Billy pulled a chair and sat before Liliane, taking out his phone. He aimed the camera at Liliane¡¯s sickly face and said, ¡°Esther is also my daughter.¡± A trace of annoyance and killing intent shed in Liliane¡¯s eyes. ¡°Dad, didn¡¯t you say she has no blood rtion to you?¡± ¡°An adopted daughter is still a daughter,¡± Billy replied, realizing Liliane shared the same. materialistic traits as her malicious mother. ¡°She should receive her fair share.¡± ¡°But Dad, Esther is already Bradley¡¯s wife. The Warners are wealthy and influential. Why would they care about your small possessions?¡± Liliane had been bestowed with stocks, properties, and everything else. How could she bear to give it all back? Unfazed, Billy spoke coldly. ¡°What she has is hers, and what I give her is from me. Can they be considered the same?¡± ¡°Dad¡­¡± Liliane suddenly mentioned Leah, adopting a righteous tone, ¡°Does Mom know about the things you¡¯re saying to me?¡± ¡°She does!¡± Billy had lost interest in ying the loving father with Liliane. He had given her a chance. If Liliane had been willing to return the gift, he would have relented, even if it was only for show. As Leah had said, Liliane was the daughter he had watched grow up. Despite theck of blood ties, the bond and affection of a father-daughter rtionship built over the years could not be easily erased. However, Liliane¡¯s behavior made it clear to Billy that she truly took after Shane and Leah. She possessed their traits-money-driven, ruthless, and unscrupulous. ¡°What does Mom say then?¡± Liliane refused to return her wedding gift to her father. She wasn¡¯t foolish. Having the money in her own hands was not the same as having it in someone else¡¯s. Billy stated coldly, ¡°Liliane, it doesn¡¯t matter what your mother says. What matters is that everything I¡¯ve given you was based on the assumption that you¡¯re my biological daughter. And you¡¯re not. I can withdraw my gift at any time.¡± Liliane was shocked. ¡°Dad, are you going senile? How could I not be your biological daughter!? ¡°Your biological father is Shane Hoyer, the same Shane who handed Esther¡¯s son to you!¡± Malice and resentment filled Billy¡¯s voice. ¡°The Shane who personally walked you down the aisle¡­¡± Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Liliane couldn¡¯t contain her joy upon hearing Billy¡¯s words. Was it true? Was Shane her biological father? Did that mean she now had a father who would do anything for her? Previously, Liliane couldn¡¯tprehend how Leah had managed to sneak Felix out of such a heavily guarded ce, but now she understood that it was Shane who had helped her. Of course! Shane was her biological father. Though they had never reunited, he had been silently watching over her all these years. Liliane finally understood why Leah had kept so many things from Billy back then. ¡°Are you happy to hear that Shane is your biological father?¡± Billy asked with a dark tone. Liliane looked at Billy, tears welling up in her eyes, and replied, ¡°Dad, I truly didn¡¯t know he was my father! But don¡¯t worry, even if Shane is my biological father, you will always be my dad.¡± Although Billy had no money, shares, or material possessions, Liliane still had to put on a show. He was easily manipted, so she hoped to manipte him to the point where he would bring Esther¡¯s heart to her. Once she received Esther¡¯s heart through a transnt, she could finally live a normal life. With such a useful tool, why wouldn¡¯t she use it? Billy wasn¡¯tpletely naive, either. He had believed that Leah and Liliane were his family, and he didn¡¯t think he needed to be guarded against them. But now, seeing Liliane calcting against him, just like Leah, he finally realized that his years of genuine affection had been in vain. ¡°Liliane, I will take legal action to reim everything I gave you under the pretense of wedding gifts,¡± Billy dered. Liliane eximed, ¡°Dad, what do you mean? You- ¡°I will make a public statement and expose you and your mother¡¯s schemes to the world,¡± Billy said, turning away and leaving. When he reached the door, he turned back to look at Liliane and said in a cold but gentle tone, ¡°By the way, both Leah and Shane are going to prison. Good luck to you in the future!¡± After dropping this bombshell, Billy calmly left. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing that Shane and Leah were going to prison, Liliane couldn¡¯t control her temper any longer. She grabbed objects around her and started smashing them on the ground. After dealing with Liliane regarding their final father-daughter rtionship, Billy drove to Warner Manor. He parked his car before the gate but hesitated to get out. He didn¡¯t know how to face Esther. He had known that Leah treated Esther poorly all these years, but he believed it unnecessary to hurt his wife and daughter for Esther¡¯s sake. It wasn¡¯t until Liliane¡¯s true identity was exposed that he realized everything he had done before was aplete joke. Billy sat silently in the car, flipping through his phone album, only to find that there wasn¡¯t a single photo of Esther. He let out a bitterugh and covered his face with his hands. Leah was right about him being useless. He could have just adopted Esther, as Faye had suggested, but he believed he was capable enough to protect her and insisted on iming her as his biological daughter. His reasoning was that if he was Esther¡¯s father, she wouldn¡¯t feel like she was living at someone else¡¯s mercy. As Billy recalled all the foolish things he had done over the years, he pped himself. He had messed up everything. Taking a deep breath, Billy finally opened the car door and got out. He owed Esther an apology. He owed her mother, Faye, an apology. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 ¡°Mr. Anstey.¡± rk noticed Billy¡¯s disheveled appearance and asked gently, ¡°You seem to be in a poor state. Should I call an ambnce for you?¡± Billy shook his head wearily and whispered, ¡°rk, can I see Esther?¡± Considering Esther in the bedroom and Bradley¡¯s stubbornness, rk sighed deeply, feeling utterly powerless. ¡°After Mr. Felix¡¯s ident, Mr. Bradley hasn¡¯t been in a great mood. If you insist on seeing Madam, I can allow you in, but please prepare yourself mentally.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± rk opened the bedroom door and informed Billy, who stood at the doorway, ¡°She¡¯s inside.¡± Billy wiped his face with his hand and entered the bedroom with heavy steps. The scene inside the bedroompletely shocked him! He never imagined that Bradley would treat Esther like this. Esther was wearing pajamas, lying t on the luxurious and soft bed. There were visible signs of injury on her delicate face. However, that was not the main concern. The focus was on the iron chain tied around her right wrist, with one end attached to a dazzling crystal chandelier. ¡°Esther!¡± Billy never fathomed that Bradley, who had always exuded elegance andposure, had this side to him. Upon hearing Billy¡¯s voice, Esther mechanically turned her dull eyes toward him and asked indifferently, ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± ¡°How can Bradley treat you like this?¡± Billy erupted in anger. ¡°How can he treat you like-¡± ¡®An animal.¡¯ He stopped himself frompleting the sentence. Esther curiously inquired, ¡°Then, can you take me away from here?¡± Billy gritted his teeth and nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll take you away!¡± Esther had been entrusted to his care by Faye. Though he had not treated her as his own, had never subjected her to such treatment either. he C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Really?¡± Billy approached Esther, carefully examining the iron chain bound to her hand to confirm that it was not some high-tech device. He reassured her confidently, ¡°Esther, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely save you.¡± Even if he had nothing else, even if he had to risk his own life, he would not allow her to continue living like this. ¡°There¡¯s a small ck pin on the dressing table. Can you bring it to me?¡± Billy went to the dressing table, found the pin, and handed it to Esther. She sat up and used it to pin her hair away from her forehead. As she moved, the iron chain made a ttering sound, causing the crystal chandelier to shake violently as well. ¡°Esther, I¡¯m sorry! I have failed the trust your mother ced in me!¡± Billy couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and apologized, anguish covering his face. It was his fault. If he had not taken on so much responsibility and had been honest from the beginning, admitting that he couldn¡¯t handle it, Faye would have entrusted Esther to someone else. If he had protected Esther as a father after bringing her back to the Ansteys, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much despite Leah¡¯s malice, as long as he was there to protect her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize. We may not share a blood rtionship, but I¡¯m grateful you¡¯ve given me shelter.¡± Esther¡¯s full face was revealed after pinning her bangs up. With the chandelier¡¯s light shining upon her, it felt as if a dreamy glow enveloped her. ¡°Thank you for bringing me back to the Ansteys and fulfilling my mother¡¯sst wish.¡± Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Upon hearing Esther¡¯s words, Billy couldn¡¯t help but sob uncontrobly, reflecting on his foolish actions over the years. No! Even if it meant risking his life, he was determined to rescue Esther from this ce. He couldn¡¯t bear to see a delicate girl like Esther being destroyed by Bradley and losing everything. ¡°Esther, wait for me here. Just wait for me,¡± Billy said with urgency as he rushed to his car. As he drove, he contemted whether to hire a locksmith or cut the iron chain, but he quickly realized that the method was unimportant. The crucial point was whether Bradley would allow Esther to leave Warner Manor. If Bradley refused to let her go, even if Billy managed to take her away from the mansion today, he knew that Bradley would find her and imprison her again within 24 hours. ¡®No!¡¯ Billy needed a foolproof n. Soon, the thought of Esther¡¯s old friend, Jasper, crossed his mind. Yes, the Searle family¡¯s influence was as strong as the Warners¡¯. Perhaps Jasper could assist him in rescuing Esther from Bradley¡¯s clutches. With this idea in mind, Billy parked his car by the roadside and attempted to call Jasper. However, to his dismay, Jasper did not answer his phone. Frustrated, Billy tossed his phone aside and made his way to the Searle Group, only to discover that Jasper had gone abroad upon his arrival. After 72 hours of searching and rescue efforts at sea, there was still no sign of Felix. Bradley¡¯s somber gaze fell upon the members of the rescue team who had tirelessly searched for Felix. He closed his eyes tightly, concealing the grief within him. Standing beside Kevin, Bradley turned to him and uttered, ¡°Notify the rescue team to stop searching.¡± Since Felix had fallen into the sea, Esther, Bradley, and the other rescue personnel had dedicated. themselves to finding him, but their efforts had been in vain. Bradley knew deep down that the chances of finding Felix alive were slim. With the passing of time, he had graduallye to ept this harsh reality. He knew that he would never have Felix back. Upon receiving the news, Kevin approached Bradley, offering his condolences. ¡°Bradley, I¡¯m truly sorry for your loss.¡± Bradley had not slept during the 72 hours since Felix fell into the sea. ¡°Kevin, I¡¯m the one who killed Felix.¡± When the kidnappers gave him the ultimatum to choose between Felix and Esther, assuming Felix wasn¡¯t his biological son, he chose Esther, but¡­ Kevin, dressed casually, stood by Bradley¡¯s side, gazing into the distance at the sea. He was deeply concerned that Bradley, who loved his son dearly, would struggle toe to terms with Felix¡¯s departure. He suggested, ¡°Bradley, why don¡¯t you and Esther consider having another child?¡± Bradley¡¯s cold gaze met Kevin¡¯s handsome face, distant and filled with loneliness. ¡°Felix can never be reced.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Kevin understood that even if Bradley and Esther had another child, that child could never rece Felix. However, he feared that Bradley would iste himself and struggle to move forward.¡± Should we hold a funeral for Felix?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Bradley leaned against the railing, gazing at the sea as the wind swept across its surface, coughing softly. He didn¡¯t want to hold a funeral for Felix. As long as they didn¡¯t hold a funeral, he could still convince himself deep down that Felix might still be alive, just not found yet. Once they held a funeral, it would mean Felix was forever separated from them. Concerned about Bradley¡¯s cough, Kevin said, ¡°Bradley, you might have caught a cold. Let¡¯s go back to the cabin.¡± Returning to the cabin, Kevin prepared a cup of cold medicine for Bradley. Bradley looked at the brown liquid handed to him and politely declined, ¡°I¡¯m not that fragile.¡± He had many things to attend to. He couldn¡¯t afford to get sick or copse.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Standing silently by Bradley¡¯s side, Kevin was at a loss for words on how to console him. Together, they stood, feeling the sea breeze and lost in their thoughts. After a while, Bradley spoke slowly, his voice filled with uncertainty. ¡°Is there any way to replicate another Felix?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bradley¡­¡± Kevin met Bradley¡¯s earnest gaze and hesitated before responding, ¡°Cloning might be a possibility, but¡­ any Felix created through technology would be a fake unless we find the real Felix.¡± The rescue operation came to an end, and the personnel involved gradually departed from the vast sea. As the decision-maker of the Warner Group, Bradley generously rewarded each member involved in the rescue. Despite the calmness of the sea, Bradley¡¯s heart remained restless. He gazed at the area where Felix had fallen, his deep eyes tinged with a haunting crimson. Suddenly, Bradley¡¯s phone red with an rm. He quickly picked it up and opened the alerting app, only to discover Billy using a chainsaw to cut the iron chain binding Esther. ¡®Esther Quill! What are you trying to do? Do you want to escape? ¡®You¡¯re not allowed to go anywhere without my permission!¡± ¡°Watch out, Esther.¡± Originally, Billy intended to seek help from Jasper, but unable to reach him, he resorted to buying a chainsaw to cut the chain himself. The buzzing sound of the chainsaw filled Esther¡¯s ears. She tilted her head slightly, exposing her graceful neck, her beautiful eyes ncing toward the ceiling camera. She knew her chances of escape were slim, but she had to try. She would never regret falling in love with Bradley. The butterflies she felt when they first met as young teenagers would forever be etched in her heart. However, from this point forward, she could no longer love him. ¡®Grandpa Thomas, I¡¯m sorry for breaking my promise. I won¡¯t stay by his side any longer. ¡®Life is long, and we can only apany each other for a certain distance. We may meet at a crossroads and have a brief encounter, or we may walk together for a while, but eventually, we must part ways and pursue our own paths.¡± Billy looked at the severed iron chain, feeling a sense of satisfaction. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s done. I¡¯ll take you to find a locksmith now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Esther stood up and gathered her documents. She took onest look at the grand Warner Manor, resolute in her decision, and got into Billy¡¯s car. Billy continued speaking, ¡°Esther, Bradley holds significant power in this city. I suggest you leave the country immediately.¡± In Billy¡¯s view, if Bradley discovered that Esther had escaped, he would undoubtedly do everything possible to capture her and bring her back as soon as possible. ¡°Okay.¡± As the car drove along the road, leaving the manor behind, tall pine forests lined the sides, creating a serene and verdant scenery. Suddenly, the loud sound of a helicopter grew closer. Billy realized that Bradley was catching up, and his face turned pale as he instinctively pressed hard on the elerator. With a loud bang, the car collided against a tall pine tree trunk, and thick smoke billowed from beneath the hood. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 The helicopter hovered at a certain altitude, and a ropedder was thrown down. Kevin nced at Bradley, who was about to descend from the ropedder, and stopped him, concerned.¡± Bradley, this height is too dangerous. You don¡¯t need to take this risk.¡± As for Esther¡¯s desire to run away, Kevin thought, ¡®Let her run!¡± That woman seemed to bring bad luck wherever she went. Anyone who got involved with her would end up in trouble! With his status and conditions, Bradley could have any woman he wanted. What made Esther so special? ¡°Enough,¡± Bradley interrupted Kevin¡¯s thoughts. During his university days, Bradley excelled in various sports, from golf and basketball to football, rock. climbing, skydiving, swimming, and more. With agile movements, Bradley jumped down from the ropedder,nding safely on a soft grassy area. Kevin sighed in relief as he watched Bradley¡¯s safending. He turned to the helicopter pilot and instructed, ¡°Let¡¯s return to Warner Manor,¡± Once the cabin door of the helicopter closed, Kevin patted his chest, still feeling a lingering fear. That height was truly terrifying. Forget skydiving. Just looking at the ground below made his legs weak! Esther crawled out of the smoking car, ignoring the blood on her forehead. She mustered all her strength to pull Billy out from the side where he was trapped. Although Esther, sitting in the passenger seat, wasn¡¯t seriously injured, the airbag on Billy¡¯s side had deployed. Without help, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape the car alone. ¡°Dad, are you okay?¡± Esther asked, surprising Billy. Billy looked at Esther in disbelief. ¡°Esther, what did you just call me?¡± Esther hadn¡¯t expected to blurt out, ¡°Dad.¡± She shifted her gaze awkwardly and replied coldly, ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re fine.¡± Bradley approached angrily, striding toward them. His cold gaze fell on Esther¡¯s wrist, and he sneered.¡± So, Esther, you¡¯re trying to run away?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Billy instinctively stood in front of Esther, protecting her like a father would. He angrily scolded Bradley,¡± Mr. Warner, Mr. Thomas would never teach you to treat your wife this way!¡± ¡°In what capacity are you speaking to me, Mr. Anstey?¡± Bradley¡¯s gaze remained nonchnt as it Compared to the current Esther, who was guarded and sharp, he preferred the soft and affectionate Esther. The Esther, who could act cute, throw tantrums, and even show a little temper seemed more real to him. ¡°Mr. Warner, it doesn¡¯t matter what status I¡¯m speaking from!¡± Billy positioned himself as a shield in front of Esther, fuming with anger. ¡°I won¡¯t let you imprison Esther again!¡± Bradley mocked with a smirk, ¡°Imprisonment is the reward for obedient girls.¡± Billy¡¯s eyes widened in a fury. ¡°Warner, don¡¯t think you have absolute power! We live in awful society!¡± ¡°Esther,e here!¡± Bradleymanded, his anger and resentment evident. Deep down, he always had a lingering feeling that if he couldn¡¯t keep her by his side, she would soar freely like a bird in the boundless sky, eventually bing unattainable. ¡°Esther, don¡¯t go near him,¡± Billy pleaded, spreading his arms to shield her. She had already lost her biological parents, which was tragic enough, and now she had also lost her child. What meaning would her life hold if she lost her freedom too? ¡°Bradley, we have already signed the divorce papers¡­¡± Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Bradley sneered with contempt. ¡°Esther, you spent five years in prison, so you may not be aware that there¡¯s now a cooling-off period for divorce.¡± Esther looked at Billy in astonishment, unsure if Bradley¡¯s statement was true. She hesitantly asked, ¡°Is he telling the truth?¡± Billy nodded softly and gently said, ¡°There is indeed a cooling-off period.¡± Bradley stood alone in the middle of the road. His tall figure exerted menacing pressure on Esther and Billy as if he had countless men behind him. ¡°I have the final say in my marriage,¡± she dered. Esther refused to remain in a loveless marriage, considering it more of a tomb than a true union. Bradley took graceful yet menacing steps toward Esther and Billy, his chilling eyes turning a terrifying crimson. ¡°I¡¯ll count to three. If you don¡¯te over, don¡¯t me me for what happens next!¡± Billy whispered to Esther from behind, his voice lowered, ¡°Esther, I¡¯ll hold onto Bradley, and you run¡­ Run far away¡­¡± ¡°One. ¡°Two. ¡°Three.¡± As Bradley closed in on Billy and Esther, thetter instinctively stepped back. Suddenly, Billy seized Bradley and shouted at Esther, who stood there stunned, ¡°Run! ¡°Run! ¡°Run!¡± The moment Esther heard the word ¡°run,¡± she instinctively darted backward. She sprinted frantically along the asphalt road but soon realized that being on the main road would be too convenient for Bradley and any men he might bring to capture her. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Decisively, she veered into the forest. The area surrounding Warner Manor was densely covered with vegetation and wild grass. In her knee-length dress and lightweight ts, Esther ran with the wind whistling in her ears. The vines and thorns in the woods scratched her calves, causing small droplets of blood to ooze from the scrapes. The pain did not deter Esther. She continued running, determined to escape. When Kevin arrived with bodyguards in a car, Billy was still holding onto Bradley¡¯s thigh, resolute in his determination to keep him restrained, even at the cost of his own life. The bodyguards easily pulled Billy away from Bradley. Billy shouted in anger, ¡°Bradley, if you don¡¯t love her, why do you insist on keeping her by your side? Are you trying to drive her to her death?¡± Bradley looked down at the enraged Billy and responded mercilessly. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she die?¡± Billy was left speechless. ¡°What are you waiting for? Go and bring her back to me!¡± The bodyguards pursued Esther in the direction she fled. The forest was silent, and Esther could even hear the chaotic footsteps of the bodyguards. ncing at the handcuffs hindering her, Esther swiftly removed a ck hairpin from her hair, inserted it into the keyhole, and nervously jiggled it. The lock opened! With the chains no longer holding her back, Esther¡¯s escape became much easier. She ced the hairpin back in her hair and broke off a twig to tie up her thick hair. Even with her best preparations, they were futile against overwhelming strength. No matter how fast she ran, she couldn¡¯t outrun the physically fit bodyguards. They closed in on her. Without Bradley¡¯s orders, they didn¡¯t dare to use force against Esther. However, Bradley approached Esther swiftly, dragging Billy along. Bradley silently aimed the pitch-ck muzzle at Billy¡¯s forehead. ¡°Esther, I¡¯ll count to three. I¡¯ll blow his head off with a single shot if you don¡¯te over!¡± Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Billy was left with nothing. His wife had never cared about him, and the daughter he had been raising was someone else¡¯s. Even the business and assets his parents had worked hard to build had been foolishly. given away as a wedding gift to Liliane. Thewyers believed that Billy could reim everything given to Liliane through legal means, but there was aplication. Liliane was currently a patient with a heart condition, and any slight provocation could be fatal for her. Moreover, Billy knew that a legal battle would be a tangled mess with many variables. However, when Bradley threatened Esther, Billy¡¯s long-lost paternal heart suddenly reawakened. ¡°Esther, don¡¯t worry about me. We live in awful society now. He won¡¯t dare to do anything to me!¡± Billy felt pathetic. He couldn¡¯t even leave with Esther. No wonder Leah repeatedly called him useless- he truly was trash. ¡°Esther, do you dare to bet on it?¡± Esther had run fast, causing her tied-up hair toe loose and hang down. The dark strands stuck to her sweaty face, making her look even more delicate and fair. She stood at the edge of a steep cliff with a sheer drop behind her. Now that she genuinely wanted to break free, she could easily jump off the cliff in front of Bradley. ¡°Bradley, our affairs have nothing to do with him!¡± Bradley slightly pressed the trigger, a cold chill shing across his handsome face. ¡°Esther, whether it has anything to do with him or not is for me to decide!¡± Esther took a deep breath, concealing all her true emotions, and slowly approached Bradley. She reached. out and held Bradley¡¯s wrist, forcing the gun¡¯s muzzle in his hand to aim at her own forehead. ¡°Bradley, don¡¯t you hate me?¡± Esther smiled faintly, challenging Bradley with her gaze. ¡°Haven¡¯t you always wanted me to die as an apology?¡± Veins bulged on Bradley¡¯s forehead, and his clenched jaw showed how much he was holding back at that moment. Kevin, anxious, shouted angrily, ¡°Esther, can you please shut up for a moment?¡± Esther looked at Kevin coldly, speaking in a detached tone. ¡°Kevin, I have very few moments of regret in my life, but looking at your face now, I regret it. When I discovered that you had fallen into the water back then, I should have turned a blind eye.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Kevin raised an eyebrow, his tone unfriendly. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? It was me who asked Bradley to save you back then. Without me, you would be buried six feet under by now!¡± Kevin looked at Esther in disbelief, anxiously questioning, ¡°Esther, what tricks are you trying to y now?¡± ¡°Bradley, tell Kevin. Tell him who informed you that he was drowning back then!¡± Bradley had no qualms hiding petty truths like this and stated tly, ¡°She was the one who informed me, Kevin.¡± Kevin looked at Esther in shock. She¡­ was actually his savior? Esther looked at Kevin¡¯s handsome face with Indifference and spoke calmly. ¡°Kevin, I didn¡¯t personally save you, but I found Bradley to save you. Strictly speaking, I¡¯m at least your lifesaver. Think back on how you¡¯ve treated me all these years!¡± Esther knew very well why Kevin listened to Bradley unquestioningly. It was because, to Kevin, Bradley had given him a second chance at life. In the past, she had loved Bradley and believed that love was everything. After being hurt so badly in love, she finally realized that when she valued love more than life itself, she became a humble, unremarkable, and dim star. ¡°I didn¡¯t know¡­ I didn¡¯t know it was you who first found me back then.¡± Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Kevin¡¯s heart clenched with soreness as he reflected on the foolish things he had done over the years. Esther sneered and taunted. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here with bodyguards to take me back? Come on! Come and get me!¡± Kevin remained motionless. He could no longer treat Esther in the same way as before. After dealing with Kevin, Esther turned to Bradley, who still held her at gunpoint, and asked calmly, ¡°Mr. Warner, are you now telling me that you want my life? Or do you want me? Or have you finallye to your senses and want to-¡± Before Esther could finish speaking, Bradley hoisted her over his shoulder, turned around, and walked This is from N?velDrama.Org. away. Kevin hurriedly caught up with Bradley, incessantly advising him from behind like a chattering old man. ¡°Bradley, can¡¯t you talk calmly? ¡°Bradley, she might feel ufortable being carried like this¡­ ¡°Bradley, please calm down.¡± Bradley ignored Kevin¡¯s words. Billy grabbed Kevin and forcefully pulled him aside, quietly pleading, ¡°Kevin, please, considering that Esther once helped you, can you persuade Bradley to let her go?¡± Kevin wore a long face, torn between both sides. ¡°Mr. Anstey, if only my words could make a difference.¡± In fact, Kevin couldn¡¯tprehend Bradley¡¯s various actions either. It was evident that Bradley did not. love Esther. If he didn¡¯t love her, why would he go to such lengths to keep her imprisoned by his side? What was his n? ¡°Kevin, please help Esther. She¡¯s still so young. She shouldn¡¯t be imprisoned and lose her freedom like this! She deserves her own life!¡± Kevin took a deep breath, feeling helpless. He hurriedly caught up with Bradley, only to see him carry Esther into the bedroom. He attempted to follow them, but the door mmed shut. ¡°Bradley, please calm down!¡± Bradley stared at Esther, who had wounds all over her body, with a murderous gaze in the room. When Esther escaped, she had been focused on running and was unaware of the cuts on her face, arms, and legs caused by thorns and vines. Yet, even in that state, she possessed a fragile yet captivating beauty. Esther locked eyes with Bradley, whose gaze was as dark as an abyss. A small, wicked smile formed on her fair face. Bradley grabbed Esther¡¯s throat and forcefully kissed her lips. At that moment, all his aggressive instincts became active. There was no thought of cherishing or being gentle with Esther-he only wanted to dominate and mark her as his own. Like a captive, Esther could neither escape nor die. She could only passively endure Bradley¡¯s fury. She bit her lip tightly, and a trickle of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. After Bradley had finally vented his anger, Esther scornfully remarked, ¡°Mr. Warner, your technique still needs improvement- Bradley angrily grasped her chin and gritted his teeth, saying, ¡°Esther, if iron chains can¡¯t restrain you, fine. I¡¯ll build you a magnificent birdcage. This is my final warning. If there¡¯s a next time, I¡¯ll personally break your legs.¡± Chapter 287 Chapter 287 With a disgusted look on his face, Bradley released his grip on Esther¡¯s jaw and indifferently entered the bathroom. Laughing with self-depreciation, Esther seemed to surrender to her fate, recognizing that her life had be aplete joke since she fell in love with Bradley. She willingly sacrificed her dignity, allowing him to trample upon it. Ten minutester, Bradley emerged from the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. ¡°Esther, if Felix is reborn, N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. I¡¯ll spare you.¡± Esther couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Bradley, do you really think I¡¯ll bear a child for you?¡± What Esther truly wanted to convey was that even if she were to be pregnant by Bradley again, the child she would bear would not be Felix. In this world, there was only one Felix. ¡°It¡¯s not up to you whether you bear a child or not!