《The Good Girl's Revenge》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    Late at night, the women''s prison, J City.


    Meredith curled up on the bed, and the quilt on her body was extremely thin, which was unable to allow


    her to withstand the cold. She could not help but reach out and touch her aching knees. The bone-


    eating itch at her joints kept her awake all night.


    After three years, she thought she was used to the pain, but she was not as strong as she thought.


    The umted pain over the years made it even more difficult for her to pass through this winter.


    Meredith didn''t even know if she could wait for the day when she would be released from prison.


    After being forced to take the rap three years ago, she was sentenced to ten years in prison. And now,


    there were still seven years left.


    Meredith moved her body because of the pain. The creaking bed woke up the person next to her. That


    woman got up in a rage and grabbed Meredith''s hair.


    Meredith looked at that woman''s fierce face. She looked numb for she had been used to being beaten.


    But her silence did not make that woman feel pity for her. A heavy p was about toe. Meredith


    did not even have the strength to avoid it. She could only let this woman hit her. As long as this woman


    felt that was enough, things would end eventually.


    Just as she was waiting for the pain toe, suddenly, there were footsteps outside. "Meredith,e


    out!"


    Meredith opened her eyes and the woman shook her off, "You''re lucky."


    She slowly put on her only nearly decent clothes and walked out following the prison guard. "What


    happened?"


    "Shut up, and don''t ask what you shouldn''t!"


    The prison guard didn''t say much and put a pair of handcuffs and a ck hood on Meredith.


    Darkness brought her the unknown and fear, and Meredith''s heart slowly sank.


    After walking for a while, she was taken to a car, "Where are you taking me?"


    Meredith listened to the sound of the engine starting, and her heart was filled with terror.


    Being taken away without being informed beforehand had given her the illusion that she was about to


    be quietly disposed of.


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    "When we get there, you will know."


    An old but steady and powerful voice came into her ears, but Meredith''s heart beat even faster...


    She had an intuition that this trip was enough to change the course of her life.


    After a long time of restlessness, the car finally stopped. Meredith got out of the car and was dragged


    by a man. They kept walking for a long time before stopping.


    Someone roughly removed the ck hood from her head, and her eyes, which had been immersed in


    the darkness for a long time, were blinded by the sudden light.


    After a moment, Meredith got used to it, and then found an old man standing not far away. He had no


    expression on his face. However, there was an aura around him that didn''t allow anyone to


    underestimate him.


    This was the person who brought her out, the person she could not afford to offend.


    Meredith nced at him and looked down at the tip of her shoes. She was afraid that this person would


    suddenly get angry and do something to her. She had no strength to resist at all.


    "Well, I have something to ask of you. If you agree, I can drop the charges and get you out of prison


    early."


    Before the old man could finish his sentence, Meredith interrupted him anxiously. "I agree."


    "Are you not afraid that I will do you harm?" the old man was surprised at her eagerness.


    Meredith shook her head, "No matter what it is, the situation won''t be worse than it is now. Besides, if


    you really want to do something to me, I don''t think I can have the chance to stand here at all."


    Since this man could bring her out of prison or drop the charges and set her free, he must be able to let


    her disappear from this world. And she didn''t want to die yet.


    The old man nodded, "Even so, you still have to know about it before you make the decision."


    After that, he pushed the door open and entered a room. Meredith followed him and saw a man lying


    on the bed.


    It was a very handsome man. Although he was wearing a hospital gown and his eyes were closed, his


    delicate face and noble aura were still intact. His chiseled features outlined in the dim light that no


    women could resist.


    Meredith could imagine that this man was once outstanding, while for such a person, he obviously had


    nothing to do with the kind of person like her. She could not hide her confusion.


    "This is my grandson, Derek. He''s been unconscious for three years. He''s the one that you have hit in


    the crash."


    Meredith''s face turned pale right away, and she could not help but clench her fists. Her uncut nails


    pierced the skin of her palms, but she did not realize it and kept staring at the man in front of her.


    So, it was him!


    Meredith knew that he was also a victim, but it was difficult for her to remain calm as she thought that it


    was because of him that she was retaliated and deliberately tortured in prison.


    Anger, grievance, and shock were intertwined. But she could only endure it and pretend to be calm.


    Seeing her trembling hands, the old man thought she was feeling guilty, "Derek is in aa and needs


    a woman to marry him and look after him carefully. For some reason, it''s you. What do you think?"


    Meredith was silent for a moment. To get married? To marry a man like Derek?


    Even if she didn''t go to jail, marrying into a rich family like the Xavier Family would be a pipe dream for


    her considering her family background.


    She knew that the Xavier Family must be plotting something ...


    However, she had no right to refuse.


    She only had two ways.


    One was that she married this living dead man and embarked on an uncertain path.


    The other was that she went back to prison and lived in the dark until she got released after her


    sentence ended.


    No matter which way she chose, it was a cage. She looked straight at the unconscious Derek in front of


    her, and her eyes were filled with mixed emotions.


    "I..."

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    "I agree."


    She had been in prison for three painful years. If she returned to that nightmarish ce, she believed


    that she would die there in less than a year.


    So she had to leave there anyway. Even if the outside world was full of thorns and danger, it was better


    than dying quietly in that dark ce.


    "It''s fine if you agree. I''ll arrange for you to get your marriage license tomorrow. Are you okay with


    that?"


    Meredith was surprised at his eagerness, but she didn''t care about this kind of thing. "No problem. It''s


    up to you."


    Seeing that Meredith cooperated, senior Mr. Xavier nodded and went back to the study, where Derek''s


    mother, Violet, was already waiting.


    Violet was anxious and helpless. She said after seeing senior Mr. Xavier, "Dad, do you really agree with


    that kind of woman to marry Derek?"


    Senior Mr. Xavier nodded without a doubt. "It''s settled."


    "But how could Derek marry that kind of woman? Even if he is unconscious, it won''t be difficult for him


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    to marry a girl from a decent family. This woman is the main culprit for hurting Derek and has been in


    prison. How could she be worthy?"


    "It''s all settled. Besides... A woman like her is easy to handle. If she is really useless, we can deal with


    her at that time."


    With that, senior Mr. Xavier drove Violet away. He looked at spirited Derek in the family photo and


    sighed.


    Derek had been unconscious because of a car ident for three years, and his body had already


    recovered. However, he just did not wake up. The Xavier Family had found many famous doctors at


    home and abroad, but they were all helpless.


    Not long ago, a fortune-teller said that a woman born at a certain time might bring Derek good luck and


    that woman was Meredith.


    This was probably their fate.


    ...


    Meredith was arranged to go to another room. There was already a clean set of clothes on the bed.


    She walked over and stroked the fine fabric on the clothes, feeling deste in her heart.


    It had been a while since she wore such clean, unbroken clothes.


    After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, Meredith stood in front of the mirror and looked at


    herself.


    The woman in the mirror was only twenty-one years old, as young and fresh as a flower. But Meredith''s


    eyes had long lost the innocence and hope that they should have at this age,  having only vicissitudes


    and hatred left, which could not be washed away.


    Those three years in prison hadpletely changed her.


    Meredith did not sleep well this night. Although it was clean and warm, the scenes that had happened


    in the past wrapped around her tightly and suffocated her once again.


    On her 18th birthday, out of her expectation, her father gave her a car and a luxury dress that he would


    never let her wear in normal times. Meredith was coaxed to put on the dress and drive around.


    However, she was taken directly to the Police Station by the police.


    At the police station, Meredith learned that the car had just escaped from a vicious collision a few days


    ago and the female driver in the surveince was wearing the same dress as the one she had received.


    Her 18th birthday present was a ten-year prison sentence...


    Meredith frowned and struggled in her nightmare. It was the knock on the door that woke her up.


    "Miss Mason, it''s time for you to learn how to take care of the young master."


    Meredith quickly washed up and followed the maid. The Xavier Family did not bring her here to enjoy


    being a young madam. She had to do everything she could to stay here.


    After being taught by servants, Meredith learned that she had to clean Derek''s body every day and give


    him a proper massage. Because she didn''t know how to massage, she was only allowed to do the


    cleaning today.


    Meredith looked at the man lying on the bed and gritted her teeth. She reached out and carefully took


    off his clothes.


    Although she knew that Derek was just a vegetable, he was still a mature man. Facing the body of a


    strange man, Meredith felt extremely embarrassed.


    At this age, she had never seen a man''s body before, nor had she ever had a physical rtionship with


    her ex-boyfriends.


    However, this was what she had to do now, and she had no room to escape.


    Soon, Meredith held back her shyness and stripped the man of all his clothes.


    Although Derek had been in aa for three years, under the meticulous care of the Xavier Family, he


    was no different from normal people except for being thinner and paler. He was slender, well-


    proportioned without any fat, and full of masculine charm.


    Meredith looked at his beautiful muscles and blushed. She wiped every corner of his body with a towel


    soaked in warm water. Finally, her hand stopped at his most private position and she was at a loss.


    "Young master''s body must be cleaned every day. Someone wille to check on him."


    Thinking of what the servant had said before he left, Meredith, though embarrassed, still took off the


    After a while, Meredith felt it was enough, and hurriedly got him dressed. Because she was so


    flustered, she didn''t even notice that Derek''s body became tenser because of her actions, and his


    fingers that didn''t react for a long time also moved.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Meredith finished her task and left immediately. She was too embarrassed to face this man again, even


    if he was unconscious.


    Meredith walked out of Derek''s bedroom. The old master was already waiting for her.


    "Today is your first time taking care of Derek. How''s it going? Can you handle it?"


    Meredith nodded but suddenly thought of the naked body of the man she saw today. Of course, he was


    handsome and the task was not unbearable. But she still had some difficulty in oveing the barrier


    in her heart.


    Perhaps she would get used to it after a long time.


    "No problem."


    Senior Mr. Xavier nodded and a man in a ck suit came in with two red booklets in his hands.


    "These are your marriage certificates. I''ll keep them for you. Do you have any opinion?"


    Meredith shook her head. The old master''s subtext was obvious. If the marriage certificate was kept in


    the Xavier Family, she could only temporarily take the title of the young madam of the Xavier Family


    and would have no status and no freedom, and even the marriage certificate would be changed to a


    divorce certificate at any time. At that time, she would be sent back to the ce where she had


    suffered a lot, or she would be asked to disappear from this world.


    Meredith did not care about status, but she cared about freedom. This marriage certificate was her


    shackle, but it was also the only hope that she could get out of the predicament. She could only rely on


    the certificate to exchange for her future freedom.


    Seeing that she was reasonable, senior Mr. Xavier nodded. "If you have time, learn from the massager


    how to give Derek a massage. Remember, as his wife, it''s your duty to take care of Derek''s daily life."


    Meredith agreed and went back to Derek''s room. The massager saw here and motioned for her to


    sit aside and watch.


    Meredith sat down cooperatively and watched the man''s muscles being pushed and rubbed over and


    over again. She eximed in her heart.


    Derek had been unconscious in bed for three years without any muscle atrophy, which could show that


    this massager''s skill was extraordinary.


    If she learned this massage technique, she might be able to make her mother''s muscle as healthy as


    Derek''s even if she was paralyzed in bed.


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    Meredith''s eyes dimmed at the thought of her mother, whom she had not seen for three years.


    Back then, her mother was so angry at the shameless behavior of the three people in the Mason


    Family that she had a stroke and was bedridden. Now, she didn''t know how her mother was


    recovering.


    The reason why she had to leave the prison as soon as possible was not only because of the pain she


    suffered, but also because she wanted to take care of her mother.


    So for her mother''s sake, she had to take advantage of this opportunity to marry into the Xavier Family


    and regain her freedom.


    It was already dark after the massage. Meredith sent the massager away and went out for dinner. The


    old master told her, "Now that you have had a marriage certificate, you can sleep with Derek from now


    on."


    The old master was giving orders, which could not be refused.


    Since they attempted to bring Derek good luck by having a wedding, they had to follow the rules strictly.


    Meredith paused with her chopsticks and nodded.


    After all, it was just sleeping with a man in a vegetative state. A vegetable who could not move or


    speak was much safer than the people in prison who were going to kill her at any time.


    So "sleeping together" only meant literally.


    After dinner, Meredith went back to Derek''s room obediently. In order to celebrate, the bedclothes in the


    room was changed to bright red, and two red candles were lit on the table. The lights were turned off,


    and the red me of the fire made the room look warm.


    Meredith walked to the bedside and looked at the man on the bed. His face softened a lot under the


    candlelight. It was not as cold as usual. In a trance, she thought that he was just asleep.


    "From today on, you are my husband. Is it ridiculous? Because of you, I almost died several times


    during the past three years. I did hate you before, and you must hate me, too. But now we be


    husband and wife. Maybe this is fate."


    "It doesn''t matter if you never wake up." Meredith sat by the bed and began massaging Derek with the


    technique she learned from the massager today, "After all, I just want to be free and you just need


    someone to take care of you. We can take what we need. It will be nice if there are no more changes"


    ording to the massager, Meredith didn''t stop massaging him until an hour passed. Although she


    hated the man because of whom she was in jail, she was bound to take good care of him because of


    the agreement with the Xavier Family.


    She felt sleepy. On the first day after she was released from prison, Meredith finally felt a trace of


    freedom. Those feelings that belonged to a human, such as exhaustion and sleepiness, returned to


    her.


    Derek was on one side of the bed, and she was lying on the other side of the big red bed. She


    habitually curled up and closed her eyes.


    In the middle of the night, the chill made her leg pain badly, and she tosses and turned as she sweated


    profusely. Suddenly, she felt the heat source beside her. Subconsciously, she leaned over and curled


    her small body into the "fire" beside her.


    Waves of warmth passed through her skin, and the cold disappeared, so she gradually fell asleep


    again.


    The next day.


    Meredith had not seen the morning light in the dark cell for a long time so that she woke up when the


    first ray of sunlight prated through the curtains that were not drawn close.


    When she opened her eyes, she looked nkly at the slightly pale handsome face in front of her, felt


    the warmth of his body, and suddenly realized that she was lying in his arms.


    Meredith struggled to get up at once, her face burning. Even if Derek was an unconscious person, he


    was still an adult man. How could Meredith not be shy just hugging him like that?


    She quickly put on her clothes. When she opened the door and went out, she looked back at Derek,


    who was still lying quietly on the bed. She was a little confused.


    Just now, when she got up, she felt the strengthing from Derek''s arm around her waist.


    Was it an illusion?


    Or was Derek about to wake up?

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    Meredith shook her head, thinking it must be an illusion. It was impossible for a person who had been


    unconscious for three years to wake up just because she took care of him for a day and stayed with


    him on the bed for a night.


    Besides, Meredith didn''t want Derek to regain consciousness.


    If Derek regained consciousness at this time, the Xavier Family would probably no longer need her


    anymore. By then, she, the person who was to me for Derek''s unconsciousness for three years,


    would either be sent back to prison or secretly disposed of because of the hatred that the Xavier Family


    had for her.


    What''s more, Derek had been in aa for three years, and his life that was supposed to be promising


    was ruined. If he woke up, he would definitely not let the person who had made him end up like this get


    away with it.


    So, Meredith didn''t want Derek to wake up anyway. His recovery would be a nightmare for her.


    But soon, Meredith was caught in another nightmare unawares.


    For the next month, Meredith wiped Derek''s body and learned to give him a massage. Apart from


    eating, she stayed by Derek''s side almost around the clock.


    Meredith had paid special attention to Derek''s reaction during the massage. She noticed that Derek


    would not respond to her in any way whether she pinched him or she deliberately tickled him.


    Until then, Meredith was finally able to confirm that what happened that morning was an illusion.


    And she finally dropped her guard and went back to the bed instead of curling up on the sofa in the


    room at night.


    The Xavier Family had a reallyfy bed.  Therefore, it was torture for her to sleep on the sofa while a


    After tucking herself in, Meredith nearly burst into tears when shey on thefortable bed and slept


    on the soft pillow with the warm quilts. She had not enjoyed such an easy andfortable life for so


    long. It had been a long time since she ate and slept normally.


    Although she had a tough time in the Xavier Family over the past month, she felt at ease here.


    Meredith even felt that it would be better if she could carry on in this way and get the chance to go out


    to visit her mother.


    In the haze, Meredith closed her eyes and gradually fell into sleep with sweet dreams. But at this very


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    time, she felt a body with burning heat suddenly pressed on her and a pair of big hands caressed her


    body as if they were going to ignite her desire and make out with her.


    The man''s hot breath sprayed over Meredith''s fair neck, which made her pale and tender skin redden


    in desire immediately.


    "Who are you! Let go! Let go of me!" Meredith woke up in terror and struggled desperately.


    Meredith subconsciously thought that Derek had woken up, but when she touched the man on the


    other side of the bed, she was shocked to find with widened eyes that Derek was still lying beside her!


    The man on her was not Derek!


    Then who was he?


    It was dark in the room, and she struggled with increasing fear. The Xavier Family was so heavily


    guarded. Who would dare to break into Derek''s room in the middle of the night and molest Derek''s wife


    just in front of Derek?


    "You are so wild. I like it." It was a voice from a stranger. Meredith could not tell who the man was.


    While Meredith''s struggle was so weak that it was not a struggle at all in the eye of the man, she


    rubbed her body against him, which aroused the man''s desire.


    "Who the hell are you? Do you know who I am? If the people of the Xavier Familyknew that you broke


    into their young master''s room in the middle of the night and dared to molest his wife, I am sure that


    you will die in your boots! If you leave now, I promise I won''t expose you. If you don''t leave, I will call for


    someone!"


    Meredith racked her brain for words that could threaten the man in front of her. She didn''t want to ask


    for trouble, but she couldn''t ept trouble without fighting back.


    "Well, then you can shout out with all your strength and see what the Xavier Family will do to you when


    they rush in and see us like this."


    Meredith was suddenly stiffened. At this moment, her clothes were torn open by the man and she was


    almost naked. Her skin was also slightly red. If the people of the Xavier Familysaw her like this...

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    The man then whispered in Meredith''s ear, "If the Xavier Family see us, do you think they will throw you


    back in prison, or will they just kill you in secret as youmit adultery after the marriage?"


    Meredith''s body suddenly cooled down. No. She could neither go to prison nor die!


    When the man saw that Meredith was no longer struggling, he became so reckless that he even kissed


    her trembling lips frantically!


    Meredith regained her senses and bit the man''s tongue hard. The smell of blood spread through their


    mouths at once.


    Even if she could not rm the Xavier Family, she would not lose her virginity to this man!


    "Tsk! You!"


    The man let go of her in pain. Meredith took the opportunity to struggle and knocked off the bedside


    Less than half a minuteter, someone came knocking on the door, "Miss Mason, what happened


    inside? May Ie in?"


    In the dark, Meredith widened her eyes and looked at the dark figure of the man in front of her. She


    wanted to see what he looked like, but she could not see anything except a pair of cold eyes.


    Meredith opened her mouth. She wanted to let the person in, but she didn''t dare. The cold look in the


    man''s eyes made her very scared.


    Finally, after staring at her for a long time, the man rolled out of bed, quickly jumped out of the balcony


    and disappeared into the night.


    Meredith slowly regained her senses and moved her lips, "N-Nothing. I identally knock over the


    When the footsteps outside the door disappeared, she wrapped herself in the quilt and ran barefoot to


    the balcony. After making sure that there was no man around, she went back to the room and locked


    the balcony door closely. She drew the curtains to let the moonlight in to break the suffocating darkness


    inside. Only then did she rx a little and lie back on the bed.


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    Derek was lying quietly on the other side of the bed and his body was warm. Meredith was still in a


    panic, but she slowly moved to his side and carefully hugged his arm.


    In the moonlight, the outline of Derek''s face softened. Thinking of the man''s chilling eyes, Meredith


    realized that Derek was the only one who could reassure her at the moment.


    The next morning, Meredith woke up. The fright ofst night made her unable to sleep well. She got up


    with dark circles and went to have breakfast.


    Suddenly, from Derek''s bedroom came the cry of a servant, "Help! Young master is injured!"


    The first person to run out of the room was the old man, followed by Derek''s mother. A group of people


    rushed to Derek''s bedroom, all paniced.


    Meredith''s porridge spoon dropped on the table. How could Derek get hurt?


    Meredith got up in a hurry and went back to the bedroom. Before she could see what was going on,


    she was pped across the face.


    With a snap, Meredith''s head tilted to one side and her face was burning with pain.


    "How on earth do you take care of Derek!" Violet pped Meredith with all her strength. When she saw


    Meredith, it was as if she saw an enemy. Hatred and murderous anger surged in her almond eyes like


    a tsunami.


    Meredith turned around and saw three bloody cuts in Derek''s arm through the crowd. She squeezed


    forward in surprise to check, "It''s impossible. He was fine yesterday. Why does he suddenly get cuts


    today?"


    "You''re in charge of taking care of Derek, and now you''re the one who knows nothing! I think you''re


    harboring resentment and trying to kill my son!"


    "No, I''m not..." Meredith thought over and over again about how he got these three cuts. Could it be


    that Derek got up and scratched himself? That didn''t make sense!


    Could it because ofst night...

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    Did she identally hurt Derekst night while she was struggling with that strange man?


    Or maybe it was that person who hurt Derek!


    Xavier Family had a big business andrge fortune, and there were a lot of people who were enemies


    of the Xavier Family. That person didn''t seem to be a member of the Xavier Family at all. Maybe he


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    was an enemy of the Xavier Family...


    Meredith got up subconsciously and wanted to say it, but she hesitated at the moment she opened her


    mouth. If she did, she would be forced to tell what happened on earthst night. If she told the truth that


    the man tried to rape herst night, but nothing happened between them, would those people in the


    Xavier Family believe it?


    A strange man suddenly appeared and hurt Derek, but let Meredith go?


    Unless Meredith did something with him, or Meredith was with that man. Otherwise, how could she be


    unharmed?


    Could those people in Xavier Family let her go with such suspicion on her?


    Her lips quivered for a long time. Meredith finally said, "It''s me. I didn''t take good care of him. I knocked


    over thempst night and cut him. I''m willing to be punished..."


    "I said that you did it on purpose. If I had known it would be like this, I should have..."


    "Enough."


    senior Mr. Xavier raised his hand and stopped Violet from striding forward to strangle Meredith. Then


    he slowly turned to look at Meredith. His aged eyes were filled with a fearful chill. He was like a lion still


    in its prime who could tear his prey to pieces and crush it into the mud at any time.


    "Since you admit your mistake, go to the basement and reflect on how you can take good care of


    Derek beforeing out."


    "Dad, this is too easy for her! Dad!"


    senior Mr. Xavier paced out of the bedroom with his hands behind his back. Violet chased after him,


    and before she left the room, she did not forget to look back at Meredith fiercely.


    Meredith understood what Violet was going to say but was interrupted just now.


    "I should have killed you in the first ce."


    Looking at the servants around who looked at her with the same hatred, she felt that the whole Xavier


    Family would wish death for her.


    After senior Mr. Xavier left, someone immediately went up and dragged Meredith into the basement.


    The door was locked with a bang, and Meredith was once again trapped in a dark cage.


    There was no food, no water, no light, and no one. Meredith sat quietly in the corner with her knees in


    her arms. Her mind was spinning with images of her mother falling ill, her being coaxed into wearing


    that expensive dress, her takingr a spin, and being held on to the prison in the blink of an eye. And


    even, she had the image that Derek was lying quietly beside her.


    She didn''t know how many days had passed, and no one hade and asked her if she had done her


    introspection. Perhaps the people of the Xavier Family had already forgotten her. People like her, even


    if they quietly died at the Xavier Family, no one would care.


    She was thirsty and hungry. She leaned against the wall and breathed hard, finally confirming


    something.


    People in the Xavier Family would really take her life at any time.


    "I know I was wrong... Let me out... I will take good care of Derek... Even if I get injured or die, I will


    never let Derek get hurt again... Please, let me out..."


    Meredith fell to the ground and pleaded in a faint voice. She did not know that her promise at this


    moment would really be a reality one day...


    Before she lost her consciousness, Meredith still didn''t see the people of the Xavier Familye and


    let her out.


    ...


    The warm liquid slid down her throat, and Meredith gradually regained her consciousness. She


    subconsciously swallowed the liquid flowing into her mouth, and her ''dried'' internal organs were finally


    moistened. She slowly opened her eyes.


    Meredith pushed the man in front of her away when she saw the cold, clear eyes that were close to her.


    She grabbed the quilt and moved back. Her eyes widened in horror.


    "Why are you here!"

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    The man wiped the corner of his mouth. "If I hadn''te, you would have died in the basement." As he


    spoke, he moved closer, "I have saved you, and don''t you want to thank me?"


    "Get out of here! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have been like this!"


    Originally, she was doing well in the Xaviers, and Mr. Xavier was getting more and more satisfied with


    her. She even felt that she would soon be able to earn an opportunity to see her mother, but this man


    ruined it!


    Because of him, Meredith not only almost died, but also lost the chance to get out!


    Meredith couldn''t wait to tear him apart, but she also knew that she was no match for this man and


    could only deal with him carefully.


    Meredith''s hand groped under the quilt and touched Derek''s arm. Meredith subconsciously tried to


    make sure there were no wounds on his body. If Derek was injured again, the Xaviers would never let


    Meredith live well. Today, even if she had to risk her life, she would fight to the end with this man!


    "Don''t worry, I didn''t hit your vegetable husband today." The man saw through her intention and


    exined with amusement.


    Meredith''s eyes widened, "Sure enough, you caused the wounds on his body! Why did you do that!


    What the hell do you want to do?"


    "This has nothing to do with you. Why don''t we talk about how you will repay me for saving you?"


    "Was it you who brought me out of the basement?"


    "It was persons from the Xaviers who brought you out, but they left you here. If I hadn''t fed you water,


    you would have died of dehydration by now." The man wiped the corner of his mouth after he finished


    speaking, still being immersed in the aftertaste of feeding her water with his mouth.


    "You!" Only then did Meredith realize that this man had just fed her water with his mouth! She wiped


    her mouth with her sleeves violently time and time again, wishing she could wipe his dirty smell off her


    mouth, but soon she realized a problem: "How do you know so much about the Xaviers?"


    Not only did he know that she was locked up in the basement, but he also knew that the Xaviers''s


    servants had left her here and never cared about her. Meredith could be sure that this person was not


    from the Xaviers, but how did he know all these?


    "There''s nothing I don''t know about the Xaviers."


    "Who the hell are you?!" Meredith only felt as if someone had installed a camera on her body. Could it


    be that this man knew what she was doing and what she was saying in daily life? But this man had


    never appeared by her side during the day. Who was he?


    "You talk too much today." The man''s voice sank and he pounced on Meredith, pressing her down,


    "Now that you''re awake, let''s do something interesting!"


    "Ah!"


    The man was caught off guard and his arm ached. Blood was pouring out. The wound was deep. The


    man covered his arm and stood up. The coldness in his eyes increased as if it could freeze Meredith


    directly.


    Meredith''s hands trembled as she held onto a piece of broken ss. The sharp corners of the ss


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    were now slowly dripping with blood.


    "Meredith, do you think you can escape by doing so?"


    The man said these words in a vicious tone. Just as Meredith thought she was saved, her body was


    once again pressed down by the man. More and more blood flowed from the man''s wounds, but he


    didn''t seem to feel the pain. Instead, he exerted more strength and wished he could tear her bones


    apart!


    Meredith was so scared that she pressed the ss against her throat.


    When Meredith was imprisoned in the basement and was about to go crazy, she wanted to use this


    ss to kill herself several times. But every time she thought of her mother, she gave up the idea.


    But now, she had to die even if she didn''t want to.


    She had to die if she offended the Xaviers. If she was found that she had been insulted and hurt by this


    man, she also had to die sooner orter. Since she was going to die anyway, it would be better if she


    killed herself now!


    Thinking about it, Meredith closed her eyes tightly and stabbed her neck with the tip of the ss


    violently.


    Blood dripped on Meredith''s neck, but she didn''t feel any pain. When she opened her eyes, she


    realized that the man had grasped the sharp edge of the ss so tightly that his veins were visible.


    "Meredith, do you want to die? It''s not that easy!"

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    Meredith''s eyes were red, and she was trembling with fear, "You can''t stop me. There''s always a time


    when you can''t show up. What can you do to me then?"


    "If you really want to die, why don''t you just find a way to kill yourself in prison?" The man''s eyes were


    especially bright in the dark, as if they could prate the deepest part of Meredith''s heart. "Think


    about why you still want to live and be free after suffering these. Think about the people who let you


    suffer and the abuse you have gone through in the past three years or more. Do you really want to


    die?"


    Meredith''s hands were trembling, with tears flowing down her face. How could she be willing to die like


    this? Her grievances had not been solved, and she had not reunited with her mother. But now, facing


    the Xaviers, which was struggling, and this man who was going to hurt her at any time, she could do


    nothing.


    What else could she do?


    The man was still holding the ss shard which was in her hand. The two of them were in a stalemate.


    A momentter, he leaned over to Meredith''s ear and whispered, "Be obedient, and I can give you


    more than the Xaviers does. I can help you with whatever you want."


    His words made Meredith shudder slightly. The words were like a bewitching spell that made Meredith


    hesitate.


    Could this man really help her?


    "Why, why are you helping me?"


    "You don''t need to know now."


    After that, the man let go of Meredith and took the ss from her hand. He turned around and walked


    to the balcony. He pulled aside a corner of the curtain to let the moonlighte in. Meredith felt a


    sense of security when she saw his tall and straight back. He looked so strong.


    He turned his head slightly and said, "I''ll give you three days to think about it, and I''lle back to you


    after that."


    After that, he jumped out of the balcony. Meredith sat up slowly. The bloodstains on her neck which


    were made by the man were clotted, but her heart was beating forcefully.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    She thought that could this man really help her to solve her grievances and let her reunite with her


    mother.


    For the next three days, the man indeed didn''t appear, and Meredith did not decide whether to make a


    deal with him or not.


    A mere verbal statement was no guarantee, so she could not believe this man easily. She didn''t even


    know how she would deal with him the night after three days.


    On the morning of the third day, Meredith had just finished her meal when she was called to the Old


    Master''s study.


    In the quiet study, the elder man looked at Meredith''s haggard face with no pity in his eyes, "Have you


    reflected on yourself thoroughly?"


    Meredith lowered her head obediently, "It''s my fault. From now on, I will not let Derek suffer any more


    harm. I will take good care of him."


    Mr. Xavier nodded, "the Xaviers is not unreasonable. I saw you taking care of Derek in the past month.


    If something like this happens again, I think you know very well what the punishment is."


    "I know." Meredith pursed her dry lips.


    "Since that''s the case, take a break today. The Mason Family doesn''t know about you getting out of


    prison, does it? You can go back to the Mason Family today."


    Meredith looked up abruptly, "Really?" Could she go home and see her mother?


    The Old Master nodded and Meredith bowed gratefully, "Thank you! Thank you! I''ll be back soon!"


    The elder man''s eyes shed with an unknown meaning, but he didn''t say more. He just waved his


    hand to let her go.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Meredith went to the Mason Family in Xavier Family''s car. She was very excited along the way.


    Although the family meant nothing to her, her mother was there. She was very excited because she


    could see her mother immediately.


    When the car reached the Mason Family, Meredith rushed out of the car and ran to the vi, ringing the


    doorbell anxiously.


    "Who''s that? It''s still early in the morning. So noisy." ra came down the stairs and opened the door


    with a mask on her face. Her rxed expression froze when she saw Meredith. ra was not as


    elegant as she used to be. Instead, she appeared a little funny.


    "Meredith, why are you out?"


    Meredith was sentenced to ten years, and now she was far from being released from prison. Why did


    shee out now?


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ra looked at her with a wonderful, surprised, frightened, and guilty expression.


    "Aren''t you happy that I''m out?" Meredith looked at her coldly. No one knew better than the woman in


    front of her how she got into prison, but now the woman could pretend to be innocent.


    Maybe it was this pathetic look that made her good father abandon his wife and daughter and forget his


    conscience.


    "It''s bad enough that a criminal like you grow up from the family. How dare youe back? Don''t you


    feel ashamed? Your father and I feel ashamed during your prison time!"


    "Don''t you know how I became a criminal?" Meredith''s face was cold as she approached, and ra


    took a few steps back in fear.


    She was different from three years ago. Her eyes were cold as if she could kill her, and she was not the


    fool who could be deceived by anyone three years ago.


    "You!"


    "All right." A man''s loud voice suddenly came from the stairs on the second floor. Meredith looked up


    and followed the sound, and saw her "Good father", Wesley.


    "Meredith,e with me."


    Wesley walked towards the study. Meredith nced at ra, pushed her away, and went upstairs.


    ra stood there and stomped, "So what if youe out? Why are you so arrogant? Sooner orter, I


    can get you back in!"


    In the study, Wesley looked at Meredith for a long time before saying, "It''s only been three years. How


    did you get out?"


    Meredith''s heart sank.


    This man, whom she had called father for 18 years, reacted so coldly when he saw his daughter get


    out of prison.


    It turned out that not only ra and Ava, but even Wesley wanted her to stay in prison forever.


    Meredith''s lips twitched bitterly. This was her father, whom she had respected for 18 years, and the


    man her mother had loved for 18 years!


    Back then, Wesley abandoned his first love, ra, for the sake of his career. He shamelessly pursued


    and married a well-to-do woman who had been her mother after. After using her mother''s power to


    develop his career, Wesley remembered ra. They immediately got together and gave birth to Ava.


    At that time, the career of her mother''s family plummeted because of an ident. Slowly, it became a


    thorn in their eyes. In the end, the poor wife who had started his career with nothing could notpete


    with the fixated beauty. They divorced, and Ava and ra were admitted to the Mason Family.


    Meredith, who was still the legal heir to the Mason Family''s assets, naturally became a thorn in their


    eyes, especially ra and Ava, who wished Meredith would die suddenly one day.


    Three years ago, Meredith had been arrested by the police. Wesley had immediately announced he


    would sever ties with her and even demanded a heavy sentence for her. It had made her mother


    had found her with her mother''s notice of critical illness and said that if she did not plead guilty, her


    mother''s treatment would be stopped, which would make her mother die in the operating room.


    At that time, she could do nothing but plead guilty to hit-and-run. She lost three years, whichpletely


    ruined her life.


    Scenes shed through her mind, and Meredith''s eyes reddened slightly. "How did I get out? What


    does it have to do with you? Mr. Mason?"


    Wesley frowned unhappily, "Now that you''re out. Don''t be so ironic. It was you who hit into someone.


    You''re lucky to have only been in prison for three years."


    Meredith sneered. Did she hit someone? The Mason Family''s people spoke as one.


    Their abilities to venomously nder and frame others were admirable!


    Were liers lying so much that they didn''t remember the truth?


    Only three years in prison?


    Naturally, they did not feel the pain and suffering of the past three years because they had good lives


    outside. But how could they possibly understand what kind of life she was living in prison?

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    Perhaps some of the people who had been abusing and bullying her all day long were arranged by the


    Mason Family.


    After all, the Mason Family didn''t want such a tainted person to have anything to do with them, so it


    would be best for them if she died in prison quietly.


    "I''m not here to argue with you about what happened back then. I want to see my mother."


    "I arranged your mother in a quiet ce to recuperate and she should not be disturbed." An unnatural


    glint shed through Wesley''s eyes and disappeared immediately.


    "Where is she? I want to see her now."


    "She''s a patient, not someone you can see whenever you want."


    "You hid her!" Meredith rushed forward and mmed the table, "Wesley, I''ve already taken the rap for


    your precious daughter and been sent to jail. Why are you still imprisoning my mother? Give her back


    to me, and then we are even!"


    "What are you saying, you wicked girl!"


    ra, who had been eavesdropping outside, pushed the door open and rushed in, pointing at Meredith


    angrily with her coquettishly painted fingernails, "Stop slinging mud! You were the one who bumped a


    person and you were the murderer, and now you dare to shift the me to our daughter. I should have


    asked thewyer to give you a death sentence!"


    Meredith scoffed. Sure enough, the Mason Family promoted the sentence behind the scenes that year.


    She didn''t know how many of her ten years'' penalty was won over by the Mason Family.


    "If I can''t see my mother, I''ll think about overturning the case. I heard that Ava is a big star now. I


    wonder if her career would be influenced if the truth is exposed to the media."


    Wesley''s eyes suddenly turned vicious, "You dare to threaten me!"


    ra was also in a rage and wanted to rush up to hit Meredith.


    "I''m negotiating with you." Meredith walked to the french window, looked at the car of the Xavier Family


    waiting for her outside, and said to Wesley, "You can''t afford to offend the people who took me out of


    prison. It was them who sent me back today. Guess if I didn''t go back, would they make trouble on you


    immediately?"


    Wesley looked out of the window suspiciously and saw the Rolls-Royce global limited edition parked in


    the middle distance. There were less than three such cars in the city, and all the owners were not


    someone the Mason Family could afford to offend.


    Who on earth was Meredith in connection with and made her suddenly so confident?


    Suppressing the viciousness in his eyes, Wesley took out the check holder from the drawer, wrote


    down a string of numbers on it, and gave it to Meredith, "Meredith, I know you''ve suffered outside. Your


    mother is doing well now. She needs to rest. The doctor said she couldn''t be disturbed at all. I''ll inform


    you to see her when she''s better. Take the money aspensation from me for all these years."


    Handing over the check, Wesley stopped ra with his eyes from hitting Meredith, smiling.


    Meredith took the check, looked at the number, andughed.


    It was fifty thousand.


    Ava''s pocket money easily added up to a few hundred thousand, and she has spent a few million over


    the past three years. When she was sick, her treatment in the hospital cost astronomical prices. Even


    Meredith''swsuit that year cost more than five hundred thousand. But today, Wesley wanted to send


    her off with a mere fifty thousand.


    Her several narrow escapes from death in jail were worth 50,000 dors.


    Meredith sneered, tore up the check, threw it on Wesley''s face, and turned to leave.


    "You''d better let me see my mother as soon as possible, or I''ll definitely ruin Ava''s reputation."


    "Ava is your sister, how can you do that!" ra shouted angrily behind her.


    "Really? But why do I remember that I have had nothing to do with the Mason Family since three years


    ago?"


    Meredith strode away, leaving ra cursing.


    It was not until she walked out of the Mason Family''s gate that all her strength was gone. She walked


    nkly like a puppet with broken threads.


    Ruin Ava? It was just a temporary excuse.


    With her current power, the news would be suppressed by the Mason Family''s money before it came


    out. It was impossible for her to make any influence.


    Besides, since the Xavier Family was constantly monitoring and manipting her, she had no chance


    nor ability to do anything else.


    The trick of bluffing could only be used once. If she did it once more, it would be seen through by


    Wesley. By then, how could she ask him for her mother?


    How was her mother now? And how was Wesley treating her mother?


    Meredith looked up, held back her tears, and walked towards the car of the Xavier Family.


    However, she stopped when she passed a fiery red Ferrari.


    Meredith knew this car.


    It belonged to her ex-fiance, Leo.


    At this moment, the car was shaking at a very regr rate, and she heard waves of sounds that made


    her blush.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    "That''s too much, Leo. Why are you so impatient?"


    Meredith''s face turned pale all of a sudden because she recognized that voice belonged to nobody else


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    but... Ava!


    "Aren''t you the little slut who seduced me?" Leo put his arm around Ava''s slim waist and caressed her


    up and down.


    Meredith''s eyshes fluttered. She couldn''t believe that the man in the car was actually her so-called


    decent fiance!


    Back then, her mother''s family had some influence in J City, so when she was still a child, her mother


    set up an engagement with the Howard Family, a famous and rich local family, on her behalf.


    Meredith and Leo had been dating on the premise of marriage. Originally, Meredith should have


    married him after she turned 18. However, she went into prison and the marriage had to beid aside.


    Leo was Meredith''s only boyfriend, the man she thought would be with for the rest of her life. But during


    three years in prison, he never visited her once. She thought that Leo couldn''te because of the


    pressure from the Xavier Family, but now it seemed that it was because Leo was with Ava that he had


    already forgotten about Meredith.


    Meredith had also thought that Leo might have found a new girlfriend outside. As someone she really


    liked, she was willing to wish him happiness. But why did it happen to be Ava?


    Leo got out of the car with satisfaction after his lust was relieved. When he saw the woman standing at


    the door, he was shocked a bit. Then, his face changed.


    "Meredith? Why are you here?"


    The same old question. Meredith looked at Leo''s face which was as handsome as she remembered,


    but she saw no gentleness but only obvious disdain in his eyes.|


    "Why... does it have to be her?" Meredith murmured.


    Whoever else it was, she probably wouldn''t have been so upset that she felt herself being pped, but


    it was Ava.


    It was Ava who schemed against her and put her in jail.


    "Why do you ask? Do you know that what stain it would be on my reputation when you went to prison


    and I almost had a fianc¨¦e with a criminal record? " Leo looked at Meredith with disdain, as if he were


    looking at an idiot. "If Ava hadn''t stood up in time and said that she was the one who had been


    engaged to me, would you be able to bear the consequences?"


    "Stop it. It''s understandable that my sister can''t ept us. It''s my fault." Seeing that Leo was agitated,


    Ava walked over and gently tugged at his sleeve.


    "Ava, you are just this kind." Leo''s masculinity was activated by the tenderness she showed. He looked


    at Meredith fiercely. "Meredith, I hope you know yourself better. Don''t presume that Ava has stolen your


    fiance. If you want to me someone, me yourself for failing to live up to my expectations and


    putting yourself in jail. Any man will despise you as bad luck."


    Meredith took a step back. Ava grabbed her and whispered in Meredith''s ear, "Sister, actually, I had a


    rtionship with Leo long before you went to prison. I really want to thank you for taking the guilt for me


    and giving away such a good fiance."


    Meredith suddenly realized the truth as if waking up from a dream, and a deep pain crept into her eyes.


    She pushed Ava''s hand away. It turned out that they had already been in a secret rtionship long


    before she went to prison?


    Meredith did not use much strength, but Ava sat down on the ground as if it were because of the push


    and cried out in pain, "Ah, my foot, it hurts!"


    "What are you doing!" Leo saw Ava being bullied and pushed Meredith right away. His hand was so


    strong that he threw her out. When she fell down, she supported herself with her wrist and immediately


    felt a heart-wrenching pain.


    Ava was held up. "I''m fine. I was just careless. Sister, are you okay?"


    Her voice was still so gentle that Leo''s heart softened. "Bitches like her are born tough. That won''t hurt


    her a bit. She pushed you down. Don''t worry about her. I''ll take you back for some treatment."


    The man held Ava up in his arms. "Meredith, get out of here if you don''t want more troubles. Otherwise,


    the security guards wille here soon and drive you out of here. It''s up to you."


    Ava smiled at Meredith from an angle where Leo couldn''t see her face and said to Meredith in a lip-


    sync manner, "You''re destined to lose to me in everything."

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    Meredith sat on the ground, unsure if it was more painful on her body or in her heart. She could only


    bite her lips to prevent tears from falling.


    This was the man she loved, who left with the person she hated the most in front of her and told her to


    get lost.


    Meredith got up and staggered in the direction of the car, but suddenly, the Xavier Family car suddenly


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    turned around and ran past Meredith, straight into Leo''s Ferrari.


    There was a loud bang, and Meredith''s body shook violently, followed by several loud bangs.


    After a while, Meredith turned around and see that the car of the Xavier Family had just smashed Leo''s


    Ferrari into pieces!


    "What are you doing?" Leo, who was about to take Ava back to the vi, turned around and was


    furious. He left Ava behind and rushed over to roar at the car of the Xavier Family.


    The driver calmly got out of the car and nodded at Leo, "Hello, sir. You crashed our car. The repair cost


    is about five million dors. Are you paying in cash or by credit card?"


    "Are you blind? You obviously crashed my car. My car is useless now, and you dare to ask me for


    Leo stepped forward and grabbed the driver''s cor as if he was about to hit him. Wesley and ra


    heard the noise outside and came out to check. Seeing this, they immediately stopped Leo.


    Especially when Wesley saw the license te of the Rolls-Royce, which was a special te for the


    Xavier Family, he pulled Leo far away.


    "Leo, forget it. Let them go. Don''t worry about it today. I will give you a better car."


    "Uncle, can we just let it go? He crashed my car on purpose, and he dares to ask me for


    must let him know what will happen to him if he provokes me today!"


    "Leo, that''s the car of the Xavier Family! The famous Xavier Family! Are you going to fight with the


    Xavier Family? If you really irritate them, they can easily confuse right and wrong. You won''t be able to


    defend yourself then. This time, consider yourself unlucky and break your fortune." Wesley pointed at


    Meredith and reminded Leo.


    Wesley tried his best to dissuade Leo. When he heard "the Xavier Family," he lost more than half of his


    strength, especially when he saw Meredith. In the case of Meredith hitting Derek, the Xavier Family


    almost wanted to kill Meredith.


    The Howard Family could not afford to offend the Xavier Family, and Leo did not want to get into any


    trouble with the Xavier Family.


    Leo had to cough calmly, straighten up his suit, and walk to the driver, "I don''t think your car is badly


    damaged, and my car is also useless. Forget it. You can go now. I won''t argue with you."


    The driver maintained a professional smile, "Sir, I''m afraid you''re mistaken. It''s not that you let me go,


    but that I am not let you go. My sir loves cars very much. There are only five cars of its type in the


    world, and it costs millions to repair and maintain if only it scrapes a bit of paint. I''m already very


    considerate of you for only five million dors in maintenance for what you''ve done to the car."


    "You! You''re just..." Leo could not help but want to go forward and hit him when Leo saw that he was


    persistent and kept on ckmailing.


    Ava also heard Wesley''s words and didn''t want to let Leo provoke the Xavier Family, so she


    coquettishly said, "Leo, my foot hurts so much. Let dad handle the rest. Aren''t you the most worried


    about me getting hurt..."


    "Get out of the way! I''m in this, can''t you see it?"


    Leo flung Ava away. Meredith stood not far away and smiled sarcastically at the scene.


    So much for his love.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Ava was deted. Seeing Meredith''s mockery, she gritted her teeth in an angrier way. She stomped her


    feet and went back to the vi furiously.


    ra felt sorry for Ava, but she was also afraid of the Xavier Family. So, she had to submit to


    humiliation and pull Leo forward, "Well, Leo, five million is five million. We''ll pay for it. If this thing is


    exposed, you have to think for Ava. If what happened in the car just now gets out, Ava''s career will be


    affected..."


    ra also used such seductive methods to get ahead. When she saw the blush on their faces, she


    knew what Leo and Ava had just done in the car. Once this thing got out and became serious, it would


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    affect her daughter, Ava, the most. No matter what, ra had to think for her daughter.


    Anyway, it was Leo who paid for it, not the Mason Family.


    Wesley also stepped forward, "Yeah, give it to him. If you get into awsuit, it won''t cost you just five


    million."


    Leo gritted his teeth angrily and looked at the driver viciously for a long time. He wished that he could


    cut this man who suddenly appeared and ckmailed him into pieces in his heart. How could he, the


    Young Master of the Howard Family, be willing to suffer such a huge loss for no reason?


    But under pressure, he still took out his card and threw it to that man.


    The driver took out the POS machine and transferred five million. Before he left, he smiled and said,


    "Mr. Howard, be careful next time when you drive. I wish you a happy life."


    "Get out of here!" Leo was so enraged by the fact that the driver acted as a good man after


    ckmailing him.


    The driver calmly got in the car, drove to Meredith''s side, then got out of the car and opened the door


    for Meredith, "Miss Mason, please get in the car."


    Seeing that the Mason Family and Leo had suffered such a big loss, Meredith wanted tough. She


    thought that he, Leo, was a very proud and arrogant man. But it turned out that he could also suffer


    such a setback.


    Meredith felt much better for no reason, and her movements into the car were much quicker and


    smoother.


    The car drove away. Wesley narrowed his eyes as he watched Meredith get into the car of the Xavier


    Family.


    "This lowly bitch has actually established connections with the Xavier Family!" When ra saw that the


    driver was actually theplice of Meredith, she fulminated with anger.


    "Derek is still in aa. The Xavier Family picked her up. I''m afraid that they think putting her into jail


    is not enough to atone for her sins and want to torture her in another way. She may not end up much


    better than being sent to prison. What awaits her may not be heaven, but in fact, hell."


    Leo looked in the direction of Meredith''s departure, his eyes dark and thoughtful.


    When they returned to the Xavier Family, it was already dark. Meredith simply ate something and went


    back to the room. Out of habit, she checked Derek''s body first. He was still sleeping quietly. And his


    body was warm with no new wounds. Nothing was unusual.


    As usual, she massaged Derek for an hour. As she massaged, Meredith thought of all the things that


    happened today and suddenly remembered that ambiguous look in senior Mr. Xavier''s eyes when he


    let her back to the Mason Family during the day.


    Meredith suddenly understood what it meant. It was a kind of mockery, a kind of disdain.


    Meredith was full of gratitude at the time, thinking that senior Mr. Xavier really let her go home out of


    kindness. But in fact, he let her go home because he wanted to let her see her current situation clearly,


    namely, the Mason Family was not a harbor she could rely on and even the people of the Mason


    Family wanted her to die.


    They all abandoned her, including her beloved fiance, who was already on the same side as the Mason


    Family,


    The senior Mr. Xavier just wanted Meredith to go back and experience that in person so that she could


    understand that only by obediently listening to the Xavier Family could she stay alive, and only by


    relying on the Xavier Family could she be protected.


    Otherwise, if she really got the so-called freedom on her own, it would definitely be deprived by the


    Mason Family.


    His intention was to let her be convinced that she shall rely on the Xavier Family after experiencing the


    grim reality. That was the reason why he showed mockery and disdain to Meredith''s gratitude.


    It turned out that this was the n of the scheming master of the Xavier Family.


    She looked at the Derek who was in front of her. She had heard it a long time ago that Derek was


    senior Mr. Xavier''s most preferred junior. And he was the only junior who had surpassed senior Mr.


    Xavier in wits and scheme. senior Mr. Xavier was already so scheming. What about Derek? If he woke


    up, what would he do to her?


    Meredith withdrew her hand in fear. To some extent, she did not dare to touch Derek''s body again. But


    a hot body stretched his hands and grabbed her from behind and held her slender body into his arms...

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    "We haven''t seen each other for three days. Do you miss me?"


    The man sniffed the scent of Meredith''s body which was left after taking shower. Then he said heartily,


    "You smell so good!"


    As soon as he said that, he began to grope Meredith restlessly. Meredith struggled immediately but she


    was unable to move with the man''s powerful arms wrapped around her.


    "Let go of me!"


    "I help you to vent your anger today, but you''re still so heartless. I''m really sad."


    Meredith was stunned, "What? You help me to vent my anger?"


    The man then took out a check with the exact amount of five million dors, the same amount that the


    driver swiped from Leo''s card today!


    "This is for you. A gift for our deal."


    Meredith took the check in disbelief, "The driver who crashed into Leo''s car today is under your


    "That driver isn''t from the Xaviers, he works for me. How can I just sit back and watch my woman get


    bullied? Asking them to pay you a little for mental damage is just the beginning. If you want, I can make


    them lose all their money."


    The man''s warm lips pressed against Meredith''s ear, and his breath made her tremble, "How is it? Is it


    very tempting? Do you want to have sex with me now?"


    Meredith shivered. Now, in addition to the Xaviers and the Masons, there was a strange man.


    The Masons could never be counted on, and the Masons could also destroy Meredith forever. Only this


    man gave Meredith the most practical help. Should she believe him?


    "I, let me think about it. My mind is in a mess now. Can you give me a few more days?"


    Meredith really believed that this man could help her now, but nobody knew if he was like the Xaviers,


    who could help her but could also destroy her.


    "Meredith, my patience has limits!"


    The man ran out of patience and pushed Meredith onto the bed. He pressed her down from behind and


    tore her clothes apart.


    "No! Please don''t!"


    Derek''s sleeping face was so close to her. Meredith lifted her head from the quilt with difficulty and


    looked at Derek. A sense of shame and guilt filled her heart.


    "One month, give me another month, and I will give you an answer. If you are not satisfied with my


    answer, you can do whatever you want to me!"


    Meredith felt the cold air on her skin. Her clothes had been ripped apart and her whole body was in


    front of the man. A great sense of humiliation surrounded her. She buried her face deep in the quilt,


    "Please..."


    Her body was pressed down by a man''s fiery body, and the air was so stagnant. After a long time, the


    pressure disappeared, and the man let her go.


    "I''ll give you onest month, Meredith. Don''t challenge my patience anymore." After a long time,


    Meredith looked up from the quilt and the lights in the room went out. The man sat on the balcony and


    smoked and the faint smoke drifted in the moonlight. The man''s figure was also enveloped in ayer of


    mncholy by the moonlight. There seemed to be a deep secret hidden in this dark shadow, which


    was hard to figure out.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "One month, Meredith. Only one month."


    Meredith watched the man jump off the balcony and disappear. She slowly got up, got into bed naked,


    and hugged Derek''s arm. She buried her face in his arms, feeling helpless and upset, "Derek, what do


    you think I should do..."


    At this moment, Meredith could only regard this unconscious "husband" as the only person to talk to.


    After Meredith fell asleep, Derek''s arm moved slightly to hold the petite woman in his arms more


    tightly...

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    Ever since she returned to the Masons, the old man no longer restricted Meredith''s activities


    Meredith knew in her heart that no matter where she went, the Xaviers could find her back, not to


    mention that she now understood that there was no ce for her in this world other than the Xaviers.


    This is the capability of the head of the family. He clearly was no longer restricting Meredith, but he still


    let her feel that there was an invisible iron chain tied to her and she could not escape forever.


    Anyway, it was good for Meredith to be able to enter and leave freely. After getting this permission, she


    bought herself a cheap phone and got a SIM card. She hesitated for a while before editing a text


    message and sending it to a number with which she was familiar enough that she could recite.


    In less than a minute, there was a phone call, "Damn, Meredith, you are so bad. I actually had to call


    the prison to find you had been released early. Where have you been for more than a month and you


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    only remembered to contact me now? Do you know I''m going crazy looking for you?"


    Julius''s voice came from the other end, loud and noisy, but Meredith''s heart warmed up.


    Back then, when Meredith took the me for Ava, no one believed her and only Julius stood by her


    side. Later, when Meredith was almost beaten to death by in prison, it was also he who found a


    solution, by arguing with his family and asking them to save her life. In exchange, he offered to study


    abroad and thene back to take charge of the family business.


    If it weren''t for him, there wouldn''t have been Meredith.


    Meredith smiled. "It''s not my fault. I didn''t expect that I would be released so soon. I called your


    domestic number, but no one answered. And I don''t know your overseas number."


    "Come on out. I got the good news and found a reason to go back home. Let''s have dinner together!"


    As soon as she arrived, Meredith saw Julius was already waiting there. When he saw her, he came


    over with a close bear hug. "You''ve suffered."


    Meredith shook his head. "It''s over."


    Julius looked at Meredith''s eyes, which contained sorrow and pain. She must have suffered a lot in


    there since she became haggard and mature.


    "Let''s not talk about this. Let''s eat." Meredith didn''t want this reunion to be sorrowful, so she broke


    the silence.


    The two of them sat down, eating, and talking about their recent situations.


    "You married..." Julius almost ate the te. He knew Derek but the man was too mysterious and


    dangerous.


    He was like a tiger, and his usual prey would only be swallowed with blood and flesh by him.


    "Mer, get a divorce. You can''t mess with that person. I''ll arrange for you to go abroad. You can start


    over!"


    "No, I could only get out of prison thanks to the Xaviers. If I run away, do you think they''ll let me go?"


    Julius''s eyes darkened. He knew the power of the Xaviers, and the Floreses could notpete with


    that.


    "I''m sorry, Mer. It was my fault that..."


    "That''s not the case. Without you, I''m not sure if I can still be alive now." Meredith took Julius''s hand.


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine. The Xaviers doesn''t seem to want my life. That''s enough."


    "Don''t worry, I still have to take revenge on the Masons. I will take care of my life. If I die, there will be


    nothing left." Meredithforted him when she saw his frown.


    Meredith pretended to smile lightly, but suddenly felt a sharp sight staring at her from behind, as if it


    would prate her, making her spine feel cold.


    She turned around to check but did not see who was staring at her with that horrible look.


    After looking around a few times, the uneasiness in her heart grew stronger and stronger. As soon as


    she turned around, her new phone rang. The number was unfamiliar.


    Meredith picked it up and a cold voice immediately came from the other end, "Meredith, is the steak


    that toy boy cut for you tasty?"


    Meredith was stunned and looked up at Julius, who was putting the steak he had cut on his te in


    front of Meredith!


    She stood up abruptly, so frightened that even the stool fell to the ground, and her eyes widened as


    she looked around, "You''re spying on me!"


    The feeling of being spied on made Meredith broke out in a cold sweat. He was hiding in the dark while


    she was an easy target. She had no idea when he would hide around her and shock her greatly all out


    of a sudden.


    He even got to know her phone number! Then he should also be clear about where she went, what she


    said or did!


    As Meredith was still in a panic, then man''s cold and gloomy voice came again, "How dare you sneak


    out and meet this toy boy in secret without me knowing? Meredith, my patience has really been


    exhausted by you. See you tonight!"

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    The phone immediately hung up. In that instant, the cold sweat on Meredith''s body had soaked through


    her clothes, as if the clothes had been taken out of the cold water. Meredith also felt as if all the


    surrounding air had been drained away, suffocating her.


    Julius also got up and grabbed Meredith''s trembling body, "Meredith, what''s wrong with you?"


    "Nothing, I''m fine..." Meredith avoided Julius''s hand and took a few steps back. Fearing that she might


    implicate Julius, she grabbed the phone and hurriedly said goodbye to him, "I have something to do. I


    have to leave. I will contact you another day."


    "Wait. "Julius knew that Meredith had difficulties. Meredith was a tragic woman who had been unjustly


    imprisoned and then controlled by the Xaviers after her release. As much as he wanted to help


    Meredith, he could only do so in moderation, as he didn''t want to harm her. "Give you the band card.


    You take it with you. If you don''t like what you eat and wear at the Xaviers, go out and buy some. By


    the way, I''ve also brought you a lot of clothes, all of which are the styles you used to like. You will also


    have other clothes you can change into if you can''t go out and buy them."


    Meredith looked down at the old jeans and white short sleeves she had brought out of prison three


    years ago and smiled awkwardly. "It''s okay. I have my clothes..."


    "Don''t be so polite to me. All right, go back first. The Xaviers will make things difficult for you if you''re


    Julius stuffed the clothes and the card into Meredith''s hand and turned to leave. Meredith had to take


    the clothes and get into the car of the Xaviers.


    At the corner of the street, Julius sat in the car and watched Meredith''s thin figure get into the car. His


    heart inexplicably tightened, and his hand also tightened the steering wheel.


    Julius thought, "Meredith, wait for me. One day I will let you be free."


    Meredith was restless on her way back, hoping that the night wouldeter. She was afraid that the


    man would do something to her, but she dared not tell anyone.


    The driver was also the man''s subordinate, and she dared not show any signs of abnormality.


    For a moment, she wanted to jump out of the car and escape, but she knew she couldn''t escape from


    the Xaviers!


    Meredith felt as if her throat had been choked, and she could not breathe for a moment.


    Meredith sat in the living room until midnight, not daring to go back to her room. The servants who


    came and went looked at her in surprise. Finally, when Violet came homete for the dinner and saw


    Meredith still sitting on the sofa in the living room, her anger surged up, and she began to scold


    Meredith, "Why are you sitting here at thiste hour like a fool? You should stay with Derek."


    "I, I can''t sleep. I''m breathing in the living room..."


    "Go back to your room and massage Derek until you can sleep! Don''t let me see you again in the


    middle of the night. It''s disgusting!"


    Meredith had no choice but to get up and go back to the room. The moment the door was closed, the


    light in the room turned dark, and Meredith was pressed against the door with great force.


    "Where did that man touch you during the day, huh? Which hand did he touch? I''ll take his hand off!"


    "We''re just good friends. You can''t hurt him for no reason!"


    "Meredith, in just a few days, you can''t control yourself but go out and look for another man! I''m afraid


    the so-called one month you mentioned is just your excuse. You want to find yourself a man and a


    breadwinner so that you can get rid of me! And you dare to speak for that man. Do you believe that if


    you say one more word, I can let him see the king of hell tomorrow?"


    Meredith thought of Leo''s Ferrari. When the driver ran into that car without hesitation, he didn''t even


    think about whether there was anyone in the car. Maybe they weren''t worried about whether there was


    anyone in the car. So to him, the man who was threatening Meredith now, killing Julius might just be a


    piece of cake.


    "Please, don''t do this... I don''t mean to ask for help. I have nothing to do with him. If you''re worried, I''ll


    never see him again..."


    Meredith was afraid. If she had more contact with Julius today, would she have received the grievous


    news about Julius by now?


    Her pleading worked and the man let her go, but when he saw the bags of clothes she was carrying,


    his anger red up again, and he mmed the bags of clothes to the ground, which made the card


    Julius that had given her dropped.


    The man looked at the clothes and the bank card on the floor and sneered, "He gave you clothes and a


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    bank card. I can''t believe you''re saying there''s nothing between you."


    Meredith''s face was pinched by the man''s big palm, and she squeezed out a few words from her lips


    with difficulty, "Just a few clothes..."


    "Just a few pieces of clothing? Next time, will you sleep with him?"


    "That''s enough! What do you want? These clothes didn''t cost you anything. It is my freedom to ept


    these clothes. Why do you have to control me in every way?"


    "Freedom? Interesting! Meredith, I think you''ve been spoiled by Mr. Xavier for a while now. You''ve


    forgotten where you are now and what your status is!"


    "What does it have to do with you whether I have freedom or not, you crazy devil? At worst, I will die


    with you!"


    "Then I''ll torture you first!"


    "You! Let go! Uh -"

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Meredith''s mouth was sealed by his lips so she could not say a word. She almost felt suffocated. Even


    her clothes were torn apart. A deep sense of despair surrounded her. Who could save her? What


    should she do?


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    The door was cold and hard and the man pressed her brutally against it. She could not break free. As


    she was about to be raped by him, she heard Derek''s faint voice on the bed.


    "Water... Give me some water..."


    Meredith''s eyes lit up and she shouted, "Derek is awake!"


    The man stopped abruptly. He looked back at Derek and then at Meredith. A cold light shed in his


    eyes as if he was going to kill Meredith.


    The people outside the corridor moved from far to near. Then the man finally bit her hard on the


    shoulder, turned around, pulled open the curtains, and jumped down into the moonlight.


    Meredith felt her shoulder was bit through, but she had no time to care about the wound. She quickly


    picked up clothes from the ground and put them on. Then she cleaned up the rest of the things. the


    Xaviers had already arrived at the door and knocked anxiously.


    When Meredith opened the door, they rushed in and surrounded the bed. All the lights were turned on.


    When everyone saw that Derek had really opened his eyes on the bed, they almost cried with joy.


    "The young master is awake. He''s finally awake!"


    Violet said while wiping her tears, "Derek, you finally wake up. All these years, I''ve been worried to


    death."


    Mr. Xavier brought the doctor and gave Derek a simple examination. After confirming that everything


    was fine, the doctor rmended that he still needed to go to the hospital tomorrow for further


    examination, and he could rest first today. Then everyone was relieved.


    Mr. Xavier walked over to Meredith and nodded, "You also have a credit that Derek could awake."


    Meredith ducked her head, afraid that Mr. Xavier would notice any marks on her face, "Thank you. The


    whole family had made great effort to make the miracle."


    Mr. Xavier stopped looking at her and ordered in a deep voice, "Derek just woke up. Let''s all go out and


    let him have a good rest. We can talk about the rest tomorrow."


    The Xaviers walked out one by one. Then Mr. Xavier said, "Derek, this is your wife. She''s been taking


    care of you for the past month. Let her stay by your side tonight." Then he also left.


    Only Meredith and Derek were left in the room.


    Derek had just woken up and his eyes were still blurred. He looked straight at Meredith for a long time.


    Meredith remembered that he just asked for water, so she quickly fed him some water.


    Derek''s coldness made Meredith dare not to speak. After drinking the water, Derek said in a clearer


    voice than before, "Get out."


    "What?"


    "I don''t like to be in the same room with a strange woman. Get out and sleep at the door."


    Meredith gritted her teeth. "I''m your wife. We''re married. What''s wrong with me sleeping with you?"


    "If you don''t get out, I''ll call them back and tell them that you''re fooling around with other men behind


    my back." Derek''s eyes fell on her shoulder, "There are still traces of shamelessness left!"


    Meredith subconsciously held the deep teeth mark on her shoulder. Even it was through her clothes,


    she could still feel a burning mark on her skin like a brand iron.


    Especially under Derek''s direct expose, she couldn''t raise her head.


    In the end, she had to take out a quilt from the door and lied on the floor to sleep.


    As expected, no one from the Xaviers was good.


    Derek, who she used to snuggle up with to keep warm, was indeed a demon when he woke up.


    Now she was even caught hold by Derek. She just felt so powerless that she was being held back


    everywhere. It was really very difficult for her.


    The next day, Derek went straight into the study with his grandpa after doing the examination.


    "You want to divorce?" His grandfather pondered for a long time. "She hit you and went to jail. You


    have all reasons to hate her, but I don''t allow you to divorce now!"


    Derek scowled, "She would bring disaster to our family."


    "I have invited numerous doctors and tried all kinds of therapies in the past three years, but all failed.


    However, the girl got married with you for two months and you recovered. Even if you hate her, you


    have to admit that staying with her would be good to you."


    After what happened to Derek, Mr. Xavier became more and more superstitious. As long as his family


    was safe, nothing else mattered.


    "I know you''re still thinking about Chloe, but you were in a car ident for chasing after her. She''s not


    suitable for you, so don''t mention her anymore."


    Derek''s eyes dimmed when she heard Chloe''s name.


    "Grandpa, that''s all superstition. You shouldn''t do that." Derek never believes the supernatural stuff and


    continued, "I would divorce her anyway..."


    "Derek! Grandpa is old. All I want is you be healthy. I cannot see you suffering all these like you have


    done in the past three years anymore." Mr. Xavier cried out and his voice trembled.


    "Grandpa..." Derek looked at her grandfather. His hair had turned greypletely and wrinkles had


    covered his face. He must be worried so much about him all these years.


    Derek sighed, "I see." He could not make his grandpa worried anymore. He should take more time to


    think out a new perfect n.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    When Derek returned to the bedroom, Meredith was sitting in a daze on the bed, as if she had lost her


    mind. There was no light in her beautiful eyes and she did not react when she saw him return.


    Derek frowned and mmed the door. The sudden loud noise scared Meredith so much. When she


    saw that he was back, her lips trembled. However, she didn''t ask anything.


    Even if he didn''t say anything, Meredith knew that Derek must have gone to the Old Master to ask for a


    divorce. He was already very kind to not kill her after he knew that she was the "one" who caused him


    to lie on the bed for three years. How could he ept her as his wife?


    And not to mention the fact that he saw her being raped by that manst night.


    A man couldn''t ept that his wife was raped by another man.


    He should be here to ask her to pack up and leave now, right?


    But what should she do after she left the Xaviers?


    Could the Masons let her go easily?


    While Meredith was still thinking, a document was thrown in front of her.


    "Sign this agreement."


    Derek said coldly. The coldness in his voice waspletely different from that of the manst night.


    Derek''s voice was cold, but that man''s voice was fierce. They hadpletely different personalities,


    but they were both so frightening.


    Meredith opened the document. The first requirement was that the marriage rtionship between them


    was not allowed to be leaked. And the following provisions also targeted Meredith. There was no limit


    to Derek. He was a beneficiary.


    "If I sign it, I can still stay at the Xaviers, right?"


    "Yes. Will you sign it or not?"


    "I''ll sign it!"


    Why not? If Derek really wanted to expose her improper rtionship with that man, then she wouldn''t


    be sitting here right now. Maybe Derek had his own concerns, and maybe the Xaviers still needed her.


    So why didn''t she stay? And why did she have to leave the Xaviers and then be afraid that the Masons


    woulde after her?


    Meredith picked up a pen and quickly signed the agreement and then handed it to Derek.


    After signing the agreement, Meredith stood up. "Since it''s settled, I''ll take a break."


    Because of all the frightst night, she didn''t sleep well all night.


    "In the future, we will sleep in the same room at home." Derek said indifferently, "This is grandpa''s


    request."


    Meredith looked at the man who had been able to move freely, and she became nervous again. It


    would be dangerous for her to share a bed with such a dangerous man.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not interested in you. I''ll sleep on the bed. And you sleep on the floor." Derek was


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    displeased to see the vignce in Meredith''s eyes.


    Meredith sighed. It was fine for her to sleep on the floor. At least Derek wouldn''t want to assault her


    sexually the moment he woke up. And when Derek woke up, that man wouldn''t dare barge in and hurt


    her.


    It was a form of protection for her.


    However, she could no longer hold Derek''s arm from now on.


    That night, although Meredith slept on the floor, she slept exceptionally well.


    After that, Meredith was never harassed by that man again, and her rtionship with Derek was neither


    intimate nor aloof. In order not to worry grandfather, Derek asked her to cooperate with him in front of


    others so as not to let people think that they were too distant. But when there was no one around them,


    Meredith was not allowed toe near him at all, and Meredith was happy about it.


    Derek gradually began to ept the work of Xavier Group. He was so busy every day that he did not


    even have time to take a cold look at Meredith. Meredith no longer had to clean his body, and no longer


    had to massage him. Her task was just to hang out with him every day in front of the Old Master. She


    had never had an easier time like this.


    Just when Meredith thought that the days would go on like this, things went wrong again.


    In the evening, Derek was reading documents in the study, and Meredith was sleeping on the floor.


    Suddenly, the lights in the room went out. Meredith was about to get up and run to the door, but she


    was grabbed by someone.


    "It''s been a long time. Meredith!"

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    "Derek is awake. How dare youe? Aren''t you afraid I''ll call out?"


    "If you dare, I will fuck you in front of them. Let''s see if Derek will be willing to swallow his pride and be


    cuckolded!"


    "You are despicable and shameless!"


    "Meredith, one month we agreed on is about to expire. Have you decided yet? Yes or no?"


    Meredith was shocked. He actually still remembered this!


    "How can I forget such a big thing?" The man seemed to see through her mind and reached out his


    warm, wet tongue and slowly licked Meredith''s cheek, "I''m looking forward to your answer."


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Meredith''s body trembled and some footsteps came from outside the corridor. Just as Meredith was


    about to shout loudly, the man blocked her mouth, "Be good. Don''t be afraid. I won''t eat you today. I''ve


    already changed the check I gave you into a card. Take this card and buy some beautiful and sexy


    clothes. When the deadlinees, I''lle to you. Remember to wear those clothes to wee me."


    A bank card was stuffed into her hand. The man stood up with a sly smile and looked down at her


    dangerously, "If you don''t listen to me, I''ll let Derek die quietly on your body. See if the Xaviers will kill


    you."


    Meredith clutched the card tightly. The edge of the card pierced into her flesh. It hurt deeply, and it also


    brought her deep struggle and despair.


    Finally, she closed her eyes resignedly and nodded silently, "I see."


    The man left with satisfaction. Shortly afterward, Derek came back. Meredith watched him take off his


    clothes and lie on the bed, and she asked softly, "Derek, were you conscious when you were in a


    Derek nced at her coldly, "What, are you afraid I''ll hear you fooling around with your wild man?"


    "No... I..."


    She was afraid that he would hear what she had told him on those helpless nights.


    The man got up, walked over to her, squatted down and pinched her face. "Meredith, remember your


    identity. You''d better behave yourself. Even if I don''t like you, I won''t allow my wife to fool around with


    other men!"


    Derek''s coldness was chilly and scary, and the overbearing auraing from him waspletely


    different from that man''s viciousness.


    But both of them made Meredith extremely scared.


    She nodded, "I... I won''t..."


    "You''d better behave yourself!"


    Shaking her face away, Derek wiped his hands as if he had touched something dirty before lying down


    to sleep.


    The next morning, Meredith went out to buy clothes, even if she was unwilling because she was not


    sure whether the man was monitoring her from a corner. If she didn''t listen to him, she was afraid that


    he would do something terrible, and she wouldn''t even know when she would be punished by him.


    the Xaviers''s car stopped in front of the J City''s most luxurious shopping mall, and Meredith got out of


    the car. When she saw it, all sorts of feelings welled up in her mind.


    When she was the daughter of the Masons, her mother would bring her here from time to time, but


    now... Things were totally different.


    Ignoring the random thoughts in her mind, Meredith walked in and found the store she used to visit


    most often. After a few years, the decoration didn''t change much, but she didn''t know anyone.


    Casually looking at the store, Meredith felt a few unfriendly eyes fall on her. When she turned around,


    she saw a few of the shop assistants with strange expressions and a hint of disdain in their eyes.


    Meredith looked at her clothes, a pair of worn-out jeans and a simple white T-shirt, as well as a white


    canvas satchel. She didn''t look like someone who could afford the things here.


    It seemed that Julius was right. People nowadays were utilitarian. If they saw someone didn''t dress


    well, they will ssify the one as a lowly person. Therefore, she must dress more decent clothes.


    Thinking about it, Meredith took a fancy to a dress in the middle of the store and was about to reach out


    to take it off. Suddenly, someone opposite her snatched it from her hands.


    Meredith frowned. She wanted to just let it go and look at something else. But suddenly, the person


    screamed in surprise, "Look who she is? Meredith?"

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Unexpectedly, they were acquaintances.


    Meredith was sulky and she wasn''t willing to talk to them. They were none other than ra and her


    niece Lily.


    In those days, ra seeded in marrying her father, which brought great benefit for ra''s family.


    Lily had ground her down to disy friendliness to ra when she was racked with pain.


    What a coincidence! She bumped into them here.


    "Meredith?" ra was surprised to see her.


    Wasn''t Meredith supposed to suffer in the Xaviers? Shouldn''t she be limbless? Why was her face ruddy


    and shiny, and she looked much better than the day she left. She didn''t look like she had been tortured


    at all.


    After Meredith returned to the Xaviers, ra cursed her to die there every day, so her daughter could


    live a carefree life.


    Now, seeing Meredith was alive and well, she felt suppressed in her heart and was ufortable.


    "Why are you here?" Lily thought Meredith was still in prison, asking in an arrogant tone.


    "You can be here, why can''t I?" Meredith replied bluntly.


    Lily coulde. Why couldn''t she?


    "You thought you were the eldest Miss of the Masons?" Lily was very angry. What she hated the most


    was Meredith''s arrogant and calm expression. She was just a prisoner, so how could she have the guts


    to throw her weight about?


    "What difference whether I am a miss or not? Ie here to buy something. If I can afford it, does my


    family background matter?"


    Meredith turned around to look at the shop assistant, who was watching the show, "Excuse me. I took a


    fancy to this dress first. Please ask them to return it to me."


    Meredith wasn''t going to argue with anyone. It was just a dress. But seeing Lily''s aggressive manner,


    she didn''t want to tolerate it anymore.


    "Can you afford it?" Lily sneered. ra couldn''t help but smile, but she put on a gentle and generous


    expression, "What nonsense, Mer, you just got out of prison. How can you get money to buy such


    expensive clothes?"


    Thest time, Wesley gave Meredith a check which was torn up by Meredith on the spot. If Meredith


    wanted to be in a pit of pique, she wouldn''t mind making a fool of herself so Meredith would recognize


    her current identity.


    The shop assistant was still hesitating because Meredith looked too calm, and she didn''t dare to offend


    her. However, when she heard ra say she had gone to prison, she expression changed immediately.


    "I''m sorry, Miss. I saw that these twodies got it first. Why don''t you go somewhere else?"


    Women, who had gone to prison, must not be easy to be trifled with or didn''t have much money. So the


    shopping assistant decided to chase Meredith out.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "I didn''t know that your shop has a rule of turning away guests." Meredith nced at her coldly. Now


    she saw what a damned snob was.


    "Hmph, how can you be a guest if you can''t afford to buy anything? It would be done if any important


    people could ruin the guests'' mood." Lily said sarcastically.


    ra saw this and tried to make up for it with a smile, "Mer, we take a fancy to this dress first. Well, I''ll


    buy you something else to make it up for you, and show my heart."


    "Auntie, you are too kind!"


    Meredith looked coldly at the two who were showing in front of her, and sheughed coldly in her heart.


    They were working well together, with one coaxing and the other coercing.


    Without saying any words, Meredith took out the ck card, the man gave her, from her pocket and


    said, "Well, can''t I buy anything with this card?"


    The shop assistant''s disdainful expression was frozen. She took the card over and checked all the


    counterfeit marks with her eyes wide open, it was real.


    Moreover, this was a limited global ck card of Citibank, the annual fee of which was hundreds of


    thousands of dors. And the average rich person may not be able to get it. She had been working for


    several years, and this was the first time she had seen it!


    Didn''t she misunderstand this woman, who actually was a hidden bigwig?


    Not daring to neglect, the shop assistant''s attitude took a sudden reversal. She took the clothes over


    and respectfully presented them with both hands, "Miss, do you want to try on this dress?"


    Meredith didn''t say anything. She took a nce at the two women''s embarrassed faces. After a long


    time, she said, "Okay."


    "Then I''ll take you to the fitting room."


    The shop assistant led Meredith over politely. They only took a few steps, Lily called out to her angrily.


    "How can you get this card? Can you state clearly which old man did you lie to get it?"

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    Lily never believed that Meredith could lead a better life than her. Subconsciously, she thought that


    Meredith must have used some dirty means to get this card. That was why she spoke against Meredith.


    When ra heard this, she quickly added, "Don''t talk nonsense. There''s no old man and Mer doesn''t


    cheat to get this card. Mer is in a free rtionship, and her boyfriend is just a little older."


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Hearing this, Meredith turned around abruptly, "What did you just say? Say it again."


    Meredith''s eyes were so sharp and full of undisguised anger. Seeing this, Lily suddenly felt a kind of


    fear. Nheless, Lily didn''t want to show her fear to Meredith, "I''m wrong."


    Meredith squinted at her, and Lily said in a tone dripping with sarcasm, "You don''t cheat to get the card.


    You steal it. How can the old man like you? After all, you''ve been in prison, so it''s normal for you to


    learn how to steal."


    As Lily spoke, she felt that her words made sense. She snatched the card from the shop assistant and


    looked carefully at it, "Auntie, she definitely cannot have such a valuable card. She must have stolen


    it!"


    ra also came over to take a look. She rolled her eyes, and immediately said in a tone dripping with


    sarcasm, "Mer, I don''t care if you do other things, but if you steal someone else''s things, I can''t just sit


    back and watch. We are a family, but I have to ce righteousness above family loyalty."


    Meredith frowned as the two of them were lying through her teeth, "You said I stole it. Where''s the


    evidence? Aren''t you afraid of being arrested for making false usations when you talk nonsense


    without evidence?"


    "What evidence do you want? This card is the best physical evidence! I''ll call the police now and see


    how you exin it to the police!"


    Lily''s loud voice attracted a lot of people to watch. She then called the police.


    Lily gave Meredith a triumphant look. "Now, you''re done!"


    Meredith did not defend herself. What was there to be afraid of when she didn''t do anything wrong?


    After a while, the police arrived and they brought several people to the for interrogation because of the


    huge amount of money involved.


    "Meredith, right? Where do you get this card?"


    "Someone else gives it to me."


    "Who gives it to you?"


    "I don''t know..."


    What should Meredith say? Should she say that it was from the man who tried to grope her every


    night? She didn''t even know his name or what he looked like!


    It sounded like a lie, but everything she said was true.


    "..." Her answer only made the police feel that their years of experience as a police officer had been


    insulted. "Meredith, I''ll give you another chance. Where do you get it? Tell the truth and you will receive


    a lighter sentence!


    ra added, "You hear that, officer. She can''t even lie after stealing. What you don''t know is that she


    went to jail three years ago for murder. Our family... her family has disowned her because of this. She


    has no other rtives after getting out of the prison. Besides stealing, how can she get the card?"


    "I don''t steal it!" Meredith emphasized again.


    "You don''t steal it? If you don''t steal it, then it''s the old man who gives you this card! How many times


    have you had sex with him to make him give you such a valuable card?! Officer, even if she don''t steal


    it, her behavior is a kind of...prostitution! You must do something to stop such a bad thing!"


    "ra! You''re slinging mud at me. Do you think everyone likes to attach themselves to the rich as much


    as you do?"


    "You! What are you talking about? You''re ndering me in front of the police. I''m going to sue you!"


    "All right! Quiet down!"


    The police stopped the argument between the two of them, "You two go back first. Meredith, since you


    can''t tell where do you get this card, you can only be punished as illegal possession of other people''s


    property. Think about it here. When you are ready, tell me the truth."


    The police closed the notebook of testimony, handcuffed Meredith, and left.


    ra stood up smugly and walked with a rolling gait to Meredith with her alligator bag, "You stole such


    a valuable card. I wonder how long you''ll be here! Mer, don''t worry. I''ll bribe the people here to let them


    take ''good'' care of you."


    Meredith thought of the "care" she had had in prison, and she subconsciously shivered. She clutched


    her knees with both hands. She clutched them tighter, wishing she could just rip each aching kneecaps


    off.


    She already stopped provoking the Masons anymore, but they were still here picking on her! What the


    hell were they going to do? Was it really necessary to force her to death?


    Looking at ra''s hateful face, Meredith stood up slowly, wishing she could strangle ra with the


    chains of her handcuffs.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    But at the next moment, the police went back, and the first thing he did was to unlock Meredith''s


    handcuffs, "You can go now." He turned to ra and Lily, "You two stay!"


    With the handcuffs on Lily''s hands, ra and Lily were dumbfounded, "Sir, there must be a


    misunderstanding. Meredith is the one who stole the card. We, we are the ones who reported her!"


    "Someone hase to prove that Meredith did not steal the card. Lily is suspected of defamation and


    nder, which is serious and she must be in custody."


    Someone hade to prove her clean? Could it be that man who proved Meredith''s innocence?


    Meredith subconsciously rushed out, leaving ra and Lily behind who were still trying to defend


    themselves.


    Inside the , among the crowd, Meredith saw a tall figure who had already walked to the gate. He was


    wearing a suit and had a broad back, very simr to the guy she had seen at night before!


    "Wait, stop!"


    Meredith tried to get through, but she couldn''t catch up with him because of the crowd.


    Finally, she had to take out her cell phone and called him.


    The moment the phone rang, she saw the man at the door picked up the phone!


    It was him!


    "Meredith, how stupid can you be? You can get yourself into the even if you were just buying clothes!


    Even such a nobody can bully you like this?" The man''s voice came from the phone, which made


    Meredith feel somehow at ease.


    "Had youe to the to prove my innocence?" Holding her phone, she moved closer and closer to


    him, her heart pounding.


    "Who else could it be? Do you think the Xaviers will help you? Don''t be ridiculous, how can you get into


    such trouble a second time and the Xaviers still want to help you? In this world, no one else will help


    you so many times but me!"


    Meredith was moved by the man''s sarcasm. She had already walked up to him and said, "Thank you


    for helping me today. If you hadn''te and I couldn''t go back to the Xaviers tonight, they would not


    spare me..."


    "You surely know how to behave today. If you can be like this at night, I''ll be satisfied." The man then


    hung up.


    Meredith looked at the man in front of her who just put the phone away. She was more certain that the


    man in front of her was that man!


    Seeing that the man was about to leave, Meredith hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed his sleeve, and


    took a few steps around to face him, but was stunned when she saw his face.


    "Derek, it''s you?"


    Derek saw Meredith and frowned, "Why are you here?"


    "Don''t pretend you don''t know why. You saved me, no need to act like that! Aren''t you tired of ying


    two roles every day? Is it fun to y me in the palm of your hand?"


    Meredith red up. If Derek wanted to torture her, why did he bother toe to harass her every night?


    What could she do even if he wanted to torture her in public!


    He thought it was fun for her to live fearfully in the Xaviers, didn''t he? Was it fun?


    During this period of time, she was careful during the day and afraid at night. But he enjoyed it very


    much, didn''t he?


    It turned out that he had woken up earlier. It might be a scam of him to get her out of prison to take care


    of him so that he could torture her till she copsed, till she went crazy.


    "Psycho!"


    Derek shook off her hand and walked towards the car at the door. Meredith stopped him and grabbed


    the phone from his hand, "Don''t try to get away with it. I just called you. I have evidence!"


    She clicked open Derek''s phone records, and the first call was made two minutes ago!


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    But... That number was not Meredith''s number...


    "This, this is impossible!"


    "Meredith, you think too highly of yourself. I''m just here to take care of my own business, not to save


    you. I don''t know how or when you got yourself in. Besides, do you really think I''ll be kind enough to


    save you personally?"


    Derek smiled sarcastically, grabbed the phone from her hand, and strode away.


    Meredith stood there, dumbfounded.


    Was this really just a coincidence?

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Before Meredith realized what had happened, ra rushed out of the and held Meredith''s hand tightly,


    "Mer, it was me who wrongly med you. Now I apologize to you, and I apologize to you for Lili. Please


    forget this thing and let it go. Lili is still a child and she is ignorant."


    "Forget it? Ignorant?"


    Meredith suddenly raised her eyes. Her face which was as small as a palm was as pale as paper with


    cold sweat dripping down her face. She looked so helpless. Only her eyes were bright and sharp. "How


    could Lili be called child since she is three years older than me? Why didn''t you think about letting it go


    when you sent me to the ?"


    Meredith clenched her fists. She really hated ra. She wanted to go to tear up ra''s hypocritical


    face.


    Meredith looked at ra''s aggrieved look. Just after a while, ra''s eyes were red which made her


    looked pitiful, as if she could endure anything for her child.


    Who wouldn''t be moved when seeing ra take on such a look? Since Meredith was a child, she had


    suffered so many losses for things like this.


    "If your daughter said and she did, she should bear the consequences. Let her learn how to behave


    herself here. Remember, you can''t say things you are not allowed to say." Then Meredith took a taxi


    and left.


    ra stood there, gritting her teeth. "What an annoying girl. Not only did she get to know the Xaviers,


    but also she got help from an invisible rich man behind her."


    "Little bitch, let''s wait to see what will happen!"


    After a long day, Meredith was exhausted, but as soon as she got home, Derek asked her to go to the


    study.


    The whole family whether the young or the old all liked to me people in the study. The saying that


    people who are from the same family act simrly was true.


    Meredith stood not far from the desk. Derek looked up at her after finishing the documents, "Tell me


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    how you got into the ."


    "What does this have to do with Mr. Xavier?"


    Since Derek didn''t help her, why should she tell him so much?


    "Meredith, you''re my legal wife. If you were arrested at the , it would be a shame for me and I felt that


    someone was pping me in the face. I don''t care what you suffered there. I just need to know if they


    wereing for the Xaviers."


    "Heh." Meredith sneered. What a cold-blooded and heartless husband.


    "They just came for me. Have you forgotten that we had signed the agreement? Other People don''t


    know our rtionship. How can they take the opportunity to bully me to hit you in the face, President


    Xavier?"


    "Good. Then you can go out."


    Derek waved his hand and Meredith turned around to go out. The moment she stepped out of the


    study, Derek said again, "Meredith, I don''t care if you are dead or alive, but if you dare to humiliate the


    Xaviers outside, you will not live well."


    Meredith lowered her eyes. This man was no longer the one who could warm her up on a cold night


    and listen to her talk.


    "Got it."


    She went out, closed the door, and left with a poker face.


    When Meredith went back to her room, she found that shopping bags were ced all over the floor.


    Looking at the brand, these clothes were from the shop where she quarrelled with Lily.


    She didn''t buy them. Why would so many clothes be sent to her room?


    The phone rang again. It was that man, "I bought all the clothes in this store for you. They are all in


    your sizes. How about them? Do you like them? Stupid woman, remember not to be bullied outside and


    let me help you solve all the troubles!"


    Meredith''s eyes were filled with tears and her lips trembled. She unconsciously said out what she had


    never dared to say, "Come over tonight. I promise you."


    These days, except for this man, no one else had helped her. Those people would only hurt and bully


    her endlessly. Besides this man, she could never think of anyone else to trust.


    After hanging up the phone, she wiped her tears and cheered herself up again. She hung up her


    clothes in the closet, but was stunned when she saw a secretpartment in the closet.


    ...


    At midnight, Meredith slept on the floor as usual. Derek was still reading the documents in the study.


    She nervously put her hands under the pillow to confirm the shlight was still there, then she felt more


    at ease.


    Suddenly, she was hugged by someone from behind. She knew it was him.


    "Finally, youe."


    The man''s chest was pressed against her back, and the warmth spread through her pajama to her


    skin, but she didn''t feel warm at all. She only felt cold from body to heart.


    "I was surprised that you agreed today." The man grabbed her red and swollen wrists that had been


    handcuffed today and gently rubbed it. He was extremely gentle. If Meredith had not felt cold at the


    moment, she would have been moved to believe him with all her heart and soul.


    Meredith turned over and leaned against his chest, saying softly, "Now, I can only rely on you."


    The man chuckled and hugged her even tighter, "Of course, if you follow me, you will live a better life


    than with Derek."


    Meredith sneered in his arms. "Is that really the case? Whether Derek or him, they are all devils!"


    After that, the man reached his hands into her clothes and began to invade her recklessly.


    Meredith''s whole body tensed up and her heart beat like a drum. Just wait a little longer, just a little


    longer!


    When he waspletely rxed, she could take action!


    Her breathing became rapid not because of the man''s provocation but because Meredith was really


    nervous and excited.


    Tonight, she wanted to see who this man was!


    Just as the man was about to break herst line of defense, Meredith reached out for the bright


    shlight under the pillow and the re shone directly on the man''s face!

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    The air suddenly froze and the man''s face appeared clearly under the bright light. Meredith was


    stunned. She moved back a little, with a feeling of being deceived.


    This result was unexpected to her.


    She had thought that this man might be anyone she came into contact with, but it never urred to


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    her...


    It was him!


    Snap!


    The shlight was grabbed by the man and threw on the ground. The light shed and eventually


    extinguished. The room was plunged into darkness again. The man''s eyes, exposed in the moonlight,


    were frighteningly cold.


    She should have known it. With so many details, she should have known it was him!


    The man grabbed her by the neck, "Meredith, you set me up!"


    "You and I, who the hell indeed yed the scheme? Derek Xavier!"


    Meredith''s voice stuck in her throat and said out his name with difficulty. It turned out that this man was


    really him. Today, when she was cleaning up the closet, she suddenly found that there was a dummy in


    the secretpartment that looked exactly like Derek.


    Whether judged by the texture of the skin or the warmth of the body, the dummy could almost pretend


    to be a real man. It even could do simple body movements and speak a few words!


    In addition to the dummy, there was also the ck windbreaker that the man usually wore and a voice


    changer!


    So every time he appeared, the man lying next to Meredith was actually the dummy!


    Every time Derek tried to make a fool of her, he would y such a trick, making her scared and


    humiliated!


    In order not to let her suspect, he kept saying that he and the Xaviers were separate!


    "Derek, do you think it''s fun to stage the game of cat and mouse?"


    The so-called game of cat and mouse was that when the cat caught the mouse, it did not immediately


    eat it or kill it, but let the half-dead mouse escape from its ws. Once the mouse ran away, it would be


    caught and tortured again until it was dead.


    Under Derek''s control, she was nothing but the tortured mouse!


    During the day, he pretended to be Derek who was cold and indifferent. At night, he pretended to be a


    man who had nothing to do with the Xaviers to make a fool of her and give her hope.


    He hated her for crashing into him while driving, so his ultimate goal was to torture her to death like


    this!


    "How do you want me to die? I''ll listen to you. Why torture me like this and make me so scared every


    day?"


    "Since you found it out, I won''t hide it anymore. You are indeed my ything. Because I hate you, I


    don''t want you to have a good life. What you destroyed is not just my three years! How can I reconcile


    myself to it if I cannot get what I lost in these three years back from you?"


    Derek released her neck but pressed her shoulder, "It took my efforts to get you out of prison alive.


    How can I let you die so easily? Don''t worry. From now on, I will let you live a miserable life!"


    With that, he pushed her away heavily. His desire had already faded in this sudden situation. He got up


    and left, leaving Meredith curling up in the quilt alone and cried in a low voice.


    It turned out that thest person she could trust in the world was also a liar.


    She almost naively wanted to entrust herself to him and tried to rely on him!


    How ridiculous! She almost fell in love with her enemy!

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    A few dayster.


    Meredith received a call from the , which was to ask her what to do with Lily.


    If she didn''t sue, then Lily could be released.


    "Since someone is going to teach her a lesson, I won''t go against that person''s wishes."


    Meredith put all the me on Derek, and she felt like she should take this opportunity and made a big


    scene here.


    The staff from the immediately agreed and called the Masons, informing them that they should get


    prepared for awsuit for Lily.


    "This wicked girl!" When Wesley came back, he found out about this matter. Of course, the story was


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    embellished by ra.


    In ra''s description, that day, it turned out that she and Lily were doing shopping, but Meredith found


    them and she not only robbed the things they bought but also hit them.


    Then, she took advantage of someone''s power to keep Lily in the until now.


    "That day, I saw that bitch''s face was very ruddy. Could she get entangled with Mr. Xavier?"


    "Mr. Xavier always kept away from bitches. How could he like her? That shameless thing would just


    humiliate our family!"


    Wesley was so angry. Lily was still kept in the , which made him lose face. Especially he lost his face


    before the people who had always relied on him, which made him even angrier.


    "But now Mer won''t let Lily out just because of the power of the Xaviers. Well, it''s my fault that I didn''t


    tell Lily to tolerate her."


    ra saw Wesley lose his temper, and she lowered her head and wiped away the tears that did not


    exist at all. She made herself look so pitiful.


    "What should you tolerate her? You''re an elder and her mother. Why are you giving in to her? I''m


    calling her now. I have to educate this evil girl."


    For the past few days, Derek had been outside and never came back. Meredith didn''t know how to face


    him. She couldn''t leave the Xaviers, and she couldn''t avoid this man either. She was surrounded by


    deep weakness.


    Meredith turned on theputer and looked up the information.


    Julius had just called and said that he had arranged a job for her. Although it was not a busy or high-


    end job, she was still a little nervous.


    She had been out of work for several years and had to earn money to support herself and return to a


    normal life.


    After all, no one around her was trustworthy. She could only rely on herself to get rid of the Xaviers and


    the Masons. One day, she would take her mother away from this ce that made her extremely


    disappointed!


    And in that way, could she avoid to meet Derek.


    When Wesley''s phone call came in, Meredith was already on duty and started working.


    Julius introduced her to a medium-sized advertisingpany. As a neer, she was not very busy


    with her work. Most of the time she just needed to help her colleagues deal with documents and run


    errands in the office.


    The phone rang suddenly. Meredith saw it was Wesley''s and hung up without thinking.


    On the other side, Wesley was so angry that he almost dropped his phone. Did she think that the


    Xaviers had taken a fancy to her so that she could ignore the Masons?


    The calls came in one after another, and the rest of the office looked over. Meredith waved


    apologetically and turned her phone to silent.


    After a while, Wesley stopped calling.


    Meredith''s phone suddenly lit up. It was a text message.


    "Don''t you want to know what''s going on with your mother? If you want to know, call me back


    immediately."


    When Meredith saw the line, she stood up and strode out.


    She never thought that Wesley would be so shameless to threaten her with her mother, but she could


    only be threatened by him!


    Meredith walked into the bathroom, locked the door, and called Wesley.


    The bell rang and her hands trembled.


    "What, your father called you, but you didn''t answer?" Wesley''s cold voice came into her ears and


    made Meredith shudder.


    "I didn''t see it. President Mason shouldn''t be so angry over such a small matter, right?" Meredith said


    faintly, "What''s wrong with my mother?"


    Back then, her mother was so angry that she was sick and bedridden. From that day on, Meredith had


    never seen her again.


    After she got out of prison, she indeed wanted to go to see her mother, but she didn''t know how to find


    her. She called all the sanatoriums in the city and asked, but there was no trace of her mother.


    the Masons was determined not to let Meredith see her mother.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    "Nothing has happened to her until now. But, how she will be like will depend on your performance."


    "Wesley, don''t be too shameless!" Meredith was enraged. From the beginning to the end, her mother


    had never done anything to betray him.


    At first, Wesley was just a poor boy who had nothing but ambition and talent. It was her mother who


    brought the family''s property and apanied him to work from dawn to dusk, so he could set up this


    However, Wesley''s reward to Meredith''s mother was that he brought home a mistress after he gained


    sess and became wealthy. That mistress was a young girl, who was at the simr age as Meredith.


    He had tricked her daughter into prison and trampled on her. Or what his reward was that he had


    threatened her daughter with her illness after Meredith''s mother fell ill?


    "Meredith, mind who you''re talking to. Haven''t you learned how to be polite in the past few years?"


    "I show courtesy to people. But there is no need to be polite to those shits." Meredith clenched her fists


    and a sharp pain hit her, but she didn''t feel it.


    "Meredith, I''m warning you not to talk nonsense for thest time. Since you don''t know the rules and


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    manners of life, when you go back to the mansion of the Masons tonight, I''ll teach you well. If you don''t


    Wesley said coldly and hung up the phone.


    Meredith listened to the cold electronic prompt tone and wished she could just rush over and kill this


    brazen man with a knife.


    After all, he and Meredith''s mother were husband and wife for more than ten years. Even if he had a


    pet, he should have developed affection, but he used Meredith''s mother''s illness as a bargaining chip


    so calmly.


    However, despite her anger and hatred, when it was time to get off work, Meredith could only do what


    Wesley said.


    She had no room for argument.


    At the mansion of the Masons, Meredith was shut out and waited for a long time before she was


    allowed toe in.


    She thought it was Wesley''s revenge on her. He was a man who must take revenge and wouldn''t let


    anyone get away.


    "Well, have you learned how to speak in a polite way?" Wesley stood on the steps and looked at her


    arrogantly.


    Meredith didn''t answer his question. Instead, she said, "You asked me toe. Probably it shouldn''t


    be just for this."


    On the way here, she was already mentally prepared. No matter what Wesley did, she had to be


    tolerant and make him tell as much about her mother as possible.


    "You must immediately withdraw your appeal against Lily."


    Meredith pinched her fingers hard.


    "Lily entered the because she ndered me of stealing. I don''t think she is wronged. Besides, it was


    not mywyer who wanted to sue her. It''s useless for you to talk about it with me."


    Lily had bullied her more than once, and Meredith really didn''t want to let her go.


    Wesley pondered for a long time. He just heard that Derek had woken up, but the Xaviers hadn''t


    announced it yet. Lily''s matter was so difficult to solve. Could it be that Derek helped her behind her


    back?


    "Meredith, I know you''ve gotten in with the Xaviers, but take a look at yourself in the mirror. Will the


    Xaviers allow you to marry into it? You are just like a dog counting on their backing. Don''t be so


    shameless."


    A dog counting on their backing?


    Meredith suddenly found it very ridiculous. Which father would use such harsh words to describe his


    daughter? If she depended on others to achieve what she gained now, then what about him?


    Was he a barking old dog?


    "I can''t do this." Meredith was in no mood to argue with him.


    No way would she let go of Lily.


    "Your cousin is still a girl who hasn''t been married. Why can''t you think about it for her? If she keeps a


    criminal record in the future, how could she get married?"


    Wesley frowned.


    His words fell into Meredith''s ears, making her feel as cold as being thrown into a cier. The coldness


    she felt seemed toe from a ce covered by miles of ice all the year round.


    For Wesley, he could care about anyone. He could think of anyone''s future, but not that of his biological


    daughter!


    It seemed he was afraid that Meredith would refuse, so he added coldly, "Your mother is abroad now.


    The sanatorium just said that there was a new special medicine that would do good to her health ...


    Whether she can be blessed with this new medicine depends on you."


    Meredith''s words were on the tip of her tongue, but shattered. She clenched her fists. But eventually,


    she put them down feebly.


    Now that she didn''t even know where her mother was, so what else could she do?


    "I''ll let her out. You tell me where my mother is." after a long time, Meredith looked up, her eyes


    reddening.


    "Don''t bargain with me. You don''t have the qualifications." Wesley refused without thinking.


    Meredith''s character made her like a time bomb. He had to hold her weakness in his hands to be at


    ease.


    Being rejected, Meredith did not say anything more. This once familiar ce called home only made


    her almost suffocate.


    Meredith turned to leave, and her steps were getting faster and faster. In the end, she was like running


    away.


    Meredith went back to the house of the Xaviers, and Derek wasn''t there. He had been busy for the past


    few days, and sometimes he just stayed out instead of going home.


    It was just fine that he wasn''t here.


    Meredith went to the kitchen and found a bottle of red wine which was for cooking. She went back to


    her room and sat by the window to drink alone.


    She wasn''t a drinker. But after what happened today, her heart felt like being blocked by a ball of


    cotton. She really didn''t know how to relieve her emotion, so she could only use this method. It would


    be fine that she was drunk and fell asleep.


    If she kept thinking about it, she would be driven mad.


    It waste at night when Derek got home.


    He was tired after finally finishing a slightly tricky project.


    However, as soon as he pushed open the bedroom door, a strong smell of alcohol rushed into his face.


    The man frowned with an arc showing his unhappiness.


    When he wasn''t around, was Meredith just wasting her time like this?


    Meredith was almost drunk. She couldn''t hold her liquor. After drinking a bottle of red wine, she was


    drowsy and her body was not under control. When she heard the sound, she stood up unsteadily,


    "Who''s there?"


    Derek looked at her. He wondered how much she had drunk. Who else would go back to this room at


    this time?


    "How much did you drink?" the man tore off his tie and was impatient.


    Derek was a bit of a neat freak and usually hated drunk people. Seeing that Meredith was dazed, he


    thought he''d just throw her into the guest room and let her be.


    However, before he could put it into practice, Meredith came over in a daze, trying to see who it was.


    Her loose pajamas spread out due to her uncontroble body movements, and arge area of white


    and smooth skin was revealed.


    Derek looked at it and felt a little parched.


    However, he wouldn''t do anything to a drunk woman. His lust wasn''t that strong.


    Thinking about it, Derek turned around and left. It wasn''t a big deal that he slept in the guest room


    tonight.


    "Stop!" Meredith mistook him for Wesley. She pounced on him and asked with tears in her eyes, "Why


    do you treat me like this? In your point of view, other people are people, but I''m not a person? What


    can I do to let you let go of me? Tell me, tell me!"


    Meredith was crying. It was the first time Derek had seen her cry. There was some shock in his deep


    eyes, and he couldn''t bear to see her like this.


    He thought that she was so indestructible that she would not shed tears at all, but it turned out that she


    was also so fragile at times.


    "You are drunk. Talk to me when you''re sober."


    The man pushed her hands away and stood up to leave. Meredith raised her feet to chase after him,


    but her left foot tripped her right foot, so she fell straight on Derek. Her hands held the man''s private


    part.


    The sudden stimtion made Derek gasp. Worse still, Meredith didn''t realize what she was doing.


    Instead of loosening her hands, she increased her strength without being aware of it.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    "What''s wrong?" She mumbled in confusion and was unable to think.


    Derek could only feel a sharp feeling in the ce where he was touched. But in a moment, he actually


    had a hard-on in front of this woman...


    The veins of the man''s forehead were bulging. This was the first time when a woman had shamelessly


    pressed close to him, and he was stirred.


    "You asked for it." Perhaps he was also affected by the strong smell of alcohol on Meredith''s body, so


    Derek brought her to fall on the big bed behind him.


    He looked at the blushing Meredith condescendingly. Her delicate lips were glistening in the light, and


    the smell of red wine swallowed his remaining reason.


    Derek lowered his head to kiss her when Meredith suddenly opened her mouth and said, "Wesley...


    You... You bastard."


    The man''s name suddenly popped up in Meredith''s mouth, making Derek feel like he was poured with


    cold water. The lust that had just been stirred up suddenly faded away.


    He pinched the woman''s delicate cheeks, "Who are you calling?"


    Meredith only mumbled a few words. Being pinched so hard that Derek lost his patience, and he


    shrugged her away and then left the master bedroom.


    Meredith felt a little ufortable because of him. She scolded Leo several times and then turned


    over to fall asleep.


    Derek went into the bathroom with a cold face.


    Damn it! The name she just called wasn''t not "Julius". So, did she hook up with another man?


    Within one month she left prison, she had already changed two men. He really underestimated her.


    The cold water was flowing down, taking away the body temperature. But the man''s eyes were colder


    than the body temperature now.


    When Meredith woke up, she was startled because she found herself sleeping on the big bed in the


    master bedroom.


    Fortunately, she took a look and found that there was no sign of anyone else sleeping on the bed.


    Presumably, Derek didn''te back yesterday.


    Meredith felt a little guilty, so she quickly put away the wine bottles and other things. And then she


    cleaned up the traces she left on the bed.


    After cleaning up, Meredith was going to go to work with a headache caused by the hangover. Derek


    just appeared in front of her when she was going out.


    "What are you going to do?"


    Meredith looked at him in surprise, "Of course I am going to work."


    Derek usually didn''t care about her daily life. But today his abrupt question made her heart jerk.


    Derek''s face was grim. "the Xaviers nevercks food and clothes, and I also give you pocket money.


    From today on, you don''t have to go anywhere, just stay at home."


    Meredith became anxious as she heard this.


    Although her work did not earn much money, she troubled Julius about arranging it. She also made up


    her mind to stand firm in society through her own efforts.


    Derek suddenly told her to stay at home. She wasn''t his ything who he kept home.


    "No, I have to go to work. I have to earn money to support myself."


    "Who knows whether you''re going to work or to hook up with men?" Derek gave her a cold look as he


    found that she answered back. "You are not allowed to embarrass the Xaviers."


    Meredith was annoyed to hear that hebeled seducing others on her for no reason.


    "You keep talking about the Xaviers, but do you think the Xaviers will give me a hand if I wander down


    the street in the future?"


    "I''m not a young master like you, who has a luxurious vi and servants serve you since you were born.


    Now I just want to learn how to support myself now? Are there any problems? I have a job, so at least, I


    won''t be too embarrassed if you kick me out one day!"


    After saying that, Meredith left the Xaviers regardless of Derek''s expression.


    She would never give up her job. If she stayed at the Xaviers like she was in jail every day, when would


    she be able to earn money to pick up her mother?


    Derek was looking at her stubborn back with darkened eyes.


    ...


    Meredith arrived at thepany with oppression. Before she could open the door, she suddenly heard


    someone inside chattering about something.


    "You know, Meredith only has a high school degree, and I don''t know why her backstage is so


    powerful."


    "Tut, tut, I just heard that she seemed to be a mistress and came in through the back door."


    "I heard she had been in jail!"


    Meredith''s face turned pale as soon as she heard the few words. When she joined thispany, she


    had always cherished this work opportunity.


    Because she knew that she didn''t know anything now and that she had parachuted in through the back


    door. It was inevitable that someone would contradict her, so Meredith''s work attitude was especially


    good. She worked hard to help anyone who asked her to do anything.


    But now, all of her efforts would be a joke because of these words.


    Who on earth hated her so much that they wanted to drive her away and root out?


    She just wanted to settle down and found an ordinary job. Why couldn''t she get what she wanted?


    Meredith remembered what Derek said today. Was it him?


    Her face turned pale and Meredith clenched her fists.


    "Why are you doing standing here?" At this time, someone passed by the office and saw Meredith


    standing at the door, not going in. He asked curiously.


    Only then did the people inside calm down. When they saw that the protagonist, who was being


    discussed, hade in, they were quiet for a moment.


    Then, someone said in an ironic tone, "Someone is a girl who usually looks quite normal, but I didn''t


    expect her to be so shameless. You may know a person''s face but not his mind."


    Meredith pretended not to hear and opened the document in front of her. But her hand that was holding


    the pen in her hand betrayed her. The tip of the pen kept shaking and shaking, and she couldn''t even


    write.


    ...


    Meredith didn''t know how she got through the day. The office was not big and her gossip, like a gust of


    wind, quickly blew through every corner of thepany.


    No matter where she went, she would be met with strange and disdainful eyes, as if she was some


    kind of terrible and disgusting virus. And she would bring disaster wherever she appeared.


    When Meredith muddled home from work, she saw Derek drinking coffee gracefully at home. It was


    just a simple gesture, but which had cut an invisible gap with someone like her.


    "Why did you do that?" Meredith couldn''t help but ask.


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    Derek was tall and powerful, who could control everything. Why did he go against her, y with her,


    and stamped on her to death? Was it fun?


    "What?" Derek frowned and looked at Meredith''s angry face. Her face was red, and a few drops of


    sweat were dripping down her forehead. It seemed that she was very angry.


    "Stop pretending to be innocent. Don''t you just want me not to work at thepany?" Meredith only


    felt that he dared not admit what he had done. It was ridiculous. "I won''t give in. I must keep working in


    thepany. We''ll see."


    After that, she turned around and left. Since Derek looked down on her and wanted to destroy her. She


    would be defeated.


    Only then did Derek put down the coffee cup in his hand with a frown, with piercing eyes.


    What kind of tricks was this woman ying?


    ...


    For the next few days, Meredith got up early every day. She thought that since her colleagues


    misunderstood her, she had to show her sincerity.


    She believed that action could shatter rumors.


    However, the situation did not improve as she had expected. Many people began to make things


    difficult because they knew about her miserable past.


    "What''s going on? You don''t even know how to make a chart. Have you spent all your time making old


    men happy in bed?"

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    Meredith smiled and handed over a report. As a result, she was unceremoniously mocked.


    Being watched by everyone, she couldn''t bear it any longer. Therefore, she hid in the bathroom.


    The "cold water" sshed on her face, giving her a moment to wake up. But then there was endless


    confusion. What was she going to do?


    Could it be that the darkness of the past haunted her forever?


    "Meredith, things have been toughtely. I''ve seen it all." At this moment, a gorgeous figure appeared


    behind her. "Tonight, I''ll treat you to dinner and talk about these things. How about that?"


    The person who was talking to Meredith was Linda, the deputy director of sales. Meredith didn''t know


    much about Linda, only that she was very good at doing business and was quitepetent. In short,


    Meredith could not afford to offend Linda.


    After work, Linda took Meredith to a bar. As soon as she entered the private room, Meredith saw a few


    men and beautiful girls sitting beside them. At first nce, Meredith knew that they were yboys.


    Meredith immediately wanted to leave but Linda garb her. "Do you still want to stay in thepany?


    These are thepany''s clients. If you leave now, you will offend them."


    When Meredith heard this, she realised that she couldn''t walk out of the room, so he had to sit aside


    with her head down, hoping that no one would notice her.


    However, it was obvious that Rachel was not going to let Meredith simply sit in her seat. Because she


    noticed that the eyes of a few of them fell on Meredith from time to time, which made her even more


    certain that she had made the right choice in bringing Meredith here.


    Meredith, who looked a little simr to the current famous star Ava, looked more pure and less


    morous, but it was enough to attract these men.


    After a while, Rachel gave Meredith a ss of wine and pushed her. "Go and drink a toast to Mr. Lee."


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    "I can''t drink." Meredith told the truth and she really didn''t know how to drink.


    "Drinking is one drink after another, and then you learn." Rachel looked at her with a threatening look in


    her eyes.


    Meredith had no choice but to walk over, but she was very nervous, afraid of causing any trouble. At


    this time, she didn''t know who suddenly stretched out his foot and tripped her.


    Meredith staggered, and the red wine in her hand directly spilled all over Mr. Lee''s body. The wine


    dripped down, which made Mr. Lee look distinctly embarrassed.


    "I didn''t mean it!" Meredith subconsciously took a step back and panicked.


    "You''re excellent at picking parts to spill your wine on. Should we make way for it?" The man who had


    just tripped over his leg opened his mouth and joked.


    Many of the red wine that Meredith had just spilled was between Mr. Lee''s legs and was in an awkward


    position.


    "Well, if you help me clean up, I won''t me you." Mr. Lee looked at Meredith with a smile, his eyes full


    of undisguised desire.


    Meredith frowned and looked at Mr. Lee''s smiling face. She suddenly realized that these people were


    probably doing this on purpose.


    "I''m sorry. I''ll pay you back for the clothes. I don''t think it''s possible to wipe your clothes clean when


    they''ve been soiled by red wine."


    With that, Meredith stepped back.


    Mr. Lee saw Meredith so ignorant. He yanked her over and pressed her on herp. "This cloth is


    custom-made overseas. Even if you were sold, you couldn''t afford to pay. You''ll do as I say or I''ll have


    to make you lick me clean."


    When the crowd saw that he was going to do something randy, they left with augh. Meredith saw that


    Linda had also left her to go. "No, don''t leave me here alone."


    Rachel didn''t listen to her. Instead, she winked at Mr. Lee. "Mr. Lee, don''t forget the bonus!"


    Meredith was inplete despair. Linda has been nning this for a long time, bringing her here and


    using her for a business deal!


    "Let go of me! I''ll pay you back. I''ll pay you whatever you want. Furthermore, I''m not here to prostitute


    myself!" Meredith struggled desperately, but it made the man more excited.


    "You''re here now, don''t pretend to be a virtuous woman."


    Mr. Lee leaned over and tried to kiss Meredith, while the other hand caressed around her body and tore


    at her clothes.


    Meredith''s clothes were quickly ripped off, revealing her fair shoulders. Mr. Lee saw her skin, his eyes


    lit up, and he was about to press her down on the sofa.


    Meredith looked at the face that was getting closer and closer, and hatred shed in her eyes. Why


    would someone want to destroy her forever? If that was the case, she might as well fight it out.


    Thinking about it, Meredith kicked Mr. Lee in the middle of taking off his clothes, and the man screamed


    in pain. He couldn''t care about her for a moment. Meredith immediately rolled off the couch, pulled her


    clothes up and ran.


    "Fuck, get her!" Mr. Lee was enraged. The bodyguards outside the door immediately grabbed Meredith


    who was about to run, tied her up with a belt and threw her back.


    "Bitch, you''re asking for it. I''ll get someone to take pictures of you nakedter. Are you still running? I''ll


    make sure you never get rid of this shadow for the rest of your life!"


    When Meredith heard this, she closed her eyes in despair. Suddenly, a cold male voice came from


    outside the door. "What is Mr. Lee doing?"


    It was a voice that sounded regal. That voice carried an unquestionable dominance, but it was so


    familiar. Meredith looked over, only to see Derek standing at the door. His face was expressionless, as


    if he was just seeing strangers doing something he didn''t care for.


    This expression made Meredith feel ashamed.


    "Mr. Xavier? It''s just a lesson for a woman. How did you..."


    Mr. Lee''s behaviour was much more restrained after seeing Derek, because in J City, the influence of


    the Xaviers was more powerful than that of Lee family.


    However, in a ce like this, this kind of thing happened every day, and Derek didn''t care about it.


    "Do you know this woman?" Mr. Lee asked cautiously.


    "I don''t know." Derek''s expression remained the same, and there was still a cold look in his eyes.


    When Meredith heard him say that he didn''t know her, there was an indescribable feeling in her heart.


    She knew that he must be ashamed of her, but it still hurt her pride.


    Hearing this, Mr. Lee was even more puzzled. He thought, "Since he didn''t know her, why did he stop


    me?"


    "Mr. Xavier, this woman kicked me. I just wanted to teach her a lesson."


    "This is my ce. I don''t want to cause any trouble." Even so, Derek had no intention of leaving.


    Lee rarely saw that Derek was so determined to take care of it, and he didn''t want to offend Derek for a


    woman. So he could only leave here. Before he left, he red at Meredith fiercely. "You''re lucky this


    time. Next time I catch you, you''ll know what the consequences are."


    Silence returned to the room. Derek looked at Meredith''s messy clothes and a few red marks on her


    fair skin. His eyes darkened slightly.


    "Is this the job you want to keep?" The man said sarcastically.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    Listening to that indifferent and emotionless words, she felt a wave of anger spreading from the bottom


    of her heart. If he hadn''t spread the news in thepany, how could she have suffered this?


    Thinking about it, Meredith didn''t want to look at him, so she just ignored Derek and left.


    Derek waspletely ignored and his eyes shed with displeasure. He grabbed Meredith''s wrist. "I


    saved you, but you wanted to leave without saying a word?"


    Just now, if he hadn''t heard the familiar voice of crying for help from outside, she wouldn''t have the


    chance to be here and ignore him at all.


    "What do you want me to say?" Derek was strong, and Meredith''s wrist clenched by him was already


    red, but she refused to give in.


    Was it not because of him that she was in such a difficult position? Now he acted like a savior?


    She wasn''t that stupid and wouldn''t be grateful for someone like that.


    "Let me go! I don''t need you to take care of my business."


    Derek''s cold eyes were instantly ignited by anger. This ungrateful woman turned her back after she


    was saved by him.


    Did she really think that he wouldn''t do anything to her because of his grandpa''s orders?


    At the thought of it, Derek didn''t let her go but pulled Meredith even harder and pulled her into his arms.


    "You don''t need me? Are you going to say that you were ying with Mr. Lee voluntarily? Your so-


    called job is to be a prostitute?"


    Meredith felt as if she had been stabbed when she heard the word "prostitute". She struggled


    desperately. Derek didn''t let go, so she tried to kick the man in the calf.


    The pain from his body made Derek even angrier. Seeing that Meredith was still struggling, he pressed


    her against the wall. "What? Am I right?"


    Meredith looked up and saw the coldness and disdain in his eyes, which made her angry. She simply


    answered hopelessly, "Even if I am a prostitute, you don''t have to care. Let go of your hand!"


    Derek''s anger waspletely ignited. Meredith''s unscrupulous words gave him the urge to tear her


    apart!


    The next second, before Meredith had time to say anything more, her lips were rudely sealed by his


    kiss. Derek''s movements were full of anger and plunder. There was no tenderness at all. It was not a


    kiss, but rather a bite.


    Soon, Meredith felt the smell of blood in her mouth, but Derek didn''t seem to notice it. "Since you''re so


    thirsty, I''ll satisfy you."


    As he spoke, he ripped off her already torn clothes with hisrge hands, leaving dark red marks on


    Meredith''s fair skin.


    Now Derek, like a beast that was tearing its prey apart, wanted to devour her.


    The pain from her body and the man''s violent movements gave Meredith a sense of fear. Her body


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    trembled and she desperately pushed against Derek''s chest.


    Sensing her constant resistance, Derek felt angry. He stopped and looked at her coldly. "Why? As a


    prostitute, you still need to pick out your customers?"


    Meredith felt an unspeakable grievance in her heart. Being watched by him like this, she could not


    suppress her anger. "So what? Even if I am a prostitute, I won''t serve you!"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s expression. Her lips were bright red because of the entanglement just now.


    In her clean eyes, there was a raging me, but she looked very stubborn as if she would rather die


    than give in.


    "Do you think I want a woman like you who doesn''t have self-respect?" Derek pushed Meredith away.


    Her back hit the edge of the sofa and an inexplicable pain hit her.


    But Derek ignored it and tidied up the wrinkles on his clothes. A momentter, he returned to his usual


    elegance and indifference.


    "Next time, remember, since you''re a prostitute, don''t shout as if you''ve been forced to, lest others


    misunderstand you."


    With that, Derek mmed the door and left.


    Meredith listened to the sound of the door closing, and slid helplessly down, breathing heavily. She felt


    a sense of insecurity after all those, which made her feel weak.


    After sitting on the ground and resting for a long time, Meredith slowly calmed down. The ce she had


    just been hit was still very painful, probably already bruised, and the rest of her body...


    Meredith looked down at herself, feeling extremely pitiful. Her clothes were almost torn into pieces and


    were barely hung on her body.


    If she went out like this, she didn''t know if she would get into any trouble again.


    Meredith didn''t know what to do. She sat on the floor for a while, and someone came to clean up. So


    she begged the person to lend her a set of clothes. Then she went back home.


    As soon as she got home, Meredith ran into the bathroom. She looked at the tiny red marks on her


    body in the mirror, turned on the hot water and washed them with all her might, as if she were going to


    erase them along with those terrible memories.


    She did not know how long she had been washing. She didn''t stop until her skin had turned red and


    she felt a slight pain when she touched it. Then she walked out tiredly.


    After a while, her cell phone rang.


    Rachel''s unhappy voice rang out from the phone. "Meredith, what''s wrong with you? I asked you to


    stay with Mr. Lee, but you ran away. Can you pay for the damage you caused to thepany?"


    Meredith was disgusted at the thought of this woman using other people''s bodies for her own benefit.


    Seeing that she still dared to call, she was angry. "Whatpany''s benefit? Can thepany only run


    by selling female employee''s bodies and dignity? Thepany should be closed down."


    "You are also a woman. You should know how difficult it is for a woman in the workce. Why did you


    lie to me to go to a ce like that? Don''t you have a guilty conscience?"


    "Hmph, you have slept with an old man and been in prison. Do you think you are a pure and innocent


    girl? It''s your blessing that someone would like you and pay for you."


    Rachel was already used to the unspoken rules of the industry, so she naturally did not have any


    sympathy for Meredith. "This time, Mr. Lee is very dissatisfied. You have to go to room 3857 of the Star


    Universe Hotel to apologize tomorrow, otherwise..."


    "Otherwise, what?" Meredith had suffered enough of this. If she hadn''t been lucky today, she might


    have been raped and taken nude photos by that Mr. Lee.


    "Otherwise, you will be fired."


    "Since thepany needs its employees to sell their souls to stay, it''s not a pity for me to leave."


    Meredith did not give in and hung up as soon as she finished.


    On the other side of the phone, Rachel was fuming. Wasn''t Meredith scared of losing her job? Why did


    she be so tough?


    Mr. Lee threatened Rachel that if she couldn''t get Meredith there, she had to be punished in Meredith''s


    ce. Rachel shuddered at the thought of it.


    She had to find a way to send Meredith there so that Mr. Lee could vent his anger on her.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    That night, Derek didn''t go back to the Xaviers at all. "Perhaps, he doesn''t want to see me," Meredith


    thought to herself.


    By coincidence, she didn''t want to see him, lest she remembered something she shouldn''t have.


    After a while, someone called her.


    Meredith picked it up and realized it was Ava.


    "How''s it going? Are you enjoying your life in the newpany, sister?"


    In the middle of filming, when Ava was having free time, she suddenly remembered that she had sent


    someone to Meredith''spany to "identally" spread the truth that Meredith had been in prison.


    She thought that her useless sister who knew nothing should have been scared to death by the hurtful


    rumors.


    "How do you know where I work... It''s you?" Meredith instantly understood what had happened and


    gripped the phone tightly. Because of the force, there were even veins on the back of her hand.


    How much did her sister hate her? She even spread that in her newpany, making her restless.


    "It''s me, but so what? Just enjoy it. Let me guess how long you can insist on working in thatpany?


    I''m afraid it won''tst more than a month. Trash!"


    "Stop caring about me. Don''t worry. I won''t let you seed." Meredith gritted her teeth and hung up the


    phone.


    If she heard Ava''s voice again, she would be so angry that she would smash her phone.


    Trying to calm her breathing, Meredith finally calmed down, but suddenly remembered something.


    It turned out that Derek didn''t do those things at thepany, so she misunderstood him...


    Thinking about it, Meredith was a little embarrassed. She took out her cell phone and called Derek. She


    wanted to say sorry, but the phone rang and then was hung up.


    It seemed that he hated her even more, but no wonder...


    Meredith shook her head helplessly, but she didn''t call again. If she always called Derek, she was


    afraid that he would be impatient.


    ...


    In the next day.


    As soon as Meredith arrived at thepany, she found her desk in a mess. Everything was turned


    upside down, as if her desk had just suffered from a theft.


    Although she knew that she had offended Rachel and it was hard for her to continue working in the


    This was the first time Meredith had spoken loudly to these colleagues.


    "Since you''re leaving, we need to check if you''ve taken anything that you shouldn''t have. If we lose


    something and you have already left, where can we find them?"


    Meredith felt aggrieved when everyone saw her as a thief.


    To be fair, although she could only do some trivia in thispany, she was very conscientious in


    everything and never dared to neglect her work. She smiled and agreed to whatever her colleagues


    asked her to do.


    But in the end, they only treated her like a thief.


    Was it true that once others knew she was sent to prison before, she could only live under their


    prejudice forever?


    "Are you done checking?" Meredith tried to hold back her grievances and helplessness, pretending that


    nothing had happened.


    The colleagues didn''t find anything and were somewhat ungratified. They looked at the things on her


    desk and found her USB sh disk. "This one needs to be checked too."


    Of course, Meredith had nothing to be afraid of. She always behaved with integrity, so how could she


    leave something behind?


    However, after a while, a few colleagues suddenly began to discuss seriously, "Meredith, why are you


    so insidious that you have copied the files of ourpany''s customers? Are you going to poach our


    customers after leaving?"


    Meredith''s eyes widened in disbelief. It was impossible.


    Not to mention that she didn''t have such an idea, even if she did, normally, she would not have ess


    to such important documents, how could them be copied?


    Someone must be setting her up!


    "I never copy them. You guys don''t usually show me these files," Meredith argued.


    "But you can secretly copy them while you are helping someone, right?"


    "Exactly. I think it''s possible. No wonder she''s so diligent. She has ned for this from the beginning."


    "She is such a bitch."


    A few colleagues did not listen to Meredith''s exnation at all. They chattered and quickly settled her


    charge. They were also going to drag Meredith to see the general manager and asked him to deal with


    her properly to let others know that what she had done was illegal.


    Only then did Rachel speak in time. "Leave this to me. The documents she has copied is mine."


    Meredith understood it all at once. It was probably Rachel''s n. Rachel''s heart was so vicious that


    Rachel almost made her lose her virginity yesterday and ndered her for stealing today.


    "Hmm? For what happened yesterday, think about it. If you agree, I''ll say I copy those documents and


    forget to delete them. If you don''t agree..."


    Rachel didn''t say the rest, but it was very threatening.


    Meredith looked at her hatefully, her nails pinched into her palms, and the tingling sensation made her


    extremely clear-headed.


    "Stop dreaming! I won''t have sex with that scumbag."


    That Mr. Lee showed his true colors yesterday. If she went, she didn''t know what would happen.


    Anyway, nothing good would happen.


    "We can do it the easy way, but you ask for the punishment!" Rachel was so angry that she dragged


    Meredith to the general manager''s office. "I tell you, we can fire you because you steal the confidential


    information from thepany. What''s more, we can even sue you."


    Meredith''s body shook. After thest dark memory, she now had a deep shadow on the court and the


    and other simr ces, and she would be very scared when she thought of it.


    She was terrified of the terrible days without hope, the days when she was wronged but could not tell


    others the truth.


    Meredith''s emotions suddenly became uncontroble, and she pushed Rachel desperately, trying to


    break free.


    But Rachel didn''t let go. Meredith had no choice but to bite Rachel''s arm and force her to let go after


    Rachel saw her arm bleeding.


    "This crazy woman bites me! Grab her!" Rachel shouted, stomping her foot in anger as she watched


    Meredith run away.


    How dare Meredith bite her? She had to send this damn woman to Mr. Lee''s bed and let him torture


    her to death.


    "Why are you arguing?" Just as a group of people were about to grab Meredith, suddenly, a refined but


    emotionless voice sounded. "What happened?"


    Parker stood not far away, frowning at the farce, his voice clearly unhappy.


    Parker was the new partner of thepany. Although he just started in this new position, he had great


    strength and could not be underestimated.


    Naturally, the people present did not dare to offend him.


    Seeing Parkering, all the colleagues tacitly med Meredith for what happened. In a few words,


    she was portrayed as a thief who entered thepany through an improper channel, but was crooked


    and only thought about how to gain improper benefits.


    "I didn''t!" Hearing the nonsense, Meredith raised her eyes and looked into Parker''s eyes.


    Only then did Parker see Meredith''s face clearly.


    The woman in front of him was wearing a simple white shirt and a ck skirt. Without make-up, her fair


    face was immacte and natural.


    And what surprised him most was that her eyes were so clean without any impurities. Even if there was


    a flicker of grievance and anger in them, it did not diminish the beauty of her eyes at all. Instead, her


    eyes were more vivid.


    The man''s eyes dimmed, as if he had thought of something. "Then tell me, what''s going on?"


    Meredith was stunned. She thought no one would listen to her, but this seemingly unreachable man in


    front of her did not look down on her...


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    She bit her lip and ventured her spection.


    "This a vicious nder!" Rachel broke out in a cold sweat, because Meredith was right.


    The files on Meredith''s USB sh disk were copied by her in advance this morning.


    Her purpose was to scare Meredith and make her stay with Mr. Lee as soon as possible.


    "Finding out if it''s true or not, we just need to check." Parker looked at Rachel coldly, as if he wanted to


    see through her heart.


    Soon, Parker called in a few people from the information department, and it was found that the


    document was copied this morning.


    At that time, Meredith was not at thepany at all.


    Everyone was silent.


    "You are wronged. Don''t worry, I will give you an exnation." Seeing this, Parker patted Meredith on


    her shoulder.


    "In the future, all of you are not allowed to spread false information in thepany. As for Miss Garcia,


    you have framed your colleague for no reason. I will discuss your future with other directors of the


    Rachel''s body copsed to the ground. Thepany was trying so hard to tter Parker recently. In


    front of him, she, a sales director, was nothing. Firing her was such a simple matter.


    Meredith looked at Rachel''s dejected face and felt something unbelievable in her heart. It was as if this


    was the first time she had been trusted, and she could finally hold her head high.


    Thinking about it, she chased after Parker and said solemnly, "Thank you."


    Parker looked at her with interest. "Just ''thank you''? Why do I feel that you are insincere?"

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Meredith nced at Parker with confusion. She supposed that only one sentence couldn''t express her


    respect for him.


    Then Meredith bow to him reverently, "Thank you so much."


    Looked at her serious behavior, Parker found it was really funny. "Come on, stand up. Someone who


    saw your behavior would think you were mourning over my death."


    Meredith''s face was blushed with a little embarrassment. "Then, how can I express my thanks clearly?


    Can I treat you to dinner?"


    Parker looked at Meredith''s serious eyes and somehow had an urge to tease her. "I''ve been staying in


    the hotel for more than a month and I''m tired of the meals they offer."


    Meredith was a little annoyed. Was this guy fooling with her?


    "I''m so tired of eating out. How about you cooked something and let me have a taste? It''s the most


    sincere way to show your respect."


    Parker looked at Meredith''s flushed cheeks. Her eyes glistened with tears, but they were still bright.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    What she did not know was that the more stubborn she was, the more he wanted to tease her.


    Meredith thought for a while. "But I don''t think I''m better than the chefs in those restaurants."


    "It doesn''t matter. I enjoy your preparation, not food. It''s a deal. You go back to work. I''ll get someone to


    investigate the woman. I won''t let her do as she wants."


    After saying that, Parker waved his hand and walked into the VIP elevator for thepany''s leaders.


    Meredith watched him going away, feeling a little uneasy in her mind, but she became more rxed


    than before.


    Someone believed her and helped her cope with the colleague who framed her up. It felt like a beam of


    light went into the darkness.


    Perhaps the following days were not as difficult as she thought.


    Meredith smiled and returned to her office.


    Her belongings had already been put back where they were. Rachel was crying and hitting the items on


    the table not far away.


    Meredith nced at her without any sympathy. Rachel suffered from her own actions, she deserved it.


    "What are you looking at? Don''t think you can do anything you want with President Hill at your back in


    thepany. You are going to be abandoned by him someday. We''ll see what will happen to you."


    Meredith''s eyes turned dim when she heard her words. "All I know is that we shouldn''t hurt anyone in


    any circumstances to avoid further retribution."


    ...


    A few dayster, it was the weekend.


    Meredith made an appointment with Parker. She was going to cook the food at home and sent it to him


    for a taste.


    So, Meredith got up early and went to the market to buy some food materials.


    Derek frowned in the early morning because he had not seen her since he got up.


    Meredith would usually stay at home and not walk around on weekends. Now she even didn''t want to


    have a rest on weekends?


    When the servant came in with coffee, and he asked lightly, "Have you seen her this morning?"


    The servant could guess without a hint who was "she" from Derek''s tone.


    "Young madam has been busy with cooking in the kitchen. She probably would like to cook something


    by herself." After answering his question in full detail, the servant retreated.


    Derek picked up the coffee and took a sip. The mellow taste dissipated in his mouth and his frowning


    eyebrows rxed a little. Then, he snorted coldly.


    "Do you think you can please me by doing this?"


    After that unhappy day, they had never talked to each other again.


    Derek wouldn''t talk to her first. Did that mean she was going to give in?


    Derek crossed his long legs and waited leisurely.


    Meredith had been busy with cooking for a while and asked the chef of the Xaviers some questions.


    In fact, she didn''t know much about cooking. She was the daughter of the Masons before being


    imprisoned. Even though she was not weed by Wesley, she didn''t have to doundry and cooking


    herself at least.


    But that was all over.


    Meredith was cooking with a bitter smile on the face.


    She supposed that she really needed to learn these basic survival skills. Otherwise, no one would


    serve her after she being kicked out of the Xaviers.


    After a while, Meredith finally finished the meal. She carefully removed them into a thermal box. She


    went outside after expressing her thanks to the chef.


    Derek waited for her in the room for a long time, reading the document in his hand for a long time


    without turning one page. It was only when Vivian came to inform him to have lunch that he realized


    something was wrong because he found that Meredith was not at home.


    "Where is Meredith?"


    Seeing Derek''s unhappy face, Vivianined, "Young madam cooked in the kitchen early in the


    morning. As soon as she finished that, she packed that up and went outside directly. I don''t know who


    she is dating... I got scolded just because I asked her one question."


    Vivian''s voice trailed off. She finally lowered her head in injustice.


    After hearing this, Derek waspletely out of the mood to eat. With a bang, he dropped his


    chopsticks and said, "I''m gonna go out."


    He would like to know what the woman was going to do outside.


    ...


    Meredith took the bus to the destination and then walked a long way to the ce that Parker had told


    him.


    Parker had already arrived. He was moved when he saw her holding a lunchbox tightly in her hands


    with sweat dripping from her face.


    He didn''t expect her would take his joke so seriously.


    "I''m sorry for myte. I brought my cooking for you, but it is not very good..." Meredith said with a little


    embarrassment.


    She had already tasted all these dishes before she came here. Although they were not bad to eat, they


    were not delicious.


    So, she brought her savings over there. If Parker didn''t like the dishes, she would invite him to a


    restaurant for dinner.


    "Then I''m going to have a try to see if you''re too modest." Parker shrugged casually and opened the


    box to eat a few mouthfuls.


    Meredith touched her purse and was ready for his judgment, but Parker did not show the unpleasant as


    she had imagined, he liked that instead.


    After a while, he ate up all the food she had made.


    Meredith looked at him with a little uneasy. Parker put down his chopsticks and looked at her. "You''ve


    been staring at me for a while. Is there something on my face?"


    Meredith couldn''t help butugh and shook her head. "No, I just don''t expect you''re not a picky eater.


    After all, I know very well about my cooking..."


    "No, it''s not like that. It''s not just about the taste, but the feeling you expressed is also important."


    Parker smiled and wiped his lips. "You''re not as bad as you think. You can be more confident in the


    future."


    This was the first time that Meredith was encouraged by a stranger. She was stunned for a moment,


    and then smiled from the bottom of her heart.


    Meredith rarely smiled. After being discharged from prison, she had a lot of things on her mind. She


    always had an icy face and didn''t show any expression, but she looked pretty good when she smiled.


    Looking at Meredith''s smiling face, Parker lost in thought. His left chest seemed to be hit by something,


    and his heart was jumping so fast.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    Parker was stunned for a moment before he realized that he had lost hisposure. Then, he


    coughed softly and took a sip of the water in front of him to ease the awkwardness.


    They talked about trivial things as if nothing had happened, and then Parker got a call that wanted him


    out. Tactfully, Meredith stood up and bid him farewell.


    "I''ll give you a ride." Parker took the car key and offered to take her home gentlemanly.


    Meredith shook her head. "Don''t bother. Have fun with your friends."


    She didn''t want him to know that she lived with Derek, which was hard to exin.


    Seeing that she quickly packed up her things and left decisively after saying goodbye, he felt a little


    mncholy in his heart somehow. Meredith was neither humble nor arrogant, which was rare for a


    woman.


    He was intrigued by her.


    Meredith waited at the bus stop on the side of the road. After a while, a luxurious sports car stopped in


    front of her. "Get in. My friends can wait. How long are you going to wait like this?"


    "I''m fine. The bus ising soon. Go and have fun."


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Despite her insistence, Parker got out of the car, grabbed Meredith''s wrist, and tried to force her into


    the car. "I''m taught to send home ady who treats me to dinner. Let''s go. I''ll send you..."


    Beep!


    A sharp horn interrupted Parker


    Parker frowned and looked up, only to see a sports car parked in front of him, which was even cooler


    than the one he was driving today.


    It was a Rolls-Royce Phantom global limited edition, which may be sole in J City.


    Meredith was also startled by the piercing sound. When she saw clearly who was driving the car, her


    heart gave a great bound.


    Derek?


    How did he get here?


    In Derek''s eyes, Meredith''s flustered expression came from her guilt.


    He rolled down the window with a frigid face. "I''m sorry, sir. Your car seems to be parked in the wrong


    ce."


    When Parker saw Derek, he frowned, and a trace of displeasure shed across his eyes. Derek


    shouldn''t embarrass him in front of ady.


    Derek was no more than a nodding acquaintance whom he had met several times before, so the


    hostility didn''t make sense.


    "Quick. Let me give you a ride. We''re in the other people''s way."


    Of course, Meredith couldn''t get in the car. Derek''s gaze lingered over her body like a knife which was


    to cut her through. "Thank you, but that''s really unnecessary."


    Derek watched the two in a tangle and remarked coldly, "Sir, you shouldn''t force ady who has


    already refused you."


    Parker was a little angry. "I''ll move the car first. Meredith, wait for me."


    With that, Parker was to move the car away, but as his car just slid forward a little, Derek suddenly


    stepped hard on the gas pedal and the two cars collided slightly, scaring everyone present.


    "Are you crazy?" Meredith was startled. Although it was just a small crash, the damage would cost a lot


    given that they were both luxury cars.


    Obviously, Parker didn''t expect this. He got out of the car and frowned as he looked at where his car


    got crashed. At this time, Derek said aloofly, "A car crash is a small thing, but hitting on the wrong


    person is a big deal."


    Parker perceived that he was implying something. "What do you mean?"


    Meredith''s face turned pale. She didn''t want Derek to say anything bad about her to Parker.


    Parker was one of the few people who epted her and encouraged her. She didn''t want him to dislike


    her after hearing what Derek might say.


    "You''d better leave now."


    Subconsciously, Meredith tugged at the corner of Parker''s shirt, hoping he wouldn''t listen to what Derek


    would say.


    "It means..." Derek saw Meredith''s small movements and the worry on her face, which irritated him


    even more.


    What was she worried about? Was she afraid that he would tell the truth and make the new moneybag


    she took efforts to find hate her again?


    How shameless.


    "Sir, an innocent woman might have a dirty mind. Just take my kind advice: don''t be fooled by an


    innocent face and don''t cherish an apple of Sodom."


    Derek''s voice was indifferent and melodious as usual, but to Meredith, it was as terrifying as the voice


    of the demon.


    Parker didn''t have to be very quick-minded to get his overtones, especially when he saw that


    Meredith''s face darkened immediately.


    Looking at Meredith''s slightly trembling shoulders, Parker suddenly felt the urge to protect her. He


    shielded her behind him and said, "Thank you for your advice but I think the best way to know a person


    is not from others'' words. Save your kindness for other people."


    Derek looked at Meredith, who hid behind the man, and his eyes dimmed. "Is that so?"


    Meredith could hear the smoldering anger in Derek''s deliberately lowered voice. If she continued


    provoking him, he might say more unpleasant words.


    Therefore, Meredith whispered to Parker, "Mr. Hill, just leave... Please!"


    Parker naturally didn''t want to leave, but when he looked back and met Meredith''s pleading eyes, his


    heart softened. "Are you really okay?"


    After Meredith nodded, Parker got into the car, holding back his anger.


    However, the anger in Derek''s heart was not quenched by Parker''s leaving.


    And he felt worse when he saw Meredith''s gaze fixed on Parker''s car that was getting further and


    further. He stepped hard on the gas pedal.


    Meredith was frightened by the blue shadow shing past her and stumbled back to avoid it.


    She almost got hit by a car!


    Meredith felt her legs weak and fear still lingered in her heart as she watched the car get smaller in the


    distance.


    How could he be such a lunatic?


    Meredith sat at the bus stop and rested for a while before recovering from the shock. After a long time,


    a bus heading towards the Xaviers finally arrived.


    ...


    When Meredith got home, she took a look at the garage. The sports car wasn''t there, which suggested


    that Derek hadn''te back yet.


    Seeing her, Vivian wore a sarcastic smile on her face. "Young madam is back? Young master seemed


    very angry about what you did when he went out."


    Meredith looked at her and saw the unmistakable gloating in her eyes. She had always been nice to


    Vivian, but why did she mess with her time and time again?


    "Humph, one day the young master will see your true colors and kick you out." Seeing that Meredith


    wouldn''t quarrel with her, Vivian felt bored.


    "Do you count on that day to take my ce?" Something dawned on Meredith as she looked at her.


    Was it because Vivian had feelings for Derek? That was why Vivian was targeting her all the time?


    "What are you talking about? Nonsense!"


    Her fury confirmed Meredith''s guess.


    However, Meredith did not think that Derek would marry any woman who didn''t match his fortune and


    status.

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    Meredith knew Derek very well.


    A man like him would definitely marry a woman who could match his own family in the future. Anyone


    who had feelings for him only would be badly hurt.


    "Yes, I will leave the Xaviers one day, but when that dayes, will you have a chance? So, I hope


    you don''t do these boring things, it doesn''t make any sense."


    Meredith calmly said, regardless of whether Vivian heard it or not, and returned to the room.


    Vivian looked at her back and stomped her feet. Meredith was just a woman who had been in prison.


    How could Meredith dare to look down on her and lecture her?


    One day, she would be the wife of the young master of the Xaviers and make everyone who looked


    down on her regret it.


    ...


    Not long after Meredith returned to the room, there was a knock on the door.


    Walking over to open the door, Meredith realized it was Mr. Xavier. She was a little surprised, "Derek is


    not here. Are you looking for him?"


    The old man shook his head, "No, I was looking for you."


    Meredith was a little nervous. Was he going to talk about the divorce with her?


    "I just learned that Derek had a small car ident."


    The old man frowned. Because of Derek''s ident, he was nervous when he heard the words "car


    ident."


    He could not bear the pain one more time of nearly sending away a young man to heaven as an old


    man.


    Meredith didn''t say anything and felt helpless. The car ident... It was obviously avoidable, but Derek


    just made it happen.


    However, looking at the worried look of the old man, Meredith thought of her own grandparents and


    found it hard to say anything, so she could onlyfort him.


    "Well, from today onwards, you will be Derek''s assistant and apany him to work and get off work


    every day. Don''t let him drive alone."


    This was the old man''s solution after careful consideration. After all, Meredith was Derek''s lucky star


    ording to the fortune-teller.


    With her around, Derek would be safe.


    "Grandpa, I''m afraid I couldn''t do that." Meredith was startled and subconsciously refused. Now that


    she saw Derek once every few days, she already felt physically and mentally exhausted.


    If she became his assistant and had to get along with him day and night, wouldn''t she be bored to


    death?


    Besides, she still had her own job and didn''t want to put all the focus of her life on a man.


    "I still have work to do. Besides, the young master doesn''t like me. If I go, I''m afraid he''ll be angry."


    "That''s my decision, and that kid dare not say anything. I''ve asked about your job. I''ll pay you three


    times the sry. Then, when you leave the Xaviers, I''ll give you a well-paid and stable job. Is that all


    right?"


    Mr. Xavier did not take Meredith''s rejection seriously.


    Seeing this, Meredith felt a little helpless. She had to say that the old man in front of her and Derek


    were real grandsons and grandfathers. They were just as stubborn as they were, regardless of others''


    thoughts.


    She understood that if she refused such a generous offer again, the old man would be angry. At that


    time, it would be her own fault.


    So she just nodded.


    "Well, I''m d you agree, you can go to work with Derek tomorrow. Remember to keep an eye on him


    on the road and not let him get angry."


    Meredith responded and the old man left with satisfaction.


    After sending the old man away, Meredith copsed on the bed. The thought of spending time with


    Derek every day made her ufortable.


    Probably, the only benefit was that she could make more money. Meredith got up and looked at her


    bank ount bnce, which was pitifully small.


    A while ago, when she went to various sanatoriums to look for her mother, she asked about the fees


    there. She actually couldn''t afford to pay for a month with her meager sry for a patient who could not


    take care of oneself.


    She had to save enough money to get her mother back.


    Thinking of this, Meredith gritted her teeth. She just needed to follow Derek all day along. What a big


    deal, she could pretend to be deaf and ignore what he said. Just suck it up.


    ...


    Early the next morning, Mr. Xavier announced at the dinner table, "In the future, Meredith will be your


    assistant, apany you to work and take care of your daily life."


    Derek frowned and nced at the woman who was eating her breakfast, "There are no useless people


    around me."


    The spoon in Meredith''s hand stopped, and the old man sighed, "Anyway, I take care of her sry. You


    don''t have to pay her, but you have to take her with you when you go out. Remember?"


    Seeing that his grandpa was stubborn, Derek could only nod his head, but his expression was cold,


    and he obviously didn''t agree with it.


    After dinner, Meredith followed Derek with a low brow and was about to get in the car when the man


    said unhappily, "You''re going to sit in the copilot seat? What will others think if they see you?"


    Meredith was embarrassed for a moment, "I''m sorry, I didn''t think it through."


    As she spoke, she was about to sit in the back.


    "Do you think I''m your driver if you sit in the back?"


    However, Derek obviously didn''t want to let her off so easily.


    When Meredith heard this, her hand on the door handle paused. Derek was obviously trying to give her


    a hard time.


    "What does young master think I should do?" Meredith couldn''t help but ask him. Did she have to lie on


    the car roof or get under the car to satisfy this man?Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "You should get away from me. The farther the better. Don''t get in my way." Derek put on his


    sunsses and sat in the driver''s seat indifferently. His tone was cold.


    Meredith clenched her fingers. If the old man hadn''t forced her to apany Derek to work, she would


    have left early and not be a doormat.


    But now, she had no other choice.


    "I''m sorry, but I don''t want to be here either. I have no choice. This is Grandpa Xavier''s request. Young


    master, you won''t even disobey his words, will you?"


    "You actually use my grandpa card? Do you believe that he really thinks of you as his granddaughter-


    inw?" Derek sneered.


    "I''m not that stupid, but I have to listen to what he said."


    Meredith answered word by word, but Derek was even more unhappy. So this woman was just forced


    to follow him. Actually, she didn''t want to at all?


    What kind of game was this? ying hard to get?


    But, after looking at his watch, he realized it would be toote if he didn''t set out, "Get in right now."


    Derek''s cold voice sounded, and Meredith carefully got into the car.


    "In order to avoid any unnecessary trouble for you, young master, I will get off the car ahead of time


    before we reach the Xavier Group. This is good for both of us."


    Derek nced at her and said nothing.


    She was good at acting. She convinced his grandpa to let her follow him to the Xavier Group, but now


    she pretended that she didn''t want to be found out by others...


    What was this woman up to?


    Derek looked away indifferently, "Of course you should."

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    After driving very fast , Derek stopped the car.


    "You can walk from here to thepany."


    Meredith got out of the car and looked around. It didn''t look like the city center, and she didn''t see the


    typical high-rise building of the Xavier Group.


    "Wait, here..." Meredith was about to ask Derek about it, but hepletely ignored her and stepped on


    the elerator and left.


    What a bad guy.


    Meredith was speechless. She took out her phone to turn on the navigation system, only to find that


    Derek had left her a few kilometers away from the Xavier Group.


    This man was so narrow-minded!


    The ce where Derek dropped her off was being repaired, so there were very few carsing and


    going that she could not even hitch a ride. Meredith cursed him in her heart, but there was no other


    way and she could only walk there.


    By the time Meredith finally reached the Xavier Group, she was already half an hourte.


    Her clothes were soaked with sweat. In her hurry, she took a short cut, so her clothes were stained with


    dust and mud, which made her look a little embarrassed.


    "I''m sorry, Miss. We don''t allow outsiders to enter the building."


    When Meredith was about to enter the building, a security guard stopped her.


    Meredith frowned, "I''m Mr. Xavier''s new assistant."


    The security guard looked at her in disbelief. Xavier Group was thergestpany in J City, and the


    recruitment standards were very high. Not only did it require a high academic qualifications, but it also


    had a strict standard of conduct.


    As for the people around the president, they were even more outstanding.


    Meredith''s dirty and sweaty image was very different from the image he had of the president''s


    assistant.


    At this moment, the manager of the human resources department happened toe over. After


    listening to the security guard, she looked at Meredith with disdain in her eyes.


    "I''m sorry, Miss. Damian is the only assistant to the president. If you want to approach Mr. Xavier by


    this means, you are really overestimating yourself."


    Meredith noticed the disdain of her words and she replied, neither humble nor haughty, "You''ll know if


    I''m his assistant if you call and ask. I''m not that bored to pretend to be an assistant to the president to


    attract his attention."


    "Heh. It seems that I''m too polite. People like you really can''t understand the humannguage."


    "If we make a phone call to annoy Mr. Xavier whenever an insignificant persones, he will have no


    time for anything else but you flirtatious women."


    "Security, cut the crap. Get her out of here."


    The manager of the human resources department was not kind at all and ordered the security guard to


    kick Meredith out directly.


    Several tall young security guards came over, "Leave now, or we''ll have to throw you out!"


    Of course, Meredith couldn''t leave. This was her first day at work. If Mr. Xavier found out that she had


    been kicked out like this and she didn''t work at all, he would be angry and punish her.


    Seeing that Meredith didn''t cooperate, the security guards were also angry. They picked her up easily


    and threw her out.


    Just then, a cold voice sounded, "Stop."


    Meredith was put down.


    She looked back, and found that it was Derek who came out.


    "Don''t stop her in the future. Let her in."


    Hearing this, everyone was shocked. They didn''t expect that this countrified woman really knew the


    president.


    Didn''t they just offend her?


    Meredith adjusted her crumpled clothes. She was still wondering why Derek was so kind today. It didn''t


    seem normal.


    "Mr. Xavier, is this really your new assistant?" The manager of the human resources department was


    nervous.


    The man brushed past Meredith''s awkwardness indifferently, "This is the servant of my family. In the


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    future, if anyone needs anything in thepany, just call her."


    When the rest of the people heard this, they looked happy and sarcastic.


    It turned out that she was only a servant who came to serve them, but she dared to say that she was


    the assistant to the president...


    She was really good at bragging. What a vain woman.


    "..." Hearing this, Meredith looked at Derek. He was still so mean.


    However, as Derek already said so, she knew that it was futile to exin anything. Therefore, she


    could only acquiesce.


    Derek looked at his watch, "In the future, remember to get to thepany early. You are 35 minutes


    If it weren''t for him, would she bete?


    Meredith retorted in her heart, but her expression did not change at all. Instead, she nodded obediently,


    "Yes, I see."


    Derek said nothing more and went straight upstairs.


    Meredith hurriedly followed him. The man was tall and had long legs, and he didn''t want to take care of


    her at all. Atst she even trotted to catch up with him.


    In the elevator, Derek looked out through the transparent ss window. Although he did not say a


    word, Meredith felt the dignity of a superior, as if the world was under his feet and under his control.


    After peeking at the man, Meredith moved her eyes away from him.


    "Although grandpa asks you to work here, don''t think that you have a backing. I hate ipetent


    people to secure advantages through influence. If you can''t do what I ask you to do, you''d better get


    out of here."


    Meredith listened to the man''s icy tone, "I see."


    Wasn''t it just work? His tone roused Meredith to unyielding spirit. She had to do well to make this man


    regret his arrogance at the moment.


    The elevator soon reached the top floor.


    This floor was Derek''s private space. Meredith followed the man and couldn''t help but gasp in


    admiration as they walked.


    It was good to have money. In such an area where the housing price was so high, he owned an entire


    floor. The Xaviers was really rich.


    "Put away your ignorant look." Derek saw the admiration and surprise on Meredith''s face through a


    ss.


    Meredith then kept a straight face and stopped looking around. She finally understood why Derek and


    the people around him had a poker face.


    If she didn''t keep an expressionless face, this man would be able to read her minds and give her a


    blow.


    "Damian, tell her what she should do and keep her away from anything important." Derek had a


    meetingter, so he asked Damian to arrange Meredith''s work.


    Damian answered quickly, thought and said, "You can just go and clean up that bookshelf over there.


    Arrange the books by name and year, and then clean the ss."


    Derek was a neat freak and had obsessivepulsive disorder. Damian didn''t dare to let Meredith go


    to his office, so he only found an unimportant job for her.


    "Got it." Meredith nced at the huge bookshelf and walked over. She willingly bore the burden of hard


    works.


    At this moment, her cell phone rang again. Meredith nced at the name on it, and she frowned.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    The call was from Ava.


    Meredith didn''t want Ava to ruin her mood. So she hung up directly.


    However, Ava did not give up and called again.


    Was she that free?


    Meredith thought, "Ava is a popr female star now. And her huge posters and TVmercials are


    everywhere in J City. Why does Ava still have time to keep an eye on her?"


    "What''s the matter?"


    Annoyed, Meredith picked up the phone in an impatient tone.


    "Can''t I just say hello to my sister?" Ava fiddled with her freshly manicure, her eyes brimming with


    pride.


    This morning, an informant she arranged in Meredith''spany called to say that Meredith had


    resigned. Meredith must have been overwhelmed by the rumors.


    Ava didn''t want to miss such a great chance to hit Meredith hard.


    "I heard that you left thepany. I remember that you''ve only been working in thispany for a


    month. You are really ipetent to get out of here that soon."


    Meredith frowned even more when she heard her words.


    Ava was really bored, but would Ava be angry if she knew that Meredith was working on the top floor of


    the Xavier Group?


    Thinking about it, Meredith purposely replied in an exaggeratively surprising tone, "Ava, I''m afraid your


    informant is a little bit stupid. I did quit, but I''m working in the Xavier Group now. It is not called being


    fired but job-hopping, understand?"


    Ava''s calm expression twisted when she heard Meredith''s words.


    Xavier Group?


    It was the Xavier Group where all graduates from those prestigious universities desperately wanted to


    work?


    How was it possible to hire someone like Meredith who only graduated from senior high school?


    "Well, sister, are you out of your mind, or crazy? Why would the Xavier Group hire someone like you?


    Even if you want to brag, you have to be reliable, right?"


    "Believe it or not." Meredith didn''t want to exin more to her. "I still have work to do. I don''t have time


    to talk nonsense with you."


    After that, Meredith hung up.


    Ava looked incredulous on the other end of the phone. Her reason told her that Meredith must be lying


    to make her fret.


    But she just couldn''t control her mind, especially when she thought about that Derek''s appeared at the


    to help Meredith out...


    Could it be that Derek had arranged for her to work in the Xavier Group and stay by his side?


    Ava''s impression of Derek still lingered on the unusual cold-blooded CEO, but she did not expect that


    kind of man to have rtionship with Meredith...


    "Contact the Xavier Group and tell them I want to talk about cooperation."


    ...


    Meredith hung up the phone, and for the first time, she had the feeling of pride and joy in front of Ava.


    Although this confidence was somewhat false, it made her feel much better.


    So she was less resistant to this job. At least, it could upset Ava''s and make her ufortable.


    At the thought of this, Meredith felt a surge of energy, fetched a bucket of clean water, and wiped the


    ss in front of her carefully.


    While she was doing this, Meredith suddenly remembered that she misunderstood Derekst time for


    spreading rumors in thepany, she had not made it clear and said sorry.


    Looking at the empty CEO''s office, Meredith hesitated. Would she apologize to him?


    Thinking about that man''s bad attitude towards her recently, Meredith retreated a little, but she knew


    what it was like to be misinterpreted, so after wiping the ss, she sat down and wrote a piece of note.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    If there was a chance, Derek would see it, and then she would be at ease. As for whether the man


    would ept her apology or not, it was his choice.


    ...


    For the next few days, Meredith had been doing all sorts of things outside his office.


    Derek was very defensive and didn''t seem to want to see her at work, so Meredith never had the


    chance to hand over the note.


    Just as Meredith was cleaning up, Damian came over and said, "Mr. Xavier wants some coffee. I have


    something urgent to do right now. Go and make him a cup."


    Damian left in a hurry after saying that.


    Meredith looked at his back and couldn''t have the chance to stop him.


    To make coffee for Derek? Meredith was anxious, but she had to make coffee and send to him when


    she was told to do.


    Derek''s coffee was naturally different from the average employee''s, and was freshly handmade.


    Meredith had seen Damian make it a few times. At that time, she thought that Derek''s life style was


    really extravagant, but she didn''t expect it toe in handy now.


    When Meredith carefully walked into Derek''s office, the man was looking down at the documents in his


    hand. The afternoon sunshine bathed him, adding a few warmness and gentleness, softening the cold


    lines of his face.


    Meredith looked at him, lost in her thought, and her action identally got a little harder, which caused


    the cab a piercing noise.


    The man who was immersed in his work frowned and looked up at her. "Why did youe in? Get


    out."


    Meredith rolled her eyes in her heart. She didn''t want toe in either, but she had no other choice for


    she was told to do so.


    "Damian said he has something urgent to deal with. Let me make you some coffee."


    Meredith''s answer was neither servile nor overbearing.


    Derek rubbed his forehead and looked at her calm expression. This woman had been a good employ


    since she came here, making him unable to have something on her. Today, he finally had the chance?


    "To be clear, my taste is very picky. If you can''t do it well, I won''t be nice to you."


    Derek left his words coldly and lowered his head. "Remember, don''t make this terrible noise again."


    Meredith nodded and went out with coffee beans.


    Derek thought she would talk back or say something, but he was surprised that she just left so


    obediently.