¡± Bradley shook his head, the water from his hair dripping onto Esther¡¯s face. ¡°If you cooperate, I¡¯ll let Pixie stay with you. But if you continue resisting and attempting to escape, your legs will be useless. And if you dare to escape, I will personally kill Pixle and bury her with Felix.¡± Filled with anger, Esther grabbed a pillow and threw it at Bradley¡¯s face. ¡°Bradley, Pixie is also your daughter.¡± Bradley remained cold and indifferent. She¡¯s my daughter only if I acknowledge her. Otherwise, she isn¡¯t.¡± He coldly opened the door, and Kevin, who was outside the room, looked in worriedly. He asked with concern, ¡°Bradley, what happened between you two?¡± ¡°Kevin, if she asks you for contraceptives, don¡¯t give them to her.¡± Rubbing his temples, Kevin felt a headacheing on. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°Bradley, what are you doing?¡± Bradley didn¡¯t respond but went downstairs to speak with rk. ¡°rk, instruct the staff to keep an eye on Esther 24/7. If she tries to escape again, I will hold you responsible.¡± As a man, rk understood what had transpired in the room when he saw Bradley taking a shower. He sighed deeply and offered advice, ¡°Mr. Warner, you¡­ You and Madam don¡¯t have to-¡± ¡°rk, I¡¯m just fulfilling Grandpa¡¯sst wish.¡± rk was at a loss for words. When did Bradley be sopliant? Initially, when Thomas wanted him to marry Esther, he had been rebellious and unwilling. And after finally marrying her, he neglected her. -Recalling all the hardships Esther had endured, rk couldn¡¯t help but feel a throbbing headache. If someone dared to treat his daughter in such a way, he would fight to the death. ¡°The Warners need an helr.¡± rk was at a loss for words regarding Bradley¡¯s interpretation of Thomas¡¯ will, but what could he do? ¡°Mr. Warner, once a woman¡¯s heart turns cold, it¡¯s difficult to warm it again.¡± Esther used to love Bradley so much that he was her world. But after enduring various hardships, her greatest desire now was to escape from him. ¡°rk, just remember that she¡¯s the one responsible for Grandpa¡¯s ident.¡± Bradley¡¯s eyes turned icy, with a hint of killing intent flickering. ¡°She will spend the rest of her life atoning for his death.¡± rk lowered his voice and softly advised, ¡°Mr. Warner, but she saved your life, and she¡¯s the mother of your children-¡± ¡°rk, she¡¯s a murderer-and she will remain so for the rest of her life.¡± There was a time when Bradley had softened¡­ when Esther pretended to have amnesia. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Despite that, Esther took advantage of his moment of softness and desired to take Felix away from him forever. She had repeatedly betrayed his trust and crossed his boundaries time and time again. Such a person no longer deserved his affection. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t regret this in the future,¡± rk said. As rk turned to leave, Bradley suddenly called out, ¡°rk, have someone weld shut all the windows and doors in her room.¡± rk was at a loss for words. Was this something a person should do? After Bradley took Esther away again, Billy felt both anxious and furious. However, he felt helpless as he was alone and unable to challenge Bradley¡¯s immense power. He called the people from the workshop to move his car and repeatedly dialed Jasper¡¯s number. This is from N?velDrama.Org. After 30 attempts, Jasper finally answered the call. ¡°Mr. Anstey?¡± Billy¡¯s voice trembled with relief upon hearing Jasper¡¯s voice. He took a deep breath and said earnestly, Mr. Searle, where are you right now? Can we meet?¡± ¡°Mr. Anstey, I¡¯m currently overseas. Is there something you need?¡± Billy saw Jasper as a potential force against Bradley. He replied anxiously, ¡°Bradley has imprisoned Esther!¡± ¡°What? Imprisoned?¡± Jasper eximed in disbelief, ¡°Why would Bradley do such a thing?¡± Billy sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Mr. Searle, I called you because I wanted to ask if you could help us find a way to rescue Esther from Bradley.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the next flight back and contact you once Ind.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Okay.¡± Although Billy wasn¡¯t sure if Jasper would be able to help rescue Esther from Bradley, having one more person meant having one more source of strength. As far as Billy knew, since Esther¡¯s ident five years ago, everyone had distanced themselves from her. Jasper was the only one who had been visiting and sending her things. Eight hourster, Billy met Jasper in his office. ¡°Mr. Anstey, please have some coffee.¡± Billy couldn¡¯t bring himself to drink the coffee when he thought of Esther. He waved his hand and urgently exined, ¡°When I went to Warner Manor today, I discovered that Bradley had chained Esther up with iron chains. ¡°Mr. Searle, even if Esther was responsible for what happened five years ago, she has already spent five years in prison and has given birth to Bradley¡¯s children. It¡¯s time to move on from this terrible mistake. Thew has shown leniency toward her, so why does Bradley continue to treat her this way?¡± Jasper¡¯s handsome face darkened, and he pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°What does Esther want? Does she want to leave Bradley?¡± ¡°Yes! She wants to!¡± Billy covered his face with both hands, speaking in anguish. ¡°But Warner Manor is so big, with so many bodyguards and servants. Where can she escape to? Mr. Searle, can you think of a solution? Let¡¯s save Esther. She¡¯s still so young. Her life shouldn¡¯t be controlled by Bradley forever.¡± Jasper rubbed his temples and replied calmly, ¡°Actually, I heard about the incident involving Esther and Felix while I was abroad. But I never expected Bradley to take his anger out on her. Mr. Anstey, I¡¯m a bachelor. If I were to go to Warner Manor, Bradley might not let me see Esther¡­¡± Billy asked anxiously, ¡°Then what should we do? Just let Bradley continue to mistreat Esther?¡± ¡°Do you think Esther has any female friends? If it¡¯s a female friend visiting her, Bradley probably won¡¯t object.¡± Upon hearing this, Billy grew even more perplexed and said, ¡°After the incident five years ago, Esther doesn¡¯t have any friends besides you.¡± Jasper subtly suggested, ¡°I remember that before Esther was discharged from the hospital, Bradley assigned her a psychologist. How about we seek her help?¡± T Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Billy considered himself fortunate to have sought Jasper¡¯s help, as he would not have been able to Billy and Jasper quickly located Xara, who wore a bitter smile upon hearing the purpose of their visit. ¡°Mr. Searle, Mr. Anstey, I am willing to help, but Mr. Warner may not allow me to see Esther.¡± As a psychologist, Xara understood that Esther¡¯s selective amnesia was not genuine, yet she chose to protect her. Now that the truth was revealed, Bradley would undoubtedly direct his anger toward Xara. In Bradley¡¯s mind, she was not just an aplice but also a conspirator. ¡°Is there no other solution?¡± Billy felt utterly powerless and desperately suggested, ¡°Should we involve the police?¡± Jasper gently shook his head and exined, ¡°Involving the police won¡¯t help. Even if they intervene, Bradley can provide a convincing exnation. They are legally married, and our country values reconciliation over separation in such cases. The police cannot interfere in domestic affairs. ¡°Moreover, Bradley can easily im that Esther¡¯s actions were a result of her inability to cope with Felix¡¯s death, leading to self-harm or suicide. He would argue that he was acting in her best interest.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Billy was frantic, feeling both anxious and furious, as he eximed, ¡°None of this will work! Are we just going to stand by and watch Esther¡­¡± ¡®Lose her freedom forever? ¡®Be tortured to death by Bradley¡­ ¡®Wait for Bradley¡¯s mercy to release her one day?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we approach Anna?¡± Xara suggested, recalling Esther¡¯s previous coboration with Anna. Lowering her voice, she said, ¡°Perhaps Anna can try visiting her in person.¡± Surprised, Billy asked, ¡°Who is Anna?¡± ¡°Anna is a globally renowned fashion designer who recently had an exhibition here¡­¡± Jasper paused suddenly before eximing, ¡°Could Esther be Q? The emerging designer who made a ssh in the fashion world recently?¡± Xara shook her head, uncertain. ¡°I only know that Esther worked with Anna for some time, but I don¡¯t have all the details.¡± ¡°In that case, let me try contacting Anna. At this point, we don¡¯t have any better options anyway.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try. If it doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯lle up with another n.¡± Meanwhile, Esther, who was at Warner Manor, had no idea that Jasper and the others were tirelessly working to rescue her. Shey there, feeling a sense of abandonment as if she had given up. Kevin entered the room with a nurse and frowned upon seeing Esther¡¯s scars and wounds. ¡°Esther, let the nurse apply some medicine to your wounds.¡± Esther blinked and replied coldly, ¡°No need. I won¡¯t die. She had endured even worse injuries in prison and had survived, hadn¡¯t she? ¡°Esther, if your wounds.get infected, it can lead to sepsis. They may leave scars as well. Trust me. You saved my life. I won¡¯t harm you.¡± Esther mocked with a smirk, ¡°Saved your life? Kevin, if that¡¯s true, why don¡¯t you let me go?¡± ¡°Esther, think about it. Bradley doesn¡¯t allow it. Even if I were to release you, you would be found. Why subject yourself to more suffering?¡± Kevin didn¡¯t know Bradley¡¯s true intentions, but he knew that Bradley would never easily let Esther go. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 ¡°Then give me birth control pills.¡± Esther used to yearn for an intimate rtionship with Bradley, but now, when his hands touched her skin, all she felt was disgust and resistance deep within her heart. Despite her strong aversion, her body instinctively submitted to him. ¡°Esther, Felix had an ident. Bradley will need time to ept this fact. He might want to have another child with you. Since things have already happened, why don¡¯t both of you let go of the past and look ahead? I believe Bradley¡¯s attitude will change once you be pregnant.¡± Kevin¡¯s words made Esther cover her face as she burst into wildughter. How absurd! Kevin imed she was his savior, yet he was urging her to obey Bradley and obediently bear a child for him. On what grounds? Why should she have this child? ¡°Kevin, it¡¯s highly questionable that you, as a doctor, would say such things. It makes me doubt whether Bradley paid for your Ph.D.¡± Kevin sighed helplessly and softly pleaded, ¡°Esther, you and Felix have only been together for a short while, and already you find it difficult to ept Felix¡¯s ident. Please try to see things from a different perspective. Consider Bradley¡¯s feelings for Felix. Isn¡¯t it natural for him to have difficulty epting it for now? Esther, don¡¯t you love him? Can¡¯t you think about it for his sake?¡± ¡°Kevin, I don¡¯t love him anymore.¡± Esther slowly raised her hand and looked at the bruises on her wrist with a disgusted expression. ¡°Just the thought of him makes me nauseous.¡± Yes. She had fallen in love with him in her young and naive years like a moth drawn to a me. She always believed she had plenty of time to warm him up, to melt him. But little did she know it was all just a one-sided show. Kevin fell silent. He didn¡¯t know how to persuade Esther and Bradley, both filled with resentment. It seemed there were countless unsolvable knots between them. Even if he were all-powerful, it would be futile in their case. ¡°Esther, let the nurse properly apply medicine to your wounds.¡± Kevin signaled the nurse with his eyes. As a man, it would be inappropriate for him to stay in the room, so he quietly left, heading to the study where Bradley was staring at the surveince video of the bedroom. Bradley¡¯s dark eyes shifted away from the surveince screen as he sneered. ¡°She says I¡¯m disgusting.¡± Why didn¡¯t she say that when she willingly got into my bed back then? ¡°Bradley, how did you and Esther end up like this?¡± Kevin weakly sat on the genuine leather sofa chair, torn between Bradley and Esther. ¡°Esther didn¡¯t betray you and even gave birth to your children. For the sake of the children, no matter how much resentment you have toward her-¡± ¡°Kevin,¡± Bradley leaned back on the leather chair, exuding a domineering aura. His slender fingers interlocked together, his expression indifferent yet filled with indescribable ferocity. ¡°She caused my grandfather¡¯s death, and Felix had an ident because she wanted to leave with him.¡± ¡°Bradley, five years ago, we all believed Esther betrayed you, but the truth proved otherwise,¡± Kevin¡¯s temples throbbed rapidly as he spoke rationally and restrained himself. ¡°Since there was no betrayal, Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. the court video from five years ago could also be false. ¡°Moreover, Esther has never admitted to what happened five years ago. I can¡¯t think of any reason she would want to remove Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask. She had no motive. Bradley, what you¡¯re doing to her is truly cruel.¡± Chapter 291 Chapter 291 All the events from five years ago remained a thorn in Bradley¡¯s heart, their painful reminders growing deeper with time, constantly pricking at him. Their grandfather¡¯s will stated that Esther and Bradley¡¯s child would inherit the Warner Group, further fueling Bradley¡¯s frustration. Rubbing his temples in frustration upon hearing the will¡¯s core content, Kevin analyzed Thomas¡¯ motives. ¡°Bradley, have you considered that Grandpa Thomas trusted Esther¡¯s character and continued searching for the truth after the video was exposed?¡± Kevin slowly questioned, ¡°Could it be that if I had suggested a DNA paternity test between you and the child in Esther¡¯s womb at that time, perhaps Grandpa Thomas wouldn¡¯t have had the ident? ¡°Bradley, Esther¡¯s responsibility for the ident isn¡¯t the only factor at y here. Our arrogance yed a role in his tragedy as well.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Acknowledging his own mistakes and highlighting Bradley¡¯s faults, Kevin pleaded, ¡°Bradley, think about Esther¡¯s five years in prison, separated from her child. Consider the experiences she endured there. Even after her release, she faced constant challenges. You¡¯ve lost your son, and Esther has lost hers too. You-¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Bradley coldly interrupted. Kevin refused to back down, continuing to express his viewpoint despite Bradley¡¯s anger. Bradley, wake up. Even if Esther is pregnant now, the child she carries won¡¯t be Felix!¡± Bradley¡¯s menacing gaze fell upon Kevin, who felt his heart tremble but persisted. ¡°Felix is gone, and he wouldn¡¯t want you to treat Esther like this. Even if she is guilty, even if her crimes are unforgivable, thew has already sentenced her. She doesn¡¯t need a lifetime of imprisonment from you!¡± ¡°Get out!¡± As Kevin faced Bradley¡¯s anger, his heart pounded. He almost said something else but held back, ultimately leaving the study. On his way out, he encountered the nurse. ¡°How is she?¡± Kevin inquired. The nurse bit her lip, sympathy evident in her expression. ¡°She has both old and new injuries. Dr. de, her situation is so pitiful.¡± The nurse had never witnessed such a tragically unfortunate woman-imprisoned, deprived of freedom, and constantly monitored by surveince cameras. She had also experienced the consecutive loss of both a son and a daughter. How could one person¡¯s life be so filled with tragedy? It seemed as if the storms of the world were solely pouring down on her. ¡°You stay at Warner Manor and make sure she receives her medication,¡± Kevin instructed. before driving away. ncing at the imposing mansion in his rearview mirror, he couldn¡¯t help but reminisce. The manor was brimming withughter and warmth when Thomas was still alive. Now? It resembled a brooding monster that had devoured everything, leaving only darkness in its wake. Anna drove alone toward Warner Manor. However, the mansion¡¯s gates remained tightly shut without Bradley¡¯s permission. The security guards promptly informed Bradley of Anna¡¯s arrival. ¡°Mr. Warner, there¡¯s a Ms. Anna here to visit Madam.¡± ¡°Deny her entry.¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Anna, unable to forcefully enter Warner Manor, returned to the caf¨¦ to meet with Billy, Jasper, and Xara. ¡°I can¡¯t get inside Warner Manor,¡± Anna exined. Billy¡¯s hope crumbled, and he angrily punched the sofa. ¡°Maybe I should just set the whole ce on fire and be done with it!¡¯ ¡°Mr. Anstey, wake up! Esther is still inside. If you burn down Warner Manor, she won¡¯t be able to escape in her current state,¡± Jasper reminded him. Seeing the group¡¯s dejected faces, Jasper took a deep breath and spoke gently. ¡°Let¡¯s not lose hope. We need to think of another n. If all else fails, we can create a distraction and diversion. As long as we don¡¯t give up, there¡¯s still a chance to save Esther.¡± Bradley dismissed Jasper and the others¡¯ rescue n with disdain. He walked gracefully to the bedroom door and noticed a troubled servant standing there with a tray of food. ¡°Good day, Mr. Warner,¡± the servant greeted him respectfully. Bradley nced at the dishes on the tray and coldly said, ¡°I¡¯ll have my meal here too.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the servant replied, quickly informing the other servants to prepare Bradley¡¯s meal. As Bradley pushed open the door, he saw Esther, lifeless and motionless, lying like a dead person. ¡°Jasper managed to get Anna to see you,¡± Bradley informed Esther. At the mention of Anna¡¯s name, Esther¡¯s expression showed a slight change. Though subtle, it didn¡¯t escape Bradley¡¯s notice. ¡°Your father used to ignore you, but now that he knows Liliane isn¡¯t his biological daughter, he suddenly pretends to be nice to you. Haven¡¯t you seen through the hypocrisy of people, Esther?¡± Bradley questioned. Esther sat up, her long hair disheveled. Ever since Bradley had locked her up, she had been refusing to eat. Trapped and unable to escape or die, Bradley was even forcing her to bear his child-an existence that disgusted Esther about the world. ¡°Bradley Warner, the person I can¡¯t understand in this life is you,¡± Esther remarked. Esther looked incredibly frail as if she would vanish with the slightest breeze. ¡°I¡¯m certain you don¡¯t love me. So why keep me bound to your side?¡± she questioned Bradley. Bradley pulled a chair over and sat across from Esther. Avoiding her question, he spoke coldly. ¡°From now on, we¡¯ll have all three meals together. If you continue to refuse to eat, I¡¯ll have the nurse give you nutrition intravenously. As long as you can get pregnant, that¡¯s all that matters to me.¡± Esther let out a bitterugh and mocked, ¡°Five years ago, when I was pregnant, you called it a b*stard and personally sent me to prison. I gave birth, but Liliane took my son away, and you took my children away, even having the people in prison tell me that my children had died. Bradley, now you want me to bear a child for you? Who is being ridiculous here, you or me?¡± Her words ignited Bradley¡¯s anger. Like a swift leopard, he lunged at her, forcefully pinning her in his embrace. Esther understood the emotions in Bradley¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t resist and simply gazed at him as if granting any request. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Warner, do you want to continue?¡± Bradley¡¯s hand covered Esther¡¯s vacant eyes as he bit her earlobe, releasing his pent-up frustration. Tears welled up in Esther¡¯s eyes, streaming down her cheeks and mingling with her hair. ¡°Give birth to a child safely, and I¡¯ll set you free!¡± Bradley dered. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Two hourster, the maids entered the room, carrying delicious freshly prepared dishes. The bedroom was filled with a lingering scent reminiscent of the earlier activities, along with a faint, elusive hint of blood. At a round table, Bradley sat gracefully, attending to his work. His exceptionally handsome features carried an indescribable sense of elegance andziness. The young maids ced the food on the table, their eyes filled with envy and excitement after stealing a nce at Bradley. One of them ventured to ask, ¡°Mr. Warner, do you have any other orders?¡± Bradley remained aloof, exuding inherent arrogance and pride as he curtly replied, ¡°Leave.¡± The maids silently exited the room, though one of them couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge jealousy upon noticing suggestive marks on Esther¡¯s body. of Sensitive to people¡¯s ill intentions, Esther observed the maid¡¯s retreating figure with a thoughtful smirk. The aroma of the food filled the air, making her hungry. She knew Bradley¡¯s personality well- he always got what he wanted. If she continued her hunger strike, he would resort to administering nutritional fluids to ensure her physical well-being. In Bradley¡¯s eyes, she was merely a valuable tool for bearing children, with little regard for her thoughts or desires. ¡°Esther, get up and eat,¡± Bradleymanded. Esther slowly got up, tied her bathrobe without paying him much attention, and headed to the Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. bathroom. The sound of running water emanated from the bathroom, causing an involuntary twitch in Bradley¡¯s temple. Esther emerged from the bathroom 20 minutester, her hair still dripping wet. She distantly sat on a chair, picking up the food in front of her in silence. With just one bite, she recognized the chef¡¯s signature vor-the same chef who had prepared food for her in Warner Manor in the past. Tears welled support her. up in her eyes as she missed Thomas. If he were still alive, he would undoubtedly ¡°Esther, dry your hair,¡± Bradley instructed. Esther wore a ck silk robe, and the wetness of her hair had dampened it, clinging to her body and entuating her graceful curves and fair skin. Bradley¡¯s gaze involuntarily fell upon the faint red marks on her neck. He felt ufortable, so he looked away, took a deep breath, and walked over to her, forcefully pulling her toward the bathroom mirror. ¡°Dry your hair!¡± he demanded. Esther replied coldly, ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push me, Esther,¡± Bradley warned. He pinched her chin, forcing her to face her reflection in the mirror. Mockingly, he said, ¡°Take a good look at yourself in the mirror and see if you¡¯re deserving!¡± Esther gazed at her reflection-a woman who had been indulged and pampered. Theziness and contentment in her eyes made her bloom like a flower, especially with the marks on her skin, each one revealing the intimacy she had experienced. ¡°Mr. Warner, who was it that just couldn¡¯t resist earlier?¡± Esther taunted. Bradley tightened his grip on Esther¡¯s chin, applying slight pressure. Her porcin-like face instantly flushed, sensing Bradley¡¯s anger. Suddenly, she burst into crazedughter¡­ Chapter 294 Chapter 294 ¡°What? Do you still want to go on?¡± Bradley¡¯s grip on Esther¡¯s chin loosened, and his cold eyes filled with disgust and repulsion. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s truly disgusting how you degrade yourself,¡± he said, his voice dripping with disdain. Esther retorted swiftly, ¡°Likewise.¡± Locking his gaze on Esther¡¯s aloof face, Bradley continued. ¡°The preparations for Felix¡¯s funeral are already underway. If you want to attend, you better learn to please me!¡± Esther turned within the limited space of Bradley¡¯s confinement, her slender arm resting on his shoulder. The suggestive atmosphere hung in the air, intoxicating Bradley. Esther appeared enchanting, like a siren emerging from the depths of the sea. Her every move exuded a captivating allure. ¡°Like this, Mr. Warner?¡± Esther¡¯s voice was sweet and tender, reminiscent of the most delectable dessert. However, her expression remained cold and wicked, devoid of warmth. ¡°Wh*re!¡± Bradley pushed Esther away and swiftly left the room. Esther stood still, watching him depart, before returning to the dining table with a nk face, silently consuming the delicious food. She refused to starve herself. She also refused to bear children for Bradley any longer. She would not stoop so low! Esther saw Bradley¡¯s actions as nothing more than a visit from a free massage therapist. After all, Bradley possessed stamina, strength, and an impressive physique, so she did not consider herself at a disadvantage. Finishing her meal, she stood in front of the window, barred by welded railings, admiring the distant scenery. Half an hourter, she began her yoga practice. Observing Esther¡¯s nonchnt demeanor through the surveince footage, Bradley coldly instructed, ¡°rk, send her some books on pregnancy precautions.¡± rk hesitated but eventually turned around quietly, personally selecting books on pregnancy precautions, prenatal education, and parenting from the bookstore. As he prepared to leave in his car, Jasper and Billy positioned themselves in front of it. ¡°rk, let¡¯s have a chat,¡± Jasper proposed. After a moment of consideration, rk agreed to apany them to a members-only club. ¡°Mr. Searle, Mr. Anstey, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t assist you if you want me to help get Esther out,¡± rk directly pointed out their intentions. Jasper poured rk a ss of water, expressing his concern. ¡°rk, Felix had an ident, and Bradley is in a bad mood. I understand that, but he can¡¯t take it all out on Esther. Felix was her son too. Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s also grieving? Isn¡¯t she heartbroken and in pain?¡± Billy joined in the persuasion. ¡°rk, you¡¯ve watched Esther grow up as well. Honestly, I C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. haven¡¯t taken care of her before, and I owe her a lot. Her mother entrusted her to me because she trusted me, but I failed her trust. Now, seeing Bradley imprison her like this, I can¡¯t bear to sit back and watch.¡± rk cleared his throat, feeling helpless, as he reminded them, ¡°It¡¯s best not to entertain thoughts of taking her away. You won¡¯t seed. Mr. Warner intends to have another child with Esther. Just think about it¡­¡± Billy was shocked. ¡°What?¡± Jasper¡¯sposure shattered, and he couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment. Setting aside whether Esther was willing to have another child with Bradley, it had only been a short time since Felix¡¯s incident. Yet, Bradley was already pressuring Esther, who had just lost her child, to be pregnant again. Did he even consider Esther¡¯s feelings? ¡°Has Bradley lost his mind?¡± Chapter 295 Chapter 295 It seemed to everyone that Bradley had gone mad, forcing Esther to get pregnant at this time without considering her feelings. rk calmly looked at Billy and Jasper before speaking softly, ¡°Mr. Warner is currently unable to ept the situation. Give him some more time, and I believe he will eventually move on from the pain of losing his son.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t Bradley and Esther already have another daughter named Pixie? Wasn¡¯t she adopted by someone else? Instead of doing everything possible to find Pixie, Bradley wants to have a child with Esther now? He can¡¯t be ignorant enough to want another Felix, can he?¡± rk remained silent, and Jasper didn¡¯t know what to say either. He took a sip of his coffee and spoke slowly. ¡°rk, please pass on a message to Esther. Tell her that we¡¯re deeply concerned about her and Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ask her to take good care of herself. Let her know that I will continue to help her find Pixie and that she must prioritize her well-being.¡± rk agreed, saying, ¡°Okay.¡± Billy wanted to speak but couldn¡¯t find the right words. From his perspective, he sincerely hoped that Bradley would show mercy and spare Esther. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯ll be there with Esther, and she shouldn¡¯t be in immediate danger for now.¡± After rk left, Billy muttered, ¡°Is there really no other way to handle Bradley¡¯s outrageous behavior?¡± ¡°Possible solutions are being considered. The fact that Bradley wants to have a child with Esther indicates that her personal safety is at least ensured during this period. As for other matters, we can take our time.¡± Billy pleaded earnestly, ¡°Mr. Searle, please help Esther.¡± Jasper casually asked Billy, seemingly disinterested, ¡°I heard that Esther isn¡¯t your biological daughter.¡± Billy didn¡¯t hide Esther¡¯s background and exined calmly, ¡°Esther is indeed my adopted daughter. That¡¯s why I neglected her in the past, assuming Liliane was my biological daughter. Onlyter did I find out that she isn¡¯t. Mr. Searle, you have no idea what a joke my life has be.¡± A faint hint of surprise appeared on Jasper¡¯s handsome face. Billy continued. ¡°Mr. Searle, do you happen to know any reliablewyers? Could you rmend one to me?¡± ¡°Are you nning to help Esther against Bradley in a divorcewsuit?¡± Billy felt extremely embarrassed but exined helplessly, ¡°No, it¡¯s just that I want to reim everything that rightfully belongs to me. I thought Liliane was my daughter, so I transferred my assets to her as a wedding gift. Now that she isn¡¯t my daughter, I see no reason to give away everything I have.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Jasper pondered for a moment. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll introduce you to a suitablewyer. But I¡¯m curious about Esther¡¯s background.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure.¡± Billy spected, ¡°I thought Esther¡¯s parents didn¡¯t have any other trustworthy rtives. If there were, Faye wouldn¡¯t have entrusted Esther to me.¡± ¡°It makes sense.¡± Jasper sympathetically sighed. ¡°Esther has carried the stigma of being a love child all these years, even though she clearly isn¡¯t your daughter. Perhaps you should publicly announce Esther¡¯s true identity to let the world know that she is an innocent and legitimate daughter, not a love child?¡± it¡¯s Billy blushed, feeling ashamed of the foolish things he had done over the years. ¡°Yes, yes, all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have stubbornlybeled Esther as illegitimate. Instead, I should have treated her directly as my adopted daughter.¡± He had been swinging like a pendulum all these years, burdening Esther with things she shouldn¡¯t have carried. Jasper asked again, ¡°Liliane¡¯s current health condition isn¡¯t good. If you forcibly reim these assets, she might not be able to ept it and could die in despair. Can you really be that heartless?