    Meredith walked lightly out to another room equipped with a coffee machine. She had learned some


    coffee grinding techniques with Damian when she was bored, so it wasn''t difficult for her to make


    coffee.


    After a while, a cup of fragrant coffee was ready.


    Meredith thought for a moment, and then ced the note she had written down under the tray and


    walked in with it.


    Then, she carefully entered Derek''s office.


    She didn''t know if Derek was doing it on purpose or if he devoted himself to his work. She walked in,


    and the man didn''t look up at her,pletely ignoring her and still looking at his document.


    Meredith didn''t dare to put the coffee down anywhere. Derek''s desk was a restricted area. He would be


    angry if she messed up something or made any noise.


    So she could only stand and wait.


    After waiting for more than ten minutes, Meredith''s hands were already sore. Derek finished reading


    the document in his hand. He looked up at her and said, "It turned cold. Go and change another one."


    The man spoke lightly, not noticing anything wrong with his words.

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    "It was only a few minutes. No big deal." Meredith could not help but retort.


    It was a pity that the valuable fruits ofbor would be dumped like this. Moreover, those raw materials


    were also very expensive. If she wasted them, she would feel rather uneasy.


    "Who''s the boss, you or me?" Derek frowned and looked at her, "If you don''t want to do it, you can


    leave."


    Meredith had no choice but to do it again. Derek had always threatened her with his status of the boss,


    but she really couldn''t refute it.


    "Got it."


    Since he had said so, that was all she could do.


    Thinking about it, Meredith went out and worked hard on the rework. What she didn''t expect was that


    the second time, Derek said that too much sugar had affected the taste.


    Meredith held back her anger and continued.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Theyers of the taste are not distinguished enough. Do it again."


    Although she had remade the coffee several times, Derek was still not satisfied with her coffee. Until


    thest time she made it, Meredith tasted the coffee which was said to be unqualified. It turned out that


    it was already very delicious...


    It was obvious that Derek was deliberately torturing her.


    Thinking about it, Derek had been trying to get her out of here since she first came here, and even now,


    he was still earnestly practicing what he preached, trying hard to make things difficult for her. He was


    really frivolous.


    With this thought, Meredith was not worried and anxious anymore. She did it in a slow and unhurried


    way. Just let Derek wait. Anyway, he would not be satisfied in any case.


    After a while, Damian came back.


    He frowned when he saw a row of coffee cups next to the coffee machine, "What''s going on?"


    Meredith hurriedly stepped aside to make room for him, "Mr. Xavier was always not satisfied with my


    coffee. I think you should take over."


    Damian looked at the coffee she was making. He was so used to the job that he could tell at a nce


    that it was not different from what he usually made.


    However, since the boss didn''t like it, there was no other way. After thinking about it, Damian took over


    the work. He gave Meredith an address and send her to buy things there. In that way, without seeing


    her, Derek wouldn''t be unhappy.


    "It seems that coffee beans are not enough. Could you go and buy some for me?"


    Meredith nodded and went out. On the way, she realized that there were several blisters on her fingers,


    but she had no idea when she got scalded.


    Perhaps it was because she was so serious about the temperature of the water, so she didn''t notice


    the water sshing and didn''t feel the pain.


    Now that she was free, she felt that it hurt a little.


    Meredith sucked her finger in her mouth, then took a taxi to the coffee shop that Damian mentioned.


    After Damian got the coffee ready, he served it to Derek''s office.


    Seeing that it was him, Derek only looked up slightly, "Where''s that woman?"


    Damian didn''t know what the boss was thinking at the moment, so he could only answer honestly, "I


    asked her to buy something."


    Derek frowned slightly, "Next time, do not act on your own."


    Damian nodded but couldn''t help but mutter to himself in the heart. He couldn''t figure out his boss''s


    thought. His boss was not satisfied with the coffee Meredith made for him. But now, when she had


    been driven away, he didn''t seem to be very happy, either.


    However, Derek''s mind was not something that ordinary people could understand. As a result, Damian


    chose to shut up.


    It was when Derek picked up the cup that he noticed that there was a note under it. He frowned and


    nced at it briefly.


    "I''m sorry about what happened at the nightclubst time. I misunderstood you that I thought it was you


    that spread that news at my formerpany. Now I realize that I have made a mistake. I''m truly sorry."


    Meredith just wrote a few sentencespactly. Her handwriting was very beautiful with a unique style


    that was different from what Derek imagined.


    He had always thought that a woman like Meredith would not listen to the lectures carefully in ss and


    had no real skills. He had never expected that her handwriting was so well. It seemed that she was not


    as ignorant and ipetent as he thought.


    Moreover, its content aroused his curiosity.


    "Where did she go?" Derek took the note and suddenly felt the urge to ask her about those words''


    meaning.


    "She is in the coffee shop in the west of the city." Damian answered as it was.


    "Once shees back, tell her toe to me." Derek gave the order faintly.


    Damian went out without a single word.


    When Meredith arrived at her destination, she didn''t expect that the coffee beans were out of stock. To


    get them, she had to wait until they were transferred from another branch.


    Since she had nothing to do and had the risk of being embarrassed by Derek when she went back,


    Meredith chose to sit aside and wait.


    Just as she was waiting boringly, suddenly, someone came over and patted her on the shoulder.


    Meredith turned around and found that it was Parker.


    Upon seeing him, she gave a rare smile.


    Parker looked her up and down, "Why did you suddenly ask for resignation? What was the matter? Did


    someone else bully you in thepany?"


    After that day, Parker thought about going to Meredith again, but to his surprise, he only got the news


    that she had left.


    However, luckily, when he came here for afternoon tea, he met Meredith unexpectedly.


    "No, um... I am now working for anotherpany." Meredith didn''t say anything about her present work


    in the Xavier Group.


    "Oh? How is it? Can you adapt yourself to the job? If you have trouble, tell me. I will do whatever I can


    to help you."


    Meredith shook her head and felt a faint warmth in her heart, "It''s good. Nothing difficult."


    Although Parker offered to help, Meredith did not like to trouble others.


    Parker nced at her and felt that she didn''t seem as happy as she said. As his gaze sweeping, he


    identally noticed Meredith''s fingers.


    There were a few red blisters on her long, fair fingers, and it seemed that they hadn''t been treated


    since they were scalded.


    "What''s wrong with your fingers?" Parker frowned.


    "It''s okay. I was just sshed by hot water. They''ll be fine in a few days." It was only then that Meredith


    remembered this, but she didn''t really care about this little injury.


    When she was in prison, what she had suffered was much worse than this, so she looked indifferent


    about the blisters.


    "Are you still a normal woman? You don''t even care since you have hurt. It is said that a woman''s


    hands are as important as her face, and you should take care of them, right?" Parker looked at


    Meredith''s nonchnt expression and suddenly felt a little distressed in his heart.


    Wasn''t it normal for a girl to be coquettish and express her pain once she got injured?


    Why did Meredith seem to be used to it? Was it because she knew that no one would care about her


    words, so she pretended the indifference deliberately?


    "Give me your hand. Let me take a look." Parker wanted to hold her hand. Meredith wanted to escape


    but didn''t manage it.


    Parker caught her hand and Meredith felt the warmth in his sp which made her blush.


    She intended to pull her hand back but didn''t make it, because Parker as a man was much stronger


    than her.


    Parker took a closer look at her hand and realized that not only was it scalded, but Meredith''s palm


    actually had a thickyer of calluses. Besides, there were many scars on her fingers, which were quite


    obvious on her fair skin, destroying the original beauty.


    His eyes dimmed, a mixture of emotions spreading over his face, "I''ll get you some ointment."


    "There''s no need. It''s really not that serious." Seeing that he had really made up his mind, Meredith


    stopped him in a hurry. She was somewhat embarrassed by the sudden concern.


    "Meredith, have you been suffering a lot? You have a lot of wounds on your hands." Parker looked


    seriously into her eyes and asked.


    The man''s eyes showed his concern and enthusiasm, and there was no trace of discrimination or


    disdain. Meredith''s face was burning in an instant.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    Meredith shook her head and smiled, but refused to say anything.


    That memory was too terrible. At this moment, she didn''t want to bring out the dark times, let alone...


    Parker would hate her if he knew that she had been in prison, right?


    Meredith lowered her head. Parker was the first outsider to show his kindness. She didn''t want him to


    hate her. Even if he might hate herter, she wanted it to be aste as possible.


    Seeing that Meredith did not speak, Parker could not ask any more questions. At this time, the staff of


    the cafe came back with two full boxes in his hands.


    "Our store is going to be renovated recently, so please bring back your things for this period."


    Meredith took a look at them. They were quite heavy, so she was a little embarrassed, but the man had


    already left.


    "Wait for me here for a while. I''ll buy you a tube of ointment, and then I''ll send you back." Parker knew


    what she was thinking so he offered help.


    "It may bother you too much. I might as well..."


    Meredith was embarrassed to disturb Parker like this, but he pressed her down on the seat regardless


    of what she said. "If you still treat me as a friend, be obedient."


    Meredith was stunned by the word "friend." Only then did Parker stand up with satisfaction and go out


    to look for a pharmacy store.


    Meredith sat in the distance, feeling a little happy and mncholy in her heart. Friend...


    After she went to prison, those who had said that they were good friends for the rest of their lives


    avoided her, and she had long disbelieved the so-called friendship.


    But Parker showed up and said they were friends?


    Meredith shook her head. It was just because he didn''t know about her past. If he did, he might change


    his mind.


    ...


    Not far away, Derek got out of the car. He wanted to drive out to rx, but somehow, he drove here.


    The man looked around casually and soon saw Meredith sitting by the window, not knowing what she


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    was thinking.


    The warmth of the afternoon sun made Meredith look softer as if she had been gilded with brilliant gold.


    Derek''s sullen face rxed a little. Just as he was about to walk toward her, he suddenly saw a figure


    that he did not like appearing in front of him.


    With a bag in his hand, Parker hurried into the cafe and sat down in front of Meredith. They even had a


    dating here with an unspoken consensus.


    Derek held the car keys in his hand even tighter and narrowed his eyes.


    Meredith was shocked by Parker''s exaggeration. Maybe he was fooled by the staff in the pharmacy. He


    bought seven or eight kinds of ointments and put them in front of her. It was very dazzling.


    "You really don''t need to buy too many..." Meredith was a little embarrassed.


    Last time, it was Parker who helped her. This time, he still paid for her medicine.


    "Can''t you just think I''m taking care of beautiful things? It''s such a pity to leave scars on such a


    beautiful hand." As Parker spoke, he wanted to grab Meredith''s hand.


    But just as he was about to touch it, a cold voice suddenly interrupted him.


    "Mr. Hill, unfortunately, we meet again."


    Derek had been looking coldly as a bystander, but when he saw that these two people were going too


    far, and they were so close in broad daylight, he couldn''t help but interrupt them.


    "Mr. Xavier? Why are you here?" Parker heard Derek''s voice and frowned.


    He hadn''t forgotten about Derek bumping into his car for no reasonst time.


    Although Derek was a man of influence in J City, he really didn''t like his reckless character.


    "It''s just a coincidence." Derek replied tly. His eyes shifted to Meredith, who was sitting by the side


    without saying a word. She lowered her head and said nothing.


    But as she didn''t anything, Derek became even angrier.


    "You are not hired toe out and date with someone during office hours with your sry."


    Meredith felt awkward when she heard his words.


    She had just run into Parker by chance, and it was rather misleading of Derek to say so.


    "Sorry, I''ll be right back." Meredith got up and was about to pick up the two boxes.


    Right now, she didn''t want to get involved in their rtionship at all. She just wanted to hide as far


    away as possible.


    "Wait, Meredith, do you work for the Xavier Group?" Parker was a little surprised.


    Xavier Group was famous for its strict recruitment in J City. And It was not the recruitment season at all.


    How did she get the offer?


    But what was even more strange was that a busy man like Derek would take the initiative to teach a


    junior employee a lesson.


    Did they actually know each other?


    "It''s a long story. I''ll go first." Meredith nodded and was about to leave with her things.


    "I''ll help you." Parker walked over and grabbed the things. "Mr. Xavier, I''ll send your junior employee.


    Are you okay? It''s inconvenient for a little girl to carry such heavy things."


    Derek''s indifferent gaze swept over them.


    Speaking of Parker, Derek had heard of him. He heard that Parker was ady-killer. Now, was he trying


    to court Meredith in this way?


    Derek''s face darkened. "Since Mr. Hill insists on doing so, I can''t stop him. Then please help me deliver


    the things to mypany. And you..."


    Derek nced at Meredith. "I''ll give you a ride to thepany."


    Parker felt that he had fallen into a trap. What did Derek mean by that? He carried the things to the


    Xavier Group and didn''t let Meredith sit in the same car with him.


    He was not an employee of the Xaviers, and Derek''s temper was too strange.


    "Mr. Xavier is too polite. I''m sure you have something to do when youe out during work time. I''ll


    just send Meredith and her things back."


    "It doesn''t matter. I still have some time to send her back to thepany. After all, she''s my employee.


    It''s not good to trouble Mr. Hill."


    After that, Derek stopped wasting his time and got into the car. Meredith hesitated for a moment and


    whispered to Parker, "I''m sorry. He has such a bad temper. I can take the things back myself."


    Parker, who had been angered by Derek''s words, saw that she was in a difficult position and then


    dissipated most of his anger. "Forget it, I don''t care about it and I''ll help you to the end. But he doesn''t


    look like he''s in charge of his subordinates. He looks like he''s in charge of his wife. Shouldn''t he..."


    Parker had a hunch that something was wrong. Derek''s attitude was too subtle. Why would he be so


    serious for a female employee?


    "Of course not!" Meredith was startled and immediately waved her hand in denial. "You think too much.


    It''s impossible."


    Parker didn''t say anything more. Meredith quickly got into Derek''s car. Her small face was still pale due


    to the shock.


    Parker should have been joking just now, but she was almost frightened to death.


    If others knew that she was now a Young Madam in the Xaviers with an undeserved reputation,


    wouldn''t Derek kill her?

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    "What? Is it so hard for you to be separated from that person?"


    Looking at Meredith who looked anxious, Derek slightly opened his mouth and said sarcastically.


    "Of course not." Meredith frowned. Why did Derek always like to distort things like this?


    She was only frightened by Parker''s words. If the news of her marriage to Derek got out, she would


    inevitably be suspected by the Xaviers, and people in the Xaviers would think that she did that


    intentionally. She could not bear the consequences.


    "No is the best."


    Derek ignored her and mmed on the gas pedal. Meredith, who had been preupied, forgot to


    fasten her seat belt and she was almost knocked into the windshield by the sudden inertia.


    She nced at the expressionless Derek. This man was obviously taking revenge on her. Did he hate


    her so much?


    Meredith felt a little annoyed and quickly buckled up. "I just happened to meet him when I was picking


    up something today. It''s not what you think."


    Derek didn''t say anything. But his eyes clearly showed that he didn''t believe her.


    "Damian asked me to buy something, and it took so long because people in the store said that it was


    unavable back then and told me to wait. Hence, I met Parker who was going to have afternoon tea.


    And as you can see, this is why I take so many things now because they asked me to take those things


    at once. If you don''t believe it, you can ask the clerk."


    Meredith finished in one breath, and she didn''t want to exin more. She even felt that what she had


    just said was unnecessary.


    "Do you need to hold your hands to take things? The lie shall be logical."


    Meredith nced at him. Why did this man have to change it into that kind of sexual thing between


    men and women?


    "That''s because I was in a hurry to make you some coffee and I got boiled and had a few blisters. He


    bought some medicine and said he wanted to help me apply it."


    Derek nced at Meredith''s fingers which were exposed outside. There were several red blisters on


    her fingers. Her fingers originally looked like scallions, but now they looked shocking.


    "Then you are really stupid. You can have your hands boiled by making coffee."


    Meredith became speechless and didn''t want to talk more because of him. She turned her head and


    looked out the window. She thought what she said just now was just a waste of time and she just


    yed her guitar to an ox.


    Derek was clearly looking for a reason to make things difficult for her, so how could he listen to her


    exnation?


    ...


    Soon, the car stopped below the building of the Xavier Group.


    "You go up first," Derek ordered coldly.


    "Fine." How did Meredith dare to disobey? She looked at Parker who was following behind them and


    felt a little sorry.


    "Still stay here?" Derek sensed her hesitation and said coldly.


    Meredith recognized the anger in his words and had to go upstairs obediently.


    Only then did Derek slowly get out of the car and take a look at Parker, who was following behind, with


    an unfriendly expression. "Thank you, Mr. He."


    Parker inexplicably became a follower, and he never saw Meredith again. He was a little annoyed. Bur


    he still came over on purpose and squeezed out a fake smile. "Mr. Xavier, I never knew that you had to


    take care of the private life of your employees."


    Private life?


    So, they even wanted to develop rtionships?


    Derek also smiled, but his eyes were cold. "Since it''s office time, naturally we can''t talk about the so-


    called emotions. Besides, how can Mr. Hill be sure that you are not being sentimental?"


    Parker''s eyes shed with anger. "Then, I''ll wait until she gets off work. After all, a regrpany like


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Xavier Group won''t ask employees to keep working 24 hours a day."


    Derek looked at the smile on his face and thought it was an eyesore. "Whatever you do."


    After that, he left directly. At this time, a few security guards came over and took out the things that


    were in the trunk.


    After everyone left, Parker smashed the steering wheel in front of him.


    This damn Derek.


    ...


    Meredith went back to the top floor and was about to pack up the things. After a while, Derek came up.


    She watched the man get closer and closer and she was about to dodge when a tube of ointment was


    thrown in front of her suddenly. "Here, take it and apply it."


    Meredith nced at it. It was a tube of scald ointment. Derek actually bought her medicine. Did pigs


    fly?


    "I don''t want people to say that Xavier Group can''t afford medicine and abuse its employees." Derek


    looked at Meredith''s hesitant expression and felt a little irritated.


    When she took Parker''s things, he didn''t see her declining with all kinds of excuses like this.


    "I see, then... Thank you." Meredith didn''t understand what Derek was thinking, so she simply stopped


    thinking about it.


    Anyway, she was scalded because of him. There was nothing wrong with her to take this.


    Thinking in this way, Meredith calmly unscrewed the cap of the ointment and applied it to her hand.


    Derek''s originally slightly-furrowed brows rxed. "You don''t have to clean the cupboard these days.


    You can wait until your hands are recovered."


    After that, the man left.


    Meredith was in a daze. Now her job was to clean and tidy up. What did Derek mean by asking her not


    to do it voluntarily?


    Was it because she was hurt?


    Would this man be so kind?


    The next few days were peaceful.


    Derek had never bothered Meredith again. Besides packing, she was at ease to apany him go to


    and get off work every day.


    Soon, it was the weekend.


    Upon waking up in the morning, Meredith received a call from Parker.


    "It''s a nice day. Let''s go out together? I have two tickets for the concert. How about we go out together?


    It''s pretty hard to get them."


    Since Derek didn''t allow him to do anything with his staff during work hours, he could ask Meredith to


    go out at weekend. After all, he couldn''t decide what his staff did at the weekend, could he?


    "Ah?" Meredith was a little surprised that Parker would take the initiative to invite her out.


    Such a person would be friends with her. This made her feel unreal.


    "Sorry aboutst time, I..."


    Meredith remembered thatst time Derek deliberately embarrassed Parker. And she was about to


    apologize when the man in the bathroom came out.


    "Bang!" Hearing what she said, Derek''s eyes dimmed and he mmed the door on purpose with a loud


    sound.


    "What''s wrong? It''s so loud."


    Meredith looked back and saw the man''s gloomy face. Did he hear everything?


    "No... Nothing..." Meredith was a little perplexed. "Well, I can''t appreciate any elegant art like concerts.


    I''m afraid I''ll disturb your interest. You''d better invite someone else."


    After that, Meredith hung up the phone in a hurry.


    Derek didn''t even look at her and he said, "Go get a towel."


    The man had just finished bathing and was wearing only a loose white bathrobe. Drops of water


    dripped down from his hair. They slid down the exposed strong muscle on his chest and went into a


    ce where her eyes could not see. It was bing more and more fascinating.


    This man, even with a few random movements, could exude a fatal attraction. Meredith nced at him


    and quickly lowered her head.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Not daring to look around, Meredith quickly went to the bathroom to fetch a towel for Derek.


    Having a book in hand, Derek did not take it, which made Meredith a little embarrassed.


    "Dry my hair with the towel." Derek said impatiently when he saw that she had stood still for a long


    time.


    "Oh, okay." Meredith was a little surprised. Since Derek disliked her so much, it was so abnormal that


    he asked her to help dry his hair.


    But now that Derek had asked this, she could only do as what he required.


    He sat by the bed, so Meredith had to take off her shoes and crawl to the bed  and then she kneeled


    down behind him and dried his wet ck hair.


    Meredith stroked the man''s wet hair with the towel gently and carefully. Because Derek was taller than


    her, she needed to keep her upper part straight all the time.


    But to her embarrassment, her breasts would easily rub against the man''s back if she kept her upper


    part straight. If that happened, Derek would definitely ridicule her. Thinking about this, Meredith found it


    pretty hard to dry his hair.


    And with the air conditioning on in the room, Meredith was already sweating.


    Noticing that the force she applied was getting weaker and weaker, Derek frowned and closed the


    book. Although she was struggling to maintain a safe distance from his body, he still identally


    touched Meredith''s breasts when he leaned back a little.


    The softness and plumpness he felt made his eyes change immediately.


    Meredith was startled. She had tried hard to avoid things like that and now was scared to death to see


    what was happening. "Well, I didn''t do it on purpose!"


    Derek''s desire was extinguished by her startled expression.


    "Are you very afraid of me?"


    He was the one who touched her identally just now. How did Meredith freak out like this?


    Meredith didn''t know what to say. It was quite strange that Derek didn''t charge her with seducing him.


    Maybe it was because he was probably in a good mood today.


    "I think your hair is dry. Could I stop it?"


    Meredith asked cautiously. She would rather go out to clear tables and sweep the floor than have such


    close contact with Derek in the room.


    She was exhausted more psychologically than physically.


    "Okay." It was rare for Derek not to make things difficult for her, so Meredith was relieved. Seeing that


    the man was going to change his clothes, she was about to go out to leave him alone.


    "Where are you going?" Derek still remembered what she said on the phone.


    It must be Parker who wanted to ask her out again.


    "Well, isn''t there a party at home today? Should I go out to stay away from the guests?"


    Meredith did not think about Parker. She thought that it would be better for her to stay away from the


    party that was going to be held today in the Xaviers to celebrate Derek''s recovery from hisa. Many


    celebrities and nobles men would be present. With an embarrassing identity, she did not want to be


    part of the party.


    "You do not have to do so. Stay at home. I have something for you to do." Derek frowned and then


    unbuttoned his bathrobe and walked to the closet just in front of Meredith.


    Before Meredith could say anything, she was startled by Derek''s unexpected action of undressing.


    The man had sturdy and defined muscr, straight and slender legs, and two clear Apollo''s Belt lines.


    These made her blush a little.


    Although she had seen his body before, Derek had done more workouts over the past month, and he


    looked much hotter than when he was lying in bed, attracting women''s attention all the time.


    Derek was in a much better mood when he saw Meredith lowered her head with her blushed face and


    red delicate earlobes.


    "Anyway, you can''t leave the Xaviers today, remember?"


    He could not let Meredith go out to meet Parker definitely.


    "Got it." Meredith nodded.


    Although she did not understand why Derek insisted that she should stay in the Xaviers, she could not


    be against him since he had required it.


    ...


    the Xaviers party was held in the evening. Although it was said to be a small banquet, many people


    would attend actually.


    After all, the Xaviers was the most powerful family in J City, and the party was held for its sessor.


    Therefore, a lot of people came as long as they could make it here, including those who had not been


    invited but wanted to know the Xaviers.


    Such an asion certainly had nothing to do with Meredith.


    Standing on the second floor, she watched the gentlemen, thedies, and the celebrities who were


    talking and drinking in the open-air venue. And Derek was certainly surrounded by everyone.


    Derek was dressed in a ck suit tonight. His perfect figure was entuated by the tailored costumes.


    There was not much expression on his face, which endowed him an air of detachment. But it was this


    detachment that added a bit of mystery to him.


    Meredith thought that many girls would get a crush on such a mysterious and powerful man.


    As expected, she saw the people who came to the banquet did not hold back for long and rushed over


    to him.


    "Mr. Xavier, this is my youngest daughter. She has just returned from studying abroad. I heard that you


    have just recovered, so we came all the way to see you."


    "Mr. Xavier, this is my sister..."


    "Mr. Xavier..."


    Meredith looked at the bustling scene indifferently and took a sip of the drink in her hand.


    Because of the party, she had her own fun too. She found the food prepared by the Xaviers was quite


    delicious.


    Vivian was busy with her work. When she looked up, she found Meredith was standing in the dark.


    Because Meredith was standing in a corner on the second floor, Vivian couldn''t see her expression


    clearly.


    She thought Meredith must feel sick with jealousy now.


    Thinking this, a smug look appeared on Vivian''s face, and she found an opportunity to go upstairs.


    "How is it? You should be upset to see the Young Master who is being surrounded by so manydies."


    ncing at the smug look on the her face, Meredith was speechless.


    How could Vivian see that she was upset? She already knew it.


    She was not so naive as to think that Derek would be loyal to her and never have another woman


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    again because of a marriage certificate.


    For a man like him, marriage meant all kinds of benefits. Meredith would not have any fantasy about


    their marriage.


    "Of course not. I don''t dream about things that would never happen."


    "You, on the other hand, you think you canpare yourself to these girls whoe from illustrious


    families and receive the best education? Don''t bother, even if he divorces me, you will not be the next


    person to marry him."


    Meredith nced at her. She wouldn''t give Vivian any respect since she always sneered at her.


    Finishing her words, Meredith picked up the dessert in front of her and began to eat it leisurely, making


    Vivian could not see the slightest hint of jealousy in her.


    Seeing that Meredith did not care at all, Vivian sulked and could not find an outlet for her anger.


    At this moment, a bustling sound came from outside the door. Meredith looked over and saw a few


    people she did not know appear. Seeing this, Derek became gloomy and serious.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    There came a married couple. Meredith watched them walk in, both of them smiling. But their smiles


    seemed somewhat sinister to her.


    "Uncle, aunt." Derek was surprised for a moment and he walked towards them politely.


    Meredith frowned. She had been in the Xaviers for some time and had never seen these people before.


    They came back at this moment, and it didn''t seem like anything good was going to happen.


    "Derek, you''re finally awake." Hans patted Derek on the shoulder.


    Derek looked at the man in front of him and quietly avoided his hand.


    Hans was only Derek''s second uncle in name. He was not the brother of Derek''s father, but the son of


    Old Master''s brother.


    Back then, the property of the Xaviers was divided in an unsatisfactory way. Mr. Xavier left home alone


    with a sum of money and established the Xavier Group from scratch, while his good-for-nothing


    brothers squandered the fortune left in the Xaviers.


    As a result, these people hade here again, attempting to take a share of the Xavier Group.


    Originally, Mr. Xavier would have given all the Xavier Group''s existing assets to Derek and wouldn''t


    have shared them with outsiders. But because of Derek''s ident, Old Master was physically and


    mentally exhausted, and he was not in the mood to manage the overseas business of the Xavier


    Group, which gave Hans the opportunity to take advantage of it.


    Derek wanted to find an opportunity to take back those overseas businesses, but he didn''t expect


    these people to take the initiative toe here.


    "Derek, why don''t you contact me and your Second Aunt when you wake up? Although we are dealing


    with our family''s business abroad, we can''t miss your waking up, which is a big deal. Is it because you


    are guarding against us?"


    Hans was smiling with evil intent. In a few words, hebeled Derek as a person who was disrespectful


    to his elders.


    "How could it be?" Derek was unhappy but he didn''t show it at all. "I''m just afraid that my aunt and


    uncle will be exhausted froming back and forth."


    "Of course not. After all, we n to stay at home for a few days." Amber came closer, "Derek, you don''t


    want us to be here?"


    Meredith looked at them having a conversation from afar. Their voices were not loud and she could not


    hear them clearly. However, it did not look like a harmonious family reunion as she had imagined.


    It turned out that someone like Derek, who seemed to be omnipotent, would have this kind of trouble as


    well.


    Meredith looked at him quietly and did not speak. She could not help but think of those people in the


    Masons, and then she actually developed a rare empathy with Derek.


    Sometimes, the people who hurt you the most were not outsiders, but those who called themselves


    your family members.


    Derek was a little impatient with the two of them. Just as someone came to clink sses with him, he


    excused himself.


    Soon, a group of youngdies from eminent families surrounded him. Being ignored, the couple chose


    to refrain themselves even though embarrassment and jealousy shed across their faces.


    Meredith looked at them, feeling bored, and decided to go back to her room to sleep. At this time,


    Amber suddenly looked up at the second floor. She said in a voice that was not loud but clearly audible,


    "Derek, I heard that you were married. Where is your wife today?"


    When everyone present heard the news of Derek''s marriage, they stopped what they were doing and


    looked over curiously.


    Derek suddenly felt the coldness spreading around him. His marriage to Meredith was a secret of the


    Xaviers, and they should not have known about it.


    Could it be that someone had devulged this secret?


    Meredith was also shocked by the unexpected incident. She looked at Derek first.


    Would he think that she was the one who let out the secret?


    "Eh? Miss, you look a little unfamiliar. You don''t look like a servant of the family. Are you my nephew''s


    wife who I have never met before?"


    Amber was satisfied with the silence of the scene. Derek had the headquarters of the Xavier Group in


    his hands. If he united with a powerful family by marriage, it would be even harder to get benefits from


    him.


    Therefore, this was a rare opportunity. A privileged man like Derek got a wife who had been in prison,


    which would be a stain that he would never be able to erase in his life.


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    Meredith bit her lower lip. Although Amber pretended to be kind and warm-hearted, Meredith could see


    through this kind of person. ra''s acting skills were much better than Amber''s.


    "Why don''t you talk? Did you have a fight with Derek? It''s okay. Your Second Aunt will take


    responsibility and defend you. I won''t let anyone bully you."


    After Amber said those words, everyone''s eyes focused on Meredith.


    Derek also looked at her with his cold, emotionless gaze.


    Meredith wore a faint smile, then tilted her head and looked at Amber innocently. "I''m sorry. I think


    you''ve mistaken me for someone else. I''m not the wife of your nephew. I''m just a servant."


    When Meredith spoke, her expression was calm and her voice did not tremble at all. It was impossible


    to tell whether what she said was true or not.


    "Oh, what''s going on with you?" Amber dared to make such a fuss in front of everyone, so she must


    have evidence.


    She had thought that Meredith would be filled with anger and jealousy seeing Derek talking with the


    with each other.


    But nobody would have thought that this young girl would not fall for this trick no matter what.


    "What grievances do you have? If you don''t say it now, no one will help you in the future."


    Meredith felt her urge tough bing stronger when she heard this. It sounded so nice, but if she


    really said the truth and annoyed the Xaviers, her Second Aunt, who really treated her like a fool, would


    never show up to defend her.


    "Madam, I don''t have any grievances. There is nock of food, clothing or sry when I am working for


    the Xaviers. You, on the other hand, have always wanted to convince people that our Young Master is


    married. This is too strange. I don''t dare to talk nonsense like you. I know who I am."


    After Meredith finished speaking, everyone in the room looked at Amber strangely. Everyone knew that


    this was a good time for Derek to get to know his future wife, but this Second Aunt was trying so hard


    to find an excuse to cause trouble. Her evil intentions could be easily figured out.


    "You!" Amber''s plot was spoiled by Meredith who had just said a few words. Just as she was about to


    get angry, Hans pulled her away. "Okay, just admit that you found the wrong person."


    With that said, Hans looked in Derek''s direction again. This time, he escaped. "Nevertheless, Derek, if


    something good happens, you must tell us."


    Derek nodded politely and looked at the second floor, where Meredith had already left.


    Derek was relieved that she did not embarrass him by revealing her identity in front of everyone, but he


    was also slightly unhappy.


    She knew who she was...


    Was that woman saying this from the bottom of her heart, or...


    Derek didn''t have time to think too much about Meredith. Soon, the people around came near him


    again, as if that unhappy incident didn''t happen.


    Since Derek was single, he was still the man that countless women scrambled for in J City.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    When the banquet ended, Derek sent the guests out one by one.


    Back in the room, Meredith was staring at theputer. She frowned and looked worried. She didn''t


    even notice that Derek had returned. It seemed that she was immersed in her own world.


    Derek walked over and nced at herputer screen, which contained some information about


    overturning convictions. However, before he could see it clearly, Meredith sensed someone was


    Looking back, she saw that it was Derek. She stood up and said. "I want to look up some information."


    Derek answered indifferently without saying anything.


    Meredith saw that he seemed to be in a good mood, so she asked tentatively. "Well, I didn''t tell them


    about that matter. I don''t know how they got the news."


    Although Derek''s Second Uncle and Second Aunt''s words did not cause any serious consequences,


    Meredith didn''t want to get med for anything.


    "I know." Derek frowned when he saw that she was in a hurry to exin.


    Hans and his wife had been abroad for a while, and Meredith, as an outsider, couldn''t possibly know


    about the things of the Xaviers, so he never doubted her at all.


    However, it seemed that she was afraid of being wronged by him and it made him very unhappy. In her


    eyes, was he a person who couldn''t tell right from wrong?


    "That''s good, that''s good." Meredith nodded in relief. However, as she was about to leave, Derek


    stopped her.


    "You handled this well, not as stupid as I thought."


    Meredith''s lips twitched when she heard this, and she really wanted to beat him! He could have praised


    her for her cleverness to make her happy, but he did the opposite to annoy her.


    She wasn''t even a little bit happy with that.


    "Of course. I always have a quick mind." Meredith raised her head a little proudly and she was rarely


    not so prim in front of Derek.


    Derek looked into her bright eyes, thinking that it was the first time he saw Meredith acting like this in


    front of him. She was not as reserved as usual but was more lively, just as a young girl of her age.


    Looking at the girl''s face in a daze for a moment, Derek realized something and his face suddenly


    turned cold again. "Are you not ashamed to brag?"


    After that, he turned around and went into the bathroom.


    Meredith looked at his back, feeling helpless and speechless. Derek''s face really changed so fast.


    Could it be that he felt offended because she was joking when she spoke just now?


    Thinking of this, Meredith felt down, ruled her face, and warned herself in her heart that she should


    never becent again, lest Derek was unhappy.


    In the bathroom, dripping water slowly slid down Derek''s sturdy body. Looking at the white tiles in front


    of him, the man frowned.


    It was not a good sign that he would flip because of Meredith''s smile and he hadn''t been that for a long


    time.


    In the mist, Derek''s dark eyes still sparkled with mixed feelings.


    ...


    The next morning, Meredith got up early.


    As soon as she went downstairs, she saw that Hans and Amber, who had messed up yesterday, were


    both there.


    Who would have thought that they would actually stay shamelessly?


    Seeing Meredith, Amber''s heart was filled with anger. If she had acted as what she should do


    yesterday, Derek would definitely have lost his face.


    Now, Derek was safe and sound. Instead, they were regarded as bad guys, which was indeed going for


    wool anding home worn.


    "Hehe, isn''t she a servant of the family? Why did she get to the second floor, where the master lives?"


    Since no one else was around, there was no need for the couple to pretend to be good people, and


    they said in a really sarcastic tone.


    Meredith pretended not to hear it. It seemed that the two did not get along well with Derek and they


    weren''t nice to her, so she did not want to provoke him.


    "Can you not hear me when I''m talking to you?" When Amber found that she was ignored, she became


    even angrier. She rushed over. "It seems that no one has told you about the rules of the Xaviers, so


    today I will let you know how to talk to your master..."


    As she spoke, she waved her arm and was about to p her. Meredith quickly took a step back and


    avoided it.


    However, she didn''t expect Amber to be relentless. Seeing that she didn''t p Meredith, she wanted to


    Meredith had already retreated to the wall, so there was nowhere for her to hide. Just as she was about


    to be pped, Zhou''s hand was suddenly held in a strange position in mid-air.


    Derek looked at Amber with indifference, and he pinched her wrist so hard as if he was crushing her


    bones.


    "Ah! It hurts!" As Amber looked at Derek, she was frightened by the man''s cold, malevolent eyes.


    "Derek? Why do you get up? Let go of your hand. It hurts!"


    "If I don''t get up, I might miss the show" Derek wasn''t willing to let go. Only when he nced at


    Meredith did he let Amber go.


    Looking at Derek, who was cold, Amber was so frightened that she stopped. It was true that the man in


    front of her was her niece, but he was just like an emperor, who looked scronfully at the whole world,


    looked down on her as if she was just an ant...


    After a while, Hans realized what had happened, so he angrily tried to pull Amber away. "Derek, what


    do you mean? Are you going to do something to your aunt for that woman?"


    Meredith was not standing far away, in an awkward situation, and she didn''t know whether she should


    stay or leave. She was so embarrassed that she couldn''t help but curl her lips when she heard him say


    this.


    "What did you mean by ''That woman''? Is she much more humble than anyone else and does she


    deserve to be pped for not doing anything in the morning?"


    Hearing this, Derek smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "No matter what, in the Xaviers,


    it''s not up to you, my dear uncle and aunt, to give her a lesson. Even if she''s wrong, only I can punish


    her."


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "You! Very Well. You are running wild now, and treating us like dirt, aren''t you?"


    Since Hans lost his face, he pointed to Derek for a long time uttering the word "You". When it was in the


    chaos, there was a sound from the upstairs, which is made by the stick of the Old Master when it was


    hit on the floor. "It was still early in the morning, what are you doing?"


    Recently, the weather was changeable, and the Old Master was not feeling well, so he didn''t show up.


    When Derek saw him, he let go of his hand. Then, he took out a handkerchief from the pocket inside,


    and he wiped his hand, which he had used to grab her, carefully.


    However, the casual behavior made Amber so angry that she even felt breathless. "Uncle, look at


    Derek. I was just trying to teach that arrogant little girl a lesson. He pinched my wrist so hard that it


    turns red. It still hurts now. At least he calls me aunt. Should he treat his elders like that?"


    Meredith was involved in it helplessly, so she felt more disgusted about Amber. The Old Master looked


    a little serious. He nced at her and then said sternly. "I think you treat me as a sad old fool."

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    The old master slowly walked down the stairs, his pace slow, but with an oppressing aura that no one


    dared to question.


    Amber felt guilty for no reason.


    The old master nced at them. "There are some things that I don''t want to say. But it doesn''t mean I


    don''t know. You should behave yourselves."


    "I don''t want anything about Meredith and the Xaviers to be revealed. If someone has the guts, have a


    try."


    After a few words, the huge dining hall was silent.


    Meredith lowered her head, trying to minimize her presence.


    "So, is she really Derek''s wife?" Amber asked in a hurry.


    The old master did not say a word but only gave her a cold look. Then Hans quickly pulled her back,


    "We know. We won''t talk about this matter."


    The old master nodded and took a look at Meredith, "You did a good job yesterday. Remember to


    behave the same in the future."


    Meredith nodded. The atmosphere of the meal was particrly depressing.


    After dinner, the old master called Derek to the study alone.


    "I understand everything about yesterday. From now on, I''ll leave all thosepanies for you to


    manage."


    The old master shook his head. Originally, because of Derek''s ident, he changed his mind and


    wanted to be close to his rtives.


    But yesterday''s events clearly reminded him that those people just wanted his property and were not


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    trustworthy at all.


    "Yes, I see." Derek nodded, his eyes expressionless.


    "By the way, what do you think of Meredith? You even stood up for her today. Aren''t you..."


    The old master tried to sound out his thought. Derek had always been cold and indifferent. Especially


    when it came to matters between women, he wouldn''t get involved.


    Just now, he was against Amber in public because of Meredith, which made the old master suspicious.


    "Just because she did me a favor yesterday, that''s all."


    Derek frowned slightly. Although that was the case, he just subconsciously stopped Amber. He didn''t


    realize it until he moved.


    It wasn''t like what he would do.


    "Well, that''s good. Derek, you can''t have any feelings for her. I left her here just to keep you safe and


    sound. A woman like that doesn''t deserve you."


    The old master said this and waved his hand. He was old, so he was tired at the moment.


    Derek nodded and went out, as if thinking of something.


    ...


    Meredith followed Derek to thepany as usual.


    However, all the way, Derek''s expression was unusually cold today. Although he usually had no


    expression, Meredith still felt that he was in a bad mood.


    So, the two of them didn''t say anything along the way. When they got to thepany, they went to do


    their own things.


    Meredith cleaned for a while on the top floor. After a while, Damian came over and asked her to help


    deliver the things.


    Meredith went downstairs with the documents, only to find that the usually orderly office had be a


    little restless.


    "Ava is here. She looks even prettier than on TV."


    "She seems to be filmingmercials for ourpany."


    "ording to the grapevine, the price she asked is only half of her usual endorsement price. The


    advertising department got a big bargain..."


    Meredith stood for a while. When she heard Ava''s name, she suddenly had a foreboding feeling.


    Especially when she knew that Ava had deliberately lowered the price toe here to take the


    endorsement, Meredith was more certain that Ava must havee here with no good intentions.


    Thinking about it, Meredith quickly handed the documents over to someone so as not to meet Ava and


    get upset, but it was toote when Meredith realized it.


    Meredith was about to leave when Ava came over and greeted her with a surprised smile. "Eh? Sister?


    Is it you? I didn''t recognize the wrong person, did I?"


    Ava was surrounded by a group of people. She stood not far away, quietly looking up and down at


    Meredith.


    When Ava saw that Meredith was much better off than she had imagined, a gleam of coldness shed


    in Ava''s eyes.


    Ava didn''t expect what Meredith said to be true. Meredith actually joined the Xavier Group.


    With her experience, there must have something to do with Derek for her to be in thispany. Could


    it be that the Xaviers''s young master really liked Meredith?


    Depressed, Ava still walked over enthusiastically. "Sister, why don''t you tell me that you''re working


    here? If I know, I can put in a good word for you."


    Tell her? To wait for her evil sister who pretended to be kind in public to mess up the job she finally


    found?


    Meredith was silent, but there was sarcasm in her eyes. Obviously, she didn''t want to pretend to be


    polite andpliant.


    When Ava saw this, she put her arm around Meredith, seemingly affectionate, but she pinched


    Meredith in a ce that no one could see.


    Ava''s nails were long and well cared, so they were exceptionally strong. At the moment, Meredith


    almost felt the nails with the crystal pierced into her flesh, and the pain was unbearable.


    She could not help but hiss softly, but she still swallowed the pain, not making much movement.


    Did Ava want Meredith to get angry at her in front of everyone and then put all the me on Meredith?


    When Ava first arrived at the Masons, she was like this. She pretended to be close to Meredith, but


    secretly pinched her.


    How could Meredith bear insult at that time? Meredith pushed her away, and then was regarded as


    jealous and malicious. So Wesley hated Meredith more and more.


    Meredith didn''t expect that after a few years, her sister''s measures were still as ruthless as ever.


    Ava looked at Meredith in surprise. Meredith didn''t even have the slightest overreaction. She pinched


    her hard. Meredith should be in pain, right?


    Meredith saw the disbelief in her eyes and pulled her arm back with a cold smile. "I still have work to


    do, so I won''t reminisce with you."


    Meredith had been imprisoned for three years. She really lived for nothing if she was tricked by such


    childish tricks again.


    Meredith pulled her arm back and left.


    Ava looked at her back as she left, and a sinister glint shed in her eyes. She did not expect that three


    yearster, her foolish and ignorant sister had also learned to be smarter.


    That''s why she could confuse a man like Derek?


    A sh of urgency shed in Ava''s eyes. Derek''s property and power was far beyond Leo''s.


    If Meredith could take advantage of this opportunity to seduce Derek, Meredith must retaliate against


    her...


    So Ava would never let Meredith seed.

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    Meredith left with her stuff. She didn''t look as calm as just now and even a little somber.


    She knew Ava too well. There must be a reason why Ava would lower herself toe here. The most


    likely possibility was that Ava wanted to beat her down again through spreading her stories in the


    Thinking of this, Meredith clenched her fingers while bit her lower lip with her teeth, not even noticing


    that her lip was bleeding.


    "Eh? Meredith? You are Ava''s elder sister, right? Why didn''t you even mention it?"


    Meredith was walking with all mncholy thoughts when a neer from the advertising department,


    Zhang, came out and greeted her warmly when he saw her.


    "Nothing to say." Meredith shook her head. She was not close to Ava and their rtionship could even


    be described as especially acrimonious. How could she take the initiative to mention her?


    Then Meredith thought of something. "By the way, has she signed a contract with ourpany?"


    Meredith still expected a pleasing answer. Zhang thought for a while and said, "Not yet, the


    determination of an endorser should be finally approved by Mr. Xavier but now it has been decided


    verbally. Why do you ask this?"


    "Nothing." Meredith shook her head and hurried back to the top floor.


    Derek was working. Meredith looked through the window at the man who was looking down at the


    document in his hand, feeling very anxious.


    "What would he think if I ask him not to determine Ava as the endorser for the Xavier Group?"


    But...


    Thinking of Ava''s dirty tricks, Meredith really didn''t want her to seed again. As Meredith hesitated


    outside, Derek seemed to notice something. He looked up and saw Meredith standing outside and


    thinking something with her head down.


    "Why are you creeping outside my window? What are you doing here?" The man said faintly.


    Meredith gritted her teeth and opened the door to walk in with great courage, "I... I have something to


    tell you."


    Derek raised his eyebrows, feeling quite strange. Meredith was usually silent and even like a mute in


    thepany. He barely heard her talking to anyone but now it seemed so strange that she would take


    the initiative to talk to him.


    "What''s the matter?" Derek yed with the pen in his hand and looked at her leisurely.


    "Could you please do me a favor?"


    Meredith finished her words in one breath and then looked at Derek without any confidence.


    Derek didn''t answer while tapping at the table. Meredith was a little nervous. At this time, Damian gave


    Meredith a wink and signaled her to continue.


    Damian knew Derek''s temper very well. He would just tell people to get out if he really didn''t want to


    hear anymore.


    "I hope Xavier Group doesn''t cooperate with Ava."


    Meredith had no confidence in her heart after her words and even felt a little worried that she would


    annoy Derek.


    "Ava? Your sister?"


    Derek frowned slightly, feeling a little bit confused.


    He had also heard about the affairs between the sisters.


    Everyone said that Ava was a cheerful, generous, and sensible person who was gentle and kind to


    everyone. She was very popr while the only person who didn''t like her was Meredith.


    Perhaps out of jealousy, Meredith framed this sister up in every possible way. She even pushed Ava to


    the ground in public. What an appalling action she did! Therefore, many people felt that she deserved it


    after she went to prison.


    "You''re right."


    "I don''t know what''s going on between you and her. However, it''s thepany''s official business to


    choose an endorser and it''s impossible for you to use it as a tool for revenge."


    Meredith''s eyes darkened and she could not help but mock herself. "How could I take the initiative to


    Although this was an expected answer, she was still so grudging.


    "Ava would not let me go. If she stays, she would definitely mess all my life up."


    "I''m begging you for this, just think it as a favor. As I once gave you help at the banquet yesterday, can


    you help me too? Then we''ll be even and we won''t owe each other anyone."


    Derek closed the book in front of him, showing a somewhat unpleasant look.


    "Meredith, you should make it clear that it''s already the Xaviers''s favor to get you out of the prison. You


    should have done what you did that day and it couldn''t be your negotiating power with me."


    "Also, I don''t know the personal grudge between you and your sister but you don''t have the right to be


    jealous that she''s better off than you are. It''s your fault that you''vee to this stage. It''s useless to


    resent others."


    Derek spoke indifferently but Meredith suddenly lost control of her emotions. "It''s all my fault and I


    deserve it? Do you know what happened? If you don''t, why should you teach me the lesson in such a


    superior way?"


    Meredith gasped violently with her clear eyes glistening with some tears.


    She rarely got angry over anything. The three-year experience in prison had ttened her edges.


    However, when she heard Derek speaking in such a natural tone, the grievance in her heart finally


    burst out uncontrobly.


    If it weren''t for Ava, she wouldn''t be like this. She would also be a normal girl, going to college, working,


    living an ordinary but stable life.


    Ava ruined her everything but everyone thought she deserved it.


    "Get out of here." When had he been yelled at face to face like this? Derek threw his book on the table


    with a loud snap. His eyes were filled with cold anger.


    Meredith knew that she hadpletely messed up this. She didn''t want to waste her breath anymore


    so she turned around and walked away directly.


    She shouldn''t havee here to make a fool of herself. How could someone like Derek help her?


    Looking at her handsome back view, Derek couldn''t calm himself down but became more and more


    irritated.


    After a while, the advertising department sent over the documents signed with Ava.


    Looking at Ava''s gorgeous signature, Derek''s mind was still filled with the scene when Meredith argued


    with him just now.


    The girl''s eyes were filled with grievances, grudge, and... despair.


    That look, too shocking, was as helpless as a drowning man in the deep sea, lingering in his mind.


    Derek''s pen tip paused in the signature column and finally, he stopped writing and threw the contract


    aside. "the Xavier Group doesn''t need an endorser now. This n is not approved."


    The minister of the advertising department was confused. "Boss, Ava really has a good image and is


    enthusiastic about public welfare. Also, hertest film which enjoys a good reputation is about to be


    released. Moreover, the price we offer to her this time is very low..."


    The minister of the advertising department didn''t want to lose such a good opportunity to improve his


    business and he couldn''t more or less understand why Derek refused such an obvious favorable


    condition for thepany. He couldn''t help but argue for Ava.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    "I don''t need to exin it to you again. Take it out." Derek spoke impatiently.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    The man hesitated for a moment and finally walked out without saying a word.


    ...


    Ava was waiting for the news. She had a warm smile on her face all the time. She did not have any airs


    of a famous star. Soon, she was liked by everyone present.


    The smile on Ava''s face deepened as she looked at the group of people surrounding her. As long as


    she pretended to inadvertently reveal some information about Meredith''s past, these people would


    believe it without a doubt.


    Just thinking about the miserable condition of Meredith being kicked out of the house again, the


    minister came back and saw her. He was embarrassed. "I''m sorry, Miss Mason. Because the boss


    doesn''t think thepany needs a spokesperson, this cooperation can only be canceled. I''m sorry."


    Ava''s smile froze on her face and her voice rose by an octave all at once. "What? Minister Yang, you


    said this was ny percent sure!"


    Ava''s anxious expression was a little aggressive, which stunned everyone who had just regarded her


    as the goddess of tenderness.


    Immediately, Ava sensed that she had lost herposure and quickly held her anxiety back. "I''m sorry,


    I''m just a little anxious. But this matter has already been discussed a great majority of. Just let it go like


    this. Isn''t it a little..."


    "I''m sorry, but this is thepany''s decision, and there''s nothing I can do about it."


    After saying this, the people who had been busy around Ava also slowly dispersed. After all, it was


    working time now, and they were also very busy.


    Feeling the huge gap before and after this, Ava was very angry. However, she did not dare to show it to


    damage her image, so she could only hold it back forcefully. When she got out of the door of the Xavier


    Group and sat in the nanny van, she threw everything she could get at hand.


    "How could it be? Damn it, it must be Meredith behind this!"


    Because of anger, Ava''s beautiful face was twisted, not as dignified and elegant as usual at all, looking


    a little frightening.


    "Oh, don''t be angry. Look at your makeup, it is a little messed up." ra looked at her daughter''s angry


    face and tried to persuade her with patience and sincerity.


    "Is Derek crazy? Doesn''t he hate Meredith for making him turn into a vegetable for three years? Or..."


    "Did he know something?"


    This thought startled Ava and her mother.


    If Derek really knew that the person who hit him that time wasn''t Meredith, but Ava, then what awaited


    her would be a terrible consequence.


    "Mom, what should I do? If Meredith has persuaded Derek, then I..." Ava looked at ra in a panic.


    "No way, no one would believe it even if Meredith said it. She had admitted it in court that year. What


    evidence does she have to prove her innocence?"


    The mother and daughter exchanged a few words offort. Ava took out her phone and called


    Meredith, only to find that she had been put on the cklist.


    "This damn bitch, she has put on airs."


    Ava discontentedly changed the number and called. Meredith picked it up, but her voice was a little


    weak.


    Having just been rejected and contradicted Derek, Meredith''s mood dropped to the bottom. When she


    received the call, it was Ava again?


    "What exactly do you want? Is it endless?" Meredith was toozy to act with her and asked with no


    good tone.


    "I was just going to ask you, Meredith, what kind of coquettish trick did you use, or you were so good in


    bed that you fascinated Derek and made him reject my endorsement deal with the Xavier Group?"


    "Reject your endorsement deal?" Meredith was confused, but Ava would never joke about it, so...


    Did Derek help her?


    An inexplicable feeling welled up from her chest, which made Meredith''s mood, which had just been


    exceptionally low, felt much better.


    "I''m sorry, but what the boss does is his business. I don''t have that much right. How do you know that it


    was your own ipetence that is being despised?"


    Meredith said straightly with confidence and hung up immediately.


    Ava was so angry on the other side of the phone that she almost didn''t catch up the breath, but


    Meredith was deep in thought.


    Derek helped her, and Meredith felt unreal. Was it a coincidence or...


    With this in mind, Meredith couldn''t help but be tangled for a moment. After a while, Derek came out of


    the office. "I''m going out to talk about some things this afternoon. You clean the office thoroughly."


    Meredith stood up. "Got it."


    Seeing that Derek didn''t say anything to her, she couldn''t help but ask, "Well, it was you that ask the


    Derek paused in his footsteps, looking slightly annoyed.


    Just now, that sentence was simply blurted out. When he realized it, he found that he had already


    made such a decision because of Meredith which was not like his decision.


    "Don''t tter yourself. Refuse, just because I don''t like thepany being tied up with the image of a


    female star, that''s all."


    Derek''s cold voice reached her ears. Meredith was a little disappointed, but she couldn''t tell where the


    disappointment came from.


    "Thank you anyway."


    Meredith thanked him and went in with the tools to clean up. Derek looked at her back and remained


    silent for a moment before leaving with Damian.


    While Damian was passing by Meredith, he gave her a deep look.


    Others didn''t know, but he knew that the boss had rejected Ava just now because of Meredith


    obviously.


    Could it be that boss was unusually serious with this woman? Even to the extent that it could affect his


    decision?

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    After Ava had vented her anger in the nanny car downstairs, she saw Derek walk out of the Xavier


    Group.


    She thought about it, walked over, pretended to be passing by, and said in surprise, "Mr. Xavier?"


    Derek was not happy that he was blocked and became even more displeased when he saw that it was


    Ava, "What''s up?"


    "Mr. Xavier, I heard that my sister works here with you, and I don''t know if she can do it well. Otherwise,


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    let me arrange another job for her. The family should always be closer. Otherwise, I''m always worried


    about her life."


    Ava''s voice was very soft, and her expression was a little worried. She had a beautiful and charming


    face, and she became particrly delicate and attractive with this slightly pleading expression.


    Derek nced at her but did not feel anything. Instead, he felt a little strange.


    If Ava really cared about Meredith, she should have arranged a job for her early. He remembered that


    Meredith''sst job seemed to be found by Julius.


    Derek had always disliked people who only spoke.


    "If you really have this idea, tell her yourself and don''te to me."


    Derek replied coldly, without looking at Ava''s pitiful face, and wanted to leave.


    Seeing that he hadpletely ignored her, Ava was so upset that she quickly followed up with him, "Is


    it possible that Mr. Xavier keeps her by your side because she hit you with her car and you want to take


    revenge on her? She is wrong, but she was already punished. I really can''t bear to see her suffer


    anymore."


    Couldn''t she bear it...


    Derek was so smart, and how could he don''t know Ava''s concern was just on the surface, but in fact,


    she wanted to remind him once again that Meredith was the culprit for his three years in aa. She


    was clearly trying to provoke him.


    He stopped and nced at Ava, who was following him. The woman had exquisite makeup and was


    graceful. She was beautiful in everyone''s eyes, but she made him feel a bit disgusting with her


    hypocrisy.


    Ava felt the man''s dark and deep eyesnd on her, like a deep, bottomless, mysterious, and


    enchanting water.


    Unknowingly, she blushed.


    "Mr. Xavier..." Subconsciously, Ava lowered her head in a soft voice, looking like a shy little woman.


    "I suddenly feel that maybe some of the things I knew before were not the truth, such as... The kind


    and generous second miss of the Masons was not as simple and kind as she showed."


    Derek nced at Ava''s shy and timid expression, a hint of disdain on the corner of his lips showed up.


    And then, he took a step away from her and walked straight to the car parked not far away.


    Ava thought that Derek was interested in her when he looked at her, but she didn''t expect to hear such


    words. Her whole body trembled, and then she returned to her car with a gloomy face.


    "Damn Derek, how dare you do this to me!"


    Ava was used to enjoying the superiority of being held in the palm of men''s hands. Derek was the first


    person to ignore and disdain her like this.


    "Mom, he really seems to have some doubts about me. What should I do? My secret can''t be found


    out. That bitch Meredith can''t stay by Derek''s side anymore. I have a feeling that she''s going to ruin my


    life."


    The more Ava thought about it, the more anxious she became. She was about to cry. ra nced at


    her daughter who she was proud of and said, "Don''t worry. Mom will do everything to not let that


    bastard destroy you. She can only be a stepping stone to your feet."


    ...


    Back at the Masons, ra said wrongly that how Ava''s endorsement had been screwed up, and that it


    was all Meredith''s fault.


    Meredith was working at thepany, and now she was in a pretty good mood. Ava''s endorsement


    blew up, so she probably wouldn''t dare toe over again in a short time.


    At this moment, Wesley''s phone call came.


    "What is it?" Meredith''s tone was extremely cold. She knew it clearly that Wesley must not havee


    to greet her, but to stand up for Ava.


    "Meredith, you are so despicable in retaliating against your sister. Do you really think that you climbed


    into Derek''s bed and you''ll be someone special to him? You''re just a toy."


    Meredith sneered. Although she knew that Wesley would not be able to say anything nice, it was


    probably rare for a father to say such things about his daughter.


    "Yeah, so what? Do you have the ability to go to Derek and change his mind? You can only vent your


    anger on me. Please be careful of yourself and don''t let it ruin your own body."


    "You go get Derek to change his mind and let Ava continue to endorse!" Wesley was so angry that he


    choked on his chest and roared.


    "Am I just a toy that climbs Derek''s bed? How could I have the ability to change his mind? Besides, he


    didn''t let Ava endorse because she doesn''t fit thepany''s position,"


    "I think, rather than yelling at me, you might as well be careful to maintain Ava''s persona and not let


    anyone find out what an ugly soul is underneath her body."


    After that, Meredith hung up the phone with a sneer.


    Wesley was so angry that he wanted to curse, but he couldn''t do anything about Meredith. He didn''t


    know when the daughter he had once manipted became more and more difficult to control.


    ...


    After work, when Meredith got home, Derek was not back yet. So she was in a rare good mood. This


    was the first time since she came out of prison that she hadpletely torn off Ava''s dignity.


    Although it couldn''t be done without Derek, it caused Ava some pain after all.


    Meredith narrowed her eyes and was about to take a shower to rx when her phone vibrated again.


    There was a picture of a woman lying on a hospital bed, thin and haggard. Her body was filled with


    tubes and only her eyes were wide open. There were an obvious stubbornness and unwillingness in


    her eyes.


    Meredith''s hand trembled, and she almost couldn''t hold her cell phone. The woman on it was haggard,


    but that was her mother!


    Three years ago, her mother was sent to the ICU, and she went to prison. She never saw her mother


    since then.


    Meredith had asked the Masons many times about her mother''s whereabouts, but they all rejected her


    on the grounds that her mother was fine, that she didn''t need Meredith''s care, that she might cause


    trouble, and so on.


    And Meredith didn''t have the strength to look for her mother abroad, so she had to wait and see.


    "What do you mean? What do you want to do?" Meredith calmed down and immediately called ra.


    This woman won''t do anything meaningless. She must have no good intention.


    "I thought you didn''t care about your mother anymore. If you don''te to the Masons this weekend,


    you know the consequences."

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    Meredith wished she could rush over and kill this vicious woman with a knife. How could she be so


    despicable? But what made her even angrier was the fact that she herself was unable to fight against


    her despicable acts.


    Although Meredith knew very well that whaty ahead of her was a fire pit, she could only jump into it


    without hesitation.


    That little bit of happiness she got just now was gone, and instead, she found it very ironic. Meredith


    was in no mood to do anything. She opened the album to watch the photo again.


    "Mom, are you okay?" Meredith''s eyes reddened as she looked at the frail woman on the screen.


    Who would have thought that the woman on the screen was once a famous and powerful woman in J


    City?


    She had used to be beautiful and well-known, but now she could only breathe with the help of those


    terrible tubes in her body.


    Holding tight to her phone, a trace of determination shed in Meredith''s eyes. She had to find out her


    mother''s location as soon as possible. She could not allow her mother to fall into the hands of these


    people anymore.


    While thinking, Meredith suddenly noticed a detail in the photo. There seemed to be a name written on


    the cab of the hospital, but it was too indistinct to be clearly seen.


    Meredith sent this photo to Julius immediately, who was far away abroad, and asked him to try and


    recover it to see if he could find any clues.


    When the picture was being transferred, suddenly, the sound of the door opening came through.


    Meredith put away her phone instantly and looked up. Derek was back.


    The man saw her put her hands behind her body as if she was hiding something from him, and there


    was a bit of panic in her eyes. He frowned and got displeased, "What are you doing?"


    Meredith shook her head and pretended to be carefree, "Nothing."


    There was no need for Derek to know about her mother. She had just asked him for help today, and


    she didn''t want people to think that she was wanting for more and making requests ungratefully.


    Derek stared at Meredith''s face. Her eyes were a little red. He didn''t know if it was because she had


    cried or what. Anyway, there must be something hidden from him.


    The feeling of being excluded made him upset.


    "Don''t let me ask you this again." Derek''s eyes followed her, and his tone was decisive and


    overbearing.


    Meredith''s eyes dodged his a little, and then she acted as if nothing had happened, "It was really


    nothing. I was just chatting with a friend. You don''t have to care about this, do you?"


    When Derek heard her out, he was sure that Meredith had been lying, but it was not his style to keep


    pressing on.


    What was more... Who was she to him? And why did he need to care if some hateful woman''s eyes


    had reddened?


    Thinking of this, the man said coldly, "Then don''t appear in front of me looking so guilty. You''re


    disgusting."


    When Meredith heard this, she lowered her eyes and answered tly, "I see. I''ll go out to help cook


    dinner."


    ...


    Soon, it was the weekend.


    Meredith got up early, made the bed, and intended to go home.


    Although she had been moving lightly, she still woke Derek up.


    Watching her leaving discreetly from behind, the man couldn''t help but frown. What the hell was this


    woman doing?


    These days, Meredith had almost been visibly absent-minded.


    Derek was upset, so he wouldn''t put forward that question to her. Now, she was leaving so discreetly...


    Derek''s face darkened, as if he had thought of something. He threw the quilt away and got up.


    Meredith didn''t ask the driver to send her home, but took the bus back to the Masons alone.


    When Derek learned that she had intentionally gone out alone, he was even more certain that Meredith


    must have done something shameful.


    This damned woman. He thought of what Parker had said. That man seemed to have said that Derek


    needed tomunicate more with Meredith when off duty.


    Was she so eager to find the next man for herself?


    With anger in his eyes, Derek called Meredith directly.


    Meredith was sitting on the bus, staring nkly. She was so preupied that her eyes looked dim and


    lifeless.


    When she heard the phone ringing, she hesitated for a while before picking it up. The moment she saw


    it was from Derek, suddenly she had an ominous feeling.


    "Where are you now?"


    Derek''s voice remained cold as usual and his tone did not rise or fall, but Meredith could still hear some


    suppressed anger in his tone.


    Derek was angry?


    Meredith was a little frightened. She could not help but show some weakness in her tone, "I''m on my


    way to the Masons. I want to go home today, is that okay?"


    "To the Masons?" A sarcastic smile hovered on Derek''s lips. If she was going back to the Masons, why


    would she act so furtively?


    "Come back now. I need to see you in half an hour."


    Meredith was in a dilemma. Derek''s tone was authoritative. If she refused him, she would make him


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    angry for sure. But if she didn''t go back today, who knew what the Masons would do to her mother?


    "No, I really can''t. I have to go home. Believe me. I''ll go back tonight."


    "Meredith, to me, you don''t have the right to say no." Derek heard her refusing him and narrowed his


    eyes.


    Was it because he had been too kind to her recently that this woman got such an insatiable idea?


    "If you don''t return to the Xaviers in half an hour, then you don''t have toe back anymore."


    Derek said coldly and hung up the phone.


    Meredith listened to the cold beeping sound and smiled helplessly. At this moment, the Masons also


    called to urge her to hurry up.


    At this instant, Meredith suddenly felt exhausted. No matter which family she went to, she couldn''t find


    the direction.


    But for her mother, she had to go to the Masons today, even at the cost of making Derek angry.


    ...


    When Meredith arrived at the Masons, she had already missed the deadline Derek had set for her.


    She raised her head to look at the ce where she had grown up, took a deep breath and rang the


    doorbell.


    The door was opened immediately. When she was about to go in, a basin of cold water was suddenly


    sshed over her body. Not only was the water cold, but it also stank. When the water was sshed


    over her body, Meredith froze for a moment.


    "Oops, I''m sorry. I didn''t see anyone." ra covered her mouth hypocritically and whispered into


    Meredith''s ear, "But this look suits you well. You look like a dog in the water, just like when you went to


    jail, which is so disgusting."


    After that, she walked away with a smug smile.


    Meredith clenched her fists and tried to tell herself to calm down. She didn''te here to cause


    trouble. She had to find out where her mother was.


    Resisting the urge to rage, Meredith took out a tissue to wipe the water off her head and face, and


    walked into the room.


    Wesley had already been waiting inside. When he saw dirty water was dripping down her body


    ceaselessly, he looked disgusted, "Meredith, can you be a little more decent? You''ve made the floor in


    the house dirty."


    ?

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    Meredith, who got totally drenched, was so cold as to tremble. When she heard this, she felt colder.


    Her father was in the living room, and he should have seen how it all happened, but he was still so


    partial to ra.


    Was this the man her father, whom her mother had loved and sacrificed the entire life for?


    Meredith forced a smile and sat down on the leather sofa across from Wesley, not caring that the


    smudge on her drenched body would soak the expensive sofa.


    Since he cherished the expensive furniture, then she had to smudge pieces as many as she could.


    Otherwise, how could she be worthy of ra''s "thoughtful hospitality" ?


    "Mr. Xavier had better let your wife treat her eyes rather than nag at me. She didn''t see me when I was


    out there alone. Maybe she was blind. If she is sick, she should see the doctor quickly so as to prevent


    her illness from worsening. If she misses the boat, the consequences would be unimaginable."


    ra''s smile turned unnatural as if she had not expected Meredith to be such a scoundrel. She didn''t


    even give a damn about politeness.


    "Qimo, I really didn''t see her. Well, let''s forget about it. I''ll go get Mer a clean set of clothes."


    "I don''t need your hypocritical kindness." Meredith refused without a second thought. Who knew if there


    would be some needles in the clothes she brought? ra could do such a dirty thing.


    Wesley was also enraged. "Shut your mouth. She''s your elder. Howe you spoke to her without


    respect?"


    "I don''t have an elder who would ssh dirty water on a guest. My only elder was my mother." Meredith


    looked coldly at Wesley''s angry face and said word for word.


    "Forget it. That''s it. I have something to say to you."


    Meredith smiled faintly. When a conversation went into an unfavourable situation, he would change the


    subject. Her good father had never changed.


    "Your sister''smercial endorsement should have been smooth, but why did you sabotage it? Now


    that she''s been hurt by this, you should go get her endorsement back."


    Get it back?


    Meredith was almost amused by his righteous tone.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Xavier. I''ve already said that I can''t make Derek''s decision. Back then, it was you who


    said that I was his ything and I should not gloat over that. "


    "So, how dare I give him an onder?"


    Meredith mimicked the tone that The Masons had humiliated her, making an eye for an eye and a tooth


    for a tooth.


    "You!" Of course, Wesley could know what was her meaning. But when he thought of his little daughter


    who was anxious about this endorsement, he didn''t care if he ate his words.


    "Anyway, you have to let your little sisternd this endorsement. I don''t care whether you cry or beg


    before him. You just have to make it."


    "I''m sorry, I can''t do it. Derek said he wouldn''t let anyone interrupt him on business matters. He


    wouldn''t bother to listen to his grandpa, not to mention me."


    "Or, let me put it this way. If I really have the ability to change Derek''s mind, why don''t I just let him take


    revenge on the Masons? Isn''t it too painless to just cancel Ava''s unimportant endorsement?"


    As soon as Meredith spoke, there was a tearing pain on her scalp. Wesley pounced on her with a


    ferocious face and pped her left cheek.


    Wesley pped with full strength. It made Meredith suddenly hear a buzzing sound in her ears. With


    the humming in her brain, she could not be level enough to think.


    "You wicked girl. I shouldn''t have given birth to you in the first ce. You should have died in prison.


    You still want to retaliate against the Masons. Have you forgotten your surname and the blood of the


    Masons in your body?"


    "Hehe, I don''t care. If I could, I don''t want a disgusting man like you to be my father. What does the


    Masons have to do with me? I wish it was broken up now!"


    Meredith''s cked out for a moment. She coughed twice and yelled at Wesley.


    Having looked at the angry look of the man in front of her, she didn''t see any trace of his gentleness,


    which he had used to show outsiders. He was a madman, a devil.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Wesley was so angry that he tried to swing at his daughter with the stool at hand.


    Usually, when he heard her words, he could still maintain his usualposure and even ridicule


    Meredith with disdain.


    But now things changed. Meredith had climbed the socialdder because of Derek, and everything was


    different. With Derek''s power, it would be easy to destroy the Masons. So he would not allow this to


    happen, even if the chance was small.


    "Calm down, this is no joke!" ra was startled and quickly grabbed Wesley. Then she called for some


    servants. "Go and lock Meredith in the storage room and let her calm down!"


    Meredith was dragged into the storage room by a few people. The p she received just now made her


    weak. Besides, men who came to catch her were tall and burly. So she was unable to resist at all.


    With a bang, she was thrown onto the cold concrete floor without mercy, and the door was quickly


    locked from the outside.


    Meredith got used to it for a while before she recovered. She coughed twice and touched her swollen


    cheek. A dull pain immediately hit her, causing her to pull the corners of her mouth. She frowned


    ufortably because of the lightly sweet blood in her mouth.


    It was really hard. If ra hadn''t stopped him, he would have killed her.


    ...


    Derek waited at the Xaviers for half an hour, but Meredith still didn''te back.


    She didn''t even call again. Was this provocation or... Did she really find a backer and want to run


    away?


    There was a chill in Derek''s eyes, and he had the urge to find the damn woman and tear her into


    pieces.


    "Go, find out where Meredith is now."


    On a rare weekend, Damian was on a date with a girl, and then he received an order from a phone call.


    Meredith... Shouldn''t she be with boss?


    Damian waspletely confused about what had happened, but Derek''s angry voice made him not


    dare to ask any more questions. So he could only ept his fate and look for Meredith.


    ...


    Meredith stayed in the storage room for a while, and soon the afterheat that had been on her body


    dissipated.


    It was winter, and when you stayed in a ce without heating, you could feel the chill air trickling into


    your body and spreading through your limbs.


    Meredith moved his slightly stiff fingers and touched the cold and aching joints.


    She often felt chilly like this when she had been in prison, so some joints suffered rheumatism.


    Normally, it was fine since the heating was always on in the Xaviers, and it wouldn''t be cold at all, but


    now...


    She suddenly thought of what Derek had said to her. She wondered what was going on with the man


    and if he had already thrown all her things out.


    Having thought of the man''s angry expression, Meredith shivered, stood up, patted the door, and called


    for someone to let her out. But for a long time, no one paid attention to her.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    Meredith shouted for a long time, and only sat back when her voice was a little hoarse.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Because of the cold, she was now speaking with a trembling voice, and she did not eat breakfast in the


    morning, which made her feel more and more ufortable for she already suffered from


    hypoglycemia.


    Waves of dizziness assaulted her, and Meredith clutched her thighs to keep herself awake.


    Would she just die here?


    Meredith couldn''t help but think about that possibility, and there were still resentment and anger in her


    heart. However, who could help her?


    Suddenly, Derek appeared in her mind, but she shook her head.


    How could this mane to save her? Meredith thought of his orders today and felt a dull pain in her


    chest.


    Just as she was thinking about it, suddenly, there seemed to be some strange soundsing from


    outside the door.


    ...


    Derek looked at the Masons vi with a dark face.


    He thought that Meredith had run away or gone to fool around with Parker, but he had just found out


    where she was. It was here.


    It was really the Masons she hade to.


    The man''s look did not soften. Instead, it became gloomier.


    ...


    After a while, the door opened, and when they saw him, the Masons people felt ttered. They


    hurriedly invited him in, fearing that they might identally slight their distinguished guest.


    "No need for this, I''m looking for Meredith." Derek didn''t care about the rest of the Masons, and he


    didn''t want to waste time with them.


    "Meredith... She''s not here." ra thought about it and lied without changing her face.


    "That''s right, Mr. Xavier. She is gone. There must be some mistake." Ava added.


    Meredith had just said that she was going to beg Derek to destroy the Masons. Originally, they were


    able tofort herself that this was just a bluff. But now that Derek hade, they would not dare to


    take it lightly.


    What if, what if Derek was persuaded by Meredith and wanted to do something against the Masons?


    Therefore, they must find a way to deal with Meredith quietly.


    Derek took a look at the mother and daughter, expressionless.


    In J City, ra was known as a nobledy with a good temper and a gentle personality, and Ava was


    also the goddess of gentleness and kindness in the eyes of everyone. But now, in his eyes, the way


    they were lying was just pathetic.


    "I have located her here, or are you saying I''m a liar?"


    Derek ruthlessly exposed the lies of the two people. Ava and her daughter''s expressions froze, and


    then Wesley came over with a fawning smile on his face.


    "The thing is, Meredith didn''t know her ce and made a scene here. So, I wanted to teach her a


    lesson. I believe Mr. Xavier wouldn''t want to get involved in our family affairs?"


    Family affairs?


    Derek had a disdainful look on his face. Meredith was married to him, and now she was one of the


    Xaviers.


    It was one thing for him to deny it to the outsiders, but there was no way that he would allow someone


    else to teach a lesson to his family members.


    "Really? In that case, you hand her over to me. I''ll teach her a lesson for you and I promise to satisfy


    Mr. Xavier."


    For a moment, either side was willing to give in. The Masons and Derek were in a stalemate.


    At this moment, Meredith''s voice suddenly came from above. "Derek, is that you? I''m here. Take me


    back. Please!"


    There was a small window in the storage room where Meredith was. Just now, she noticed the sound


    of parking and saw Derek''s car parked outside the door. At the same time, she heard the voices of


    several servants.


    They said they had to find a way to get rid of her silently and once and for all, to avoid future trouble.


    After hearing these words, Meredith could no longer remain calm.


    She still wanted her revenge, and her mother was still waiting for her. She could not die here, so she


    could only open the window, stretch out half of her body, and shout with all her strength.


    Derek looked up and saw a thin figure hanging from a sadly small window. Meredith waved her arms


    and shouted loudly. Her voice was hoarse, but she seemed not to feel ufortable at all for she tried


    hard to get his attention.


    "Is this how the Masons educate people?" Derek looked at Meredith''s tottering body through the


    window and even had the illusion that the woman would be blown down by a gust of wind.


    Derek pushed the people in front of him away and walked straight to Meredith''s room.


    Meredith was locked up in the storage room in the corner. When Derek found her by the voice, he saw


    several servants hiding by the side and even tried to stop him.


    "Piss off!" The rage in Derek''s eyes was murderous. He looked at the locked door and said, "Open the


    door."


    "No, it can''t be opened without the master''s order."


    Derek gave them an indifferent look, and the coldness in his eyes made people hard to look straight at


    them.


    "Meredith, get away from the window. I''ll kick the door open and let you out."


    After that, he raised his foot and kicked it hard at the locked door.


    With a creak, the door was kicked open and a cloud of dust flew up. Meredith watched as the door


    opened and Derek appeared in front of her. The string that had been tense in her heart seemed to


    break at this moment.


    This was the first time she felt that she was protected by someone since she left prison.


    Even though the person may not be whom she expected, she still felt a warmth that had not been felt


    for a long time.


    Derek nced at Meredith, who was sitting on the floor in a mess. He realized that her clothes were


    soaked. He reached out and touched her body. It was too cold for the temperature of a normal person.


    "Mr. Xavier, this..."


    After being pushed away, the Masons were stunned for a while before they found out that Derek had


    found Meredith, and their faces changed violently.


    It was one thing to do what you wanted in your own house, but getting it known by outsiders is not a


    good thing. People might whisper that they abused their own daughter.


    "This is actually a misunderstanding. It''s because she contradicted her parents the moment she came


    back. That''s why we..."


    ra was interrupted for she was frightened by Derek''s eyes and did not dare to finish what she


    started. There was no emotion in the man''s eyes, but it gave her an invisible sense of oppression.


    Derek took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Meredith''s body. "the Masons that everyone in J


    City praises actually locked their daughter in a storage room with wet clothes in the middle of winter. If I


    hadn''te, did you n to freeze her to death?"


    Looking at Meredith''s purple lips, Derek couldn''t help but think that the Masons was whether as perfect


    as they appeared.


    Meredith, was she really the evil woman who deserved it?


    This was the first time he could not help but doubt what he had once believed.


    Disdaining to pay any more attention to these hypocrites, Derek picked up Meredith, who was sitting on


    the ground trembling, and the lightness made him frown.


    The woman in her arms was as thin as if a piece of paper, and he wondered if she had been eating well


    "Mr. Xavier, this is all a misunderstanding. We can take care of her." Seeing that Derek was going to


    take Meredith away, and in such a protective posture, Wesley was extremely anxious.


    He had an ominous feeling that Meredith''s words woulde true.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Meredith was carried into the car, and she could feel Derek''s body temperature from where the two of


    them came into contact. It was mild and warm, and it made her want to indulge in it and not to wake up.


    However, a momentter, she came to her senses, reached out, and pulled the man''s clothes on his


    chest, "Put me down. I can walk by myself."


    Derek nced at Meredith. Her face was as pale as a piece of paper. Because of the cold, her lips had


    already lost their healthy red sheen and had an unhealthy purplish-green color. However, her eyes


    were still bright and full of stubbornness.


    What was this woman trying to do? How could she walk now?


    Derek frowned and said in an unhappy tone, "Why are you being pretentious?"


    It was rare for him to treat a woman so gently, but Meredith did not seem to care.


    "I... I, I smell." Meredith said awkwardly. The water that ra had just sshed on her was dirty and


    smelled awful. How could a clean freak like Derek stand it?


    Moreover, his clothes were also custom-made, and she couldn''t afford to pay for them if they were dirty


    and smelly because of her.


    Derek''s already dark face turned colder. Meredith was ready to be thrown down, but the man holding


    her only quickened his steps and threw her directly into the car seat.


    "They sshed dirty water on you?"


    Even Derek was well informed but had never seen such a thing. She poured cold sewage on her own


    daughter in the middle of winter?


    Were they family or enemies?


    Meredith did not speak, and the smile on her lips became a little more self-deprecating. This kind of


    thing seemed like a fantasy to outsiders, but she was already used to it.


    No one would believe it if she told them about it, or just said to her that "if you didn''t do it wrong, why


    would they do this to you?"


    Over time, Meredith stopped telling others these things.


    Derek looked at the woman in the rearview mirror. She was indeed smiling, but the despair in that smile


    was suffocating. His heart seemed to stop for a moment.


    "Next time, don''t go back there alone." Derek looked away and looked at the road in front of him.


    For the first time, he felt that he had never actually known Meredith before. He was so preconceived


    that he regarded her as a woman who was not worth paying attention to.


    Perhaps things were not as simple as he had imagined.


    ...


    The car was moving smoothly and the heater was running well. Meredith soon felt the warmth return to


    her body.


    As soon as she was warm, she could only feel that she could hardly keep her eyes open. A wave of


    drowsiness came over her. She tried to stay awake, but she could not resist the fatigue from the depths


    of her body and fell asleep with her body tilted.


    Derek parked his car at the hospital.


    He wasn''t sure if Meredith would catch a cold, so he sent her straight to the hospital.


    Meredith did not notice that the car had stopped. She was sleeping soundly. Derek looked at the


    sleeping woman. Her slender body was huddled in the back seat, tightly wrapped in the suit jacket he


    had just given her. She looked pitiful.


    Once in a while, Derek took pity on her and did not wake her up. Instead, he gently reached out his


    hands, took Meredith off the car seat, and walked into the hospital.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    ...


    Meredith felt like she had a long dream. All these years, she was used to having nightmares, but this


    dream was not as full of lies, pain, and betrayal as it used to be.


    She dreamed that someone reached out and pulled herself out of the darkness. When she was about


    to see the man''s face, she woke up.


    The person in the dream... Was it Derek?


    Meredith sat up and realized that she was in the hospital. The snow-white walls were colorless and


    looked extremely cold.


    Struggling to get out of bed, Meredith noticed that she had an drip on her hand. Did Derek send her


    straight to the hospital?


    She thought that she seemed to have fallen asleep in the car. How did Derek get her to bed? Did he


    carry her in his arms as he did in the Masons?


    Meredith''s face blushed at the thought of the man''s broad chest and the faint smell of cologne.


    Then, she shook her head. How could she think about these...


    How could someone like Derek fall for her? He clearly hated her.


    Just as she was thinking about it, the door was opened and Derek walked in. When he saw her awake,


    his tightly knitted brows rxed a little, "You''re awake? How do you feel?"


    Not long after Derek sent Meredith to the hospital, she had a fever. He had no choice but to go through


    the hospitalization procedures immediately and ask the doctor to give her an infusion to reduce the


    inmmation.


    "The patient''s body is already very weak, and she still has a cold now. Fortunately, you came early,


    otherwise... Maybe something bad will happen."


    Thinking of what the doctor said and recalling Meredith''s weight as light as a piece of paper, the man


    lowered his voice, "You have a fever. The doctor said you were seriously ill. He asked you to stay in the


    hospital for a few more days and then you can leave the hospital after you arepletely recovered."


    "But my job..." When Meredith heard that she was going to be hospitalized, she immediately thought of


    the task the Mr. Xavier had given her.


    She didn''t want to anger him because of the illness.


    "Will the Xaviers abuse you and force you to work even when you''re sick?" Derek nced at her, "You


    should rest here for the next few days so that you won''t faint at thepany. Or there will be a rumor


    that the Xavier Group is abusing its employees."


    Meredith nodded, "I see."


    After a while, Derek asked someone to send for dinner.


    Meredith watched as the man delivered a huge pile of food that lookedpletely out of her league.


    She couldn''t help but look at Derek, who was sitting by the side, "This... Is there anyone elseing?"


    Derek nced at her, "The doctor said you were malnourished, so these are all yours. Eat more so that


    people won''t think I''m not giving you food."


    Although the words were not pleasant to hear, Meredith still felt warm in her heart. She lowered her


    head and looked at the exceptionally rich and nutritious dinner. Her eyes felt a little sore and swollen,


    "Thank you..."


    Meredith''s voice was very low, but it was still urately heard by Derek. The man''s lips curled slightly,


    and then, as if he realized something, he straightened his face and stood up, "You just stay here. I have


    something to do."


    Meredith nodded and looked at Derek, who seemed to be in a bad mood all of a sudden, without


    asking anything. She was used to the man''s moodiness.


    Now that he wanted her to take care of her body, she should eat well. Health was the foundation in


    doing everything else, and she couldn''t get sick again.


    Derek walked out of the hospital and Damian handed over the information that Derek had asked for.


    It was all about the investigated information about Meredith in previous years. Derek opened it, flipping


    through the document with his slender fingers and frowning.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    The document covered all aspects of Meredith''s life as she grew up, and what surprised Derek the


    most was that she did very well in high school.


    If it weren''t for the car ident, she would have been able to get into a good university and win a good


    educational background. At least, she wouldn''t be like this...


    However, when he thought about the tragic car ident, the man frowned. Feeling increasingly


    irritable, he pulled his tie off.


    Derek had always thought that he was not a person with indiscriminatepassion. However, he had


    just felt sorry for Meredith, which was inappropriate.


    It was already illegal to hurt people, not to mention that Meredith was a hit-and-run driver, and thus she


    deserved to be put into prison. Why did he, the victim, feel pity for her?


    It was so uncharacteristic of him to behave like this.


    Thinking about it, Derek was not in a mood to continue reading, and casually threw the rest of the


    materials to Damian, "Go and destroy them. Besides, don''t let anyone know that I told you to


    investigate this matter."


    Damian nodded, thinking that Meredith was in bad luck. If boss continued reading the document, he


    might find that her mother was paralyzed in bed. If he was interested, he could render some help.


    However, after all, he was just an assistant who worked for money. Damian didn''t say anything more


    and put the document away.


    This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    ...


    Meredith stayed in hospital for the next few days.


    Perhaps because Derek brought her here personally, the hospital staff were particrly concerned


    about her medical condition, and therefore they arranged for her a variety of inspections only to find out


    many problems that Meredith herself didn''t pay attention to.


    "Miss Mason, you''re so young. Why do you have so many ipletely cured illnesses? You''ll have to


    suffer if you don''t take good care of yourself."


    Listening to the doctor, Meredith felt a little helpless. All of her illnesses, mild and severe, were caused


    in prison. She didn''t have enough to eat and wear, and was often bullied by people who didn''t like her


    there. She even had to go out to mob the floor in the cold winter. Even a body made of iron might break


    down with such mistreatments.


    It was probably the first time someone cared so much about her health. Although she knew it was just


    the duty of a doctor to do so, Meredith, with a smile, thanked the doctor.


    Taking some medicine from the consulting room, Meredith was about to return to her ward when a man


    on the phone rushed out and bumped into her.


    The man was tall and big and Meredith just lost her bnce and fall to the ground because of the


    bump, causing her buttocks to hit the ground, and a dull pain immediately came over her.


    This man was really reckless...


    Meredith bared her teeth in pain while the man just realized that he had bumped into someone, "I''m


    sorry. I didn''t watch where I was going just now. I pulled you... No, you''re... Meredith?"


    Before he could finish speaking, the man''s hand stopped in the air. Meredith looked up and saw that


    the guy who was so reckless was Leo.


    A trace of disgust shed through Meredith''s eyes. What happened at the gate of the Masonsst time


    made herpletely see his true colors.


    Even the sight of Leo would remind her of their promiscuous behaviour that day, which made her sick.


    Therefore, Meredith didn''t need his insincere help to get on her feet, and stood up slowly on her own,


    enduring the sharp pain from her tailbone.


    Leo was a disaster for her. Every time Meredith met him, she would get into trouble.


    Comining in her heart, Meredith turned away without looking at the annoying man.


    Leo, who had beenpletely ignored, suddenly felt a little unhappy. Meredith used to be very


    enthusiastic when she met him, but now she just ignored him?


    "Stop, Meredith. Why are you here?" Leo took a few steps toe in front of Meredith and looked at


    her with a yful smile.


    Meredith looked at his face with a false smile and was still annoyed.


    This man told her to keep away from him. Now she didn''t talk to him as he wanted, but he came after


    and pestered her.


    Was this a provocation?


    "What else can I do in the hospital? Of course I''m seeing a doctor." Meredith looked at him as if she


    was looking at an idiot, "If there''s nothing else, please get out of my way. You''re getting in my way


    here."


    Did Meredith actuallyin that he was in her way? Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at the


    woman in the hospital gown in front of him.


    She looked a little better than she wasst time they met. Herplexion was not so pale this time.


    Her originally delicate face wore no makeup. Ava was generous and attracting while Meredith was


    beautiful with a calm and cold character just like that of a wild lily.


    "See a doctor. This is not where you shoulde to see a doctor. Do you know where this is? Can you


    afford a Vip room?"


    Meredith wanted to sneer. Looking at Leo''s arrogant look as he looked down on others, she felt that


    she had been so blind before that she had followed behind such a person and called him sweetie. She


    thought that he was a nice person, but it turned out that he was just a snobbish person.


    "I''m sorry. Does this have anything to do with you? Please get out of the way." Meredith said with a


    long face.


    At the very least, Leo could not find any trace of Meredith''s lingering affection for him. She was calm as


    if she had never cared about him.


    This realization made Leo a little unhappy.


    "Stop pretending. Tell me that you came here, after hearing that my grandfather was sick, to pretend to


    be pitiful and beg him to let me marry you, or... Do you just want to pretend to be sick to gain my


    sympathy?"


    Meredith could not help but frown. This man had quite a rich imagination, and he felt especially good


    about himself. However, her expression fell into Leo''s eyes and became a guilty conscience after being


    exposed.


    "As expected, you are such a shameless woman. You really put into a lot of effort for marrying me."


    "Nevertheless even if you do this, it''s useless. Under no circumstances will I like a woman like you who


    has been in prison. You should save your breath and leave."


    Meredith really couldn''t help it this time. She sneered, "Leo, why didn''t I discover that you were a real


    prima donna to think that I pretended to be sick toe here for you?"


    "You and Ava are a perfect match for each other. Therefore, I''ll give you back what you just said to me


    that I, Meredith, despise such dirty men like you. Even if all the men in the world die, I won''t have any


    improper thoughts towards you. Do you understand?"


    With that said, Meredith walked past Leo and was about to leave. The man who had been taunted by


    her was livid and grabbed her wrist.


    Leo was after all from a rich family. He had been the apple of his families'' eyes in the Howards since he


    was a child, and had ever been ridiculed with such heavy sarcasm.


    In particr, Meredith, whom he looked down upon, was the one who said this, and the sense of


    humiliation was even stronger.


    "Meredith, if you don''t give me a hard time, I won''t care about your offence since you said so. Now I''ll


    just call security to throw you out!"

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    Leo had great strength that Meredith couldn''t pull her hand back at all. Hearing his words, she said,


    "Then just call the securities. I''m not afraid at all."


    Leo nced at her coldly and called for help, saying that there was a strange person on the VIP floor


    and had theme over to deal with it.


    Meredith waited expressionlessly. Not long after, the doctor who had just treated Meredith came over,


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Your hospital is so negligent. How can you let someone like this into the VIP floor? Who''s going to be


    responsible if something gets lost or something goes wrong?"


    The doctor was speechless when he looked at Leo, who was speaking with justice, "I''m sorry, sir. This


    Leo''s expression froze, as if he didn''t expect things to be like this. He looked in the direction the doctor


    was pointing at. That ward was even more spacious and luxurious than the one he had reserved for his


    grandfather, and it cost nearly twice as much as his grandfather''s ward.


    How could Meredith afford such an expensive ward?


    "Do you hear that? Let go of me." Meredith said coldly. Although she did not mean to show off because


    of her connection with Derek, she didn''t mind embarrassing him as he was such a shameless person.


    Leo rxed his grip in a daze, obviously finding it hard to ept the fact.


    He had always thought that Meredith would be sad, disappointed and poor after leaving him. When Leo


    saw that she was doing better than him, he immediately became upset.


    "Meredith, how can you possibly afford a ward like this? What the hell are you..."


    "Doctor, can you let the security guarde to my door for a while? This gentleman seems a little


    agitated. I''m afraid he''ll do something aggressive and hurt me."


    "Okay, I''ll arrange for someone toe over. Don''t worry, our hospital will ensure the safety of every


    patient."


    Meredith nodded and left.


    Leo looked at her back and suddenly felt that he knew nothing about this woman at all.


    Derek walked out of the conference room and Damian stepped forward, "It seems that Miss Mason is


    in some trouble at the hospital and she has called a security guard."


    Derek frowned. He had been busy at thepany for the past few days, so he didn''t pay much


    attention to what was going on at the hospital.


    How dare someone stir up trouble at the ce under his control?


    "I see." Derek''s eyes darkened. He hadn''t visited Meredith once in the past few days, and she really did


    not disturb him at all, never causing him any trouble.


    If Damian didn''t tell him that she was in trouble this time, he probably wouldn''t have known.


    Although this was a sign that Meredith was wise and sensible, Derek was not in a good mood because


    of this.


    ...


    When Meredith returned to the ward, she took the medicine. Then, she felt sleepy, so she locked the


    door to sleep.


    She had nothing to do these days except eat and sleep. However, she felt very tired today. She slept


    until night, and when she opened her eyes, she found that it was already dark.


    Meredith groped in the dark to turn on the light, but she failed to do so. The silence and the darkness


    frightened her, reminding her of the time when she had done something wrong in prison and was


    locked in a dark room.


    "Is... is anyone there? Is there a power outage?" Meredith clutched her cell phone and carefully walked


    to the door, but the furtive figure in front of the door gave her a fright.


    "Who?"


    "Who else could it be? Open the door." It was Leo.


    Ever since he met Meredith in the afternoon and was taunted by her, he had been angry. When he saw


    the security guard standing at the door, not allowing anyone, especially him, to get near, he was even


    angrier.


    How dare Meredith despise him like that? She was a woman who had been in prison.


    Therefore, he turned off the switch in Meredith''s room and asked the security guard to fix it. He just


    wanted to see how Meredith would react.


    "Why are you here?" When Meredith heard Leo''s voice, she took two steps back, grabbed a vase from


    the table and held it in her hand.


    "Why can''t I be here? Open the door. I have something to tell you. Don''t forget what our rtionship is."


    What was their rtionship? He was her ex-fianc¨¦ and Ava''s husband. How could this man be so


    shameless to mention their rtionship?


    The two of them were in a stalemate when suddenly, a cold, maic male voice sounded from not far


    away, "What''s your rtionship?"


    Leo frowned. The man''s tone was calm, but with an unquestionable arrogance, making him very


    unhappy.


    "I''m her fianc¨¦, so of course I can enter her room. Mind your own business."


    When Derek heard the word "fianc¨¦", there was an atmosphere of great tension around him.


    Leo told Derek that he was Meredith''s fianc¨¦. Was he ignorant or... ridiculous?


    "No, I have nothing to do with him."


    Leo couldn''t tell who wasing, but how could Meredith not recognize Derek''s voice?


    So when she heard Leo''s brazen words, she immediately raised her voice and loudly defended herself.


    Even though she couldn''t figure out what she was feeling guilty about.


    "Since she says so, please get out of here." Hearing her words, Derek coldly opened his mouth to


    chase Leo away.


    "You''re the one who should get out of here. I have an engagement with her. Who are you? How dare


    you lecture me?"


    Leo was used to being arrogant. When he met a man in the dark and lectured him in a superior


    manner, he was enraged and spoke without thinking.


    Derek smiled instead of being angry. Just as he was about to speak, the door, which had been locked,


    opened. Meredith came out and pushed Leo away with great strength, "Who do you think you are?


    Since you are engaged to Ava, don''te to me again."


    With that, Meredith grabbed Derek''s hand, pulled him into the room, and mmed the door shut again.


    Leo was really annoyed. If the argument went on like this, it would be endless.


    It was not until Meredith pulled Derek into the room that she realized her action was too intimate. She


    was holding his hand and they were like a sweet couple.


    The strange thing was that Derek, who hated being touched, did not shake her hand off.


    "I''m sorry. I just think he''s too annoying and you may get upset arguing with him, so..."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Leo''s angry roar came from outside, "Meredith, you are so


    shameless. How can you let a man into your room? Get out!"


    His vulgar words made Derek frown.


    Meredith''s eyes turned cold. She gave Leo an inch, but he took a mile. Did he really think she couldn''t


    do anything about him?


    She called Ava directly.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Ava was taking a break from filming. When she saw that it was Meredith calling, a mocking smile


    appeared on her lips and she answered, "Why do you think of me? What''s the matter?"


    "I''ll let you hear your precious fianc¨¦''s voice in case you miss him." Meredith did not hesitate to turn on


    the speakerphone. All the curses from Leo, who imed to be Meredith''s fianc¨¦, came through the


    microphone to the other end.

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    Ava listened to Leo''s words and her face with heavy makeup turned gloomy. She hung up the phone


    angrily and then she called Leo.


    By doing this, Leo was clearly pping her in the face.


    Was he still obsessed with that bitch, Meredith? What''s so good about her that made him unable to


    forget about her?


    Leo was knocking on the door when his cell phone suddenly rang. When he saw that it was Ava calling,


    he immediately calmed down and the fire of his anger was extinguished.


    "Brother Leo, where are you now? Was it true that my sister called me just now and said you were at


    the door of her ward?"


    Ava suppressed her anger. Even though she was extremely angry now, she still maintained a gentle


    and generous demeanor. She also knew that only in this way would men not get tired of her. And by


    acting like this, she could even make Leo feel more guilty about her.


    Leo walked away awkwardly. "Don''t listen to her nonsense. I just saw that she was tangling up with an


    unidentified man and I just wanted to know what was going on."


    Ava naturally understood that he was lying, but she didn''t expose it. Instead, she replied worriedly,


    "Brother Leo, I heard that sister seems to be doing something shameful right now, such as... Being


    someone else''s lover. It''s normal for you to worry."


    When Leo heard this, he suddenly understood how things were going on and he looked back with


    hatred.


    No wonder this damned woman, Meredith, was in the VIP ward. No wonder she looked much better


    than she did when she was just released from prison. It turned out that she was an underground lover


    who could not be seen.


    "I didn''t expect her to be so shameless." The more Leo thought about it, the angrier he got. She was


    just a mistress. She would be thrown away as the goods when others were tired of ying with her.


    How could she be a bully under the protection of a powerful person and be so arrogant?


    "My sister''s life is not easy. Maybe it''s out of helplessness?" Pretending to be kind, she actually gave


    Meredith another hard kick, but Ava was still worried. "Brother Leo, I''m going to see grandpa tonight


    and tell him that we''re getting married soon. He must be very happy when he hears the news."


    Leo agreed absent-mindedly. Although he was talking to Ava, his thoughts somehow drifted to


    Meredith.


    He thought about the way she stood up to him today. He remembered that her eyes were cold and she


    looked so beautiful that no one dared to belittle her. Leo had never thought Meredith was beautiful


    before, but at that moment, he was really amazed by We Mer.


    In particr, Leo could not help but fantasize at the thought of what it would be like to have sex with


    such a stubborn woman.


    If he had discovered her beauty earlier, he shouldn''t have developed their rtionship slowly. The


    thought of Meredith being possessed by another man made Leo very upset and restless.


    ...


    Inside the ward


    After Leo left, the environment outside became silent and Meredith breathed a sigh of relief.


    Derek looked at the woman in front of him through the dim light of the shlight. His face was dark and


    indistinguishable.


    "Are you afraid of making him angry?"


    Just now, if Meredith hadn''t dragged him in, Derek would have taught Leo a lesson.


    So, she was afraid that he would hurt that man, her so-called fianc¨¦?


    Meredith nced at Derek and instinctively felt that the man seemed to be angry.


    "It''s the ckout now. He can''t see who you are. It would be very troublesome if the electrical


    equipment was fixed and he saw who you wereter."


    Meredith exined seriously that Leo was an arrogant and haughty man. He was likely to add highly-


    colored details to their rtionship and spread it to the outside world.


    Meredith didn''t want to cause any trouble. Besides, wasn''t it fun to watch Leo and Ava bite each other?


    "Are you and he really an unmarried couple?" Derek epted Meredith''s exnation and couldn''t help


    but ask.


    "He used to be, but now he''s Ava''s fianc¨¦, and we have nothing to do with each other now."


    Derek pondered for a moment. He remembered that the Howards had announced the engagement in a


    high-profile manner, and the woman who was engaged had always been Ava. If it hadn''t been for what


    he heard today, he wouldn''t have believed that Meredith was once Leo''s fianc¨¦e.


    So, it was the younger sister who reced the elder sister after the elder sister was sent to prison?


    Derek''s view of Ava became more subtle.


    There were so many men in the world, but she wanted to marry her ex-brother-inw... It was too


    unbelievable to call it a coincidence.


    However, Derek did not see any sadness or other emotions on Meredith''s face. This made his upset


    mood be a little better.


    However, it was better to drive away such annoying flies as Leo...


    As he thought about it, the man suddenly realized that the light in the room had not been restored yet.


    He couldn''t help but frown. "What happened? A power outage?"


    The hospital, which was also owned by the Xavier Group, was one of the most expensive aristocratic


    hospitals in J City. As the boss, Derek felt that it was uneptable since the hospital hadn''t fixed


    problems caused by such a low-level ident for so long.


    "Maybe. Someone should fix it. Why don''t I go out and take a look..." Meredith was getting used to the


    darkness, but she was afraid that Derek would be impatient, so she decided to go out and look for


    someone to fix it.


    Just as she was about to leave, the shlight that had been turned on suddenly shed twice. It was as


    if it had run out of electricity. In an instant, Meredith fell into the darkness and did not see the coffee


    table in front of her. She bumped into it and lost her bnce suddenly.


    Meredith screamed and subconsciously tried to grab something. Derek had sharp eyes and agile


    hands and he quickly pulled the woman back and pulled her into his arms.


    Meredith paused for a moment until a steady and powerful heartbeat came from the man''s chest which


    she was pressed against to her ear. Only then did she act like waking up from a dream and she quickly


    wanted to take two steps back.


    She really didn''t mean it. Derek didn''t think she was trying to seduce him, did he?


    "Don''t move!"


    Seeing that Meredith still wanted to move, Derek let out a low cry. Not far from her was the coffee table.


    The corners of the ss were sharp. The aftermath could be serious if she fell and bumped into


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    something.


    "No, I..." Meredith was a little flustered. She could even feel her heart beating so hard on her left chest


    that she could barely breathe.


    Just as Meredith was about to ask Derek to let her go, the lights in the room suddenly flickered twice. It


    seemed that the electricity had been restored.


    Only then did Meredith heave a sigh of relief. She looked at the coffee table that nearly tripped her not


    far away and felt the fear.


    Just now, if Derek hadn''t reacted quickly, she would have pounced on that. If she had hit her head, she


    would suffer a lot.


    "Thank you." Meredith said, blushing even more. It was dark just now, and she could not see their


    current gesture clearly. She could only feel the man''s body temperature and smell surrounding her.


    Now that there was light, she realized how ambiguous their gesture was. Meredith immediately wanted


    to push Derek away, but as soon as she did that, a tugging pain came from her scalp.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    Then Meredith found that her hair was twined on the button of his shirt. She had moved a little just now


    but almost tore off a bunch of hair. She almost cried for the pain.


    "Wait, I''ll remove it." Meredith''s face was burning so badly that all she wanted to say was that this damn


    hair really messed her up by winding on his button.


    Derek did not move, allowing her to do what she wanted to.


    But Meredith had to keep her head down in case of pulling her hair. Thus, she groped for a long time in


    vain, only rubbing his chest left and right. Thus, she was so ashamed and wanted to escape.


    "Are you removing your hair or taking advantage of it?" Derek was touched by her hands, which were


    so soft as if they had no bones. His eyes were filled with eagerness.


    Did she do it on purpose?


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    "No, I... I can''t see it clearly..." Meredith wanted to give up. "How about cutting it off with scissors."


    Derek looked at her, whose ears were so red as if they were about to blood. His slender fingers


    reached out and dealt with it casually. Miraculously, he easily pulled out her hair, which Meredith could


    not remove before.


    "Do you still insist that you are not intentional?" Derek said with a teasing look.


    "I..." Meredith was dumbfounded. She saw the rare rxed expression of the handsome man and felt


    the warmth of his embrace on her body. She felt impetuous and said, "I''ll go out and found out what


    happened."


    Derek looked at her fleeing back and smiled more happily.


    Then, he thought of something else, so he stopped smiling and called Damian.


    "Take the person whoes from the Howards out of the hospital."


    Derek''s eyes darkened and his tone was callous.


    He was annoyed by Leo''s unpleasant words, so he had to teach Leo a lesson.


    "Isn''t that... not good? After all, Xavier Group is cooperating with an entertainmentpany of the


    Howards."


    Damian was embarrassed and he didn''t know what the boss wanted to do all of a sudden.


    Derek frowned, remembering that Xavier Group did intend to work with the Howards to make inroads


    into the entertainment industry.


    "Take me to thepany. I want to reexamine the risks of this coboration."


    Derek thought for a moment and then directly decided.


    When Damian heard it, he felt bitter. They almost made a deal in the n. Why did he stop?


    When Meredith returned to the ward, Derek had already left. Looking at the vacant room, she felt


    empty suddenly.


    But soon, Meredith shook her head again. Was she still fantasizing about Derek''s apanying her


    for another night?


    It was too sentimental to think of that just for his one visit.


    ...


    Meredith stayed in the hospital for a night. On the next morning, she directly went through the


    discharge formalities in case that she would invite troubles after meeting Leo.


    After talking with the doctor for a moment, Meredith walked out with some medicine to recuperate her


    body. A car from the Xaviers was already outside the door.


    She had nothing to do if she returned, and she had already taken a few days off. She would feel sorry


    for the sry Mr. Xavier paid her if she did not go to work, so she went straight to the Xavier Group.


    Back on the exclusive floor for Derek, she took a look at his office. He was not there, and she didn''t


    know if he had gone out for work.


    Meredith felt a little disappointed. But then she couldn''t help shaking her head and patted her cheek.


    What happened to her recently... In the past, she would only be scared and nervous to meet Derek.


    She had wished that he was not here. But now she was not ustomed to his absence all day long for


    being busy.


    In order to avoid thinking about these messy things, Meredith quickly found a lot of work to do by


    herself. When she got busy, she would not think about other things.


    A morning passed soon. During the lunch break, Meredith went out with other people to eat dinner in


    the dining hall. Suddenly, someone approached her and grabbed her arm. "Come over here, I want to


    ask you some questions!"


    Meredith turned around and found that it was Leo again...


    Why was he keeping follow her now? Didn''t Ava teach him a lesson that day?


    Meredith''s face darkened and she said indifferently, "I''m sorry, I''m going to have lunch. I am not


    avable for you."


    "No, you have to listen." Leo was furious. "Was it you who ask your supporter to be against Howards


    and transfer my grandfather from the hospital?"


    He had intended to argue with Meredith in the morning. But he was informed of transferring his


    grandfather to another hospital before he left.


    His grandfather was in a private hospital that had the highest level of medical care in J City. And it


    demonstrated the patients'' social status to receive treatment in a VIP ward here.


    Not to mention that Old Master Howard was ill, how could the Howards agree to transfer him? They


    had said all the good things about the hospital but in vain. No matter what, they were told to transfer


    Old Master Howard immediately. Moreover, they were told that someone at the top level had given the


    order.


    The only people Leo had offended recently were Meredith and the man who kept her.


    "Nonsense!" Meredith had no choice but to see that everyone had already left. She would have nothing


    to eat if she waste so she wanted to get rid of Leo. But he held her arm tightly and it seemed that he


    would not give up easily.


    "So what? Aren''t you great? Can''t you handle it?"


    Meredith was too upset to struggle. Since Leo was about to make a scene, she would like to see what


    he wanted to do.


    "Meredith, I really didn''t expect you to be like this. How humble are you to acquire money and power at


    the price of your body! You are so proud now. Which old man are you relying on?"


    Leo was thest person to see Meredith smug. Thinking that she might have been sleeping with a man


    in the hospital to cause troubles for him, he felt bad as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at his heart.


    Meredith looked at him indifferently. They regarded her as such a woman who would sell her body by


    any means?


    However, she also disdained to pester such a scumbag. "Yes, so what? He''s much better than you. At


    least I won''t be chased out of the hospital. Leo, you''d better think about how to arrange for your


    grandfather rather than talking with me here."


    A sh of anger shed in Leo''s eyes. It was quiet there. People who rushed to and from work all left


    for a long time, so no one noticed them.


    "Is he better than me? How do you know before trying to stay with me? Well, break up with him, maybe


    I can make you my lover. It is much better for you to stay with me than an old bald man with a beer


    belly!"

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    After hearing this, Meredith had to admire Leo for his blind confidence.


    Where did he get the confidence to say that Derek was an old and ugly bald man?


    Although Leo was somehow handsome, he was not worth mentioning whenparing with Derek.


    How could mediocritypare with excellence?


    "Does Ava know about this? Didn''t you say that a woman like me doesn''t deserve you? Then what are


    you doing now?"


    Meredith tried to get rid of him impatiently, but Leo kept approaching her.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Anyway, you have already slept with an old man. Why are you still pretending to be innocent? How


    much did he pay you? Do you think I can''t afford it?"


    "Are you out of your mind..." Meredith shook off his tugging hands and was about to leave when Leo


    suddenly lost his mind. What was the quickest way to shut a woman up? To kiss her.


    In particr, after Meredith''s repeated rejection, Leo''s hidden desire to conquer her waspletely


    aroused. Now, he just wanted to have this woman.


    He held Meredith''s shoulder immediately and was about to kiss her.


    Meredith''s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn''t believe that Leo would do this to her and was about


    to p him when a scream came from not far away, "Brother Leo? Sister?"


    Ava rushed from the set to the hospital this morning, but she didn''t see Leo. After asking other people,


    she knew that he had gone for a long time and he hadn''t answered the phone.


    Inexplicably, Ava thought of what Leo said at the door of Meredith''s ward that day, so she went straight


    there. She didn''t expect to see such a scene.


    "Ava?" When Leo saw Ava, the little evil thought in his heart was scared away.


    He did have some interest in Meredith, but he just wanted to y around with her and take revenge on


    her recent humiliation. If he lost Ava, who had a decent family background and was a celebrity, it would


    be unworthy.


    "She seduced me!" Leo let go of his hand on Meredith and even gave her a hard push to prove his


    innocence.


    Meredith was in a panic and almost fell to the ground. She took two steps back and rubbed her sore


    wrist which was caused by him, "Leo, are you still a man?"


    How blind was she to not find out that Leo was a weak and lewd wallflower?


    "Meredith!" Ava strode over and was about to raise her hand to p Meredith, "You''re still clinging to


    brother Leo. I''ll teach you a lesson today!"


    Meredith looked at her coldly and grabbed Ava''s wrist, making her unable to move, "Are you still think


    I''m going to be beaten up and scolded by you? Now, it''s your fianc¨¦ who came to mypany gate


    and pestered me. Why don''t you look after your man and run over to trouble me?"


    Meredith said word by word without any intention of saving face for these two people. They took


    pleasure in insulting her, so why should she be kind to them?


    Ava breathed heavily. How could she not understand Meredith''s words? But for the sake of her self-


    esteem, she could only suppress her anger and choose to trouble Meredith. But now, she could not


    hold back her anger anymore.


    "Ava, no... I..."


    Leo wanted to exin, but he couldn''t say anything. After all, he was the one who appeared downstairs


    at Meredith''spany, and she didn''t meet him on her own initiative.


    Ava was getting angrier and angrier. In the end, she could hardly hold back her understanding and


    gentle demeanor as usual and red at Meredith fiercely, "No matter what, you are not allowed to


    seduce brother Leo anymore. He''s your brother-inw. No matter how desperate you are for a man,


    you can''t seduce him."


    Meredithughed coldly in her heart, "If you have time to threaten me, you might as well tell him to be


    honest and not to flirt with other women all the time."


    After that, Meredith disdained to argue with them and strode away.


    Watching her leave, Ava felt like she had lost to Meredith for the first time. She nced at Leo beside


    her and was not in the mood to pretend to be with him anymore, "I still have a scene to shoot. I can''t


    stay here with you."


    Watching her leave angrily, Leo wanted to chase her, but in the end, he didn''t dare to do so.


    Ava got into the baby-sitter car, and her beautiful face was horribly twisted. She had always thought


    highly of herself, but she ended up falling over the most despised Meredith more than once, how could


    she not be angry?


    "Meredith is such a bitch. Why is she always against me? How dare she?"


    "Ava, don''t worry. Look, what is this?"


    ra looked at her daughter''s angry face and came over tofort her. At the same time, she took out


    a video that she had just taken in the car.


    The video was a little messy, but it was clear enough to see the faces and what was happening in the


    video, and even to hear what they were saying.


    "Ava, you''re still too impatient. You don''t need to bother yourself arguing with her. If we edit this video


    and upload it..."


    In the picture, Leo and Meredith were very close. From the video''s angle, it was as if they were kissing


    each other and made the others think a lot.


    "Now that Meredith dares to be walking on air is just because of Derek''s protection."


    "Well, if she doesn''t behave herself and we spread the news that she has seduced a man behind


    Derek, will Derek still protect her? She will be lucky enough not to be killed. Who can tolerate his


    woman cuckolding him, let alone someone like Derek?"


    "Mom, you''re right." Ava looked at the photos and wiped away the tears from her eyes. Then she took


    out the cosmetics in her bag and made up carefully. A momentter, she was the perfect Ava in


    everyone''s eyes again.


    But the strange light in her eyes damaged her beauty.


    This time, she had to keep Meredith from turning over.


    Meredith hurried back to the office after lunch. She was in a good mood and walked very briskly


    perhaps because she had made two annoying people embarrassed in noon.


    Back on the top floor of thepany, Meredith saw Derek from afar. The man''s tall back was outlined


    by the warm afternoon sun, making it impossible to take her eyes off the perfect body.


    Her heart beat a little erratically, but she adjusted her expression immediately and walked over as if


    nothing had happened.


    As she got closer, she saw a man beside Derek saying something excitedly to him, "This is Chloe''s


    graduation ceremony. You really don''t want to go? She will y publicly at this ceremony. This is an


    important moment in her life. If you miss it, you won''t have another chance."


    Derek was about to say something when he noticed Meredith walking over not far away. His brows


    furrowed, "Go to my office and we will talk about it."

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    "Who''s that?" Following Derek into the office, Asher nced at Meredith outside.


    This was a new face. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Derek would normally not let women work


    close to him.


    "... An employee." Derek hesitated for a moment, then answered slightly.


    Asher''s eyes were sharp, so he wouldn''t miss Derek''s momentary unnatural behavior. "Bloody hell. No


    way. You are interested in someone, aren''t you?"


    Derek was his buddy growing up. Asher knew him better than anyone else.


    If that girl was really an insignificant employee, Derek would hesitate?


    "Don''t ask, okay." Derek frowned and suddenly felt that talking to an excessively familiar person was a


    disturbing thing.


    "So, you''re not going to see Chloe?" Asher suddenly felt kind of sad.


    Derek and Chloe were the favorite power couple in their circle. Everyone envied them. There was a


    saying that seeing them, you knew what ideal love was.


    Asher felt a sense of loss when he saw they, two friends growing up, broke up.


    Without answering, Derek looked at the picture on the table, losing in thought for a moment.


    In the photo was a young couple with school uniforms, both of whom were eighteen or neen. At that


    time, they did not mature like this. Derek was held arm by Chloe, with a smile of amusement in his


    eyes.


    In a sh, it had been three years.


    "I''ll think about it." Derek put the photo down with a snap and looked at Asher. "You can go now."


    "So heartless? Who''s that girl outside? You are not interested in a love story about the president and


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    the cleaner, aren''t you?"


    Asher was not angry at being asked to leave. Instead, with a yful smile, he pointed at Meredith, who


    was wiping the ss. He was indeed kind of curious about this woman.


    He wondered she was special in what way and why Derek kept her by his side, although she was


    indeed good-looking.


    "Why are you so talkative? I need to work. If you want to stay, be quiet."


    Derek nced at Meredith, who was doing her own thing outside, and his eyes darkened. Then, he


    looked down at the document at hand, refusing to talk to Asher.


    Asher felt bored. He wasn''t interested in watching Derek work. It would be boring. Then he walked out,


    and behind Meredith, he patted her on the shoulder mischievously.


    Meredith was focusing on the work at hand, but she was suddenly touched and almost sprang.


    Meredith had been bothered by Leo several times these days, and she was almost allergic to others''


    touch.


    "Why did you react so strongly?" Asher looked at Meredith, who jumped away like a little rabbit, and his


    eyes were filled with interest.


    The woman was scared, and her eyes were glittering. Her face turned blushed, making her fairly


    adorable.


    Did Derek like this type now?


    Asher''s eyes darkened. As a mutual friend of Chloe and Derek, he definitely wanted them to get back


    together, so this woman was an obstacle.


    "Sorry, I was scared..." Meredith shook her head. She thought it was Leo and subconsciously wanted


    to avoid him.


    "Do you work here?"


    Meredith nodded. "Yes."


    Not knowing the person in front of her, Meredith wouldn''t say anything that shouldn''t be mentioned.


    "I''m Derek''s friend." Asher looked at her expression but found nothing unusual.


    "Well, what can I do for you?" Meredith was a little confused, but she asked politely.


    "Nothing. You seem to be the first female employee to enter this floor, which seems that Derek has a


    thing for you."


    "Really? I''m just here to clean up, and I don''t know anything else." Meredith quickly distanced herself


    from Derek.


    Asher saw that Meredith''s lips were sealed, so it was no use to keep asking. He could only smile


    embarrassedly. "All right. He is already in love with someone. I just remind you not to have a crush on


    him, which will hurt you atst."


    After saying that, Asher left. That was all he could do for Chloe.


    Meredith looked at that man''s back and then at the office. Through the window, she could only see


    Derek''s figure, but she couldn''t see what he was doing.


    Meredith had never thought that Derek would tell his friends who she was, but being directly told by his


    friend to stop having imaginations, still made her feel ufortable.


    It, perhaps, was Derek''s real thought, and he felt embarrassed to tell her, so he asked his friend to say


    that to her.


    What was she imagining at first?


    Derek helped her twice and she really fancied that he would fall in love with her?


    This was ridiculous. Patting her cheek, Meredith looked away.


    Unconsciously, it was the time to get off work.


    Meredith silently followed Derek and got into the car. The man couldn''t help but look at her and kind of


    noticed that she seemed a little depressed.


    Was Leo still bothering her?


    Derek was about to ask when his phone rang. The number on it changed his face, but he still got out of


    the car to answer the phone.


    It was Chloe.


    Derek and Chloe broke up because they had different opinions toward whether Chloe should be


    studying abroad. And since then, they never contacted each other again.


    They were both the chosen ones, who were surrounded as the core growing up. And both of them


    would not eat crow first.


    She had never returned to the country and had been chasing her music dream abroad. Derek had


    been lying on the hospital bed and never took the initiative to look for her when he woke up.


    He thought they would lose touch, but out of his expectation, Chloe called him.


    Derek was split for a moment, and he realized that he missed the phone.


    After a moment of contemtion, he called back.


    After the call was joined, they were silent for a moment. Then, Chloe smiled and said, "I just thought


    you didn''t want to answer my call."


    "Just missed that call. What''s wrong? You call me out of blue." Derek shook his head, a little resigned.


    In this world, it was only Chloe who dared to joke in front of him so unscrupulously.


    "Will youe to my graduation ceremony?" Chloe clenched her fingers.


    Three years ago, she left J City willfully. She had thought that Derek woulde to see her, but he did


    note atst. Bottled up her fury, she studied abroad, intentionally not caring for anything, and


    refused to return home.


    But out of her expectation, the reason why Derek hadn''t get in touch with her was that he had an


    ident.


    That was why she regained the courage to make this call.


    After drifting from ce to ce for so many years, meeting so many people, no one was better than


    Derek. After all, her favorite person was still Derek.

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    Derek stayed outside for a long time, which made Meredith a little curious about what he was saying.


    So she cautiously approached.


    She heard Derek''s voice. "I see. I will go. I wish you graduate smoothly."


    The voice sounded so gentle, which Meredith had never heard before, with the inclination of pampering


    the one he said to.


    Who was he talking to on the phone? Why did he show such tenderness?


    Meredith was lost in thought while listening. In her opinion, Derek was always cold and aloof. He was


    so perfect that he seemed like a god who is untouchable, giving people a deep sense of distance.


    However, it turned out that he would also show such tenderness to a person. It seemed that he was not


    indifferent to everyone. He was only kind to someone.


    However, she was not a special one. Thinking of that, Meredith felt a little distressed.


    At this time, Derek already finished the phone call. When he came back, he saw Meredith was thinking


    something. His whole body tilted over. He asked, "What are you doing?"


    Only then did Meredith recover herself, she quickly pretended to be looking for something. If Derek


    knew that she was listening to him in secret, he would be angry. "No, I''m looking for something..."


    Derek looked at her, who was slightly flustered. "What are you looking for?"


    "Something unimportant." Meredith shook her head. "Let''s hurry home."


    Derek nodded and did not ask any more questions, but Meredith turned her head to look at the rapidly


    passing scenery out of the window and then closed her eyes.


    They went back to the Xaviers. When having dinner, Derek reported to Mr. Xavier that he was going


    abroad for a period of time.


    Mr. Xavier naturally wouldn''t stop him. He nodded and agreed. "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re


    doing. Can''t you bear it anymore?"


    Chloe was a famous musician abroad for the moment. Mr. Xavier would also pay attention to the news


    about her.


    Meredith''s hand with chopsticks paused for a moment, her eyes darkening. She obviously knew that


    Mr. Xavier was teasing, but she would never know what he was teasing about.


    Derek should be looking for the person who called today. The person who could make him so gentle


    must be a very attractive woman.


    Derek took a look at Meredith, but Meredith had already been no more abnormal and looked very calm.


    "Don''t you have anything to say?" Looking at Meredith''s expressionless face, Derek was slightly cold in


    his voice.


    "Of course. If I do... Have a safe trip?" Meredith opened her mouth and said it appropriately. Then she


    got up and said, "I''m done eating. I''ll go back to my room and rest."


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    When she left, Mr. Xavier nodded. "It seems that She is quite sensible. When you really decide who


    you want to be with, you won''t have any trouble divorcing Meredith. That''s the best."


    Won''t it cause any trouble...


    Derek looked at the empty seat that Meredith had just sat in. For some reason, her performance of


    being sensible did not make him happy.


    Derek got up early in the following day. Because it was the weekend, Meredith was still sleeping.


    Looking at her who was sleeping sound, Derek felt angry inexplicably.


    Knowing that he was leaving, she was still sleeping like a dead pig. Was this woman so heartless?


    Thinking about it, Derek walked past Meredith who was sleeping on the ground and pretended to


    identally kick her foot.


    "What''s the matter?" Meredith was just lying on the bed in a daze. She didn''t sleep very well. When


    getting kicked, she sat up immediately and thought something had happened.


    "I''m leaving." Derek nced at her.


    "Mmm." Meredith stretched and responded indifferently.


    Well, what did that mean? Meredith''s indifference made Derek even more unhappy. "Don''t you have


    anything to say?"


    Meredith felt interesting and looked at him.


    She wasn''t a fool. When she came backst night, she thought it through. She was afraid that Derek


    had someone to pursue, so he kept getting people to remind her so that she wouldn''t have any


    improper desires.


    So what else did she need to do? Should she cry and beg him not to divorce her, or should she appear


    so sad as if she had suffered a huge hit?


    Even if she did, Derek would not be with someone like her. She might as well keep her dignity. In this


    way, maybe the Xaviers would appreciate her and not find fault with her in the future.


    "Nothing to say. I just hope you have a good trip."


    Meredith felt bored after saying that. She got up and went into the bathroom.


    Derek frowned as he watched the slender figure disappear.


    When Meredith came out of the bathroom, Derek had already left. Looking at the empty room again,


    she wore a helpless smile on her face.


    Maybe, she wouldn''t be staying here long, would she?


    Should she go out and find a house in case of being homeless in the future?


    After thinking about it, Meredith felt it was necessary to find a house. So she packed her things and


    went out to see if there was a suitable ce to live in.


    However, as soon as she got off the bus and took a few steps, her phone rang. It was a call from


    someone she didn''t know.


    Meredith answered, and a vicious curse came from the phone. "You''re the bitch who ruined the


    rtionship of Ava. Why are you so cheap to seduce her boyfriend?"


    Meredith''s face darkened and immediately hung up the phone. Her face was full of confusion. What


    was that? Was that Ava''s new trick? How could Ava be so bored? Did Ava really think that this would


    bring Meredith down?


    But soon, Meredith couldn''t think of it that way. From that call on, she was constantly being called by


    countless strangers. If she didn''t answer, the calls woulde in one after another. Her inbox was


    soon filled with abusive text messages.


    Because these calls came too fast, Meredith''s phone was out of operation. Soon, the battery of the


    phone was decreasing to the half.


    Only then did Meredith realize that things weren''t as simple as she thought. She unplugged the card


    and found a ce to surf the Inte with the wifi. Then she turned on her phone and quickly searched


    for her phone number. Maybe someone leaked her number, which caused this.


    Soon, a post from an online forum popped up in the search page.


    Meredith looked at the headline. "Finding an evil woman who is jealous of her sister: In order to seek


    revenge, she seduces her brother-inw."


    Needless to say, the evil woman of this post must be Meredith.


    Meredith stopped the anger in her mind and continued to read.


    The author of the post was quite good at telling a story, who wrote a lot of partly true things. The story


    was about how the evil elder sister was repeatedly finding fault with the younger sister, who was both


    good in character and study.


    The younger sister was so aggrieved that she deserved to sympathy, while the older sister was like an


    evil woman in a fairy tale, who had done all the evil things.


    If Meredith didn''t know that the author was writing about her, she would have been stirred up.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    Meredith continued to read. Once posted, the post received plenty of attention with lots of discussions


    online. And almost all of the following replies were about scolding the shameless weird sister involved


    in the post.


    Right at this time, someizens sent out Meredith''s contact information, which caused her cell phone


    to be bombarded by arge number of phone calls and junk messages.


    In the end, Meredith was expressionless and could only add weakly, "There is no evidence, why can''t


    we calm down a bit?"


    However, no one listened to Meredith. Instead, they attacked her in groups, "Since you are so


    enthusiastic about defending the mistress. Aren''t you that the weird person yourself?"


    "People like you are so disgusting. I hope you also have a sister like that, who will hurt you without


    paying the cost."


    Meredith looked at the unreasonable attacks and knew that things were getting out of hand at this


    point. If she didn''t take action soon, these people would probably go crazier.


    Unfortunately, the phone was no longer usable, so Meredith could only borrow the clerk''s phone and


    called Ava.


    "What the hell are you going to do? Posting this kind of post on the inte and putting my contact


    information on it. What benefits will it serve you?"


    Meredith''s voice was cold, and her words were rude. She had already shown her great restraint by


    talking to this culprit with sense.


    If not, Meredith really wanted to rush over to Ava, pped her in the face, and kicked her hard as to


    vent her anger.


    "Benefits? Seeing you sad is the best thing for me." Ava listened to Meredith''s angry voice and smiled


    strangely.


    Enjoying watching her delicate makeup in the mirror, Ava said with pride, "Meredith, you were so


    sessful before and thought that you could outshine me, didn''t you? Do you think Derek will protect


    you without conditions once he fucked you? I tell you, this is actually just the beginning..."


    As soon as she finished speaking, Meredith found that the post had been updated again. There was a


    new video on it, and the cover of the video was exactly the scene when Leo came to look for her that


    day!


    However, the angle of shooting the video was very nted, so it seemed in the video that the man and


    the woman were doing something intimate.


    No, it was fake... It was not real!


    Meredith''s eyes were widened as she watched the scene, her breathing was sped up. The video was


    so suggestive that it looked like she was trying to seduce Leo.


    "Hey, why does this woman look so familiar?"


    Just as Meredith was in a panic, the clerk ying with the phone suddenly looked up and stared at


    Meredith for a few seconds. Then, he screamed, "It''s her, the mistress in the video!"


    Meredith immediately stood up. Fortunately, there weren''t many people in the shop, so only a few


    people looked over. She quickly dropped a bill and ran out with her sleeves covering her face.


    Ava was really ruthless enough to release such a video in order to destroy her. Did Ava not even care


    about the reputation of Leo?


    Hiding in an empty corner, Meredith shuddered as she swiped her phone, knowing that there was


    nothing on it that she wanted to see, but she just couldn''t control herself.


    Sure enough, the moment the video was released, the post got exploded, and everyone''s emotions


    were ignited in an instant. Many people were even thinking about how to find the identity of the woman


    on the screen so that everyone around her would know her true colors. In this way, this mistress in the


    video would never be forgotten for what she had done.


    Meredith read the results of the discussion, the appalling ways of retaliation, and felt cold with fear.


    It was a freezing day in the severe winter, but Meredith felt that the chill in her heart was far greater


    than the coldness felt by her body.


    What should she do... How could she break this situation manipted by Ava?


    Derek got off the long flight and had just walked out of the airport when he was stopped by a blond,


    blue-eyed foreign girl, who said she wanted to take a picture with him.


    Derek had always disliked taking photos, so when he heard this request, he naturally refused.


    However, the girl refused to give up easily. Just as Derek had a headache in dealing with this, a light


    and an elegant voice rang out, "I''m sorry, Miss. He''s my boyfriend. Can you please leave him alone?"


    When the girl saw Chloe, who was pretty with the decent dress, she curled her lips and finally left.


    "I do not realize you are still so popr after so many years..." Chloe walked over with a smile, her


    approachable manner without a trace of distance made Derek feel close.


    "It was just an ident. No, that girl..." Derek shook his head and was about to say something when he


    realized that the foreign girl had just stolen his phone.


    But where else could she be found in the vast sea of people?


    "It seems that you are not the only one that attracts her, but also your money!" Chloe was delighted to


    see Derek in such a difficult situation.


    Derek smiled, too. It was just a cell phone, so naturally he wound not care about it much, "I haven''t


    seen you for a few years, but you''re still the same."


    "Let''s go. I''ll buy you a meal. As for the phone... Use mine first. It''s rare to go abroad for once, so just


    rx and leave domestic affairs alone. How do you like it?"


    Derek frowned. He was never the kind of person who would leave everything behind to have fun.


    However, Chloe insisted that this was the only day for this asion. And he could not refuse anymore.


    So he could only agree with it.


    "Well, let''s start our foreign trip now." Chloe could not help feeling rejoiced in her heart when Derek


    agreed with her little reckless request.


    Meredith did not know how long she had been outside until her body got stiffened from the cold. She


    then stood up numbly.


    She couldn''t be knocked down so easily. She couldn''t...


    But just as Meredith was about to leave, suddenly, a message was sent to her cell phone. It was about


    Leo''s press conference.


    Leo''s engagement with Ava had long been a good story in J City, so Leo had toe forward to rify


    all this.


    "I''m sorry about what happened, but ultimately, it was Ava''s sister who provoked us repeatedly that day


    and even made my grandfather angry enough to be hospitalized."


    "I then went to talk with her alone in a moment of urgency and wanted her to give up on these boring


    actions. I didn''t expect her to take the initiative to throw herself into my arms, so I could not push her


    away in time. It was my fault that Ava had been hurt by this so badly. I me myself for this."


    "You''re lying!" Meredith looked at Leo''s face on the screen, who was obviously lying about the truth.


    But he said it in a way as if it had really happened.


    After Leo finished speaking, Ava also came out. Her eyes were a little red and swollen, which did not


    undermine her beauty but brought her some disposition of pity. People could not help feeling sorry for


    Ava seeing her like this.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "I believe brother Leo. We''ve been together for so many years and I know what kind of person he is,


    but I really hope my sister can stop using such childish and boring tricks."


    "Brother Leo''s grandfather has been in the hospital, and my mother is crying because of this. Father


    sighs all day long. Sister, as long as you are willing to admit your mistake and promise not to do it


    again, we are still a family."

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    With a few words, Ava helped Leo push all the responsibility onto Meredith and set up a perfect image


    of a kind and innocent victim for herself.


    For a moment, the camera shlight was snapping at Ava, as if to record every scene of such a


    wonderful woman.


    Meredith gripped her phone tightly and she almost had the urge to smash the screen. Ava was so cruel


    and pushed her into an impasse with just a few words.


    Next, no matter what she said or did would be seen wrong. Unless she could find out where the w


    was in the video.


    "That''s it." Meredith''s eyes lit up. The video clearly looked a little strange. At least, Leo was the one


    who ran over and kissed her that day.


    But what she saw just now was the opposite. In the video, she was holding Leo with her hand and


    kissing his lips, which caused so many people to get angry.


    After working so long in the film and television industry, Ava had obtained wide connections, and it''s not


    difficult for her to find someone to do this!


    As this thought, Meredith thought there was no time for her to continue sulking here, and she had to


    find the w in the video as soon as possible to prove her innocence.


    As she thought about it, she quickly stood up and walked out with her head down. However, before she


    could take a few steps, she was hit by a middle-aged woman. That woman looked at her and then


    grabbed her wrist, and said in a disdainful tone, "Why do you look so familiar? Are you the mistress


    who seduced your sister''s boyfriend?"


    The woman''s voice was loud and shrill, and soon attracted the attention of the people around them.


    Meredith was horrified by the cold and contemptuous gaze and tried to pull her hand out. "Let go of me.


    I didn''t do that. Let go!"


    Seeing that Meredith still had the strength to roar and was so unrepentant and refused to apologize till


    now, the middle-aged woman suddenly became angry, "Do you still have the face to yell at others?


    Your kind of person living in the world is a waste of air. Since you don''t even listen to your parents, then


    let society teach you a good lesson!"


    "Look, this kind of shameless person who seduces other people''s boyfriends should be stripped off and


    thrown on the street! That''s the price for you being so slutty!"


    As she spoke, the woman reached out with both hands. Meredith subconsciously covered her face,


    and those two hands quicklynded on her cor. With a piercing sound, they ripped a hole in her T-


    shirt.


    "You''re crazy!" Meredith tried to dodge, but that woman was almost a size bigger than her, and her


    movements were especially fierce, suppressing her not to move.


    "You aremitting a crime!" Seeing that she was serious, Meredith yelled out in a panicked voice.


    When the woman heard this, sheughed out loud and said, "Committing a crime? Do you think


    anyone would care if I strip a mistress and show her to the public?"


    Meredith''s eyes swept over the crowd.


    A lot of passers-by gathered around when they saw such a bustle. Seeing that a young woman was


    about to be undressed and made a public appearance, they did not want to stop that woman but


    gathered around and looked at Meredith''s uncollected appearance, chattering loudly.


    "Is she teaching a mistress a lesson? It looks like she''s going to strip her off and show her to the


    public."


    "This kind of shameless woman deserves it no matter what. I heard that she doesn''t even let her


    brother-inw off. She''s too frenzied!"


    "She asked for it. I''ll take a picture and post it online in a while, and maybe I can be popr because of


    this!"


    Meredith felt a sense of helplessness as she listened to those people who had nothing to do with this


    matter discussing her and even gloating at her.


    And her pained appearance obviously made the perpetrator feel very happy, and her hands moved


    even more fiercely. With another violent tug, Meredith''s top was pulled down by more than half,


    revealing the bra inside. Her white skin was exposed in the air, which was extremely eye-catching.


    "Well, she looks so delicate and tender. No wonder she can seduce men!"


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "Strip off, strip off, making this woman disgraced!"


    There was an indifferent roar from the crowd. Some even took out their cell phones and started taking


    pictures of her.


    There were even a lot of lewd men who were almost drooling at the sight of it, and as if they wished


    they could go up and help that woman tear up all her clothes...


    "No, let go. You''re crazy. Let go of me!" Meredith struggled desperately, trying hard to pull the fabric on


    her body to cover her in case revealing anything.


    If someone really took that kind of video or photo on the street, even if she rified and proved her


    innocenceter, she would still live under the contempt of others for the rest of her life. She didn''t want


    it...


    The desperation in her heart made Meredith gain strength. She actually pushed the woman in front of


    her away, rushed to a girl, grabbed her phone, ran away, and dialed Derek''s number.


    Everything happened at lightning speed. Even Meredith didn''t have time to think about why she thought


    of Derek first. She only knew that she needed someone to help her.


    "That''s the iPhone I just bought..."


    The girl whose cell phone was robbed started to cry, and Meredith''s resistance obviously provoked


    anger in the crowd, "Not only is she a mistress but also a robber?"


    Immediately, a lot of people chased after her. Meredith noticed and her heart became even more


    flustered. She did not dare to stop, and could only pray that the phone would get through quickly.


    However, what Meredith received was not Derek''s voice but a cold electronic voice, "I''m sorry, the


    subscriber you dialed is unanswered..."


    She continued to call, but no matter how many times she tried, the result was the same: no one


    answered!


    Meredith suddenly recalled that Derek went abroad this time to find the one he liked. Since that was the


    case, how could he pay attention to her? She was full of herself after all and was pitifully foolish.


    Her heart sank slowly. At this moment, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes saw Meredith hiding in the


    bushes, "She''s here!"


    As he spoke, the middle-aged man came over with a dirty look on his face. Just as he saw Meredith


    being stripped of half of her clothes, he was already excited. He thought that even if he touched this


    kind of woman, no one would say anything, so he looked for her very actively and carefully.


    He didn''t expect himself to run into her!


    Meredith took two steps back and was about to continue her escape when someone came up behind


    her. The man rushed up and tore at her clothes on the pretext of getting the phone back, "How can you


    grab that girl''s phone? Return it quickly, you shameless woman!"


    Sensing that the greasy and dirty hand was about tond on her, Meredith even had the urge to die


    with him.


    She would rather die than to be tainted by such a person.


    But just as Meredith''s mind was filled with crazy thoughts, in the midst of chaos, a cold and stern voice


    rang out suddenly, "What are you doing? Stop!"

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59


    A group of people around Meredith were stunned. The man''s voice was so firm that no one dared to


    question it.


    Meredith looked up and saw Parkering from outside. She felt a little d and a little inexplicable


    lost.


    When she heard someone stop her, the first person that came to her mind was not him...


    But that person, after all, would nevere.


    Parker looked at Meredith''s disheveled appearance. Her clothes were torn into a mess and some dirt


    and bruises were left on her fair skin. He knew just now she must have been treated quite roughly.


    The more Parker looked, the angrier he became. With a cold face, he yelled, "Are you people crazy?


    You''re doing this in public!"


    As he spoke, he stepped forward and gently picked up Meredith, who was sitting in a mess on the


    ground. He carefully looked at her to see if there were any scars on her body, then took off his suit


    jacket and draped it over her to cover up the charming body.


    "How are you? Are you okay? Are you getting hurt?"


    After he helped Meredith up, she shook her head. "I''m fine... Are you here to help me?"


    Meredith''s eyes sparkled with uncertainty. She didn''t know if he would believe her.


    Parker looked at her uneasy face, but her eyes were still as clean as ever, without a trace of guilt. He


    felt a dull pain in his heart so he nodded. "I believe you are innocent, so I came to help you."


    It was only then that Meredith had the feeling of seeing the light. The string that had been tensed up in


    her heart all the time broke and her feet softened. Then she almost fell to the ground.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    What happened that day was a great torment to her mind and body, and she was already suffocating.


    Now that she met Parker, she loosened her strength and was unable to hold on.


    Parker immediately reached out to hold her and looked at the people who still refused to leave. "You


    are allmitting a crime. If the truth of the matter is that she was wronged, I hope you will deeply


    repent for your behaviors now."


    People present who looked at Parker''s stern expression didn''t dare to say anything more. The man


    took out Meredith''s phone and threw his business card at the girl. "I''ll pay you for all your losses."


    Then, he picked Meredith up and walked to the car parked beside him.


    "Oh my god, that man is so handsome. He is the president of apany. He is really tall, rich and


    handsome!"


    After Parker left, the quiet crowd regained its mor.


    "What''s the use of being tall, rich, and handsome? He must be a scumbag after being bewitched by a


    vixen."


    "What is this woman capable of, hooking up with one and the next will continue toe to her, and all


    of them are rich and handsome?"


    These words came to Meredith''s ears from afar, and she suddenly woke up from the blur of self-


    protection. Only then did she realize that Parker was holding her and walked on the street in public.


    "No, put me down. I''ll... Get you into trouble," Meredith said bitterly.


    Now, she was the third mistress that all men hated and nobody would care if she was dead. If Parker


    messed up with her, his reputation would definitely be affected.


    Meredith didn''t want to involve him.


    "Are you stupid? Now that you look like this, can I leave you alone?"


    Parker was angry and heartbroken. This woman, on the other hand, was very considerate of others but


    did not care about her own situation.


    "But..." Although Parker''s words were blunt and unpleasant to hear, Meredith could tell that he was


    concerned about her, so she felt even more guilty.


    "No but. Do you still think I''m your friend? Come back with me, I''ll help you."


    The word "Friend" fell into Meredith''s ear, warming her cold heart immediately.


    Meredith nodded and stopped rejecting Parker''s help. After a while, she suddenly said, "That video was


    fake. Leo came to me that day. That''s where I work. How could I run into him there and pester him so


    coincidentally and get a video taken?"


    "And that day, it was him..."


    Meredithdu couldn''t say the rest. Parker nodded, stuffed her into the sports car, and fastened her seat


    belt. "I believe what you said is true, but only my believing is not enough. We must make everyone


    understand that these are all lies."


    Meredith nodded and then looked at Parker, who was driving, and said, "Why would you believe me?"


    From the beginning until now, Meredith could not remember what she had shown to deserve his trust.


    But Parker still believed herpletely and did not suspect her at all.


    The man''s hand, which was holding the steering wheel, stiffed for a moment before he pulled open a


    cynical grin. "Man''s seventh sense, can it make sense?"


    "I''m asking you seriously." Meredith was not fooled by him and stared at him seriously.


    "It''s really just a feeling, can you believe it? From the first time I saw you, I knew you weren''t a bad


    person." Parker took advantage of the red light time and looked over.


    In his dark eyes, there was no banter, only sincerity.


    "I believe it." Meredith looked into his eyes and suddenly felt the urge to cry.


    Since leaving prison, apart from Julius, who had been helping her since the beginning, and her missing


    mother, Meredith had no one to trust. She had always given up on the idea that no one would be


    friends with her anymore.


    Parker, on the other hand, was the first person to believe in her like this. She thought it was rare and


    valuable, but she was also afraid of losing it.


    "But, I''m not as simple as you think. I... I had a very dark past. If you knew about this, would you not


    believe me?"


    It took a long time for Meredith to speak out her thoughts, but to say those words out that she did not


    dare to say had almost hollowed me out.


    "Life is so long. Who doesn''t have any secrets, and who can never make mistakes? To be honest, I''ve


    done some absurd things before and hurt others. Am I not going to live a good life? So, I only pay


    attention to a person''s situation now."


    "No matter what your past is, I believe you won''t be a bad person, so I''m willing to help you."


    After Parker finished speaking, Meredith lowered her head and her eyes felt sore. Soon, a wave of wet


    water came up. She wiped her face without a trace, then pressed down the crying voice to say,


    "...Thank you, really. Thank you."


    Parker nced at Meredith, who was huddled in the chair, not showing any signs of weakness. Her


    legs were wet with tears, but she still pretended to be strong.


    For a moment, Parker felt helpless and heartbroken in his heart. After all, he still didn''t say anything.


    Since Meredith didn''t want to be seen crying, he could only respect her thoughts, but one day, he would


    let her open her heart to him.

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60


    Parker took Meredith to an apartment that no one lived in and then gave her a key.


    "Now that the video is everywhere, you should not go outside and you make a phone call to your family.


    This apartment is empty and there are not many people around. The paparazzi couldn''t find this ce.


    You can stay here for now."


    Meredith was a little embarrassed at first, but after thinking about it, she realized that it would be even


    worse for her if she were outside and was found by the paparazzi.


    As for her family, she believed that those people of the Xaviers would not be willing to get involved in


    such trouble. As for the Masons... They were to me for all of it and they even wished she could die


    outside.


    "Thank you. I don''t know how to express my gratitude, but if you need my help in the future, I will not


    hesitate to be there for you."


    Meredith looked at Parker gratefully and said earnestly.


    However, what she said made Parker pull a wry face. She said it as if she wanted to be his sworn


    brother, but he brought her back not for her to treat him as her good buddy.


    "Really? Then give me a kiss as a reward." Parker teased Meredith with a smile.


    Meredith was startled and goggled at Parker. She couldn''t believe what she had heard and


    unconsciously took a step back.


    Seeing her reaction, Parker could only shake his head, "It was a joke. Don''t be too nervous."


    Meredith nodded, but she was still a little defensive until Parker raised his hands, "Sorry, I was just


    talking nonsense. I''ve got a big mouth, but I don''t have the guts."


    Seeing his bitter face, Meredith couldn''t help but smile. Then she thought of something, and said shyly,


    "I... I want to take a shower first."


    Just now Meredith didn''t feel ufortable, but at this moment she felt disgusted at the thought of


    being touched by those lousy people today.


    Especially when she thought of that creepy middle-aged man touching her clothes with his greasy


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    hands, she felt so disgusted.


    "You can take a shower first. I''ll go to the other room to check the video. By the way, give me your


    phone. I''ll take care of the phone calls for you."


    Parker nodded, telling that Meredith could take the shower. Then he took her phone, set it to the mode


    that would only ept calls and text messages from contacts. Soon, the phone, which had been


    vibrating all the time, quieted down.


    Then, he opened the post again and began to check thements carefully, trying to find some clues.


    All of a sudden, Meredith''s cell phone rang.


    Parker wanted to give the phone to her. But it was inconvenient for Meredith to answer the phone since


    she was in the shower. So he just left it there, but the caller was very persistent and kept calling.


    Finally, he could only pick it up and tried to exin it to the caller.


    "Hello?" Parker''s voice came from the receiver. Derek''s face darkened immediately.


    He had just called the Xaviers to let them know he was fine when his grandfather asked him to stay


    abroad for a few more days, but he refused to tell him what had happened.


    Derek subconsciously thought that it might have something to do with Meredith, so he called her. But


    he did not expect that the person who answered the phone was not her, but a man instead.


    Why would her cell phone held by a man?


    "Who is that?" Derek said coldly in an unkind tone.


    "This is a friend of Meredith''s. It''s not convenient for her to answer the phone right now." Parker was a


    little embarrassed, trying to avoid the caller from misunderstanding him.


    His voice was somewhat familiar, but Parker could not remember who it was for a moment.


    "I''m looking for Meredith. Put her on the phone."


    Just as Derek was holding his anger, suddenly a scream of a woman came from the receiver. As for the


    voice which he would not have misheard, it was Meredith''s voice.


    "What''s wrong?" Parker heard the noise and hurriedly ran over, ignoring the phone call.


    "The light in the bathroom just went out."


    Meredith''s frightened voice came from the bathroom, and at the same time, Parker heard the rustling


    sound of her wearing clothes.


    When Derek heard her, his handsome face immediately turned as ck as the bottom of a pot. The


    word "bathroom" and the faint sound of water that he had just heard all exined one thing... Meredith


    was with a man, and she was taking a shower.


    "Damn it." Derek hung up the phone quickly and nced at Chloe, who was shopping nearby. All of a


    sudden, he lost interestpletely.


    All he wanted to do now was to go back to the J City and find this bold woman and let her know how


    she should behave as his wife.


    Chloe bought a pair of couple rings in the store and was about to let Derek wear itter in the name of


    betting. However, when she returned to the ce where he was just now, he had already gone.


    Just as she was about to look for him, Derek sent a text message, "I''m sorry, there''s something urgent


    back home. I have to go back immediately."


    Chloe''s smile froze on her face, and she threw out the rings in her hand, then sat on the bench, almost


    crying out of grievance.


    Derek would never have done this to her in the past. He loved her so much that no matter what


    happened, it was not as important as her. But now everything had changed.


    The huge gap between her memory and the reality made Chloe feel extremely unbnced. It took her


    a long time to calm down. She did not believe that their long-term rtionship was so weak. She must


    let Derek fall in love with her again.


    ...


    Meredith came out embarrassedly in her bathrobe.


    Her face was red from the steaming heat, and she was much cuter than usual. Her hair was still wet,


    and the drops of water fell down from the ends of her hair and slid down along her fine corbone into


    the slightlyrger clothes.


    Parker only nced at her and quickly moved his eyes away. Sometimes, this kind of unconscious


    move attracted people more than a deliberate temptation.


    "The circuits must have been aged since the apartment has been empty for a long time. Sorry, I forgot


    how long it had been since the apartment was properly checked, but I''ll get someone to fix itter."


    Meredith grunted and pulled her bathrobe, feeling a little ufortable, "I need another suit of


    clothes."


    Her clothes were dirty and it was too dark just now, so Meredith could only wear the bathrobe inside


    first. However, it was obviously not the right size for a woman. She had to tie the belt to the tightest so


    that her cor wouldn''t suddenly be wide open.


    Parker nodded quickly and went out to make a phone call. On the balcony, he looked through the ss


    at how embarrassed Meredith was and felt a little parched and attracted.


    Therefore, he told his assistant to prepare a few conservative suits of clothes immediately so that


    Meredith wouldn''t be walking in front of him like this, which was also a great test of his willpower.


    "I''ve already sent someone to do it." Parker came back from the phone call and saw Meredith staring at


    the post in a daze, "You said that the video in the post is not real. I just watched it. The person who


    made it was very cautious, and I could find nothing for now."


    When Meredith heard this, she was a little disappointed and looked at the video again which only


    As she watched, she suddenly pressed the pause button, "Wait, here..."

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61


    Meredith pointed to a corner of the screen and reyed that piece of video.


    Parker also walked over and stared at where Meredith pointed. At first, he didn''t see anything special,


    but a momentter, he realized that there was an electric car driving through that blurry corner.


    That car actually drove backward!


    What exactly happened became clear in an instant.


    This video was processed by a specialist and was inverted and clipped. Although the person edited the


    video very carefully, he still missed such a small detail.


    The discovery made both of them jump with joy. Parker immediately called his men and asked them to


    process the video, and began to dispel the rumors.


    Meredith''s anxious heart rxed a lot. In order to deal with this matter better, Parker left for the


    With a sigh of relief, Meredith turned on her phone and saw a call log from abroad. She immediately


    thought of Derek.


    After a moment of hesitation, she called back.


    The call went through quickly.


    "I see you calling."


    Hearing Meredith''s voice, Derek, who was driving to the airport to return home, had a sarcastic smile


    on his lips and cold anger in his eyes. "So? Are you unhappy because I interrupt your business?"


    Meredith was stunned by what he was saying, but the man''s obvious sarcasm made her unable to


    ignore him. "What are you talking about?"


    "Meredith, how lonely are you? You immediately hook up with another man as long as I leave. Can''t


    you just leave men even in a day?"


    Derek could not suppress his anger when he thought of the sound of the man on the phone just now


    and the sound of Meredith bathing in the bathroom. His hands were holding the steering wheel and the


    veins in his hands were exposed.


    Meredith was choked by his straightforward words. So he also saw the news?


    And he, after knowing about those things between her and Ava, still chose to trust them and turned to


    doubt her...


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    Suddenly, Meredith felt suffocated as if a ball of cotton blocked up her heart. After a long time, she


    sneered, "Really? Since you like to think this way, do as you like. I''m tired. Goodbye."


    After that, she hung up the phone directly. Derek heard the busy tone and mmed the steering wheel


    in his hand. The car horn was honked by him, making a piercing hoot.


    Meredith threw her phone aside, and the ufortable feeling still enveloped her.


    She thought that Derek just didn''t know about it, and maybe he would believe her if he knew that.


    But now, it was so ironic and she seemed to just tter herself. How could Derek believe her when he


    hated her so much?


    Everything was just an illusion.


    Burying her face deep in the middle of her knees, Meredith closed her eyes with force.


    Not long after, Parker''s men finished processing the video.


    Looking at the clear and straightforward evidence, Meredith felt a little uneasy. At this time, Ava''s


    phone call came in.


    Ava''s voice was clearly smug, and obviously, she wanted to see the fruits of her victory.


    Just now, Ava had seen the video recorded by passers-by on the inte, in which Meredith''s


    embarrassing appearance pleased her very well, so she wanted to make a phone call and listen to


    Meredith''s desperate cries.


    "How is it, sister? Do you have a good day? I see you almost being stripped off clothes on the street.


    It''s a pity that they don''t seed. Otherwise, you will be famous!"


    "Do you think I''m so longing for the attention of others just like you?" Meredith sneered. She knew


    exactly what Ava meant that she just want to see Meredith in pain and helplessness.


    She would not show any weakness in front of her, because such weakness would only make such


    viins happy.


    Ava felt something was wrong. She thought Meredith would break down quickly under such an attack,


    but now her voice listened normal and even calmer than before?


    "You... That''s not right. Stop acting. I know you must be crying in a dark corner right now. Well,e


    out and kneel down to me to apologize earnestly. Maybe I''ll forgive you as along as I''m happy."


    "Don''t think about it. Ava, have you rewound and clipped that video?"


    Ava widened her eyes, looking at her phone in disbelief. That video was edited by the professional


    team she hired and had been checked for several times, so it was impossible to have anything wrong!


    "Are you fishing for the information?" Ava''s voice was not that confident, but she still pretended to be


    calm.


    "You will know soon." Meredith sneered. By this time, the people who were arranged by Parker had


    already begun to release the rification video.


    Under the operation of a professional PRpany, the video quickly became a hit. Ava looked at the


    carefully edited video and found her ws illustrated in it. She was so angry and dropped her phone.


    "Trash, a bunch of trash. Such easy stuff can''t be done well."


    Thinking about it, Ava paced back and forth. She had already shown her face in this matter. If the truth


    was revealed, although it would not cause a fatal blow to her, her innocent image that had been


    portrayed for a long time would be tainted.


    Moreover, everyone would know that it was Leo who took the initiative to hook up with Meredith. With


    Leo''s temper, if his reputation was really affected, he would definitely be angry with her, the person who


    caused this thing.


    What could she do?


    Ava was very angry. She thought it would be a great opportunity to ruin Meredith''s fame, but it seemed


    that she shot herself in the foot. How could she receive this?

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62


    The public rtionspany Parker found was very effective in controlling public opinion, but Ava was


    not willing to give up, so her Inte water army and her brainless fans came inrge numbers to the


    the show.


    Therefore, suddenly, there was a heated discussion on the Inte.


    Fortunately, the evidence Meredith found was conclusive for the average person could make clear what


    was going on.


    As the public opinion was about toe back under control, Ava suddenly called again.


    Meredith answered. She expected Ava''s angry voice, but out of her expectation, Ava was very calm.


    Ava''s behavior was so abnormal that it immediately alerted Meredith.


    "Meredith, I am negligent in this matter, but don''t becent. Now that I haven''t exposed the fact


    that you have ever been in prison. Do you want everyone to know that you''re a criminal who''s been out


    of prison for only a few months?"


    Meredith''s hand froze, and she felt a chill running against her blood. Ava''s words woke her up from the


    joy of her sessful counterattack.


    Ava was right. She still got something on her. She could spread the news that she had ever been to jail.


    In that case, even if Meredith rified that she was the other woman, she couldn''t remove the stigma of


    being a criminal so that she would live under everyone''s strange eyes for the rest of her life and would


    never get back up.


    "Think about it. I know it''s Parker who''s helping you now, but will he still help you when he knows you''re


    a criminal?"


    Ava hung up the phone. Meredith sat on the ground with a zed look in her eyes and her phone


    slipped through her powerless hands.


    At this moment, she had the urge to smash everything in front of her.


    It was unfair that Ava easily pinned the me on her for hitting someone, and now Ava threatened her


    with this me in a superior tone.


    Was there justice and fairness in this world?


    When Parker came back with the things he had bought, he saw Meredith sitting motionless on the


    ground.


    Herplexion, which was already fairer than ordinary people, was now abnormally pale. Her usually


    bright eyes were dim, and she looked like a fragile doll, emitting a depressing sense of despair.


    This sense of despair made Parker''s heart tremble. He rushed over immediately and patted Meredith


    on the shoulder where his hand felt cold.


    Only then did Parker realize that she was sitting on the floor in a thin bathrobe  and that she didn''t even


    turn on the air conditioner. In this cold winter, she was still sitting on the cold floor. What exactly


    happened?


    Parker, however, didn''t have time to think too much. He picked Meredith up from the ground, stuffed


    her into a thick quilt, and then turned on the air conditioner to the highest temperature.


    "What''s wrong, Meredith? What happened?"


    "Mr. He, stop. I''m sorry. I''m too useless..."


    It took Meredith a long time to react. Her eyshes were trembling. She couldn''t even tell Parker why


    she did this. She didn''t know how the man in front of her would treat her after learning that she had


    been in prison...


    If he left her, Meredith really didn''t know what to do.


    "Why?" Parker could not understand her words, but he was sure that something happened to her.


    "I..."


    Meredith couldn''t say it out, so she buried her head in the quilt dejectedly.


    Meredith was like an ostrich with her head in the quilt. Parker looked at the little woman who began to


    deceive herself, feeling helpless, but he still patiently persuaded, "Aren''t we friends? You can say


    anything. Believe me."


    Meredith hesitated for a long time, but Parker waited patiently. Finally, she mustered up the courage to


    say, "I''m going to tell you a very unbelievable story. Do you really want to hear it?"


    Parker nodded.


    Meredith then told him everything. She told him about her nightmare encounters on her 18th birthday.


    She had thought that she would not tell anyone about this dark past before the case was overturned.


    Parker listened in silence. The more he listened, the darker his eyes became. It was hard to guess


    what he was thinking.


    Meredith quieted down and waited anxiously for Parker''s reaction, but he remained silent, like a statue,


    without saying a word.


    He probably didn''t believe her words either...


    Meredith suddenly felt stupid telling him this. If she heard someone say such a strange story for no


    reason, she would only think that this person was shirking responsibility.


    What''s more, after Meredith went to prison, The Masons began to do pro bono devotedly and invested


    in a lot of not-for-profit social organizations in order to maintain the image and reputation of The


    Masons. The Masons was already known for its contribution to charity.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith, on the other hand, was merely a prisoner, and her reputation had long been ruined by Ava''s


    deliberate scheme.


    Ava was a renowned phnthropist; Meredith, a wretched prisoner. How could normal people believe


    thetter?


    "I''m sorry, I''m leaving now..." Meredith lifted the quilt and stood up, intending to leave.


    She didn''t want to be pointed at by her nose and driven out. She volunteered to leave, so no one would


    be too embarrassed.


    "Stop, wait a minute. I believe what you said." Seeing that she was staggering to leave, Parker quickly


    pressed her down. "You are so weak now, where else can you go? Besides, there are people outside


    who want to find something against you. You stay here."


    Meredith looked at him, her eyes full of disbelief, but also a little joy, "You really believe me?"


    Parker nodded heavily. "But it was... was beyond the limits of the average person''s imagination."


    After saying that, Parker''s deep eyes looked at Meredith''s pale face. His eyes were filled with worries


    and other inexplicable emotions.


    Meredith was a little embarrassed by his stare, and her face blushed. She quickly lowered her head


    and said, "Thank you."


    "Never mind. I know what you''re worried about. Don''t worry, I''ll settle this."


    Parker looked away. There was an indescribable mix of emotions in his eyes, but Meredith looked


    down and didn''t see his eyes.


    After that, Parker walked out.


    As soon as he left the apartment, Parker urately called Ava, and soon the call was connected.


    Ava looked at the name on her phone and panicked. "K, why did you call me?"


    "Because I have something to talk to you about."


    Parker answered in a different voice than usual. There was a chilling coldness in his voice.


    Ava shuddered and couldn''t help but recall the fear and nightmare he had brought to her back then...

 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63


    Before Ava and ra were epted into the Masons, they lived in poverty.


    At that time, Meredith''s mother was in charge of the Masons. Although Wesley had the intention to help


    them, but in vain.


    Ava felt it was unfair after meeting Meredith once by chance.


    They were both daughters of the Masons. She had to live in an ordinary apartment and lead such an


    ordinary life. While Meredith was like a princess, living in a luxurious vi, traveling in luxury cars.


    Moreover, all her clothes were so expensive and beautiful.


    From then on, Ava had set a dream. She swore to herself that one day she would live a thousand times


    better than Meredith and make her bow Meredith''s head humbly.


    The uncontroble material desire soon led Ava to a devious path. With a beautiful face, she quickly


    hooked up with some rich people who came out for kicks and sessfully owned branded clothes and


    luxury cars that she had always dreamed of.


    However, her lifestyle soon led to trouble. A rich man who had been chiseled out of all money by her


    said he would go to school to expose her when he found out that she was dating a lot of men at the


    same time.


    Although Ava was young, she knew the seriousness of the problem. If someone knew about it, she


    would be really in trouble. So, during her argument with the man, she hit him on the head with a vase


    and he was turned into a vegetable. Then, she faked her alibi.


    The matter waster left unsettled.


    Not long after that, Wesley''s business began to improve, so he slowly got rid of Meredith''s mother''s


    control. Finally, Ava was brought to the Masons. Ava thought that the past would be forever lost in the


    flood of time, but one night, she received a mysterious call.


    The caller said his name was K, and he said exactly what happened that day and that the person who


    was killed was an important link in his n. Ava''s actions caused him great losses, so he wanted to


    expose her crime and let her be punished.


    Of course, Ava couldn''t give up everything she had finally gotten. She begged and offered many nice


    things, but K didn''t ept her terms at all. In the end, he jokingly proposed an impossible task.


    Get rid of Derek and he would write off all their old scores.


    Ava agreed because she had no other choice. After careful nning, she sessfully bumped Derek''s


    car and nted it on Meredith.


    From that day on, K hadpletely disappeared from her world.


    Ava never thought that one day she would hear this voice again.


    "What the hell do you want from me?"


    Ava calmed herself down and pretended to be calm.


    "In the future, you are not allowed to bring up anything rted to this matter, including the innocent


    woman that was arrested to take the me for you."


    Ava could not understand what was going on, but K''s voice came again. "Remember, this is an order. If


    you insist on resisting, you know the consequences."


    After that, he hung up.


    Ava was supposed to be angry when she heard the beep, but she felt scared.


    The fear of K was at the bottom of her heart. Even though she was a big star now and had everything


    she wanted, she was still afraid that this mysterious man would suddenly appear and destroy


    everything she had.


    ...


    Parker was not in a good mood after the phone call. Instead, when he thought of Meredith''s painful and


    desperate eyes, he felt his heart was gripped by an invisible hand.


    It turned out that all her misfortunes were caused by him.


    Parker hadn''t thought so much back then. He was drowning in hatred and wanted to use the most


    effective means to defeat Derek. He didn''t expect to meet Meredith three yearster.


    All of this might be the so-called fate. He owed her and he had to pay it back in the end.


    It was alreadyte at night when Derek got off the ne.


    He called the Xaviers and got the news that Meredith hadn''te home.


    Very well, he had only been abroad for a day, and that woman had dared not return home at night.


    A cold glint shed in Derek''s eyes. He turned on his cell phone and a few notifications jumped in. The


    most striking one was the dispute between the two sisters of the Masons today.


    Derek was about to turn off the web page but stopped.


    The news said Meredith was revealed to have seduced her sister''s fianc¨¦ and was condemned by the


    public. Then, someone uploaded a video to prove Meredith''s innocence. People were confused by the


    developments.


    As Derek was looking, he suddenly understood something.


    Presumably, grandpa also learned the news and ned to deal with Meredith''s affairs directly, so he


    was asked to stay abroad for a few more days.


    But then... When he called Meredith, what the two of them said was probably not the same thing at all.


    Derek frowned and immediately called Meredith.


    Meredith''s phone rang twice. When she saw that it was Derek, she turned it off without thinking.


    What he said this afternoon was still ringing in her ears. Perhaps he was calling to mock her again.


    She didn''t want to hear those harsh words again.


    "Damn it!" When Derek heard the sound that the phone was turned off, he pounded against the wall not


    far away.


    This woman was bad-tempered. Where was she now?


    A momentter, he calmed down. When he was about to call Damian to locate Meredith, he saw


    another video of Meredith surrounded by people.


    In the video, Meredith was surrounded by a group of crazy people. There was a middle-aged woman


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    pulling her clothes. The others surrounded her with smiles on their faces, as if they were watching an


    interesting show.


    Derek could not see Meredith''s expression clearly. What he could see was that she was struggling, but


    she could not escape. He could not even imagine how helpless she was.


    At the end of the video, he saw Parker appear and save Meredith from the damn man. Then, the video


    ended.


    After seeing all this, Derek was a little upset. His original anger gradually disappeared when he thought


    of Meredith''s desperate eyes.


    Then he called Damian, but the content changed. "Go and find out every detail of what happened to


    Meredith this time."


    Damian was already asleep, so he answered the phone and agreed in a daze. When he woke up, he


    realized what was wrong.


    Didn''t the boss go abroad to see Miss Bet? How would he know what happened to Meredith?


    Mr. Xavier had ordered that no one should tell this to Derek.


    "Boss, you''re back!"


    "If I am still abroad, how long are you gonna keep it from me?" Derek had no time to me Damian for


    not telling him this.


    Now, the most important thing was to find Meredith, and... to make those behind the scenes pay the


    price they deserve.

 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64


    It waste at night, and Meredith was tossing and turning in bed. After a long day of hard work, she


    was still not sleepy.


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    She was still worried about what she would do if Ava was willing to risk everything and expose her


    past. Although Parker said he would deal with it, Meredith was still afraid.


    Just as Meredith sighed sadly, there was a sudden hurried knock on the door.


    Meredith frowned. It was Parker''s apartment. In order to make her feel at ease, he didn''t stay. He just


    told her to call him whenever she needed help and he would be there immediately.


    Was that him?


    "Is that you?" Meredith walked over carefully, still on guard.


    What if it turned out to be the fans or the reporters?


    The man standing outside the door frowned and the ashes of cigarette in his hand fell slowly to the


    ground. "Who else are you expecting?"


    The voice was so familiar for Meredith had heard it every day, but she still couldn''t believe what she


    had just heard. Was that Derek?


    Shouldn''t he be in a foreign country thousands of miles away with the woman he liked?


    Meredith was silent for a moment. "Derek?"


    The man''s patience was running out. "Open the door."


    Derek always spoke in thatmanding tone, as if themander was giving orders to his soldiers.


    Meredith reached out her hand and almost did what he said, but she suddenly came to her senses.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Meredith still remembered what he said to her. Did he fly all the way back here just to catch her


    sleeping with someone else?


    Would Derek be so bored?


    "Open the door or I''ll kick it in." Derek listened to Meredith''s awkward voice and the closed door


    irritated him.


    Now that he had found out where Meredith was, he naturally knew that this was Parker''s property.


    It was too obvious what the man wanted when he ced a woman in a house under his name.


    The fact that he could still speak to Meredith in such a calm tone was the result of his great efforts to


    restrain himself.


    Meredith thought for a moment. What Derek just said didn''t sound like a lie. Besides, he could do such


    a thing, so she had to open the door.


    As soon as she opened the door, a chill crept in. Derek stood outside, his perfect figure and face


    outlined by the soft light. Even though he should be physically and mentally exhausting for the hasty


    return, it did not have a negative impact on him at all.


    He was still the proud and aloof Derek.


    Meredith had inexplicablyplicated feelings, but Derek did not pay any attention to her. He strode in


    and checked the room freely.


    After he saw no sign of other men, Derek''s stiff and taut face softened a little.


    "Come back with me."


    Derek nced at Meredith. She had already changed into a full set of pajamas and looked as if she


    was here to stay.


    "To where? the Xaviers? Are you crazy?" Meredith was amused by Derek''s domineering behavior.


    He was the one who went abroad to meet his little lover, and he was the one who had used her of


    sexual misconduct, and even... When she had no one to count on, he was the one who ignored her.


    Besides, hadn''t the Xaviers made it clear? Ever since her ident, the Xaviers hadpletely ignored


    her. It was obvious that they would want nothing to do with her. Why would she still wanna go back?


    "Why? You want to continue staying at another man''s house?" Derek looked at her suspiciously. He


    didn''t know what had happened between Parker and Meredith during this day.


    This feeling of not in control irritated him.


    "I can live wherever I like, can''t I?" Meredith nced at him. "Didn''t you say that I was a fickle woman


    who just wanted to seduce men? Then I''ll do as you say. This isn''t..."


    Before Meredith could finish her sentence, Derek suddenly lifted her up like a chicken, and her face


    turned pale with fear. She was wondering if Derek would have violent tendencies, and could he just


    be violent due to being stimted by her?


    But then, the man threw her on his shoulder like he was carrying a bag of rice. Such simple and


    powerful measures were often the most effective for a woman''s incessant chatter.


    "You''re crazy. Put me down!" Meredith did not expect Derek to do this at all. Hanging on the man''s firm


    shoulder, she was shaking all over, not only dizzy but also a little nauseous.


    "Shut up."


    Derek was a little annoyed by Meredith''s noisy voice in his ear. In his memory, this woman was usually


    like a mute and had never made such a noisy sound.


    So, this was her true self without disguise?


    "You put me down! Are you crazy? Do you want to take me back to continue humiliating me? I''m not


    that cheap to let you humiliate me as you please to, or... Ah, it hurts!"


    Meredith got angry and shouted for Derek to let her down while kicking him with her fists and feet as if


    she wanted to vent all her grievances.


    However, because she was suspended in the air, Meredith was not able to exert much strength.


    Derek did not feel much pain but was still annoyed by her. He reached out his hand and hit the


    woman''s soft and plump buttocks with his broad palm. He hit her quite hard. At least, Meredith was so


    scared that she closed her mouth immediately.


    When she realized what he had done, Meredith''s face turned red. The pain was secondary but he


    actually had spanked her?


    "You''re sexually harassing me, you rascal."


    Meredith''s face was as red as a ripe tomato, not sure if it was because of the position of being upside


    down, or because she was embarrassed.


    Fortunately, it was dark now, and no one would have seen the embarrassing thing he just did, or else


    she would have wished to flush herself down the toilet.


    "You can shout louder. I just checked. This ce is not entirely deserted. You can wake them up and


    they can see how I''m harassing you."


    Derek couldn''t see Meredith''s face, but her trembling voice betrayed her nervousness.


    Sure enough, Meredith stopped shouting. Derek quickly walked a few steps, opened the car door, and


    stuffed her in.


    "Fasten your seat belt."


    Meredith did as she was told. At this moment, there was no reason for her to continue struggling. She


    didn''t dare to make a sound then. Now, she slowly calmed down instead.


    Derek hated her so much judging from what he said on the phone, but he still came to see her in the


    middle of the night. It must be something importanting up for him to be in such a hurry.


    Why would he care toe and see her in the middle of the night?


    She was just a nominal Mrs. Xavier. He must havee to divorce her...


    Although Meredith had always been ready for a divorce at any time, she suddenly realized that it would


    be a reality now, and she was not as calm as she thought.


    Maybe it was because she was used to the fakefort in the Xaviers, or maybe...

 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65


    Meredith nced at the man who was driving and then quickly turned her gaze away.


    After thinking for a while, she looked out the window. It was pitch dark in the evening. However, it was


    useless to think about this kind of thing. Could Derek listen to what she said?


    The man was tyrannical and domineering. Perhaps the only thing she could do was to make him show


    mercy and not send her to prison again.


    While driving, Derek nced at Meredith who was looking at the darkness out of the window. It was


    alreadyte at night and she could barely see anything outside, but she still concentrated her attention


    on the darkness outside as if she was falling into it.


    It seemed that she was trying to draw a demarcation line with him, which made Derek feel that he was


    resisted by her.


    Did she resist his approach? Was it for that damned Parker?


    "What were you doing when I called you?"


    Derek was obviously very concerned about this.


    If he didn''t figure it out, he would think that man and she had done something in that apartment.


    "Does it matter to you what I was doing at that time?" Meredith frowned slightly. Derek''s question made


    her feel offended.


    Did he think she was seducing Parker again? Was she so deplorable from his opinion?


    "And even if I had done something, it shouldn''t have anything to do with you, right?" Meredith put on a


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    cold face and said that calmly.


    They were going to get a divorce. Why did he still ask her this kind of question?


    "Meredith, don''t forget that we''re still husband and wife with a marriage certificate. Answer my


    question."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s cold and gloomy face. He stepped on the brake and the car stopped


    abruptly.


    The sudden inertia made her body lean forward. If it wasn''t for the safety belt, she was sure that she


    would hit the windshield in front of her.


    The man was examining her, which made Meredith''s suppressed anger uncontroble.


    They were not real husband and wife. Why could Derek interrogate her like a prisoner? She called him,


    but no one answered. Would she be so bored to ask him about that?


    "If I tell you I just wanted to wash away the disgusting smell of those people left on me after arriving at


    a safe ce, do you believe it? You would think I''m lying. Anyway, I am such a dissolute woman in your


    heart. Since you don''t believe it, why do you ask me?"


    Derek looked into Meredith''s eyes, which rarely shed with anger and even a glimmer of water.


    The man suddenly thought of the videos taken by passers-by. Even from the videos, he could know


    how desperate Meredith was then.


    "What were you doing when I was being chased around? They almost shot me that kind of video and


    ruined my life. But when I called you, no one answered. Did I ask where you were and what you were


    doing at that time?"


    Since she had oped her mouth, Meredith didn''t care about anything. They were about to break up. She


    was afraid of nothing.


    However, Derek, who kept silent all the time, felt a little surprised when he heard her words, "Did you


    call me?"


    He suddenly remembered that Meredith seemed to have snatched someone''s phone and made a call


    in that video, but he thought she called Parker.


    He didn''t expect that the first man she thought of at stake was him.


    Meredith did not want to admit that at all. It could only show how stupid she was. The first man she


    thought of was him.


    But Derek confirmed that she wasn''t lying from her eyes. This made the man feel much more rxed.


    He rubbed his forehead, "This is a misunderstanding."


    "Misunderstanding?" Meredith sneered. "I didn''t expect the president of Xavier Group to lie about such


    a small matter."


    "I just got out of the airport and my phone was stolen by a foreign thief, so I couldn''t get anyone''s call."


    Meredith nced at him. Obviously, she still didn''t believe him.


    Derek had no choice but to take out his new phone and put it in front of Meredith, "You should have


    seen what the phone I used before looks like. I wouldn''t have yed such a boring trick just to fool


    you."


    Meredith looked at it. It was true. That was apletely different phone from the one Derek used


    before.


    So, it was not that he didn''t want to answer her phone at that time, but because he lost his phone and


    couldn''t get it?


    The resentment in Meredith''s heart dissipated a little. She sat down quietly and stopped talking.


    Derek started the car again. After a while, he said slowly, "I believe what you just said."


    Meredith looked at him in disbelief. From the moment she met Derek, he had been doubting and


    despising her. Today, his attitude suddenly changed so much, and she was not used to it.


    Derek didn''t exin anything more. Meredith''s eyes showed the overwhelming power that made him


    believe what she said just now.


    Both of them kept silent. The tense atmosphere just now was lightened.


    After sitting in the car for a long while, Meredith was a little tired. The sleepiness gradually came to her.


    Her small head had no ce to rely on and could just sway from left to right.


    Derek took a look at her, slowed down the car, and turned up the temperature of the air conditioner.


    It was already the next day morning when Meredith woke up again. She opened her eyes and looked at


    the familiar furnishings in front of her. She didn''t feel anything at first, but then she reflected that she


    was at Xavier''s.


    She seemed to have fallen asleep in the car yesterday. Did Derek bring her back?


    How did she sleep on both ears? She didn''t feel anything at all and didn''t know how that man got her


    back.


    Thinking about it, Meredith moved her body and identally kicked a warm leg. She was shocked and


    found herself lying on the bed...


    Although she and Derek slept in the same room, it had always been that one person slept on the bed


    and the other on the floor without interfering with each other. But now...


    Meredith moved gently and sat up slowly. Then she saw Derek lying on the other side. The man


    seemed to be very tired. He had no reaction even if she moved beside him. He just frowned slightly


    and didn''t wake up.


    Meredith stood up slowly, not daring to wake him up. Just as she was about to leave the room, the


    phone in her hand suddenly rang. The bell sounded harsh in the quiet room.


    Meredith was startled. Derek was woken up by the sound and opened his eyes. The deep dark eyes


    became clear in an instant, "What are you doing?"


    "Nothing...Nothing..." At thought of the fact that they had slept togetherst night, she was still a little


    unable to look at Derek in the eye.


    Although they had done nothingst night.


    "Your phone is ringing."


    Derek frowned and saw the cell phone ringing in her hand, "Who is it?"


    Only then did Meredith realize that it was Parker. Her heart was immediately filled with guilt. Last night,


    she didn''t tell him that she would leave. He must be very worried.


    "I''m going out to pick up..." Meredith avoided Derek''s gaze. The man noticed that and raised his


    eyebrows unhappily.


    When Meredith was about to open the door and walk out, her arm was suddenly grasped by him.


    Derek pressed her body against the door and approached her.

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66


    Derek, who had just woken up, with the unbuttoned pajamas, showing his firm chest, didn''t let her find


    any ws on his face at such a close distance.


    For the first time, Meredith felt that the word "Bootylicious" could be used to describe a man, and it was


    still appropriate.


    Derek nced at Meredith''s phone. The name on the caller ID was Parker.


    Derek raised an eyebrow. This man was really persistent. He called early in the morning. No one


    believed him if he said that he didn''t have any thoughts.


    Meredith was a little embarrassed and wanted to push Derek away. At that moment, the phone stopped


    ringing.


    But soon, Parker called again.


    "Still don''t answer?"


    Derek''s tone was sarcastic.


    Meredith almost rolled her eyes. He was pressing her down. How would she answer the phone?


    "Just answer it. Are you going to say something inappropriate?"


    Derek did not show any intention of moving aside. His righteous appearance made her feel as if he was


    acting rashly as he should.


    "I have a right to privacy, too. I''ll go out and answer it."


    "The whole the Xaviers is mine. There''s no use going anywhere. Do you want to answer it? I can do it


    for you." Derek looked at her threateningly, and Meredith immediately held the phone tightly andContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    pressed the answer button.


    "Meredith, where are you? I came to see you. Why aren''t you in the apartment? Are you in trouble?"


    Parker''s anxious voice came from the receiver. He got up early this morning and took breakfast to look


    for Meredith, but he searched the entire apartment and still couldn''t find her.


    Parker''s caring tone warmed Meredith''s heart and made her feel even more guilty.


    It was all of Derek''s fault. She was so tired yesterday that after falling asleep in the car, she forgot


    about calling Parker.


    He must be very anxious right now.


    "Sorry, My... My friend is back. He was worried about me, so I went out first and forgot to tell you."


    Hearing Meredith called him a friend, the man who had been listening to her not far away looked a little


    unhappy.


    He lowered his head and blew lightly to her gender ear.


    Meredith, who was racking her brains to lie, was caught off guard. A tingling sensation came from her


    sensitive earlobe, causing her to gasp and her voice to change.


    "What''s wrong? Your voice doesn''t sound right." Parker heard this and asked quickly.


    Was Meredith in some kind of trouble, but it was hard to tell him?


    "No, no, I''m really fine." Meredith red at the perpetrator, but Derek looked at her with a smile on his


    face, which instead made her embarrassed, so she could only look away.


    "I''m a little busy now, so bye. Don''t worry about me. If there will be something wrong, I will..."


    Before Meredith could finish speaking, Derek suddenly reached out and pinched her chin.


    Meredith simply hung up the phone and nced at him angrily. Was this man mad? Why did he do that


    when she called?


    "You don''t have to contact this person anymore. I''ll settle your problem."


    Derek narrowed his eyes. His men had already figured out what the Masons had done. He didn''t need


    Parker to help him.


    Meredith was stunned. Did Derek mean to help her?


    However, she seemed to have heard that the Xaviers and Howards were going to cooperate in both


    business and entertainment fields. Would he lose the interests of the Xavier Group for her?


    Meredith was lost in thought. Derek looked at her dazed look and was somewhat dissatisfied. "Fine,


    you just wait."


    After that, he let go of his hand and went to the bathroom to wash up.


    Not long after, Meredith understood what Derek meant.


    First, the owner of the post was investigated for the IP address. And people were surprised to find that


    there were many people with the same IP address in that post.


    All of these people spoke with obvious directionality, evoking others to curse Meredith. Also, the


    person, who finally exposed Meredith''s privacy, was among them.


    Clearly, It was prepense cyber violence.


    The public finally understood that they werepletely deceived, which outraged them severely. Even


    many people questioned Ava for her graceful and kind character.


    There were also many people, who thought that Ava was hypocritical and pretentious, thought that it


    was written by Ava, which didn''t cause much reverberation as they wereck of evidence.


    However, Ava''s kind persona was greatly affected by this.


    But the real dog-ass one was Leo.


    A scumbag didn''t admit that he had forcefully kissed a woman but put all the me on the victim. This


    kind of behavior was so shameless and coward.


    Therefore, manyizens were very disgusted with him and exposed his many privacy. And they really


    found a lot of Leo''s scandals that he had slept around so that his image of being a rich and handsome


    man that he had built up after he was with Ava had beenpletely damaged.


    Meredith looked at those scandals and only felt even more disgusted and grateful.


    She also looked through those posts about Leo sleeping with the other girls, and she found those were


    in the period when he was still her boyfriend. That was to say, Leo had been cheating her even before


    they hadn''t broken up yet.


    If they were together... She was afraid that she would get some dirty disease.


    Leo and Ava were a perfect match.


    Then, Meredith carefully searched her name again. To her relief, after she had rified, theizens


    consciously deleted the remarks rted to her. It even started a topic about *stop cyber violence*.


    Meredith was not involved again, which made her very happy, but she was not sure whether it was


    Parker''s help or... Derek''s.


    In The Masons


    Seeing the news this morning, the originally peaceful The Masonspletely lost control.


    Ava had been crying from the moment the news came out. She knew that she hadpletely


    misjudged in this matter. Not only had her image been damaged, but her rtionship with Leo had also


    been greatly affected.


    It was Howards'' influence in the entertainment circle that made an enormous contribution to Ava''s


    current status. Once she lost it, she would suffer a huge loss.


    "It''s all Meredith''s fault, a little bitch, for daring to fight back."


    ra was also very angry. Looking at her daughter''s tearful face, she was heartbroken, but she was


    still helpless.


    "Do something!" ra nced at Wesley and couldn''t help but urge him, "Otherwise, we expose that


    she had been in prison. It''s better to have an internecine ending."

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67


    "No!" When Ava heard this, she even stopped wiping her tears anymore. She trembled and said, "Don''t


    tell anyone about Meredith''s matter."


    If this incident angered K, then she would be over for real.


    "If we make it public, then our the Masons'' reputation will also be damaged. No way."


    "How kind Ava is. At this time, she''s still thinking about the Masons and pleading for her ungrateful


    sister. Oh, I shouldn''t have let her out. I should let her die in prison. What a jerk."


    ra sighed as well. Wesley looked at his little daughter''s reddened and swollen eyes and took a deep


    puff of his cigarette, "I''m going to look for her now. No matter what, I want to minimize the impact on


    Ava."


    After saying that, Wesley walked out.


    The Howards


    Leo knelt in the study, his eyes were filled with fear and panic.


    H had believed Ava''s lies, thinking that under the guidance of the public rtionspany, there would


    be no problem. Who would have thought that it went wrong!


    Not only did his personal reputation suffer, but some rivalpanies used it to attack him after they


    knew. Now, the Howards was in aplete mess.


    "Do you know that the Xaviers has withdrawn their investment? Our efforts in the past few months are


    all over because of you and that precious fianc¨¦e of yours. Not only that, but when this newses


    out, the stock price of the Howards will surely plummet, and the market value of several hundred million


    will be gone."


    Leo''s lips moved, but he didn''t say anything. He didn''t expect the consequences to be so serious.


    Mr. Howard looked at him and said with hatred, "I thought you and that Ava would not have a good


    ending from the beginning. A woman who even dared to steal her sister''s fianc¨¦, what kind of good


    person could she be... It''s only you who treated her as a pure and kind good girl."


    "Today, thepany will announce that you and Ava have already broken off the engagement, but we


    haven''t announced it earlier just for the sake of her career development. So you two just break up like


    this."


    After Leo heard this, he said no objection. When he thought that Ava had caused all the trouble, he felt


    that breaking up was not enough to vent his anger. He wanted to go to her ce and humiliate her to


    vent his anger, but now it was all he could do.


    Meredith went to work normally, and when she arrived at thepany, she was relieved to find that


    people had not cast any strange nces at her.


    Following Derek up to the top floor, she was about to do her usual cleaning work. Suddenly, Derek


    stopped her.


    "In the future, you don''t have to do this anymore."


    He had arranged for Meredith toe over to clean up mainly to make her retreat when she faced


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    such difficulties, also not to let her live toofortably.


    But now he changed his mind. He wanted Meredith to learn something. At least, she should be able to


    protect herself when she was in trouble.


    "Then, what am I going to do?" Meredith was a little uneasy and felt that Derek''s words would cause


    trouble to her.


    "You can learn how to handle your work from Damian." Derek thought about it, and he didn''t want


    Meredith to go anywhere he couldn''t control, so he made such arrangements.


    "Really..." Meredith couldn''t believe her ears. Although Damian was nominally just Derek''s assistant, he


    was very capable.


    If she could follow him, she would definitely learn a lot of useful things. Since Meredith came out of


    prison, she had always wanted to learn some skills to support herself in society, but she had no


    chance. Now, this opportunity hade?


    "Will I lie to you?" Derek nced at her unhappily, as if expressing dissatisfaction for her suspicions.


    "No, no, I just can''t believe it."


    She was afraid that Derek would change his mind if he was unhappy, so Meredith quickly shook her


    head, and then, felt a little embarrassed and said, "Well, thank you."


    This opportunity might not be a big deal for others, but it was important to her.


    Was this the beginning of her new life?


    "Well."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s blushing cheeks. Because she was happy, her eyes shone brighter than the


    sunlight reflected through the ss at the moment. Meredith at this time gave him a different feeling


    than usual.


    She was no longer so gloomy, full of resentment towards the world, but full of hope.


    In fact, this feeling was not bad.


    Derek was distracted and she found his unusual, and he returned to his usual expressionless face,


    "But if you don''t do well and Damian doesn''t want to take you, I won''t plead for you."


    "I will definitely do well." Meredith was very motivated and immediately went to look for Damian.


    Damian was not surprised to be told about this, and he even couldn''t help butin about Derek''s


    fickle ways of doing things.


    He just wanted to make Meredith happy and learn something, and he also wanted her to stay under his


    nose and not to run around. So Derek tactfully made Meredith his disciple...


    How dare he could refuse?


    "Damian, please give me some advice from now on. If there''s anything wrong, just say it." Meredith


    bowed politely to Damian, looking like a good student who was modest to learn.


    Damian nodded in a pretentious manner.


    Damian did as Derek had instructed and had no reservations to Meredith. However, since she had


    never been in contact with such matters of thepany, she did not learn quickly, but her attitude had


    always been exceptionally good.


    Even when she wasughed at for asking a stupid question, she kept a serious record of it in her


    notebook, and gradually Damian also taught her with great care.


    When they were busy doing things, time passed quickly.


    After work, Meredith was still immersed in the knowledge that she had never had a chance to learn


    before. As she walked, she was about to take a bus to go home. Suddenly, a shrill hoot pulled her back


    from her thoughts.


    Wesley looked at her with a sullen face, "Come here, I have something to tell you."


    Meredith stood there unmoving. She did not expect Wesley to take the initiative to "condescend" to see


    her. After all, he had considered her as a disgrace for the past few years, and he thought that even


    taking a nce at her was dirty.


    Did something go wrong?


    "Can I help you?" Meredith said calmly.


    Seeing that she didn''t obey him, Wesley was very angry, "How can we talk on the street? Get in the car


    and we''ll talk in private."


    "Why can''t we talk on the street? Is Mr. Mason going to talk about something shameful? If that''s the


    case, I''d rather not listen."


    Meredith looked at him coldly, and now he was lecturing her in the posture of an elder. Didn''t Wesley


    find it funny?


    He thought that after all the disgusting things he had done, she would still be so shameless and


    volunteered to be humiliated by him?


    This time, it must be for Ava again.


    Wesley wanted to get out of the car and p Meredith so that she could know what it meant to respect


    her elders, but this was not the time to be impulsive.


    In the afternoon, the Howards unterally announced the annulment of the engagement, and privately


    said that the uing film which Ava would cast, funded by the Howards, was going to change the


    female lead.


    It was a blockbuster movie that Ava had prepared for more than a year. The news made her so angry


    that she fainted and was still lying in the hospital.

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68


    "Did you ask Derek to cancel his investment in the Howards? What the hell you told him? Projects of


    several hundred million dors have been withdrawn. Do you know that because of this, Leo and your


    sister broke up? Your sister is in the hospital now. She is so weak that she needs to inject nutritious


    needles. It''s all your fault."


    Wesley saw that Meredith refused toe over, so he had to endure his anger, get out of the car, and


    walk over to teach her a lesson.


    Meredith frowned. Wesley didn''t have to lie to her about this. That was to say, Derek really canceled


    the cooperation with the Howards. Was this... for her?


    Thinking about this, Meredith felt a little confused, but she didn''t show anything. Instead, she looked up


    at Wesley and said, "Do you think I have such ability?"


    Meredith did not dare to believe that Derek had done this for her. A man like him, who was always


    rational and always did things without any ordinary human feelings, would not make such a decision for


    a woman.


    It must be because there was something wrong with the Howards.


    "It must be the Howards''s own problems that caused the stock price to plummet, and then the Xaviers


    canceled the investment. Mr. Xavier, don''t you think it''s contradictory that you put all the me on me?


    After all, I am the trash in your eyes, the trash that shouldn''t exist. If I am a trash, how can I be so


    capable?"


    Wesley was so angry that he couldn''t speak anything. He remained silent for a moment, "Your sister


    has been badly struck by this. You are her sister anyway, so can you..."


    "No, I can''t." Meredith didn''t even have the patience to wait for him to finish his speaking. Did he n to


    push for an emotional feel after failing to convince her?


    However, there was no sisterly rtionship between her and Ava. Ava could not see her living well.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    She was the same. The more miserable that bitch was, the happier she was.


    "Well, well, you don''t even care about your sister. Then, do you not care about your mother anymore?"


    Wesley saw that Meredith was immune to both soft and hard tactics, so he could only use his trump


    card.


    After he finished speaking, Meredith looked at him with a look of utter disdain, as if she were looking at


    a pile of disgusting rubbish, which made him feel guilty.


    How could she have such a father who used her mother to threaten her for many times?


    "I already know mom is in the sanatorium in Country M. It''s only a matter of time before I find her."


    Meredith stared at Wesley, not daring to miss his reaction.


    As expected, the confident man''s eyes flickered for a moment.


    Only then did she confirm that her mother was indeed in Country M.


    She had asked Julius to check the details of the photos that ra had sent her. Although he couldn''t


    find out the exact location, he could find out which country she was in. It was located in a state in


    Country M.


    The only problem was that Julius did not have much influence in Country M. It was impossible to find


    everywhere. It was like finding a pin in the sea.


    "Do you think I should go and ask Derek to help me find my mother''s whereabouts and get out of your


    control forever, or I should just do as you said and continue to endure without protest?"


    Wesley did not expect her to have this ability. After a moment of hesitation, a trace of cruelty shed in


    his eyes, "Do you think I really dare not do something to her?"


    Meredith''s heart trembled. She felt aggrieved for her mother, but she still gritted her teeth. "If you dare


    to do something to her, I will destroy the Masons and let you taste the pain which is greater than that a


    thousand times. Do you think I have the ability?"


    Now, Meredith understood that in order to protect her mother she repeatedly backed down to the


    Masons. This just hurt her mother.


    These people would go overboard again and again. If Meredith wouldn''t be able to threaten them one


    day, they might not care about her mother which was just a "chessman" for them anymore.


    Therefore, she could no longer wait helplessly for the end. Instead, she had to take the initiative.


    Wesley was silent. If it was Meredith who had nothing before, then he could treat her as making


    irresponsible remarks and ignored her words.


    But now, she had Derek who was behind her. If she really wanted to retaliate against the Masons, it


    was only a matter of the action of the Xavier Group.


    Wesley had lived a hard life before. And for such a person, he would often be more greedy for the


    prosperity and wealth that he now had. Because he was afraid of the fact that he would have a hard life


    again, he was afraid of losing, so he did not dare to use the Masons to risk.


    "Meredith, you really let me down," Wesley said powerlessly. Then he turned around and got into the


    car.


    Meredith watched him leave with a cold smile. Disappointed?


    Just because she rejected his unreasonable request. What was it when they tried to destroy her again


    and again?


    He was really strict with others and treated himself with leniency.


    A beautiful golf course in the suburbs.


    Mr. Xavier walked slowly, and Derek followed behind him unhurriedly.


    This afternoon, the old master suddenly called and said that he had something to tell him. But when


    Derek came, he didn''t say anything. He just took Derek for a walk here.


    Now, it was evening. The sunset dyed the clouds in the sky a bloody red. They were beautiful but


    somewhat mncholy.


    The Old Master looked at the brilliant sunset and finally opened his mouth. "Derek, what happened to


    the Howards'' investment?"


    Derek''s heart sank. As expected, this matter could not be hidden from the Old Master. So, ording to


    the reason that he had already thought of, he said, "A while ago, I restarted the various inspection


    activities of the Howards, and found that their management method was backward. Although they still


    have some strength now, it won''t go on for long."


    "Is that so?" The Old Master turned his head and looked at him sharply.


    It was hard to hide anything under such a wise gaze.


    "Yes," Derek replied expressionlessly.


    "If it is true, that''s good." Mr. Xavier looked at the tall and strong grandson in front of him and couldn''t


    tell what he was feeling.


    Although Derek told the truth, Mr. Xavier, with his strong intuition for many years, felt that it was not that


    simple.


    The thing that he didn''t want to see most was Derek made the decision for a woman.


    If a man was influenced by feelings, it would be difficult for him to have a bright future in the end.


    Besides, that woman was Meredith.


    "How are you getting along with Meredith recently?" Mr. Xavier did not pursue the matter any further,


    but changed the topic and mentioned Meredith.


    "Not bad."


    Derek thought about it and didn''t say anything. He just thought that in just a few months, they were no


    longer at loggerheads like they were at the beginning.


    At first, Derek only thought that she was a criminal and an unscrupulous bad woman, but when he


    came into contact with her, the bad impression that he thought would never change gradually faded


    away.


    He could no longer find the deep disgust and hatred he had for her.


    The old master looked at his calm eyes and knew exactly how things stood.


    In the past, Derek would have said that he hated Meredith, and he should have hated her. After all, it


    was that woman who made him lie in bed for three years.

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69


    Mr. Xavier did not regret the decision to bring Meredith out, whether Derek woke up on his own or was


    really awakened by her fate.


    For the sake of her waking Derek up, he would not make things difficult for her anymore. When


    Meredith left, he could give her a sum of money and arrange an unimportant job for her.


    However, he would never allow such a woman to have anything to do with the heir he had carefully


    trained for more than twenty years.


    "Derek, I''m like sunset and haven''t got much time left. You''re the rising sun. Xavier Group will be yours


    in the future. Don''t let me down."


    Mr. Xavier said earnestly, "Now that your situation has stabilized, I heard that Chloe is about to


    graduate. In that case, go and get the divorce done when you have time. It''s not appropriate to keep


    Meredith in the Xaviers."


    Derek didn''t say anything. Divorce was the first thing he wanted to do back then. He even made things


    difficult for Meredith just to make her bring up divorce first, but now...


    Hearing the Old Master agree to their divorce suddenly, he was not as happy as he thought.


    "I''ll keep that in mind." Derek nodded.


    The Old Master nced at him and did not force him to make any more decisions. Derek was arrogant.


    If he pressed Derek too hard, things might go south.


    The following days were peaceful.


    Perhaps it was because of what Meredith had said that time, and those of the Masons didn''t bother her


    anymore, making her work and life a lot easier.


    Following behind Damian every day, learning things she didn''t know, also gave her a sense of


    satisfaction that she hadn''t felt for a long time.


    If she could learn the skills she needed to survive, she would be able to support herself, her mother,


    and she would not have to depend on others.


    "Meredith,e over here." Meredith was doing the form that Damian had taught her on theputer


    when he called her, "I have something for you."


    Derek was going to attend a banquet this afternoon. But it was actually a meeting in the form of a


    banquet.


    Derek also happened to have an ongoing n to talk about, but Damian found that he had just left an


    important thing behind. He was busy, so he had to let Meredith go.


    After Meredith heard this, she thought it wasn''t really a big deal, but the thought of going to such a


    gathering ofdies and gentlemen made her a little timid.


    Meredith had been there before. Butter she had been framed time and time again by Ava. So every


    time she appeared in the public, she was always looked at by all kinds of unfriendly eyes. Over time,


    she gradually stopped attending this kind of party.


    This also led to her narrow circle of friends. Apart from Julius, whom she had known since she was a


    child, she had very few friends.


    "Will I be able to pull it off? I don''t want to let you down" Meredith hesitated.


    "It''s just a small matter. What are you afraid of? You said you wanted to be a business woman on your


    own, then you must take the first step." Damian patted her on the shoulder and encouraged her.


    Meredith nodded, and he was right. If she stayed in her own little world, she would never improve.


    Taking this job, Meredith quickly took a taxi to the designated ce.


    Looking at the gorgeous and beautiful venue, she took a deep breath and was about to enter when she


    suddenly heard a familiar voice beside her.


    "Director Chow, don''t be so impatient~"


    Meredith immediately recognized Ava''s voice. But it was different from her usual cold voice, which she


    deliberately carried. Now, she spoke with a deliberately coquettish tone, which made Meredith feel


    goosebumps all over.


    However, the person she called Director Chow didn''t seem to think so. Instead, he kinda enjoyed it. He


    touched the back of Ava''s white hand and his muddy eyes shone with lust.


    When Meredith saw this, she was a little curious and quietly hid behind a pir to take a close look.


    Ava actually held hands with a man who looked older than Wesley and they were intimate?


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    And looking at that man''s fat body, his big belly, and his greasy, nauseating appearance, Ava could


    even ept this kind of person, which was too desperate.


    While he was talking, Director Chow was eager to kiss Ava''s mouth again, but he was easily avoided.


    "Director Chow, have you decided on me being the heroine of your movie or not? I''m young, and I don''t


    know the rules. Just give me a final answer."


    Ava had her own reasons for makingpromises.


    After the announcement of her breakup with Leo, the leading actress in the big production movie that


    the Howards invested in naturally changed.


    Ava''s strong rising momentum suddenly stopped, and the most awkward thing was that one of the


    works that she had given her high hopes had also failed. The reputation of that work was bad and it


    was also a failure at the box office. As a result, she didn''t get many job offers afterward.


    However, in the entertainment industry, without exposure for even a few days, the audience will


    mercilessly forget her. So Ava had no other way but to use the methods that she once despised, to


    seduce those lustful directors, and in return, she could get a good role.


    As long as she can be famous again, she will find a better man than Leo in the future. When the time


    "Don''t worry, as long as you make me happy, who else can the heroine be? Next Monday, I''ll be waiting


    for you at Mingsheng hotel room 1574."


    Meredith heard the room number from afar and saw that the fat middle-aged director had stuffed a


    room card into Ava''s hand, which immediately confirmed that Ava had no choice but to sell her body to


    get to the top.


    However, seeing that both of them were about to leave, she did not dare to stay and left quickly.


    However, when she left, she did not notice a can under her feet and made a slight noise, which made


    her heart beat wildly, so she could only run away, afraid that they would find out.


    Ava and Director Chow were startled. When they looked up, Meredith was already long gone and only


    could be seen a figure from afar.


    "It''s okay. I think it''s just a passerby." Director Chow didn''t pay much attention to it. He had a reputation


    as a lecher and wasn''t afraid.


    On the contrary, being able to get his hands on high-end goods like Ava was also worth showing off.


    Ava was shocked. She was a pure and kind idol to the outside, a virginally pure girl. If anyone knew


    that she was entangled with someone like Director Chow, she would be finished.


    So, she stared at the disappearing figure. It seemed that the person was going to the party. She must


    pay attention to the personter.


    Meredith ran to the door of the venue and looked back. It seemed that Ava did note after her. Then


    she breathed a sigh of relief and tidied up her clothes. Just as she was about to go in, Derek walked


    out and frowned when he saw her panting.

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70


    Derek looked at Meredith. Her face was slightly red and glistening sweat was hanging from the tip of


    her nose as if she had just done a vigorous exercise.


    "Did youe running here?"


    "Um... No, I was afraid you were in a hurry, so I hurried over." Meredith didn''t say anything about Ava''s


    matter as she guessed that Derek probably didn''t want to listen to such disgusting gossip.


    Hearing her say this, Derek''s lips curled up slightly and he took the document. "I didn''t expect you to be


    so dedicated."


    Meredith nodded absent-mindedly, still thinking about Ava''s matter. Derek looked at the crowded venue


    again, and there were many single women waiting for him and wishing to get close to him.


    Derek was fed up with this boring hypocrisy, so he took a look at Meredith, who was about to leave. "I


    happen to need a femalepanion. Since you''re here, you''re mypanion."


    Meredith then came to her senses and stared at the man in front of her, eyes wide opened.


    He must be joking. She was still wearing the ck and white uniform of the Xavier Group, and the


    socialites inside were all wearing exquisite custom-made dresses. If she went in with that suit, she


    would be a joke.


    "I''ll take you out to buy the dresster." Derek said faintly, clearly not giving Meredith any chance to


    refute.


    He said this with a very firm attitude, so Meredith could not say anything. After all, Derek was her


    benefactor." But, if I go with you, will I cause you any trouble?


    "What kind of trouble will there be? In J City, no one dares to make trouble for me."


    With that said, Derek pulled Meredith into the car. Soon, the car drove to a slightly remote ce. "Right


    here."


    Meredith got out of the car obediently and looked at the sign in front of her, feeling a little touched.


    Derek brought her to a ce called Lanmeng Salon, the most famous image design salon in J City. In


    the past, when her mother was healthy, her mother brought her here from time to time.


    Her mother always said, "Mer is my little princess. Of course, you should dress up beautifully."


    This salon was full of her endless memories. Seeing it again, Meredith had mixed feelings.


    Derek parked the car and saw Meredith paused at the door, not going in. He was about to say


    something, but he could tell the deep yearning and sadness in her eyes. With an indecipherable


    sadness in her silence, this version of her was very attractive.


    Unconsciously, his tone of urging became much softer, "Let''s go in."


    Meredith nodded and walked in behind him. Then, she thought of something. "I remember we need to


    make an appointment here. Shouldn''t we get an appointment first?"


    "You''re the one who needs an appointment, not me." Derek said domineeringly. Sure enough, as soon


    as he and Meredith walked in, someone came over attentively and took them to the VIP lounge.


    It seemed that she had underestimated Derek''s influence in J City. Although Meredith''s life was good


    before, it was still far from the Xaviers''s.


    The two of them waited for a while. A man with long hair to his shoulders came in. He saw Derek, and


    then looked at Meredith on the other side, and smiled wickedly. "Is this the suning out of the west


    today? Mr. Xavier, you have brought a woman here? You haven''t been here for years."


    Jameson looked at Derek, and there was a sense of humor in his words. They were friends, so they


    talked to each other without restraint.


    Derek nced at him. "Nonsense. Hurry up and pick out the dress for this woman and help her make


    up."


    Seeing that Derek was still as difficult to deal with as usual, Jameson shook his head and looked at


    Meredith, who was sitting uneasily at the side.


    She was dressed very simply, with no makeup on her fair and clean face, but her skin was crystal clear


    and did not have any blemishes such as pores and color spots. She was dressed in an ordinary


    uniform, but because of her curvy figure, she was extremely attractive.


    Jameson''s eyes lit up. He could tell she was a piece of rough jade that needed to be carved, and as


    long as she was properly decorated, she could bloom with beautiful luster.


    Meredith felt ufortable at his stare, but Jameson didn''t feel anything was wrong. After staring at


    her with burning eyes for a while, he walked into the fitting room and quickly picked out a few dresses


    for her.


    "Go and try these on."


    Meredith obediently went to change her clothes, and while she was away, Jameson came over to tease


    Derek.


    "Your taste has changed a lot. Didn''t you like those bright and moving women before?"


    Of course, Jameson would not forget the enviable rtionship between Derek and Chloe. Plus, there


    was no woman around Derek after that. He had thought that Derek would wait for Chloe toe back


    and marry her, but he didn''t expect Xavier Chloe to bring another woman here today.


    "I had only had one girlfriend before. How can you summarize that?"


    Derek was telling the truth. He was a proud man. There were not many women who could get into his


    heart. But his only advantage was that once he determined to love someone, his love would not be


    easily changed.


    But now, he seemed to have changed.


    "That''s right. I told you long ago that you should look for other good girls."


    Jameson patted Derek on the shoulder. Unlike Asher, who was a firm supporter of Chloe, Jameson felt


    that both of them were too proud, and therefore they were not a perfect match. Instead, this seemingly


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    weak girl in front of him made him feel more suitable for Derek.


    Meredith got her clothes changed and walked out.


    Jameson picked out a beige dress for her. It looked simple, but the woman who wore it was not pure


    enough, she would look awkward.


    But the dress suited Meredith well. Her fair skin was not darkened by the color of that dress but was


    brighter and she looked more elegant thanks to her curve.


    "Well, not bad, not worse than Chloe." Jameson was satisfied with his taste and subconsciously said


    that.


    When Meredith heard this, she was stunned. Chloe... Who was it?


    She subconsciously looked at Derek and found the man ring at Jameson fiercely. Knowing that he


    had said something wrong, Jameson quicklyughed and went to help put on Meredith''s makeup.


    Meredith watched Jameson help her with exquisite makeup, but she never forgot the name Jameson


    just said.


    Chloe. She seemed to never hear of such a person, but Derek seemed to be familiar with her.


    As a woman, Meredith''s intuition told her that Chloe''s rtionship with Derek was definitely not simple.


    "Mr. Curry, who is the Chloe you were talking about?" And Meredith couldn''t help but ask.


    Jameson was shouting in his heart. He shouldn''t be talking nonsense. Now, he got involved.

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71


    "Hahaha, well, she used to be my customer. Now she''s very famous abroad. I just mentioned her


    casually. Don''t think too much!"


    Jamesonughed awkwardly and got the matter over with. Meredith frowned. She knew very well that


    Chloe must have known Derek, or else his reaction wouldn''t be so strange.


    However, since Jameson didn''t want to say it, Meredith didn''t have to make a detailed inquiry. She sat


    down tamely and let him make her look good.


    Meredith walked out, lifting the hem of her dress. Derek looked at her with a sh of surprise in his


    eyes. After being remoulded by Jameson, her beauty was fully developed. Moreover, unlike the


    "Hehe, how is it? This time you go out, you will definitely be a perfect match." Jameson said this on


    purpose to make up for the mistake just now.


    Meredith was a little embarrassed to hear that. How dare she have the delusion that they were a


    perfect match? Moreover, the Xaviers had repeatedly asked her to keep her identity secret, so she


    quickly rified.


    "Mr. Curry, you misunderstand. I don''t have that kind of rtionship with Mr. Xavier. I''m just one of his


    employees."


    Derek was in a good mood at first. But after hearing that Meredith was so anxious to distance herself


    from him, his good mood disappeared. Jameson looked at the two people in surprise.


    Of course, he didn''t believe what Meredith said at all. How could Derek bring his employee out to do


    such a thing?


    "Let''s go." Derek regained his usual aloofness because he was in a bad mood.


    Meredith did not know how she made Derek unhappy again. But he left, she could not stay there by


    herself. So she could only lift the hem of her skirt and follow him hard wearing a pair of high-heel


    shoes.


    Derek didn''t care if she was walking too hard. Instead, he walked very fast with his long legs.


    Meredith trotted into the car. She hadn''t worn this kind of high-heel shoes for a long time, so her feet


    hurt after she walked a few steps.


    But looking at Derek''s long face, she did not dare toin. She just muttered in her heart. Did he


    get angry because of the woman named Chloe?


    Thinking about it, Meredith suddenly felt a little upset. It wasn''t she who took initiative to mention Chloe.


    But Derek vented his anger on Meredith, which was unreasonable.


    "Buckle up." Derek sat down and opened his thin lips slightly, reminding her coldly.


    "Oh, I see." Meredith obediently fastened her seat belt, and they never spoke again along the way.


    Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of the venue.


    "You go first." Derek told Meredith to get out of the car and he went out to deal with other things.


    Meredith walked to the venue alone, feeling puzzled. It was Derek who asked her to be his female


    However, Meredith was toozy to think so much. She had to obey Derek''s orders, so she walked into


    the huge venue.


    As soon as Meredith appeared, she immediately attracted the attention of many men present. Her


    white dress was decorated with a lot of broken diamonds. The sun shone on it, like sprinkling ayer of


    starlight on it, making it look dreamy and beautiful.


    Meredith blushed when she felt their visions. But she soon persuaded herself not to get stage fright


    because this was a good opportunity to train herself.


    Ava, who was chatting with several men, also noticed this scene. Awkwardly, one of the men she was


    talking to had his eyes lit up after seeing Meredith and walked over with champagne. Obviously, he was


    interested in Meredith.


    It was the first time that Ava had been ignored on such an asion. Because her reputation had been


    damaged recently, so these men who once treated her gantly were also a little cold to her, which


    made her extremely ufortable. Meredith''s stunning appearance deepened the sense of imbnce


    in Ava''s heart.


    With a stiff smile, Ava walked up to Meredith and raised her ss. "Ah, sister is here. I just saw you.


    Let''s have a drink."


    Nevertheless, Ava leaned forward when she walked in front of Meredith, just spilling all the red wine in


    her hand on Meredith''s clothes.


    Meredith had been observing her. When she saw that Ava was ying this silly trick again, she quickly


    hid aside and the red wine was spilled on the floor.


    "Ava, there are so many peopleing and going here. You must be careful. You must pay attention to


    the etiquette. Otherwise, it will be bad if you dirty other people''s clothes or if you are unlucky enough to


    expose your private parts."


    After Meredith dodged, she smiled slightly and said sarcastic words when she saw Ava''s surprised and


    angry look. Who couldn''t pretend to be kind?This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Did Ava really think that Meredith couldn''t see through her silly tricks?


    As soon as Meredith finished speaking, many people looked at Ava strangely. Ava was dressed very


    sexy today, showing her attractive cleavage in front and arge white back behind.


    With her forward posture just now, the part in her chest might have been exposed.


    She was really from the entertainment industry. In order to get the headlines, she didn''t even have the


    sense of shame.


    Ava felt a lot of disdain for her. She was angry, but what Meredith just said was very reasonable. So


    she couldn''t argue with Meredith. She could only smile and walk past Meredith. "Don''t be proud."


    After saying that, she walked away, holding up her head high and advancing by long strides.


    "You''d better think about how to please these men and then get an investment." Meredith did not


    After hearing these words, Ava''s face turned green with anger, but she couldn''t refute it.


    Seeing Meredith return to the center of everyone''s attention, Ava felt that she had returned to the time


    when she was in her teens. Meredith was a princess, but Ava was just a dispensable ugly duckling.


    No, she couldn''t let Meredith continue to be so proud.


    Thinking about it, Ava looked at the diamond ne on her chest. It was the jewel that the endorser


    lent her. It was priceless.


    Her eyes dimmed and she immediately thought of what she was going to do.


    ...


    Meredith was tired after talking to these people for a while. In particr, Derek still hadn''te back


    after such a long time and she didn''t know what he was doing.


    Meredith stood there, feeling the terrible pain in her feet, so she went to the bathroom to find a band-


    aid to ease the pain.


    She stood in front of the sink, her head lowered as she struggled with her 12-centimeter high-heel


    shoes, but she did not notice that Ava came in with something in her hand and carefully stuffed it into


    Meredith''s handbag.


    "Hmph, it''s better for you to have a rest. You can''t even control a pair of high-heel shoes. How can you


    pretend to be a girl from a respectable family?" Ava got her thing done and approached Meredith with a


    cold smile, provoking her boldly.


    There was no need for Meredith to pretend to be ady anymore. She would make Meredith lose all


    her standing and reputationter.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72


    Meredith looked confused and got up. "What''s it to you?"


    After that, she took her handbag and left.


    Ava looked at her back and smiled strangely. Then, she walked to the most crowded spot and cried out


    in panic, "Oh no, the diamond ne sponsored by the endorser is gone!"


    When the crowd heard about theft, they all looked over.


    The jewelry held by Ava was priceless, not only because it was made of a few extremely expensive


    top-quality diamonds, but also because it was thest work of the designer in his lifetime, which could


    be called a masterpiece, so the value of the collection was far higher than the value of the material


    itself.


    "This is Mr. Stephen''sst piece. If I lose it..." Ava covered her face. She looked sad and even cried.


    When the crowd saw this, they thought she was heartbroken over the loss of the artwork, so they felt


    better about her. They quickly called the security guards to help find the lost ne.


    Soon, the entire venue was sealed off. They were not allowed to leave but to enter here.


    But then, everyone was at aplete loss as to what to do. They were looking for the ne, but


    how to find it became a problem. Everyone here was high-status, and it was impossible to search one


    by one.


    Ava cried for a while. Seeing that her goal to get everyone''s attention was almost achieved, she slowly


    looked up, "I''m afraid that the ne is lost when I go to the bathroom as I take it off for a while in


    case that it gets wet."


    As soon as Meredith heard this, she immediately realized something was wrong. She quietly touched


    the inside of her backpack. Sure enough, a hard object that did not belong to her tickled her hand...


    It must have been in the bathroom. Ava slipped it in while she was tidying up her high heels!


    Meredith''s face turned pale. It was only then that she understood why Ava hade to talk to her, but


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    it was toote.


    After a while, someone pointed at her and said, "It seems that this youngdy has just been to the


    bathroom, and the time coincides."


    A few girls who had just been to the bathroom had already opened their bags for inspection, but


    Meredith knew that no matter what, she couldn''t open her bag. In that case...


    No one would believe that she was innocent!


    Meredith''s refusal became a disguised admission in the eyes of everyone.


    "Oh my god. She looks good, but actually she is a thief."


    "Did she have stolen other things?"


    They began to discuss her. Their disdainful expressions chilled Meredith as if she had returned to the


    day when everyone had misunderstood her as a mistress.


    "I didn''t steal anything." Meredith took a step back, her eyes filled with helplessness and anger.


    How could Ava be satisfied?


    "You said you didn''t steal anything. Why don''t you just show us what''s in your bag?"


    As she spoke, someone snatched the small handbag from Meredith''s hand. Meredith was holding it


    tightly. The two of them were in a stalemate. Just as her bag was about to be snatched away, a cold


    male voice sounded.


    "What are you doing? It''s really lively."


    When Derek finished the unexpected work and came back, he saw this scene. He looked at Meredith''s


    pale face and then at the man who robbed her. "Mr. ise, it seems that it''s not gentle to rob a woman


    in public."


    Mr. ise let go of his hand when he heard this. "Even so, thisdy seems to have stolen a valuable


    piece of jewelry. Mr. Xavier can''t keep this from being investigated."


    Stealing?


    Derek looked at Meredith''s helpless expression. Her eyes were red, but she refused to show any


    weakness. He walked over and stood beside her.


    "Thisdy is an employee of mypany. She oftenes to my office and collection room. If she


    wants to steal something, why not steal there?"


    "Besides, I think you all know thew. She has the right to protect her privacy. It''s against thew to


    search in public."


    His sonorous and forceful tone calmed down a group of people who had just been angry. If it was


    someone Derek knew...


    "There may be some misunderstanding."


    "Well, let''s leave it to the relevant staff."


    They immediately changed their attitude and didn''t want to get involved in this troublesome matter. If


    they annoyed Derek because of this, it would not be worth the loss.


    The crowd slowly dispersed. Ava looked at them and her face turned red with anger. "Mr. Xavier, I know


    you and my sister..."


    Before Ava could finish her words, she stopped as Derek''s cold eyes stopped on her as if he were


    looking at something dead. She even felt that if she said something she shouldn''t have said, she would


    be killed by this man immediately.


    "I lost my things. Mr. Xavier can''t stop me from looking for them, right?"


    Ava forcefully omitted the things she shouldn''t have said and looked at Derek. Although she was a little


    scared, she believed that Derek wouldn''t be so unreasonable.


    "Yes, of course." Derek said indifferently, "Since you want to find it, you can go and check the


    surveince. Maybe it was you who identally lost it there."


    Derek said it with certainty, as if he had already confirmed it.


    When the others heard this, they thought it was more reasonable and agreed, "Then go and check the


    surveince video immediately."


    "Since Miss Mason thinks this has something to do with my staff, I will take responsibility for handling


    this matter. Please stay here and don''t panic." Derek showed his attitude toward others. Seeing that he


    had taken the responsibility, they didn''t want to be involved, so they left the spot.


    Derek took Meredith to the monitoring room, and Ava followed reluctantly.


    Ava could not help but mutter in her heart that Derek came here at the wrong time. If he were a little


    her innocence.


    "Wait a minute." Meredith followed Derek and gently tugged at the corner of his shirt as she didn''t see


    anyone else. "Now her ne is in my bag. She put it in when I went to the bathroom to change my


    shoes. There can''t be any surveince there."


    Meredith could only admire Ava''s ingenuity at the moment. She had especially found a ce where


    there was absolutely no surveince video. If it wasn''t for Derek, she wouldn''t be able to defend


    herself.


    "Have you touched the thing inside?" Derek frowned and nced at Ava, who was following behind


    him. His eyes were cold.


    "No." Meredith shook her head.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll take care of this."

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73


    They went into the monitoring room. Derek asked someone to show them the surveince video. They


    were sitting there, one screen for each person to watch the boring surveince videos. As Ava grew


    impatient, she was suddenly attracted to a picture.


    It was the ce where she talked to Director Chow outside. Ava was stiff for fear that the damn camera


    might have recorded something that would be unfavorable for her.


    Fortunately, the ce where they were standing seemed to be a blind spot so that nothing was


    exposed. Just as Ava breathed a sigh of relief, she saw a familiar figure.


    The time of that figure showing up was not long, but it was enough for her to recognize who it was.


    Meredith ran away quickly from the ce not far away, and at that time... She should be whispering


    something that should not be heard by others to Director Chow.


    Ava was shocked. Did Meredith hear what she had said?


    On second thought, Meredith seemed to have just asked her to please those men. At that time, she


    didn''t care much. Now she realized Meredith meant something actually.


    At the thought of this, Ava was not calm anymore. "Mr. Xavier, I already said that my ne was lost


    in the bathroom. Why do you ask me to watch these videos now?"


    Derek narrowed his eyes and looked at her callously. He seemed to know Ava''s intention. "It seems


    that Miss Mason is very sure of it. It is unnormal for someone who lost things to be so sure."


    Ava was speechless for a moment. She was so anxious as to ignore it. Just as she was about to say


    something, Derek, who was 1.8 meters high, slowly stood up and looked down on Ava in front of him.


    "If you solve it now, I will go easy on you. If not, after I find the ne, I will ask someone to analyze


    the fingerprint on that ne..."


    "Miss Ava is smart. You should know what I mean."


    Looking at his confident look, Ava understood that this time she waspletely defeated. The


    ne was put into Meredith''s bag for herself. They would not find the fingerprints of the so-called


    thief but only hers. It was self-evident what happened.


    Now, she could not ruin her image for another time.


    "Then, that''s it. There may be some misunderstandings." Ava smiled, "Mr. Xavier, please return my


    things to me in a few days."


    Derek didn''t say a word and just looked at her indifferently. Ava didn''t want to embarrass herself. Now


    that Derek just didn''t want to spread the news in the whole city, she had to ept him.


    She didn''t have the guts to fight against Derek.


    Picking up her handbag, Ava took another look at Meredith, who was standing by the side, and then left


    in a panic.


    Watching Ava''s submission, Meredith was relieved. Although she was innocent, she could not defend


    herself for Ava''s meticulous n. If Derek hadn''t arrived in time, she would have...


    "Thank you," Meredith said sincerely to Derek. "I would have been vilified without you."


    "It is good that you know it." Derek epted Meredith''s thanks without hesitation.


    "Let''s go." Meredith felt that she need not stay here any longer. She stood up but, unexpectedly


    stepped on a pen that fell on the ground at some time.


    Meredith had difficulty in maintaining bnce in her high heels. She tilted as she stepped on something


    else and felt acute pain from her ankle.


    Derek reached out to help Meredith up. He frowned. "Are you okay? How could you be so careless?"


    Meredith muttered secretly that the high heels he gifted her were too high to wear for ordinary people.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "I... I''m ok..." Meredith tried to move her ankle. At this moment, she felt a sharp pain. There was cold


    sweat on her forehead and her face turned pale.


    "What are you trying to do?" Derek heard her voice trembling for the pain. But she still pretended to be


    fine. He suddenly picked her up and said, "Go home now."


    "But, how about your business..."


    Meredith still remembered her purpose this time. Derek was for an important deal and she didn''t want


    to influence his work.


    "Don''t worry, I know what to do more clearly than you." Derek nced at the little woman in his arms.


    She was very thin. Even though he held her like this, he did not feel she was heavy at all.


    Meredith kept quiet for a moment, feeling warm. Suddenly, she thought of something. "It doesn''t seem


    decent to be seen. What if they mistake our rtionship... I''d bettere down and walk on my own."


    As she talking, Meredith pushed Derek''s chest as if she persevered to walk by herself. When Derek


    saw that she was afraid of being misunderstood, he was angry. "How could you walk? When you arrive,


    no one is there."


    As she spoke, he ignored her weak struggle and quickened his pace. He took the elevator directly to


    the underground parking lot.


    Fortunately, no one saw them along the way. Meredith took a sigh of relief.


    Looking at her relieved look, Derek felt unhappy. When she was with others, she was not so careful for


    fear of being discovered.


    Was he not good enough to be with her in her eyes?


    "Are you afraid of being discovered that I stay with you?" Derek started the car and his tone was


    gloomy.


    Meredith sensed that he was unpleasant. She was a little confused, but still answered honestly,


    "Grandpa Xavier said I should keep the secret and never let anyone know our rtionship."


    Hearing it, Derek''s look, which was dark bettered. It was Mr. Xavier''s order. She was obedient.


    "Do you feel wronged?"


    "I have nothing to wrong about." Meredith lowered her head. It was normal that the Xaviers did not


    want to have links with her in such a situation. Even her own family despised her. How could she be


    wronged for such things?


    Derek looked at Meredith''s calm expression. She spoke so frankly that no one would think she was


    lying. But he could feel that she was sad.


    He was sad as if his heart was pricked by a needle, but Derek did not say anything. They drove away


    from the venue soon and headed for the headquarters of the Xavier Group.


    However, he suddenly stepped on the brake halfway and said, "I''m going out for a while."


    Meredith nodded. Derek came back soon with a small bag in his hand, which contained several kinds


    of painkillers.


    Meredith didn''t expect him to stop to buy medicine for her. She looked at him and was stunned. Derek


    looked at her swollen ankle.


    Along the way, she had not said a word. If he hadn''t caught a glimpse of the sweat on her face, he


    would have forgotten about it.


    "Take off your shoes. Let me apply the medicine to your ankle."

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74


    Derek''s tone was still cold andmanding, and Meredith shook her head. "Don''t bother. I can deal


    with itter."


    The ointment was usually very pungent, and Derek might find it unpleasant to apply it in the car, so


    Meredith decided to deal with it after they leave the car.


    "It''s not that hard." Derek looked at Meredith and shook his head. His eyes darkened. This woman was


    really brave enough. Her wound was swollen like a steamed bun, but she didn''t want to deal with it until


    theye back.


    "Let''s go back to thepany." As Meredith was speaking, Derek suddenly opened the car door on her


    side and picked her up from her seat.


    Meredith was startled, but the man quickly opened the back door and put her in, in a not very gentle


    way. "Bring me the ointment. I''ll help you with it."


    Since Meredith didn''t want to do it herself, he would do it for her.


    "Ah? It''s not necessary..." Meredith was shocked. The help from Derek was a joke for her.


    But before she could finish her words, Derek grabbed her calf and lifted her injured foot.


    "Ah!" Meredith called out lightly. She was wearing a dress now. Although she wore leggings, she still


    felt ufortable about being lifted up by a man like this.


    "I''m fine. I''ll do it myself." Seeing that he was serious about helping her, Meredith blushed for this.


    Meredith hurriedly reached out to get the ointment back from the man''s hand, but Derek didn''t mean to


    let her go at all. Instead of loosening his grip on her leg, he exerted more force on her.


    "Don''t move." Derek''s voice was hoarse and sexy. It made Meredith''s whole body numb and she didn''t


    dare to move anymore. She just pressed her skirt and looked at the man''s movements.


    Derek lowered his head and applied the ointment on his hands. Meredith looked at his side face, which


    was as elegant as a sculpture. There was an irresistible concentration in his eyes. As the saying goes,


    a focused man was the most handsome one. Meredith didn''t agree with it before, but now she couldn''t


    be distracted from him.


    "It might hurt a little, you have to bear it." Derek took off Meredith''s high heels and looked at the terrible


    height of them. Being a woman was really tiring.


    "Yeah, it''s okay." Meredith woke up from her dazed state and quickly turned her head away from Derek.


    How could she be immersed in him...


    Before Meredith had time to despise herself, there was a sudden sharp pain in her ankle, which almost


    made her cry out. However, she quickly held back. When Derek finished applying the ointment,


    Meredith almost bit her lip bleeding.


    "If it hurts, just scream out. Don''t try to be strong." Derek nced at her. It was the first time he had


    seen a woman so patient.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    Usually, those girls cry loudly when they get a little hurt for others'' sympathy.


    However, Meredith''s silence and strength made him feel better. He picked up his shoes and threw them


    aside. "Next time don''t wear them. Jameson only cares about your look. You can tell him stop."


    Meredith retracted her feet and felt the heat remaining on the skin he had just touched, making her


    heart warm again.


    "I see. It''s actually my problem. I haven''t tried these sort of shoes in a long time. I''m not used to them."


    Meredith lowered her head, afraid that Derek would see her blushing face.


    Derek went to buy her a pair of ts and gave her a ride home.


    Meredith didn''t reject him. She couldn''t even walk now, and there was nothing she could do for the


    Derek called for her servant and watched her helping Meredith walk into the house, then he left.


    As soon as Derek left, Vivian, who was holding Meredith, immediately pushed her away. "What a fox."


    The moment she saw Meredith and the dress she was wearing, she could almost guess what had


    happened.


    How could she attract him? She''s a murderer, but she can make the young master like her so much


    that he had bought her so many presents.


    "Hiss..." Meredith was pushed by her in unprepared. Her ankle had just eased a little but hurt again. A


    wave of pain came and made her eyes wet.


    Vivian was really not willing to give up, but she was the heroine who took care of Derek, so the family


    valued her very much. Meredith really felt bitter about her.


    "Don''t becent. Even if the young master treats you well now, he''s just fooling around with you.


    One day, you''ll still have to get out of here."


    Meredith rested for a while. When she heard this, she was very helpless. She had kindly advised Vivian


    before, but she didn''t seem to listen at all.


    In the eyes of Derek this sort of people, there was no difference between Meredith and Vivian.


    It''s just...


    Meredith''s heart skipped a beat at the thought of the man''s serious look today, but she quickly shook


    her head. Vivian''s words reminded her.


    She couldn''t have affectionate feelings on him, otherwise, it would hurt her alone.


    However, although Meredith thought so, Vivian didn''t take what she said seriously at all. When she


    thought about Meredith''s clothes and everything she had, she felt nothing but extremely jealous.


    If Derek could ept a woman who had been in prison, then he might love her too.


    She must find a way to be in love with Derek.


    Meredith was at home for a few days in bored, then she remembered Ava and Director Chow.


    She found a paparazzi''s phone number in a tabloid and leaked the message to him. She had thought


    that Ava would be in trouble while she would get a bonus herself.


    Unexpectedly, the paparazzi said she had no evidence for leaks and they were afraid of being sued, so


    they couldn''t post it.


    Meredith was a little disappointed. After all, she had seen and heard it herself. If she can post it, it


    would definitely make Ava in trouble. If she was in trouble, she wouldn''t have so much energy to


    nder against her.


    "If it is real, you''d better get some reliable evidence yourself, even if it''s just a few photos. And the


    price, it''s a piece of cake."


    Meredith hung up the phone and fell into deep thought. The paparazzi''s offer was really tempting. As


    long as she could get a picture with her face, even if there was only one photo, it was six figures, which


    was an unbelievable figure she could never earn by herself in years.


    With this money, she would have the courage to go out and find a nursing home. Perhaps, she could


    also ask Derek to help her find her mother, and then she would no longer need to be threatened by the


    Masons with her mother.


    Thinking of this, Meredith felt that the adventure was worth it. That day, she heard the room number,


    and the time. She could dress up as a waitress and sneak into the hotel.

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75


    It was soon the day that Ava and Director Chow agreed.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith arrived at the hotel very early and booked a room which was not far from the room they had


    arranged.


    Then she found the waiter she bribed, a college student who studied under a work-study programme.


    Meredith gave her some benefits and she agreed to lend her clothes to Meredith for a few hours.


    "You must be careful. We have a dinner party here today. Don''t cause any troubles." The waiter said.


    Meredith nodded and took the clothes over. There were a standard set of waiters'' clothes and a


    worker''s badge. She hurriedly changed into it and then walked out. She cleaned up while observing


    how things were going on over there.


    ...


    MS Hotel.


    Derek stopped the car, looked at the brightly-lit banquet hall, and rubbed his temples.


    Today, his cousin, whom he had not seen in years, returned home. After waiting for so long, his Second


    Uncle and Second Aunt wanted their son to have a chance to show himself to all the guests. Naturally,


    they would not miss such an opportunity.


    So, they held such a big dinner party on purpose.


    "The viin''s design is obvious." Derek sneered, "Does their formal confrontation with him start from


    today on?


    They just bite off more than they can chew."


    However, he thought that the grandpa hoped that he and his cousin could get along well with each


    other and not bring the grudges between the previous generation into them, so he still came.


    After getting out of the car, Derek strode into the venue.


    The man did not make any special preparations for the party that he did not want toe to at the


    beginning. He was still wearing the same clothes he wore when he was off work. However, those


    simple style clothes looked like high-end customized clothes when they were worn by Derek.


    Although Seth was the main character of the party and he looked handsome, he was still outshone by


    Derek.


    Many of thedies were attracted by Derek.


    Seth saw that Derek was surrounded by people, and a trace of resentment shed in his eyes which


    were covered by lenses. Then, he still put on a modest smile.


    Soon, Derek would not be so proud and arrogant.


    "Are you ready?" Seth asked faintly.


    At this moment, Vivian came out from the side and looked at the man in the middle of the crowd who


    was as dazzling as the sun. Vivian nodded gently. "Absolutely no problem."


    A few days ago, Xian Lian was angry about things rted to Meredith. At that time, Seth and his wife


    came to her. They said they understood her feelings for Derek and were willing to help as they were his


    elder.


    However, after all, she was a lowly underling. So, the best way was to make Derek have sex with her.


    And, of course, if she could get pregnant, it would be even better.


    Therefore, what she was holding in her hand was not anything else but a vored snack which


    contained the medicine. This medicine was very strong in its effect and no matter how rational and


    abstinent a man was, he could not control the urge to have sex even if he just took a little bit of it.


    Vivian walked over and handed the te to Derek. "Young Master, the Old Master asked me toe


    over and look at you. He was afraid that your stomach would hurt and asked me to remind you to eat


    something."


    Derek nodded and he was not vignt. Vivian watched him eat a few mouthfuls of the food she had


    prepared, and her heart immediately became very nervous and started to beat very fast.


    The medicine should take effect soon. When the time came, she must seize the opportunity and take


    Derek down in one go.


    Meredith wandered outside for a long time and was getting impatient. Then, she saw that Ava''s figure


    appeared at the end of the corridor and a man was following her.


    It should be Director Chow.


    Meredith tensed up and held the tiny camera in her hand. She lowered her head and pretended to


    sweep the floor. As long as she took a picture, she would seed!


    Thinking about it, Meredith was a little excited. But just as she was choked up with emotions, the sound


    of high heels colliding with the ground stopped abruptly. Ava walked up to her and stopped.


    "Meredith, is that you?" Ava sneered.


    Meredith realized that she had been exposed? That shouldn''t be the case, but it''s not the time to think


    about why. Since Ava had found out, she had to run away quickly.


    But the man behind Ava grabbed her hand and made her fall to the ground. "Don''t move. I can''t


    guarantee that you won''t dislocate."


    Meredith was stunned. She didn''t expect this to happen. Where was Director Chow? This man was


    very strong and nimble. He was definitely not that fat director.


    Ava seemed to be well prepared when she came here.


    When did she expose herself?


    "Meredith, you must be wondering when I found out about this?" Ava was holding onto Meredith''s chin


    with the tip of her shoe as Ava thought she was sure to win. "You didn''t see that in the surveince


    room that day, I noticed you eavesdropping in that corner."


    "At first, if you didn''t think of anything, I wouldn''t have been able to do anything to you. Now that you''re


    here on your own."


    Ava flipped out the tiny camera in Meredith''s hand and said, "You are quite well prepared, and this


    thing won''t bepletely useless..."


    She inched closer to Meredith''s ear. "You appear just in time. Director Chow is very ugly. I heard that


    he has some entricities. I don''t want to make any deal with him, so I''ll let you sleep with him for a


    night. You''re the elder sister, so you should exclude the difficulty and anxiety for me."


    After that, Ava asked the man to tie Meredith''s hands and feet with ropes and throw her on the big bed


    in the room. "I think sister will like this little thing she bought herself."


    Ava turned on the tiny camera and ced it on the bedside. Obviously, she not only wanted to make


    Meredith lose her virginity but also she wanted to have something on her so that she could never stage


    aeback.


    Meredith struggled with all her might and watched Ava leave proudly, but there was nothing she could


    do.


    The thought of Director Chow''s lewd eyes made Meredith feel disgusted. She twisted her body and her


    hands were abraded by the rope behind her. She knew that if Ava seeded, she would be doomed.


    Finally, with her unremitting efforts, the rope in her hand loosened a little. Just as Meredith was about


    to try harder and escape, the sound of the door opening came from the side of the door.


    "s, is the baby in a hurry? Don''t worry, brother wille to dote on you soon."


    Director Chow had arrived!


    Meredith''s eyes darkened and she clenched her lips. The pain forced her to remain calm and awake.


    Seeing that the person on the bed was not Ava, but a woman in a waiter''s clothes, Director Chow was


    a little surprised. Meredith saw that he didn''t seem to know about what had happened, so she quickly


    said, "Director Chow, Ava ran away. I''m the waiter here. You let me go!"


    Director Chow was a little angry, but after a while, Ava called. "This is my sister, a little appetizer I gave


    to Director Chow. She''s still a virgin."


    Hearing this, Director Chow immediately agreed. Looking at Meredith''s beautiful face and splendid


    figure, he almost jumped on her. "Your sister said that you are wearing sexy clothes. I heard that you


    are still a virgin? Don''t be afraid, I will be gentle!"


    Meredith watched the fat man get closer and closer. He was not a man, but a beast!

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76


    Derek was talking to some noble gentlemen at the banquet, but suddenly he felt something was wrong


    with his body.


    He strode out with a few steps. A wave of heat emerged from his body, as if it would burn through his


    mind.


    Someone put drug in his food?


    Derek struggled and left the venue. Fortunately, the guest room was just upstairs. He entered a


    presidential suite as fast as he could and rushed into the bathroom, washing his body with cold water to


    mitigate that desire.


    Damn it, someone dared to frame him.


    The cold water cooled his body, but the impulse from the inside was not alleviated. At this moment, the


    light in the bathroom shed and suddenly turned dark.


    In the darkness, Vivian opened the door with a universal opening card.


    "Who is it? Get out!"


    At this point, Derek was 100 % sure that someone had carefully designed it.


    All the famous families in J City were gathered here today. If he had a rtionship with an unknown


    woman, lots of troubles would be invited out of his control.


    Vivian heard the man''s deep roar. Her body trembled, but she still nerved herself to take off her clothes


    and pounce on Derek, who was wiping his body.


    As long as she seeded, Derek would belong to her. In the future, she would be the young madam of


    the Xaviers and enjoy wonderful rich life and happiness.


    Therefore, it was worth the risk.


    The woman''s soft body was pressed against Derek''s sturdy back, and her hand was actively stroking


    the man''s body. Her movements were very urgent, as if she wanted to provoke his desire.


    She must havee here prepared.


    Derek''s eyes darkened when he sensed the woman''s movements. This woman was totally shameless.


    However, the strong smell of the Pheromone perfume on her body not only did not provoke his impulse,


    but also made Dereke to himself for a moment.


    Suddenly, he turned around and choked the woman breathlessly.


    "Say, who asked you toe?"


    Vivian was frightened. Derek was extremely angry. He obviously didn''t know how powerful his hands


    were, Her face turned red fromck of oxygen and she could only beat his steely arm weakly in an


    attempt to get some air to breathe.


    Derek wanted to keep asking but the urge restrained in his body was aroused again. He flung the


    woman out of the room. "Get away, or I''ll kill you."


    Vivian was unwilling to leave and wanted to try again. But what Derek said was too horrible. She


    touched her neck and dared not stay there. She hurried to get out of the room manically.


    ...


    Meredith looked at the man getting closer and closer. At this moment, the rope behind her had been


    loosened, but the rope on her feet was still tied tightly so she could just earn time for herself as much


    as possible.


    "Director Chow, think about it. Ava is a big star. She''s different from an ordinary person like me. You


    better let me go and find her!"


    Director Chow squinted at Meredith. "I don''t think you''re any worse than your sister, or... Do you want


    to be a star too? If you can make me happy, I''ll give you a chance to be a star. I promise, you''ll be more


    popr than your sister!"


    Meredith was suddenly speechless. To a man with such a strong sexual desire, it was obvious that


    nothing she said was of any use. Director Chow did not say more and pounced on her directly.


    Meredith avoided, and the rope on her foot was finally untied. She dared not act rashly so pretended to


    be helpless. "Director Chow, this is my first time. You have to be gentle."


    As soon as she finished speaking, she hit the most vulnerable part of men with her knee and rushed


    out.


    "Fuck! This little bitch!" His dick was hurt, and he covered there with hands, crying out in a mournful


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    voice, "Go and get her back for me. I''ll make her want to die!"


    The man''s face was full of cruelty as he spoke to his assistant beside him.


    Meredith heard that someone was chasing her, what she could do was only running as fast as she


    could. But her feet, which had been tied up for a long time, were so numb that she could only limp and


    run slowly.


    Soon, the sound of footsteps came from behind.


    No, she couldn''t be caught. If she was caught, she would be doomed.


    Thinking about it, Meredith suddenly saw that the door of a presidential suite was not locked. It


    suddenly ured to her that she was a hotel waiter now. Even if there was someone inside, she could


    say that she had entered the wrong room.


    Without hesitation, Meredith rushed in and locked the door from the inside.


    Derek heard the noise from the door again. He realized that the door might be not locked when that


    woman ran out.


    So, another one who was so bold?


    "Get out." Derek''s voice sounded incredibly low.


    After being tortured by this strong medicine for so long, his mind was about to copse.


    Meredith was startled by the sudden voice, but Director Chow''s angry voice was getting closer and


    closer from outside. She couldn''t go out and fall into his hand, so she had to stay here.


    "I''m sorry, sir. I''m the waiter here. Did you order room service?"


    Meredith changed her voice and imitated the way the staff would speak.


    Derek struggled to get up from the bed, reached out his hand, and was about to throw the damn waiter


    out, but the sweet smell on her body had strongly hit his reason.


    "You don''t want to go out, right?" Derek''s eyes were red, and at this moment, the beast in his heart


    broke free from the cage of reason.He only wanted to tear this unreasonable woman in front of him into


    pieces and eat her up.


    "I..." Meredith was startled and instinctively sensed the danger. But before she could answer, she was


    controlled by the man.


    She was startled and subconsciously trying to push away the broad and fiery chest. But all the oxygen


    in her chest was gradually lost away, and her movements gradually became weaker and weaker.


    What would happen next? Though she had never experienced it, she was clear about it.


    "No, no, please..." After a while, Meredith was released. She wanted to step back, but she was trapped


    by the man and could not move. She could only beg him not to do this to her.


    Did she get herself in another danger after she just tried so hard to get rid of one?


    Her most precious thing could not be taken away here.


    "You asked for it." The woman''s soft and teary voice did not soften Derek''s heart at all.


    Derek''s hand touched the badge on her chest. It seemed that she wasn''t lying. She was really the


    waiter here, but he didn''t have the self-control to stop himself now.


    With a piercing sound, Meredith''s clothes were torn into pieces and she closed her eyes in fear.

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77


    "I just went to the wrong room. I''m sure. You''remitting a crime..."


    Meredith was desperate. The difference in body size and strength between men and women left her no


    room for resistance.


    "It''s toote to regret now."


    After everything calmed down, Derek quickly fell asleep, his arm resting on the woman in his arms,


    sleeping peacefully.


    Meredith was in a daze. She was very tired, and her whole body was in pain as if rolled over by


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    something. However, she still held on to her exhausting body, broke free from the man''s arm, and


    stumbled out.


    She couldn''t stay here any longer. This man was crazy. He had taken her by force, but she didn''t even


    dare to look at who he was.


    All she knew was that in this dark room, she was no longer the once pure Meredith...


    Meredith ran back to her room, and the first thing she did was to run into the bathroom, turn on the hot


    water and keep washing her body.


    Meredith turned the temperature of the water very high, and the boiling hot water fell on her body,


    quickly burning her skin red. She rubbed the ce touched by the man with her hands. Thinking of


    what had just happened, she couldn''t help but squat down and cry loudly.


    She shouldn''t havee here. If she hadn''t been here, perhaps Ava would have continued to be proud


    and used those underhanded methods against her, but at least she was still clean.


    After the tiring bath, Meredith was also tired from crying and staggered back to bed. With each step,


    that private part of her body would still be sore.


    Meredith was so tired that she didn''t want to do anything and say anything, just falling asleep on the


    bed.


    The next morning, Meredith was woken up by a knock on the door.


    Nova, the college student who changed clothes with her, called her in a low voice. Meredith dragged


    her tired body over and opened the door.


    Nova was shocked by her.


    Meredith''s hair was in a mess, like a pile of hay. Her beautiful eyes were now deeply sunken, and her


    thick dark circles were obvious. It was as if she had suffered some severe hit, and an indelible sense of


    decadence and despair circled her.


    "Are you okay?"


    Meredith shook her head.


    "That will be fine. I''m going to work. Where are my clothes?"


    Only then did Meredith realize what had happened. Yesterday, the suit had already been torn apart by


    that man, and she hade back wearing that man''s shirt.


    "Sorry, I lose your clothes. I''ll pay you back." Meredith said wearily. Now, she was not interested in


    anything and just wanted to sleep away from this terrible reality.


    Nova was a little unhappy at first, but seeing Meredith''s condition, she was afraid to cause some


    mental problems for her if she said too much, so she could only hold back, "Then you have to pay me a


    little more because I have paid a deposit for this suit. You really cause trouble for me."


    Meredith nodded, took out all the money in her bag, and stuffed it into her hand. "Please buy me


    another set of clothes."


    Seeing the pile of money which was more than her monthly sry, Nova nodded with satisfaction and


    left.


    Only then did Meredith get back to bed. She looked at the man''s shirt and tore it fiercely as if torn the


    damn man.


    Should she call the police?


    However, thinking that the man was living in the presidential suite, Meredith fell into despair.


    Even such a rich and well-connected man like Director Chow could only live in a VIP ward, how could


    that man in the presidential suite have a simple background?


    How could she fight against him?


    Thinking about it, Meredith sadly found that she could not do anything. It was because of the power of


    Derek that she was able to keep proud in front of Ava in the past.


    Meredith''s heart sank at the thought of Derek. What would that man say if he knew that she had lost


    her virginity to another man? Perhaps, he would have hated her. She really became the dirty woman in


    his mouth.


    Meredith felt a bitter taste. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and puffed herself up. "It''s


    okay. Even if there''s no such a thing, Derek will still have no connection with me. Just think of it as


    being bitten by a dog. Meredith, you can hold on."

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78


    Meredith stayed in the room for a while. Not long after, Nova came back and gave her a set of clothes.


    Meredith changed into clean clothes and said to Nova, "You must keep it a secret."


    Meredith had already epted her fate. Now that she had no ability to seek revenge on that man, she


    could only bury this matter in her heart and wait for time to heal her.


    "Of course." Nova nodded. Borrowing clothes could be a big matter or not, and she was not that stupid


    to talk around.


    Meredith grunted and turned to leave, but Nova suddenly saw the man''s shirt she had left behind.


    "Don''t you bring the shirt with you?"


    Meredith shook her head. She didn''t want to see anything rted to that man. That night yesterday had


    be her nightmare.


    She just hoped that she could wake up from the horrible dream as soon as possible.


    Derek was awakened by the morning sun. He moved his arm and realized that there was no one lying


    beside him.


    Where was that womanst night?


    Derek suddenly remembered the craziness ofst night. That woman was crying under him, groaning


    in a low voice, as enchanting as a fairy.


    The thought of that aroused Derek''s desire. He didn''t expect that he had a feeling of being fascinated


    by a woman''s body.


    Derek had always disdained the one who allowed his lower body to control his brain. He put on a cold


    face and was going to take a cold bath in the bathroom to wake himself up. Only then did he see the


    badge that had been left on the floor.


    "Nova?" The man murmured the name, and an interest shed through his eyes.


    Last night, what did she say? He raped her, and he wasmitting a crime?


    Looking at the dried dark red blood on the ground, the man''s eyes darkened. Perhaps he should visit


    this woman.


    Thinking about it, Derek called Damian to bring him some clean clothes, and ask him to check on this


    woman named Nova.


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    Soon, Damian arrived at the hotel room. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Derek drinking red


    wine from a tall ss. Derek was only wearing a loose bathrobe, revealing his strong chest, which was


    now full of scratches.


    Damian quickly looked away and couldn''t help but think his boss seemed to have a very enjoyable


    night. He had been Derek''s assistant for so long, and it was the first time that he had seen such an


    indulgent side of his boss.


    Damian didn''t know which tramp had left those marks.


    "Go check on this woman." Derek took the clothes that Damian had brought and handed over the work


    badge he had picked up. "She should be the hotel staff. I want to see her before I get off work today."


    Damian nodded and immediately went out to check on the girl.


    Derek changed his clothes unhurriedly and sneered at himself in the mirror. Last night was really an


    ident, but the man who dared to drug him must have been tired of living.


    Thinking about that, Derek straightened his cor and strode out with a chilling smile on his face.


    At the Xaviers''s mansion.


    Mr. Xavier sat at the huge dining table, across the table were Hans and his wife, and Seth, who had


    just returned yesterday.


    "Uncle, Derek suddenly left the party yesterday, and now I don''t know where he went. I''m really


    worried!"


    "Yes, I was going to introduce a few youngdies to him, but he just disappeared."


    Hans and Amber quickly told Mr. Xavier that what Derek had donest night.


    "All right, stop talking. Derek is not a child. Can he still get lost?"


    Mr. Xavier looked at Seth and Andy and his wife, who only knew how to cause conflicts in the family,


    and his expression became gloomy.


    The two of them failed to get Mr. Xavier to be their side, feeling embarrassed, thinking that the old man


    was indeed backing up his own grandson However, they wanted to see how the old man would react


    after he knew Derek had slept with one of the servants.


    Just as they were thinking that, Derek came back.


    Seth looked at his cousin, who was the most favored one, with a sneer on his lips.


    Derek looked up and met his eyes. But Derek''s eyes were even colder. At least, they made Seth, who


    was confident, a little scared.


    Derek walked over and nodded at Mr. Xavier without looking at the family of his Second Uncle.


    "Grandpa, I''m back."


    "Derek, you suddenly left the party yesterday. What did you do? Why did I hear some bad rumors?"


    Amber saw how arrogant Derek was and immediately started to cause him trouble.


    "Oh?" Derek smiled, but his eyes were still so cold, with no smile in them at all.


    Derek had intended to find out who was behind it, but he didn''t that Amber was so stupid and jumped


    out to say that.


    "I would like to know what bad rumors are they."


    Derek sat down calmly, his legs crossing gracefully, and there was not a hint of panic in his expression.


    "I heard that you slept with a servant yesterday. I''m afraid you will be embarrassed if others know it,


    right?"


    Derek was sure that what happenedst night was caused by the family of his Second Uncle and


    Vivian.


    "Then you might ask her to confront me." Derek said calmly, making his Second Uncle and his wife feel


    a little uncertain.


    Vivian was called out, and when she saw them, she was in a panic.


    "Second Aunt, is she the one you''re talking about?" Derek smiled. "Is that you? What happened


    between you and me yesterday?"


    As soon as she saw Derek''s cold eyes falling on her, Vivian trembled and the memory of being almost


    strangled yesterday came to her mind.


    However, she did not dare to tell the truth when she came back. She simply lied to Hans and the others


    and said that she had seeded.


    But Vivian didn''t expect that Hans didn''t want to help her be the young madam of the Xaviers at


    all. He just wanted to use her to create a scandal.


    "I was wrong, Young Master. It was because I was bewitched by Second Master and the others to do


    such a thing. Please, Young Master and Old Master, please spare me."


    After listening to this, Mr. Xavier understood everything. It was Hans and Amber who had conspired to


    destroy his most valued sessor.


    "You bastards, get out of here!"


    Mr. Xavier picked up the crutch in his hand and throw it at them directly. Hans was shocked. "This


    damn girl framed us. She wanted to be the Young Madam of the Xaviers. Why did you me us?"


    For a moment, the living room was in chaos, and in the end, Old Master Xavier pped the table hard


    to calm them down.


    "You get out of here! Derek. Follow me to the study."


    Derek nodded and followed Mr. Xavier upstairs. It was only one day that he felt his grandpa''s back


    bend a little more.


    "It''s my fault. I am getting old and be less cynical. I want to get along with my family, but I didn''t


    expect they did something bad to you."


    Mr. Xavier shook his head. To tell the truth, he was not bad to Hans and his family. Although it was


    impossible to give the Xavier Group away, the business that was given to them would be enough for


    them to live a wealthy life for the rest of their lives, if they took good care of the business.


    Unfortunately, they were not satisfied.

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79


    "In the future, I won''t care about their affairs. I believe you can handle them well." Mr. Xavier shook his


    head, then sat down, and he looked out the window and sighed.


    "Don''t worry. I will not do anything to them. As long as they behave themselves, I will not bother about


    them too much."


    Old Mater grunted, "By the way, get Vivian, who did this kind of thing, out of here. For the sake of


    taking care of you before, there is no need to be hard on her."


    Derek promised all of them. He wouldn''t keep a servant who had betrayed him.


    After saying this, Derek did not want to disturb Mr. Xavier anymore, so he left the study to go back to


    his room.


    However, he had a n in his mind to deal with his Second Uncle. First, he had to go abroad to get


    back the overseas shares of Xavier Group. Supposedly, it would take him at least a month to go abroad


    this time.


    Thinking of this, the man couldn''t help but think of what happened when he was abroad. He couldn''t


    help but want to see Meredith. At least, he should tell her something.


    Today was the day off. Meredith should be there.


    Thinking of her, Derek had aplicated feeling. Yesterday, he had slept with an unknown woman.


    Although he was driven by the drug, he was wrong yet.


    Even though their marriage was very special, and she had no right to interfere with what he did, Derek


    still felt guilty somehow.


    Thinking about it, Derek hesitated for a moment at the door. And then he pushed the door and walked


    in, but surprisingly, there was no one in the room.


    Meredith was not here?


    Derek asked a servant and knew she was not herest night, and she came home early this morning.


    She didn''t have breakfast, and now she seemed to stay in the room, not knowing what she was doing.


    Derek frowned.


    He looked again and found that the bathroom light was on, but there was no sound of water. It was very


    quiet, strangely quiet. Moreover, he looked at the door. There was no steam in it and it was clean.


    This anomaly aroused Derek''s suspicions. He knocked on the door. "Meredith, Meredith? Are you in


    there?"


    There was no answer, but the dead silence.


    The strange feeling in Derek''s heart became more and more intense. At this moment, he couldn''t care


    much and kicked directly at the door.


    The bathroom door was kicked open by Derek.


    Hearing the loud noise, Meredith suddenly woke up in the bathtub. The water in the bathtub was


    already cold. She had just fallen asleep.


    When she first got home, she only felt the smell of the man was on her skin, as if it was going to invade


    her whole body, so she went to the bathroom to wash up.


    Unexpectedly, she fell asleep inside the bathtub because she was too tired.


    Derek walked in,"Meredith, you..."


    The man''s words came to an abrupt end. His eyes fell on the woman''s naked body and found her fair


    skin was full of red marks and many ces were bruised. Obviously, this woman had gone through


    fierce sex.


    Derek suddenly felt that he was a fool who had just felt guilty. He wasn''t at home only one night, and


    she went out with other men and came home with all the marks on her body.


    Did she think he was dead?


    "Meredith... what a lustful woman! You can''t wait to find a man to satisfy you as long as I''m not home


    for only one day?"


    Meredith was in a hurry to put on her bathrobe to hide the shameful marks, but the man''s naked eyes


    made her ashamed.


    Seeing that she wanted to put on her clothes to cover her body, Derek only felt that she was guilty and


    he became angrier.


    He pulled the naked Meredith out of the bathroom and pressed her against the mirror.


    "I was blind to think that you might not be a bad woman, but now it seems that any man with a little


    money can have sex with you, right? Then why do you pretend to be chaste in front of me? Are you


    trying to deceive me, or do you want to get a good price before sleeping with me?"


    "Derek, let me go!" Meredith only felt her scalp hurt because of his pulling, but the pain was far less


    painful than the pain in her heart.


    She was forced and she didn''t want to have sex with that man. Why did Derek humiliate her like this?


    "Let go of you? So you can continue sleeping with your paramour and cheating on me?"


    Derek watched Meredith struggling. He became angrier when he found her struggling.


    These days, he thought he had treated Meredith well, but what did she do in return?


    She betrayed him!


    Derek, who had never experienced this kind of tant betrayal before, just wanted to destroy this damn


    woman at the moment.


    "No, no... I was forced." Meredith looked at herself in the mirror and couldn''t help but shed tears.


    Derek let go of his hand when he heard this. At this moment, Meredith''s phone rang. The man took it


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    directly and pressed the answer button. "Let''s see if the paramour who slept with youst night called?"


    Ava''s voice came from the receiver. "How was it, my sister? Did you have a good time with Director


    Chowst night?"


    Ava thought of what happened to Meredith as soon as she opened her eyes, so she called to irritate


    her.


    She wanted to see if Derek would protect her after she slept with Director Chow and lost her virginity.


    "What are you talking about?" Derek''s face became sullen and he clenched the phone.


    "My sister also wants to be a star, so I, her sister, naturally create an opportunity for her." Ava was


    startled by the deep voice of the man opposite. After thinking about it, she decided to continue to sow


    discord.


    As long as Derek waspletely fed up with Meredith, no one would interfere with her if she tortured


    Meredith.


    Derek hung up the phone directly.


    The man couldn''t control his anger and threw the phone at Meredith who didn''t dodge and was hit on


    her forehead. A trail of blood flowed down her forehead, but she didn''t feel it.


    "This is what you call "forced", huh?" Derek felt his hesitation for her exnation just now was satire.


    He really underestimated Meredith whose acting skills were probably much better than her sister, who


    was an actress.


    He was really bewitched by her grievances and innocence which she pretended to show. He was


    immersed in thinking that she was not as bad as he thought she was. He even forgot that this woman


    was the one who caused him to have lied in bed like trash for three years!


    "No, I wanted to take a video of Ava and Director Chow that day, but she found out and I was..."


    Meredith''s voice became lower and lower as she said, because she saw the cold and cruel smile on


    Derek''s face. He didn''t believe her. He would never believe her again.


    "Meredith, do you think you''ll believe these stories you''ve made up if you were me?" Derek stood up


    and lifted her chin with the tip of his shoe, looking at her contemptuously.


    Meredith''s eyes were empty. Yes, these things sounded absurd like a fantasy. Even if these things were


    true, who would believe her?


    Even she herself didn''t believe that what happened yesterday was real.


    Derek looked at her coldly. "Meredith, you really make me sick."

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80


    Meredith shivered. Derek said she made her sick, but she didn''t know how to refute it.


    Because now, she herself felt that she was dirty, and she didn''t even have the intention of a refutation.


    In that case, the only thing she could do might be...


    "Derek, since you hate me so much, let''s...get a divorce."


    With her head down, Meredith said word by word. The position of the young madam of the Xaviers


    should not have belonged to her. Originally, she was a virgin, and perhaps she could have an


    extravagant hope for that position, but now... She had nothing.


    Who would want a woman like her?


    Derek red at her. She didn''t apologize to him or beg for his forgiveness. Instead, she said with


    massive understatement that she just wanted a divorce.


    Did she really think he wouldn''t do anything to her?


    He was controlling himself from tearing Meredith''s delicate body apart. "We get a divorce now so that


    you and your adulterer can live a happy life? No way."


    Meredith looked up and met Derek''s angry eyes. She didn''t know how to defend herself; nor did she


    understand why he didn''t agree to a divorce...


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    Didn''t he feel sick at the sight of her? Wouldn''t it be good for both of them if she disappeared?


    While the two of them were at loggerheads, Derek''s phone rang. It was from Damian.


    "Boss, the girl Nova was found. Should I take her to thepany or..."


    Derek frowned when he heard this. "Tell her to wait there. I''ll go over and ask her something."


    Hanging up the phone, Derek looked at Meredith indifferently. "Meredith, this is not over yet. If you dare


    to cuckold me, I will get this even with you slowly."


    "In the past, I was so blind as to be deceived by a woman like you. In the future, I will make your life


    worse than death."


    After that, the man left without looking at her again.


    Meredith sat on the floor for a long time. She had already soaked in cold water. Sitting on the cold floor


    made her body constantly trembling.


    She knew that Derek''s hatred was probably deeper than the moment they met. She had no way out,


    and Derek would definitely torture her hard.


    ...


    Derek quickly drove to MS Hotel. Damian was waiting at the door. "She''s waiting inside."


    Derek nodded and walked into the room where the girl was. It was the same presidential suite where


    he had slept with her, but those marks had been cleared.


    Nova sat on a chair, holding a bag of men''s shirt in her hand, her face filled with fear.


    Just now, when she took the clothes to wash, she found out that this shirt was a famous brand and was


    worth a lot of money, so she ned to clean it up and see if she could sell it for some money.


    However, the man named Damian found her. After asking her name, he saw the shirt, so he brought


    her here directly to ask aboutst night.


    She was afraid that someone would find out that she had lent her work clothes to others and neglected


    her duties, so she lied.


    Unexpectedly, she was asked to wait here, and no matter what she asked, the man refused to tell her


    why he was looking for her.


    If she had known, she wouldn''t have taken the risk for that few thousand dors. Nova had cursed


    Meredith many times in her heart. This woman, indeed, had bad intentions. She thought Meredith must


    have created big trouble and nted it on her.


    Just as she was thinking, the door opened and a man came in. Seeing him, Nova waspletely


    stunned.


    She had never seen such a good-looking man in her life. He was wearing a ck coat and she couldn''t


    tell what brand it was, but it had a great texture and was very expensive at first nce. However, the


    clothes did not steal his own elegant demeanor. His exquisite and angr features were no worse than


    those of foreigners. Besides, he was tall and slender, making him more dignified.


    Nova blushed and lowered her head, not daring to look at Derek.


    Derek had been observing her ever since he entered the room. Her clothes were very ordinary, simple,


    without any extra decorations. She didn''t have any makeup on her face. At first nce, she still looked


    like a student who had never experienced the toils of society.


    She didn''t look too pretty. Fortunately, her look was of average-level, and she looked good if one


    looked at her for a while.


    She looked not much different from Derek''s imagination.


    "Boss, that''s her. I just checked. Her name is Nova. She''s a college student who was working in this


    hotel part-time. In the bag in her hand is your shirt."


    Derek nodded, showing he understood.


    When Nova heard Damian''s words, she also woke up from the dizziness of her infatuation. She looked


    at the distinguished man, and said in fear, "I, I didn''t steal this, I..."


    She had no idea what had happened yesterday. She was so anxious that she couldn''t even speak


    properly.


    "Don''t be afraid. I''m not here to hold you responsible."


    Derek couldn''t bear to see the girl in fear.


    Last night, she had been resisting the whole time, but at that time, he was drugged, and he couldn''t


    control himself. In the final analysis, he was the one who had done the wrong thing.


    "Really?" Nova couldn''t believe it.


    Derek nodded. "I''m sorry about what happened yesterday. Thank you too."


    If it weren''t for her, he would have had sex with a woman arranged by his Second Uncle, and things


    would be out of control by then.


    "So, you can ask for whatever you want. I will try my best to satisfy you."


    Derek''s tone was unusually gentle.


    Nova thought for a while. She wanted to ask for a sum of money directly, but looking at this man''s


    appearance, she thought he seemed very powerful, so she resisted the thought. "My mind is nk


    now. Can I talk about itter?"


    Derek agreed. Damian walked over and handed her a business card. "When you decide what you


    want, call me."


    Then, Derek asked Damian to go out and buy the medicine. Yesterday, he lost his mind and did not


    think about taking contraceptive measures at all. This girl in front of him should be a virginst night.


    He didn''t want to cause any trouble.


    Nova took the medicine obediently. Derek was satisfied with her cooperation and felt a little guilty, so


    he generously gave her a check.


    The amount made herpletely stunned. She refused several times but failed. And then she watched


    the man leave.


    When Derek left, Nova looked at the check with excitement.


    This was more than a hundred thousand dors. She was just a female student of an ordinary major in


    an ordinary university. She even didn''t know if she could find a job in the future. Suddenly, she got such


    a sum of money for no reason. It was like pennies from heaven.


    But what exactly did that woman do yesterday... to make this man treat her like this?


    Nova thought of the sexual atmosphere in the room and the pill that seemed to be used for


    contraception. She suddenly realized and then an idea came to her.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81


    Derek soon went abroad to deal with these matters. This time, he didn''t hesitate and acted quick and


    silent. Soon, he found out all the people who had evil intentions and purged them.


    Of course, Vivian couldn''t stay at the Xaviers anymore.


    "Old Master, since I have been diligent in taking care of Young Master for so many years, at least I


    deserve some recognition for my efforts. Please don''t drive me out..."


    Only then did Vivian realize how serious the matter was, so she begged hard.


    Mr. Xavier, who had always been generous to his servants, was not at all soft-hearted this time. He


    would never stay for such servants who were inappropriate and insubordinate.


    If Derek hadn''t been lucky enough to control himself and resist her seduction that day. Now, the


    consequences would have been disastrous.


    Meredith could not help but feel pathetic to see her being driven away mercilessly.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Although she was a victim of her own scheming, it still confirmed her conjecture that the Xaviers, after


    all, was ruthless. Even if the people like her who had been there for many years could be ruthlessly


    kicked out, she was an outsider, so her consequence might be the same...


    Perhaps she really should consider leaving there as soon as possible, rather than waiting for someone


    to point at her nose and kicked her out of the ce.


    After Vivian was chased away, the entire the Xaviers was in silence, with a sense of brewing a storm.


    Everyone was depressed, not daring to speak anything, for fear of causing trouble.


    This month, when Derek was not around, Meredith moved from the master bedroom to a far guest


    room.


    She thought that if she were to stay away from the man, maybe he wouldn''t be in a bad mood or put


    her in a difficult position.


    But she was wrong.


    At night, Meredith had just changed and was ready to sleep.


    Suddenly, she heard that the door was open. She was startled and was about to ask who it was. Derek


    strode in and looked at her coldly, which made Meredith tremble all over.


    "Why are you here?"


    Meredith asked nervously. Derek''s expression was cold as if he was suppressing his anger.


    "Why? Are you deliberately moving out to avoid having sex with me for that man?"


    As soon as Derek got home, he found that Meredith was not there and was irritated. Seeing her move


    there, his anger was even more intense.


    "I didn''t." Meredith heard his purposely humiliating words and felt a sense of bitterness. She was just


    afraid that he would get angry.


    "I just don''t want to piss you off and get myself into trouble. Since you''re upset when you see me,


    wouldn''t you be happier if I disappear?"


    "Now,e back with me." Derek didn''t relent at Meredith''s aggrieved look. Instead, he felt an urge to


    abuse her.


    She thought that as long as she pretended he would still be deceived by her?


    A woman like Meredith didn''t deserve the slightest bit of trust and respect.


    Feeling Derek''s intense anger, Meredith didn''t want to provoke him, so she followed him obediently and


    walked into the familiar room.


    When the door had just been locked, Derek sat on the sofa to look at her leisurely, as if he was not


    looking at a person but an object.


    Under the gaze of contempt and mockery, Meredith felt as if her pajamas had been prated. She


    had no dignity in front of him.

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82


    Derek knew very well that this was just Meredith''s disguise, so he did not have pity for her, just to vent


    the unhappiness in his heart.


    It took some time before Derek finally stopped and pushed Meredith away when she couldn''t almost


    feel her body.


    "Get out."


    The man walked into the bathroom and ordered her coldly like he was giving orders to some lowly


    prostitute.


    His words stabbed her like a sharp knife. She knew that Derek hated her, but the way he treated her


    was like trampling her dignity on the ground.


    However, she did not dare to stay here; she silently picked up the scattered clothes on the ground and


    teetered back to the room with her aching body.


    After locking the door, Meredith ran into the bathroom immediately. She looked at the disheveled


    woman in the mirror and felt gloomy.


    She had led a life like this.


    Meredith thought sadly, turning on the tap, washing her body, and lying down on the bed exhaustedly.


    For the next few days, nightmares kept repeating. Derek would sometimes call her into the master


    bedroom, torture her, and then kick her out.


    Because of this physical and mental torture, Meredith soon became much thinner and haggard.


    She could only hope that Derek would get tired of this boring thing someday and let her go.


    ......


    Meredith was just about to take a car home when she came out of the office in a daze when suddenly a


    car stopped in front of her, "Meredith, you haven''t been replying to metely. Why..."


    Parker had contacted Meredith for the past few days, but she hadn''t replied. Out of worry, he had to


    he couldn''t finish his sentence.


    "What''s happened to you? Why are you so skinny?" Parker hurriedly got out of the car. Meredith looked


    at him dully. Only when she found out it was Parker did she squeeze out a smile.


    "It''s you..."


    Now, no matter what Meredith did, she felt extremely tired. Every night, she was humiliated by Derek.


    In order to escape from the painful feeling, she had to deceive and iste herself. Only in this way


    would she not be driven mad by the sense of shame.


    Over time, she felt that she was not normal.


    She habitually avoided what was happening outside. She could only understand what others were


    saying when they talked to her several times.


    "You look terrible, Meredith. What happened?"


    Parker was really frightened by her appearance. Thest time when she was framed by Ava to be the


    other woman and was insulted by others, she was not like this - a puppet without a soul.


    "What happened was that..." Meredith looked at the concern in Parker''s eyes. The guard in her heart


    cracked a little, but she didn''t dare to say the following words.


    Seeing that she hesitated, Parker got out of the car and helped her to get in, "I''ll take you out for a


    ride."


    Meredith wanted to refuse, but when she saw Parker''s concerned eyes, she calmed down eventually.


    Perhaps, this was the only person in the world who would care so much about her.


    Parker took her to the beach.


    "Come on, look at the sea. Maybe you''ll feel better."


    Meredith got out of the car quietly and looked at the blue sea in front of her. The mncholy in her


    eyes was not a little less.


    From the day she was raped and lost her virginity by a man she didn''t know, she felt like she could no


    longer go back to her original life.


    Parker sighed when he saw that she was still silent.


    "I won''t force you if you don''t want to tell me. How about I tell you my story?"


    "Now that you look at me, you might think I''m doing pretty well, right? In fact, you probably wouldn''t


    have imagined the days I spent as a child."


    Parker recounted his past.


    Parker''s mother used to be the most beautiful girl at S University in J City. Although she had an


    ordinary family background, her temperament was unique, so she was chased by countless men.


    However, her luck was not good. After falling in love with a rich young master, she always thought that


    she met the right one. When she went to do the antenatal examination, she was stopped by a woman


    who imed to be the man''s fianc¨¦e. Only then did she realize that she had be the other woman


    unwittingly.


    Being proud and dignified, she left the man, but could not bear to abort the child. During her childbirth,


    she had a massive hemorrhage and the boy became an orphan at birth.


    The boy grew up in an orphanage. Normally, a healthy and intelligent boy like him would easily be


    adopted, but every time he was adopted for more than three months, he would be sent back to the


    orphanage.


    Over time, the people in the orphanage all rejected him; they thought he probably had sticky fingers or


    even had some unmentionable disease.


    The boy finally heard the truth one night before he was sent back to the orphanage for thest time.


    It turned out that he was the illegitimate son of a prestigious family. Although his mother was dead, his


    father''s legal wife knew of his existence, so every time he was about to live a good life, that woman


    would use her power to stop him.


    When the boy learned all this, he did not let himself be sent back to the orphanage but went straight to


    a local underground casino. In the beginning, he was the lowest thug, but he never stopped seeking


    status...


    In order to achieve his goals, he had done many wrong things.


    Of course, one of the wrong things was causing Meredith''s unjust imprisonment, but Parker kept this in


    his heart and did not say it.


    Meredith was shocked when she heard what Parker said. She had always felt that he was a warm


    person. She had never expected his past to be so dark.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t know..."


    Meredith was sorry. She didn''t want to rub Parker''s nose in it.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "You don''t need to apologize. I want to tell you my story, and just want you to know that there are no


    such setbacks that we can not ovee."


    "Do you know why I helped you when I first saw you?"


    "Why?" Meredith asked.


    "Because the look in your eyes at that time reminded me of myself." Parker said, his eyes fixed on


    Meredith.


    Meredith lowered her eyes, "I..."


    With difficulty, she told Parker everything that happened that day.


    She talked about how she followed Ava and lost her virginity in a room somehow, but she omitted


    everything rted to Derek.


    "What?" Parker''s heart ached when he heard her words and looked at her sad eyes.


    He suddenly hated himself for not protecting the girl in front of him.


    "What do you want to do now?"


    Meredith clenched her lower lip. Parker did not despise her; instead, he wanted to help her, which


    made her feel reassured. "I want to find out where my mother is. I want to overturn that conviction and


    let those people pay the price. Also, that rapist must be found out and brought to justice. After that, I


    will find a ce to live in seclusion with my mother."


    With that said, Meredith felt that these things were impossible. Originally, Derek had changed his


    attitude towards her a while ago, and she was going to ask him to help find her mother.


    But now... She shivered at the thought of the man''s violent look.

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83


    "What''s wrong? Are you cold?" Parker immediately took off his coat to give it to her.


    "No, I''m not cold." She was just scared.


    However, Parker didn''t care about her rejection. "The sea breeze is really a little chill. Put it on and


    don''t catch a cold. I''m afraid you will be blown away by the wind as you''re so thin now."


    Meredith smiled and Parker added, "I have already known all about these things. Don''t worry. I''ll help


    you."


    Meredith nodded and then took out a piece of paper to write down some clues. She handed the paper


    to Parker. "I really don''t know how to thank you."


    Parker looked at the sheer gratitude in her eyes and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He then


    showed his usual casual smile and said. "We are friends so I will definitely help you."


    The two of them returned to the car. Parker insisted to send Meredith home.


    Meredith thought for a while. If Derek found out that she was going home with Parker, he would be


    angry. Thinking of this, she wanted to refuse him.


    "It''s such a remote ce here. You won''t be able to find a car yourself. Stop messing around. Hurry up.


    It''s getting dark in a while and it will be very cold."


    Seeing that she couldn''t refuse him, Meredith could only tell him another address that near the house


    so as to get off early and walk back on her own.


    Parker sent her to the ce she said. Meredith folded his coat neatly and put it on the seat. "I''m


    leaving."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "You have to take good care of yourself. Don''t fall ill as soon as I get you all the information you want to


    know."


    Meredith nodded with a smile and watched the man leave before slowly walking back to the Xaviers.


    ...


    Back at the Xaviers, Meredith saw Derek''s car parked outside at first sight and she was a little


    flustered. She hurried back to her room but found someone inside when she opened the door.


    Derek sat cross-legged in a chair and looked at her with a leisured expression. His eyes were so cold


    that Meredith almost shuddered at that moment.


    "I... I am back." Meredith forced herself to speak while Derek sneered.


    "It''s not easy for you to leave Parker ande back home, right?"


    Meredith was stunned. A stack of photos was suddenly thrown on her face. The man strode over,


    grabbed her long hair, and forced her to look up at him. "It was fun going to the beach with Parker,


    wasn''t it?"


    Derek found that Meredith was not there when he got home. After he waited for a long time, he finally


    sent someone to look for her. He did not expect to see that she and Parker were sitting at the beach


    having a date like a couple.


    In particr, Meredith even put on Parker''s clothes in the end, which made it possible for him to


    imagine if they had done something they shouldn''t have done.


    "I didn''t!" Meredith shook her head. "He and I are just friends..."


    Meredithughed at herself after the words. It was useless to say this. How would Derek believe her?


    Sure enough, the man threw out all the photos in his hands after hearing what she said. He loosened


    her hair and pinched her chin. "A woman like you wouldn''t have any friends. He just wants to have sex


    with you in this name. After all, he doesn''t have to pay you for having sex with you."


    Meredith had heard all kinds of sarcasm from Derek countless times but this kind of personal


    humiliation was still unbearable to her, not to mention Parker was not that kind of person.


    Why did he always think everyone so despicable?


    "Derek, you should really despise me since you think of me like this."


    "Or else?" Derek sneered. He stretched out his hand and tore open her blouse. "You''re smart this time


    for not leaving any trace but I have to check the other parts. Take off your clothes and lie down on the


    bed."


    Derek ordered coldly.


    Meredith did not move this time. In the past, she did a lot of things that she could not bear to think


    about because of fear. Now, she didn''t want to continue like this.


    "No, Derek, since you think I''m disgusting and hate me so much, you should divorce me."


    Meredith said with difficulty and was well prepared to bear the wrath of him.


    "Aren''t you afraid that I''ll send you back to prison?" Derek was really angry. It was Meredith who went


    out to flirt with another man again. How dare she disobey him like that?


    Did she think that she had the ability to fight with him with Parker by her side?


    Meredith was silent for a moment. "Yes."


    She dared to say that, not because she was fearless, but because she believed that Parker could find


    evidence to help her overturn the case. She would go crazy if Derek continued humiliating her like this.


    "Good, very good..." Derek''s eyes were cold. The next moment, he pulled Meredith''s slender body


    against the wall. His hand was stuck on her neck with a strong strength that almost suffocated her.


    But even so, Meredith had no intention of begging for mercy.


    She didn''t want to live in the Xaviers without any dignity anymore.


    "Meredith, it''s impossible for me to satisfy you and your adulterer."


    Seeing that she refused to give in, Derek became angrier and angrier. He flung her onto the bed and


    left rough bruises on her smooth skin.


    Meredith pushed her hard but her hands were quickly fixed by him. Derek took off his tie and tied her


    hands to the bed.


    "No, let me go. Since you think I''m dirty, don''t touch me!"


    Meredith resisted but it only made Derek angrier. Just as he was about to enter into her body, the


    woman under him suddenly hunched over and retched. Her face suddenly turned pale.


    "What''s wrong, Meredith? Have you learnt new tricks just to preserve your integrity for Parker? Or are


    you disgusted if you have sex with other men except for him?"


    Derek felt angrier looking at Meredith''s teary sad face. However, it seemed that Meredith was not


    deliberately pretending like this.


    After a short pause, he took two steps back and mmed the door to leave.


    Meredith coughed a few times as she listened to the loud mming of the door. She wiped away the


    tears which came out because of her retching but the feeling of nausea did not diminish, and it even


    became stronger.


    Meredith didn''t go out at dinner time. She didn''t want to see Derek again so she asked someone to


    bring her food in.


    The servants brought her all her favorite food. Meredith took a look but she had no appetite at all.


    However, she reluctantly picked up her chopsticks and ate a few mouthfuls when she thought of what


    Parker said to her.


    Unexpectedly, that disgusting feeling appeared again. She wanted to restrain the feeling but she still


    couldn''t resist the instinctive reaction of her body. She covered her mouth and rushed into the


    bathroom, throwing up violently.


    When she threw all things in her stomach up, she came out of the bathroom with a pale face. However,


    she felt nauseous again when she saw the food.


    Meredith threw all the food out andy on the bed coughing.


    What was wrong with her?

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84


    Feeling ufortable all over, Meredith found some stomach medicine to take. She thought she would


    be better soon, but the next day at breakfast, she still felt unwell.


    "I''m going to work first." Meredith went to work after grabbing a bite as she didn''t want to look so weak


    in front of the Xaviers.


    After thinking about it, she went straight to the hospital. Ignoring her illness was not an option as she


    promised Parker that she would take good care of herself.


    After a checkup at the hospital, Meredith waited for the results of the checkup. After a while, the doctor


    called her over. "You''re pregnant for two months. The fetus is healthy, but you''re a little weak. You need


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    more nutrition. I''ll prescribe some folic acid for youter."


    Meredith was stunned, and her mind echoed what the doctor had just said. ''She was pregnant. Two


    months?''


    ording to time, the father was the man in the presidential suite that night!


    How could that be?


    Seeing that she was not happy after hearing the news, the doctor thought that she might be another girl


    who had sex with her boyfriend without taking any contraceptive precautions and now she wanted to


    give up the child.


    However, he couldn''t bear to see the desperation on her face. "Remember to take contraceptive


    precautions in the future," he said lightly.


    Contraceptive precautions?


    Something came to Meredith''s confused mind. Then man didn''t wear condom when they had sex that


    night and she was so scared that she forgot to take the emergency contraceptive!


    "Are you okay?"


    "Doctor, I can''t have this child. I want... I want to abort it!" Meredith returned to her senses and spoke in


    a trembling voice.


    The hatred for that person was stronger than ever. Not only did he took her virginity, but he left a seed


    in her body.


    She would never allow the child of that rapist to be born. Never.


    "Calm down. Let''s do a test," the doctor said in a pitiful voice, thinking that the little girl might have been


    deceived by a scumbag as he looked at her pale face.


    Meredith hurried after him, trembling. She shuddered at the thought of a child growing up with the


    blood of a criminal in her body.


    She had to get rid of it as soon as possible.


    Soon, the results came out.


    "Miss Mason, based on physical condition, it''s not good to abort this child."


    "Why? How could this be possible?" Meredith asked anxiously.


    The doctor said apologetically, "You are already in bad physical condition, and it is very unlikely for you


    to be pregnant. If you abort this child in such a condition, you may not be able to get pregnant in the


    future. You have to consider this risk carefully."


    Meredith was struck dumb by the news. The only thought in her mind was despair.


    Why would this happen to her?


    Didn''t she suffer enough? Now she had a child with that man and she was unable to get rid of it?


    "What if I insist?" Meredith calmed down and looked at the doctor with imploring eyes as if she was


    begging for thest straw to save her life.


    "You should go back and think about it first. You''d better discuss with your family and the father of the


    child. I will arrange it if you insist on having an abortion in the end."


    The doctor was deeply shocked by the despair in her eyes and patted Meredith on the shoulder before


    walking her out.


    In a daze, Meredith, who was walking on the way out of the hospital, was totally bewildered by this


    sudden news at this moment.


    Family? Her families would definitely have some very uplimentary things to say about her if they


    knew she was pregnant.


    The child''s father? She didn''t even know who the man was and where to find him.


    Meredith was walking like a walking corpse when she bumped into someone. "What happened? Didn''t


    you see the pregnant woman?"


    The person she bumped into was a woman with a slight bump in her abdomen. Beside her was a man,


    putting a protective arm around her waist. When he saw Meredith bump into his wife, he immediately


    reprimanded her loudly.


    Meredith nced at the couple, sighing that they were in a happy family with father, mother and an


    anticipated baby. What about she...


    "Are you crazy?"


    Angry as the man was, he left after giving vent to his anger as he didn''t want to cause any trouble


    when he saw Meredith who was out of her wits.


    Meredith walked out step by step and sat on the hospital bench for a long time. In the end, she decided


    to abort the child through hard thinking.


    She thought that no man might be with her in the future with her situation. In this way, what was there


    to fear?


    At worst, she could adopt a child. Anyway, she didn''t need a man or a marriage.


    After thinking it through, Meredith called the doctor and they quickly set a date for the operation.


    After that, Meredith hung up the phone and couldn''t help but touch her abdomen, feeling nothing at this


    time.


    "I''m sorry, I can''t keep you. It''s your father''s fault."


    Meredith said, feeling a little mncholy.


    ...


    The appointment was half a monthter, and she must eat properly to assure nourishment during this


    time, ording to the doctor. If she was in such an anemic and underweight state, she might lose her


    life on the operating table.


    Meredith wanted to follow your doctor''s advice, but her appetite changed greatly because of the


    pregnancy. She couldn''t help but vomit at the sight of food her favorite foods. In order not to arouse


    suspicion, she could only eat alone in the room with the excuse that she had a stomach flu.


    This continued for a few days. Derek frowned, looking at Meredith''s usual seat, which had been empty


    for several days.


    That woman was determined to leave the Xaviers? Now she ate alone in her room to avoid meeting


    him?


    After leaving Meredith''s room that day, Derek never came up to her again.


    For Meredith, he felt very strange at the moment. Indeed, as she said, since he hated her, she should


    get away from him and never appear in front of him again.


    However, he didn''t want to do that. He was furious at the thought that Meredith would be with another


    man after the divorce.


    It was impossible for him to give up her.


    Thinking about it, Derek got up and wiped his hands gracefully. Instead of going straight to his room, he


    went to Meredith''s room.


    He pushed open the door, which was unlocked because Meredith was waiting for someone to deliver


    the food.


    Walking in, Derek noticed that Meredith was staring out of the window in a daze. Her clothes looked a


    little too big for her as it hung on her shoulders. Her originally fair face was now almost transparent


    under the sunlight, giving people the feeling that she would disappear at any moment.


    For some reason, Meredith made Derek feel a little ufortable.

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85


    Meredith heard some sound behind her, thinking that it was the servant who brought the food, but did


    not turn back. She just said lightly, "Just put it there first. I''ll eat itter."


    Derek frowned. "You''ve been eating alone in your roomtely... Why? Are you afraid to see me?"


    Meredith was startled to hear a man''s voice and turned to see Derek. She became even more


    frightened and immediately took a step back, looking at him warily. "I''ve been... I have some


    gastroenteritis and I''m not feeling well. I''m afraid I''ll disturb everyone when I go out to eat."


    Meredith unconsciously ced her hand on her abdomen and exerted a little force. She would never


    let Derek know that she had a child in her womb, or else this man would torture her even more cruelly.


    "Gastroenteritis?" Derek looked at Meredith''s face, which was obviously much more emaciated. She


    was so skinny now that she looked as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind.


    "Since you''re not feeling well, I''ll call the doctor lest someone will think that the Xaviers has abused


    you."


    Derek was about to call the family doctor of the Xaviers. Meredith was startled and immediately got out


    of bed. "No, I''ve already gone to see a doctor. He said there''s nothing serious. I just need to take the


    medicine on time."


    In her current condition, if she saw a doctor... Derek would know she was pregnant.


    Meredith could hardly imagine what would happen.


    "Are you sure?" Derek looked at her flustered face, and felt something was wrong.


    "I''m extremely sure." Meredith nodded quickly. After a while, the servant came in with dishes. When the


    servant saw Derek, he quickly lowered his head. "Young master."


    Derek gave a snort as response. Meredith looked at the chicken porridge and a few light dishes in front


    of her. They were already the dishes that she could think of that was light and most in line with the


    nutrition standards mentioned by the doctor. However, every time she saw them, she still felt a little


    nauseous.


    "I''ll watch you eat." Derek had no intention of leaving at all. Instead, he sat down in his chair and looked


    at her leisurely.


    Meredith didn''t know what he meant, so she was nervous. Did Derek find out her secret?


    She was just eating. What did he need to see?


    "I''ll see if you eat obediently. Don''t go on a hunger strike when I can''t see you. I don''t want to see


    anyone starve to death in the Xaviers."


    Hearing Derek''s words, Meredith was a little relieved, lowered her head, and began to eat slowly and


    elegantly.


    Derek looked at Meredith eating. When she was eating, she had great dining etiquette, and she looked


    graceful. Unconsciously, he didn''t think that she was too slow or bored, but just watched.


    In order not to arouse the suspicion of the man, Meredith ate sip by sip slowly to avoid retching. She


    thought that Derek would lose his patience and leave directly, but he just sat there and continued


    watching.


    In the end, she felt a little embarrassed under his watch.


    What was going on in this man''s mind was really beyond theprehension of ordinary people.


    After eating about half of the dishes, Meredith felt her stomach stuffed and was about to pack them up,


    while Derek took a look and said coldly, "That''s all you eat?"


    "I can''t digest them if I eat too much. The doctor told me this." Meredith quickly said the excuse she


    came up with before.


    Hearing that, Derek didn''t ask any more questions, got up and left. Before he left, he said, "For the


    sake of your recent illness, I''ll let you go this time, but don''t think it''s over."


    After that, the man left.


    Meredith smiled bitterly. Should she say that Derek was not that inhumane? At least, he didn''t force her


    when she was pregnant. Otherwise, her body wouldn''t be able to stand it.


    After dinner, Meredith soon felt tired, so she went to bed early. Perhaps it was the nature of pregnant


    women. They were easy to get sleepy after eating.


    Meredith slept for a while and then had a dream.


    In her dream, a fair and fit baby appeared, hugging her thigh and sweetly calling her "mother". Meredith


    hesitated for a moment and was about to pick him up when he suddenly began to cry loudly.


    "Mom, why don''t you want me?"


    "Mom, it hurts so much!"


    The cute baby in front of her turned into a lump of bloody flesh, leaving only one mouth open and


    closed.


    Meredith woke up in a sh in fear.


    The dream just now was so horrifying that it made her heart almost jump out of her chest. She got deep


    breaths of the fresh air. However, the feeling of palpitations did not disappear, but became more and


    more intense.


    She thought it must have been because she had recently searched a lot about miscarriages.


    She had just learned that miscarriage during the first trimester was a cruel thing. A pair of steel pliers


    would enter her body and crush the baby in her womb. The thought of it made her shudder in fear.


    Although it was just an embryo, there was no consciousness.


    Meredith could not help but feel a little down. If this child was not that man''s, but Derek''s, she would not


    be so determined. Even though the abortion would hurt her body, she still had to do it.


    "It''s not that mom doesn''t want you, but..."


    She didn''t want to give birth to the child of that rapist.


    That night, Meredith couldn''t sleep. She was always afraid that once she closed her eyes, the child


    would appear in her dream again.


    It was soon the day of the miscarriage.


    Meredith walked into the hospital in a daze. The doctor examined her again and frowned. "You''re still


    too weak. Miscarriage can be very harmful to you. Does your family really support you?"


    Meredith gritted her teeth. "Yes."


    The doctor shook his head and brought her into the operating room. Meredithy on the operating bed,


    took off her pants, and felt naked, which made her very ufortable.


    Meredith looked at the tiny embryo on the screen and was extremely depressed.


    "Open your legs."


    A cold, hard object entered her body. Feeling that, Meredith frowned painfully. At this moment, the


    doctor shook his head. "No, in your current situation, there''s a high possibility of massive bleeding after


    the surgery. Where''s your family?"


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith shook her head. "I can sign the notice myself. My families are too busy. They don''t have time


    toe."


    "I can''t do it without your family here. The hospital can''t take the responsibility." The doctor shook his


    head and helped Meredith up from the operating table.


    Meredith anxiously grabbed the doctor''s white gown. "No, I can''t have this child. Please, do the surgery


    for me."


    "I''m sorry, although you may have encountered some difficulties, we can''t do this kind of dangerous


    operation without the consent of your family members. Once your uterus bleeds heavily and you are in


    danger, no one can be responsible for that. Stop begging. It''s useless."


    The doctor refused firmly. Meredith could only sit up from the operating table and put on her pants. Her


    hand was ced on her lower abdomen and she could not help but clench it.

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86


    Meredith went out the same way she came in, because the hospital didn''t want to take responsibility for


    her, so she probably couldn''t have the surgery.


    Walking in a daze, she even thought of going to a irregr hospital and getting rid of the child.


    But after all, she didn''t go. If she was unlucky and died on the operating table, it would really be over.


    Meredith sat in a chair in a daze. At this moment, a young mother pushed a cart past her. Inside, a


    white and fat baby lied in it. From time to time, she babbled and stretched out her small fists, as if trying


    to attract her mother''s attention.


    Meredith''s eyes fell on it.


    In fact, she still liked children. As a woman who once yearned for a family, she was afraid that she


    could not get pregnant after having her uterus removed.


    After a long time, she suddenly came to her senses.


    This was her child and had nothing to do with the man that day. After so long, she might not be able to


    find him and bring him to justice.


    But this child was innocent. She wanted to keep it.


    Thinking about it, Meredith felt a pain in her lower abdomen, as if the child in her belly was responding


    to her thoughts.


    Although it was impossible for such a small embryo to do such a thing, it still gave Meredith some


    Perhaps this was fate, and she could only ept it.


    After deciding to keep the child, Meredith began to think about her and the child''s future.


    She couldn''t stay in the Xaviers any longer. Derek hated her because she lost her virginity. If he knew


    she was pregnant, he would force her to abort the baby.


    So... She had to move out of the Xaviers as soon as possible.


    Thinking about it, Meredith called Julius and asked him to help her find a ce to live outside.


    "Are you finally going to jump out of that wolf''s den?"


    Julius was very happy for Meredith when he heard about this. In his opinion, the Xaviers was too


    dangerous for her. Leaving as soon as possible was the best choice.


    "Well, it should be... Soon." Meredith nodded.


    She had just thought that even if Derek did not agree to the divorce, she could go straight to the Old


    Master and ask him not to make things difficult for her while she was at the Xaviers because of her


    obedience.


    "Okay, don''t worry, I''ll do it for you." Thest time Julius helped Meredith find her mother, he didn''t


    make it. He was feeling a little guilty, so he was very concerned about this.


    Soon, Meredith found a suitable house.


    It was a small one-bedroom apartment, but Meredith was very satisfied. It was not big and could not


    Meredith decided to make it clear to the Old Master immediately. The child in her belly could not wait


    long. A long dy might cause trouble. It had to be solved as soon as possible.


    ...


    That night, Meredith went to the Old Master''s study, where he often stayed at night, and knocked on


    the door. A voice came from inside. "Come in."


    Meredith walked in, feeling a little nervous, and she saw Derek inside.


    The grandfather and his grandson were each holding a chess piece on the chessboard, and she


    seemed a little redundant in this harmonious picture.


    "Grandpa Xavier, I have something to say." Meredith thought about it and decided to say it.


    "Just say it." Derek nced at her and ordered faintly.


    "No, these words can only be spoken to Grandpa Xavier alone." Meredith refused to back down. She


    didn''t want to get involved with Derek in this matter.


    "Well, Derek, you should go out first." Mr. Xavier gave Meredith a strange look.


    She had been in the Xaviers for a long time, always submissive and not daring to show off. This was


    the first time he had seen her so tough.


    Derek frowned and his face darkened. He looked at Meredith and said to Mr. Xavier, "I''ll y chess


    with youter."


    Derek left, and Meredith took two steps forward. "Grandpa Xavier, I''m very grateful to you for bringing


    me out of prison. Although I don''t understand your purpose, I did everything you asked me to do."


    "Now, I want to leave the Xaviers and live my own life. Can you just go through my divorce with


    Derek?"


    Mr. Xavier looked at Meredith in surprise. During this time, the divorce between Derek and Meredith


    had been on his agenda, but thest time he asked Derek, thetter didn''t say anything. As a senior,


    he didn''t want to go against the young, so he didn''t force him to go through it.


    Unexpectedly, it was Meredith who proposed the word "divorce".


    "Why do you suddenly have this idea?"


    "I..." Meredith hesitated. "I don''t think it''s good for me or Derek to be in the Xaviers, so I want to leave."


    Mr. Xavier nodded. "Since you said so, well, I will do this. I promised you that when you leave the


    Xaviers, you will be given a sum of money and a good job. Don''t worry, you won''t be missing."


    Meredith shook her head. "No, I just want a promise from you."


    "What''s the promise?"


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "In the future, no matter what, don''t send me to prison again. I don''t want to go back to that hell on


    earth."


    Mr. Xavier nodded. "Okay, okay, I can write a document to prove it. You can rest assured that you did a


    good job in the Xaviers. I''m not that strict."


    Meredith was overjoyed to hear this. Now, she no longer had to be afraid of being sent back to prison


    by the Xaviers, so she could do whatever she wanted.


    "You go back first. I''ll get the divorce done tomorrow. When that happens, you can move out directly."


    Meredith nodded. She understood that Mr. Xavier had been waiting for a long time, so there was no


    need to worry that it would take too long.


    After walking out, Meredith found that Derek did not go far, but smoked a cigarette not far from the


    door.


    Pregnant women couldn''t smoke secondhand smoke. Meredith subconsciously wanted to pass him,


    but Derek suddenly grabbed her hand. "What did you just say to grandpa? Why did you say it behind


    my back?"


    "You can ask grandpa about this. As for me, I have nothing to say."


    Meredith wrinkled her nose and held her breath, preventing the smoke from entering her chest and


    affecting the baby.


    Every time she talked to Derek about the divorce, he was always in a strange mood. She was in a


    special situation and couldn''t stand his anger.


    Derek looked at her cold and stubborn face and had a strange feeling in his heart. He let go of his


    hand. "You whet my appetite. I hope you didn''t ask grandpa to back you up, then you''re being too


    sentimental."


    Meredith did not reply but took another deep look at him. This should be thest time they were at


    daggers drawn.


    Everything was about to end.

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87


    Derek noticed a trace of determination in Meredith''s eyes, and he felt a sense of unease bing


    stronger.


    But Meredith did not stop and she left quickly.


    Derek walked into the study. Mr. Xavier pointed to the board. "Come on, continue ying."


    Derek frowned. "Grandpa, what did she just say to you?"


    Mr. Xavier looked at Derek and shook his head. "She had asked to talk to me alone. If I tell you what


    she said, I''ll be an unreliable old man. Just y."


    Derek saw that the Old Master clearly did not want to say it, and he could not ask any more questions,


    so he could only suppress his emotions and continue ying chess.


    However, this time, he was far from as calm as before. In a short while, the advantage he had gained in


    the early stage of the chess game was lost. Soon, the Old Master caught his weakness and forced him


    to a dead end.


    "Derek, living is like ying chess. Every step is very important. You must be careful."


    The Old Master won the game without a doubt. He spoke to Derek earnestly when he saw that Derek''s


    mind was obviously not on the game.


    Derek nodded and then he felt that this meant something else. However, the Old Master said that he


    was tired and wanted to go back to rest. Therefore, Derek didn''t ask anything after all.


    The next morning, Meredith said she was unwell, so she didn''t go to work.


    Derek looked at the empty passenger seat and was inexplicably upset.


    How long had she been suffering from gastroenteritis? Why hadn''t she recovered yet?


    Was the doctor she had seen a quack? Thinking about it, Derek called the family doctor and asked him


    toe over tonight to check on Meredith.


    The Old Master quickly asked someone to get the divorce certificate done. He worried that a long dy


    may cause new troubles, so he handled it very efficiently.


    However, the Xaviers certainly didn''t intend to give her the divorce certificate. They were worried that


    she would make a fuss about it.


    Meredith naturally did not care. When she left, she only brought a small suitcase with her, which


    contained a few clothes and shoes that she had brought out when she left the prison. She did not take


    away the rest of her things.


    Mr. Xavier wrote her a check. The number on it was extremely tempting, but Meredith refused to take it.


    "I''m lucky to be able to get out of prison. I don''t need the money. Grandpa Xavier, I just hope you will


    remember your promise to me."


    Mr. Xavier nodded. "Don''t worry. That matter is over, and no one will pursue it anymore. My words still


    count."


    Meredith nodded and left.


    Meredith''s eyes darkened at the thought of that man. Presumably, they would not even have a chance


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    to meet in the future.


    These days she had been living in the Xaviers as Derek''s wife and it was like a dream to her.


    Now that she had woken up, it was time for her to start her new life.


    ...


    In the evening, Derek left work.


    At dinner time, Meredith still didn''t show up. Derek did not suspect anything. After all, she once said


    that her stomach was ufortable and that she had not eaten with anyone else for a long time.


    When Derek returned to his bedroom after dinner, he realized something was wrong.


    Some of Meredith''s clothes that were originally hanging in his closet were gone now, and the bedding


    that she used to sleep on the floor was also gone.


    Everything seemed to have returned to the beginning when Meredith didn''t exist.


    Derek seemed to have thought of something. He strode out and went straight to Meredith''s room. He


    opened the door. It was empty. There was no one in it. He couldn''t even tell that someone had lived


    there after the room was cleaned.


    Where did Meredith go?


    Derek suddenly understood what she meant by that look yesterday. She had already determined to


    leave the Xaviers yesterday.


    Derek went straight to the Old Master''s room without hesitation. The Old Master was watering the


    flowers. When he saw Derek, he shook his head.


    "She left. This is your divorce certificate. Don''t worry, I''ll keep it well. No one will ever know that you


    had such a rtionship with her."


    Derek stared at the dark red certificate and opened it. It had his and Meredith''s names written on it, but


    the words changed from "agree to get married" to "agree to divorce".


    "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    Derek looked at the certificate and felt the urge to tear it up.


    Who gave Meredith the right to divorce him unterally? She wanted to get rid of him so badly?


    "I was the one who arranged your marriage, so it''s reasonable for me to end it now."


    The Old Master looked at Derek''s gloomy face. In fact, he had long noticed the undercurrent of


    affection between Derek and Meredith, but he did not point it out.


    He thought that Derek would never have feelings for a female prisoner who had driven into him before,


    but the truth was not the case. He saw slight changes in Derek''s attitude towards Meredith, so he was


    really afraid that the woman he insisted on bringing back would affect his heir he had trained for many


    years.


    Since then, he had been thinking about how to solve the problem perfectly.


    Now, everything was over. Returning to the beginning would be the best choice for everyone.


    Derek understood what he meant and did not speak again.


    "Now that I''m old, I can''t be in charge of so many things. However, you can be with your ex-girlfriend,


    or any girl from a prestigious family or a humble family. But you can''t be with Meredith."


    "A woman like her can''t be your wife. She''ll be your vulnerability that other people will attack."


    After the Old Master finished speaking, Derek fell silent.


    He certainly understood that his grandfather had meddled in this matter for the sake of the Xaviers and


    Derek himself, but this did not reduce his anger. Instead, he felt a little helpless.


    "Don''t meet her anymore. I''m sure you''ll soon forget about this person."


    Derek retreated from the room silently.


    Back in his room, Derek smashed everything in front of him.


    He was in no mood for anything but destruction. He wanted to destroy the woman who dared to leave


    without saying goodbye in particr.


    Why could she leave so easily after fooling him?


    He swept the books on the desk to the floor angrily. Suddenly, he saw a card with Meredith''s


    handwriting on it. "You gave me this card. I didn''t use it. Now I give it back to you."


    It was the unlimited credit card he gave her in the beginning. She didn''t even take it with her.


    Derek tore the card and threw it into the trash can.


    He took out his phone and called Asher and Jameson. "Come out. Let''s get together. It''s my treat."


    They were shocked. Derek rarely came out to hang out with them. Even if they formed a gathering and


    invited him, he would reject them nine out of ten times.


    He did this once in a blue moon.


    Derek was indeed not a person who enjoyed gatherings. He thought that this kind of entertainment was


    boring and time-consuming. But now, he just wanted to drink and use alcohol to reduce his agitation.


    Otherwise, he would have to search everywhere to find the damn woman, and then make her live a


    miserable life.

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88


    When Jameson and Asher arrived in Derek''s box, there was already a lot of wine in front of Derek.


    A few empty bottles were ced aside. It was obvious that Derek had drunk quite a bit by himself just


    now, but there was no sign of being drunk on his face.


    The two of them looked at each other confusedly. If it was anyone else who was sitting here drinking,


    they might not be so surprised.


    However, he was Derek. He had never been fond of alcohol. He rarely drank so much even in social


    gatherings.


    In other words, what kind of thing would let someone like him drown his sorrows in alcohol?


    "Could it be a breakup?"


    Jameson was always straightforward. When Derek, who was pouring wine heard that, he mmed the


    bottle on the table and looked at him coldly. "You''rete! Why''re you still so noisy?"


    Hearing what he said, the two of them couldn''t ask any more questions. They sat down and drank with


    him.


    After a while, most of the wine bottles in front of them were empty. Although the two people were good


    at drinking, they could not stand drinking like that.


    Jameson looked at Derek''s gloomy face. "It can''t be rted to the girl you brought overst time, can


    it? Listen to me. It''s useless to seek sce in drink. It''s better if you say it out."


    Asher frowned. "Which girl? Damn, it can''t be that cleaning girl... Thest time you left Chloe there


    alone abroad, it couldn''t be for her, right?"


    "Can''t you shut your mouth up when drinking?"


    The reason why Derek came out was that he didn''t want to see anything rted to Meredith anymore.


    He didn''t expect that these two people would go against him and bring up her endlessly.


    His reaction was equivalent to acquiescence.


    Derek was no longer in the mood to continue getting drunk. He had disdained to try to numb himself


    with alcohol for a woman.


    Besides, the woman had betrayed him.


    If Meredith could leave so quickly and decisively, why should he still be reluctant to part?


    It was ridiculous.


    ...


    Meredith tidied up in her new home and went to the bookstore to buy some books about mother and


    baby.


    These days, in the Xaviers, she was scared every day and did not have time to learn these. Now she


    finally moved out, so there were no more scruples.


    Meredith opened a book and read it for a while, but she couldn''t concentrate on the book in her hand.


    She wondered if Derek had returned to the Xaviers today, if he already knew about his departure, or if


    he woulde to her for it...


    Thinking about it, Meredith was a little upset.


    She threw down the book and went to the kitchen to warm up a ss of milk, trying to fall asleep.


    ...


    However, Meredith didn''t sleep well that night.


    Although it was much morefortable than sleeping on the floor in the Xaviers, she was not used to


    it...


    When she got up, Meredith couldn''t help but despise herself. Was it because she had suffered too


    much and even was not used to enjoying herself?


    Habitually, Meredith turned on her phone and took a look. There was nothing else except a text


    message from Julius who told her to be careful outside.


    Meredith could not help butugh at herself. Last night, she was still worried that Derek would be angry


    when he found her leave. Now it seemed that she was all sentimental.


    She was just a passer-by in Derek''s life, even a very unpopr one. It didn''t matter if she left or not!


    How could Derek be reluctant to part with her?


    Maybe he had no emotional fluctuations at all.


    ...


    Derek''s day began with a headache and irritation.


    He drank too muchst night, besides, the wine was too strong. Even he felt a hangover headache.


    As soon as he arrived at thepany, he saw the things left by Meredith, which made his mood


    be even worse.


    "Go throw these things out."


    Damian was stunned. "Miss Mason, she..."


    A while ago, didn''t his boss teach Meredith personally?


    How could it change so soon?


    "Do you need me to repeat it?"


    With Derek''s cold look, Damian immediately lowered his head. "I got it."


    Soon, someone cleared Meredith''s desk and some of the things she used.


    But it was clear that this did not improve Derek''s mood.


    During the afternoon meeting, his face remained gloomy.


    "Is this the project you''ve worked so hard toe up with? It''s rubbish."


    "If you are still at this level, you can leave with your sry today."


    "Redo everything."


    The employees who attended the meeting were all too afraid to breathe out loud, fearing that their big


    boss would find any mistake and take it as a counter-example.


    When the meeting was finally over, a group of people couldn''t help but grab Damian. "What''s wrong


    with Mr. Xavier? Why is he so angry today?"


    "If this project needs to be redone, I''m afraid I won''t have to sleep for a week. No, even if I don''t sleep, I


    can''t finish it. "


    "Damian, please persuade him."


    Damian could guess the reason, but seeing how upset Derek was, he didn''t dare to irritate him.


    "I''ll try my best."


    After getting rid of these people, Damian thought about it and called Meredith.


    Because Miss Mason had not been here for a day, the wholepany was about to blow up. He had


    no choice but to ask her if something had happened.


    Meredith was waiting outside for the interview results for her new job. Thepany she had applied for


    before she left the Xavier Group unexpectedly gave her an interview opportunity very quickly.


    Her phone rang. Meredith nced at it. It was Damian who called.


    Although she no longer had any contact with the Xavier Group, after all, Damian was a teacher who


    had taught her a lot of things. Meredith answered the phone. "Damian, what''s wrong?"


    Damian was the one who wanted to ask Meredith this question!


    "Meredith, Mr. Xavier is very unhappy that you are noting to work today."


    Meredith was stunned as if she did not expect Derek to react to her leaving without saying goodbye.


    She thought Derek wouldn''t care about this at all.


    "I won''t go to work in the future. Thank you for taking care of me these days, and I''m sorry for causing


    you so much trouble."


    As soon as she finished speaking, the interviewer came out. Meredith hung up the phone and went up


    to meet him.


    "Well, although your educational background is not up to the standard, you used to work in the Xavier


    Group, there must be something extraordinary about you. Just stay."


    Hearing this, Meredith smiled happily.


    Unexpectedly, her experience at the Xavier Group actually provided her with a lot of convenience in


    finding a new job.


    Damian listened to the beeping sound from his cell phone and the unpleasant scolding from Derek in


    the office. He was totally helpless.


    If the boss kept being angry, he was afraid that everyone in thepany would lose half their lives.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Suddenly, an idea came to his mind... Let Mr. Xavier go for the one who caused the trouble. They were


    just some nobodies and couldn''t afford to Mr. Xavier''s angry.

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89


    After a while, Damian found out the addresses of Meredith''s currentpany and home, and wrote


    them down on a piece of paper.


    But he didn''t dare show it to Derek directly, so he carefully put it in a document and handed it over.


    Derek was reading the document in front of him when he saw a piece of paper fall out. The contents on


    it made him frown.


    When did this damned Damian learn to make his own decisions?


    After thinking about it, Derek was about to tear the paper up and throw it away, however, he still


    couldn''t help but take a look at the contents.


    ...


    Meredith''s interview went well. After she was told that she was given a trial, a colleague took her


    around and exined what she needed to do in theing days.


    Meredith took a lot of relevant information back home to read. When she was back, she found that


    there were many people gathering downstairs of her house.


    "Whose Rolls-Royce is this? It doesn''t look like a fake."


    "Are there rich people in our poor neighborhood?"


    Meredith lived in a very ordinary residential area, where people living were ordinary and worked from


    nine to five every day, so they certainly were curious when they saw a luxury car worth more than ten


    million.


    Meredith was not interested in it. She walked over and nced at it, then her expression became a


    little strange. She felt this car looked familiar.


    Just as she was thinking, the door was opened.


    Derek got out of the car leisurely, as if hepletely didn''t notice the envious or jealous eyes of the


    people around.


    After off work, he drove to Meredith''s current address unconsciously. However, he saw a narrow and


    dpidated residential building.


    Was Meredith out of her mind? Would she rather live in such a shabby ce than still live in the vi of


    the Xaviers?


    Derek was even more upset at the thought of this.


    After a while, Derek saw Meredithe back.


    She seemed happier than when she was in the Xaviers. Although she was still so thin, she did not look


    haggard. The gloomy air over her disappeared and she exuded vitality and vigour.


    Leaving him really made her invigorated and refreshed?


    Derek locked the car with an expressionless look and walked towards Meredith, who was still standing


    there, "I think you should have something to say to me."


    Meredith had just recovered from the shock. She had never expected Derek toe to such a ce to


    look for her.


    "I already told Grandpa Xavier all that I should say. So I don''t think we have something to say."


    Meredith turned around and left, not wanting to talking to Derek anymore.


    Although she did not know what Derek came here for, anyway, he definitely wasn''t for congratting


    her on moving into a new house.


    Meredith believed the less trouble the better, and didn''t want to cause trouble for herself.


    When Derek saw that Meredith left without hesitation, he clenched his fists and ran after her, "So, why


    are you in such a hurry to go home? You rush to see your paramour?"


    "Derek, that''s enough!"


    Meredith couldn''t stand it any longer. When she was in the Xaviers, Derek kept humiliating her with


    such words. Now they had divorced and had nothing to do with each other, but he still came to her and


    reminded her of the unmentionable past. She was really fed up with it!


    "Enough? Of course it''s not."


    Seeing that Meredith was angry, Derek was more certain that she was in such a hurry to leave because


    she wanted to stay with that man.


    "Since I''m here, I''d like to see what the man who fascinates you like this looks like."


    With that, Derek stopped Meredith with his arm and leaned over to say coldly, "I''d like to know whether


    that man will still love you or abandon you after he knows that I slept with you and that you had ever


    been in prison."


    Meredith widened her eyes. Derek''s words made her heart chill.


    It turned out that in his heart, she was such a worthless woman.


    "It''s illegal for you to break into a house like this!"


    "So? You want to call the police? Then you can try it," Derek raised his eyebrows indifferently. He didn''t


    believe that any police officer would dare to arrest him.


    Meredith bit her lower lip hard. She of course understood Derek''s words. With his influence in J City,


    who would dare to offend him?


    When they confronted with each other and no one wanted to yield, an olddy, Meredith''s neighbor,


    came out to take out the trash. When she saw Meredith standing with a tall handsome man who looked


    like a star, she immediately was curious and tried to gossip.


    "Oh, Meredith, who is this? Oh? This guy really looks familiar, and looks like... I can''t recall the name."


    Seeing that thedy was very interested in Derek, Meredith was also helpless. In particr, she


    seemed to know who Derek was. Meredith was afraid of causing unnecessary trouble, so she quickly


    opened the door and said to the olddy, "Sorry, I have to go back to cook. We can talk next time."


    Derek naturally followed her in, and Meredith gave him an angry look, "Why did youe in?"


    Derek ignored her and looked at the slightly crowded one-bedroom house. Although it was small, it was


    clean and there were a lot of ornaments in it, which made people feel the warmth of home. Although it


    was not as luxurious and spacious as the house of the Xaviers, it was also considered warm and


    So, was this Meredith''s new home with that man?


    Derek''s face was calm, but a wave of anger surged in his heart. He went straight in, intending to see


    what the man looked like.


    Seeing his arrogant behavior, Meredith couldn''t help but frown, "You stepped on my floor with your


    shoes and got it dirty!"


    She had worked so hard to clean the floor yesterday. However, Derek actually stepped on it directly in


    his leather shoes.


    He was really a young master who lived a luxurious life and never went through the hardship in


    ordinary life.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Then hurry up and give me slippers."


    Meredith sneered, "Sorry, I don''t have any at home."


    She just moved in yesterday and only bought daily necessities for herself. As for the lessmonly


    used men''s slippers, she didn''t even intended to buy them. She didn''t have much money and didn''t


    want to waste it.


    Derek was stunned and nced at the shoe rack beside him. There were indeed no men''s shoes on it,


    and even just a few women''s shoes.


    "So, does that man usually go in barefoot?"


    "If I say there is no any man at my home, do you believe me?"


    Meredith rolled her eyes at Derek, who was still standing at the door, and then she ignored him and put


    the eggs and vegetables she had bought into the refrigerator.


    ording to the books about pregnancy and baby she bought, she had to get enough nutrition in the


    early stages of pregnancy and have three meals a day on time. Although she was so annoyed by


    Derek''s words that she was not hungry now, she still had to cook and eat something for healthy growth


    of the baby in her belly.


    Derek took off his shoes and walked in. He nced around casually. There was indeed no one else in


    the house, and there seemed to be no trace of a man.

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90


    Thinking of this, Derek''s cold face softened a lot.


    He looked at the small bedroom. Obviously, the owner hadn''t started cleaning up the room yet, and the


    stuff was just piled aside in a mess.


    Seeing that cosmetics and some small stuff piled together, Derek felt the style of a young girl''s life.


    As he looked, the man saw a few books by the side and was about to go and see what they were.


    Meredith suddenly recollected something and hurried out of the kitchen.


    She just recollected that she had a few books for pregnant women in her bedroom. She had just


    forgotten that Derek was there. It would be troublesome if he found out.


    "Have you seen enough? If you have enough, go out." Meredith walked into the bedroom and saw that


    he was about to look at what was on her bedside. See this, her heart thumped. She hurried over and


    pulled up the quilt, hiding a few books under her pillow.


    "Is there any unpresentable stuff?" Derek saw that she had ordered him to leave, but he was not


    moved at all.


    "Heh, my underwear. Do you want to see? I can''t tell that you have such an abnormal taste." Meredith


    answered indifferently, without a trace of guilt.


    "I have already seen them." Derek looked at her and suddenly leaned over. "I''ve seen every part of


    your body, right?"


    Derek''s hot breath blew on her ear deliberately, with a strange tingling sensation in the warmth. Her


    ears were her sensitive areas.


    Meredith shrank her neck, and her face blushed. They got divorced. What had happened was a dream


    to her, but what did this man always mention that?


    "But we have no rtionship with each other now." Meredith thought, pushing the man''s chest and


    driving him out of the bedroom.


    Then she quickly locked the door. It would be bad if he saw something he shouldn''t have seen.


    "I have to eat now, and take a showerter. I don''t have time to entertain you. I''d better ask you to


    leave."


    Meredith took a look at what she was cooking. Thanks to that she had learned a few home-cooked


    dishes from the chef in the Xaviers, or else she would starve to death now.


    "Is that how you entertain guests?"


    Derek looked at her. It was rare for him toe here, so he wouldn''t leave so easily. Besides, he


    thought maybe that man hadn''te back yet.


    He would never leave before he confirmed that.


    So you even want to have dinner at my house?" Meredith said impatiently.


    The food she cooked was only edible, but it was definitely not delicious. Derek must be crazy, because


    he left the food made by the chef in the five-star hotel at home, and came here to torment her.


    "It sounds good."


    Derek nced at the misty kitchen. The faint aroma of food wafted in, bringing the hot water vapor,


    giving off a feeling of warmth and home that he had not been seen for a long time.


    This feeling, in fact, was very fresh to him. Derek could only see exquisite food be served in front of his


    eyes. He didn''t need to know how they were made, he just needed to enjoy them.


    Now that he saw this scene, it was... Interesting.


    In particr, seeing that Meredith cooked busily in the kitchen in an apron, he felt special.


    He had received the lunchboxes from the noble and elegantdies, but every time he looked at the


    delicate but somewhat hypocritical dishes, he had no appetite.


    Those dishes were nothing more than props to show off their gentleness and virtue. In fact, Meredith''s


    in home cooking was better than those.


    At least, she would not seem hypocritical.


    Seeing that Derek really didn''t seem to have any intention of leaving, Meredith didn''t want to waste


    time on him anymore. She couldn''t starve herself and her baby. Since he wanted to stay, she made him


    some terrible food to see how he reacted.


    Thinking about it, Meredith went back to the stove and turned off the fire.


    She only made a simple tomato and egg soup and a bowl of steamed eggs with seafood. They were all


    light.


    Meredith filled two bowls with soup and purposely added a spoonful of salt to one of the bowls. Tasting


    it, Meredith thought it was extremely salty.


    Heh, she really wanted to see if Derek could bear it.


    Meredith served two bowls of soup, filled two bowls with rice, and then sat down slowly. The bowl in


    front of Derek had been processed by her specially.


    Derek scooped up a spoonful of soup and drank, frowning.


    The salty taste of the soup was indeed terrible.


    He looked at Meredith eating as usual and couldn''t help but look at the food in his bowl. Suddenly, he


    reached out to scoop up her egg soup.


    "What are you doing?"


    Derek quickly understood what had happened. "I prefer your soup. Let''s change it."


    Meredith, like an animal that was protecting her food, quickly put her bowl aside and ate a few


    mouthfuls.


    It was okay for Derek not to eat for once. She could not let the baby in her womb suffer.