¡± Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Billy, suppressing his anger, spoke in a murderous tone to Jasper. ¡°Mr. Searle, I can do it. Leah schemed against me in the past, and she even killed my parents. How can I show mercy to the daughter of my enemy? And let me tell you, Leah and Shane are shameless. They even tried to force a heart transnt from Esther to Liliane. Are they even human?¡± Jasper nced at his watch, speaking warmly. ¡°If you¡¯ve made up your mind, I¡¯ll help you. I have other much help, but I want to do my part for her.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Searle,¡± Billy sincerely expressed his gratitude. Billy truly appreciated Jasper¡¯s unwavering support for Esther. While everyone else distanced themselves from her, Jasper remained by her side, and this precious friendship touched him deeply. ¡°Esther is my friend, always.¡± Thewyer rmended by Jasper went directly to the court with Billy¡¯s appointment after understanding the rtionships between Billy, Leah, Shane, and Liliane. When Liliane received the subpoena, she was momentarily stunned. Despite her poor health, Liliane had been tirelessly working to save Shane and Leah, seeking the best C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. approached declined once they learned the case involved the Warner Group¡¯s legal department. In the end, Liliane had to seek the assistance of pro bono legal aidwyers, who usually met her in the hospital room, considering her health condition. Concerning the legal matter, Liliane consulted thewyer about Billy revoking his gifts upon receiving the subpoena from him. ¡°Mr. Leyton, what are our chances of winning thiswsuit?¡± William Leyton, who had taken on Liliane¡¯s other cases, was familiar with her situation. ¡°Ms. Anstey, Mr. Anstey has the right to revoke his gifts.¡± Liliane¡¯s heart sank, and she was about to speak when her phone made a beep sound. ¡°One moment, please.¡± She picked up her phone, opened the message, and saw it was from a number she had memorized. Five years ago, the owner of this number had helped her cover up her wicked deeds and framed Esther. Now, this number was guiding her in her time of need. The message read: (Thewsuit will automatically end when he¡¯s dead.] Liliane instantly understood. This number had been secretly watching over her and helping her. Liliane was tempted. She admitted she didn¡¯t want to return everything Billy had given her. If there was a chance of losing thewsuit, the only way to avoid returning everything to him was to make him die! ¡°Mr. Leyton, you know my current situation very well. If I die now, who will inherit my assets? Chapter 297 Chapter 297 With a perplexed expression, William pushed his sses up his nose and addressed Liliane in a gentle voice. ¡°Currently, you and Mr. Anstey are still considered father and daughter. If something were to happen to you, your parents would be the first inheritors of your assets.¡¯ Upon hearing William¡¯s exnation, Liliane pondered for a moment and inquired, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the court usually attempt mediation in such cases?¡± ¡°Mediation is typically attempted, but given the other party¡¯s strong stance as indicated by the writ, I believe there is no possibility of mediation.¡± Taking a deep breath, Liliane rubbed her throbbing temples and graciously told William, ¡°In that case, I will consider it first. Meanwhile, you should actively explore the possibility of mediation with the court. Although I have no blood rtion with him, I have regarded him as my father all these years, so I am unwilling and hesitant to confront him in court.¡± ¡°Ms. Anstey, I will do my best to gauge their thoughts.¡± Liliane replied softly and delicately, ¡°Thank you for your efforts.¡± As William left the hospital room, he couldn¡¯t help but internally criticize the entire situation. With years of experience as awyer, he had some understanding of the parties¡¯ perspectives. His client was unwilling to let go of the assets she had received. The other party seemed to have the same intent, which likely led them to resort to legal procedures. In truth, William felt sympathy for Billy. He had raised the girl for decades only to discover she was not his biological daughter, and now it seemed that the other party was determined to acquire his wealth. William was a father himself, and to him, money and assets held little importance. What mattered most was that Billy had been deceived all these years. Who could tolerate such deceit? However, he was merely awyer, bound by thew, and his duty was to seek the maximum benefit for his client. Alone in the hospital room, Liliane nced at the phone number and took a deep breath. before slowly dialing. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hello, Ms. Anstey.¡± The voice on the other end of the line was maic, reminiscent of ate-night radio host- deep, resonant, andforting. Subconsciously, Liliane absentmindedly traced the words ¡°kill him¡± on the table with her hand. ¡°May I know who I am speaking to?¡± ¡°Ms. Anstey, have you made up your mind?¡± It took only a moment for Liliane toe to a decision. In order to eliminate all future troubles, she wanted Billy dead. Initially, she had believed that her father would at least have some affection for her, but upon receiving the court summons, she realized that she held less significance to him than his wealth. He knew about her heart condition and inability to handle stress, yet he still resorted to such means to pressure her. If he didn¡¯t care about her as a father, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to disregard any father- daughter rtionship. ¡°Yes, I want him dead.¡± Liliane hadplete faith in the person on the other end of the line. Five years ago, without the evidence he had provided, Esther might not have spent five years in prison, maintaining her innocence. Liliane didn¡¯t know the specifics of what he had done, but she was certain that she would be safe if he took action. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Anstey.¡± Liliane inquired, ¡°What do you have in mind? Or rather, what do you want me to do?¡± ¡°I need you to meet with Mr. Anstey and personally send him on his final journey.¡± The man¡¯s voice carried a captivating power. ¡°I will take care of the rest.¡± Chapter 298 Chapter 298 ¡°Alright¡­ thank you,¡± Liliane began to say, but the other party had already hung up before she could finish. When she tried calling again, she discovered that the number was no longer in service. Intrigued, Liliane bit her finger with excitement, her face disying a wicked expression as she wondered about the identity of this mysterious person. If they possessed such remarkable abilities, could they also fulfill her desires? She yearned to bring Bradley to justice, to make him pay for all the humiliation he had inflicted upon her. Her curiosity about this enigmatic individual grew intense. She eagerly desired to meet this meticulous and mysterious person because they seemed to be kindred spirits. ¡°Liliane.¡± Knocks on the door interrupted her thoughts, followed by a familiar voice. Liliane gazed at the man standing before her, dressed like an idol celebrity, and it took her a moment to recognize him. She eximed, ¡°You¡¯re Liam?¡± ¡°Yes, Liliane,¡± Liam Mendenhall confirmed as he removed his sses. His current appearance was ¡°You¡­ You¡­ You had stic surgery?¡± Liliane questioned in surprise. Liam nodded gently and pointed to his nose, eyes, and various other areas where he had undergone surgery. ¡°Here, here, and here. I¡¯ve had all of these done.¡± Liliane reached out and touched Liam¡¯s face, which was highly sought after by countless fans, expressing genuine concern as she asked, ¡°Did it hurt?¡± ¡°Liliane¡­¡± Liam affectionately held her hand, and tears of gratitude welled up in his eyes. ¡± You¡¯re the first person to ask me if it hurt.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so afraid of pain, yet you¡¯ve undergone so many surgeries. It must¡¯ve been very painful.¡± Liam held Liliane¡¯s hand and sat with her on the small sofa in the hospital room, sharing his difficult past as a trainee overseas. ¡°Liliane, six years ago, you supported my music dream and provided me with the funds to go abroad as a trainee. I believed that with their expertise in creating celebrities, I would soon achieve breakthrough sess as a star. However, the reality was that there were numerous talent agencies and an overwhelming number of trainees vying for fame. ¡°Icked any exceptional skills or outstanding talent. Initially, I worked as a backup dancer for popr groups, and gradually, some talent agencies noticed me and began training me. They said I had to undergo stic surgery in coboration with them if I wanted to be famous. The stic surgery industry there was well-developed. Look at my face now. Isn¡¯t it exquisite? Liliane picked up an apple and handed it to Liam, showing her concern as she asked, ¡°No wonder I couldn¡¯t find any news about you online before.¡± ¡°Liliane, I¡¯m popr now, and the talent agency is fully supporting me. They also want me to return to the country and establish my career in the domestic market,¡± Liam earnestly invited. ¡°Liliane, I need a local manager. Do you remember what you said back then?¡± Lilianeughed self-deprecatingly. ¡°Liam, I¡¯m a patient now. I can¡¯t do much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, you can hold the title, and someone else can handle the rest,¡± Liam reassured her seriously. ¡°Liliane, you said back then that you wanted to stand at the peak with me and witness the most beautiful scenery.¡± ¡°Liam, I have a tarnished reputation now. I¡¯m essentially the public enemy. If I get close to you, I¡¯ll only drag you down. Your career is flourishing, and I can¡¯t be a stain in your life.¡± Liam shook his head and expressed his emotions, ¡°Liliane, you¡¯re not a stain in my life. You¡¯re my guiding star, the one who truly sees me, and¡­ ¡°My dream!¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Liam couldn¡¯t help but recall the darkest period of his life when he was born with vision. problems and abandoned by his biological parents. It was an elderly scavenger who took him. in and they lived under a bridge, struggling to survive day by day. But one day, a savior appeared. After learning about Liam and his grandfather¡¯s situation, thepassionate woman sent his grandfather to a shelter and paid for Liam¡¯s eye surgery. Though she never revealed her name, she didn¡¯t want to burden him with a sense of indebtedness or psychological trauma. However, unbeknownst to her, Liam secretly followed her the day before his surgery and discovered her true identity through a security guard. She was Liliane Anstey, a privileged girl who provided them with a Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ce to settle down. Following the surgery, she didn¡¯t visit him but arranged for his ticket abroad. Unable to bear it, Liam went to Liliane¡¯s vi before leaving the country and saw her face clearly for the first time. He made a promise to her, vowing to work hard and fulfill his dreams. Now, after six years of achieving fame and fortune, Liam returned to fulfill his promise. He was determined to protect Liliane even when everyone else had abandoned her. ¡°Liam, you¡¯ve worked so hard to get where you are today. I don¡¯t want you to jeopardize it because of me. I appreciate your intentions,¡± Liliane softly said, cing a hand on her chest. ¡± Given my current condition, I hope you can continue shining brightly. Trust me. You¡¯ll be the most radiant star.¡± ¡°Liliane,¡± Liam responded, deeply moved by her refusal. ¡°It¡¯s toote now. The first job I took. upon returning was a family-themed variety show. We start filming tomorrow.¡± In a panic, Liliane eximed, ¡°How¡­ How did you¡­¡± ¡°Liliane, I have a lot of fans, and we all stand by your side. Plus, the contract has been signed. Since this is my first variety show after returning, there¡¯s a lot at stake. If you don¡¯t participate, I¡¯ll have to pay a penalty of $15,000,000. I don¡¯t have that kind of money.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Liliane sighed,cking heat. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what to do with you.¡± The next day, the family-themed variety show ¡°My Siblings¡± began airing. Meanwhile, imprisoned in Warner Manor, Esther had no ess to a phone and spent her time watching TV. ¡°Hi, everyone. I¡¯m Lee Mendenhall.¡± Esther closely observed the young man on the screen, wondering if it was just a coincidence that he shared the same name as the little boy she had once saved. She pondered how Liam was doing in Rokea. They had chosen the stage name ¡°Lee¡± together, but now it was being used by someone else. ¡°The sister joining me on the show today isn¡¯t rted by blood. She¡¯s the most important person in my life. My Lima Beans, I hope you¡¯ll join me in protecting this incredible sister of mine.¡± Chapter 300 Chapter 300 ¡°Lima Beans who are familiar with me know that I¡¯m a child abandoned by my parents. I have a congenital eye disease, and they abandoned me when they found out about my condition. ¡°I was picked up and raised by my scavenger grandfather. In the most painful time of my life, my sister appeared in my world like an angel and gave me the courage to go on. ¡°In this world, no one can please everyone. If you don¡¯t like my sister, please turn off the TV and refrain from leaving any attacks or insults! Thank you!¡± Liam stood in front of the hospital room door and gently knocked on it. The door to the room opened. The camera immediately focused on the meticulously dressed Liliane. She was wearing a hospital gown with her hair casually let down and a deceiving no-makeup makeup look on her small, delicate face, portraying a pitiful and ill beauty appearance. ¡°Liam, you¡¯re here?¡± Liam stood by Liliane¡¯s side and warmly greeted the camera, ¡°Liliane, say hello to the audience.¡± ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Liliane Anstey, a patient with a congenital heart condition.¡± Liliane asked cutely after she finished speaking, ¡°Liam, is it okay if I say it like this?¡± Esther turned the TV off in disappointment when she saw Liliane and Liam on it. She had shown kindness without expecting anything in return back then. She only hoped that Liam could fulfill his dreams. However, she found it absurd when she saw that he mistook Liliane for her. He wanted to repay her, but he could not even distinguish who had helped him. ¡°Madam, it¡¯s time for fruits.¡± Esther turned and looked at the maid who brought the fruit. She recognized her. More precisely, she recognized the look in her eyes. While the other maids were focused on their work, only this maid had a gaze filled with jealousy, envy, and a trace of malicious intent. ¡°Come and help me with my medication.¡± Esther walked straight into the bathroom. The maid obediently followed Esther into the bathroom, where she saw various luxurious skincare products. She was filled with envy. These were things she could never afford in her entire life. ¡°Do you like Bradley?¡± The maid was shocked by Esther¡¯s words, but before she could speak, she heard Esther continue. ¡°If you want to be Bradley¡¯s woman, I can help you.¡± The thought of the handsome and unrivaled Bradley,bined with the sounds she had heard Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. outside the door previously, made her blush at the idea of bing Bradley¡¯s woman. Even If she died immediately, it would be worth it. ¡°Madam, what do you want me to do?¡± Esther took the maid¡¯s hand and used her lipstick to write Jasper¡¯s phone number in her palm. ¡°Call Mr. Searle and ask him to prepare a wig for you, as well as a n for me to leave Warner Manor.¡± Esther looked at the young, ambitious face in front of her and said gently, ¡°Once he has everything prepared, I¡¯ll disguise myself as you, and I¡¯ll make you look like me. I¡¯ll sessfully escape from Warner Manor, then! And you¡¯ll sessfully be Bradley¡¯s woman. How about it? Are you brave enough to take the gamble?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How could she miss it? She would firmly grasp this chance. If she could sessfully get pregnant, she would transform from an insignificant maid to the mistress of Warner Manor. ¡°Until the n seeds, remember to keep it confidential. Do not reveal our n to anyone.¡± Esther paused for a moment and said, ¡°Especially not to your maid friends, understand!?¡± Chapter 301 Chapter 301 The maid gazed at Esther, whose face resembled a wless work of art, and curiously asked, Why did you choose me?¡± ¡°Because, out of all the maids, only you have the drive and refuse to settle for mediocrity.¡± The maid hadn¡¯t expected the person she looked down upon the most to see through her. It was true. She was different from her colleagues. While others thought that working at Warner Manor-with its high Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. sry, generous vacation time, and excellent benefits-was a good job, she saw it as an opportunity to strive for more in life. She also hadn¡¯t anticipated that Esther would be the one to help her in life. ¡°But why do you want to leave Mr. Warner? He¡¯s clearly the epitome of an eligible man,¡± said the maid. Unlike other employers or wealthy individuals, Bradley had the physique of a model. He was graceful, rich, and handsome. With such an exceptional man, what more could Esther desire? ¡°Our values differ,¡± Esther replied indifferently. In her younger days, she had been deceived by Bradley¡¯s appearance. She had been drawn to him like a moth to a me, only to realize that external beauty was temporary while a spiritual connection was eternal. However, she would never love another man again. Loving Bradley had drained herpletely, and she would never sacrifice herself for love again. ¡°You can leave now. If you stay too long, it might raise suspicions,¡± said Esther. ¡°Alright,¡± replied the maid. After applying a bit of ointment, Esther left the bathroom. She absentmindedly ate some fruit at the dining table, contemting her ns after leaving. In order to prevent Bradley from pursuing her, she needed to die in front of him. Yes. What kind of death would make asting impact? What kind of death would leave everyone aware? As Esther ate her fruit with a fork, she pondered various methods of death. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± At some point, Bradley had sat across from Esther. Lately, he had been leaving early and returning However, Esther knew all too well that Bradley could see everything she did in the room. through the surveince cameras. ¡°I was wondering where Felix is now,¡± replied Esther. Esther¡¯s statement instantly chilled the room. ¡°Esther, considering your recent good behavior, I¡¯ll generously allow you to attend Felix¡¯s funeral,¡± remarked Bradley Esther looked at Bradley with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes and coldly refused, ¡°I¡¯ll never attend Felix¡¯s funeral because he isn¡¯t dead to me.¡± She firmly believed that Felix was alive. As long as she didn¡¯t see Felix¡¯s body, she would never ept his death. ¡°Esther Quill!¡± Bradley yelled as he forcefully grabbed Esther from the chair and pounced at her like a hungry wolf. Esther didn¡¯t resist. She knew that any resistance would only fuel Bradley¡¯s desire for dominance. She calmly endured his outburst until he disdainfully let go of her. Then, she numbly got up and went to the bathroom. There was a time when she had yearned for a child with Bradley, but now¡­ she despised herself and him. Bradley¡¯s sharp gaze fell upon Esther¡¯s t stomach as she emerged from the bathroom, and he asked, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t your belly shown any signs?¡± Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Esther replied, ¡°Probably because your seeds aren¡¯t good enough.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. In truth, Esther knew that Bradley might not be the issue but rather her severely damaged body. When she gave birth prematurely to triplets in prison, she didn¡¯t receive proper postnatal care or recovery, which naturally weakened her body. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital tomorrow for a full-body examination,¡± Bradley said. Esther looked coldly at him as she casually picked up a book on prenatal education and absentmindedly flipped through its pages. ¡°Esther, if the examination results show that natural conception isn¡¯t possible, I¡¯ll arrange for you to have in vitro fertilization,¡± Bradley added. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Esther replied. That evening, the maid immediately called Jasper as soon as she finished her work. Jasper met the maid secretly at the earliest opportunity upon receiving her call. When he learned of Esther¡¯s n, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the wig. Give this mobile phone to Esther.¡± The maid looked at the phone in Jasper¡¯s hand but didn¡¯t take it. She exined, ¡°Mr. Searle, the signal in Madam¡¯s bedroom is blocked. Besides, we can only use work phones when we¡¯re working, not personal ones.¡± ¡°Then tell Esther to take care of herself, and I¡¯lle to her rescue when the time is right.¡± Jasper pushed a bank card toward the maid and calmly said, ¡°Consider this a token of my appreciation.¡± The maid epted the bank card and promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Searle. I¡¯ll take good care of Ms. Quill.¡± The following day, Esther, who had been confined to Warner Manor, was finally allowed to leave. However, it wasn¡¯t due to Bradley¡¯s guilty conscience but because he was taking her to the private hospital under the Warner Group. Esther underwent a full-body examination conducted by a nurse. While she was being examined, Liliane and Liam, who were recording a program at the hospital, arrived at the ultrasound room. As Liliane looked at the frail Esther, especially noticing the hickeys on her neck, she couldn¡¯t help but feel jealous. She had stayed by Bradley¡¯s side for over four years using the identity of Felix¡¯s biological mother, but Bradley had never made any intimate advances toward her. Yet, now, the typically reserved Bradley had left intimate marks on Esther. ¡°Esther, long time no see,¡± Line greeted Esther gracefully in front of the live camera ¡°Move aside, don¡¯t get in the way!¡± Esther responded, upsetting Liam. Liam stood in front of Liliane, acting as a protective guardian, and spoke with an unfriendly tone. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please speak with respect.¡± The current Liam waspletely different from the one Esther remembered. ¡°Liam, are you going against me for her sake?¡± Esther¡¯s cold expression held a hint of fierceness. She knew Liliane and Liam were recording a program, but she didn¡¯t hold back. Instead, she adopted an extremely arrogant attitude and said, ¡°Or do you want me to kick her out of the hospital right now?¡± ¡°Esther Quill, as an illegitimate daughter-¡± Over the years, people had called Esther an illegitimate daughter, believing that her mother had destroyed Billy¡¯s marriage. But now that Esther knew the whole truth, she wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to speak ill of her mother. Esther pped Liam with a loud smack. ¡°First of all, I¡¯m not an illegitimate daughter. My mother had no improper rtionship with Billy Anstey. At most, I¡¯m Mr. Anstey¡¯s foster daughter!¡± Esther looked at Liliane with a scornful gaze, her expression cold and arrogant. ¡°Secondly, the real illegitimate daughter is Liliane herself. Back then, Liliane¡¯s mother, Leah Walpole, deliberately made my foster father mistake himself as Liliane¡¯s biological father. So, what is it now? A big star like you can twist the truth just because you have a lot of fans?¡± Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Liam was taken aback by Esther¡¯s audacity in front of the live camera. ¡°Esther Quill, stop making wild usations!¡± How could his beloved Liliane be an illegitimate child? Esther smirked, took a step forward, and spoke in a chilling tone next to Liam¡¯s ear. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did you have your face and heart altered?¡± ¡°Esther Quill!¡± Liliane stepped forward, positioning herself before Liam like a protective older sister. She knew that her true identity would be revealed eventually, but she never expected Esther to be the one to bring it to light. Liliane said, ¡°I am not an illegitimate child. My father¡¯s name is on my birth certificate.¡± Esther snorted disdainfully and lightly pinched Liliane¡¯s chin. She spoke deliberately, enunciating each word. ¡°But do you share any blood rtion with him? No! Liliane, if you truly consider him your father and feel guilty, then return everything he gave you as a wedding gift.¡± Liliane turned pale and pleaded pitifully, ¡°Esther, this is between me and my father. It has nothing to do with you!¡± ¡°How is it not my concern?¡± Esther¡¯s tone turned icy. ¡°My father has filed awsuit to reim what he gave you, and you shamelessly hold onto it? Liliane, do you believe your illness is punishment for your mother¡¯s wickedness? Hmm?¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Seeing Liliane on the brink of a breakdown, Liam pushed Esther away and positioned himself in front of Liliane with his arms outstretched, his expression hostile. ¡°Esther, what right does a woman who spent five years in prison like you have to¡ª¡± Esther pped Liam across the face once again. She raised an eyebrow indifferently and sneered. ¡°Liliane knows better than I do why I went to prison back then. Liliane Anstey, God is watching your actions. The truth will be revealed one day.¡± Liliane¡¯s heart ached intensely. She had no idea that Esther had already lost everything and was now acting recklessly. ¡°Esther, it¡¯s been five years, and you still refuse to admit your mistakes?¡± Liliane clutched her chest and turned her back to the camera, ring at Esther. ¡°Have you ever considered why your son and daughter died? Perhaps it¡¯s karma for your malic-¡± Esther pped Liliane, and Liliane used the opportunity to faint in Liam¡¯s arms. ¡°Liliane!¡± Liam held Liliane anxiously, then red at Esther and asserted with authority,¡± Esther, if anything happens to Liliane, I will make you pay!¡± Neither Liam nor the viewers of the live stream saw it, but Esther clearly noticed the triumphant smirk on Liliane¡¯s face when her scheme seeded during the fainting episode. ¡°The viin always outlives others. She won¡¯t die!¡± Esther remarked. Liam gritted his teeth as he looked at Esther. ¡°Just wait for mywyer¡¯s letter!¡± ¡°Get yourself a betterwyer. Otherwise, you¡¯ll lose the case and your reputation¡­¡± Liam had never encountered such a brazen woman like Esther. He was furious, wishing he could tear her apart to avenge Liliane. But thinking about Liliane¡¯s condition, he suppressed his anger and carried her to find a doctor. Xara, who had been observing the scene from the sidelines, approached Esther. Although they were not very close, Xara knew that Esther wasn¡¯t typically sharp-tongued. There had to be a reason she specifically targeted Liam that day. Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Xara asked, ¡°Esther, why are you targeting Liam like this? His fans will tear you apart!¡± Esther winked mischievously and replied ironically, ¡°I¡¯m currently at the safest ce in the world.¡± ¡°Esther, you¡­¡± Xara sighed helplessly, expressing her concern. ¡°You¡¯ve lost weight again!¡± Esther linked arms with Xara and affectionately said, ¡°I haven¡¯t lost weight. In fact, I¡¯ve gained five pounds. Sigh¡­ If this continues, I¡¯ll be fat!¡± ¡°Esther, you don¡¯t realize how crazy Liam¡¯s fans can be. They won¡¯t let you off easily if you openly bully C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. their idol like this.¡± Esther snorted disdainfully and mocked, ¡°If those crazy fans dare toe after me, I won¡¯t hesitate to expose all of their idol¡¯s secrets!¡± ¡°Wait¡­ Do you have something on Liam?¡± Xara asked in astonishment. Esther casually replied, ¡°I¡¯m actually the one who helped him back then. Does that count?¡± Xara was rendered speechless. ¡°Esther, you¡¯re here.¡± Kevin quickly walked over and greeted her. ¡°Dr. Sadler, are you here too?¡± ¡°Have the resultse out?¡± Esther asked. Kevin nodded slightly and professionally said, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a consultation with a reproductive specialist for you and Bradley. Shall we go now? Dr. Sadler, would you like to join us?¡± Xara agreed without hesitation to spend more time with Esther. The hospital¡¯s elite experts from the reproductive department, gynecology, andrology, and general practice gathered in the spacious conference room, studying Esther and Bradley¡¯s examination reports. As the moderator, Kevin proposed, ¡°Please share your thoughts.¡± The gynecology expert spoke. ¡°Mrs. Warner didn¡¯t properly recover after giving birth, and her current physical condition isn¡¯t ideal. I personally rmend taking some time to recuperate before attempting to conceive.¡± Sitting with crossed legs on a leather chair, Bradley asked in a deep voice, ¡°How long?¡± ¡°Three months to six months.¡± After reviewing all the reports, the reproductive specialist said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Warner, you don¡¯t have any significant health issues. I don¡¯t rmend undergoing in vitro fertilization. If you want to conceive sooner, Mr. Warner, we can consider artificial methods-¡± Bradley interrupted the reproductive specialist and asked in an icy tone, ¡°What are the sess rates with artificial methods?¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, pregnancy doesn¡¯t follow a standard form. Each person¡¯s body is different. As reproductive specialist, I suggest that couples maintain a calm mindset and actively try to conceive.¡± The holistic healthcare expert added, ¡°Excessive measures can be counterproductive. In order to achieve better reproductive health, it¡¯s important to make internal and external adjustments to nourish the body.¡± After listening to the experts¡¯ suggestions, Bradley stubbornly decided to proceed with in vitro fertilization for Esther, as it offered a more controble sess rate. Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s decision, Esther smiled coldly, neither agreeing nor refusing. Just as Bradley and Esther finished the consultation with the experts and left the conference room, a young girl aggressively threw a bottle of mineral water at Esther. ¡°You wicked woman who bullied my idol, die!¡± Chapter 305 Chapter 305 The mineral water bottle missed Esther but hit Bradley¡¯s back, causing the liquid inside to ssh on his clothes and release a white smoke. The bodyguards guarding Esther and Bradley quickly reacted, restraining the girl who threw the bottle. ¡°Call the police,¡± Bradley said, removing his coat with a dark expression. The young girl red at Esther, her eyes filled with malice. ¡°How can someone as wretched as you have such good luck?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you a fan of Lee?¡± Esther asked, observing the girl¡¯s almost frantic appearance without any sympathy. The girl seemed well-educated for her age, yet she resorted to such extreme actions. Bradley had happened to shield Esther, preventing her face from being ruined by the unexpected attack. ¡°Who¡¯s Lee?¡± Bradley asked. ¡°He¡¯s a singer-dancer who recently returned from Rokea. He¡¯s currently in the hospital recording a program with Liliane, who is also hospitalized,¡± Kevin exined. ¡°This is a hospital, not a marketce,¡± Bradley said sternly to Kevin. ¡°Either the production team leaves, or they all leave together!¡± Kevin hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such a fanatic Lee fan in the hospital. It was absurd. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± The police arrived, and the surveince cameras in the hospital hallways had captured the entire assault. While reviewing the footage, Kevin discovered that the girl was not only a fan of Lee but also a nurse at the hospital. His heart raced as he realized he needed to remind the various departments during meetings that while it was eptable to admire celebrities privately-he had no objections and wouldn¡¯t interfere-it was absolutely forbidden to let personal preferences affect their work. ¡°Bradley, let me apply the medication for you,¡± Kevin said. Bradley¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t severe. He had only been sshed with some liquid and felt a slight burning sensation on his back. ¡°You do it,¡± he replied indifferently, looking at Esther, who seemed detached. Kevin hesitated, ncing at Esther. He tried to remain calm and said, ¡°Bradley, let me do it. After all, Esther isn¡¯t a nurse¡­¡± ¡°I got injured while saving her,¡± Bradley stated/ Esther took the cotton swab from Kevin without a word and clumsily applied the medication to Bradley. Observing Esther¡¯s actions, Kevin furrowed his brows and suggested, ¡°Let me do it instead.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll do it,¡± Esther replied, purposely being rough with her movements. Bradley could clearly sense her roughness but remained silent, silently enduring her ¡°revenge ¡°Mr. Warner, can I invite Esther to a concert?¡± Xara, who had been keeping a low profile, suddenly presented two concert tickets. Bradley coldly looked at the tickets and asked, ¡°Dr. Sadler, are you trying to help her deceive me again?¡± ¡°What does that have to do with her? I¡¯m the one with good acting skills who fooled her,¡± Esther defended Xara. Esther understood Bradley¡¯s underlying message very well. Chapter 306 Chapter 306 ¡°Are you proud of yourself?¡± Bradley asked, his voice dripping with darkness. Esther scoffed, retorting, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare step out of line in front of you, Mr. Warner. After all, I¡¯m merely a confined tool to bear your child.¡± For some reason, Bradley felt a sudden pang in his heart as he looked at Esther in her current state. He couldn¡¯tprehend why Esther resisted so strongly when all he wanted was for Felix to return to his side. ¡°Give me the concert tickets,¡± Bradley demanded. Confused, Xara handed the tickets to Bradley. He nced at the program and the performing orchestra listed on them and asked, ¡°Dr. Sadler, who gave you these two tickets?¡± ¡°Anna, the fashion designer,¡± Xara replied. A mocking expression appeared on Bradley¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Are you sure it was her and not Jasper?¡± Kevin leaned in closer, curiosity piqued as he examined the contents of the concert tickets. With excitement, he eximed, ¡°Bradley, this is the renowned symphony orchestra from abroad. And you know what¡¯s most incredible? The first chair violinist is a girl who¡¯s only four and a half years old.¡± Esther had heard Anna mention this prodigious girl before, so she curiously asked, ¡°Only four and a half years old?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s said that she is a natural musical prodigy. Once she hears a piece of music, she can This is from N?velDrama.Org. effortlessly replicate its melody. Her current teacher is Venus, a renowned musician from abroad.¡± Kevin¡¯s words sessfully captured Bradley¡¯s interest. He looked at Esther, who was holding the concert tickets, and casually asked, ¡°Would you like to go?¡± Esther could almost predict Bradley¡¯s next words-¡°Do you want to go? Beg me!¡± ¡°No,¡± Esther replied with a distant and indifferent tone. ¡°When I see her, I¡¯ll think of my Tinkerbell, who didn¡¯t have the chance to fully experience this world before bidding it farewell. When I see her, I¡¯ll think of my Pixie, whose whereabouts I have no knowledge of in this vast sea of people¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s expression turned cold as he listened to Esther¡¯s heartfelt words, her grip still tight on the concert tickets. ¡°Esther, you don¡¯t have the right to refuse.¡± Bradley nced at the time indicated on the tickets-it was precisely at 8:00 p.m. tonight, He grabbed Esther¡¯s hand and forcefully led her to an upscale salon dedicated to styling the wealthy. ¡°Give her a makeover suitable for a musical concert.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± Esther, devoid of emotions, was guided away by the salon consultant. They tried on one expensive and luxurious haute couture gown after another. Esther¡¯s tall stature, standing at over 1.67 cm, made every dress she tried on seem tailor-made for her. Her wlessplexion resembled fine porcin, radiating under the cool-toned lighting. She seemed like a dream, almost ethereal. Furthermore, she was not the slender type. Her figure was slender where it should be, and she possessed curves in all the right ces. Deep V-necks, backless dresses, or any other style. suited her perfectly. Esther¡¯s features were delicately exquisite, with perfect proportions. Her naturally full eyebrows were alluring and elegant. Her long, curled eyshes lightly veiled her dazzling eyes like fluttering fans. The tiny mole beneath the corner of her eye added a captivating touch. This woman, so pure yet exuding an intense allure, captivated the women in the salon. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Esther¡¯s body bore numerous old and new crisscrossing scars. These scars marred her perfection but also added a touch of destructive beauty. ¡°Mrs. Warner, there¡¯s a new scar removal technology avable now. Would you like to try it?¡± the salon consultant suggested. ¡°No need,¡± Esther coldly rejected, gazing at her scars in the mirror. Esther wanted these scars to remain on her body. Every time she looked in the mirror, they served as a reminder not to be so foolish. That man had left scars on her body and in her heart. that could never be erased While cosmetic procedures could potentially remove the physical scars, the wounds in her heart would remain forever, unable to be wiped away. The salon consultant looked regretfully at the scars on Esther¡¯s body, acknowledging that life. was fair. Esther had been bestowed with utmost beauty, but it came with a tragic past. After aplete styling, the salon consultant led Esther to Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, Mrs. Warner¡¯s styling Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. isplete.¡± Bradley nced up, his eyes filled with astonishment. He could hardly believe that the stunning beauty standing before him was the disheveled Esther he had seen at the funeral. ¡°Change the dress,¡± Bradleymanded, looking at the navy gown with a high slit that revealed Esther¡¯s thighs with the slightest movement, provoking countless fantasies among men The salon consultant helped Esther change into a deep V-neck gown. ¡°Change again,¡± Bradley possessively demanded, eyeing the V-neck. ¡°Wear something more ordinary.¡± In truth, each dress had its own appeal, whether it was a backless design, a leg-baring style, or at the very least, revealing the corbone. The consultants faced difficulty when Bradley became so particr. Esther¡¯s gaze fell upon a dress in a purple gradient. ¡°I¡¯ll wear this one.¡± The salon consultant was shocked and said, ¡°But you look stunning in all these dresses.¡± As a woman, she couldn¡¯t help but be enthralled by Esther¡¯s beauty as well. ¡°I¡¯ll wear this one,¡± Esther insisted. The dress was meticulously crafted, with attention given to every detail. Its most captivating feature was the purple gradient pattern with a cascade of wisteria flowers. When one walked in the dress, it appeared as if a gentle breeze would make the purple petals fall. Toplement the dress, the salon consultant styled Esther¡¯s long hair into a vintage updo and delicately drew her eyebrows to create slender, curved arcs. Esther resembled a movie star stepping out of a vintage poster from thest century. Her every movement and expression exuded charisma. She held a pale purple embroidered purse and adorned her wrist with a high-quality jade bangle. As she approached Bradley, she enchanted him. Bradley scrutinized Esther, searching for ws to criticize, but she was so wless that he couldn¡¯t find a single fault despite his sharp tongue. After spending a few hours at the salon, it was time for the concert. Esther and Bradley entered the venue with their tickets. The tickets provided by Anna granted them the best seats in the entire concert hall. As they settled in, they noticed many familiar faces, including Liam, Liliane, and the production crew of the program. Chapter 308 Chapter 308 They were simply not in the prime seating spots because theycked special ess. Just three minutes after sitting down, Esther stood up again. Bradley grabbed her hand and asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°The restroom. Are youing with me?¡± Esther sneered. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Bradley stood up gracefully and replied nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯ll apany you.¡± ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Bradley apanied Esther to the entrance of the women¡¯s restroom. Standing at the entrance, Esther looked at Bradley with a mocking smile and asked yfully,¡± Mr. Warner, would you like to go in first to check if my informant is inside?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the entrance.¡± Bradley stood not far away, keeping his eyes on the restroom door. A girl in a princess-style dress approached, surrounded by a group of people. When Twinkle reached Bradley, she stopped and looked up with her cute and innocent face, asking in a slightly aloof yet sweet voice, ¡°Mister, are you a pervert?¡± Bradley nced at the girl who was adored by everyone and coldly retorted, ¡°Do I look like one?¡± ¡°Totally!¡± Twinkle pointed at the female symbol on the restroom sign and said seriously, ¡°A true gentleman would never behave so impolitely.¡± When Bradley saw Twinkle¡¯s adorable face, Pixie suddenly shed through his mind for some unknown reason. He felt the need to find Pixie as soon as possible. ¡°Twinkle, you¡¯re about to go on stage!¡± someone said. Twinkle stood with her hands on her waist and confidently said, ¡°Mister, please leave, or I¡¯ll call security!¡± Bradley looked at the crooked crown on Twinkle¡¯s head and had the urge to reach out and straighten it. However, before his hand could touch Twinkle¡¯s head, the bodyguards surrounding her blocked his way. ¡°Mr. Warner, please behave yourself!¡± Bradley cast a cold nce at the foreign bodyguards protecting Twinkle and sneered. ¡°Since you know who I am-¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Esther drifted over like a swaying wisteria flower, appearing in front of Bradley and Twinkle. ¡°Aunt Esther, you look so beautiful,¡± Twinkie remarked. Esther had met Twinkle during a video call with Anna. Twinkle had an excellent memory and immediately recognized Esther, who was all dolled up. At the same time, Esther recognized Twinkle at a nce too. ¡°Are you Twinkle?¡± Twinkle yfully blinked and said regretfully, ¡°Aunt Esther, why did youe to watch my performance sote?¡± Esther replied with a smile, ¡°I only found out it was you just now. Otherwise, I would havee earlier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s myst performance today.¡± Twinkle took the initiative to hold Esther¡¯s hand and asked casually, ¡°Aunt Esther, let¡¯s take a photo together?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Esther lifted Twinkle into her arms, and the foreign bodyguards took a Proid photo of them. Esther looked at the camera seriously while Twinkle yfully kissed her cheek. It surprised Esther, causing her to look at Twinkle in astonishment. The little girl cutely said, ¡°You can also kiss me back!¡± Standing at the edge of the crowd, Bradley looked at the intimate scene between Esther and Twinkle and suddenly realized that Esther and Twinkle actually shared some resemnce. Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Upon hearing Twinkle¡¯s words, Esther gently kissed her adorable little face, holding her face with both hands. Twinkle asked in a soft and tender voice, ¡°Aunt Esther, why are you so beautiful?¡± Dressed up for the evening, Esther exuded an irresistible charm with her face, figure, and posture. ¡°Twinkle, it¡¯s time for your performance. You need to get ready,¡± reminded the bodyguard standing nearby. Reluctantly, Twinkle nced at Esther and asked, ¡°Should we take another photo together?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Esther held Twinkle in her arms and instructed Bradley, who was nearby, ¡°Bradley, take a photo of me and Twinkle.¡± Bradley took out his phone and apathetically snapped a photo of them. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bye-bye, Aunt Esther¡­¡± The foreign female bodyguard took Twinkle from Esther¡¯s arms, and Twinkle waved her hand at Esther adorably. Even after the bodyguards took away Twinkle, Esther continued to gaze in the direction she had left. The warmth of Twinkle seemed to linger in her arms, a familiar andforting feeling as if embracing her meant embracing the entire world. ¡°Esther, she¡¯s not your daughter,¡± Bradley stated as he observed the motherly glow on Esther¡¯s face, forcing her to confront the harsh reality she wanted to avoid. ¡°What are you trying to say, Bradley?¡± Esther¡¯s face turned cold, distant, as if she was miles away, despite standing right next to Bradley. They were physically close yet emotionally worlds apart. ¡°You think that because I lost two children one after the other, I should go crazy and treat every child as my own?¡± Bradley¡¯s voice lowered coldly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case?¡± ¡°Bradley, even if I did lose my sanity, it¡¯s all because of you.¡± Having said that, Esther walked away on her own and left behind Bradley, whose expression was iprehensible. As Bradley watched Esther¡¯s graceful figure, he hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and forcefully pressed her against a dimly lit corridor. His tall stature acted like a mountain, pinning Esther down, and his eyes held emotions that Esther couldn¡¯t decipher. Esther tilted her head slightly, and her fragrant scent brushed against Bradley¡¯s jawline like an orchid. ¡°Bradley, this is a public ce-¡± Before Esther could finish her sentence, Bradley fiercely kissed her lips. To Bradley, Esther was like a sweet candy he could never grow tired of. She always had an irresistible allure to him. Esther¡¯s legs weakened, and her delicate hands instinctively grasped Bradley¡¯s cor. She had never despised herself more. Despite her extreme disdain for Bradley, she would still lose herself in the depths of affection whenever he kissed her. ¡°Esther.¡± Afraid that continuing the kiss would shatter his self-control, Bradley gently caressed Esther¡¯s lips with his thumb. The lipstick on her lips had beenpletely kissed away. There was no trace of makeup on her lips, yet they possessed an enchanting and seductive allure in their natural state. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Bradley said, ¡°Only if you behave and listen to me, Felix and Tinkerbell wille back.¡± Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s almost insane words, Esther pushed him away, a touch of disgust in her gaze. ¡°Bradley, it¡¯s you who needs to see a psychiatrist.¡± He was severely sick. But it didn¡¯t matter. With the help of the maid, Esther would soon escape from this madman. A lunatic like Bradley didn¡¯t deserve her sacrifice-her dignity, her love for him. ¡°Esther, I told you to behave. Don¡¯t you understand?¡± Bradley pressed Esther against the cold wall, his long legs blocking her way out. His eyes, filled with resentment, stared at Esther¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°Bradley, don¡¯t interrupt my enjoyment of the concert.¡± Bradley frowned and asked softly, ¡°You want to watch the concert?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He held Esther¡¯s chin and mockingly raised an eyebrow. ¡°Then kiss me! Kiss me until I let go!¡± ¡°Bradley, are you insane?¡± Esther was shocked. Staff members walked by the corridor from time to time, their heads lowered. Esther felt as if Bradley had dragged her into a public ce for a confrontation. Feeling Esther¡¯s resistance, Bradley casually crossed his arms and stared down at her, unyielding. Bradley leaned forward slightly and whispered in Esther¡¯s ear, ¡°Kiss me, or¡­ Esther blushed in embarrassment as she grabbed Bradley¡¯s cor and kissed his thin lips. Esther had only one man in her life-Bradley. Even though her kissing skills didn¡¯t meet Bradley¡¯s approval, he still looked at her mockingly. ¡°Esther, if you¡¯re as lifeless as a dead fish next time, I wouldn¡¯t mind¡­¡± Esther muttered under her breath, ¡°Crazy!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll drive you mad with me!¡± After saying that, Bradley moved his legs, releasing Esther from his cage. Esther seized the opportunity and hurried to the concert hall, ignoring the difort of wearing high heels. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The lights in the concert hall dimmed as the performance was about to begin. you Even in the back row, Liliane could clearly see that the lipstick on Esther¡¯s lips had vanished. Esther¡¯s nervousness seemed to transform into radiant affection. Liliane couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as scenes of intimacy shed through her mind. She couldn¡¯t understand why Bradley had changed so much after meeting Esther. He became a Bradley always kept his distance. The closest she ever got was a hug, Why did Bradley turn into a normal man who lost himself in romantic pleasure when he met Esther? Liam noticed Liliane¡¯s odd expression and asked with concern. ¡°Liliane, what are you thinking about?¡± Liliane tilted her head slightly and discreetly typed a few lines on her phone. [Liam, will Bradley calling the police and pressing charges against your fan affect you in any way?] After making sure Liam finished reading the message, Liliane silently deleted the text. She was cautious and would never leave such a dangerous piece of evidence behind. Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Liam shook his head and answered softly, ¡°No, it won¡¯t.¡± He had so many fans. How could he be responsible for the actions of each fan? Besides, it was the fan¡¯s own decision to throw the bottle at Esther. It had nothing to do with him. He had not instructed the fan to do such a thing, but¡­ he darkly thought to himself that he wished the bottle had hit Esther right in the face. A heartless woman like Esther deserved to be disfigured. Once she was disfigured, she would experience the pain that Liliane had suffered. ¡°Enjoy the concert.¡± Liliane put away her phone and watched the symphony orchestra on stage attentively. However, she could not help but think about the nurse who had attacked Esther. She had identally discovered that the extreme nurse was a fan of Liam. Because Liam treated her well, that fan had deliberately made things difficult for her too. Liliane understood what was going through that fan¡¯s mind. She was probably what they called a girlfriend fan, someone who liked Liam and treated him like he was her husband. Fans like her had a strong guard and hostility toward any woman who was around Liam. Liliane had instigated her with just a few words to attack Esther. Unfortunately, Esther was lucky enough to have Bradley protecting her and was not harmed in the slightest. The incident did not even have any effect on Esther. After all, she was there to watch the concert with Bradley. Liliane put a hand over her chest and took a deep breath, focusing her attention on the music. Everything would work out in the end. She still had the mysterious person secretly helping her. Despite this, endless jealousy surged in Liliane¡¯s eyes, especially when she saw the intimacy between Esther and Bradley. She could not wait to destroy them. Esther could forget about getting what she could not have and what she could not obtain. Anna had given Esther excellent seats. Esther could clearly see Twinkle on stage from where she sat. The girl was tiny as she sat before the piano, her fingers dancing on the ck and white keys, and melodious piano music flowed like running water. Her small body seemed to contain endless energy. Although Esther did not understand the music world very well, she knew that Twinkle must have put in a lot of effort to achieve the level of ying disyed. It was through day after day of tedious training that made her who she was today. As the song ended, Esther was moved to tears. Twinkle, who was about to change her clothes, made a yful face at Esther on stage. She radiated the innocence and cuteness unique to her age. Subconsciously, Esther wanted to get her phone from her purse. She wanted to see photos of Tinkerbell and Pixie. She searched for her phone for some time before suddenly recalling that Bradley had confiscated it. At that moment, she was filled with fear and worry. She had very little time spent with Tinkerbell and had not even taken a photo with her. She was afraid that she would forget what Tinkerbell looked like one day. Esther lowered her head and looked at her fingers, lost in thought. She suddenly recalled the scene of her holding Tinkerbell to the crematorium. Twinkle was just a child and did not have enough stamina to y for the entire performance. She had only a few pieces to perform, but every time she appeared on stage, she would receive a warm response from the audience. After the performance, Esther originally wanted to go backstage to see Twinkle, but Bradley pulled her away after just a few steps. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Bradley, let me go!¡± Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Esther struggled to break free from Bradley¡¯s grip, but her efforts were in vain. ¡°Esther, what do you want to do? Do you want to go backstage to see Twinkle?¡± Bradley asked. ¡°Yes, I want to see her.¡± Esther red at Bradley. ¡°If you¡¯re worried I¡¯ll run away,e with me. There¡¯s no need for- ¡± ¡°Esther, calm down. She¡¯s not your daughter. Stop directing your overflowing motherly love at everyone ¡°1 Ignoring the crowd at the concert hall¡¯s exit, Esther pped Bradley. ¡°Shut up!¡± Observing that Esther and Bradley weren¡¯t as harmonious as she had imagined, Liliane felt at surge of pleasure. Since she had lost everything, why should Esther be so happy? Liliane chimed in. ¡°Esther, causing a scene in public is embarrassing!¡± Esther red at Liliane with resentment and scoffed, ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Liliane felt even more delighted when she saw Esther getting angry. She casually rubbed salt in the wound and pretended to ask, ¡°Did seeing Twinkle perform on stage remind you of your Tinkerbell? By the way, it¡¯s been over three months since she passed away, right?¡± ¡°Liliane!¡± Esther turned around and red daggers at the wicked woman in front of her. ¡°I haven¡¯t settled the score with you for stealing Felix.¡± Liliane wore a mocking smile. ¡°Esther, I wasn¡¯t the one who helped Felix escape from prison. Besides, if I had known he was your son, I wouldn¡¯t have-¡± Esther, growing increasingly irritable from being associated with Bradley, stepped forward and firmly grasped Liliane¡¯s chin, coldly questioning, ¡°Liliane, how dare you say you didn¡¯t know?¡± If Liliane hadn¡¯t arrogantly whispered in her ear, Esther wouldn¡¯t have learned Felix was her son at all! ¡°Esther, Felix is dead. If you have any grievances, don¡¯t take them out on me!¡± Liliane gleefully watched Esther¡¯s descent into madness. It was unfortunate that Felix hadn¡¯t died at Esther¡¯s hands. If he had, she might have already lost her mind. ¡°Liliane, just wait. I¡¯ll find proof to expose every evil thing you¡¯ve done!¡± Esther said. Liliane put on an innocent face and pitifully said, ¡°Esther, I truly sympathize with you and understand your pain. Your son and daughter have passed away, and your other daughter is missing. Why does all the misfortune in the world happen to you?¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Bradley roughly pulled Liliane by the arm and tossed her aside like a rag. Liam quickly caught Liliane, putting an arm around her slender waist like a protector, and confronted Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s inappropriate to treat women like this, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bradley reached out and grabbed Esther¡¯s cold hand, arrogantly looking back at Liam. ¡°Is that woman who attacked us your fan?¡± Although Liam was angry, he still had some sense of reason. Given his current position, he didn¡¯t dare to directly confront the decision maker of the Warner Group. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, Mr. Warner.¡± Bradley casually remarked, ¡°Fans y foolish games, and idols face the consequences. Discharge yourself from the hospital right now.¡± Liliane had no intention of leaving the hospital. The doctor currently treating her was there, and she had no trust in doctors from other hospitals. ¡°Bradley, I raised Felix for five years. I¡¯ve contributed¡­¡± Bradley couldn¡¯t help butugh at Liliane¡¯s shameless attempt to take credit. ¡°Do you think a thief deserves to reason with me?¡± Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Liliane¡¯s heart sank. She had always known that Bradley was heartless and ruthless, yet she couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by his charm. Her desire to conquer him only intensified as he grew colder toward her. Liliane eagerly awaited the day when Bradley would kneel before her, humbly begging for her forgiveness. It was a moment she longed for. ¡°Mr. Warner, let me reiterate that I had no prior knowledge that Felix was your son and Esther¡¯s. If I had This is from N?velDrama.Org. known, I would never have¡­¡± Esther found Liliane¡¯s argument quite amusing. With augh, Esther appeared like a wisteria flower gracefully blooming in the breeze in her purple dress adorned with wisteria flower patterns, which only fueled Liliane¡¯s jealousy. Each time Liliane thought she had brought Esther to her knees, it seemed she would always bounce back like a resilient weed. ¡°Liliane, you¡¯re just relying on the fact that someone¡¯s taking the me for all the mistakes you¡¯ve made. Did you really not know that Felix is my son? No, you did. You intentionally took Felix away from me because you knew that as long as I insisted on doing a DNA paternity test once he¡¯s born, your plot against me would fall apart.¡± Esther¡¯s expression turned icy, and her words struck at the core of Liliane¡¯s being. ¡°You took Felix away to make me suffer the pain of being separated from my child. To you, Felix is merely a pawn in your quest for power. Once Felix loses his value, you won¡¯t hesitate to abandon and harm him!¡± Liliane believed that she and Esther were destined to be enemies. Esther seemed to know every thought crossing Liliane¡¯s mind. But so what? Esther still couldn¡¯t find any evidence linking her to the child swapping. Liliane firmly believed that Leah would shoulder all the me for her, and she was convinced that Shane wouldn¡¯tplicate matters by confessing the events of five years ago. They hadmitted the crime, not her. ¡°Esther, these are all just baseless spections. Ask anyone in this city, and they know how well I treated Felix!¡± Esther sneered. ¡°Could you truly be good to Felix? Felix was a means for you to climb the socialdder. Liliane, even those who raise pets develop genuine affection for them after so many years, but what about you? You never stopped hurting Felix. Remember, everything you¡¯ve done to my son wille back to haunt your own child.¡± Liliane smiled mockingly and cruelly taunted Esther, saying, ¡°Esther, have you forgotten? 1 have a congenital heart condition. If I have a child, it means I¡¯ve been cured. I should thank you for your kind words.¡± Liam reached out and held Liliane¡¯s hand, speaking softly. ¡°Liliane, nothing will happen to you. I¡¯ll find a suitable heart for you, and you¡¯ll have a bright future ahead. Liliane shot Esther a defiant nce before turning her gaze to Liam, her voice filled with emotion as she said, ¡°m, you¡¯re so kind!¡± Esther had the chance to reveal to Liam that she was the one who had helped him, but she chose to remain silent. When she saved him back then, she expected nothing in return. Now, as Liam mistook her for someone else, she had no intention of revealing the truth- everything she said would be seen as a cover-up to those who doubted her. It was reminiscent of the times when she repeatedly assured Bradley that she was carrying his child and that she had nothing to do with the death of his grandfather. Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Unfortunately, in Bradley¡¯s eyes, all of Esther¡¯s words seemed like desperate and feeble arguments. Esther turned away coldly and hurried to the parking lot. Bradley looked deeply at Esther¡¯s back, feeling a sense of unease, especially when he saw her obediently getting into the car. It felt as if Esther¡¯s current docile and submissive behavior was just an act. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. As soon as Bradley got into the car, he reached out and held Esther¡¯s hand. ¡°Esther, Pixie will be back with us soon.¡± Esther sneered, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Should I thank you for finally showing a hint of fatherly love, Mr. Warner? Or should I thank you for remembering our missing daughter out of mercy? ¡°Esther, must you speak to me sarcastically?¡± Bradley¡¯s voice held a tinge of anger. Esther scoffed and nonchntly looked at Bradley before mocking him, ¡°You took away my freedom and still expect me to please you? Bradley, I¡¯m not that easily swayed.