    Derek looked helplessly at her hasty movements. Meredith quickly finished eating and then put down


    the bowl and chopsticks. "I''m done. You can leave after you finish."


    She was going to listen to prenatal education musicter, so she really wasn''t in the mood to waste


    time on him.


    From the moment Derek came here, she had been chasing him away. He slowly put down the bowl


    and chopsticks. "The guest is not full yet, but you are leaving first. I''m afraid that''s not appropriate."


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Come on. I never invite you." Meredith thought unhappily in her heart.


    "Then you can just think I am not properly brought up. I''m tired. I''ll go to rest." Meredith ignored him


    and ran back to the bedroom while saying.


    Though she said she needed to rest, Meredith was actually paying attention to what was happening


    outside. With Derek here, she was always a little worried.


    Just as she was thinking about it, Meredith suddenly felt a little queasy. She felt queasy almost once a


    day, and she couldn''t care that Derek was here. She ran out of the room and rushed into the bathroom.


    Derek had stopped eating long ago. Seeing Meredith in such a hurry and looking ufortable, he


    walked over and patted the door. "Meredith, what''s wrong with you?"


    Derek quickly recollected her gastroenteritis. It had been so long, but she hadn''t recovered yet?


    Thinking about it, he went back to Meredith''s bedroom. Since she was so sick, there would always be


    some medicine at home.


    Derek rummaged through her drawer. Sure enough, there was a ce formon medicine specially.


    He was going to look for stomach medicine, but suddenly, the words on one bottle caught his attention.


    "Folic acid. Take in early pregnancy."


    Derek''s fingers that were going to find medicine for stomach illness stopped on that bottle and picked it


    up.


    Confirming that this was indeed something a pregnant woman would eat, the man''s lips tightened and


    his eyes grew colder.


    So he was wrong.


    Meredith was in a hurry to get a divorce, not because she longed to be with that man, but because she


    got pregnant?


    Derek quickly thought about the few times he had sex with Meredith, and they didn''t use condoms. So


    who was this child''s father?

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91


    Meredith vomited for a long time in the bathroom. With her stomach was empty again, she stood up in


    difficulty.


    While she was washing up, Meredith couldn''t help but look outside the door. It was all Derek''s fault. If


    he didn''te, she wouldn''t be in such a hurry so that she wouldn''t be in such an embarrassing


    situation.


    It would be better to get rid of him as soon as possible.


    Thinking about it, Meredith wiped the water off her mouth, opened the door and was about to go out to


    find Derek to let him leave, but there was already a person blocking the door.


    Derek''s eyes were dark and expressionless, standing in the bathroom door like a wall.


    Meredith looked at his dark expression and suddenly had an ominous feeling in her heart.


    Just as she was about to take a step back and avoid the man''s gaze, Derek grabbed her wrist and


    said, "Meredith, are you pregnant?"


    At that moment, Meredith''s mind went nk.


    How did he know about this?


    "What are you talking about?" Her eyes flickered a few times, but Meredith still pretended to be calm. "I


    don''t know what you''re talking about. It''s veryte now. Please get out of my house."


    Derek sneered and threw those nutrition products for pregnant women from Meredith''s drawer onto the


    floor in front of him, "These, all of them are for pregnant women. Are you going to keep lying to me?"


    "That''s why you moved out of the Xaviers in such a hurry, isn''t it? Who is your child''s father?"


    The man''s tone was cold and emotionless, but Meredith still sensed danger in it.


    After taking a few deep breaths, Meredith told herself to calm down. "We''re divorced. This has nothing


    to do with you."


    The man''s anger was instantly ignited by Meredith''s resistance.


    "Now, follow me to the hospital."


    With that, Derek grabbed Meredith''s wrist and dragged her out.


    "I''m not going!"


    Meredith struggled with all her might. The child was hers. It had nothing to do with Derek or the man in


    the room that night.


    "It''s not up to you!"


    The strength of Derek''s palm holding Meredith''s wrist was even greater, like a vise made of steel,


    leaving Meredith without the slightest room to struggle.


    Soon, Meredith was dragged out of the house. Derek did not speak again, but pulled her away.


    Meredith became more and more uneasy. Seeing that Derek was going to get her into the car, she


    could not help but shout loudly, "Help! This person is going to kidnap me. Help me! Please, help me call


    the police!"


    Now, Meredith would rather go to the than go to the hospital with Derek for an examination.


    It was too dangerous.


    At this time, there were still some old people downstairs who came out to exercise. When they heard


    the sound, they all looked over.


    Derek looked at her coldly. "My wife and I are quarreling. Sorry to disturb you."


    As soon as the man said this, the onlookers shook their heads. Of course, they would not want to


    interfere in such household matters.


    There were even a few gossipy women. "Your boyfriend is so handsome and rich. Don''t argue with him.


    When he dates another woman, you will cry and regret."


    Hearing those women''s words, Meredith was furious and didn''t know how to exin. She did not


    expect Derek''s reaction to be so quick, and as soon as she hesitated, the man shoved her into the


    back seat of the car and quickly locked the door.


    This time, Meredith couldn''t escape.


    In that case, she gave up running away. The two of them did not speak on the way, and the


    atmosphere in the car was extremely oppressive.


    Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of the hospital.


    Derek had already called to bring someone for an examination, so several doctors were waiting outside


    early.


    When Meredith got out of the car, she was controlled and walked into the examination room.


    Derek waited outside the door, his handsome face expressionless, but the surrounding atmosphere


    was so cold that it made people shiver.


    Soon, the result came out.


    "Miss Mason is two months pregnant. The baby is small, but it''s still healthy."


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    The doctor came out and said this, only to find that Derek''s face was green, without the joy of being a


    father at all.


    It was only a month or so since he had sex with Meredith, so the child could only belong to the


    adulterer.


    The scenes of Meredith''s abnormal behaviors shed through his mind, and he realized that she had


    been nning this since the first time she lied and said she had gastroenteritis.


    At first, he even wanted to call the family doctor to examine her properly. Now that he thought that the


    woman wouldugh at him secretly...


    How dared she!


    Derek punched the wall, startled the doctor standing by, and the doctor couldn''t help but think in his


    mind.


    Could it be that this woman was not carrying his child? Derek wasn''t the child''s father?


    If the paparazzi found out about this, it would definitely make the headlines.


    After being forcefully examined, Meredith didn''t struggle much. She was surrounded by a group of


    people and couldn''t escape no matter how hard she tried. Besides, she was afraid that she would hurt


    the baby in her stomach.


    When she was not knowing what to do next, Derek walked in.


    His cold gaze stopped on her stomach. "Are you in a hurry to leave the Xaviers for this bastard?"


    "Please speak with respect. It''s my baby, my loving baby."


    Meredith looked back, but there was no retreat in her eyes.


    Although the child could not hear the sound outside, she did not want her unborn baby to hear such


    harsh words.


    "Two months, even before we got divorced, you had already slept with the other man and got pregnant.


    It is a bastard."


    When Derek saw that Meredith was defending this embryo of unknown origin, his anger grew even


    more intense.


    "Meredith, there''s no one in this world who can get away with ying me."


    "There is no way you will have this baby. You get tested today and abort this baby tomorrow."


    Derek''s tone was so cold, as if he had poured a basin of ice water directly over Meredith''s head,


    making her feel bone-chilling cold.


    "No way. We are now divorced. What right do you have to ask me to have an abortion? I don''t agree. If


    you do that to me, I''ll call the police."


    "Call the police? And let everyone know that you had an affair during your marriage and are pregnant?


    Meredith, I didn''t expect you to be so shameless and have the guts."


    The more Meredith showed concern for the child, the angrier Derek became.


    She really cared about the bastard.


    She was shameless? Meredith clenched her fists when she heard Derek''s usations.


    In order not to let the Xaviers hurt this child, she had already offered to leave, what else could she do?


    "You know well what the nature of our marriage is. I will not abort this child, and if you really want to


    hurt my child, it will never happen unless I die!"

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92


    Meredith refused to back down. Derek looked at her stubborn expression. This was the first time


    Meredith had confronted him like this.


    Just for the child of that damn asshole in her belly?


    So she was really affectionate.


    Thinking of that, Derek felt he must destroy the child. "Do you think this will threaten me?"


    Derek walked out, but before Meredith could even breathe a sigh of relief, several tall male doctors


    followed him back.


    "Keep an eye on this woman. You can''t let her leave this room before the abortion is done. You can''t let


    her do anything like self-muttion. If anything goes wrong, you will bear the me."


    "If necessary, you can use some special means, just don''t kill her."


    Derek ordered, and who would dare not obey?


    The doctors immediately surrounded Meredith''s bed. "Miss Mason, please cooperate with us, or we''ll


    have to use anesthetics to keep you unconscious."


    Meredith''s body trembled, "Do you abandon all your medical ethics? He''s forcing me to abort my baby,


    and you''re going to help him!"


    Meredith''s voice was filled with despair, and now she was like meat on a chopping board, unable to


    resist Derek at all.


    No one answered her, and Meredith closed her eyes in despair. Under absolute power, they


    abandoned their conscience.


    So, she didn''t say anything more. An overdose of anesthetic could have adverse effects on the baby,


    so Meredith didn''t dare to take the risk.


    Derek saw that she had calmed down and walked out. He asked, "When can she take the operation?"


    "We need to check her condition before the operation. If she''s fine, we can operate tomorrow."


    Derek nodded.


    Meredith closed her eyes, clenched her fists and took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger.


    She had to calm down. Now, she couldn''t confront Derek directly now. She had to calm down to find a


    chance to escape.


    After a while, Meredith told the people around her, "I''d like to go to the bathroom."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    They followed her to the bathroom door. Meredith nced at them again. "I don''t think you should


    watch me when I go to the bathroom."


    They looked at each other and did not follow her in the end.


    Meredith quickly locked the door and didn''t dare to waste any time. She called Parker. He was the only


    one who could help her now.


    The call went through quickly, and Parker was a little surprised because Meredith rarely called him at


    this hour of the night.


    "Parker, I''m at the hospital, Derek''s hospital. Pleasee and help me, I..."


    Before Meredith could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door. "Who are you talking to?"


    "I''m in the VIP room on the top floor right now. Help me!"


    After Meredith finished speaking, she quickly hung up the phone.


    She opened the door again as if nothing had happened. "I like to talk to myself, can''t I?"


    She hadn''t been in there too long, so they didn''t say anything more.


    Meredith went back to bed obediently and closed her eyes to rest.


    The only thing she could count on now was that Parker woulde over after that call.


    All she could do now was to rest and wait for him.


    ...


    Parker hung up the phone and immediately drove to the ce Meredith said to him.


    He called her again but no one answered.


    Something must have happened over there.


    As he thought about it, Parker stepped on the elerator and the car sped up. He was feeling


    extremely anxious.


    Meredith rested for a while with her eyes closed, and a loud noise came from outside.


    "Let me in! Get out of the way!"


    Within ten minutes, Parker rushed over.


    Meredith was grateful and felt she was lucky to have such a trustworthy friend!


    Meredith quickly sat up from the bed and looked out the door. "I''m right here. Let me go out!"


    "You are restricting her personal freedom. This is illegal." Parker looked at the people who stopped him


    and pushed them angrily.


    There were so many people here that he couldn''t save Meredith out for a moment.


    Just as the doctors didn''t know how to deal with Parker, Derek heard the noise and walked out of a


    room nearby.


    Seeing that it was Parker, Derek sneered. Parker was so anxious. It seemed that the bastard in


    Meredith''s belly was indeed his?


    "Derek? Why are you here?"


    Seeing Derek, Parker was a little surprised.


    "Of course I''m here to make the adulterers pay the price they deserve."


    Parker was confused, but he could find the strong hostility in Derek''s eyes and words.


    All of a sudden, he remembered that Derek and Meredith had frequently appeared together in the past.


    What... was their rtionship?


    It seemed that he had overlooked this before.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about, but Meredith obviously doesn''t want to stay here. Let me take


    her away."


    "I didn''t expect Mr. He to be a coward. You don''t even have the courage to admit that you had


    impregnated a woman."


    Hearing that it was Meredith who called Parker over, the smile on Derek''s lips became colder.


    Well, finally, she couldn''t stand the torture and exposed her man.


    "Pregnant?"


    Parker had obviously just heard the news, but he quickly thought of what Meredith had told him.


    Meredith was pregnant...


    Was that man of that day the father of her child?


    "Mr. He, you''re a good actor," Derek said sarcastically.


    Parker quickly suppressed all the surprise and doubt in his heart. The first thing he had to do now was


    to take Meredith out. As for the rest, he would askter.


    "No matter what, it doesn''t seem to have anything to do with you, Mr. Xavier. Meredith, can you hear


    me?"


    Meredith got out of bed, ignoring those people who were stopping her, and said, "I heard you. I want to


    leave here with you. I was forced to be here by him!"


    "You heard her. She doesn''t want to stay here. Let me take her away."


    Derek did not lose his temper but he smiled with sarcasm. "How shameless. Since you want to take her


    away, just try it."


    Although Parker had some influence in J City, Derek really didn''t take him seriously.


    The child in Meredith''s belly must be aborted.


    If the adulterers left today, how humiliated he would be!


    "You mean... I have to use some coercive measures?"


    Parker''s eyes squinted dangerously. It had to be said that Derek''s superior expression also made him


    very unhappy.


    This reminded him of his equally insolent mother, who had forced his own mother to death and nearly


    killed him.


    "Bring it on."


    As soon as Derek finished speaking, a few bodyguards in ck stood guard at Meredith''s door. "I


    would like to see how you take her away."

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93


    Parker''s curled up his lips. Ever since he turned over a new leaf and left the underworld, he had never


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    fought again and had been controlling himself intentionally.


    Unexpectedly, there was someone who left him no peace.


    Soon, Parker got into a fight with a few ck-shirted security guards. He fought a few people by


    himself, and for a moment, it was hard for him to win.


    Meredith watched in the room nervously. She was moved that Parker hade so soon, but seeing


    that Derek let so many people fight with him, she was worried that he would suffer.


    Derek looked coldly at Parker''s nimble but powerful movements. Derek had always thought that Parker


    was just a yboy who was dissipated, and that he must have been weak physically long ago. His


    performance today was unexpected.


    When Derek looked back, he saw Meredith in the window. Through the ss, the anxiety and worry in


    her eyes were still obvious.


    She was worried about Parker.


    This realization made Derek unhappy.


    Not long after, Parker took a few steps back and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His


    expression was solemn.


    He had not fought with anyone for a long time, and these people seemed good at fighting too. For a


    moment, he really could not have the upper hand.


    "Parker, you... go." Meredith could not help but said when she saw he was at a disadvantage.


    If it went on like this, he was bound to be badly beaten. She had already troubled him so much and she


    could not implicate him like this anymore.


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine." Parker looked at Meredith''s anxious little face and smiled. Then he nced at


    Derek, who was standing gracefully by the side with a cold face.


    "How about Mr. Xavier and me have a fight? As long as you beat me, I''ll leave."


    Parker deliberately provoked Derek. If it kept going on like this, he would not be able to take Meredith


    away. Therefore, he could only take such an unwise decision.


    Derek smiled coldly, "Are you trying to prod me into fighting with you?"


    "Do you dare?" Parker licked the blood on his lips, "It''s not manly for you to hide behind a group of


    bodyguards.""


    Derek snorted coldly and took off his clean and pressed coat. He was not going to do a glorious thing,


    but unlike others, he was stillposed.


    "Mr. Hill, don''t cry for mercy if I hit you hardter."


    As soon as Derek finished speaking, he punched Parker.


    Looking at Parker''s face and thinking of Meredith''s words and expressions just now, Derek wouldn''t


    feel it was enough even if Parker was beaten to death.


    Seeing this, Meredith was even more anxious. Parker already wasted a lot of energy as he just had a


    fight with those who practiced martial arts. In addition, Derek was also good at fighting and he was


    proficient in self-defense and free boxing. Even Parker fought with him, Parker could not win easily.


    Seeing that Derek was about to punch Parker''s face hard with his fist, Meredith couldn''t help but open


    the door in spite of the men''s resistance, "Stop!"


    Derek''s fist grazed Parker''s cheekbone and he looked at Meredith coldly.


    "I agree. Stop fighting. I''ll listen to you, okay?!"


    As Meredith said this word by word, she felt her lower abdomen twitch and hurt a little, as if the baby in


    her belly was protesting against her unptable decision.


    "Meredith, you..."


    Parker was a little anxious, but Meredith did not hesitate, "Things are not as simple as I think. I''m sorry


    that I shouldn''t have implicated you."


    "I''m going to have an abortion tomorrow. Let him go."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s calm face. He had achieved his goal and made this woman give in, but he


    was not happy at all. Instead, he was so angry that he wanted to kill this bitch couple in front of him.


    Did they just put on a show in front of him where they protected each other?


    That was disgusting.


    "Do you hear that? Now, get out of here." Derek looked at Parker coldly, as if he was looking at a stray


    dog.


    Parker looked at Derek and he hated this feeling. But now, he realized that in front of Derek, he wasn''t


    strong enough. At least, he wasn''t strong enough to do whatever he wanted.


    "Thank you, Parker. I''m sorry for giving you a lot of trouble."


    Meredith pushed Parker. She didn''t dare to let him stay. If the argument went on, it must be Parker who


    got hurt.


    "I''m so useless. I''m sorry." Parker clenched his fists, his nails dug into his palms, and her felt a sharp


    pain.


    He would remember the humiliation and pain of today, and he would avenge it on Derek one day.


    He swore.


    ...


    Parker left and the floor became quiet again.


    Meredith suddenly felt very tired. Without looking at Derek, she turned around to return to the room that


    belonged to her alone.


    Derek grabbed her wrist and said, "Now do you see how ipetent your man is? He can only


    helplessly watch as your child is aborted."


    "But I think he''s much better than you."


    Meredith threw his hand away. Because of her word, Parker hade to protect the child who had


    nothing to do with him because of her words. What about Derek...


    All he could do was to plunder and destroy.


    "You..."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s resolute back. Her voice was not loud, but it had an enlightening effect. By


    the time he realized it, Meredith had disappeared.


    ...


    The next day.


    The sun shone through the window, but it did not make Meredith feel warm orfortable at all. The


    light was like a life-threatening spell, ruthlessly announcing the end of a rtionship between her and


    the child in her belly.


    "I''m sorry, baby."


    Meredith touched her belly and was about to cry. She thought about it a lotst night. Her attitude


    towards the child went from rejection to the struggle of keeping it.


    She didn''t know when she started to care so much about this child.


    However, she was so weak and ipetent that she could not keep it.


    "Miss Mason, we can go to the operating room."


    The doctor knocked on the door and Meredith hid all her expressions. She didn''t want anyone to see


    her weak side.


    She walked out calmly. Meredith didn''t look at anyone and walked to the operating room without crying.


    Her calmness made Derek feel even more unhappy.


    Meredith was lying on the operating table, and the doctor quickly injected her with an anesthetic, which


    slowly worked and made her feel numb.


    Gradually, she could only hear a few words from the doctor.


    "How''s her blood pressure?"


    "Prepare for the surgery."


    Meredith could not help but cry out when she saw that the terrible surgical instrument was about to


    reach into her body.


    "No, my child!"


    Derek was waiting at the door. The red emergency room light made him anxious.


    After a while, the doctor came out with a grave expression, "Mr. Xavier, the patient is too weak. It''s a


    miracle that she can get pregnant. She is emotionally unstable. I''m afraid..."

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94


    Derek listened to Meredith''s voice which was getting smaller and smaller. He gritted his teeth, "What


    are you afraid of? I''ll bear the responsibility for anything!"


    He would not allow this improper child to be born.


    The doctor had no choice but to go back and continue the operation.


    Meredith''s eyes turned red when she heard Derek''s words. He didn''t know whether she was sad or


    angry, she used herst bit of strength to hold on and said loudly, "Derek, I hate you. I hate you. I will


    never forgive you in my life!"


    Her words came straight to Derek''s heart and made him look sluggish. Immediately, the doctor took a


    first aid notice, "Miss Mason''s uterine wall is thin and she is in weak health. Once there is a massive


    haemorrhage, we can only remove the uterus. Please sign."


    Derek took the pen. And a voice filled with resentment echoed in his ears, it was so desperate and


    helpless.


    After a long time, he threw the pen out of his hand and kicked the wall hard, "Stop it! Get that woman


    out."


    At thest moment, he still couldn''t be cruel-hearted.


    The doctor breathed a sigh of relief and obviously was afraid of getting into trouble in the future.


    Meredith was in aa because of the anesthetic effect. When she was moved to the hospital bed,


    she just frowned and was not awake.


    "Meredith, I admit defeat this time." Derek nced at the woman''s pale little face and walked out,


    "Keep an eye on her. She''s not allowed to leave without my orders!"


    After saying that, Derek left.


    ...


    Meredith slept for a long time.


    She had that nightmare again, but this time everything was clearer.


    Meredith saw the cold obstetric forceps reaching into her body and stirring. Soon, a heart-wrenching


    pain swept over her. She cried out loudly, but no one could save her.


    "Ah!" Meredith woke up immediately, the pain in her dream was so clear.


    She couldn''t help but touch her belly. Two lines of tears fell. Her child was gone. She had just decided


    to keep it and protect it. It was all over.


    When someone outside heard the noiseing in, Meredith threw the vase on the side without


    thinking, "You are aplices, you are executioners!"


    They weren''t angels in white. They sumbed to Derek''s money and forcibly ended her pregnancy.


    Seeing that she was in an excitable state, the people outside did not dare to act rashly and could only


    wait.


    ...


    In the evening, after getting off work, by some chance Derek went to the hospital again.


    Derek frowned when he saw a few people blocking the door. As soon as he opened the door, Meredith


    smashed him with whatever she could reach.


    Now, she didn''t want to endure anything. These people were all murderers and her enemies.


    She wouldn''t give them any easy time.


    Only then did Derek see clearly that it was the TV remote control that flew over. He nimbly dodged,


    "Are you crazy?!"


    Derek had never seen her lose herposure since they lived together.


    "I am crazy. You drove me crazy," when Meredith saw the personing in clearly, she smiled coldly.


    Not only did Derek let someone abort her child, but he was still able to face her in such a superior


    manner.


    She was really ashamed of herself for she couldn''t have such a face.


    "Get lost, I don''t want to see you, Derek. You always said that I acted bitchy and was shameless, but


    your behavior is more disgusting than anyone else."


    "It''s only because of the power of the Xaviers that you can do whatever you want. I will remember what


    you did for the rest of my life."


    Meredith looked at Derek as if she was looking at an enemy. No one had ever dared to say these


    words to Derek. His anger grew stronger, "Meredith, you''d better not provoke me!"


    "What else do you want? Do you want to kill me? Thene on." Meredith looked at him coldly with no


    fear on her face.


    Derek really wanted to crush this reckless woman to death, but when he saw her pale face and the


    abnormal blush on her cheek, he decided not to bother with her.


    Holding his anger, he walked out, "Give her a sedative. Are you going to watch her go crazy?"


    A few people walked in and pressed Meredith to give her an injection to calm her down.


    "It was the same when you forcibly ended my pregnancy. What are you doing now? Do you want to kill


    me?"


    Meredith was kept under control, unable to struggle, and could only express her anger in words.


    "Miss Mason, you didn''t have a miscarriage."


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    The nurse was very helpless. She had juste in to exin to Meredith, but Meredith was so excited


    that she was kicked out before she could speak.


    Meredith froze, "No... miscarriage?"


    "Yes, the child is still here."


    "I don''t believe it," Meredith touched her belly. She didn''t have any trust in these people.


    "You can do check if you don''t believe me." After saying that, the nurse took Meredith to do a type-b


    ultrasonic.


    Seeing that the little ck dot on the screen was still there, Meredith confirmed that her child was still


    there.


    "But why?"


    Before she fainted, she heard Derek talking about continuing the operation clearly.


    "Mr. Xavier finally gave up the operation."


    After listening to the doctor, Meredith felt a littleplicated.


    She really couldn''t understand what Derek was thinking, but since the child was still here, her deep


    hatred for him had dissipated a lot.


    However, thinking of what she had just said to him, Derek should have stopped paying attention to her


    because of his arrogance.


    Perhaps, that was good.


    ...


    After a few days in the hospital, Meredith asked to be discharged. Living here, she was not at all at


    ease.


    The doctor agreed after asking Derek''s opinion.


    On the day when Meredith was discharged from the hospital, she thought it was all over. But as soon


    as she got out of the hospital, she noticed Derek''s shy sports car.


    Why did hee here?


    Meredith walked around him, but the man in the driver''s seat suddenly opened the door and pulled her


    arm to drag her into the car.


    "What are you doing?"


    Meredith struggled, but couldn''t get rid of him.


    "Don''t think it is over after I don''t end your pregnancy. Now,e with me."


    Focused on her abdomen, Derek looked at her coldly. Although he gave up on Meredith''s abortion in a


    moment of weakness, it did not mean that he would see her and Parker reunite to form a harmonious


    family.


    "Last time, I was the one who said something terrible. I can apologize." Meredith looked at Derek''s ugly


    face and thought that he bothered about the harsh words she said the other day.


    Derek heard her say this, the strength of his hand was a little lighter.


    Meredith sensed it and continued to say, "I was wrong about that and misunderstood you, but we still


    don''t need any more contact. You let me go and I won''t pester you anymore. That''s good for us all."

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95


    Derek''s face darkened again. He held Meredith''s hand and threw her into the car.


    "You apologize to me just to escape me and go out with Parker?"


    "Meredith, for him, and for the bastard in your belly, you''re really willing to do anything."


    Derek became angrier. She could even bow for another man.


    In that case, he would not let them get what they wanted.


    When Meredith saw that he would not listen to her, she was helpless. No matter what she said, Derek


    just ignored her.


    The car stopped soon.


    "Get out of the car."


    Meredith didn''t want to get off at first. But when she saw the man''s threatening gaze, she thought he


    was likely to force her to get off by using coercive measures, so she had to do what he asked.


    When she got out of the car, she realized that it was a high-ss apartment in the city center. Because


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    of the high price, people who lived here had high ies.


    "Why did you bring me here..."


    Meredith had no idea what Derek was going to do.


    "From today onwards, you will live here." Derek took out a key and threw it into her hand. "Don''t let me


    see anyone who shouldn''t be here."


    Meredith didn''t want to take the key at all. Was Derek going to monitor her life? However, they had


    nothing to do with each other.


    Even couples didn''t monitor each other''s every move remotely.


    "Derek, it''s too..."


    "You can choose to go back to the hospital or the Xaviers. Don''t think that I''ll forget what you''ve done,


    even if we get divorced."


    Derek nced at her and there was no room for negotiation.


    Meredith thought for a moment. It might be better to live here than in the hospital, so she could only


    agree weakly.


    "Where''s my stuff?" After thinking about it, she remembered her bits and pieces again.


    Derek pointed to a suitcase in the corner. Meredith looked at it and said nothing.


    "Don''t forget to go to thepany tomorrow."


    When Derek saw that Meredith didn''t go against him, his attitude softened a little. But he ordered her


    again.


    Meredith frowned. Didn''t she resign already?


    Speaking of the work, she had just found a job. However, it was messed up by Derek. She disappeared


    for several days after the interview. Nopany would want such an employee as her.


    "You didn''t even hand over your work and just left. What kind of ce do you think Xavier Group is?"


    Derek pinned her down using the excuse of the work handover.


    Meredith thought for a moment. The most she usually did was doing some cleaning. At most, she


    would make coffee for Derek and run errands for Damian.


    "Well, when can I resign?"


    Meredith didn''t want to have anything to do with Derek. At worst, she would hand it over before leaving.


    "Until I''m satisfied."


    After Derek finished speaking, Meredith was speechless.


    What he just said meant nothing. It seemed that if he wasn''t happy, she wouldn''t leave the Xavier


    Group.


    However, since Derek didn''t force her to abort the child, Meredith didn''t care about it anymore.


    She didn''t believe that Derek would keep her by his side all the time. Was he going to let her take


    maternity leave and pay her?


    ...


    The next day.


    Meredith got up early. After she washed up, she drove to the Xavier Group.


    The neighborhood she lived in was conveniently located, which was much better than the small one-


    room house she rented herself.


    Sometimes, she really couldn''t see through Derek. For example, he let her live in this apartment. He


    should hate her, but he indeed helped her by doing that.


    However, Meredith didn''t think too much. She patted her t belly after having breakfast outside. "Mom


    is going to work. You have to be good and stop messing around."


    ...


    Meredith took the bus and got off not far from the Xavier Group. She was about to swipe her card when


    a noise came from the door.


    "You let me in. I know your boss."


    "I said I knew him. Don''t you understand what I said? When I enter thepany, I''ll deal with you first."


    The woman was very impolite and arrogant. Meredith frowned and looked at the person who was


    speaking.


    Meredith''s frown was even deeper. This woman looked a little familiar.


    However, she was going to bete, so she didn''t look at her anymore. She just thought she was wrong.


    Nova was at the door. A girl quarreled with a few security guards. She wasn''t afraid at all.


    Compared to her in image before, she seemed to have changedpletely.


    The clothes all over her body were expensive famous brands. Her hair was dyed brown and it was


    curled in big waves, which made her look more mature and beautiful.


    After Derek gave money to Novast time, she felt delirious from the pennies from heaven. She


    sshed the money for a while, buying all kinds of luxuries that she did not dare to buy before. And


    soon there was only half left.


    The speed she spent the money alerted her.


    The thought that had shed across her mind came back.


    Instead of sitting idle with the one million dors, it was better to stick to that man. She had made an


    investigation and found that the man who was looking for her that day was Derek, the heir to the


    Xaviers. And women in J City threw themselves into him.


    If she could marry him or be his lover and have a child, then she would have inexhaustible money


    in the future.


    Therefore, the reason why she dressed up early and came here early by taxi was to get a job at the


    Xavier Group. And then she could forge a bond with Derek slowly.


    But she didn''t expect these short-sighted security guards to not let her in.


    Nova and the security guards argued for a while. After thinking for a while, she took out her phone.


    "You guys wait. When Mr. Xavieres down, you all have to apologize to me."


    After that, she dialed the number Derek gave to her.


    Derek was waiting for Meredith when he saw an unfamiliar number and frowned.


    Very few people knew his private number.


    "Who?"


    The man''s cold voice came from the receiver.


    "It''s me..." Nova said in an aggrieved voice as if she was bullied.


    Derek was even more impatient. "Who are you?"


    Nova seemed to be struck by lightning. She thought Derek was impressed by her because he was so


    gentle with her that day. However, he didn''t even remember her voice.


    "I''m Nova. It''s...It''s the girl in the MS Hotel."


    Nova was afraid that he would hang up, so she quickly made it clear.


    Only then did Derek remember who she was. The woman he had slept with that day. He did give her


    his number and told her to call him as soon as she thought of what she wanted.


    "What do you want?" Derek asked without further ado.


    "I want to work at Xavier Group." Nova was afraid that Derek would get suspicious. "It''s really hard to


    find a job now. My university is less-known, and my family has no background... There''s no way out. So


    I think of you. Will it cause you any trouble?"

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96


    Derek pondered for a moment. He didn''t like to be involved in anything personal in thepany.


    In particr, the rtionship between Nova and him was a little awkward.


    "I really just want a job. Back then, you... You promised."


    Nova spoke with grievance when she noticed that the man did not immediately agree.


    "I see. Damian will contact youter." After that, Derek hung up.


    Derek always felt it beneath his dignity to go back on his word, so he called Damian over. "Go make


    some arrangements for that woman named Nova and give her an unimportant job."


    Damian nodded and quickly settled the matter.


    Nova was soon assigned to the personnel A Departments an intern.


    ...


    In the afternoon, Meredith went to the personnel department to send a document. As soon as she


    entered, Nova who had been cking off immediately saw her.


    Nova was startled. When Meredith finished her work and walked out, Nova quickly dragged her to a


    ce where no one was around.


    Meredith was also a little surprised. In the morning, she thought she was mistaken, but it was really


    Nova.


    "Why are you here?" Nova asked anxiously.


    She now knew very well that the reason why Derek was so impressed by her was that he thought of


    her as the woman who had sex with him that day.


    Nova also knew that the woman that day was Meredith.


    So, seeing her, Nova panicked.


    Meredith frowned. She was always here. She couldn''t believe that Nova worked in the Xavier Group


    now. The world was too small.


    "I''ve been working here. Did you apply for the job?"


    Nova nodded repeatedly. She wanted to ask Meredith if she knew what happened with Derek that day,


    but she was afraid that she would hurt herself by reminding Meredith. Her face turned red.


    "What''s wrong with you? Just say what you want."


    Meredith noticed something was wrong with her and she asked.


    "You... What exactly did you do that day? The room was so messy. You almost got me into serious


    trouble."


    Hearing this, Meredith''s face turned pale. After so many days, she thought she could forget everything


    that happened that day. However, when she was suddenly reminded of this, she trembled.


    Dark memories came, making it hard for her to breathe.


    "Only you and I know what happened that day. Don''t mention it again!"


    Nova wished that she wouldn''t have to mention it again, so she nodded. "Then you must keep it a


    secret. If anyone finds out, I''m done."


    Meredith nodded, not thinking much. She just thought that Nova might be more timid and afraid of


    causing trouble.


    With Meredith''s assurance, Nova felt a little relieved, mainly because she was sure that Meredith didn''t


    know who the man was that day.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    If Meredith had known that she had slept with Derek, how could she have been so scared? She would


    have been happy. Therefore, the only one who knew the truth now was Nova.


    Thinking about it, Nova had a confident smile on her face. It didn''t matter that the person wasn''t her


    that night. As long as she could have sex with Derek again and have a baby, all problems would be


    solved.


    ...


    After Meredith stayed at thepany for a few days, she finally couldn''t bear it.


    Derek said he wanted her toe back andplete the handover of the work, but she didn''t have


    the chance to do it. She still did unimportant things every day.


    Even though she could still get her sry, she felt uneasy around a time bomb like Derek.


    "Derek, when can I leave thepany?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but ask him one time when she was delivering coffee to Derek.


    "Why do you want to leave so badly?" Derek sipped the coffee that she made for him slowly, his eyes


    darkening.


    If she left, she would be with Parker day and night. Derek wasn''t that stupid, so he wouldn''t let her go


    no matter what.


    "What''s the point of me being here? Don''t you feel upset when you see me?" Meredith was helpless.


    Derek clearly hated her, and he hated the child in her womb even more. If the child grew up, it would be


    obvious. Who knew what would happen then?


    "As I said, you can only leave when the handover is done and I am satisfied. Do you want your


    dereliction of duty to be added to your resume?"


    Hearing what he said, Meredith had no choice but to walk out disappointedly.


    ...


    With a sheet in her hand, Nova couldn''t help but walk out of the elevator excitedly.


    Before she came to thepany, she had undone the top three buttons on her uniform on purpose,


    with her plump and snow-white bosom half-exposed. Her short skirt could only cover her buttocks. She


    looked seductive.


    She had been in the Xavier Group for a while, but she didn''t get a chance to get close to Derek, let


    alone cultivate a rtionship with him.


    Today, the personnel department was going to send documents to the top floor. It was rare for her to


    have a face-to-face meeting with Derek, so she quickly took the job.


    This time, she must seed in one fell swoop.


    "Meredith? Why are you on the top floor?" Surprisingly, she saw Meredith and immediately had an


    ominous feeling.


    The top floor was Derek''s territory. Normally, no one woulde up here.


    "I''m cleaning up here."


    As Meredith spoke, Nova nced at the broom in her hand, feeling disdainful.


    It turned out that she was just a cleaner. No wonder she was acting so strangely.


    "Is Mr. Xavier here? I want to send him a document."


    Meredith pointed to the office. Nova thanked her arrogantly and walked over with her waist twisting.


    Meredith looked at the way she dressed and frowned. Was she trying to seduce Derek by dressing like


    that?


    In the Xavier Group, there were many people who wanted to have a romantic love story with Derek, but


    no one had ever dared to do it in such a high-profile way.


    With Derek''s temper, if he was provoked, he would only force out the one who provoked him.


    Thinking that they knew each other, Meredith followed her, intending to remind her not to ask for


    trouble. But by the time she tried to catch up with her, Nova had already entered Derek''s office.


    As soon as Nova entered, she saw the man leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed. He was


    rubbing his temples.


    Even though half of his face was covered by his hand, Derek was still the man who looked extremely


    charming to women, especially when he frowned. When he was like this, he looked less indifferent and


    more real than usual.


    Nova could not help but lighten her footsteps and walk over to help him rub his forehead.


    Nova had learned some massage techniques before, so she could massage him with moderate


    strength. Derek''s headache caused by fatigue was relieved a lot, and his expression was less cold and


    indifferent.


    Meredith looked at such a harmonious scene, and she could not tell how she felt.


    It turned out that Derek liked this kind of woman who would observe his expressions and serve him


    carefully.


    Meredith sensed her inexplicable emotions and shook her head. Nova was quite impressive. It seemed


    that Meredith didn''t need to worry about her.


    With such a sweet girl around, perhaps Derek would let her go soon.


    Thinking about it, Meredith left.

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97


    "When did you learn this? I didn''t know it before."


    Derek thought it was Meredith, and she was trying to relieve the tension between the two of them, so


    his tone was rarely softened.


    Nova was secretly pleased. "Mr. Xavier, I''ve learned it before. If you like, I can massage you every


    day."


    Derek suddenly opened his eyes. The voice was clearly not the person he thought it was.


    The face in front of him was not Meredith, but... Nova?


    Through the window, Derek could only see the back of Meredith leaving quickly. For a moment, he was


    a little anxious.


    "Who allowed you toe to the top floor? Get out."


    Derek was furious that he had been tricked. He pushed the woman behind him away. Nova fell to the


    ground andnded on her backside. It hurt so much that she couldn''t get up. Paleness and


    embarrassment appeared on her face. She indeed looked embarrassed.


    "Bo... Boss, I didn''t mean to. I came to deliver the documents. I saw that you didn''t feel well, so..."


    Nova was frightened by Derek''s angry expression. She thought that all men liked women''s gentle


    service, but she didn''t expect this situation.


    "Who needs you to meddle?" Derek hated the behavior of using work as an excuse to seduce the boss.


    "Work is work. Don''t expect me to look at you with new eyes even though I let you work in the Xavier


    Group. If I ever find out you''re doing something indecent again, get out of here."


    Nova was stunned by the scolding. Derek spoke without any mercy and ruined her dignity.


    "You''re not going out yet? In the future, you''re not allowed to step into the top floor. If I see you again


    here, you''ll be fired."


    Derek was annoyed when he saw her, and he rushed her out without any hesitation.


    Of course, Nova did not dare to stay. This was the first time she had seen Derek lose his temper. She


    had no intention of continuing seducing him. She even forgot to take the documents and just ran out


    awkwardly.


    Derek walked out, only to find that Meredith had left the top floor, not knowing where she went.


    Meredith was afraid of disturbing their good time, so she ran to the roof where the warm sunshine


    shined on her body, making her feel warm.


    Thinking of Derek''s enjoyment, Meredith snorted coldly. Men...Men were the most unreliable things in


    the world.


    Even a man like Derek could not resist the temptation of the charming woman.


    She shook her head andughed at herself. Even when they were a couple, she had no right to care


    about this kind of thing, not to mention that they were divorced now.


    It would be better for her not to take herself too seriously.


    Meredith stayed on the roof for a while and left for feeling a little cold. She was afraid of seeing


    something she shouldn''t see, so she bypassed the top floor.


    Unexpectedly, she had juste downstairs when she met Derek.


    "Where did you go just now?"


    The man''s tone was gloomy. He had just chased Nova away and wanted to find Meredith, but she was


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    nowhere to be found.


    Meredith looked at the man''s unhappy face and wondered if Derek was afraid that she would see


    something she shouldn''t see and then go out and talk too much.


    "Don''t worry, I''m tight-lipped. I won''t talk nonsense to others."


    Meredith immediately assured her that she was not interested in getting involved in the affair between


    the two of them.


    However, Derek was quite annoyed to hear her words.


    Even Derek couldn''t find the slightest fault in Meredith''s words, he was angry for this sense of


    alienation.


    "I just..."


    Before Derek could finish, Meredith interrupted him.


    "I didn''t see anything just now."


    She would pretend to have seen nothing, when she had seen something she shouldn''t have seen.


    "Meredith..." Derek gritted his teeth.


    He wanted to exin. With his personality, he never bothered to exin to anyone. In the end,


    Meredith''s words made him feel like he was being poured cold water.


    She obviously didn''t care. Since she didn''t care, why did he exin it?


    It was not his style to be sentimental.


    "Then remember what you just said. I don''t want to hear rumors in thepany."


    Derek brushed past Meredith with that indifferent words.


    When he left, the nerve that tightened in Meredith''s heart loosened. ording to Xavier''s words,


    Meredith thought Derek was only in such a hurry after they indeed had really done something just now.


    A sour feeling welled up in her heart, but she quickly shook her head. It must have been because she


    was pregnant and was prone to woolgather. How could she be sad about Derek''s affairs?


    For the next few days, Derek wasn''t at thepany. He might go on a business trip or just have a date


    with some beautiful women.


    Meredith had no intention to care what he did. She could rx without him.


    Soon, the morning passed again. Meredith got up and went to thepany canteen to have lunch.


    She was eating and suddenly a person sat opposite her.


    Because Meredith was pregnant, she would throw up asionally while eating, so she usually went to


    a corner where no one paid attention to and ate alone, lest she suddenly felt ufortable and


    disturbed the mood of others.


    So, when there was another person, she was a little surprised. She looked up, founding it was Nova.


    Seeing her, Meredith felt strange. Derek''s new lover came to look for her, making her feel like she was


    being visited by a mistress.


    Meredith threw several nces at her. Nova was not very beautiful. However, her clothes and makeup


    made up for her weakness. She had bought a lot of clothes with high-level brands and expensive


    cosmetics. With these things, she was not extremely charming, but she was also pretty beautiful.


    "Meredith, how do you feel about working on the top floor? Are you tired?"


    Certainly, Nova didn''te here to greet Meredith. It was because thest time her rash action made


    Derek a little disgusted with her, and she didn''t dare to act rashly again.


    However, when Nova heard that Meredith was just a handy woman, but she was free to go in and out


    of the top floor, Nova couldn''t help but want to consult her.


    "Not bad. What''s wrong?" Meredith slowly ate the food in the bowl and answered absent-mindedly.


    "Actually, I... I have been loving Mr. Xavier for a long time. I came to the Xavier Group for him. So I


    want you to make my wishe true, okay?"


    Nova took Meredith''s hand and looked intimate. "After all, we didn''t know each other at first, but I


    helped you, didn''t I?"


    Meredith suddenly felt that the food in her mouth had no taste. Nova''s words made her feel like


    something stuck in her throat.


    "I don''t think I can help you with this kind of thing. What we did was a deal back then, and our


    rtionship is over now. There''s no need to mention it as if you gave me a big favor."


    Meredith refused directly. Seeing that she disagreed, Nova''s expression twisted slightly. "Meredith, you


    don''t want to help me. You do also like Mr. Xavier, don''t you?"

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98


    Meredith was startled by Nova''s words and quickly looked around.


    Fortunately, no one around paid attention to them. Otherwise, if these kinds of words were heard by


    other colleagues, there would surely be rumors.


    "It''s okay if you tell me these things. If you talk to someone else, what do you think they will think?"


    Meredith shook her head, feeling that Nova was still inexperienced. In the workce, it was a taboo to


    flirt with thepany''s boss.


    "Oh, I see." Nova didn''t take it seriously. "Do you agree to help me or not?"


    Nova thought that she went to work at the Xavier Group, not to be a strong woman, but to get in


    touch with Derek and try to be a rich wife.


    "I gotta advise you that a man like him is not someone we can be with. If you are smart enough, you


    should cut off your feelings in time and stop thinking about these impossible things."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Because of their friendship, Meredith rarely talked a little more.


    Vivian''s experience was right in front of her, so Meredith didn''t want Nova to bring destruction on


    herself.


    "Forget it if you don''t help me. Why are you saying this?"


    Nova was a little angry. What did Meredith think of herself as? How could she lecture her in such a


    condescending way? Was she saying that a poor person like her would never marry a rich man?


    She didn''t believe it. She only believed that human effort was the decisive factor.


    Especially when she thought about the woman who had sex with Derek was Meredith, Nova could not


    help but regard her as a potential rival in love.


    "Fine, forget it. I''ll figure it out myself."


    Nova couldn''t stay here any longer. She picked up the te and strode away.


    Meredith looked at her back and shook her head helplessly.


    Why women here were all like this? Every time she gave kind advice, it would end up like this


    speechless result.


    Nova quickly found an opportunity.


    Derek always used a VIP elevator. In addition, he would be alone sometimes, so there would be more


    than ten minutes for him to be alone on the elevator to the highest floor .


    Although it wasn''t long, it was better than nothing.


    One day, Derek entered the elevator. Just as he was about to press the button, Nova squeezed in with


    her face full of embarrassment. "I''m sorry, Mr. Xavier. There are too many people in ordinary elevators


    over there. Can I borrow your VIP elevator? I''m in a hurry here."


    Derek nced at her coldly and did not speak. Nova took his silence as acquiescence and hurried in.


    When the elevator door was about to close, Derek suddenly stopped it. He happened to see Meredith


    Nova also saw Meredith''s figure. Watching Derek''s action, she suddenly felt a little ufortable.


    It was obvious that Derek was much better to Meredith than to her. He would actually wait for Meredith.


    Meredith usually took the elevator of the ordinary employees, and she didn''t want to overstep her


    status, so she shook her head. "Thank you but I don''t have any important work. I can take the elevator


    over there."


    "I ask you toe over. Are you deaf or you don''t want to listen to me?"


    Derek ordered coldly. Meredith had no choice but to walk over. Only then did she see Nova standing on


    the side with an unhappy face, she suddenly felt embarrassed.


    She was really just passing by and didn''t want to be the third person between the two of them.


    However, Derek had already ordered, so she could not go out again. She could only stand in a corner.


    Meredith prayed in her heart that the two of them would never notice her. She was just a passer-by.


    As the elevator slowly rose, Nova quickly suppressed the imbnce in her heart and spoke softly to


    Derek. "Mr. Xavier,st time I saw you in the office, you seemed to have a headache. I have a


    prescription from my family that is very useful for this kind of symptom. Maybe next time..."


    "No need." Derek interrupted directly and mercilessly, "I am not interested in these things without


    scientific basis."


    Nova failed ttering him, so she flushed and felt awkward.


    Meredith watched aside and couldn''t help but mutter to herself that Derek was really temperamental.


    Last time, he had received Nova''s massage with a pleasant face, but now he turned his back on her.


    "Actually, I''m just worried about your health. After all, you''re the backbone of thepany. If anything


    goes wrong, we have no direction or motivation to work."


    Although Nova suffered a blow, she was not discouraged. She really could say something sweeter than


    honey.


    Meredith couldn''t help but get goosebumps. It turned out that Nova didn''t work for money, but for


    Derek. What a noble sentiment. Meredith was different. Her main goal was to get a higher sry, so it


    was the same anywhere she went. It was better not to have Derek.


    "Work without direction only means that you have no career n and no motivation. It means that you


    are not hardworking enough. Xavier Group doesn''t need idle people. You know what I mean."


    Derek wasn''t in the mood to listen to her ttery. If Nova wasn''t the woman who helped him that day,


    he would have opened the elevator door and thrown her out.


    "Mr. Xavier..."


    Being rejected twice in a row, Nova felt extreme awkward. Just as she was about to say something


    again, the lights in the elevator shed twice.


    There was a screech of metal friction. The elevator, which had just been steadily rising, suddenly


    stopped and the lights inside were dimmed.


    The narrow space suddenly became dark.


    Nova couldn''t help but scream, "Ah!"


    Meredith was also flustered by the sudden ident. She could not help but put her hand in her lower


    abdomen and put in a little effort as if telling her baby not to be afraid.


    "Meredith, are you okay?"


    Naturally, Derek would not lose hisposure. He frowned and looked at the elevator in a ckout.


    He pressed the call button and subconsciously asked about Meredith''s condition.


    "I... I''m fine. I''m fine."


    Meredith was a little surprised that Derek would ask her first, but she still answered quickly.


    Nova could not help but clench her fists as she listened to the conversation between the two of them.


    She was also trapped in the elevator. She was a woman, and she must be scared too. Why didn''t


    Derek pay attention to her?


    Could it be that Derek actually was fond of Meredith?


    At the thought of this possibility, Nova even forgot the fear of being in a faulty elevator.


    Now without knowing the truth, Derek was already so concerned about Meredith. If he knew, wouldn''t


    she lose all chance?


    Thinking of this, Nova even embedded her nails in her palms, leaving deep marks. She looked coldly at


    the corner where Meredith was.

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99


    As she was thinking of this, her nails were embedded into the palms, leaving deep marks. Then she


    looked coldly at the corner where Meredith was.


    Shortly after Derek got contacted with the people outside, the repairmen arrived. They couldn''t afford to


    keep Derek being trapped in the elevator for so long, for they could be punished for that.


    So, not long after, the elevator was good again.


    The light slowly lit up. Derek nced at Meredith who was in the corner. With fright, her face was very


    pale; her normally red lips were now drained of blood; her hands were tightly covering her abdomen;


    and her expression showed that she was very nervous.


    Did she care so much about the baby?


    Derek suddenly grew unspeakably irritable. ncing at the two women, he maintained his manners


    and said, "After you."


    Meredith nodded and was about to walk out of the elevator when she went weak at the knees and


    almost fell to the ground. Seeing this, Derek quickly lifted her up.


    "Thank you. I didn''t see the way,"


    Meredith hurriedly thanked him. Perhaps because she was pregnant, she was no longer as resilient as


    she used to be. Even the elevator ckout would make her extremely nervous.


    However, Meredith was also a little surprised that Derek would take the initiative to help her. Didn''t he


    hate the baby in her womb?


    "Be careful with yourself," Derek was upset. He was just acting subconsciously only to realize how


    strange that was afterwards.


    It had nothing to do with him even if she had a miscarriage and the illegitimate baby just died.


    Nova saw there was something between the two of them and understood what was going on.


    Not wanting to see Derek holding Meredith, Nova forced out a warm smile, "Since Meredith is not


    feeling well, I''ll help her back. Mr. Xavier, don''t worry."


    As she spoke, she went up and helped Meredith out of the elevator.


    Meredith was a little surprised by Nova''s enthusiasm at the moment, but having suffered a shock, she


    was unwell with a tummy ache, so she did not refuse.


    "Mr. Xavier seems to care a lot about you,"


    Nova said as if she didn''t mean it, but deep down she was being very jealous of Meredith.


    "No, it''s just... He probably saw my pale face and was afraid that something would happen to me. After


    all, it would be bad for thepany if something happened to staff there,"


    Meredith quickly denied it, being afraid that Nova would misunderstand their rtionship.


    Saying nothing more, Nova helped Meredith to the ce, "I am still learning the robes here, and hope


    that I could learn from you."


    Seeing she was being polite, Meredith nodded.


    From then on, Nova went to Meredith whenever she was free.


    Meredith knew best what it felt like to be ostracized in the workce, so she spared no effort in helping


    Nova adapt to her work.


    After all, she was also a poor college student who needed a work-study program. Meredith was always


    nice to people who were in the same difficult situation as she.


    Soon the two of them got to know each other.


    Friday, after work, Meredith was about to leave when Nova suddenly held her arm and said, "Meredith,


    you''ve helped me a lot at worktely. I don''t know how to thank you. My parents said they wanted to


    invite you home for dinner. I wonder if you''re free today."


    Meredith hesitated.


    "Just go to my house for a meal. They are all my families, so don''t be shy."


    After hearing Nova''s words, Meredith was too embarrassed to refuse. After all, it was a gesture of


    goodwill.


    "All right, then. Hopefully, it won''t cause you too much trouble."


    Meredith called Derek, exined the situation, and followed Nova to her house.


    There are four people in Nova''s family and they lives in a quite humble neighborhood. The house was


    not big at all, and it was even more crowded with her.


    However, there was a sense of home. This simple feeling made Meredith feel more at ease.


    As soon as they entered, Meredith received a warm wee. Knowing that the senior who had helped


    their daughter wasing to visit, they got up early and prepared arge table of dishes, waiting for


    her arrival.


    Nova''s brother, Seth, stared at Meredith for a few moments. It was not until Meredith looked up and


    smiled politely at him that he came back to his senses and his face turned red.


    He was twenty-seven years old this year, and he didn''t have a girlfriend yet. As soon as Meredith came


    in, he thought she was really good-looking with special beauty.


    Ever since she knew she was pregnant, Meredith had stopped putting on makeup and even stopped


    applying lipstick. However, perhaps because she had a good appetite during her pregnancy and had a


    bnced diet, she looked better with smoother skin and a brighterplexion.


    The meal was a harmonious one. Apart from Meredith''s inability to drink, everything went very well with


    a lively family atmosphere around.


    After dinner, Seth mysteriously pulled Nova to his room and asked about Meredith.


    "Are you interested in her?"


    Nova thought for a while and believed that it was good for her to fix the two up. During this period, she


    tried to get close to Meredith mainly in order to find out her weakness and then used it as a stick to


    beat her with.


    However, Meredith was very careful in her work and usually went straight home after work. Nova really


    couldn''t find any ws of her.


    If her brother really won Meredith''s heart, she wouldn''t have to worry about something might happen


    between Meredith and Derek, and besides she wouldn''t have to take the risk of doing anything bad.


    After all, Meredith was good to her, and she would feel guilty, if she did Meredith harm.


    "She seems to be single. She is a sanitation worker in ourpany. If you like her, I will back you up."


    Hearing that Meredith was a sanitation worker, Seth seemed to be a little upset, for he thought she,


    with such good grace, was ady from a decent family.


    Nevertheless, thinking about Meredith''s face, which was still pretty without makeup, and her curve, he


    thought she was eptable.


    "Then do me a favor. When she bes your sister-inw, I will definitely give you a big red


    envelope."


    Nova happily agreed.


    Meredith spoke with their parents for a while and then got up to leave. Nova said quickly, "Let my


    brother give you a ride. He has a car. Taxis won''t be avable at this time."


    Meredith wanted to refuse, but they insisted, so she agreed.


    On the way, Seth kept showing off, saying that he was now a team leader at a bigpany, and that


    he had just bought a car.


    Meredith had had enough of it, but still made some responses, hoping to get home soon.


    Finally, the car stopped. Seth looked at the location and said in disbelief, "You live here?"


    Meredith didn''t really want to talk about it, "I''m just staying here for the time being."


    After saying that, she thanked him and left. Seth looked at her figure with mixed feelings. An ordinary


    person couldn''t even afford to rent an apartment here, not to mention buying one. Meredith, a cleaner


    at the Xavier Group, lives here?


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    She must have found herself a sugar daddy.


    Meredith didn''t know what he was thinking. She went upstairs and opened the door, only to find that


    there was someone else in the house.

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100


    Derek leaned against the window and looked out. The man''s quiet appearance was like a sculpture,


    too perfect to be real.


    "Why are you here?" Meredith patted her chest. She was shocked when she saw someone in her


    room.


    She thought it was a burr bursting into the house, although she knew that all her belongings adding


    together were not worth as much as this house.


    "To see what on earth you have done." Derek thought about what he had just seen. The man who sent


    Meredith back was a man he had never seen before.


    Even though Meredith could not understand how could Derek checks in on her so directly and


    ''justifiably'', it was also difficult for her to resist it.


    She simply couldn''t understand what Derek wanted to do. No matter what, they were already ex-


    husband and ex-wife. Why he was always bothering her so much.


    "Is that your new man?" Seeing that she was impatient, Derek said unkindly.


    Meredith was in a good mood at first, but his words made her angry. "I have told you that I went to my


    colleagues'' house for dinner. They said it was impolite to let me take a taxi back by myself, so one of


    my colleagues asked her brother to send me back. Believe it or not."


    She doubted what she looked like in Derek''s heart. As long as he saw her with a man, he naturally


    thought that she was having an affair with that man.


    She was not an easy girl.


    Seeing that Meredith had finished this long sentence in one breath that her face was flushed for


    breathless, Derek''s originally tense expression rxed a little. "I''m still thinking that no matter how bad


    your taste is, it will not be so bad."


    When Meredith heard what he said, she felt that Derek was really incorrigible. She rolled her eyes and


    then went to the refrigerator to get some fruit.


    Derek then said slowly, "Which colleague?"


    Meredith almost coughed up the strawberries in her mouth. "Nova, the one you specifically asked


    Damian to hire."


    Derek didn''t look very well when he heard this name.


    This Nova, who didn''t work well in thepany, waszy and inactively. If it weren''t for her kindness to


    him and he did give her a promise at that time, Derek would have fired her.


    He just didn''t expect her to get along well with Meredith.


    "Don''t you feel something weird when seeing her?"


    Last time, didn''t Meredith see her running over to court him? Even so, could they still be friends? Was


    there no jealousy in Meredith''s heart?


    "Not." Meredith shook her head. She only regarded Nova as a child who needed help.


    Derek realized that she didn''t take that incident seriously in her mind, and suddenly he was in a bad


    mood.


    ncing at Meredith, who was happily eating the fruit and didn''t even look at him, he walked out


    angrily. "Always eating."


    Then he left.


    Meredith watched him leave inexplicably. Why did she provoke him by eating something? She bought it


    herself.


    Did he not want her to get too close to Nova because he was afraid that she would talk too much about


    their past marriage and ruin their rtionship?


    Thinking about it, Meredith actually thought it was possible. After all, Nova was personally recruited by


    Derek breaking the rule and also dared to be close to him in thepany. If they didn''t have any


    rtionship, how could she have such courage?


    Meredith lost his appetite when thinking that way. She threw the fruit in her hand on the table, and


    started listening to prenatal music.


    When Seth returned home, he was in low spirits. Seeing this, Nova quickly asked what happened.


    Knowing that Meredith was living in that upscale neighborhood, Nova was even envious. In that case,


    She must make Seth get Meredith more quickly.


    "Actually, she''s an invisible rich second generation. Didn''t you see that she looks a little like that star


    Ava, and her surname is also Mason? She''s the daughter of the Masons. If you can marry her, you will


    have a smooth journey in the future."


    Nova''s random lies actually told the truth. To encourage Seth, she even painfully took out some of the


    money that Derek gave her. "Brother, chasing a girl costs money. I''ll help you. As long as you get her,


    you won''t have to worry about taking back the investment."


    On Monday.


    As soon as Meredith went to work and was about to go upstairs, the guard suddenly gave her a


    bouquet of flowers.


    Meredith was a little confused, looking at the bouquet and not knowing what happened.


    However, the colleagues who go to work together saw it and heckled, "Oh, you have someone


    pursuing you!"


    "Who is he? What does he look like? Isn''t he too mysterious?"


    Meredith blushed a little. She was used to being low-profile in thepany and suddenly being noticed


    like this made her feel bad.


    Holding the bouquet up to the top floor, Meredith quickly opened the card attached to it. Under such a


    situation that having a child whose father was unknown in her belly, how could she fall in love with


    someone?


    So, it was better for him to save some money and not wasted his time and energy.


    As soon as Derek went up to the top floor, he saw Meredith holding a bouquet of roses and looking


    down at the card.


    The bouquet was so huge that half of Meredith''s body was buried in it. Her small fair face was half in


    the colorful flowers, and her face was purer than the flowers. It reminded him of the saying "thedy is


    more beautiful than the blossoming flowers."


    However, Derek was not in the mood to enjoy the beautiful scenery. He walked over with a dark face


    and only took a look at the gorgeous red roses. "How ugly these flowers are. It is so outmoded to give


    something like this as the present."


    Meredith looked up and saw Derek''s cold expression. "It''s not for you."


    After all, it was someone else''s good intention. Even if he didn''t like the roses, there was no need to


    say so harshly.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "It''s on my floor and bothers me. Why can''t Iment on it?"


    Derek was even more impolite when he saw that she dared to talk back.


    Seeing that Meredith was speechless, Derek snorted. "Immediately throw them away. Don''t let me see


    that again."


    "There''s no need for that, right?" Meredith looked at the card. There was no signature on it, but only a


    statement - "I fell in love with you at first sight."


    After all, it was the first time she had received flowers from someone else. Meredith felt guilty to throw


    them away.


    "It''s up to me whether it''s necessary or not. If I see this bouquet again, I''ll throw it myself."


    Kept it, and then let it reminded her of its owner?


    Derek said that and left. Meredith didn''t want to do so, but she couldn''t resist Derek''s orders. So she


    could only open the bouquet, give some flowers to her colleagues, and put some into the vase in the


    Derek was livid to see her aggrieved look in the office.


    It was just a bunch of flowers. What a big deal!


    Taking out his cell phone, he called Damian and gave him some instructions.


    After a while, Meredith received a huge bouquet that was much bigger than the one just now.


    Even one person could not hold it, but two people moved it up.


    Meredith waspletely stunned. When she opened it, she found that 999 perfumed lilies forming a


    perfect heart.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s stunning look and smiled.

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101


    Getting two bouquets of flowers in a row this morning made Meredith capture a lot of attention in the


    The first bouquet of 99 red roses was normal, but the second one consisting of 999 fragrant lilies was


    not what ordinary people could afford.


    Many people were gossiping she was probably being pursued by some rich young man and that she


    would perhaps be a rich wife from a poor clerk soon.


    Nova was looking at herself in the mirror in the bathroom when she caught a glimpse of a rose on the


    sink. She eximed at first that Xavier Group was so elegantly decorated that even the bathroom was


    so poetically arranged.


    But when she came closer, her expression immediately changed. She recognized this was the flower


    that she had just helped Seth select for Meredith because thebel was identical. Thinking about the


    rumors in thepany, she immediately understood something.


    Meredith was just a bitch. She threw flowers others sent her into the toilet, and carefully kept the lilies


    Derek gave her and still insisted that she was not interested in him.


    What a hypocrite!


    But since Derek offered to send her flowers, did that mean he really cared for her?


    At this moment, Seth called Nova. "How is it? Is she touched by the flowers?"


    How could she be touched by his flowers? How could the roses he sentpare to the lilies Derek


    gave?


    "She said she liked it very much, and she wanted to thank you personally after work. Come and find


    her then. She''s shy, and you have to take the initiative bravely. Girls are always reserved."


    Nova thought about it and came up with an idea.


    Looking at the huge bouquet of fragrant lilies in front, Meredith was more troubled than happy.


    Derek was so generous to send her the huge bouquet of fragrant lilies happily. But she did not know


    how to handle them at all. They took up too much room and were too eye-catching.


    They were so conspicuous that she was showing off in others'' eyes.


    Meredith didn''t want to be famous in thepany for this kind of thing at all.


    Derek came out of the office and saw her looking at the flowers with a vacant expression. There was


    not much joy on her face. "What? Unhappy?"


    This woman only allowed someone to send her flowers?


    Derek had never given such a gift to anyone. He always felt that this was boring and it was his first


    time.


    He didn''t expect Meredith to react in this way.


    "No... I just feel they are taking up some space."


    "The top floor covers arge area. There is definitely room for you to put a bunch of flowers in it." Derek


    frowned. "Anyway, you have to take good care of them. Don''t let me find out that you throw away these


    flowers in a few days."


    "So are you sending me this bouquet of flowers as a gift, or you just want me to take care of them?"


    Meredith was speechless. How could he treat her like this? After sending her flowers, he had to require


    her to take good care of them and forbid her from throwing them away.


    "They symbolize my love and kindness for you. I suppose you''re not going to trample on others''


    kindness to you."


    Derek said faintly, then went back to his office.


    Meredith looked at him walking back to his office jauntily. It was easy for him to say so, but she had to


    take care of so many flowers. To keep them from withering, she would have to take care of them with


    the nutrient solution every day, which would cause her a lot of trouble. He spent money happily but


    invited trouble for her atst.


    Anyway, a day that was not peaceful had passed.


    Meredith packed up her things and left off work. As soon as she walked out of thepany building,


    Seth followed her. "Meredith, let me take you home."


    Meredith shook her head without thinking. "No, thanks. I can go back by myself. I don''t want to cause


    you trouble."


    Meeting her refusal, Seth despised her inside. After receiving his flowers. she still pretended to be


    reserved. Women were always double-faced and fastidious and good at ying hard to get.


    "Actually, I have something to tell you. It''s quite important. I''ll take you home and say it on the way."


    Since he insisted and she wanted to know what he was going to say, Meredith agreed.


    The two of them got into the car. Seth noticed Meredith wearing a professional suit that fitted her


    perfectly. She was shapely with her long, white legs crossed and a beautiful curve. She was so


    tempting to him that he couldn''t help swallowing.


    "Meredith, I suppose you have got those flowers today? Actually, I fell in love with you the first time I


    saw you. I didn''t know you..."


    Meredith was shocked. She never thought that this was what Seth was going to say. She wondered the


    flowers were sent by him.


    "I''m sorry but I haven''t thought about it. I don''t think I will date anyone in a near future. Well, I hope you


    won''t give me any gifts. It''s just a waste of money."


    Meredith rejected himpletely. Now that she was in a special situation and had an unborn child,


    how could she develop a rtionship with anyone?


    Getting Meredith''s nk refusal, Seth was very annoyed, especially when he thought that his sister


    had said Meredith had been actually very happy to receive the gift. Thinking that Meredith was


    probably shy, just as his sister said, he decided to express his feelings to her more directly.


    "Meredith, you don''t have to pretend to be reserved. I really like you."


    With that, Seth got closer and wanted to kiss her.


    Looking at the face that was getting closer, Meredith was startled. Out of a self-protective instinct, she


    gave him a p. She was trying to open the door and leave but found that the car had been locked.


    "What are you trying to do? Are you crazy?"


    She had already rejected him so nkly. Howe he still wanted to kiss her in spite of her


    unwillingness?


    "Stop pretending hard to get! You must earn yourself a ce in such a high-ss neighborhood by


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    sleeping with others. Since you can sleep with rich people, why can not sleep with me?"


    Seth had been single for more than 20 years. Without sexual life, he could not have his strong desire


    satisfied for a long time. He had been pped and enraged. How dare this damn woman hit him?


    Seeing this, he knew that Meredith was not going to give him a face. He was angry and picked up a


    bottle of spray from one of his so-called friends and sprayed it at her.


    He was told by his friend that it could turn a virtuous woman into a slut when getting it from his friend. It


    was said that it was very useful to pick up girls. He couldn''t wait to see what Meredith could do after he


    slept with her.


    Meredith was caught off guard and sprayed with something strange on her face. Although she


    immediately held her breath, she still inhaled some.


    Suddenly, she felt burning hot in a strange way and too weak to hold on to the handle of the car door


    with her hands.


    What exactly did he spray at her? Fears and worries swept over her. Meredith feared that he would do


    something to her and that this damn spray would do harm to her unborn child.


    Seeing her like this, Seth sneered. He reached out a pair of greasy and dirty hands to touch Meredith''s


    cheeks. "How do you feel? Do you still want to refuse me?"


    Meredith red at him and bit her lips. The pain from her lips kept her somewhat awake.


    But she looked so determined that she would rather die than let him insult her, only making the beast in


    front of her more excited. He was reaching out to tear open Meredith''s shirt.


    Meredith was trying to dodge him desperately, feeling extremely regretful.

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102


    "Let go of me! I''m your sister''s colleague. Aren''t you afraid of being investigated for doing this?"


    "She was the one who asked me toe over. She said you liked it."


    Nova specifically told him that Meredith was actually interested in him. For a woman like Meredith, he


    had to use some special methods. She also said that if he had sex with Meredith, she would go from


    being unyielding to obeying his orders and falling in love with him.


    That was why he prepared this kind of thing.


    When Meredith heard this, her heart went cold.


    During her time at thepany, she had been open to Nova and had done her best to help Nova.


    All she did at thepany was to make up for the time she got Nova into trouble at the hotel.


    But she never thought she would end up like this.


    Meredith''s shirt was ripped open, and her white underwear was exposed, making Seth randier.


    Derek got off work and was about to drive away when his eyes fell on a white Volkswagen parked not


    far from thepany.


    The car was actually very ordinary, but it kept shaking in broad daylight, and with a little thought, he


    knew what was going on inside.


    Somehow, the man smiled disdainfully. It was not even dark yet, and someone couldn''t resist having


    sex in a car... They were really vulgar!


    As he was about to drive away, Derek suddenly frowned again, feeling that the car looked a bit familiar,


    as if it was exactly the same as the one that brought Meredith back that day.


    Derek thought about it, reached out and pulled out the car keys. He walked over and heard a familiar


    voiceing from inside.


    "Get out of here! You are a rapist, a criminal!"


    "You''d better let me out, or I''ll sue you."


    Simr words awakened Derek''s memory.


    Why was this voice so simr to the girl who kept asking for help that night?


    Was it Nova inside?


    Meredith struggled with her life, but her strength was no match for that of a young man, not to mention


    being controlled by the drug.


    As the situation got out of hand, suddenly someone knocked on the window. "What happened?"


    Seeing that someone had noticed this, Meredith immediately shouted, "Sir, please help me to call the


    police. This man is trying to rape me!"


    "She''s talking nonsense. Do you, an outsider, have to interfere with what I''m doing with my girlfriend?"


    Being interrupted, Seth shouted back impatiently.


    Derek''s eyes darkened slightly. Although he had a general impression of Nova, he couldn''t be


    indifferent by the fact that she was being raped in front of him. "Now, get out of the car, or else you will


    bear the consequences."


    "Who the hell are you? You are such a poser! Let me see what you can do for me. I am just trying


    something exciting and special with my woman. Do the police care about this?"


    Hearing the words, Derek was furious. It had been a long time since anyone had dared to provoke him


    with such words, and this man really didn''t know what he was doing!


    As the man in the car spoke, Derek walked straight to the car that was parked behind him.


    Meredith heard the footsteps go further away, and her heart was filled with despair. Did he believe


    Seth''s lies? But she was not his girlfriend at all.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Could it be that the hope in her heart would be reced by despair?


    "Help! Don''t leave me behind! Sir, help me, please."


    While she was still in pain, suddenly a strong force came from behind the car and it was actually the


    Rolls Royce that crashed straight through, knocking the parked Volkswagen some distance forward.


    "Damn, he is fucking crazy."


    Seth looked at the luxury car that hit him directly from behind and waspletely stunned. Who would


    have thought that the man was so crazy?


    His car was originally second-hand and was about to be scrapped after being hit like this.


    Meredith also gripped her seat belt in fear, feeling like she was snatched from the jaws of death.


    Luckily, she put on her seat belt as soon as she got in the car, otherwise, she would have hit the


    windshield in front of her.


    Seth was so angry that he opened the door and went down to argue with the man. Meredith took the


    opportunity to open the door and ran out.


    Only then did Derek see that the woman sitting inside was Meredith. His brows were furrowed even


    tighter. How could it be her?


    The voice just now made him admit that it was Nova inside, but when he saw Meredith''s clothes being


    torn to pieces, and she was using her hands to cover her body, and his anger increased.


    At this moment, Seth came over and said, "You think because you drive a Rolls-Royce you are superior


    to me? You''re fully responsible and must pay me back!"


    Derek looked at Seth coldly, as if he was looking at a dead man. "I can give you the money, but I don''t


    think you can enjoy it."


    Derek nced at Meredith, who was standing beside him in shock. "Why are you still standing there?


    Get in the car."


    This time, Meredith did not refuse and quickly got into Derek''s car, afraid that she would get into trouble


    again.


    Seeing Meredith get into Derek''s car, Seth became even angrier. "You bitch, you despise the poor and


    curry favor with the rich, don''t you? When you see a rich man and you meekly do what he says. You


    really are a shameless bitch."


    Meredith listened to Seth''s harsh words with a pale face and tightened her clothes because in Derek''s


    car, she was not as panicked and scared as before, but the anger in her heart could not be


    suppressed.


    Why did Nova say that? Had she done anything bad to Nova? Why should she be raped and


    humiliated by Nova''s brother?


    Perhaps it was because of a strong emotional, or perhaps it was because of the side effects of the drug


    that Meredith suddenly felt a throbbing pain in her abdomen, and a bead of sweat rolled down her face.


    Derek saw that her face was pale, so he quickly called the security guard over, held down the swearing


    Seth and sent him to the .


    "Meredith, are you okay?"


    "My belly hurts a little. Take me... To the hospital."


    Derek didn''t dare dy and immediately sent her to the nearest hospital.


    Meredith was pushed into the emergency room. Her face was pale, and she grabbed the doctor''s white


    coat. "Doctor, you must save my child."


    Derek was waiting outside. He thought it was ridiculous that he was like this. Meredith was not


    pregnant with his child but he was even more anxious than anyone else.


    Seeing how upset she was, he ignored everything and ran several red lights to send her over.


    It was not like him at all. Wasn''t he a little too nice to Meredith?


    His mind was in a mess, and the doctor came out. "Fortunately, it is in time. The person is fine, and the


    child is fine. However, how could there be such an aphrodisiac in a pregnant woman''s body? This is


    very dangerous!"


    Derek''s face darkened when he heard this. Thinking of the way that man was cursing in front of him, he


    thought how dare that man use such a dirty trick to drug Meredith?


    He called thewyer immediately and said, "Go help me with a case and put an attempted rapist in jail.


    The longer the better."

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103


    Meredith was sent to the ward after she was confirmed fine. The doctor told Derek that Meredith


    needed to stay in the hospital for observation for a period of time. It was best for her to have a good


    rest to recuperate so as to avoid adverse effects on the baby.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s sleeping face. Since she had been injected with a sedative, she was


    sleeping soundly. Her face with sweet tranquility soothed his restlessness.


    He''d like her to maintain the current status.


    Derek was also a little tired. When he was about to take a break, he heard noises from outside.


    "Where''s Mr. Xavier? I want to see him right now!"


    Nova ran in hastily, terror in her face. The police had just found her house and brought all her family


    back to the police station. Only then did Nova know that Seth had failed in raping Meredith. What''s


    worse, Derek had found it out. Now Seth was taken to the and was likely to face the usation of


    attempted rape.


    As soon as this happened, everyone in her family panicked. Seth''s parents cried so desperately and


    begged Nova toe over and solve this problem.


    Nova was inwardly cursing her elder brother for being a piece of crap. However, she had no choice but


    toe. She was afraid that Seth would be a total coward and got her in this mess. It would destroy


    everything.


    Meredith frowned a little as if she was about to be woken up by the piercing sound. Derek walked out


    with an expressionless face. As soon as he opened the door, Nova rushed over as if she had seen a


    savior.


    "Mr. Xavier, my elder brother had been caught and was taken to the ... Please help me."


    Derek dodged impassively. Nova came for nothing. She looked a little embarrassed. Then, she


    unctuously squeezed out several drops of tears. "Mr. Xavier..."


    Derek waspletely unmoved by her tears. He even hated to see them.


    It was her brother who had done wrong. However, she was acting pitifully now. If Derek hadn''t taken a


    second, something terrible would have happened.


    "Your brother must take responsibility for what he did wrong." Derek was unmoved at all. "You are


    being very noisy in a hospital. Get out."


    Just as Nova was about to say something, the doctor came over and wanted to go into the ward to


    check on Meredith.


    "She''s asleep. Tell me if you have something to say."


    Derek knew that Meredith was terribly frightened today. He didn''t want anyone to disturb her repose.


    The doctor nodded and handed Derek some medicine. "Nothing big. The nutrition she''s taking now


    needs some changes. Otherwise, the baby might get malnourished."


    When Nova heard the word "baby," she didn''t know whether to squeeze out her tears or hide them.


    Did Meredith actually get pregnant?


    Is this baby Derek''s?


    On second thoughts, if it weren''t Derek''s baby, how could he be so concerned?


    Suddenly, the hate ran so deep in Nova''s heart. It turned out that Meredith had already known.


    Meredith had just been putting on an act in front of her all the time. Was Meredith happy to see her


    pursuit Derek but fail to get him?


    "Get out of here!" Derek took those medicine and noticed that Nova was staring at him in a daze. He


    crossly drove her away.


    Looking at Derek''s handsome face, Nova felt bitter and helpless.


    He only showed his tenderness once to her, when he took her for Meredith mistakenly. Now her fantasy


    was over, everything was over!


    When Nova left, she suddenly resented Meredith. If Meredith didn''t identally bring Derek into her


    life, she wouldn''t be like this.


    The feeling of getting something then losing it was more painful than never getting it. This kind of pain


    made people want to go crazy.


    Nova walked a few steps in clouds. At this moment, a man bumped into her and looked down at her.


    "It''s her. Take her away."


    Nova didn''t even have time to make a sound of resistance before her mouth was covered in a towel


    with ether. She fainted immediately.


    Meredith slept for a long time under thefort of the medicine. By the time she woke up, it was


    already dark outside.


    She sat up, moved her stiff body, and looked at the empty ward. She felt a little disappointed.


    Usually, she didn''t feel lonely. Now she needed some tending, but no one was around. She was all by


    her lonesome, feeling a little bit sorry for herself.


    Derek should have left after he sent her here. Meredith thought, then shook her head helplessly.


    It was a great kindness for him to save her from that man. Did she still want Derek to stay in her ward


    and watch her until she woke up?


    This was just too narcissistic.


    Meredith med her own messy thoughts on pregnancy. It must have been because the pregnancy


    affected her brain that it caused her to think too much about these nonesense.


    When she was in a daze, Damian, who was outside, saw the lights were on in the ward. He walked in


    and handed over a nutritious dinner. "Here, get some food in your stomach."


    Meredith gratefully took it. She happened to be a little hungry. "Did Derek send you here?"


    Damian nodded. Meredith''s heart was warmed. Suddenly, she remembered something. "Where''s that


    guy?"


    Seth almost raped her and hurt the baby. She had to ask where the man was now and sort through


    everything.


    "Boss said he would take care of this."


    Damian said in full detail. The thing that Seth had done could be significant or insignificant. After all, he


    didn''t seed in raping her. However, Derek did not want him to escape justice so easily. So he must


    use some special means.


    These things were not suitable for Meredith to listen to.


    The smile on Meredith''s face faded a little. She slowed down to eat. "Got it."


    Seth was Nova''s elder brother. Derek treated her somehow differently. Therefore, it was possible for


    him to go out of his way to help her.


    Thinking about it, Meredith felt a little disappointed.


    After all, if Derek made up his mind to help Seth, she would never be able topete with him. This


    matter could only be settled like this, even if she was really unwilling to let go of that damned bastard.


    Damian didn''t notice that Meredith was acting unusually. He looked at the time. "It''s gettingte. I''ll go


    back first. I''ve already hired a nurse for you. If you need any help, call her and she''ll help you."


    Meredith nodded and watched Damian leave.


    Looking at the nurse standing outside the door, she couldn''t help but wonder if this was Derek''s way of


    Meredith was discharged from the hospital after resting for a few days. These days, she was forbidden


    to get out of bed. And the nurse even followed her into the toilet, afraid that something bad might


    happen to her.


    These days seemed like several years to her. She was ufortably bound by various rules and


    wanted to take a break so badly.


    Finally, Meredith returned to work. Then she realized that Nova was gone.


    Just as well, given the situation. Meredith still had a grudge against her. After all, Meredith treated her


    well, but she stabbed hard on her back. It was impossible for her to say she didn''t care.


    Meredith was at work when her cell phone started to ring. The telephone number was unfamiliar.


    Meredith didn''t answer. However, after a while, that number sent a message. "Don''t you want to know


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    who was the guy in the presidential suite at MS Hotel that day?"

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104


    Meredith froze on the spot. She looked at that line of words as if she had seen something horrible.


    No one else knew about that except Parker and the man who was there that day.


    So, did the man send this message?


    Meredith''s body trembled at the thought of what had happened in that dark room. All her blood seemed


    to rush to her brain, making it impossible for her to think.


    What was he going to do?


    The phone didn''t ring again, but Meredith looked at it as if she saw a time bomb.


    Should she go and see that man and get him out, or...should she pretend that she didn''t see the


    message?


    She was at a mess.


    A long timeter, just as Meredith felt her head was about to explode because of this sudden


    misfortune, another text message came.


    "The table in the far left corner of the coffee shop downstairs yourpany. Come alone. I''ll wait for


    you to get off work."


    Meredith was shocked. This man not only knew her number but also knew where she worked. These


    days, where exactly was he? Was he secretly watching her?


    Meredith shuddered. The feeling of being observed by someone in the dark made one tremble with


    fear.


    After texting, Nova copsed in the car.


    "Mr. Long, can you let me go now?"


    As soon as she came out of the hospital that day, she was kidnapped by this group of people. After


    talking to them, she knew that they had a grudge against Derek. Because she had once boasted that


    she was Derek''s woman outside, so she became their target.


    Nova was almost used by them to threaten Derek, but she was quick-witted. She suddenly thought of


    Meredith and confessed that she was pregnant with Derek''s child. In this way, she saved herself.


    "Wait until we get her."


    Mr. Long said. Nova walked into the coffee shop reluctantly and waited for Meredith toe.


    Meredith hesitated for a long time in thepany. Seeing that time was running out, she gritted her


    teeth and decided to go.


    If she missed this opportunity, who knew what that man would do in the future?


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    However, Meredith was also worried that this person would hatch a sinister plot, so she found a


    colleague to apany her. Given the fact that that person asked her to go alone, Meredith asked her


    colleague to wait outside.


    If she didn''te out, someone could call the police.


    When she was ready, Meredith walked down the stairs and saw the number on the elevator getting


    smaller and smaller. Her heart beat faster and faster. In the end, it almost made her breathless.


    "I''m going over, please." Meredith smiled at her colleague and walked to the coffee shop.


    ording to the text message, Meredith looked around and found the leftmost corner of the coffee


    shop. It was almost a blind spot.


    Only by sitting down could she see who that person was.


    Meredith took a deep breath and walked over. When she saw the person sitting there, she was


    stunned.


    Nova sat on the chair, fiddling with the spoon of coffee. It looked like she was waiting for someone.


    "Nova, why are you here?" Meredith was shocked.


    "What, are you surprised?"


    Nova smiled wryly. "Haven''t you guessed yet?"


    Meredith''s face turned pale and many clues came to mind.


    MS Hotel, Nova''s clothes and the identity they exchanged that night.


    "That man went to find you?" Meredith soon understood something.


    She was so panicked that day. Her clothes were torn by that person, and she had forgotten to get them


    back. So, when that person saw what she left behind, he must have misunderstood her identity.


    "Who is it? Who is that person?"


    Nova didn''t answer, but Meredith already had an answer in her mind...


    Derek.


    At the Xaviers banquet that day, he was also at the MS Hotel because he was the host. With his status,


    he would definitely stay in the presidential suite. And... This also exined why Derek suddenly made


    the unusual decision to bring Nova into the Xavier Group.


    It was because he mistook her identity as someone else and thought that the woman he slept with was


    Nova. So, he wanted to make it up to her.


    The truth was suddenly revealed in front of her eyes, and Meredith was a little stunned. Just as she


    opened her lips and wanted to ask something else, a hand reached out from behind and covered her


    mouth and nose suddenly.


    Soon, dizziness hit her brain. Before Meredith fainted, thest thing she saw was Nova''s smug smile.


    Derek had just returned to thepany when he saw someone walking anxiously at the top floor


    entrance.


    It was no one else but the colleague who had just agreed to help Meredith keep an eye on the coffee


    shop. However, not long after Meredith went in, she received a message that there was an urgent n


    to hand in.


    She thought that it was okay for her to leave for a while. She did not expect that when she came back


    again, Meredith disappeared. After asking around, no one saw her.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Xavier, Mr. Xavier, I''m looking for Meredith."


    Derek frowned. "Why didn''t you call her?"


    "No one answered the phone. Was she...in danger?" The colleague felt very uneasy. If something


    happened to Meredith because of her, she could not bear the responsibility.


    The atmosphere around Derek became much quieter. He took out his cell phone and called Meredith,


    but no one answered.


    She should be working in thepany now.


    "What exactly happened?" Derek had a hunch that this person in front of him may know something.


    Being stared at by the man''s sharp eyes, Meredith''s colleague did not dare to hide anymore and told


    the whole story.


    "Damn it, you promised someone something. How could you say that without doing it?"


    Derek was in a hurry after hearing what the colleague said.


    There must be a reason why Meredith would say that. He ran downstairs and looked around the coffee


    shop. He didn''t see Meredith. Then, he asked the waiters, but they didn''t know.


    The man''s dark eyes were cold and angry. What exactly happened? What happened to Meredith now?


    Then, Derek called Damian. Derek got into the car and asked him to find out where Meredith was and


    who she had contacted before she disappeared.


    Damian became very nervous because of Derek''s solemn tone and he didn''t dare to cold-shoulder it.


    He quickly found out the number that Meredith was in contact with and it made him feel a little familiar.


    Did this phone number belong to the boss of the real estatepany that Xavier Group bought a while


    ago?


    Thepany was not well managed and could notpete with Xavier Group''s real estate division. It


    was now bankrupt. Back then, Derek took a fancy to a piece ofnd thepany bought and he


    acquired it.


    The boss, who had always regarded Derek as an enemy who caused his bankruptcy, made a lot of


    nuisance calls.


    "Boss, I suspect that Miss Mason was kidnapped!"

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105


    Meredith was awakened up by the cold. After being kidnapped, she was thrown to the ground.


    It was so cold now, and the cold wind was blowing her clothes. The chill forced her to open her eyes


    painfully.


    At first nce, it was a dpidated and abandoned factory. The surrounding walls had already


    copsed. The wind blew in from all directions, and there seemed to be some unpleasant smell of


    decay in the air.


    Meredith couldn''t stand the stimting odor and could not help but hunch up and retch.


    Hearing the sound of her movement, the guard who was eating and drinking came over. Seeing her


    wake up, he sneered, "Derek''s woman is too delicate. Can''t she stand it?"


    Meredith had vomited for a while. She hadn''t eaten anything today, and now she was just retching.


    Hearing the sound, she looked up. She looked at the man, and then she saw Nova gloating at the side.


    They were going to kidnap someone to threaten Derek?


    Meredith soon realized her situation and forced herself to calm down.


    "What are you looking at?" After yelling at Meredith, Nova looked at Mr. Long and said obsequiously,


    "Mr. Long, Derek''s woman is here. May I leave now?"


    "Leave? Do you think this is a hotel, which you cane and go as you please."


    Mr. Long sneered, "Since you and Meredith are here, let''s see whom will be chosen by Derekter."


    Finishing his words, he tied Nova up and threw her with Meredith.


    Meredith now realized that it was Nova who was caught first and in order to save herself, she


    immediately ratted her out.


    "Mr. Long, how can you not keep your word! Let me out!"


    "That''s right. She''s Derek''s woman. Don''t let her go." Meredith calmed down. When she heard Nova''s


    screams, she was not polite at all and dragged her in.


    Nova red at Meredith fiercely, but her mouth was blocked and she could not speak a single word.


    The man called Mr. Long thought highly of Meredith when he saw that she didn''t shout or swear and


    kept her sanity, "Why, aren''t you afraid?"


    Afraid? Of course, Meredith was afraid. However, in this situation, except for increasing panic, fear


    didn''t make any sense.


    "Of course I''m afraid, but what I want to say is that she lied to you."


    Meredith said calmly, "It is not Derek''s child at all. It''s no use kidnapping me."


    "You think I''ll believe you by a few words?"


    "If you don''t believe me, you can go and find out who I am. My name is Meredith. When Derek was in a


    car ident, it was I who knocked him down. He hates me so much. How can hee to save me?"


    "As for why she ratted on me, the only possible answer is that she and I had a small grudge in the past,


    so she wanted to rely on you to deal with me."


    Mr. Long hesitated for a moment and asked a person to check what Meredith had said.


    That was a big deal. After all, it involved a big guy--Derek. So the information was still easy to find and


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    check.


    "Damn it, it''s true."


    Soon, Mr. Long found out the truth and saw Meredith''s photos.


    "So, what''s the use of catching me? Derek might havee to save Nova for her sake, but when he


    sees me, his enemy, will he stille? Do you think he will be so kind?"


    Meredith said very calmly, but in fact, her palms were already soaked with sweat.


    While the kidnappers were looking at each other, suddenly, a man barged in, "Bad news, Derek is on


    his way. His car is about ten minutes away."


    "How could he be so fast?" Mr. Long was also shocked. After thinking about it, he gave Nova a hard


    kick. It must be this insidious, smelly woman''s actions when she cheated Meredith into here just now.


    Nova shook her head fiercely and looked at Meredith hatefully. Meredith was clearly trying to kill her!


    Meredith felt the hatred in Nova''s eyes, but she didn''t feel guilty at all. If Nova hadn''t gone out to show


    off and hadn''t dragged her in, she wouldn''t have been in this kind of danger.


    Unjust is doomed to destruction.


    "Let''s go up to the roof, even if we die, we die with Derek''s women."


    When Derek''s motorcade soon reached the dpidated factory, just like a gust of wind. The ce


    where the two women had just been locked up was empty now.


    Hearing the voice of the gangstering from the roof, Derek saw the two women who were tied up.


    Nova''s face was filled with tears and snot, with her hair dishevelled, like a drowned rat. When she saw


    him, she seemed to be very excited, struggling and being pped twice.


    Meredith was on the other side, she was much calmer than Nova. But Derek''s eyes still fell on her.


    After making sure that she was not hurt, he was relieved.


    "In the business world, it is natural for businessmen to gain and lose. There''s no need to make things


    so terrible, right?"


    Derek looked at the leading gangster with a calm tone.


    "Do you know what thatpany means to me? It''s a lifetime''s work and now it had been taken away


    by you, a brat?"


    "But since Mr. Xavier is so calm and in the mood to teach me a lesson, I would like to know if only one


    of these two women can be saved, which one will you choose? Remember, you can only save one, and


    the other will be pushed down by us."


    Mr. Long smiled evilly. Now, he did not expect him would get away with it, so what he could do was to


    make Derek pay the price!


    With that, he tore the thing out of Nova''s mouth.


    "Come on, say a few more words to him and see who he''s going to save."


    Meredith''s expression was very cold. She was not sure what Derek would do, "I told you, he can''t save


    me. This has nothing to do with me. I''m innocent."


    Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to Meredith''s words. Now that they were cornered, how could


    they care if others were innocent?


    "Derek, save me, for the sake of saving your life before!"


    Meredith also wanted to say something, but if she told the truth of what happened that day, it was hard


    to guarantee that the people behind her would not be angry and kill her directly.


    For a moment, Meredith had nothing to say.


    Derek''s face darkened and his brain was racing.


    As for these two people, he owed Nova, and for Meredith...


    Derek could not tell what his feelings for her, but he knew that no one should get into trouble in front of


    him.


    "Boss, I''m afraid this is a trap." Damian whispered something in Derek''s ear.


    "We are already for ambushing downstairs. Even if someone falls off, it won''t be a big deal."


    After listening to Damian''s words, Derek did not hesitate. His eyes darkened. He reached out his hand


    and pointed to Nova who was drowning in tears, "I choose her."


    Hearing his choice, Meredith''s eyes dimmed, her body trembled, and her eyes closed.

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 106


    Meredith thought a lot at that moment. Perhaps because she was about to face a desperate situation,


    she was very calm.


    She was even thinking about whether Derek would be regretful if he knew that the baby in her belly


    was his and that he had killed his own child.


    Derek clenched his fists as he watched Meredith closing her eyes in despair.


    What Damian said just now changed his mind in an instant.


    This time, the gangster was a psychopath. Usually, he liked to torture others with this boring choice,


    and he would definitely go against the choice.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Derek was also betting that the viins would not attack Meredith who was abandoned by him.


    Mr. Long smiled. Just as Meredith thought she was going to be thrown down, Nova screamed, "Derek,


    how could you be so heartless? For your own woman, you even dare to sacrifice a pregnant woman.


    You are such a hypocrite!"


    As soon as she finished, Nova was pushed off the roof!


    Meredith saw the whole thing. Her face turned pale and her legs werepletely drained of strength.


    Just now, she might be someone who was pushed off the roof.


    While the group of people was distracted, Derek''s ambush in the dark took action quickly.


    A few anesthetic guns were shot by at high speed, and those who had just beencent fell down


    one after another.


    Meredith was so scared that she quickly fell to the ground, afraid of being shot. Sheid on the edge of


    the roof and looked down at the situation.


    Fortunately, Nova fell on the air cushion that Damian had arranged in advance, so there was no bloody


    tragedy.


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief, and then a sense of fear struck her after she survived. Her body and


    mind, which had been in a tense state, could not bear such a huge stimtion. Seeing that there was


    no danger at all, she cked out.


    Derek immediately went up to the top floor, and his cold eyes swept over the criminals. Uncertain


    whether they were alive or dead, he ordered, "Take them all back."


    Immediately, he strode towards Meredith, who was lying on the side. Seeing her motionless, Derek was


    a little flustered. He had not been flustered even when he was faced with the vital choice between


    Meredith and Nova.


    He gently touched Meredith''s shoulder, but she didn''t respond. Derek had no time to care if she gave


    him a response and quickly picked her up from the ground. "Keep these people and ask if there is an


    aplice."


    He would never allow this to happen again.


    With that said, Derek carried Meredith in his arms and got into the car. Only then did he realize that


    Meredith was cold as ice. He thought she must have been exposed to cold winds since she was


    caught.


    Derek carefully ced Meredith in the back seat of the car. Then he immediately took off his coat and


    put it on her. Then, the car quickly rushed to the hospital.


    Meredith was sleeping soundly this time. In hera, she seemed to feel someone holding her up.


    That person''s arms were so warm and generous like she was surrounded by an ocean, giving her a


    sense offort.


    Meredith and Nova were sent to the hospital at the same time.


    Meredith was only a little frightened. She was already weak due to pregnancy, and she was exposed to


    cold winds for a long time. That was why she became unconscious now.


    Nova, however, was more seriously injured.


    Because she was thrown down in that position and her waistnded first, despite the protection, her


    vertebra was badly injured, which could cause serious seque.


    Hearing the doctor''s exnation, he was d of his choice. At the same time, he felt a little guilty about


    Nova, who was still under treatment.


    She was the one he had sacrificed.


    Just as he was thinking, Damian walked in. "It''s all settled, boss. These people have a few


    aplices. We''re tracking them. We''ll be able to bring them to justice soon. This won''t happen


    again."


    Derek nodded and his frown loosened a little. He looked in the direction of Meredith''s ward. "How is


    she?"


    Because Nova might be paralyzed, Derek had no time to keep an eye on Meredith.


    "Miss Mason is awake. She seems to be in a stable mood now."


    Derek nodded. "Get someone to take care of her. And, recently, arrange a few people to protect her."


    Easton nodded and took the caregiver to Meredith''s room.


    Meredith was sitting in a daze on the bed when she heard the sound of the door opening. Seeing that it


    was Damian, a vague disappointment shed through her heart. Then, she couldn''t help butugh at


    herself.


    She asked herself, "Do you think Derek woulde to see you?"


    At that time, Derek gave up on her, let alone now?


    "Boss wants you to have a good rest in the hospital. You don''t have to take care of anything else. This


    person will take care of you 24 hours a day. You can call her if you need anything."


    Meredith nodded and thanked him politely.


    Damian was so smart that he could tell that she was not in a good mood. He guessed that it was


    probably because of Derek''s choice. He was about to exin it to her when suddenly, his phone rang.


    It was the people who went out to check on the gangsters that got the news. Seeing this, Damian forgot


    what he was going to say and immediately walked out.


    Now, resolving these possible threats was his top priority.


    Seeing that Damian had left, Meredith felt a little tired. "You go out first. I want to be alone."


    The caregiver also went out, so Meredith was the only one in the huge ward. She looked out of the


    window for a while and couldn''t help but caress her lower abdomen.


    At first, she was relieved to learn that the child''s father was Derek. At least, he was not a bad person.


    But now, what happened just now made Meredith very anxious.


    What happened today made her realize that Derek was still the man who hated her guts. Even if she


    was pregnant, he would sacrifice her without hesitation.


    If... If she told him the truth that the woman that day was her, what would be his reaction?


    Meredith didn''t even dare to imagine what would happen. After all, although she behaved herself, in


    Derek''s eyes, she was still an indulgent and ill-behaved woman.


    If he wrongly believed she had seduced him on purpose that day, would he hurt the child directly?


    After all, the Xaviers was so honorable. If the Xaviers knew that a person like her had a descendant of


    the Xaviers, she might be in danger.


    Perhaps, he would force her to get an abortion.


    At the thought of this, Meredith felt a slight throbbing pain at the position of the. It seemed that the baby


    knew that its father might not like itself and was protesting against it.


    Meredith''s hand paused and she spoke to her slightly raised abdomen. "Don''t worry, mom will protect


    you."


    She would never let Derek know about the baby''s rtionship with him or give him a chance to abort


    the baby.

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107


    Meredith recuperated in the hospital for a few more days.


    This time, she was no longer in a hurry to get out of the hospital. She had encountered several


    idents in session, which made her very scared after those idents. She could feel more at


    ease in the hospital.


    These days, Derek was also very busy and didn''t seem to have time to visit her.


    Meredith guessed that perhaps Nova''s fall made him anxious, so he didn''t have time toe over and


    take a look at her.


    Perhaps, he was also resentful of her. Derek had clearly wanted to save Nova, but he had been fooled


    by those people and saved Meredith.


    After thinking for a while, Meredith also ned to see the condition of Nova. Although what she had


    done boomeranged, she paid the price by falling from such a high ce.


    Meredith asked the nurse and quickly found Nova''s ward.


    "Mom, what should I do? My legs!" Nova was sobbing.


    After a period of treatment, Nova''s lumbar nerves were found to have damaged, and some hidden


    diseases would exist in her legs. Although Derek had found the best doctor to treat her, she could not


    recoverpletely.


    She was destined to be disabled in the future.


    Meredith was a little scared when she heard about this. If she had fallen at that time, she would have


    been worse than Nova.


    Thinking about it, Meredith made a decision to leave Derek as soon as possible.


    Ever since Derek had woken up from the hospital bed, he had been trying his best to expand the


    business of Xavier Group. And he was hardhanded and usually brought precise crushing blows to the


    This style antagonized too many people.


    Meredith thought that simr things might happen again if she was around him. This time, she was


    lucky. What about the next time?


    Even for the sake of her fetus, she didn''t dare to take the risk.


    After making the decision, Meredith waited here. After a long time, Derek came. When he saw her, he


    frowned, "Why are you here?"


    She was not fully recovered. Why did she run around?


    Meredith nced at Nova''s ward behind her and thought that Derek was afraid of causing Nova to


    misunderstand.


    So Meredith took a few steps and looked at Derek, "I have something to say."


    Meredith found an empty corner, "I want to leave Xavier Group."


    Derek''s frown tightened, "What?"


    "I''m afraid of danger. I can''t let my fetus take risk."


    Meredith said in a determined tone.


    On the one hand, Derek would easily bring danger. On the other hand, she just heard about Nova''s


    condition. Nova would definitely hate her for the sequ.


    Meredith didn''t want to involve herself in such aplicated situation, so the best way was to leave.


    Derek looked at her eyes, "This will never happen again."


    "But I don''t want to take any risk," Meredith insisted.


    "It''s safer if you stay by my side."


    Derek didn''t want to back down either. He couldn''t allow Meredith to be out of his sight.


    It was impossible for her to stay with another man.


    Seeing that he was so stubborn, Meredith could not help but clench her fists, and the anger that had


    umted in her heart exploded, "Safe? That means you don''t hesitate to not consider my safety?"


    If it weren''t for those thugs who didn''t keep their word, she would have been the one in the ward now!


    Only then did Derek realize that he never seemed to exin the reason for that choice. Just as he was


    about to say something, Meredith waved her hand impatiently, "I just want to ask when I can leave. I


    want nothing but staying away from you."


    Meredith''s undisguised resistance made Derek extremely angry.


    "Stay away from me? Meredith, I won''t agree. You can only stay by my side for the rest of your life!"


    When they were arguing, Nova''s mother came over and said, "Mr. Xavier, my daughter knows that she


    may have a sequ. Now she wants to end her own life. Please do something about it!"


    When Meredith heard this, she thought she had better stop arguing with Derek. She took a step back,


    "In that case, you should go and see her. I''m serious. Please think about my words carefully."


    After that, Meredith left.


    Derek watched her leave without hesitation and angrily kicked over the trash can not far away.


    This woman really knew how to go against him.


    ...


    Meredith returned to the ward, not in a good mood.


    Derek''s stubbornness made her angry, but she just didn''t have the strength to contend against him.


    However, she did not want to let others decide her life and death again.


    With that in mind, Meredith couldn''t even eat lunch.


    ...


    Derek calmed Nova down. He owed her in this matter, so he tried his best to help.


    "I will send you abroad for the best treatment, and you don''t have to worry about the cost."


    Nova was a little moved when hearing this, "Then, will youe and see me? Mr. Xavier, can you


    leave a ce for me by your side, I..."


    "This is not what you should think."


    Derek didn''t answer, but obviously, the answer in his heart was no.


    The only thing he could do was to get Nova well treated and give her a sum of money so that she could


    livefortably for the rest of her life.


    He couldn''t promise anything else.


    Nova was a little disappointed, but Derek did notfort her anymore. He walked out and nced at


    Meredith''s ward.


    He had intended to apany Meredith after sending Nova to another hospital abroad, but when he


    thought of what she had said today, he perished the thought.


    He told Damian on the side, "Go see what''s going on with her and report to me."


    Damian curled his lips. He thought Derek clearly wanted to know her condition and Derek could just


    walk a few steps and see that himself.


    But of course, he couldn''t disobey Derek''s order, so he had to go.


    Then the nurse told Damian that Meredith didn''t have a good lunch today. She just ate a few mouthfuls


    and seemed to be in a bad mood.


    Damian frowned and walked in, only to find Meredith sitting on the bed in a daze. Her slender body was


    covered in a wide hospital gown, which was agonizing.


    "Miss Mason, is there anything bothering you? Are you worried that there will be a danger in the future?


    Don''t worry, I''ve already dealt with that matter. Such things will never happen again."


    Damianforted her. And Meredith shook her head, "I''m fine."


    But she didn''t look fine.


    Damian looked at her a few times and suddenly thought of something. That day, Derek seemed to


    intend to exin something to Meredith, but he forgot after being interrupted.


    After thinking for a while, he asked tentatively, "Miss Mason, are you unhappy because Mr. Xavier


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    didn''t choose to save you that day?"

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108


    Meredith was surprised. Why Damian...


    However, she pretended not to care. "No, just a little tired."


    Damian didn''t know anything else he could say. He wanted to exin, but Meredith had already asked


    him to leave. "I''m tired and want to rest. You should leave now."


    Since she was so stubborn, Damian had no choice. he thought it was better for one involved to solve


    the problem himself. "Then I won''t bother you."


    After leaving this ce, Damian found Derek and told him about Meredith. Then, he decided to add


    one sentence all by himself, "Maybe Miss Mason still has a grudge about what happened on the roof


    that day."


    Derek frowned. "When did you start to talk so much?"


    Damian left helplessly. The feeling of being sandwiched between the two was truly ufortable.


    Derek went through all Nova''s formalities. After watching her get into the transfer car, he looked up at


    Meredith''s location.


    It seemed that he had not visited her for many days.


    He heard that she didn''t eat well again.


    The man frowned when hearing the doctor''s suggestion that she was still malnourished. He decided to


    visit her.


    Derek pushed the door open. Meredith was watching TV. Now she had nothing to do here. So, she


    could only kill time in such a boring way.


    "How''s your health?" Even if Derek came to visit a patient, he still didn''t speak one more word.


    Meredith sneered in her heart when hearing his cold tone. It sounded like he was consting his


    subordinates. He could not choose to visit her if he didn''t want to see her. Why was he always so cold?


    She wouldn''t feel warm at all even when hearing his constion.


    "Not bad. Anyway, I won''t die."


    Meredith''s tone, too, sounded cold. There was a sense of disagreement in her words.


    Derek almost lost his temper. But when he thought about what Damian had told him, he suppressed his


    anger. "That day, the reason I told those people that I chose to save her instead of you was that that


    gangster had a criminal record before. A man who doesn''t keep his word won''t do as I say. That''s why I


    chose her instead of you. I want to protect you."


    Meredith nced at Derek. "If it was you, would you believe such exnation after being abandoned?"


    Meredith instinctively didn''t believe his words. Who knew it was an excuse by Derek or his real


    thought?


    She no longer wanted to dwell on anything rted to him.


    "Do I need to lie to you?" This was the first time Derek had exined to anyone. Seeing Meredith was


    suspicious, he was unhappy.


    "As you please."


    With that said, Derek stood up. "Since you cherish your life so much, then you should eat well as the


    doctor says. Don''t let anyone find you are malnourished again. At that time, others will think that I have


    abused you."


    Derek left.


    Meredith sat on the bed and watched him leave.


    His words echoed in her mind.


    Although she told herself not to believe every word of this man, after hearing his exnation, she was


    in a much better mood than before.


    Did Derek choose the other woman, indeed, to protect her?


    Meredith called Damian again. Damian was relieved to find that she was beating around the bush to


    ask him about that day.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The two of them were bickering. He was about to cry to death. He wanted to tell them the truth quickly,


    or else he would act as an errand boy to pass the message between them.


    "If you don''t believe his words, I can show you the information I found that day."


    Hearing what Damian said, Meredith was sure that what Derek said was true.


    Moreover, there was no need for Derek to lie to her. After all, even if he really did, Meredith couldn''t do


    anything to him.


    Thinking of this, Meredith lightened up a lot. Her stomach, which had never felt hungry because of her


    depression, suddenly started growling.


    Meredith quickly called the nurse over and had lunch.


    As she ate, she touched the baby in her stomach. "Mom won''t be so willful in the future. I''m sorry, my


    baby."


    After dinner, Meredith returned to the state when she was alone in the room. Thinking of her attitude


    towards Derek, she felt a little guilty. But at the same time, she was a little tangled.


    Now, Derek didn''t know that the baby in her belly was his.


    Should she tell him?


    Imagining how Derek would look when he knew about this, Meredith only felt that her mind was in a


    mess.


    She couldn''t imagine that. So, she simply did not want to and pulled up the quilt to cover her head.


    Suddenly, she remembered something, quickly sat up and took out her cell phone.


    "Thank you for this time."


    After sending such a message to Derek, Meredith retracted back into the quilt.


    Since he saved her, she should thank him.


    Derek had already returned to thepany. He had been dealing with the stuff in the hospital for the


    past few days. He had to go back and deal with the mountain of business.


    Then, the phone rang. Seeing the text message from Meredith, the man''s tight lips rxed a little.


    This woman, atst, had some conscience. She could treat his good intentions as thankfulness.


    ...


    Meredithy in bed for a while. Her phone wasn''t ringing. Derek didn''t reply.


    She couldn''t tell what it was like. After a long time, she muted her phone.


    Why was she acting like a little girl who just expressed her love and was waiting for the result? She just


    said thank you. Why did Derek have to reply?


    Annoyed and perplexed, Meredith couldn''t sleep. She turned on the TV and watched the program.


    Coincidentally, a dramatic soap drama was showing on TV.


    The female protagonist on TV was a child who had only a mother but no father. Because she came


    from a single-parent family, she felt very inferior. When she went to school, she wasughed at by


    some children to be a wild child without a father. She was always bullied and discriminated against.


    Meredith felt suddenly sad when she watched that the little girl holding her mother''s hand and asked


    where her father was and that her mother looked speechless.


    At first, she didn''t want to keep this child. But now she wanted to keep it, she never thought much


    about it, at least not so far.


    Now that she saw the drama, she suddenly realized that raising a child was not as simple as she


    thought.


    If the child asked who his father was, how would she answer? In a family without a father, will the child


    be bullied or have a psychological disease?


    These questions caused Meredith to fall into deep thought.


    Especially... when Derek save her when she was in danger. Did it mean that he didn''t hate her that


    much?


    Thinking of this, Meredith didn''t know what to do.


    On the one hand, she was worried about the child''s future. On the other hand, he was not sure what


    Derek''s attitude towards the child was.

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109


    Meredith only felt that the more she thought about it, the more confused she became. She simply


    covered her face with the quilt and went to sleep.


    She''d better not think about the baby for now.


    Because of Meredith''s text message, Derek was in a good mood this day. At least, when his


    subordinates made a mistake, he didn''t lose his temper.


    Even Damian could see that Derek was delighted.


    It seemed that Miss Mason''s influence on his boss is indeed greater than expected.


    "Boss, the doctor said that Miss Mason can leave the hospital today. When do you think we should go


    through the formalities? Do you need me to send someone to pick her up?"


    Because of the kidnapping, Damian was now responsible for Meredith''s safety, trying to avoid any


    possible danger.


    Derek shook his head. "No, I''ll go over."


    ...


    After work in the morning, Derek left the Xavier Group and drove directly to the hospital.


    Meredith was sleeping in the ward. She was prone to drowsiness because she was now pregnant.


    Also, she thought she can sleep anytime and anywhere.


    Derek walked into the ward and saw Meredith sleeping peacefully. The sunlight shone on her fair and


    beautiful face, giving her a faint halo, which made her feel more dreamy.


    Unconsciously, the man lightened his steps and walked over. He stood by the bed and looked at


    Meredith on the bed. His eyes were filled with affection that he had not even noticed.


    Derek''s eyes moved downwards andnded on Meredith''s lips. The bright red lips were glistening like


    jelly. The man could not help but lean down and leaned closer to Meredith''s face, ready to kiss...


    Suddenly, the nurse outside came in. "Miss Mason, get up and eat..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, she was startled by the scene in front of her. Did she disturb him?


    Derek immediately straightened up, feeling an unspeakable annoyance.


    Was he bewitched by her beauty to kiss her?


    Meredith heard the voice and her eyshes trembled a few times before she regained consciousness.


    "Oh, okay, I''ll get up right away."


    For the sake of her baby''s health, she was now very careful to pay attention to the bnce of her diet,


    so she would obey whatever the nurse said.


    As soon as she finished speaking, Meredith realized that there was another person beside her bed.


    Derek stood by her bed with a strange expression.


    Meredith nced at him. "Why are you here?"


    Wasn''t Derek supposed to be busy at thepany now? Why would he have time toe over?


    "The doctor said you were discharged today. I''ll take you back."


    Derek said as if nothing had happened.


    Meredith nodded. She did stay in hospital for about half a month and her body has almost recovered.


    And the main thing she was embarrassed about was that her hospital stay plus the cost of hiring a


    caregiver was all paid for by Derek.


    But...


    Thinking about the rtionship between the child and Derek, Meredith thought there was nothing


    wrong with letting him spend money nourishing the fetus. After all, this was his child.


    But the father didn''t know.


    The nurse brought the food over. Her main task was to take care of Meredith and ensure her nutrition,


    and that was why the food was always very generous.


    Meredith was about to eat when something urred to her. "Have you eaten?"


    Derek shook his head. He rushed over as soon as he got off work. There was no time for dinner.


    "Then... Maybe you can eat with me?"


    Derek thought about it, nodded, and the nurse put a small table away. Both of them sat on both sides of


    the table to eat.


    Derek looked at the small bowl of rice that Meredith ate and couldn''t help but frown.


    It was no wonder she was so skinny. If others knew, they might think that he had abused her. Anyone


    else who saw how thin she was would probably have thought he was abusing her by not letting her eat.


    Thinking about it, the man picked up a piece of meat and put it into Meredith''s bowl.


    "Eat more, don''t let people think that I won''t give you food."


    Meredith did not refuse. She lowered her head and couldn''t help but fall into deep thought.


    Was Derek concerned about her?


    So, how would he react if he knew that the child in her stomach was his?


    Perhaps because she was pregnant, Meredith''s thoughts were a little weird.


    However, she wasn''t so impulsive that she told the truth just because Derek put the food into her bowl.


    "By the way, Nova, how is she?"


    Meredith thought of Nova, the woman who had impersonated herself.


    "She''s already abroad. Don''t worry. She won''te back. Her brother is now in prison."


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    Derek told Meredith without hiding anything.


    He didn''t like Nova very much. But she was in trouble because of him, so he had to make up for her.


    Then, he would onlypensate her with money.


    Nova''s family also begged him to let Seth go, but Derek refused.


    The thought of the image of the day Seth used drugs to rape Anna and almost seeded was too


    much for Derek to bear. So he used some tactics to get Seth straight to jail.


    "Prison?" Meredith was surprised. She had since gone online to find out that for things like this kind of


    attempted rape, the police tended not to go into detail, after all, there was no substantial harm to the


    victim, and it was actually very difficult to convict the offender.


    Because Derekter said that he would handle the matter, and no one hade to inform her about


    the situation, Meredith thought that he had let Seth go for Nova.


    But things were out of her expectations...


    Was that the truth?


    Somehow, Meredith felt touched. The feeling of someone backing her up and protecting her was


    actually very good.


    "Yes, so you don''t have to worry. He can''t and won''t have the guts to take revenge on you."


    Derek thought she was afraid, so he exined.


    Meredith grunted, then said "thank you" softly.


    It was only then that she realized that Derek had really helped her a lot from the beginning until now.


    Although he was always saying bad things to her, he was really a reliable man in terms of action.


    They had a harmonious lunch.


    After dinner, Derek went to check out of the hospital. The nurse was leaving. Meredith thanked the


    nurse for taking care of her all the time.


    "Oh, it''s my duty, but it''s not me you should thank the most, it''s your husband!"


    The nurse had a good impression of Meredith. In the nurse''s mind, Meredith never lost her temper and


    was easy to talk to, so the nurse talked a little more.


    "He asked me toe over and pay me twice as much as anyone else to take care of you. Also, he


    was the one who took care of your hospitalization and discharge procedures. He''s so handsome and


    rich. You have to hold on to a man like that."


    Meredith wanted to say that they were no longer husband and wife, but when she saw the woman''s


    eager eyes, she didn''t say anything. "I see."


    After the nurse left, Meredith''s mood did not calm down at all. In fact, women''s moods were wavering,


    and they could be depressed or happy at the word of another person.


    Derek''s words and the nurse''s persuasion just now moved her a little. She couldn''t help but wonder if


    Derek would be happy if he knew that the child was his.

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110


    Meredith only thought about it for a while, and Derek came back. "The formalities are done. Have you


    packed everything?"


    Meredith nodded. She didn''t have anything to pack. This was the VIP ward that Derek had specially


    arranged. All the daily necessities and other things were avable. It was very convenient for her, so


    she just brought some clothes.


    "Then let''s go." Derek nodded and took the bag in Meredith''s hand.


    His subconscious actions warmed Meredith''s heart, and she might be stimted by what the nurse had


    just said, so she subconsciously called out to Derek, "Derek, I... I have something to tell you."


    Derek turned around and was about to nod to let her continue when his phone suddenly rang. He


    picked it up and took a look. The name on it made him frown.


    It was Chloe.


    "I''ll answer the call and talk to youter."


    With that, Derek walked out.


    Meredith and Derek were standing very close just now, so she clearly saw the name on the phone.


    Chloe...


    The name was so familiar. She recalled and quickly remembered who it was.


    It must be the girl who used to be Derek''s girlfriend and was now abroad.


    Meredith''s hand tightened on her abdomen. Just now, she wanted to tell him about the child, but...


    The thought of that name and the way Derek''s family and friends teased them instantly dispelled


    Meredith''s decision.


    She seemed to be feeling a little sentimental. Fortunately, she didn''t say anything.


    ...


    Derek answered Chloe''s call outside. After leaving her cest time, the rtionship between the two


    gradually returned to its usual coldness.


    Derek once asked someone to send an expensive gift to Chloe as an apology for his sudden departure


    that day, but she never contacted him again.


    Derek was also proud. Since she refused to ept the apology, he wouldn''t lower himself to do


    anything else.


    Unexpectedly, Chloe sumb first.


    "Derek, tonight, I''m going back from abroad. Come and pick me up, okay?"


    Chloe''s tone was a little cautious. The old she would never have imagined that she would speak to


    Derek like this.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Derek used to pamper her very much, even if she wanted the stars in the sky, he would try his best to


    get them back for her.


    But now...


    At that time, Chloe was still upset after receiving Derek''s gift. He just left her alone and didn''t even


    watch her graduation performance. He just wanted tofort her with a gift, which was too insincere.


    Chloe thought that she would have to wait until Derek apologized to her, He must say a lot of nice


    things to her, and then she would forgive him. However, she didn''t expect that Derek had not contacted


    her since that day.


    Only then did she realize that after such a long interval, Derek was no longer the man who loved her as


    if she was his life. She could no longer act recklessly and be arrogant. In order to get his heart again,


    she had to take the initiative.


    So, after graduation, Chloe decided to return home.


    Wasn''t it just taking the initiative? They had been together for a long time. As long as she lowered


    herself, Derek would not refuse.


    "Derek, I came back alone. It will be sote then... The airport is so empty. I... I was scared."


    Derek thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I''ll pick you up."


    Chloe heaved a sigh of relief.


    "I''ll send you the flight informationter. Thank you, Derek."


    Derek smiled, not expecting Chloe to be so polite. "No, we''re friends. I should help you."


    After that, Derek hung up.


    Chloe was stunned for a long time by the word "friends."


    Friends...


    They were just friends now.


    However, a momentter, Chloe''s gorgeous and beautiful face showed a smile of determination. So


    what? They could still be lovers.


    She didn''t believe that Derek had forgotten her.


    ...


    Derek finished the call and went back to the ward. He still remembered that Meredith wanted to say


    something to him just now.


    Judging from her appearance, he thought it should be very important.


    Derek walked into the ward. Meredith was sitting in her chair. When she saw himing back, she put


    on a nonchnt expression. "You''re back? Let''s go now."


    Derek frowned involuntarily. "Didn''t you just say you had something to tell me?"


    Meredith didn''t expect him to remember this. She thought about it and smiled. "Oh, I just wanted to


    thank you for your help recently. I''ll cook tonight personally and just wanted to ask you what you''d like


    to eat."


    Meredith told a lie. As for the idea that was so childish that she couldn''t stand it, she immediately


    abandoned it far away.


    Fortunately, she was interrupted before she could say anything, or else she would have been awkward.


    "Really?" When Derek heard her say that, his frown loosened a little, and a rxed smile appeared on


    his lips. "It''s rare for you to have such a conscience."


    Meredith was a little speechless. What did he mean by a rare conscience? Was she very heartless


    before?


    However, after thinking about it, she did not seem to have done anything to thank Derek, so she felt


    guilty. "I just didn''t think of it before."


    Derek, on the other hand, did not keep arguing with her. "I ept your kindness, but the food you cook


    is not very tasty. I''ll take you out to eat."


    Derek remembered the salty soup she had preparedst time. Besides, she was pregnant, so how


    could she cook?


    It would be nice not to throw up because of the odor of cooking oil.


    Meredith thought about it and agreed it was true. Besides, she was worried that she would vomit while


    she was cooking. "Well, I''ll treat you to dinner. You can choose any ce you want..."


    Meredith didn''t have enough guts to say thatst sentence. If Derek picked a Michelin restaurant and


    ordered expensive food like foie gras and caviar, she would definitely go bankrupt.


    "Since you''re inviting me, you choose a ce."


    Derek immediately saw what Meredith was thinking andughed in his heart. Instead of giving her a


    hard time, he used a smart method to make her feel better.


    Meredith secretly breathed a sigh of relief but caught the man''s teasing gaze. Her face turned red and


    she could not help coughing twice.


    This could not be med on her. There was a huge ss difference between her and Derek. Things


    that were very cheap in Derek''s eyes might be luxuries that she could not afford.


    Thinking about it, Meredith couldn''t help but feel a little down.


    The difference between him and her was so great. A moment before, she even felt that the child in her


    belly could narrow the gap.

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111


    Derek sent Meredith home and went back to work.


    Meredith turned on her phone and flipped through the good and cheap restaurants she used to go to.


    In the past, she was a carefree foodie. She liked to look for delicious food everywhere.


    Looking at the content on the phone, Meredith smiled bitterly.


    Unfortunately, she had already beenpletely changed by harsh reality.


    However, Meredith soon found a good restaurant and looked at the menu online. She carefully ned


    what Derek and she would eat.


    ...


    The day passed quickly.


    Derek got off work and went straight to Meredith''s ce.


    Meredith had already booked the restaurant and sent him the address. They drove straight to that


    ce.


    Along the way, Derek was in a good mood.


    They quickly arrived at the ce, which was a small restaurant.


    Derek could not help but frown as he looked at the restaurant. He seldom came to such a ce.


    Meredith smiled as she noticed his expression. "Don''t worry. This ce is small, but it''s quite clean. I''m


    sure it won''t cause you any problems."


    Derek nodded and followed Meredith inside.


    Looking at the familiar little restaurant, Meredith recalled the past.


    Her high school was not far from here. Every time she was hungry after evening self-study, Julius


    would bring her here to eat some snacks to soothe their tired body.


    Those memories were far away from her, but they were still so precious.


    From her eyes, Derek knew that she was recalling and did not interrupt her.


    "What would you like to order?"


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    At this time, the proprietress came over and saw Meredith. She was a little surprised. "Are you the little


    girl who used toe here to eat?"


    Meredith was very pretty. She was the high school belle, and many boys woulde over to please


    her when she was eating here. At that time, the boss joked that Meredith was a living sign of their


    restaurant.


    Meredith was a little surprised. She hadn''t been here for three years. She didn''t expect the proprietress


    to know her.


    She nodded. "It''s me. It''s been a long time."


    The proprietress talked with Meredith for a while, and then, her eyes fell on Derek. When she saw the


    man''s dignified appearance and his overpriced suit, she couldn''t help patting Meredith on the shoulder.


    "Good! You''re so lucky to have such a promising young boyfriend."


    Meredith was embarrassed for a moment. Boyfriend? Although they were indeed married before, it was


    not what she just imagined.


    "We..."


    Just as Meredith was about to exin, Derek interrupted her. "Madame, could you rmend some


    signature dishes in the restaurant?"


    Meredith''s exnation came to an abrupt end.


    The proprietress immediately rmended the signature dishes. Derek nodded. "That''s it. And then. I


    want some fresh vegetables and soup. Please make them lighter."


    "Okay." The proprietress replied crisply. Before she left, she whispered in Meredith''s ear. "Your


    boyfriend looks really good. You must keep a tight hold on him. There must be a lot of girls who like


    such a man."


    Meredith nodded in embarrassment as she watched the proprietress leave.


    Of course, Derek was the target of thousands of girls, but she... Who was she to keep an eye on him?


    Derek did not know what Meredith was thinking. He looked at the decoration of the restaurant. As


    Meredith said, although it was very small, it gave people a feeling that it was well-equipped, clean, and


    warm.


    "Why did you want toe here?"


    Derek thought that there must be some memories of Meredith here, so he couldn''t help but ask.


    Meredith pointed to a school not far away. "I studied there. I often came here to eat."


    Derek nodded when looking at Meredith''s bright eyes. When she mentioned the past, her whole body


    was coated with a bright light.


    Unknowingly, his eyes softened, and he was relieved when he heard what Meredith said.


    Soon, the proprietress served the dishes. Apart from the dishes they ordered, there were a few side


    dishes that the proprietress made herself. Although not expensive, they were very exquisite.


    Meredith lowered her head to eat a few mouthfuls. And then she thought that this meal was to thank


    Derek, so it didn''t seem appropriate for her to eat first.


    Therefore, she subconsciously used her chopsticks to pick up the braised meat for him. She


    remembered that it was the best. But when she brought her chopsticks back, she realized that she


    used her own chopsticks, which might have been stained with her saliva...


    Meredith blushed involuntarily. She was a little anxious and was about to apologize when Derek ate the


    meat she had picked up as if nothing had happened.


    Meredith remembered the maids in the Xaviers told her that Derek had a clean fetish and that he would


    throw away anything that was touched by others. He didn''t expect him to give her face and eat the


    meat.


    Meredith blushed even more at the thought that it might be an indirect kiss.


    They had done even more intimate things, but such a trivial detail could make her spark again.


    "What?" Derek ate the food that Meredith had picked up to him. It tasted pretty good. It wasn''t exquisite


    and posh like the food in the five-star hotel, but it made people feel warm as if it was cooked at home.


    He did not hate this feeling. On the contrary, he liked it.


    "No... Nothing." Meredith hurriedly lowered her head, not wanting him to see her burning face, which


    might be as red as a tomato by now.


    It was a warm and harmonious meal. There was even an ambiguous atmosphere in the air.


    Meredith went to pay the bill. And the proprietress talked with her again and taught her some skills to


    hold on tightly to a man. Meredith could not wait to get into the ground after hearing those.


    Derek was waiting for her toe back and nning to send her back. He didn''t expect his phone to


    ring.


    It was Chloe. "Derek, I came back early. I''m at the airport now."


    Derek looked at his watch. It was a lotter than the agreed time Chloe said. So, now the time


    conflicted.


    "Why did youe back early?"


    Derek was a little unhappy because she disrupted his ns.


    "Aren''t you happy? I... I''m anxious toe back. I want to see you."


    Chloe''s heart ached when she heard the coldness in his words. In days gone by, Derek woulde to


    pick her up without saying anything, but now he seemed very unhappy.


    However, no matter how dissatisfied she was, she couldn''t say it now. "Derek, you promised to pick me


    up."

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112


    Derek was silent for a moment. When Chloe heard that he did not speak, she felt a little anxious, so


    she pretended to sneeze.


    "Derek, it''s much colder here than abroad. I''ll wait for you. Cough."


    In the end, Derek could not be that cruel, especially since he did promise Chloe. He called Damian.


    "Come over here and send Meredith home now."


    After that, Derek took a pen and wrote a note saying that he had something urgent to do. He asked


    Meredith to wait for Damian to pick her up, and then he left.


    Meredith finally got away from the proprietress, and came back to find that Derek was no longer there.


    She looked around and found the note. Derek had something urgent so he left, and she felt a little lost


    inexplicably.


    It was time for dinner. There were a lot of people in the restaurant. Meredith was dragged to the


    checkout by the proprietress, waiting for Damian toe over.


    "What happened? Your boyfriend left?"


    "He... He''s not my boyfriend." Meredith was suddenly discouraged and told her the truth.


    Mainly, she didn''t want to hear the proprietress talk to her about the skills of how to keep a man. She


    and Derek were not people in the same world at all. Why did she still do those unnecessary things and


    then be humiliated by him?


    "Haha, that''s easy for you to say. But when you were eating, I didn''t miss what you looked like. Dare


    you say that you don''t like him at all and don''t care about him?"


    Meredith was stunned. Just as she was about to deny it, the proprietress shook her head at Meredith.


    "Don''t deny it. Whatever you say seems to conceal the truth from me."


    Meredith simply shut up, but kept thinking about what the proprietress had said.


    Her feelings for Derek had always been veryplicated, especially after knowing that the child in her


    womb was his. Meredith always felt a little ufortable seeing him.


    Meredith had never really been in a rtionship. She used to be with Leo, and this rtionship was just


    arranged by their parents. There was no unforgettable feelings that were deeply engraved on their


    hearts.


    Now, when she was suddenly thinking about whether or not she had feelings for a man and what kind


    of feelings she had, she was at a loss for a moment.


    "Look at you, you''re an adult, but it seems like you have never been dating, but you don''t need to be


    too nervous. I just saw him, and I think it''s not that he doesn''t care about you. Looking at his


    appearance, I think he should have a good family background. He cares about you so he is willing to


    apany you to such a ce."


    The proprietress looked at Meredith''s gloomy face and thought she was unhappy about the man''s


    leaving without saying goodbye. "Even though he left, he didn''t forget to tell you, which means that he


    still cares about your feelings. Since that''s the case, why do you need to be afraid of? Just use the


    methods I just said, I am sure he''ll be loyal and obedient to you."


    Meredith didn''t say anything, but she indeed heard what the proprietress said.


    Did Derek... Did he really treat her specially?


    Meredith never thought about it. She was worried that if she thought too much, she would tter and


    embarrass herself. But now that someone else said so, she started thinking about this again.


    The two women were discussing how to conquer a man when Damian arrived.


    Seeing Meredith, he came over. "Boss asked me to pick you up."


    The proprietress nodded. "Look, he has asked someone in special to pick you up. Normal boyfriends


    will only ask you to spend some money to take a taxi, you should cherish him."


    Meredith said nothing. After saying goodbye to the proprietress, she walked out with Damian.


    "Is Derek busy at work in thepany?" Meredith got into the car and couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    It must have been a serious matter for Derek to leave in such a hurry.


    "Well, I don''t know."


    Damian begged the question. Of course, he knew that Derek didn''t return to thepany. As for where


    Derek went, he was just an assistant and could not control that.


    "All right." Meredith nodded. She was still a little worried, wondering that Derek met which kind of


    serious problem.


    Could it be that something happened to the Xaviers?


    Without a word, Damian sent Meredith downstairs in her apartment building. "Do you want me to go up


    with you?"


    Because of the kidnapping before, Damian was especially concerned about Meredith''s safety.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "It''s okay. No need. I can go back by myself. Sorry to trouble you to pick me up tonight. Thanks."


    Meredith thanked him politely and went up the stairs alone.


    Damian watched her return home and saw that the lights in her home were on peacefully. Then he


    called Derek. "Boss, I''ve already sent her home."


    Derek was on his way to the airport when he received the news. His originally tense face softened a


    little.


    "Got it."


    Derek finally arrived at the airport as the car sped along.


    As soon as he stopped the car, he saw Chloe waiting outside. She was only wearing a light


    windbreaker. Now that the weather in J City was still cold, she was already shivering from the cold. Just


    to maintain her image, she still stood upright without any indecent behavior.


    "Why are you waiting outside? It''s so cold." Derek frowned and looked at Chloe, who was almost


    trembling with cold.


    She could have waited inside for him to call her, so why did she be out and endure the cold wind?


    "I''m afraid I''ll miss you." Chloe smiled with a pale face and said the simple sentence that had a deeper


    meaning.


    She really didn''t want to miss him. Whether it was at the airport or in her future life, Derek was the one


    she wanted.


    Derek was silent for a moment and did not answer. Just when Chloe was a little embarrassed, he took


    off his coat. "Put it on."


    Seeing her shivering from the cold, Derek was afraid that she would fall ill. Even though they were no


    longer close lovers, they were childhood sweethearts who grew up together. He could not be so cold


    and indifferent to her.


    "Mmm." Chloe was not pretentious. She took Derek''s coat and put it on. The faint cologne scent of him


    and his warmth passed on to her through the coat, making Chloe feel at ease and moved that she had


    not experienced for a long time.


    For a moment, she felt that she indeed gain something after being blown over by the cold wind outside


    for almost half an hour. As long as it could make Derek feel pitiful for her, it was worth it.


    "Get in the car." Derek looked at the time again. It was veryte so he needed to send Chloe back as


    soon as possible.


    Chloe did not refuse. At this moment, she suddenly noticed that a camera of a reporter not far away


    shed.


    Was there a paparazzo?


    Chloe was famous abroad and more famous at home. She was known as the pride of J City. She could


    be called a celebrity. Besides, Derek was the one who picked her up this time. It was not surprising that


    paparazzi were here.


    After a moment of hesitation, she did not remind Derek. Instead, she suddenly stepped forward and


    took his hand, acting intimately. "Derek, I don''t give you any trouble when Ie back this time, right?"

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113


    Derek dodged Chloe''s arm without a trace. "No. Just picking you up. How can it be troublesome?"


    When Xavier Jiyan dodged Chloe''s hand, she was a little disappointed. But then she quickly packed up


    her upset. "That''s good. I was worried that you would be unhappy because I suddenly came back


    early."


    Derek helplessly shook his head. No matter what, Chloe was his friend, and he wasn''t that stingy.


    When the two of them got into the car, Derek said, "Where are you going to stay?"


    Shortly after Chloe left the country, the Bets also moved out of the family business.


    "I''m waiting for you to arrange it." Chloe smiled. She wouldn''t havee back at all if it wasn''t for


    Derek.


    "Okay." Derek didn''t say anything. Xavier Group owned a lot of high-end hotel, so Chloe could naturally


    stay in.


    "I''ll take you to the hotel."


    Derek quickly asked Damian to book a suite in a luxurious five-star hotel.


    Chloe was not very happy, but her face could not tell. "I thought you would take me to your home to


    visit grandpa and aunt."


    When the two of them were dating back then, she often visited the Xaviers and had a good rtionship


    with the elders.


    "It''s toote now, another time."


    Derek didn''t have that idea at all. Now that they weren''t in a rtionship anymore, it was too


    ambiguous to bring Chloe home thiste.


    Seeing that Derek didn''t have such intention, Chloe was a little discouraged. She was tired from the


    journey, so she quickly fell asleep in her seat.


    ...


    At nine o'' clock in the evening


    Meredith looked at the clock and wanted to listen to the prenatal music to rx before going to bed, but


    Derek and what the proprietress said to her today kept stucking in her mind.


    She didn''t know what that man was doing now.


    Meredith tried to distract herself again. After lying down for a while, she couldn''t help but take out her


    phone and call Derek.


    She just... just thought of it as her concern for the man''s work.


    Meredith found a good reason for doing so and then pressed the number.


    Derek was driving when he heard the phone ring. Chloe, who was almost asleep, muttered a bit as if


    she was annoyed by the noise.


    Derek nced at the name and saw that it was Meredith, so he answered.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Um... I got home and suddenly remembered that you said you had an emergency, so is everything


    okay now?"


    Meredith was a little embarrassed by asking the question. As she spoke, her face was blushing again.


    Derek unconsciously smiled. "Everything is fine. There''s no need to worry."


    Meredith reddened more as she answered. "I was just afraid... That you might run into some trouble.


    Since everything is fine now, forget it."


    All of a sudden, she felt that the purpose of her phone call was pretty obvious...


    Derek was about to say something, but Chloe had already opened her eyes. She looked at the man


    who had gentle eyes and was smiling faintly. She raised her guard unnoticed.


    Derek was not an emotional type, but his mood could be seen through a few small details. When he


    answered the phone, his whole body unwittingly rxed. So, who was the person on the other side of


    the phone?


    Chloe suddenly had a sense of crisis. Seeing that Derek hadn''t hung up, she pretended to have just


    woken up from her sleep. "What''s wrong?"


    The woman''s voice immediately reached Meredith from the receiver.


    Meredith was stunned, and Derek frowned. "Something came up here. You should go to bed."


    After that, he hung up the phone.


    Meredith felt a tightness in her chest. She could hear the soft and coquettish voice just now. It was


    definitely not the voice of a female subordinate from work.


    Who was Derek with now?


    Meredith suddenly felt as if she had been stabbed in the chest, and she felt a burning pain.


    Putting down her phone, Meredith closed her eyes. But she could not forget the voice she had just


    heard.


    That woman''s voice sounded like she had been known Derek for a long time. Who could it be?


    As she struggled, her phone rang a few more times. It was Ava who called.


    Ava''s life hasn''t been very smoothtely. After failing to frame Meredith and divorcing Leo, her acting


    career plummeted. She traded her body for a movie with the directorst time, and she got stood up.


    She had been waiting for the unlucky day of Meredith, and now, it finally came.


    Meredith didn''t want to pick it up, but Ava was very stubborn. As if she would never give up calling if


    Meredith didn''t pick up.


    Meredith pressed the answer button. "What do you want?"


    She could tell that Ava was surely ill-intentioned.


    "Well, have you seen the news today? Chloe is back. Derek personally went to the airport to pick her


    up."


    Ava said smugly, "A man knows which one to choose. A woman who has been in prison or a rich and


    beautiful woman who has studied abroad."


    Although Ava was a little jealous of Chloe, she was still in a good mood when she thought about how


    much pain and jealousy Meredith would feel when Chloe came back to Derek.


    "..." Meredith''s heart trembled, but she didn''t want to show Ava anything so that Ava wouldugh at her.


    "Really? So what? Does she have anything to do with you? You''d better mind your own business and


    see if anyone wille to you for a film!"


    Ava was so angry that she stopped breathing for one second. "How long do you think you can be proud


    of relying on Derek? Very soon, you will be screwed. I''ll see who is going to be more miserable."


    "I''ll wait and see." Meredith bothered to argue with her. She hung up the phone neatly, but her hand


    turned on the phone disobediently and searched for Derek''s name.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Soon, some news about Derek came out, and thetest and most conspicuous was about Derek with


    Chloe.


    "Adorable couple - the Xavier Group ruler and the piano genius meet at the airport at night?"


    "Chloe suddenly returned home. Her rtionship would probably be exposed. He''s actually the


    boyfriend."


    Meredith looked at the headlines and couldn''t tell what it felt like. She randomly clicked on one and saw


    Derek''s car parked at the airport, and he was holding hands with Chloe.


    The man was dressed in an elegant suit, outlining his superior figure. The woman was slender, her


    beautiful face was not even inferior to those movie stars, and she was wearing Derek''s coat. It looked


    so harmonious and beautiful, just like a prince and princess in a fairy tale.


    There was no room for anyone to intervene between them.


    Meredith looked at it and suddenly felt like sneering.


    For a moment, she had thought that Derek might have liked her. She had not expected that this time


    she ttered herself.

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114


    Derek took Chloe to the hotel.


    "It''s not toote yet. Would you like to go out for a cup of coffee?"


    Chloe didn''t want Derek to leave just like this. And she was worried that he would meet the woman on


    his phone, so she invited him for coffee.


    Derek shook his head. "You''ve been on the ne for so long. Have a good rest."


    Then he left.


    Chloe was slightly unhappy, but she didn''t show it.


    After watching Derek leave, she received a call. It was Sunn Yurou, her agent in charge of her abroad


    performance.


    "Good for you. Derek went to pick you up as soon as you got back. Is there any good news?"


    Sunn Yurou saw the news and couldn''t help but call Chloe.


    "How did you know?"


    "There is a lot of news about you. Your photos are even more fashionable than pictures on fashion


    posters."


    When Chloe heard this, a smile appeared on her face. She hung up the phone and scanned the news.


    The capture of her holding hands with Derek had gone viral online. After all, both of them were famous


    and looked like a perfect match, so the media hyped them up.


    Chloe reached out and touched Derek in the photo. Even in such an ordinary photograph taken from a


    long distance, the man was still so dignified and handsome.


    She thought that only a man like Derek could attract her.


    Therefore, she would never miss him.


    ...


    Meredith didn''t sleep well all night, and when she woke up the next day, she felt tired all over.


    Turning on her cell phone, she didn''t expect to see the news about Derek again. Because recently


    there was nothing interesting in the show biz, a hot spot finally appeared, and all the media caught this


    opportunity.


    Meredith was so upset that she didn''t even want to go to work and face Derek.


    Last night, she searched Chloe and found out how big the gap between them was.


    Chloe was born into a prestigious family. Although the Bets was not as prosperous as it used to be,


    she was still a suitable match for Derek, and she was not an unruly youngdy. Not only was she good-


    looking, but she was also a musical genius. In just a few years, she won a lot of awards inpetitions


    all over the world.


    Such a woman deserved Derek, and Meredith... How could a woman who had been in prisonpare


    to Chloe?


    The more Meredith thought about it, the more annoyed she became. Meredith called Damian directly


    and said that she was a little tired today and wanted to rest at home.


    She did not want to face Derek, nor did she want to be a foil to Chloe in his eyes.


    Damian quickly told Derek about it.


    Derek frowned and called Meredith directly.


    Meredith saw Derek''s name shing on her phone and felt a little awkward, but she still answered,


    "What''s the matter?"


    Derek only felt that she was deliberate to speak in an indifferent tone and he pulled his tie. "Are you


    feeling unwell?"


    Meredith suddenly felt that Derek was a strange person. The person he really liked had already


    returned. Why did he act as he cared about her?


    "It''s okay. I''m a little tired. I just want a break. If thepany wants to deduct my sry or fire me, it''s


    fine." Meredith didn''t want to say anything more to Derek. After a few words, she hung up the phone.


    Derek''s eyes darkened, and he was a little unhappy. Why did Meredith talk about the pay deduction


    and dismissal at an ungodly hour? Wasn''t everything goodst night?


    While he was fretting, he received the call from the Xaviers.


    Mr. Xavier looked at the newspaper in his hand and could not tell what he was feeling.


    Chloe was a girl he knew well. In the past, when she and Derek were in love, this girl often came to


    visit the Xaviers. She was indeed an outstanding person. However, because she had an arrogant


    personality and Derek was not a person who would bow down to admit his mistakes, Old Master did


    not think they were suitable for each other.


    In particr, after Derek had the car ident on the way to prevent her from going abroad, Old Mater


    Xavier had a bit of a grudge against Chloe. In the past, he supported Xavier Jinyan to be with her


    because he was afraid that Derek really had a crush on Meredith.


    After all, no matter how bad Chloe was, she was a girl with a clean background. She was a thousand


    times better than Meredith.


    "Derek, what''s going on between you and Chloe?"


    "What?" Derek had been busy sincest night and had no time to look at all of this.


    "Look at the newspaper. You went to the airportst night to pick her up. Someone photographed you,


    saying you were in a rtionship."


    Only then did Derek realize what had happened and asked Damian to bring the newspaper over. When


    he saw what was on it, he frowned. "I was just picking her up yesterday and I didn''t do anything. It is


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    the angle of the shot that makes us look intimate."


    "Really? But even if you do something, it''s not a big deal. If you really like her, then it''s okay to be with


    her."


    After Old Master made his stand, he hung up the phone.


    Derek looked at the papers again, only to find that there were rumors about him and Chloe everywhere,


    and every piece of news was written in a particrly ambiguous way to attract attention.


    Derek looked at it a few times and found it ridiculous. He called Damian in. "Go get rid of all these


    things."


    Damian nodded and immediately arranged for someone to withdraw the news.


    After Derek had settled these matters, he remembered Meredith''s angry tone just now.


    Could it be that she saw the news so she suddenly spoke in that way?


    Thinking of this, the man''s anger dissipated a little and called Meredith again.


    Meredith was having breakfast and was a little surprised to see that it was Derek''s phone call.


    However, it might be something at work, so she answered it reluctantly.


    "Have you seen the news?" Derek came straight to the point and asked.


    Meredith put down the bread and unconsciously clenched her hands. "Yes, so what?"


    She thought if Derek said this for a showdown.


    After all, the woman he cared about was back. He probably didn''t want to have anything to do with her


    Meredith anymore.


    Derek recognized the defensiveness in her words and was not angry. Instead, he calmly exined,


    "That photo was taken by the paparazzi. We looked intimate just because of the shooting angle."


    Meredith found Derek''s words ridiculous. The shooting angle...


    How could his coat be moved to another person''s body just because of the shooting angle? Was it


    reasonable that it was the paparazzi who did that through PS?


    "I don''t think you need to talk to me about this. It''s ridiculous to exin too much. At least, I don''t know


    which angle could make your coat on her shoulder."


    After Meredith finished speaking, she regretted her words which were too jealous.


    How could Derek not notice the hidden meaning of her words? So he didn''t get angry but raised the


    corners of his lips. "Meredith, are you jealous?"

 Chapter 115

    Chapter 115


    Meredith was speechless for a moment. From yesterday until now, she had been thinking about these


    things. If she said that she didn''t care, she was lying.


    She...Was really moved by what Derek had done for her. But except that she felt nothing more.


    They had nothing to do with each other now. She had no right to be jealous, right?


    "No, I just think what you said is a little boring. If it''s not about work, then I''ll hang up."


    Meredith pretended to be calm. Derek took a deep breath. "Chloe and I were in a rtionship before,


    but we are not now."


    Hearing this, Meredithughed at herself. No wonder that woman''s voice yesterday was so coquettish


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    and soft. Chloe turned out to be someone he had loved before, so she was naturally much closer to


    him than the average person.


    Men were always obsessed with their ex-girlfriends.


    "Yesterday, she suddenly came back and asked me to pick her up. I can''t leave her alone outside. I


    gave her clothes because she came back from abroad and she was shivering because of the


    coldness."


    Derek didn''t know why he had to exin so much. It was just when he heard Meredith''s muffled voice,


    he said it unconsciously.


    "Mmm." Meredith answered faintly. She had to say that Derek''s words made her less upset.


    "You should rest at home these days. Don''t think too much." When Derek heard Meredith answer in a


    low voice, his frown loosened a little.


    Hanging up the phone, Meredith finished her breakfast and ned to go shopping. While Derek started


    a new day''s work.


    Just as he was looking at the proposal in his hand, his phone rang again. It was Asher calling.


    "Hey, you''re so mean. Chloe''s back. You picked her up yourself and you didn''t even tell us."


    Asher was very unhappy. He was a good friend of these two people from junior high school until now.


    When Chloe came back, no one even informed him. It was only after reading the gossip news in the


    newspaper that he found out about it.


    "You should ask her, not me."


    Derek was not polite at all. It was onlyst night that he found out that Chloe had returned home early


    and was caught off guard. How could he have time to tell anyone else?


    "Fine." Asher curled his lips. "I just called her. This is a rare opportunity. Let''s take this opportunity as


    Chloe hase back and we should hang out together."


    Derek looked at the document in his hand. He didn''t like to get involved in this kind of excitement. Just


    as he was about to say no, Asher seemed to know what he was going to say.


    "Don''t tell me you don''t want toe. You never came to our ssmates'' parties and all kinds of


    parties in the social circle. Now that Chloe is back, can''t you juste? At least we shall treat her to


    dinner on arriving. It''s too embarrassing not toe."


    Derek pondered for a moment and thought that since Chloe hade back, they should indeed hold a


    banquet to celebrate her return. Since someone was willing to be the organizer, it was okay for him to


    go.


    So, he nodded. "Ok, you can decide the time and ce, then just inform me."


    Asher saw that Derek agreed and then he hung up happily.


    ...


    Meredith first went to the supermarket to buy some baby stuff. Anyway, she was just idle and she


    wanted to do something. After shopping, she remembered that her usual nutritional supplements


    seemed to have run out. So, she walked into a pharmacy not far away.


    "I want..."


    Meredith was talking to the shop assistant when Derek''s mother, Violet, happened to be here to buy


    things as well. Violet saw her who was standing not far from the counter.


    Meredith?


    It was really unlucky.


    Violet looked away and disliked seeing Meredith. Although the Old Master said that Meredith and


    Derek were well-matched in fate and that it was her who made Derek wake up,


    Violet did not believe it at all. But because of the Old Master''s identity and authority, she didn''t dare to


    say more and could only agree.


    Until now, she only felt that Meredith had been lucky enough as Derek woke up as soon as she married


    in. Otherwise, it would not be her turn to be the youngdy of the Xaviers. Fortunately, they were


    divorced now. If they were still a couple, Violet would still regard Meredith as an eyesore.


    As she thought about it, Violet decided not to buy anything here. She was about to leave when she


    heard Meredith say something like "For-Pregnant-Woman".


    As soon as the word "Pregnant Women" fell into her ear, Violet was sobered and she stared at


    Meredith''s outfit today.


    Loose T-shirts, t-soled shoes, and a clean face without makeup... Everything she saw proved what


    she had just heard.


    Meredith was pregnant?


    Violet was shocked by the news. At this time, Meredith had finished shopping. She was about to leave


    when she saw Violet standing not far away with her eyes fixed on her.


    Her heart beat wildly out of the panic in her heart.


    Meredith didn''t have a deep impression of Violet, because Violet always looked down upon her. Giving


    this, Meredith wouldn''t show excessive passion to Violet who was indifferent to her.


    Did she hear something just now?


    "Are you pregnant?" Violet walked over and stared at Meredith''s abdomen, wishing she could cut open


    this ce to see if there was a baby inside.


    Meredith thought for a moment and said. "No."


    Violet hated her so much. If Violet knew that the baby in her stomach was rted to Derek, would


    Violet force her to have an abortion?


    She couldn''t take the risk.


    "If you are not pregnant, why are you buying those things which shall be taken by pregnant women?"


    Violet pressed on. She would never allow any idents to disrupt Derek''s life.


    "Can''t I prepare for pregnancy?" Meredith''s forehead was dripping with cold sweat, and she lied without


    changing her expression.


    Violet looked at her suspiciously. "With who?"


    This kind of woman who had been in prison and was not clean could actually get married and she still


    wanted to have children?


    "This should be my privacy, right?" Meredith didn''t want to pester with her. "Anyway, whatever I do now


    has nothing to do with the Xaviers."


    Violet looked at her suspiciously, but she did not believe that Derek would be interested in a woman


    who had hit other people and gone to jail. "I''m d to hear that you know this."


    "Oh, by the way, have you seen thetest news? Women like Chloe are what Derek likes. She has a


    distinguished family background. She is beautiful and talented. And look at you..."


    Violet didn''t say her next words out clearly, but Meredith understood her subtext.


    Violet just wanted to say that a woman like her was not qualified to have Derek.


    "Don''t worry, I know this even if you don''t tell me."


    Meredith suddenly felt a little tired. "Sorry, I have to go."


    After that, Meredith left. She lost interest in shopping around and went home directly.


    Meredith threw herself on the bed and touched her tummy. Fortunately, Violet didn''t inquire into the root


    of the matter and kept asking. Otherwise, it was still unknown whether she was able to fool Violet.

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116


    After work, Derek arrived at the ce that Asher had chosen.


    Since he knew Derek, he did not choose noisy ces, and the people he invited were familiar with


    Xavier.


    Derek walked into the private room of the bar and saw a few familiar faces. He nodded slightly as a


    greeting.


    Chloe sat on the sofa. Today, she wore a sexy red dress. It was neither long nor short, but it made her


    perfect figure more attractive. However, such a gorgeous color did not affect her temperament at all.


    She didn''t look raffish in the red dress, but pretty gorgeous.


    Asher came over and put his arm around Xavier''s shoulder. "You haven''te out since thest time I


    saw you. You finally showed up."


    As he spoke, he looked at Chloe, who was sitting beside him. "Oh, for Chloe."


    Chloe lowered her head slightly. Obviously, Asher''s words made her happy.


    But soon she smiled confidently. "What are you talking about? Can''t the wine shut your mouth?"


    Asher pushed Derek over to Chloe and made the two of them sit next to each other. "Okay, I''ll drink


    and shut up."''


    Derek sat down calmly and did not open his mouth.


    Instead, Chloe couldn''t help but ask, "Derek, don''t you have anything to say when you see me?"


    Before she came today, she had specially dressed up for a long time and picked out the dress only to


    give Derek a surprise, but this man didn''t say anything, which made her eager to know.


    "You look beautiful today."


    Derek frowned almost invisibly, but still gave a politepliment.


    Chloe had always been beautiful. Today she was dressed up beautifully, but looked very aggressive.


    Xavier Jinyan didn''t know why, but it reminded him of Meredith''s clean face. She did not wear any


    makeup, but also lookedfortable.


    Chloe was a little happy to hear Derek''s praise, but it wasn''t enough.


    She wanted Derek to be fascinated by her again, but his attitude now was just like that of an ordinary


    friend. It was obvious that he didn''t take her to heart.


    Just as the atmosphere between the two of them became a little strange, Jameson arrived.


    As he pushed the door open, he saw the ''perfect couple'' sitting together and raised the corner of his lip


    wickedly. "Am I noting in at the right time?"


    However, he thought of Meredith, who was brought over by Derek thest time, and changed a yful


    look. "Well, Derek, you''ve changed. You did bring the best of two different styles."


    Asher wanted to p Jameson to death. Didn''t he see Chloe''s eyes glued to Derek? Wasn''t it obvious


    that she was trying to make up?


    Why did he mention the unimpressive woman that nobody wanted to hear?


    Jameson pretended he didn''t see it, because he did not think Chloe and Derek could be together


    again.


    They used to have sweet memories, just like princesses and princes in the fairytale, but now they had


    grown up and were no longer children under the protection of their parents.


    What''s more, Chloe never came back when Derek was having the most difficult time. Could they really


    get over this?


    Jameson was not optimistic at all. If two people with strong personalities were forced to be together,


    they would only hurt each other.


    The smile on Chloe''s face froze. Soon, she thought of the woman who called Derek in the car. At that


    time, Derek''s expression was rxed andpletely different from the current indifference.


    What Jameson said further supported her suspicion.


    Derek red at him and threw a bottle of wine at him. The wine almost hit Jameson''s head.


    Fortunately, he caught it quickly.


    "You''re so talkative. It looks like you''re very free."


    Jameson smiled. He asked someone to open the bottle of foreign wine, poured a ss, and drank


    elsewhere.


    Chloe clenched her lips, looked at Derek''s calm face, and feltplicated in her heart.


    It turned out that he already had someone else, so he was so cold to herself.


    However, she missed three years of his life just for a momentary slip. Should she spend the rest of her


    life paying for it?


    Naturally, Chloe was not reconciled. She got up, walked out, and took Asher with her.


    "Who did Jameson say just now?"


    Asher and Chloe grew up together. She could be with Derek at that time mostly thanks to Asher as a


    match-maker.


    "Oh, the girl. You really don''t have to worry about it. A cleaner. She looks cute, but other than that,


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    she''s got nothing on you."


    Asher said nonchntly.


    For a person from a noble family like Derek, even he didn''t care about her family background, he would


    never marry a cleaner. If nothing else, it would make his family feel embarrassed, wouldn''t it?


    "Cleaner? Do you know what she looks like?" Chloe did not take it lightly. When she thought of the tone


    of voice Derek spoke to that woman, she felt a strong sense of crisis.


    "Well, she didn''t wear makeup, she''s pretty, but she''s definitely not as pretty as you."


    Hearing Asher''s words, Chloe''s eyes darkened. It turned out that Derek liked this type now, so it was


    "If you see herter, tell me."


    Asher nodded and looked at her. "Do you really want to save it? This time, you won''t just walk away,


    will you?"


    Chloe shook her head. "This time, I was determined to get it. When I left the country, I realized that the


    person I loved was him. I couldn''t love anyone else at all."


    Asher nodded and answered, "Don''t worry. I''ll help you wherever I can. I''ll be waiting for your wedding."


    Chloe nodded and whispered a few words in his ear before the two of them walked out.


    Back in the box, after a few more pleasantries, Asher offered to go outside and invite Chloe to show


    her strength as an internationally renowned musician.


    Chloe readily agreed and walked to the piano in the lobby on the first floor.


    Her every move was so graceful and made people unwilling to disturb. For a moment, the noisy hall


    quieted down.


    The beautiful piano music flowed out from Chloe''s fingers. She was ying a lyrical song. Her slender


    white fingers were flying up and down the keys like beautiful butterflies.


    Everyone was intoxicated with this refreshing music. Derek looked at her from afar, and the memory of


    when Chloe was a little girl appeared in his mind.


    At this time, Chloe finished ying and stood up. In the apuse of everyone, she looked up at Derek


    on the second floor. "I wrote this song myself, and it''s for someone I love."

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117


    Chloe''s bright eyes fell on Derek, and then she smiled. "The person I love, he''s here today."


    All the people present followed her sight and looked up. At first nce, they saw Derek standing there.


    The man just stood there casually, but he had an extraordinary and unique temperament. Although


    they could not see his features clearly, it was haunting to just have a look at him from afar.


    "Be together! Be together!"


    It was unknown who started to cheer. But there were always people who were happy to see it.


    Derek frowned. It seemed that he had never expected Chloe to do this.


    Seeing that he was in silence and probably didn''t want to respond, Asher felt a little anxious and leaned


    closer to Derek. "There are so many people around. Can you embarrass a girl in public?"


    Chloe stood on the stage, her hands were actually soaked in a cold sweat. However, she didn''t look


    panicked, still maintaining her elegant and graceful appearance.


    Derek saw the weakness in her eyes. Atst, he did not refuse.


    "Go down, or she''ll die of embarrassment."


    Asher hurried Derek down the stairs, and Chloe was relieved. At the moment Derek appeared, she


    rushed up to hug him. She said emotionally, "I knew you wouldn''t refuse me."


    Derek''s face was expressionless with his hand hanging in the air. He took her out and avoided the sight


    of the onlookers before pulling away Chloe.


    "Why are you so presumptuous?"


    Derek''s tone was unpleasant and he was used to controlling everything. He hated the feeling of being


    led by others.


    What Chloe had done had crossed his line.


    "I..." Chloe looked at the gloominess in his eyes and suddenly felt aggrieved. "I just wanted to show my


    affection to you. I like you and I want to get you back, so I did it."


    "Derek, I know that my willful departure had hurt you a lot, but actually, I was waiting for you at the


    airport the other night. I thought you woulde."


    Derek listened to Chloe quietly.


    It was impossible to say that he didn''t have a problem with her departure.


    Back then, Chloe suddenly said that she wanted to go abroad to pursue her dream and not get


    engaged to him for the time being. Derek said that if she really left, then they would be over.


    He never knew that Chloe had waited for him.


    "In those three years, I was struggling. I was wondering why you didn''te to find me. To be


    determined and not go back to J City to look for you, I persuaded my parents to go abroad and started


    over. It wasn''t until I graduated that I mustered the courage to ask what had happened to you all these


    years. It was then when I found out that you had been in the hospital bed for three years. You don''t


    know how deeply I regretted then."


    "If I had known that you had a car ident for finding me, or if I had known what you had gone


    through, I would havee back against all odds. Now, it''s toote to say that, but I don''t want to just


    give up on you and our rtionship, so I''m back. This time, I won''t leave."


    Chloe said it with feelings, which was all genuine.


    After Derek heard this, he realized that the thorn that he had been burying in his heart was pulled away


    by something. He felt a long-lost pleasure.


    When he woke up, he had thought about what he and Chloe were going to be. But after he heard she


    exined all the conflicts between the two of them, he finally realized that the rtionship was long


    gone.


    He was only unwilling to be ruthlessly abandoned by Chloe. The young love was beautiful but was in


    the past. The past was the past.


    "Chloe." Derek looked into Chloe''s eyes and said seriously, word for word. "I''m d you said that. In


    fact, I don''t me you."


    A smile appeared on Chloe''s face, but she froze when she heard Derek''s next words. "After hearing


    what you said, I realize that our rtionship has long gone. I did get angry because of your sudden


    departure. But now, everything is over. We are still friends from now on."


    "Friends?" Chloe smiled uglier than when she was crying.


    She thought that Derek would tell her that he didn''t hate her and that they could start over again and he


    still loved her. But she never expected that the answer would be this.