¡± Bradley pressed the button to raise the partition between the front and back seats of the car. He grabbed Esther¡¯s chin, forcing her to look into his eyes and listen to him. ¡°You¡¯re not easily. swayed, but you¡¯re arrogant. Looks like I¡¯ll have to break that¡­¡± Bradley angrily kissed Esther¡¯s lips. For some reason, he seemed to lose control of his emotions whenever he faced Esther. A single nce, movement, or word from Esther could shatter his self-control, something he prided himself on. Like a famished wolf, he hungrily devoured Esther like the most exquisite meal. He had restrained himself for too long! From the moment Esther appeared in her dress, he had desired this. Now, his wish was finally granted. 30 minutester. Esther¡¯s neatly pinned-up hair became undone, and her expensive handcrafted dress was tattered. Red marks were left on her fair skin from Bradley¡¯s loss of control. She looked at Bradley, still dressed impably, and sarcastically asked, ¡°Mr. Warner, do you still want to continue?¡± Bradley appeared satiated, having tasted the long-desired delicacy. He nced at Esther and spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Esther, what are you implying with your words? Hmm?¡± Esther snickered as she took off her torn tights and carelessly tossed them aside, rolling them 1. Bradley discreetly picked them up and stashed them in his suit pocket, erasing any evidence. He pulled Esther closer, subtly checking her dress. Confirming that it was beyond repair, he took off his own coat and gently draped it over her shoulders. ¡°Esther, ording to my grandfather¡¯s will, the Warner Group must be inherited by our child, so¡­¡± There was a faint scent of cedarwood from Bradley¡¯s suit, which enveloped Esther. ¡°So, I must have a child with you, is that it?¡± Esther leisurely wrapped her arms around the coat and asked, ¡°Otherwise, you¡¯ll imprison me forever, won¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Bradley replied, ¡°You can choose. Have a child or be imprisoned for a lifetime.¡± Esther remained silent, gazing out of the car window. It had been so long since she had seen. photos of Tinkerbell and Pixie that she could hardly remember what they looked like. Strangely, Twinkle¡¯s face shed in her mind when she thought of her daughters just now. ¡°Give me a photo of Tinkerbell and Pixie,¡± Esther requested. Bradley questioned coldly, ¡°Why do you need the photo?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll forget them,¡± Esther replied, her fragile demeanor resembling that of a doll. She looked at the bustling traffic outside the car window and asked, ¡°Bradley, when you found out that Tinkerbell and Pixie were your daughters, did you look at their photos carefully? Do you still remember what they look like?¡± Bradley remained silent, refusing to answer Esther¡¯s question. Esther¡¯s fair and cold face was reflected in the car window. There was a hint of fragility in her frosty expression that evoked sympathy. She pointed a finger and repeatedly wrote the names of her three children on the car window as if doing so would help her resist forgetting them. The car finally arrived at Warner Manor. Esther opened the car door and stepped out barefoot, wearing This is from N?velDrama.Org. Bradley¡¯s suit jacket. With the jacket draped over her, she appeared incredibly thin. Under the moonlight, her long legs looked straight and slender. Bradley lifted Esther and threw her into the bedroom. Esther didn¡¯t resist but coldly stared at him, silently questioning his next move. The woman in front of him possessed a stunning face, causing him to loosen his tie, feeling a dryness in his mouth. Just as Bradley was about to speak, his phone rang. ¡°Kevin, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Kevin urgently said, ¡°Bradley, Liam¡¯s fans are causing amotion online. They¡¯ve unearthed Esther¡¯s past, including all the videos from five years ago and the verdict. The Inte is full of damaging content about her. Should we involve awyer?¡± ¡°I¡¯lle to you right away,¡± Bradley said and quickly left. Esthery there for a while before getting up to freshen up. After finishing her routine, the maid she had previously sought entered the room with a cart. ¡°Madam, this is the dinner Mr. Warner requested to be prepared for you.¡± Esther raised an eyebrow as she looked at the delicacies on the cart. ¡°Blow-dry my hair, please. ¡°Yes.¡± The maid understood and apanied Esther into the bathroom. ¡°Madam, Mr. Searle has made all the arrangements.¡± Esther signaled for the maid to continue. ¡°Tonight is our best opportunity.¡± Jasper¡¯s swift action surprised Esther. She had expected to wait much longer. ¡°Tonight?¡± The maid gently nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I can change clothes with you right now.¡± The maid pulled out a new maid uniform from under the cart and handed it to Esther. Esther quickly put on the new maid uniform and styled her hair in the manner of the maids in Warner Manor. Meanwhile, the maid took off her uniform and put on a bathrobe. Esther nced at the maid¡¯s attire and realized she hade prepared. It was a good thing. They were helping each other, and it was the maid¡¯s choice. Esther no longer had to worry about Bradley taking his anger out on the maid once he discovered the truth. Chapter 316 Chapter 316 Esther carefully applied her makeup to resemble the maid, paying close attention to the details. The maid, looking at Esther in the mirror, eximed in shock, ¡°Madam, you¡¯re amazing at makeup!¡± ¡°They teach you everything in prison,¡± Esther replied, her voice gentle. ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing to learn.¡± During her five years in prison, Esther had learned a variety of skills, including skincare, hairstyling, and fashion design. The prison authorities invited experts from different fields to give lectures, ensuring that inmates wouldn¡¯t lose their ability to survive after their release. Esther was naturally smart and quick to learn, and she excelled in many areas during her time there. Makeup, in particr, was like an art form to her. The maid had assumed Esther had learned from a renowned makeup artist, unaware that Esther had acquired her skills in prison. She smiled awkwardly. Once Esther finished her makeup, she applied makeup to the maid, making her look like her doppelganger. The maid examined herself in the mirror and found that she looked 80% simr to Esther even before the makeup. ¡°Your makeup skills areparable to stic surgery,¡± the maid remarked. Esther then styled the maid¡¯s wig, ensuring every detail was simr. ¡°Have you thought this through?¡± the maid asked, surprised. ¡°Are you having second thoughts?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll harm you when he discovers the truth¡­¡± Esther expressed her concern. The maid patted her chest, reassuringly saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t expose you!¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Esther agreed. The maid and Esther officially swapped identities. As Esther pushed the cart downstairs, another maid called out, ¡°Why did you change clothes? Get in. We¡¯ve been waiting for you!¡± Esther boarded an employee van belonging to Warner Manor. The van left the manor and stopped at the usual drop-off point for the maid. Esther got off the van. Jasper was waiting in his car parked on the side of the road and greeted Esther. She eximed, ¡°Jasper, everything is going so smoothly it¡¯s hard to believe!¡± ¡°I had to resort to some tricks to save you,¡± Jasper calmly admitted. Esther was astonished. ¡°What tricks?¡± Jasper handed Esther a brand new phone and exined, ¡°I used Liam¡¯s brainless fans and their influence to investigate and attack you and the Warner Group. This kept Bradley upied and unable to focus on you. Esther, I apologize for not discussing this with beforehand you and for using your past¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Esther replied nonchntly. ¡°They are just objective facts. So, where are we going now?¡± ¡°To an ind. I have a surprise for you!¡± Esther sighed dejectedly. ¡°Jasper, what kind of surprise could there be for me now?¡± ¡°In life, Esther, we must never choose to give up. As long as we¡¯re alive, there¡¯s hope,¡± Jasper reassured her. Changing the subject, he continued. ¡°Liam is the little boy you saved, right? He can¡¯t even recognize the one who helped him, but I can. No matter how much you change, I¡¯ll always recognize you.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to repay me for saving him,¡± Esther said with a hint of indifference. Jasperforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, Esther. Some people aren¡¯t worth your time, like Bradley and Liam.¡± Esther looked at her high poprity on social media, and a n formed in her mind. ¡°Jasper, I want to start anew, as if I were truly reborn!¡± Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Jasper sensed that Esther was contemting death because of what had happened to Felix, so he gentlyforted her. ¡°Esther, you haven¡¯t found Pixie yet. If you die, there will be no one in this world who truly loves her. Only by staying alive can we keep hope alive.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a real death. It¡¯s pretending to die in front of everyone. After I fake my death, I want to go abroad to find Pixie.¡± Esther no longer wanted to be entangled with Bradley. If their rtionship was destined to fail, it should be ended promptly. Her youthful infatuation couldn¡¯t withstand the harsh reality. All she wanted now was to be far away from Bradley¡­ far enough that he could never enter her life again. ¡°So, you mean you want to stage your death and go abroad?¡± Jasper pondered carefully, considering the feasibility of Esther¡¯s n. ¡°Esther, I understand what you¡¯re feeling, but you need to know that running away won¡¯t solve the problems. Even if you escape from Bradley¡¯s influence now, do you n to hide from him for the rest of your life? Eventually, he will find you again.¡± Esther stared deeply outside the car window, her voice trembling as she spoke. ¡°Jasper, I¡¯ve lost Tinkerbell and Felix. I can¡¯t lose Pixie too. I have to find her myself.¡± She felt like an ipetent mother. Losing three children consecutively was unbearable. She was afraid she couldn¡¯t bear it and was even afraid she might want to kill Bradley and go down with him because of it. ¡°In that case, if you truly want to die, you might as well do it tonight,¡± Jasper said as he drove. ¡°Esther, choose the area in the sea where Felix had his ident. Jump into the water, and I¡¯ll make sure the rescue team saves you in time. Your identity as Esther willpletely disappear. What do you think?¡± Time was running out, and Esther couldn¡¯t think of a better n to fake her death. Without hesitation, she epted Jasper¡¯s proposal. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do it as you said.¡± After agreeing, she expressed concern to Jasper. ¡°What if Bradley mes you after I¡¯m gone? What if C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. hees after the Searles?¡± Jasper shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Esther, you know how the Searles treat me. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that all the other heirs of the Searles are dead, that old man wouldn¡¯t even acknowledge my existence. If Bradley destroys the Searles, I¡¯ll consider it a favor, a solution to a big problem for me.¡± ¡°Jasper¡­¡± Esther felt deeply touched. After the events five years ago, Esther didn¡¯t have many friends around her. Jasper was the only friend willing to do anything to help her, and she cherished their friendship. ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on it now. We need to act quickly,¡± Jasper said, ncing at Esther with a gentle expression. ¡°We can talk about gratitude after you fake your death.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper drove straight to the pier. Esther changed into a dress on the cruise ship and applied careful and stunning makeup. ¡°Esther, look at how much attention you¡¯re getting on social media. Start a live stream directlyter.¡± Esther understood Jasper¡¯s intention immediately. She hesitated momentarily and asked, Will Bradley be able to trace my location through the IP address if I start a live stream?¡± ¡°He will!¡± Jasper said firmly. ¡°That¡¯s why your live stream mustst precisely three to five minutes. Once Bradley realizes it, you won¡¯t be able to die.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As Esther leaned against the railing, the sea breeze gently brushed through her long hair as she gazed at the distant sea. For some reason, she felt a faint reluctance. It might have been reluctance toward her current identity or the desperate struggle of the secret crush that had enchanted her throughout her youth, influencing her emotions. Jasper didn¡¯t disturb Esther but kept a close eye on her online poprity. Chapter 318 Chapter 318 ¡°Esther, are you ready?¡± Jasper arrived at the designated area of the sea and took out his phone, opening the live- streaming tform. The ount used for streaming belonged to him since he was the decision. -maker of the Searle Group and had his own personal social media ount. He was even affectionately nicknamed ¡°The Nation¡¯s Husband¡± by his female fans due to his single status. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Jasper said, making an ¡°OK¡± gesture to Esther, who was out of the camera¡¯s view. Once the live stream began, Jasper¡¯s fans received notifications that he was currently live streaming. They were surprised to find out that it was actually Esther who was trending that night. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Esther Quill,¡± she said. ¡°Many people on the Inte have shown interest in what happened to me five years ago. 1 believe it¡¯s time for one final exnation. The woman in the widely circted video from five years ago was not me. The woman presented in the courtroom five years ago was also not me. I have never harmed Grandpa Thomas.¡± Esther brushed aside her long hair as the sea breeze gently blew through it, continuing to speak to the camera. ¡°Bradley, I have loved you for ten years. Ten years of unrequited love led to you personally C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. sending me to prison for five years. ¡°My children, whom I carried for six months, have been separated from me for five years. Today, I will put an end to everything with you. ¡°I know you hate me. You wish for me to die and pay for my sins. From now on, you don¡¯t have to use various means to imprison me because¡­ I will fulfill your wish and pay for my with my death!¡± After uttering those words, Esther gracefully fell backward into the sea like a fallen petal. ¡°Esther!¡± Jasper eximed, jumping into the cold sea with his phone. sins Initially, Jasper had many fans, and countless female fans thought that Esther was his girlfriend and that they were about to make their rtionship official. However, as they continued watching Esther¡¯s live stream, they realized that she was the woman who had viral. They also discovered that she had been driven to her death by Bradley, the CEO of the Warner Group! gone Of course, the responsibility for Esther¡¯s death also fell upon Liam¡¯s obsessed fans. Liam had quite a few obsessed fans who desperately dug up more of Esther¡¯s past upon learning about her dark secrets, These fanatic fans of Liam wanted to seek justice for their beloved idol, but little did they know that everything was part of Jasper¡¯s n to save Esther. Esther¡¯s suicide caused many bystanders to develop a strong aversion toward how fans had pushed someone to their death. Many of these bystanders turned into righteous crusaders, attacking Liam and the original ount that exposed Esther¡¯s past. Simultaneously, numerousizens expressed that even if Esther had done everything from five years ago, she had already served her five-year sentence and had atoned for her past actions. Some enthusiasticizens even carefully analyzed the widely circted video from five years ago and concluded that the woman in the video was not the real Esther but someone who had been face- swapped using AI. This meant that Esther had endured things she should never have experienced. The viewers of the live stream immediately reported the incident to the authorities. Kevin also received inquiries from his friends on his phone. His face turned pale as he tapped into the live stream video sent by his friend. He copsed onto the sofa, his legs giving way. Kevin stammered, ¡°B-Bradley¡­¡± Surprised and with furrowed brows, Bradley asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Esther hasmitted suicide!¡± Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Upon hearing Kevin¡¯s words, Bradley was momentarily stunned. He raised an eyebrow and scoffed in denial, ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± No one could leave Warner Manor without his orders. Esther valued her life too much. How could she havemitted suicide? Was she trying to y the same trick again? Did she really think he would be foolish enough to fall for it once more? Bradley effortlessly essed the app on his phone that he usually used to monitor Esther. The woman in the app was shown leaning against the bed¡¯s headboard, watching television. ¡°Clearly, she¡¯s still at Warner Manor¡­¡± Kevin yed the video, and Esther¡¯s voice echoed through the office. Snatching the phone from Kevin, Bradley carefully scrutinized Esther in the video. It was only when he spotted the familiar small red mole on her that he sprang up in shock. His expression turned terrifying as he questioned, ¡°Where is she now?¡± Kevin shook his head, filled with anguish. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Esther to choose death. He stared at his own hands, feeling as if he were partly responsible for pushing Esther to her demise. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Bradley had lost Felix, but hadn¡¯t Esther also lost her son? They had all put immense pressure on Esther. Finally, the once radiant Esther chose to bid farewell to this world. Bradley swiftly made a call to the mansion. ¡°It¡¯s me. Go to the bedroom and bring that woman to me!¡± After hanging up, Bradley dialed Joseph with shaky hands. ¡°Chief Zigler, I need ess to all the surveince around Warner Manor, and I want the location of Jasper¡¯s phone.¡± Bradley then kicked his desk in frustration. He grabbed a paperweight and viciously smashed it against the ss wall of his office. The tempered ss cracked like a spider web upon impact. Startled, Kevin eximed, ¡°Bradley, let¡¯s go save her now¡­¡± Bradley¡¯s phone rang. Joseph provided the final location of Jasper¡¯s phone, which was in the sea area where Felix had fallen. Without hesitation, Bradley rushed to a helicopter. ¡®Esther Quill, how dare you die without my permission!?¡¯ Esther¡¯s live stream spread rapidly, capturing the attention of more and more people, including Liliane. Liliane felt an overwhelming sense of disbelief as she watched Esther¡¯s video on her phone. It couldn¡¯t be true! It was absolutely impossible! How could Esther have possibly taken her own life? Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Despite it all, Esther had jumped into the sea before everyone¡¯s eyes, choosing to rest eternally in the same sea where Felix had fallen. This must have been Esther¡¯s n. With Esther¡¯s death, Liam was thrust into the spotlight. The production team of the variety show was pleased with the attention Liam brought and reached out to him. your fans. ¡°Lee, Esther hasmitted suicide. As an idol, you should apologize on behalf of How about this? We¡¯ll arrange for you to visit the ident site and participate in the rescue. What do you think?¡± Liam frowned in displeasure and retorted, ¡°Why should I apologize on behalf of my fans? My fans haven¡¯t done anything wrong! Shouldn¡¯t Esther take responsibility for her own actions?¡± The director of the production team exined, ¡°You¡¯re a public figure, and you should understand that not everyone can handle online bullying. Regardless of the cause, a vibrant life hase to an end. We can¡¯t ignore that, can we?¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Liam informed Liliane about his trip to the ident site for the rescue. Liliane replied understandingly, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°Liliane, there¡¯s no need for you to go. What if theizens start attacking you again? It¡¯s retribution and justice for an ungrateful ingrate like her to face the consequences of her actions and die!¡± Liam scornfully remarked. Liliane gently patted Liam and said softly, ¡°Liam, you mustn¡¯t say such things! Be safe during the rescue. Don¡¯t rush into anything. Also, consult thepany¡¯s PR department for any solutions or ns. Try not to jeopardize your career because of this incident.¡± ¡°Liliane, don¡¯t worry. I understand.¡± Countless people from all over gathered at the sea area where Esther had jumped. Even nearby fishermen joined the rescue efforts immediately. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Bradley jumped onto the deck from the helicopter, while the fishermen also saved a weakened Jasper. ¡°Jasper.¡± Jasper, drenched and dripping with seawater, sneered at Bradley. ¡°Bradley, are you happy now? ¦§ ¡°Did you really think I would believe you and believe that Esther wouldmit suicide?¡± Bradley looked at Jasper darkly, arms crossed. ¡°I¡¯ll give you until the count of three. If you don¡¯t hand Esther over to me, I will destroy the Searle Group right now.¡± Bradley¡¯s words made Jasperugh. Exhausted, he slumped on the deck and coldly said, Bradley, don¡¯t you understand what¡¯s happening right in front of you? Esther would rather die than have anything to do with you!¡± ¡°She¡¯s full of tricks. It¡¯s impossible for her to have killed herself!¡± Bradley firmly believed that Esther was not dead. She had pretended to have amnesia before, so why couldn¡¯t she pretend to be dead now? ¡°Heh¡­¡± Jasper looked up at the starry night sky above, his voice cold as he questioned, ¡± Bradley, she wanted to die when Tinkerbell died. It was me who convinced her otherwise! ¡°Do you think she didn¡¯t want to die after what happened to Felix? She did! ¡°Do you think she would forget everything and fall in love with you again by imprisoning her? ¡°Felix was your son, but he was also Esther¡¯s son. Did you really ask a woman who had just lost her child to get pregnant again!? Bradley, do you have a heart?¡± Bradley gazed at the distant sea where rescue boats and personnel were desperately searching for Esther. ¡°Jasper, I will never believe Esther is dead unless I see her body.¡± Jasper took a towel handed to him by a crew member and wrapped it around his wet body. Sitting on the deck without caring about his appearance, he replied, ¡°Does it matter whether you believe it or not? ¡°What matters is that she is free now! She will never, ever be captured and imprisoned by you again!¡± Jasper stood up shakily after saying that. He was about to leave when Bradley grabbed his arm and said menacingly, ¡°Jasper, let me warn you onest time. You better tell me honestly where Esther is¡­¡± ¡°Or else you¡¯ll destroy the Searle Group?¡± Some wet strands of hair clung to Jasper¡¯s forehead. With eyes that saw through everything, he mockingly looked at Bradley. ¡°Or do you want to kill me and join Esther in death? Go ahead and do whatever. you want!¡± Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Bradley directed a murderous gaze toward Jasper, sensing a glimmer of truth in his words. from his expression. Everyone had witnessed Esther¡¯s suicide, and she had explicitly stated that it was her form of atonement. Bradley¡¯s anger boiled over, erupting like spewingva. ¡°Jasper, where have you hidden that b* tch, Esther?¡± ¡°Heh! B*tch?¡± Jasper lightly pped his hands, taunting, ¡°Bradley, the woman you refer to gave birth to your three children! The woman you speak of was forced to atone through death. by your hands. Are you still unwilling to let her go now? What? Do you think her death as a form of atonement isn¡¯t enough? Do you want to desecrate her corpse?¡± Faced with Jasper¡¯s questioning, Bradley chuckled angrily. ¡°Jasper, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that it¡¯s impossible for her to be dead!¡± ¡°Then please find her and bring her back from the sea, Mr. Warner.¡± A wave of sorrow and pity washed over Jasper. Like an enchanting rose, the once innocent and vibrant Esther had blossomed freely. Now, she was tormented and covered in wounds because of Bradley. She had no attachment to this world, not even a trace of longing. When she leaped into the sea, her face held a sense of relief and liberation. ¡°Jasper, don¡¯t think I can¡¯t find her,¡± Bradley stated. Despite the video evidence, Bradley still refused to believe that Esther could be dead. He knew better than anyone that Esther could easily stage her death with Jasper¡¯s assistance. ¡°Believe whatever makes you happy,¡± Jasper retorted. Jasper ran his hand through his hair, flicking water droplets into the air. When he turned around and saw Liam approaching with the production crew and cameras, a cold glint shed in his eyes. He paused and asked icily, ¡°Liam, who gave you permission to be here?¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°I deeply apologize for Ms. Quill¡¯s ident-¡± Before Liam could finish his sentence, Jasper swung his fist,nding a heavy blow on Liam¡¯s face. In order to enhance his appearance on camera, Liam¡¯s current face was entirely a result of advanced technology. Liam¡¯s jaw dislocated when Jasper¡¯s fist connected, and even his prominent nose instantly became crooked. Liam staggered and fell to the ground, keeping his back turned to the camera, afraid of exposing his face. Despite online rumors about his stic surgery, he had consistently denied 1. If his current face were to be revealed on camera, it would undoubtedly confirm the truth of his cosmetic procedures. ¡°Mr. Searle, it¡¯s not right to hit someone.¡± The production team aimed the camera at the furious Jasper to generate more buzz. Jasper appeared handsome and refined, exuding the aura of a wealthy heir in the frame. His act of swinging his fist at Liam added a touch of masculinity and a sense of duty. ¡°Let me correct you. Firstly, I didn¡¯t hit a person-I hit an animal.¡± Jasper flexed his wrist, his gaze cold as he stared at Liam, who was hesitant to face the camera. His voice dripped with frost as he asked, ¡°Liam, do you remember the destitute old man and boy under Anhess Bridge?¡± Liam¡¯s heart skipped a beat, yet he still dared not reveal his face to the camera. Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Liam couldn¡¯tprehend how Jasper knew his true identity, but he realized he could manipte this situation to his advantage by ying the victim. It was human nature to sympathize with the weak, and the weak often received more sympathy. ¡°Mr. Searle, just because I¡¯m an orphan, you can¡¯t-¡± ¡°Liam, you used to be blind, but now you¡¯re blindly stupid.¡± Jasper didn¡¯t give Liam a chance to defend himself. He spoke directly. ¡°Are you really sure that Liliane is the one who helped you?¡± Liam had just readjusted his dislocated jaw and was now attempting to straighten his crooked nose. ¡°Mr. Searle, what do you mean?¡± Jasper looked down on Liam, and his words felt like a bomb exploding in the production team¡¯s live stream. ¡°Liam, congrattions, your brainless fans have unwittingly pushed your savior to her death. Jasper cast a fleeting nce at Bradley, prompting him to ask with a frown, ¡°Jasper, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°What do I mean? Exactly what I said.¡± Jasper coldly rubbed salt in Liam¡¯s wounds. ¡°Liam, it was Esther who actually saved you from your misery.¡± Liam couldn¡¯t care less about his crooked nose as he eximed, ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Want proof?¡± Jasper smirked arrogantly and demanded, ¡°Beg me for it!¡± Liam refused to believe that Esther was his savior. He clenched his fists tightly and defended Liliane with conviction, his voice hoarse. ¡°Mr. Searle, you can¡¯t defame my savior.¡± Jasper sneered coldly, relishing a sense of satisfaction as if he had conquered the world. ¡± Liam, do you know who the real Liliane is? ¡°Her mother deceived Mr. Anstey into believing that Liliane was his child while she was pregnant. Furthermore, her mother personally murdered Mr. Anstey¡¯s parents to prevent exposure. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°To secure Liliane¡¯s control over the Anstey family¡¯s assets, her mother deceived Mr. Anstey into transferring all his wealth to Liliane as a supposed wedding gift. And when Esther gave birth in prison, Liliane¡¯s mother colluded with her lover, using Esther¡¯s son as leverage to force Bradley into marrying Liliane. ¡°Mr. Warner, care to continue the story?¡± Jasper casually took a sip of cold medicine, savoring it as if it were an expensive juice. Bradley spoke coldly, observing Liam¡¯s shocked expression. ¡°Liliane and her family nned to take Esther¡¯s heart while she was still alive! They wanted Esther dead and Liliane alive.¡± At that moment, Liliane¡¯s image crumbled in Liam¡¯s heart! ¡°No! This can¡¯t be true!¡± Jasper sneered. ¡°There¡¯s an ount with the username ¡®There With You¡¯. Take a look for yourself! See who truly rescued you from the depths of despair back then¡­¡± After Jasper finished speaking, he swiftly moved to the deck railing. He gazed at the sea where Esther had fallen and spoke emotionally. ¡°Esther, men aren¡¯t worth it. The world isn¡¯t worth it.¡± Liam retrieved his phone and searched for the ThereWithYou ount. Simultaneously, countless intimate record of someone¡¯s hidden affection. Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Jasper noticed the shocked expressions of everyone on the deck from the corner of his eye, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. Jasper turned around, ready to leave, but Bradley blocked his path like an imprable wall. Jasper, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m preparing a funeral for Esther-¡± Bradley grabbed Jasper by the throat, snarling fiercely, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Esther is not dead!¡± Jasper looked at Bradley with a mocking smile. It took Bradley a while before he softly uttered, ¡°Even if there were to be a funeral, it wouldn¡¯t be your ce to hold it for my wife.¡± ¡°Your wife?¡± Jasper mocked, ¡°Bradley, when Esther faced criticism fromizens, did you ever see her as your wife? ¡°When she was imprisoned while pregnant, did you ever see her as your wife? ¡°When she endured the hardships of giving birth prematurely in prison, did you ever see her as your wife? ¡°When she begged desperately for your daughter, did you ever see her as your wife? ¡°When her son went missing and she was devastated, did you ever see her as your wife? ¡°When you imprisoned her in Warner Manor, did you ever see her as your wife? ¡°Only when she took her own life to prove her innocence did you im she¡¯s your wife? Ask your conscience if you¡¯re worthy. ¡°Esther would rather die than have anything to do with you, Bradley. Can¡¯t you understand?¡± Jasper¡¯s probing words were like sharp knives that pierced Bradley¡¯s heart. ¡°Jasper, no matter what you say, Esther is still my wife!¡± Bradley coldly stated the fact that Esther was his wife. A glimmer of ridicule and mockery flickered in Jasper¡¯s eyes. ¡°Bradley, Esther¡¯s greatest dream was to be your wife, and it was you who shattered her dream and pushed her into hell with your own hands.¡± Meanwhile, Liam searched through the ThereWithYou ount for a long time until he finally found All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. content rted to Esther and himself. The ount belonged to Jasper, and he had chronicled the entire process of Esther helping Liam and his grandfather in the third person. Liam no longer cared about his tarnished image as he stumbled toward Jasper, urgently asking, ¡°Is all of this fake?¡± Jasper scoffed, wearing a mocking smile. ¡°Liam, you¡¯re not worth the effort for me to create such an borate deception.¡± Liam¡¯s legs gave out, and he copsed to the ground. He covered his face and wept, overwhelmed with sadness, anger, and despair. The mindless fans who had previously insulted Esther were also shocked. They never expected such a shocking turn of events. Liliane was not Liam¡¯s savior. It turned out to be Esther, the very person they had insulted and cursed. These mindless fans viciously attacked Liliane in an attempt to justify themselves morally as if it would absolve them of their role as aggressors. Liam gazed at the sea before him in despair. He couldn¡¯t believe what he had allowed to happen to his savior. If only he had exerted some control over his fans, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to act so recklessly. His fans had repeatedly attacked Esther because he had tacitly approved of their actions. The program producers couldn¡¯t contain their joy when they witnessed the skyrocketing poprity. This surge in viewership presented another opportunity for them to earn bonuses! Chapter 324 Chapter 324 ¡°Lee, our top priority should be to find Esther. How about-¡± Without waiting for the sentence to bepleted, Liam leaped into the sea. Growing up under the bridge, he was ustomed to swimming and believed he could find Esther. Once he located her, he would apologize and ask for her forgiveness. Bradley called out to Kevin, ¡°Keep an eye on Jasper.¡± C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Even if everyone imed that Esther had taken her own life, Bradley refused to believe it. He was convinced that Esther was plotting another scheme. With teary eyes, Kevin asked in pain, ¡°Bradley, are you suggesting that Jasper¡­¡± ¡°He must have hidden Esther,¡± Bradley confidently asserted. Kevin asked in great anguish, ¡°What will you do if you find her?¡± ¡°Break her legs, so she¡¯ll never think of escaping again for the rest of her life.¡± Bradley¡¯s response was chilling. Nodding, Kevin said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll assign someone to tail Jasper.¡± He had no idea if Esther was truly deceased or if she had faked her death. However, he would no longer stand by Bradley¡¯s side if he found Esther. Esther¡¯s life should not be confined by Bradley. If she was guilty, then¡­ the five years in prison and being separated from her children. for five years had already been punishment enough. Her remaining life should not be an endless atonement but one filled with beauty and radiance. The news of Esther¡¯s death caused a huge uproar on the Inte, and Bradley spent a fortune deleting all videos rted to her. Inte-savvy users exposed Bradley¡¯s mistreatment of Esther as well. In no time, Bradley became a despised scoundrel, and the PR department of the Warner Group faced immense pressure from society. At the Quills in Capitus. ¡°Uncle!¡± Sadie bounded toward Oliver like a lively rabbit when she saw him return. ¡°Uncle, you should acquire apany!¡± Oliver paused for a moment before asking with a helpless smile, ¡°Whichpany do you want to acquire?¡± ¡°This man¡¯spany.¡± Sadie shoved her phone in front of Oliver, her voice filled with anger. Uncle, this man is truly despicable! Just because he¡¯s wealthy, he imprisoned his own wife and forced her, who had just suffered the pain of losing a child, to give birth to another child for him! Can he even be called human?¡± Sadie used to be a casual fan of Liam. While not obsessed, she would asionally purchase products he endorsed. On her way home from her math ss tonight, she was bored and decided to browse her phone, only to be bombarded with such shocking news. Oliver looked at Bradley¡¯s photo on the phone screen and suddenly froze, asking with a cold tone, ¡°Who is his wife?¡± Unaware, Sadie showed him a close-up photo of Esther from the ThereWithYou ount. ¡°Here, she¡¯s Bradley¡¯s wife. Uncle, can you believe that this sc*mbag Bradley would harm such a beautiful woman? Just because he has money, power, and influence, he imprisoned Esther¡­¡± Oliver was shocked when he saw Esther¡¯s photo. No wonder he couldn¡¯t find her¡­ Bradley had imprisoned her! Chapter 325 Chapter 325 ¡°Uncle Oliver,¡± Sadie called out. Oliver responded with a faint hum and casually said, ¡°Go have fun by yourself.¡± He headed straight to his study, turned on hisputer, and searched for news rted to Bradley and Esther. Oliver made a call. ¡°It¡¯s me. Find Jasper Searle¡¯s phone number for me.¡± A minuteter, Oliver received Jasper¡¯s mobile number and dialed it, but Jasper¡¯s phone. remained unreachable. Oliver made another call. ¡°It¡¯s me. Arrange a flight for me immediately.¡± There were numerous news articles and stories about Esther online some true, some false, and some a mix of both. Oliver also discovered that Faye had entrusted Esther to a man named Billy Anstey. What surprised him was why Faye hadn¡¯t sent Esther back to the Quills. Instead, she had entrusted her to a man unrted to the Quills. Oliver knew he would have to wait until he met Billy to uncover the truth. Bradley stayed in the area where Esther had jumped into the sea. This was also the spot where Felix had fallen. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. The rescue team held little hope for a sessful rescue, but no one dared to remind Bradley of this fact. Some of the rescue members privately criticized Bradley for his ¡°atrocities.¡± He hadn¡¯t appreciated Esther when she was alive and only regretted it now that she was gone. Why hadn¡¯t he acted sooner? There was no remedy for regret in this world. Liam was also consumed by regret. He had always been under the impression that Liliane was the one who had helped him and had been treating her as best he could. It wasn¡¯t until Jasper revealed her true nature that Liam realized how ungrateful he had been. Liam no longer cared about his future in the entertainment industry-all he wanted was to find Esther in the vast sea and have a chance to apologize to her. After Jasper left the scene of the incident, he began making preparations for Esther¡¯s funeral. Bradley had ordered Kevin to keep an eye on Jasper. Unable to resist his curiosity, Kevin approached Jasper while he was preparing for the funeral. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Jasper asked. Kevin took a deep breath and asked nervously, ¡°Is Esther really dead?¡± ¡°Kevin, do you also think, like Bradley, that I¡¯ve hidden her?¡± Jasper¡¯s expression was cold, with a hint of mockery in his eyes. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, you can follow me 24/7. See If 1 contact Esther.¡± Worry filled Kevin. ¡°Jasper, I just want to know if something really happened to Esther. Rest assured, even if you have hidden Esther, I won¡¯t tell Bradley.¡± ¡°Kevin, your bted affection is cheap, and your treatment of Esther was despicable.¡± Jasper finished speaking and removed the SIM card from his soaked phone to insert it into a new one. Chapter 326 Chapter 326 It was quite normal for someone like Jasper to have several phones. As he inserted the SIM card into one of them, the phone suddenly started ringing. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± Jasper answered. Relieved to hear Jasper¡¯s voice, Oliver went straight to the point. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Oliver Quill. I¡¯d like to talk to you about Esther Quill.¡± Jasper inquired, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Esther?¡± ¡°I believe she is my older sister¡¯s daughter,¡± Oliver replied with a hint of regret. If he hadn¡¯t lost track of Esther previously, perhaps the tragedy surrounding her wouldn¡¯t have urred. ¡°Mr. Quill, I¡¯m not in the mood to discuss Esther¡¯s matters with you at the moment. However, I can arrange for Esther¡¯s adoptive father to speak with you about the circumstances of her adoption.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Searle,¡± Oliver expressed his gratitude. Not in a rush to meet Jasper, Oliver made an appointment to meet Billy at a hotel. After ending the call with Oliver, Jasper raised an eyebrow and asked coldly, ¡°Kevin, aren¡¯t you going to inform Bradley about my side of the story?¡± ¡°Jasper, you¡­¡± Kevin pleaded weakly, ¡°Just tell me if she¡¯s alive or¡­¡± ¡°Kevin, are you blind? Didn¡¯t you see her jump before me?¡± Jasper didn¡¯t directly answer Kevin¡¯s question but red at him menacingly. ¡°If you had an ounce of conscience, you should be mourning for Esther right now. You were ordered by Bradley to follow me, thinking that Esther and I conspired for a staged performance, correct?¡± Kevin looked embarrassed as he sat weakly on the sofa, helplessly saying, ¡°I truly had no idea that Bradley would push Esther to such an extent.¡± ¡°You had no idea? Kevin, can a simple ¡®I had no idea¡¯ erase the guilt in your conscience?¡± Jasper Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. sneered mockingly. ¡°A normal person would consider that Felix is not only Bradley¡¯s son but also Esther¡¯s. She lost two children in less than half a year. Who are you to think she could withstand Bradley¡¯s confinement? ¡°Have you ever seen her as a real person? Do you think she¡¯s not human? Esther repeatedly told you she had nothing to do with Mr. Thomas¡¯ ident. Why don¡¯t you believe her? ¡°Now that she has fulfilled your wish and paid for it with her life, what are you doing here pretending to be sentimental? It¡¯s truly sickening!¡± Jasper¡¯s words rendered Kevin speechless. ¡°Get out! Stop being a nuisance!¡± Jasper red at Kevin, utterly disappointed, and disdainfully grabbed his arm to chase him out. ¡°Leave! Both you and Warner, never show your faces in front of me again.¡± Kevin stood motionless, crying with his hands covering his face. Meanwhile, Oliver met Billy in the presidential suite of a hotel. ¡°Hello.¡± Billy was astonished when he received Oliver¡¯s call. Although Billy was a moderately sessful businessman, the difference between him and someone like Oliver, from a noble family, was like night and day. In Billy¡¯s mind, Oliver was the kind of tycoon who could bankrupt someone with a snap of his fingers. ¡°Mr. Anstey, please have a seat,¡± Oliver gracefully invited. He poured Billy a cup of tea. ¡°Do you know a woman named Faye Quill?¡± The name caught Billy off guard, and he asked in astonishment, ¡°Are you rted to Faye?¡± ¡°I am her younger brother, Oliver Quill.¡± Billy was dumbfounded. He never expected Faye to be the heiress of a prestigious and wealthy family in Capitus! Did that mean Esther was originally meant to be the heiress of the Quill family in Capitus too? Chapter 327 Chapter 327 ¡°Mr. Quill, I¡¯m not familiar with Faye.¡± Billy coughed lightly and exined in a gentle tone, ¡°I had a secret crush on her when I was young, but we lost contact after graduating from university. Then one day, she suddenly reached out to me and entrusted Esther to my care.¡± ¡°Please provide all the details of when she entrusted Esther to you,¡± Oliver requested. Billy had assumed that Faye had no other rtives, which was why she had entrusted Esther to him. However, Oliver¡¯s presence challenged his previous assumption. ¡°After I received her call, I went to the hospital and saw her in the hospital room¡­¡± After listening to Billy¡¯s ount in its entirety, Oliver felt a sense of dissonance in every aspect. If Faye truly wanted to ensure Esther¡¯s safety, she could have entrusted her to the Quills. Regardless of Esther¡¯s biological father, as long as she returned to the Quills, she could have grown up safe and sound. However, ording to Oliver¡¯s knowledge, Esther had not been living well with the Ansteys and had even endured the burden of beingbeled an illegitimate child for years. Why had Faye made such a ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. decision? ¡°So, because of your foolish decision, my sister became a mistress? And my niece wasbeled. an illegitimate child?¡± Embarrassed, Billy rubbed his nose and hesitantly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault. I thought it would be better for Esther¡¯s upbringing to say that.¡± ¡°You idiot!¡± Oliver finally understood why Leah had manipted Billy so easily. He was incredibly foolish. He had intended to do something good but ended up doing something foolish. ¡°Why did Esther marry Bradley?¡± Oliver asked. Billy coughed lightly and said, ¡°It seems Esther has always had feelings for Bradley. However, Bradley didn¡¯t feel the same way. Oh, it¡¯s worth mentioning that Bradley¡¯s grandfather arranged Esther and Bradley¡¯s wedding.¡± ¡°Did my sister reveal the identity of Esther¡¯s biological father?¡± ¡°No.¡± Billy shook his head. Oliver massaged his temples with a hint of frustration. ¡°Contact me if you remember anything. ¡°Sure.¡± After Oliver showed Billy out, he quietly got up and left the room. Standing by the elevator, he looked at his reflection and wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. He wondered why Faye hadn¡¯t sent Esther back to the Quills. Once Billy left, Oliver went to the terrace outside the presidential suite with a ss of wine. He lightly swirled the ss in his hand, and the amber liquid slid down the side. During his flight there, he learned about how Bradley had mistreated Esther over the years. He looked up with a dark expression and emptied the ss before taking out his phone to make a call. ¡°It¡¯s me. Teach the Warner Group a lesson.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Quill.¡± Bradley had intentionally caused harm to Esther, relying on the power of the Warner Group. Oliver wanted to show him that Esther wasn¡¯t a helpless orphan. She had someone supporting her as well. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t force Bradley to bankruptcy. He would make Bradley pay for every single thing he had done to Esther. Suddenly, Oliver¡¯s phone rang. Chapter 328 Chapter 328 ¡°Mr. Quill, this is Jasper.¡± Oliver calmly requested, ¡°I¡¯d like to see Esther.¡± ¡°Mr. Quill, it¡¯s widely known that Esthermitted suicide by jumping into the sea,¡± Jasper denied having any knowledge of Esther¡¯s situation. Oliver didn¡¯t press the issue and replied indifferently, ¡°Then please let Esther know that Faye is my elder sister. It¡¯s her choice whether she wants to meet me or not.¡± Oliver had scrolled through all the content on the ThereWithYou ount. He saw the innocent infatuation of a young boy and firmly believed that such a person wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch Esthermit suicide in front of him. They had to resort to this method to dispel Bradley¡¯s suspicion, fully aware that he might repeat his actions. ¡°Mr. Quill, you may have misunderstood. It¡¯s widely known that Esthermitted suicide by jumping into the sea!¡± Jasper¡¯s voicecked any emotion, not even a hint of panic. Oliver chuckled lightly. ¡°Esther is lucky to have a friend like you. It¡¯ste now, so I won¡¯t disturb your rest. Goodnight, Mr. Searle.¡± Jasper looked at the screen as Oliver ended the call and sighed heavily after a while. He couldn¡¯t contact Esther at the moment. He didn¡¯t know if Bradley was monitoring him, and he was worried that Bradley would discover Esther was still alive. Esther woke up on a private ind. As she walked out onto the terrace, a female housekeeper in a butler uniform hurriedly approached her and respectfully asked, ¡°Ms. Quill, are you awake? Esther nced at the housekeeper and inquired, ¡°Are you one of Jasper¡¯s people?¡± ¡°Mr. Searle instructed me to let you know that you can check the news first when you wake up. ¡°The housekeeper reached for the TV remote and ced a tabletputer in front of Esther. ¡°He also said that you shouldn¡¯t go online or contact him for now to prevent tracking. However, if you have any questions, I can ry them to him.¡± ¡°Thank you, I understand.¡± Esther didn¡¯t expect Jasper to have arranged everything so meticulously after her impromptu fake death. She looked at the news reports of her death filling the TV screen and felt an indescribable sense of relief. Today was a day worth celebrating. She had finally escaped from Bradley¡¯s clutches. The considerate housekeeper brought Esther food and water while Esther¡¯s gaze fell on thetest news. Liam couldn¡¯t find Esther in the sea, so he returned to the hospital to confront Liliane, following the hints from the production team. Liam¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as he angrily questioned, ¡°Liliane, why did you lie to me?!¡± Liliane looked mockingly at Liam, sitting on the hospital bed, and retorted sarcastically with a smirk. ¡°What did I lie to you about? I never admitted that I was the one who helped you.¡± ¡°You¡± Liam recalled and realized that Liliane had never actually admitted anything. It was all his own spection ¡°Liliane, C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. that¡¯s because you¡¯ve been dropping hints!¡± Liliane snorted. ¡°Liam, stop ming everything on me when you¡¯re the foolish one! You¡¯re so clueless that you can¡¯t even recognize your own savior, yet you have the audacity to bother Liam suddenly lost hisposure and took a step forward, gripping Liliane¡¯s throat tightly. It was as if he could only vent his pent-up anger by doing this. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 The nurses noticed Liam¡¯s madness and quickly rushed to pull him away from Liliane. Instead of intervening, the production staff held their cameras to capture all the chaos for publicity¡¯s sake. Suddenly, Liam fell heavily to the floor with a loud ¡®bang¡¯, blood pouring from the back of his head. The fight came to an abrupt end, with Liam injured and Liliane fainting in fright. Esther sat on a chair on the terrace, enjoying the food the housekeeper brought. She found herself on a deserted ind, surrounded by darkness, with only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. The sea breeze brushed through her long hair as if breaking invisible shackles. She inhaled the air of freedom, feeling the gentle sea breeze, and a sense of ease and pleasure enveloped her entire being. ¡°Ms. Quill, there¡¯s a video call from Mr. Searle,¡± the housekeeper informed, turning on the tablet and cing it in front of Esther. Esther looked at Jasper¡¯s face on the screen and asked with concern, ¡°Jasper, has Bradley caused any trouble for you?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t believe you¡¯re dead and thinks I¡¯ve hidden you,¡± Jasper replied, sitting on a sofa in the bedroom, d in a bathrobe. ¡°I must admit, he¡¯s quite smart.¡± Esther¡¯s tone turned cold as she replied, ¡°He just can¡¯t stand a pet defying his orders!¡± Esther couldn¡¯t help but think that if Bradley were truly smart, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen for Liliane¡¯s tricks. ¡°I don¡¯t care what he thinks, but I might not be able toe and see you for now,¡± Jasper said seriously. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Bradley might have someone tracking me.¡± ¡°Jasper, I¡¯ve caused you trouble again,¡± Esther expressed her guilt. Deep down, she was worried that Bradley would hold Jasper responsible for her actions. Jasperughed heartily. ¡°Silly girl, your matters are never trouble for me.¡± A tinge of bitterness welled up within Esther as she asked, ¡°When can I go abroad?¡± She longed to go overseas to find Pixie. She wanted to be reunited with her daughter. After losing Felix and Tinkerbell, she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing Pixie again. ¡°A man named Oliver Quill contacted me today, Esther. He ims to be your mother¡¯s older brother,¡± Jasper shared, seeking Esther¡¯s opinion. Speaking in a low voice, he continued. ¡°He wants to meet you. I wanted to ask for your thoughts first. If you want to meet him, I can give him your location, and he wille to see you directly.¡± Esther had been under the impression that Faye had no other rtives in this world, only to discover now that she had a family. Did this mean she wouldn¡¯t be alone anymore? ¡°For now, I¡¯d prefer not to meet him. I don¡¯t want to bring trouble to them,¡± Esther replied. Jasperughed heartily and expressed deep concern ¡°Esther, when will you change your habit of always considering others first? Let me tell you, Oliver has influence in Capitus. Bradley may be wealthy, but do you know what kind of ce Capitus is? The Quills not only have wealth but also power. If you return to the Quills, you won¡¯t have to secretly go abroad. No matter how arrogant Bradley is, he won¡¯t dare challenge the Quills with the Warner Group at stake.¡± Esther didn¡¯t fully grasp the intricacies of these matters and anxiously asked, ¡°So, it¡¯s an established wealthy family versus a newly rich one?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Jasper yfully teased. ¡°Esther, don¡¯t forget about me if you return to the Quills!! ¡°But what if I¡¯m not a Quill?¡± Esther asked, her anxiety apparent. Jasper looked at Esther on the screen, her hair fluttering in the sea breeze. There was a cold detachment in her makeup-free face.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Chapter 330 Chapter 330 This version of Esther captivated Jasper. ¡°Even if we do a DNA test and you¡¯re not a Quill, you have nothing to lose.¡± Jasper pondered, speaking gently. ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you return to the Quills first? I¡¯ll make sure Mr. Oliver keeps your identity confidential. I¡¯ll continue preparing for your funeral here. ¡°If it turns out you are a Quill, you can attend the funeral openly, and there won¡¯t be a need to erase your identity. If you¡¯re not a Quill, the funeral will proceed as nned, and I¡¯ll arrange a new identity for you to abroad.¡± to go Jasper had taken care of every possible arrangement. After thinking it over and confirming there were no other concerns, Esther agreed, saying, Let¡¯s do as you suggested.¡± Jasper nced at the time and softly said, ¡°For now, I won¡¯t video call you. If Bradley notices anything unusual, it could cause more trouble.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After ending the call with Jasper, Esther used the tablet to search for information on Oliver. Perhaps due to Oliver¡¯s special status, no photos of him were avable online. In disbelief, Esther wondered if Oliver was truly rted to Faye. It seemed too improbable. How could her mother have other rtives in this world and still entrust herself to Billy in her final moments? Perhaps it was just a coincidence of names. The housekeeper approached Esther and spoke with reverence. ¡°Ms. Quill, Mr. Searle asked me to take you somewhere.¡± ¡°Now?¡± Esther was puzzled. ¡°Yes.¡± Although Esther was perplexed, she followed the housekeeper and arrived at a bedroom on the second floor. ¡°He¡¯s inside.¡± Esther assumed the ¡°he¡± mentioned was Jasper. Shemented with a smile, ¡°What trick is he ying now?¡± As the housekeeper opened the door, Esther finally saw who was lying on the bed. ¡°Felix!¡± Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, Esther couldn¡¯t control herself. She ran to Felix by the bed. Wearing an oxygen mask, Felix was peacefully sleeping on a children¡¯s bed with a cardiac monitor on the bedside table. ¡°What¡­ What¡¯s happening?¡± Esther asked the housekeeper in disbelief. Filled with happiness, she gently caressed Felix¡¯s face and kissed his forehead. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. He was Felix. He was her son-the precious treasure she had found again. ¡°You can ask the doctor to exin Mr. Felix¡¯s condition in detail,¡± the housekeeper suggested. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± The housekeeper called for the doctor, who approached Esther and spoke professionally. ¡°Mr. Felix¡¯s condition is not very serious. In fact, he woke up several times during the process, but his moments of rity were short-lived, and he quickly fell back into aa. ¡°I¡¯ve examined his various medical reports, and all the values are within the normal range. I believe that having you by his side may provide him with a sense of security.¡± In disbelief, Esther asked, ¡°Doctor, are you saying he¡¯s currently in a vegetative state?¡± Chapter 331 Chapter 331 ¡°The truth is, Mr. Felix isn¡¯t in a vegetative state,¡± the doctor exined earnestly. ¡°He woke up several times during his treatment, although the awakenings were brief. Due to his fever. and prolonged time in the sea, he developed pediatric pneumonia. We¡¯re treating him, and we expect him to recover soon.¡± Upon seeing Felix, Esther had already prepared herself for the worst. She had thought he was in a for joy andfort. ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± Esther said. ¡°It¡¯s my duty,¡± the doctor replied gently. With that, the doctor and the housekeeper quietly left Esther and Felix to reunite, exiting the room. Esther held Felix¡¯s small hand inside the room and gently caressed his face, speaking softly.¡± Felix, it¡¯s ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Mommy. Mommy has found you. You scared Mommy to death.¡± Even though finding Felix was a happy asion, tears continued to stream down Esther¡¯s face. No, to be precise, they were tears of joy. The housekeeper and the doctor listened to the sound of weepinging from the room and exchanged silent nces before returning to their respective quarters, Felix was well cared for by the housekeeper and others. His hair was clean, and there was no trace of any odor. His clothes were changed regrly, and a faint scent of disinfectant and fruits lingered in the air. Esthery beside him carefully, supporting her chin with one hand as she watched over him. She was hesitant to fall asleep, fearing that the boy before her would vanish if she did. The soft lighting illuminated Felix¡¯s fair face. Esther lightly patted him as she hummed a children¡¯s song. Unintentionally, her eyes grew heavy, and she fell asleep by Felix¡¯s side. In truth, Esther had never had a restful night¡¯s sleep since Felix¡¯s ident. She was gued by dreams of Felix calling out to her as he submerged in the cold seawater. He would say, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m cold.¡± Nightmares continued to haunt her. Each time she woke from a nightmare, she had to confront the unpredictable Bradley. She was physically and mentally drained. Now, seeing Felix alive and breathing right before her, she could finally let go of her guard. and peacefully drift off to sleep. Esther¡¯s death as an act of atonement exceeded Bradley¡¯s expectations. Even after witnessing her leap into the sea, he stubbornly believed it was another one of her schemes. He refused to ept that she would take her own life. Kevin returned to Warner Manor from Jasper¡¯s ce and nced at the kneeling maid on the floor. He spoke with a serious expression. ¡°Bradley, Mr. Searle is making arrangements for Esther¡¯s funeral.¡± Bradley¡¯s presence emitted an icy coldness as he sat on the leather sofa. He raised an eyebrow and sneered. ¡°What right does he have to hold Esther¡¯s funeral?¡± Kevin remained silent. Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Kevin stared nkly at Bradley¡¯s cold face, wanting to emphasize that holding Esther¡¯s funeral implied acknowledging her death, regardless of Jasper¡¯s rights. ¡°Speak! How did you help that woman escape!?¡± Bradley roared. The maid, who was kneeling on the floor, trembled as she looked at Bradley. She had previously been captivated by Bradley¡¯s looks and wealth, eager to climb the socialdder, but now she realized the man before her was a demon. ¡°Bradley!¡± Kevin endured it for a moment but couldn¡¯t help speaking up. ¡°She has a name. Her name is Esther. She¡­ She¡¯s not a woman you should insult.¡± Bradley casually picked up a ss and threw it at Kevin. The ss shattered on the marble floor, shards flying in all directions. One small piece grazed Kevin¡¯s face, leaving a bloody cut. ¡°Shut up!¡± Kevin taunted, ¡°Shut up? It¡¯s because I¡¯ve kept quiet for too long that Esther sought death! Bradley, ask yourself. Is Esther someone to be insulted? What has she done to deserve such treatment from you?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Esther, my grandfather wouldn¡¯t have had an ident!¡± Bradley retorted. Bradley always used this incident to attack Esther, as if doing so would forever condemn her to the cross of guilt. ¡°She denies what happened in the hospital ward.¡± Kevin pulled at his hair irritably and said coldly, ¡°I All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. don¡¯t believe she would do something like that to Grandpa Thomas. She has no motive.¡± ¡°Yes, she does!¡± Bradley said firmly. Kevinughed mockingly. ¡°Let¡¯s assume Esther was afraid that Grandpa Thomas would find. out that the children she was carrying weren¡¯t yours, and that¡¯s why she took extreme measures. That could be a motive for the crime. But you know very well that Felix is your child. now that Esther carried your children. Tell me, what motive does she have to harm Grandpa. Thomas?¡± ¡°Kevin.¡± Bradley stood up and grabbed Kevin¡¯s cor, questioning him coldly, ¡°Are you defending Esther now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not defending her. I¡¯m stating the truth. You keep ming Esther for Grandpa Thomas¡¯ death, but the only evidence you have is that one video. However, Esther has denied it all this time. Even if that video were presented in court, she would still deny it. Why can¡¯t you consider the possibility that she truly didn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± Bradley quickly denied it. ¡°She refuses to admit to the crime shemitted and makes excuses.¡± Kevin was at a loss for words. He finally understood that it wasn¡¯t about Esther¡¯s guilt or innocence-it was about whether Bradley believed she was guilty. Even if she were innocent, he had already judged her in his mind. He wanted her to spend the rest of her life atoning for her supposed sin. ¡°Bradley, are you happy now that Esther has paid with her life for atonement?