    Derek did not relent because she was about to cry. He was a person who did things as he said.


    Besides, since he had no feelings for her, if he continued to entangle like this, it would only hurt Chloe


    more.


    He no longer... loved her.


    "I''m sorry, but I think you should move on as well. Let bygones be bygones."


    Derek pulled Chloe''s hand away and was about to leave when she grabbed the corner of his shirt.


    "Derek, no, I don''t want to let bygones be bygones. I know I was wrong. We can start all over again,


    even if we don''t get back together right away..."


    "That''s not necessary." Derek refused firmly.


    He didn''t want to be entangled with her like this again and again, or the consequence would be


    disastrous, "Chloe, I believe you can find a better person."


    Chloe didn''t listen at all. She had traveled all over the world but failed to find


    a man who she liked and was better than Derek.


    "Are you in love with someone else?"


    Chloe couldn''t help but ask. Otherwise, he wouldn''t reject her so firmly, without giving her a chance to


    develop a rtionship.


    Derek suddenly thought of Meredith. Although he never admitted it, the only person he thought of at the


    moment was her.


    Derek hesitated for a moment. Although it was only a momentary change of expression, Chloe noticed


    it.


    She knew him too well. He wouldn''t be affected by ordinary things.


    He must have fallen in love with someone else so that he rejected her so firmly.


    "I don''t think I need to exin these things to you."


    Derek sensed that he had lost hisposure. He turned cold and called Asher toe down.


    "I''ll ask Asher to take you home."? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    After that, he left without any hesitation.


    Chloe looked at his back, still tall and charming. But he no longer belonged to her.


    After a while, Asher came down from upstairs and saw that Chloe''s eyes were red. He was stunned,


    "What happened? Where is Derek?"


    The two of them had just agreed to get Derek to agree to get back together with Chloe in public. He


    thought, even if Derek had resentment, he would not embarrass a girl in public. Thus, as long as he


    made use of the opportunity, the two of them would naturally reconcile.


    But it didn''t seem to be as smooth as he had expected.

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118


    "Asher, he says he doesn''t love me anymore. What should I do?"


    Chloe had been used to living a smooth life since she was a child. She had never suffered any major


    setbacks, whether in her studies or her feelings.


    Now she was rejected by the man she liked, which made her feel as if a thousand needles were


    pricking her in her heart, and the pain was terrible.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Asher looked at Chloe''s decadent expression, feeling a pain in his heart. He treated her as his own


    sister. How could he bear to see her so sad?


    "I think Derek just has a grudge in his heart. You know, he is such a stubborn man. It''s normal for him


    to feel a knot in his heart for your leaving."


    Chloe shook her head and her tears fell down. She knew it wasn''t.


    Derek would not lie to her. He disdained to lie to anyone, so he really didn''t mind her willful leaving, and


    he really didn''t love her anymore.


    "I..." Chloe suddenly thought of something and grabbed Asher''s hand, "You know who that woman is,


    don''t you?"


    She suddenly wanted to have a meet with the woman who had won Derek''s heart. She wanted to see


    how beautiful and outstanding she was so that Derek was obsessed with her so much.


    "Chloe..." Asher immediately thought of Meredith in his mind, but he really didn''t believe that Derek


    would fall in love with a woman like her seriously. "I think you''re thinking too much. He''s just angry. You


    don''t have to..."


    "No, you must take me to see her, Asher. Otherwise, I won''t be reconciled." Chloe wiped away her


    tears and stared at Asher with burning eyes.


    The strong unwillingness in her heart made her spare no attention to take her acting as a genteel


    youngdy of The Bets into consideration. She was just a woman who was defeated in love.


    Seeing that she was determined, Asher could only agree with her for the time being. At the same time,


    he began to worry faintly in his heart.


    Chloe''s character was either good or bad, but sometimes very extreme. This incident came as a


    terrible blow to her. He didn''t want her to be crazy about matters of love.


    ...


    After resting at home for two days, Meredith went back to work.


    After all, she was not obviously pregnant yet, so she felt it toozy for herself to rest at home and get


    her sry easily at such an early period of pregnancy. Thus, she chose to go to work as usual.


    Derek had stopped making her do the cleaning up to now, so she was only responsible for tidying up


    the bookcase and making coffee for Derek.


    Meredith was standing in Derek''s office, tidying up the mess on his desk when a flurry of footsteps


    came from outside.


    Asher brought Chloe here.


    After thest time she ended up meeting with Derek in an embarrassing atmosphere, Chloe had been


    thinking about meeting the woman that Derek was interested in, but Asher kept saying that there was


    no chance. Today she begged him to bring her here.


    Chloe could tell at a nce that Meredith was the one they referred to, because Derek usually had a


    strong sense of territory for his belongings. If other people touched his personal belongings, it would


    only cause him to be furious. But this woman was cleaning up his desk. The rtionship between the


    two of them was obvious.


    Chloe looked at Meredith. Today, she was wearing a uniform of Xavier Group, a white shirt and a ck


    one-step skirt which wrapped her slightly slender body. Her fair skin was not modified by cosmetics, but


    looked moist and natural. In a group of exquisitely dressed officedies, she showed another refreshing


    and natural style.


    Chloe coldly made a judgement on Meredith in her heart, but she was not convinced. In her opinion,


    Meredith was not as beautiful as she was. At most, she was the clean and pure type that conformed to


    men''s interest.


    She wondered since when Derek had preferred a woman of such kind.


    "Um... Are you here to meet the boss?"


    Meredith was not at ease with Chloe''s gaze. She nced at Asher with an awkward expression.


    She felt that these two people were not friendly.


    "No, I''m here for you."


    Chloe looked at Meredith and spoke confidently.


    Meredith suddenly recognized who she was. It was Chloe, the woman who had been gossiped together


    with Derekst time.


    She was in an unspeakable panic, "I don''t know you. If there''s nothing else, I''ll leave first."


    Chloe reached out and stopped her, "You don''t know me, but I''m interested in learning more about you.


    My name is Chloe."


    Seeing that she neither intended to leave nor let herself go, Meredith felt a little agitated and


    inexplicably remembered the photos of her and Derek.


    There must be nothing good about the womaning to her.


    "Ie with something very important to say. Well, let''s go downstairs and have a cup of coffee. My


    treat."


    Chloe''s tone was absolute, giving Meredith no chance to refuse.


    Meredith was unwilling to go. But seeing Chloe''s purposeful expression, she frowned, "Okay."


    She was curious about what the proud woman wanted to say to herself.


    Both women went to the cafe together. Asher didn''t want to get involved in the affair between the two


    women, so he waited in thepany.


    "What would you like to drink?" Chloe sat down gracefully with no impatience.


    She just looked at Meredith''s dressing and behavior. To be honest, she didn''t think she was worse than


    this woman in any aspect.


    Therefore, there was a sense of superiority in her words.


    Meredith was a little unhappy. Although she was not rich now, she could afford a cup of coffee at least.


    Why was Chloe so pompous in front of her?


    "Milk." Meredith said faintly, ordering a ss of warm milk for herself.


    She was pregnant and couldn''t drink coffee or tea.


    Chloe raised the corners of her lips and felt that the woman in front of her was extremely rustic.


    How could someone like that stand next to Derek?


    "Ie to tell you that I used to be Derek''s fianc¨¦e."


    When Chloe saw Meredith, she suddenly felt confident again. She felt that Derek could not really have


    a crush on such a woman. At most, it was a temporary novelty. When it disappeared, everything would


    be over.


    Meredith clenched the ss in her hand. She only knew that Derek and Chloe were lovers before, but


    she did not know that they had a marital rtion.


    The name of fianc¨¦ and fianc¨¦e were obviously much closer than she had imagined.


    "Really? But what does that have to do with me?"


    Meredith smiled and took a sip of the milk. It was clearly added sugar, but she tasted a little bitter in her


    mouth.


    Chloe didn''t expect her to be so calm, "I just want to remind you."


    "I left on impulse then. Now Derek is angry with me, so he may do something flirtatious with others to


    irritate me, but it''s just for fun after all. To be honest, I don''t want outsiders to get involved, because you


    will be the one who gets hurt in the end."

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119


    Meredith admitted that Chloe was an outstanding woman, but her superior attitude really made


    Meredith unhappy.


    Was Chloe so sure that she was the reason why Derek flirted with Meredith?


    This kind of confidence made Meredith really speechless.


    After thinking for a while, Meredith put down the cup in her hand. "Since Miss Bet thinks so, why


    do you tell me this? I''m just a normal and insignificant employee of Xavier Group, and I can''t afford to


    be taken seriously."


    Chloe looked at Meredith''s calm face. Chloe had just underestimated this woman. Although she looked


    weak and harmless, her words hit the nail on the head.


    "I am just trying to remind you. After all, when I left three years ago, I was still Derek''s fianc¨¦e.


    Although we haven''t fulfilled our engagement now, we haven''t broken up. If Derek had not met that car


    ident, I''m afraid we would have been married now. You know our rtionship, but you still try to


    destroy our rtionship. To put it bluntly, you are a mistress."


    When Meredith heard Chloe mention the car ident, she lowered her eyes slightly.


    It turned out that Derek met the car ident while he was chasing this woman in front of her. If it hadn''t


    been for that ident, they wouldn''t have been separated.


    Unexpectedly, the car ident not only destroyed her three years, but also broke up a couple who


    once loved each other.


    Although it indeed had nothing to do with Meredith, she still felt a sense of helplessness that fate


    yed tricks on people.


    Perhaps she shouldn''t have gotten involved with the two of them. Finding out the truth as soon as


    possible, then leaving, and making everything back to its original ce was the best choice.


    Chloe looked at Meredith''s gloomy face and thought that what she said worked. Then Chloe got up


    with satisfaction. "Since you''ve heard it, think about it. I have something else to do. I''ll go first."


    As she spoke, she put down two notes and left gracefully.


    Meredith sat there for a while, feeling powerless, which made her helpless.


    She suddenly felt that she hated Ava. Ava hadn''t been ying tricks on hertely, so Meredith had


    rarely thought of this person. But now Meredith realized that everything Ava had done had made her


    She had no power to struggle, and could only drift with the tide and be manipted by fate.


    Meredith bit her lips.


    This feeling was really terrible.


    After a while, Meredith was not in the mood to have afternoon tea here and returned to thepany.


    Derek was back, and Damian saw her. "Go make boss a cup of coffee."


    Meredith responded and walked over silently.


    However, she waspletely absent-minded.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Chloe''s words echoed in her mind.


    She said Derek was her fianc¨¦ because they hadn''t broken up. So now, they were still a couple.


    Anyway, they were much closer than her, the nominal ex-wife.


    Should she really get out of here as soon as possible?


    Chloe had the support of Derek''s family and the friendship with Asher who was Derek''s good friend.


    How could she bepared with Chloe?


    Meredith''s heart was in a mess. By the time she realized it, a lot of sugar was put in the cup of coffee in


    her hand.


    Derek''s taste was unique. He liked the bitter taste of coffee without sugar. She had just lost her mind


    and added a lot of caramel.


    Meredith was so upset. She was about to pour away the coffee and do it again, but she thought it was


    better to make Derek angry and fire her instead of messing around with the two of them.


    Therefore, Meredith walked into the office with the cup of coffee that was extremely sweet. Derek


    nced at her, took the coffee and took a sip. The sweet smell immediately made him frown.


    "Why is it so sweet?"


    The coffee made by Meredith recently was basically to his taste, and she rarely made such a mistake.


    Meredith eximed, not taking it seriously. "Isn''t it all like this?"


    She did it on purpose. It was better if Derek was not happy, kicked her out and fired her.


    Derek frowned and stared at her for a long time. He always felt something was wrong with Meredith


    today. She looked worried. Even though her body was standing in front of him, he didn''t know where


    her soul had gone.


    "What''s wrong with you? What kind of trouble are you in?" Derek thought about it. "If there''s anything,


    you can tell me."


    Only then did Meredithe to her senses and gave Derek aplicated look. Could she say these


    things to him?


    Thinking of Chloe''s determined and confident tone, she just wanted to get out of this mess as soon as


    possible.


    "Nothing. I''ll just go out and make another cup."


    Meredith walked out with the tray, but she was so distracted that she didn''t even look at the road under


    her feet. She bumped into the trash can on the side and dropped the thing in her hands.


    With a crisp sound, the delicate bone china cup broke into pieces.


    Meredith immediately squatted down to pick them up. This cup was one of the whole set, and was


    worth a lot of money. She broke one, and wondered if Derek would be angry.


    "Don''t pick them up." Derek frowned even tighter while looking at her frantic state.


    She might cut her hand, which was not worth it.


    Just as he was speaking, Meredith let out a soft cry. A small fragment cut through her skin and a few


    drops of bright red blood flowed out.


    "I told you not to do it." Derek strode over, called Damian, and pulled Meredith up from the ground.


    The bloody wound became more and more obvious on her fair skin. Derek subconsciously put her


    finger into his mouth and gently sucked it.


    The ambiguous action made Meredith blush, especially when she heard Damian''s footsteps. She


    immediately pulled her finger back. "I can handle it myself."


    After that, she ran out of Derek''s office.


    The man looked at her frantic back that was running away, and his eyes shed with contemtion.


    Meredith was a little strange now.


    Damian came in with the cleaning staff. Derek went downstairs. Meredith watched him leaving, and


    breathed a sigh of relief.


    However, she was feeling a little down for no reason. Sure enough, he still didn''t care about her that


    much. Seeing that Chloe was wearing less clothes, he would put clothes on her, but for her...


    How could she bepared with Chloe?


    Meredith thought about Chloe''s words andughed at herself satirically. After a while, Derek came


    back. He just went downstairs and asked for a band-aid and iodine from the employee in thepany.


    "Come here. Apply the medicine."


    Derek ordered calmly.


    Meredith was stunned. She looked at the things in his hands and suddenly felt very perplexed.


    Could he stop being nice to her? If he continued like this, she would fall in love with him.


    Seeing that Meredith was not moving, Derek''s face became more and more gloomy. He did not have


    much patience to wait. "Come here."


    Meredith took a deep breath. "No need. Mr. Xavier, I''m just one of your employees. You don''t need to


    apply the medicine for me."

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120


    Derek was rejected twice by Meredith, and his face darkened.


    His kindness was like a beast or flood in her eyes, and she wanted to avoid it as soon as possible?


    "Meredith, don''t be ungrateful and ignore my kindness on purpose."


    Derek said coldly, with anger in his voice.


    Meredith was close to tears. He said she was ungrateful. If she continued epting his concern, she


    would be the most ungrateful.


    She didn''t want to be trapped in his warmth. What should she do once what Chloe said was true? They


    were just on the outs. Meredith was just the tool that Derek used to provoke Chloe...


    Rejecting it now was the best option.


    "I am indeed ungrateful, Derek. Put away your kindness and leave it... To the people who really need


    it."


    Meredith said with difficulty, word by word.


    She was never good at saying harsh words, especially in the face of Derek''s kindness.


    Derek was so angry that he threw out the thing in his hand with a bang. "Have I been too indulgent


    Meredith was sad, but she still said the harsh words. "Of course I know I''m nothing in your heart, so it''s


    good for both of us if you allow me to leave."


    Leave?


    She even wanted to leave?


    Derek was furious. He walked over. Being tall gave him an advantage over her. He looked down at


    Meredith. "Where do you think you can go now? With a bastard in your womb, who else wants you? Do


    you think you can find a job to raise the child?"


    "Shut up!" Meredith heard Derek blurt out that the baby in her womb was a bastard, and she was


    angry.


    This was his child!


    "In that case, I''ll resign. I''d like to see if I''ll starve to death without the Xavier Group."


    With that, Meredith walked right past Derek. The man was in a rage and did not stop her.


    After she left, Derek kicked over the chair in front of him.


    "Damn it."


    He had never seen such an ungrateful woman who could not tell his kindness. His kindness was that


    worthless in her eyes?


    Was the child with an unknown father that important to her?


    Damian walked out with the cleaner and was shocked to see the mess.


    "Boss, this..."


    He didn''t have to think about it, and could know it must have something to do with Meredith.


    "Get someone to clean this ce up. I don''t want to see her things again."


    Damian did not dare to provoke him when he was in a rage, so Damian could only answer obediently.


    He couldn''t help but wonder what had happened.


    Then, he seemed to recollect something...


    It seemed that when he came back, someone mentioned that Asher had brought a beautiful woman


    here.


    Damian guessed that perhaps Meredith''s strange behavior had something to do with these two people,


    so he went to the surveince room to watch the surveince video.


    When he saw the two people, he understood what had happened.


    As expected, it had something to do with Miss Bet, who had just returned to the country recently.


    Damian thought for a moment, and when he was delivering the documents to Derek, he said, "Boss,


    young master Asher and Miss Bet both came to thepany today, but they left before you came


    back, and there is no news left."


    Derek was looking at the document in his hand with an unhappy face. Although he seemed to be


    working hard, he was actually thinking about Meredith''s expression when she left.


    Hearing Damian''s words, Derek immediately threw away the document in his hand. "What?"


    Asher and Chloe had been here before, but they didn''t tell him in advance.


    This was a little strange, after all, they didn''t know anyone else here.


    "How long have they been here? What have they done?"


    Damian said it in detail, and Derek frowned as if he had thought of something.


    Were these two people here for Meredith?


    Derek rubbed his sore eyebrows and stood up. "I''m going out."


    Damian breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, boss''s anger will not be directed at them," he thought.


    Derek went straight to Asher''spany.


    Asher was looking at the magazine in his hand when suddenly a figure appeared in front of him. He


    looked up and met Derek''s gloomy gaze.


    He suddenly felt guilty and diffident.


    "What''s the matter, Derek? It''s rare for you to have time toe to my ce."


    "You brought Chloe to mypany, right?" Seeing that Asher was pretending to know nothing, Derek


    didn''t beat about the bush but cut to the chase.


    "Cough, cough." Asher almost choked on his saliva. He didn''t want to go, but Chloe kept asking.


    Seeing how persistent she was, he could only do that.


    "What? Did your little maidin to you?"


    Asher subconsciously thought that it was Meredith who took the initiative to lodge aint and


    asked Derek to take revenge on them.


    Asher was a little more dissatisfied with that woman who didn''t say much and looked soft and weak.


    "No." Derek nced at him coldly. Not only did Meredith not say anything, but she also did what they


    wanted.


    "What did she say?" Derek thought that Chloe must have said something to Meredith to make her so


    abnormal.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Well, I don''t know. When women are talking, it''s not good for a man to get involved."


    Asher smiled, but Derek didn''t intend to let him go. "Since you know it''s not good for a man to get


    involved in this kind of thing, why do you still take her there? Do you have to spoil her if she''s wilful?"


    Derek could guess that Chloe was upset and unwilling about his rejectionst time, but he didn''t expect


    Asher to look for Meredith so irrationally.


    After all, Asher was usually very gentlemanly. At least, he wouldn''t do such a low thing - causing


    trouble for a woman.


    "I... I..."


    Asher waspletely speechless. Most of all, he felt what he did this time was too embarrassing and


    low. It seemed like he pulled rank on Meredith.


    "I am sorry. I will definitely reject Chloe''s unreasonable requests in the future."


    After Derek heard that, his face became less gloomy. "Then remember what you said."


    He didn''t want this to happen again.


    Asher saw that he was serious and could not help but ask carefully. "You really have an interest in that


    woman?"


    In the past, Asher always felt that a gentleman like Derek could not be attracted by a girl like Meredith.


    He was the president of the Xavier Group after all. If he was really together with a little assistant who


    was cleaning up in thepany, those who didn''t know the situation might think it was a realistic


    version of Cindere''s story.


    But the people in their circle wouldugh at him for having mental problems, so he would like a woman


    who had no help for them.


    As the heir of the Xaviers, his every move was of great importance. Such wilfulness would only gain


    others'' ridicule.


    What was more, Derek and Chloe had known each other for such a long time. It was about seven or


    eight years. However, Meredith was only around Derek for a few months at the most. How could Derek


    have such deep feelings for her?

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121


    Derek himself did not know.


    His feelings for Meredith wereplicated. He did care about her, but after all, there was still


    something between them.


    He did not know how to ept that child. At this moment, he could still pretend that the child did not


    exist, but in the future...


    Derek was a very possessive person and had a strong obsession with cleanliness about his things.


    Once his things were touched by others, he would not want them anymore.


    But Meredith...


    Seeing Derek''s hesitation, Asher became bolder. "Perhaps, the novelty will soon wear off. Sometimes


    you need an outsider''s perspective, especially for affection."


    Derek looked at him coldly.


    Asher rubbed his nose awkwardly. "So do you like her or not? If you like Meredith, I''ll try to talk to Chloe


    and tell her not to focus on you anymore."


    Asher felt that if Chloe kept being persistent like this, once she didn''t be with Derek in the end, she


    might do something stupid.


    "The rtionship between Meredith and me doesn''t matter. For Chloe, after we broke up, we are just


    friends. You guys did this for the first time. I can let it go, but I don''t want to know you do it again."


    After that, Derek got out of here, not caring about Asher''s ttery.


    The question Asher had just asked made him be entangled in a conflict for a moment.


    For Meredith, did he just have temporary novelty because she was the only woman around him and he


    had the illusion? Or did he really like her?


    At this moment, Jameson called him and said he wanted to ask him out for a chat.


    Derek thought about it. Jameson was experienced in love and knew more about rtionships between


    men and women. Maybe he could ask Jameson, so he agreed once in a blue moon.


    ...


    Meredith returned home in a huff and was even more depressed when she saw the apartment that


    Derek had provided her.


    Damn Derek, he forced her to move here as if he was giving alms. Who needed that!


    Thinking about it, Meredith began to pack her things. Fortunately, she had not canceled the lease of the


    house she rented. Even if Derek had driven her out of here now, she would not have no shelter.


    Thinking about it, Meredith intended to leave here directly. She packed up her a few belongings, and


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    took a taxi back to her small one-bedroom apartment.


    She also had dignity and moral integrity. There was no need to owe Derek a favor in order to save the


    rent, which made her seem to be inferior to him.


    Sulking in the taxi, Meredith heard her cell phone ring again.


    It was Parker.


    These days, he had been working on developing overseas business for hispany abroad while


    sending people out to find Meredith''s mother.


    Unfortunately, the privacy of patients in foreign sanatoriums was protected strictly. Even though Parker


    had deployed his most resources, the effect was little.


    The best way was that Meredith investigated this with her identity as a daughter, but she was still


    pregnant and was not suitable for such a busy job, so she could only postpone it.


    "I see. Thank you, Parker." After hearing these words, Meredith was a little disappointed, but she felt


    more grateful to Parker.


    Thest time in the hospital, the subordinates Derek brought over almost beat him ill, but he was still


    trying so hard to help her find her mother''s whereabouts. She could not ask for more from him.


    "Meredith, don''t worry. We can''t rush into doing such a thing."


    Parker felt guilty about Meredith. After all, all the bitterness she had suffered now had something to do


    with his decision, so he wanted to fulfill her request.


    However, he still didn''t seem to be strong enough, at least, he could not fulfill her expectations


    perfectly. Thinking about it, Parker was a little disappointed.


    "I know, thank you." Meredith forced out a smile and pretended to say in a rxing manner.


    But in her heart, she felt more and more uneasy.


    Recently, the Masons had been especially quiet and never dared to trouble her, but after all, it was for


    Derek''s sake. The Masons was afraid that she would ask Derek to retaliate against the Masons, so


    they didn''t dare to act rashly.


    However, if Derek and Chloe reconcile, due to their poprity, they would release the news soon, and


    then, she had no leverage to threaten the Masons!


    In that case, what those heartless beasts in the Masons would do to her mom?


    Meredith clenched her fingers and looked at the seat in front of her with anger and unwillingness.


    Parkerforted her a few more words, then carefully asked about the father of her child. At the


    hospital, he only knew that Meredith was pregnant, but he did not know the detailed information.


    Did Meredith have someone she liked? Who was the father of that child? Was it the man in the room


    that day? If so, why did she keep this child of unknown origin, if not...


    Had she found the man she loved yet?


    Meredith found the topic extremely embarrassing. Having this child was just an ident. Now, although


    she knew that the child''s father was Derek, she could not say it at all and could only digest the result on


    her own.


    "Sorry, I... This is my secret." Meredith could only answer in this way, and her heart was still a little


    uneasy.


    After all, almost no man could be able to ept a woman with premarital pregnancy. It was even


    harder for them to ept since she even refused to say who the child''s father was.


    "It''s okay." Although Parker was a little disappointed, "Then, I''ll only ask you one question. Do you like


    the father of the child? In the future, do you n to be with him..."


    Parker selfishly hoped that the answer was negative. After spending so much time together, he could


    not tell whether he felt more guilty and wanted topensate for her, or he just had feelings for her.


    However, he wanted to be by her side every time she was sad, to shield this girl who he cared about


    from the bitterness, so that she would not suffer any grievances.


    "No, no..." Meredith answered without hesitation.


    At first, because of Derek''s kindness to her, she did have fantasies. She thought she might be able to


    tell him about it, but now, when she thought of Chloe and the people who wanted Chloe and Derek to


    be together...


    She shouldn''t have any more fantasies. Derek could have a child with Chloe openly and legally, so why


    would he want the baby in her womb? Maybe, in order to avoid future problems, he would force her to


    abort the baby.


    Hearing what Meredith said, Parker probably understood what was going on. He clenched his phone.


    "Meredith, I''ll take care of you and your baby in the future. I''ve already arranged for subordinates to


    deal with business here. It won''t take long for me toe back. Let me take care of you, okay?"

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122


    Meredith didn''t answer. Parker''s words made her realize there was something fishy.


    Only then did she realize that, in fact, Parker had already treated her well beyond what a friend should


    have.


    Could it be...


    "Parker, we are good friends. I will bother you in the future even you think I''m obnoxious."


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Meredith euphemistically said that she was grateful for Parker, but she didn''t love him after all, and she


    could not fall in love with anyone else at the moment.


    Parker would find someone better.


    Parker was such a smart person, and how could he not understand that Meredith was silently drawing


    the line? His heart ached a little, but he still smiled and replied, "Of course, when the child is born, I''ll


    be the foster father."


    Meredith smiled. When Parker heard her chuckle, he felt bitter andforting at the same time.


    "Alright, then. I''ll solve your mother''s problem as soon as possible."


    Meredith chatted a few more words with Parker before hanging up.


    ...


    Meredith took the things home and then went to the hospital for a routine prenatal examination.


    Along the way, she was a little absent-minded, thinking about Chloe and Derek from time to time.


    When she arrived at the hospital, Meredith was about to enter when someone called her from behind.


    "Meredith, why are you here?"


    Leo saw Meredith from afar. Although she was dressed very simple and not out of the ordinary, she just


    attracted his attention.


    Just as somebody said, "The best is what you can''t get." Especially after Meredith rejected him a few


    times. Leo always had a bit of a tangle in his heart.


    In his opinion, Meredith belongs to him. After all, they were once engaged, and she used to be loyal to


    him. She just couldn''t ignore him like this.


    When Meredith saw that it was him, she gave him a dirty look. She had seen through the true face of


    this man long ago. Thest time he came to harass her, and he even passed the buck to her. She was


    annoyed by such a coward and hypocrite.


    "Why can''t it be me? You don''t own this hospital."


    Meredith was not polite at all. She was going to do the prenatal examination with a test list in her hand.


    Leo got the k, but he was neither discouraged nor angry. Instead, he leaned over and said, "I''m just


    talking to you, you don''t have to speak harshly! What''s wrong with you? I can introduce you to a


    doctor."


    Meredith looked at him ironically. Perhaps Leo had forgotten how embarrassed he was when kicked


    out of the hospital by Derekst time.


    "No need." Meredith ignored him and was about to leave when Leo suddenly grabbed her hand and


    snatched the list from her.


    Meredith was shocked and wanted to get it back, but it was already a step toote. Leo saw the


    contents at a nce. Pregnancy test?


    His face was slightly distorted. Meredith was pregnant. Whose child was it? Was it the man from that


    day?


    "Meredith, are you pregnant? You don''t have any self-respect?"


    Leo had a feeling that his belonging had been tarnished. He had never touched Meredith, but she had


    an affair with another man, and now she was even pregnant.


    "What does it have to do with you? This is my privacy. Please show some respect!"


    Meredith really didn''t want to get into trouble with Leo. Looking at this sanctimonious face, she couldn''t


    help but think of the time when she had been admiring him so much that she determined to chase after


    this scumbag.


    It was a dark history. It was disgusting to think of.


    "Of course, I have something to do with it. Your mother let us engage back then, and she asked me to


    take good care of you for the rest of my life. Now that I see you go astray, am I supposed to stand by


    and do nothing?"


    Leo was not buying it and spoke of Meredith''s mother.


    His engagement with Meredith was arranged by Meredith''s mother back then.


    Meredith respected her mother so much that she had the consideration.


    When Meredith heard this, her face turned red with anger. How could this person be so shameless?


    Her mother let him marry her so that she could be happy for the rest of her life. Who would have


    thought that he would be so shameless to get together with Ava in a blink of an eye?


    "You''d better not mention my mother. You don''t deserve it."


    Meredith saw he was stubborn, so she didn''t want to take back the test list at all. At worst, she could


    ask the doctor for another one, so she turned to go.


    Seeing that she was so cold, Leo was unwilling and chased after her. "Don''t you want to know where


    your mother is now?"


    After all, Leo was engaged to Ava, and he knew a little about Meredith''s mother''s whereabouts.


    "..." Meredith paused as if she had not expected Leo to say so.


    She was thinking roughly.


    After all, Leo and Ava were once an unmarried couple. Since Ava needed to rely on the power of the


    Howards, so she probably didn''t dare to hide anything from him.


    If Leo could tell her exactly where her mom was, it might be a good idea. So Meredith didn''t have to


    worry that the Masons would find her mom and harm her.


    Meredith stopped. "Do you really know where mom is?"


    Leo saw that she finally reacted. "Of course."


    Meredith clenched her lips. "So, can you tell me?"


    Leo saw that she had surrendered. His lust of conquest was satisfied, but he would not tell Meredith


    easily, "Of course, only after you make me satisfied."


    Meredith inwardly scolded Leo for being shameless, but her face did not show the slightest sign of it.


    "Then, how can you be satisfied?"


    Leo''s ambiguous gaze greedily swept over Meredith. "This is going to take time."


    Meredith was so disgusted by the lewd gaze that she remembered the fact that Leo had been found


    out to be having sex with a lot of women. They even yed those disgusting tricks. But to get what she


    needed, the necessary sacrifices could be tolerated.


    So, she didn''t show anything and suddenly looked up. "Do you know how the Masons handled the car


    ident?"


    Meredith remembered when Ava told her smugly that Leo knew the whole story of the fray, but he didn''t


    want to stand up for Meredith and connived them to do everything.


    Meredith had been thinking about overturning the case, but she had been unable to find evidence and


    had not made any progress. Now that she saw Leo, which was finally a breakthrough.


    Leo''s face changed. When he was seduced by Ava, he felt that Meredith was a burden and boring


    fianc¨¦e, so he connived them to put all the me on her.


    Now that he thought about it, he did feel sorry for Meredith.

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123


    "I know, of course I know, but if you want me to help you, at least, you have to show me you''re sincere,


    right?"


    Leo eyed Meredith up and down. He wondered how it felt like to getid with the woman in front of him.


    "Beg me and I''ll tell you."


    Meredith looked at Leo''s face and thought that the man was a beast dressed as a human, which


    exined why every word he said was filthy.


    Although she really wanted to p him before she left, if this was the only way to get useful


    information, then she would just bear with it.


    She would just take him as a barking dog.


    "Then let''s go out and find a ce to talk."


    Meredithpromised, and a glimmer of gloating shed across Leo''s face.


    He thought that no matter how apathetic she pretended to be, she still fell on hisp.


    ...


    After Derek left Asher''spany, he went to find Jameson.


    Jameson was having a party in the private room of a bar. As soon as he opened the door, Derek saw


    him sitting in the middle of the sofa, relishing being surrounded by beautiful women.


    Jameson was a hedonist and never allowed himself to get trapped in a rtionship. He lived his life like


    ying a game.


    Derek could not ept his style in the past, but now looking at him, he suddenly felt that it was not


    bad. At least he was free without romantic entanglements.


    "What''s up?"


    Jameson saw Dereking, patted the shoulders of the two sexy girls beside him, and motioned them


    to make room.


    Derek was a rare visitor. He didn''te to a ce like this normally.


    "Nothing."


    Derek did not know where to begin with what had happened recently.


    Chloe''s sudden return disrupted his life and his heart.


    He had thought that after he in adolescence fell head over ears in love with that girl, he might no longer


    fall in love with any woman, but in the end, he had a feeling for Meredith.


    That was a feeling that Chloe had never given him before.


    "Is it because Chloe is back?"


    Jameson shook his head at the thought of what Chloe had donest time and felt that she was being


    unreasonable.


    Love was never something that could be obtained by force. If you lost something, you lost it forever.


    There was no chance of recovering it.


    "I know very well that it is over between me and her."


    Derek opened a bottle of beer and took a swig. The bitter taste made him frown but also brought him a


    different kind of pleasure.


    "Then why''s that face? What''s wrong? Is it because of that woman?"


    Jameson soon got the key point, but he thought Derek was better than bothering himself with a woman.


    Thest time he brought her to his ce, Jameson had already noticed something was wrong between


    the two of them.


    So, after all this time, there was still no real progress between them?


    He didn''t expect Derek to be so slow.


    "..."


    Derek was drinking the beer silently.


    It was also hard for him to figure out what he really felt about Meredith. It was not true to say he liked


    her, because he wasn''t cool with the baby in her womb and the car ident in the first ce.


    But it wasn''t true either to say he didn''t care about her, because if he didn''t care, he wouldn''t allow an


    irreverent woman to stay by his side.


    Jameson had known Derek for so long that he could guess exactly what he was thinking at a nce.


    "Do you want me to help you find out how you feel about that woman?"


    Jameson suggested with a snigger.


    Derek nced at him. "How?"


    Jameson saw that he did not refuse directly and smiled even more broadly. He snapped his fingers and


    called the beautiful woman who had just sat on hisp over to him. He whispered a few words in her


    ear and then pushed her towards Derek.


    "Why don''t you try?"


    Derek soon understood what he meant, so he suppressed the repulsion in his heart and did not dodge,


    nor did he let the woman go away.


    The woman looked at Derek''s handsome, star-like face, slender, perfect figure, and then at his


    expensive clothes, and suddenly had the desire to tease and conquer this man.


    So, she sat down beside Derek coquettishly. Her soft hands wandered around Derek''s broad chest like


    a water snake. At the same time, she leaned her face gently against the man''s chest. "Sir, you''re really


    charming. Shall we try?"


    Being fondled by her, Derek could feel that the woman was very experienced. The strength in her


    hands was neither light nor heavy, and it was provocative as if she was tickling his heart with a feather.


    There was a kind of irresistible charisma for men.


    However, he did not have the slightest sexual impulse. Instead, he frowned because of the strong


    perfume on this woman.


    Nheless, he wanted to give it a try since he had held back repulsion. He wanted to know if he could


    feel the same impulsion for any other woman as he did for Meredith.


    Seeing that Derek did not push her away, but nor did he react, the woman became more aggressive


    and unbuttoned the two buttons on the man''s shirt and stuck her hand in.


    But the moment the woman touched his skin, Derek grabbed her wrist and shouted, "Get lost."


    She was startled, raised her head, and met Derek''s cold eyes, which were not tinged with any emotion


    or lust, suggesting that if she moved further, she would be kicked out.


    The woman was stunned and quickly took a few steps back from him. She patted her chest with


    lingering fear and looked at Jameson with grievances.


    Although she was not an unparalleled beauty, she had always been invincible in a ce like this. Being


    turned down t by Derek, she was a little ufortable.


    "Why are you so rude?" Jameson took the woman into his arms, patted her on the back to console her,


    and then looked at Derek. "So, do you wanna try again? I remember there seems to be a simr girl


    here, as pure and innocent as a college student. Why don''t you try another one?"


    Derek stood up and ttened the wrinkles that had been left on his clothes because of the woman.


    "No need."


    He was already clear that these women were not what he wanted at all. Their approaching couldn''t


    arouse his desire but upset him.


    "Take your time. I''ll go first."


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    This time, Derek could not be more clear about the deepest thoughts in his heart. He was really in love


    with Meredith.


    In that case, there was no need to waste any more time here. Derek strode out that ce.


    He was going to find Meredith.

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124


    Meredith and Leo went to a coffee shop. Since she was worried that something might happen, she


    chose a very noticeable ce to sit.


    When dealing with people like Leo, she had to be very careful.


    "The child in your womb is Derek''s?"


    Leo looked at Meredith who was drinking milk and felt inexplicably ufortable.


    He didn''t expect that the woman who used to follow him like a shadow had been pregnant with another


    man''s baby.


    "... " Meredith''s expression changed slightly. Although it was true, it was absolutely impossible for her to


    admit it.


    "No." She put down the thing in her hand gently.


    "No?" Leo''s eyes widened. He had thought that Meredith must have been pregnant when she was


    Derek''s lover, but now she said that the child was not Derek''s.


    Was she seeing several men at the same time?


    "If it''s not his, then whose is it? Meredith, how many men have you been with since you got out of


    prison?"


    Meredith resisted the urge to ssh the boiling water in her hand on Leo''s face. "I don''t think I have to


    tell you about it."


    "Why not? You''ve been fooling around and now you are pregnant. Why don''t you abort the child?"


    Leo looked at Meredith''s lower abdomen. It was still rtively t. It was hard to tell that she was


    pregnant. However, it made him feel bad.


    Sure enough, it was better for her to abort the child as soon as possible.


    Meredithughed coldly. If it weren''t for the sake of eliciting information from him, she really didn''t want


    to talk to this self-righteous idiot at all.


    "This is my child. It has nothing to do with anyone. I''m not here to ask you to teach me how to treat my


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    child. Just tell me the things you know about the Masons. Just help me."


    Meredith was not in the mood to argue with him. He was a yboy that was fooling around. How could


    he be so thick-skinned to ask her to keep herself chastity?


    Leo saw that her expression had changed and thought about it. The important thing now was to get


    her. He didn''t want to marry Meredith anyway. He just wanted a fling. Maybe it would be exciting.


    Therefore, he stopped talking nonsense.


    "Do you think the Masons won''t tell me if I want to know about these things?"


    Leo didn''t care about those things in the past. He waspletely indifferent to everything about


    Meredith. He only knew some general information.


    But if he really wanted to know, it would not be that difficult.


    "It''s not like you don''t know what''s going on with Ava. The movie failed, and she didn''t make any


    money at all. Because of what happenedst time, her image got ruined. Besides, there was someone


    who tricked her on purpose, so she almost became a has-been star. She is texting me every day,


    begging to get back together with me."


    Speaking of this, Leo had a smug look on his face.


    Hearing this, Meredith didn''t feel that annoyed anymore. She was in a much better mood.


    Ava was unlucky. It was good news for her.


    "So?"


    "As long as I tell her I want to get back together, will she not tell me what I want to know?"


    Leo nced at Meredith. "As for whether I will ask or not, it depends on your ability to impress me."


    Meredith looked at Leo''s smug face and resisted her irritation. "What do you want?"


    Leo raised the corners of his lips and narrowed his eyes, looking at Meredith''s moist lips.


    Meredith''s small lips were beautifully shaped, and because of what she had done just now, her lips had


    a watery luster and looked as tempting as soft jelly under the sun.


    "Give me a kiss and I''ll think about whether or not I''ll make a promise to you."


    Meredith got goosebumps all over her body, but she could tell by the look in Leo''s eyes that if she didn''t


    do it, he would leave immediately.


    Biting her lower lip, Meredith clenched her fists at the thought of her mother, who was still waiting to be


    rescued on the hospital bed.


    Wasn''t it just a kiss on this scum?


    She would see his kiss as a bite by a dog. When it was over, she had to brush her teeth and rinse her


    mouth properly.


    Thinking about it, Meredith stood up. Leo watched her approach slowly, and his smile broadened.


    Unsurprisingly, he thought that Meredith was not a chaste woman. If he could take advantage of her


    weakness, she would definitely be obediently manipted by him.


    Meredith resisted the feeling of disgust and tried to make herself understand this. Just as she was


    about to get close to Leo, suddenly, a strong force pulled her a few steps away.


    Derek looked at Meredith with an extremely cold expression on his face. He was so angry that he held


    her slender wrist in a tight grasp. He was unable to control his strength and he held so tightly that her


    bones were about to be crushed.


    Just now he had figured out what he was thinking, and then he immediately started looking for


    Meredith, but no one answered the phone.


    Perhaps, because of the argument this morning, she was still angry. Therefore, Derek found out where


    she was right now, but he didn''t expect to see such a scene when he came over.


    Meredith tiptoed to kiss the man. The sunlight fell on their faces. The handsome man and beautiful


    woman made a couple that was very eye-catching. However, when Derek saw this, he waspletely


    unable to control his anger.


    This damn woman. She was actually away from him for a little while and now she hooked up with


    someone else.


    "It hurts!" Meredith did not expect Derek to suddenly appear. The strength of the man was so great that


    she almost burst into tears.


    Leo also did not expect to be suddenly disturbed by other people. He became angry, "What? Mr.


    Xavier, are you going to meddle in what we did with our mutual agreement?"


    Facing Derek, Leo was overwhelmingly defeated when it came to their family backgrounds and


    appearances, so the only thing he could do was to provoke him with Meredith. At least, now he felt less


    humiliated.


    "Really? Mutual agreement?"


    Derek did not even look at Leo. His eyes stopped on Meredith. He swore that as long as this woman


    dared to nod, he would make her pay the price.


    There was cold sweat on Meredith''s forehead because of the pain. In particr, Derek''s threatening


    eyes stopped on her as if he was going to tear her apart.


    She suddenly felt a little wronged.


    Derek''s ex-girlfriend, his true love, had found Meredith and told her to get away from him. Derek didn''t


    do anything about Chloe, but he came here to disturb her?


    Was there any reason left in this world?


    "Yes, so what? I have nothing to do with you. Whatever I want to do, it''s my..."


    Meredith showed her stubbornness, and she forced herself to say the things that Derek hated and she


    finished her words. The man''s eyes instantly darkened. He grabbed Meredith''s wrist with all his


    strength and dragged her out of the room.


    Leo was interrupted, but he didn''t dare to offend Derek. Therefore, he hid behind and added, "Meredith,


    remember what you said."


    Meredith didn''t want to talk to Leo at all. Derek was like a raging lion now, and she was the prey he had


    <pid his eyes on. She even had the fear of being torn apart and eaten by him without any bones left.

 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125


    "Let go of me, let go of your hand!" Meredith struggled and couldn''t help but scold Leo in her heart.


    What a coward. Leo just added the trimmings and didn''t dare to offend Derek.


    Derek looked at her indifferently, not taking her little struggle seriously.


    Derek''s steps were very big. He was much taller than Meredith and had long legs. Meredith could only


    trot if she wanted to catch up with him. Otherwise, she would definitely fall down.


    Derek would pull her into the car. She would have nowhere to run if he locked the car door.


    Thinking of that, Meredith panicked even more. She didn''t mind her image and shouted, "Kidnapper!


    Killer! Help!"


    She thought that Derek was a famous person in J City, and his every move had to be in line with his


    identity. Perhaps if she shouted so loudly to attract others'' attentions, he would be irritated and let go of


    her.


    "Do you think anyone will believe that I kidnap you?" Derek walked a few steps to the car and opened


    the door without talking nonsense.


    Meredith still wanted to struggle, but the people around just looked at the situation here and didn''t dare


    to speak.


    Seeing Derek''s car and the unique license te number in J City, one could tell that this man was


    either rich or noble. Ordinary people could not afford to offend him, so they would note forward for


    a strange woman.


    Meredith was shoved into the car. Then Derek got in, locked the door and began to loosen the tie


    slowly.


    The man''s movements were very slow. At least, from his graceful movements, one could not tell how


    angry he had been just now.


    However, Meredith felt that something would happen, and the uneasiness in her heart became more


    and more intense.


    "Well, you can''t control yourself? You just got out of thepany and hooked up with another man?


    Meredith, I have underestimated you."


    The thought of Meredith taking the initiative to kiss that man made Derek so angry that he couldn''t


    suppress his anger.


    "What I have done is none of your business. You..."


    Derek''s anger had been on the verge of breaking out and now waspletely ignited. He suddenly


    reached out his hand and pinched Meredith''s chin with great force, causing Meredith to squint her eyes


    in pain.


    Meredith had no doubt that there would be red marks on her skin.


    "Let go of me! It hurts!"


    Derek turned a deaf ear and suddenly lifted her chin. His tightly pressed lips were overbearing, rough


    and aggressive.


    There was a strong sense of punishment, without any tenderness.


    Meredith struggled, but could not break free from his shackle.


    She even felt that the air in her chest had been taken away by his aggressiveness. Her face was


    flushed red, and her grievances and anger increased instead.


    Who was this man to her? Why could he kiss her at will? Was he eligible for punishing her?


    He was obviously a perfect match for Chloe. Was she not even qualified to withdraw?


    When Meredith thought of Chloe''s condescending look, she became angry and pushed Derek away


    with great force, "What are you doing? What are you crazy about?"


    "You can kiss anyone, can''t you? You can even seduce the man who used to be your brother-inw.


    Why do you pretend to be reserved with me? y cat and mouse?"


    Derek''s hoarse voice was sexy. The man''s dark eyes were now so dark that they became bottomless.


    His every word was aplete disdain for her.


    Meredith''s face blushed even more by the humiliating words.


    "It''s my freedom to do what I want. We''ve been divorced for a long time, and we have no rtionship


    now."


    No rtionship?


    Derek''s eyes darkened. He reached out and pulled Meredith''s loose T-shirt, "So now, are we rted?"


    Meredith was scared. It was on the road. Derek''s car was parked at the side of the road. The road is


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    bustling with people. Did he want to...


    At the thought of that scene, she was both embarrassed and angry, "You''re acting like a hooligan.


    Shameless."


    Derek didn''t stop and his hands kept moving. Soon, Meredith''s T-shirt was torn apart and arge area


    of her fair skin revealed. Her skin turned to be light pink because of struggle, but it further aroused the


    man''s desire to conquer.


    Derek moved closer and his actions became more and more dangerous.


    Sensing how ambiguous his position was, Meredith bit her lip and forced herself to calm down through


    the pain, "Derek, since you already have someone you like, don''t do this again. Aren''t you afraid that


    Chloe will be jealous when she knows?"


    Hearing this, Derek stopped his fierce actions. Meredith breathed a sigh of relief, but then sadness


    flooded her in waves.


    Sure enough, he still cared about Chloe. She had been struggling for so long, and Derek didn''t stop,


    but when Chloe''s name was mentioned, he stopped.


    Derek''s anger dissipated a little when he looked at the tears in her eyes. Suddenly, he remembered


    that he hade here to tell her about Chloe.


    However, the image he had seen was so irritating that he unconsciously lost his mind. He just wanted


    to let this arrogant woman know who she belongs to.


    "She came to see you?"


    Derek sat back in his seat. Meredith took a deep breath when she felt the man''s warmth went away.


    "Yes. She told me not to be sentimental and that I would be sad sooner orter by your side. I thought it


    made sense, so I left."


    As Meredith spoke, she hurriedly pull up her disheveled clothes. Only then did she realize how great


    Derek''s strength was. He had torn the cor of her T-shirt.


    She could not help but feel a lingering fear as if surviving a disaster. Just now, she had almost had sex


    with this man in the car on the road. If they had really done that, she would have been humiliated.


    Derek''s face darkened when he heard this, "She told you to leave, so you leave. You''ve never be


    obedient to me like that."


    Meredith saw that Derek seemed to have changed that dangerous thought, and was not as angry as he


    had been just now. She grew bolder, "What she said was reasonable, moving, and sincere. I''m not so


    stupid to continue to affect your rtionships."


    She just wanted to live her life in peace. As for Derek, even if he was the father of her child, he was not


    someone she could stay with. It was better to get away from him as soon as possible.


    "I said it was over between us. She won''t bother you again. I can guarantee that."


    "..." Meredith did not say a word. She looked at Derek''s face, as if she was lost in thought over what he


    said.


    Was Derek lying to her? But his eyes were so calm and sincere. Meredith could not see that he was


    lying. Besides, it''s not necessary for him to lie to her.

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126


    However, when Meredith thought of what Chloe had said, she could not help but wonder whether


    Derek had really wanted to keep her like this, or just to provoke another woman.


    This thought haunted Meredith, and even if Derek gave her a promise, she could not believe it easily.


    Unlike these people, she couldn''t afford to lose.


    "You don''t have to exin these things to me. I didn''t have the right to mess up with it, right?"


    Meredith became ruthless and pretended not to care.


    Derek''s eyes darkened. It was rare for him to exin or promise something to someone.


    Meredith''s reaction, however, was so indifferent.


    Did this woman really not care about him at all?


    Seeing Derek''s gloomy face, Meredith swallowed her saliva, feeling the air was filled with suffocating


    silence.


    This silence made Meredith feel like she was about to be forced to be crazy. She would rather have


    Derek say something and get angry than be so quiet.


    "The child in your belly is his?" Derek could only think of this answer.


    His eyes remained coldly in the position of Meredith''s abdomen, and the sight was so cold that


    Meredith almost shivered.


    She subconsciously protected her belly, feeling both aggrieved and angry.


    This was his child, but Derek always called it "wild seed". He even arranged it so many fathers that


    didn''t exist at all.


    Perhaps, in his eyes, she was a woman who could flirt with any man, so he could guess without any


    scruples and never care about her feelings, right?


    "It is none of your business."


    Meredith put her hand on the car door and pulled it twice, but it was locked and couldn''t be pulled


    open. She looked back at Derek and said, "Please let me leave here."


    "Leave? Let you continue to hook up with your ex-brother-inw? Are you so shameless, so thirsty, so


    desiring?"


    Derek nced at Meredith coldly, his words getting out of control.


    Meredith''s face turned pale. Even though Derek had humiliated her more than once, she still couldn''t


    bear such a straightforward and insulting speech.


    She actually thought what he had just said was a promise to herself.


    Maybe he just didn''t want to lose a fun pet. Meredith believed that he wouldn''t say such things to Chloe


    or force Chloe on the street.


    ying was different from liking.


    "No matter how cheap I am, it''s my own business. Since Mr. Xavier already has a loved one, treat her


    well instead of messing up with me who you despise."


    As she spoke, Meredith tried to break the handle of the car door, obviously not wanting to stay with


    Derek awkwardly anymore.


    Derek''s fist mmed into the steering wheel, and the horn sounded long and ominous, piercing to the


    extreme.


    Meredith trembled with fear. Derek opened the door. "If you get out of the car today, don''t let me see


    you again!"


    Derek''s tone was irrefutable.


    Although he confirmed that he had Meredith in his heart, it didn''t mean that he could stand this woman


    be shrewish and make the scene in front of him over and over again.


    If she really opened the door and left, he would never spoil her.


    Meredith''s hand paused. Through the reflection of the car window, she could see Derek''s handsome


    face, covered with dark expressions.


    A proud man like him always stood by his word and never changed.


    If she really left, they would never be rted again.


    Suddenly, a strange feeling of oppression and pain hit her heart. Meredith took a long, deep breath.


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    She thought thesting pain was worse than short pain. Instead of being stuck in the mud beside


    Derek, she chose to leave...


    She used her hand to open the door.


    Meredith pretended to be free and walked down. "Thank you for taking care of me in the past. We''ll be


    irrelevant from now on."


    Holding back the bitterness in her heart, Meredith calmly finished her words and left.


    Derek looked at her figure which went away without turning back and leaving. After all, he could not


    suppress the evil fire in his heart. He stepped on the elerator and the car rushed out like an arrow.


    This damn woman!


    Meredith saw the ostentatious sports car speeding away from here. The tension in her heart just now


    finally relieved.


    However, the imagined relief did note. Instead, she felt like a ball of cotton in her heart, which


    choked her upset to death.


    It turned out that she was not as indifferent as she thought. At least, she could not take the little things


    that had happened with Derek these days as something non-existence.


    Slight pain in her lower abdomen woke Meredith up from this strange emotion as if the baby was


    unhappy because of the separation between its parents.


    Meredith returned to her senses, her hand tightly covering her abdomen, forcing out a smile. It didn''t


    matter. Even if Derek left, even if everyone left, she still had the baby, it would always be with her.


    ...


    Meredith went home alone andy on the bed. However, Derek''s cold eyes came to her mind.


    They really wouldn''t have anything to do with each other this time, right? How could a person like


    Derek tolerate a woman like her being so headstrong to him over and over again?


    However, it was good that it was over. At least, she didn''t have to worry that she would continue to sink


    into Derek''s affairs.


    All she had to do was speed up the process of getting the information from Leo.


    Just as she was thinking of how to get Leo open his heart quickly, her cell phone rang.


    Leo called.


    "Meredith, how''s it going? Did Derek sleep with you?"


    Leo naturally did not dare to say anything about Derek, so his dissatisfaction could only be vented on


    Meredith.


    Leo was furious at the thought of Derek crushing him again and Meredith leaving with Xavier.


    Meredith also admired the thickness of Leo''s face and did not know where he got the courage to


    question her.


    "Leo, I just want to ask you, can you get what I want from the Masons? If you can''t, please don''t bother


    me in the future."


    Meredith understood that she couldn''t treat the people like Leo too gentle. Instead of being led by him


    into a passive position, it was better for her to take the initiative.


    "You doubt my ability?"


    Leo had a subtle sense of inferiority because of Derek, and when he heard this, he got a little angry.


    "I''ll go to Ava now, but when I get what you want, you have to impress me before I agree to the


    exchange."


    Meredith agreed without any hesitation. In short, she would let Leo do the job first.


    As for what to do in the future...


    Meredith narrowed her eyes and had a bold idea in her mind.

 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127


    After resting at home for two days, Meredith waited for news from Leo while nning to go out and look


    for a job.


    Although she still had some savings, which would be enough for her to livefortably for a long time,


    she still felt that she should go out to make money when she thought about the huge outgoings of


    having a child in the future.


    Otherwise, one day, she would deplete her savings.


    However, she did not expect to find a job to be much more difficult for her immediately. Many


    somepanies were willing to employ her, they would resolutely refuse when they learned that


    Meredith was pregnant.


    After one failed interview, Meredith walked out of the job market dejectedly. She couldn''t help but think


    of what Derek said the day when she left him. He said, how much better did she think she could live


    without him?


    At that time, Meredith was quite defiant. Now, she realized that she was too young in this society. Many


    times, a past experience could make an ordinary person like her unable to free herself.


    Meredith thought about the past and was slowly walking towards the bus stop when a fiery red sports


    car parked not far from her.


    Meredith was startled and quickly took two steps back. Just as she was about to scold the driver for


    careless driving, she saw someone roll down the car window. Ava''s beautiful face appeared, and there


    was a smug smile on the corner of her mouth.


    Over the past few days, Leo, who had been ignoring Ava, suddenly spoke to her and was nice to her.


    Of course, Ava seized this opportunity and quickly established a good rtionship with him.


    As long as Leo was willing to reconcile with her, with the help of the Howards, she would soon be able


    to make aeback.


    "What''s wrong with you? You almost hit me just now." Meredith stroked her chest. Because of Ava''s


    dangerous behavior just now, her heart was beating wildly.


    What a haunted crazy.


    "Hehe, Meredith, who gave you the courage to talk to me like that? Do you think Derek is still


    supporting you? He''s still unconscious on the sickbed..."


    Ava had an unerring eye and she saw the resume in Meredith''s hand. She had just heard about


    Derek''s car ident a few days ago, so she quickly sent someone to investigate Meredith''s current


    whereabouts.


    Knowing that Meredith was living in a shabby neighborhood and was interviewing nonstop, Ava quickly


    figured out what had happened.


    It must have been after Derek''s ident that she, a tease, was chased out by the Xaviers. Meredith no


    longer had a backer. She became a trash again that could be bullied by Ava.


    "What did you say?"


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    Meredith was stunned to hear Derek lying on the sickbed.


    She didn''t even hear Ava''s provocative words.


    Why was Derek in the hospital? He was fine thest time she left him!


    Meredith had thought that she would never have any rtionship with Derek in the future, but when


    she heard the bad news, her heart involuntarily tightened.


    "Sure enough, you were chased out by the Xaviers long ago. Derek had a car ident. Now he''s in the


    hospital. I don''t know what''s going on. However, I only know that your good days are over. I''ll give you


    back a million times the humiliation you gave me in the past."


    With that, Ava winked at the assistant beside her. The tall man got out of the car, approached Meredith,


    who was still in a daze, and grabbed her wrist.


    Meredith woke up from the shock. "What are you doing? Let go!"


    However, he was a tall strong man and he was twice as big as Meredith. It was easy for him to control


    a weak woman like her.


    The man didn''t dare to do anything rude to her on the street. He snatched the resume from Meredith


    and handed it to Ava.


    Ava took it over and nced at it. "Sister, you''re such a dishonest person. Why don''t you write about


    your prison life?"


    "As a sister, I can''t stand it anymore. I won''t let you lie to the employer like this. I will send someone to


    inform thepany you want to apply for, so that they will not hire you, a thief, by mistake."


    With that, Ava tore the resumes into pieces and threw them on the floor.


    When the wind blew, Meredith''s carefully prepared resume was blown away.


    "Ava, you..."


    Meredith didn''t expect Ava to be so evil. She just wanted to find a job to support her life. Ava was


    staring at her so hard that she couldn''t even find a job to support herself?


    "What''s the matter?" Ava smiled and the assistant got into the car. "Meredith, a bitch like you should


    have been lying on the ground floor of society. Who made you want to belittle me with Derek''s status.


    Now I''ll let you know who is the winner."


    After Ava said this, she drove away.


    Meredith watched her go away. If it wasn''t that she was pregnant and couldn''t be too emotional or


    move too hard now, she would really want to take off her shoes and throw them over.


    There was such a shameless and narrow-minded woman as Ava in this world. Only now had she been


    ''taught a lesson''!


    Meredith called Leo and asked him about his recent progress. As expected, in order to get information


    from Ava and Wesley, he had now pretended to please Ava.


    At this point, Meredith was not so angry at Ava''s actions just now. After all, what she was proud of now


    was an illusion, and Leo could not help her at all.


    When the time came, she found out the truth and got out of the control of the Masons. She wanted to


    see what Ava would react.


    Thinking this way, Meredith calmed down. Tired of looking for a job all day in the job market, she got on


    the bus and was ready to go home. As she looked at the scenery out of the window, she thought


    inappropriately of what she had just heard.


    Derek was in the hospital now, and she was not sure if he was serious or not. Meredith suddenly


    remembered that day when he came to look for her, he seemed to be a little drunk.


    Did he have an ident because of speeding after he left her?


    Thinking of this, Meredith felt as if her heart had been roasted on a fire.


    It was impossible to say that she didn''t care about him at all, but now...


    What identity could she use to care about Derek?


    He had already said that as long as she got out of the car, they would have nothing to do with each


    other in the future. If she bothered Derek, he might be even more annoyed with her.


    Meredith''s mind was in a mess, and she felt very upset. She took out her cell phone and casually found


    Derek''s number. She thought for a long time, but she still didn''t call him.


    the Xaviers would definitely give him the best medical care, and what could she do to help?


    In that case, it was better for her not to be sentimental.

 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128


    Derek was lying on the sickbed with a frown.


    After leaving Meredith that day, Derek had been angry, so he drove over the speed limit without


    noticing it.


    When he made a turn in the suburbs, he tried to slow down but realized that it was toote. The


    speeding car could not stop until it hit the guardrail.


    Although Derek''s head was slightly injured, he didn''t feel he needed to be hospitalized.


    However, at Mr. Xavier and his mother''s behest, he stayed in the hospital for several days, so as not to


    worry them.


    However, once a person had nothing to do, it was inevitable for him to let his imagination go wild.


    Derek asionally thought of Meredith''s face. He forced himself not to think about her, but he could


    not control the most instinctive reaction.


    If that damn woman knew that he had a car ident, she wouldn''t be worried but be d.


    After all, no one would stop her flirting with men.


    At the thought of this, Derek''s face clouded over again.


    Jameson came to the hospital to see him when he heard the news. Jameson didn''t expect to see the


    Derek''s ghastly expression the moment he opened the door.


    "Are you feeling very ufortable?" Jameson frowned. Although Derek''s car ident was not


    serious, he had been ill in bed for three years after all, so he should be more careful.


    If this minor collision caused a change in his head, it would be over.


    "No." Derek raised his eyebrows, ""Do you think I look that badly hurt?"


    Jameson shook his head and when he was about to say something, the door was pushed open again.


    It was Chloe.


    Chloe had been taking care of Derek for the past few days. Although he had asked her not to do this,


    she seemed to have not heard the man''s rejection and stayed in the hospital.


    However, Chloe was pampered from a young age. She could not do such a troublesome thing as


    taking care of a patient, so she often made mistakes. Derek was very helpless. She was not so much


    there to take care of him as to disturb him.


    "Chloe." Jameson nodded and watched as Chloe walked over to look after Derek clumsily.


    Derek wanted to say something but stopped. He was obviously resistant and somewhat helpless.


    He did not know how to make Chloe, who had never experienced any setbacks in her life, understand


    that once she missed or lost something, it could not be retrieved.


    "Chloe, you should go rest. You''re not fit to do these things."


    Seeing that Derek felt embarrassed to deal with her, Jameson offered to help him out.


    Even he felt tired.


    "No, I have to take care of Derek myself."


    Chloe was very determined. The moment she learned about Derek''s ident, she felt her heart almost


    stop beating. She couldn''t lose him.


    From then on, she realized how important this man was to her. The thought of losing him made her feel


    like she couldn''t breathe.


    Fortunately, Derek''s injuries in the car ident were not serious. Chloe had already missed a chance


    to take care of him and hand''t apanied him when he needed her the most. She made up her mind


    that she wouldn''t miss the chance to take care of him this time.


    She had to make up for it with her practical actions. Derek would definitely be moved by her.


    Jameson shook his head helplessly, then looked at the ward. Meredith wasn''t there. Did she note,


    or...


    Out of curiosity, Jameson found a reason to take Derek out for a walk, but at the moment he mentioned


    Meredith, the man''s expressions immediately changed.


    "Why do you mention her?"


    Derek didn''t want to hear anything about Meredith. He red at Jameson when Jameson asked him


    such an inappropriate question.


    Jameson rubbed his nose. Sure enough, Derek wasn''t the one who would be scared by such a minor


    car ident. The reason why he was so furious now must have something to do with Meredith.


    But hadn''t he found out what he was really thinking thest time he left?


    What the hell were these two people doing?


    Jameson felt helpless. He had a bold idea in his heart. After a few more words with Derek, he quickly


    left.


    ...


    Meredith was staying at home. After what happened with Ava yesterday, she was not in the mood to


    look for a job anymore. She was afraid that it would be more troublesome if her job was spoiled by Ava


    again.


    Moreover, if the Masons knew that she was pregnant, they might find a way to hurt her baby.


    She couldn''t risk her child.


    Thinking of these, Meredith simply rested at home for a day. However, the rarefort did not make


    her asfortable as she thought.


    Derek''s figure kept appearing in her mind.


    Meredith remembered how Derek looked the first time they met. At that time, he was ill in bed with a


    pale face and an unimaginable vulnerability.


    She wondered how he was now.


    Meredith didn''t know Derek''s friends, and her only acquaintance who knew about Derek was Mr.


    Xavier. But she didn''t want to talk to Mr. Xavier as he would only think that she was hatching a sinister


    plot if she contacted him after the divorce.


    Just as Meredith was thinking, her phone rang. She answered it and it was Jameson.


    "Meredith, is this your number? I''m Jameson." Jameson thought about it and went to the shop to find


    the phone number that Meredith gave him when she gave her patronage to his shopst time.


    Fortunately, she hadn''t changed her phone number.


    "It''s me. Why are you calling?"


    Meredith remembered Jameson, but she was not familiar with him. They had met for only once.


    Why would Derek''s friende to her?


    Could it be... something bad happened to Derek?


    Meredith was startled by the thought, "What happened to Derek?"


    Jameson was thinking about how to get Meredith to go to the hospital to see that guy with a long face


    all day long, but he did not expect her to ask, "s..."


    Jameson sighed, but said nothing, "If you really care about him, go see him at that hospital in the


    western suburb of the city."


    Meredith knew very well about the hospital where Jameson was talking about. She was hospitalized


    therest time, and it was owned by the Xaviers.


    If it wasn''t serious, a workaholic like Derek wouldn''t have been hospitalized.


    "What''s wrong with him?"


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    Thinking of what might have happened to Derek, Meredith was so anxious that she quickly stood up


    and put on her clothes.


    As Jameson listened to her, it was clear that she was concerned and flustered. He felt embarrassed


    and touched his nose, "Just go to see him."


    He was too embarrassed to continue lying to a woman. As for what happenedter, it was up to Derek


    himself. This time, he already helped Derek a lot.

 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129


    Meredith thought about it and decided to visit Derek. She wouldn''t feel reassured until she knew


    nothing serious happened to him.


    However, thinking that it was a hospital of the Xaviers, so his families must be there, and perhaps there


    were also be some of his friends,


    Meredith hesitated. If she went, would she cause any unnecessary trouble and make Derek hate her


    more?


    After thinking about it, Meredith decided to go over in the dead of night and just take a peek.


    ...


    Time passed fast and it was soonte at night.


    Meredith was wearing a mask and sunsses, looking rather strange. When she got into the taxi, the


    driver cast a nce at her from time to time, obviously taking Meredith in such a strange outfit as a


    suspicious person.


    "To the hospital," Meredith said, looking out the window, ignoring the driver''s gaze.


    The car soon arrived at the hospital where Derek was. Because it waste, the usually crowded


    hospital was much more empty and quiet.


    Meredith went to his room ording to the room number Jameson gave her. Derek''s room was a VIP


    room in the innermost part of the building.


    At the door, Meredith''s hand halted on the door and she took a deep breath.


    She didn''t know if Derek was asleep. She wished he was, so she could see him and leave without


    being noticed.


    When she was hesitating, Derek, who had just gone out to talk with the doctor, came back and frowned


    when he saw a sneaky figure at the door.


    Could there be a thief in this hospital? Or the paparazzi who wanted to dig some big news?


    No matter who that guy was, it was a stupid attempt.


    Thinking about it, the man slowed down his pace and walked over quietly, ready to catch this


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    audacious person.


    Meredith was about to push the door open when suddenly, someone grabbed her hand. She was


    caught unawares and her heart pounded like it was about to jump out of her chest.


    "Who are you?" Derek looked at the woman wearing a mask and sunsses. She was dressed so


    strangely that she must have no good intentions. The force on his hand increased a little, causing


    Meredith to frown and cry out in pain.


    "I..." Meredith didn''t know what to exin. She didn''t expect that Derek happened to be outside.


    Moreover, he looked energetic. Judging from the strength in his hand which was so great that her wrist


    turned red from his grip, it was obvious at a nce that he was in a good condition.


    Was she deceived?


    Meredith was a little angry. Jameson''s words were so vague. She thought something really happened


    to Derek and he was feeling very ufortable in the hospital. She didn''t expect that Jameson was


    just fooling her.


    "Who sent you here? For what purpose? Spit it out."


    Seeing that she was silent, Derek dragged her arm and pulled her in front of him.


    "What purpose can I have? Can''t I be just a passerby or a patient here?"


    Her wrist hurt so much that Meredith almost cried. Why the hell was the man''s strength so great?


    He was way healthier than her. He was not even close to dying.


    "You are... Meredith?"


    Derek almost ran out of patience and intended to call security to bring her out for an interrogation, but


    when he heard her moan in pain, he frowned.


    The voice was too familiar.


    "So what?" Seeing that he had recognized her, Meredith gave up pretending and took off her


    sunsses with the other hand, revealing her watery eyes. "Get your hands off me."


    Derek snorted, released his hand, and opened the door. "Get in."


    She must have a purpose foring here in the middle of the night.


    "No, I''m leaving."


    Meredith would rather not stay in the same room with this dangerous man. Since she had already


    confirmed that he was well, she had no need to stay.


    "Leaving?"


    Derek blocked Meredith''s way and looked down at her.


    "Do you want to be forced in, or do you want to walk in by yourself?"


    The man''s voice was low and domineering.


    Meredith was stunned and thought for a moment, and then she walked in herself. Derek had made


    himself very clear: if she didn''t obey, he would definitely throw her in.


    Derek''s expression softened a little when he saw that she didn''t go against his will. "Why are you


    here?"


    Meredith blushed a little. Should she say she was worried because he was in the hospital, so she came


    to visit him?


    If she said that, he must sneer at her.


    "Just passing by."


    Meredith looked away, but an unnatural blush on her face betrayed her true thoughts.


    Derek was amused by her awkward appearance. Just passing by?


    She came a long way to the hospital in the middle of the night but said she was just passing by. She


    couldn''t even lie.


    "What? You came to see me? Do you care about me?"


    Derek sat down gracefully and scrutinized the woman in front of him.


    She was wearing a in windbreaker, with a big mask on her small face. He could only see her


    beautiful eyes which were like the eyes of a lovable deer.


    "I''m in no way caring about you." Meredith denied it without thinking. She didn''t want Derek to see her


    as a woman who wanted something from him.


    What happened today was an ident, and she would never intrude into his life again.


    "If you don''t care, what you''re doing here?" Derek saw her stubborn face and reached out to pull


    Meredith directly into his arms.


    Meredith eximed. She did not expect Derek to be so bold. Moreover, she lost her bnce and sat


    directly on the man''sp.


    The scorching heat enveloped her through her clothes, and Meredith''s face turned red like a ripe apple.


    "Let me go!"


    Meredith struggled in fear, but as she struggled, she felt something was wrong.


    As she rubbed against Derek''s body, his desire was quickly aroused. "Are you seducing me?"


    Meredith was frightened and did not dare to move again.


    For a long time, neither of them spoke, only the ambiguous vibes flowed in silence.


    Derek could smell the faint fragrance on Meredith''s body. It was not strong but made him feel very


    "Didn''t you say that if I got out of your car, you would never see me again? So you should let me go."


    Meredith had no choice but to soften her tone and try to convince him.


    She really couldn''t stay here any longer. What would people say if anyone saw her?


    Derek frowned. "Now, as long as you don''t see other men, I can give you another chance."


    "I''ve never had a rtionship with another man. That day, I just..."


    Derek''s suspicions made Meredith want to justify herself.

 Chapter 130

    Chapter 130


    "Just what?"


    Derek asked her to continue.


    Meredith took a deep breath. "I did it for my own purpose."


    She wasn''t a lunatic. If it wasn''t for the evidence of finding her mother''s whereabouts, how could she


    be involved with Leo?


    "For what purpose?"


    Derek was clearly not satisfied with this statement. "What on earth do you want to do?"


    Meredith took a deep breath. She looked into Derek''s deep eyes and even forgot that they were getting


    too close. "If I tell you, will you believe me?"


    Derek frowned imperceptibly. It was only then that he remembered that he had always sneered at what


    Meredith had said, had never heard them well and believed them.


    Out of an indecipherable thought, he nodded. "I won''t believe it until you tell me."


    Meredith smiled. "If I say it wasn''t me who hit you, it was Ava. It was my eighteenth birthday. She and


    my family tricked me into wearing that dress and letting me go for a ride in that car, will you believe


    me?"


    For some reason, Meredith looked into his eyes and said everything.


    Derek might not believe it, but at least she had a clear conscience.


    Derek was silent for a moment. The topic was so shocking that his arms that put on Meredith loosened


    a little.


    Meredith noticed this andughed at herself.


    It seemed that she was still thinking too well. Derek was so secretive about what had happened back


    then. How could he be willing to listen to her side of the story about the past?


    Thinking about it, she got up, but Derek held her arm.


    "Sit down."


    The man''s voice was a little hoarse.


    Even he, as a victim, had some difficulty digesting the truth of the incident.


    "You mean, the person who hit me was Ava?"


    How ridiculous the statement is! If it was from other people, Derek would only sneer.


    However, he knew what Meredith had suffered in the Masons, and it was not impossible for these


    things to happen to her.


    However, it was still difficult to ept. After all, if what Meredith said was true, it would be a scandal.


    At that time, the Xaviers had deliberately contacted someone before the sentence because they hated


    her for hit-and-run. Normally, the sentence for a car crash wouldn''t be so severe.


    Meredith looked at Derek''s dark and unpredictable expression. She didn''t know if Derek would believe


    her, but she hoped he did.


    Derek met Meredith''s eyes. There was a faint expectation in her eyes, a desire to be trusted.


    Derek was never a soft-hearted person, but looking at Meredith now, he felt his heart ached.


    "I am willing to believe you in this matter. I will find someone to investigate and prove your innocence."


    Derek said word by word, and Meredith suddenly felt a twinge of bitterness in her chest. She thought


    that Derek would never believe her before she overturned the verdict. Now, his simple words left her at


    a loss.


    For Meredith, the most precious thing in the world was trust.


    "I''m already looking for evidence. It won''t be long before the verdict is overturned."


    Meredith said, suddenly feeling that the future was bright.


    As long as she could exchange evidence from Leo, she could prove her innocence and her future


    would not be under the shadow all the time.


    "Looking for evidence... Do you want to rely on Leo?"


    Derek was so smart that he thought for a moment and realized something.


    Considering that Leo was Ava''s ex-fianc¨¦, the rtionship between the two was extraordinary. It was a


    good idea to start with him.


    But...


    The thought of Meredith kissing Leo the other day still made Derek''s face not good.


    "That''s right."


    Meredith nodded, but Derek suddenly pinched her chin. "Who told you toe up with this idea? For


    the sake of the truth, do you really want to do something with that kind of man?"


    "Of course not. It''s just that the necessary sacrifices are still worth it."


    Meredith said, unconvinced. It would be impossible for her to sell her body, but in order to attract Leo,


    some sacrifices could be tolerated.


    "I won''t allow it." Derek''s face darkened as he thought about the scene.


    She had the audacity to try to bewitch Leo with a beauty trick.


    If one day that man had evil intentions and used some dirty tricks, she wouldn''t even know how she


    died!


    A yboy like Leo could easily adopt all kinds of methods.


    "No, I must find out the truth."


    Meredith''s stubbornness also appeared, mainly because this was the best way she could think of, and


    she couldn''t just give up.


    "I said no."


    Derek looked at her without a hint ofpromise. "I''ll help you with this, but you can''t act rashly."


    Meredith couldn''t win him over, and she was a little discouraged, but Derek insisted that she give him a


    guarantee, so she could only nod perfunctorily.


    "Be good." Seeing that she no longer insisted, Derek raised the corners of his lips and kissed her wet


    lips. Meredith was startled and wanted to struggle, but the man grabbed her back and she couldn''t


    move at all.


    But this time, Derek''s movement was so gentle, without the usual suffocating tyranny and plunder, as


    gentle as a feather, that Meredith''s resistance was unknowingly melted.


    After the kiss, Meredith gasped and blushed even more.


    She wanted to ask Derek why he suddenly kissed her, but she didn''t. She was afraid that she would


    get an answer that she didn''t want to hear.


    "I... It''s toote. I have to go back." Meredith stood up, a little incoherent as she tried to leave this


    embarrassing ce.


    Derek thought for a moment. "Wait here. I''ll ask Damian to send you back."


    Meredith wanted to refuse, but Derek insisted. "It''s sote. Why don''t you stay?"


    He was worried about letting Meredith take a taxi alone.


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    Meredith was shocked. It was at night and no one was here. If Derek really told her to stay, she didn''t


    know who she would meet.


    "I''ll wait for Damian."


    Meredith gave in and Derek was satisfied. He called Damian over.


    Not long after, Damian arrived and walked into the ward. Seeing Meredith, he was a little surprised, but


    it also seemed reasonable.


    "Send her home. Call me when she arrives."


    Derek watched Meredith obediently following Damian away, then stood up from the sofa, thinking about


    what Meredith had just said.


    If Meredith was really just a scapegoat from the Masons, then Wesley would have to pay for his


    deception.

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131


    Meredith was sent home by Damian. Along the way, Damian intended to ask Meredith, but he didn''t.


    Although he had long seen that there was something happened between the two of them, but...


    ncing at Meredith''s obviously swollen lips, he immediately realized what they had just done.


    Damian roared helplessly in his heart. He had to work overtime at his boss''s order and watched them


    disy affection. He just couldn''t stand it.


    After sending Meredith home, Damian immediately called Derek to report, and then received a new


    order.


    Damian was asked to investigate the truth about Meredith''s car ident back then, and he understood


    itpletely that the boss really had got a crush on Miss Mason.


    ...


    Meredith went home and didn''t do anything. She buried herself under the covers. Her hands couldn''t


    help but caress her lips which were just kissed by Derek and were still slightly swollen.


    This was the first time Derek had kissed her so gently, even though they had done the most intimate


    things between a man and a woman.


    But at that time, Derek was always angry, every move had a sense of punishment, and there was no


    pity, and unlike just now, so gentle that her heart was about to jump out.


    Realizing that she was actually reliving the scene, Meredith''s face blushed again. What was wrong with


    her? Was she hunger for sex? She couldn''t forget it after the kiss.


    After thinking about it, Meredith rushed to take a bath, trying to wash away these messy thoughts along


    with the flow of water. However, she failed, and the shadow of Derek in her mind became clearer and


    clearer.


    Did that person really believe her and be willing to help her?


    Meredith clenched her lips. Women were always sensitive. Sometimes, they knew it was a moth to the


    fire, but they still couldn''t resist the temptation.


    ...


    The next day


    Derek continued to undergo close examination at the hospital.


    Although, everything came back to normal in his physical examination a few days ago, he could only


    undergo another physical examination at the strong request of Mr. Xavier and Violet.


    However, he didn''t want to stay in the hospital, not to mention the work of the Xavier Group, and he


    also wanted to leave to investigate the things about Meredith.


    "Leaving the hospital?"


    Mr. Xavier shook his head resolutely. "You should stay for a few more days. Besides, thepany is


    so strong that it can''t copse without you for a few days!"


    Old Master''s idea was extremely firm, and he could not allow his carefully groomed sessor to take a


    little more risk.


    When Derek was in trouble, Mr. Xavier''s heart, which had been beating for decades, was about to stop


    beating.


    Even he wanted to get Meredith back and help Derek fend off the disaster with her so-called good


    luck''s face.


    As soon as this idea came to mind, the Old Master had been thinking about it. He thought, Meredith


    was obedient, and as long as she was given a sum of money, she would not be able to refuse such a


    good thing.


    Just as he was thinking, Chloe came again.


    These days, she always came here early to take care of Derek herself.


    Seeing her, Derek''s originally rxed brows furrowed again.


    "Chloe, why don''t you rest at home?"


    She took such good care of him that even though he was a bit annoyed, he didn''t say anything hurtful.


    "I''m worried about you. I want to stay with you and take care of you."


    Chloe smiled and greeted Mr. Xavier politely when she saw him. Her every move was graceful and


    elegant, with the grace of a socialite.


    Mr. Xavier nodded. He was satisfied with Chloe''s recent performance. At least, the woman who had


    been so proud that she almost forced Derek topromise, now learned to bow her head and make


    up.


    In this way, the Old Matser undid a lot of knots in his mind.


    "Chloe is here, and I should leave, lest I disturb you."


    As he spoke, the Old Master waved at the butler beside him, and the butler immediately came over to


    support him. "Chloe, Derek is yours now. You must keep an eye on him and let him rest in the hospital.


    Let him don''t think about going back to work early."


    "I see, grandpa." Chloe smiled sweetly and sent the Old Master out.


    Then, she turned back.


    "I bought you breakfast. It''s your favorite." Chloe took out a food box and opened it for Derek to see.


    Inside were Derek''s favorite soup buns and a few stacks of light dishes.


    But what Chloe didn''t know was that his taste had changed a lot three yearster, not the same as


    before.


    It was as if... The rtionship between them had already been like this and had be a thing of the


    past.


    Derek looked at her inexpertly setting up his breakfast and felt helpless. "Chloe, you''ve been back for


    so long. You should have your own things to do. There''s no need toe to help me every day. My


    injury is not that serious. I don''t need to be treated like this."


    "But I don''t think anything is more important than you," Chloe paused.


    These days, how could she not notice Derek''s estrangement from her? No matter what she did, no


    matter how hard she tried, men would only reply to her with a simple phrase, "thank you".


    Chloe wanted to say that she didn''t need his thanks. She wanted him.


    However, Derek didn''t give her a chance to say it.


    Derek saw the seriousness in her eyes. For Chloe, they grew up together. He knew her character.


    Chloe was very stubborn and didn''t give up easily. If she continued to misunderstand, and he did not


    reveal what he really thought, she would only fall deeper.


    So, Derek decided to be ruthless and say what he really wanted to say. "Chloe, actually, I don''t like


    what you brought."


    Chloe''s face turned pale.


    "You''re a smart person. You know what I mean. Between us, just like the things that came with us, we


    used to really like each other. But after time, it''s just a memory. Now I don''t like you. It''s impossible to


    force me to fall in love with you again."


    Chloe''s lips trembled, as if she could not believe that Derek had really said these words.


    Over the past few days, she had worked so hard that in order to make up for her mistakes, she had


    been learning everything. Even to make breakfast for Derek herself, she had scalded her piano hands


    into several ugly blisters.


    But Derek was not moved.


    How could he be so heartless towards her?


    Derek looked at her frustrated eyes, embarrassed expression, and couldn''t bear it. After all, he had


    known her for many years, and he didn''t want to hurt this girl.


    "That''s all I want to say, Chloe. With your talent and looks, there will be better men waiting for you, so


    you..."


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    Chloe suddenly rushed up and tried to kiss Derek''s lips. "I don''t want to hear these words. I really don''t


    want to hear them!"

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132


    Derek couldn''t avoid being kissed by Chloe at the corner of his mouth.


    But soon, he reached out and pushed her away. Chloe looked at him in disbelief.


    Derek didn''t even want to be kissed by her and even pushed her away.


    How could he be so heartless?


    Derek found out the disappointment in her eyes. He was just acting subconsciously just now.


    "Chloe, I don''t mean to push you but... But please don''t do such things in the future."


    Derek never did rude things to women so he apologized quickly this time.


    Chloe''s eyes turned wet. She waspletely desperate to see the man so guilty.


    She once thought that there was nothing in the world that could not be salvaged through hard work. But


    now she realized that the human heart was the most difficult thing to guess.


    The man who once said he would pamper her and love her for the rest of his life would also do such a


    rude thing to avoid her kiss at this moment.


    Chloe''s eyes suddenly focused on Derek and then she saw something that almost drove her crazy.


    It was a long hair, hanging on Derek''s chest as if it were mocking her arrogance.


    Chloe''s hair was dyed wine red but that long hair was ck.


    So it must have been left by another woman.


    Jealousy surged up from her chest and almost drowned her.


    "Derek, tell me, did you push me away because you fall in love with another woman?"


    Chloe wiped away her tears fleetly and stared at the man in front of her.


    Derek did not escape from her sight. There was no need for him to fudge his answer at this point.


    "Yes, Chloe, I don''t love you anymore."


    Chloe smiled. She was already a born beauty. But at this moment when she smiled with her reddened


    eyes, she showed actually breathtaking beauty.


    "I get it."


    Chloe stood up. "I''m leaving."


    While looking at her leaving so resolutely, Derek suddenly had an ominous feeling in his heart. He felt


    that Chloe now didn''t have a stable psychological state.


    However, he could not ask her to stay orfort her. After all, she was hurt because of him.


    Derek called Asher. Chloe and Asher had always known each other and he believed that Asher would


    be able tofort Chloe well.


    ...


    Asher found Chloe in a bar.


    She, who was usually image-conscious and wouldn''t drink any, seemed to be a different person now.


    She gulped down the wine and was almost drunk. Beside her, there was even a lewd man who wanted


    to tease her while taking advantage of her state.


    Asher wore a ck face and chased the evil man away. He pulled Chloe up. "Chloe, wake up."


    "Wake up? I don''t want to wake up. My heart hurts if Ie to reality."


    Chloe realized that it was Asher, and she muttered to herself.


    She only wanted to get drunk and numb herself now and she didn''t want to suffer the desperation when


    she thought of Derek''s ruthlessness.


    "You know what? He falls in love with someone else and he didn''t even want me to take care of him


    because of that woman. He pushed me away to avoid her suspicion."


    Asher looked at Chloe''s fragile appearance and felt sad. He had never seen Chloe so decadent and


    depraved which made him pity her.


    In his heart, a feeling that had been suppressed for long burst out at this moment.


    He couldn''t help but reach out and pull her into her arms. Heforted her carefully. "In that case,


    forget him, Chloe. There will be someone who loves you more."


    Asher''s eyes were filled with love and seriousness as he spoke.


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    Although he had always liked Chloe, after learning that his good friend was with her, he chose to hide


    his own love. He couldn''t steal his friend''s girlfriend so he must hide his affection for the woman of his


    good friend.


    He suppressed his emotions for so long that he was almost hypnotized by himself and forgot about the


    love.


    However, when he saw Chloe was so fragile and needed protection now, the feelings that had been


    hidden in his heart could not be suppressed anymore.


    Although the Floreses was not that eminent as the Xaviers, it was also an established family. Asher


    was also the target of many women but he had never epted their pursuit and had always been


    single.


    Now that Derek was so determined to not be with Chloe, he might have the chance to be with her.


    "But I only want him. I only want Derek."


    Chloe grabbed Asher''s hand. "Asher, help me, please. I don''t want to break up with Derek. I know I''m


    wrong. I..."


    With the influence of alcohol, Chloe said with tears streaming down her face. She never showed such a


    fragile look before as she was always a tough woman.


    Asher felt as if a knife was being twisted in his heart and he wished he was the one who was suffering


    now. How could he look at Chloe in such pain?


    "Asher, help me, help me get him back..."


    Chloe grabbed Asher as if she found thest straw and forced him to give her a promise.


    Asher''s eyes dimmed. After all, he couldn''t resist Chloe''s distressed look. "I''ll help you, Chloe. I''ll help


    you."


    "That''s great. I knew you were my best friend..."


    Hearing this, Chloe smiled and she gradually fainted as the alcohol came into y. Asher carried her


    out but his heart was filled with bitterness.


    He understood Chloe''s character and that she would not change her mind if she was determined to do


    something. She might have been struck down if she really broke up with Derek.


    Asher lit a cigarette and finished smoking outside before calling a man he knew who was doing


    underground information trading.


    Asher had to deal with Meredith for the sake of Chloe so he had to know his enemy well first.


    Soon, Meredith''s information was sent over to him.


    Asher took a look at the information but he could not hold his expression on his originally cold face


    anymore.


    Meredith was exactly the woman who hit Derek and ran away. She was in prison for three years and


    was kicked out by the Xaviers...


    Asher didn''t know what happened in the process. However, when he saw that Meredith was the culprit


    of the car ident, he put out the cigarette in his hand in a fierce manner.


    If Derek didn''t experience the car ident then, Derek and Chloe wouldn''t have separated. So, the


    source of all this was this woman, Meredith?


    It wasn''t clear what Meredith did to make Derek forget her past and break up with Chloe regardless of


    all these years'' love.


    Asher sneered. This woman did not look as simple as he had seenst time. He was also deceived by


    her hypocritical softness.


    Looking at Chloe, who was sleeping soundly in the back seat of his car, Asher said softly, "Don''t worry,


    Chloe. That kind of woman will never be a stumbling block to your future. She doesn''t deserve it and I''ll


    make her pay."

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133


    Meredith went to work as usual, but looking at Derek''s empty office, she felt like there was something


    missing deep down as well.


    He hadn''t been discharged yet.


    Thest time she saw him in the hospital, he was still very energetic, lively, and even had the strength


    to force a kiss on her. Meredith could not help but worry about Derek, which might result from the


    sequ of the previous serious car ident.


    Thinking about it, Meredith couldn''t help but feel worried again.


    As soon as Damian arrived at thepany, he saw her looking absent-minded. Soon, he found out the


    reason why she was so.


    "Mr. Xavier has been undergoing intensive examinations recently, but if you want to see him, it''s okay,


    for there should be only doctors there."


    Meredith was a little embarrassed after hearing what he said. Did she give away her feelings in such an


    obvious way?


    However, if there were no outsiders... It was good for her to go over and ask how Derek felt. Thest


    time she was there, she hadn''t even had time to figure out whether Derek was okay.


    Thinking about it, Meredith packed her things. Damian saw that she was wavering and gave her a


    document, "By the way, please bring him this document when you go over."


    Meredith nodded and took it over. In that case, even if someone asked her why she was there, she


    could say that she was just doing an errand.


    Thinking about it, Meredith left thepany and took a taxi to the hospital.


    Soon, Meredith arrived at her destination.


    With watchful eyes, she went upstairs. It wasn''t until she made sure no one else was there that she


    knocked on the ward door.


    Derek frowned, thinking that it was a nurse or doctor making other rounds, and said, "Come in."


    Meredith walked in and looked at the man who was sitting on the bed and flipping through some


    documents in his hand. "I... I have something for you."


    Meredith immediately felt that it was really considerate of Damian to ask her to bring the document, or


    else she would be embarrassed to death now.


    "Bring me something?"


    Derek nced at the document in Meredith''s hand, appreciated Damian''s thought, and raised the


    corner of his lips, "Then just give it to me."


    Meredith nodded and walked over. Caught off guard, she was caught by the arm. Losing her bnce,


    Meredith fell right on Derek''s strong chest.


    "Just for that?"


    Looking at Meredith whose ears reddened, Derek couldn''t help but tease her. He deliberately leaned


    close to her ear and said in a low voice.


    Meredith''s body trembled at that. With sensitive ears, she felt as if there was an electric current flowing


    through her body as his hot breath blew onto her in such an intimate way.


    "Also...e and see you."


    Seeing that Derek wouldn''t let her go until he heard what he wanted to hear, Meredith could only say it.


    However, she said it in such a low voice that it was almost impossible to hear what she was saying.


    Derek heard it clearly, but the soft touch of the woman in his arms made him feel an urge not to let go


    of her. Thus, he put on a wicked smile and said, "I didn''t hear you clearly. Say it again."


    Meredith was embarrassed and angry with Derek''s teasing both in his words and actions. However, the


    man''s strength was so great that she couldn''t break free. She could only say sulkily, "Come and see if


    you are seriously injured, okay?"


    Derek raised his eyebrows and said, "Do you want me to be seriously injured or not?"


    Meredith was speechless. She had never thought that Derek would be like that. Just as she was about


    to answer, suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    "Mr. Xavier, it''s time to change your dressing."


    The nurse''s gentle voice came from outside the door.


    "Someone''s here. You can let go of me now."


    Only then did Meredith break free from Derek''s grip. Her face had already turned red and now looked


    like a ripe apple.


    Derek nced at her bashful and angry face and felt excited. This woman had no idea how attractive


    she was


    with that pitiful look.


    "Mr. Xavier?" the nurse asked again, getting no response.


    After all, Derek was the hospital''s financial backer, and even if he snubbed anyone, no one would dare


    to snub him.


    "Come in."


    He was a little more inexplicably cold to the nurse who hade at the wrong time. Derek lowered his


    voice, suppressed his excitement, and said coldly.


    Only then did the nursee in with a smile on her face, and by the way, she pulled down the neckline


    of her clothes, revealing an alluring cleavage.


    She had tried everything to get the chance of changing Derek''s dressing. If such a man could fall in


    love with her and then have a romantic love story with her, wouldn''t that be...


    Unfortunately, as soon as the nurse walked in, she saw Meredith and her heart sank.


    "Put down the medicine and go out,"


    Derek ordered coldly.


    The nurse didn''t know what she had done to offend him, but she didn''t dare to disobey his orders. She


    reluctantly put down the medicine in her hand and red at Meredith before she left.


    It was this woman who took away the opportunity that she had gained with lots of efforts.


    Meredith only felt that she was innocently involved. She knew what was going on and nced at


    Derek, "Hehe, I didn''t expect you to be quite popr."


    "Even in the hospital, you can have so many hot girlse for you." She thought to herself.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are you being jealous?"


    When Derek heard her strange tone, he did not get angry and gave Meredith a yful look instead.


    Meredith choked at his question and stopped talking.


    Derek reached out, held the bottle of anti-inmmatory ointment in his hand and said, "Come here and


    apply it to me."


    Meredith was a little reluctant because of what happened just now, but seeing that there was a small


    wound on Derek''s forehead which was originally as smooth as jade, and a little w on his perfect face


    was also very obvious, she got rid of her awkwardness just now.


    Well... It was not because she cared about him that she did so, it was just that she wanted his perfect


    face to be without a w.


    Thinking about it, Meredith walked over to him. It was a tube of imported anti-inmmatory cream, and


    it also had some effect on removing scars.


    "Is this wound serious?"


    Meredith looked at Derek. The wound was notrge. Yet, it was on the head, which would cause


    possible unpredictable damage to the brain.


    "Not."


    Derek shook his head. These days, he had undergone thorough examinations, but no hidden dangers


    had been detected, so he could be discharged soon.


    Hearing this, Meredith heaved a sigh of relief. Then she unscrewed the ointment, squeezed out a little


    bit on the cotton swab, and then gently held Derek''s face, applying it little by little to his wound.


    It had almost healed, but some fresh could still be seen. He must have been suffering a lot of pain.


    "Will it hurt?" Meredith tried to move as gently as possible, afraid that it would make Derek feel any


    pain.

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134


    When Derek looked at the concern in her eyes, his heart raced inexplicably.


    Seeing that he didn''t answer, Meredith thought that he was hurt because of her clumsiness. She was a


    little anxious. "I''d better call the nurse back. I..."


    She was so clumsy. She didn''t want to mess it up.


    "No need. You continue."


    Derek held her wrist, and the warmth of his hand transmitted to her body, calming her uneasy heart.


    "Then if you feel ufortable, tell me."


    With that said, Meredith continued to do what she had just done. As she applied the medicine, she


    looked at the man''s face.


    She was used to what he looked like, so she didn''t pay much attention to his appearance. However,


    when she suddenly got so close, she found that Derek''s skin was actually so good that it was even


    fairer than some women who had shelled out money on their skins. There were no ws on his skin


    even seen in such a close distance.


    Some people might have been favored by god since he was born.


    Meredith''s heart was in a mess, especially when Derek''s dark and deep eyes were fixed on her. Under


    his gaze, she finally finished applying the ointment. When she was about to put it away, her hand


    suddenly shook and some ointment was dropped somewhere else.


    Looking at the ointment on Derek''s forehead, Meredith wanted tough, but she was also a little


    scared. She quickly stood up to get a tissue to clean his forehead.


    "I can see you are not being modest by saying you were clumsy before."


    Derek watched Meredith looking for a tissue in a flurry. Although she was so anxious, she just couldn''t


    find it.


    Meredith was speechless. She was being unusually clumsy because she was flustered by the look in


    his eyes.


    Being stared at with that kind of gaze, even a rock would probably have a reaction.


    "I didn''t mean to." Meredith mumbled and finally found a tissue to clean the ointment on Derek''s


    forehead.


    She was anxious to do her job, so she didn''t notice how close the two of them were now. Derek could


    only feel her long hair fluttering gently in front of him, making his thoughts wander.


    Meredith did not use perfume, so there was no strong fragrance, but a faint sweet aroma lingering


    around.


    "What''s the matter?" Seeing that he was silent, Meredith thought that she had done something wrong


    again. She looked over only to meet his eyes which were as deep as the ocean.


    The next moment, the man''s delicate and handsome features were magnified in front of her eyes.


    Meredith even felt that she could hear the sound of his breathing.


    Then, his warm lips were pressed on hers and his tongue stuck into her mouth with an overbearing


    pressure.


    Meredith was startled and tried to push Derek away, but her hands were still stained with the ointment


    she had just identally gotten, so she could only let the man get his way.


    Meredith''s mind went nk because of this sudden kiss.


    Why did he...kiss her?


    Meredith found it hard to breathe, so she couldn''t care much about the stains and put her hands on


    Derek''s chest to stop him.


    She was suffocating.


    Seeing that Meredith was out of breath, Derek finally let her go.


    "Next time, learn to breathe, OK?"


    Meredith already blushed. When she heard this, she felt blood rushing to her brain, and that it was so


    hot that she was about to evaporate.


    "Did you suddenly...lose your mind?"


    Meredith then remembered that the door to the ward was unlocked. What if someone came in?


    Derek always did anything at will.


    "What are you afraid of? I won''t eat you." Derek looked at Meredith with a teasing look.


    Meredith became angry and red-faced. She stood up and said, "I''m going to wash my hands."


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    She couldn''t talk to Derek anymore. Otherwise, the situation would only get more and more chaotic.


    Derek looked at her infuriated back and smiled. His fingers gently caressed his lips which had been


    pressed on hers.


    Meredith washed her hands in the bathroom. She looked at her red face and quickly washed it a few


    more times with cold water in an attempt to sober herself.


    She hade to the hospital twice and Derek had kissed her twice. Why on earth did he do that...


    Meredith found her heart in aplete mess.


    This man was like poison. Even though she knew he was dangerous, she still had the urge to get close


    to him.


    With a sigh, Meredith patted her cheek and walked out. After what happened just now, she did not dare


    to look at Derek again. "Since you don''t need anything now, I''ll go first. Thepany..."


    "Don''t leave. Stay with me for a while."


    Derek interrupted her words without thinking.


    "But..."


    Meredith was reluctant. She always felt that if she stayed here any longer, something "dangerous"


    might happen.


    "I''m the boss. Do whatever I tell you to."


    Derek said, patting the chair beside him domineeringly, motioning for Meredith to sit there.


    Meredith had no choice but to listen to him. After all, Derek was the one who paid her.


    But this time, Derek did not make things difficult for her anymore. He took the documents that he had


    just put down, put them on the table on the bed, and began to read them.


    Although Derek was still wearing a hospital gown and this ce was no match for the imposing office


    of the Xavier Group, the man still looked brilliant when he was doing something serious.


    Meredith was looking around at first, but before she knew it, she was attracted to Derek, who was


    working attentively.


    It was said that men who were absorbed in doing something were the most handsome. It was right.


    The two of them sat quietly together. Although they didn''t talk, there was a cordial and harmonious


    atmosphere.


    Unknowingly, it was dinner time.


    Meredith looked at her watch. It was almost six in the afternoon. She looked at the man who was still


    looking at the document and couldn''t help but remind him, "Take a break. It''s time for dinner."


    At this time, she admired Derek very much. Even in the hospital, he did not rx at all in his work. He


    was so dedicated that he deserved to be called a workaholic.


    "OK."


    Derek felt a little unhappy because of being interrupted. But when he looked up and saw the faint


    concern in Meredith''s eyes, he was happy again.


    It turned out that being cared for felt so good.


    Thinking about that, Derek nced at her and said, "Stay and have dinner together. I''ll ask Damian to


    take you home directly after dinner."


    Meredith thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay, I''ll fetch our dinner."


    Then Meredith walked out.


    The hospital had its own restaurant. For those living in the VIP wards like Derek, it offered well-


    designed nutritious diets.


    Meredith had been here before, so she found the restaurant with ease and took a few of Derek''s


    favorite dishes that she remembered. Just as she was about to go back, she was suddenly stopped.


    "Are you Meredith? Wait a minute, I have something to tell you." A gloomy voice came from the dark,


    giving Meredith an ominous feeling in an instant.

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135


    Meredith looked at the man, who was standing in the dark. She found him to be hostile.


    The man was Asher.


    Meredith had always felt that Asher was not very friendly to her. For a moment, she got somewhat


    defensive. She took two steps back. "What''s the matter?¡±


    Asher looked at her, who was slightly surprised. He smiled more sarcastically. She pretended to be


    innocent and pitiful. It seemed that she had never been in prison. She was just like a little white rabbit


    who didn''t know anything about the world.


    However, she could deceive Derek, but not him.


    "Are you here to take care of Derek?¡±


    "Sort of."


    Meredith also had no intention of talking with him, so she offered a vague answer, trying to walk past


    Asher, but he blocked the way once again.


    "Since I''m here, I won''t beat around the bush with you. I know your background very well. I know who


    you are. A person like you is not matched with Derek, so I hope you don''t make any unnecessary


    struggles, which are only jokes for us."


    Asher''s words were full of sarcasm for Meredith. His air of superiority made her feel as if she was a


    toad desiring for a swan.


    Perhaps, in their social circle, she was such a lowly toad.


    But at this moment, Meredith suddenly didn''t want to be looked down upon. "I''m sorry. I don''t want to


    talk to you about this."


    As she spoke, she held the lunch box in her hand and tried to walk past him, but Asher reached out


    and stopped her.


    Compared with Meredith, he was a head taller. With his height and strength, it was easy for him to


    control a woman like her.


    "I''ve made it so clear. Are you going to y dumb? Well, you can ask me for what you want. I won''t


    bargain. When you get it, you have to disappear and be away from Derek."


    Meredith looked at him. He thought who he was.


    At best, he was just a friend of Derek. How could he say he was going to insult her with money?


    Meredith frowned. Asher, sneering inwardly, thought she hesitated. Sure enough, this kind of woman


    approached Derek only for money and profit.


    Meredith thought for a moment. Asher insisted on persuading her to leave, was it just for Derek? Was it


    because he didn''t want his friend to live with someone he despised?


    However, if so, he was too selfless. If there were any other reasons, Meredith would have thought that


    the man in front of her was gay and that he was trying to keep his lover, so that he could embarrass her


    without hesitation.


    Just as she was thinking, Meredith suddenly understood something.


    "Are you doing this for Chloe?"


    Meredith quickly recalled the day Asher brought Chloe to the Xavier Group...? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Could it be that Asher loved Chloe?


    "What are you talking about?" Asher did not expect Meredith to talk about this. He was in a daze for a


    moment, and Meredith saw it all.


    She immediately understood why he stopped her and felt somewhat pity for him.


    It was obvious that he liked Chloe, but he still wanted to do such a thankless thing for making Chloe


    and Derek happy. Was Asher called infatuated or stupid?


    Asher was annoyed for being gazed by Meredith. She was a lowly woman. How could she look at him


    like that?


    What''s more, she got to know what he had been hiding, which made him feel frustrated and even


    angrier. "I''ll give you three days to think about it. I warn you here. If you continue to be up to no good


    and live with Derek, I''ll give you a hard time."


    After saying that, Asher pushed Meredith away and left.


    Meredith couldn''t dodge and was pushed back a few steps by the man. The thing in her hand


    identally fell, and the boiling soup split out and sshed on her clothes. Meredith couldn''t help but


    hiss for being burned.


    Was Asher crazy?


    Meredith had never seen like him, self-proimed as a gentleman, push a woman before. Meredith''s


    eyes were filled with anger as she looked behind him.


    However, thinking that Derek should have been waiting in the room for a long time, Meredith could not


    settle the score with Asher. She could onlyfort her that she had a bad luck and went to the


    restaurant to buy another meal.


    She was afraid that Derek would notice something was wrong. Meredith found a tissue and went to the


    bathroom. She simply cleaned up the oil stains on her clothes, but the color of the food was already


    thick, which had left ugly stains even after careful handling.


    When Meredith looked at the clothes, she was still a little angry. Somehow, her clothes were ruined


    though she did nothing. It was really unlucky.


    When Meredith returned to the ward, Derek picked up the documents again and read them. He looked


    impatient for waiting so long.


    Meredith hid her stains and walked over to the table. "Stop reading and eat something."


    Derek nodded and put down the thing in his hand. "Why do you take so much time to buy a meal?"


    Logically speaking, the ward was so close to the restaurant. What''s more, the requirements of the VIP


    ward were met first, so it shouldn''t take so long.


    "Well, it''s a little busy there."


    Meredith gave him a random excuse, but Derek frowned for feeling that she was hiding something from


    him.


    At this moment, Derek''s eyes fell on the water stain on her clothes. Although Meredith intentionally


    covered it with her arm, the stain was still very easy to notice.


    "What happened? Why does your clothes wet?"


    There was a deeper frown on Derek''s face.


    "It''s nothing. I have been to get something else. I identally fell and the soup spilt on my clothes that


    time." Meredith smiled and answered Derek.


    However, the man was not convinced by her words.


    "Come here." Derek said in a deep voice. He looked at Meredith. He said it lightly but made people


    dare not resist.


    Meredith looked at Derek, who was unhappy with his eyes, and she felt a little agitated and flustered.


    "As I say, it is an ident..."


    "Come here."


    Derek lowered his voice once again, which seemed to be the peace before the storm.


    Meredith sighed and put aside the thing in her hand. Just as she was about to walk over, Derek


    grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to the front, carefully watching the dirty marks on her clothes.


    How could a man fall with such a hot soup spilt on himself?


    Meredith must be lying.


    Sensing this, Derek''s face darkened.


    "Who did it?"


    Needless to think, There must be someone who pushed her, so that she fell with the soup spilt on


    herself.


    Meredith didn''t expect Derek to know that someone had pushed her with several nces. When she


    thought that Asher was his friend, she hesitated. "It is just an ident. I don''t want you to worry, so I


    haven''t said it."


    After that, she held back the grievance in her heart and pretended to be casual. "It is just an ident.


    Do I have to tell you about my fall too? Then you don''t have to do anything else in a day. Just listen to


    me say these embarrassing things."


    "... " Derek noticed the way Meredith spoke, knowing that she would not say anything. He stopped


    asking questions. Looking at her wet clothes, he asked, "Do you burn yourself?"

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136


    Meredith immediately shook her head. In fact, the ce where she had just been scalded was a little


    red, but the soup spilled on her chest. How could she tell Derek that it hurt in such an awkward


    position? It was too embarrassing!


    Derek narrowed his eyes. "Let me see."


    Meredith was startled. "No, it''s really okay!"


    "Enjoy your meal. I... I''ll go first. I''ll just go back and deal with it myself."


    Meredith was so scared that she wanted to leave. This was a hospital, a public building!


    Derek''s face turned darker. It needed to be dealt with, so it was burning badly, right? Was this woman


    still so stubborn at this time, or was she unwilling to believe in himself?


    Meredith got up and was about to leave. The man raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her


    disheveled appearance. He felt extremely ufortable, so ignoring Meredith''s refusal, he directly


    grabbed Meredith''s arm and gently pulled her down on the bed.


    "Derek, what are you doing? Let me go."


    The sudden dizzy gave Meredith an ominous feeling.


    But the man did not answer. His body exuded a cold aura. The originally tall body shrouded her, leaving


    Meredith nowhere to escape. Her originally petite body in this intimate position showed a bit of stirring


    ambiguity.


    "You..." Meredith blushed and even felt the blood rush to her brain, making her body a little hot and dry.


    But though she wanted to run, there was no chance.


    Derek had to do something. He was so overbearing that she couldn''t fight back.


    Meredith could only rx temporarily. Since it was useless to resist, it was better to see what he was


    going to do.


    Derek''s fingers rested on the wet clothes, and the cold touch of his tentacles made his eyes colder.


    This woman was nning to leave with water all over her body?


    Although the weather had warmed up, it was likely that she would catch a cold after such a torment.


    His slender and beautiful fingers gradually stopped on the buttons on Meredith''s chest. She was


    wearing a shirt today. When it got wet, he could vaguely see the pure white conservative underwear


    inside.


    "Get your hands off me!"


    Meredith panicked and reached out to push the man above her away. Derek was so close that every


    time she breathed in the air, it was the man''s unique scent.


    She didn''t want to be seduced by the smell, but her brain didn''t listen to her. She was so dizzy that she


    seemed to have surrendered.


    "Be good, let me see."


    Derek sped Meredith''s hand directly, then deftly unbuttoned a few of the buttons on it with his big


    palm. Soon, a piece of burnt, slightly reddened skin was exposed in front of him.


    Derek still had a sense of propriety. He just unbuttoned a few buttons on the top. It wasn''t too much,


    but even so, it was enough to embarrass Meredith.


    This man... How could he do such a thing without changing his face?


    However, Derek had a lot of strength, and they were still in a "man up woman deneath" shameful


    position as men and women. Meredith had no room to struggle and could only let him do whatever he


    wanted.


    "Does it hurt?" Derek frowned and gently touched with his finger. As expected, Meredith''s delicate


    eyebrows were tightened and her breathing became less natural.


    Sure enough, it wasn''t as easy as she showed.


    "It''s not that serious. I''m not the kind of woman who cries when got a wound. I used to... I used to have


    this kind of injury. It''s really not that serious. I''ll just go back and apply for some medicine."


    Meredith subconsciously thought of those days in prison.


    Once, she was called out to work by the prison guards, and the weather was very cold. It took her a


    long time to finish all the dirty work that others didn''t want to do. When she returned, she finally got a


    cup of hot water, but she was deliberately sshed all over by a woman who didn''t like her.


    At that time, it was much more painful than this, and no one was as careful as now to examine her


    wound.


    Thinking about it, Meredith felt a little sore.


    Derek looked at her suddenly gloomy expression and instantly understood what she had just abruptly


    stopped talking about.


    It should be the torture she suffered in prison.


    "It''s all over. Now, you have to cherish yourself, okay?"


    Derek let go of his hand, his tone light, but his mood was not so calm.


    Meredith originally wanted to say goodbye, but when she saw the concern in the man''s eyes, she could


    not say anything.


    In fact, it was always better to be cared for than to be ignored. She had few friends and had not felt this


    kind of concern for a long time.


    "I''ll get someone to deliver the medicine. Moreover, take off your clothes"


    Seeing that Meredith had no intention of leaving, Derek looked at her clothes again, got up, and found


    clean and refreshing men''s pajamas in the closet.


    This was where he had been living, so there were no women''s clothes. "Just put this on. I''ll call Damian


    to send a clean setter."


    Meredith understood what Derek meant. She was afraid that she would catch a cold. She thought


    about it. If she really got sick because of this, not only did she feel bad, but the baby in her belly would


    suffer too, so she didn''t refuse and took the clothes.


    However, she could not be so calm when she undressed and changed in front of Derek.


    So, Meredith got up and wanted to go to the bathroom to deal with it alone. Derek saw it and said, "You


    stay here. I''ll go out."


    As he spoke, he walked out of the ward. Meredith was touched. Derek had always been a man of his


    own ord. It was a lie to say that she was not touched because he was so attentive.


    Thinking about it, Meredith did not hesitate to take off her clothes and put on the man''s pajamas.


    Derek stood at the door of the ward for a while. There was no smoking allowed, but he suddenly felt the


    urge to light a cigarette.


    Meredith... What did she suffer in prison?


    In the past, Derek was filled with hatred and disdain for her, feeling that she deserved whatever she


    had suffered there and never cared about it, but now...


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    He couldn''t pretend to know nothing about Meredith''s messy past. He wanted to know.


    He called Damian.


    "Send me a set of clothes that Meredith can wearter. Also, help me check the information about her


    days in prison."


    After that, Derek found another nurse who was passing by and asked her to send over a scald cream.


    "Remember send the kind that pregnant women can use."


    Derek was stunned when he said this. He had thought that he would always be disgusted with the


    unknown child in Meredith''s belly, but unknowingly, he did not seem as repulsive as he thought. This


    was not like him at all.

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137


    Derek''s mood was a little moreplicated, but soon, the nurse came back. She didn''t dare to cold-


    shoulder Derek, so she came here by running.


    After thanking her, Derek took the ointment and entered the ward. Meredith had already changed her


    clothes.


    However, the clothes which fit Derek very well looked like a loose robe on her body. The hem even


    reached the middle of her thigh. Her originally slender and petite body was swaying in the clothes. It


    made her looked like a little pitiful.


    Derek''s eyes darkened and he gave the ointment to her. "Apply the ointment."


    Meredith''s face, which had already cooled down, was burning again. "I''ll just do it myself."


    Derek raised his eyebrows yfully. "You want me to apply the medicine for you that much?"


    Only then did Meredith realize that Derek didn''t say that he was going to apply the medicine to her. But


    when she said so, the atmosphere seemed to be even more ambiguous. She could only cough twice


    quickly. "No, I was just talking nonsense."


    With that said, she snatched the ointment from Derek''s hand in anger and embarrassment and ran into


    the bathroom to apply the medicine.


    This time, Derek did not chase after her. Instead, he went back to the ce where he had just sat and


    looked at the information that Damian had sent over.


    Thest time Derek had asked him to investigate Meredith, so the information was already there and


    was sent directly by Damian to him, and even the information that was omittedst time was also sent


    over this time.


    As Derek looked, his face was getting more and more gloomy.


    Meredith''s sentence was very severe. And not only that, she seemed to have received some special


    ''care''. Someone arranged for her to be sent to those wards where those people who were sentenced to


    life imprisonment or suspended death lived.


    Those people were all extremely vicious. They had killed people or had done a lot of outrageous things,


    and Meredith was not in the same world as them.


    When a little sheep like Meredith went there, it was like amb in a tiger''s mouth. Not only would she


    be bullied to do things that no one else liked to do, but also she would be beaten up from time to time.


    The only good thing was that in order to save her life, Julius made a deal with the Floreses. He decided


    to study abroad and cut off contact with Meredith so as to let the Floreses help to ensure that she


    would not die in prison.


    Derek clenched the document in his hand.


    When he saw these words, given the fact that he had heard from Meredith that she was framed by Ava


    in particr, his surging anger could not be suppressed.


    "Keep investigating. Remember to find out exactly what the Masons had done in the past."


    If the Masons had really nted Ava''s crime on Meredith at the beginning, then he would never let


    everyone in the Masons go easily. They must pay the price for their malice.


    Meredith finished applying the medicine in the bathroom, and the medicine''s effect of cooling down


    quickly worked. It cooled down the swelling and euthermic parts, so Meredith was feeling better.


    Meredith also noticed that there was a line on it saying that this medicine could be used by pregnant


    women, and she suddenly felt a little warmer in her heart.


    Derek seemed to be less hostile to the child. Meredith was a little distracted and couldn''t help but reach


    out and touch her slightly bulging belly.


    "It looks like dad doesn''t hate you."


    Meredith thought with a faint sweetness in her heart.


    Derek''s concern over the past few days made her feel the urge to let go of all her concerns and boldly


    tell him the secret.


    Just as she was thinking about it, Meredith put her hand on the doorknob. When she was about to


    open the door, the sound of high heels hitting the ground came from outside.


    Meredith quickly withdrew her hand and the smile on her face faded a little. She didn''t know which


    woman wasing.


    Was it not good for her to go out now?


    As she thought about it, her hand stopped moving. Meredith leaned closer to the door and listened to


    what was happening outside.


    The person who came was not some young women that Meredith thought of, but Derek''s mother,


    Violet.


    During Derek''s stay in the hospital, she basically visited him every few days.


    Derek did not expect her toe, so he put the things in his hands aside and nodded slightly.


    "Derek, how are you feeling now?"


    Violet looked at Derek, and her heart was filled with emotions.


    The car ident scared her out of her wits. If anything happened to Derek again, how would she live?


    "I feel good. I think I can be discharged from the hospital."


    Derek understood her concerns, but she should be relieved since he had already cooperated with her


    and had done countless tests.


    "Stay for a few more days." Violet persuaded him. Soon, something came to her mind. "Why didn''t I


    see Chloe today?"


    These days, Chloe had been taking care of Derek in the ward, and she basically saw Chloe every time


    she came.


    Although Chloe might not have much experience in taking care of others, at least she was considerate.


    Violet was satisfied with that.


    "I told her not toe again."


    Derek frowned. He could tell that his mother was trying to make a match between the two of them.


    "The girl did that for your good and you just rejected it so stiffly?" Violet kept shaking her head, not


    knowing whether her son was smart or stupid.


    "After all, Chloe is also a rich youngdy. It''s normal if she is not good at taking care of someone. You


    can''t be too impatient. She''s already very sincere since she was willing to swallow her pride and take


    care of you. You don''t want to woo her back after driving her away and venting your bad emotions, do


    you?"


    Violet tried her best to persuade him. Derek''s ident made her feel that her son really needed a


    woman to take care of him.


    A man was always rtively impulsive before he got married. It would be much better if there was a


    woman who kept reminding him.


    In this way, she did not have to be afraid every day. Chloe came from a good family that was famous


    both at home and abroad. Marrying her would not only improve the strength of the Xaviers but also


    would improve the reputation of the Xaviers. She was a very suitable candidate and Violet had been


    trying to make a match between the two of them.


    "It has nothing to do with this. I just... It''s impossible between me and her."


    Derek didn''t know what to say. Especially when he saw his mother''s expectant eyes, he was unable to


    bear to say those words.


    "You are too stubborn. You still hold a grudge for what happened back then? I don''t care about that


    much anyway. You should seize the opportunity. The daughter-inw of our the Xaviers must be


    Chloe."


    Violet only thought that Derek was bothering about what happened back then, and she didn''t care


    about what happened, so she just said what she thought directly.


    Derek didn''t want to argue with her about this either. After a few words, Violet was invited to an opening


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    ceremony and she left.


    After Meredith heard everything they said in the bathroom, her itch to try to say those things to Derek


    was shattered.


    Violet''s forcefully articted words echoed in her mind.


    "The daughter-inw of the Xaviers shall be Chloe."


    It seemed that the Xaviers was really satisfied with Chloe since she could make Violet, who had always


    been looking down upon others, praise her repeatedly.

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    Chapter 138


    "I will make this clear to her. Please don''t give her false hope."


    Derek was troubled and couldn''t help but rub his forehead.


    The die was cast for him and Chloe. In this case, Derek did not want to waste Chloe''s time anymore.


    Rather than giving her false hope and kept her dangling, it was better to break off once and for all.


    Violet''s well-preserved face showed a look of iprehension. Derek loved Chloe as if he could die


    for her, but how could he avoid her like the gue now?


    "Then tell me, since you don''t want her, is there anyone else you like?"


    For Violet, it didn''t have to be Chloe anyway. But Derek set his bar too high.


    Chloe was endowed with both beauty and talent, and she was a childhood sweetheart for Derek. If


    Chloe was not his choice, Violet didn''t know which woman could ever meet Derek''s standards.


    Could it be that scheming woman who had been in jail?


    At the thought of this possibility, Violet said with a disapproving face, "Derek, don''t tell me you are


    considering Meredith."


    Derek didn''t say anything, but his eyes darkened in shade. He knew that with Meredith''s awkward


    identity, the Xaviers would never ept her. The only way was to find out the truth, prove her


    innocence, and gradually convince Derek''s family members to ept her.


    Derek''s silence was equivalent to acquiescence. Violet witnessed Derek''s growth, so how could she


    not understand what he was thinking?


    Violet''s graceful face showed some anger, "Derek, I don''t care who you like, but Meredith is definitely


    uneptable. She''s not even qualified to be your mistress!"


    Thinking of Meredith''s background and her filthy past, Violet felt worried.


    Her son was the favored child in their family and the heir nurtured with every effort by the Xaviers. How


    could he get tangled up with an ex-prisoner? This would definitely be a stain on Derek''s life.


    "I have my own thoughts on this matter."


    Derek had no intention of arguing with his mother. When the truth revealed, there would always be a


    solution. It was not a good idea to cut the diamond with diamond now.


    Meredith was in the bathroom. She had already taken a few steps back from the door and stopped


    eavesdropping. However, the voice of them talking still reached her eardrums like a spell.


    Violet usually spoke gently and acted like ady. It was the first time Meredith had heard Violet''s voice


    so out of ce.


    And it was because of her. Meredith didn''t know if it was a pleasure or something.


    For Violet, anyone but Meredith was suitable for Derek.


    She was unwanted for sure.


    Meredith suddenly had the urge to leave this ce as soon as possible and stop inviting humiliation.


    But Violet was still outside. Meredith couldn''t even leave the bathroom, she could only listen.


    After a few more words, Derek and Violet still did not reach a consensus. Violet had to leave.


    Violet knew Derek''s temper too well. If she confronted the tough with toughness, it might make him


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    more determined. So...


    She had to talk to Meredith.


    Having made up her mind, Violet''s eyes darkened through deliberations. She said to the driver, "Go


    find out where Meredith is now. I want to talk to her."


    ...


    Hearing that Violet had left, Meredith came out of the bathroom.


    However, there was no expression on her face at the moment.


    "You heard everything?" How could Derek not understand what Meredith was thinking? Violet''s words


    were unpleasant to hear, and it was normal for her to feel ufortable about it.


    "Nothing." Meredith didn''t want to talk about it with Derek either. What was the point of that anyway?


    That was her actual situation, and there was nothing to say about it.


    "I''ll take care of your matter as soon as possible. You don''t need to worry. Forget about what my


    mother said."


    Hearing Derek''s exnation, Meredith only nodded perfunctorily. After all, Derek was not just a man,


    but also the hope of the Xaviers. If the entire the Xaviers objected, she was not sure how long she


    could hold.


    Thinking about it, she was a little tired.


    "I want to go back and rest."


    Seeing that Meredith was not in a good mood, Derek said a few words tofort her. However, those


    words went in Meredith''s one ear and out the other.


    After a while, Damian arrived with a set of clean clothes in his hands.


    "Boss. Miss Mason."


    Meredith walked over right away, "Thanks."


    Then she went to the bathroom to change into clean clothes.


    "The thing I asked you to investigate, give me the results as soon as possible."


    Derek knew that only finding out the truth could dispel Meredith''s low spirits. "Remember, don''t mention


    it to anyone that I asked you to look into it."


    If his grandpa or mother found out about it, they might make trouble for Meredith.


    "I understand." Damian nodded and looked at Derek''s serious look. Sure enough, Boss was serious


    about Miss Mason.


    Meredith changed her clothes and looked at the person in the mirror. It was only a few while, but she


    felt she had changed into someone else, whose eyes and brows were covered with sorrow.


    What was she thinking? How could she believe that they could live happily together, just because


    Derekforted her?


    That fairytale ending was never something that an unfortunate person like her could expect.


    Meredith adjusted her mood and walked out. The unpleasant expressions were gone, and she was


    rather quite calm.


    "Let''s go," Meredith said to Damian.


    She did not even look at Derek. Since there was no hope, why adding to her reluctance to leave?


    "Meredith..." Derek looked at her receding figure. His heart became gloomy.


    It seemed that this matter must be solved as soon as possible.


    Damian sent Meredith home. On the way home, neither of them spoke.


    Damian felt that Meredith was in a bad mood, and he was confused.


    Boss had already started finding out the truth, then why was she feeling even more down now?


    Meredith didn''t bother to talk. She just wanted to be alone and iste herself from the outside world.


    "I''m heading back." After arriving at the destination, Meredith waved at Damian and went upstairs.


    Damian then called Derek to report about it and stayed there for a while before leaving.


    When Meredith got home, she went into the bathroom and let the hot water wash over her body. She


    was feeling the water and really wanted it to wash away all her troubles.


    That way, she wouldn''t be branded as a criminal, looked down upon by everyone, or be told that she


    wasn''t even qualified to be the lover of someone she liked.


    Just as she was thinking, Meredith''s phone suddenly rang.


    She walked over, nced at the name, and frowned.


    It was Leo.


    After a moment of hesitation, Meredith pressed the answer button, "What is it?"

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    Chapter 139


    Leo was dissatisfied with Meredith''s indifferent attitude. "I finally found a clue, but you just talk to me


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    like that?"


    Meredith frowned. If it wasn''t for the fact that she needed Leo to provide evidence, she wouldn''t want to


    talk to such a person.


    "You really found a clue?"


    Meredith clenched the towel in her hand. Although Derek warned her not to get too close to Leo, but...


    She was tempted by the possibility of clearing her name. And especially after being so tantly


    disdained by Violet today, her impulse became even more obvious.


    She had to clear her name and not be looked at with prejudice by anyone else.


    "Will I lie to you?"


    "It''s hard to tell." Meredith wiped the water off her body and walked out of the bathroom. She wouldn''t


    easily believe every word that Leo said.


    Such a man was not trustworthy.


    Leo found that Meredith''s attitude was not as enthusiastic as he had thought. However, he became


    more eager. The harder to get her, the more he wanted to conquer.


    "I''ve been trying to draw the secret out of Ava for the past few days but she''s very cautious about what


    happened back then, but if you really want to know, it''s not that impossible. She needs me to invest in a


    new y to get rid of the negative news on her, but..."


    Leo stopped talking and smiled vaguely.


    Meredith of course understood what he meant. This damned bastard wouldn''t do anything for others if


    he didn''t get enough benefits.


    "As long as you help me get the recording or other substantial evidence, I will try my best to satisfy


    whatever you want."


    Meredith clenched her lips and determination shed through her eyes. Leo wanted to scheme against


    her, but she wanted to see if he could be able to.


    "I like to hear that."


    Leo smiled and then told her the name of a hotel. "Wait, I''m going to book a room now. I''ll tell you the


    room numberter. I''ll wait for you there tomorrow night. It''s up to you if I will be satisfied."


    Meredith held back her voice and hung up the phone.


    After thinking for a while, she called another person. "Hey, there''s a big deal for you."


    After the call, Meredith threw her phone aside and thought about what she should do when she went to


    the hotel tomorrow.


    If she had sessfully obtained the evidence and cleared her name, would... would the Xaviers


    wouldn''t continue to hate her that much?


    Sensing that her thoughts were in a mess again, Meredith patted her cheek. What was she thinking...


    Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone rang again. It was from Derek.


    Meredith looked at the caller''s name and felt a little guilty. After all, she had just disobeyed this man''s


    advice, so she felt a little uneasy.


    So, she hesitated for a while before answering the phone.


    "At home?"


    Derek had already known that Meredith had arrived home, but he could not calm down when he


    thought of her sad appearance when she left.


    "Yes, I''ve been home a long time ago."


    Meredith answered lightly, without showing any emotion.


    "Open the door."


    Then Meredith was surprised. "Where are you?"


    Shouldn''t Derek be in the hospital?


    Could it be...


    In doubt, there was a knock on the door outside. Meredith hesitated for a moment and walked over.


    Through the peephole, she saw Derek''s face.

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    Chapter 140


    Meredith hesitated for a while and opened the door.


    The appearance of Derek''s here really surprised her.


    As soon as the door was open, Derek squarely walked in without asking permission and frowned at the


    small one-bedroom where he had once been.


    Meredith was really weird. She had been offered an apartment to live in before, but she chose to stay


    in such a shabby neighborhood.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Meredith watched the young master strut into the room.


    Derek didn''t even take off his shoes, which, in a few seconds, made the just cleaned floor dirty.


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    She wanted toin about this, but when Meredith saw the man holding a box that smelled of


    delicious food in his hand, she held back.


    Was Derek here to bring her something to eat?


    Thinking of this, Meredith suddenly felt very incredible.


    Derek nced at Meredith, who was standing in amazement aside, and said, "Come and eat."


    Just now, he realized that they had not had a good dinner because of the unexpected interruption.


    So Derek just came over.


    "You can eat your dinner, but don''t bother to..."


    Derek was now under first-rate care in the Xaviers. If anyone found out that he ran out of the hospital


    just to bring food for Meredith who was able-bodied, Violet would be extremely furious and tear the skin


    off Meredith.


    "It''s all here. You still want to refuse?"


    Derek cast a glimpse at her and put the food on the table. "I haven''t had my dinner, either. Let''s eat


    together."


    Knowing that Derek didn''t want to obey what she had said, Meredith judiciously shut her mouth, walked


    over, took out the food, and arranged them one by one.


    She was a little surprised when looking at it.


    Unexpectedly, Derek bought all the food ording to her taste. Meredith did not remember that she


    has once told Derek what she liked to eat.


    When at the Xaviers, she was trying every means to avoid talking. Right then, it was much better for


    Meredith to have something to eat. Being picky? Impossible.


    "How do you know..."


    "Didn''t you order thesest time we went to dinner?"


    Derek took a nce at Meredith disapprovingly as if he were repelled by her unnecessary questions.


    He just saw what Meredith orderedst time and remembered it. Now it proved absolutely right.


    "..."


    Meredith heard what Derek has said, whose tone was as usual, but whose concern was clearly shown


    through a few words and excited her a little.


    She had always believed that no one else in the world, except her mother and Julius who was abroad,


    would care so much about her and remember her taste.


    Meredith didn''t expect Derek to be such a thoughtful and considerate man.


    Meredith refrained from the tears in her eyes and kept her head down to hide them. Then she wiped


    her face and pretended that her eyes were smarting from the vapors. Then, she scooped up a bowl of


    soup and put it in front of Derek as if nothing had happened. Meredith said, "Come and eat. You may


    rest assured that it won''t be too salty to drink this time."


    Derek raised his eyebrow. Thest time when Mer had added some material into the soup particrly


    for Derek, he was really impressed.


    The two of them just sat face to face, very quietly, with merely the sound of bowls and chopsticks


    colliding gently. No one made a deliberate conversation and feel embarrassed at all, just silently


    enjoying this rare peace.


    Meredith was rarely better off with a good appetite. These days, the early morning sickness had


    lessened a lot, and as a result, she had a much better appetite than before.


    Derek noted that she moved her chopsticks very often, and he felt warm either.


    Just then, Meredith''s smartphone on the table suddenly rang. She was stunned for a moment before


    she remembered who was calling. Anyway, this call could not be heard by Derek. "I''m going out to


    answer the phone."

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    Chapter 141


    As she spoke, she hurried to the balcony.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s subconscious move to avoid him, and there was a chill on his rxed face.


    Who was that caller? Why was she avoiding him to answer the phone?


    ...


    Meredith reached the balcony and pressed the call button.


    As expected, it was Leo who called.


    "Come to room 1854 at the TC Hotel tomorrow night at 8 pm. It''s up to you whether you can satisfy me


    and get you what you want."


    Meredith frowned with a glint of chill in her eyes, but she still promised, "I see."


    After that, she wanted to hang up.


    However, Leo was in a good mood, probably thinking that he would finally get her, a woman he couldn''t


    have got, and he kept speaking on the other end of the phone.


    Meredith didn''t want to offend him and sabotage her ns, so she could only listen, but she still had to


    look at Derek sitting at the table from time to time.


    If Derek knew that she was secretly in contact with Leo, it would definitely cause trouble.


    This damn Leo, why did he have to talk so much at this time?


    "Don''t worry, I''ll make you satisfied by then."


    Out of the corner of Meredith''s eye, she saw Derek stand up. This time, shepletely lost her


    patience. After saying a few words to Leo, she quickly hung up the phone.


    At this moment, Derek''s footsteps were approaching, and Meredith subconsciously deleted the call


    record.


    As soon as she pressed the delete button, Derek opened the balcony door and said, "Go and eat. The


    food is getting cold."


    Even so, the man''s eyes fell on the phone in Meredith''s hand. He had a hunch that Meredith must be


    hiding something from him.


    Why else would she be reacting in such a panicked manner?


    This feeling of being deceived made Derek very unsatisfied.


    Meredith noticed Derek''s gaze and smiled awkwardly, pretending that nothing had happened. "I''ll eat


    now."


    Derek saw that this woman was stubborn and that she would continue to hide the truth. He narrowed


    his eyes, and when Meredith was about to walk past him, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her


    slender waist.


    Meredith was startled and was taken into Derek''s arms by his hand. She couldn''t help but scream,


    "What are you doing?"


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    Derek felt her soft breasts pressing against his chest. Meredith''s face was red from fright. The


    expression on her face was a little less indifferent and a little more yful and lovely, making his mind


    wander.


    "You''re hiding something from me."


    Derek''s tone was very firm. He turned slightly and pressed Meredith against the ss on the balcony,


    against her legs and waist, leaving her no room for struggle.


    Meredith only felt that the blood from all over her body was rushing to her brain. This position was too


    strange. Derek was stuck between her legs. Her feet were nearly off the ground so that she could only


    put her weight on the man and couldn''t move.


    "No." Although Meredith was embarrassed and angry, she still insisted on hiding her secret.


    She couldn''t let Derek know about this. If this man knew, he would definitely stop her and found the


    evidence personally, but she didn''t know when he could sess. The Masons was afraid of reprisals,


    and they wouldn''t let their guard down on this matter.


    Only Leo was the most perfect breakthrough for her to find evidence. She couldn''t just give up.


    "No?" Derek spat out a word coldly and suddenly snatched the phone from Meredith''s hand.

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    Chapter 142


    Meredith was startled and could only watch Derek snatch her phone away.


    The man''s slender fingers scratched the screen a few times, but he didn''t see the call record. It must


    have been deleted.


    This time, he was 100 % sure that Meredith had done something.


    "If really nothing happened, why did you delete it?"


    Derek leaned close to Meredith''s ear with a dangerous tone, and the warm breath made her tense up.


    However, she still forced herself to say, "I just... identally deleted it."


    However, she had no guts in what she said, and she could not even convince herself.


    Derek, on the other hand, could tell that she was being stubborn. His hand gently fell on Meredith''s


    chin and slid down vaguely.


    The man''s body temperature was already a little higher than the woman''s. Meredith could only feel the


    scorching temperatureing down and stopping on her chest, faintly showing a tendency to touch


    and stop at her private position.


    This was a balcony!


    Meredith hurriedly reached out to push Derek away but her breasts were caught by the big hands in


    front of her immediately. The feeling of numbness hit her and made her lose all her confidence.


    She could only look over with a red face and lower her voice in a rage. "Are you crazy? It would be


    seen."


    "I do it identally."


    Derek''s face was unchanging and his heart was not beating. He mimicked Meredith''s tone and said


    that there was no awkwardness from him that two people on the balcony doing such shameless things


    in ces that could be found at any time.


    Looking at the man''s calm face, Meredith felt as if her face was about to evaporate. However, she


    could not run away and struggle, and could only bepletely controlled by Derek.


    "What, say it, or... Don''t say it?"


    Derek looked at Meredith in his arms, who was as red as a boiled shrimp. Meredith did not know that


    this expression of shyness and annoyance could not stop a man, but rather stimte his sexual


    interest.


    "You pervert, hooligan!"


    Meredith stretched out her hand to put it between them, but it was of no help. Just as the man''s hand


    was about to continue to stir up, suddenly, a surprised male voice came from the opposite side.


    "Is there someone having sex in the open air? That''s exciting."


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    Meredith was too scared to move. If a neighbor saw her doing this with a man on the balcony...


    What would they think of her?


    They would definitely think she was a dissolute woman.


    "Please, let me go... I can''t..."


    Meredith looked at Derek with pleading eyes.


    Derek saw that she was indeed afraid so loosened his grip a little, which made Meredith run away from


    him like an amnesty.


    Derek nced coldly at the man who had disturbed his good affair and scared him out of the balcony


    immediately.


    Meredith ran back to her bedroom and drew the curtains tightly. Her heart was still beating wildly.


    Fortunately, Derek didn''t force it. Otherwise...


    Meredith felt a little wrong at the thought of being insulted as a woman who didn''t know how to behave.


    She really wasn''t that kind of person.


    However, no one was willing to believe her exnation because she had been jailed.


    Derek pushed open the door and saw the little woman sitting on the bed with her knees in her arms


    and her eyes glistening with water. Her slender body curled up like this, making her look even more


    pitiful.

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    Chapter 143


    "Why do you look so aggrieved?"


    Seeing her like this, Derek softened his tone involuntarily. He had just wanted to tell Meredith that she


    shouldn''t hide anything from him, but he didn''t expect to be turned on by her hot body and almost hurt


    her.


    "Of course you don''t care, but what if... my neighbors just saw me? What do you think they would think


    of me? A slutty woman."


    Because of the grievance, Meredith did not bear it anymore, but said what she thought.


    Derek was hurt by the sadness in her eyes. He thought of something and then fell into silence.


    Seeing this, Meredith smiled bitterly.


    How could someone like Derek understand her feelings? To a man like him, it was just a small piece of


    juicy news that he had a rtionship with some woman, but to an ordinary person like her, it was a


    disaster.


    He probably couldn''t understand the difference.


    "Thank you for bringing dinner today, but since there''s nothing else, you should leave so that your


    family members won''t be worried."


    Meredith also did not want to pester with Derek, so she was directly going to chase him away.


    However, after waiting for a long time, Meredith did not hear the sound of the door closing at all. Only


    then did she see Dereking over, his face somewhat gloomy.


    Was he angry at what she just said?


    Meredith thought that Derek was going to scold her for being ungrateful and not telling right from


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    wrong, but she didn''t expect that the man was just sitting beside her calmly. "What you said makes


    sense. I had some prejudice against you before, but I will change it in the future."


    Meredith was stunned for a moment. When did Derek be so gentle?


    Seeing that she didn''t speak, Derek didn''t say anything more, but he didn''t leave either. Instead, he got


    into Meredith''s bed rudely.


    "Since you won''t tell me, I can only use some special means."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s confused face. "I''ll stay tonight."


    Meredith was shocked. "What? He stays?"


    The house she rented was just a small one bedroom. There was no ce for him to sleep. If he had to


    stay, then...


    Unless they slept in the same bed.


    "It''s so confined here, there''s no ce..."


    Meredith immediately refused, but Derek turned a deaf ear andy down directly and snatched


    Meredith''s pillow to sleep.


    Since Meredith refused to tell him what she had just kept from him, he had to stay with her so that she


    wouldn''t act rashly.


    Seeing that she could not kick him out, Meredith had to give up.


    "Then you sleep outside." Meredith pointed to the sofa outside. She didn''t want to share a bed with


    Derek. It was too dangerous.


    "No, your sofa is so small. How can I get to sleep?"


    Meredith was furious. "Why didn''t I notice that he was so shameless before?" She thought.


    "Then I''ll go, okay?" Meredith was going out with the quilt in her arms. She wanted to spend the night


    on the sofa.


    "Don''t go. Come on! Your bed is not that small. It''s perfect for two people."


    Derek pulled Meredith and pressed her against the bed. Meredith was so scared that she didn''t dare to


    move, afraid of turning him on again. Surprisingly, Derek didn''t do anything, just hugged her quietly.


    Meredithy in his warm arms for a while, gradually getting sleepy. She rxed her vignce, and


    unconsciously fell asleep.


    Derek looked at the woman in his arms and gently got out of bed and turned off the light.


    Later, he went out and called Damian. "Find out who Meredith has called today."

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    Chapter 144


    Early in the morning, the sun shone through the thin curtains into the room. Meredith moved her


    eyshes before she slowly woke up.


    Noticing that there was another person beside her, she was stunned for a while before remembering


    that Derek had also stayed yesterday.


    Meredith blushed and sat up in a hurry. She looked at her neatly dressed clothes. It seemed that


    nothing should have happened.


    Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. Derek was liable to wake up. She woke him up from the noise she


    made. There was more gloom between his eyebrows. When he saw her move, he felt both angry and


    amused.


    Was this woman afraid that he would do something to her?


    "Don''t worry, I''m not that hungry. I''m not sexually interested in a woman who sleeps like a pig."


    After that, Derek got up and went into the bathroom to wash up.


    Meredith looked at his back and waved her fist. Was she like a pig? She actually looked very quiet and


    After getting up, Meredith made a simple breakfast out of the ingredients in the fridge. Only then did


    Meredith remember that she had important business to do today, so she took a look at the man who


    was eating his toast slowly.


    "You can''t stay out all day, can you? If you don''t go back, the Xaviers will worry you."


    If Derek had been here, she wouldn''t have had the chance to talk to Leo.


    "Are you looking forward to my leaving?" Derek looked at her calmly.


    Yesterday, Damian had found out who Meredith was contacting. He didn''t forget Leo so quickly.


    He remembered that this man was Meredith''s fianc¨¦. This man even was arrogant to Derek as he


    thought he was Meredith''s fianc¨¦. He had clearly warned Meredith not to get involved with such people.


    It seemed that she had not heard of him at all.


    "No... No..." Meredith found that Derek knew her purpose. She smiled awkwardly, but she was still


    anxious.


    Seeing her like this, Derek stopped asking, "Since that''s the case, I''ll go back first. It just so happens


    that I have to go through the discharge formalities in hospital today."


    Meredith nodded. She waited for Derek to finish his breakfast before sending him out. Then, she began


    to pack up the things she needed to deal with Leo.


    A recording pen, a drug that she had ground into powder, and an electric shock rod for protection.


    After packing things up, Meredith changed into a clean suit. She found her hat and sunsses, and


    then she dressed herself up. Seeing that she could not recognize who it was, she nodded with


    satisfaction.


    Derek went downstairs, but he did not leave. Instead, he waited patiently downstairs for a while, and


    soon someone rushed over.


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    "Keep an eye on her. Keep me informed of any incidents."


    Derek still had something to deal with, so he sent someone to keep an eye on Meredith. Since she


    didn''t want to tell him, he would see what she was up to.


    After that, Derek looked up at Meredith''s window again.


    He hoped that Meredith would not take his words too lightly and make any decisions that would


    disappoint him.


    ...


    As time went by, it was almost dark. Leo also called to ask when Meredith would arrive. She walked out


    with her things packed.


    Taking a deep breath, Meredith clenched her fists. This time, she could only seed, not fail.


    She had to get everything Leo knew out of his mouth and avoid any future trouble.

 Chapter 145

    Chapter 145


    Meredith went downstairs and soon took a taxi to the rendezvous spot.


    What she didn''t know was that the moment she came downstairs, Derek''s man who had been arranged


    in advance kept heeding her movements. They followed her in the car as they called Derek, reporting


    Meredith''s departure.


    ...


    In the Xaviers


    Derek was discharged from the hospital. Although he himself insisted that there was no need for any


    unnecessary action, the Xaviers did not dare to neglect him.


    Some rtives and friends were invited to the home. And the Xaviers even put a god statue in the


    house superstitiously.


    The rest of them, Derek, felt easy to deal with, but he didn''t expect that... Chloe was here too.


    Derek''s bald refusal seemed to deal a blow to Chloe, so they hadn''t seen each other for a long time.


    Derek thought she understood and gave up. Out of his expectation, it seemed that it wasn''t as smooth


    as he thought, for she came to see him.


    "Derek, you''re out of the hospital. Congrattions. I came to see how you were."


    Chloe felt indeed ufortable. She was such a proud person, after being rejected so baldly, that it


    was not easy for her to swallow her pride.


    However, she came after all, which was mostly because she didn''t want to give others a chance.


    Especially since Derek got released today, she thought, he couldn''t force her out.


    After looking around, Chloe felt a little better, for she found that Meredith didn''t appear at the Xaviers.


    As expected, Meredith did not get the recognition of the Xaviers, at such an asion, even the


    opportunity to appear.


    This also made Chloe feel a little reassuring.


    "Actually, you didn''t need toe here."


    Derek said indifferently.


    "You came out of the hospital. Such an important matter. How could I note?"


    Chloe smiled, seeming nothing wrong with her expression. Such a decent behavior made Derek have


    no excuse to leave.


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    However, at the thought of what Meredith seemed to be doing that he did not know, Derek gradually


    lost the patience to talk and walked to the old master. "There are still some things to do in the


    "What can''t be done tomorrow?" The old master did not give him face at all and pointed to the god


    statue he had bought. "Don''t go anywhere. You should worshipter. Don''t make any trouble again to


    scare me, an old man."


    Derek''s eyes were darkened, feeling helpless. Just as he did not know how to persuade the old master,


    Chloe stepped forward and said kindly, "I can drive him to thepany, if Derek has something to do.


    Grandpa, you can rest assured that I''m a good driver."


    Chloe knew Derek''s nature. He was a workaholic. If he didn''t solve thepany thing, he would


    probably sneak out at night.


    Then, it would be better to do him a favor. What''s more, there are so many people here. If they went


    out, she could be alone with him.


    The old master looked at Chloe, who was very adorable and sensible, and now she was a good


    candidate for his granddaughter-inw. He nodded and said, "Okay, then you have to watch him


    closely."


    What the old master said made Chloe feel kind of delighted, her cheek blushed, "Then, let''s go."


    How could Derek not understand what they meant? It was just that he had something to do, so he


    could only bear it. He followed Chloe out and pulled his tie away. "I¡®ve got many other things to take


    care of. Just put me at that intersection."


    Looking at Derek''s expressionless face, Chloe''s eyes shed with doubt. Wasn''t he going to the


    "I''ll drive you there. I keep my word. You are going to date, not wanting me to see, aren''t you?"


    Derek frowned slightly. Chloe saw his reaction and immediately realized that he was really going to see


    another woman.


    Who can it be? Meredith?

 Chapter 146

    Chapter 146


    Anger and reluctance surged into her heart, but Chloe did not show it. She contained the negative


    emotions in her heart. "But if you go out alone, I can''t exin to Grandpa Xavier."


    Derek saw that Chloe had made up her mind not to leave easily. His face darkened slightly and his


    tone became somewhat serious. "Stop over there."


    Chloe listened to his cold tone and was extremely aggrieved. "Derek, why are you so defensive against


    me? Aren''t we friends? I have no right to know you or to care about you?"


    "Friends also need to keep a distance. Stop the car."


    Derek answered gently, and Chloe tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Her veins bulged, but she


    did not dare to act rashly or show any hysteria. If she did so, she would only push Derek to another


    woman.


    "Okay, I get it." Holding back her anger, Chloe stopped the car and let Derek get out. Damian had been


    waiting for a long time and was a little surprised to see them show up together.


    "Now, where is she?" Derek asked bluntly, not caring about anything else.


    "I think she''s going to the Sophia Hotel. Boss, the person Miss Mason just contacted is Leo."


    As Damian spoke, he watched Derek''s expression, fearing that this sentence would ignite Derek''s


    anger like a fuse.


    Derek''s face became solemn. His dark eyes became cold and threatening. Well, Meredith really


    ignored his words. How did she dare to check into a hotel room with that kind of person?


    "Let''s go there right away." Derek parted his thin lips and said a few words coldly, and then he sat in the


    back seat. Damian dared not dy and he immediately started the car.


    Chloe was not far away and she did not leave. She looked at the speeding car and clenched her fists.


    Her nails were pressed into her palms, leaving a few red marks on her slender and beautiful hands, but


    she did not notice them.


    Without hesitation, Chloe followed them.


    She wanted to see what kind of magic a woman like Meredith had so that Derek would rather go find


    her than attend his family dinner.


    ...


    Meredith found the hotel at the address Leo gave her.


    After arriving at the hotel, Meredith was not in a hurry to enter. Instead, she waited for someone at the


    door.


    A few days ago, after she told Julius about the n, he gave her a contact number to help her


    yboys like Leo.


    Meredith waited for a while and then she saw a beautiful and sexy woman walking over. When the


    woman saw Meredith, she looked at her and said, "Are you the person Julius is talking about?"


    Meredith nodded and the woman smiled. "My name is Marie."


    Soon, Meredith told the woman about her n. Meredith had prepared some self-defense tools and a


    bag of powdered sleeping pills. After a while, she ned to bide her time and captivated Leo. Then she


    would put him to sleep when he wasn''t paying attention. Finally, she would take a few nude photos of


    him. In this way, he had to tell her everything he knew.


    However, after Meredith finished speaking, Marie couldn''t help butugh out loud. "Sleeping pills? This


    thing has slow efficacy. Before you can put him to sleep, he has already gotten you. Besides, are you


    sure that a notorious yboy like him will care about a few nude photos? He''s not a woman. Even if he


    gets exposed, he won''t lose anything."


    Meredith frowned and she knew Marie''s words made sense. But this was the only idea she could think


    of. She could not force Leo to tell the truth on her own.


    "Leave this to me." Marie patted Meredith on the shoulder and stuffed a bag into her hand. Inside was


    a handkerchief. It seemed that there was nothing special about it.


    "This is a towel stained with ether. If you find a chance to cover that person''s face with this for a few


    seconds, you can knock him out for a few hours. At that time, I will make him tell you everything you


    want to know."


    Meredith looked at the small bag. She said without any hesitation. "Okay, when I seed, I''ll call you."


    After that, Meredith hid it in her pocket and walked in the hotel as if nothing had happened.


    ording to the room number Leo gave her, Meredith found the room and knocked on the door. Soon,


    the door opened.


    Leo had been waiting impatiently for Meredith to show up. Seeing that she was still dressed as usual,


    he was a little dissatisfied. "This is what you wear?"


    Meredith sneered. What else did he want? Did he think that she would dress up like Ava and try her


    best to attract him?


    She was disgusted to see him. How could she possibly do such boring things for a man like him?


    "Are you so superficial, just caring about the beauty outside?" Although Meredith was disdainful, in


    order to captivate Leo, she smiled on purpose. Besides, she followed Marie''s instructions. She stuck


    out her tongue and licked her lips to flirt with him.


    Leo had always thought that Meredith was very conservative, and even a little boring. Her simple action


    like this, however, had a different kind of temptation, which made it hard for him to control his desire.


    Immediately, he could not restrain his emotions and quickly pulled Meredith into the room. "Then I


    would like to see what you have done with your inside."


    Leoid his greedy eyes on Meredith, as if he was imagining if there was any surprise hidden on


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Meredith''s fully covered body.


    "Of course, you will be satisfied." As Meredith spoke, she pretended to cooperate and walked to the


    bedside with Leo.


    Leo was about to press her down on the bed impatiently, but Meredith reached out her hand. "Don''t


    you think it''s too fast?"


    Leo frowned. "What do you want?"


    Meredith walked around behind him. "I''ve recently learned how to massage. Why don''t you let me


    massage you?"


    Leo was a little reluctant, but Meredith insisted that it was important and she must satisfy him, so he


    Meredith let Leo lie down on the bed and stretched out her hand to massage him in the way she had


    learned to massage Derek to rx his muscles.


    She massaged him with moderate strength and speed. Soon, Leo began to enjoy this kind of thoughtful


    service. After a while, he closed his eyes. The look in Meredith''s eyes became solemn. Then, she


    gently took out what Marie had just given her from her pocket. She opened it, and was about to cover


    Leo''s mouth and nose as Marie said. At this moment, the man suddenly opened his eyes. He saw what


    she was holding in her hand, and his eyes turned cold.


    Meredith was startled. "I just took it out to wipe the sweat off."


    Leo sneered. "Meredith, do you think I''m a fool? This is something that is illegally transacted and it is


    used to knock people out. Sure enough, you''re not that honest."

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147


    Meredith was startled. She wanted to continue arguing, but Leo quickly grabbed her wrist with great


    force, causing a sharp pain in her bones.


    The thing in her hand slowly slid down.


    Leo smiled coldly when he saw the situation. "Meredith, with that little trick, you want to fight me?"


    As a shrewd man who had been in the society for so many years, Leo had seen a lot of simr tricks. If


    he had been so unprepared, he would have been ckmailed a lot of times.


    "Let go!" Meredith was startled and stared at him with wide eyes. She was still careless. She didn''t


    expect Leo to be so vignt. She thought too simply!


    "Let go? If you want to plot against me, you have to pay the price. Well, after we have sex, I''ll take a


    few more photos as a souvenir, which is... also a lesson for you."


    With that, Leo came over and tore at Meredith''s clothes. Meredith was in a panic and struggled with all


    her might. This time, she didn''t expect to fail in such a situation. She still underestimated Leo.


    Meredith struggled harder. She waved her limbs and hit Leo''s body, which made him more irritated.


    "You''ve made the scene worse."


    With that said, ignoring the pain of Meredith hitting his body, he pressed her down with great strength.


    Then, he pulled out the belt of his bathrobe and tied her hands tightly. "How are you going to struggle


    now?"


    Meredith struggled to free herself from the restraints on her hands, but it became tighter. Leo looked at


    her desperate resistance and sneered. He got out of bed, took out a small potion and shook it at


    Meredith. "Are you still pretending to be a pure virgin now? This is a good thing. I''m sure you''re going


    to get high soon."


    Meredith retreated a little in horror. She knew that Leo''s private life was messy, but she didn''t expect


    that he actually carried this kind of thing with him. Was he a pervert?


    However, her hands were tied. Even though she was still trying to escape, her ankle was grabbed by


    Leo. "Be obedient and you won''t be too ufortable. Otherwise, I''m afraid I''ll be too fierce in a while


    and kill the child in your belly."


    When Meredith heard this, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. He was really inhumane.


    Suddenly, she had an instinct to survive. She pulled her ankle out of Leo''s hands, kicked him hard in


    the chest, and ran out barefoot.


    "Fuck, this bitch." Leo was kicked, his chest hurt badly, his anger grew, and his desire subsided by half.


    He just wanted to get Meredith back and torture her.


    Meredith ran to the door. She wanted to open the door, but her hands were tied. She could only bite the


    door handle with her teeth and try to open the door and escape. But when she heard the footsteps


    Was this the end?


    Leo walked over with a grim smile. "Look at you now. You look like a dog. I''ll definitely make you kneel


    down and beg for mercyter."


    Meredith was so anxious that tears were almosting out from her eyes, but Leo ran after her in a


    few steps and grabbed her hair. "I haven''t yed such an exciting game with a pregnant woman yet.


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    Why don''t we use the child in your belly as a test item and see if it could survive or not?"


    Meredith looked at him hatefully. Her maternal instinct made her not want to give up any hope. She


    couldn''t help shouting, "Help, someone is killing! Please save me!"


    Leo nced at her. "It''s useless. The sound instion here is very good. It''s useless even if you


    scream. It''s better to think about how you can feel betterter. After all, you really pissed me off."


    As he spoke, Leo pulled Meredith''s hair and walked towards the big bed step by step. The sharp pain


    in her scalp made Meredith unable to struggle. She could only close her eyes tightly.


    Was she really going to wait helplessly for Leo to torture her...


    Leo came over, pinched Meredith''s chin, and poured the drug down her throat. Although Meredith tried


    hard not to drink that strange thing, she was unable to close her mouth but only red at him with her


    red eyes. She could not resist but bear the violence with anger.


    It was only a short while before the drug worked. Meredith felt as if she had been thrown into a mass of


    hotva, and the air around her was burning, blurring her vision.


    However, her only reason was still shouting. She could not be stained by Leo. She would rather die


    than be insulted by such a person.


    ...


    Derek quickly rushed to the hotel where Meredith was.


    Of this hotel, Leo was a shareholder. Due to this reason, confidentiality was the best, so he often


    brought a variety of women over for fun.


    Therefore, when Derek asked them where they were with a cold face, the staff still had the intention to


    help cover it up.


    "This is our guest''s privacy."


    Derek''s face turned ugly as if he was going to kill the person in front of him. Privacy?


    "Damian, deal with it."


    With that, Derek was about to look for them. The staff were startled and tried to stop him, but they were


    so scared by Damian''s cold threats that they didn''t dare move. "Don''t do anything stupid. If Mr. Xavier


    gets angry, it''s quite easy to make this hotel bankrupt !"


    Derek looked at the messy rooms. He could only locate a rough area without knowing where Meredith


    exactly was.


    Just as Derek was angry, Marie, dressed as a hotel cleaner waiting outside for news, came out, looking


    at his anxious expression. Before she could speak, Derek held her shoulders.


    "Did you see a woman about this tall with long hair?"


    "I..." Marie instantly understood that he was looking for Meredith. She was also a little nervous when


    she saw the man''s expression.


    After all, Meredith had been in there for a long time, and in normal circumstances, she should have


    been out a long time ago.


    "I seemed to see her." With that, Marie nodded and took Derek to the room where Meredith had been


    in. Besides, she did not leave immediately but waited to see what was going on inside first.


    After all, she was Julius''s friend, and she couldn''t just stand by and watch her get into trouble.


    Derek walked to the closed door and knocked hard. "Meredith,e out!"


    Because of his anger, there was no pause in the man''s voice at all. When he thought that Meredith


    didn''t listen to his words and go to this ce to be alone with Leo, he could not wait to find this damn


    woman and beat her up to vent his anger.

 Chapter 148

    Chapter 148


    Leo was holding his phone and filming Meredith, who was struggling with her clothes in disarray on the


    bed.


    Since Meredith had the guts to plot against him, he would take pictures of her in the worst shape. By


    then, Meredith would be a dog under his feet, and she would have to do whatever he wanted her to do.


    Even the people in power she had attached herself to, such as Derek, would despise her.


    Thinking of this, Leo flushed with excitement. After fixing the camera, he was about to go to bed to start


    his ''dinner'' today.


    Meredith''s mind was already bing unconscious. She didn''t expect the drug''s effect to be so


    strong. She pinched herself hard and even bit her lips until blood flowed, but it was still hard to resist


    the lust from the inside out.


    Noticing that Leo was slowly approaching her, Meredith unconsciously kicked her legs to get rid of him,


    but her movements were so weak, without any deterrence. Just as she didn''t know what to do,


    suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    Derek''s deep, angry voice came outside the door like a basin of cold water, waking Meredith''s cloudy


    mind for a moment.


    Was Derek... here?


    Was it real, or was she dreaming?


    Meredith thought with her dull brain. At this moment, Leo stopped and looked at the door with a livid


    face.


    How did Derek find this ce? This was his family''s hotel, and even if the Xaviers was very powerful,


    Derek couldn''t be able to know his room number that easily.


    Derek saw that no one in the room responded to him, and his face became even sullen. "Are you sure


    this is the room?"


    Marie nodded. "Absolutely, I saw them with my own eyes!"


    "Meredith, are you in there?"


    Derek''s voice came again. This time, Meredith was sure that he was here, and she did not know where


    did she get the strength. She overturned Leo who was on herp and ran to the door with her weak


    body. "Derek, help me... I..."


    Meredith said, feeling indescribably ashamed. Derek had repeatedly warned her, but not only did she


    not do a good job, she almost...


    Hearing Meredith''s voice, Derek''s eyes became colder and colder. Her voice was soft and weak, very


    strange.


    "Leo, open the door now. Maybe I can let you go."


    Thinking of Meredith''s situation, Derek did not ask her to do anything more and instead began to


    negotiate with Leo.


    Leo heard Derek''s calm tone and clenched his fists. From the beginning to now, Derek had beaten him


    over and over again. Whether it was the appearance, family background, or personal abilities, Leo was


    always the inferior.


    And now, Derek ordered him in such a condescending tone?


    Leo sneered, "Why? I''m having a good time with my woman at our will. Mr. Xavier, do you have to take


    care of this too?"


    Meredith''s hearing was already blurry. When she heard this, she immediately said, "No, I''m not!"


    The voice outside the door was quiet for a while. Leo thought that Derek had been angered and walked


    away by Meredith''s humiliation of cuckolding him, and a smug smile appeared on his face. "Well, he


    doesn''t care about you anymore. You''re just a toy. Do you still think you''re important?"


    Meredith shook her head. The feeling of getting hope but suddenly losing it again made her confused


    and even more desperate than before.


    Didn''t Derek believe her?


    Because she had repeatedly disobeyed him, so did he stop caring about her?


    Looking at Meredith''s desperate look, Leo was proud. He was about to continue to do something with


    Meredith, but suddenly, a ''pleasant sound'' came from the door. Derek kicked the door open and almost


    knocked Leo to the ground.


    Just now, it was Damian who solved these staff members who still dared to resist. He brought the


    master control card.


    "How, how did you get this?"


    Leo looked at Derek in disbelief. This was his family''s hotel, and he was the boss of this ce. How


    could those trash give this to Derek?


    Derek looked at him indifferently, as if he were looking at some piece of trash that was not worth


    mentioning on the roadside. Then, his eyes fell on Meredith, and his pupils suddenly shrank.


    Meredith''s clothes had been ripped open by Leo, and her skin was faintly visible. Because of the drug,


    she felt so hot that her skin turned seductively pink. However, there were many messy scratches on her


    arm. In order to remain rational, she had to use the stupidest method of self-harm. Her lips were


    already bleeding from the bite, and the faint blood was smeared on her cheeks. She looked extremely


    disheveled.


    Marie, who had been standing quietly beside Derek and Damian, was also shocked to see Meredith


    like this. She didn''t expect Meredith to encounter such a thing. If it wasn''t that Derek had found this


    ce, she would have been...


    Derek strode over, took off his coat, and covered Meredith with it directly to cover her fair skin and the


    hot body that may be seen by others. Then, he grasped her hands that were still struggling. "How are


    you feeling now?"


    Although he was angry and furious with Meredith at what she had done, Derek could only felt


    heartbroken when he saw her like this. He ignored the thought of giving her a lesson after finding her


    but just asked her softly.


    "I... I feel terrible..." Meredith felt the familiar smell and the familiar temperature approaching her. She


    had been forcing herself to summon up the spirit, but now she copsed in an instant. She was too


    tired, and at this moment, she had no strength to continue resisting.


    The moment Derek approached her, she took the initiative to lean her hot body into Derek''s arms.


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    The woman''s scorching body temperature, her soft body, and some sweet moans revealed from her


    slightly opened red lips all instantly ignited Derek''s desire.


    But because of the presence of others, he did not do anything. Instead, he picked Meredith up and


    ned to deal with Leo, the trash who had an exaggerated opinion of his abilities,ter.


    When Leo saw this, he was even angrier. Meredith had resisted him and tried to protect her pureness


    at all costs. But when she saw Derek, she even took the initiative to get close to him. Meredith, this


    bitch, indeed admired the rich and despised the less rich people.


    "Mr. Xavier, Meredith came voluntarily. I didn''t force her."


    Leo seeded in getting Derek''s attention.


    "I didn''t. I wasn''t... I was... for the evidence." Meredith in Derek''s arms suddenly grabbed his clothes,


    afraid that he would misunderstand.


    Looking at her stubborn look, Derek was both heartbroken and helpless. Didn''t he say that he would


    help her? Why couldn''t she wait?


    "I know." Derek did not hesitate. A few simple words calmed Meredith down, and then she remembered


    something. "He, he took... took pictures of me."


    Derek''s already cold face became a little more murderous. He looked at Leo who was still trying to say


    something more to provoke him.

 Chapter 149

    Chapter 149


    Even though Meredith was already unconscious, she still remembered what Leo had just done. The


    consequences would be unimaginable once the things he had photographed began to circte.


    "I don''t expect the young master of the Howards to be so filthy and shameless."


    Derek slowly walked over and looked at Leo, who managed to look him in the eye withposure.


    Suddenly, Derek kicked Leo hard at his penis!


    Derek had been practicing self-defense and was strong. His attack was far more powerful than from


    Meredith''s, who was a jack-of-all-trades.


    Leo immediately broke out in cold sweat from the pain. His legs went weak and he knelt down


    awkwardly.


    He felt like his penis was almost ruined by Derek!


    "Ouch! Derek, you lunatic!"


    "Get someone to take him out." After saying that, Derek ignored him and gave Damian an order. When


    he walked into the room and saw the camera, his eyes were cold and without any hesitation, he


    smashed it to the ground.


    The expensive camera immediately broke into pieces. Derek took a look at it and it was only when he


    took out the memory card that Meredith''s nerves, which had been tense, finally rxed.


    However, once the worry disappeared, she couldn''t ignore her lust. She could not help but grasp


    Derek''s clothes and unconsciously got close to the man''s broad and solid chest, rubbing against it.


    Only when she was touched by Derek, could she feel that strong desire be alleviated.


    Her touch inmed Derek''s desire for sex, but his reason prevented him from doing anything


    inappropriate. Then he said in a hoarse voice, "Fetch the doctor!"


    Derek said to Damian, then walked in another empty room.


    Marie originally wanted to stop him when she looked at this scene, but when she saw that Derek was


    possessive, she did not dare to act rashly. It seemed that he cared about Meredith very much, so


    nothing wrong was going to happen, right?


    Thinking about it, Marie did not dare to dy here any longer and had to leave temporarily as Damian


    had already noticed her, who was dressed as a cleaner and was watching the fun.


    After everyone left, Leo struggled on the ground and just as he wanted to get up to leave, Damian


    stopped him.


    "Mr. Howard, I''m sorry. Please cooperate with me. Mr. Xavier just ordered me to keep an eye on you."


    "Let me tell you, I am the heir of the Howards. If you dare to do anything to me, the Howards will not


    give up so easily. How dare you, an unimportant assistant, tell me what to do?"


    "You can tell my boss what the Howards wants to do, but you can''t leave now!"


    Damian looked disdainfully at the arrogant and ignorant man in front of him. From what Damian saw,


    Derek had been angered and he would never let off Leo easily. As for the Howards...


    Sooner orter, the Howards would be destroyed.


    ...


    Derek carried Meredith to another room. Along the way, Meredith kept moving around in his arms. She


    hadpletely lost control of herself and was guided by instinct to free herself from this torture.


    Derek also endured the desire, but when he thought that she was pregnant, he did not dare to act


    rashly and could only endure the lust in his heart. He threw her on the bed, "Wake up, Meredith. The


    doctor will be here soon."


    However, Meredith could no longer hear what he was saying. She only felt that this voice was familiar


    and pleasant. At least, it gave her an indescribable sense of security.


    "Oh, but I feel bad..." Meredith tore at her clothes, and soon she was even more disheveled when her


    clothes were torn apart.


    Derek could only look away from her attractive nakedness. He had never felt such a strong temptation


    before. This woman was so reckless that she had taken the initiative to seduce him.


    Meredith didn''t feel any better after the clothes were pulled open, so she got up and flung her arms


    around Derek''s neck before he could react. Her sweet, jelly-like lips came closer.


    Derek couldn''t dodge and she kissed him on his lips. Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation in his lower


    abdomen. His originally dark eyes were as deep and dark as a pr night, making people indulge in


    them.


    It was just... Derek''s willpower hadn''tpletely copsed yet, "The doctor will be here soon. Hold on!"


    As he spoke, he resisted the urge and pulled the woman''s soft body away.


    "I don''t want a doctor. I want you..."


    Perhaps it was because of the medicine, or perhaps it was because Derek appeared in time to save


    her again, Meredith said in a rarely coquettish tone, but Derek''s eyes grew darker and darker.


    He admitted that what Meredith said just now gave him a great sense of satisfaction.


    "You really want me to do this?"


    Derek stepped back a little to increase the distance between them, and then he pinched her chin and


    asked.


    Derek had always been arrogant. He would not force a woman who was unconscious.


    "Yes, I... want you."


    Meredith nodded without hesitation.


    Her explicit courtship made Derek''s penis even hotter. There was a trace of craziness and mania in the


    man''s cold eyes, as if he was going topletely possess the woman in front of him.


    Derek narrowed his eyes, "Who am I? Meredith, see who I am."


    "You''re Derek. I can''t be wrong..." Meredith obediently said what Derek wanted to hear. When she said


    his name, the man didn''t pretend to be cold anymore and kissed Meredith on her lips domineeringly.


    Since she was willing, it was too pretentious of him to refuse again and again.


    There was a slight pain in the area where her lips had been bitten, and Meredith was a little more


    conscious than before. However, this time when she saw the familiar handsome face in front of her, she


    did not have the slightest sense of resistance, but responded more enthusiastically.


    Sensing her enthusiasm, Derek no longer dawdled. Although he had had sex with Meredith before, he


    forced her to do so. Now, Meredith''s cooperation made him lose his senses. He just wanted to


    Meredith closed her eyes and felt as if she were a drowning person floating above the sea. No matter


    whether the current was rapid or slow, she was powerless to resist. She could only go with the flow and


    let herself be thrown up and down.


    And the only thing she could rely on was the man in front of her. His arms were the only driftwood that


    could help her escape and the only Noah''s ark that could save her...


    ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Therefore, she could only cling to Derek and cater to his rhythm, letting the heat wave engulf her...

 Chapter 150

    Chapter 150


    When Meredith woke up, her whole body was filled with unspeakable pain. Her eyes widened, and


    scenes before she lost consciousness appeared in her mind.


    She was going to look for Leo, but her ruse was discovered, and she almost lost her chastity!


    Perhaps the effects of the drug had notpletely dissipated, but the thought made Meredith''s head


    buzzing, and her small face turned extremely pale.


    Meredith looked at everything around her. It was pale. She still had an iv needle in her hand, but


    Meredith was not in the mood to lie down. She quickly sat up from the bed, but a wave of pain came


    from her private parts. She could not help but cry out softly, "Oh, it hurts so much."


    Derek, who was talking to the nurse outside, heard the noiseing from inside and quickly walked in.


    When Meredith saw that it was Derek, she was a little relieved, and she couldn''t help but blush.


    She was no longer a virgin. She knew exactly what happened yesterday.


    Therefore, it was Derek who saved her. Those beautiful but scattered images were not the dreams she


    had when she was unconscious, but real.


    Derek looked at Meredith''splicated expression. "What''s wrong?"


    Meredith shook her head in confusion. Her confused look made Derek''s eyes dim. Last night, it was


    really a wonderful sexual experience. It was bone-chilling and soul-stirring to make love with Meredith.


    Meredith felt Derek''s gaze burning, not only blushing, but even her ears.


    Then Meredith remembered something, put her hand on her abdomen and asked anxiously, "My


    child..."


    "Don''t worry, it''s fine."


    Yesterday, Derek was very restrained when he thought about this, although it made him very


    ufortable.


    "That''s good\..." Meredith stroked her slightly bulging abdomen. Now that she had been pregnant for


    some days. Although Derek did not know that the child was his, he did not hurt the baby and made


    Meredith feel much relieved.


    Perhaps, there would be a day when Derek would ept this child.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s movements and walked over to push her back onto the bed. "Since you''re


    not in good health, you should receive treatment. This is the most responsible thing for your baby."


    Although Meredith had just woken up, Derek''s tone was stern.


    He had to let this reckless woman know how dangerous it was to act rashly.


    "Have you ever thought about what you would have done if I hadn''t found the room and opened the


    door?"


    Derek pinched Meredith''s chin and forced her to look into his eyes, not giving the woman the slightest


    chance to escape.


    If she didn''t receive enough lessons at once, she certainly didn''t know what dangerous things she had


    done.


    "I..." Meredith''s lips moved. Indeed, she was too rash to take full ount of the dangers. A trace of


    hatred shed in her eyes when she thought that Leo had actually said that he would take her child off.


    "Where is he? The evidence I want..."


    Although Meredith was med and regretted by Derek, she was still very concerned about the


    evidence in Leo''s hands.


    Whether she could clear her grievances depended on whether she could gather the evidence from Leo.


    "He''s in my hands now. Don''t worry. I have more ways to deal with him than you do." When Derek


    heard Leo''s name, more and more hostility glinted in his eyes. Leo dared to do such a dirty thing to plot


    against Meredith and almost seeded, how could he let Leo go easily?


    Just as Derek was thinking about how to make Leo pay the price he deserved, his cell phone rang.


    It was Damian.


    "Boss, it''s all arranged as you said. I think it won''t be long before he says it."


    Derek narrowed his eyes. "Really?"


    He would like to see for himself Leo''s current miserable state. He had been repeatedly provoked by


    Leo. Furthermore, he felt that if he did not deal with Leo again, Leo might think that he was a paper


    tiger.


    "What''s wrong?" Meredith heard Damian''s voice and thought it was most likely about the evidence, so


    she tried to get up. "I''ll go too."


    She really needed to prove her innocence. If there was any hope, she would go and see it immediately.


    "Where are you going, huh?" Derek frowned unhappily. Meredith staggered along, almost unsteady on


    her feet, but still thinking about those things.


    Should it be said that this woman was so stupid that she didn''t care about her body, or was she so


    stubborn that she had forgotten everything in order to find out the truth?


    "Rest here and don''t run around, or else..."


    Derek vaguely stroked Meredith''s chin, and her fair skin immediately turned red from the touch of his


    scorching temperature.


    Meredith saw lust and heat in the man''s eyes. She froze for a moment, not daring to say anything


    more. How could he be so... Beast?


    Seeing that Meredith did not insist on following him, Derek was very satisfied and gently kissed her


    rosy lips. "If there is any news, I will tell you. I will not allow you to do this on your own again. Do you


    hear me clearly?"


    The distance between the two of them was so close that Derek''s warm breath when he spoke hit


    Meredith''s face, making her blush and giving her the urge to obey, so she nodded obediently.


    "Good girl, I called someone over to make you a nutritious meal."


    Seeing that Meredith was so obedient, Derek was in a good mood and kissed her on the cheek again


    before he stormed out of here.


    The caretaker, who had been holding things outside the door, saw Derek leave and came in. Seeing


    Meredith''s flushed face, she could not help but envy Meredith as she ced the things in her hands.


    "Your husband is wonderful. You''ve been in aa all day and all night. He''s been here with you all


    the time. Not only that, but he also specially ordered me to make chicken soup to nourish your body.


    Such a good man is rare."


    When Meredith heard the word "Husband," she wanted to deny it. After all, she and Derek divorced


    long ago, but looking at the envious look on the nurse''s face, she could not speak out.


    She had been injected with nutrient solution, but her stomach was empty after a long sleep. Meredith


    quickly put aside these embarrassments and ate arge mouthful of the food carefully prepared in front


    of her.


    Derek still remembered her taste so clearly. Everything was her favorite, and even the chicken soup


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    was not greasy at all. All the fat was removed beforehand, which made her feel unreal to be protected.


    Watching Meredith finish her meal, the caretaker neatly tidied up her things again. While she was


    cleaning up, she did not forget to chat with Meredith to relieve her boredom. However, when she saw


    Meredith''s broad hospital gown covering her corbone with red spots, she could not help but speak.


    "You are young ande energetic, but Miss Mason, you''re still pregnant, so you have to control yourself!"

 Chapter 151

    Chapter 151


    Meredith''s face turned as red as a ripe tomato. Seeing that she was embarrassed, the nurse said


    nothing more and went out after tidying.


    Meredith then lowered her head, pulled open her cor, and looked at the messy marks on her body.


    The hickeys on her snow-white skin were so obvious that it was impossible to ignore them.


    No wonder the nurse just said that!


    Meredith only felt so ashamed that she wished she could find a hole in the ground and got in. Was


    Derek a dog? How could he leave so many obvious marks...


    Just as she was thinking, there was a knock on the door outside. Meredith thought that the nurse was


    back, so she quickly pulled the quilt up and covered her body. "Come in."


    However, the person who came was not the nurse she thought, but... was Chloe.


    Chloe came in and she tried to keep a haughty expression. Last night, she followed Derek all the way


    to the hotel. She was afraid of being found out, so she could only sit in the car and observe the


    movement.


    After that, she waited all night and did not see Dereke out. The weatherst night was very cold,


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    but no matter how cold it was, it was not as cold as her heart!


    What a man and a woman would do in a hotel, she definitely knew without thinking.


    However, she was not reconciled. Chloe stayed out all night, and she kept imagining all kinds of scenes


    tofort herself. Maybe Derek was just asleep, maybe Meredith was sick, or something else.


    But all the excuses were shattered when Chloe saw Dereke out with Meredith in his arms.


    She saw Derek gently hold the woman in his arms as if holding some important treasure. And he


    carefully carried Meredith to the car.


    She even saw Derek''s cor was open and there were a few scratches on his chest.


    She clearly knew what happened.


    Chloe even wanted to rush up and question them. But in the end, she was not that bold. So she could


    only wait with anger until Derek left and she could have the chance to be alone with Meredith.


    "Why... Why are you here?"


    Meredith saw that it was Chloe and subconsciously stepped back twice. She had an instinctive


    resistance to this woman.


    Chloe would nevere to care about a stranger like her.


    Chloe did not say anything. Her scarlet eyes resulted from staying up all night, were fixed on Meredith''s


    covered body. The sight that looked like a snake got Meredith goosebumps all over her body.


    "You had sex with Derekst night?"


    Chloe stared firmly at Meredith, and her sharp eyes seemed to poke a hole in Meredith''s body.


    Meredith was a little embarrassed by this straightforward question. "I don''t have to answer your


    question, do I?"


    Chloe was infuriated by Meredith''s attitude, especially when she saw a blush on Meredith''s face, which


    was like showing off Derek''s love for Meredithst night.


    Impulsiveness overtook rationality, and Chloe came over in few steps. She no longer cared about the


    so-called debutantes'' reserve. She was like a shrew and pulled away Meredith''s tightly covered quilt.


    The loose hospital gown could not cover Meredith''s neck and corbone at all. The ambiguous marks


    on her were all seen by Chloe, which made Chloepletely lose her mind.


    "How can you... How can you be so shameless? I''ve told you, he''s mine, he''s mine!"


    Chloe reached out and tore at Meredith''s cor. She didn''t sleep at allst night, and the irritation made


    her go crazy.


    Meredith was startled by her frightening appearance. "What are you doing? Go away!"


    Chloe had always looked down on her, but Meredith did not expect that someone like her who liked to


    pretend to be ady would behave so impolitely.


    In particr, Chloe hit her rudely. Meredith could even feel the woman''s carefully manicured nails


    scratching her skin, and the pain was severe.


    Meredith also tried to resist regardless of the pain. Chloe was like crazy. For a moment, Meredith could


    do nothing but protect her face and abdomen.


    The two women were tangling with each other and the scene was extremely chaotic.


    Just at that moment, a man rushed over and quickly pulled the two women who didn''t care about their


    behaviors at all.


    "Chloe, calm down!"


    Asher found outst night that Chloe had not returned all night, and he felt that something was wrong.


    Today, he found out that she hade to the hospital. He quickly looked for her and found out that she


    had found Meredith and fought with her.


    Meredith saw Ashere in and quickly pulled the quilt over again. Just now, her clothes were pulled


    apart by Chloe and arge piece of skin was exposed.


    Asher had just inadvertently caught a glimpse of the marks on Meredith''s body, and then saw Chloe''s


    emotional breakdown, so how could he not know what happened?


    So, Meredith still didn''t want to let Derek go, or did she aim at the moon?


    After controlling Chloe, Asher patted her gently on the back, calming her down. At the same time, he


    looked at Meredith. "Did you ignore what I saidst time?"


    Meredith was so angry and even wanted tough after hearing his words.


    Who did Asher think he was? Chloe''s guardian knight? He said that he would give her money and she


    should leave Derek, then she had to be obedient?


    "I never seem to have agreed to what you said. From the beginning to the end, it was all your own


    wishful thinking."


    Meredith was also stubborn. Seeing that Asher was so tough, she answered stubbornly.


    Asher''s eyes turned cold as if he did not expect Meredith, who looked soft and weak, to dare to


    contradict him like this.


    It was her choice, so he had to punish her.


    "So, you deliberately seduced Derek, and then let Chloe see what kind of tricks you, a vixen, have. Do


    you want to provoke her?"


    Meredithughed instead of being angry. Asher called white ck, which made her feel ridiculous.


    "It was your baby Chloe who came to me actively. I was just lying on the hospital bed. Did I do anything


    wrong? Did I take off my clothes to show off something? She asked for troubles and you even cast the


    me on me. I''m still far worse than you in confusing right and wrong!"


    Meredith retorted and she was neither humble nor pushy.


    Asher''s face was gloomy. However, Meredith was telling the truth. It was Chloe''s fault. If Derek knew


    about it, he would be more partial to Meredith, the "victim". In that case, Chloe would be even more


    heart-broken.


    Thinking of this, Asher could only suppress the anger in his heart. "I didn''t expect you to be sharp-


    tongued. Do you really think that Derek will resist the Xaviers and us for you?"

 Chapter 152

    Chapter 152


    Meredith nced at Asher. It seemed that he was determined to go against her; in the face of this kind


    of person, she was annoyed and didn''t want to lose the upper hand.


    "You should ask him about this, not me."


    With that said, Meredith pointed to the door coldly, "This is my ward. Without my permission, what you


    did is so-called trespassing. Please get out of here."


    "Trespassing? Do you think this is your private space? If it weren''t Derek, how could you afford a room


    like this?"


    Chloe immediately retaliated.


    Asher wanted to provoke Meredith with a few more words, but Chloe seemed to be irritated and was


    emotionally unstable, so he could only suppress his dissatisfaction. "Well, since you don''t want to listen


    to me and leave Derek, we''ll see. Let''s see how long you can becent about this. When Derek


    sees who you really are, could you still be so proud?"


    After that, Asher carried Chloe in his arms and left.


    Looking at the back figures disappear from the ward, Meredith threw the pillow against the wall in


    anger.


    How could there be such unreasonable people who confused right and wrong? They took the initiative


    to provoke her and even acted like they were superior to her.


    However, Meredith did not seem as indifferent as she had just shown towards Asher''s words. If, not


    only the Xaviers but even Derek''s friends objected to her being with him...


    What on earth would Derek do? Meredith''s eyes became sad.


    Asher took Chloe to the car; his heart ached when he looked at her haggard appearance with her


    beautiful eyes being bloodshot.


    "Chloe, how could you..."


    Chloe was such a proud person. To her, acting as elegantly as a princess was her instinct. Asher could


    not imagine that Chloe would find Meredith''s ward and fight with her.


    "Did that woman provoke you?"


    Asher subconsciously put all the me on Meredith. It must have been something that the scheming


    woman said to mock Chloe that made her lose control.


    Chloe stopped being absent-minded and seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw when she saw


    the concern in Asher''s eyes. Now, he was the only one who could help her. She could only rely on the


    man in front of her.


    "It''s her. She was showing off to me. I am so sad."


    Chloe squeezed out a few tears of grievance, her voice trembling as if she had really been greatly


    aggrieved.


    She knew clearly Asher''s feelings for her, but she wouldn''t ept him. At the same time, she didn''t


    want to lose this man who was so obedient to her and could do anything for her.


    She was really too angry just now to keep herposure. Chloe knew that she had always been like a


    princess to Asher; in order not to destroy her perfect image in his heart, she simply med Meredith for


    everything.


    Asher grew sullen and said, "It seems that this woman is not as simple as I thought. A culprit who hurt


    Derek can actually make Derek forget the past, and even be so close to her, she is indeed scheming."


    "A culprit?"


    Chloe was stunned. Asher looked at her puzzled eyes and realized that he had let the cat out of the


    bag.


    When he found out about it, he deliberately hid it because he was worried that Chloe would get


    agitated.


    "What is going on? Tell me!"


    Chloe had a hunch that this matter must be very important. She held Asher''s hand and said, "Please,


    tell me. I don''t want to be a fool that knows nothing!"


    Asher had always fallen for her, and when he saw that she was about to cry again, he could not bear to


    refuse her, so he told her everything.


    After hearing his words, Chloe looked ahead in a daze.


    It turned out that Meredith was the one who hit Derek and ran away. It turned out that Meredith was the


    one who made Derek not meet Chloe at the airport on time. Did all these mean that everything was


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    already doomed?


    Chloe clenched her fists. Knowing this, her feelings for Meredith changed from anger and jealousy to a


    strong hatred.


    How could someone like Meredith ruin the love between her and Derek?


    Who did Meredith think she was?


    "Chloe, don''t be rash. We still need to think about it thoroughly and make a n."


    Asher saw what she was thinking andforted her immediately, "If you act rashly, it will only make


    Derek think that she is a victim. If he feels for Meredith, then you..."


    Chloe nodded, "I see."


    After what happened today, Chloe realized that all men liked were delicate and pitiful women; just like


    Meredith, a woman who had been in prison, was only epted by Derek by pretending to be pitiful and


    miserable.


    She wouldn''t be impulsive anymore.


    "Asher, don''t worry. I won''t... I won''t be so impulsive anymore, but you have to help me. I don''t want to


    lose to this kind of woman."


    Asher hesitated for a moment. He really wanted to tell Chloe that he could take care of her, even better


    than Derek.


    He had always been loving her, only her, and never changed his mind.


    However, looking at Chloe''s expectant eyes, Asher finally said nothing but nodded.


    "You''re the best."


    Chloe then smiled in the face while she waspletely emotionless in the heart.


    From now on, she would never lose to that slut, Meredith.


    ......


    In a secret basement owned by the Xaviers.


    This was the ce where the Xaviers dealt with some shady people. After all, the Xaviers was such a


    big family, so it was inevitable that there would be some traitors and so on. They were often quietly


    dealt with here.


    "Let me out, the Howards... The Howards..."


    Leo was tied up and lying on the dirty, cold ground, but he was unwilling to ept his fate and


    screamed like a pig.


    Derek heard the piercing sound as soon as he arrived and frowned, "Make him quiet."


    His man nodded and immediately kicked Leo in the stomach several times, "Be quiet, or I''ll cut your


    tongue off."


    Leo was so scared that he burst into tears, "Derek, are you really going to kill me for that woman? Is


    she worth it? What good is it for you to go against the Howards?"


    Although the Howards was no match for the Xaviers, they still had some power after all. Did Derek


    really want to kill him for that kind of woman?


    Derek could hear the contempt Leo had for Meredith, and he grew even more unpleasant. He walked


    over and grabbed Leo''s hair, "I don''t need you to teach me what I should do. Now, tell me everything


    you know. Was Meredith wronged at that time? What did the Masons do?"

 Chapter 153

    Chapter 153


    Derek''s tone was with unusual eagerness.


    This answer was important to Meredith and him.


    Leo was also a smart man. He could tell at a nce that Derek was not calm, so he was thinking fast.


    So, Derek had already suspected that Meredith was not responsible for the car ident back then? No


    wonder he was so magnanimous and even stood up for that woman who had hit his car.


    "Hehe, did you believe her when you heard her words? I didn''t expect the Young Master of the Xaviers


    to be so stupid and be fooled around by a woman."


    Leo sneered. No matter what, he would not tell the truth. If Derek knew that Meredith was wronged, he


    would definitely deal with him more fiercely for her.


    "You..." Derek''s eyes darkened.


    "I''m telling you, she''s the woman who hit your car. Mr. Xavier, you''re really magnanimous. The woman


    had hit your car and ran away, and she has a child of another man''s in her belly, but you still want her.


    You''re such a cuckold, aren''t you?"


    Leoughed unrestrainedly. He thought that as long as Derek hated Meredith, then Xavier Mingyuan


    would have no reason to go against him. By then, he could leave.


    Derek''s face darkened. He released his hand, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and carefully


    wiped the skin because that part of skin had just touched Leo.


    There was no emotion on his face. He was unusually calm, but it gave Leo a sense of pressure and he


    felt Derek would do something terrible to him.


    "Keep an eye on him. Tell me when he''s ready to tell the truth."


    Derek finished wiping his hands, then opened his mouth coldly and spat out the cruel order.


    "If you lock me up here, do you think the Howards won''t do anything?"


    Leo didn''t expect Derek to do this, but Derek kicked him in the chest again. "Do you think you''re still


    important to the Howards if saving you has to offend the Xaviers and be kicked out of J City?"


    Derek had already informed the Howards that if they did not want to get into trouble with the Xaviers


    and be suppressed, they would be better not to do anything for Leo.


    The Howard Family did not dare to offend the Xaviers, which was now at the height of power. Of


    course, they promised to do well. At the same time, they also cursed Leo for not knowing what to do.


    Why had he always offended this devil?


    After Derek finished speaking, he didn''t want to stay here and just left quickly.


    Leo''s howls and curses were left far behind by him, but Derek''s expression remained sullen.


    He had promised Meredith that he would clear her name as soon as possible. He had always kept his


    promise and this matter must be resolved as soon as possible.


    ...


    Derek drove back to the hospital. Now he was very upset, and the first one that came to mind which


    could calm him down... was that woman.


    He didn''t know when he became so used to her existence. Meredith was like the air. Although not so


    eye-catching, she had already infiltrated his life.


    Derek knocked on the door. Meredith was applying ointment to her wound in the ward. When she heard


    the knock on the door, she was almost neurotic.


    Afraid that it would be the crazy Chloe again, Meredith did not let anyone in directly, but asked coldly,


    "Who is it?"


    Derek soon realized something was wrong with her words and frowned. Was this woman in a bad


    mood? Why was her tone that angry?


    "I''m back."


    Derek was no longer willing to be a gentleman outside the door. He pushed the door open and walked


    in. Meredith was shocked. She was applying ointment now. The fresh wound on her chest that Chloe


    had made not long ago was still obvious. Subconsciously, she wanted to avoid Derek''s eyes, but he still


    saw that at once.


    Meredith''s skin was very fair, so if there was even a small w, it would be very obvious. Derek


    immediately noticed that long scratch which was now red and swollen. It must hurt a lot.


    "What happened?"


    Derek''s tone was cold. He closed the door and locked it. He strode over and looked down at Meredith.


    He just left for a while, but why did she have a new wound?


    Could this woman take good care of herself?


    "..." Meredith thought for a moment and didn''t say anything. She didn''t want to be the one who


    She wasn''t sure if Derek would believe her when he knew it was Chloe''s fault.


    "I got hurt by ident."


    Meredith answered him vaguely, but Derek suddenly sat on the bed and pulled Meredith, who was still


    stubborn and didn''t tell the truth, onto hisp.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Suddenly sitting on hisp, Meredith was shocked that she gasped for breath. Just as she was about to


    ask Derek what he wanted to do, the man''s hand stroked her wound.


    Perhaps because he had just returned from outside, Derek''s fingertips were a little chilly. As he gently


    stroked past her chest, his fingertips'' chill interacted with Meredith''s originally warm body temperature,


    causing her to get goosebumps and curl back.


    "You... Don''t touch..."


    Meredith felt the ces being touched tingle and itch and tried to dodge him, but Derek pressed her


    firmly on hisp.


    "Don''t move, or you''ll have to bear the consequences."


    As soon as she moved, she could feel the man''s strong thigh muscles and even the hard and big


    erection.


    Meredith didn''t dare to struggle anymore, but she couldn''t help but think to herself, "What the hell is


    going on with Derek? Didn''t west night..."


    Meredith had never been intimate with another man, so she did not dare to act rashly and didn''t know


    how to react.


    Then Derek took a deep breath and suppressed the thought of having this woman again.


    The woman in his arms was like a tempting poppy, and he might be fine not to touch her, but once he


    had tasted her, he couldn''t stop and he wanted more.


    "Someone has made trouble on you? Who is it?"


    Derek did not forget the important thing. He purposely thrust Meredith and looked at her fair face which


    turned as red as a ripe tomato immediately with satisfaction.


    "Ava?" Seeing that she was silent, Derek suddenly lowered his head and kissed Meredith''s jade-like


    earlobe.


    He found outst night that this was Meredith''s sensitive point, and she couldn''t stand the stimtion.


    "Um... No..." Meredith tried to escape, but a strange electric current surged through her body, making


    her unable to struggle.


    "If I tell you, will you believe me?"


    Meredith had not experienced sex several times in total, so how could she resist this kind of tease?


    Taking a deep breath, she looked into the man''s eyes. It was as if she was waiting for him to give a


    positive answer.


    "Yes."


    Derek nodded without hesitation, and Meredith said slowly, "It''s Chloe."

 Chapter 154

    Chapter 154


    Chloe?


    The name was aplete surprise to Derek.


    In his opinion, Chloe had always been elegant and polite. To her, maintaining etiquette was like an


    instinct. He could hardly imagine the scene she fought with Meredith.


    When Meredith finished speaking, she saw Derek''s pensive look. The man did not say anything


    immediately. Instead, he kept thinking.


    Perhaps, he didn''t believe her as much as she thought. After all, Chloe was his childhood sweetheart


    he had been with for more than ten years, and his former lover.


    Meredith felt as if she had been poured cold water on her from head to toe. For a moment, she thought


    Derek would help her out.


    Unexpectedly, she overestimated her importance in his heart.


    Derek was silent for a moment. It seemed that he really needed to find Chloe again to stop her from


    doing such meaningless things.


    Thinking about it, Derek looked up again. "I''ll help you apply the medicine."


    When Meredith heard him say this, she only felt that Derek was changing the subject. She felt


    ufortable somehow, so she pushed the man''s chest. "No, I''ll do it myself."


    Sure enough, Derek still believed in Chloe rather than her. Well, how could a woman who looked like a


    princess fuss about her who was so lowly?


    Derek and she were never in the same world. Chloe was the woman who was qualified to stand beside


    him.


    "Stop fooling around. I''ll help you apply the medicine." Derek looked at Meredith''s awkward


    appearance and forcefully snatched the ointment from her hand.


    Just as he was about to take off Meredith''s clothes and apply some medicine, she suddenly red at


    him. "It''s not good to do like this. I also need privacy. Besides, if she finds out about it, she mighte


    here again and make a scene."


    As soon as Meredith finished speaking, the man chuckled. "Are you jealous?"


    He understood why Meredith felt wronged just now. This woman had a lot on her mind.


    "Huh, you think too much. I just... Don''t want to cause trouble for myself."


    After Meredith said it, it was toote to regret it. She was indeed ufortable, but she did not want to


    show it in front of Derek.


    She didn''t want him to think that she was sentimental.


    "I''ll take care of this. After a while, she should be going abroad and won''t bother you again."


    After Meredith heard Derek''s words, she didn''t be happier but a little more resentful.


    It turned out that it was only after Chloe left that she could live in peace. She was really special to


    Derek, right?


    "It has nothing to do with me. I just hope that she, thedy from a rich family, will not haggle with a


    lowly woman like me. It will degrade her."


    The smile in Derek''s eyes turned cold when he heard Meredith''s words which seemed to be a little self-


    deprecating. Suddenly, he turned her face, which had been avoiding, towards himself.


    "You really think so?"


    "Of course."


    Meredith said angrily.


    "In the future, don''t use such words to describe yourself."


    Derek pursed his lips and a dark light shed in his eyes.


    For some reason, his heart ached when he heard Meredith say that.


    She didn''t do anything wrong and shouldn''t put herself in a lower position than the others.


    "..." Meredith didn''t expect him to say that. All along, she felt that Derek didn''t think much of her, even if


    the two of them had sex. Perhaps, he only took a fancy to her body.


    She didn''t expect a man who had always been arrogant to say that.


    Looking at Meredith''s astonished expression, Derek felt more and more ufortable. "Don''t worry, I


    will soon clear your name, so... Remember what I said!"


    The man''s gaze, without any humor or perfunctory meaning, directly hit Meredith''s heart.


    After she came out of prison, almost everyone had a prejudice against her, so Meredith felt in fact very


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    insecure and diffident. Derek''s words hit her heart, as if a rain on a dry desert.


    "I... Got it."


    Meredith answered, and Derek released his hand with satisfaction and kissed her wet lips. "That''s


    good."


    Meredith was bewildered by his gentle movements and did not struggle, but let the man linger around


    the sweet taste in her mouth.


    But Derek didn''t go ahead, just pecked her mouth lightly, and then continued the work that he hadn''t


    finished yet.


    "Take off your clothes and apply the medicine."


    Derek was still thinking about it. How disharmonious would that clean, fair skin be if an ugly scar left on


    it?


    "No need..." Meredith started to get awkward again. Derek''s gaze made her want to cover her whole


    body with the quilt.


    "What else have I not seen on you?" Derek looked at her evasive movements like an ostrich, raised his


    eyebrows, and said in a somewhat teasing tone.


    They had done everything. What was she embarrassed for?


    "You!" Meredith was embarrassed and angry at his words, but didn''t know how to refute him.


    Derek did not continue to tease her. He gently opened the two buttons of her clothes, squeezed some


    cool ointment on his finger, and carefully applied it.


    "Does it hurt?"


    Derek had already acted very gently, but he was still afraid of hurting Meredith.


    "It''s okay." Meredith didn''t feel any pain. The ce that the man touched seemed to have been swept


    by a feather, making her itchy, and the feeling was even spread to her heart.


    Only then did Derek move at ease. Soon, he applied the medicine on her chest and looked at his work


    with satisfaction.


    Meredith hurriedly pulled up her clothes. She was only wearing a bra underneath. It was strange for a


    man to look at her like that.


    "Did you apply the medicine on your leg?"


    Derek remembered that Meredith had other wounds besides this one. Those were the scratches she


    left to keep herself awake. They looked even more shocking than this wound.


    Meredith herself had forgotten, "No need, the wounds on the leg should have healed."


    She didn''t care much about the wounds and wanted to get out from Derek''s arms, but the man grabbed


    her shoulder unhappily. "Are you still a woman? You''re hurt, but you don''t care?"


    "I''m used to it," Meredith said lightly.


    She was really used to it. In prison, those people wanted to torture her to death. These were only


    scratches that didn''t even bleed, which were nothing serious.


    Meredith unconsciously touched the back of her head, which was covered by her long, thick hair. There


    was a long wound, which was left after she identally spilled hot water on a ferocious woman and


    was pressed against the wall by her.


    Derek looked at her subconscious movements and felt that her eyes suddenly darkened, which made


    his heart suddenly ached.

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    Chapter 155


    How much did Meredith suffer when he didn''t know?


    "Not anymore."


    Derek grabbed Meredith''s hand and gently kissed her fair fingertips. His movements were so gentle


    that they made Meredith feel like she was taken good care of.


    "It''s all in the past, it should be... It''s in the past..."


    Meredith muttered, looking at the man in front of her, she always had an unreal feeling.


    It was already unbelievable enough for someone like Derek to do this to her. She didn''t know if she


    wanted to continue to fall into his tenderness.


    The feeling of being protected was too tempting, like a poppy, and it was hard to stop after tasting it


    once.


    "It''s over. Trust me." Derek knew that there was uncertainty in Meredith''s heart, so he gave her a


    promise without hesitation.


    Meredith smiled. At this moment, she didn''t want to think so much. She didn''t want to think about the


    Xaviers, Chloe, and many more. She just wanted to sink into the tenderness that Derek had given her,


    even if it could be very short.


    Derek was a little lost in his thoughts. Meredith in his mind rarely smiled. Perhaps because she had too


    much on her mind, there was always a hint of gloom in her eyes. Only then did he remember that the


    woman in front of him was only twenty-three years old, just graduated from college.


    "You have a beautiful smile. You should smile more in the future."


    Derek said, gently pinning a strand of hair that had fallen off Meredith''s cheek.


    Meredith did not answer, but she didn''t resist. She snuggled up in the man''s warm and generous arms


    and felt the reassuring warmth.


    A momentter, she seemed to remember something. "By the way, Leo... Did he admit it?"


    Just now, Derek said he was going to find Leo. So, was there any progress?


    "..." Derek didn''t expect her to ask this." We need to wait."


    "He won''t tell the truth?" Meredith clenched her fists, a sh of anger in her eyes.


    Leo undermined others for his own benefit, and didn''t not treat others as human beings. How to get


    Leo to tell the truth was indeed a problem.


    "I''ll get him to say it as soon as possible."


    Derek obviously hated Leo to the extreme. But if Leo did not tell the truth, he could not bend Leo into a


    confession either. That would be of no use even if he got a confession, and would not restore


    Meredith''s innocence at all.


    "I... Can we go see him tomorrow?" Meredith thought about it and said.


    At least, she wanted to know how things were going.


    Derek looked into her serious eyes and understood how much she valued it. "You take care of yourself.


    I''ll take you there."


    After receiving Derek''s promise, Meredith felt much more at ease. Then the man put medicine on her


    leg one by one, and then carried her to the bed big enough.


    Derek''s hot body pressed against Meredith''s back, and his penis was also pressed tightly behind her,


    making Meredith nervous and unable to sleep at all.


    In her mind, she suddenly remembered that the nurse had told her today that she should be careful not


    to have intercourse so often.


    Sensing her thoughts, Derek took a deep breath. "Go to sleep. You won''t do anything."


    He was tempted to do so, but he had to think about her body.


    Meredith nodded. She felt that Derek did not do anything out of line. She rxed from her nervousness


    and fell asleep slowly.


    Derek looked at her appearance of sleeping peacefully and was somewhat helpless. What was wrong


    with this woman? She could fall asleep so quickly, she was really off guard.


    But he didn''t do anything. He felt his cock get hard and walked to the bathroom and masturbated to


    deal with it.


    ...


    The early morning sun shone into the room, and Meredith stretched herself. Only then did she realize


    that there was another person beside her. She opened her eyes and saw Derek''s beautiful sleeping


    face.


    Perhaps the man had been a little tired from work recently. His eyes were dark, and he looked a little


    tired, and he was not awakened by her.


    Meredith looked at him in a daze. It had to be said that Derek was too favored by the God. His perfect


    face was matched with more delicate features than a star''s. Even with his eyes closed, he had an


    irresistible charm.


    Meredith looked at it, lost in thought, and couldn''t help but stretch out her hand, tracing the deep


    outline.


    Derek was touched by her and came back to his senses, but he was not in a hurry to open his eyes.


    Instead, he let Meredith touch his face a little presumptuously.


    He wanted to see what this woman wanted to do.


    Meredith touched his face, and then she blushed a little. What was she doing? She actually was


    obsessed with Derek''s face at this time. She was really ...


    Meredith''s heart shed with embarrassment. She was about to pull her hand back, but she was


    suddenly held by him, unable to pull it back. "Early in the morning... Trying to seduce me, huh?"


    Meredith didn''t expect Derek to wake up so quickly. She wanted to take her hand back, but she couldn''t


    resist the man''s strength, so she could only change the subject. "You''re awake. I''m going to get up.


    What do you want to eatter?"


    Derek squinted at her clumsy diversion and pulled her back into his arms. "Or, eat you?"


    Meredith was embarrassed and shy because of his teasing. She never thought Derek would say


    something to her.


    She used to think he was a man who wasn''t interested in women. Well, it seemed she was wrong.


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    "Stop..." Meredith struggled. Derek was about to do something when Meredith''s stomach suddenly


    growled.


    Her cheeks, which had already turned red in embarrassment, turnedpletely red. It was not her


    fault, because she was pregnant, and after the early reactions of pregnancy, she ate much more than


    before, and she was much hungrier than usual.


    Now, it should be a normal reaction, but she didn''t expect Derek to hear her like this, and her image in


    his mind was gone.


    Derek could not help butugh out loud. However, her reaction did not embarrass him, but he thought it


    was a little more cute.


    "Looks like you''re telling the truth. You''re starving."


    Meredith was so embarrassed that she didn''t know what to say. Derek didn''t make things difficult for


    her anymore. After all, she needed some nutrition. He sat up. "Get changed. Let''s go eat."


    Meredith nodded, changed her clothes, and went to have breakfast with Derek. After a day''s rest, the


    pain in her body also eased a lot.


    "You go to thepany. I''m fine here. I have a nurse with me."


    After having breakfast with Derek, Meredith considerately asked him to go to work and went back to


    her ward.


    Derek was not in a hurry to go to thepany. Before that, he had one more thing to settle.

 Chapter 156

    Chapter 156


    Derek still remembered that Meredith said that Chloe was the one who hurt her. He wanted to make


    sure if Chloe did it.


    If she really did it...


    The man gradually clutched the steering wheel tightly and his veins bulged. Chloe''s elegant smile


    before was a beautiful scene in his memory.


    Although he did not want to believe it, he knew that if it was true, he would not tolerate it.


    No one could hurt Meredith under his nose.


    Derek calmed down, took out his phone out and called Chloe.


    The phone was ringing. Chloe saw that it was from Derek so she answered it immediately.


    "Hello, Derek? What''s the matter?" There was a tinge of coquetry in Chloe''s voice as if she had never


    done anything.


    "Did you go to the hospital yesterday?" Derek asked coldly in a chilling voice.


    Chloe, who was on the other end of the phone, was stunned. She didn''t expect Derek to ask her about


    it. Could it be that Meredith and Derek stayed together again yesterday?


    At the thought of this, Chloe was so jealous as if a thousand ants were gnawing at her heart. However,


    in the end, she restrained her jealousy and answered, "I did go there."


    Now that Derek knew what had happened, Chloe didn''t want to conceal it anymore.


    "Why did you do that?" Derek darkened when he heard her admit it.


    "Why?"


    Chloe suddenly felt a bit sad in her heart. "Derek, you think I don''t know what happened? Meredith was


    the one who mowed you down. She was the one who made us apart. How couldn''t Ie to her?"


    Derek was silent for a moment. He of course perceived the sadness and pain in Chloe''s words, but he


    took a deep breath and said, "It is not what you think."


    "It''s not what I think?" Chloe felt as if Derek was no longer the same as before. He used to be so calm


    and objective about everything.


    Now, he should turn the facts upside down for a woman?


    "I read the verdict and the newspapers, and I also saw the news at that time. Besides, she admitted her


    crime herself. If it is not what I think, then what is it?"


    Chloe had barely managed to maintain his gentle tone just now but it was almost out of control now.


    She could not stand that Derek defended a cheap woman like this in front of her. The woman was the


    criminal to me for hisa for three years!


    Derek felt a headache. It was like an endless loop. If he wanted to prove it, he had to get any evidence.


    Otherwise, even if he trusted Meredith, he couldn''t convince others to trust her.


    "This is my own business so I will deal with it. In the future, don''t take matters into your own hands first.


    Don''t disturb her life."


    Derek said solemnly. He didn''t want to see Meredith hurt again.


    "So youe to me just for her? Just to warn me not to disturb her?"


    Chloe suddenly felt that she was silly. Maybe Derek really didn''t care about her, about the love that had


    been deeply engraved in their memory?


    Otherwise, how could he fall in love with such a woman, how could he scold her for such a woman?


    "...". Chloe was silent. She didn''t know whether to cry or smile. Her beautiful face was twisted, so it


    looked a little more terrifying.


    When Derek heard the strange and creepy sound from her, he could not help but frown. "Chloe, are


    you OK?"


    Chloe did not answer him but only looked ahead with nk stares. The hatred in her heart grew


    stronger. At this moment, she had no other idea but to tear the woman named Meredith into pieces, so


    that Meredith could never appear in front of her again.


    Then, everything would go back to the way it was.


    Derek felt a stronger thrill of foreboding. He thought for a while and asked, "Where are you now?"


    Chloe didn''t answer him. Her phone slipped out of her hand, and she was like crazy to tear at the


    sheets in front of her and pull at her long hair.


    When Asher came back from outside with Chloe''s favorite breakfast, this was what he saw. He gasped


    in astonishment and everything in his hand fell to the ground directly. He rushed toward Chloe and


    grabbed her uncontrolled arms. He controlled her in case she would scratch her body.


    "Chloe, Chloe! What''s wrong with you?"


    Asher had never seen Chloe like this before. She was like a spring that was overloaded to be broken


    so it caused an extremely strong rebound.


    "I''m not in his life, not anymore..." Chloe was held in Asher''s arms and cried loudly as if she wanted to


    vent all the grievances in her heart. "He would rather be with the murderer, that woman who went to


    jail... I''m not even as important as her..."


    Derek rejected Chloe repeatedly so itpletely destroyed Chloe''s pride. She had no idea what else


    could make her more humiliated.


    If the woman was not Meredith, but some other girl from a rich family, perhaps she could ept the


    fact. But Meredith was the woman who broke them up, how could Derek choose her?


    It was a betrayal of their love for seven years!


    "Chloe, you need to stop, OK? It''s not your fault. It''s that woman''s fault."


    Asher was almost broken-hearted by her tears. Chloe was too proud andpetitive, so Meredith was


    a great irony to her.


    "I... I''m so useless. Am I nothing but a burden? Is there no one in the world who likes me?"


    Chloe clutched Asher''s shirt and muttered to herself.


    "No, I... I am always by your side and I will protect you. No matter who dares to hurt even just one of


    your fingers, I will risk my life to fight with him."


    Asher gently patted Chloe on the back to calm her down. The usual frivolity disappeared on the man''s


    face and there were only seriousness and bitterness.


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    How much he wished that he could tell her his feelings for her and stop her from crying for the man


    who no longer loved her. But in the end, Asher knew that he was not the man that Chloe wanted.


    Only Derek could make her happy.


    "I''ll help you. You won''t lose to that kind of woman. She doesn''t deserve to bepared to you. Just


    sleep well. If there is anything, leave it to me."


    Asher said firmly. Chloe nodded tiredly in his arms, and then fell asleep quietly.


    Asher immediately consulted a psychiatrist and told the psychiatrist about Chloe. The result was that


    Chloe was likely to have bipr disorder under continuous stimtion.


    If she was not treated in time, it was very likely to develop into severe depression, and it would even


    lead to self-muttion.

 Chapter 157

    Chapter 157


    Asher''s eyes grew grimmer at these words.


    "I see."


    He would not let this happen. Even if he would be enemies with his friend for many years, even if the


    Floreses and the Xaviers would turn against each other, he absolutely could not let Derek and Meredith


    bound in connection, which wouldpletely drive Chloe crazy.


    Just as he was thinking, Derek walked over from the other end of the corridor.


    Chloe''s unusual behavior just now shocked him. After all, he had known her for many years, and he


    couldn''t watch her get into trouble, so he rushed over.


    Seeing Asher, Derek was relieved. "How is she?"


    "Now you are asking?" Asher looked at him coldly instead of joking around as usual. "Isn''t it all


    because of you? What do you think has happened to her?"


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    Derek was a little annoyed by his strange tone. Asher had never spoken to him like this before. "What''s


    going on?"


    "Chloe is suffering from bipr disorder! Because you''re with the hit-and-run criminal, you''re


    deliberately humiliating her!"


    Asher was so excited that he rushed up, grabbed Derek''s cor, and pushed him against the wall.


    "Bipr disorder?" Derek obviously didn''t think of that either. "Are you sure? Has the doctor seen her?"


    Although he had always known that Chloe''s mental endurance was not strong, Derek still found it hard


    to believe that she had a mental illness.


    "Do you think I am lying to you?"


    When Asher heard him say that, he sneered and called the doctor out, asking him to repeat what he


    had just said.


    Derek''s expression became serious. Indeed, Chloe did something wrong, but he just wanted her to


    calm down and not disturb Meredith. It was not his intention to force her into having this kind of problem


    after all.


    "I''ll call a doctor and help her recovered as soon as possible."


    Derek did not hesitate and immediately took out his phone to call some famous doctors he knew, but


    Asher stopped him.


    "No need. I''ll find a doctor, and it''s not what you should do!"


    Derek looked at Asher''s indifferent face and soon understood what he meant.


    "You want to force me?"


    "To break up with that kind of woman is what you should do! It''s not a bad thing to do that! Chloe is a


    thousand times better than her!"


    Derek''s forehead twitched, especially when he heard Asher say that Meredith was a bad woman. He


    reached out his hand and pushed the man who was holding him back, causing him to stagger back.


    "Remember, don''t say this in front of me. This time, I won''t argue with you. But next time..."


    Derek''s eyes were formidable. Since he had already decided that Meredith was his woman, he would


    not let anyone insult her casually, even if this person was his godbrother he had known for many years.


    "Isn''t she? A woman who''s been in prison, a woman whose fianc¨¦ and sister are living together. What


    kind of decent woman can she be? Derek, didn''t you get close to no woman before? Why are you so


    obsessed with a woman like her?"


    When Asher saw Derek defending Meredith, he was even angrier. Chloe was with Derek, much longer


    than he was with Meredith, but Chloe still failed inparison with her.


    "As I said, don''t talk nonsense."


    Derek clenched his fist and hit Asher hard in the face.


    Asher could barely dodge, and the resentment in his heart grew stronger. For that woman, Derek


    actually fought with him. Was Derek really crazy?


    "If you want to fight, I can always be your opponent. Just right in time, I want to vent my anger for


    Chloe."


    The two men, each holding their anger in their hearts, at this moment, even disregarded that this was


    the corridor of the hospital and fought against each other without any consideration for self-image.


    Derek had practiced a variety of self-defense techniques, and very quickly, he had the upper hand.


    Asher was punched a few times, but he didn''t seem to feel any pain at all. Even if he was punched, he


    wouldn''t apologize for what he just said.


    He thought, "Meredith doesn''t deserve him. She''s just a lowlife."


    After a while, the hospital staff came over and quickly separated the two.


    Both of them were people they could not afford to offend, and neither of them could answer for their


    injuries.


    Derek only had a slight bruise on his face, much better than Asher, who had been punched several


    times.


    "Remember what I said this time. Don''t let me hear anything I don''t want to hear anymore."


    Derek pushed the person who wasing to pull him away and was about to leave when Asher''s


    voice rang out indifferently. "That''s impossible, Derek. I won''t let you do whatever you want but stop


    you. I''ll do all I can."


    Derek paused. "Then I want to see what you can do."


    Asher clenched his fists. For the first time, he had a particr feeling of hatred for Derek''s arrogance.


    Derek walked out gloomily, his whole body exuding a formidable aura.


    Derek had known Chloe and Asher for more than ten years, and it was impossible that he had no


    feelings for them, but still... he could not allow these people to nder Meredith.


    He would protect his woman. As for what would happen, he had no choice but to deal with whatever


    came his way.


    ...


    Meredith stayed in the hospital for a while longer. Parker called and said that he had returned from


    overseas and was at the doorstep of her house, so if she had time, he would like to meet her.


    Knowing that she was in the hospital, Parker immediately became anxious. "What''s wrong with you.


    Are you hurt? Or are you feeling unwell? I''ll go to see you."


    Meredith thought for a moment. Maybe Parker had found out something too. Also, she had something


    to tell him, so she agreed.


    Parker was worried about Meredith, so he sped all the way to the hospital room without stopping. "Are


    you okay?"


    Meredith was moved to see him sweating for hurrying to the hospital. "I''m fine. I just came to the


    hospital for a checkup. By the way, how are you doing abroad?"


    Parker shook his head. Although he was already trying to investigate, this clueless search was really


    inefficient.


    "I''ll find a way to get Leo to tell what he knows as soon as possible."


    Meredith''s expression was a little solemn. She was still confused about her mother''s situation. To find


    out, she had to start with the Masons.


    "I''ll help you." Parker immediately said, his eyes gently looking at Meredith.


    After a long time, she was a little fatter than when he left, but she did not look bloated, and her usually


    palm-sized face was a little more fleshy, round, and looked a bit cuter. She was more like a carefree


    little girl in her twenties.


    However, when he thought that she had such changes because of the baby in her womb and the father


    of the baby, he couldn''t help but feel a little depressed.


    "Meredith, is the baby''s father here to take care of you?"

 Chapter 158

    Chapter 158


    Looking at Parker''s caring eyes, Meredith was unable to deceive him. She thought that she would not


    tell the truth. And then she nodded.


    It was not a lie. After all, as the child''s father, Derek had been taking care of her recently.


    Parker felt a little depressed when he got the answer. He thought Meredith''s baby was an ident, but


    now it seemed that it wasn''t.


    Meredith had fallen in love with another man before he knew it?


    At first, Parker just wanted to make it up to Meredith. However, after spenting a lot of time together with


    her, he was unconsciously attracted to her. He could not tell whether he was so good to her out of guilt


    or out of love.


    "Then, when will you let me see him? If he doesn''t treat you well, I''ll go hard with him."


    Parker forced a smile and showed no sign of sadness.


    Meredith also smiled. Parker seemed to have fought Derek more than once. But from his words, he


    was like her family and brought her a feeling of security.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll protect myself."


    They talked for a while. But Parker needed to attend to some business. Therefore, Meredith asked him


    to go back to work.


    The smile on Parker''s face disappeared when he left the ward and closed the door.


    Seemingly, he was cynical and outgoing. But in fact, he was not what he appeared to be. He wanted


    Meredith for himself, but he didn''t want to scare her.


    Just as he struggled, the nurse came over with the nutritious meal that she had just prepared. When


    she saw the back of a handsome and tall man at the door, she thought it was Derek. Then she greeted


    him warmly, "Mr. Xavier, you''re back now?"


    Parker came back to his senses. The words of the nurse alerted him and he immediately turned


    around. "What did you just say?"


    The nurse realized that she had the wrong person. And his expression was so frightening that she


    dared not speak. "I''m sorry, I''ve mistaken you."


    "The person you just called is Derek?"


    Parker was not interested in hearing this. He grabbed the nurse''s wrist and asked in a harsh voice.


    The pain in her wrist and the man''s coercion made the nurse nod involuntarily. "Mr. Xavier asked me to


    take care of Miss Mason."


    Only then did Parker wake up. He let go of his hand and looked at the door of the ward thoughtfully.


    Then he rushed out in shock.


    He needed some time to digest this fact.


    The nurse watched as he walked away, and then patted her chest in shock. Didn''t she just mistake


    him? Why was he being so shocked? He looked sanctimonious but acted like a lunatic.


    Parker stumbled out of the hospital and bumped into several people along the way. But he wasn''t


    aware of it at all. He pulled his tie off until he got in his car.


    Meredith''s child was Derek''s?


    All that happened before that he had never spared much thought immediately passed through his mind.


    Derek was inexplicably against him before. And they were often with each other. Now it seemed that it


    was not the boss''s concern for his subordinate at all, but the man''s most primitive possessive desire for


    a woman.


    Parker took out a cigarette. Only the strong smell of smoke could l calm him down.


    "Derek..."


    If it was any other man, perhaps Parker was willing to part with her and let them be together. After all,


    he owed Meredith too much. As long as she was happy, he could only bless her.


    But that man was Derek, the son of the woman who had killed Parker''s mother and even forced him


    into a corner!


    Parker''s mother died in despair in the hospital because she had no money to treat the disease. He


    would never forget it, nor would he forget the pain of being chased out of his adopter''s home again and


    again and treated as a jinx by the orphanage.


    "Derek... Are you going to be against me for the rest of your life? This time, I won''t let you win."


    His eyes darkened. And the fake cynicism he showed before disappeared. At this moment, only there


    was only ferocity shing in his eyes.


    Meredith, he wouldn''t let her go. He wouldn''t let his beloved woman be with the enemy of his life!


    ...


    After Derek got his work done, he asked Damian to arrange for the most famous psychologist for


    Chloe.


    After dealing with these troubles, Derek returned to Meredith''s ward.


    It was an ordinary room in a hospital. But because Meredith was there, he wanted to get there quickly.


    When he pushed the door open, Meredith was watching the soap operas on TV. She was afraid that


    the radiation from her cell phone would harm her baby. Therefore, she could only kill time by watching


    TV.


    Seeing that Derek was back, she turned her head. "You''re back?"


    Derek nodded as if he had practiced countless times. Meredith''s words made him feel that she was


    waiting for him at home, which made him feel much more rxed.


    Thinking about it, the man took a few steps over, hugged the tiny body on the bed, wrapped her in his


    arms, and sucked in the fresh and sweet smell on her body.


    Meredith was shocked. What happened to Derek?


    However, the man seemed very tired. She couldn''t bear to push him away, so she obediently let him


    hold her, enjoying the intoxicating silence of this moment.


    "What''s wrong? Is there something troubling you in thepany?"


    Meredith spoke softly, and Derek smiled. Things at thepany were never difficult for him. He was


    worried that Asher would do something radical.


    "Meredith, if you want to go out, you must stay with me. Don''t run around."


    "What''s wrong? What happened?"


    Hearing what Derek said, Meredith felt nervous.


    "Nothing. You just remember that I will protect you."


    Derek didn''t tell the truth. He didn''t want Meredith to think too much. What he said just now was just a


    precaution.


    Seeing that Derek didn''t want to tell her, Meredith frowned. Could it be that Derek was so aggressive in


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    the business world that he offended someone?


    "Then will you be okay?"


    Hearing Meredith''s words full of concern, Derek kissed her on the cheek. "Of course, I will be okay.


    Don''t worry. Take good care of yourself. Remember?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but think he had been in two car idents, scaring the Xaviers and her.


    As she thought about it, she looked up and noticed a bruise at the corner of Derek''s mouth.

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    Chapter 159


    Meredith could not help but frown. The mark on the man''s perfect face was an obvious w, and it was


    ufortable to look at.


    "It''s nothing."


    Derek didn''t care. It was just a light bruise he got by ident when fighting with Asher. There was


    nothing serious.


    Meredith pouted. "Have you forgotten what you said to me yesterday?"


    How could this man care so less about his own injuries?


    "So, are you caring about me?"


    Derek figured out the meaning hidden in her words, so he looked happy.


    "Sort... Sort of." Meredith was a little embarrassed when being stared at by him, so she got up. "I''ll get


    some ointment for you."


    Derek did not refuse. Since Meredith insisted, there was no need for him to be pretentious. Besides,


    the way she cared about him did make him happy.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Meredith took the ointment she had used, took some with a cotton swab, and rubbed it on Derek''s


    wounds. "Did you offend anyone?"


    But she still couldn''t understand after thinking about it over and over again. Derek always had people


    apanying him when he went out. And he was at the Xavier Group on usual days, where the


    security system was very strict. How could anyone dare to hurt him?


    Moreover, the wounds were on his face.


    "It''s nothing." Derek saw Meredith''s worry and held her hand, as if he was giving her strength and faith.


    Although the rtionship between Asher and Derek had already reached this point, he still felt that it


    was worthwhile when he was looking at the woman in front of him.


    "..." Meredith didn''t say anything. Looking into Derek''s serious eyes, she knew that he just didn''t want


    to say anything for he didn''t want to worry her.


    Well, maybe she should trust him.


    "I see."


    Meredith nodded and stopped asking questions. Derek also nodded and threw the things in her hands


    aside, pulled Meredith into his arms, and was about to enjoy some intimacy with her. Suddenly, a nurse


    opened the door and walked in. "Miss Mason..."


    Meredith pushed Derek away as if she had been electrocuted and sat up, looking at the nurse


    awkwardly.


    "I''m sorry..." The nurse was startled, especially when she saw Derek''s cold eyes, and she was almost


    too afraid to say anything.


    "You are recovering well. You can be discharged after another examination."


    Meredith let out a sigh of relief when she heard this. "I see. You can leave now."


    The nurse then hurried out. If she did not leave, she would have been killed by Derek with his eyes.


    "I''m almost fully recovered. What do you think if we go to Leo today? I just want to hear what he has to


    say."


    Meredith was always thinking about it, and she especially wanted to find out where her mother was.


    "Okay." Derek noticed her anxiety and did not stop her. "Get changed, we''ll go find him."


    Meredith nodded, feeling a little more excited.


    ...


    After a short while, Meredith got changed, and Derek was already waiting for her downstairs.


    Derek leaned casually against the cool sapphire sports car. Although it was just a very normal action,


    Derek looked like a famous model, showing his temperament in every move.


    Many young girls who passed by looked over with a blush, and they seemed to be whispering and


    discussing something.


    Meredith took a few more nces at the scene, which was really an eye candy, but the eyes of these


    people on Derek made her a little ufortable. She walked over and said, "Shall we go?"


    Derek nodded, opened the door for Meredith so she could get in, and then started the car.


    The young girls dreaming of love saw this, and their hearts were shattered. "Such a handsome man


    actually has a girlfriend, but they seem to be a good match. It will definitely be popr online."


    With the thought, the girl posted the photo on Twitter under the topic of #The most beautiful couple.


    Obviously, she did not know how much trouble such a small seemingly unintentional action would


    cause in the future.


    ...


    The car sped to a stop where Leo was being held. Derek and Meredith got out of the car.


    Looking at this seemingly ordinary building, Meredith felt a little nervous and walked in after Derek.


    Derek led Meredith into the building step by step. It could be said that the building here was the


    deepest secret he was hiding, and it could be described as the opposite of the seemingly morous


    Xavier Group, one is light and the other is darkness.


    Back then, even Chloe never knew this existed.


    "Meredith, what I''ll show youter will be the most secretive thing of the Xaviers. If you see it, you can


    never escape from me again. Otherwise, the consequences will be very serious."


    "You, have you decided?"


    Meredith looked at the solemn expression on Derek''s face and she could almost guess what was


    inside. She took a deep breath and said, "I''ve decided."


    With that said, she took Derek''s hand. The man''s eyes darkened and he immediately held Meredith''s


    fair but somewhat cold hands.


    The two of them walked in side by side.


    Meredith did not look around on the way, but the oppressive atmosphere there still made her shudder.


    Although she knew that there were some secrets behind many big families, the fact that Derek was


    showing it to her still gave her a very strange feeling in her heart.


    Does this mean that they were already a family?


    Maybe.


    Thinking about it, Meredith had an indescribable feeling in her heart.


    Soon, the two of them arrived at where Leo was at.


    Leo had been locked up for three days. Although the people here did not abuse him and provided him


    with food and drink every day, being imprisoned in such a dark ce still tortured Leo to the brink of


    madness.


    He was also a proud child from a rich family. Used to an extravagant life, he had never suffered such


    grievances before, but now he did not even have the strength to curse. After all, if he really irritated


    Derek, the consequences would be even more unbearable to even imagine.


    Just then, Leo heard footsteps. He opened his eyes and looked over, and he immediately saw Meredith


    appearing in front of him. This made him jump on Meredith madly like an enraged beast.


    "Meredith, you bitch, how dare youe here? See what you''ve done to me!"


    Leo shook the shackles on his hands, looking crazy.


    His words made Derek''s expression darken, and Derek stepped on Leo''s hand without any mercy.


    "Haven''t you learned enough lesson here? Hmm?"


    Derek was strong, and he slowly ran his foot over Leo''s fingers. It was said that pain on the fingers are


    extreme, and that was the pain Leo was suffering.


    "Ahhh!" Leo screamed and looked at Meredith, not daring to say anything disrespectful, but there was


    still anger and hatred in his eyes that could not be concealed.


    "It was all this slutty woman''s fault! She seduced Derek and asked him to help her deal with me! It was


    all her fault!" Leo thought.

 Chapter 160

    Chapter 160


    Meredith looked at him with disgust. She really didn''t want to deal with such a person if she could.


    Leo had not taken a bath for a few days and he smelled so bad. He looked extremely disheveled


    without his usual full-dressed formal look.


    "Are you going to tell me the truth or not?" Meredith looked at him coldly and said with hatred in her


    voice.


    "What''s the truth? You''re the one who ran away after hitting someone and now you want to clear your


    name? Did you forget how you plead guilty in court? Meredith, don''t think you can fool someone with


    such a few words."


    Leo did not want to clear Meredith''s name. If Derek knew what had happened then, the two of them


    would have been sweeter than they were now while what waited for him was more horrible than he


    thought.


    "..."


    Meredith was helpless to deal with his brazen behavior. "Leo! Why are you so stubborn? When have I


    ever wronged you?"


    Meredith didn''t remember how she had offended Leo before. How would he stand by while she was


    being framed and now even refused to tell the truth?


    He was a perfect match for the Masons who were all ruthless devil.


    Seeing that Meredith was a little agitated, Derek pulled her behind him with a somewhat annoyed


    expression on his face.


    At this moment, Meredith suddenly thought of Marie. Thest time she had promised Meredith that she


    would definitely get Leo to tell the truth. Maybe someone as experienced as she really had the idea to


    deal with him?


    "I''ll make a phone call." Meredith thought about it and went out to make a phone call.


    Marie picked it up seeing that it was Meredith''s number. "Hello, Miss Mason, what''s up?"


    Although Marie wanted to inquire about her current situationst time when Meredith was rescued by


    Derek, it was strange that she could not find out anything. Perhaps she realized that it was Derek who


    went to save Meredith that dayter.


    She didn''t know how Meredith got involved with Derek and she was afraid of revealing herself. Thinking


    that Meredith wouldn''t have any danger as Derek seemed to care about her that day, Marie didn''t


    investigate further.


    "I''m fine but..."


    "Why, is there anything I can help you with?"


    Meredith told her about Leo''s refusal to cooperate. Marie smiled and gave her a suggestion.


    Meredith''s eyes suddenly widened. "This... This..."


    "This method is absolutely useful and it can definitely help you release your grievance."


    Marie said confidently. Meredith thought about it and found Marie was true. However, she was a little


    embarrassed now.


    Derek saw that Meredith had been out for a long time and hadn''t returned yet, he came out to look for


    her. He walked over and said when seeing her embarrassed expression, "What''s wrong?"


    "Well... I''ve got a good idea but it''s a little..."


    Meredith found it hard to say.


    "What''s the idea?" Derek wondered what had happened that made her so hesitating.


    "Just... Find a man here to have sex with Leo and take a photo of them. Then he won''t dare to be so


    arrogant anymore."


    Meredith''s face turned red when she finished speaking. She had never thought of such a bottomless


    method but it would be definitely useful.


    Leo was quite famous as the heir of the Howards. If they only took a few nude photos of him, it wouldn''t


    make any negative influence on him. But if they let out the news that he had a homosexual tendency, it


    would inevitably lead to public debate which would do harm to him.


    After all, as the only son of the Howards, no one would feel easy to ept that he was gay.


    "Umm..." Derek didn''t expect Meredith to say such a shocking method but it seemed quite feasible after


    he thought about it.


    Although the Howards didn''t dare to do anything to him, he couldn''t keep Leo under control for too


    long. It would be terrible to attract the attention of the police.


    "I think it''s feasible just... And it''s a good chance to give him all the medicine he used to deal with you


    thest time. He used this method to harm a lot of women and he should suffer it himself this time."


    Thinking about it, Derek''s eyes darkened. He had not forgotten aboutst time when Leo drugged


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Meredith. Leo should taste the consequence by himself.


    After the two of them finished discussing, Derek called for someone to follow the n.


    Damian couldn''t help feeling quite embarrassed as he listened to the n which was without any moral


    integrity. The n wasn''t just fooling Leo, and it would definitely leave him a shadow of such a


    homosexual thing for the rest of his life, wasn''t it?


    Mr. Xavier and Miss Mason were really not the ones who could be trifled with. He must not let them get


    hold of the goods of him.


    ...


    After a while, before Leo realized what had happened, a strong man walked in with a syringe in his


    hand. Looking at the transparent liquid in it, he screamed in fear but it was of no use at all.


    "What... What are you doing? What''s this? Drugs?"


    After Leo was injected, he knelt on the ground trembling with fear.


    If it was drugs, his life would finish here! His whole life would be ruined here!


    "Don''t worry, I won''t do that illegal thing."


    Derek said faintly while Leo''s eyes widened. After locking him up for so many days, how would Derek


    still have the courage to say that he was aw-abiding citizen?


    However, his anger did notst long while a hot and dry feeling emerged from his body which he felt


    quite strange with.


    Derek nced at him and called the beggar there. "He is now belonging to you. Do as I say. I''ll give


    you as much as you want."


    He left after the words. He was not interested in watching a disgusting live sex show.


    Leo felt the heat in his body as he watched the stinking man approach him. That man''s face actually


    shone with a lustrous glow.


    "Derek, you bastard!"


    The angry roar came from Leo but Derek only turned a deaf ear. He reached out and covered


    Meredith''s ears.


    "Let''s go out and wait. Don''t contaminate our ears."


    Meredith also agreed with this suggestion. She had to admit that Derek did such a great thing. She


    thought he would find a pimp to "serve" Leo but she didn''t expect him to find such an old, ugly, and dirty


    beggar on the road...


    Leo would definitely be unable to take such a big blow as he was so pretentious usually.


    "Why? Are you pitying him now?" Derek thought she couldn''t get used to such a dirty thing seeing her


    being so silent.


    "No." Meredith shook her head and looked at Derek firmly. "He deserves it. I won''t have any sympathy


    for my enemy."


    The arrogance Leo showed that day to abort her baby was still vivid in her mind. He was just getting


    what he deserved now.

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    Chapter 161


    The two waited outside for a long time until everything inside was over.


    "You wait outside." Derek signalled Meredith not to go in. Leo must be very emotional. If he said


    something malicious to her, it would affect her mood.


    "No, I''m fine. I want to see the retribution he suffered." Meredith did not flinch at all. She was happy to


    see Leo being miserable.


    After all, she was not an easily-forgiving person. After being humiliated again and again by him, she


    would hold grudges against him.


    "Well, if you don''t feel well, then you can leave."


    Derek felt that the woman in front of him was stronger than he had imagined. Perhaps she had seen


    too much of the hideousness of human nature and was no longer so sensitive to it.


    Thinking of this, he felt a little more distressed. He grabbed Meredith''s shoulders and walked in with


    her.


    The room was cleaned up and there were no obvious signs that could tell others what had just


    happened. Leoy on the ground, panting like a dying dog. The medicine had worn off and he felt pain


    all over his body.


    What made him most angry was that everything had been recorded by a camera.


    He would never let that be spread out, or else his life would be totally ruined.


    "Meredith... You wicked woman."


    Hearing Leo''s weak scolding, Meredith suddenly felt very delighted.


    There was a time when he was so superior that he stepped on her again and again. He certainly did


    not expect such a day toe.


    "The person who does evil deeds is doomed to destruction. Leo, you deserve it."


    Meredith nced at him. "I have the video of you having sex with a beggar. If you don''t want it to be


    seen, do as I say. Otherwise, I don''t mind making you famous online."


    Leo shivered. He wanted to scold Meredith for being shameless, but he didn''t dare.


    If that video was sent out, his life would be over.


    "What do you want me to do? Will you promise to bring me the original video tape after I do as you


    say?"


    Meredith nodded. She didn''t want to keep such a disgusting video.


    "First, find out the evidence that could prove that the Masons framed me. Second, tell me where my


    mother is. I''ll give you a week!"


    Meredith was a little more excited. Finally, she saw a glimmer of dawn. She had waited for this day for


    too long!


    "Okay, I promise you, but when it''s over, you have to destroy the video as promised. Otherwise, I won''t


    let you go even if I have to get into a life-and-death struggle with you."


    "It depends on your ability."


    Meredith took two steps back. Derek gave Leo a cold look. Someone came in and let Leo out.


    "Don''t worry, with this as a threat, he won''t dare to withhold any information."


    Derek saidfortingly when he saw that Meredith was pondering.


    He knew she was anxious, but they had to be patient with this kind of thing.


    "I know." Meredith lowered her head. Her mood was reallyplicated.


    She had been living with the charge for three years. She finally had a chance to clear her name. She


    finally had a chance to see her mother. How could she not be excited?


    Derek looked at Meredith and was about to say something, but his phone suddenly rang.


    "Derek, I''m really disappointed in you!"


    Mr. Xavier''s loud voice was heard. His anger could no longer be concealed.


    Originally, the Old Master was in a good mood at home during the day. Unexpectedly, Violet saw the


    photo circted on the inte and let the Old Master see it. Itpletely ruined his good mood for the


    day.


    In that photo, Derek looked at a woman tenderly and affectionately. How could the Old Master not be


    familiar with that woman? It was the woman he had personally found to bring good luck to his precious


    grandson - Meredith!


    "Grandpa?" Derek was confused, but he subconsciously felt that this matter might have something to


    do with Meredith. Therefore, he opened the door and signalled Meredith to go in the car.


    Meredith was puzzled, but she still obediently sat in. She knew who was calling as soon as she heard


    the voiceing from the phone. It was Grandpa Xavier.


    However, Meredith had never heard the Old Master speak in such an angry tone before.


    Was it rted to her?


    Meredith sat in the car, feeling a little more distressed. But she could only see that Derek was talking.


    She wanted to hear what he was saying but she couldn''t hear it clearly.


    "The whole world has seen the picture of you and Meredith. Take care of this yourself. Come back


    tonight. I have something to tell you."


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    The Old Master did not listen to Derek at all. The thought of his grandson, whom he had always valued,


    getting involved with a woman like that made his chest have a choking sensation.


    Maybe he shouldn''t have been so superstitious back then. He shouldn''t have gotten her back to give


    her the chance to seduce Derek.


    The Old Master was tortured by regret and anger. He coughed a few times. Derek could notice his pain


    and he felt a little anxious. He quicklyforted him. "Grandpa, this is not as serious as you think. I''ll


    exin it to you when I get back tonight."


    "You''d better give me a reasonable exnation. Otherwise, I''m afraid I''ll be furious with you."


    When he hung up the phone, Derek frowned and couldn''t help rubbing his aching brows.


    He had never let the Xaviers know about his rtionship with Meredith, because it was obvious that


    they would definitely object to it strongly. But he did not expect this day toe so soon.


    But what about the information on the Inte that grandpa mentioned?


    Derek turned on his phone and searched for information. Soon he saw the news. It was a picture taken


    secretly by someone unknown. The picture showed him opening the car door and talking to Meredith.


    The two of them seemed very close at first sight, and their intimate rtionship was self-evident.


    Because the picture was very eye-catching and the people who posted it on Twitter (the Chinese


    version of Twitter) added a hashtag with high viewership, this photo went viral soon. Many people were


    wondering if Derek finally had a girlfriend. It was said that he always kept himself away from women.


    But that may not be the case.


    Derek was so angry that he immediately called Damian, asking him to get rid of these things as soon


    as possible.


    As Meredith sat in the car and idly swiped her phone, she also found out about the news. As soon as


    the photo appeared, she immediately understood what had happened.


    Maybe the Xaviers saw the news and didn''t want Derek to get involved with her. That was why they


    were so angry.


    Just as she was thinking about it, Derek opened the car door. He stopped acting so coldly and looked


    at Meredith as if nothing had happened. Then, suddenly, he leaned over and covered her with his


    whole body.


    Meredith was startled, but she didn''t move. He didn''t do anything. He just moved his fingers slightly and


    fastened the seat belt she had forgotten to fasten.


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the man''s face that was so close to her. "Did the Xaviers


    know about us?"

 Chapter 162

    Chapter 162


    Derek avoided Meredith''s gaze. "You don''t have to worry about these things."


    Meredith immediately understood that her guess was right. It was the Xaviers that was pressuring


    Derek. Suddenly, she felt a little tired.


    "Am I...that bad?"


    If Derek weren''t with her, but with Chloe, or any girl from a distinguished family, the Xaviers wouldn''t


    havee here and questioned him angrily.


    "Don''t think too much. I''ll take care of these things."


    Derek stroked Meredith''s hair. Now, the quickest solution was to clear Meredith''s name. The rest could


    be solved in the future.


    Meredith was not in a good mood, so Derek sent her home. "Have a good rest."


    Meredith smiled. It seemed that it was great if one''s immediate superior was the big boss. At least, it


    gave her a lot of convenience in asking for leave and skipping work.


    "OK. See you tomorrow." Meredith got out of the car, waved at Derek and watched the man leave


    before she slowly went upstairs.


    Just as she reached the door and was about to take out the key to open the door, a cold female voice


    rang in her ear. "Meredith, you are finally back."


    Violet stood at the door of the apartment that Meredith rented. Her well-preserved face was cold.


    Meredith''s heart skipped a beat when she saw the woman. When she saw her expression and heard


    her tone, she understood that the woman didn''te here to bond with her. However, the woman was


    Derek''s mother, so Meredith could only pretend as if nothing had happened and greeted her.


    "Hello, auntie."


    They were just two meaningless words but they ignited Violet''s anger.


    Violet couldn''t help but think to herself. Did this woman know she had caused a tempest? She had


    opened her eyes in the morning to see the picture of her proud son and a female prisoner, a woman


    she had always looked down on. At that moment, she wanted to tear Meredith apart.


    Meredith, on the other hand, just greeted her as if the tempest didn''t exist. Did she really think she was


    the young madam of the Xaviers now?


    "Meredith, thest time we met, I have told you everything that needs to be talked about. I think you


    know exactly about your status. But you still seduced Derek this time. Are youpletely shameless


    now?"


    If it wasn''t for the Xaviers''s efforts to cool down the situation, the rumors would have spread all over the


    city, and if someone used Meredith''s identity to stir up trouble, it would only have destroyed Derek''s


    reputation.


    Meredith was stunned for a moment. She never expected Violet to think so badly of her, as if she had


    known nothing but try to seduce men.


    "Auntie, I don''t know what I''ve done made you so angry but I want to say that I didn''t do that back then.


    I''m already working hard to investigate the case, and there will be results soon..."


    "I don''t want to hear your results." Violet thought Meredith was just making an excuse. She nced at


    Meredith disdainfully. "Is this the kind of lie you used to deceive Derek? I didn''t expect you to have this


    ability."


    Meredith was speechless. She had taken the rap for Ava for no reason. How could this be her fault?


    However, she finally got to know that in Violet''s eyes, her existence was a big mistake. She was a lowly


    person. Even if she had never been in prison, the Xaviers would turn up its nose at the Masons.


    Meredith stood still. She didn''t know what to do. Since she was disgusted by Violet, she was wrong no


    matter what she would do. She''d better not to do anything.


    Thinking about it, she opened the door. "Auntie, since you said so, maybe this talk doesn''t have to


    continue."


    Violet was angry at Meredith''s calm demeanor. She had never seen such a shameless woman. Even


    someone came to her ce to scold her, she could remain so indifferent.


    "Now that things have gone this far, I won''t beat around the bush anymore. Stay away from my son


    from now on. Not everyone is qualified to approach him. The Xaviers has been very kind to you. Please


    don''t push too far. Otherwise, I will teach you a lesson."


    Meredith opened the door and bit her lower lip. She also had feelings. Of course, she felt hurt of being


    so openly despised. However, she did not talk back and just opened the door and walked in.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Violet watched the door close in front of her. "Did your parents raise you like this? You cannot bring


    benefits to Derek, not to mention that you are a burden."


    Violet was arrogant. Seeing that Meredith had already entered, she would not knock on the door and


    yell. She was sensitive about her reputation.


    Just as she was about to leave, Nanny Zhang, the next-door neighbor, suddenly walked out. She was


    shocked to see a woman who looked very rich standing at the door.


    Then, an idea came to her mind. Was the woman here to seize her husband who was fooling around


    with the neighbor?


    Last time, she and her son saw a man on the balcony flirting with Meredith. They looked very close,


    and they even were scolded by that man.


    Originally, she wanted her single son to hit on Meredith, but when she found out that this woman was


    notoriously indiscreet about her private life, she dropped that idea. Especially after learning that the


    man her neighbor dated drove luxury cars, she disdained Meredith even more.


    She thought her neighbor must be a mistress of a rich man and that she really had a knack for


    pretending.


    "Are youing for that Meredith?"


    Nanny Zhang came over mysteriously. "That woman is really bad. She was flirting with a man on the


    balcony a few days ago. How shameless!"


    Violet wouldn''t have talked to such a person before, but when she heard that, she was intrigued. "What


    did you say? Did you see it?"


    "Of course. She and that man almost did it on the balcony that day. If we hadn''te out to cook and


    see it, they would have done something shameless. If you knew someone close to her, you''d have to


    be careful!"


    After listening to this, Violet''s already gloomy face became even gloomier. She could not wait to tear


    Meredith apart. How could such a dissolute woman addle her son''s brain? She might have a venereal


    disease.


    Nanny Zhang left, but Violet stood still and did not leave. Now, she could no longer maintain her


    elegance. She just wanted Meredith to get out of J City as soon as possible.


    Violet walked back and started knocking.


    Meredith was tidying up her things when she heard the frantic knocking on the door. Frowning, she


    walked over and opened the door. Just as she was about to say something, Violet pushed the door


    open with an imposing manner and strode in.


    Meredith staggered and almost fell to the ground. She quickly held the doorknob to maintain her


    bnce, then looked over in shock. "Auntie, what are you trying to do?"

 Chapter 163

    Chapter 163


    Meredith couldn''t help getting angry. If she hadn''t reacted quickly enough, she would have been


    knocked to the ground. The child in her womb might have been in trouble.


    Violet walked in and looked arrogantly at Meredith. Meredith stepped back subconsciously.


    Violet looked at her loose clothes, her face without makeup, and her abdomen that bulged slightly.


    An ominous feeling suddenly urred to her.


    Meredith was very thin, and there was no excess fat flesh all over her body, except for the bulge in her


    lower abdomen. Although it was not obvious, it was a little obvious on Meredith.


    She suddenly remembered thest time she met Meredith at the drugstore buying pills for pregnant


    women, and her face turned serious, "Are you pregnant?"


    Meredith did not expect that she would suddenly ask this question and hesitated for a moment. When


    she adjusted herself to answer, Violet had already figured out everything.


    Meredith was pregnant. Whose child is it?


    "This seems to have nothing to do with auntie, right?"


    Meredith took two steps back as she didn''t want to provoke Violet, who now was no longer as reserved


    and elegant as used to be. Violet was like a mother beast that was irritated.


    Meredith was really worried that she would do something drastic.


    "It has nothing to do with me? How can it be? You bitch, did you get hooked up with some man and get


    pregnant? Do you try to get Derek to be father of this bastard?"


    Violet believed this was the case without further consideration, as she believed a woman like Meredith


    was very likely to do so.


    Did Meredith think she could be recognized by the Xaviers by the help of a babying from


    nowhere?


    "No!"


    Meredith had been pregnant for almost five months, and she talked to her baby every day. She


    remembered that the book said that such a baby of five months could already hear what was


    happening outside. Violet said that the baby was a bastard, which made Meredith very angry.


    "No? What is it then?" Naturally, Violet would not believe her lies. Such a woman would do anything


    necessary and would definitely covet the power of the Xaviers.


    "Do you still want to say that this child is Derek''s?"


    Violet''s eyes stretched to Meredith''s abdomen, in a manner as if a poisonous snake was moving


    towards Meredith''s abdomen.


    Meredith even felt that as long as she nodded to admit it, Violet would rush up, cut her belly open and


    take out the baby!


    This child... obviously belonged to Derek, the child of their the Xaviers...


    However, in the face of this situation, Meredith did not dare to say the truth. As she was afraid that


    Violet would take her directly to the hospital to abort the child.


    "I didn''t say that."


    Meredith covered her belly so that Violet could not gaze at her baby in her womb directly, then Wan


    Mer heard a sneer of contempt from Violet, "That''s exactly what I said. You want to pin this child on the


    Xaviers and let Derek ept this bastard, right? Meredith, I have underestimated you after all!"


    Meredith shook her head, but she understood that her resistance was nothing judged by Violet. In that


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    case, she could only endure it.


    When Violet had finished talking, Violet would naturally leave.


    Violet said something else harsh to Meredith, but when she saw that Meredith was like an ostrich and


    didn''t say anything, the anger in her heart was not vented but was burned even fiercer.


    Violet suspected that this Meredith might have deceived Derek with this pretentious tenderness.


    "Okay, you y dumb in front of me. It''s okay. I won''t leave Derek unaware of this. Even if I die, I won''t


    let anything dirty like youe to our the Xaviers."


    After saying these harsh words, Violet also felt disdained to stay here. She then strode out and


    mmed the door loudly.


    Seeing that she had finally left, Meredith hurriedly went over and locked the door several times. Then,


    she leaned against the door as if she had lost all her strength and breathed heavily.


    She had always known that the Xaviers would not ept her baby, but Violet''s attitude still made her


    scared.


    Once the child''s biological father was made public, the Xaviers would definitely take action. What


    should she do...


    ...


    Not long after Derek arrived at thepany, he received a call from the Xaviers.


    "Come back now."


    It was Derek''s grandpa, whose voice was colder than thest call.


    Derek frowned, and his eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness, "Grandpa, I''m at work. I''ll go


    back after work and exin this to you."


    "No, you get back here now! If you don''te home right now, I''lle to you myself!"


    The old man gave an ultimatum. The reason for this was just because when Violet returned home, she


    told Derek''s grandpa, with tears and cries, of Meredith''s pregnancy and that Meredith was going to


    bring this illegitimate baby into the Xaviers.


    So Derek''s grandpa couldn''t bear it any longer.


    "..."


    Seeing that grandpa was so insistent, Derek could onlypromise, "I see. I''ll go back now."


    With that said, Derek exined to the person who was waiting in the conference room for him to agree


    on the next work schedule, then took the car keys and sped off to the house of the Xaviers.


    Along the way, his brows were furrowed, and his already cold face became more solemn.


    He understood people from the Xaviers did not like Meredith. But ever since he was a child, he had


    never seen his grandpa so angry. After all, grandpa was a person who had been running a business in


    the business world for decades. How could he be so angry if things were inconsequential?


    Could it be that something else had happened?


    The more Derek thought about it, the more upset he became. But in the end, it was impossible to


    escape. He had to face it.


    The car soon stopped at the entrance of the old house of the Xaviers. The butler was already waiting at


    the door. When he saw Derek appear, he quickly weed him, "Young master, you are finally back.


    The old man is very angry. Please do not irritate him!"


    Derek nodded. Although Mr. Xavier was still in good health, he was still in his eighties after all. As a


    junior, he could not contradict him.


    Derek strode into the old house. He then walked to the familiar study and knocked on the door.


    "Come in."


    Mr. Xavier''s cold voice sounded. Derek then took a deep breath before entering.


    As soon as he opened the door, a thick book hit him. Although Derek dodged quickly, the sharp corner


    of the book still scraped his cheek, leaving a long trail of blood.


    "Dad!" Violet was concerned. Although Violet was also angry, Derek was, after all, her precious child,


    her life''s hope. Seeing him hurt, her heart was also a pain.


    "Don''t be soft-hearted here. Think about it. Is it more urgent to see him suffer some skin injury or to see


    him meddling with that kind of woman without realizing the consequences? If you can''t stand it, go out."


    Looking at the blood on Derek''s face, the old man didn''t even blink. Sometimes, he had to be ruthless


    enough to make people remember the cost.


    Derek had been ustomed to smooth sess since he was a child. Derek came from a powerful


    family, together with his own strong ability, which might make him so arrogant that he did not show


    respect to his own grandfather!

 Chapter 164

    Chapter 164


    Finally, Violet endured it. Although she couldn''t bear to see her son hurt, she would rather wake Derek


    up this time than let him suffer from Meredith in the future.


    However, she put all the me on Meredith again. How could Derek have been beaten without this


    vixen? The woman was definitely not a lucky star, but a disaster.


    When she found a chance, she must take revenge on her.


    Derek did not cry out for pain. This was the first time the Old Master had hit him. The Old Master had


    never done this before, even if they had different opinions.


    "Do you know why I asked you here?"


    The Old Master looked at Derek''s silent eyes and understood that he would never give up on this and


    the Old Master continued to speak.


    "I know."


    Derek wiped the blood off his face calmly, and his tone was faint, which didn''t contain any fluctuation.


    "Then what are you going to do?"


    The Old Master narrowed his eyes and looked at him. "I''m telling you. If you want to have a further


    rtionship with that kind of woman, it''s impossible. Even if you want to find a lover, it can''t be her."


    "Grandpa, you were the one who brought her here."


    Derek met the Old Master''s eyes.


    "If you hadn''t said that she was my lucky star and that she was very useful to me, I don''t think we


    would have experienced these."


    "You!"


    The Old Master was so angry that he almost fainted. "You mean it''s my fault? Do you think I really want


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    to let that woman into our house? If... If it''s not for you!"


    "Derek, how can you talk to your grandfather like this?" Violet couldn''t endure any longer and scolded


    him.


    Derek stepped forward and held the Old Master, but the Old Master threw off him. "I don''t need your


    help."


    If he talked a few more words with him, the Old Master felt like he was about to have a heart attack.


    "Grandpa, maybe you did this because of superstition. I never believed in the so-called fate, but now, I


    suddenly understand why I recovered as soon as Meredith came out."


    Derek said solemnly, "Because Meredith was wronged, and I have investigated the event. It is very


    likely that she was not the person who hurt me at that time, but just a scapegoat. She was sent into


    prison and tortured. It is the crimemitted by our the Xaviers. That''s why I was unconscious in bed


    for three years."


    Derek had always sneered at karma, but Meredith''s existence made him suddenly believe that the so-


    called fate might really exist.


    At least, he ned to use the rest of his life to make up for what he owed to her.


    "What did you say?"


    The Old Master couldn''t believe his ears. "You''re crazy. You can even make up a story for such a


    woman? How could it be wrong when she admitted it herself?"


    "But what I found out was that the Masons made her mother into the ICU. She had no choice but to


    take the me for her critically ill mother."


    "What about the evidence?"


    Derek shook his head. "Now I''m still searching, but, grandpa, I hope you can give me and Meredith


    some time. If she is really wronged, shouldn''t we make up for her?"


    The Old Master looked at Derek''s serious face. He knew his grandson well. He was not the kind of


    person who would lie to achieve his goal. The only possibility was that what he said was true.


    But if it was true, would he ept Meredith?


    "No, even if what you say is true, the Xaviers willpensate her, but you don''t need to bet the rest of


    your life on it. I can give her money and give her the glory and wealth she will enjoy for the rest of her


    life, but I can''t let you lose your future. Derek, you are the hope of the Xaviers. You can''t destroy your


    future for such a small matter."


    The Old Master said firmly. His meaning was obvious. No matter what happened, whether Meredith


    was wronged in the car ident or not, he would never allow such a woman to enter the Xaviers.


    "Grandpa!" Derek didn''t expect him to be so stubborn. Just as Derek was about to say something,


    Violet walked over and pulled him back. "Derek, you want to piss grandpa off? Even if what you say is


    true, then it''s not a rumor that she''s pregnant with someone else''s child. Are you willing to be


    cuckolded just to make it up to her?"


    Only then did Derek understand why the Old Master called him back in such a hurry. It turned out that


    they already knew about the child.


    Thinking of this, Derek was also unusually silent. The child, whose origins were unknown, was difficult


    to be epted. But because Meredith''s body was weak and couldn''t get an abortion, he could only


    ept the fact.


    However, he would deliberately ignore the child''s existence.


    Seeing Derek''s serious expression, Violet understood what he was thinking. Sure enough, he did mind


    the child, so the child definitely wasn''t his.


    She became more disgusted with Meredith, "Derek, I don''t care about anything else. But there are so


    many women you can choose, why do you have to tie yourself up with a woman who is pregnant with


    another man''s child? Think about it. Is it worth it? Do you want to raise another man''s child in the


    future? What if the manes back one day and gets tangled up with Meredith and the child? What


    should the Xaviers do?"


    Violet took advantage of the situation to persuade Derek. Seeing him listen to what she said seriously,


    she told him everything.


    Seeing this, the Old Master did not force him anymore. If he was pushed too hard, there might be a


    counteractive result.


    "Derek, I won''t say anything else. You''re a smart man. Think about it yourself. Do you want a bright


    future, or do you want a woman like that to stain the rest of your life? Think about it yourself."


    After that, he felt exhausted and left. He was helped back to the bedroom by Violet.


    Derek stayed in the study for a while. What Violet had just said indeed hit his heart.


    This child was like a thorn, and now he had no choice but to ignore it, but it was still a hidden danger.


    What if one day Meredith wanted to rekindle her old rtionship with the child''s father? Then what


    should he do?


    There was more coldness in his expression, and Derek didn''t want to think about it here anymore. He


    walked out and started the car, letting his thoughts drift freely.


    However, unknowingly, he drove to Meredith''s house.


    It was as if finding her was already one of his habits.


    Derek found that this woman had be more and more important to him. He did not resist this


    change, but he did not want to leave any problems behind.


    The man''s eyes shed with determination. He went upstairs and knocked on the door.


    Meredith shuddered and said cautiously, "Who is it?"


    What if Violet found someone to deal with her?


    "It''s me. Open the door." Derek spoke softly, but there was a chill in his voice. What should he do?


    There was more coldness in his expression, and Derek didn''t want to think about it here anymore. He


    walked out and started the car, letting his thoughts drift freely.


    However, unknowingly, he drove to Meredith''s house.


    It was as if finding her was already one of his habits.


    Derek found that this woman had be more and more important to him. He did not resist this


    change, but he did not want to leave any problems behind.


    The man''s eyes shed with determination. He went upstairs and knocked on the door.


    Meredith shuddered and said cautiously, "Who is it?"


    What if Violet found someone to deal with her?


    "It''s me. Open the door." Derek spoke softly, but there was a chill in his voice.

 Chapter 165

    Chapter 165


    Meredith did not detect the coldness in his words, but Derek relieved her instead.


    Opening the door, Meredith saw the long wound on Derek''s face. Although the blood had coagted,


    the red bloodstain was still shocking.


    "What has happened to you?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but stare at the wound. It looked like he had been scratched by something. Why


    would Derek be attacked? Besides, this was the second time he had been attacked in the past few


    days. Was he in any danger?


    "It''s all right." Derek had long forgotten about this matter, mainly because he had other things in his


    mind so that he forgot about the pain.


    "I have something to ask you, Meredith."


    As Derek spoke, his eyes fell on Meredith. Her eyes were full of sincere concern, which calmed him


    down a little.


    "What''s the matter? We''ll talk about it after my wound is applied with medicine."


    Meredith kept staring at Derek''s wound, not even noticing what was wrong with him. She was just


    thinking that it would be a sin to leave such a long scar on such a handsome face of him.


    After that, she quickly ran to her room to look for her medicine box. Seeing her insistence, Derek did


    not say anything but walked into Meredith''s bedroom and sat down casually. However, he soon saw a


    prenatal education book.


    Instead of liking the cute baby on the cover, he was even unhappier.


    If the baby were his, he would definitely like it, but actually, it was not. He didn''t know which man was


    the baby''s father, nor did he know the man''s identity, where he was now, when that man would show up


    again, and what Meredith thought of him.


    Derek had always been a risk-averse, nor in his rtionships. He wouldn''t give Meredith a reason to


    leave him at any time.


    Meredith got the cotton swabs and the anti-inmmatory iodophor and ran back. Seeing Derek sitting


    on the bed looking at a book with aplicated expression, her heart thumped and she quickly packed


    up the things. "Let me apply the medicine to your wound."


    Derek nodded. Meredith first wiped the bloodstain off his face with a wet cotton swab, then dabbed the


    wound with iodine.


    Fortunately, the wound was not deep. Although it looked scary, it shouldn''t have left him a scar.


    But Meredith was still worried about what had happened, letting him get hurt for the second time.


    "Is... Is Grandpa Xavier the one who did it?"


    Meredith asked carefully if as she gently applied for the medicine.


    "Yes." Derek nodded, identally touching the wound, and couldn''t help but hiss. Meredith was


    shocked, "Don''t move!"


    However, although her words sound reasonable and strong, Meredith felt some guilty inside because


    she knew that Derek would be beaten, and it must have something to do with her.


    "Is it because of me?"


    "Don''t think too much." Derek did not answer her question directly, nor did he deny it.


    Meredith was slightly touched. Even if he was beaten by Mr. Xavier, he did not vent his anger on her.


    Moreover, he was so considerate of her.


    Perhaps Derek was more serious about her than she thought.


    When thinking about it, Meredith''s eyes flickered. She wondered if Derek knew that the child was his


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    and if they fought together, would there be a good result?


    Meredith quickened her movements, finished applying for the medicine, and was about to put the


    things away, but Derek suddenly held her wrist and let her eyes meet his, without any room for evasion.


    "Meredith, I have something to ask you."


    The man''s tone was grave, and Meredith nodded, "Go ahead."


    "Who is the father of the baby you are carrying?"


    Derek made up his mind that he had to figure it out. He could let Meredith give birth to the baby, but he


    would never allow her to bring it up with her.


    He would not allow such a risk factor to remain by Meredith''s side, nor would he give her a chance to


    be remind of the baby''s father.


    Meredith didn''t expect him to ask that, but the question coincided with what she had just thought.


    Perhaps this was a good opportunity to tell the truth.


    "Derek, will you believe me?"


    Derek looked at her nomittally, "Say it."


    Meredith took a deep breath as if she had made a great resolution. It was not easy to tell the secret.


    "The baby is yours."


    Meredith said it word by word, then looked at Derek nervously.


    To her surprise, he did not show anything on his face. He was neither happy nor surprised. Instead, he


    was terrifyingly calm.


    Meredith suddenly had a strange feeling. She knew that Derek had always cared about the child. She


    had been keep the secret for fear of retribution if she spoke out about the child''s father.


    But now, she had finally mustered up the courage to tell the secret, while Derek''s response made her


    feelpletely at a loss.


    "The child is mine?"


    Obviously, Derek didn''t believe it.


    It was very clear when she got pregnant, but they didn''t have sex at that time, so how could it be his


    child?


    The only exnation for it might be that Meredith lied because she was afraid that he would ask her to


    abort the child, separating her from the child.


    "Meredith, if you''re afraid that I''ll force you to abort your child, you don''t have to worry about it. You are


    not fit enough for an abortion. I won''t risk your health."


    Derek said, "But after this child is born, it has to be sent away. I can tolerate you giving birth to it, but I


    can''t let it continue in our lives. This is my bottom line."


    Meredith was stunned. She did not expect that Derek would not believe her at all. "Please believe me,


    this is really your child."


    "Is it really my child?"


    Looking at Meredith''s eagerness, Derek became increasingly unhappy.


    Did she really care so much about this child of another man that she even lied to him so as to deceive


    him into raising a child for another man?


    Derek felt a pang of jealousy. It seemed that Meredith really liked that man, and even sacrificed her


    dignity to keep his child.


    "Derek, you believe in me. The... The child is really yours..."


    Meredith said, "Back then, I went to the MS Hotel to find evidence that Ava had an affair with the


    director, so I bought Nova''s clothes, but unfortunately, I was caught. After being drugged, I went to your


    room, and then..."


    "This is really your child."

 Chapter 166

    Chapter 166


    Derek didn''t believe it. He clearly remembered that the person he found that day was Nova.


    Nova and Meredith had been always together for a period of time, and perhaps Meredith learned about


    it at that time.


    "Meredith, don''t lie. The person I found the other day was Nova. No matter what identity information


    she left or what she saidter, there was no doubt that the person was Nova."


    "If you don''t want to take this child away, you don''t have to. Leave him here and I will find a good family


    for him. After he is born, I will send him away. You don''t have to say anything more."


    Derek did not believe what Meredith had said because the evidence was very clear. And he could only


    think that Meredith lied to save the child.


    This made his already troubled mood even more depressed.


    "Why you don''t believe me?" Meredith didn''t expect this to happen. "Otherwise, you can call Nova and


    ask her what had happened on earth."


    Derek''s stubbornness hurt Meredith so much. He even didn''t believe that her child was his. When had


    she lied about this kind of thing?


    Seeing her stubbornness, Derek thought for a moment, "Okay, I''ll do as you say."


    It was just a phone call, and it wasn''t difficult.


    Now that Nova was receiving treatment abroad, Derek quickly called her family.


    This was the first time Derek had called her for so long and Nova felt a little more excited.


    These days, she had been persevering in her recovery. Because Derek had hired a top team in the


    field of sports rehabilitation to treat her, her legs had obviously improved. After another period of


    treatment, she would probably be able to return to normal.


    Although she still couldn''t run or jump, but it would be much better than sitting in a wheelchair for the


    rest of her life.


    "Nova, I have something to ask you." Without any small talk, Derek asked bluntly, "What exactly


    happened in the hotel?"


    Nova''s heart trembled. She thought that incident had been sealed up and would never be mentioned


    by anybody. At present, she couldn''t lose the treatment provided by Derek. She didn''t want the rest of


    her life to be ruined by her disabled legs. Besides, if it weren''t for Meredith, she wouldn''t have been so


    pitiful.


    So Nova answered confidently, "Mr. Xavier, we''ve already confirmed that matter countless times. The


    clothes left that day and the work card left behind were all mine. Even if you don''t believe me or doubt


    anything, you can check the surveince as well."


    Nova said with a sneer in her heart. She knew clearly the rules of the MS Hotel. The surveince there


    was impossible for outsiders to see. Even if they wanted to, they could only see it for thest three


    months.


    It had been nearly five months since that incident happened, and Derek had no evidence even if he


    doubted her and wanted to check.


    Meredith didn''t expect Nova to make up such a story. Nova knew exactly what happened that day.


    "Nova, how could you..."


    "Meredith is there too... Mr. Xavier, that incident was an ident. I once told Meredith that because we


    were very close at the time, and you know it clearly... Is there anything else happening now?"


    Nova pretended to be confused even though she knew exactly what happened in her heart. So, it was


    Meredith who wanted to tell the truth?


    She couldn''t let Meredith tell the truth. If Derek knew it was Meredith that day, he would definitely fall


    out with her. And then her previous efforts would be in vain.


    Nova''s words made Derek''s face even gloomier. After hanging up, the man nced at Meredith. "So,


    what else do you want to say? She even dares to let people check the surveince cameras. If she''s


    lying, how can she be so bold?"


    Meredith''s eyes flickered. She didn''t know why Nova dared to say that. Could it be that the hotel indeed


    didn''t have surveince videos or there were some other reasons?


    In short, Derek''s expression chilled her heartpletely.


    At the very least, she never thought that the man''s reaction would make her so bitterly disappointed


    after she told the truth.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s embarrassed face and thought that she was guilty because her lie had


    been exposed. He stood up and said, "This is settled. I will arrange everything for the baby after his


    birth. You don''t have to worry about him, but that''s all!"


    Word by word, Derek dered the future of the child.


    He, Derek, would never raise the son of another man. This child was a scourge. It was out of his great


    humanity and duty to arrange a good ce for the child to grow up.


    "No... No!" Meredith covered her belly with her hands and felt a faint movement. This was their child.


    How could she let their child be sent away for no reason?


    Did Derek want the child to be separated from his natural parents at birth? It was too cruel.


    "This is my child. Don''t you believe it''s yours? Well, I''ll raise this child by myself. I don''t need you!"


    Meredith''s stubbornness was brought up by her maternal instinct. She looked into Derek''s gloomy eyes


    and spoke in an unyielding tone.


    What''s more, as long as the baby was born, a paternity test would reveal the truth. But if Derek sent


    the baby out, then everything would be unpredictable. Who knew whether the child would be directly


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    killed or...


    She would never let him do that!


    Derek was killing his own flesh and blood!


    Seeing the stubbornness in Meredith''s eyes, Derek stood up and approached her step by step. The


    height advantage, which was because he was taller than Meredith by a head, was fully revealed at this


    moment.


    Meredith was shrouded in the shadow of Derek. She could not help but step back, but she had no


    intention ofpromise.


    "Meredith, I''m not joking. You have to do this. You have to listen to me about the child."


    Derek was angered by her stubbornness. She cared so much about this child whose biological father


    was unknown and she even wanted to go against him?


    "No, no, I can''t let you do that." Meredith refused decisively. Derek looked at her andughed in


    extreme anger.


    "Just for this bastard? What kind of spell did this child''s father put on you to make you so determined?


    Meredith, my patience is limited."


    In Derek''s eyes, the more Meredith cared about the child, the more she loved the father of this child


    who he didn''t know at all.


    At that time, would she still want to take the child away and elope with the wild man under his nose?


    "Derek, please believe me... Child, child..."


    Meredith exined in vain, but there was clearly no trust in Derek''s eyes, only anger. She simply did


    not know what to do.


    "Listen, I''m not forcing you to abort the child, but it''s impossible if you want to keep the child by your


    side. I''ll give you some time to think about it. I hope you won''t disappoint me."

 Chapter 167

    Chapter 167


    After Derek finished speaking, he mmed the door and left.


    Hearing the harsh p, Meredith''s body shivered a little. She never thought that she had mustered up


    the courage to tell the truth but only to get such a result...


    She called Nova again, but Nova didn''t answer the phone at all. It was as if Nova was afraid of spilling


    the beans. In the end, Nova even turned off her phone.


    Meredith had no choice but to call the MS Hotel, and the answer was that outsiders could not watch the


    security feeds. Moreover, security feeds were erased every three months. Even if Meredith kept looking


    for it day and night, it was impossible to find the deleted video in the huge number of videos and


    restore it.


    After making these calls, Meredith felt as if her body was being drained of strength. It turned out that


    there were some things that you could not prove even if you wanted to.


    At this moment, Meredith felt the baby in her stomach kick her. Now that the baby was five months old,


    how could she ept that she would be separated from the child?


    Was there no other way?


    Meredith looked at the ceiling in confusion and felt extremely tired.


    She really didn''t know what to do.


    ...


    When Derek left Meredith''s house, he also had surging anger in his heart. When he thought of the child


    in her belly, he only felt that the intimacy of recent days between them was as fragile as an illusion.


    If Meredith still kept that child, he would feel ufortable and threatened.


    Thinking about it, the man was not in the mood to go to thepany. He also had an unpleasant time


    in the Xaviers, so he just simply went to Jameson''s ce.


    Derek didn''t know what Jameson was doingtely since Jameson hadn''t contacted him for a long time.


    When Jameson received Derek''s call, he was listening to music in the bar. The beautiful female singer


    on the stage winked at him and exchanged amorous nces with him. Jameson was about to have a


    romantic encounter when he was interrupted by the ringtone.


    However, when he saw it was Derek, he still picked it up, but there was a hint of me in his tone. "It''s


    fine if you don''t call me normally. But when you call me, you always ruin my good time. What''s going


    on?"


    Jameson''s flirtatious tone eased Derek''s boredom. "You''re at the bar?"


    Jameson told him about the location. This was a famous music bar in J City. It was usually quiet, so it


    was good for one toe out and rx here.


    "I''m on my way."


    Derek nced at the address and drove to the bar.


    He no longer wanted to get tangled up in the things that upset him. Perhaps, getting drunk was a good


    choice to resolve all his negative feelings.


    Jameson was shocked. Derek was not the type of person who woulde out in daylight to have fun.


    If he wanted toe, there must be something that bothered him.


    After thinking about it, Jameson could only reject the invitation of the folk singer and continue to sit and


    wait.


    Not long after, Derek arrived. The moment the man appeared, he attracted a lot of people''s attention.


    After all, a handsome man like him who was tall and as handsome as a star was a rarity here.


    However, Derek was not in the mood for a romantic encounter and he coldly rejected the invitations of


    a few women who came to talk to him. After sitting next to Jameson, he nced at the cocktail on the


    table and raised the corner of his mouth. "That''s all you drink?"


    "Then what else do you want to drink?"


    Jameson nced at him. Derek tapped the table and ordered a few bottles of extremely strong liquor.


    "Have a try?"


    Jameson was stunned. These were all spirits. Even a man like him drank them all, he would lose his


    mind.


    What was wrong with Derek? Was there something wrong with his rtionship?


    "Before you drink, tell me what happened to you. Looking at you being like this, I''m very scared. The


    Jameson firmly refused to drink with Derek like a fool when he thought of the painful experience of


    Derek having a little identst time. At that time, he was dragged over to talk with the Mr. Xavier and


    being lectured by his own old man.


    "Nothing."


    Derek didn''t say it. It was not that he didn''t want to talk about it, but it was always embarrassing to say


    something like that.


    The woman he liked was pregnant with the child of an unknown man. He had to wait for the child to be


    born and Meredith refused to send the child away.


    What was this?


    Derek had always been proud. He could not ept this kind of thing and all the normal men would feel


    the same as him when the same thing happened to them.


    "Is it...rted to Meredith?"


    Jameson asked tentatively, but when the name ''Meredith'' was mentioned, Derek''s expression


    changed. He was already expressionless, and when he heard ''Meredith'', his expression became even


    colder.


    Jameson touched his nose. It seemed that it was really a matter of rtionship. He didn''t know what


    was so special about that woman. Why could she make Derek, a man who remained calm and cold no


    matter what happened, be so moonstruck over and over again?


    Or, was this how it felt to be in love?


    "When did you be so fussy and gossipy?" When Derek saw Jameson gossiping like this, he


    opened his mouth coldly and refused t.


    Seeing that Derek didn''t seem to want to say anything, Jameson couldn''t keep asking. So he thought


    embarrassedly for a while, "Hey, stop drinking. I remember something. Chloe is in the hospital and her


    situation doesn''t seem to be very good. By the way, Asher has been looking for you and he asked you


    to pay a visit to her."


    Jameson was worried that Derek would lose his temper and get himself drunk. He quickly thought of


    Asher''s request to him.


    "What happened to her?"


    Derek frowned. He didn''t expect things to be so serious. Last time, it was said that Chloe had the


    tendency of having depression. Did her situation get worse in just a few days?


    "It was some small psychological problem, not serious. But he couldn''t find you, so he asked me to


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    pass on the message."


    With that said, Jameson patted Derek on the shoulder. "Seriously, you and Asher have known each


    other for so many years. You are good friends. Why are you at loggerheads? You even need me to be


    the fixer. You two are not primary school students. What kind of things can''t you talk about in person?"


    Derek was silent for a moment. Indeed, after the fight with Asher that day, the rtionship reached an


    impasse. It seemed that Asher had contacted him, but he had intentionally or unintentionally avoided


    him.


    It was not clear whether it was for Chloe.


    "It''s a long story. Since you talked about that to me, let''s go and have a look."


    Derek still cared about these brothers after all. Besides, Chloe was also his friend. If something


    happened to her, he couldn''t just sit back and do nothing.


    Maybe he could help her by finding her a doctor or something like that to avoid feeling guilty again.


    "That what you shall do. If you have anything in your mind, just say it say to me, I''ll settle them for you


    two."


    Jameson saw Derek get rid of the idea of getting drunk. "Shall I drive you there?"


    Derek nodded and agreed.


    The two of them went straight to the hospital where Asher was.

 Chapter 168

    Chapter 168


    The car rushed at a gallop and stopped at the entrance of the hospital.


    The two of them got out of the car. Then they found the sickroom that Asher had told them and


    knocked on the door.


    Chloe''s weak voice came from inside the room, "Who is it?"


    Jameson was also surprised by her current state, "It''s me, and... Derek."


    Chloe suddenly sat up from the bed. Although her emotions were already under control and her


    physical condition was fine, she insisted on staying in the hospital.


    She had guessed that he woulde to see her, driven by his own personality and Asher''s request.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Now he was finally here.


    Chloe''s hair was hanging down. Her lips were pale after she slightly pressed them together. With her


    fair skin, she looked a little delicate and charming in weakness.


    It was just putting on a pitiful look. Meredith could make it. Couldn''t Chloe do it?


    After Derek and Jameson entered the sickroom, they all felt sorry for her when they saw Chloe sitting


    listlessly on the bed,pletely different from her usual cheerful image.


    The two of them had just sat down for a while when Asher came over. Asher sent Jameson away with


    an excuse.


    He knew that Chloe just wanted to be alone with Derek.


    When the others left, Chloe looked at Derek, who was sitting not far away, "Haven''t seen you for a long


    time, Derek. I thought... I thought you wouldn''t want to meet with me again."


    Derek shook his head, "No. How can I do that?"


    Chloe lowered her head and smiled, "Don''t worry. My disease is not serious now. I won''t pester you."


    Derek was a little uneasy when listening to her words that were not as natural as before. After all, they


    used to be close friends. Even if he had broken up with Chloe, he didn''t want to hurt her.


    "What can I do for you?"


    Since Derek did not seem to be particrly resistant to her, Chloe looked up, with a pleading look in


    her beautiful eyes, "Let me have a good sleep in yourpany, okay?"


    "You see, I haven''t fallen asleep for a long time. The doctor said that if the situation continued, I might


    suddenly die of staying upte."


    Chloe pitifully pointed to the dark circles under her eyes. Derek could not resist her, so he nodded and


    sat down beside the bed.


    Although Derek was not very close to her, Chloe was already satisfied.


    After Asher took Jameson out, Asher was silent with a darkened face. Looking at him, Jameson sighed,


    "How old are you? You''ve known each other for over ten years! How could you be at loggerheads with


    each other like this? Can you two not contact with each other anymore?"


    Asher''s face dropped. He had been socializing in the circle of powerful and wealthy families since he


    was young. Although he was used to pretending politeness and sincerity to others, he regarded


    Jameson and Derek as bosom buddies. They could confide in each other and help each other at any


    cost. How could he want to fall out with Derek?


    He merely couldn''t stand that Derek hurt Chloe for Meredith.


    "Yang, it''s a long story and I need your help."


    Jameson raised his eyebrows, "Well, speak freely. When did you be so fussy?"


    "You have learned about Chloe''s current situation. We all know her. She hasn''t experienced any


    setbacks since she was a child, and she has always valued her rtionship with Derek. You have to


    help her. You can''t let her be hurt by this."


    Jameson was silent for a moment, "I''d like to help you, but I think that their rtionship should depend


    on their own thoughts. We can''t force Derek to ept Chloe just because we are more familiar with


    Chloe. Derek doesn''t love her. Even if they are forced to be together, will Chloe be happy then?"


    Jameson''s impression of Meredith was not that bad. In his view, Meredith was kind, sensible, and


    dauntless. Although she was of humble origins, it was okay as long as Derek loved her.


    "No, no." Asher was a little emotional, "Chloe has the possibility of falling into depression now. At this


    time, I would rather see that she is supported by false happiness than let her mental health deteriorate.


    Yang, we all watched her grow up. Chloe is like our sister. Even if you don''t have tenderness towards


    her, don''t stop me from taking steps at least."


    The look in Asher''s eyes was a little resolute. It seemed that he would break up with Jameson if


    Jameson didn''t agree.


    Looking at Asher''s extreme nervousness, Jameson knew that Asher was so sensitive because of


    Chloe, so he could only nod. "Okay, I got it."


    "I won''t interfere with what you are going to do. However, I will definitely stop you if you n to do


    something illegal."


    Asher''s face softened a little, "Don''t worry. I won''t."


    There was no need to use illegal means to deal with Meredith.


    Derek stayed with Chloe for a while. Although Chloe just begged him to sit beside the bed and see her


    sleeping, Chloe couldn''t help but reach out and hold Derek''s broad palm soon, gently caressing the


    palm print.


    "Derek, will I be a lunatic? I''m so worried..."


    When Derek heard her saying that, he couldn''t leave her alone and didn''t dare to let go of her hand. He


    felt a little more guilty. Perhaps, he was so cruel that Chloe fell into a mental state like this.


    "No. You''ll be fine."


    Derek didn''t take his hand back and said, "I''ll get the best doctor to treat you. Be rxed. Soon you will


    recover to the previous condition."


    Listening to Derek, Chloe felt much calmer. Holding Derek''s hand, she gradually felt sleepy.


    Asher came back from outside and saw this scene. He was bitter when he saw Chloe''s clinging


    expression and quiet sleeping face, but he quickly suppressed his emotion. He sent Jameson away,


    who was about toe in. Then he took out his cell phone to take a picture.


    On the screen, Derek was leaning on the bedside with a gentle expression, holding the hands of Chloe.


    The warm sunlight fell on the two of them, making the scene even sweeter.


    No one would doubt that They were a perfect couple.


    Without any hesitation, Asher sent the photo directly to Meredith. He had investigated her phone


    number before.


    At the very least, that woman should understand who would match Derek better.


    She was just a brazen criminal, a shameless ¡°the other woman¡± between Derek and Chloe.


    Although this was anything but an aboveboard act for Asher, he was willing to do so for Chloe''s wish.


    He was willing to degenerate into a despicable man for her...


    It was good as long as the woman he loved could be happy.


    Meredith was at home, staring nkly at the antenatal education book in her hand. She had sat for a


    long time, but she failed to read even a word.


    The phone rang, and she picked it up to take a look. At the sight of the picture on the screen, she


    dropped the book in her hand unnaturally.

 Chapter 169

    Chapter 169


    The picture was very eye-catching, but Meredith could not appreciate it, only felt it extremely dazzling.


    Derek held Chloe''s hand. He stood by her bedside and his eyes were as gentle as a deepke.


    Meredith had seen him look like this before. She thought that no woman could resist such a look.


    Moreover, that person was Derek.


    Although she didn''t know where the photo was taken or why someone sent it to her phone, Meredith


    didn''t think it was important anymore.


    There was no need to exin anything about such an intimate gesture. Besides, Chloe was Derek''s


    ex-girlfriend. She was a fixated woman in his heart. After seeing so many of her miserable side, he


    would miss the past, and it seemed to be no problem.


    It turned out that her self-confidence was really just self-assertion. What Chloe said was not wrong at


    all. Was she the tool Derek used to while away the time or to stimte their rtionship?


    Now that Derek was bored, he went back to their noble world and didn''t want to look at her again...


    Meredith didn''t want to think about it anymore, but she couldn''t control the tears in her eyes. Finally, a


    few tears came out of her eyes.


    Especially when she thought about his expression when she finally told the truth today and was about


    to go with him to deal with the Xaviers''s troubles...


    It was like the first time the two of them met. Derek had always thought of her as a promiscuous


    woman with a messy private life. Even though he had said so many times that he would trust her, he


    still suspected that she was having an affair with another man and also suspected the origin of the


    baby in her belly.


    Everyone could see these things clearly, but she was the only one who foolishly believed that Derek


    was sincere.


    Now, she was awake.


    Meredith''s hands shook and she deleted the photo. Now that she knew what was going on, there was


    no need to keep that thing to hurt her heart. Everything that happened in the past was just because of


    her foolishness. In the future, she would never be so stupid again.


    "Huh..." Meredith suddenlyughed at herself.


    Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Meredith understood a lot. She felt that there was


    no need to ask for an insult anymore.


    Love was never something she could ask for. In that case, she could only find her mother''s


    whereabouts as soon as possible, get rid of her unredressed injustice as soon as possible, and then...


    leave this ce.


    Meredith suddenly thought of what Parker had said to her. He had said that he could help arrange for


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    her to go abroad.


    As if she had grasped thest hope, Meredith immediately called Parker.


    Parker did not expect Meredith to call at this time and answered the phone with some joy. "What''s


    wrong? Do you need help?"


    "I... I just wanted to ask, if I want to go abroad, can you..."


    Meredith had a thin skin and always felt embarrassed when she asked for help, especially when she


    faced Parker.


    She always felt that she owed him a lot, but she didn''t know how to pay him back.


    "Of course, I happen to be interested in developing overseas projects. If you want to go abroad, I can


    arrange for you to work in ourpany."


    Parker was surprised that Meredith suddenly mentioned going abroad. Could it be that there was some


    conflict between her and Derek?


    Listening carefully to the voice from the phone, Parker''s mind was stirring.


    He was selfish. He didn''t want to give up Meredith to Derek. Besides, he had the confidence to give


    Meredith more sense of security and happiness, so that she could get rid of the shadow of the past.


    "Well, I''m already investigating what happened that year. After that, I want to leave here and start over."


    Parker found that Meredith''s voice was a little hoarse and tired, so he could not help but frown. "Are


    you having any problems? Can you tell me about it?"


    Meredith shook her head. "Nothing. I''m just a little tired."


    Seeing her stubbornness, Parker was extremely worried. "How can I be at ease with you like this? Let''s


    meet tomorrow. You can tell me everything. I''ll see if I can help."


    Seeing that Parker insisted, she didn''t want to reject his kindness, so Meredith agreed to meet him at


    the coffee shop tomorrow.


    Parker looked at the phone. He knew he was taking advantage of her perilous state. But if he had the


    chance to get Meredith''s heart and make Derek feel bad, he would not give it up.


    Derek stayed in the ward with Chloe for a long time. Until she fell asleep, he pulled his hand back,


    stood up, and walked out, exercising his legs that were sore from staying in the same position for a


    long time.


    Asher was outside all the time, and when he saw Dereke out, his expression was still a little


    awkward. Jameson looked at him and found it funny. Why were these two big men still at odds with


    each other?


    "Derek, I''ve already told Asher. He knows he''s wrong and won''t do it again. Why don''t you take a step


    back and make a reconciliation?"


    Derek tilted his head and looked at Asher. He knew his brother well. He usually looked careless and


    didn''t care about anything, but he would never give up on what he believed.


    He remained skeptical of Jameson''s words.


    "I really went overboard. I won''t do it again."


    Asher walked over and apologized awkwardly. Even though he had never changed his mind about


    Meredith, falling out with Derek now was not good for his n. For Chloe''s sake, he was willing to


    yield.


    "Well, I''ll forgive you this time. Remember, don''t gossip about the woman in front of me in the future."


    Derek did not look into it any further. After all, they were all friends, so there was nothing that couldn''t


    be forgiven.


    "Then can youe and see Chloe more in the future? You''ve seen her situation. Before you came,


    she hadn''t slept well for a long time if she didn''t take medicine. It''s not going to work."


    Derek frowned when he heard Asher''s words. He had always intended to avoid Chloe and stop her


    from loving him. But now, he really couldn''t ignore her illness.


    "You don''t need toe every day. You just need to take care of her at most once a week. Can''t you?"


    Seeing that Derek didn''t answer, Asher swallowed his pride and continued to beg.


    Jameson couldn''t stand it anymore. After all, Chloe was like her sister. "Derek,e on. Chloe is in a


    special situation. If you have something to look into, you can wait until she gets better."


    Derek heard this and nodded. "Okay, I''ll be here when I have time. If anything happens here, you can


    call me."

 Chapter 170

    Chapter 170


    The next day.


    When Meredith got out of bed, she realized that she had ugly dark shadows under her eyes. Her eyes


    turned red, and she looked like a rabbit.


    She wanted to ignore it. But after all, when she thought about the picture, she still couldn''t calm down.


    Last night, she stayed up all night.


    Derek had never looked for her since he left. Meredithughed at herself satirically while thinking of it.


    Perhaps he had already realized that a richdy like Chloe was more suitable for him. He didn''t want to


    pay attention to people like her anymore.


    Meredith washed her face casually. She was pregnant and couldn''t put on makeup. However, she


    promised Parker to meet him, and she could only find sunsses and put them on to cover her gaunt


    eyes.


    After getting ready, Meredith left home.


    Parker specially made a reservation for a restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. Although he was not


    here for a date, he still hoped to take this opportunity to stay with Meredith for a while longer. After all, it


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    had been a long time since the two of them had a proper conversation.


    Meredith went downstairs and saw Parker''s car. She seemed surprised because she hadn''t asked him


    to pick her up. Besides, he didn''t even call her when he came. Wouldn''t he have waited downstairs for


    a long time?


    "Why didn''t you give me a call?" Meredith felt a little embarrassed at the thought of her dawdling.


    "It''s not a big deal to wait a while. Isn''t that what a man should do?" Parker said nicely and opened the


    door in a gentlemanly manner and invited Meredith into the car.


    Hearing his words, Meredith smiled helplessly. It had to be said that Parker was really a smooth talker.


    Just now, his deliberately funny appearance made her feel much less upset.


    He Parker got into the car and found that Meredith hadn''t taken off her sunsses. He had some


    thoughts in his mind. "It isn''t that bright and sunny today. Why are you wearing sunsses?"


    Meredith shook her head. "I... I didn''t sleep well yesterday. I feel ufortable in my eyes, so I cover


    them up."


    Parker immediately understood that she was lying for she didn''t want to say it. He didn''t want to


    embarrass Meredith. "Then I''ll send you back after dinner and you can have a good sleep to make up


    for it."


    Meredith nodded. She knew a smart person like Parker had noticed something, but his no further


    asking made her feel much better.


    The two of them set off quietly towards their destination, only asionally saying a few words along


    the way. Although it was a little quiet, they felt very rxing.


    Soon, Parker''s car stopped at the entrance of the restaurant he had already reserved.


    The man got out of the car and opened the door for Meredith. The gentlemanly movements and


    outstanding appearance quickly attracted the attention of many young girls.


    "You''re quite popr." Meredith saw that those girls wanted toe over to talk to him. But when they


    saw Meredith, they were obviously discouraged, and she found it amusing. "Well, it seems like I''m


    kinda getting in their way."


    Those girls seemed to have misunderstood their rtionship. When they saw her, they just looked at


    Parker in secret and didn''t dare to make any conversation.


    "If it''s possible, I would like you to stay in their way." When Parker saw that she seemed to be in a


    better mood, he smiled as well and replied jokingly, but there was no banter in his eyes, only thick


    seriousness.


    If Meredith was willing to ept him and let him make it up to her, he would not care about these


    young girls at all.


    Meredith noticed it, but could only pretend not to notice it. She smiled awkwardly and said, "Let''s go in


    and eat. I''m a little hungry."


    Seeing that she did not answer him directly, Parker was a little disappointed, but he did not pursue the


    topic. He knew that there should be someone else in Meredith''s heart right now, and he could not be


    too hasty.


    The two of them walked into the restaurant, and Parker quickly reported his reservation. "The garden


    here has a nice view, so I didn''t choose a private room. Do you mind?"


    Meredith shook her head. She didn''t care about such things. Besides, the environment here was really


    good. In front of the restaurant, there was a beautifully decorated garden. All kinds of flowers were in


    full bloom, and it was a wonderful enjoyment to be able to enjoy such beautiful scenery while eating.


    Parker smiled, but a hint of darkness shed in his eyes, and then quickly disappeared.


    Under the guidance of the waiter, the two of them sat in their seats.


    "You should order." Parker knew what the signature dishes were. But because he wanted to know more


    about Meredith''s taste, he let her make the decision.


    Meredith nodded without hesitation. She randomly picked a few dishes that were light and not greasy


    and then asked Parker to order a few signature dishes. Before the waiter left, Parker stopped him and


    said, "Bring me a ss of milk."


    Meredith knew it was for her. She felt a little warm in her heart and smiled a little more.


    "Meredith, what exactly happened to you yesterday? Why did you suddenly think of going abroad?"


    Seeing that she was in a good mood, Parker asked about it.


    Ever since he found out that the man involved with Meredith was Derek, he had been feeling heavy.


    Only to this man, he did not want to lose.


    But all this time, he didn''t have a good chance. Last night, he saw a glimmer of hope in the darkness.


    Derek must have done something to hurt her before she said she wanted to leave.


    "Actually, it''s nothing. I''m just tired." Meredith picked up the milk and took a sip.


    Last night, she had thought it through. Derek didn''t believe that the child in her womb was his, and


    there were signs of reconciliation of him with Chloe. It was only a matter of time before he and Chloe


    got together.


    By then, she would be in an awkward situation. Chloe would always find fault with Meredith even


    before Chloe got back together with Derek, and even... Came to the hospital to beat her up.


    What would Chloe do if she found out that Meredith was pregnant with Derek''s child?


    Chloe might want to hurt the baby, and Meredith didn''t want her baby to be at risk.


    "Is it... Rted to Derek?"


    Parker clenched the cup in his hand. He was nervously asking the question. Knowing that Meredith


    was a cautious person, he did not know what she would answer.


    "You..."


    Meredith was shocked. When she came back to her senses, she realized that she had betrayed herself


    for her astonishment just now. "How did you know about this..."


    Because of the strict rules of the Xaviers, she had never told Parker about her rtionship with Derek.


    Only a few people had known it for their personal involvement.


    How could Parker...


    "I was in the hospital that day, and the nurse mistook me for him."

 Chapter 171

    Chapter 171


    Parker was relieved to see that Meredith was not angry at his abruptness.


    It seemed that Meredith still regarded him as a friend, which gave him more hope.


    "Is that so..." Meredith didn''t think much about it. "It was just an ident. I... I know that he and I are


    not from the same world. The rtionship isn''t really going anywhere."


    Meredith said. The sweet milk in her mouth tasted somewhat bitter. But this was reality. Even if she


    didn''t want to admit it, she could only ept it.


    "Then your child..." Parker hesitated.


    Meredith didn''t answer. She admitted it without saying anything.


    Parker understood everything now. He suddenly felt a surge of jealousy towards Derek.


    Parker was also a descendant of the Xaviers. However, Derek was the rightful heir to the Xaviers. He


    was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, while Parker was a bastard who had been despised by


    everyone. Parker lost his mother when he was a child and he worked his way up with sweat and blood.


    Now, they had fallen in love with the same woman identally.


    He had to admit that this might be fate. But this time, Parker did not want to ept his fate. In the past,


    he was weak. He could only watch his mother die in front of him. Now he would not be like that.


    This time, he had to control everything.


    Their conversation became a little awkward when they mentioned Derek. Parker said something about


    his experience abroad in time, and Meredith also cooperated and skipped over the troubles she did not


    want to mention.


    Derek was a luxury that was beyond her reach. Now that she had woken up, she shouldn''t miss him


    anymore.


    After a while, the dishes came up. They were eating together thinking about their own worries. For a


    moment, there was only the sound of knives and forks colliding.


    Parker looked at his watch, as if... Time was going fast.


    Sure enough, not long after he thought so, an elegant ck Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance of the


    restaurant.


    Violet calmly got out of the car. This was the restaurant where she enjoyed her afternoon tea and


    entertained her guests every day. She would appear here at this time every Wednesday.


    Everything seemed to be the same today. Violet was about to have the dessert she usually ate


    delivered. Suddenly, the person sitting near the window caught her attention.


    Wasn''t... Wasn''t that Meredith?


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    Violet''s hand trembled slightly as she looked at the familiar side face. There was a pot of orchids in


    front of her. She couldn''t see clearly, so she could not help but walk a few steps closer.


    She was even more surprised by what she saw when she got closer.


    There was not only Meredith, but... The person opposite her!


    As soon as Parker''s face came into her view, surges of emotions arose in Violet''s heart.


    She remembered this face so clearly that she would not forget it even if it turned into ashes.


    Back then, it was this bastard''s mother who had somehow bewitched her husband, namely Derek''s


    father, into thinking about divorce and remarriage.


    After all, Violet was the eldest daughter of the Garcias, and she had gotten married legally. How could


    she bear such grievances? In order to vent her anger, she found someone to find the mistress who


    destroyed her family, publicized her evil deeds one by one, and then kicked her out of J City, making it


    impossible for her to have a new life.


    Even so, Violet did not stop. After she chased the mistress away, her husband got into a car ident


    when he tried to find his lover back. He died of a failed rescue, and she became a widow at a young


    age. How could she bear it?


    So, Violet kept sending people to harass that woman and destroy her life. Even so, she still lived


    tenaciously, and in the end, she even gave birth to an illegitimate child.


    However, she was unlucky to die in the delivery room. Violet thought that the child would die soon


    without anyone taking care of him. She did not expect that he would be lucky enough to survive in the


    orphanage and even be adopted by a kind-hearted person.


    Violet had visited the child secretly and realized that he looked very much like his mother, that vixen...


    Violet hated his mother, so she vented her anger on him again.


    She repeatedly destroyed the families that had adopted him and made everyone think that he was a


    shady thug. In the end, as Violet wished, that bastardpletely disappeared from her sight. No matter


    how hard she searched, she could not find him.


    Therefore, Violet thought he had died somewhere, but she didn''t expect to see him here!


    Moreover, he was not as poor as she thought. He seemed to be living well!


    How did he get to know Meredith?


    Violet was thinking fast. The two people she hated the most were together, which alerted her.


    So, she didn''t go to the private room she usually liked. Instead, she chose a seat not far from them and


    sat down. She wanted to hear what they were saying.


    "Then, when this is over, I will take you out of here."


    Parker had already caught a glimpse of Violet from the corner of his eye. His soft eyes became cold for


    a moment, and a trace of hatred shed through them, but it quickly dissipated. Meredith did not notice


    it. She nodded in agreement.


    "I think so too."


    Their conversation reached Violet''s ears, and she could not help but wonder... What was this? What


    are they going to do before they go abroad?


    Could it be... That Meredith approached Derek for another purpose?


    After all, she actually had a rtionship with this bastard. From their conversation, it could be seen that


    she was very familiar with him.


    Was she pregnant with his baby?


    Violet immediately widened her eyes at the thought. If so, everything would make sense.


    Meredith knew this bastard. She even had an illicit rtionship with him and was pregnant with his


    baby. Getting close to Derek was just a move. As long as the child was born and Derek epted it,


    they would get the Xaviers''s assets in their hands...


    At the thought of this, Violet suddenly wore a horrible expression.


    She didn''t expect Meredith to be so bold that she would trick Derek with someone else''s child?


    After thinking about it, Violet no longer wanted to stay here. She had lost all her appetite.


    Violet walked out and then she called Derek.


    Derek was working at thepany. When he heard the ringtone of his phone, he nced at it. The


    name on it was not Meredith, but Violet.


    This damned woman. Did she really refuse to give in? Did she have to keep that bastard by her side


    and think about the father all the time?


    Derek''s heart was gloomy, but he suppressed his emotions and picked up the phone. "Mother, what''s


    wrong? What do you want me to do?"


    "Derek, where are you? I have something very important to tell you."

 Chapter 172

    Chapter 172


    Derek''s heart sank because Violet rarely spoke in this tone. "What happened? How could you..."


    "It is very important. I will go to thepany to talk with you."


    Violet sitting in the car nced at the two people, who were chatting happily together at the entrance of


    the restaurant, and her face became colder and colder.


    She was so lucky that she happened to saw this. Otherwise, Meredith might have seeded in her


    scheme.


    She would never give that illegitimate child any chance to get a penny from the Xaviers.


    ...


    After hanging up the phone, Derek dismissed the people in his office.


    Violet''s serious tone made Xavier very nervous, for he didn''t know what was going on...


    After a while, Violet arrived at thepany. She went upstairs and saw Derek, saying "I saw Meredith."


    Derek frowned. Meredith, what did she do this time?


    These days, he deliberately did not contact her and gave her a cold shoulder. It was obvious that he,


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Derek, wanted Meredith to know that he was a man of principle. The matter of the baby must be settled


    as soon as possible.


    But Meredith was unexpectedly stubborn that she hadn''t contacted him yet. The two of them were now


    in an impasse and neither of them took the initiative to contact the other.


    "Do you know who she was with when I saw her?"


    Violet''s eyes were full of anxiety. "She was with Parker. Do you know?"


    On the way to thepany, Violet had already asked someone to investigate Parker. It turned out that


    he had disappeared that year, not because he was dead or what, but because he realized that


    someone was against him. So he had to conceal his identity and developed himself in secret.


    It was out of her expectation that a young man like him had seeded from scratch. Violet regretted


    her carelessness. Such a trouble should be nipped in the bud so that Derek''s status would be


    unchallengeable.


    "Parker?"


    When Derek heard that name, his face darkened and his thin lips pursed.


    Well, Meredith hadn''t contacted him for the past few days and immediately hooked up with Parker. No


    wonder she was so calm and rxed. She thought that she had found a back-up, so there was no


    need for her to worry about the future?


    "That''s not the problem. Do you know who Parker is?"


    Derek looked at Violet in puzzlement. Only then did Violet determine to tell Xavier about her humiliating


    past which involved Parker''s family background and his identity.


    After Derek heard this, he still looked calm on the face, but he was actually very surprised and deeply


    stirred.


    Parker, an illegitimate son of his father?


    Derek did not have much impression of his father, who had died in a car ident when Xavier was still


    very young. Other family members were afraid that it would have a negative effect on his development,


    so they rarely mentioned anything rted to him.


    Derek never thought that, in the past, his father had even wanted to divorce his mother and abandon


    them for another woman.


    "So, you know what I mean. Meredith might have hooked up with Parker a long time ago. The baby in


    her belly is most likely his. Think about it. If she was really wronged, then it''s natural that she now


    wants to ally with an outsider to revenge on the Xaviers."


    Violet said hatefully, "And Parker. Although he''s doing well now, it''s still impossible for him to pose a


    threat to your position and to return to the Xaviers. But if they manage to bring the baby in Mason''s


    belly into the Xaviers, the situation will be different. If they seed, the owner of the Xaviers will


    change after many years."


    Hearing Violet''s words, Derek held the pen in his hand so tight that even his fingers trembled.


    This was indeed a very reasonable exnation, and he even remembered that Meredith had been very


    anxious to make him believe that the baby was his that day.


    At that time, Derek only thought that she didn''t want to be separated from her baby. But now it sounded


    like, maybe, she did not think the same way as he did from the beginning...


    Did she approach him just to help Parker to revenge?


    "Derek, tell me, did Meredith ever say that this baby was yours and that you should be responsible for


    it?"


    Violet looked at his son''s darkened face and knew what had happened. She couldn''t help but rejoice


    that she had seen through their trick by coincidence today. Otherwise, ording to the current


    situation, Meredith might be able to bring Parker''s child into the Xaviers, then nib away the Xaviers''s


    assets, and in the end, steal everything that belonged to Derek.


    "..."


    Derek took a deep breath, but the annoyance in his chest did not subside. Instead, he became more


    and more annoyed. "I know, mother. I will take care of this matter."


    "Derek, don''t let me down."


    Violet looked into her son''s calm eyes and urged him once again. She believed that the heir she had


    brought up would not be as stupid as to be yed by others.


    Violet left.


    Derek was left alone in the office. The man suddenly took off his coat and threw it on the ground. At


    this moment, he did not want to suppress his anger.


    Meredith, good, really good. He didn''t expect her to be so calcting that she could fool him and even


    conspire with an outsider to set him up and take revenge on the Xaviers.


    He had indeed misjudged and underestimated her.


    "Go, find out where Meredith is now."


    Derek called Damian in. His voice was freezing cold, making others tremble.


    Damian didn''t dare to neglect his order, and he had done such things many times. Ann had installed a


    GPS in Meredith''s phone, so he quickly found her location.


    Derek nced at the address, then walked out, leaving behind him a messy office.


    Damian looked at the messy office and couldn''t help but touch his nose. He didn''t know what had


    happened between the two of them and why Xavier was so angry.


    After dinner, Meredith and Parker made clear of some material they needed to prepare to go abroad


    and were worn out. Parker found that Mason was tried. "Let me take you home. Have a good rest.


    Don''t get dark circles around your eyes every day."


    Meredith nodded and then Parker drove her home.


    Maybe it was because she didn''t sleep well, or she had just finished her dinner, Meredith felt drowsy.


    She tilted her head and dozed off in the car.


    Parker noticed this and couldn''t help but slow down the car. It was really nice when he was driving


    while the person he liked was sleeping soundly next to him.


    Having spent so much time in the sophisticated world, Parker found that such kind of peace was what


    he really longed for now.


    However, no matter how slow the car was, it still reached its destination. Parker stopped the car and


    looked at Meredith, who was sleeping soundly. He hesitated and did not want to wake her up. So he


    rummaged in her bag and found the key. He opened the door from Mason''s side and carefully carry her


    in his arms.

 Chapter 173

    Chapter 173


    Meredith slept soundly and did not wake up. Parker smiled when he saw her sleeping soundly, thinking


    maybe all pregnant women did so.


    However, even if she was pregnant, he did not see any flesh on her body but only her abdomen bulged


    up, so her body looked a little uncoordinated.


    Maybe he should find a nutritionist or something to help her get better and stop being so weak.


    Thinking about it, Parker had a gentle smile on his face and was about to send Meredith upstairs when


    suddenly, a car horn sounded not far away.


    "Beep!"


    The voice was very harsh. No matter how soundly Meredith slept, she was awakened. When she


    opened her eyes, she realized that she was hugged by Parker. She was shocked. "Let me down!"


    Meredith subconsciously pushed Parker''s chest, thinking why he suddenly hugged her like this and if


    anyone saw him...


    When Parker saw that she was very resistant, he felt helpless. Unwillingly, he let her down as she


    required. However, Meredith almost fell down. She just now sat and fell asleep, so her legs were curled


    up all the time and now they felt a little numb now.


    Seeing that Meredith couldn''t stand still, Parker quickly held her up to prevent her from falling. At the


    same time, he shook his head helplessly. "Look, I just want to send you back. I saw you sleeping so


    soundly that I didn''t want to disturb you."


    "I''m fine. I''ll just stand there for a while."


    Meredith shook her head. No matter what, she could not act so intimately with him. That was


    inappropriate.


    However, now that she could not stand still, she could only grab Parker''s shoulder and wait for the


    unbearable numbness on her legs to disappear.


    Derek in the car looked at their intimate interaction and smiled instead of being angry, but the joy was


    not shown in his eyes. His usually deep eyes seemed to have formed a thickyer of frost at this


    moment, which made people feel chilly.


    He thought, "These two people really felt that no one had noticed them, so they were so unscrupulous


    to this extent?


    Hugging wasn''t enough just now, but now they have to hold hands. They are so intimate."


    Thinking about it, he smiled coldly and took out his phone to call Meredith.


    Meredith felt morefortable on her legs and was about to ask Parker to let her go. Her phone rang


    and she picked it up. When she saw that it was Derek calling in, her expression became more


    unnatural.


    After thinking for a second, she hung up.


    Parker was there. Meredith didn''t want him to know too much about her and Derek. After all, it was an


    unspeakable secret.


    What''s more... She still remembered that photo. Since he had already gone back to connect with


    Chloe, and now he was looking for her. What was the point?


    Derek looked at her as she hung up without thinking, and the smile on his lips was even more aloof.


    Sure enough, there was a man behind her so she was brave enough to hang up without answering his


    phone?


    His fingers moved slightly, and her phone immediately rang again.


    Meredith saw that it was still him. Perhaps, if she didn''t answer, Derek would keep calling.


    "What''s the matter? Who is calling you? Is someone bothering you?"


    Seeing that Meredith was still not answering the phone, Parker looked at her in surprise. "How about I


    answer it for you?"


    Meredith shook her head. It was better not to involve him in this matter. She took two steps back and


    answered the phone. "Hello? What''s the matter?"


    It was the first time Derek had contacted her since thest time the two of them broke up and he


    mmed the door and left.


    "Where are you now?"


    The man''s voice was indifferent, and Meredith recognized it. She thought he had lost patience with her


    maybe because he now had Chloe to be with him.


    It was really ironic.


    "At the doorstep of my house." Meredith''s tone was also indifferent. "What''s the matter?"


    Since Derek already had a choice, there was no need for her to be so intimate with him and humiliate


    herself.


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    "Oh? With whom? Are you alone?"


    Derek clenched the steering wheel in his hand and looked at the two figures approaching.


    Meredith frowned as she thought of the intimacy between him and Chloe. Her heart was stifled and she


    felt terrible. "What does it have to do with you?"


    Thispletely ignited Derek''s anger. Without thinking about it, he got out of the car, mmed the


    door, and strode over. "Nothing to do with me? Why, if I hadn''t honked just now, would you have gone


    upstairs and made out with each other? Meredith, you''re really shameless."


    Derek looked at Meredith indifferently, with suppressed anger in his tone.


    Parker hugging her just now was too intimate as if they were just a pair of intimate lovers. Derek


    thought, indeed, they were a pair of adulterers who had given birth to children. They were not even


    hiding anything in public. Were they so confident that they wouldn''t be discovered?


    "Mr. Xavier, you don''t think much of me when you talk like that, do you?"


    Parker heard Derek''s sarcastic words and slowly walked over to protect Meredith behind him. "I just


    didn''t want to wake her up, so I took her out of the car. Why did Mr. Xavier think us to be so immoral?"


    Derek looked at Parker''s movements. He actually protected Meredith behind him in the presence of


    Derek. Derek thought, what right did he have to do that?


    "Parker, get out of the way. I''m talking to her. It''s none of your business."


    Derek looked at Parker with disdain and hatred.


    He was just an illegitimate child of a mistress and he dared to use this method to defeat him?


    He was so naive.


    "No, protecting a woman, especially a pregnant woman, is what a normal man should do. I can''t watch


    you yelling at her."


    When Derek heard this, his anger waspletely ignited.


    Protecting a pregnant woman? Protecting a woman?


    He was clearly protecting the damn baby of Meredith and he was the baby''s damn father!


    "What nonsense... Why, is this baby yours? That''s why you are standing in front of her like this?"


    "Derek, don''t push your luck." Meredith, who had been protected behind Parker, could not help but


    stand up when she heard this. Derek was actually the father of the baby, and he did not believe it. Now


    he had to pin the me on another man and regarded her to be a slut!


    "What, was your secret exposed? Are you feeling guilty?"


    Meredith''s anger was evident and Derek could feel it. In his eyes, their reaction was only the


    humiliation of their secret being exposed, and when he thought of what Violet had said, he sneered in


    his heart.


    "Parker, you are such a coward. You allow a woman to seduce other men when she is pregnant with


    your baby and even asks the baby to recognize another man as its father. You are such a coward."


    Parker didn''t expect that Derek didn''t know that he was the child''s father, and he was even so sure that


    the child''s father was someone else.


    Although he did not know what the misunderstanding between them was, he did not want to exin it


    out of selfish motives.

 Chapter 174

    Chapter 174


    Meredith''s baby was Derek''s, and Parker believed that.


    But since Derek didn''t want to admit that and hurt Meredith and her baby again and again, why should


    he back down?


    Parker was never a saint. In this situation, he could only choose to do what was best for him.


    "Can you stop ndering us?" Meredith really couldn''t bear Derek anymore.


    There was nothing she could do about Derek''s stubbornness. It was okay that he didn''t believe her, but


    he kept saying that child''s father was Parker?


    Why?


    "Are you guilty?" Derek looked at Meredith''s angry expression, thinking that she was angry after her lie


    was exposed. "I really shouldn''t have spared the bastard at your belly out of mercy!"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s belly. Now her belly was obviously bulging, and every time he saw her


    bulging belly, he just felt it was an eyesore!


    It was the bastard of her and another man, and not only that, she wanted to take advantage of the


    bastard to retaliate against her.


    "Stop call the baby bastard." Parker frowned, but his words did not clear the thing. Instead, Derek


    became more and more convinced that the child was Parker''s.


    Meredith watched as the two men got more and more angry at each other and she only felt helpless.


    Since Derek didn''t believe her, why did hee to her? Just to set her up for a crime she didn''tmit


    and humiliate herself again?


    "Forget it. Stop arguing. I''m tired. I want to go back and rest."


    Meredith tugged at the corner of Parker''s shirt. She always felt that if they continued to confront each


    other, they might start fighting.


    Derek looked at her movements. Meredith didn''t even look at him. Instead, she grabbed Parker''s shirt.


    Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    So did she decide not to hide her love for Parker in front of him anymore?


    She wanted to be intimate with Parker in front of him, but it was impossible!


    "Meredith,e here."


    Derek narrowed his eyes dangerously and ordered.


    Meredith was stunned. She knew this voice so well and knew that Derek only spoke in this voice when


    he was very angry.


    Her slender body trembled, and Meredith looked over. "Derek, we shouldn''t see each other again. I


    don''t want to pester you anymore. A woman like me is not good enough to be with you anyway. You''ll


    have a better life. Please let me go. After I find out where my mother is and find out the truth, I''ll leave


    here. In this way, we don''t owe each other anything. We''ll have nothing to do with each other."


    Meredith said word by word. Although her heart was aching, she did not show any sign of it.


    Anyway, Derek had made up with Chloe. It was only a matter of time before they got together. All she


    could do was leave and didn''t disturb them anymore.


    After hearing her words, Derek clenched his fists. At that time when she wanted to find out the truth,


    she didn''t say that she would leave him. When he slept with her a few times, she didn''t say that they


    would not owe each other anything in the future. Now that her lies were exposed, she wanted to run


    away?


    How could it be so easy?


    "Meredith, no one can escape after lying to me. I just give you a minute. Come here!"


    Parker was delighted to hear that Meredith was going topletely fall out with Derek. He held


    Meredith''s hand behind her back. "Don''t be afraid. I''m here. Just do what you want to do."


    Parker held her hand tightly, and her hand could not move at all. The heat of his skin seemed to be


    burning her.


    Unable to pull out her hand, Meredith could only give up. She looked at Derek and said, "There''s no


    need to think about it anymore. I''ve decided that I will leave here and not disturb your life anymore.


    This is good for you and me, and for the Xaviers."


    Finally, Derek could not control his anger. He looked at their entwined fingers. He thought that they


    were really bold enough to be so intimate under his nose. Then how intimate would they be when they


    were at some ce that he could not see?


    The thought that Meredith had the bastard in her belly because she had slept with Parker made Derek


    furious. He strode forward and pulled the hands of the two of them away. "How dare you disobey me!


    Go with me!"


    As he spoke, he grabbed Meredith''s wrist and was about to leave.


    Meredith struggled, but Derek did not let her go at all. His arms were like steel holding her. Meredith


    even felt that if she did not obey him, he would break her bones!


    "Let go, I won''t go with you! I say I don''t want..."


    "Didn''t you hear her? Let her go!"


    Seeing this, Parker stepped forward, but he couldn''t be as cruel as Derek. Seeing Meredith''s painful


    expression, he didn''t dare to prise Derek''s hand. He could only stop Derek from hurting Meredith.


    Meredith struggled. Derek sensed her reluctance and turned around. "Meredith, you forced me!"


    As he spoke, he snapped the joint off Meredith''s hand.


    There was a terrible sound from the bones which made her shiver. Meredith screamed. It hurt so much.


    After her wrist being twisted by Derek, she felt as if her wrist had beenpletely crippled. Waves of


    heartbreaking pain hit her, making her face turn pale in an instant, and she even lost the strength to


    speak.


    "Are you crazy?"


    Parker never expected that Derek would be so crazy. Meredith was still pregnant with a child. She


    couldn''t even take medicine for such an injury. She would die of pain. Besides, if she didn''t take good


    care of her injury, she might suffer from this pain for the rest of her life.


    "Get out of the way."


    Derek heard Parker''s words and thought to himself, "Was I crazy? Perhaps. But it was because they


    forced me."


    Since Meredith didn''t want to go with him, he would keep her by his side even though he had to break


    her wings.


    Meredith did not struggle anymore. The intense pain of the dislocating of her bones caused her to


    break out in cold sweat, which even drenched her clothes.


    She did not dare to struggle any further because she did not know what Derek would do.


    Meredith followed the man, and Derek did not think about her feelings at all. Even if she was already


    staggering and could not keep up with him, he just continued to walk with big strides.


    Parker looked gloomy and tried to stop them, but was stopped by Derek''s sinister eyes. "Parker, if you


    take another step, I can''t guarantee that I won''t cripple her other hand!"


    Parker stopped, and he didn''t expect Derek to threaten him with Meredith. "You crazy, she''s pregnant.


    Do you want her die because of the pain?"


    "Pain?" Derek sneered and looked at Meredith, who was about to copse. Her face was as white as


    paper, and her lips, which were usually bright red, had lost their color. She looked as haggard as a


    seriously ill person. "Pain, that''s right. That''s the lesson I teach her."

 Chapter 175

    Chapter 175


    With that said, Derek got Meredith into the car. His movements were very rough, without any pity. He


    almost threw Meredith directly into the back seat.


    Meredith''s arm, which had just been sprained, was pulled again, causing excruciating pain.


    Derek looked at her, who was now disheveled, in the rearview mirror. When he stared at Meredith''s


    little face drenched in cold sweats, a touch of pity shed through his heart. But in the end, it was


    crushed by the pleasure of revenge.


    This was the lesson she deserved.


    ...


    Meredith didn''t know how long it had been. After Derek got her into the car, he didn''t care about her


    anymore. Her wrist was so painful because of the dislocated bone that she couldn''t even move. Even a


    slight jolt of the car would make it hurt more.


    Derek, what on earth did he want to do to her? How could he treat her like this just because of a


    sneaking suspicion that her baby was Parker''s?


    Meredith couldn''t help but wonder whether he would be so cruel if she were Chloe?


    No. That woman was the apple of everyone''s eye, like a princess, but she was like a weed that anyone


    could trample on.


    Derek parked his car in a vi on the outskirts of the city. It was a remote ce with only a few vis far


    away from each other. Few cars would pass by, which meant that Meredith couldn''t run away.


    When Derek opened the door, Meredith had been already unconscious from the pain. He frowned and


    pulled her out of the car. Looking at her swollen wrist like a steamed bun, he said coldly, "Meredith, you


    asked for this. You shouldn''t lie to me or betray me."


    If she didn''t have an affair with Parker and didn''t conspire with Parker against him, he wouldn''t have


    tortured her like this.


    Anyway, she shouldn''t betray him.


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    In dizziness, Meredith had failed to hear what he was saying, but this sentence was so harsh that she


    couldn''t even ignore it. She forced a smile with all of her strength, "I asked for it?"


    "Derek, do you know what I regret the most... I shouldn''t have any unnecessary fantasies about you at


    that time. What I regret the most is meeting you."


    "You!" Derek was so angered by her words that he lost control of his strength. He dragged Meredith out


    of the car directly, regardless of whether he hurt her wound again or not. His cold lips pressed forcefully


    against Meredith''s lips.


    Damn it! How dare she say that?


    Derek was so furious that he couldn''t care about anything else. He bit Meredith''s lips. The taste of


    blood spread between their intertwining lips and tongues, but it seemed that he couldn''t feel it at all.


    Meredith only felt pain in her arm and on her lips. With a trace of hatred shing through her eyes, she


    fiercely bit on Derek''s tongue that was jabbing in her mouth. Derek paused for a moment in pain. Then,


    he kissed her even more fiercely.


    "Well, can''t you even stand being kissed after meeting your adulterer once? Are you keeping your


    chastity for him?"


    After the rough and loveless kiss ended, Derek pulled away indifferently.


    His breath was still smooth and his expression was still cold as if he was not the one who had just


    kissed her so madly. With his thin lips parting slightly, he continued to hurl hurtful words.


    Feeling the taste of blood in her mouth, Meredith was numb with Derek''s incessant sarcasm.


    "Why do you restrain me and defame me? Are you loyal to me?"


    As soon as he left her house, he met Chloe. She thought he was a swinger. After all, the two of them


    were so intimate. Who knew what their rtionship had developed into?


    Would Derek kiss Chloe as he did to her just now? Meredith felt even worse at the thought of this, but


    her expression remained indifferent.


    She already... didn''t want to give this man in front of her the slightest chance to notice any sign of her


    weakness. She wouldn''t be stupid again.


    "At the very least, I''m more faithful than a woman who wants to marry me with an illegitimate baby of


    her lover."


    Derek found out that Meredith could always provoke his anger with a few words. He roughly took


    Meredith''s intact hand and pulled her into the room.


    "What I said before was never meant to ask for your opinion. Since you don''t agree to send the baby


    away, then stay here until the baby is born."


    Derek dragged Meredith into the bedroom and called Damian to send a few bodyguards over. "Stay


    here. You''re not allowed to go anywhere else. Don''t think about meeting Parker again. There''s no way


    that you are with him."