¡± Kevinughed mockingly. He regretted it. Esther hadmitted suicide by jumping into the sea. Whether she was alive or not, he was an aplice to Bradley. ¡°Consider this a warning, Kevin. Esther is not dead,¡± Bradley said. Kevin suddenlyughed, tears streaming down his face, tinged with sadness. ¡°Bradley, you know, I¡¯d rather Esther be dead now than for you to find her, imprison her, and insult her¡± Bradley punched Kevin¡¯s jaw. Kevin didn¡¯t fight back but staggered a few steps before. regaining his bnce. ¡°Bradley, from now on, I won¡¯t take your side,¡± Kevin said. Chapter 333 Chapter 333 ¡®If Esther¡¯s dead, I¡¯ll redeem myself. If Esther isn¡¯t dead, I¡¯ll help her escape from you forever.¡± Kevin observed the maid kneeling on the floor, well aware of her ulterior motives. But that didn¡¯t matter. She had helped Esther she had facilitated Esther¡¯s escape from Bradley¡¯s clutches, and that was the right thing to do. ¡°If Warner Manor fires you, you cane to me,¡± Kevin offered Casting one final nce at a furious Bradley, Kevin spoke calmly. ¡°Bradley, you don¡¯t love her. You actually hate her. So why not let go? Isn¡¯t that better?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Bradley snarled. Kevin turned away coldly and left Warner Manor. The grand Warner Manor stood magnificent with its dazzling lights and splendor. The servants remained silent, afraid to utter a word. rk also refrained from provoking Bradley, standing silently to the side and waiting for him to calm down. ¡°Tell me how you helped Esther escape!¡± Bradley demanded. Countless women in the world desired to be Mrs Warner, and Esther was evidently one of them. She had already achieved that status, so why did she want to escape? Why? Fearfully, the maid kneeling on the floor answered, ¡°Mr. Warner, it was Madam who approached me first.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me when she approached you? Who¡¯s paying your sry?¡± Bradley looked down at the materialistic maid before him, resenting that he hadn¡¯t been prepared and that Esther had managed to escape Warner Manor so easily due to the maid¡¯s silence. A shiver ran down the maid¡¯s spine as she pleaded, ¡°Mr. Warner, I was wrong.¡± Bradley suppressed his rage and inquired, ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°She asked me to make a phone call to Mr. Searle to purchase a wig. I received the wig that same night. After obtaining the wig, I went to Madam, and she helped me disguise myself to look like her. She also disguised herself as me and left on the shuttle bus. That¡¯s all I know. I genuinely don¡¯t know anything else.¡± The maid had no idea that Esther¡¯s first action after escaping from Warner Manor was to jump into the sea, attempting to end her life. Why did she want to die even after escaping? It would have been better to stay alive! ¡°Take her away,¡± Bradleymanded. He sank back onto the sofa, picking up his tablet to review the surveince footage. Carefully examining it, he never expected to see Esther leaving in the maid¡¯s uniform. That wretched woman was always against him. ¡°rk, do you think Esther is dead?¡± Bradley inquired. rk replied calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mr. Warner.¡± Based on the maid¡¯s information, no one other than her had conveyed any messages to Jasper on Esther¡¯s behalf. Even after reviewing the surveince footage, Esther and Jasper seemed to have no opportunity to conspire. Things appeared calm on the surface, but no one could predict the underlying currents. Considering Jasper¡¯s level of concern for Esther, he wouldn¡¯t simply stand by and watch her seek death unless Bradley couldn¡¯t fathom that she would jump into the sea! ¡°That woman definitely isn¡¯t dead.¡± Bradley said. How could she take her own life when she didn¡¯t believe Felix was dead? Bradley firmly believed that ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Esther would never die. Speaking gently, rk said, ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s gettingte. Please rest early.¡± Bradley left the mansion, heading to Primus Mansion in his limited-edition sports car. Although Esther wasn¡¯t currently staying there, rk had decided to keep Melinda around in case Esther returned to stay in the future. Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Melinda heard amotion at the entrance and nervously approached Bradley. ¡°Sir, is it true that Madam¡­¡± Melinda had seen the news about Esther jumping into the sea. She never expected that Esther. would be driven to the point of taking her own life. She was such a kind girl. How could she be gone just like that? Bradley ignored Melinda and walked straight to the living room. C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The living room felt empty andcked any warmth. Images of Felix and Esther bustling around the terrace suddenly shed in Bradley¡¯s mind. Esther was gentle and beautiful, while Felix was well behaved and sensible. He could hear their intimate whispers and joyfulughter echoing in his ears. Bradley felt as if someone was viciously tearing his heart apart. He stumbled to the study and effortlessly retrieved Esther¡¯s secret crush diary from the drawer. He sat down on the chair and flipped through the pages. The diary had a girlish touch as Esther recorded her youthful infatuation. Encounters at street corners, eye contact at the basketball court, brushing past each other, heart- pounding moments at evening banquets. Esther used simple words to chronicle her youthful infatuation one after another. During a time unknown to Bradley, there was a girl who had been doing everything she could to get closer to him. The delight, bitterness, sweetness, and helplessness of an unrequited crush-like a one person y, Esther had documented all her feelings in this diary during those days of unreciprocated love. The final pages of the diary captured Esther¡¯s indignation. The young Esther questioned why he didn¡¯t believe in her. It turned out that her questioning and anger were signs of her caring about him. She expressed in the diary that even if the whole world considered her a murderer, she only cared about his opinion. Unfortunately, she hadn¡¯t received a response but instead. experienced Bradley¡¯s despair and helplessness as he personally sent her to prison. Bradley read the diary dozens of times throughout the night. With each reading, his heart ached a little more. He sat in the study chair, gazing at the secret crush diary before him. After finishing the diary, he looked at the photos of Esther and Felix together on his phone. They were beautiful, lively, and full of life in the pictures, but now they were both gone. Perhaps they had already reunited while he remained forever separated from them in different worlds. Suddenly, Bradley¡¯s phone rang. He answered the call with a hoarse voice, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? rk was at a loss upon receiving an email in his inbox. ¡°Mr. Warner, Mr. Searle¡¯s side has informed us that a funeral will be held at the location of Esther¡¯s ident at 10:10 am. today.¡± ¡°How dare he!?¡± Bradley clenched his fists and mmed them on the desk before angrily storming out of the study. Melinda stepped back in shock when she saw Bradley¡¯s appearance. She sadly eximed, ¡°M- Mr. Warner, your hair¡­¡± Bradley ignored Melinda¡¯s astonished expression and went straight to the rooftop helipad. Melinda watched his departing figure and wondered if he had intended to dye his hair the previous night. How did his hair turn white overnight? Chapter 335 Chapter 335 After about half an hour, Bradley arrived at the location where Esther had fallen into the sea aboard his helicopter. The rescue team continued their urgent search on the surface, clinging to a faint hope. However, Bradley¡¯s attention was captured by a boat adorned with fresh flowers. The opulent cruise ship was adorned with meticulously arranged flowers of various colors, transforming it into a magnificent flower boat. Surrounding tworge photos-one of Esther and the other of Felix- were vibrant and colorful blooms. Esther¡¯s photo showcased her radiant and beautiful smile, taken on her wedding day when she married Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Bradley. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation for a blissful marriage. The helicopter¡¯s rotor wind caused the flowers to sway. Jasper stood amidst the sea of blossoms, casting a cold gaze toward Bradley from a distance. Jasper was live-streaming the funeral on his personal social media ount. Whileizens. didn¡¯t understand why he had organized Esther¡¯s funeral so quickly, a sense of envy grew within them as they witnessed the borate arrangements. They never anticipated that a funeral could be orchestrated in such a splendid manner. It didn¡¯t resemble a funeral. Instead, it felt like a silent promation of love. ¡°Jasper, who granted you the audacity to handle Esther¡¯s funeral?¡± Bradley appeared on the screen, his white hair instantly captivating countless viewers. Bradley and Jasper possessed striking looks and poise, but their temperaments were entirely different. Jasper¡¯s eyes exuded gentleness and affection as if he were whispering endless sweet nothings, especially when he calmly looked at people. Some femaleizens initially regarded Jasper as a yboy until they spent sleepless nights reading through all the posts on ThereWithYou. Only then did they realize that beneath his flirtatious facadey an incredibly devoted and pure soul consumed by loneliness. Consequently, upon learning that Jasper was organizing Esther¡¯s funeral, numerousizens eagerly attended the online ceremony. They firmly believed that his love for her must have run deep. Otherwise, why would he orchestrate such a unique memorial? Theizens had also dug up past information about Bradley and Esther. They were already biased in favor of Jasper and saw Bradley¡¯s sudden appearance at the funeral as an attempt to stir up trouble. As expected, they bombarded Bradley with questions once he spoke during the live stream. [Is Mr. Warner¡¯s mind not functioning properly? What does it matter to him if Mr. Searle organizes the funeral?] [Let¡¯s be honest. Isn¡¯t Esther still Mr. Warner¡¯s wife? Mr. Searle has no right to arrange this funeral, does he?] [He drove her to her death as punishment. What more does he want?] [Why is Mr. Warner¡¯s hair white? His wife already jumped into the sea, and he still finds time. to dye his hair?] d in a suit, Jasper remained expressionless as he gazed at Bradley. ¡°Mr. Warner, haven¡¯t you always desired to hold a funeral for Felix? Well, I might as well grant your wish.¡± Chapter 336 Chapter 336 ¡°Jasper, cancel this farce by the time I count to three!¡± When Bradley made hisment, Jasper let out a mocking chuckle. He nced at the camera from the corner of his eye and disdainfully replied, ¡°Mr. Warner, you may see this as a joke, but it¡¯s a heartfelt wish for Esther.¡± Rage surged on Bradley¡¯s face as he clenched his fists. His features were striking, with brows. and eyes reminiscent of the deep sea, captivating anyone who looked into them. Even in his current state of anger, he remained trresistibly charming ¡°Mr. Warner, are you angry now?¡± Jasper¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but his words cut deep into Bradley¡¯s heart like knives ¡°Then you¡¯ll be even angrier with what I¡¯m about to say. ¡°Do you truly understand what Esther has endured all these years? ¡°When she was pregnant with your children and you sent her to prison, do you know what she went through there? ¡°Under your mistructions, Esther, who was pregnant, suffered bullying, physical abuse, and verbal torment from the prison bullies. She was deprived of food and confined to a dark cell. ¡°At a time when proper nutrition was crucial, she was left hungry in prison. ¡°Never mind the fact that she was incarcerated. At least she had her children, something to live for. But did you know that she had a premature and difficult childbirth?¡¯ Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°You resent and despise her. You even had someone in prison falsely tell her that her children. had died! Bradley, she didn¡¯t even get a chance to see the children she carried for months and was separated from for five years because of you and Liliane. ¡°Do you know what kind of days she endured in prison? Do you know where all her injuries. came from? Do you understand that a woman needs proper rest after giving birth? ¡°You don¡¯t! You know nothing! After finally being released from prison, you coerced her into donating bone marrow to Felix by using the whereabouts of her daughters as leverage! ¡°When you demanded that she donate bone marrow, the doctor clearly informed you that she was malnourished and not suitable for donation at that time. Did you care about her well- being? No, you didn¡¯t! ¡°You went ahead with the procedure against her will because your son¡¯s life mattered while her life was insignificant to you. ¡°When Esther finally found Tinkerbell and knelt before you, begging earnestly for a little time. to save Tinkerbell, what did you do? You ignored her pleas and forced her onto the operating. table. Because of your dominance, she never had the chance to tell Tinkerbell that she was her biological mother, and they were forever separated. ¡°What¡¯s even more absurd is that you knew Tinkerbell was your and Esther¡¯s biological daughter, yet you still proceeded with your wedding to Liliane three months after Tinkerbell¡¯s passing. ¡°Bradley, you pushed Esther to the brink. You imprisoned, threatened, and forced her to contemte her own death! ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Jasper exposed all the atrocities Bradley hadmitted against Esther in front of the live- streaming camera. Bradley stood amidst a sea of flowers, feeling as if he stood on a solitary cliff. The sea wind blew, and the waves crashed upon him. It felt like the entire world was converging on him, an icy storm that submerged him in an endless ocean. Each word Jasper uttered was like a sharp de, deeply piercing Bradley¡¯s heart. It bled profusely and throbbed unbearably. ¡°Jasper, she¡¯s not dead.¡± Bradley locked his gaze with Jasper¡¯s, and each word he uttered was slow and deliberate. ¡°She¡¯s still alive. She must still be alive.¡± Chapter 337 Chapter 337 ¡°Bradley, the sea is right there. Go and fetch her,¡± Jasper said, his expression cold and emotionless. He mocked, ¡°Once you bring her back up, admit your wrongdoing and beg for her forgiveness.¡± The azure sea, illuminated by sunlight, appeared dazzling and mysterious. In Jasper¡¯s live stream, numerousizens agreed with him, especially after learning about Bradley¡¯s actions toward Esther. Each person felt a deep sense of injustice on behalf of Esther. Regardless of Esther¡¯s involvement in Thomas¡¯ death, Bradley had no right to take away the children she had carried and deceive her into believing they were dead. This act was unforgivable to everyone. ¡°Jasper, this is between my wife and me. It has nothing to do with you,¡± Bradley replied coldly, his eyes filled with sneering contempt. Jasper approached the giant photo of Esther, his tone icy. ¡°Bradley, have you ever considered why she was willing to risk her life to escape from your control? Have you truly reflected on all the things you¡¯ve done to her? ¡°Now that she¡¯s finally free, I hope you won¡¯t disturb her peace by calling yourself her husband.¡± Provoked by Jasper¡¯s words, Bradley lost hisposure. He strode up to therge photo of Esther and snatched it away, roaring with anger, ¡°She¡¯s not dead! Jasper! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying to do. I¡¯m telling you, Esther is mine in life and in death. Don¡¯t even think about interfering with her!¡± ¡°Bradley, the biggest difference between you and me is that I want Esther to be happy. I want her to always have a smile on her face!¡± Jasper paused for a moment before continuing slowly. ¡°My love is about letting go, about fulfilling wishes. If she¡¯s happy, then I¡¯m happy. What about you, Bradley? She has already paid for her mistakes as you wished. What more do want?¡± As Jasper finished speaking, Bradley¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, ourpany is under attack by unidentified forces¡­¡± you Bradley looked at Jasper while holding his phone and arrogantly turned away, leaving in quick strides. Once Bradley left, the order was restored at the funeral. Theizens were deeply moved by Jasper¡¯s unwavering dedication and expressed their regained faith in love throughments. ¡°Mommy?¡± At the break of dawn, Felix slowly woke up in Esther¡¯s embrace. When Felix saw Esther holding him, he couldn¡¯t believe it and rubbed his eyes, fearing that everything he saw was just an illusion. ¡°Are you really my mommy?¡± Felix asked. Esther hugged Felix tightly and affectionately kissed his forehead. ¡°Felix, it¡¯s Mommy!¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Felix reached out and hugged Esther tightly, eximing excitedly, ¡°Mommy! I missed you so, so much!¡± ¡°Mommy missed you so, so much too ¡± Hearing Felix¡¯s stomach growl, Esther yfully pinched his cheek and said, ¡°Felix, let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Esther and Felix made their way to the bathroom, hand in hand. They brushed their teeth and washed their faces together ¡°Mommy.¡± Felix called out. Sensing Felix¡¯s need for security, Esther held his small hand tightly and gave it aforting squeeze, saying, ¡°Felix, Mommy will never lose you again. ¡°Mommy!¡± Felix threw himself into Esther¡¯s arms, murmuring, ¡°I thought I would never see you again. Waking up in an unfamiliar ce, he had felt panic and fear, afraid that the bad people had taken him away once more. But with Esther here now, he was no longer afraid. Chapter 338 Chapter 338 That was because Felix was now a child under his mother¡¯s protection. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my good boy You and Mommy are safe now,¡± Esther assured Felix. Esther and Felix enjoyed breakfast on the terrace. Despite being on a secluded ind, they had plenty of breakfast options Considering Felix¡¯s weakened condition, Esther made sure he didn¡¯t eat too much, fearing it could cause digestive problems. ¡°Felix, let¡¯s have smaller meals more frequently for now.¡± Felix obediently nodded ¡°Okay, Mommy. With eyes full of love, Esther affectionately stroked Felix¡¯s face and asked, ¡°Should I have the doctor check on you?¡± ¡°Okay¡± After the doctor examined Felix and confirmed that he was weak but otherwise fine, he kindly asked, Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Did you wake up because your mother arrived, Mr. Felix?¡± Felix nodded proudly, his small face beaming ¡°Yes¡± ¡°Now that Mr. Felix is awake, I suggest engaging in more physical activities to strengthen his immunity,¡± the doctor said. Following the doctor¡¯s advice, Esther and Felix took a stroll around the ind after breakfast. Other staff members lived on the ind, including gardeners responsible for tending to the flowerbeds and professionals dedicated to the farm. They all carried out their duties with dedication and professionalism. Esther led Felix through the orchard, hand in hand. The air was filled with the fragrance of jackfruits hanging from the trees. Curious, Felix asked, ¡°Mommy, can we eat the fruits from the trees?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Esther indulged him. ¡°Would you like to have some?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Esther approached the apanying housekeeper and softly inquired, ¡°May we pick one?¡± ¡°Of course ¡± The housekeeper contacted the staff through the inte system, and they brought over a lift. Esther and Felix stood on the lift and personally picked a ripe jackfruit. ¡°Mommy, it smells so good! How do we eat it?¡± Esther gently shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± The housekeeper chuckled and exined, ¡°You can watch how we extract the fleshter.¡± Felix¡¯s bright eyes focused on the housekeeper as he asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, can I do it myself?¡± ¡°No, because you don¡¯t have experience and might damage the flesh,¡± the housekeeper replied As a result, Esther and Felix observed like two curious babies while the staff extracted the fruit¡¯s flesh. ¡°Mr. Felix, please have a taste.¡± Felix tried a piece of the jackfruit, and its sweet fragrance made him close his eyes in bliss. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious.¡± Felix then fed a piece to Esther and sweetly said, ¡°Mommy, you have some too.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After enjoying their share, they headed to the seashore to collect seashells. Amidst the roaring sound of the waves and noticing there was no one else around, Felix cutely asked, ¡°Mommy, when are we going to find Daddy?¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 There was a sense of cold detachment on Esther¡¯s porcin face as she heard Felix¡¯s question. They sat side by side on the rocks by the sea, holding hands. The crashing waves asionally sshed onto them, creating a warm and beautiful silhouette of a mother and son leaning on each other. ¡°Felix, I won¡¯t go back to him anymore.¡± Felix asked softly, his voice tender, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to go back to Daddy, Mommy?¡± ¡°Because Mommy isn¡¯t happy with him,¡± Esther replied. Esther held Felix¡¯s hand, feeling somewhat guilty. She knew that Bradley was Felix¡¯s father and that he might want to go back to him. However, she no longer desired to return to Bradley¡¯s side, even for Felix¡¯s sake. ¡°Mommy, are you really not happy when you¡¯re with Daddy?¡± Felix asked, puzzled. Esther looked into Felix¡¯s pure eyes and honestly expressed her feelings, ¡°Yes, Mommy isn¡¯t happy with him. ¡°But if you want to go back to him, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you, but Mommy won¡¯t go back.¡± Felix tilted his face, partially understanding, and asked, ¡°Mommy, are you going to divorce Daddy?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Felix looked down at the waves on the seashore, his expression somber. After a moment of silence, he reluctantly said, ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll support Mommy as long as you¡¯re happy.¡± ¡°Thank you, Felix. You¡¯re the best!¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand and decided not to tell him about what Bradley had done to her. She didn¡¯t want to tarnish Felix¡¯s image of his father. ¡°Can you stay with me for a while, Felix? You were with Daddy for five years, so can you be with me for a few months?¡± Felix agreed affectionately, ¡°Okay!¡± Esther brought Felix¡¯s hand to her lips and kissed it. ¡°I must have been incredibly lucky in my past life.¡± Felix asked curiously, ¡°Why?¡± Esther pulled Felix into her arms and said, ¡°That¡¯s why I have such good luck to have an adorable son like you!¡± ¡°Mommy!¡± Felix blushed, even the tips of his ears turning pink. ¡°Mommy, where are we going if we¡¯re not with Daddy?¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand and spoke softly. ¡°Actually, you have two little sisters, Felix. One is Tinkerbell, and the other is Pixie.¡± Felix listened attentively as Esther told him the story. ¡°But Pixie was adopted and went overseas. I¡¯ll take you abroad to find Pixie if you want to be with me. If you don¡¯t want to be with me, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you to Daddy.¡± ¡°Mommy, I want to find Pixie with you.¡± Felix happily made his decision. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. After a brief moment of contemtion, Esther added, ¡°But if you¡¯re with me, you won¡¯t be able to contact Daddy anymore.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Esther hesitated. ¡°Because if you tell him you¡¯re with me, I won¡¯t be able to go find Pixie.¡± ¡°When will we go find Pixie?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go as soon as I finish arranging things here¡­¡± Before Esther could finish speaking, the sound of a helicopter filled the air. She looked up, alert, wondering if it was Bradley who had arrived. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 ¡°Mommy, it hurts,¡± Felix whined sweetly. At that moment, Esther realized she was tightly gripping Felix¡¯s hand. She also deeply. understood the fear and unease that Bradley had brought upon her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Mommy didn¡¯t mean to.¡± As Esther quickly contemted how to confront Bradley, the housekeeper approached them. ¡°Ms. Quill, Mr. Quill is here.¡± ¡®Mr. Quill?¡¯ Esther was confused. It took her a moment to realize that it was Oliver Quill, as Jasper had Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. mentioned. ¡°I¡¯m going back now.¡± A helicopternded on the ind¡¯s helipad, and Oliver, poised and graceful, stepped off. He was no longer young, belonging to the middle-aged category. With his age came countless ups and downs, and the glory of his youth had faded away. He was no longer sharp-edged or filled. with triumph and ego. He stood like a quiet tree as if all the storms in the world were simply experiences in his life. Oliver looked at Esther, who was walking toward him from a distance. Her features bore no resemnce to his memories of Faye. ¡°Mr. Quill,¡± she called out. Oliver handed her a photo of him with Faye. ¡°Esther, hello. I¡¯m Faye¡¯s younger brother, Oliver Quill.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± When Esther saw Oliver, all her uneasiness vanished instantly for some reason. ¡°I¡¯m Esther Quill.¡± Oliver nced at Felix, who was holding Esther¡¯s hand, and took out a lollipop to offer him.¡± Hello, Felix. I¡¯m your granduncle.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Granduncle, I¡¯m Felix Warner,¡± Felix replied adorably. ¡°Thank you for the lollipop, but I am not a little kid and don¡¯t like sweets.¡± Oliver chuckled and said gently, ¡°Then what do you like?¡± ¡°I like studying,¡± Felix answered. Even the experienced Oliver was taken aback by Felix¡¯s response. None of the children in the Quill family had shown an interest in studying. ¡°Tell me, Felix, why do you like studying?¡± Oliver asked. Felix stood tall, replying confidently and seriously, ¡°By studying hard now, I can earn a lot of money when I grow up to buy beautiful dresses, bags, jewelry, and a house for Mommy!¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing, Felix.¡± The connection between people mattered. Oliver felt a strong bond with the mother and son standing before him. ¡°For now, y with the housekeeper. Your Mommy and I have something to discuss.¡± Felix looked up, seeking Esther¡¯s approval, and upon seeing her nod, he walked over to the housekeeper and extended his hand. ¡°Ma¡¯am, let¡¯s go y!¡± After Felix left, Esther and Oliver sat on chairs in the garden. The servants served exquisite snacks and tea before quietly leaving. With a hint of unease, Esther nced at the photo and asked, ¡°Mr. Quill, are you truly my mother¡¯s rtive?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Oliver assessed Esther and smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal. You can call me Uncle Oliver.¡± ¡°In that case, Uncle Oliver, do we need to do a DNA test?¡± Esther asked. TChapter 341 TChapter 341 Esther believed that the Quills, being a prominent and influential family, would require a DNA test to acknowledge her as part of their lineage. ¡°No need for a DNA test,¡± Oliver said with a smile, looking at Esther. ¡°You¡¯re Faye¡¯s daughter, which means you¡¯re part of the Quills.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Esther hesitated, thinking that it wouldn¡¯t feel legitimate or official without a DNA test. ¡°I am currently the head of the Quills. Nobody would dare question anyone I bring into the family,¡± Oliver reassured calmly. ¡°You are under the protection of the Quills. From now on, you can do whatever you want. You don¡¯t have to fear Bradley Warner and don¡¯t need to fake your death¡­¡± ¡°But I¡¯m afraid of causing trouble for the Quills,¡± Esther expressed her concerns about the potential trouble Bradley might bring. Oliver¡¯s calm eyes resembled clear springs as he looked at Esther. With a light smile, he said, Esther, the Quills have the ability to protect you.¡± The more unconditionally Oliver protected Esther, the more uneasy she felt. It was as if a stroke of good fortune had suddenlye her way, making everything seem surreal. ¡°Thank you,¡± Esther expressed her deep gratitude. Oliver generously handed her a ck card and exined, ¡°Esther, this is my gift to you as your uncle. You can use it to buy anything you want.¡± The unlimited ck card made Esther realize the immense financial power of the Quills. Astonished, she replied, ¡°No, this is too much.¡± Oliver casually picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip of tea, and said, ¡°Just a ck card is nothing to mention.¡± Esther looked at the unlimited ck card in front of her, feeling a mix of emotions. In this world, many people would never have the opportunity to experience the luxury of a ck card in their entire lives. However, when it was given by an elder, she couldn¡¯t refuse the gift. She stopped declining any further and readily epted the unlimited ck card. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Oliver.¡± Oliver was pleased that Esther epted the card. To him, spending money on loved ones was a way of showing affection. Setting the teacup down gently, Oliver asked warmly, ¡°Esther, what are your ns for the future?¡± ¡°I have given birth to a son and two daughters during my time in prison. Tinkerbell is no longer with us, and I want to take Felix abroad to find Pixie.¡± Oliver¡¯s gaze fell upon Felix, who was reading a book with the housekeeper in the distance, and a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. ¡°This little one is quite interesting. I have never seen a child who considers studying as a hobby before.¡± Esther also looked at Felix and smiled gently, her eyes sparkling like countless stars. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. his previous health issues that dyed his studies, he would be even more exceptional now.¡± Thinking about how Felix had once said that the children in kindergarten were too childish and boring, Esther couldn¡¯t help butugh. Felix¡¯s love for learning made him stand out among the children who were only crying and being fed in kindergarten. Oliver¡¯s gaze rested upon Esther¡¯s beautiful profile. Her thick hair cascaded casually, and the sea breeze gently caressed her long hair, enhancing her serene and beautiful appearance. ¡°Jasper has already held an online funeral for you. Do you want to rify anything?