    With that said, Derek let go of her. Meredith was thrown onto the bed by him. Fortunately, the mattress


    was thick and soft, so she didn''t hurt.


    "Derek, you''re crazy. Let me out. I don''t want to give birth to the child here."


    Meredith shuddered to think of the implication of Derek''s words. If she did not go to the hospital and


    gave birth to the child here, then she would be at the mercy of Derek. She would have no way to


    protect her baby.


    "You have no right to refuse. This is an order." Derek said while pinning her down on the bed, "If you


    don''t want to be shackled by me, you''d better not try to escape. I promise you''ll regret it."


    After hearing this, Meredith closed her eyes in despair.


    Derek was crazy now. With no way to resist at all, she had to bow to the inevitable.


    After a while, the bodyguards that Derek arranged came over. "Remember, keep an eye on her. If she


    runs away, none of you can escape your responsibility."


    Those bodyguards trembled at Derek''s cold order, "Yes!"


    When Meredith looked at those tall and powerful men, the despair in her heart deepened. Since she


    hade down, Derek called the doctor as his eyes fell on her swollen wrists, "Take a look at her."


    Meredith did not respond and allowed the doctor to make a diagnosis of her arm, which already hurt so


    much that she could not feel anything.


    While the doctor was diagnosing, he felt extremely awkward and constrained. The atmosphere was


    really strange.


    "How is it?"


    Derek said coldly. He was not very worried. He just dislocated her joints with a slight force. She would


    be fine if the joints were set again. He had learned this trick before, but he didn''t expect it to be used on


    Meredith.


    "It''s not serious, but... Thisdy is pregnant and can''t take painkillers. It''s going to hurt for a few days."


    "It''s okay. Hurry up and get it done."


    Meredith didn''t cast a nce at Derek. He hurt her and found a doctor to treat her. What was this?


    Did he think that she''ll still be grateful to his "carrot-and-stick" strategy? Although she was of humble


    origins, she would never be obsequious to the man who had ever hurt her.


    "Hold on. Don''t struggle with your strength when you are painful, or you''ll hurt the baby easily."

 Chapter 176

    Chapter 176


    After hearing that, Meredith nodded with difficulty. She could not take painkillers. She could only grit her


    teeth and hold on despite extreme pain.


    The doctor looked at her and couldn''t help but think that this woman was really strong enough. Not


    daring to dy any longer, he quickly held Meredith''s hand and pushed her dislocated bone back.


    Only then did Meredith understand what it meant to be in overwhelming pain. Her hand was already


    swollen, and now her every move, even a slight one, would pull the swollen part, causing her extreme


    pain.


    Looking at the way Meredith''s tried to bear the pain, Derek also felt painful in his heart. But soon, the


    pity was forcibly erased by himself. He should not have extra sympathy for her. She was not worth it.


    However, seeing that Meredith was already covered with sweat and the doctor had not finished the


    treatment, Derek walked over and said, "Why isn''t it finished?"


    He didn''t remember that he had hit her so hard.


    "Mr. Xavier, Miss Mason is pregnant and she''s prone to swelling. Now the affected part is swelling so


    bad that I can only take it slow. There''s no other way!"


    Looking at Derek''s gloomy face, the doctor wiped his sweat and spoke with trepidation.


    Meredith said feebly, "Don''t worry so much. Go on."


    After saying that, Meredith did not even look up at Derek. Her hand was injured by him, and now he


    pretended to be concerned about her. Who did he want to show it to?


    Derek''s sense of guilt which had just appeared in his heart had mostly subsided upon seeing the


    coldness on her face.


    Since she did not care about his care at all, why would he bother to care about her?


    "Didn''t you hear that? She''s not afraid of pain. Hurry up and finish the treatment."


    Seeing that the doctor still had not started, Derek urged impatiently. Meredith sneered in her heart. She


    was not made of steel. How could she not be afraid of pain? It was just that he didn''t care whether she


    hurt or not.


    If Chloe felt a little ufortable, he would have quickly shown his great concern for her. That was


    what men would do. If a man cherished a woman, even her lightest injury would be important for him. If


    a man didn''t care about a woman at all, just like the situation between her and Derek right now, even


    when she was almost killed by the overwhelming pain, a man wouldn''t blink his eyes once. And this


    was what Derek did now.


    The doctor did not dare to dy any longer. Since he did not understand what was going on between


    the two of them, he could only continue to move. Meredith was nearly numb because of the pain. She


    did not know how long it had taken before the doctor finally stopped and said, "Okay, I''ll prescribe some


    medicine for external application for you which you should remember to apply on time. Also, remember


    to ice the wound with ice water every day. Since you''re pregnant and have a special condition, you


    won''t take any medicine."


    After hearing the doctor''s instructions, Meredith nodded and thanked the doctor weakly. Then, she


    immediatelyy on the bed and closed her eyes.


    It had been a very tiring day and she didn''t want to see Derek either, so she closed her eyes. Although


    she couldn''t sleep, she could at least feel less upset.


    Derek looked at her obvious evasive action and felt unhappy. He walked over, pinched her chin and


    forced Meredith to turn around. "Well, are you so unwilling to see me?"


    "Is it a good thing to see you? Or do I want to identally offend Mr. Xavier and break my arm again?"


    Meredith felt pain and looked at Derek who was standing at the head of the bed. There was no emotion


    and no fluctuation in her eyes.


    This look made Derek angry in his heart, but he had no excuse to vent this anger on her. It felt as if he


    was holding a fire in his heart which wasn''t fierce but made him suffer.


    Derek was upset and didn''t want to pester her anymore. He released his grip and walked out.


    He felt that if he kept this kind of tit-for-tat argument with Meredith, he would one day be sick out of


    rage.


    Thinking about it, he went out for a cigarette and watched the smoke spread out. Derek''s eyes were


    dim as if he was absorbed in thoughts.


    ording to Violet, it was better to teach Meredith a lesson and drive her out of J City so that she and


    Parker would never be able toe back. But in the end, he couldn''t watch the two of them go away


    and live together.


    Even though Meredith had betrayed him and tried to plot against him from the beginning to the end, he


    could not imagine what his life would be like without her.


    After a cigarette, Derek stood outside the window for a while. It was only after the smell of smoke on


    him dissipated when he returned to Meredith''s room. She seemed really tired. Her eyes were closed


    and her brows were locked. Even when she fell asleep, she did not sleep well. Her hands were slightly


    tilted, as if she was afraid of running into the wound which would cause pain again.


    Derek looked at her for a while, then walked to the kitchen and took out a bottle of iced mineral water.


    He wrapped the water in a towel and walked into the room. "Meredith, get up and ice your hands."


    Meredith heard the noise in a daze. In fact, she couldn''t sleep well at all. It was so painful that she


    couldn''t sleep. However, she just didn''t want to talk to Derek, so she pretended to sleep.


    Seeing that she didn''t get up, Derek didn''t care much. He lifted Meredith''s arm from behind and put the


    wrapped ice towel under her arm.


    The man''s movements were not very gentle but were much better than what he did before.


    Meredith sensed the coldness in her hands. The cold touch gave her a cooling sensation in her swollen


    and feverish part, and the pain eased a lot.


    Unconsciously, her brows rxed a little. Derek immediately noticed, "Meredith, you''re pretending to be


    asleep."


    After Meredith was discovered to be pretending to fall asleep, she slowly opened her eyes. "I just woke


    up. Is it okay?"


    Derek was toozy to argue with her and threw the medicine prescribed by the doctor to the bedside.


    "This is your medicine. Remember to apply it in time."


    Meredith looked at the medicine and didn''t say anything. In the past, every time Derek bought medicine


    for her, she would feel warm, but now...


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    She suddenly realized that she did not understand this man. His gentleness was like an illusion to her


    and she was unable to tell the truth from the feint.


    "I see." Meredith replied faintly and closed her eyes again, as if she didn''t want to talk to Derek at all.


    Seeing her like this, Derek could neither get angry nor do anything to her. He just got up and said, "I''m


    leaving first. You stay right here and don''t run around."


    Meredith opened her eyes. "Derek, what''s the point of bringing me here?"


    After much thought, she knew that Derek thought that the child in her belly was Parker''s. However, he


    didn''t chase her away and asked her to never appear in front of him. And he locked her up in such a


    secluded ce. Was it meaningful for him to do so?


    Even if he felt that he had been cuckolded, there was no need for him to do such a boring revenge,


    right? If he was a normal people, shouldn''t he let her go away?


    "Interesting. I''m happy to see that you two can''t stay together, can''t I?"


    Seeing that Meredith still refused to give up the idea of leaving, Derek replied coldly.


    Meredith waspletely speechless. She was wondering why this man did this kind of thing which


    harmed others without benefiting himself.

 Chapter 177

    Chapter 177


    Meredith opened her mouth weakly, trying to exin. She just wanted to get out of here and not disturb


    anyone''s life. "I didn''t think about what you said. Am I that bad in your heart? I..."


    However, in the middle of her sentence, Derek interrupted her impatiently.


    "Stop it."


    Meredith took a deep breath and swallowed the words that she intended to say. Since Derek didn''t


    want to hear and believe them, there was really no need for her to continue.


    The two of them remained silent. After a while, Derek''s phone rang and he left in a hurry.


    Meredith ignored him, and just opened her eyes when the man left. She was tired.


    ...


    After Meredith was taken away, Parker began to ask subordinates to find out her whereabouts.


    However, in J City, the Xaviers''s power could be said to be unmatched, and even if Parker mobilized all


    resources he had, he could not find her.


    Parker didn''t know how Meredith was now.


    Worry and anger shed in Parker''s eyes. He hated his helplessness. Derek was a madman. He


    couldn''t hurt Meredith so easily and unconcernedly.


    It was just...


    He had always thought that the feelings between Derek and Meredith might not be so deep. After all, at


    most, Meredith had only been out of prison for a year. Could the affection between them be that


    profound?


    Or did Derek already know Parker''s identity and deliberately make things difficult for him?


    Thinking of this, Parker put out the cigarette in his hand. This time, he did not want to lose again. He


    wanted to let Derek suffer failure and the loss of his lover. He wanted Derek to experience all the


    suffering Parker had suffered before.


    ...


    Derek returned to the Xaviers, and Violet was anxiously waiting for his news.


    Seeing Dereke back, she walked over. "How''s it going? Have you dealt with her? That woman


    Meredith, have you driven her out?"


    The matter between Parker and Meredith now became a source of Violet''s anxiety. Undue dy might


    bring trouble. Violet hoped that Derek would not let her down.


    "I''ve dealt with her."


    Derek indeed knew his mother''s idea. She thought they should drive Meredith and Parker out of the J


    City, but...


    In the end, he went against her wishes. The thought of letting Meredith and Parker live a happy life


    abroad together with their illegitimate child made his heart burn like it was on a fire. He felt twisted and


    painful.


    "Parker still has some influence in the J City. We can''t kick him out for a while."


    Derek was indeed thinking about getting Parker out of the J City. If he left, would Meredith stop having


    unrealistic fantasies?


    "For this, I believe you. What about Meredith? What did you do to her? What about the bastard in her


    womb?"


    At the thought that Meredith gave birth to another man''s child instead of Derek''s and let Derek be this


    illegitimate child''s father, Violet wished she could find her and forced her to have an abortion because


    she was so brazen.


    "Mother, I know how to do it."


    Derek was questioned, and rubbed his temples. He really had a headache.


    How could he not understand what Violet meant? But now that Meredith''s child was five months old. He


    had just asked the doctor who had been responsible for her antenatal care. Because she was already


    weak and the embryo was already five months old, if he forced her to have an abortion, Meredith would


    not be able to have a child in the future.


    Therefore, Derek could not make up his mind on this matter.


    As soon as Violet heard this, she knew that Meredith didn''t have an abortion. She thought about it.


    "Forget it, this child has nothing to do with us. Anyway, just don''t let her have the chance to gain any


    benefits by her illegitimate child. Derek, you should know her real colours this time, so don''t believe her


    lies anymore."


    Violet was really worried that Derek would be deceived by Meredith''s pitiful appearance. "By the way,


    how is Chloe now? Why haven''t I seen her since that time?"


    Seeing that Violet did not pursue the matter of aborting Meredith''s child, Derek heaved a sigh of relief.


    "She is ill now and is being treated in the hospital."


    "What''s wrong with her? Is it serious?"


    Violet saw that Derek was not very concerned about Chloe''s illness and felt a little powerless. "Why


    didn''t you tell me earlier? Chloe grew up in front of me anyway. She is sick, so I have to go and see


    her."


    Of course, the main goal was to increase the time Derek and Chloe spent together. Violet understood


    that the best way to give up a rtionship was to start a new one.


    Meredith just took advantage of the fact that Derek just recovered from hisa and still had a grudge


    against Chloe.


    Derek thought for a while. Chloe''s illness was clearly caused by anxiety, and she might do not want


    others to see her in such a mess. "She''s not seriously ill. She''ll be fine after a good rest. You don''t have


    to worry."


    "Why don''t I need to worry? I''ll visit her tomorrow, and you''ll go with me."


    Violet didn''t give Derek a chance to refuse, and she quickly settled on this.


    Derek thought about it. Since she wanted to go, then they would go. Maybe Chloe''s condition would be


    better. After all, he promised to apany Chloe every week to help her get better.


    Violet saw that Derek was not too resistant to this and then said earnestly, "That''s what you should do.


    After all, Chloe has grown up with you from childhood and knows everything about you. No matter


    what, she won''t be like that kind of unsavory woman who only wants to plot against you."


    ...


    Meredith fell asleep but suddenly sneezed.


    Only then did she realize that she had fallen asleep in a daze on the bed, and the windows and door


    were still wide open. The cold wind blew through them, bringing a chill that made her shiver


    uncontrobly.


    She shouldn''t have fallen asleep like this. What if she caught a cold?


    Now that she had a baby in her womb, she couldn''t stand it. Meredith was a little upset.


    Outside, it began to rain. Meredith walked over and saw the bodyguards standing guard at the door


    through the open window. Although no one passed by, they were still standing there in a cautious


    manner and did not dare to move.


    Meredith frowned. She was in the third floor now. She was pregnant, so did not have a chance to jump


    down from such a high ce. If she failed, she and her child would be dead.


    All the other entrances and exits were firmly guarded by these people. Even now, they were still


    standing there in a cautious manner, so she had no way to escape.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    What should she do?


    Meredith closed the window in frustration. She couldn''t waste time here any longer. When the baby


    was born and Derek really wanted to hurt her child, everything would be toote.

 Chapter 178

    Chapter 178


    Meredith racked her brains for a long time, but she couldn''t think of any good idea. After a while,


    someone knocked on the door. "Miss Mason, it''s time for dinner."


    Meredith saw a man standing at the door, carrying several kinds of food. "Thank you."


    After opening the door, Meredith couldn''t help but ask, "Can you lend me your phone? I want to tell my


    family, otherwise, they will be worried."


    Of course it was impossible for the Masons to worry about her, but Meredith was thinking that Parker


    might be able to think of a way if he knew she was here.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Xavier ordered that you can''t have any contact with the outside world without his


    permission."


    The servant did not waver at all and put the food at the door and left.


    Meredith looked at him walking away resolutely and she was very discouraged. It was as if she was in


    prison now. She had no choice but to stay and waiting for her death.


    Desperate and painful, Meredith couldn''t eat at all. She didn''t even move her chopsticks, and put the


    food aside.


    When the servant came to collect the cutlery, he saw that she didn''t eat much at all and he was afraid.


    After all, Derek only told him to keep an eye on Meredith, but he didn''t allow her to go on a hunger


    strike. If anything happened to Meredith, he could not bear the responsibility.


    So, after the servant collected the cutlery, he immediately called Derek, "Mr. Xavier, Miss Mason... Miss


    Mason doesn''t seem to want to eat."


    Derek was driving home when he heard this and frowned. "What''s going on?"


    "We made the food ording to your orders, and all the food was that Miss Mason used to like, but


    she didn''t eat it at all. What... should we do?"


    Derek''s face darkened. Meredith really had something. He didn''t allow her to leave the vi, so she


    threatened him with a hunger strike?


    "I''ll be there in a while. Keep the food there."


    Derek suddenly turned the steering wheel and drove towards where Meredith was.


    ...


    Meredith was in the bedroom, staring at the ceiling. There was no cell phone, noputer, but only a


    buzzing TV, which was ying a boring love drama. She had no intention of watching it.


    She was really tired of this kind of the false story of Cindere and Prince Charming. In real life, could


    there be such a love story?


    At least, she wouldn''t believe it anymore.


    Although she once thought that Derek really had feelings for her, now the cold reality had waked her


    up. This world was not a fairytale world, so how could there be so much true love that ignored the


    social ss?


    Just as she was filling her head with nonsense, Derek pushed the door open and came in. Because it


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    was raining and he was in a hurry toe here, his clothes were soaked.


    Meredith did not expect he would go here. After all, it was a remote ce and it took him a long time to


    go here and return. Besides, shouldn''t he spend this time with Chloe?


    It had only been a short time since they made up with each other, yet was he still in the mood toe


    here to see her?


    However, Meredith did not show anything. She just stared at the TV indifferently and did not look at


    Derek again.


    As soon as he arrived, he waspletely ignored. This made Derek''s already unhappy mood


    worsened. He walked over and unplugged the noisy TV. Then, he looked at the expressionless woman.


    "A hunger strike, huh?"


    "I just can''t eat." Meredith replied faintly. She really couldn''t eat. Her hand was hurt. For the sake of her


    child, she could only take some traditional Chinese medicine. Her whole body smelled of Chinese


    medicine. She really wasn''t in the mood to eat.


    However, in Derek''s eyes, Meredith''s indifference became contempt for him. Because she did not want


    to be separated from Parker, she even ignored her baby, who she said she cared about the most, and


    she even refused to eat to resist?


    Her feelings for Parker was that deep?


    "I told you not to think about anything else and to stay here obediently. Are you ignoring my words?"


    Derek''s tone was anger.


    "No, I just can''t eat. Are you forcing me to eat?"


    Meredith looked over. She didn''t understand what Derek was angry about.


    She didn''t want to eat anything, so he rushed over in the rain as if he cared about her so much, but if


    he did, would he choose to break her hand, limit her freedom, and imprison her here?


    Did he regard her as a living and thoughtful person, or a pet that he kept in a cage and yed with


    casually?


    "Yes, if you can''t eat, you should try, otherwise..."


    Derek''s gaze fell on Meredith''s belly, where she and another man''s child were. Derek''s gaze became


    sharper and sharper, making Meredith couldn''t help but raise her hand to block his sight.


    "I think you know your own body. If you don''t eat, this child''s development will be stunted. Then I''ll get


    someone to operate on you right away."


    Meredith''s eyes widened. "How... How can you..."


    So, Derek was still trying to abort her baby?


    Meredith suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.


    In the beginning, because Derek did not forcibly want to abort the child in her womb, Meredith was


    slighted wavered. She thought that perhaps this man still had a little concern for her, and at least, he


    did not force her to abort the child and hurt her body.


    Now, Meredith only felt that she waspletely ridiculous at that time. Derek only temporarily showed


    his mercy, but she foolishly thought that Derek was actually not so cold and heartless, and even...told


    him the truth.


    "Did you hear me?"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s pale face. Her lips trembling slightly, but she did not answer. So he urged


    her.


    "I... I know."


    Meredith took a deep breath. "I''ll behave myself and eat the food, so can you promise me you won''t


    hurt my baby?"


    She was worried that Derek would find other reasons to abort her child.


    "I always keep my word. If you''re obedient and eat the food, I won''t do anything to your baby."


    When Derek finished speaking, the servant knocked on the door. The servant warmed the food that


    Meredith had not eaten just now, and carefully ced it on the table.


    Meredith looked at it and walked over numbly. She ate the food bit by bit, but the bad smelling to


    the tip of her nose and the depression in her heart made her retch after a few bites.


    However, this time, instead of rushing into the bathroom to spit it out as usual, she covered her mouth


    and tried to hold back the ufortable feeling.


    She could not vomit. She couldn''t. If she vomited the food out in front of Derek, he would be furious.


    Meredith forced herself to suffer, and tears fell from the corners of her eyes, and her stomach churned.


    Derek looked at her suffering face and felt unhappy. Was she showing her resistance to him?


    Because he forced her to eat, so she acted like this?

 Chapter 179

    Chapter 179


    "Meredith, I just asked you to eat. No need to wear a hair shirt."


    Derek''s voice was filled with a chill that made Meredith cold from head to toe.


    Heh, a hair shirt? What kind of woman was her in his mind?


    He thought she was faking everything? Now her feeling ufortable was also a lie just to gain his


    sympathy?


    Never had she felt so resentful toward the man who seemed to be watching over her or looking at her


    indifferently than this moment.


    "Derek, do you think everything I do was to plot against you?"


    Meredith tried her best to swallow the food in her mouth. She covered her churning stomach and


    looked over at Derek.


    At the corner of her eyes were a few tears that she shed out of difort. She looked extremely pitiful.


    Derek''s heart softened for a moment, but when he thought about what she and Parker had done, he


    only snorted coldly. "Isn''t that right?"


    The little unrealistic hope in Meredith''s heartpletely disappeared now. Perhaps this was what


    Derek really thought of her. What did she expect?


    After a few more bites, Meredith called for someone to take the food away, ignoring Derek from


    beginning to end.


    "Do you n to watch me sleep?" Seeing that Derek had no intention of leaving, Meredith asked coldly.


    Derek was immediately pissed off. "You want me to leave so badly?"


    Meredith was amused. So he wanted her to ask him to stay so that he could force her to do something


    she didn''t want to do?


    "This is your territory. Whatever you want to do, do as you please. But I''m worried that it will cause


    misunderstanding. Hehe."


    If Chloe knew Derek stayed here at night, she might go crazy. Meredith didn''t want to provoke that kind


    of person at all.


    However, when Derek heard those words, he thought she was worried that Parker would


    misunderstand. He walked over a few steps, grabbed Meredith by the neck, and pressed her onto the


    bed. "You are so eager to protect yourself from sleeping me for that man, huh? He is so useless that he


    can''t even protect a woman. And you''re so fascinated with such a man?"


    The thought of Meredith doing all this for Parker made Derek want to tear her apart to vent his anger.


    Meredith sneered. Was he deliberately misinterpreting her words?


    It was OK for him to go to Chloe and make out with her. But when she and Parker met once, Derek


    thought the father of the child was Parker. He had pushed too far.


    "If you like to think that way, it''s up to you."


    Meredith looked stubbornly at Derek. He never believed in her anyway, so there was no need to


    exin.


    "Well, I can''t wait to see how deep your rtionship is."


    Derek waspletely angered by Meredith. He forced himself on her as if he had lost his mind. Then


    he ripped her clothes off cruelly.


    Meredith tried to push him away, but she could not exert any force with her injured hand at all. She


    could only wriggle, trying to escape.


    However, her action didn''t work at all but stimted the man on her.


    "Why, do you look so reluctant under Parker? And he hasn''t got tired of having sex with you?"


    The humiliating words made Meredith blush.


    "Get away from me. Get away!"


    From the beginning until now, he was the only man she had has sex with. He had taken her virginity


    and everything from her but what he chose to do was to trample on her dignity again and again.


    Tears fell from her eyes.


    Derek looked at her and was upset. She resisted him so much, but she was not like that when she was


    with Parker.


    Thinking of that, Derek could not soften his heart at all. He directly prated her, and Meredith cried


    out in pain. He was so fast and she was not prepared at all. At this moment, she was so painful that her


    eyes went ck.


    However, she was in such a fit of pique that she refused to make a sound which now was a hint of


    begging for mercy. Derek looked at her stubbornness and the rage in his heart grew much strong. He


    ignored she was in poor health and desperately vented his anger on her.


    It was not known how long before the torture stopped. Meredith had fainted in the end, and the


    bandages had all fallen out of her bandaged hands as she struggled subconsciously.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s pale little face and did not want to stay any longer. He said to the maid who


    was guarding the door, "Go wash her up and ask the doctor to bandage her hand up again."


    After that, Derek left without looking back.


    He no longer wanted to see Meredith resist him.


    ...


    In a daze, Meredith felt someonee in. She immediately remembered that her clothes were all in a


    mess. She wanted to wake up, but she could not no matter how hard she tried.


    The maid changed her clothes. Looking at the shocking bruises on Meredith''s fair skin, she could not


    help but gasp.


    She didn''t know that the young master was such a rough person. How could he be so cruel to Miss


    Mason?


    However, this was the master''s business, and she had no right to meddle in, so she could only carefully


    lighten her movements, wipe Meredith''s body, and change her into a set of clean pajamas.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Meredith finally felt more conscious and gave a little cough. Seeing a girl in front of her, she felt


    ashamed yet relieved.


    She was such a mess now and someone had seen it. But fortunately, Derek was not so distraught as to


    let a man in and take a look at her body.


    "Has he left?"


    Meredith asked in a daze. Seeing the maid nodding, she fell asleep again as if she was falling into a


    ...


    Derek drove away from the vi, but suddenly had no idea of where to go.


    When he was off work, he would go to Meredith''s small house if he wanted to. Although it was very


    narrow and the decoration was very ordinary, it made him feel at ease. He hadn''t felt at ease for a long


    time.


    If...


    If the baby in Meredith''s belly was his, he wouldn''t have let her feel aggrieved a little.


    Derek was gradually lost in thought. Atst, instead of returning to the Xaviers, he went straight to the


    Since he couldn''t get what he wanted emotionally, he might as well numb himself at work.


    ...


    The next day, Damian went to work early, but as soon as he went up to the top floor, he saw the


    president''s office in a mess.


    Documents were scattered on the table and ground. The office looked as messy as if it had just been


    stolen. He was startled and walked over to see that it was Derek inside.


    The man''s usually clean face was covered with a few stubbles, which did not make him unkempt but


    added a bit of decadent temperament. Actually, he looked particrly attractive now.


    "Boss, you didn''te homest night?"


    Damian asked cautiously, feeling that something was wrong.


    He always felt something was wrong with Derek now, which made him feel uneasy.

 Chapter 180

    Chapter 180


    Derek''s eyes, which were heavyden from exhaustion turned sharp again. "Process the documents


    over there."


    Only then did Damian realize that Derek was pointing at a ce full of documents that he had already


    processed. He suddenly felt under pressure. This... It seemed that Boss had been up all nightst


    night. He worked himself into the ground.


    Damian didn''t dare dy. After all, Boss was working so hard. How could the subordinates bezy?


    When Damian was walking out with those documents, he suddenly noticed that there was a piece of


    scrap paper on the floor. The scrap paper was full of a person''s name.


    Meredith...


    Damian instantly understood Derek''s reason for working hard all night. He guessed that something


    happened again between Boss and Meredith.


    ...


    Derek stayed in the office for a while. Even he, after working hard all night, was a little tired.


    At this moment, Violet called him. "Derek, why didn''t youe backst night? Didn''t you say we were


    going to the hospital to visit Chloe today?"


    Derek had long forgotten about this and frowned. "I was dealing with some work in thepany. I''ll go


    over now. See you at the hospital."


    Hearing her son''s slightly hoarse voice, Violet couldn''t help shaking her head and thought that he really


    needed a reliable woman to take care of him. He didn''t even care about his body when he worked. He


    couldn''t do that.


    Derek got up and looked at himself in the mirror. ck stubble appeared on his chin and cheeks. There


    were dark circles under his eyes, which were different from his usual image.


    For Meredith?


    Derek didn''t want to admit it, but he knew that even though he was processing those documentsst


    night, the ungrateful woman was the one who thought by him the most!


    Realizing that she had invaded his mind again, Derek heavily flung the towel away.


    Damn it, maybe he should really go out to change his mood. At least, he couldn''t always be disturbed


    by Meredith. That woman was not worth his worry.


    ...


    Derek straightened up and soon drove to the hospital. When he reached, Violet was already waiting


    there impatiently.


    "Look at you. Does work so important? You are here to visit Chloe today, but you look so haggard."


    "Although haggard, you still look good." Chloe came down the stairs with a smile. She was just bored


    looking at the scenery outside, but she didn''t expect to see Derek''s caring.


    Even before she could change her clothes, she came down happily.


    She really missed him.


    "Sweet girl."


    Violet nced at Chloe. She was wearing a hospital gown and no makeup on her face today, but she


    was born beautiful. This kind of gown did not damage her beauty. Instead, it gave her a little more


    delicate temperament. Even if a woman saw Chloe like this, she would quite fond of her.


    Violet nodded silently. She was not critical of Chloe''s appearance.


    "Chloe, Derek was not sensible before and he didn''t tell me that you were ill in the hospital. Otherwise,


    I would have been here long ago."


    "Auntie, don''t me Derek. It is not a severe illness. If I let you and Grandpa worry about me, I''ll feel


    guilty." Chloe smiled sweetly. Her every sweet and filial word was satisfying Violet.


    It was such a woman who was worthy of her son. As for Meredith, what kind of bitch was she?


    "Angels fly out of your arse".


    "Not at all. We''ll soon be family."


    Violet patted Chloe''s hand and said meaningfully, "You shouldn''t alienate the Xaviers just because of a


    small matter."


    Chloe was so smart, how could she not understand Violet''s hint? She held Violet''s hands, smiling


    sweeter and brighter. The two women chatted happily, as if they had already forgotten the existence of


    Derek.


    Derek was about to say something. He didn''t want his mother''s words to give Chloe any fake hope. But


    just as he was about to speak, Violet red at him to stop him.


    At this time, Asher came in and saw Derek and Violet. Chloe was in a good mood and smiled. "Auntie,


    and Derek, here you are."


    Violet was thinking about how she could get Derek out of the house, so she quickly said, "Come on,


    let''s two women talk in private for a while. You two men go out and talk about men."


    Asher didn''t know why, but there was no reason to refuse, so he pulled Derek out.


    There were only the two of them left in the room, and Violet was not as implicit as before. She patted


    Chloe''s hand and said earnestly, "Chloe, you and Derek, how are things going now?"


    Chloe hesitated for a moment. With her usual personality, she could never say such hurtful words as


    ''Derek was indifferent to her''. But when she thought of Meredith, the great threat, she thought that her


    self-esteem was not so important.


    Lowering her head slightly, Chloe showed an expression of grievance and helplessness. "Derek, he


    might still me me for leaving him at that time. Although I exined, he still didn''t want to forgive me.


    And... Meredith..."


    "How did you know about Meredith?"


    Violet did not expect that even Chloe knew about Meredith. Could it be that that bitch shamelessly told


    the story about the two people who had a contract marriage?


    "Don''t listen to that woman''s nonsense. It was just her luck to have a rtionship with Derek. It was


    just Old Master who found a fortune teller to say that her fate matched Derek''s and she might save him


    from danger. That''s why..."


    "You know what our the Xaviers''s demand. How can a woman like her be recognized by us? She just


    doesn''t want to give up the good life as a young madam of the Xaviers and is still struggling


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    shamelessly."


    Hearing Violet''s, Chloe immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Meredith... She''s not the one he wants?


    Is she really just arranged by Mr. Xavier?"


    "Of course, now that she''s been chased away, Chloe, I don''t know what that woman said to you, but no


    matter what she said, you just have to remember that the only daughter-inw that our the Xaviers


    recognizes is you."


    Violet had made up her mind at the moment. She had wanted to choose the best gentlewomen to


    marry Derek, but now it seemed that in order to eliminate Meredith''s influence on her son as soon as


    possible, she had to make him fall in love and marry quickly, lest he always missed her.


    Chloe was the one Violet knew the most, so she said it directly to reassure her that the Xaviers would


    definitely support her marrying Derek.


    "Auntie, I... I will try my best." Chloe got the answer she wanted. She lowered her head and blushed


    which made her look more lovable.


    She couldn''t stop the joy in her heart. With the support of the Xaviers, she wanted to see how Meredith


    fought with her.

 Chapter 181

    Chapter 181


    After Violet calmed Chloe down, she called Derek back and asked him to spend some time with Chloe


    to improve their rtionship.


    Derek looked at the expectations in the eyes of the three of them and agreed.


    Chloe''s heart was filled with joy. It was the same as that day, and she wanted to have Derek


    apany her.


    After Derek agreed, he talked to her absent-mindedly. There was no longer that kind of talk between


    the two of them in which they could chat with each other without reserve, so the topic became more


    and more boring.


    Derek only felt that the aftereffect of staying uptest night hade. If it was just that he didn''t


    sleepst night, he might have been able to stay awake now. But in order not to think of Meredith and


    not let her disturb his thoughts, he had been forcing himself to immerse himself in work almost all night.


    Even an iron man would find it difficult to endure such fatigue, so his eyelids became heavier and


    heavier, and his speed of replying became much slower.


    Chloe noticed that Derek had slowly closed his eyes. Her eyes fell on the dark patch under the man''s


    eyes, and her heart ached.


    It seemed that he was very tired yesterday, but Chloe was very happy to have Derek sleep beside her.


    Did this mean that he was not so resistant to her?


    As she thought about it, she gently picked up a pillow, carefully ced it on the man''s back, and


    carefully looked at Derek''s face.


    Compared to his previous youthful and high-spirited appearance, Derek now had a bit more mature


    man''s charm. Even such a scene of falling asleep because of tiredness had an irresistible attraction.


    Chloe looked at his lips. Derek''s lips were a little dry, but the shape of the thin lips was still so perfect.


    She seemed to be bewitched and guided by something, and she moved closer unconsciously.


    Just as she was about to kiss him, the man''s lips moved, spitting out a name she never wanted to hear


    in her life.


    "Meredith..."


    Chloe froze. She looked at Derek in disbelief. She couldn''t believe her ears.


    He was still thinking about that woman in his sleep...


    Thinking about it, Chloe seemed to be bewildered and couldn''t help but look around Derek for traces of


    that woman.


    Soon, she saw a few scratches on the man''s arm. They were clearly scratched by a woman.


    At that moment, Chloe really wanted to wake him up hysterically and ask him why...


    Could she be worse than a woman who went to jail? Why would he rather have Meredith than her?


    However, Chloe held back. She knew that Derek had more guilt than love for her now. She had no right


    to squander his guilt.


    Chloe took a few deep breaths and took a look at Derek. She didn''t disturb the man''s sleep, but she


    nestled beside Derek with a heavy heart.


    After a while, Violet came back. Seeing the scene, she was relieved. It seemed that Chloe was still


    special to Derek. If they continued to get along with each other like this, he would soon forget that


    woman, Meredith.


    Thinking about it, Violet left with satisfaction.


    Asher looked at the harmonious and beautiful scene. He felt sad, but also somewhat gratified.


    Perhaps Chloe would be satisfied and happy in this way. And then, he would content with his lot and he


    would always protect her like this.


    ...


    Derek slept for about an hour, and his fatigue gradually dissipated. Only then did the man open his


    eyes and realize that he had fallen asleep in the ward. He couldn''t help but frown.


    It seemed that he had been a littlex with himself recently.


    Just as he was about to get up, Derek saw that Chloe was sleeping on hisp. Looking at her quiet


    sleeping face, the man couldn''t bear to wake her up. After all, she was a patient, so let her be.


    In fact, Chloe was not asleep at all. Thinking about Meredith, she was not sleepy at all. However, when


    she realized that Derek had woken up but he did not wake her up, she felt morefortable.


    At the very least, he still had her in his heart. Then she could get him one day as long as she became


    more important in his heart.


    Thinking about it, Chloe pretended to sleep for a while, then she rubbed her eyes. "Ah, why did I fall


    asleep on yourp..."


    Derek smiled and did not answer.


    Chloe blushed, lowered her head slightly and looked shy.


    Derek didn''t look at her much. He got up and moved his legs, which were numb from being pressed


    down by Chloe. He said, "Since you''re in good condition, I''ll go back today. There are still some things I


    need to do at thepany."


    Chloe nodded sensibly. After seeing the man leave, Asher came in.


    "Asher, can I ask you something?"


    Asher was startled. "There''s nothing you need to request me to do."


    "Can you help me find out what Derek has been doing recently?"


    Chloe could still remember Derek calling Meredith''s name in his dream. She always felt that things


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    were not as simple as Violet said.


    She had to know Meredith''s every move and leave her no chance.


    Asher never rejected Chloe. So he nodded and agreed.


    ...


    After Derek left the hospital, he did not return to the Xavier Group as he said. Last night, he had


    finished all the work for the week, so he had a lot of free time now.


    Perhaps, the free time could be used to keep a close eye on that disobedient woman.


    With that in mind, Derek drove directly to the vi where Meredith was now. But he did not notice that


    there was another car behind him which was always following him not far away.


    Asher''s men followed Derek for a while and then they left. It was because the road they were going to


    pass was too remote. If they followed closely, they would probably be discovered.


    Asher got the news and frowned. He suddenly remembered that Derek had bought a very secluded


    vi in the suburbs. The way to go there seemed to coincide with Derek''s route.


    However, it was a remote ce, and Derek would only go there on vacation for peace and tranquility. It


    was obviously not the time for him to go there now. So, wasn''t it because...


    Who was there and that person attracted him to go there?


    Asher had a guess in his heart and he sent someone over to continue the investigation. He couldn''t


    help but think that did Derek hide Meredith there?


    ...


    When Derek arrived at the vi, Meredith was staring outside the window in a daze.


    She was bored stiff here and she was in no mood to watch TV. So, this was the only thing that she


    could do.


    When Derek arrived, she only nced at him and then looked away.


    The man''s eyes fell on Meredith''s exposed body under her loose clothing. There were things he


    irrationally asked Meredith to keep yesterday.


    Just seeing them reminded Derek of that ecstatic and bewitching feeling.


    Meredith was so embarrassed when she was being looked at by Derek like this. She turned around


    and saw the desire in Derek''s eyes. She was shocked. Yesterday, the doctor told her that although


    pregnant women could have sex, they shall do it infrequently. If Derek had sex with her in that rude way


    again, it would probably affect the child.

 Chapter 182

    Chapter 182


    Meredith hid back, but still felt insecure. She nced at Derek again, "I''m going to the bathroom."


    How could Derek not see through what she was thinking? Was she hiding from him?


    Was she afraid, that he would touch her? Or was it because of that man? He didn''t let her remember


    yesterday?


    The man''s dark eyes were tinged with anger.


    He strode forward, pulled Meredith back, and pinned her down on the bed.


    Meredith was startled and looked up at the man''s furious eyes.


    Feeling uneasy at his naked gaze, Meredith immediately looked away and said calmly, "What? Do I


    even need to report to Mr. Xavier to go to the bathroom now?"


    Derek stared at her. "Meredith, don''t think I don''t know what you''re thinking. Are you hiding from me?"


    Meredith''s eyes shed, but Derek suddenly let go of his hand. "I advise you to stop being so


    sentimental. Seeing the wild seed in your belly, I feel you''re dirty."


    She had no right to be afraid of him. The Xaviers had nevercked her food and clothing, and he had


    never betrayed that short marriage apart from the ident when he was drugged.


    Even if it was just a contract marriage with a purpose, Meredith not only messed up with other men


    when they were husband and wife but even... Had a baby.


    How could she have the face to stay away from him?


    Meredith''s heart sank. Even though she had heard all kinds of bad things about Derek, his cold words


    now still made her heartache.


    Dirty?


    He said she was dirty? She clearly had nothing to do with anyone except him. How could he say that


    about her?


    Meredith strode into the bathroom, holding back her grievances and difort. She saw her


    disheveled face in the mirror and clenched her fists.


    Everything seemed to be back to the beginning, and Derek was the high and mighty Young Master of


    the Xaviers, who used the sharpest words to shatter her dignity.


    Meredith stayed in the bathroom for a while, then patted her face with cold water and hid all her


    expressions. She couldn''t let Derek see her weakness.


    ...


    After Meredith went into the bathroom, Derek was also felt upset and went out for a smoking.


    He was never a man who indulged in lust. He had always had a clean mind and few desires for


    women. When Chloe asked him to keep her first night until their wedding day, then he never touched


    her.


    Meredith was his first woman and the first woman who could make him lose control of himself a few


    times.


    However, when he thought about the child and the identity of Parker, he felt very disappointed.


    Derek could not help but feel aggrieved at the thought of this woman having sex with another man.


    After smoking a cigarette, Derek felt his anger abate a little and went back.


    Meredith had alreadye out. Sensing the movement behind her, she looked up at him.


    Just now, when she thought about them in the bathroom, she couldn''t help but wonder, since Derek


    despised her so much and thought she was so dirty, why did shee?


    If she hated a person to this extent, she was afraid that even seeing him would be like torture.


    "Mr. Xavier, I have something to say." Meredith calmed herself down and looked at Derek.


    "You just said you despise me for being dirty, right?"


    It was not easy for her to say that. Meredith almost gave up her dignity.


    "If that''s the case, why don''t you let me go so that your eyes don''t get dirty, Mr. Xavier? Is it interesting


    that so many people are looking at me as a pregnant woman? Wouldn''t it be a blow to Mr. Xavier''s


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    reputation if others know the truth?"


    Derek sneered. He knew that this woman had no second thought except to leave this ce.


    Was she wanted to leave to that degree...


    Then what were this woman''s concern, admiration, and dependence on him? Was it just acting?


    Then he really had to admire her acting skills, even if he had believed it.


    "Meredith, I told you that you couldn''t go anywhere without my permission."


    "You do something wrong, but you don''t have to bear the consequences and still want to leave. Do you


    think there is such a good thing in the world?"


    Meredith looked at Derek and thought it funny.


    The most ridiculous thing about her was that she thought that Derek would protect her and her baby.


    "Derek, I was wrong to believe you."


    Derek waspletely enraged by her faint words and he strode forward, pressing Meredith down on


    the bed. "Say it again?"


    He thought that he had never done anything wrong to her, but she had lied to him time and time again,


    ying and tricking him around.


    Meredith did not speak again. Derek''s eyes were so fierce and terrifying that it almost strangled her to


    death.


    She could not provoke him.


    Seeing that Meredith did not speak, Derek had nowhere to vent his anger. He punched on the mattress


    beside the woman, then mmed the door angrily and left.


    Meredith watched him leave and felt rxed in her heart. Just now, she was afraid that Derek would


    get angry and beat her up. Fortunately, he had notpletely lost his mind. Otherwise, she would not


    be able to bear the consequences.


    ...


    Not long after Derek left, Asher, who had been ambushing nearby, saw his car leave and immediately


    realized that his original guess was more than half right.


    Derek dide here, but he still needed to investigate who was hiding inside.


    After thinking about it, Asher drove the car to the backyard of Derek''s vi, which was covered by


    several trees in the garden. If people didn''t observe it carefully, they wouldn''t find a car there.


    Asher waited patiently. His intuition and knowledage of Derek told him that there must be some


    important secret hidden in it...


    Derek left, and Meredith was in a daze for a while. When her heart calmed down in a frenzy of fear, she


    slowly got out of bed and opened the window.


    This kind of imprisoned life really suffocated her.


    "Miss Mason, your medicine."


    The maid came in and brought the ointment to Meredith. Meredith took a look and blushed,


    embarrassed.


    It was used to reduce the swelling on her lower body, because of Derek''s rudeness, she still felt a little


    ufortable.


    "Miss Mason, you''re still pregnant. You should be careful."


    The maid did not understand what had happened to the two of them, but she could not help but


    persuade Meredith because she had never seen a smile on her face.


    Meredith shook her head. How could she be happy? These days in prison, apart from being well-fed


    and not being beaten, seemed to have gone back to the days when she was in prison.


    "Why don''t I go for a walk with you?" The maid thought for a moment. "The flowers in the garden are all


    in bloom. Now it''s time to see them."

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183


    Meredith thought for a moment and nodded. "Okay."


    It was so boring for her to stay in her room. If she went out for a walk, maybe she could find a chance


    to escape. Although there was little hope, she should try.


    Meredith applied the ointment on herself, changed into warmer clothes, and then walked out with the


    maid.


    Although this property of Derek was a bit remote, the environment was perfect. The vi was spacious


    inside, and the garden outside was alsorge with a variety of flowers nted. Moreover, a lot of


    beautiful flowers were blooming.


    Although Meredith was not in the mood to enjoy the view, moderate exercise was beneficial to the


    baby, so she wandered around.


    When Asher heard voicesing from the garden, he focused his attention on them. Soon, the two


    figures appeared in front of him and it made him hold the steering wheel in his hands tightly.


    Really? It was actually Meredith?


    Asher''s anger suddenly rose.


    Just now, Derek was in the hospital, and Asher was beating around the bush, thinking that Derek finally


    got it right and drove Meredith away. He didn''t expect Derek to hide this woman in such a ce.


    Was he going to make up with Chloe while hiding his love here in the vi?


    At the thought of this possibility, Asher wanted to rush in right at the moment. He wanted to grab


    Meredith and asked her if she was shameless. As a woman, why did she refuse the money from Asher


    and insisted on being a mistress?


    Was she shameless?


    Meredith was a little sensitive to views from the outside world. Besides, Asher looked extremely unkind.


    She subconsciously looked over and found that there was another car there, but it was mostly covered


    by dense nts. It was impossible to see it clearly, and one couldn''t even notice it without careful


    searching.


    Who was it?


    Meredith couldn''t help but think that, as this ce was so remote, what Derek said was right - without


    another person around, it would be difficult for her to escape even if she had wings. After all, she was


    pregnant, and it was impossible for her to walk back to the city center where there were crowd and


    cars.


    After thinking for a moment, Meredith acted as if she didn''t see the car. "I''m still feeling a little cold.


    Let''s go back and change before returning here."


    The maid did not dare to dy and quickly took her back. Meredith drove the maid out of the room,


    took out a banknote from her purse, wrote a few words on it, and stuffed it into her pocket.


    Although she saw that the car was a luxury car, maybe the person in it would still be curious about


    moneying from nowhere.


    As Meredith thought, she put a few hundred-dors bills into her pocket, and walked out as if nothing


    had happened.


    "Maybe, we should go out tomorrow." The maid was afraid that Meredith would be tired, and the baby


    in her womb would be hurt, or Meredith would catch a cold, which would be a big problem for the maid


    to handle.


    "No, it''s okay. I''ll walk for a bit."


    How could Meredith miss such a good opportunity? She quickly shook her head. Seeing that Meredith


    insisted, the maid had no choice but to take her downstairs again.


    Meredith walked over and found the car still there. Relieved, she threw the thing in her hand in a


    corner. "Ah, my thing is missing. It seems that I have lost it there."


    After that, she made use of the time when the maid went to look for it and threw the folded money out.


    Asher didn''t know what she was trying to do. When he saw the pink bills being thrown out, he was


    curious. What was the message she was trying to convey to him?


    Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Meredith wandered around for a while before hurrying back to


    her room.


    She didn''t know if her idea will seed or not. If that person was afraid of trouble, he may not be


    involved in this mess.


    Meredith frowned. She wrote on the money that she was imprisoned. Also, she hoped that the person


    found the money could call Parker, and ask him to help find a way to take her away from the vi.


    ...


    After making sure that no one was looking, Asher picked up the bills and opened them. There were a


    few words written on them, but the contents made him speechless.


    She was imprisoned?


    Could it be that this woman did not want to stay with Derek? Instead, Derek was the one forcing them


    together?


    Asher felt that something was wrong, but he did not waste any time and returned to the hospital with a


    heavy heart.


    Chloe was ready to leave the hospital, and with Violet''s assurance, she was much relieved. Moreover,


    the Xaviers offered to invite her to stay at their house for a short period of time. Naturally, she wouldn''t


    refuse.


    When Asher came back, she told him about it with a happy face, but Asher just smiled perfunctorily,


    thinking about Meredith in his mind.


    If Derek cheated on Chloe while he was still having a thing with Meredith, he would never allow that.


    Chloe deserved the best, and Asher would never allow her to be mistreated even a little bit.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Chloe, auntie was here today. Did she say anything about Meredith?"


    Chloe looked at him doubtfully. "She said that Meredith had been driven away by Derek and would


    nevere back. What''s the matter, is she still not willing to leave?"


    Asher shook his head. "No, I was just worried that she woulde back and disturb your life."


    "Asher, then help me, don''t let her show up again, okay?"


    Chloe was a little flustered at the thought of Derek calling Meredith''s name in his sleep today.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    She didn''t want such a dangerous factor to always exist, threatening her rtionship with Derek.


    "I''ll help you."


    Asher gently stroked Chloe''s long, silky hair. He was willing to do anything for her.


    ...


    Asher quickly contacted Parker. He didn''t know much about Parker, but now that Meredith was in


    Derek''s hands, if Asher showed up himself, the rtionship between him and Derek would be over.


    Therefore, he could only find Parker and let him do this, that would be the best.


    Parker was a little confused when he received a call from Asher. He knew a lot about Derek''s friends.


    He had investigated them before, and this person did not seem like one that would take the initiative to


    make friends.


    "Hello, Mr. Hill. We didn''t know each other very well before, but I am calling to tell you about Meredith''s


    whereabouts this time."


    Asher cut to the chase about Meredith.


    Parker immediately widened his eyes. "How do you know where she is?"


    These days, Parker has mobilized his men to search around for Meredith''s whereabouts, but Derek hid


    her tracks very well.


    Parker had sent someone to follow Derek and it was found out. Parker was worried that this would


    irritate Derek and make him treat Meredith worse, so he did not dare to go too far.


    Now, it was Derek''s friend who came to tell him about Meredith?


    Could this be a trap?


    "But why should I believe you?"


    Parker was very careful. Who knew if this was a trap set by Derek?


    "If you don''t believe me, we''ll meet. I have a hand-written letter for help from her. You''ll know when you


    read it."

 Chapter 184

    Chapter 184


    Parker gripped his phone firmly and said callously, "Then send me a location. You''d better not y


    tricks."


    Asher smiled, "Don''t worry, I''m not interested in acting against you now."


    After all, his paramount task now was to get rid of Meredith, so this man was his ally. In order to


    achieve his goal, he could ept the necessary sacrifices and retreats.


    Soon, Asher sent a message with a location.


    Parker nced at the message. When he was to leave, a woman who sat beside him reached out her


    hand to stop him suddenly.


    "Parker, no, please don''t go."


    She was extremely beautiful. She was not the kind of pure beauty who was not stained by dirty but a


    kind of beauty who seemed to be aggressive. Now, her casual action could be iparably seductive


    and moved others.


    A woman like her was men''s favorite but women''s natural enemy.


    "Jenny, I have to save her..."


    Parker nced at the woman. When he firstly worked arduously in the underworld, it was she who took


    him in. She helped him survive and turned him into who he was now, a man who could match Derek.


    So, Parker would always value her words.


    "I know that you feel guilty about Meredith. But Asher is Derek''s best friend. They''ve known each other


    for more than a decade, right? What do you think is his intention of contacting you? Violet is already


    investigating you. It''s probably a bait."


    Jenny smiled seductively and told him all her worries. She looked at Parker''s face with infatuation and


    longing in her eyes.


    She was never a good woman. She worked hard in the underworld and saw so many bad people. How


    could she remain to be a woman who was willing to help others?


    However, when she first met Parker, she was attracted by the young man''s beastly eyes. He had such


    a handsome face but looked a little fierce.


    Jenny felt that he might not be simple, so she saved him. Parker did not disappoint herter. Step by


    step, he was somebody in society and started his own business. Now he had sessfully


    whitewashed his past and kept away from the underworld.


    Parker was a man who was grateful. After he seeded, he helped Jenny out and invested in a few


    Jenny to livefortably until she died, but...


    She was not satisfied with it after all.


    She had fallen in love with the dangerous and mysterious man at the first sight. It had been more than


    ten years since then. She had thought that Parker would not fall in love with anyone. As long as she


    was with him, she would always be the most important woman for him. But now, she realized that she


    was wrong.


    When Parker contacted and made up for the poor girl who was in prison for her sister, he fell in love


    with her.


    It was only today that Jenny knew it so she rushed back. She could never let Parker continue to love


    her.


    What''s more, was he going against the Xaviers, which developed for decades with a deep foundation?


    She was afraid he would be defeated disastrously. Jenny would never allow him to take such a risk for


    another woman.


    "Jenny... I know you are for my own good, but... I owe her. I can''t leave her alone."


    Parker nced at Jenny. "I have to go."


    "Is it worth it to offend the Xaviers and to ruin your ns for so many years just for a woman?"


    Jenny looked at him. She never thought that Parker was a man who would be irrational for love.


    "Yes." Parker looked into Jenny''s eyes. "I''m sorry, Jenny. I may not be able to apany you these


    days. I''m afraid it won''t be peaceful either. You''d better go abroad first..."


    How could Jenny just give up? "In that case, I''ll help you meet Asher. I''m a woman and I''m sure he


    won''t do anything to me. Don''te out first, lest you get into trouble."


    Parker naturally disagreed. As a man, how could he ask a woman to shield him?


    After saying that, Parker stood up and left.


    Jenny looked at his back and clenched her fists. Was Meredith so important to you?


    Was she more important than me?


    ...


    Asher waited in the room for a long time. Parker did not enter the room until Asher was running out of


    patience.


    "Is that Asher? I''m Parker."


    Parker reached out his hand indecently with a wicked smile.


    Asher''s face darkened. He instinctively had a sense of danger from this man. He didn''t seem to be so


    easy to talk to, but it was impossible to get Meredith out from Derek without his help. He had to bear


    Parker.


    "I''m Asher. When I went to look for Derek today, I saw something. This was the letter that she threw


    out. Look at it for yourself. I believe you can recognize her handwriting."


    Asher took out a bill and handed it to Parker. Parker scanned the letter a few times and stopped


    smiling.


    He could recognize her handwriting at the first sight. It was Meredith''s.


    He did not know what Derek did, making Meredith ask for help in this way.


    "Where is she?"


    Parker put the money away and asked some questions.


    Asher told him bluntly, and Parker frowned. It was so far away that no one would have thought of it.


    Besides, Derek had deliberately concealed his trace. No wonder he had not found anything for such a


    long time.


    "I have a question. You''re Derek''s friend. Why do you tell me? You are obviously against his will."


    Although Parker noted down the location, he was still vignt.


    After all, he had strived for so long, so he had to be cautious.


    "Because I want Derek to be with another woman instead of Meredith. I don''t like you. Do you


    understand it?"


    "Do you mean an enemy''s enemy is a friend?"


    Parker smiled. He believed it because people were selfish and could do anything for their own sake.


    "I can help you, but do not let Derek know it."


    As Asher said, he took out a map and a blueprint of the vi. "She''s here, but Derek has sent a lot of


    people to watch over her. I can''t probe any further. It is up to you to take further action."


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    Parker looked at the map and his eyes darkened.


    Meredith, wait for me...

 Chapter 185

    Chapter 185


    Meredith waited in the vi for a few more days, but there was no news. Although she saw the money


    she threw away on purpose was picked up, there was still no sign of anyone looking for her.


    Perhaps she really had no choice.


    The look of dismay came over Meredith''s face.


    ...


    For the next few days, perhaps Meredith was always so depressed that she caught a cold.


    Her cold, coupled with the fact that she was pregnant and could not take medicine, made her feel


    worse quickly.


    When Derek got the call, the maid said tremulously. "Young master, Miss Mason contracted a fever."


    Derek frowned and said in a somewhat serious tone, "When?"


    Because of the unpleasant thing a few days ago, he had already neglected Meredith for several days.


    He didn''t expect that he would be bothered with her again soon.


    "She caught a cold the day before yesterday, and now got a temperature."


    Originally, those who took care of Meredith thought that it was nothing serious, and did not dare to


    disturb Derek. They just gave her the medicine normally and thought that she would recover soon.


    They didn''t expect she was getting steadily worse, so they had to find Derek to avoid the situation


    keeping darkening.


    "Why didn''t you tell me this earlier?"


    Derek threw the documents aside, took the car key, and strode out. He rubbed his forehead and his


    eyes darkened. And he drove quickly to where Meredith was.


    Walking into the room, he saw Meredith was lying on the bed and he could only see her small face with


    the size of a palm. She had recently be thinner, making her more sympathetic and likable,


    although she had gained weight during her pregnancy.


    Derek stared at the woman with her eyes closed. Was she fighting against him silently?


    Because he didn''t allow her to leave, she made herself so haggard?


    "Where''s the medicine?" Derek was in a bad mood. "Is this how you tend to her?"


    All the people present were reprimanded and did not dare to make a sound. Only the maid who had


    been nursing Meredith said slightly, "Young Master, it''s just... One can only be cured when finding the


    right medicine. Miss Mason has always been depressed. We''ve tried many times, but there''s nothing


    we can do about it. And over time, she can''t bear it. That''s why she is like this now."


    Derek was even more upset when he heard this. "Won''t you find a way to make her happy? Get out. I


    don''t hope it happens again, or all of you will be fired then."


    When Derek finished speaking, everyone felt relieved and rushed out, afraid that if they were slow, they


    would be affected by his fury.


    Derek also knew that he was taking it out on others. He was well aware of why was Meredith unhappy,


    even to the point of affecting her health. But could he feel free to just let her go?


    Staring at Meredith''s quiet face, the man clenched his fists. "Meredith, you don''t even want to stay with


    me?"


    However, thinking of it, Derek still sat down, watching over Meredith. Now, the doctor would not use


    down.


    Derek sat there, taking the towel off Meredith''s forehead again and again, which was warm from her


    body heat, and cing it on her body after soaking it in cool water.


    Meredith was vaguely conscious that someone was taking care of her. The man was not very skilled,


    but he was very gentle as if he was afraid of disturbing her sleep.


    This reminded Meredith of the time when her mother was still around. Back then, her mother was still


    starting up their own business with Wesley, and the living conditions were far from the good onester.


    When she had a fever, her mother always used this method to ease her difort.


    "Mum..." Meredith opened her mouth and whispered, she didn''t know who was taking care of her, but


    people would always be vulnerable when they were sick, and needed someone they trust for


    protection, so, instinctively, she called out.


    Derek''s hand paused. When he heard Meredith''s voice, which was full of attachment and sadness, his


    heart suddenly ached for a moment. How could he not understand Meredith''s sentiment of missing her


    mother?


    Realizing this, his touch was more gentle. "So, why did you leave? Stay by my side, I will help you find


    your mother and get rid of your anxiety and scare. Why did you choose Parker?"


    Meredith was in a state of semiconsciousness, and it was rare for Derek to say something deep in his


    heart. Anyway, she wouldn''t hear it clearly.


    "Do you think I''m still not good enough for you?"


    Derek was actually unsatisfied. He gave more attention to Meredith than any other woman. He would


    rather fight against the Xaviers''s will for her sake, but the response she gave was too disappointing.


    Parker, the illegitimate son of his father, was the root cause of his mother''s lifelong unhappiness.


    Therefore, he could not, no matter what, allow that Meredith was scheming against him with such a


    person.


    This made him feel humiliated.


    Meredith frowned. She heard what Derek said, but she thought she was dreaming.


    "I haven''t... Why don''t you believe me..."


    In her sleep, the figure of Derek appeared. And Meredith couldn''t help but exin to him that the child


    in her belly was his and she really hadn''t hooked up with anyone else. Why didn''t he believe her?


    Hearing this, Derek just thought Meredith had a nightmare again, dreaming of false usations from


    the Masons. Therefore, he subconsciously gripped Meredith''s hand, and Meredith did the same to him,


    as if she had grasped something important to her.


    Derek stayed with Meredith like this for a long time, and then he was also a bit tired, so he simply got


    into bed and slept next to Meredith, allowing her to lean into his arms and get warm.


    Meredith did not know how long she had slept. By the time she opened her eyes, it was already dark.


    She was a little dazed, but was aware of a person beside her, and, moreover, she was tugging his


    clothes for dear life.


    What did she do?


    Meredith got shocked. She wouldn''t seize someone in the vi, would she? That was terrible.


    Thinking of it, she quickly released her hand, trying to wake that person up.


    Derek also fell asleep. After being touched by Meredith a few times, he opened his eyes and saw she


    was awake. He asked in a hoarse voice, "You are up. How do you feel?"


    Because he had just woken up, he just said this subconsciously, so there was less tension between


    them, but more warmth when he spoke to Meredith.


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    Meredith was stunned. She felt certain it was Derek''s voice.


    But why was he here now? He didn''te here for a few days.


    Moreover, his voice was fairly gentle. Why was that?


    Meredith felt fuzzy. "Why are you here?"


    Derek chuckled about her question. "This is my home. Why do you think I''m here?"

 Chapter 186

    Chapter 186


    Meredith couldn''t figure out why he came here. Obviously, the man wouldn''t exin it to her.


    Then she stepped back a little, "I''m sorry. I was just muddled for being scarcely awake."


    Hearing Meredith''s nasal voice and seeing the way she tried to make a clean break with him, Derek


    suddenly felt that this woman was probably more adorable when she was asleep. At least, she didn''t


    keep away from him when she was asleep.


    However, since Meredith was still a patient, he didn''t say anything and just snorted, "Why are you


    sick?"


    Meredith didn''t want to answer. These days, she went out from time to time to see if anyone had seen


    her call for help, but she was disappointed again and again.


    Gradually, her mood was affected, and the body also went wrong.


    And the person who caused this still asked her the reason...


    Meredith didn''t say anything. She got up and turned on the light, "I''m fine. You can leave."


    Derek''s calm mood was irritated by her again, "Chase me away as soon as you wake up. Do you forget


    who held my hand tightly just now?"


    Meredith blushed, "I just... did that unconsciously. I didn''t know it was you..."


    "Do you expect to hold another man''s hand?" Derek was not satisfied with her statement. Did she


    dream of another man?


    She was really bold.


    Indeed, Meredith dreamt of Derek. But unlike in reality, in her dream, Derek believed her words, and


    they happily waited for the baby to be born. There was neither quarrel nor doubt in the dream.


    But the reality...


    There was a big gap between the reality and the dream.


    "I didn''t think so much. Maybe I''m a little tired. You''re so busy with work. Why don''t you leave? Don''t


    dy because of me."


    Meredith didn''t have the energy to argue with Derek. She was still not feeling well. Although she felt


    better after waking up, she still felt dizzy because she had a bad appetite and didn''t eat well these


    days.


    Derek looked at her and she held her head with one hand unconsciously, "I won''t leave until you take


    the medicine."


    Meredith put her hand down andughed at herself. She really didn''t understand what Derek was trying


    to do.


    Every time she thought he hated her, Derek would always do something that led to her


    misunderstanding, as if he really cared about her.


    But when she believed that he really cared about her, he would turn against and suspect her again.


    She really could not stand his caprice.


    "No, I''ll take the medicine myself. I don''t pretend to be sick to threaten you. Mr. Xavier needn''t find time


    to worry about me."


    Derek''s concern was like a poison to quench her thirst. She didn''t want to sink into imagination and be


    deceived again, so she would rather refuse him directly.


    Derek''s face immediately clouded. He had to admit that this woman was always capable of stirring up


    his anger with a few words.


    "Meredith, I don''t need you to tell me what to do. You just need to obey my order."


    With that, Derek got up, "I''ll get someone to deliver the medicer. Take it and don''t make trouble."


    After that, the man walked out.


    Meredith looked at his back and said nothing.


    After a while, Derek came back with the supplements. Since Meredith was pregnant now, few drugs


    could be chosen under such a special situation, so he just brought back some kinds of vitamin C


    supplements. And the doctor said that she could only lower the temperature physically.


    When Meredith saw them, she took them over and looked at the instructions to make sure there were


    no ingredients that she could not eat before opening them.


    Derek watched her careful move and became even more upset. Why did she do that? Was she worried


    that he would use some vicious means to harm the bastard in her belly?


    He had not stooped to that.


    "Meredith, you don''t have to think too much. I will keep my word. I won''t hurt your fetus. You don''t have


    to do this kind of unnecessary thing."


    After Meredith heard this, her hands stopped moving. Derek''s words did not let her feel relieved at all.


    Instead, his words reminded her that in a few months, she would be separated from her baby.


    Unconsciously, she clenched the pills.


    It was less than five months from now to her due date. And in theter period of her pregnancy, she


    was so heavy and could give birth at any time, so she couldn''t escape...


    She had to get out of here as soon as possible.


    Thinking about it, Meredith raised her head, threw the medicine into her mouth and swallowed with


    water. She did the whole thing neatly.


    Then she nced at Derek, "I''ve taken them, okay?"


    She just wanted to be alone and think about what to do in the future.


    If Derek was here, she could not rx, and could not think at all.


    Seeing that Meredith wanted to drive him away, Derek didn''t want to leave further. Why would he let


    this woman be satisfied? Who did she want to miss when she was alone?


    "No. The doctor said you should do physical cooling."


    Derek shook the thing in his hand, "Lie down. Be a good girl."


    Meredith stared at him with wide eyes, "No, I can do it myself. Or, just let them help."


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    Derek frowned unhappily, "Who do you want to help you? Do you know how to do physical cooling?"


    The doctor just said that the quickest way to lower the temperature was to wipe her body with warm


    water. The water evaporated, which lowered the body temperature.


    Who else did she want to show her naked body to?


    "What?"


    Meredith didn''t think of that. She remembered that physical cooling was putting a wet towel on the


    forehead.


    "You really have nomon sense." Derek looked at Meredith''s surprised look and smiled, "Take off


    your clothes and I''ll wipe for you."


    Meredith blushed instantly, "I don''t need..."


    She didn''t need Derek to take care of her like this. It was so embarrassing to be naked in front of this


    man.


    Moreover, she was sober now. She would be ashamed.


    "I''ll just take a shower myself. I don''t need you to do it."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s red face, and the irritation dissipated a little. He smiled and looked at her,


    "Which part of your body have I not seen?"


    Meredith was even more embarrassed and took two steps back with her hands on the chest. She


    appeared to have been bullied and looked like a poor rabbit with red eyes. Looking at that, his desire


    was aroused.


    For some reason, he always had a strong impulse when seeing this woman. He could keep calm when


    other women showed love to him, which he was proud of. But he always lost his mind easily in front of


    Meredith.


    He looked at her with lust.

 Chapter 187

    Chapter 187


    How could Meredith not notice what Derek was thinking? His eyes were burning as if they were about


    to set her on fire.


    Just as the atmosphere became more intense, Derek''s cell phone suddenly rang.


    It was Violet.


    "Derek, we have a very important guest at home today. When are youing back?"


    Derek''s burning desire had been extinguished by this call. Why didn''t he remember that anyone at


    home had told him about an important guesting?


    Seeing that someone was looking for him, Meredith heaved a sigh of relief and quickly hid in the


    bathroom. It was too dangerous...


    Derek saw Meredith hiding like an ostrich and thought for a while before saying, "I still have something


    to do. I''ll let you go this time. You''d better take your medicine on time. Otherwise, I''lle back


    tomorrow..."


    "By then, it won''t be so easy for you to escape."


    After that, Derek left.


    After Meredith heard him leaving, she came out of the bathroom.


    Meredith patted her chest and let out a long sigh of shock.


    Not long after Derek left, the maid came in and checked Meredith. It seemed that the fever was not as


    bad as it had been at first.


    Meredith was also worried that Derek would really do what he said, so she offered to eat.


    The maid immediately went out to look for someone to prepare it. At this time, a car came. Seeing that


    it wasn''t Derek, the bodyguards raised their vignce, but only one person came down from the car and


    delivered the takeout. "This was specially sent to Miss Mason by Mr. Xavier. Please check it out."


    They were all a little confused. But after thinking about it, they understood that there were not many


    people knowing this ce. Besides, Meredith was sick now, so it was natural that Derek would send


    something to coax her. As a result, they took it without further questions and delivered it to Meredith.


    Meredith didn''t care much when she saw it. It was just that the food smell really worked up her appetite


    and she couldn''t help but open it.


    Just as she opened the box, a note fell out.


    "I saw your messages. Here''s my n..."


    Meredith''s eyes widened when she saw the line on the note.


    It turned out that Parker was not unaware of this but had been nning, and she was a little moved.


    Meredith quickly memorized the contents of the note, and then lit it with a lighter and threw it into the


    flowerpot.


    Parker''s n...


    Meredith took a few bites of the food casually. Although it was all her favorite food, at this moment, she


    couldn''t enjoy it at all. She just ate it mechanically, and her mind kept thinking.


    ording to this n, she might really be able to escape. She must try!


    ...


    When Derek returned to the Xaviers, he realized that Chloe was the most important guest Violet talked


    about.


    The two women sat on the sofa, holding hands and talking. They looked very close.


    "I always wanted a daughter, Chloe. If I had a daughter like you, I would be satisfied."


    What Violet just said was meant for Derek.


    Today, she specifically called the two of them back for them to bond.


    Derek didn''t say anything after hearing it, but he felt helpless for what her mother was thinking.


    Chloe smiled when she saw that he did not answer, but she was not discouraged. "Auntie, you can


    treat me as your daughter now. I have benefited a lot from talking to auntie."


    Derek listened to the two women ttering each other, not interested at all. At this time, the Old Master


    also came down. Seeing that his daughter-inw and prospective granddaughter-inw were getting


    along well, he nodded then looked at Derek, who waspletely not engaged in the conversation with


    an impatient expression, and he coughed.


    "Come with me."


    Derek had to stand up and followed the Old Master.


    The two of them entered the study, and the Old Master looked at Derek. "Have you solved your


    problem with Meredith?"


    He usually hadn''t to worry much about Derek. It was just when it came to rtionships, he had to give


    Derek some warnings in case he went overboard.


    "It''s done." Derek said with a straight face. The Old Master didn''t see anything wrong and nodded. "I


    called you here for one thing. You''re not young now. It''s time for you to start a family. I haven''t urged


    you before, but I''m old now and I can''t give you that much help anymore. You need to get married as


    soon as possible."


    "Grandpa, you are still strong. Why does it have to be in such a hurry?"


    "What do you reckon how many years do I have left? Before I die, if I could still see my great-grandson,


    I would die in peace."


    Seeing that Derek was still unwilling to get married, the Old Master sighed. Now that he went out to see


    his old friends and saw them all carrying a little child, who was running around. He was just too


    envious.


    When he was young, he did not value his family, neglected his children, and did not get much involved


    in Derek''s childhood. Now he naturally hoped to have a great-grandson to make up for his past regrets.


    "If I told you to pick other girls, you would just make all the excuses to avoid being with them. In my


    opinion, Chloe is much more mature now and she knows you well and is interested in you. Just pick a


    day, invite her parents, and then you two can get engaged."


    Derek was taken aback as if he had not expected the Old Master to say such a shocking thing. An


    important matter like getting engaged was as if nothing but a few words to his grandpa.


    He immediately thought of Meredith. If he was engaged, what about Meredith?


    "Grandpa, this... I don''t think so."


    "Why not? Do you have any other girls in your mind?"


    Mr. Xavier was determined to set them up. When Derek refused, his face darkened and he knocked on


    the floor with his walking stick. "Don''t tell me that you still like the woman who is not even decent."


    As he spoke, the Old Master coughed a few times in anger. Derek did not dare to say anything more,


    afraid of provoking him. He quickly went over and held him up. "No, isn''t it just too soon? Chloe has her


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    own career and ideals to pursue. How can she be willing to get married so early?"


    Derek saw that the Old Master was so angry that he gasped. He was afraid that something might go


    wrong, so he quickly changed the topic.


    When Chloe left that year, it was for her studies and her music dreams. He really didn''t think that she


    would be willing to give up everything she had worked so hard for so many years just for him.


    The Old Master frowned and walked out without Derek''s help. He went to the living room and


    interrupted the conversation between the two women. "Chloe, I have something to ask you."


    "If you were to get engaged to Derek now and get married as soon as possible, would you like to start


    a family with him and carry on the family name for our the Xaviers?"


    Mr. Xavier didn''t hold anything back, which was also a test for Chloe. If she didn''t want to make a


    concession for Derek, he might as well choose someone else to be his granddaughter-inw.

 Chapter 188

    Chapter 188


    Chloe just hesitated for a moment, then she smiled and looked at Old Master. "Grandpa Xavier, I do.


    But I still have to respect Derek''s wishes and ideas."


    When Chloe was young, she would directly walk away when confronted with invisible forces like this.


    However, Derek tolerated her unconditionally at that time, so she could find some steel and be wilful.


    But now... She couldn''t be wilful anymore. She would rather make some sacrifices. As long as Derek


    was by her side, she could ept anything.


    Derek obviously didn''t expect Chloe to say that. When Old Master heard this, his face creased up with


    "Wait a minute, grandpa. This is... I don''t agree."


    Derek was anxious. How could this matter be so inexplicably decided? He didn''t like Chloe at all. His


    feelings for her were no longer like the feelings between lovers. How could he be engaged to her?


    When Chloe heard Derek say that, the smile on her face froze. When Violet found out, she quickly held


    her hand. "Derek, Chloe is a woman, and she has agreed to be your wife. Besides, you''ve been in love


    for so long. What are you hesitating about now?"


    Old Master also looked at Derek angrily. He had already got all fixed up for him. Did Derek have to piss


    him off?


    "Engagement is something really important. We can''t be so hasty. For Chloe, I''ve already..."


    Because Chloe herself and some elders in the family were here, Derek was teetering on the edge of


    revealing more information. He didn''t make himself look too indifferent. However, everyone could get


    his implied meaning.


    Chloe''s face blushed immediately. She let go of everything: her dignity, her dreams, and even her


    reservedness. Before they are exclusive, she expressed herself as willing to stay at the man''s ce.


    Sadly, what she got was such a humiliating result.


    She felt extremely embarrassed. This time, even though Violet had tried so hard to appease and


    persuade her to stay, she was unable to sit there any longer. "I''m sorry, auntie, grandpa Xavier. I''d


    better leave first. I''m sorry if I caused you any trouble."


    "Chloe, Chloe!"


    Violet was extremely embarrassed when she saw that Chloe had made up her mind to leave. She


    red at Derek, giving him a sharp look. Her son was always smart. Why did he make such a fool of


    himself over and over again on this matter?


    When Mr. Xavier saw that Chloe couldn''t stand the humiliation and left, he was so angry that he


    knocked on the floor with his walking stick. "Derek, you''re really killing me. Hurry! Get her back!"


    Derek refused decisively. "Grandpa, now that she''s left, I''ll get straight to the point. We are not lovers


    anymore, and I don''t feel that way about her now. For her sake and for everyone''s sake, please stop


    bumbling about it."


    "Okay... Okay... What I did was wrong. You''re always right. There is nothing I can do now. Get out of


    here, get out! Come back only when you agree to marry Chloe!"


    Old Master''s blood-boiling rage made him point at the door and yell at Derek.


    Derek frowned. In fact, he resembled the Old Master in character. Both of them were very opinionated.


    Now, waging a tit-for-tat struggle would only make things worse.


    "Grandpa, I''ll leave and spend the night at thepany. I don''t think I did anything wrong with this. You


    should rest at home. Please don''t do anything harmful to your health. I''m leaving now."


    When Derek''s heart was quieter, he took his coat and went out.


    However, his words not only failed in calming Mr. Xavier down but also made him even angrier. He


    directly hit the walking stick on Derek''s back. "I really can''t do anything about this family. I''m afraid that


    I''m not the decision-maker in this family now!"


    Derek''s footsteps paused. Old Master had been grooming him since he was a child. How could he not


    recognize the disappointment and sadness in Old Master''s words?


    However, he couldn''t allow this mistake to develop. He had to rip the band-aid.


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    "Housekeeper, take good care of grandpa. Call me if you need me."


    Derek strode away as if he didn''t feel the pain in his back.


    Mr. Xavier dropped into the chair, his eyes filled with disappointment. Seeing this, Violet was flustered.


    If Old Master started to consider changing his sessor because of Derek''s rebellious behavior, it


    would kill her.


    "Dad, don''t worry. I''ll make sure hees back to apologize."


    Old Master waved his hand and told Violet to stay away from him. He just wanted to be alone now.


    Violet was also annoyed after she left. She couldn''t understand what was wrong with Derek. How could


    he actually be so disobedient? Just as she was thinking about it, the phone rang. She saw that it was


    Chloe.


    Violet held back her anger. "What''s wrong, Chloe? What happened today was that Derek''s fault. He


    went too far. I will definitely find a chance and ask him to apologize to you."


    "No, it''s not like that, auntie. I just, don''t want you to force Derek to do things he doesn''t want to do. If


    he doesn''t want to get engaged to me, I won''t force him."


    Chloe''s reasonable attitude made Violet feel a little relieved, but at the same time, she started to get


    angry.


    Why didn''t Derek cherish such a good fianc¨¦e?


    "Don''t worry, I''ll definitely make him change his mind. He is just too stubborn and inflexible in dealing


    things."


    After that, they exchanged a few words and hung up.


    Chloe looked at her phone, took a sip of red wine. She felt strong dizziness, but she didn''t care. "Derek,


    you can only be my man... No one else can take you from me."


    ...


    After Derek left the Xaviers''s house, he didn''t have the mood to go to thepany to deal with


    business. He wanted to go to Jameson for a drink but had trouble getting through his phone. Maybe


    Jameson was screwing around somewhere.


    Before Derek knew it, he drove to the suburban vi.


    Seeing this, Derek couldn''t help but frown. Why was he here again?


    He was gonna leave Meredith here alone for a few days, but subconsciously, he came again.


    Derek did not get out of the car. He looked up at Meredith''s room on the second floor. The lights were


    on and the curtains were unclosed. From this angle, he could see a slender figure moving.


    Unknowingly, Derek looked at her for a long time. Although Meredith did not know that someone was


    looking at her, her every move made the man''s tense nerves rx.


    While Derek was in a daze, the security guard noticed that there was another car outside. The noises


    of someoneing out to check disturbed Derek''s thoughts.


    "Mr. Xavier."


    Seeing Derek, the security guards on patrol heaved a great sigh of relief. Because they worried that


    Meredith would run away, they kept a spirit of high tension every day.


    "Yes."


    Derek wasn''t nning to go upstairs. Now that someone had found him, he changed his mind, "I''ll go


    up and take a look."

 Chapter 189

    Chapter 189


    Derek went upstairs and opened the door. Meredith wasbing her hair while thinking about Parker''s


    n. She turned around and saw Derek when she heard the noise. Her eyes shed with panic.


    Meredith quickly held back her flurry and smiled. "Why are you here?"


    Seeing her unnatural expression, Derek narrowed his eyes. "Ie as I wanted. Are you... Are you


    unhappy to see me?"


    Meredith didn''t say anything. Would this man note if she was unhappy?


    "No, how would I be unhappy?"


    Meredith said indifferently. Anyway, she was leaving these days and she suddenly didn''t want to argue


    with Derek tit for tat anymore.


    Maybe they wouldn''t see each other again in the future.


    "What were you thinking just now?" Derek came over and looked at theb he took from Meredith''s


    hand curiously.


    Meredith had just taken a shower, and her hair was still slightly scented after drying. Her hair was very


    soft and hung down loosely, making her slightlyzy and seductive feminine.


    Derek could not help but touch the silky soft hair. His movements were very light and gentle as if it was


    a precious treasure which made Meredith dazed in a moment.


    However, she quickly pinched her fingers to stop herself from being distracted by his transient


    tenderness.


    "Nothing. I was just bored and in a daze."


    Meredith changed the topic quickly. "Didn''t you go home?"


    Derek was upset and didn''t say anything when he thought about what happened at the Xaviers. The


    two of them were then in a strange silence.


    "Has your fever been brought down yet?"


    Derek thought of something and reached out to touch Meredith''s forehead. It seemed to be much


    cooler than just now and she seemed to already recover.


    "I almost recover." Meredith shook her head nonchntly as if she was afraid that Derek would


    remember that terrible cooling method.


    Derek sensed that she was getting nervous. He lowered his head and pinched Meredith''s chin. "Why,


    are you afraid I''ll cool you down physically?"


    Meredith''s face turnedpletely red. She felt that the picture was too beautiful to look straight at


    when she thought of Derek''s method and she gently removed her chin from the man''s hand. "I don''t


    have a fever now and I''m taking my medicine normally. I don''t need you to do that."


    Derek snorted and did not put her on the spot anymore. "I''m tired and I''ll go to sleep."


    He was really a little tired, not only because of the physical fatigue caused by work but also the


    psychological pressure brought by the Old Master. He was forced by him to get married.


    He didn''t want to marry Chloe but Meredith...


    Derek frowned at the thought of the unborn child and became even more upset.


    Seeing that Derek did not seem to do anything to her, Meredith was relieved and did not evade him


    anymore. It would be better for her to make some concessions as he would be angry if she refused him


    all the time.


    Derek turned off the light and held Meredith in his arms. The elegant fragrance of her body made him


    rxed and he felt more and more sleepy. The man finally fell asleep.


    Meredith did not get asleep so easily. She watched the bright room shone by the moonlight showing a


    hazy atmosphere while Derek''s steady and quiet breathing came from behind.


    She couldn''t help but feel confused for a moment. Would they be happy if the moment could freeze


    when they were with each other like this?


    However, it was all just a fantasy of her in the end.


    Meredith turned around and looked at Derek''s sleeping face. Even when the man fell asleep


    defenseless like this, his look was still somewhat fierce and domineering. However, he didn''t show his


    usual arrogance in his be but seemed to be much softer.


    Meredith could not help but reach out to touch him between his eyebrow. Perhaps it was because


    Derek liked to frown, there was a slight furrow between his eyebrows even when he was asleep.


    "Derek... Actually I..."


    Meredith looked down. "I love you but we''re not the same kind of people after all."


    Meredith even felt herself a little bit cheap. Even if she knew that the person Derek really loved couldn''t


    be her and she was just the one that Derek usually killed time with, she still unconsciously fell in love


    with him.


    She was lost in the touching emotion of his repeated protection of her and it could not bepletely


    erased even until now.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    However, she was also very clear that they should end their rtionship here. If she continued to stay


    by Derek''s side, the best result for her was to be his mistress. But she should take the risk of being


    separated from her own child forever.


    Although Meredith had suffered a lot, her dignity did not allow her to be a third party in other


    people''s marriage. The reason was that Wesley once had a mistress before and she looked down on


    this kind of woman.


    Therefore, she could only leave. Even if she did not want to, she could only do so.


    Meredith thought and a trace of sadness shed in her eyes. Perhaps this was her destiny. However,


    she would take good care of their children after she left. She would regard it as a memory of their


    marriage that ended in vain.


    Thinking about this, Meredith closed her eyes nestling in Derek''s arms, and fell asleep double-minded.


    The next morning, sunlight squeezed into the room through the gaps in the curtains, waking the


    sleeping man.


    It was rare for Derek to wake up so early. He moved his arm and found that there was a heavy head on


    it. Meredith''s face was pressed against his arm and she fell asleep quietly. She didn''t show any


    resistant look but dependence on him.


    The man unknowingly eased his movements. Perhaps it was because the atmosphere was too


    beautiful or perhaps it was because they had rarely had such peaceful moments and he could not bear


    to disturb this scene.


    However, Meredith woke up as Derek moved. As a pregnant woman, her abdomen was so heavy that


    she could not sleep soundly.


    Meredith suddenly had eye contact with Derek when she opened her eyes. There was only her figure in


    his dark eyes and it was so bewitching.


    She was stunned for a moment and then realized that she was pressing down on Derek''s arm with a


    blink. "I... I''m sorry I didn''t have a good sleep phase when I fall asleep."


    Meredith''s politeness pulled Derek back from his thoughts. He got up and said, "It''s okay."


    The two of them seemed a little distant again from these few words.


    Derek hurried to thepany after having breakfast with Meredith.


    Meredith watched his back as he left upstairs, feeling a little mncholy in her heart. This would be her


    She would leave this ce tonight ording to Parker''s n and they might not see each other again


    anymore.


    The maid walked into the room and saw Meredith staring nkly at the car Derek got into. She couldn''t


    help shaking her head. It seemed that Miss Mason also cared about the Young Master. Then why


    wouldn''t they settle down and live a happy life together?

 Chapter 190

    Chapter 190


    "Miss Mason, actually, I think the young master still cares about you. You..."


    Meredith was interrupted by her words and turned around to look at her. The maid stopped talking.


    Meredith looked at her and felt a little guilty because the n that Parker had arranged for her was to


    use the maid. Although she felt sorry, for the sake of the child in her belly, it could only be so.


    "Thank you for your caring of me during this time."


    "How could it be?" The maid was ttered and thought that Meredith had a good temper and was so


    polite to everyone.


    ...


    Night fell quickly, and after it waspletely dark, Meredith called the maid in. "I want to have a night


    snack but I don''t have an appetite. You can eat with me."


    Although Meredith lost her freedom here, Derek did not treat her ill in a material aspect. She had all


    kinds of expensive tonics, and the kitchen did not dare to neglect her, always changing the way to cook


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    what she liked.


    The maid wanted to refuse, but seeing that Meredith insisted, she still sat down to eat with her.


    Meredith held the bowl and looked down at her as she ate the contents of the bowl.


    Parker sent her a small bottle of drugs, just a little, it could make people fall asleep, no matter how


    noisy, the person wouldn''t be awakened.


    Sure enough, after she ate a few times, her consciousness gradually faded. When she realized


    something was wrong, she was already lying down on the table, even unable to call for help.


    Meredith helped her to the bed, then changed the clothes on the two of them and covered the sleeping


    woman with a quilt. The two of them were close in size and had long hair, so if not observing her


    carefully, they were difficult to tell apart.


    When things were done, Meredith looked at her guiltily. "I''m sorry, but I can''t help it."


    After saying that, she changed into the maid''s clothes, found a mask to put on, and then walked out


    with a bowl and chopsticks.


    Meredith''s floors were usually empty, and no one dared to disturb her, so the journey was exceptionally


    smooth.


    However, someone stopped her when she was about to walk out the door.


    "You''re going out in the middle of the night? And why are you wearing a mask?"


    Meredith almost broke out in a cold sweat, but she still exined as she had ned, "I have a cold. I''m


    afraid it will infect Miss Mason."


    After that, the security guard did not suspect and let Meredith out. She took a long breath and hurried


    out to find the location of the car that she sawst time in the garden.


    Sure enough, a ck car was already parked there, and it was hard to see in the dark.


    Meredith walked over. Parker, who had been waiting for a long time, got out of the car with excitement.


    He took off the railing that had been destroyed in advance, carefully held Meredith and pulled her out.


    "You''re not hurt, are you?"


    Parker held Meredith in his arms and felt the warmth of this long-lost body. There was a joy in his heart


    that the treasure had been lost and regained.


    He was so afraid that he would never see her again...


    "It''s okay. Let''s go." Meredith wanted to push Parker away, but the man''s hands were strong and he


    held her tightly. She couldn''t make it. After thinking about it, maybe he was too excited because she


    managed to escape, so she didn''t resist and got into the car.


    Meredith patted her chest and calmed her messy heartbeat. Although the journey was smooth, she


    was still a little worried. Fortunately, she seeded.


    "I''ll take you back first. Don''t be afraid. I won''t let Derek hurt you again, even if it''s a little bit."


    Parker looked at Meredith''s face, which was obviously thinner than before, and his heart ached.


    "Thank you... Parker, if it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have known how to escape."


    Meredith buckled up, then Parker started the car. Meredith opened the window, and took ast look at


    the ce that had been living for half a month. This should be thest look. Goodbye, Derek!


    The cage in front of her was getting farther and farther away, and Meredith was not as happy as she


    had imagined. She touched her bulging abdomen and thought in heart, maybe from now on, her baby


    would never see her father again, but she had no other choice.


    Parker''s car was speeding along the road. After a while, a car came in front of them, and the bright


    lights flickered in their eyes.


    Only then did Meredith saw that it was Derek''s car, her heart immediately tightened. "It''s Derek."


    Naturally, Parker wouldn''t miss it. He nced at Meredith and said, "Don''t be afraid. I won''t let him take


    you away."


    Meredith nodded, holding the corner of the shirt in her hand, afraid that Derek would notice them.


    Because there was too little traffic here, usually no one woulde to such a remote ce.


    She hoped it wouldn''t attract Derek''s attention.


    Derek did notice the ck car, but because he had just been urged by the Xaviers to reprimand the


    engagement, the man was in no mood to think too much.


    For some reason, he only wanted to see that woman when he was upset. Although she sometimes


    made his teeth itch with hatred, she was the one who could calm him down the most.


    The two cars brushed past each other peacefully. Derek didn''t notice anything. Meredith watched the


    car drive further and further away, her eyes dimming.


    Perhaps, it was like the rtionship between the two of them, intertwined, but only temporary. They


    would be separated from each other finally and no longer rted.


    ...


    Derek went to the vi and went straight to Meredith''s room. He wanted to see the woman, hold her


    soft body, and calm down.


    When he went upstairs and saw the woman sleeping, Derek stepped lightly and walked over, only to


    find that something was wrong.


    He immediately pulled the woman''s long hair aside to reveal the woman''s side face. She was not


    Meredith at all, but the maid?


    Derek clenched his fists and pushed the woman, but she did not respond. His anger soared and he


    strode out. "Where is Meredith?"


    Everyone looked at each other. "Isn''t Miss Mason inside?"


    Derek only thought that these people were trash. "The person inside is not her at all!"


    A few people went in to check it out, only to find she was really not Meredith. They were all in a panic.


    No one knew when and where Meredith ran, and everyone was confused.


    "Meredith..."


    Derek clenched the phone in his hand. He had just called Damian to keep an eye on Meredith, but she


    didn''t have anymunication tools on her. Even if he wanted to locate her, he was just looking for a


    needle in a haystack.


    After a while, the maid was forced to wake up. Only then did she realize that she was wearing


    Meredith''s clothes. She panicked and quickly told him what had just happened.


    "Good, very good."


    Derek nced at the drugged snack and swept everything to the ground.

 Chapter 191

    Chapter 191


    Derek was gloomy. No one dared to speak. He was more terrifying when he kept silent than lose


    temper.


    "If you can''t find her, you will all be punished."


    Derek looked at them coldly. He was disappointed that they couldn''t even watch out for a pregnant


    woman.


    ...


    Parker took Meredith to a hidden ce.


    "You can rest here for a few days. When everything is arranged, I will take you out of here."


    Parker still needed some time to make arrangements to take Meredith away.


    "I know."


    Meredith nodded. "Thank you, Parker. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t know what to do now."


    "Why are you being polite to me? It''s what I should do."


    Meredith felt even more guilty when she heard this. Although she didn''t understand what these people


    were doing in the mall, in the end, Parker took unnecessary risks for her and might be retaliated by


    Derek. His sacrifice made her feel a little stressed.


    Seeing this, Parker reached out and pulled Meredith into his arms. "You don''t have to feel guilty. I''m


    willing to do this."


    He thought, "I owe you, too." Parker didn''t say that to Meredith. He ned to keep this secret from her


    for the rest of his life.


    Meredith was startled by the sudden hug and immediately pushed Parker away. However, sensing that


    the action was hurtful, she lowered her head and said, "I''m sorry. I''m... a little tired. I want to rest first."


    Meredith could also sense that Parker still seemed to have some affection for her, but in the end, she


    didn''t want to drag him down into trouble when she was pregnant with someone else''s child.


    What''s more... Meredith thought of Derek''s face that was extremely charming and attractive. After all,


    she was still not so confident of herself for being able to forget him immediately.


    Parker was pushed away by her, feeling a little depressed, but he quickly collected himself. "Since


    you''re tired, go rest first. I''ll go out to deal with things. Don''t run around. If you need anything, call me."


    Parker asked someone to buy Meredith a brand new phone and put it in her hand. Meredith nodded. "I


    see. You can go out and deal with them. I''m fine. I don''t need anyone to apany me all the time."


    Parker nodded. Although he really wanted to stay with Meredith, the situation wasplicated now. He


    had to take her out as soon as possible, instead of taking risks by staying in Derek''s territory.


    After Parker left, Meredith sat down on the bed and stared at her phone in a daze.


    She wondered if Derek was looking for her everywhere. Would he be angry at her for leaving without


    saying goodbye?


    Her mind was in a mess, and there was a knock on the door outside.


    Meredith immediately became vignt and walked over, looking through the peephole to check who


    was outside the door. It turned out to be a woman, not Parker.


    Her heart was beating so fast that she didn''t dare to make a sound. She held her breath and waited for


    the woman outside to leave.


    This woman may have bad intentions. She must not expose herself.


    Jenny frowned when she heard that there was no movement inside. Her beautiful face showed some


    traces of impatience. She had just found Parker''s confidant and asked where Meredith was.


    "I''m a friend of Parker''s. I''m here to talk to you about something very important."


    Meredith hesitated when she heard Parker''s name. If she was an outsider, she probably didn''t know


    she was here, so she opened the door and let her in.


    Jenny walked into the room and looked at Meredith with her charming eyes. Her eyes made Meredith


    ufortable and her aggressiveness was a little too obvious.


    Jenny didn''t have the slightest intention of restraining herself. When she saw Meredith''s abdomen, her


    breathing stopped for a moment, thinking, "She is pregnant?


    Could it be Parker''s?"


    Jenny clenched her fists. She didn''t believe that Parker was with such a weak, useless woman and


    even had a child with her. How could she be reconciled to ept such a reality?


    "Are you a friend of Parker''s?"


    Meredith felt ufortable looking at her and even regretted not calling Parker to confirm before


    letting her in.


    Jenny''s wild thinking was then interrupted. She nced at Meredith and said with some protest, "To be


    exact, I''m not his friend. I''m his woman."


    Meredith was stunned and looked at Jenny. She was very beautiful. Unlike the other beauties she had


    seen, she looked like a mixed-race. She was very aggressively beautiful and had a mature charm in


    her every move. She looked like someone who had a lot of experiences in life.


    Jenny frowned when she saw that Meredith had no reaction. She thought, "What happened to this


    woman? She now knows that I am Parker''s woman, but she didn''t react. Is she mad with anger?"


    "Well, it''s a pleasure to meet you."


    Meredith smiled, reached out her hand, and made a gesture to shake Jenny''s hand.


    Jenny was at aplete loss as to whether this woman was pretending to be innocent, or whether she


    was really crazy.


    When other women came to visit her at the time of her pregnancy, she was not even angry. Shouldn''t


    she have jumped on her and hit her?


    "Aren''t you angry?"


    "Why should I be angry?" Meredith said inexplicably and understood why she was so hostile to her just


    now. "Oh, I see. You misunderstood. Parker and I are not lovers. I am just friends with him. When I was


    in danger, he came to help me. Don''t worry. When I leave H Country, I won''t bother him again."


    Meredith said, feeling very embarrassed in her heart. It turned out that Jenny was treating herself as a


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    mistress who had ruined her rtionship with Parker. So Jenny came to question her. She felt really


    wronged.


    "What?" Jenny didn''t expect Meredith to have such an attitude. She looked into Meredith''s eyes, trying


    to find guilt in her eyes, but she didn''t...


    Even if she could see what many people were thinking at a nce, Jenny still could not see the


    slightest bit of love for Parker in her eyes.


    "Then the baby in your stomach..."


    Meredith originally thought it was a private matter, but after Parker helped her, she couldn''t hide the


    truth and cause misunderstandings between him and his girlfriend. So she shook her head. "It''s not his


    baby. It''s... my ex-husband''s."


    Jenny finally felt relieved. She didn''t expect that everything was different from what she thought. It


    seemed that Meredith really didn''t have any thoughts about Parker. "My name is Jenny. Originally, I


    wanted to see what kind of person you are, but things turned out to be quite unexpected."


    Meredith smiled. She didn''t expect Parker to have a girlfriend. However, since Jenny was so beautiful,


    it was normal for them to be together. She would remember to keep a good distance from Parker in the


    future.

 Chapter 192

    Chapter 192


    After Jenny knew that Meredith did not like Parker, Jenny''s attitude was much better. After a few words


    of small talk, she was about to leave.


    However, as soon as she walked out of Meredith''s house, the smile on Jenny''s face disappeared and


    she looked thoughtful.


    After having the conversation, she could tell that Meredith was not lying. She really did not like Parker,


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    but... Parker''s feelings for her were serious.


    Jenny hesitated for a moment, and just then, a phone call came in. It was Parker''s assistant. "Sister


    Jenny, Derek is looking for Meredith''s whereabouts everywhere. I''m afraid he''ll go to find Mr. Hill soon."


    After all, Jenny was the partner of Parker, and many of Parker''s men treated her as another master, so


    they wouldmunicate with her whenever there was anything inconvenient to talk to Parker.


    Jenny''s eyes darkened. Sure enough, Derek came very quickly.


    "I see. I''ll deal with this."


    Then she looked back at Meredith''s house. Parker had indeed wronged her, but she did not allow him


    to use his future to make up for it.


    Since Parker couldn''t bear it, she was willing to be the bad guy.


    ...


    In the Xavier Group.


    In Derek''s office.


    The cold and oppressive atmosphere covered the whole space. There was no extra expression on


    Derek''s face, only a bone-chilling coldness and anger in his eyes.


    Now, almost a day had passed since Meredith had escaped from him. Since she had nothing on her,


    he could only search everywhere like looking for a needle in a haystack, and the clues were still very


    vague.


    The man looked at the document in his hand, but didn''t read a word. Damian walked in and said,


    "Boss, we''re already looking into it, but we still need to wait for the details."


    Derek stood up immediately. Wait? He didn''t have the patience anymore. Now he just wanted to find


    out the woman who dared to y tricks to escape and give her a good lesson.


    "Keep looking. Go to find Parker with me."


    Derek narrowed his eyes. The child in Meredith''s belly was Parker''s. After thinking about it, he felt that


    she was most likely to be at his ce. If he didn''t hurry up, perhaps the two of them would already


    leave together.


    "Yes." Damian looked at the cold Derek who exuded a murderous aura and swallowed a mouthful of


    water. It had been a long time since he had seen such a side of his boss. He was afraid Parker would


    suffer a lot!


    ...


    Parker did suffer a lot. If Meredith wanted to leave, she had to apply for a visa and so on. Normally, he


    could easily handle these for her. But now, Derek gave a strict order and everyone''s departure


    information needed to be checked very strictly.


    In that case, Parker really did not dare to act rashly. After all, in the J City, he did not have the ability to


    confront Derek.


    Just as he was thinking about how to solve the problem as soon as possible and avoid any future


    trouble, the secretary came in hastily. "Bad news, president, Mr. Xavier from the Xavier Group is here."


    Parker broke the pen in his hand suddenly. Naturally, he had expected Derek toe over, but he


    didn''t expect it to be so soon. Derek was more impatient than he had thought.


    After all, it wasn''t a small matter for Derek toe to him, which meant that Derek was nning on


    falling out with him.


    Just as he was thinking, Derek had already barged in. Parker''s men stopped him, but Derek didn''t care


    at all. It was as if he wasing to a ce with nobody there.


    Parker looked at Derek''s calm but turbulent expression and stood up as if nothing had happened.


    "Long time no see, Mr. Xavier. Why are you looking for me here? What''s the matter?"


    Derek curled his lips. "I didn''t expect Mr. Hill to be good at acting, but I''m too busy to y this boring


    game with you. Where''s Meredith? Take her out."


    Parker''s face turned gloomy in an instant. He was really fed up with Derek''s arrogance. It was as if


    everything was under Derek''s control and Derek didn''t care about him at all.


    "I''m sorry, I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    Parker pretended not to understand what he said, which made Derek''s anger explode. Derek stepped


    closer and said, "Parker, no, it should be... Xavier Parker? Do you think that if you change your name,


    no one will know your past? You''re just an illegitimate child born by a woman who interferes with other


    people''s marriage. How dare you... talk to me like this?"


    Every word of Derek was as cold and sharp as a knife. The sarcasm and disdain in his words made


    Parker furious.


    "What about you? Derek, you have your pride and arrogance only because of the Xaviers. What do you


    think will happen if you lose the support of the Xaviers? Meredith is indeed with me now. She was


    willing to leave with me. If you are a man, don''t make things difficult for a weak woman."


    "Isn''t it bad enough for your the Xaviers to hurt her in court and prison?"


    Parker clenched his fists and looked into Derek''s eyes. The atmosphere between them was tense and


    anxious. It was as dangerous as a barrel of gunpowder that might be ignited at any time.


    "That''s my business. I''m questioning you. Will you hand Meredith over now?"


    Derek heard him talk about the thing of prison and frowned, but he didn''t intend to give up. It was


    impossible for Parker to take Meredith away.


    "I won''t give her to you in case that you will continue to hurt her."


    After hearing what Parker said, Derek was extremely furious andughed. "Okay, remember what you


    said."


    Now that Parker turned down his request, Derek didn''t have to save face for him.


    "Although Mr. Hill has been working hard in recent years to get rid of those stains on you, but...


    anything you did will leave a mark."


    Derek took out an USB sh disk from his pocket and threw it on Parker''s desk with a sneer. "Do you


    want to see what''s in it? I''m sure it''ll bring back a lot of memories."


    Parker''s face changed. He didn''t expect Derek to act so fast. It was less than a day, but he had


    already...


    "Don''t worry, this is just part of it. I have more in my hands. I''ll give you 24 hours to think about whether


    to hand over Meredith and let me make it easy on you, or you want tp let the disgraceful things you''ve


    done in the past go public and ruin the foundation you''ve worked so hard to build? I look forward to


    your choice."


    With that said, Derek let go of his hand, took out a handkerchief from his arms, wiped the fingers that


    had just grabbed Parker''s cor, and then threw it down lightly.


    When doing so, he did not say a word, but the contempt was so obvious that it was as if Parker was


    some disgusting filth.


    Parker clenched his fists. Derek could always provoke him in the simplest way.

 Chapter 193

    Chapter 193


    Derek looked back at Parker with his eyes telling Parker that thetter didn''t dare to do anything.


    Parker''s eyes turned red, and in an instant, he thought of all the things that had happened to him in the


    past. He was about to rush up with his fist clenched when the door was suddenly opened. It was Jenny;


    she saw the scene and held Parker down immediately.


    "Calm down, Parker."


    If he hit Derek here, he would get in huge trouble.


    Parker was held down by Jenny, calmed down, and took a few breaths. Derek sneered as ifughing at


    Parker''s ipetence and then walked out.


    "What''s going on?" Jenny watched Derek leave and said, "What did he say?"


    With Derek''s personality, he must havee here in person for some purposes, and he must have


    done something to make Parker lose his temper.


    "He sent that thing." Parker had always been frank to Jenny. He pointed at the sh drive on the table


    and looked sullenly.


    Jenny frowned and walked over to plug the sh drive into theputer; her face took on a ghastly


    expression after she had scanned the contents in it.


    There wasn''t much content in it, but all of it was deadly. When Parker started to develop his career, he


    took a few short cuts in the gray area. Now, he was finally about to whitewash his past; if the things he


    had done were exposed, his previous efforts would be in vain!


    "How did he find out about these things..." Jenny was shocked and terrified. She thought that although


    there was a gap between Parker and Derek, the gap was not thatrge; it turned out that the Xaviers


    was much more powerful than she thought.


    She could never let Parker act impulsively and destroy himself and everything he had.


    "Parker... Is that woman that important to you?"


    Jenny couldn''t help but ask.


    "I owe her. I have to pay the price. Jenny, I''ll take care of this myself. You should leave and don''t get


    involved."


    Parker said firmly without hesitation. Now, he could only prepare for the worst; he didn''t care if he


    needed to fight Derek to death, but he could not allow Meredith to be taken away by another man while


    he himself was again helpless.


    Jenny clenched her fist and her long nails cut through her palms. She was moved by the fact that


    Parker still cared about her under the circumstances, and she was more certain that she would not let


    Parker act impulsively.


    Although Jenny knew it was unfair to Meredith, she could not watch the man she loved to bring


    destruction on himself.


    Not long after, the assistant ran in and said there was about to have a meeting. After Parker left, Jenny


    left as well. Instead of following Parker''s instruction to go abroad as soon as possible, she went to


    Xavier Group.


    "I want to see your president. I have news of Meredith."


    Jenny only said that to the front desk, and soon she was invited upstairs.


    Derek stood by the window and looked down at the busy street when Jenny knocked on the door and


    walked in, "Mr. Xavier, I have news about Meredith."


    Derek looked back and didn''t seem surprised to see her, "Go ahead."


    "Before I say anything, I hope you can promise me that once you know her whereabouts, don''t delve


    into Parker''s past anymore and let him off."


    "Why do you think you can negotiate with me?"


    Derek hated being threatened the most in his life, and this woman didn''t seem to know who was in


    charge.


    "I know where Meredith is. It''s not a big deal for me to kill her if I want. Parker has feelings for her, but I


    don''t. I can''t wait for her to disappear..."


    Jenny said calmly, but her words were the exact opposite of her beautiful appearance.


    Anger grew in Derek''s eyes. He already knew the rtionship between Parker and the woman in front


    of him. This woman was not simple; she had worked for a lot of mob bosses and was always able to


    get away with it.


    She was indeed able to do what she had just said.


    Derek hesitated for a moment, "Okay, I agree."


    Jenny rxed a little from her tense mood. She was actually gambling on whether Derek really cared


    about Meredith and wanted her back or he just wanted to seek revenge.


    Now it seemed that he was notpletely hating Meredith. Knowing this, Jenny felt less guilty.


    "This is the ce Parker arranged for her. You''d better find her as soon as possible. Otherwise, she


    might be sent abroad in a few days."


    Derek took the paper and didn''t speak again. Jenny didn''t want to stay here, so she left directly.


    Derek looked at the address on the paper, a flicker of rage in his cold eyes.


    "Meredith, you can''t escape from me after all." He thought to himself.


    ......


    Meredith had been hiding in Parker''s house ever since she escaped. She didn''t know what was going


    on outside, so she could only wait anxiously. However, she had been feeling flustered and having a bad


    feeling since just now.


    Just as she was thinking, there was a knock on the door.


    It was alreadyte at night, and Meredith was on tenterhooks all of a sudden. She walked over gently


    and asked, "Who is it? Parker, is that you?"


    Derek turned gloomier when he heard that name. It was sote, and Meredith was still waiting for


    Parker, how soulful she was!


    "Have you forgotten my voice?" Derek said coldly, and his eyes were filled with anger.


    Meredith''s eyes widened. Although she knew Derek would definitely find her, how could he be so fast?


    She immediately took out her cell phone and called Parker, but she still couldn''t reach him out of


    several attempts.


    What exactly happened?


    "What did you... do to him?"


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Fear surged in Meredith. Did something happen to Parker because of her? In that case, she would feel


    guilty for the rest of her life.


    Hearing that Meredith was still thinking about the other man, Derek almost lost his patience. "What do


    you think I would do to him? Do you run away over and over again just for this kind of man? You really


    have a bad taste."


    Meredith clenched her fists and felt a sharp pain that wakened her, but she was helpless. She ran to


    the window and found that there were people outside who had blocked all the way; even if she had


    wings, she had no way out.


    How... could this be?


    Meredith felt like she was a prey that was cornered, and Derek was the hunter.


    Seeing that Meredith was not willing topromise, Derek''s smile became even colder, "Do you think


    everything will be fine if you run away? Don''t you want to know where your mother is? Can you rest


    assured that I won''t be angry at her for all your actions?"


    Derek''s words, like a thunderbolt, made Meredith speechless. She did not expect him to threaten her


    with her mother.

 Chapter 194

    Chapter 194


    "Derek, are you crazy? My mother..."


    Meredith felt a pang of guilt at the thought that her mother, who was still in bed, had be a thorn in


    the eye of so many people because of her.


    As a daughter, she went to prison at an early age. Not only did she fail to fulfill her filial piety, but also


    got her mother into trouble again and again...


    Meredith suddenly felt that she was being too superfluous. Her existence never seemed to bring


    anyone anything good.


    "Meredith, I advise you not to think about calling Parker or expecting him to save you. Now that his


    Derek''s indifferent voice came, lingering in Meredith''s ear like a spell, and made her heart sink again.


    Parker''spany''s stock price plummeted? Meredith couldn''t believe it. She immediately checked the


    information about Parker''spany on her cell phone. As expected, the inte was full of all kinds of


    negative news and it seemed that thepany was about to copse.


    No wonder he didn''t answer the phone. It turned out he was in trouble, and it was all because of her?


    "You did it?"


    Meredith looked at the still tightly closed door, her voice trembling with disbelief and anger.


    Derek didn''t answer her directly. "I''ll give you five minutes. Come out on your own. Otherwise, I will let


    Parker suffer from more misery, which will be worse than his current trouble."


    Derek didn''t need to be lenient with Parker. If he got rid of Parker, he would vent his mother''s anger.


    Meredith clenched her fingers so hard that her knuckles were all white. Meredith was biting her lower


    lip so hard and she didn''t realize it was bleeding.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    How could Derek be so despicable that he even threatened her with people close to her whom she


    cared about?


    However, thinking of her mother and Parker getting involved in trouble and suffered because of her,


    Meredith felt her psychological pressure was so strong that she would almost copse.


    "I''m sorry. I''m sorry... It''s all my fault..."


    Derek looked at his watch patiently. He had no doubt that Meredith woulde out. "You have one


    minute left to think about it."


    As soon as he finished the words, the door was opened with a swish from inside and Meredith walked


    out expressionlessly. "I''ll go with you. Don''t hurt them anymore."


    Since she was powerless to resist, perhaps it was better for her to calm Derek''s anger as soon as


    possible so that there would be fewer people getting into trouble.


    "Well, you finally figure it out, don''t you?" Derek looked at Meredith''s expressionless face but felt not so


    easy to ept it as he had thought.


    She had such a grim face without expression when seeing him. Was she so unwilling to leave Parker?


    Thinking about it, the man suddenly had an idea. "It''s OK if you want me to let Parker off the hook. But


    you have to call him and personally tell him about this!"


    Derek said word by word. He just wanted to make Parker understand that no matter it was in the past


    or now, Parker, an illegitimate child that could never be exposed in public, should never n to take


    away what he Derek wanted!


    Parker was not qualified to be mentioned in the same breath with him.


    Meredith nced at Derek, her eyes full of things that the man could not understand.


    This was the first time that Meredith had found out that Derek was so cruel that he would extinguish all


    your hopes and let you fall into despair before he would stop.


    "Derek, I''ll go back with you. I won''t run anymore. Can you not..."


    Meredith understood that Parker would definitely be irritated when he received her call. If he did


    something because of this, she would regret it for the rest of her life.


    "Meredith, I''m not discussing it with you. I''m informing you. If you don''t want to, I can let him try the


    taste of losing everything now."


    Derek looked at her angry expression, and the anger in his heart became even stronger. He wanted to


    break the only connection between these two people. He wanted to make sure that Meredith dared not


    to get involved with Parker for the rest of her life.


    Meredith clenched her phone and the news that she had just seen shed through her mind. Parker''s


    situation was very bad now. If Xavier Group suppressed hispany again, it would not be long before


    hispany copsed.


    "OK."


    Meredith lowered her eyes. Derek took out his phone and called Parker.


    When Jenny saw that it was Derek''s call, she went and got Parker who had been busy with meetings.


    Just now, when she saw Meredith''s call, she thought that the woman was calling for help, so she just


    muted the phone. Parker didn''t have the energy to help other women now.


    Did Derek''s call indicate that things had already been resolved?


    Jenny passed the phone to Parker. Parker rubbed his temple and saw Derek''s name on the screen. He


    then answered the phone.


    "What''s going on? Mr. Xavier, why are you calling?"


    "It''s me." Meredith''s voice came, and the aura that Parker had just forced up copsed in an instant.


    This was clearly Derek''s number. Why was there Meredith''s voice? She had already been found out?


    How could it be so fast!


    Countless thoughts shed through Parker''s mind, and he immediately stood up. "Meredith, where are


    you? Don''t worry. I''m going to save you now!"


    Hearing Parker''s words, Meredith was so moved that she wanted to cry. It was because of her that he


    had suffered from so much trouble for nothing, but he still supported her like this without any hesitation.


    She would remember this kindness.


    Therefore, she could no longer get him involved because of her.


    "Parker, I''m sorry. I''m dragging you down. You don''t have to look for me. I''m fine..."


    Meredith said word for word and Derek''s looking at her back made her feel like a thorn pricking her


    back. Therefore, she did not dare to say what he didn''t allow her to say and could only try to make this


    matter clear.


    "Don''t worry about me. Nothing will happen to me. Take care of yourpany."


    "Meredith, where are you? Don''t listen to him. I''m fine. Tell me your address quickly!"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s eyes glistening with tears and felt a little more agitated. It seemed like he


    was the viin in those boring romantic TV series and was breaking up a couple of lovers.


    This feeling was terrible.


    "Meredith, you should finish the call." Derek urged in a cold voice and Meredith bit her lower lip hard.


    "Parker, take care. Goodbye."


    After that, she hung up.


    Parker yelled at the disconnected phone in vain, but Meredith couldn''t hear him.


    He seemed to have lost his soul and sat directly in the chair. His eyes lost their luster.


    Once again, he watched Meredith being taken away from him by Derek. He had never seeded in


    protecting her!


    "Damn it!"


    Parker was suddenly annoyed. Derek did it on purpose. He deliberately let Meredith call him, which


    disturbed his heart and extinguished thest hope in Meredith''s heart.


    How could this man be so arrogant and cruel?

 Chapter 195

    Chapter 195


    Parker was about to rush out with his phone in his hand. He couldn''t help do it. Even if he would offend


    Derek openly, he couldn''t let him take Meredith away again.


    He promised to protect the poor girl from being bullied for the rest of her life.


    When Jenny saw Parker lose his reason, she rushed up and hugged his waist, "Parker, calm down!"


    "You can''t go. In the current state of thepany, everything will copse if you are not there. The


    child in Meredith''s womb is not yours. Are you going to risk everything you own for someone else''s


    woman and child?"


    Parker paused when he heard this. How did Jenny know that the child in Meredith''s womb was not his?


    He remembered that he had never told Jenny anything about Meredith.


    When Parker thought that Derek had tracked that location abnormally fast, a bold idea urred to him.


    Parker grabbed Jenny''s hand to pull her away, and grabbed her by her shoulders.


    "Did you say that? Did you contact Derek?"


    Jenny didn''t intend to keep it a secret for long. With Parker''s ability, he would know it sooner orter.


    Therefore, she was fearless and looked into his eyes, "I did it. I can''t watch you do this for her. I can''t


    watch you destroy yourself."


    "You..." Parker suddenly didn''t know what to say. It could be said that Jenny was his benefactor and the


    person he trusted most in the world, but she betrayed him like this.


    "You betray me?"


    "I don''t. Parker, I will never betray you. For my sake, please don''t go... Don''t go..."


    It was rare for Jenny to show her fragility. She was really afraid that Parker would do something stupid


    on impulse, and she would lose him forever.


    "Jenny, I''m... disappointed in you." Parker shook off Jenny''s hands and said, "I''ll get someone to send


    you abroad."


    Parker no longer looked into Jenny''s eyes as he did not want to see the attachment in her eyes to him.


    Parker didn''t have that kind of feeling between a man and a woman for her but only felt grateful to her


    and respected her.


    Now, even if she revealed Meredith''s whereabouts and betrayed him, he couldn''t do anything to her but


    only isted her from himself.


    Jenny didn''t expect Parker to drive her away so decisively. Was he doing this for the woman who was


    carrying someone else''s child?


    She smiled, but her smile was uglier than a cry. There was a sh of determination in her eyes. After


    Parker pushed her away, she took out a knife from her bosom andid it upon her neck, "Parker, if you


    insist on going, kill me first, and step on and over my body."


    Parker looked at her in disbelief. Jenny was not joking. Seeing that he did not stop her immediately,


    she stabbed the knife into her skin and a stream of red blood flowed down, so dazzling.


    "Jenny... Do you have to do this?"


    Jenny looked at him. She knew well that this would only further alienate him from her, but she... had no


    choice.


    ...


    After Meredith hung up the phone, she was so hopeless. She returned the phone to Derek and then


    said without looking at him, "Let''s go. I''ll go back with you."


    Meredith''s attitude made Derek very unhappy, "How can you treat me so badly?"


    "What else do you expect me to do to you? Do you want me to smile brightly at you after you


    threatened me with my family and friends?" Meredith took a deep breath. She turned around to see


    Derek.


    The love she once had for this man had been spoiled by him gradually. Anyway, she was just a


    ything for him.


    Derek was upset by her look, and he was not in the mood to pay attention to her, "Anyway, remember


    that I don''t take you back to see you pull a long face. Don''t forget your status!"


    Hearing his words, Meredith wanted tough at herself as she used to be so innocent and naive that


    she had really thought that Derek loved her for a moment.


    Now, the man seemed to be mocking her for being self-sentimental with his explicit words. He asked


    her to remember her status. Perhaps he was trying to remind her of her status as a ything and a


    lover who should be on call at any hour and could be abandoned as his wish.


    "Okay, I got it."


    Meredith suddenly smiled. Instead of saying anything to upset Derek, she forced a smile and followed


    Derek into the car.


    Derek looked at the smile on her face through the rearview mirror, but he was in a worse mood.


    Meredith''s smile was not sincere at all and her perfunctory expression made him upset.


    However, Derek did not want to pester her anymore. He drove her back to where she had been.


    "You are guarded by the same people. If you don''t want to bring them into trouble, you''d better not


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    challenge my patience again."


    Derek left after leaving her there. Although Meredith did not argue with him anymore and remained


    quiet all the way, he suddenly felt that it was better to let her argue with him than to face such a strange


    woman. At least, he could understand what this woman was thinking.


    Now, Meredith was like a puppet. Although she had a beautiful smile on her face, she shut Derek out of


    her life and didn''t allow anyone in her inner world.


    Meredith nced at the people who were guarding her. No one dared to look at her directly and they


    looked nervous.


    When the maid who passed out after being drugged by Meredith saw her, the maid''s eyes turned red,


    "Miss Mason, I''m sorry but you can only stay in the room in the future. We really can''t stand the young


    master''s anger."


    Meredith opened her mouth, feeling guilty about her, "I''m sorry, I... really didn''t mean it."


    After hearing Meredith''s apology, the maid did not respond. Meredith''s eyes darkened. What she said


    even amused herself. She did hurt another person, and there was no use in quibbling. They were right


    to resent her.


    Perhaps she was such a person that no one could really trust her and she was not worthy of being


    trusted.


    "Although you may no longer trust me, I will not run away again."


    After that, Meredith went back to her room and locked the door.


    She was lying in bed. When she closed her eyes, there was only infinite bitterness in her heart.


    Right now, she was just a pet of Derek in a cage. She could not run away and even thinking about it


    would implicate the people around her.


    She was such a encumbrance..


    As Meredith thought about it, she felt a surge of pain in her heart. She could not help but caress her


    belly and begin to cry. She was still not as carefree as she thought.


    "Baby, tell mommy what I should do."

 Chapter 196

    Chapter 196


    After knowing Parker''s film had an ident, Asher had a sinister foreboding.


    It happened too suddenly. Could it be...that Derek had found out something? Did their n seed?


    Asher immediately contacted Parker.


    But Parker was sunk in sleep. Jenny was sitting by his bedside and gently fondled his face. The


    infatuation to Parker shown in her eyes was even morbid.


    After stopping Parker from going for Meredith, she even used the knockout drops to make him fall


    asleep.


    Only in this way could she feel at ease, and only in this way could she protect the foundation which


    they had worked so hard to build together.


    Asher called Parker. She picked it up. After hearing Asher speak, she curled up her lips, "Sir, I don''t


    know who you are. I know you indulge in your wishful thinking of hiding behind Parker to deal with


    Meredith. I must tell you now that Meredith was brought back by Derek. We won''t be involved in your


    affairs anymore. Don''t disturb Parker from now on."


    After saying that, Jenny hung up the phone.


    Asher was so angry that he even wanted to smash his phone. He originally wanted Parker to take


    Meredith away, so Chloe and Derek could have a bright future. But it failed again...


    Had that woman been so important to Derek?


    Chloe came out of the bathroom and saw Asher look so bad. She frowned, "What''s wrong, Asher? Is


    that...not going well?"


    Asher had told Chloe about it in order to appease her. Now, seeing that things were not going well, her


    face darkened. She covered her chest with her hands and breathed heavily to calm her down.


    She couldn''t be angry. Maybe it was because of her mental illness. Now, as long as she felt angry or


    too fevered, she would feel ufortable.


    "Asher, I''ll deal with this. Don''t take up the matter yourself, or mutual disagreement will be produced


    between you and Derek."


    Chloe calmed down. Asher was Derek''s best friend and was very helpful to her. If they broke off


    because of Meredith, it would be even harder for her to stay with Derek in the future.


    So instead of asking Asher to do anything for her, Chloe called Violet.


    Violet was taking care of her skin in a beauty parlour. She answered the phone, "Chloe, what''s wrong?


    I''m in a beauty parlour now. Do you want toe here now?"


    "Auntie, I''m sorry to bother you. There''s something I don''t know if I should tell you or not, but...I''m really


    worried."


    Chloe''s voice sounded so pitiful, which made Violet on the alert immediately, "What happened?"


    "I...I think I have seen Meredith. Derek didn''t send her away, but...let her stay in J City, somewhere we


    don''t know. Maybe he really loves her. If that''s the case, I''m willing to..."


    As Chloe spoke, she began to cry. It sounded that she was really a spoony woman who had to give up


    and fulfill the man she loved.


    "What?" When Violet heard this, she was in no mood. Derek didn''t send Meredith away but hid her.


    Was he crazy?


    "Are you sure you saw it right?"


    Violet took a deep breath and tried to calm down.


    "No. I can remember it correctly. Besides, they seem to live in the vi that the Xaviers leaves unused


    at ordinary times."


    Hearing Chloe was so sure about it, Violet did not suspect anything. She pinched her fingers, "Chloe,


    don''t worried about it. I''ll give you a satisfactory answer."


    After saying that, Violet quickly left. All she wanted to do was find Derek and force him to solve the


    problem.


    ...


    Derek came to thepany and continued his daily work. However, the people under him were acutely


    aware that the boss''s mood was still bad.


    Therefore, the huge Xavier Group was still shrouded in a repressive atmosphere.


    When Violet came over, Derek was in a meeting. She didn''t hesitate and directly asked them to stop.


    Derek frowned, but still followed Violet back to the office, "Mom, what''s going on? What happened?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Violet pped him.


    Derek couldn''t dodge, so her hand hit right on his face. Violet breathed heavily. This was the first time


    she had hit Derek, even in this way which could make him feel humiliated.


    Derek always made her free from worry since he was a little boy. But the way he treated Meredith really


    let her down.


    "Derek, you disappoint me too much." Violet''s hands trembled, "Why don''t you kick Meredith out? You


    are not willing to get engaged to Chloe. Is it also because of her?"


    Derek frowned. He did not refute. The silence made Violet felt colic pain of her chest.


    Her son who she ced great hopes on and was also the hope her life had been pestered by that


    woman. She wished she could go back to the moment before Meredith entered the Xaviers, and let her


    get out of Derek''s world forever.


    Derek saw his mom was so angry. He quickly went over to appease her, "Don''t get too excited. I..."


    But he didn''t know how to exin it, because it was the truth.


    Even though he never wanted to admit it in front of Meredith, she had a great influence on him. Besides


    her, he didn''t want any other woman.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    "Derek, you really..."


    Because Derek didn''t exin anything to her, Violet felt more and more disheartened. The paining


    from her chest made her face lose its color.


    Only then did Derek notice something was wrong, "Mom, what''s wrong with you?"


    Violet covered her chest and shook her head feebly. A fierce pang of pain hit her. She grabbed Derek''s


    clothes and said, "Derek, is this what you want?"


    Violet said that word by word as if her words had hit Derek''s heart. He immediately called for someone


    to take her to the hospital. Her words lingered in his ears for a long time.


    What would he do if something bad happened to his mother?


    Derek paced to and fro in front of the door of the emergency room. For the first time, he lost his sense


    of propriety and did not know what to do. How powerful he was in the city was not worth mentioning


    After Old Master heard the news, he quickly rushed over. The first thing he did when he arrived was to


    p Derek so hard, "You unfilial son! How could you make your mother so angry? After your father


    passed away, she didn''t want to remarry because of you. She had tried to protect the family and you


    since such a young age. Have you ever felt sorry about that?"


    Derek just let Old Master hit him without resisting. The physical pain now became a relief. At least, it


    could relieve his sense of guilt.

 Chapter 197

    Chapter 197


    After they waited for some time, the lights in the emergency room dimmed and Violet, who was


    unconscious, was pushed out.


    Derek wanted to go up to check on her condition, but was beaten aside by the Old Master with a


    crutch. "Are you trying to piss her off when she sees you?"


    Derek was silent, and then the Old Master looked at him. "Before you get rid of Meredithpletely,


    your mother doesn''t need your care. This time, I''ll keep an eye on you."


    The Old Master was heartbroken. Seeing how weak his daughter-inw was now, he was very angry.


    Meredith was just an insignificant woman. How could she get his daughter-inw and grandson into


    this bad situation?


    "This time, I''ll send someone to find out where Meredith is. Don''t try to get through this again!"


    After the Old Master finished speaking, he followed the doctor into the ward.


    Derek''s heart ached as he watched the bed being pushed away.


    Ever since he was a child after his father had passed away early, his mother was by his side. It was


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    really difficult for her to raise a child alone in a wealthy family while some greedy rtives were eyeing


    their share of furtune.


    Derek grabbed the doorknob with guilt and pain.


    Seeing him like this, the butler came over and said, "Young master, this matter is really your fault.


    Madam has been making great sacrifices for you all these years. The doctor just said that she can''t be


    angered. If she suffers it again..."


    The butler''s words shocked Derek''s heart.


    He looked at his mother lying on the hospital bed, his eyes dimmed, and his voice was as low and


    lonely as ever. "I see."


    How could he choose in the face of his mother''s life and death?


    Derek left the hospital, went to thepany, and took out the information that Leo had given him a few


    days ago.


    After Leo was caught out by him, he provided a lot of clues intermittently. Now, he had found out the


    whereabouts of Meredith''s mother.


    Perhaps it was really time to end it. At least, Meredith had to be sent out of here first.


    ...


    Meredith was bored in the vi. Now, she had no idea of running away, so she could only stay here and


    do nothing.


    Just as she was staring at the tv, the sound of the car engine came from downstairs. Meredith walked


    over to see that Derek''s car was parked outside.


    Meredith looked at the time and wondered why Derek came here at this time. Although he hade


    here quite a few times during this time, he rarely showed up at his working hours. After all, Derek was


    very serious about his work.


    Meredith suddenly had an ominous feeling in her heart. She held her breath. Soon, Derek went


    upstairs, opened the door, and walked in.


    Meredith looked at him and did not speak. Derek looked at her with aplicated look that she could


    not understand.


    What was wrong with him? Meredith had never seen Derek like this. His eyes were filled with sorrow


    and pain that she could not understand. It made her feel suffocated.


    The two of them looked at each other in silence for a moment before Derek said in a hoarse voice,


    "Meredith, your mother has been found."


    Meredith''s eyes widened in an instant. "Mom? You have found her?"


    This newspletely made her unable to calm down, and her eyes became watery for a moment. She


    had not seen her mother for more than three years, and although she had not given up searching for


    her whereabouts, this process of finding her was torture enough.


    "Where is she? I''m going to see her!"


    Meredith immediately stood up and, ignoring everything else, forgot about the conflicts with Derek and


    grabbed his clothes. "Is she okay now?"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s rarely bright eyes. Since she was locked here, he had rarely seen her


    beautiful eyes so bright and moving. Derek took a deep breath and said, "Change your clothes. I''ll take


    you to meet her."


    This might be thest thing he did for Meredith.


    Violet''s illness suddenly made him lose the confidence to continue fighting the Xaviers. He couldn''t hurt


    his mother for his own selfish desires.


    And Meredith... Perhaps, she would be happier than being forced to stay by his side, which might be a


    good choice for everyone.


    When Meredith heard this, she was not suspicious at all. She was so excited that she could not think


    about the strangeness of it. She immediately changed into a suit for going out and followed Derek out


    of here.


    Derek took onest look at this ce, lowered his eyes, and remained silent.


    ...


    Under Derek''s arrangement, Meredith''s visa was quickly issued. Because she was pregnant, Derek


    specially used a private ne to send her there.


    Meredith felt something was wrong, but looking at Derek''s tired expression, she did not dare to ask.


    She didn''t know why this man suddenly changed his mind, stopped threatening her by taking


    advantage of her mother, and sent her over to find her mother. However, this was what she had wanted


    for so long, and she didn''t want to lose this opportunity.


    However, although it was a privatel ne arranged by Derek and the speed of flight was slower than


    the ordinary ne, Meredith still had some physical difort.


    Derek was originally resting with his eyes closed. Sensing that Meredith sitting next to him did not


    seem to be quiet and sleep quietly with her blindfold on, he opened his eyes to check what had


    happened.


    Only then did he realize that Meredith''s face was pale, and it was covered with sweat dripping down,


    looking extremely pitiful.


    "What''s wrong? What''s wrong with your body?"


    Derek held her hand and felt that it was cold. He couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    Meredith shook her head. "I''m fine."


    Derek''s hands were warm, and she could feel his body temperatureing from where the two of


    them were holding each other, and the warmth made her feel as if she had gone back to the past.


    Derek had held her hand a long time ago, giving her warmth and strength. She had not felt the warmth


    for a long time.


    "Why are you trying to hide your difort?" Derek looked at Meredith''s bulging abdomen. In fact,


    pregnant women shouldn''t be on the ne, but...


    The situation was special, and he could only do so.


    If he didn''t send her out of J City as soon as possible, if the Old Master did it himself, she would be


    even more miserable than she was now.


    Thinking of this, the man stopped hating the baby in her stomach. "Would you me me for letting you


    go abroad with a baby?"


    "No, I am willing to go. I''m looking for mom."


    Meredith felt that there was something wrong with Derek now. It was as if he had changed back into the


    man who used to care for her tenderly overnight. There was no estrangement, no tension between


    them.


    This change came inexplicably, but Meredith didn''t want to stop it.


    Derek called the medical staff on the ne to give Meredith some treatment. Then, he took her into his


    arms and smelled the faint fragrance on her body.

 Chapter 198

    Chapter 198


    Both of them were quietly immersed in this long-lost harmony. In Derek''s arms, Meredith quickly fell


    asleep, and the feeling of nausea and vomiting had lessened a lot.


    The faint scent of cologne from the man calmed her down. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.


    ...


    After about a few hours, the nended smoothly at a private airport in the United States.


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    Seeing that Meredith was still asleep, Derek couldn''t bear to wake her up. After all, it was hard for


    pregnant women to fly. He simply picked her up and went to the car that was arranged in advance.


    Perhaps it was because she was unwell, or perhaps she was too tired, Meredith didn''t wake up when


    Derek was holding her.


    Derek looked at her quiet sleeping face and hadplicated feelings. As expected, he still did not want


    to give up this woman. No one else could make him feel this way.


    Once he missed it, he might never find it again.


    However, now he could only let Meredith stay abroad so as not to cause trouble.


    Meredith slept in the car for a while longer, and her fatigue gradually faded away. She opened her eyes


    and realized that she had already gotten off the ne.


    At second nce, she actually slept on Derek, and she found something embarrassing. She drooled a


    bit and wet a piece of his shirt.


    Meredith blushed, wiped the corners of her mouth, and sat up awkwardly. "Sorry, I... Overslept."


    Derek didn''t say anything. He nced at the piece of clothing that she had wet. "It seems that you slept


    well."


    Meredith suddenly felt extremely embarrassed. She didn''t mean it, but... Derek''s embrace was so


    deceptive. It was as if she never had to worry about the storm outside. She felt safe and therefore


    unconsciously fell asleep.


    Fortunately, Derek didn''tugh at her all the time. The two of them sat in the car for a while, and the car


    stopped at the entrance of a sanatorium in the suburbs.


    Meredith''s breathing became uneven. "Did we get it?"


    Meredith felt her heart beating so fast at the thought of seeing her mother soon. She could no longer


    hold back her eagerness.


    "Yes, this is it."


    Derek nodded. It was a remote ce and, in fact, not even a sanatorium with mature medical


    qualifications. Presumably, the Masons came up with such a bad idea in order to save money and hide


    Meredith''s mother''s whereabouts.


    No wonder Meredith couldn''t find it before. After all, how could she find a ce like this without even a


    proper registration?


    Meredith hurriedly opened the car door and walked down so as to see the full view of the ce. A wave


    of sadness and anger surged into her heart. The so-called sanatorium lookedpletely irregr,


    shabby, and she could not even see any uniformed staff inside.


    Could mom be taken good care of at a ce like this?


    Meredith was furious with Wesley. At least half of the Masons'' assets belonged to her mother, he didn''t


    give the money to her mother. What''s worse, he didn''t take it seriously to treat her illness. He really


    went too far.


    "Go in." Derek saw Meredith''s anger. "I''ve arranged for another world-leading sanatorium. I can send


    auntie there in a while."


    Hearing this, Meredith was a little surprised, but she was more moved. The resentment in her heart had


    also disappeared a lot.


    Only in this helpless moment did she realize how indispensable Derek''s help was to her.


    The two of them walked in. A roguishly-dressed woman saw them and tried to stop them, but Derek


    red at her. His cold gaze made her dare not talk nonsense, so she could only walk away quietly.


    Then, she ran out and called the Masons to report that someone had found the sanatorium.


    When the Masons sent Meredith''s mother over, they urged them to hide her whereabouts and paid a


    Meredith quickly found her mother. When she went in and saw her mother on the hospital bed, she


    couldn''t help but cry. She forgot that she was still pregnant and almost ran over. "Mom!"


    Amelia was no longer the elegant and beautiful mother in her memory. Her face had turned abnormally


    pale after a long time in bed, and she was still having an intravenous drip. Because she was too thin,


    her blue blood vessels had bulged out, which looked terrifying.


    In particr, the sanitary conditions here were not good. Amelia''s quilt was dirty and smelly. Meredith


    knew immediately that Wesley''s threats to her were all lies.


    It was all a lie to say that as long as she was obedient, took the me for Ava and not tell anyone


    about it, he would take good care of her mother!


    "Mom, I''m sorry. It''s all my fault. I made you suffer."


    Meredithy down in front of the bed and burst out crying, as if she didn''t notice the bad smell on his


    mother''s body.


    For three years, when she couldn''t hold on in prison every day, she thought about the day she met her


    mother again, but she didn''t expect it to be like this. Her mother was tortured in this way. Those people


    in the Masons were simply not human.


    Derek frowned when he saw that Meredith had lost control of her emotions. He had just got the news


    and arrived here, and did not expect such a scene. In his heart, his impression of the Masons was


    much worse.


    In any case, the Masons was not short of money. The only possibility of sending her mother here was


    deliberately torturing her.


    "Meredith, stop crying. Get up." Derek stepped forward and pulled Meredith out of bed. Looking at the


    woman''s red eyes, his heart ached. "I''ll get someone to take auntie to the ambnce. We need to get


    out of here as soon as possible."


    Since Derek was worried that Meredith''s emotions would affect her body, he gave the order decisively.


    Meredith looked at the man''s face and nodded. At this moment, she was like a child who knew nothing,


    and Derek was her only support.


    Not long after, the ambnce that Derek called wasing. Meredith prepared ahead of time and


    helped Amelia out of bed. Just as she was about to call the people downstairs to help, a few people


    blocked the door.


    "I''m sorry, the patient has been entrusted by her family. You can''t take her away!"


    Just after the report, Wesley had rushed over with his men. Amelia was the secret weapon he used to


    threaten Meredith. If Meredith got her out, the fact that the Masons was behind it might also be


    exposed.

 Chapter 199

    Chapter 199


    Meredith looked at these people angrily. When she had just helped her mother up from the bed, she


    even saw bedsores on her mothers'' body. The people here had no professional ethics at all. They just


    threw patients on the bed and ignored them.


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    Now, how dare they let her keep her mother?


    "I am her daughter. I want to take her out of here!"


    The people in the hospital didn''t know Meredith, nor did they know where Derek came from. They just


    knew that if Amelia was taken away, then Wesley, the rich lord, woulde looking for trouble. So, a


    group of people blocked the door and refused to give in.


    "I don''t care who you are. Anyway, no one can take this person away. Otherwise, none of you will


    leave!"


    There were no doctors at all in this so-called sanatorium. There were some swindlers without medical


    qualifications. Amelia was a business they had managed to swindle. How could they let her go?


    Derek did not seem to have expected them to be so stubborn. His face darkened. "What if I say no?"


    They came here today to take her away.


    "Brothers, teach them a lesson!"


    Seeing that Meredith and Derek were not cooperating, they rushed over waving the things in their


    hands. Derek immediately shielded Meredith behind him and said to her, "Get out of here. I''ll stop


    them."


    Derek only felt that he was careless. He did not expect that the people here would dare to fight. He was


    afraid that they did not know how to write the word "death."


    Derek escorted Meredith to the door, but Meredith could not imagine how he would face so many


    vicious people.


    "But..."


    Meredith looked at the aggressive group of people, most of whom were foreigners, each looking tall


    and strong, wielding sticks in their hand, which was terrifying.


    How could Derek fight them alone?


    "Are you going to stay here and wait for me to protect you? Don''t you care about the baby in your


    belly?"


    Derek picked up a chair in front of him and blocked the attack. At this moment, a man rushed over and


    aimed at Meredith. He thought this woman was pregnant, and if something happened to her, this man


    must be in a mess.


    Derek saw the man''s movements from the corner of his eyes, and a cold light shed in his eyes and


    he rushed over quickly. However, it was toote to block him with the thing in the hand. Derek could


    only use his back to resist the fierce attack.


    The man beat so heavily that even when Derek tightened his muscles, he still felt a sharp pain and


    could not help coughing twice.


    Meredith was stunned. She had always thought that Derek would hate the baby in her belly and even


    thought it would be better if she lost it. But now...


    He was beaten to protect her.


    Derek looked down at her. "Why don''t you leave quickly!"


    If Meredith didn''t leave, he was afraid these people woulde for her!


    Meredith also realized that these people were immoral. "I see. I''ll go out and call others. You... Don''t let


    anything happen to you."


    Meredith said with difficulty. Under Derek''s difficult cover, she turned around and ran out.


    Derek struggled to resist the attacks of these people alone, and there were several ces on his body


    were hurt, but he still held the exit and did not let anyone have the chance to disturb Meredith.


    Meredith ran downstairs. She took out her cell phone and wanted to call the police. At this time, an


    ambnce came roaring. Meredith waved to it quickly, Damian and several professional doctors came


    down.


    Meredith immediately rushed to Damian''s side. "Those people won''t let us take her away. Derek is in


    danger now. Go and help him!"


    As soon as Meredith finished speaking, Damian rushed in with his men. Meredith waspletely


    worried and followed them far behind.


    As soon as they entered, they saw Derek standing behind the door. He was so lonely but still could not


    be destroyed.


    His clothes, which had always been neat and elegant, were now cut many times by the weapons in


    those people''s hands. They hung in tatters on his body, looking extremely disheveled. In many ces,


    even his skin was cut. Blood dyed the clothes red, making his whole body emitted a frightening smell of


    blood.


    However, even so, no one ran out of the room, and everyone was firmly blocked behind Derek. As a


    result, there was no threatening to Meredith.


    Meredith didn''t even know what to say. She covered her mouth and bit her hand, hoping that the pain


    would calm her heart. She really didn''t expect Derek to work so hard for her, which made her want to


    cry.


    Damian''s men quickly cleaned up the mess. Meredith walked over and held Derek up. "Are you okay?


    Why are you so pushy?"


    He clearly hated the child in her belly, so why did he use his own body to block the attack for her?


    She had clearly made up her mind to give up on him, but how could she let him go?


    "I can''t stand people hitting women in front of me, can''t I?"


    Derek looked into Meredith''s eyes. Her beautiful eyes were now red and looked like a frightened rabbit,


    ready to shed tears.


    Damian called for someone to clean up those wild and wooly fellows and walked over. When he heard


    Derek''s words, he couldn''t help but roll his eyes.


    What was this called? He was standing on pride. Derek wouldn''t do it for any woman, and for her to


    block other people''s attacks. He obviously cared about Meredith. Why was he so stubborn?


    "Miss Mason, let''s go. The ambnce is ready outside."


    When Meredith heard this, she nodded quickly. Damian was afraid that she would not be able to bear


    Derek''s weight, so he picked up Derek. Meredith followed him step by step, like a child who had done


    something wrong, and lowered her head.


    If she hadn''t hesitated and dyed, perhaps Derek wouldn''t have been hurt so badly.


    Meredith looked at the broken shirt on the man''s back, which could be seen how strong he was beaten.


    How much pain Derek was in... She couldn''t even imagine.


    Derek rxed his strength and let Damian bear most of his weight. Then, he had the energy to pay


    attention to other things. Sure enough, when he turned around, he saw the little woman who looked as


    weak as an eggnt that had been beaten by frost. She lowered her head and was pitiful.


    "I said, I don''t need you to think so much. I just... I don''t want to see a pregnant woman getting beaten


    up in front of me, and I don''t want to see anyone die."


    Damian saw that Meredith was lowering her head and feeling guilty, so he stoppedining. As he


    struggled to carry Derek forward, he looked at Meredith and said, "Miss Mason, you don''t have to


    me yourself. Boss is willing to do this. If he doesn''t want to, no one can force him to do this."


    When Derek heard this, he gave Damian a fierce look, but identally hurt the wound on his body,


    causing him to stretch his mouth in pain.

 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200


    Meredith looked at Derek and felt both heartache and guilt. "Stop moving. Get in the car."


    As she said, Damian quickened his pace and quickly helped Derek get into the car. Meredith watched


    from behind as her mother was carried into the ambnce and she sat beside the stretcher.


    Although she could do nothing to help now, she still held her mother''s hand. Unlike the warmth in her


    memory, her mother''s hands now were cold and full of needle holes. Her mother''s hands looked like


    skin and bones.


    All these years, she had been lying on the bed and spending her time in a numb way.


    "Mom, it''s okay. I won''t let you suffer like this again."


    Meredith sat aside and muttered to herself. Derek looked at her guilty face and couldn''t help but


    It was okay if Derek didn''t mention the Masons. But when Meredith heard the ''The Masons'', Meredith


    wanted to get a knife and put up a desperate fight.


    How could they do this to a patient who had no ability to resist?


    Derek''s expression was also very gloomy. On the one hand, it was because the wounds on his body


    were so painful. On the other hand, the Masons had already challenged his bottom line by causing


    troubles over and over again.


    If he didn''t resolve this mortal mdy, the Masons mighte to Meredith to cause troubles again.


    And in a long time in the future, he couldn''t stay with Meredith abroad.


    It seemed that he must take action as soon as possible.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and a cold gleam shed in his eyes. Then he looked at Damian, who was


    sitting by the side. "Did you control those people?"


    Those gangsters seemed to havee prepared. Since they dared to take action, then he shall do


    things to retaliate.


    "They have all been caught. We will soon be able to find out who is behind it."


    Damian immediately reported. In fact, the matter was very clear, but he did not want to say it in front of


    Meredith that the Masons had sent people to mess up the situation. This was too cruel for her.


    Derek nodded. At this time, the ambnce stopped at the entrance of a hospital he had reserved.


    Meredith got out of the car with the medical staff and apanied them to take her mother in for a


    check-up. When she saw her mother being pushed inside to do a CT Scan, she realized that


    something was wrong.


    She had just been so busy apanying her mother that she forgot about Derek''s injury.


    Thinking about it, she hurriedly looked for Derek, who was in the other ward. The doctor checked


    Derek''s injury. The doctor said, "Fortunately, your bones were not hurt, but the wound on your back


    was more severe but you''ll be fine after a few days of rest."


    Meredith saw Derek take off his shirt. His wless body, which was originally like a sculpture, was


    covered with scars. She saw the bruises and scratches caused by the beating and the nails. But the


    most shocking one was the long bruise on his back.


    He got that because he shielded her from the hit which was going to hurt her belly.


    Meredith''s heart seemed to have been hit by something. No one had ever done anything like this for


    her. He was so desperate to protect her that he couldn''t even care about his own safety.


    Derek frowned and allowed the doctor to apply ointment to him. Only then did he notice that there was


    a thin figure at the door. Who else could it be but Meredith?


    "What are you doing by standing at the door?"


    Derek''s voice interrupted Meredith''s thoughts. She came over with mixed feelings and looked at his


    wounds. "Does they hurt? It''s all my fault. If it weren''t for me..."


    "Forget it. I don''t want to hear this." Derek didn''t want to see Meredith ming herself. "Come here and


    apply the ointment to me."


    Derek waved his arm. There were some scratches on his arms. The wounds were not deep, but they


    also needed to be treated with ointment to diminish inmmation.


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    "Okay." Meredith immediately walked over, lowered her head, took the ointment, and carefully applied it


    to Derek with a cotton swab. While doing it, she looked at the man''s expression, afraid that it would


    hurt him.


    For a moment, both of them were in a trance. Once upon a time, they seemed to be the same.


    Meredith quietly applied the ointment to him. At that time, there was no suspicion and no estrangement


    between them. They only had concerns for each other.


    Derek''s pupils dted and some light appeared in his eyes


    After the doctor finished applying the ointment to Derek, the doctor left here. Meredith had almost


    finished applying the ointment to him too. She looked up and saw the man''s fiery eyes. Her face was


    burning with heat, "I... I''ll go and see if mom''s check-up is done."


    Derek grabbed her. Meredith wanted to break free, but she was afraid that the struggle would tear


    Derek''s wounds open again. So, she did not move and obediently let him hold her.


    "How is it? Are you scared?"


    Today''s situation was indeed a little dangerous. And if a less daring woman faced it, she would have


    been scared out of her wits.


    Meredith shook her head. Derek was there, so she was not afraid. This man was always able to appear


    at her most difficult times to protect her and give her a sense of security.


    Derek looked at her cute and obedient face and licked his lips.


    On the one hand, at first, he brought her here because he wanted her to find her mother so that her


    hope could be realized. On the other hand, he brought her here for he couldn''t be willful anymore


    because of Violet''s illness.


    He even thought that maybe he should just let her go.


    But in the end, he still couldn''t. When he saw that she was almost hit, the subconscious reaction in his


    heart told him the truth. He... He really cared about her. He was even willing to get hurt for her.


    Derek had never had such feelings before.


    "Meredith, I have something to say."


    Derek opened his mouth with a rare tinge of nervousness. "If I told you that I want you to wait for me


    abroad for a while, would you like to do that?"


    Meredith looked at Derek in surprise. She didn''t expect him to say that. All this time, it was always that


    she had to obey whatever he wanted her to do.


    "I will find a ce to settle you and your mother, but you have to wait for me for a year. And one year


    He didn''t want to let go of this woman. The only method he had was to settle the matter at home first.


    And when things were settled down, he would then slowly make Violet ept Meredith.


    Meredith looked into Derek''s eyes. Many times, she didn''t understand what he was thinking. It was


    clear that he had been keeping her by his side domineeringly in the past. Now, he seemed to be


    looking forward to her answer.


    "Answer me a question first." Meredith''s eyes fell on the wounds on the man''s body. He had the


    wounds because of her and those wounds made her frozen heart melt.


    "You really love me? Do you really want to be with me?"


    Meredith looked at Derek seriously. It seemed that asking this question used up all her courage.


    She was afraid that Derek would suddenly change andugh at her for being over-confident like what


    he did in the past. However, she still asked. It seemed that if she didn''t ask, she would probably keep


    thinking about it.

 Chapter 201

    Chapter 201


    Derek looked at Meredith, whose crystal clear eyes reflected his figure.


    She was waiting for his answer. Derek''s heart softened. "Of course."


    From the beginning to the end, he was very serious about her, but...


    The child in her belly became the biggest obstacle between them.


    "If I were ying, why did I bring you all the way here? Why did I protect you like that? Meredith, do


    you think I was so free and bored?"


    Derek said word by word. Meredith looked at him, trying to figure out if he was joking. However, she


    found him to be rather serious.


    Derek looked so sincere. She was the only one in his eyes, just like when she slowly put down her


    guard and epted him in the beginning.


    No woman could resist his gaze.


    "I''m willing to wait for you." Finally, Meredith said what Derek wanted to hear.


    Even if she had doubts, she could not deceive herself. She liked him and even thought of raising their


    children with him.


    When Derek heard this, she pulled Meredith into her arms. She carefully prevented herself from


    touching his wound.


    At this moment, she didn''t want to think about anything else. Instead, she just wanted to cuddle in this


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    warm and generous embrace and enjoy the feeling.


    "Miss Mason, the examination is done..."


    Just as the two of them were snuggling up to each other sweetly, Damian walked in carelessly. Seeing


    this scene, he immediately stopped and wanted to leave. Meredith was startled and slipped out of


    Derek''s arms, pretending that nothing had happened.


    "Is the examination over? I''ll go and have a look."


    Although Meredith pretended to be cool and calm, the blush betrayed the restlessness.


    Seeing Meredith leave, Derek looked at Damian coldly. "I think you should know to knock before


    entering."


    Damian smiled bitterly and rubbed his nose. "I was afraid that Miss Mason would get anxious, so I


    forgot..."


    He could not help butin in his heart. How did he know that the two of them were hugging each


    other in broad daylight. What''s more, his boss didn''t even wear a shirt. The scene was so


    embarrassing that he couldn''t bear to look straight at them.


    "I''ll go out and take a look." Damian was nervous and tried to sneak out, but Derek remembered


    something. "Did you ask who the mastermind of the troublemakers was?"


    Damian remembered his business and stopped, he looked serious. "It was the Masons who did it."


    Speaking of this, Damian was also a little angry. Meredith was a pregnant woman, but those people did


    not give up when they acted, obviously wanting to kill her.


    "Where are they now?"


    Derek''s tone was terrifying. At first, he didn''t hurt the Masons because he was afraid that they would


    jump over the wall and attack Meredith''s mother. Now that they had rescued Meredith''s mother, there


    was no need to let them go wild again.


    "Wesley seems to have received the news and rushed over. As for Ava and the others, they are still


    home."


    Damian looked at Derek''s cold expression. He knew that the Masons provoked his boss, who would


    never let them off lightly.


    Meredith walked to the ward where Amelia was. The doctor said that she had only used the cheapest


    and most basic medicine and nutrient solution to maintain her life over the years. At most, she was


    hanging her breath and had no decent treatment at all, so the situation was not optimistic. Whether she


    could wake up or not depended on the patient''s willpower.


    When Meredith heard this, she bit her lip until it bled. She still remembered Wesley''s superior face,


    saying that as long as she didn''t cause trouble and was obedient, he would get the best treatment for


    her mother. It turned out to be lies.


    "I see."


    After hearing the doctor''s instructions, Meredith went into the room and first went to fetch a basin of


    warm water, then wiped Amelia''s body.


    The nurse offered to help, but she refused. Amelia was a very proud person before she fell ill. If she


    was still awake, she would never let strangers wipe her body.


    Therefore, even if her mother was unconscious now, Meredith didn''t want her to feel any difort at


    all. She had to rub her a little bit harder.


    However, her eyes fell on the pinholes and bedsores on Amelia''s body, which had not been properly


    cleaned up for some time, and which had already given off a stink. Finally, her tears fell.


    "Mom, it''s all my fault..." As Meredith spoke, she tried her best to do the only thing she could do. Just


    as the anger in her heart was uncontroble, Amelia seemed to sense her daughter''s pain and moved


    her hand.


    For so many years, no one hade to see her. Amelia''s consciousness had not been recovered, and


    the nursing personnel did not care about her life or death.


    But now, hearing Meredith''s voice and feeling the warm liquid hitting her, Amelia''s consciousness


    slowly revived...


    My daughter. Did Meredithe out of prison?


    Amelia had suffered a stroke because of Meredith being falsely imprisoned and had been badly


    treated. Now, a big knot in her heart suddenly unraveled, and she felt as if the big rock that was


    pressing on her had been suddenly moved away.


    It took Meredith a long time to clean up the dirt on her mother''s body, and the next step was to apply


    medicine to the wounds on her body.


    Meredith went around Amelia''s body and was about to flip her over from the other side when suddenly,


    Amelia grabbed the corner of her clothes with her pale hands.


    Meredith was stunned and looked at Amelia''s hand in disbelief. How could her mother still be


    conscious and even move?


    She couldn''t help but cry out in surprise. The doctor came in as soon as he heard the voice. He was


    also shocked to see this. "It must be the reason that she saw her daughter. She had a clear mind. Miss


    Mason, if you talk to the patient more in the future, it might have a good effect!"


    Meredith nodded and covered her mouth to stop herself from crying. As expected, her mother did not


    give up on her. When her mother saw her, she was trying to wake up!


    A kind of hope that never existed emerged from her. Meredith put down the thing in her hand


    temporarily and held the hand that Amelia had just stretched out. "Mom, don''t worry. No one will bully


    you again. I will protect you well."


    Amelia exhausted all her strength to move a little, so she couldn''t react to Meredith''s words. However,


    Meredith was not discouraged. She believed that one day, her mother would be better. By then, her


    mother would be happy to see her baby born, right?

 Chapter 202

    Chapter 202


    Wesley rushed abroad overnight, but as soon as he reached the door of the sanatorium, he was caught


    by Damian, who had been waiting for him.


    "Mr. Xavier, pleasee with us."


    Of course, Wesley knew Damian. The people around Derek were also famous in J City. A bad idea


    popped up in his mind.


    Did Meredith really have something to do with Derek? Otherwise, how could she possibly take Amelia


    out?


    Wesley still wanted to struggle and didn''t want to be caught in such a mess, but Damian didn''t have the


    patience to talk to him. He called his men, tied Wesley up, and threw him into the car.


    "Boss, the fish is already on the hook."


    Damian took Wesley to the ce where Derek was. Wesley kept struggling, but his mouth was taped


    and his body was tied so tightly that he couldn''t make a sound.


    Now, he really had a feeling that he was prey.


    Wesley was taken to a vi.


    Derek bought this ce specifically for Meredith. When he saw the man brought in, who was tied up


    tightly, he smiled and said, "Mr. Xavier, we''ve been waiting for a long time."


    Wesley looked at Derek''s smiling face. His hair stood on end and the tape on his mouth was ripped off


    with a brush. "Mr. Xavier, I... I didn''t offend you either. As for Amelia, it''s our The Masons business. You


    have no need to involve in..."


    Wesley forced himself to calm down and said word for word, but Derek sneered and walked over,


    pulling his hair and letting him look up.


    "It has nothing to do with me? Wesley, it was Ava who hurt someone, and it should have been her who


    went to jail to be punished by thew. But you gave me a trick and sent Meredith in and let the real


    culprit get away with it. Does that have nothing to do with me?"


    The thought of Meredith suffering a lot in prison made him angry, and after his investigation, he found


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    out that not only did Wesley not help, he also bribed a few prisoners to torture Meredith.


    Even he could not understand such a vicious approach.


    "This was all Meredith''s nonsense! She was the one who ran away. Isn''t there all the evidence? She


    admitted it herself. Mr. Xavier, you can''t be fooled by her sweet talk!"


    Derek looked at him coldly, turned on his phone, and yed the audio recorded by Leo.


    At that time, in order to please Leo and bring Ava''s career back to normal, Wesley told him everything


    during dinner, and it happened that it was all recorded.


    "You... How could you..." Hearing this, Wesley''s face turned pale. "These are all edited!"


    Derek couldn''t stand it any longer. He hit Wesley hard in the stomach. "You think I''m a fool. I can tell


    whether it has been edited or not."


    He really hated Wesley to the extreme. This kind of underhanded thing was not worthy of being


    Meredith''s father.


    "This time you''re here, I''m going to settle the score for you. You lied to me, framed Meredith first, found


    someone to torture your ex-wife, and then hit others after the whole thing was exposed. I''ll figure this


    out for you."


    With that, Derek called to the domesticpany. "Is everything done?"


    He announced what Wesley had done while Wesley was on his way, and now it had caused a stir in the


    country.


    The Masons usually liked to do charity to maintain their image. Once this matter was announced, it was


    immediately noticed by the public. The shares of the Masons''pany plunged almost in a day, and


    Ava, who was filming, was also sshed with red paint by the excited people, and now she dared not


    go out.


    "the Masons'' share price has almost reached its lowest point."


    When Wesley heard these words on the phone, he widened his eyes and looked at Derek in disbelief.


    He had only been away for a day, and the Masons was already like this?


    Thest bit of stubbornness disappeared and Wesley crawled over without any dignity. Grabbing


    Derek''s pants, "Mr. Xavier, you can''t do this... I, after all, am Meredith''s father. You can''t ruin her home


    where she grew up in!"


    Derek''s mouth twitched. The man''s impudence gave him insight. He took out his phone. "Then I''ll give


    you a chance. Call her and see if she''s willing to save you."


    Derek could deal with the Masons easily and it was only a matter of words, but ultimately, to do this, he


    still had to consider Meredith''s ideas.


    Wesley nodded quickly and called Meredith.


    Meredith was wiping her mother''s body. Although Amelia had not reacted much except for the first time


    her hand moved, she still insisted on talking to Amelia every day.


    She might hear it one day and wake up.


    Just then, Meredith''s phone rang. It was Derek. She put down the towel in her hand and picked it up.


    But the sound inside made the smile on her face disappear in an instant.


    "Meredith, no, Mer, daddy is in trouble now. Come and help me!"


    Meredith was dragged back to the past by that strange and familiar name. A long, long time ago, before


    Wesley had cheated on Amelia and brought Ava into The Masons, he called Meredith that.


    At that time, she was carefree and thought that she was the little princess of her parents, but all of this


    was ultimately a dream.


    "Wesley, why are you talking nonsense?" Meredith''s voice was so cold that she refused to call him


    father.


    This man, who made her mother bedridden and dyed her three years of youth, was not worthy of


    her calling him father.


    "Derek has caught me. He''s going to destroy the Masons! Mer, you are also one of the Masons. No


    matter what, you have the blood of the Masons flowing in your body. You can''t just stand by and watch


    the bad luck of the Masons!"


    One of the Masons?


    Meredith clenched her fists. She refused to ept Wesley''s words because they hadn''t cared about


    her. "If I can, I want to wash away all the blood that belongs to you on me. It just makes me sick to think


    that someone like you is my father."


    "Something bad happened to the Masons? Isn''t that just good? Anyway, I''m just an abandoned child of


    the Masons. Even if it was destroyed, I wouldn''t feel any pain. Wesley, you deserve it!"


    Meredith could not control her emotions and shout at the phone. Tears fell unconsciously, not because


    of grievance, but because of anger.