¡± ¡°No need,¡± Esther replied indifferently, shaking her head. Chapter 342 Chapter 342 ¡°I don¡¯t want anything to do with Bradley anymore,¡± Esther stated firmly. Considering the information he had gathered earlier, Oliver asked Esther in a serious tone, ¡± Esther, did you remove Mr. Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask?¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Esther quickly denied it. She had no intention of hiding anything from Oliver and grimaced as she recounted the events that had taken ce. ¡°It was Liliane who personally removed Grandpa Thomas¡¯ oxygen mask. I arrived just in time to witness it and attempted to put it back on, but then the doctor entered the room and caught me. Uncle Oliver, I swear as a mother that I never harmed Grandpa Thomas.¡± Upon hearing Esther¡¯s exnation, Oliver affirmed, ¡°I believe you.¡± That video had portrayed Esther as a despicable woman. Everyone deemed her ungrateful and believed she hadmitted a heinous act. Her exnations were dismissed as mere arguments, and no one believed in her innocence. Esther¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she asked hesitantly. ¡°Uncle Oliver, do you truly believe me?¡± Oliver replied with reason, ¡°Of course I believe you.¡± In fact, Oliver had thoroughly investigated the entire process of Esther¡¯s conviction. A video. clip had made her the target of public criticism. Bradley suspected Esther of having an affair, but the truth was that she had never been unfaithful, and her unborn children belonged to Bradley. Unfortunately, under those circumstances, no one believed in her innocence. Even now, Bradley continued to attack her, knowing that the children she carried were his. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Oliver,¡± Esther expressed gratefully. Esther believed that if her uncle had been present back then, she wouldn¡¯t have had to endure five unjust years in prison and wouldn¡¯t have been separated from her child for such a long. time. ¡°You can take Felix abroad. I will clear your name,¡± Oliver dered. Esther took a deep breath and lightly bit her lip. ¡°Uncle Oliver, I actually know that Liliane was behind that incident, but I don¡¯t know how to gather evidence.¡± Oliver stood up gracefully and gazed at the distant sea. Speaking in a warm tone, he assured her, ¡°I will find the evidence, Esther. Go abroad and find Pixie without worries. Trust me. You will soon regain your innocence.¡± ¡°But the procedures for me to go abroad¡­¡± Oliver handed two passports to Esther. His voice resonated like a mellow cello. ¡°You and Felix can fly abroad whenever you are ready.¡± Esther still had some concerns. ¡°I am mainly worried that if I go abroad, Bradley will- ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Oliver interrupted her. His gaze was profound, and his expression turned cold. The Quills had alreadyunched a full-scale attack against the Warner Group. Within 24 hours, Bradley would be too upied defending hispany to bother Esther any longer. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Oliver.¡± Esther couldn¡¯t wait to find Pixie, so she called out, ¡°Felix.¡± Felix rushed over and embraced Esther tightly. Looking up with his adorable face, he affectionately called out, ¡°Mommy Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Esther reached out and embraced Felix, speaking softly. ¡°Felix, we¡¯re going abroad to find Pixie now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Felix¡¯s eyes glittered as he looked at Esther. ¡°Absolutely.¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand firmly and said seriously, ¡°You still have a choice, Felix. If you want to go back to your father, Uncle Oliver will arrange it. But if you want toe with. me, you must promise not to tell your Daddy where we¡¯re going. Take your time to think about it before we leave.¡± After Esther finished speaking, Felix bravely dered, ¡°Mommy, I want to find Pixie with you! ¡°Are you certain?¡± Esther asked. Felix nodded firmly. ¡°I¡¯m certain.¡± Esther held Felix¡¯s hand tightly and informed Oliver, ¡°Uncle Oliver, we can leave now.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get on the helicopter.¡± Esther and Felix didn¡¯t have much to pack as guests on the ind. They simply boarded Oliver¡¯s helicopter and departed from the ind. During the helicopter ride, Oliver revealed their destination: Macatus. ¡°Esther, I have everything arranged in Macatus. Once the helicopternds at the airport there, you can proceed directly to the ne with your passports.¡± Esther hadn¡¯t expected that Oliver had actually arranged a private jet with a pre-approved flight route to take them overseas. This was what it meant to be wealthy. Afterpleting the necessary procedures, Esther and Felix flew abroad. Esther wasn¡¯t sure if they would find Pixie overseas, but she had to try, even if there was just a glimmer of hope. After seeing Esther¡¯s flight depart from Macatus, Oliver called Jasper to express his gratitude.¡± Mr. Searle, I wanted to thank you for your help with Esther. I¡¯ll let you handle the project in Capitus.¡± Upon receiving Oliver¡¯s call, Jasper replied softly, ¡°Mr. Quill, I didn¡¯t do it for the money.¡± ¡°Mr. Searle, consider it a token of my appreciation. Please don¡¯t refuse,¡± Oliver insisted. Jasper understood Oliver¡¯s intention and replied with a small smile, ¡°I suppose I can ept it then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee to visit Capitus anytime, Mr. Searle,¡± Oliver said. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°If the opportunity arises, I¡¯ll personally pay you a visit, Mr. Quill.¡± After a brief conversation with Oliver, Jasper ended the call. He nced indifferently at the data on the screen, snorted, and casually turned it off. ¡®Bradley, the first gift has been delivered. I hope you like it.¡¯ The Warner Group was currently eerily silent. Employees held their breath and tried to blend. into the background, fearing Bradley¡¯s wrath. They all knew the corporation was on the brink of an unprecedented crisis. ¡°Mr. Warner, there are issues with the Smilville project.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, someone has taken over our project in Macatus!¡± ¡°Mr. Warner, we¡¯re encountering problems in Capitus.¡± ¡°Mr. Warner¡­¡± One crisis after another quietly approached Bradley. The Warner Group was facing an unprecedented crisis. A displeased expression shed across Bradley¡¯s cold gaze as he asked in a low voice, ¡°Is Jasper behind this?¡± The Warner Group was a conglomerate, and Bradley needed to assess if Jasper¡¯s ambition could devour it. Several executives hesitated and looked at each other before exining, ¡°Mr. Warner, it¡¯s not Mr. Searle this time.¡± ¡°Then who is it?¡± Chapter 344 Chapter 344 ¡°It¡¯s¡­ the Quills of Capitus.¡± Bradley raised an eyebrow in confusion. ¡°Quills? What Quills of Capitus?¡± He had no grudges or disputes with the Quills of Capitus, so why were they targeting him? ¡°ording to my sources, our projects are facing so many obstacles because the Quills of Capitus are behind it!¡± an executive said. Bradley furrowed his brow, his sharp gaze fixed on the floor-to-ceiling window of his office. There was a significant distance between him and the Quills. They had never crossed paths, so why would they ¡°Who is the current head of the Quills?¡± Bradley asked. The executives and managers exchanged nces. Bradley missed the seamless cooperation he had with Cole. Bradley wouldn¡¯t have had to deal with these ipetent people if Cole hadn¡¯t been in the ident. It showed the importance of having a C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it.¡± The managers took out their phones and began searching for the current head of the Quills. Amidst the possibility of the Warner Group going bankrupt, Bradley took the time to create an official social media ount in his name. His first post on the ount offered a substantial reward. [Bradley Warner: Anyone providing information about my wife, Esther Quill, will receive a reward of $15,000. If the address is provided, a reward of $1,500,000 will be given! If you can bring Esther back to me, I will reward you with $15,000,000 in cash.] As soon as Bradley¡¯s post went live,izens swarmed it. Some jokingly remarked that the opportunity to get rich overnight was right in front of them and shouldn¡¯t be missed. However, others in the financial and business industries pointed out that if things continued. like this, the Warner Group would face bankruptcy, and Bradley¡¯s rewards were merely empty promises. An onlinemotion ensued amongizens. Seriousments, sarcastic remarks, informative insights, and even those who enjoyed the chaos flooded the discussion. Bradley¡¯s name became an instant trending topic. Theizens eagerly delved into past rumors, and some kind-hearted individuals even tagged Jasper to draw attention to Bradley¡¯s post. Bradley skimmed through thements section, but no one provided any information about Esther. He firmly believed that Esther wouldn¡¯t seek death. The cunning woman must have found a way to escape the sea. ¡°Mr. Warner, the current head of the Quills is Oliver Quill, and here is his contact information, someone said. Bradley furrowed his brow slightly and asked in surprise, ¡°Oliver Quill?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The name sounded familiar to Bradley, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had heard it before. ¡°Mr. Warner, if I may, Mrs. Warner¡¯s surname is also Quill. Could she be an heiress of the Quill family?¡± an executive voiced his doubt. Another executive chimed in. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. How could Mr. Anstey afford to adopt her if she were from the Quills? Moreover, given the news from five years ago, the Quills couldn¡¯t be unaware if she were their descendant.¡± ¡°Give me the phone number.¡± Bradley took out his phone and dialed Oliver¡¯s number directly. The first call went unanswered. After waiting for five minutes, Bradley dialed Oliver again. ¡°Bradley Warner.¡± Oliver¡¯s voice came through from the other end of the line, and Bradley finally remembered where he had seen Oliver before. ¡°Where have you hidden Esther?¡± Bradley asked. Chapter 345 Chapter 345 Upon hearing Bradley¡¯s question, Oliver chuckled lightly, like a gentle breeze in the mountains. Bradley became even more convinced that Oliver had hidden Esther. He had no idea when Esther had formed a connection with the Quills. Why was Jasper coborating with Oliver in this borate charade of Esther¡¯s death? Bradley knew he wanted Esther to return to him obediently despite his suspicions. ¡°Mr. Warner, call me again when you¡¯ve calmed down,¡± Oliver decisively said before hanging 1. Bradley understood what Oliver meant. He had been privileged since birth, always in the spotlight and ustomed to getting his way. His life had been smooth sailing, never having to submit or admit defeat. Bradley looked at his phone screen as the call had abruptly ended. This time, he didn¡¯t call back but ced the phone down and coldly addressed the others in the office, ¡°Bring me all the project files.¡± The executives replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Warner.¡± Soon after, the project files were handed to Bradley. The news of Esther¡¯s death had consumed his thoughts, but the phone call to Oliver had reignited his desire for victory. From that call, Bradley deduced that Esther was safe and alive. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Regardless of Oliver and Esther¡¯s rtionship, if Oliver intended to challenge him and seek revenge for Esther, Bradley would face the challenge head-on. No one could take Esther away from him! Oliver was pressuring him based on the Quills¡¯ long-standing influence, but Bradley would bear that pressure alone. Moreover, he would use it as motivation. Although Oliver had the upper hand now, Bradley would rise to the top someday and acquire the Quills. Since Esther dared to leave, he would make her obediently return to his side. ¡°All of you, leave.¡± Bradley looked at the pile of files in front of him. Taking one, he started working. His mind was focused on one goal-to be stronger than ever before, strong enough to be the world¡¯s number one. In doing so, he would have the power and justification to keep Esther forever trapped in his world. The Warner Group faced an unprecedented crisis, a catastrophe for shareholders holding the Alongside Jasper¡¯s rumors of impending bankruptcy, some shareholders secretly sold their stocks, leaving thepany on the verge of copse. The first thing Liam did upon waking up from surgery was to search for Liliane. She seemed to be the type of person who would be a persistent force in the world. She had nearly died multiple times, and each time, Scott had managed to save her from the brink Chapter 346 Chapter 346 Scott secretly wished for someone like Liliane, with her morals and personality, to meet her demise. However, being a doctor, it was his duty to save lives, regardless of whether the person was good or bad. Discrimination had no ce in the eyes of doctors. Unfortunately, Liliane had grown weaker after undergoing several resuscitations. She sat weakly against the bedframe, watching television. For some reason, she felt a sense of satisfaction upon learning about Esther¡¯s funeral. The moment Esther arrived at the Ansteys, she became Liliane¡¯s enemy. Esther¡¯s exceptional physique and studious nature made her shine like the sun, overshadowing others. As a result, Liliane gradually grew to despise her. However, upon discovering that Esther had taken her own life by throwing herself into the sea, all those negative emotions vanished. ¡°You deceived me, Liliane¡­ Why?¡± Liam expressed his unhappiness, ming himself for his naivety and misjudgment of character. ¡®How could she pretend so readily that she was the one who helped me when it was actually Esther?¡¯ After learning the truth, Liam finally understood why Esther had pped him before. ¡®I see¡­ I was wrong all this time! ¡®I deserve this! ¡®So what if my eyes are healed? ¡®I mistook my benefactor for someone else, and all I received in return for my mistake was a light p.¡¯ ¡°Liam¡­¡± Liliane, wearing an oxygen mask, smirked and giggled. ¡°How does it feel to know that your life¡¯s savior is dead? Are you heartbroken, perhaps?¡± Liam¡¯s anger surged. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t lied to me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I did lie to you. But you¡¯re the most foolish person here, aren¡¯t you?¡± Liliane nced at the television and raised an eyebrow. Her words further fueled the fire. ¡°I wonder if she regretted saving you when you humiliated her for my sake?¡± Liam clenched his fists, ready to strike Liliane. However, the caretakers intervened and stopped him. Scott had made it clear to Liliane that he was not a god and wouldn¡¯t be able to save her if she deteriorated again. Liliane had hired two caretakers to protect her as someone who cherished her life. ¡°You seem angry, Liam. Why is that? ¡°Is it because you mistook your benefactor for someone else? Or is it because Esther died due to the cyberbullying from your fans? ¡°Regardless, I thank you. You know, I had been wishing for her death for a very long time. Unfortunately, nobody is above thew, and I would have faced punishment if I had killed her! ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no such thing as a perfect crime, so I did no need to risk my own well-being just to end her life. So, I should thank you¡­ Thank you for fulfilling my dream of Esther¡¯s death.¡± Liam was consumed by rage at that point. In fact, if he had a knife in his hand, he would have considered murdering Liliane. He had never encountered someone as venomous as her. ¡°Liliane!¡± Witnessing the caretakers prevent Liam from approaching her, Liliane felt reassured that she had made the right decision in hiring them. Filled with disgust, Liam recalled all the information theizens had uncovered about Esther and asked furiously, ¡°You¡­ You caused Thomas¡¯ ident, didn¡¯t you!?¡± Liliane retorted with a smug expression, ¡°Liam, even the police conduct investigations based on evidence, you know? You im that I instigated that event? Where¡¯s your proof?¡± Liam gritted his teeth. ¡°Your desire for Esther¡¯s death is proof enough.¡± Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°You use me ofmitting a crime, yet you have no evidence to support your ims. On the contrary, all the evidence points to Esther¡¯s wrongdoing!¡± In the past, Liam had believed Esther to be an ungrateful woman who repaid kindness with hostility. But now that he knew she was his benefactor, he realized how wrong he had been. ¡®Esther was the kind of woman who had so much love for others that she would help even a stranger. She could not have done all those terrible things to Thomas. ¡®Unless¡­ This entire situation has been a massive conspiracy from the beginning!¡¯ Chapter 347 Chapter 347 ¡°You¡¯re being so smug because you¡¯re so sure of yourself I won¡¯t be able to find against you, am I right?¡± any evidence Liam gritted his teeth and dered, ¡°I will find it. One of these days, I will find the evidence I need.¡± Liam¡¯s intense demeanor took Liliane aback. She chuckled and sarcastically replied, ¡°I¡¯m trembling in fear right now!¡± Liam¡¯s anger toward Liliane was evident as he pointed at her and spoke in a deep voice.¡± Viins like you will face the consequences one day. Don¡¯t think your crimes will remain hidden forever. The world will eventually uncover all the heinous acts you¡¯vemitted.¡± After his statement, Liam walked away while Liliane watched him from behind and snickered. ¡°This mysterious man is incredible! Everything he has done so far has been wless. Otherwise, the winner, but the original video is still in possession of this mysterious man.¡¯ Liliane¡¯s cell phone rang, and her face lit up with joy as she read the message. The mysterious man informed her that he would arrange for Billy¡¯s death that night. However, Liliane needed to visit the Ansteys¡¯ vi to facilitate his ns. Liliane hadplete trust in everything the mysterious man told her, without a shadow of a doubt. Thus, that afternoon, Liliane and her caretakers returned to the Ansteys¡¯ vi. Thest time she had left the vi was during Bradley¡¯s wedding. The vi¡¯s windows and main entrance had faded, and the garden¡¯s flowers and nts were badly damaged due tock of care. This vi, which used to be the warmest home Liliane knew, now felt cold and unfamiliar. ¡°Dad,¡± Liliane whispered as the smell of alcohol greeted her upon entering the vi. Once she adjusted to the odor, she saw Billy, with disheveled stubble, sleeping amidst a collection of wine bottles. Liliane turned to her caretakers and softly instructed, ¡°One of you needs to stay here and tidy up the ce while the other buys ingredients and prepares a meal.¡± The caretakers began their tasks. Liliane gently nudged the intoxicated Billy and said, ¡°Dad, wake up.¡± Billy opened his eyes dazedly and spoke hoarsely upon seeing Liliane. ¡°Liliane, it¡¯s you!¡± ¡°Why did you drink so much, Dad?¡± Liliane yed the role of a dutiful daughter, following the mysterious man¡¯s instructions. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t drink so excessively. It¡¯s not good for you. ¡°Liliane! I¡¯m sorry for my ipetence!¡± Billy released all the frustration he had been harboring. He felt bewildered, realizing his ipetence in navigating the world. He had been manipted by Leah, had fallen for Liliane¡¯s schemes, and had even failed to fulfill Faye¡¯s task, making him feel utterly worthless. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°I will always consider you the best father,¡± Liliane said as she sat on the couch, holding Billy¡¯s hand. Suppressing her inner disgust, she continued. ¡°I know I¡¯m not your biological daughter, but you have been my father since I was born. All the time we have spent together is real. I have pondered this for a long time, Dad, and I would choose you over any dowry you could offer me. Billy, never one to make firm decisions, became even more intoxicated as he listened to Liliane¡¯s ¡°sincere¡± speech. ¡°I came home today to see you and return everything you have given me. I don¡¯t want our rtionship to be destroyed over some measly dors.¡± Those words struck a chord in Billy¡¯s heart. Despite his disdain for Leah, he softened when facing Liliane. ¡°Liliane¡­¡± As Billy looked at her, Liliane said, ¡°Dad, I haven¡¯t been in good health, but I know you and Mom have showered me with love. Despite everything, I feel blessed to have lived every day of my life. So, since my time may be limitedpared to yours, I want you to promise me that you won¡¯t be too devastated when that happens.¡± Despite the pain Liliane had caused him, she was still the daughter he had lovingly cherished for over two decades. Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Billy¡¯s conviction began to waver after his daughter convinced him otherwise. ¡°Dad, why don¡¯t you go freshen up? I¡¯ll ask the caretakers to clean the ce and prepare a nice meal for you.¡± Billy held her hand and gently inquired, ¡°Do you think I¡¯mpletely useless, Liliane?¡± ¡°No, Dad. You¡¯re the best father in the world.¡± ¡°But¡­ I couldn¡¯t save Esther.¡± Being an old man who didn¡¯t surf the Inte, it was natural that Billy was unaware of Esther¡¯s sacrifice to prove her innocence. Instead, he still believed Esther was living with Bradley! ¡°Dad, everything that happened to Esther is not your fault.¡± Agitated, Billy waved his hand and eximed, ¡°How can it not be my fault? Esther is being held captive by Bradley right now! Don¡¯t you think he¡¯s a madman, Liliane?¡± Liliane feigned ignorance and asked, ¡°What? I thought Esther already took her own life to prove her innocence?¡± ¡°What? She took her own life!?¡± Billy eximed. Liliane quickly took out her cellphone and yed Esther¡¯s video for him, instantly awakening him. Unable to ept the truth, Billy watched the video repeatedly. ¡°Esther¡­ She¡¯s¡­ ¡°She¡¯s dead?¡± Billy couldn¡¯t bring himself to believe that Esther was already gone. He pped himself violently, forcing himself to wake up from the intense pain. Only then did he fully ¡°Bradley¡­ You murderer!¡± Liliane consoled him, saying, ¡°I thought you drank so much because you found out about what happened to Esther¡­ You should go freshen up first.¡± With that, Billy headed upstairs to clean himself up. Liliane gazed at the vi, which remained unchanged, yet everything seemed unfamiliar to her at that moment. ¡®No ce feels like home without Mom¡­¡¯ For a moment, Liliane thought about her mother, feeling a stronger connection to Leah, her biological ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. mother, than to Billy. When the dishes were ready, Liliane personally brought out a few tes. ¡°Dad, have some angel hair pasta. It will help after you¡¯ve consumed so much alcohol.¡± Billy¡¯s eyes turned red as he choked. ¡°This is all my fault¡­ I failed to protect her.¡± Liliane¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, too. ¡°This is my fault as well, Dad. I used to believe that Esther¡¯s mother ruined your rtionship with Mom, which is why I treated her so poorly. If I had known who she really was, I would never have¡­¡± Billy looked at Liliane and recalled the things Leah had done to him in the past. While half awake, he had been able to ept Liliane¡¯s advances. But now, after learning about Esther¡¯s death, he couldn¡¯t longer tolerate Liliane¡¯s presence. ¡°Leave everything as it is and go!¡± Liliane¡¯s expression turned cold, but she left the documents on the table before departing with her caretakers. After driving away from the vi for over ten minutes, Liliane thought, ¡®It should have taken effect by now.¡¯ Liliane had meticulously followed the mysterious man¡¯s instructions andced Billy¡¯s food with a certain drug. Liliane instructed her caretaker to drive her back to the vi fifteen minutester. ¡°Stop! Turn back!¡± ¡°Dad¡­¡± Upon rushing inside, Liliane immediately saw Billy lying on the ground. ¡°Quick! Call an ambnce!¡± Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Liliane¡¯s gaze fell upon Billy¡¯s heart. She would have missed the opportunity to receive the best heart in the world if the mysterious man hadn¡¯t informed her that Billy¡¯s heart was a match for her. ¡®Perfect. Now, all I have to do is undergo the transnt, and I¡¯ll finally be a normal woman.¡¯ ¡°Dad, please stay with me! If you leave too, I¡¯ll be an orphan!¡± Liliane cried, shedding crocodile tears before the ambnce arrived. Her caretakers consoled her, fearing that she might faint again due to the loss of her father. ¡°You¡¯re not me. You couldn¡¯t possibly understand what losing a father is like¡­¡± Liliane¡¯s vision cked out, and she passed out in the arms of one of her caretakers just as the ambnce arrived. Liliane and Billy were transported to the hospital together. Upon their arrival, the doctors discovered that Billy had signed an organ donation agreement before his demise. Moreover, they found that his heart was a match for Liliane, who had also expressed her desire for a heart transnt. Consequently, the surgery took ce at that very hospital. Billy would never have expected Liliane-the daughter he had raised since she was young-to fully inherit Leah and Shane¡¯s venomous personalities. The surgery was a tremendous sess thanks to thepatibility between Billy¡¯s heart and Liliane¡¯s body. Observing Liliane after her sessful surgery, Scott couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°She¡¯s an incredibly fortunate woman, defying death time and time again.¡± However, Scott was unaware that good luck didn¡¯t exist in the world. Instead, there were only people willing to stain their hands with blood without hesitation in order to survive. News of Liliane¡¯s sessful surgery reached Leah¡¯s ears, courtesy of the mysterious man. Leah clenched her fists with excitement upon reading the note, which stated that Liliane had inherited all of Billy¡¯s wealth following his death. Leah had been searching tirelessly for a suitable heart to save her daughter¡¯s life for years. In the end, that heart belonged to the Anstey family¡¯s deadbeat. In fact, if Leah had known that Billy¡¯s heart waspatible with Liliane¡¯s, she wouldn¡¯t have allowed him to live as long as he did. After all, she had no qualms about being a widow! Despite everything that had urred, it was still a happy ending for Leah. With Billy gone, all she needed was for Liliane to recover, hire awyer, and secure her release from prison, which wouldn¡¯t be much longer. After reading the note, Leah tore it into pieces and shoved them into her mouth to destroy the evidence. Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org. Long-distance flights were often tedious for most people, but Esther and Felix were still in high spirits at that moment. They enjoyed a wide array of food, drinks, and games on the private jet, making it a joyful time for them. ¡°Where are we going now, Mommy?¡± Felix asked. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to meet your two adorable little sisters,¡± Esther replied. ¡°Is Pixie one of them?¡± Felix asked yfully. Esther shook her head and gently caressed Felix¡¯s face. Softly, she replied, ¡°No, their names are Sunshine and Twinkle, but they are also two very cute little girls.¡± Felix looked up with a mischievous grin and asked, ¡°How cute are they?¡± Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Esther said, ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you meet themter.¡± Anna had been waiting for Esther and Felix at the airport¡¯s exit for quite some time. She held a bouquet of sunflowers in her hands as she stood quietly. ¡°Anna,¡± Esther called out. Esther held Felix¡¯s hand and walked toward Anna. Seeing Esther with her oversized sunsses and ck mask, Anna couldn¡¯t help but sigh and ask, ¡°I almost mistook you for a celebrity, Esther.¡± ¡°You¡¯re mistaken, Aunt Anna. Mommy is even prettier than a celebrity!¡± Felix innocentlyplimented Esther. Proudly, he added, ¡°Mommy is the prettiest woman in the world!¡± Anna looked at the adorable Felix and felt her heart melt. She gently said, ¡°I can see how much you love your mother!¡± ¡°I love her more than anyone in the world,¡± Felix imed. Esther ced her slender hand on Felix¡¯s shoulder, moved by his words. ¡°And I love you more than anyone, Felix!¡± Anna smiled warmly as she witnessed the loving bond between mother and son. She then handed the bouquet of sunflowers to Esther. ¡°Congrattions on your new life, Esther.¡± Esther epted the sunflowers and said, ¡°Thank you, and I apologize for causing you so much. trouble.¡± Anna sighed helplessly. ¡°I tried to find you earlier, but they wouldn¡¯t let me in.¡± ¡°No one was allowed to see me during that time.¡± Esther seemed to be mocking herself as she added, ¡°Who hasn¡¯t made foolish decisions when they were younger, right?¡± ¡°But now you¡¯re free as a bird¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m free now.¡± Anna led Esther and Felix to her car, where the back seats had two booster seats since Annal often drove Twinkle and Sunshine. Felix looked at the pink and purple safety seats and seemed a bit embarrassed as he asked, Can I sit in a regr seat, Mommy?¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± Esther firmly helped Felix into one of the seats. you don¡¯t Despite her firm actions, Esther spoke gently, saying, ¡°We¡¯re in a different country now, so we need to follow their trafficws. Aunt Anna and I can get a ticket from the police if sit in a booster seat. We might even have to take a ss on trafficws.¡± Felix pouted but gave in. ¡°Okay then¡­¡¯ After securing Felix¡¯s seatbelt, Esther sat in the front passenger seat, and Anna nced at the back through her rearview mirror. She said, ¡°You¡¯re really gentle with him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my son, after all. I can¡¯t be harsh with him even if I want to,¡± Esther replied. Felix looked curiously outside as he sat in his safety seat. In the past, he spent most of his time in the hospital due to his health issues, so he hadn¡¯t had many opportunities to see the world beyond the hospital walls. Now, presented with this chance, Felix curiously observed the bustling buildings along the streets. Anna¡¯s car slowly entered a castle¡­ ¡°You¡¯re not the descendant of a royal family, are you, Anna?¡± Esther teased. Anna shook her head. ¡°This castle isn¡¯t expensive, but the maintenance costs and taxes are quite high. However, I have a fruit garden at the back of the castle and a winery where I make fruit wine. We can enjoy some drinks and have a chat when it¡¯s nighttime.¡± Esther looked at the scenery outside her window and eximed excitedly, ¡°I¡¯m going to earn a lot of money so I can buy my own castle, too!¡± ¡°Coincidentally, I have some good news for you,¡± Anna said. ¡°What is it?¡± Esther asked. Anna got out of the car, leaving Esther in suspense. ¡°It¡¯s a surprise. I¡¯ll tell you