    Many days and nights, she begged the Masons to remember her and help her. She wanted The


    Masons to help her to stop being tortured by the bad guys in prison, but no one cared about her.


    Now, something bad had happened to the Masons. They remembered that she was one of them and


    asked her to help them.

 Chapter 203

    Chapter 203


    Wesley saw that Meredith was so heartless and didn''t want to help him, so he immediately changed his


    face. "Meredith, what do you think you are? Do you really think Derek likes you? You''re hurting me now


    and think you won''t be abandoned one day. I will teach you a lesson in the future..."


    Before Wesley could say the following words, he was strangled by Derek, who had a fierce look on his


    face.


    He didn''t n for this bastard to say those words to Meredith.


    He took the phone back and kicked Wesley, who was lying on the ground. Derek frowned and looked at


    the phone. "Meredith, it was an ident."


    The man''s voice came from the receiver, calming Meredith''s anger at Wesley''s threat.


    "You... Attacked the Masons?"


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith asked softly. Ever since she was released from prison, she had been trying to make the


    Masons pay the price. She didn''t expect that she would eventually depend on Derek.


    "Yes, the people at the sanatorium were sent by the Masons. I can''t let them hurt you anymore." Derek


    said, "Do you have mercy?"


    Derek felt that Meredith attached great importance to the family, and from her meticulous care for her


    mother, she was very attached to her family.


    So, Derek didn''t want to make any decisions about what to do with Wesley.


    "No, I want them to pay the price."


    Meredith held her cell phone and burst into tears.


    How could she have mercy for them?


    All her feelings for the Masons and her father had been worn away in three years. Now that they were


    unlucky, how could she be unhappy?


    However, waves of grievances still emerged from the bottom of her heart.


    She had thought countless times about what she had done wrong to make her father hate her so much


    and treat her so cruelly. In Wesley''s heart, she might not even be as important as a rtive of ra.


    But now, in the face of Wesley''s plea for mercy, her heart relieved, but once unwillingness was


    temporarily difficult to erase, making her unable to stop tears.


    "Meredith?" Derek listened to the messy breathing in the receiver and was a little worried. He called her


    name.


    "Yeah, I''m fine. He, just do whatever you want. He and I, and the Masons, have nothing to do with each


    other anymore."


    After Derek heard her words, he frowned. Meredith''s voice was muffled as if she was crying. Perhaps,


    she cared about her father but she pretended not.


    "Damian, he''s all yours. I''ll go out for a while."


    Derek nced at Wesley, who was sitting on the ground and was powerless to resist. Now he cared


    more about Meredith than this man.


    The car stopped at the entrance of the hospital after a whiff of speed.


    Derek didn''t stop at all and hurried upstairs. As expected, Meredith was taking care of Amelia in the


    ward.


    However, she was sitting by the bed, motionless, with her head down and her slender shoulders


    twitching, looking extremely lovable.


    Derek suddenly felt a pain in his chest. Maybe he shouldn''t have let Meredith know about this and dealt


    with Wesley directly.


    "Meredith, are you okay?" Derek stepped forward and took the sobbing woman into his arms.


    Meredith did not expect Derek toe. She widened her red and swollen eyes, exposed them to him,


    and quickly lowered her head.


    "I''m fine."


    After all, Meredith didn''t want to expose all her weaknesses.


    She had never told anyone in detail what the Masons had done.


    "Don''t be afraid. I''m here. I won''t let him hurt you again."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s bravado and felt helpless and in love. He touched her long hair and


    Meredith listened to Derek''s words. His arms were so warm, so generous, as if she would never be


    hurt by the outside world inside. Suddenly, her emotions could not be controlled, and the suppressed


    cry broke out again.


    "Why? They did that to me. I really don''t understand. I''m his daughter, too. Why should I sacrifice so


    much for Ava''s mistakes..."


    "I really can''t figure it out. Has he never thought of me as his daughter in his heart? Doesn''t even my


    mother''spany for so many years mean nothing?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but say what she was thinking. Her voice was even hoarse, but she didn''t notice


    it at all. She was just venting her pain.


    Derek could not help but increase the strength in his hand, in order to ease her pain. He only now knew


    what Meredith was crying for. All these years, she had been living too hard, and the feeling of being


    "In the future, no one can bully you anymore. Don''t cry."


    Derek''s words, like magic, made Meredith feel much less depressed. Only then did she realize that her


    tears had already soaked the man''s shirt, so she quickly stepped back a little.


    "Um... I see."


    Derek didn''t care about her behavior and held her in his arms until Meredith calmed down a little. "That


    man, I haven''t dealt with him yet, and Ava and ra, they''re all at your disposal."


    After listening, Meredith nodded. "I don''t want to see them again. As for the rest... I want Ava to be


    punished."


    In the end, Meredith did not want to use the power of Derek to do anything illegal, but Ava was the


    culprit, she had to pay the price, and those whomitted perjury, could not be spared.


    "Okay, do as you say." Derek nodded, agreeing with Meredith in his heart.


    If it happened to an ordinary person, the person might vent the anger and do a lot of excessive things,


    but Meredith was able to remain rational. She was still kind and soft-hearted after all.


    "I''ll find awyer and have them file a newwsuit, so you don''t have to show up. You have to take care


    of auntie, and you''re not fit for it. You can''t go back and forth because of our child."


    Meredith nodded. Although it was a pity that she couldn''t see Ava being punished with her own eyes,


    she was in a special situation and could only do so. Besides,pared to revenge, she wanted to


    seize what she still had and cherish every minute she spent with her mother.


    "Thank you for this." After a long time, Meredith finally opened her mouth. She really thanked Derek. If


    it wasn''t him, she wouldn''t have known when she could have done this with her strength alone.


    Derek shook his head. Meredith looked at the little ck stubble on the man''s chin and felt more and


    more moved. These days, Derek was busy with her things. It was impossible not to be touched.


    So, a bold idea came to mind. Meredith stood on tiptoe and pulled out a strand of Derek''s hair. "Borrow


    this for a while."

 Chapter 204

    Chapter 204


    Derek was a little confused, but it was just a few hairs, and it wasn''t worth asking.


    "How is auntie now?"


    Derek looked at Amelia, who was lying on the bed. The doctor had already made a new treatment n


    for her, but she still needed time to slowly recover.


    He didn''t seem to be able to stay with Meredith until Amelia woke up. There were still a lot of things


    waiting for him to deal with at home.


    "It''s okay now. She''s not conscious, but her body is much better than before."


    Meredith looked at her mother lying on the bed. At least, she would be taken good care of now.


    Derek nodded and was about to say something when the phone rang. Meredith caught a glimpse of the


    Xaviers''s number and broke free from the man''s arms. "Go and answer it."


    the Xaviers never liked her, and she wasn''t interested in what they said. Derek nodded and walked out.


    Only then did Meredith find a clean bag and put in the hair that had just been plucked from Derek.


    She decided to do a paternity test to prove the identity of their child. After all these things abroad, she


    found that she was increasingly inseparable from this man.


    And Derek didn''t seem to be just flirting with her, so she was willing to take the risk.


    Since Derek didn''t believe it, she could use evidence to convince him.


    ...


    Derek went out and the Old Master''s voice came over the phone. "Derek, what happened to the


    Masons? How did it be that Ava framed Meredith?"


    Mr. Xavier had never believed that Meredith was framed. Now that he saw the news, he realized that


    there might be some misunderstanding.


    "As you can see, Meredith was wronged. She was not the culprit at all. Ava was."


    Derek said, feeling a little anxious. "So, grandpa, I..."


    "Stop talking."


    How could Mr. Xavier not know what he was thinking? He knew Derek was going to ask them to ept


    Meredith again.


    "You are abroad now. Are you with her?"


    "Yes, I''m helping her solve her mother''s problem."


    "Then give her a sum of money to settle her mother down so that we can make it up to her. As for the


    rest, don''t even think about it!"


    Mr. Xavier made a decision.


    He didn''t want to get involved in the Masons. Even though Meredith seemed innocent, it couldn''t


    change the fact that she was trying to get revenge on her family by seducing Derek.


    What''s more, now that the Masons was in a mess and its reputation waspletely tarnished, wasn''t it


    making trouble for themselves to get involved at this time?


    Mr. Xavier valued peace and didn''t want to get into trouble, not to mention that Meredith was pregnant


    with someone else''s child, and he couldn''t ept the fact the Xaviers raising other people''s children.


    "Grandpa..." Derek did not expect his grandpa''s attitude to be so resolute. He thought that Meredith


    would be able to be recognized naturally by clearing Meredith''s name, but now...


    Things were far from as simple as he thought.


    "Your mother is awake now, and you shoulde back to see her as the son. Also, remember to make


    a decision. She''s very upset now."


    Mr. Xavier was no longer entangled in Meredith''s matter. After talking about Violet''s current situation,


    Derek could not continue to argue. "I see."


    Derek hung up the phone, walked into the ward, and saw Meredith pondering. "Mer, I''m going back


    recently. There are still things I need to deal with at thepany. I''ll ask Damian to stay and help you


    with these things. Don''t worry. I''ll be back soon."


    Meredith nodded and looked at Derek''s grim face. "If you have something to do in thepany, go


    back. I''m fine. Take Damian back too."


    After all, Damian was Derek''s right hand. It would be inconvenient for Derek to work if Damian stayed


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    here. "I''m not that fragile. I don''t need you to find someone to look after me every day."


    Derek shook his head. "You are abroad and don''t know the ce well. I worry about you. Let him


    apany you for a while. I''ll go back now. You take good care of auntie here. If you need anything,


    contact me."


    Meredith nodded. After Derek had finished exining, he quickly booked a flight home.


    After Derek left, Meredith was a little lonely and didn''t know what was going on in the country that


    made him so anxious.


    However, she quickly got her spirits up and took the collected hair to the doctor, exining that she


    wanted to do a paternity test.


    Now that the baby was six months old, it should be possible topare DNA by medical means.


    After the consultation, the doctor gave Meredith a n and took her to the operating room. After a


    series of tests and procedures, "It will take about a month to get the results."


    Meredith nodded. A month would be enough, at least, to prove the identity of the child before it was


    born.


    In that case, Derek would be happy.


    Thinking about it, Meredith touched her lower abdomen and felt much more rxed.


    ...


    Derek got off the ne and rushed to the hospital as soon as possible.


    Mr. Xavier was waiting for him at the door of the inpatient ward. When he saw Derek, he patted Derek''s


    shoulder and said, "Your mother is emotionally unstable. Be careful what you say. Don''t say that she


    doesn''t like to hear. Be careful and don''t provoke her."


    Derek nodded, pushed the door, and walked in. Violet leaned against the bed and saw someone


    Violet''s tone was faint as if there were no surprises. And her reaction showed that she had


    disappointments.


    "I''m back. Is your body... Okay?"


    Derek asked cautiously, not daring to contradict her.


    "If you do not provoke me, I''m fine. These days, Chloe is here to take care of me. When I see her, I feel


    better."


    Hearing Chloe''s name, Derek felt headache, and now Violet was almost determined to treat Chloe as a


    daughter-inw.


    "She''s usually very busy and doesn''t know how to take care of people. Otherwise, let professional care


    take care of you."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Violet sneered, "No matter how bad her skill is, she has a sense of


    filial piety, which is better than some people. Your mother is sick, but you miss another woman. If I let


    her marry into our the Xaviers, I am afraid that no one will take care of me even if I die, right?"


    Derek realized that his actions had deepened Violet''s misunderstanding of Meredith. He wanted to


    exin, but Violett shook her head. "Derek, I''ve already made an agreement with Chloe. When you


    her as soon as possible."


    Derek frowned. "No one has discussed this with me. I think..."


    "What do you think?" Seeing that Derek disagreed, Violet coughed twice and covered her chest. "If you


    don''t agree, I won''t do the next surgery either. I''ll be discharged now!"

 Chapter 205

    Chapter 205


    Violet was also willing to go all out, leaving behind the so-called nobledy''s reserve. She knew that


    she was acting like a shrew by making a scene, but she had no other way.


    As long as Derek was able to break up with that woman, she would not care much about losing face.


    Derek heard this and hurriedly stepped forward to hold Violet''s hand, which was still inserted with an


    intravenous needle. Now with this action, the blood had moved into the IV line.


    Violet knew Derek''s character, and he wouldn''t ignore his mother''s health, so she grabbed Derek''s


    hand and said, "Derek, can you listen to me this time? Otherwise, I''m afraid I''ll die with my eyes open."


    "Don''t say that." When Derek heard the word" die," his face darkened and his tone was serious.


    He didn''t want topromise just like that, but Violet didn''t want to give him any other choices. "You


    promise me then I''ll have the surgery, otherwise, no deal."


    "Mother, must you do this..."


    Derek was extremely helpless. Just as the mother and son were in a stalemate, Chloe knocked on the


    door and walked in. Seeing the slightly strange atmosphere between them, she smiled awkwardly. "Is it


    a bad time?"


    These days, Chloe seemed to be a different person, running to the hospital every day. And even, in


    order to please Violet, she found a chef to teach her how to make these nourishing soups, and


    personally cook for her.


    "No, you came just at the right time."


    Violet greeted Chloe with a smile and held her hand. Then she pointed at a blister on her finger in an


    exaggerated tone. "Oh, is this due to making soup for me? You really have gone through a lot of trouble


    for me. Your heart is much better than someone else''s."


    Derek naturally understood that it was meant for him. He looked at Chloe''s injured hand and sighed.


    "Chloe, you don''t have to do these things yourself. Your hands are better for ying the piano."


    "It''s rare that Derek still cares about others. In that case, Chloe, we were just talking about you two


    getting engaged as soon as possible. Do you have any suggestions?"


    Chloe was stunned and ecstatic, but she couldn''t show it. She lowered her head and said, "I... I don''t


    have a problem with it. It''s just whether Derek would think..."


    Violet held Chloe''s hand and looked at Derek with a warning in her eyes. As if to say, if you didn''t


    agree, I would just give up the treatment and die in front of you.


    Derek gritted his teeth and moved his lips. And in the end, he did not say otherwise.


    Now that Violet''s condition was unstable, he couldn''t risk her life.


    Seeing Derek give in, Violet smiled. "Chloe, of course, he agreed. In this case, we''ll hold a meeting for


    the parents these days, set the date, and start the ceremony as soon as possible."


    "There''s no need for ceremonies, right?" When Derek heard this, he was quite overwhelmed.


    He was only trying not to make Violet angry by acquiescing in her n, but it would be difficult to deny


    it if the ceremony was held.


    "I don''t care about that either, auntie."


    Chloe said understandably, but a little grievance flickered in her eyes, making Violet re at Derek very


    unhappily.


    "No, how can we neglect you when you are about to be a member of the Xaviers? We must do a


    grand ceremony to let everyone know that you and Chloe, are the perfect couple."


    Violet was in a much better mood just thinking about the benefits that Chloe''s good image would bring


    to Derek. Moreover, a grand ceremony was the best way to wash away the bad luck of her recent


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    illness.


    Mr. Xavier heard the heated discussion inside and walked in. When he heard this, he nodded


    approvingly. "You''re right. When did our the Xaviers lose to anyone in style? We can''t wrong Chloe."


    "Besides, the Xaviers has been a little restlesstely, and it''s good that all the bad luck would be sent


    away with this happy event."


    Mr. Xavier said this andughed loudly. Then, he called the housekeeper and asked him to set the time


    and ce for the engagement as soon as possible.


    "Grandpa..."


    Derek felt a little depressed when he saw that the two elders had decided things for him without


    consulting his own opinions. He had not even made a statement and was pushed toe to the final


    decision. It was really quite depressing for him.


    What was more, they talked about that the Xaviers''s daughter-inw can''t be wronged when Meredith


    and he had received a marriage certificate before, and they surely didn''t seem to care about any


    ceremony back then.


    "It''s settled."


    Mr. Xavier didn''t care if Derek had something to say or not, and he walked out with a smile and went to


    set up the necessary things for the engagement.


    "All right, your marriage is settled. I''m relieved. You guys go out then. I want to get some sleep."


    Violet saw that things were almost done, and she was tired. Besides, she could let the two of them


    have some chance to get along alone, so she chased them out.


    Derek walked out of the room with a cold face, followed by Chloe. He walked very fast with big strides,


    regardless of whether Chloe in high heels could keep up or not. He walked just like that without even


    looking back.


    Chloe struggled to catch up, and after a while of trying, she snapped. "Derek, what do you mean?"


    They finally got engaged, but his attitude made her feel very cold.


    Was he so unwilling to marry her?


    Derek stopped just right at a quiet spot with no one passing by. He looked into Chloe''s eyes. "Chloe,


    I''ve said it many times. We''re done. Why are you still here..."


    "Derek, am I that cheap in your heart? Indeed, I can''t let you go, but I have dignity. I came here


    because my aunt has always been taking care of me since I was a child. She has been good to me. I


    am only doing this for my conscience."


    Chloe said with a straight face, and Derek was speechless for a moment.


    "But the engagement... I don''t really agree. I''m doing it for my mother''s health. I have to make it clear to


    you on that."


    Chloe''s face darkened when she heard this. How could she not have known that Derek''s agreeing to


    get engaged was just an expedient n for Violet? But if they had missed this opportunity, they would


    have really missed it. So, even if it was forced, she had to try.


    So, Chloe forcefully erased the grudge in her heart. "I know, Derek. So, I promise you, this engagement


    doesn''t mean anything. If you want to separate, I won''t force you otherwise as a fianc¨¦e. I promise we


    are only doing this for the sake of my aunt''s recovery."


    Derek looked deeply at Chloe, and then a relieved smile appeared. "If that''s the case, then I''m much


    relieved. Chloe, you help me finish this scene, and I will try my best to make it up to you in the future."

 Chapter 206

    Chapter 206


    Chloe also smiled. Of course, she didn''t say what she really thought.


    When Derek and she got engaged and the two of them held a ceremony, she would never let go easily.


    Although it was despicable, ...


    She had no other choice.


    After settling the matter with Chloe, Derek told Violet and left the hospital.


    Because he had been abroad for a while, there was a lot of work waiting for him to deal with, and he


    needed to get rid of them quickly.


    ...


    After Meredith took care of her mother, it was already dark. Damian took her home. "Miss Mason, there


    will be security guards outside to protect you. I live downstairs. If you need anything, call me anytime."


    Meredith nodded. Although she didn''t think it was necessary to make such a fuss, Derek was worried


    that the Masons would be desperate to get someone to harass her, so he specifically asked Damian to


    stay and protect her with a group of people he trusted.


    "I see. You guys have a good rest. I''ll go upstairs."


    Meredith went up to the second floor. The lights in the vi were turned on by the servants, but she was


    the only one on the second floor. Although it was bright, the room seemed more empty.


    Without that figure, Meredith felt her heart was empty.


    She wondered how he was doing at home and if thepany''s problems had been solved.


    It turned out that she missed the man in her heart and that she thought of him every minute.


    Perhaps this was love. Meredith decided not to be disappointed. She caressed her abdomen, which


    was now very obvious. After another month, when the results of the paternity test came out, perhaps


    everything would develop in the direction she wanted.


    Meredith rested for a while. Not long after, the maid asked her to go down for dinner.


    Meredith had no appetite, but when she thought that the baby in her belly could not go hungry, she


    went down, tired.


    However, when she sat at the table, she saw there was a lot of food on the huge table, but she was the


    only one enjoying it. She felt so lonely.


    "Where''s Damian?" Meredith thought that Damian was here too, so she wanted to ask him toe


    over and have dinner together.


    "Damian is in the room. Do you want me to get him?"


    Hearing that, Meredith thought for a moment. "No. I''ll go and find him. Go and do your work."


    With that, Meredith walked over and found Damian''s room. Just as she was about to knock on the


    door, she heard Damian talking to someone.


    "I''m sorry, madam. I''m on a business trip abroad now. I''m afraid you need to ask someone else to deal


    with the engagement ceremony."


    After Violet set the engagement time with Chloe''s parents, she ned to let Damian take care of it.


    After all, he had been with Derek for a long time and knew his preferences better. She didn''t expect


    Damian to go abroad.


    In this way, she would have to ask a different person to do this.


    When Meredith heard the word "engagement" outside, she suddenly felt a little confused and uneasy.


    The engagement ceremony?


    Who was getting engaged? Derek?


    However, she tried not to let her imagination run wild and knocked on the door. "Damian, are you


    there? It''s dinner time."


    Damian was shocked. He didn''t expect Meredith to be outside and didn''t know whether she heard his


    words. It would be bad if she knew about the boss''s engagement.


    "Miss Mason, you can get someone to call me. You''re pregnant now, so it''s not convenient to move


    around."


    Damian walked out with a smile. He looked and acted the same as usual.


    Meredith looked at him. "It''s okay. It''s just a few steps. I''m not that weak."


    After saying this, the two of them fell silent. Meredith did not restrain her curiosity after all. "I overheard


    you just now. Did someone ask you to go back and do something?"


    Damian''s heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, Meredith heard it, but he reacted very quickly and


    immediately forced out a smile. "Well, one of my rtives is getting engaged. They said they were


    going to hold an engagement ceremony and asked if I coulde over."


    Meredith was relieved to hear this. "I see. You... you can go back first. After all, it''s a good thing. If you


    are absent, I''m afraid it will be a pity."


    "I''ll think about it. Let''s go to dinner. I''m hungry."


    Seeing that Meredith did not doubt him or ask any more questions, Damian was relieved and did not


    want to linger on this topic, so he diverted Meredith''s attention.


    Meredith didn''t think much about it. After dinner, the two of them went back to their rooms.


    ...


    Meredith took a shower and watched TV for a while, but she didn''t really see any of it. Then, she gave


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    up. Although it was not toote, she decided to go to bed.


    However, looking at the big double bed, she couldn''t help shaking her head.


    Without Derek, the bed looked particrly empty.


    She was holding a storybook and preparing to tell a story to her baby when her phone rang on the


    bedside table.


    Meredith suddenly felt a little excited. She picked it up and saw the name on it and was overjoyed. It


    was Derek who called.


    "Hello?" Meredith answered.


    "You are asleep already? It''s getting dark over there." Derek''s pleasant voice came from the receiver,


    which eased Meredith''s mood a lot.


    "Not yet. I''m going to watch TV for a while before going to bed."


    "Uh-huh."


    They both went silent, but both of them enjoyed this rare silence. Even if they did not speak, just


    listening to each other''s breathing made them feel at ease.


    "Did everything go well today? Things at thepany are not too troublesome, are they?"


    Meredith was still thinking about it. After all, Derek had been away for so long because of her.


    "Not bad," Derek said. "I''m in thepany now. Everything is fine."


    Derek looked at the documents in his hand. He didn''t know when he had be concerned about


    others, but now he really missed this woman. He wanted to talk to her, know how she was doing, and


    even just say good night, so he couldn''t wait to call her after a meeting.


    "That''s good." Meredith felt warm in her heart. Derek''s concern made her feel good. "I''m fine here too.


    There''s no need to worry. Damian is here. There won''t be any problems."


    "Okay, stay there with auntie. Don''t worry about anything." Derek said.


    "You should get some rest once in a while. Since you''re not in a hurry toe back, there''s no need to


    take care of everything at once."


    Derek agreed. Meredith''s concern calmed him down.


    He really needed some time to solve those things.


    "Meredith, don''t watch the domestic news recently. I''m dealing with some things. Wait for me there,


    okay?"


    Meredith didn''t know why, but she thought maybe it was because of those things rted to the Masons.


    He didn''t want her to be upset. "I got it."

 Chapter 207

    Chapter 207


    Derek rxed a little after seeing Meredith agree. "It''s gettingte. You should rest too."


    "Well, you should take care of yourself over there... And..." Meredith thought about the paternity test.


    "When youe back, I have something very important to tell you."


    Something important? Derek was a little confused, but since Meredith said so, he didn''t have to


    disappoint her. "Okay, I got it."


    Meredith nodded, hung up the phone, and then looked at the baby in her belly. He seemed to notice


    that his mother was in a good mood, and his little foot kicked her.


    "Well..."


    Meredith was caught off guard. It was the first time the baby had shown his existence like this. She was


    happy and wanted to share this joy with Derek.


    "Do you miss daddy too? Daddy will be back soon."


    Meredith muttered in a low voice, holding her cell phone. For the first time, she had the idea that time


    should pass quickly so that she could tell Derek the news as early as possible.


    ...


    After Derek hung up the phone, he devoted himself to his work. He had to finish his business as soon


    as possible and then went to see Meredith.


    Although he had only been away for a day, he had already begun to miss that woman.


    Moreover, the secret she mentioned inexplicably made him look forward to it.


    Time passed quickly as he focused on his work.


    At night, when Derek returned home, he saw Chloe, who was having a good talk with Mr. Xavier, and


    his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.


    "Derek''s back? Come to see what you''re wearing that day?"


    Mr. Xavier felt that this was a rare happy event for the Xaviers, which could wash away the recent


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    misfortune, so he personally went to manage this engagement.


    Derek was not in the mood. Why he agreed to get engaged was only because he didn''t want Violet to


    get hurt. He didn''t have any sense of participation in the details of the ceremony.


    "I''m a little tired today. You can make the decision. I don''t care."


    Derek found an excuse and was about to go upstairs. Mr. Xavier looked angry. "Stop. This is your great


    event. How can you be so perfunctory?"


    "Grandpa, calm down, please. Derek is so tired from work."


    Chloe was aware of Derek''s perfunctory manner, but she exined for Derek with an elegant and


    dignified smile.


    Derek nodded. "She agreed, so I''ll go up first."


    After that, regardless of their expressions, he left directly.


    "Ah."


    Mr. Xavier felt mncholy and patted Chloe on the back of her hand. "We''ve wronged you."


    Chloe shook her head and looked at the man''s tall back. She did not care about these formalities.


    Although she was disappointed, as long as she could be with him again, she could endure no matter


    how aggrieved she was!


    Seeing that Chloe was so reasonable, Mr. Xavier showed more love and pity for her. "Don''t worry, if


    Derek is not good to you in the future. Just tell me, I can be useful!"


    Hearing Mr. Xavier''s words, Chloe was delighted. After all, Old Master was a respectable elder.


    Winning his favor would make her rtionship with Derek much smoother.


    ...


    Derek went back to his bedroom and pulled off his tie. To be honest, the day''s work was tiring, but what


    made him even more upset was the engagement ceremony that was not his own choice.


    He always had a feeling that this ceremony would cause a lot of trouble, but for Violet would be able to


    get treatment obediently, he had no choice.


    The man thought about other things for a while, took out his phone, and had a look. It should bete at


    night for Meredith. He did not disturb her rest, so he called someone else.


    "How are things going with the Masons?"


    Sine Damian was in other ce, Derek had to leave the Masons issue to someone else.


    "Now that Ava is under control, ra is looking for Wesley everywhere, trying to get someone to bail


    Ava out, but we found out and they won''t have a chance to seed."


    After listening to this, Derek was in a better mood.


    Immediately, the corners of his lips curled up. If Meredith knew that those who bullied her were going to


    end up like this, she would be very happy.


    Just as he was thinking, his phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.


    ra was holding the phone, shaking and hysterical. "Derek, you did it, didn''t you? Where''s my


    husband? Where is he?"


    ra was not as elegant and superior as before. First, Wesley went abroad and went missing. Now, he


    had no contact with his family.


    And then, the news of their framing Meredith suddenly came to light, and Leo became the witness and


    testify against them. the Masons'' benevolent reputation had been copsed in an instant, and the stock


    price dropped so much that it was almost impossible to pay the employees'' sries.


    Then, Ava was taken away by the police to investigate, and now she had no chance to visit...


    All these bad things were about to crush her. ra immediately thought that it was Meredith who did


    these. However, she made a lot of calls and looked everywhere for Meredith''s whereabouts, but


    nothing could be found.


    The only thing she could figure out right now was that Derek had helped Meredith do these things. After


    all, with Meredith''s ability, it was impossible to do this.


    "It''s me. So what?" Derek said coldly, "When you dared to do this to Meredith back then, you should


    have thought that one day all the darkness would be seen by people under the sun. In the end, you


    deserve all the punishment."


    "Derek, you must die a horrible death, so does Meredith. She actually harmed her family!"


    ra waspletely out of control, shouting angrily. Derek was not angry. "Don''t worry, Meredith won''t


    die. She''ll be better than you. You should think about how to get your precious daughter out of prison.


    And, I''m afraid you''re going to jail too."


    With that, Derek hung up the phone.


    Outside the door, there was a knock on the door.


    ...


    Just then, Chloe talked to Old Master for a while and everything was settled. At this time, the


    housekeeper came over and said, "Old Master, Miss Bet, dinner is ready."


    Only then did the two of them notice that it was gettingte. "Chloe, go and ask Derek toe down


    for dinner."


    Old Master intended to create more opportunities for Chloe to get along with Derek. She nodded and


    walked up obediently.


    As soon as she reached the door, she heard Derek on the phone. For some reason, she did not knock,


    but leaned in to listen.


    Chloe wanted to hear more about what Derek had been doing recently. However, she still heard the


    name Meredith, and more than once.


    Chloe was very sure that when Derek called this name, there was no anger or disgust, but some


    indulgence.


    Could it be that they hadn''t broken up totally?

 Chapter 208

    Chapter 208


    Chloe did not want to admit the fact. However, Derek''s tone of calling Meredith''s name lingered in her


    mind for a long time.


    She had only heard such a sentimental and indulgent voice a long time ago. Now Derek called her


    name coldly, in a way no different from the others.


    Just as Chloe clenched her fist and her heart ached, there was some sound in the room. She


    immediately calmed herself down and knocked on the door. "Derek, grandpa asked you to go down for


    dinner."


    Derek heard Chloe''s voice, hung up the phone, and walked out. "Got it."


    Chloe lowered her head, not letting him see that something was wrong.


    The two of them went downstairs and ate with Old Master.


    .


    Mr. Xavier was keen on adding more topics to the two, so he kept reminiscing about the past.


    At first, Derek was able to agree a few words in order not to spoil his grandpa''s mood. In the end, he


    gave up.


    "Grandpa, how long has it been? It''s time to move on."


    The man''s tone was light, but Chloe knew clearly his implied meaning.


    Chloe stopped her chopsticks, and she felt that the food in her mouth suddenly became tasteless. She


    knew that Derek was hinting at her that things had changed between them. Although she was in a bad


    mood, she didn''t say anything.


    Seeing that the atmosphere got weird again, Old Master was annoyed. "I finished eating."


    Derek was simply going against him on purpose.


    Chloe and Derek finished their dinner in silence. He said a word and then went straightly upstairs


    without any intention of staying with Chloe.


    She was left alone in the living room, being in a daze for a long time. When the housekeeper came out


    of the Old Master''s room and saw Chloe''s disappointed look, heforted. "Miss Bet, young


    master is just..."


    The butler did not know how tofort Chloe. If a man was so cold to you, the reason was that he


    simply didn''t love you.


    "How''s grandpa? Have you eaten?"


    Chloe returned to her senses and looked at the butler. She looked beautiful and behaved politely as


    usual.


    The housekeeper was shocked by her generosity and thoughtfulness. He then smiled with relief. "In


    that case, can Miss Bet help to cheer Old Master upter? I''ll ask the servant to make another


    bowl of noodles."


    Chloe naturally wouldn''t refuse. To get rid of Meredith, she had to rely on the strength of the Xaviers.


    After a while, the housekeeper handed Chloe a tray with a bowl of steaming noodle soup on it.


    Chloe thanked him gracefully and walked over.


    Old Master didn''t want to talk to anyone, but Derek''s rebelliousness irritated him. Although he was old


    now, he was used to calling the shots all the way, but now he couldn''t control his own grandson.


    "Grandpa, it''s me."


    Chloe said softly, "You only ate a little tonight. I''m afraid you''ll be hungry when you sleep. It''s not good


    for your stomach. Have some more."


    Old Master was stunned for a moment, then opened the door and let her in.


    Chloe''s change was obvious to him. She could really change the bad temper of those youngdies for


    Derek.


    What Derek needed was a woman who could take care of the house, make him look good outside, and


    establish a good image, not a woman as weak as Meredith who only relied on men.


    The two of them sat quietly, and Chloe was not in a hurry to say anything about that matter. She


    carefully and attentively waited on Old Master until he had finished eating. She then held the dishes.


    "Grandpa, maybe we can postpone the engagement."


    "Why? What did Derek threaten you with?"


    "No... I just heard about... Meredith."


    Chloe''s eyes shed with gloom. "If Derek loves Meredith, I don''t think I need to keep pestering him. In


    this way, even if we get married, we won''t be happy. I don''t want Derek to do what he doesn''t want to


    do."


    Chloe sounded that she cared about Derek a lot. At least, Old Master feltfortable after hearing


    what she said. So he grew more fond of her.


    "Didn''t Meredith get kicked out long ago? There''s no need for you to worry about this."


    "But, I just... When I asked him toe down for dinner, I heard that he and Meredith were still in


    contact."


    "What?" Mr. Xavier couldn''t contain his anger when he heard that. "Can you hear the conversation


    clearly? Was it really her?"


    Chloe nodded. "I just thought that a forced marriage wouldn''t be happy. In that case, I''m willing to let


    him go."


    Old Master didn''t listen to her anymore. He stood up and said, "Chloe, you go out first. I will give you a


    satisfactory answer about this matter. Don''t worry. You are the only daughter-inw of our the Xaviers."


    ...


    The sun shone into the room and a new day began.


    Meredith slowly opened her eyes and took a look at the weather outside. It was warm and bright. She


    touched her bulging abdomen. "It''s a beautiful day."


    She happily picked up her phone, took a look. After thinking, she sent Derek a message.


    "The weather here is good today. What about yours?"


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    In the past, Meredith rarely did this because she always felt that it was not good for a girl to be too


    proactive. Moreover, she never fully believed in Derek''s feelings for her. She was actually very worried


    that she would show excessive passion to someone cold.


    But now... Thinking about how much Derek had done to deal with the Masons in order to protect her


    from being hurt and clear her name, she changed her attitude.


    She just fell in love with this man. No matter what happened, she wanted to be with him.


    However, after sending the message, Meredith smiled again.


    It waste at night at Derek''s ce, so he would not reply her text.


    Therefore, she did not wait for the news from the other side and went to the bathroom to wash up.


    Only when she came back did she realize that Derek had replied promptly.


    "Why did you get up so early?"


    Meredith was a little stunned. After checking the time, she knew that it was early in the morning over


    there. Why did he reply so quickly?


    However, the feeling of being instantly replied made Meredith feel very happy. There was a saying that


    if a man cared about you, he would reply your messages swiftly.


    So, now it seemed that Derek cared about her too.


    "It''s a healthy habit to keep early hours."


    "But why aren''t you sleeping when it''s sote?"


    Meredith knew that Derek was a workaholic and would not sleep until he finished his work. He rarely


    showed his tiredness, but she still felt a little worried.


    "Aren''t you tired from sleeping sote?"


    Derek looked at the line she was typing and smiled. "Not tired."


    He was working overtime to squeeze time to visit Meredith, so he was very motivated.

 Chapter 209

    Chapter 209


    "You must be lying." Meredith was suddenly speechless to Derek.


    He flew back to J City for a few hours yesterday, but he hadn''t rested yet. Did he treat his body as iron?


    "Get some rest. I''m going to the hospital to take care of mom."


    Meredith urged. Derek looked at the message she sent, smiled, and sent a voice message. "Are you


    concerned about me?"


    Meredith clicked the voice message, and the man''s deep, maic voice came into her ears with a


    somewhat hoarse voice. It made her feel numb, and her body trembled. Then, she quickly typed, "Yes,


    now you should go to bed."


    Derek could guess what Meredith was like just by imagining it. He thought she should have blushed


    already, but she always refused to admit that she was clearly concerned. This woman was really of


    duplicity.


    However, he did not hate this kind of duplicity but felt her a little cute.


    "Okay. I''ll go rest. Don''t get too tired at the hospital. Let those people help you."


    Meredith smiled back. Coincidentally, Damian came up to ask her for breakfast, so she put away her


    phone and went downstairs to eat.


    Derek specially invited a nutritionist to make nutritious meals for Meredith every day. After she had


    eaten, Damian apanied her to the hospital.


    When Meredith reached the ce, she asked Damian to do his own things. Although Damian was with


    her now, Derek still had a lot of things and he needed Damian''s help, so she didn''t want to waste


    Damian''s time.


    After Damian left, Meredith sat in the inpatient ward and started wiping her mother''s face and hands as


    she did every day.


    Although she had been told many times that she didn''t need to do the work herself, Meredith insisted


    on doing it herself, which gave her a sense of reality that she was taking care of her mother.


    The day passed in a blink of an eye.


    Meredith stayed here until evening to get home, and not long after she got home, Derek called.


    The two of them talked for a while. Although they could not meet, their feelings were not diluted at all.


    "In a few days, I''lle to you after I''ve finished my work."


    Derek looked at the schedule in his hand. Now, it was difficult to find Meredith alone, so he had to


    arrange a meeting abroad in Meredith''s city.


    He arranged this business trip so that he could drop by so as not to arouse suspicion from his family.


    "Okay, I got it." When Meredith heard that he wasing to find her, her heart was sweet.


    ...


    The next morning, Meredith went to the hospital to see her mother as usual.


    Just as she was doing her routine nursing work, someone knocked on the door. "You are Miss Mason,


    Meredith, aren''t you?"


    A young man with sses walked in. "I''m a professional massager sent by Mr. Xavier."


    That being said, the man shed a meaningful smile after introducing himself.


    Meredith didn''t pay much attention. Hearing what he said, she quickly stood up and wiped her hands.


    "Did he send you here?"


    The man nodded. "I made the n for Mr. Xavier''s recovery, so he asked me toe here and help


    you."


    When Meredith heard this, a smile appeared on her face. Derek had been in the hospital bed for


    several years and was still in good health because of the meticulous care of the Xaviers.


    Meredith originally wanted to ask him to find a massager, but thinking that Derek was so busy now, she


    was afraid that it would be difficult for her to afford that fee, so she had to put it aside temporarily. She


    did not expect that Derek had already thought of this step and helped her find this person.


    That man was really more considerate than she thought.


    Meredith was touched and felt sweet. She invited the man over with a smile. "Thank you for your


    "You are wee. My name is Nn, Miss Mason. Nice to meet you."


    With that said, Nn reached out and shook hands with Meredith. When she touched his palm,


    Meredith felt that there were many calluses on his hand, and she felt that they did not match his


    appearance.


    However, thinking that he was studying nursing, Meredith didn''t think much about it. She just thought


    that he was massaging patients or something that would leave such a mark.


    Meredith invited him in and watched him show her mother a professional attitude. She was also a little


    nervous.


    Fortunately, he didn''t leave any bad news either. He just said that he would go back and make an


    effective recovery n.


    After Meredith sent him out, Damian happened to be back and was surprised to see a stranger in the


    ward. "Miss Mason, is that your friend?"


    "Xavier asked him toe here and treat my mother."


    Meredith shook her head. Damian felt a little strange in his heart. Derek didn''t say that he was going to


    call someone over. Was this a little surprise between the two of them?


    Damian thought about it, and it was possible, so he didn''t ask any more questions.


    ...


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    Derek was busy working at thepany when his phone rang and a few pictures appeared on the


    screen.


    He gripped the phone in his hand in an instant, and the blood vessels in his hand were bulging from


    shock, looking absolutely terrifying.


    "How could this be? How could he be here?"


    Derek didn''t even care about the meeting that was about to begin immediately, and his face was


    extremely solemn.


    Just as he was thinking about something, the phone rang. "See? You know what to do. Don''t let me


    down again."


    Just such a simple sentence made Derek''s originally deep eyes a little more confused.


    Why?


    ...


    A thousand miles away abroad.


    In the ward, Meredith was learning how to give her mother a muscle massage from Nn when the


    phone rang and interrupted the two of them.


    Meredith nced at it. It was Derek. She made a gesture, walked out, and answered the phone.


    "Hello?"


    "Where are you now?"


    Derek''s voice seemed very different from usual. It was a tone that Meredith had never heard before.


    Anxious, not as calm and indifferent as usual, it was like a different person.


    Meredith couldn''t help but wonder if Derek was in trouble.


    "You, what happened to you? What''s wrong?"


    "Answer my question!" Derek ignored Meredith''s anxious question. He just wanted to confirm one


    thing.


    "I''m at the hospital, with mom."


    Meredith didn''t know why he asked this, but Derek''s tone was so grave that she had to answer.


    "What else? Who else?" Derek tugged at his hair impatiently, and the feeling of uneasiness almost


    engulfed him.


    "There''s another one who said you hired him here as a physical therapist... What''s wrong? What''s the


    problem?"


    Hearing this, Derek''s eyes darkened and he clenched his fists. His agitation just now gradually calmed


    down, and he looked ahead a little absent-minded.

 Chapter 210

    Chapter 210


    Meredith couldn''t hear Derek''s reply for a long time. He had never done this before. Could it be that


    something bad really happened?


    "Derek, what''s wrong with you? Talk to me."


    Meredith''s anxious voice brought Derek back to his senses. He nced at the phone with a


    The more Meredith thought about it, the more anxious she became. But now that the two of them were


    so far apart, she couldn''t even see Derek''s face. She didn''t know what was going on. There was


    nothing she could do even if she wanted to.


    "Forget it. It''s okay." Derek spoke after a long time. "You stay there. Don''t run around. Don''t mess with


    people you shouldn''t mess with."


    After that, Derek hung up tiredly and dialed another number. "I will do as you say. Don''t let him do it.


    Also, I have onest request..."


    ...


    Hearing the beep on the phone, Meredith''s heart seemed like sinking into deep water, and an ominous


    feeling enveloped her, suffocating her.


    Derek had never done this before, but she knew nothing if he didn''t say anything.


    At this moment, Meredith suddenly felt that the distance between them was too far away. She was still


    the one who couldn''t do anything...


    A sense of powerlessness made Meredith depressed.


    Damian walked in, saw that Meredith''s expression was not good, and asked with concern, "What''s


    wrong? Have you met anything unhappy?"


    After all, Damian had been in contact with Meredith for so long, and he hoped that the two of them


    would be fine and not make trouble again, although...


    Although Meredith would never marry into the Xaviers and be Derek''s wife, in the end, his boss''s


    feelings were not fake.


    "Do you know what happened to the Xaviers now?"


    Meredith looked at Damian with a little more hope in her eyes. He was Derek''s most trusted


    subordinate. He must know more than she did.


    Damian''s heart skipped a beat when Meredith looked at him. He couldn''t help but think, did Meredith


    already know about Derek''s engagement?


    Over the past few days, he had carefully concealed this thing. And the servants and the doctors and


    nurses that Meredith could get in touch with had been asked to keep secret by him.


    "What do you want to know?" Damian asked cautiously, not daring to talk nonsense, for fear that it


    would backfire.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith''s uneasiness increased when she saw his expression and tone.


    "What exactly happened? What are you hiding from me?"


    Damian didn''t know what to say either. "Miss Mason, do you believe in him? If you do, just wait for him


    here."


    As an assistant, Damian couldn''t give Meredith a satisfactory answer, so he had to answer like this.


    After Damian finished speaking, he left for the time being. Meredith lowered her head. She really


    wanted to make herself believe in Derek. However, the feeling of uneasiness did not lessen. Instead, it


    became more and more intense.


    What should she do? Her mother''s condition had not improved, and she did not know what had


    happened to Derek. She was like a boat drifting in the sea, losing its direction.


    Perhaps, because she was pregnant, she was emotionally unstable. Meredith sat on the chair and


    couldn''t help crying. Tears fell on Amelia''s hand and sshed.


    Amelia, who had been sleeping, suddenly seemed to have sensed something. Her fingers moved and


    her blurry consciousness seemed to have returned.


    Her daughter... seemed to be in pain...


    Over the years, Amelia had been holding her breath to calm herself down, but now, Meredith''s pain


    made her heartache in waves. After struggling a few times, she opened her eyes.


    The sudden light made Amelia feel very dazzling, but she quickly looked at Meredith, who was sitting


    beside the hospital bed with her head down and lost.


    "Mer..."


    Amelia''s lips moved. She had not spoken for a long time, so her voice waspletely hoarse, like nails


    scraped through ss, and even a little harsh.


    Meredith stopped crying and looked at Amelia in disbelief. Seeing Amelia open her eyes, she couldn''t


    help but call out to the doctor, "Doctor,e on! My mother is awake!"


    The sudden surprise made Meredith''s sorrow dissipate a lot.


    The doctor immediately brought the medical team in and examined Amelia. Meredith didn''t even dare


    to blink, afraid that if she did, everything would disappear again.


    "Congrattions, Miss Mason. Your mother is fully conscious. She will recover soon after the


    rehabilitation training."


    Hearing this, Meredith''s heart finally rxed. The doctor understood her feelings and left after the


    examination.


    Only then did Meredith sit on the bed and look at her mother''s haggard face. "Mom..."


    The day that she had waited for so long had finally arrived. The only family in the world, the only person


    who loved her, had finally returned. Meredith felt that all the suffering she had suffered before was


    nothing at this moment.


    As long as mom was fine, everything would be worth it.


    Amelia also looked at Meredith seriously. She was a little more mature than she was then. She was no


    longer that innocent little girl. Her eyes were a little more calm and peaceful.


    "Mer, you''ve suffered." Amelia held Meredith''s hand, then noticed her bulging belly, and her eyes


    shed with surprise. "Mer, are you pregnant?"


    What did she miss during her unconscious days?


    She didn''t even know that her daughter was pregnant. She was such an ipetent mother.


    "Mmm..." Meredith nodded. Amelia looked at the inpatient ward again. There was no one else. "What


    about the child''s father? When is heing?"


    Amelia was naturally happy to know that her daughter was pregnant. She thought that Meredith had


    suffered so much and finally found a home. If that person was a good person, then she could trust him


    and let her daughter marry him.


    There was an unnatural look on Meredith''s face. "He... He''s not here right now..."


    When Amelia heard this, she was immediately dissatisfied. "You are pregnant. Does he let you take


    care of me here alone?"


    "He''s busy with work."


    "He shoulde here even if he is busy with work. He should have time tonight. Let me see him. I''ll


    take care of it for you."


    As soon as Amelia woke up, she immediately worried about Meredith''s marriage. It was not a child''s


    y for a woman to marry someone. If Mer was like her who would not be able to recognize people,


    she would marry a bad man. And marrying a bastard like Wesley would only be another tragedy.


    Amelia never wanted Meredith to be deceived again because she had suffered from men.

 Chapter 211

    Chapter 211


    Seeing that Amelia was agitated, Meredith was afraid that something would go wrong with Amelia, so


    she quickly pushed her back.


    "No, mom. We''re in a foreign country now. He''s working at home. There''s no way he cane right


    away."


    Amelia noticed something, after thinking for a while, "Why am I abroad?"


    She did not believe that the heartless Wesley would be that kind to send her to such a good hospital for


    treatment.


    Meredith didn''t really want to tell her mother. After all, her mother really loved Wesley. If she told her


    mother all the disgusting things that Wesley had done, she was afraid that her mother would not be


    able to bear it.


    "Mom, what do you think about... The Masons?"


    Now, the Masons was about to be destroyed because of Derek. Ava was being investigated. Various


    scandals were brewing. The share price of the Masons Group is on the verge of copse. The once


    prosperous family was about to fall.


    However, Amelia had put all her efforts to the Mason Group after all, and Meredith was worried that she


    would be reluctant to destroy it.


    "How could it be? From the day they sent you to the prison, I want them dead!"


    A trace of hatred shed in Amelia''s eyes. She was a person with clear love and hatred. Because of


    love, she would have fought with Wesley and started from scratch.


    But what they did to Meredith was unforgivable. No matter who they were, they couldn''t hurt her


    precious daughter.


    Hearing her mother say this, Meredith was a little relieved and told her about the Masons'' current


    predicament.


    Amelia couldn''t help but frown as she listened.


    She used to fight with Wesley. Although the Masons was not a rich family, it had some connections.


    How could her daughter have so much power to destroy such arge The Masons?


    "Mer, tell me the truth. Who is the father of the child?"


    Amelia was suddenly worried that Meredith had done something bad for revenge. Then she, as her


    mother, really had no face to live.


    "Mom..."


    Meredith didn''t know whether to say it or not. Derek was really a sensitive man.


    "Mer, you didn''t trade yourself for revenge, did you? Tell me you didn''t."


    Amelia was extremely anxious at the thought that her baby girl would do such a despicable thing. Her


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    pale, bloodless face was flushed red and her breathing became heavy, making her look very


    ufortable.


    "No, mom, don''t get excited!" Meredith was shocked and quickly calmed her down. Then, she told her


    about Derek.


    Amelia was startled to hear that it was Derek. Of course, she knew him, although Derek was far less


    powerful before she fainted.


    However, everyone in J City would know the only son of the Xaviers, the rightful heir.


    She didn''t expect her daughter to be with such a man.


    "Mer, tell mom what he feels for you?"


    Amelia knew that even if the Masons were still in the crest of the wave, it was unlikely that the Xaviers


    would take a fancy to the daughter of such a small family, so she was worried that Derek would only


    make Meredith be his secret lover.


    Her daughter, no matter what, could not be reduced to this.


    Meredith thought about it and told her mother everything. Her mother was the person she trusted the


    most. Besides, she had a lot of experience in life, so she must have her own opinions.


    Amelia couldn''t help but hold Meredith''s hand.


    Although Meredith did not want her to be too sad and omitted how The Masons bullied her, she


    understood that her daughter had suffered a lot in the past. Thanks to Derek, they had today''s


    reunification.


    There were few surprises in her heart. She didn''t expect that Derek, who had always been cold in her


    mind, would do so much for her daughter.


    "It''s just that I... I''m afraid I''m not worthy of him." After Meredith finished speaking. She finally spoke out


    the deepest worry in her heart.


    When facing Derek, she had always felt a little inferior, which was caused by the huge gap in status


    between them.


    "Mer, you are the best. Although the Xaviers is powerful, Derek is not the emperor. Don''t underestimate


    yourself!"


    Amelia was quite satisfied with Derek and had a n in mind.


    "When I get better, I will sue the Masons and take back what we deserve. When the timees, mom


    will fight with you. Even if I can''t be on the same level as the Xaviers, I will make sure you won''t be


    looked down upon."


    As a strong woman, Amelia was not afraid at all. For her daughter, she had endless power.


    Meredith was startled, and then she felt a little embarrassed. Even her mother, who had been sleeping


    in the hospital bed for so long, woke up with such courage. As a young person, she had lost that


    courage to even try.


    That was not right.


    "Mer, let me ask you, do you like him so deep that you want to spend the rest of your life with him?"


    Meredith was lost in her thought because of Amelia''s question. Derek''s face, his smile, his indifference,


    and his every move came to her mind. It had already been deeply engraved in her memory, unable to


    forget and erase.


    It turned out that she had been deeply in love with that man when thinking back. She even wanted to


    be with him for the rest of her life.


    "I, want to be with him."


    As Meredith said, Amelia took her hand. "Then don''t be afraid. Mom has your back. You can catch the


    man you like."


    Meredith nodded solemnly.


    Amelia''s words made her heart more rxed and determined.


    "I wonder if he cane to see me. I''m really curious about what''s going on between you two, and I


    can be your gatekeeper."


    Meredith thought for a moment. "I''ll call him to ask."


    As she spoke, she went out and called Derek. Strangely, no one answered.


    Meredith was a little uneasy, but she thought that it might be because Derek was busy with work or in a


    meeting, so she forced herself not to think too much and sent him another message. "Derek, my


    mother has woken up. She wants to see you."


    Derek had done too much for her, so the only thing she could do was trust him, and...hang in there .


    Meredith''s eyes shed with determination. This time, she had to try hard to grasp her happiness and


    not let it slip away from her.

 Chapter 212

    Chapter 212


    Derek walked out of the conference room, turned on his phone, and saw a text message from


    Meredith.


    When he saw her say that her mother had woken up, he seemed to see her happy face. She must be


    delighted since she had looked forward to her mother''s recovering.


    Derek subconsciously wanted to call her and share her joy, but when half of the number was pressed,


    he paused.


    A dark light shed in his eyes and he texted her instead. "I have been a little busytely, so it''s going


    to take a while."


    When Meredith received the message, she was talking to her mother. After waking up from hera,


    Amelia was very curious about what had happened.


    Meredith also enjoyed the peace with her family, so she kept talking to her mother, and the two women


    chattered about how they would start over and what business they wanted to do.


    Meredith''s cell phone rang. She turned it on and saw the message from Derek. Her smile stopped and


    she quickly put the phone away.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Seeing that Meredith seemed to be in a sudden depression, Amelia could not help but ask.


    "No, it''s just... He seems a little busy, so he can''te over right away."


    Meredith forced out a smile. "A while ago, he had left thepany for a long time to apany me.


    Now it''s really difficult fo rhim to find time toe over. Mom, don''t be angry. When he is free, he will


    definitelye."


    "You silly, how can I be angry? I just want you to be happy and to be with a reliable man. Since he''s so


    busy, I will wait when he''s free. Don''t think too much."


    Meredith nodded, but still felt a little uneasy.


    Although the tone of the message seemed to be the same as usual, Meredith inexplicably felt a little


    uneasy.


    She didn''t know what was going on. She felt terrible.


    ...


    Time passed quickly when one was busy.


    Meredith took care of her mother while waiting for Derek toe, but Derek never gave a certain time.


    Maybe it was because he was too busy.


    Meredith felt that she had been paranoid like other pregnant women.


    After talking with her mother for a while and watching her fall asleep, Meredith walked out with a sad


    expression on her face.


    These days, she felt something was wrong with Derek.


    But she could not tell exactly what it was. She felt there was a stone pressing down on her chest, and it


    made her ufortable.


    Meredith went to the canteen to buy something her mother liked to eat. She was waiting in line when a


    few girls'' chirping voices came into her ears.


    "Look at him. He''s so handsome!"


    "He is like a model."


    Meredith shook her head, feeling that these people were exaggerating, but when she passed by the


    ce with the newspapers, she nced at the man everyone was praising and wanted to know who he


    was.


    But she froze on the spot.


    That man was Derek.


    Meredith was not in the mood to queue at all. She sat down with a newspaper and flipped through it


    anxiously.


    It was written in English. Fortunately, Meredith was trained by the Masons as a youngdy, so her


    English was still OK. She could understand what it said on the newspaper.


    On the cover of the newspaper was Derek''s perfect face, which was as handsome as a Greek


    sculpture. There was no extra expression on his face. Although he just stood there, he was full of a


    dignified aura that made no one dare to approach him.


    Although it was just a snap, it could beparable to those carefully photographed fashion posters of


    celebrities. He was that charming.


    However, Meredith was not in the mood to appreciate it at all. She read the caption. Derek came here


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    for an important meeting. When he woke up, he began to gradually take back the foreign forces that


    were upied by others. This meeting was one part of his n.


    But... Why didn''t Derek contact her?


    Meredith was so sad, but she didn''t want to think about the bad situation.


    Maybe, Derek was just too busy. Maybe... he didn''t have time toe over, or maybe he wanted to


    surprise her?


    Meredith thought of many reasons to calm herself down. Ever since she decided to be with him forever,


    she didn''t want to doubt him for such a small thing.


    However, this newspaper could not be seen by her mother. In that case, she would probably be


    dissatisfied with Derek.


    Thinking about it, Meredith didn''t care so much. She put the newspaper back where it was, bought


    something, and went back.


    When Amelia saw that Meredith was out running errands again, her heart ached. "Why are you running


    around? You should rest more!"


    Meredith shook her head. "It''s only a few steps. It''s good to exercise sometimes."


    Although she tried to act to be normal, Amelia could tell at first nce that something was wrong with


    her. "Mer, what''s wrong?"


    Meredith realized that she was distracted and shook her head. "No, I''m just... a little tired."


    Amelia heard her say so and hurried her back to rest.


    Meredith didn''t insist on staying either. She was afraid her mother would find something was wrong


    with her. That would be awkward.


    When she got home, Meredith took her cell phone and scrolled it over and over again. She followed a


    few microblog ounts rted to the Xavier Group, which had posted many photos of his trip.


    Meredith didn''t know what she was looking forward to. She always thought if Derek came here, he


    would definitelye to see her.


    However, even after she saw the blog that said this meeting had ended and her eyes were sore, Derek


    didn''t call her.


    Was he really that busy?


    Meredith was a little disappointed, and she secretly expected Derek to give her a surprise.


    Meredith was down for a while, and then patted her face. It was too passive to wait for others to


    surprise her.


    She checked the hotel where Derek was staying. Since he was so busy, he must be very tired. She


    could take the initiative and go to him.


    Thinking about it, Meredith was motivated again. Instead ofining about him or thinking too


    much, she wanted to see him. She missed him too.


    However, thinking that Derek might be very tired, Meredith went to the kitchen and made a simple soup


    herself. Because she was pregnant, she learned how to make nutritious soups, and now it came in


    handy.


    After a while, the sweet corn rib soup was ready. Meredith carefully pourd it into a thermal box. Then,


    she asked the driver to take him to Derek''s hotel.


    If Derek was tired from work and suddenly saw her, he would be very surprised and happy. Thinking


    about it, Meredith smiled happily and couldn''t help but imagine the surprised look of a man.

 Chapter 213

    Chapter 213


    Meredith had been waiting outside for a long time. It was not until her eyes got tired that she saw


    peopleing out and the meeting was over.


    All the people present were eminent figures, but Meredith was not dazzled at all. Meredith was looking


    for Derek only.


    Soon Meredith captured the figure with a straight back among a group of sessful men in formal


    attire - Derek was wearing a long trench coat and he did not button it. The wind was blowing the coat at


    the moment and Derek looked elegant and easy-going, who looked a little more rxedpared with


    other people''s stiffness and rigidness.


    And there were several prettydies around Derek. After all, a man with excellent looks and prestigious


    family background would always be popr with females, no matter where he went.


    Meredith watched a blue-eyed foreign woman with blond hair leaning towards Derek. This woman had


    a very sexy body and was tall, wore high heels, and was only several centimeters shorter than Derek.


    Also, this woman has a figure with god shape, with plump breasts and wide hips, which made men


    quite excited at just one nce.


    Meredith felt a little sad and walked down with the thing grasping in her hand.


    Originally Derek was going to drive these women away, but when he caught a glimpse of Meredith who


    was not far away, he got surprised. He then gritted his teeth and forced himself to smile stiffly at the


    woman.


    "Did you just say we are going to have dinner together?"


    Seeing that Derek, who had always been indifferent to her, suddenly changed his mind, Catherine


    nodded quickly, "Is Mr. Xavier interested in this?"


    Meredith walked over with a frown. Derek did not reject this foreign woman, which was not like what he


    would do.


    However, despite her reluctance, Meredith walked over and approached Derek, "Derek, I''m here to see


    you."


    After that, Meredith shook thermos in her hand, "I specifically made the soup you like. Do you want to


    try it?"


    Meredith said this with a hint of disying her position. She didn''t want to lose to this foreign woman.


    Looking at the expression of the foreign woman just now, who seemed to be so enchanted by Derek...


    Derek''s eyes fell on the ordinary thermos in Meredith''s hand, and he seemed to be slightly touched.


    But soon, his eyes dimmed, "No, I don''t have time for this."


    "Catherine, I still have something to talk to you about. Let''s go."


    Derek forced himself not to look at Meredith''s expression and reached out to let Catherine hold his


    arm. The scene of Derek and Catherine standing together just seemed like a beautiful and fashionable


    poster.


    Meredith was stunned and looked at Derek, and Meredith could not believe her eyes. Although she


    came to see Derek on her own initiative, did he really feel so reluctant to see her? Or... Is it


    embarrassing for him to see her like this?


    Meredith couldn''t help looking at herself. Because she was pregnant, she could only wear a loose-


    fitting t-shirt with a childish cartoon face. She had t shoes on her feet and wore no makeup.


    Compared to the beautiful foreign woman in front of her, she was so in.


    Meredith sneered. It seemed that her current image was really not very attractive. But Derek had


    clearly asked her to wait for him, was this the result of the waitting?


    Derek walked quickly to the car and didn''t look back at Meredith. He walked so fast that Catherine


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    almost couldn''t catch up with him, "Mr. Xavier, is that woman pestering you? Do you want me to get the


    security guards to send her out?"


    How could Catherine not see Meredith''s weird expression? She thought that the pregnant woman must


    have pestered Derek frequently, which was the reason why Derek lost control over hisposure.


    "Security, get that woman out of here!"

 Chapter 214

    Chapter 214


    As soon as Catherine finished speaking, Derek gave her a cold look, and his voice was frighteningly


    low. "Have I allowed you to meddle?"


    Seeing that the security guards were really following Catherine''s orders, he looked fierce. "Get away.


    Just let her get out of here on her own. Don''t meddle."


    How dare the security guards offend Derek? They nced at the two of them with a strange look and


    then slipped away.


    Catherine looked at Derek''s angry face and felt aggrieved and gloomy. How could this man be so


    temperamental?


    It was okay if he didn''t want to pay attention to that pregnant woman. However, when she intended to


    chase the woman away, he simply got mad at her directly, which was really impolite.


    "Mr. Xavier, since you don''t want to drive her away, can I go?"


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Derek was toozy to pay attention to her. "If you want to go, just go. No one will keep you."


    "You!" Catherine was so angry that she couldn''t speak. Was this person mad? He was the one who


    agreed to the invitation, and he was also the one who was cold to her.


    Thinking about that, Catherine didn''t want to show excessive passion to someone cold. Still, she


    deliberately walked past Meredith and said, "Why, you have Mr. Xavier''s baby?"


    Meredith had been watching the two of them. Just now, she heard Catherine''s words about getting


    someone to chase her away. She had thought Derek would not care about her, but he still help her.


    What happened just now confused Meredith. She really didn''t understand what Derek was thinking


    about.


    However, when she saw this foreign woman so haughtily provoking her, she did not want to be so


    weak. What was wrong with her pregnancy? She had nothing less than this person. Why should the


    foreigner look down on her?


    "This is my business. You didn''t seem to get what you want, so whye here and show off in front of


    me?"


    "You!" Catherine did not expect this small, delicate woman to have such a sharp tone. "Forget it, I don''t


    bother to talk to a yellow-faced woman with a deformed body like you."


    As she spoke, she tugged at her Hermes bag and brushed past Meredith. However, her bag was so big


    that she deliberately tried to squeeze Meredith and it was scraped on Meredith''s clothes.


    Meredith didn''t expect it. Since Catherine''s figure was much bigger than her, she lost her bnce and


    almost fell to the ground.


    No!


    The child in her belly!


    Meredith was in a panic, but she didn''t have anything to hold onto. Therefore, she could only widen her


    eyes.


    Just as she was in a panic, a powerful hand suddenly held her shoulder. Derek had just seen Catherine


    talking when he walked over. He didn''t expect that Catherine would deliberately crush a pregnant


    woman.


    Fortunately, he was close enough to rush over in a few steps and hold Meredith''s body. Otherwise, the


    consequences would be unimaginable!


    Catherine didn''t expect this to happen either. Her intention was to show Meredith her limited-edition


    bag so that Meredith could be a little more self-aware about her identity and less unting in front of


    her.


    Unexpectedly, Meredith almost fell because of her.


    "Are you okay?" Catherine panicked and looked around for fear of being photographed by a reporter. If


    so, she couldn''t exin for herself and her reputation would also be affected.


    Meredith clutched Derek''s arm tightly, and the shock made her face as pale as paper.

 Chapter 215

    Chapter 215


    Derek pulled Meredith up, but she still covered her chest and breathed heavily, with cold sweat oozing


    from her forehead.


    It was so close that she might be pushed to the ground and lose her baby...


    "Are you okay?" Derek looked at Meredith''s pale face and reached out to wipe the cold sweat off her


    face, but he held back.


    Then, he called out the driver and asked him to take Meredith back to the car to rest. He then looked at


    Catherine coldly.


    "I... I didn''t mean it!" Catherine was so frightened by the look in her eyes that she felt as if Derek


    wanted to kill her.


    She shuddered for a moment. "I was just passing by and didn''t see her."


    Catherine said, trembling. She was not arrogant at all as she had been a moment ago.


    Derek only nced at her. He didn''t hit women, but this woman was so stupid just now and he really


    want to beat her this time.


    "I will consider whether I will cooperate with your family. With a daughter who can be rude to a pregnant


    woman, I doubt your family''s character."


    After Derek finished speaking, he didn''t care what Catherine was thinking and just left.


    "No, you can''t..."


    When Catherine heard this, she stepped forward and tried to hold Derek''s hand. This time, she


    approached Derek mainly to cooperate with Xavier Group.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Although her family was noble, it had already reduced in a dire state. They were nobles in name that


    lived on their ancestral properties. If the only property was suppressed by Derek, her family would be


    devastated, and she would never be able to live such a luxurious life.


    Derek shook off her hand and looked at her with disgust. "You like to show off your designer bags. I''m


    curious how you can show them off after your family is down?"


    After Derek finished speaking, he left without looking back.


    Catherine looked at his back. First, she begged loudly, but when she saw that it didn''t work, she began


    to curse. However, no matter what she did, Derek didn''t look back at her.


    ...


    When Derek opened the car door and saw Meredith, who was still in the back seat with a pale face,


    holding thermos in her hand, as if holding some rare treasure.


    His heart softened, and the ferocity that had been forced out had dissipated. He could not help but


    speak in the softest tone, "What are you doing here? Were you scared just now?"


    Meredith did not look up and maintained the self-protective position. When she heard Derek''s words,


    she shook her head slightly.


    Seeing that she didn''t speak, Derek frowned. Did she just get scared? It was reasonable for a pregnant


    woman to be scared and flustered when she was almost knocked down by a fool.


    "I''ve already scolded her. Don''t worry. She doesn''t dare to trouble you again."


    When Meredith heard this, her expression changed slightly. Sge looked up at Derek''s eyes. His dark


    eyes were full of concern for her, but she felt even more confused.


    "Why didn''t you tell me that you came here?" Meredith''s voice was muffled, with an unusual tinge of


    coquettishness.


    She really cared about this. Derek came to such a ce, but he didn''t tell her. Moreover, he even


    wanted to ignore her?


    His strange behaviors made Meredith very uneasy.

 Chapter 216

    Chapter 216


    Derek noticed that she was uneasy. He clenched his fists. The veins in his hands were beating, and a


    After a long time, he replied, "It''s because I''m too busy with work. I don''t have time to meet you. It''s


    better for us to wait and then meet each other when I''m really free. Otherwise, you will be


    disappointed."


    This exnation was not uneptable to Meredith. She raised her head and looked at the small ck


    circles under Derek''s eyes. He had them probably because he was too busy with work in recent days.


    Maybe he was really busy...


    Meredith thought to herself and she felt better. However, she asked him, "Then why didn''t you talk to


    me? Why were you with that woman?"


    "Are you jealous?" Derek looked at Meredith, who was like an abandoned puppy, and his heart


    suddenly softened when he heard her pitiful tone. "I have to talk with her about cooperating with her


    family. However, since she is so rude, I don''t think we should cooperate with her."


    Hearing this, Meredith felt less gloomy. Since Derek had given up cooperating with that woman for her,


    it seemed that she shouldn''t be obsessed with this matter.


    "Well..." Meredith replied sullenly. "So you''re still busy? If you''re tired, you should go back to the hotel


    and rest."


    From the moment Dereknded, he did not sleep or even have the time to get over jetg. He must be


    very tired.


    Derek nodded. "Then you should go back to the hospital and take care of auntie. Don''t worry about


    me."


    Meredith felt something was wrong. Usually, Derek would have asked her to stay with him. After all,


    she could help make coffee or something in the hotel.


    It seemed that the man...was increasingly unwilling to keep herpany.


    Maybe it was because he was tired from work?


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    Meredith felt a little ufortable, especially when he didn''t even ask about the thing she had been


    doing for so long. She was rather unwilling. "I''m tired. Can I go to your ce to rest for a while?"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s expression. There was cautiousness and expectation in her eyes. His mind


    wandered for a moment, and then he looked away. "If you''re tired, go back. I might have to go out for


    dinner tonight. I don''t have time for you."


    Derek''s tone was very stiff. Hearing this, Meredith felt strange.


    Did he say that because he felt that he was a useless man who needed a lot ofpany when he


    didn''t work?


    After thinking about it, Meredith was a little discouraged. Since Derek didn''t want to see her, why did


    she have to be so nice to him when he was so nonchnt?


    However, when she caught a glimpse of the scar on Derek''s hand that had not fully healed, the anger


    that she had just felt dissipated a lot.


    When those people came to attack herst time, he had covered her and gotten this scar. Now,


    although the wound had healed, the scar was still there.


    Seeing that, she couldn''t get angry either. Instead, her desire became stronger. "No, I need to rest now.


    It must be closer for me to go to the ce you live than to the hospital or the vi. Let me go and have


    a rest. It won''t be much of a problem."


    Meredith had always been straightforward. Since Derek was hiding something from her, she had to


    pester him until he told her what was wrong.


    She did not believe that a man who had actively helped her and gotten hurt because of her a few days


    ago would be fed up with her so quickly.


    There must be some misunderstanding.

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    Chapter 217


    When words got in the way, Derek nced at Meredith. Indeed, she looked bad and she was a little


    tired.


    In the end, he still did not refute her words but turned his head and no longer looked at her. He looked


    at the scenery outside the window and said"Since you insist, then go ahead. I will leave now and you


    can have a good rest here."


    Meredith let out a soft "hum." The two of them were so quiet that no one spoke again.


    Derek''s hotel was indeed very close to here, and thepany directly booked the presidential suite,


    not only fully equipped but even with a small swimming pool not far away.


    "You have rest here. When you want to go back, ask the driver to drive you back."


    Derek gave the room card to Meredith and left without a pause.


    Meredith frowned and watched him leave. She did not ask him to stay. Since Derek had something to


    do, she would not force him to stay here. At worst, she could wait here for a long time.


    Meredith put down thermos in her hand, opened it, and a heavy and sweet fragrance came from inside.


    She smiled. This was done by her with great effort, but Derek did not take a single sip.


    At the thought of this, Meredith was a little distracted. At this moment, her phone rang. It was from


    Amelia.


    When Meredith came to her, Amelia was sleeping, so Meredith didn''t wake her up. Now that Amelia


    saw her daughter was not there, Amelia had to ask Meredith where Meredith was.


    "Don''t worry, mom, I''m..." Meredith wanted to say that she hade to see Derek, but when she


    thought that her mother had been waiting for the chance to meet him but that Derek might not have


    time to meet her mother, she held back. "I''m a little tired. I just rest at home."


    Amelia knew her daughter quite well. When she noticed the hesitation in Meredith''s tone, she knew


    that it must not be that simple. "What''s the matter, Mer, are you in trouble? Tell it to me, or else I will be


    worried about you so much."


    Meredith smiled. "There''s really nothing, mom. I just woke up, so I am a little confused. Are you okay


    there?"


    Meredith was afraid that Amelia would be disappointed to know about Derek, so she decided to keep it


    a secret.


    When she realized that Meredith didn''t want to tell her the reason, Amelia sighed. "My little girl..."


    "Well, forget it if you don''t want to say it. If there''s anything that makes you unhappy, you should tell


    me. Also, when is Derek free? He has to apany you no matter what. You are about to give birth


    and are still out there alone."


    Amelia really felt distressed for her daughter. She always felt that Derek''s status was too high to be her


    daughter''s husband.


    She didn''t want Meredith to be too humble.


    "Well, I''ll talk to him sometime." When Meredith realized that Amelia was urging Derek to meet Amelia


    again, Meredith was afraid couldn''t hide it anymore. She hurriedly talked of other topics for a few words


    and hung up the phone.


    After she hung up the phone, Meredith stood up with some mncholy. She knew what her mother


    was thinking. Her mother just wanted to see if Derek was worthy of being entrusted with Meredith''s life


    and hope that Meredith would be happy.


    It was just...


    Meredith was full of confidence before, but she lost some of that due to Derek''s inexplicable behavior.


    However, she still didn''t want to give up.


    It was getting dark, and Meredith gradually got sleepy. Shey on the sofa and couldn''t help but doze


    off. She waited in a daze for Derek toe back.


    She was like a wife waiting for her husband toe home.


    Derek had dinner with a few business partners outside and deliberately stayed there for a while before


    returning to the hotel. He was relieved to see that the lights were off.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 218

    Chapter 218


    If Meredith was still around, he really didn''t know how to face her.


    Derek went upstairs and opened the door, only to find that there was someone in the room. He frowned


    and turned on the lights. Then he saw Meredith sleeping on the sofa.


    She hadn''t left yet?


    Derek looked at Meredith leaning on the sofa. Since she was pregnant, her posture was a little


    awkward. Her high and bulging abdomen was leaning on a cushion. She didn''t sleep well and her


    eyebrows were furrowed.


    Derek couldn''t help but reach out and smooth out the wrinkles on her brows. Just as he touched them,


    Meredith woke up.


    When she opened her eyes, she saw Derek''s striking face. She was in a daze for a moment before she


    sat up and rubbed her eyes. "You''re back?"


    Meredith saw that it was dark outside and asked subconsciously, "Have you had dinner?"


    Of course Derek had finished dinner. However, when she asked, he realized something. "You haven''t


    had dinner yet?"


    The man''s tone was tinged with anger. This woman could not take care of her body at all. When she


    was pregnant and hungry, she was still sitting on the sofa with nothing on top of her.


    She was crazy.


    "I fell asleep." Meredith rubbed her legs. Since she was pregnant, her whole body ached after sitting


    there for a while.


    Seeing her like this, Derek felt helpless and distressed. "Next time, don''t wait for me like this."


    He didn''t want to see her waiting for him like this.


    "Derek, I feel that you look weird."


    Meredith was sobered up by his words and couldn''t help but say what she was thinking. "Do you have


    any grudges against me? If so, can you just say it? If what you say makes sense, I can change it."


    Meredith did not want to continue this inexplicable cold war. She knew that when two people were


    together, they had to tolerate each other. Someone had topromise to make itst.


    She would rather Derek had pointed out her shorings than keep guessing what he was thinking.


    "... Derek was silent for a while. Still, there was nothing for him to say.


    It was not her fault. It was just... There was no way out.


    Thinking about it, the man was also very upset. He looked at the time and said, "I''ll get someone to


    bring you food. After you eat, go home."


    Meredith was delighted to know that Derek would order her favorite dishes from the menu. However,


    when she heard that he was trying to drive her away, she couldn''t understand. "Why do you always


    want to drive me away? Do I disturb your work here?"


    Derek nced at her. Meredith was angry and looked a little more cute than the moment when she had


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    just woken up. His eyes dimmed. "Yes. With you here, I can''t concentrate on my work. So you have to


    go back."


    Meredith sneered. "But you never said that before when you asked me to make you coffee and let me


    stand like a stake in your office."


    It was not like she didn''t work with Derek before. She was the one who made him coffee all the time.


    Didn''t he find this excuse ridiculous?


    Derek choked on her words. This woman did not be stupid when she was pregnant. Moreover,


    she had a sharper tone.


    There were knocks on the door when he didn''t know how to refute it. "Sir, your order has arrived."

 Chapter 219

    Chapter 219


    Derek asked someone to bring the things in.


    The faint aroma of the food provoked Meredith''s empty stomach.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She was really hungry.


    "Come and eat something."


    Derek called her over, and her expression was still cold.


    Meredith walked over and saw that the dishes he ordered were still the ones she liked, and in order to


    take care of her appetite, he ordered a very light soup.


    Would such a man not like her?


    Meredith had always believed that love could be expressed through actions, so she said nothing more.


    Perhaps, Derek had been too busy and tired recently, so he didn''t want to express anything.


    Meredith sat down and ate slowly. She ate elegantly. Derek watched her eat, and a sense of happiness


    was slowly emerging in his heart.


    He didn''t even notice that he was fully attracted by watching a woman eating something.


    It was Meredith who found Derek staring at her with full attention, so focused that she felt embarrassed,


    "What? Is there something on my face?"


    Only then did Derek realize what was wrong and coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment. "Yes,


    you ate so poorly that you even had food on your face."


    Meredith was stunned and her face blushed. Did she really be that careless and leave something on


    her face?


    So, she rubbed her hand around the corner of her mouth and found nothing wrong. Just as she was


    wondering, Derek came over and pretended to take a grain of rice off her face, "You silly girl!"


    Meredith looked at Derek a little unconvinced. "I think there was nothing on my face. Are you looking


    for an excuse to take advantage of me?"


    Derek''s attention was exposed, and an awkward look shed in his eyes. "You think too much, and I


    wonder how you can eat your food to your face. Won''t you order something for yourself here?"


    "I was waiting for you. I was always waiting for you and fell asleep when I was a little tired. Shouldn''t I


    me you?"


    Meredith tilted her head and looked at Derek, said directly.


    Derek snorted. "Should I be responsible for everything? It''s time for you to be independent."


    Meredith felt a little ufortable when she heard this. Was that why Derek had been cold to her


    recently?


    After thinking about it, Meredith reflected on herself. It seemed that she had really done nothing since


    she left the Xavier Group. She was also disturbed by Ava when she went to apply for a job, and then


    she stayed at home. It seemed that she was really disconnected from the busy society now.


    After thinking for a while, she swallowed the food in her mouth and wiped the corners of her mouth. "I


    see. You think I''m too dependent because I''ve been idle at hometely and do nothing?"


    "Then when I have a baby, I will go out to work. My mom is also thinking about how to revive the


    Masons. I won''t be decadent for long. You have to give me some time."


    Derek did not expect Meredith to say that. He thought that Meredith would be angry and want to leave


    immediately after hearing his words, but what she said really surprised him.


    "Are you going to take over the Masons again?"


    Nowadays, The Masons was not a cash cow now, because all kinds of internal and external troubles


    had torn it off. Ordinary people would never mix themselves with such muddy water.


    "Of course, the Masons business is my mother''s hard work. How can I just give up?"

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    Chapter 220


    Meredith''s eyes sparkled with hope and expectation for the future.


    Derek just looked at them and did not speak, but he had an idea in his mind.


    the Masons had almost been destroyed by him, but since Meredith wanted to take back what belonged


    to him, he probably had to use a softer approach.


    Perhaps this would be hisst gift to Meredith.


    His eyes darkened as he thought about it. He saw that Meredith had finished eating, so he stood up.


    "Okay, you''re finished. You can go now."


    Meredith looked at the man who had ordered her to leave. She could see his inner conflict. He was


    afraid that she would be hungry but at the same time, he tried to drive her away.


    What was going on with him?


    Thinking about it, Meredith stood up. But instead of leaving as Derek had expected, she sat directly on


    hisp, leaned over, and bit Derek''s lips.


    She had learned from someone that it was better to look at a man''s instinctive reaction rather than


    listen to his words.


    Meredith wanted to see what his most instinctive reaction was. Would he push her away, or...


    Derek did not expect her to be so proactive. The familiar and sweet scent surrounded him, making his


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    desire surge. He did not hesitate and immediately took back the initiative.


    He had also wanted her for a long time. He was captivated by her. He might be able to restrain himself


    if he hadn''t been with her, but once he did it, he couldn''t get away and just wanted to be lost in desire.


    Meredith felt the man''s ferocious action. To be honest, Derek''s kiss was not gentle. It seemed that he


    wanted to devour her, but she did not struggle and resist. Instead, she was a little happy.


    Did this show that he still liked her? But why didn''t he show it?


    Meredith was not as shy as she used to be and tried to kiss him as he was doing. When Derek realized


    this, his eyes were filled with lust and he kissed her even harder.


    After some time, this hot kiss finally came to an end. Meredith''s face was flushed red from theck of


    oxygen, but her eyes were sparkling with a hint of sweetness and happiness.


    She couldn''t help but touch her lips. "Derek, are you still going to drive me away?"


    It was only then that Derek realized that this little woman had deliberately seduced him. His eyes


    dimmed as he looked at Meredith''s blushed cheeks. She was still panting and her chest was heaving,


    which made her breast which had been bigger because of pregnancy seem conspicuous.


    The man swallowed, turned his head away, took a deep breath, and then moved Meredith from hisp


    to the sofa. "I''ll get someone to send you back."


    If he didn''t send her home, he might not be able to control himself and did something he shouldn''t do


    now with her.


    Meredith looked at him, reached out her hand, and held his arm. She had given up her dignity and


    everything.


    Since she had just offered to kiss him, she gave up her reserved manner. "It''s sote. I''ll stay with you


    and leave tomorrow."


    Derek nced at her. "What''s wrong with you? You are different today."


    In the past, Meredith blushed when he touched her. She had never been so proactive.


    "You are different from usual, so I have to take the initiative."

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    Chapter 221


    After finishing the talking, Meredith felt her face burning hot, but she did not want to alienate Derek for


    no reason.


    Besides, Derek was so busy right now. If Meredith did note to Derek and watch him, and another


    woman like the one appeared today came to Derek again, Meredith would be hurt devastatingly.


    Meredith insisted. Derek looked at her for a few seconds and said, "Then you can stay."


    Meredith nodded and called Damian, saying that she was not going home tonight.


    Damian naturally knew that Derek hade, but he did not ask more. However, Meredith was very


    curious, "Damian, is he in some trouble now? Why do I think something is wrong with him?"


    Damian was shocked by this, but then it urred to Damian that Meredith had not been aware of the


    engagement, "No, what''s the matter? Why don''t you just ask for it?"


    Damian didn''t dare to say anything. If Damian said something that he should not have said and caused


    some trouble, he was far from being capable to bear the consequences.


    "Maybe the boss has been working too hardtely and is under a lot of pressure. Please be more


    considerate."


    With some random excuse, Damian fooled Meredith and then hung up the phone.


    Meredith was also somewhat helpless. She felt that these people were hiding something from her, but


    she did not know what it was.


    Could it be that the Masons was making some conspiracy again?


    Judging by the character of Ava and ra, it didn''t seem impossible.


    A grain of irritation shed through Meredith''s mind. While at the moment Derek had already walked


    into the bathroom. Meredith then called without any concerns.


    After thinking about it, Meredith took the hotel phone and called Ava.


    Ava was busy looking forwyers and public-rtions teams to solve her problem, but when those


    people heard that Ava had offended the Xaviers, they all stoutly refused to help. Even though Ava


    would be willing to pay them with a fortune, which she had saved from filming over the years, no one


    was willing to take the risk of offending the Xaviers to help.


    For a moment, the once-morous female star, the national blossom, had be a street mouse that


    everyone shouted at and beat. Even the once quite arrogant fans all did things to sabotage Ava.


    After all, once what Ava had done was exposed, her image of being pure, kind, and not contaminated


    by social evils had been ruinedpletely. Now, she had to wear a mask and pair of sunsses even


    when she went out, not because she was afraid of being recognized for autographs, but because she


    was afraid of being beaten up to vent anger.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "It''s all Meredith''s fault, this bitch!" Although Ava was not in custody, she was already under


    surveince. Now she dared not go out, which was no different from being in jail.


    While Ava was scolding Meredith, a phone call came in. Ava picked it up and Meredith''s voice came


    from the other side of the phone, "Ava, how are you? How have you been recent?"


    Hearing it was Meredith''s voice, Ava''s face turned red with anger, "Meredith, you bitch, you''re not dead


    yet?"


    Meredith sneered, "If you don''t die, how can I die? Even if I die, I must watch you have suffered from


    retribution first!"


    However, Meredith did not want to say these words with inauspicious meanings. Meredith then said,


    "Did you say something to Derek? I am warning you, nothing you say will make a difference. You are


    destined to pay the price for your evil deeds in the past. Stop ying tricks."


    Ava narrowed her eyes. Originally she was angry, but then she felt a little bit calm after hearing what


    Meredith had said.


    It sounded that there seemed to be something wrong between Meredith and Derek, but how did it


    happen?


    If that wasn''t the case, how could Meredith have called her specifically?


    Ava smiled immediately and said, "It looks like the rtionship between you and Derek isn''t as strong


    as I have thought. Meredith, I advise you to be careful and let dad out quickly, lest Derek abandons you


    someday and you will get yed seriously by the Masons."

 Chapter 222

    Chapter 222


    "I''ll see what will happen to you!"


    Meredith was upset by what Ava said, so she hung up the phone. She had to admire Ava''s


    psychological quality as even if Ava was doomed to go to prison, she still didn''t forget to treat her badly.


    Meredith didn''t want to be affected by Ava''s words, but it was hard not to think about it.


    After all, everything she had now, whether it was her mother''s advanced nursing home or her current


    carefree life, was provided by Derek.


    Even if she didn''t want to admit it, she had to say that Derek was the man who gave her everything.


    If one day, he really abandoned her, what would she be like?


    Meredith did not dare to imagine it. Then, she made up her mind as she really couldn''t go on sponging


    off Derek. One day, he would be tired of her. When the baby was born, she had to start a new life.


    Just as Meredith was daydreaming, Derek came out of the bathroom. The lust that had just been


    stirred up by Meredith finally dissipated after a cold shower. However, when the man came out and saw


    Meredith sitting on the bed, he felt thirsted.


    However, he quickly walked away and took the hairdryer to the other side of the bed. Since he could


    not resist the charm of that woman, he could choose to hide.


    Meredith was surprised to see hime out and take the hairdryer to another bed. Then she walked


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    over and said, "I''ll help you dry your hair."


    It wasn''t the first time Meredith had done this job, so she was familiar with it.


    Derek refused without a second thought. "Just take a rest. I''ll do it myself."


    Meredith insisted. "It''s not like I haven''t done that. Why do you refuse?"


    "I said I don''t need it anymore." Derek held the hairdryer in his hand. "It''s not convenient for you to do


    that when you''re pregnant. You should rest now."


    Since Derek insisted, Meredith had no choice. She could sense that Derek was trying to change the


    habits between them little by little.


    Did he want to remove her traces from his life?


    Thinking of this, Meredith suddenly felt a slight pain in her chest. Lying on the bed, she was not active


    anymore.


    She had been taking the initiative all day and did not get anything back. She would be tired of getting


    such cold replies all the time.


    Thinking about it, she didn''t care what Derek was doing either. She closed her eyes and started to


    sleep.


    Seeing that she was going to sleep, Derek found a corner to dry his hair before returning.


    Meredith was already asleep. After all, she was about to give birth soon. She had been in the car for a


    long time today, and she cooked for Derek herself. She was very tired, so she fell asleep even when


    she was stressed out.


    Derek stood aside and looked at her peaceful sleeping face, his eyes filled with both affection and


    despair.

 Chapter 223

    Chapter 223


    Derek looked at her for a long time before returning to the other bed. After all, it was the presidential


    suite, and there was nock of the bed.


    However, Derek was lying in bed, tossing and turning. He was already very tired, but he couldn''t fall


    asleep.


    Listening to Meredith''s steady breathing, the faint and pleasant fragrance of her body seemed to linger


    on the tip of his nose. Derek sat up abruptly and looked at the woman who had a sweet sleep, feeling a


    little resentful.


    It was all because she was here that he couldn''t sleep, but Meredith was sleeping soundly...


    After thinking, Derek could not resist the physical exhaustion andy in Meredith''s bed. Fortunately, this


    bed was big enough that even if there was one more person, he would not influence Meredith.


    Dereky on the bed, listening to Meredith''s steady breathing, then slowly felt sleepy, but could not


    help but smile bitterly in his heart.


    It turned out that this woman had affected him to this extent. Without her, he could not even sleep.


    As he thought about it, his exhaustion began to appear and Derek fell asleep.


    In the middle of the night, Meredith felt a little cold and felt the heat source around her. Derek''s body


    temperature was already a little higher than hers. She nestled in his warm, broad arms, and the familiar


    smell made her sleep sweeter and sweeter.


    A good night''s sleep.


    The morning sun came in and slowly woke Meredith up. She was in a daze for a moment before she


    realized where she was...


    She soon realized that she was sleeping in a person''s arms and that she was held tightly, like a pillow,


    and there was no room for struggle.


    With a slight movement of her head, Meredith looked at Derek''s face. Even being looked at at such a


    strange angle, he was still so perfect. The curve of his jaw was wless, exquisite, and masculine.


    A little stubble appeared on his chin, not shaggy, but a little more mature man''s sexiness and elegance.


    Meredith narrowed her eyes at him and had to say that the kind of beautiful scene makes her happy


    after waking up.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She couldn''t help but think that if she faced Derek every day during her pregnancy, the baby might be


    more beautiful. After all, some people had said that when you were pregnant, you should look at people


    who are pretty and then your children would be more beautiful.


    Meredith had a bee in her head, but she didn''t want to get up from Derek at all. She had not


    experienced such peace and warmth for a long time, so she cherished it at this moment.


    She thought that Derek was really stressed out, so he lost his temper and wanted to distance her.


    She did not believe that a man who hugged her with such possessiveness after she fell asleep did not


    like her in his heart.


    Thinking about it, Meredith was much more determined.


    Derek was busy and tired now. She should be more considerate of him than full of suspicion.


    After lying down for a while, Derek''s rm clock rang.


    His schedule was full, so he had to go to the meeting early in the morning.


    Meredith was a little annoyed. This rm clock really didn''t ring at the right time. She thought Derek


    should sleep a little longer.


    However, before she could get up to set the rm, Derek woke up and saw Meredith appear in front of


    him. He hesitated for a moment, then naturally grabbed her around the waist and said, "Morning..."

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    Chapter 224


    Meredith could not help butugh. She had rarely seen Derek so drowsy. He was always serious in


    front of everyone, looking like a god who was out of touch with reality.


    However, his being like this made Meredith feel closer to him.


    "Morning..." Meredith kissed Derek''s lips. "Don''t you want to sleep a little longer?"


    Only then did Derek wake up. He then frowned and nce at the bedding. He remembered that he had


    up, but to his surprise, he had slept so soundly...


    In that case, how could he let Meredith leave?


    Derek''s face turned grim. He got up and went into the bathroom to wash up.


    Meredith felt a little strange but still did not think too much. After all, Derek was always upset when he


    got up. She ordered some breakfast that Derek liked, thinking that it would be morefortable for him


    to go out and work after eating.


    But Derek took a shower in the bathroom and came out to change.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Have breakfast first. It''s good for your stomach."


    As Meredith spoke, Derek who was doing his tie paused. A look of unwillingness shed in his eyes.


    "You''ve been here for a long time. Now go back. I''m leaving soon."


    Derek''s tone was very cold. At least, it extinguished more than half of the kindness and warmth in


    Meredith''s heart.


    "I..."


    Meredith wanted to say something, but after Derek got dressed, he left directly, leaving her with an


    unusually cold back.


    Meredith felt discouraged. She was really confused by this capricious man.


    Could it be that men also have a cycle every month that would make them upset at everything? That


    was why Derek was acting so weirdly?


    Meredith was making blind conjectures. She didn''t want to stay here any longer. Her mother didn''t


    know where he had gone and what she had done. If she didn''t go back, her mother would be


    suspicious.


    Meredith called the driver to take her. Back to the hospital, she pretended she wasing from home


    and greeted Amelia with a smile. Nn was there too. When he saw her, his eyes dimmed. He looked


    at her and seemed to notice something.


    Meredith noticed something. She looked over, but Nn smiled and looked into her eyes as if he hadn''t


    noticed anything.


    Meredith couldn''t help shaking her head. Although this Nn didn''t look like a doctor, many of his


    treatments were really useful. Unlike the conventional treatments, his ideas were bold but effective.


    So, Meredith didn''t say anything. "Mr. Leslie, is my mother recovering well?"


    Nn nodded and looked at Meredith''s clothes, thinking that they were the same as yesterday''s, and


    the smell on her changed...


    Obviously, she didn''t go home as usual but went somewhere else.


    And yesterday... someone seemed to have alsoe here. Could it be...


    Nn seemed to have remembered something, so he went out to make a phone call.


    "It seems that someone is disobedient again?"


    The usual modest smile on the man''s face was gone. She looked cold and cruel now.


    Derek was talking to someone when his phone rang. He took it out, took a look at it, and clenched the


    phone in his hand. His knuckles went white because he was exerting too much force.

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    Chapter 225


    "Mr. Xavier, what''s wrong?"


    The organizer of the meeting saw that Derek''s face darkened, so he quickly went forward to ask.


    Derek had got rid of his earlier emotions and realized that he had lost hisposure. He forced a


    smile. "Nothing. It''s just that something came to mind."


    Seeing that Derek was fine, the man left wisely. Derek''s eyes darkened and he was so upset that he


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    even wanted to leave this damn venue.


    In the hospital.


    Meredith sat and talked with Amelia while watching Nn work through the treatment, during which


    Meredith functioned as a helper. However, Meredith was obviously absent-minded today.


    "Mer? Mer?" Amelia watched as Nn walked out while Meredith still stared straight ahead without any


    reaction. So Amelia couldn''t help shaking her head.


    What was wrong with this child? She had been here all morning, but her mind had long been lost.


    "Ah?" When Meredith heard the voice, she suddenly came to her senses and smiled apologetically at


    Nn. After all, he was the professional who was arranged by Derek, so he could not be neglected no


    matter what.


    Meredith stood up and see him out.


    Nn nced at Meredith. "Miss Mason, I have something to tell you."


    Meredith thought it had something to do with her mother''s illness. So she nodded and followed him, but


    she did not notice that the man''s eyes became sharper the moment he turned around.


    "You seem to be a little absent-minded today. Why? Is there anything wrong?"


    When the two of them arrived at the rooftop, there were very few people passing by, so it was very


    quiet and suitable for a private conversation.


    "..." Meredith didn''t expect Nn to ask this. The man in front of her was usually not interested in other


    people''s privacy. Instead, he only concentrated on his job duty.


    "Nothing, I just..." Although Meredith and Nn knew each other, they were never intimate enough to


    confess their own affairs.


    Seeing Meredith lower her head, Nn scrutinized her. It didn''t seem like the look when a doctor was


    looking at a patient''s family member. Instead, it seemed that he was some kind of superior figure,


    looking down at the ant on the ground.


    Meredith thought for a moment and looked up. "It''s just a personal matter."


    When Meredith sensed that Nn kept on looking her that way, she found it weird and was stunned for


    a moment, and her heart beat wildly.


    The foreboding of seeing Nn for the first time surfaced again.


    The next moment, however, Nn smiled at her. "That''s good. I thought you were in trouble. If you


    encounter any problems, you can tell me. After all... I''m here to help you."


    Nn''s voice was still gentle and elegant and he looked innocent. Meredith started to feel that her


    suspicion just now might be wrong.


    After all, after Nn came here, her mother''s condition had improved a lot. What was more, he was


    also a professional specially invited by Derek. She seemed not to have any unnecessary doubts about


    such a person.


    "I''m fine. Thank you for your concern."


    "Really? It''s fine."


    Seeing that Meredith was not suspicious, Nn loosened his slightly clenched fingers.


    "In that case, I''ll go back first. I can''t leave my mother alone."


    Meredith thought about it and left.


    Nn didn''t say anything more. He just looked at her back and couldn''t help shaking his head.


    He didn''t expect this woman to be as stupid as he thought. Just now, she seemed to have some doubts


    about him. Fortunately, she didn''t keep suspecting.


    Nn thought, pulled his tie and was about to leave when a nurse came over. "Mr. Leslie? Is Miss


    Mason here?"


    The nurse had a report in her hand. She had just gone to the ward to look for Meredith, but she didn''t


    find her. Therefore, she asked someone and got here.


    Nn was about to shake his head, but his eyes fell on the report. Then his face suddenly darkened.


    "She went to the bathroom. I''m waiting for her here. What do you want to see her for?"


    The nurse looked at Nn''s handsome and elegant face. Although doctor Leslie was not from this


    hospital, he attracted a lot of attention every time he appeared.


    After all, such an outstanding, good-looking male doctor was the prince charming in the hearts of


    nurses, much more attractive than those ordinary male doctors in their hospital.


    "I..." The nurse blushed. "This document must be given to her. I''ll look for her again."


    Nn was even more curious after hearing what the nurse said. If he was not mistaken, it was


    probably a DNA test report.


    If it was Meredith''s, it should have something to do with the child in her womb, which he was also


    curious about.


    "I know you''re quite busy right now. Why don''t you give it to me? I''ll give it to her."


    "Or do you not believe in my professional ethics?"


    The nurse wanted to say no, but Nn suddenly moved closer. Looking at the pretty face, she felt a


    little embarrassed and couldn''t care less. "Then I''ll trouble doctor Leslie."


    After getting the document, Nn watched the shy young nurse walk away, and then a wry smile


    appeared on his face. He opened the report, but the curve of his mouth froze on his face...


    ...


    Back in bed, Amelia stared at Meredith. "Mer, are you in trouble? Is there something you can''t tell


    mom?"


    Meredith shook her head. She was confused about Derek, but she couldn''t let her mother know.


    Recently, her mother had been thinking about meeting Derek. As a mother, she naturally wanted to find


    out if he was sincere about her daughter.


    But now...


    At the thought of Derek''s uncertain attitude, Meredith did not dare to let hime over, let alone let her


    mother down.


    "I''m fine, but I''m a little tired."


    Meredith shook her head, not wanting to say anything.


    Amelia asked a few more questions, but Meredith still refused to reply. In the end, Amelia could only


    sigh, "I''m useless. I can''t help you."


    Hearing her mother say that, Meredith''s heart ached. "No, it''s just..."


    Meredith hesitated. Seeing that her daughter was in a difficult position, Amelia shook her head and


    said, "Forget it, Mer. Since you don''t want to say it, I''ll wait until you''re ready. Just remember, mom will


    always be your backup. If anyone dares to bully my daughter, I will fight him to the end even if I put my


    life on the line!"


    Meredith smiled, and she was deeply moved. It was really good to have her mother by her side. "Mom,


    what nonsense are you talking about? You don''t have to fight for me because there are no such terrible


    things happening."


    Just as she wasforting Amelia with her words, Nn walked in. "Meredith, here''s something for


    you."

 Chapter 226

    Chapter 226


    Meredith thought Nn had left and was surprised to see him return, but she still walked over. "What is


    it?"


    Nn handed her the report that had returned to its original state. "I don''t know what it is. The nurse


    gave it to me and asked me to give it to you."


    Meredith frowned and took a look at it before realizing that it was her report of the paternity test.


    Suddenly, she looked at Nn warily.


    "doctor Leslie, you didn''t... see the thing inside, did you?"


    For the time being, she did not want any outsiders to know the identity of the child in case it would incur


    risks.


    "Of course I didn''t. I have work ethics."


    Nn noticed her nervousness. When Meredith heard him say that, she was too embarrassed to doubt


    anything. "I didn''t mean that. It''s just... It''s about my privacy. I am not doubting you."


    "I know. Don''t worry. I won''t do such a base thing. Since this has been delivered, I''ll leave now."


    With that said, Nn strode away. Now, he had more important things to do, and there was no need to


    continue to talk with Meredith now.


    Seeing him leaving, Meredith bit her lip and carefully put away the report. After staying with her mother


    for a while, she went downstairs.


    "Miss Mason, do you want to go straight home?" The driver opened the door for Meredith and asked.


    "No, go to yesterday''s ce!"


    Meredith held the paternity test in her hand and could not tell whether she was excited or upset. This


    report hade at the right time. Derek was here and she could give it to him herself...


    What would he think if he saw what was inside?


    Would he be happy or surprised?


    Meredith was not sure either, but she wanted to have a try. Perhaps, knowing that the child was his, the


    invisible gap between the two could disappear.


    The long journey passed quickly when Meredith was lost in thinking.


    At the hotel where she stayed yesterday, Meredith called Derek directly.


    Derek had just walked out of the venue when he heard his phone ring. He took it out and saw


    Meredith''s name. He who was upset became even gloomier.


    Seeing that no one answered the call, Meredith was a little disappointed. However, she thought that


    maybe he was still working overtime and couldn''t answer the phone, so she didn''t call him. She sent


    him a message. "Derek, I have something very important to tell you. Please call me as soon as you


    finish your meeting. I was waiting for you at your hotel yesterday."


    Derek saw the news and frowned. He thought that Meredith would note to him today after he had


    treated her coldly yesterday. Besides, she was still pregnant and running back and forth was very tired.


    Unexpectedly, she was still as stubborn as before.


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    However, at the thought of the message this morning, Derek resisted the thought of replying and


    quickly deleted the message.


    Coincidentally, a man who wanted to get close to Derek came over and said, "Mr. Xavier, I have a wine


    party here. Would you like to join us?"


    The man smiled tteringly, and anyone could see his intention to fawn over Derek. Derek would


    certainly ignore such a devious person.


    But Derek frowned at the thought of Meredith waiting for him in the hotel and then nodded coldly.


    "Okay."


    That man was just taking a chance. After all, Derek was the business ma in this meeting.


    Catherine hit on him yesterday but was humiliated and everyone knew it. He didn''t expect that he


    would be so lucky that Derek would agree to go to his party.


    Thinking about it, the man was even more attentive. He followed Derek obediently like a dog, asking


    different questions. Then, he drove Derek to his wine party.


    "Remember, get more young and beautiful girls. Don''t worry about the money. As long as they serve


    this one well, I will pay for whatever it costs."


    As he drove, the man called his men and instructed them. It seemed that Derek was just amon


    person with sexual desires. As long as he seized the opportunity, he might be able to have connections


    with Xavier Group.


    ...


    Meredith had been waiting in the hotel lobby for a long time. Because when she left in the morning, she


    had already returned the room card to the hotel staff, now she could only sit in the lobby and watch


    eagerly for Derek''s car.


    However, after waiting for a long time, she did not see him, and her cell phone did not ring.


    Was he really that busy?


    Meredith''s heart gradually sank in the long wait. She had looked forward to seeing him, but now she


    was frightened. She was not sure how Derek react when he saw what was in her hand.


    "You are overthinking." Meredith patted her face. "He didn''t hesitate to save you and got hurt. How


    could change so quickly? He won''t change!"


    Sheforted herself and drank the warm milk the waiter served and waited for Derek toe back.


    When Derek arrived at the party, he found a quiet corner to drink.


    He usually hated such an asion, but now, when he thought of what had been out of control, he felt


    the urge to get drunk.


    Soon, the row of foreign wine in front of him was empty.


    Seeing that Derek seemed to be a little drunk, the few young and beautiful girls who had been specially


    recruited had the courage to approach him. They had long wanted to get close to this man who was


    dignified and powerful, but he looked difficult to approach. Only after he was drunk, he looked amiable


    and less scary.


    "Mr. Xavier, how about I drink with you..."


    "Yeah, it''s boring for you to drink alone. We will drink with you..."


    A group of women came over in a coquettish voice, and the strong smell of perfume made Derek


    couldn''t help but feel disgusted. He looked up and saw seemingly beautiful, heavily powdered faces.


    Even though he was a little drunk, he still disdained them.


    "Get lost!"


    Derek suddenly felt a little queasy and pushed the courteous women away. He stood up and staggered


    out.


    Walking to the bathroom, Derek was about to wash his hands when he heard a girl''s cry for help not far


    away.


    "No, let me go. I''m just a waiter. Let me go!"


    The voice was a little familiar, and Derek had heard Meredith saying those words. These reminded him


    of that time when Meredith was harassed.


    Thinking about it, he stopped and walked to where the sound came from. It was actually a


    "Get out." Derek kicked the door and the people inside were startled.

 Chapter 227

    Chapter 227


    "Mind your own business!" The man roared when he was interrupted.


    He opened the door angrily and wanted to kick the man out, but when he saw Derek, he retreated.


    Though he didn''t know Derek but he could feel the strong aura from his gaze.


    He thought about it and decided that it wasn''t worth it to offend a potential big shot for a waiter. He


    looked back at the girl who was huddled in the toilet and said, "It''s your lucky day."


    Derek watched the man leave. Heughed himself for being officious. When did he be such a


    kind and warm-hearted person?


    "It''s all right. Come out."


    Derek was about to leave when the girl in the toilet reached out and grabbed his pants. "Sir, I''m scared.


    Can you ... take me out with you?"


    Her voice was trembling. It was obvious that she was extremely frightened, so Derek paused.


    Perhaps, because he had drunk too much, he actually felt that her voice was very much like Meredith''s.


    He did not refuse.


    The girl took his silence as yes. She quickly walked out and was stunned when she looked up at Derek.


    Back then, she was so scared that she didn''t dare to look at her life saver. But now, one gaze and she


    was captivated by him.


    She could tell the man came from Asia just like her from his face, but he was as tall as the foreigners.


    His shirt was unbuttoned, mysteriously hot. That''s the prince charming every girl would fall in love with.


    "What are you doing?" Derek was a little impatient when he saw that she was in a daze. He had


    somewhat regretted saving her.


    "No... Nothing..." Seeing that Derek was unhappy, Freya stopped staring at him but followed along. "Sir,


    my name is Freya. You saved me. I ... really don''t know how to thank you."


    Her voice amazed Derek. It sounded just like Meredith''s. He thought for a moment and took out the


    keys from his pocket. "I''m drunk. I can''t drive myself home. Can you drive?"


    Freya nodded and took the keys excitedly. She had been working at this luxurious hotel for some time,


    so she knew that the keys must belong to a supercar.


    She followed Derek carefully with excitement, helped him into the car, and then drove towards the


    ce he said.


    ...


    At the hotel lobby.


    "Miss, we''re closing up."


    It was almost twelve o''clock, the waiter from the hotel coffee shop came over and took a look at


    Meredith.


    "Oh... I see."


    Meredith was in a daze, but she cleared her mind after hearing the words. She took out her cell phone


    and then realized that it was almost midnight...


    There were no missed calls nor messages. Derek didn''t call back, nor did he reply.


    Meredith was disappointed. What was Derek doing? Was he too busy to reply to her?


    Thinking about it, Meredith was a little distracted again.


    "Miss, we''re closing up shop!"


    The waiter nced at Meredith strangely. It was weird that a pregnant woman would actually stay here


    all night.


    Meredith felt embarrassed when she noticed that the waiter was puzzled and impatient. She put down


    a bill and left immediately.


    However, as soon as she walked out, she couldn''t help but shiver. The air conditioner in the coffee


    shop was on, and it was warm andfortable inside. She almost fell asleep. But now, it was


    somewhat cold outside the shop.


    "Where ... did he go?"


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    Meredith rubbed her arms but never thought of leaving like this. Instead, she clutched the file bag in her


    hand. She must hand this paternity test to Derek today.


    Meredith perked up and found a shelter, waiting.


    Just then, a headlight lit up the dark road in front of her. Meredith was happy to see that it was Derek''s


    car. She quickly walked a few steps closer. "Derek, finally, you''re back. I''ve been waiting for a long


    time..."


    Although Derek didn''t talk to Freya on their way, she still felt satisfied. She was pleased to be able to


    stay with such an excellent man, even if she was not close to him.


    Unexpectedly, a pregnant woman came out of nowhere. Freya was startled. Just as she was about to


    step on the brake, Derek''s deep, hoarse voice suddenly sounded. "Ignore her!"


    Freya was shocked to look at the woman walking over while talking something. But Derek didn''t seem


    like joking, so she didn''t stop but drove past Meredith.


    Meredith''s happy smile froze on her face, and her eyes filled with disbelief as she watched the car drive


    past her without even slowing down.


    "Derek! It''s me!"


    Meredith yelled out. Freya nced at the woman behind her in confusion.


    It seemed that this woman knew Derek, but why...


    "Don''t be curious about things you shouldn''t know."


    Derek was also looking at Meredith through the rearview mirror. He could not see her expression


    clearly in the dark, but judging from her voice, he knew that she could not ept what had happened.


    However, she was pregnant, and it was impossible for her to catch up with his car. After only a few


    steps, she stopped chasing. Her petite figure looked even more pitiful in the night...


    Derek put on a serious face. For a moment, he even wanted the car to stop and get out of the car for


    her, but he held back.


    They couldn''t be like this anymore.


    "Sir, we''re here." Freya did not know what had happened between them and did not dare to ask. She


    regarded Meredith as a bad woman that pestered Derek, so she disliked Meredith.


    It was shameless of a pregnant woman to pester a man.


    Derek nodded, took out a check from his pocket, wrote down arge number, and threw it to Freya.


    "You can go now."


    Freya nced at the number on it with surprise and longing. "Sir, let me help you out of the car and


    deal with the nauseous woman that pesters you."

 Chapter 228

    Chapter 228


    Derek''s face turned cold, and there was a suffocating chill all over him.


    Freya was frightened. She didn''t know what she had said wrong.


    However, she seemed to see anger, irritation, and a hint of sadness in Derek''s eyes.


    What on earth could bother a man like him?


    Freya thought she was mistaken and was about to apologize when Derek''s lips moved. "Okay... You


    apany me upstairs."


    Freya was shocked for a moment, and then her heart beat like it was about to jump out. Was this... A


    hint?


    She had been working in a bar for a while, but she had never given in to anyone, let alone sell her body


    to make money, but...


    If it was this man, the man who saved her, she might say yes to him.


    Derek was not in the mood to care about her feelings. After getting out of the car, Freya came back to


    her senses and closed the door for him with a red face. Then, she boldly leaned over and held the


    man''s arm.


    "Sir, I''ll walk you up..."


    Derek did not speak. His eyes fixed on somewhere in the distance. There, Meredith stood, as if stiff,


    motionless.


    Derek had just driven the car away, and although she was very angry, she still chased after him. After


    all, this man had poor judgement when driving on impulse, and she was worried that something would


    happen to him.


    But she didn''t expect to see such a scene...


    A beautiful young girl, dressed in the waiter''s clothes, was holding his arm expectantly. Derek did not


    refuse, but let her touch him.


    Well... What a romantic drama. If she didn''t appear, it would have been a perfect story of cindere


    meeting her prince charming.


    Meredith walked closer and looked at Derek''s face. "Why?"


    Now, she was lost for words.


    Thest time she saw him, he had asked her to wait for him, to give him time, promising that he would


    take good care of her. But everything had changed now.


    In front of her, he held the other woman''s arm, without a word of exnation or even a hint of guilt.


    Even now, the hands of the two of them were still intertwined, looking very close.


    At that moment, Meredith felt that her body was not hers. Her heart was hurting so much that she felt


    she couldn''t breathe with each heart beat. With that, her face grew pale slowly.


    Wasn''t Derek a neat freak? Wasn''t he ufortable to be touched by strangers?


    Why was he so close to a stranger? Even if he didn''t care about her at all, she was still pregnant with


    his child. Didn''t he think about them at all?


    Suddenly, Meredithughed out loud at herself. She forgot that Derek had never believed her. He didn''t


    believe that the child was his.


    The examination report in her hand now was like a big joke, mocking her ignorance and self-


    indulgence.


    "..."


    Freya felt it was very awkward, but she did not want to pull out her hand. This woman relied on her big


    belly to pester Derek, and she could not let her seed.


    "Sir, I''ll walk you up."


    Freya''s words interrupted Derek''s thoughts. He looked away from Meredith. The desperation and


    helplessness of that woman made him gasp for air.


    If it weren''t for Freya''s hand holding him, he might have rushed over and hugged the woman in his


    arms tofort her.


    But... In the end, he didn''t.


    Derek didn''t even say a word. Freya carefully supported him and they walked past Meredith.


    The whole time, neither of them gave her a look, as if... Neither of them noticed her, as if she didn''t


    exist.


    Only then did Meredith realize that, perhaps, thisplete ignorance was more heartbreaking than


    harsh words.


    He didn''t even care to exin to her. Just like that, was she being dumped without a cause?


    She would not settle for that.


    "Derek, stop!"


    Meredith moved her stiff legs. She had been standing there for too long despite her pregnancy. Now


    she was so tired just standing there, but the strength in her heart made her hold on, unwilling to show


    weakness, unwilling to give up.


    "..." Derek didn''t respond, and Freya just wanted to get rid of this crazy woman as soon as possible, so


    they didn''t stop at all.


    Meredith looked at the backs of the two people leaning against each other and her tears fell


    unconsciously. When she realized it, she quickly raised her head and pped her face twice, leaving a


    few red palm marks on her fair skin. She could not cry. She could not show her weakness in front of the


    two people.


    "I''m talking to you, didn''t you hear me?"


    Meredith stepped forward and was about to grab Derek''s hand when Freya stopped her with a look of


    disgust. "Miss, Mr. Xavier doesn''t want to talk to you. Can''t you just be a little more self-respecting and


    leave? It''s shameless of you to pester others considering you are alreay with a big belly."


    Self-respect? Shamelessness?


    Meredith was almost trembling with anger at the girl''s seemingly righteous words. The child in her


    stomach was Derek''s, and he was the child''s father. And now?


    He was entangled with a young strange woman, and this woman was actually acting like a champion of


    justice?


    What an ironic scene.


    "Get out of the way! I want to talk to him. It''s none of your business."


    "Howe it''s none of my business? Miss, I don''t want to do anything to you for your baby''s sake, but


    please leave. Mr. Xavier is tired and doesn''t want to see you anymore."


    Freya was annoyed by Meredith, and besides Derek did not stop her, so she dared to continue, "If the


    father of the child knew about this, it would not look good on you, would it?"


    "Shut up!" Meredith was provoked. Out of anger, she tried to push the woman, trying to shut her up, but


    her arm was suddenly grabbed by someone. The grab was so strong that she had no way to struggle


    out.


    It was Derek''s hand.


    "Have you had enough?" Derek didn''t look at Meredith''s face, just grabbed her wrist.


    Meredith''s body was very cold. The ce he was holding on to was ice cold. He couldn''t feel the


    slightest warmnness, and he didn''t know how long she had waited outside to be like this.


    Derek''s chest ached for a moment, but at the same time, he was a little angry. Why was this woman


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    running around when she was prgnant?


    Wasn''t she aware of her delicate condition? Didn''t she know how to take care of herself?

 Chapter 229

    Chapter 229


    Derek didn''t exert much strength, but Meredith still felt that waves of pain spread from where the two of


    them were touched to her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.


    A simple action made her realize the reality. Now, the person Derek was protecting was not her, but


    another woman.


    To him, it might be that he just lifted a finger. But it was this simple gesture that made her think that he


    was sincere.


    Now, she realized that these were just a little charity from those superior men. She was really like what


    was said by Wesley, namely a toy yed by Derek.


    She slowly let go of her arm. Her arm that she had raised fell powerlessly.


    Did they have to keep pestering each other?


    There was nothing to ask.


    But a man who had changed his heart... No, maybe he was just ying around from the very


    beginning. She was the only one who was too deep into the y alone. What else did she need to


    save?


    Derek would eventually marry a woman who seemed to be the princess in a fairy tale. That was his


    world.


    Thinking about it, Meredith couldn''t help butugh. The tears she had just shed were so hot that they


    almost burned her skin. At this moment, they were already cold.


    "Let go of me."


    Meredith said indifferently, and Derek was stunned. Her tone was very calm, but this kind of calm, at


    such a moment, did not make him feel relieved but it made her feel more uneasy.


    "I won''t do anything to upset you anymore, so let go of your hand."


    Meredith murmured. Her voice was very soft, but there was a power that could not be ignored.


    Derek unwittingly let go of her hand, and Meredith took a step back. Once again, she took a deep look


    at the couple in front of her.


    Well, this girl was young and beautiful. She looked like a young girl who just graduated from college.


    She was as fresh and tender as a fresh spring onion. She looked pretty even she didn''t put on any


    make-up.


    Compared to her who had a big belly and didn''t dress up all day, this girl was much better off. If she


    was a man, she would definitely like such a girl.


    Hehe...


    Meredith looked at the scene as if she was going to carve it into her mind. Finally, she closed her eyes


    and then looked at Derek. "Since Mr. Xavier has a new lover, I won''t disturb you."


    "Thank you for your care these days. I will take my mother to a new ce as soon as possible. I won''t


    cause you any more trouble."


    After that, Meredith turned around and wanted to leave.


    she didn''t want to stay at this ce that broke her heart and dignity any longer.


    The back of a woman was slender but also resolute.


    This was exactly what Derek wanted to see, but when he saw her leave, his heart still ached.


    Subconsciously, he chased after her and grabbed Meredith''s arm. "What do you mean? When did I say


    that I wanted you to move out?"


    Now, she was pregnant. How could she have the ability to earn a living and take care of the sick


    Amelia?


    "Am I going to spend your money shamelessly? I''m sorry. I''m poor, but... I''m not that shameless. As for


    how can I earn a living in the future, it''s all my own business..."


    Meredith only found it extremely ironic. Derek''s hand was still so hot, but to her now, that warmth was


    likeva which burned her skin and heart.


    What was this?


    He clearly didn''t want her to stay by his side anymore, but he still had to act like he was deeply in love


    with her. Who was it for?


    Was it to lessen the guilt in his heart?


    "No." Derek clenched his fist. "I didn''t agree to what you said. Do you think I need that little money?"


    If Meredith didn''t ept his help, his endurance now would be meaningless.


    At this moment, he had to ensure Meredith''s safety and health before he could consider anything else.


    Meredith smiled, but there was a hint of mockery in her smile. She found that she never seemed to


    have known Derek''s thoughts.


    When she pestered him, he hated her and told her to get away.


    Now that she left as he wished, he became reluctant?


    Was it because the way she left hurt his pride as he was a mighty young master on high position?


    Making up her mind, Meredith shook off Derek''s arm. "Oh, you don''t have to worry. The father of the


    baby in my womb will take care of me."


    "If Mr. Xavier continues to help like this, not only will your little girlfriend be unhappy, he will be unhappy


    too."


    Meredith held on and said these words, and the result of the paternity test in her hand was like a huge


    irony, making her feel physically and mentally exhausted.


    Perhaps this was the result she deserved...


    Derek''s face suddenly darkened. "Meredith..."


    The man said with gritted teeth. She was still thinking about being with that irresponsible man. Did she


    still love that man in her heart?


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    Just as the tension between the two intensified, Freya, who had been listening in the distance, couldn''t


    resist it anymore.


    This pregnant woman was a little too shameless. Mr. Xavier was so kind to her but she was really


    pestering him as she was pregnant with the child of another man?


    "Sir..." Freya approached. Her voice suddenly made Meredith who was in a trance sober up.


    "See, if you continue to pester me, someone will be unhappy. In the future, there will be no rtionship


    between us. I will not disturb your life again. Please... Forget about me."


    With that, Meredith turned and left.


    Derek was about to catch up, but Freya grabbed him. "Sir, such a woman is not worth your help. You


    can''t..."


    Derek suddenly got angry and pushed Freya to the ground. "Why do you think that she is not worth it?


    Who are you?"


    Freya fell to the ground. Derek was drunk and he exerted a lot of strength. Her whole body ached, but


    she still insisted on grabbing the corner of Derek''s clothes. "I am nobody, but you are my savior. I can''t


    watch you be deceived by her!"


    The two of them were in a tangle, and Meredith''s figure finally disappeared in Derek''s sight.


    At that moment, the man felt as if his heart was empty. He felt powerless and he lost the thought of


    struggling.


    Freya saw Derek calm down and she stood up. "I''ll take you back."


    Derek didn''t even have the idea of asking her to get lost. All he could think of in his mind was the image


    of Meredith before she left, her desperate expression, her resolute back, and the words she said.


    Damn it...


    Why did this woman give up so easily? Wasn''t she able to fight for a long time against him for that


    bastard in her womb?


    How could she give up on him so easily like this?

 Chapter 230

    Chapter 230


    Freya took Derek upstairs, helped him to the bed, and went to the bathroom to get some water to wash


    up his face.


    "You can leave now." Derek didn''t want to stay with her anymore. The original aim to admit to letting


    her in was...


    Now that he had achieved his goal, he did not want to see her again.


    "Okay..." Freya saw that Derek''s expression was strange. Instead of pestering him any longer, she left


    the ce considerately. However, before she left, she took a deep look at the closed door.


    She woulde back again. Although she didn''t believe in ''love at first sight'' in the past, now... She felt


    as if she could not let go of this man.


    Not only because of his outstanding appearance but also because of the fragility he had just shown,


    she could not ignore him.


    Derek was the only one in the room. It was quiet and there was even a sense of deathly stillness, which


    made the man feel suffocated.


    He had already drunk a lot of wine, but his mind was not dizzy, but it became much clearer.


    And when he looked up and saw the sofa, he could imagine Meredith waiting for him here yesterday


    and fell asleep.


    The scene was so peaceful and quiet, but in just one day, everything changed, just like he was awake


    from a dream.


    Suddenly, the man seemed to remember something. He walked over and looked at a thermal box on


    the table. It had a in appearance but was picked up by him as if it was a precious treasure.


    It was Meredith who brought it yesterday. She forgot to take it away with her.


    Derek opened it. The soup inside was already cold, but he could still smell a faint fragrance. The


    ingredients inside were very rich, which were all his favorite. It took a lot of effort to make it.


    Derek suddenly felt a little pain in his eyes. He closed the lid and asked someone to reheat the food


    inside, but as he ate, he couldn''t help but think wildly.


    He wondered if that woman had gone back now.


    Although she told him not to care about her, he still couldn''tpletely ignore her.


    Thinking about it, Derek called Damian. "Has Meredith gone back yet?"


    Damian had already fallen asleep. When he got the call, he looked at his watch and found it was


    already early in the morning.


    "Miss Mason?" Damian thought for a while, "She said she went to see you. Isn''t she at your ce


    now?"


    Derek stood up immediately, "What? She''s not home yet?"


    Just now, he was so shocked and angry that he didn''t have anyone send her back. How could she go


    back sote, as a pregnant woman?


    "I''ll send someone to search her immediately." Damian also realized the seriousness of the problem


    and quickly got out of bed.


    Derek became sober right away. He quickly got up and asked someone to check on Meredith''s


    whereabouts from the video camera.


    ...


    Meredith was alone and did not know how long she had been walking. In a foreign country, she was


    unfamiliar with the surroundings at all. And it was sote, she didn''t see any public transportation at all,


    but only private cars passed by in front of her, without stopping at all.


    Meredithughed at herself. When she saw a trash can, she walked over without hesitation, tore up the


    report in her hand, and threw them in.


    Throughout, she did not cry, and there was not even a trace of superfluous expression on her face.


    "Throw them all. Those thoughts and obsessions should be abandoned as simple and natural as Derek


    abandoning her." She thought.


    Today, she felt that she could wait for Derek to find her and spend the first night with their baby, so she


    let the driver go home.


    Now that she thought about it, she was really funny.


    Wandering on the streets alone might also be a lesson for her.


    Meredith walked on in despair. She didn''t want to take a taxi or call someone to pick her up. She just


    wanted to be alone, find a ce where no one knew her, and let emotions floating.


    However, after all, she had been outside for so long and it was inconvenient for her to walk further.


    After walking for a while, Meredith felt tired and found a bench to sit down. Looking at the streetmp


    not far away, she was in a daze.


    Derek didn''t want her anymore. Now that she was in this big city, she was like a homeless vagrant. It


    was never her home, but a shelter Derek gave her. Now, she was going to lose it too.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    Before she knew it, a wave of fatigue and helplessness hit her. Meredith felt a little dark in front of her


    eyes. It was only then that she remembered that she had not eaten dinner, and her body, which was


    already prone to hypoglycemia, could not hold on any longer.


    "No..." Meredith took out her phone and tried to call for help, but she couldn''t resist the pain and fell on


    the bench.


    ...


    Derek called Meredith over and over again, at the same time he sent someone to look for her.


    Only then did he see a lot of calls and text messages from Meredith on the originally silent phone.


    Today, she was so excited to tell him the news, but she only got that result.


    Derek held the phone tightly in his hand, while Meredith didn''t answer him all the time.


    Could this be considered her revenge on himself?


    Derek was so angry that he almost smashed everything in front of him. How stupid was this woman?


    Even if she wanted revenge, did she have to take revenge with her own body and safety? She was so


    stupid.


    However, he still needed to contact other people, so he could only refrain from the thought of smashing


    his phone and continue to wait anxiously...


    Finally, Damian called him. "Found her, boss."


    Damian sent people to search everywhere and finally found Meredith''s whereabouts on a park bench.


    Derek arrived at once. When he arrived, he saw Meredith lying on the bench, looking like a homeless


    person. The umted anger in his heart dissipated, and there was only endless heartache.


    Derek took off his clothes and covered Meredith, then said to others, "Why didn''t you take her to the


    car? Just watch lying her here?"


    Although the weather was not cold now, it was still a bit chilly at night. Sleeping here without even a


    nket, she was easy to catch a cold. Pregnant women would suffer a lot if they catch a cold here.


    "I..." Damian''s lips moved. He wanted to carry Meredith into the car, but... If he carried her in such an


    intimate gesture, his boss would be furious.


    Therefore, he could only call a group of people to surround Meredith and keep her out of the wind, not


    daring to do anything.


    Derek nced at him and picked Meredith up from the car. "Go to the hospital."


    Damian heaved a sigh of relief and was about to drive when Derek suddenly said, "Don''t go to the


    hospital where Meredith''s mother is in."


    Damian couldn''t help but frown.

 Chapter 231

    Chapter 231


    Meredith''s mother was in a good condition now. If they went there now, they could see her mother and


    save them some trouble in the meantime.


    However, seeing Derek''s cold face in the rearview mirror, Damian swallowed his doubts and drove


    silently to a nearby hospital.


    When the car stopped, Derek carefully carried Meredith down. She slept very soundly, perhaps


    because she was too tired. And even if she was moved like this, there was no sign of her waking up.


    After putting her on the bed, Derek called the doctor to examine her.


    "This youngdy is just too tired and seems to be emotionally unstable. It''ste pregnancy now. As a


    family member, you should pay attention to her emotions!"


    The doctor did some checking and found that Meredith was fine, so he told Derek the result and gave


    him the advice.


    Derek nodded. Even so, he didn''t want to provoke her at a time like this, but in the end...


    The man''s eyes dimmed. "Got it."


    The doctor went out, and Derek sat aside, looking at Meredith''s face while she was sleeping.


    Unlike the tranquility of yesterday, Meredith now frowned slightly even when she was asleep, as if she


    was not at ease even in her dreams.


    Derek could not help but reach out and gently caress her brows as if trying to drive away the sadness


    in her heart.


    Even now, he was the one who should be responsible for her worry.


    In her sleep, Meredith felt a familiar hand caressing her forehead. It was very gentle andfortable.


    Inexplicably, it eased her agitated mood and made her sleep more soundly.


    "Xavier... Derek..."


    Derek''s heart softened when he heard Meredith''s whisper. This woman...


    What he said back then was actually him being angry with himself. Now he was much relieved, Derek


    pulled the quilt for her to prevent her from catching a cold.


    ...


    The night passed quickly.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    When Meredith woke up, it was already bright. She opened her eyes and checked where she was. She


    was confused for a moment before sitting up. "What happened?"


    Where was she now? Wasn''t she at...


    At the thought of what happenedst night, Meredith''s face, which had be much better from a


    good rest, turned pale again.


    Yesterday, didn''t she see Derek tangle with a young woman and she left alone, fainting on a bench?


    Looking at the surroundings, Meredith was puzzled. Who sent her here?


    Just as Meredith was in a daze, Damian walked in and saw her wake up. "Miss Mason, you''re finally


    awake. You fainted on the side of the road. Fortunately, someone found you and sent you to the


    hospital. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable."


    Meredith listened to Damian while feeling something was wrong in her heart. She clearly felt that


    someone very familiar had sent her here. That feeling made her feel at ease.


    "Who sent me here?"


    Damian was taken aback by the question, then quickly covered it up. "It was a passer-by who called


    me here to look for you."


    Seeing that Damian was so sure, Meredith did not doubt anything, but the hope just rosed in her heart


    was extinguished again.


    She actually... Felt that the warm embrace belonged to that man.


    However, it was impossible not that she thought of it. Derek had entered the hotel with that young


    woman. How should he care about if she lives or dies?


    She felt fine when she wasn''t dwelling on the possibility. Now that she went too far into it, Meredith felt


    a little sour in her nose. She didn''t expect that the person who cared about her most now was Damian.


    She didn''t know if she was sad or pitiful.


    "I''m fine. You can leave me now." Meredith was depressed for a moment, but she still hid it. She had to


    go back and look after Amelia.


    Yesterday, since she had already made up her mind, she would not continue epting his favor by


    letting her mother stay in the hospital that Derek arranged for them.


    The days ahead may be tough, but... She had to keep herst shred of dignity.


    "..." Damian saw Meredith''s insistence and did not make further remarks.


    However, he did not understand a bit of what these two people were thinking.


    In particr, yesterday Derek ignored that he still had a meeting this morning. He stayed here all night


    and left when he saw that it was almost dawn. He obviously cared very much about her, but he didn''t


    want Meredith to find out. It was hard for Damian to figure out what was the end of it.


    Now, looking at Meredith''s obviously absent look, Damian was also worried about the two of them.


    Since they clearly cared about each other, why went around in circles and tortured each other like this?


    However, he was just an assistant following orders. Even if he had a thousand kinds of puzzles, he


    could only endure it.


    "Miss Mason, you should eat before you leave."


    Damian waited outside when she got changed and brought the food that Derek had ordered for her to


    Meredith.


    Meredith was in a daze for a moment when she saw that all the food was to her taste. Then, she


    How could he have time to care about the toy that had lost its novelty to him?


    Although Meredith had no appetite, she still tried to eat for the baby''s sake. After all, she almost hurt


    the baby yesterday because of her willfulness. She must not do that again.


    Watching Meredith finish her breakfast, Damian took her back to Amelia''s hospital.


    Meredith first tidied up her appearance and walked in as if nothing had happened.


    "Mer, why are you here so early? I told you it''s not convenient for you to travel like that. You should stay


    at home and rest. You don''t have toe to see me all the time."


    Amelia looked at Meredith worryingly. Her daughter was in herte pregnancy, but she was still lying on


    the hospital bed, unable to do anything for her daughter, which made her feel guilty and helpless.


    "Mom, I''m fine. I have nothing to do at home alone. Of course, I have to spend more time with you."


    Meredith smiled, but the smile was mixed with difficulty and helplessness.


    She really didn''t want to be alone. It was Derek''s house. There, she remembered how she was, how


    she felt, and how determined she was to wait for him.


    But now...


    It was all over.


    "Mer, what''s wrong? You''re not your usual self."


    As a mother, how could she not see the difference in her daughter? When she felt the helplessness in


    Meredith''s words, her heart ached.


    Something must have happened to Meredith.


    "Mom... I''m sorry..." Meredith saw Amelia''s concerned expression and lost control. "I''m useless. We


    might have to leave here."

 Chapter 232

    Chapter 232


    Amelia knew Meredith very well. When she saw Meredith hesitating, she quickly began to worry.


    Did Derek abandon Mer?


    Amelia wasn''t very optimistic about the rtionship between the two from the beginning. After all, even


    in the heyday of the Masons, Meredith could not get into a rtionship with a man like Derek.


    However, she did not expect Derek to be so cruel. Her daughter was having his baby!


    "Mer, don''t worry. I am almost well. Even if we leave here, I can still find a way to make aeback. I


    won''t let you suffer any hardship!"


    A woman may be weak sometimes, but a mother was always strong. This was vividly reflected in


    Amelia. Moreover, she was originally a strong woman who had built a big business with Wesley. Facing


    this situation, she not only did not panic but alsoforted and calmed Meredith.


    "Mom..." Meredith looked at Amelia''s determined expression and felt even more guilty.


    It was all her. She was so useless. She could not rely on her own strength to make her mother live a


    good life after she left the Masons. Now that mom''s condition had just improved, she had to leave the


    hospital.


    "Don''t overthink. I just want you to be happy."


    Amelia continued tofort Meredith for a while. Seeing that Meredith was not ming herself, she


    finally relieved.


    Meredith talked with her mother for a while and then went out. She wanted to know how to go through


    the discharge procedures.


    At this moment, Nn came over. "Sorry, I was busy then. I''m a littlete."


    The man had a charming smile on his face and was still as gentle and elegant as ever.


    Meredith felt something was wrong for no reason. Since thest time she identally saw another face


    of Nn, she always felt that the person in front of her might not be as simple as he appeared.


    Though he looked gentle and kind, Meredith felt it was false and that he was pretending.


    "It''s okay... By the way, I..." Meredith thought for a moment. "Maybe Ie here."


    Although she did not know the price of Nn''s visit, she thought she could not afford it since he was so


    She could only stop his treatment in pain.


    "What''s wrong? It will take some time before your mother recovers."


    Nn said, looking thoughtful.


    "I will get my mother out, and I may not be able to pay for your visits."


    Meredith hesitated for a moment, then told him the truth.


    Nn nodded, looking not surprised at all. "If it''s about money, then don''t worry. I''ve already received


    enough money to help your mother recover. At that time, she can walk normally."


    Meredith was a little surprised. Did Derek give him enough money to treat her mother from the start?


    As she was thinking, Nn smiled. "Don''t worry. I won''t give up my patients even if they don''t have


    money. Besides, your mother can be a very valuable case. If she''s cured, it will be beneficial to my


    future research, so I won''t leave her alone."


    Hearing this, Meredith felt a little ashamed. She did not expect Nn to be so conscientious and


    responsible at his job. She actually suspected him. She was so wrong.


    "Thank you then! doctor Leslie, I will never forget your kindness in my life." Meredith said to Nn


    solemnly. The man shook his head and smiled as a response.


    Meredith felt a little more at ease with the news. At least, her mother would receive as good treatment


    as she was now receving after she broke up with Derek.


    "I still have something to do, so I am going now." Meredith greeted Nn and went to the hospital staff.


    Nn looked at her back and narrowed his eyes. "It''s faster than I thought. It seems that your love is


    not as deep as I thought. My mission is almost done, but..."


    A sharp light shed in Nn''s eyes as he thought of something.


    ...


    Derek went straight to the venue from the hospital.


    He didn''t sleep wellst night and even he looked a little tired.


    Halfway through the meeting, during the break time, Damian hurried in and whispered in his ear.


    Derek''s face turned cold.


    "Did she really do that?"


    That woman actually wanted to leave the hospital. Was she trying to keep her distance from him?


    Or, to get rid of him, she even didn''t care about his mother''s illness?


    A trace of anger shed across the man''s face. "Stay here for the meeting. I''m going to the hospital."


    Damian was just about to say something when Derek got up and left. He had no choice but to do as he


    said. However, looking at the business giants from all the different groups in front of him, he was also


    secretly sweating.


    Boss really knew how to create trouble for him.


    Derek walked out of the venue, took a few steps to his car, got in, and sped away.


    Along the way, he stepped on the elerator, and the speed of the car had reached its peak.


    Not long after, he reached the hospital.


    Derek got out of the car, looked up at Meredith''s mother''s ward, and then quickly walked up.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Meredith was in the hall, discussing the discharge procedures with the doctor, but the person in charge


    of this did not give her a reply. Meredith was told to wait here.


    The staff was helpless. Amelia''s hospitalization procedures were done by Derek, so even if Meredith


    wanted to leave, without Derek''s permission, they did not dare to go through the procedures.


    So, they had to wait for Derek''s reply before they could get started. They didn''t expect that Derek told


    them never to let Amelia get out of the hospital. They were put in a difficult position.


    It was easy to drive people out, but it was not easy to keep them, especially when Meredith was


    determined to leave.


    As soon as Derek entered the hospital, he was invited to the VIP reception room. Through the ss, he


    saw Meredith waiting outside.


    Through this ss, people could only see from the inside, but people outside could not see what the


    people inside were doing.


    So Derek could clearly see Meredith''s every move.


    She was sitting on the stool, looking a little tired, but her eyes were shining with determination.


    Derek suddenly felt that perhaps he had never known Meredith. Although she looked soft and weak,


    she was actually a very stubborn person.

 Chapter 233

    Chapter 233


    "Mr. Xavier... Do you want to go through the discharge procedures?" The doctor looked at Derek, who


    was looking out in a daze. When he saw Meredith''s face, he couldn''t help but wonder.


    He really didn''t understand what this person was thinking. Derek was clearly very concerned, but he


    refused to show up. What was the story in it?


    "Of course not." Derek nced at the doctor. "How''s her mother''s condition?"


    "The recovery is smooth, but it will take some time to consolidate."


    Derek narrowed his eyes. "Then let her stay until she recovers. I''ll pay for her medical expenses, but


    don''t let her know that I did it, understand?"


    It was difficult for the doctor to understand such a strange request. However, Derek had already stood


    up and said, "You can ask someone to go to the Xavier Group for a talk over the research funds that


    your hospital previously requested."


    Hearing this, the doctor immediately made a response excitedly. That was an investment involving tens


    of millions of dors,pared to which, Meredith''s mother''s treatment fee was nothing.


    "Mr. Xavier, thank you very much. I will definitely treat this youngdy''s mother''s illness and nothing will


    go wrong."


    Hearing this, Derek nodded and looked at Meredith again. "Go ahead and do it. Remember, find a


    reasonable reason."


    He couldn''t show up now, so he could only watch her from afar.


    Meredith was waiting outside, looking at the peopleing and going. She had lost her patience and


    was about to find someone inside when the doctor came out. "Miss Mason, this is the case. Your


    mother''s illness is at a critical stage. If she leaves now, even if doctor Leslie helps, without basic


    equipment, it will be difficult to achieve the best results."


    Hearing this, Meredith was very disappointed. She did want her mother to stay in the top-end hospital


    for treatment, but she did not have the money. After she was separated from Derek, she could not


    afford the expensive medical expenses alone.


    Although Derek did not say that she was going to be chased away, since she had already spoken out,


    she would not go back on her promise. No matter what, she could only start over again by breaking it


    clean.


    "But even if I wanted to stay, I couldn''t afford that."


    As soon as Meredith finished speaking, the doctor patted his head. "If you can''t pay the bill for now, you


    can pay it in installments."


    "But... I''m still pregnant. And I''m afraid that I won''t have a stable ie for a long time."


    Meredith was a little touched. She didn''t expect those medical workers to be so responsible and


    considerate.


    "It doesn''t matter. After such a long time of contact, I know your personality well. I can also vouch for


    you as long as you pay back the money when you work."


    Hearing this, Meredith hesitated. If she was allowed to pay back the money in the future, she could


    work hard to avoid transferring her mother out of the hospital.


    "Okay. Thank you, doctor."


    When Meredith heard this, she nodded and asked the doctor some more questions. Finally, she said


    solemnly, "In the future, I will pay for my mother''s treatment alone. It has nothing to do with Derek.


    Don''t use his money."


    In the room, Derek could vaguely hear what Meredith said. When he heard this, he felt quite helpless.


    Did this stupid woman really think that there were so many good people in the world who would help


    her unconditionally?


    Was she so desperate to draw a line with him?


    However, seeing the relieved smile on her face, Derek could not be angry with her at all. It seemed that


    he really fell for this woman.


    The doctor nodded and epted Meredith''s request. After sending her away, he hurried back to the


    VIP reception room where Derek was.


    "Mr. Xavier, it''s done."


    Derek nodded. "You did a good job. Remember, don''t let her know that I came looking for you. Just say


    that you wanted to help her, understand?"


    The doctor nodded. However, he couldn''t understand what Derek was thinking, who didn''t leave a


    name for his good deeds. Was he learning from Lei Feng?


    However, it seemed that Derek was really concerned about that woman and would rather help her


    using such a troublesome way. In the future, he would get along well with Meredith. Perhaps, there


    would be more benefits for him.


    Seeing that things were done, Derek left. At this time, Damian had already finished the meeting in


    Derek''s ce and called to report some new information.


    After listening to his report, Derek suddenly asked, "How are things going at the Masons?"


    "Now the Masons shares are mortgaged. The vis are sealed and the rest of the Masons are evicted.


    What''s more, the property is under our control."


    Damian reported one by one. the Masons'' business had plummeted under the deliberate suppression


    of the Xaviers and they were being chased around by the major creditors. Therefore, they had no


    choice but to mortgage the house. Now the family had moved to a small house in a slum and had a


    hard time living.


    Ava''s career waspletely doomed because of all the scandals she had been exposed. Not only was


    she at risk of going to jail, but she was also paid for breach of contract because of her ruined public


    image.


    It can be said that the Masons now was bankrupt and only had an empty shell. There weren''t even


    people who wanted to take over it. However, Derek took advantage of this opportunity to get everything


    from the Masons.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    He must had done it for Miss Mason.


    Thinking of this, Damian felt as if he understood something. It must be a pleasant surprise for Meredith


    to have the Masons back. After all, Meredith wouldn''t expect that there was a good news awaiting her.


    When Derek heard this, he nodded. The Masons had been taken, but he was not as happy as he


    thought. In the beginning, he really wanted to return the Masons to Meredith.


    That was what belonged to her, and she would be happy to know it.


    But now...


    He wasn''t sure what Meredith would react after receiving this gift. As he thought, he smashed the


    steering wheel hard and he was increasingly depressed.


    At this moment, the phone rang. It was a video call from Chloe. "Derek, how are you doing abroad?


    The engagement ceremony has been set up. Look, is there anything unsatisfactory?"


    Chloe happily showed Derek the venue that she had carefully arranged. Since it was the most


    important thing in her life, she even stopped work temporarily to prepare for the wedding with all her


    heart.


    Just to be the most beautiful woman that day.


    "Well, as long as you''re happy." Derek was not in the mood. He nced at the fancy background and


    said faintly.

 Chapter 234

    Chapter 234


    Chloe''s good mood was almost dampened by his cold attitude.


    She thought that after Derek and Meredith separated, he would get along well with her, but she didn''t


    expect that he was still indifferent to her...


    "Derek, watch your attitude!" Mr. Xavier, who was not far away, noticed that Chloe''s expression was


    strange. When he came over, he saw Derek''s expressionless face.


    It was really unreasonable that this brat still wore a cold look when seeing his own engagement scene.


    "Chloe, you go over there for a while. I''ll give him a talking-to."


    Chloe agreed obediently. Mr. Xavier walked to an unnoticed corner with his cell phone, "You''ve done


    almost everything abroad, haven''t you? You shoulde back soon. Even if you don''t necessarily


    participate in the preliminary work, you can''t be absent that day of engagement, can you?"


    Derek rubbed his brows, "I still have things to deal with here."


    Now that Meredith''s problem was still unresolved, how could he leave?


    "Stop making excuses. Do you think I really don''t know what you are thinking?"


    Mr. Xavier hit the floor angrily with his walking stick, "Anyway, break up with that woman as soon as


    possible. Otherwise, you know the consequences..."


    After saying that, Mr. Xavier hung up the phone.


    Derek was seething with anger, but in the end, he couldn''t vent it on his grandfather, so he could only


    throw his phone away.


    Mr. Xavier sighed on the other side. He didn''t expect to use that thing for Derek''s sake...


    The distant memory was retrieved, and he seemed to remember the scene of being abroad, but it was


    also thanks to that person that Derek was pulled back from the precipice.


    "What a worrisome fellow." Mr. Xavier shook his head, not wanting to recall the past.


    At this moment, a phone call came. As Mr. Xavier took the call, his face turned set and hard.


    ...


    Meredith told Amelia the good news that she didn''t have to be discharged for the time being.


    Amelia was a little confused as she listened to the news. In her opinion, things weren''t that simple, but


    she didn''t want to disappoint her daughter when she saw that her daughter was happy about it rather


    than so sad because of the breakup.


    "That''s great. Don''t worry. When mom gets better, I won''t lie there and be a drag on you. I''ll


    definitely find a way to pay the money back as soon as possible."


    Amelia said, "And that Derek''s money, we will pay it back, too. Mom doesn''t need that kind of money.


    We don''t owe him."


    Meredith nodded. She had the same intention. Seeing that her mother was in a positive mood, she


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    rxed a little.


    While they were talking, Meredith''s cell phone rang. It was a message from Derek.


    "Meet at eight o''clock today. I have something to tell you."


    Meredith''s face darkened. What was the matter?


    What else could he do?


    Did he figure it out ande to her because he didn''t want to waste so much money on her? Or, did


    he want to sign an agreement or something to keep her close-mouthed about this secret rtionship?


    Meredith couldn''t help but sneer and clench her phone, "Okay."


    She wanted to see what has Derek got up in his sleeve.


    After thest face-to-face blow, Meredith felt numb. In that case, it would be better to break up with him


    Looking at her brief reply, Derek was lost in thought.


    Although he had only seen her today, he still had a longing for her in his heart. However, when he


    thought of what he was going to say to her today, Derek had a rare desire to escape.


    ...


    At eight o''clock in the evening, Derek arrived at Meredith''s house on time.


    Meredith was sitting in the living room, waiting for him. When Derek entered the room, he saw her


    sitting on the sofa, expressionless.


    This time, there was no warm smile on Meredith''s face. She did not even cast a look at him. When she


    saw himing, she said coldly, "You''re here. What''s the matter? Tell me."


    Derek felt a little sad but still walked over, "I''ll talk to you about the future."


    Meredith smiled, "Do you want me to sign a confidentiality agreement, or do you want me to disappear


    in front of you for the rest of my life? Okay, I promise you all."


    Her tone was t, but there was an imperceptible tremor in it. Derek did not recognize it and clenched


    his fists, looking at Meredith sitting beside him.


    "Do you just want to disappear in front of me?"


    "Isn''t that what you think?" Meredith put down the quilt and nced at Derek.


    She would never forget what she had seen in the hotel that day. Now that their rtionship had got into


    such a mess, was there any need for them to continue meeting with each other?


    "I''m just saying it for you. Don''t worry, I''ll... Disappear in the future, and I won''t cause any more trouble


    for Mr. Xavier."


    "The biggest problem is that you will leave me." Derek thought, but he forced himself to hold it back.


    He suppressed his anger, "So? Where are you taking your mother? Where do you live? Do you have a


    job? Can you support yourself and pay for her medical bills?"


    Meredith was so stubborn. Did she want to sleep on the street? Why couldn''t she be a little softer to


    make her life easier?


    Meredith suddenly thought that was perhaps how Derek regarded her from the beginning.


    There was nothing wrong with what he said. She had nothing. In this unfamiliar ce, she had no


    friends, no family, no job, and no money.


    Therefore, she could only be manipted by him, like a ything. When he was happy, he could be


    nicer to her and give her some benefits, regarding her as the apple of his eye. However, when he was


    unhappy, he just kicked her away.


    In the end, all of this was her own fault. She was so useless that she was fooled by Derek all the time


    while thinking that she had found true love...


    She was really stupid.


    "I can''t, but... I won''t always be useless."


    Meredith clenched her fists, "I''m not going to be a toy you can y with all the time. I''m going to live on


    my own. For better or for worse, I''m going to bear it myself."


    Meredith said it word by word, which was not so much to refute Derek as to cheer herself up.


    Derek was so angry that he even wanted to pry Meredith''s head open to see what was inside. He was


    holding the transfer of shares in his hand, "What about this? Don''t you want this, do you?"


    Meredith looked over and Derek threw it into her arms. It was the title deed to the vi where the


    Masons had lived for more than ten years and the transfer of shares of thepany of the Masons.


    What was this? The breakup fee she was paid?


    "What if I say you can''t move out of here if you want to get this?"

 Chapter 235

    Chapter 235


    When Derek said this, he felt like he was schizophrenic.


    As he tried to push her away, he couldn''t bear to part with her. At least, he didn''t want to see her live a


    difficult life. If that happened, how could he rest assured?


    Meredith could not understand what Derek was thinking at all. She looked into the man''s eyes, which


    were still as attractive as the deepke water, reflecting her shadow.


    What was he thinking?


    Meredith walked over, looking directly into Derek''s eyes, her eyes were full of doubts.


    "Derek, do you know how strange you are? What? Do you still have feelings for me?"


    Meredith couldn''t figure out why he pushed her to ept this equity. Although these things were


    nothing in front of the Xaviers, it was still a great fortune. So, what did he want from giving it to her?


    Just to show his generosity after the breakup?


    Could it be that he had some inferior motives?


    Meredithdu thought she was crazy, but sometimes people are so blind that even if there was just a hint


    of foreboding, they would try their best to get closer to what they think.


    Maybe, maybe Derek didn''t want to be separated from her. Maybe, it was just a stalling tactic. Maybe...


    "Derek, tell me, did you have some secret sorrow to do this?"


    Derek''s eyes dimmed, his lips parted, and he spat out one word, "No."


    "Really not?"


    Meredith took a step forward and grabbed his cor. Although she knew she was like a shrew, without


    grace or even shame, she couldn''t care less at the moment.


    Derek pulled her hand away, took a deep breath, and then, said in his usual tone, "What are you


    thinking? These things were just... Just a littlepensation for you."


    "What kind ofpensation? Compensation for ying with me for so long? Or do you want me not to


    leave here so that one day, when you think of me, you cane back and find something new from


    me?"


    Meredith couldn''t help butugh. This was such a lofty statement. What she needed to do her best to


    get was not worth mentioning in Derek''s eyes.


    Perhaps, an ordinary person like her was nothing more than that in his eyes.


    "..."


    Derek didn''t answer. When he saw the sadness in Meredith''s eyes, he wanted to deny it for a moment,


    but he held back immediately.


    Seeing his silence, Meredith felt that he had acquiesced.


    So, he just didn''t want her to find another man after she left him. After all, she was just a woman who


    couldn''t live without a man in Derek''s eyes, which was quite in line with his controlling personality.


    "In that case... I don''t want anything from the Masons," Meredith replied, gritting her teeth.


    If she had to rely on Derek''s mercy, if she had to be a ything for him to get back what belonged to


    her, she would rather give them up.


    Even if she was poor and she had nothing, she wasn''t shameless. She would not give that woman


    another chance to point at her nose and say that she was shameless.


    "You..."


    Derek didn''t expect her to reject him without thinking. "Haven''t you always wanted to get the Masons


    back? End like this? You don''t want anything?"


    Meredith looked him in the eye. "If the price is to betray my dignity and work as an obscure ything


    for you, then I would rather give up."


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    After that, Meredith went upstairs. Now that she had said that, she would leave now. She would go to


    the hospital to apany her mother. When the child was born and her mother was well, she would


    take them away and never see Derek again!


    "Mer!" Derek was so angry that he wanted to go up and grab her hand, but Meredith threw it away and


    said, "I''ll pack my things now. Don''t worry, I won''t stand in your way again. Next, whether you''re with


    Chloe or keep pestering the young waiter... It has nothing to do with me."


    Meredith''s tone was very light, as light as a feather, but it fell into Derek''s ear, making it impossible for


    him to regard it as a sentence.


    He could tell that Meredith was really, really excluding him from her life.


    "You should know that if you go out today, no one will serve you, no one will be polite to you, and those


    who have bullied you maye back and hurt you. Are you still leaving?"


    Meredith paused but still said, "Yes, I would rather leave than stay by your side and be a secret


    woman."


    Derek was furious. "Then I''ll see what happens to you."


    After that, he mmed the door and left.


    Meredith listened to the loud noise the man made when he left, and the tears that she had been


    holding back hard finally fell.


    It seemed that she was not as free and easy as she thought. Although her words could deceive others,


    they could not deceive her heart.


    Derek drove away. He couldn''t talk to Meredith anymore. He didn''t know what he was going to do if this


    continued.


    ...


    Meredith went upstairs to pack her things.


    She hadn''t been here long, and there weren''t many things of her own, most of which were purchased


    by Derek.


    Meredith didn''t take anything that didn''t belong to her, so in the end, all she packed were in a small


    suitcase.


    "Miss Mason, what are you..."


    Damian came in from outside and saw that she was carrying her luggage and was going downstairs


    with an unfriendly expression on her face. He quickly came over to help her.


    "I''m leaving here." Meredith said faintly, "I''ve been troubling you these days. Thank you for taking care


    of me. I won''t forget the things you helped me with, but it may be a long time before I can repay you."


    Leave?


    Damian looked confused.


    Why did she leave here when she just get the transfer of shares of The Masons today?


    "Is there a misunderstanding between you and boss? It''s not convenient for you to go anywhere like


    this. Don''t be impulsive!"


    Looking at the concern in Damian''s eyes, Meredith felt a little touched, "It''s not a misunderstanding,


    but... We''re separated, and we won''t be in a rtionship anymore, so I can''t stay here."


    Separate?


    Damian was shocked. Why didn''t he hear about it? Could it be...


    "You know?"


    Damian guessed that it was because Meredith knew about Chloe, so she didn''t want to be a third party,


    nameless and secret, so she made such a scene?


    "Although boss is getting engaged, it''s actually very..."


    Seeing that Meredith was about to take the suitcase away with her big belly and leave, Damian almost


    blurted out his words, trying to stop her from leaving.


    "What did you say?"

 Chapter 236

    Chapter 236


    Meredith looked at Damian in disbelief.


    He said that Derek was getting engaged...


    This news, even though she had epted the reality of the breakup, was still shocking.


    "No... I... I said the wrong thing." Damian was shocked. It wasn''t because of this. Did he say something


    he shouldn''t have said?


    "What the hell is going on? Tell me!" Meredith didn''t care about what was in her hand. She grabbed


    Damian''s cor and shook it.


    However, a few images suddenly came to her mind. The information that Damian had mentioned about


    the wedding on the phone, and Derek''s slightly strange speech...


    She had never thought about them carefully before, but now she realized that they were all clues to the


    truth.


    Derek was getting engaged, so he told her to wait for him abroad and arranged for her mother there.


    She had unknowingly be a mistress of Derek... The funny thing was that she once thought of this


    shameful rtionship as love, full of longing.


    Huh! How could she be so stupid?


    "Miss Mason, this is not the case..." Damian certainly knew the inside story. It was Violet who


    threatened Derek to agree to the engagement with her life.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    In the end, it was not Derek''s will.


    "Stop it, stop it..." Meredith smiled, but the smile on her face was even uglier than crying.


    No wonder Derek gave her those items from the Masons. It turned out to be a littlepensation for


    ying with her.


    Meredith felt unbearable pain in her head, which seemed to be about to explode. This shock and anger


    even made her stomach ache.


    Looking at Meredith''s face getting paler and paler, Damian was startled, "What''s wrong with you? Are


    you not feeling well?"


    Clutching her stomach, Meredith was in so much pain that she could not speak. In her heart, there was


    only endless regret. She should have recognized the reality earlier. Until now did she knew that the


    child in her stomach was about to be a disgraceful and illegitimate child.


    Derek, how could he be so cruel? Not only did he make her a disgraceful woman, but even the unborn


    child would bear a terrible reputation in the future.


    "I... I''ll take you to the hospital right away!" Damian panicked, fearing that something might happen to


    Meredith. He quickly picked her up, got in the car, and started driving towards the hospital.


    Derek unknowingly drove the car back to the vi and found himself back here. When he was a little


    angry about it, he saw Meredith being carried out of the house by Damian.


    Damian''s expression gave him an ominous feeling. Derek immediately rushed over, "What''s wrong?


    What happened?"


    "Miss Mason doesn''t seem to be feeling well. She has to go to the hospital as soon as possible!"


    Damian quickly handed Meredith over to Derek and climbed into the driver''s seat.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s pale face. After such a short time, the hair on her forehead had been


    soaked with cold sweat. Obviously, she was suffering quite a lot.


    Derek suddenly felt that his anger or other emotions had dissipated. Now, he didn''t want to think about


    anything except how to make Meredith feel better.


    In the face of life and death, anything else was of little importance.


    Meredith opened her eyes in extreme pain and saw Derek''s side face. He carried her into the car in a


    light movement. His eyes were full of anxiety and panic.


    Would Derek panic because of her?


    Meredith was in a daze for a moment. Maybe she was dreaming. How could Derek care about the life


    of a ything?


    She widened her eyes, trying to see the person in front of her, but she couldn''t hold on and fainted in


    the end.


    ...


    In the hospital.


    Meredith was sent to the hospital, and the long-prepared doctor immediately began the treatment.


    Derek put her onto the bed, and then Meredith was pushed into the emergency room.


    He sat outside, looking at the lights off and on. His eyes were filled with worry and remorse.


    He had never thought of such a situation.


    Was something going to happen to Meredith?


    At the thought of this possibility, Derek was almost out of breath. He couldn''t bear it if she had an


    ident!


    After some time, the lights in the emergency room finally went out.


    The doctor came out and wiped the sweat off his face, "The patient''s condition is not very good. She is


    pregnant and in a bad mood. If she continues to be stimted, the baby in her stomach will be


    premature."


    "What?" Derek looked at the woman who was still unconscious on the hospital bed. His heart ached at


    the thought that she was nearly dying.


    "She has to rest from now on. Otherwise, her situation is grim."


    After speaking that, the doctor left. Meredith was pushed out and sent to the intensive care unit.


    Derek held her cold hand, not knowing what to say.


    He stared at Meredith''s bloodless face without blinking, afraid that he would miss even a second.


    Just then, his phone rang, but Derek turned it off without thinking.


    At this moment, he realized how precious the time he spent with Meredith was. Especially now, he


    didn''t want anything to disturb them.


    When Mr. Xavier heard that Derek''s phone was off, he frowned. The engagement ceremony was three


    dayster, but this brat was still abroad and didn''t want toe back.


    Did he go to Meredith again?


    Thinking of this, Mr. Xavier became more and more agitated. He called the person with whom he rarely


    contacted.


    Nn, who was working on thetest drug in theb, was disturbed by the call and frowned. The


    mouse in his hand swallowed because of his light movement, but it seemed that he didn''t notice it. He


    just threw it out indifferently.


    Walking out of theb, Nn saw that the call was from Mr. Xavier and answered it.


    In those years, Mr. Xavier left home alone to carve out a career. He had experienced a lot of hardships


    that ordinary people could not know. Once he identally saved the incumbent head of the Leslies


    then.


    the Leslies was very mysterious. Although this family was not a giant with a huge business, it had very


    strong control over medicine.


    On the one hand, they were able to develop the world''s best medicine for treating diseases. On the


    other hand, they could also produce the most terrifying poison.


    Therefore, the Leslies usually had two very contradictory identities: One was the doctor who could


    bring the dying back to life, and the other was the invisible killer. In the underground market, it was


    often priceless to hire them to perform a task. Besides, they were not hired by the average person at


    all.


    It was because of his favor to the Leslies in the past that Mr. Xavier could decide to ask the Leslies to


    help solve the problem between Meredith and Derek.

 Chapter 237

    Chapter 237


    "Mr. Xavier."


    Nn answered the phone and wiped the blood off his hands indifferently. His expression was not


    elegant or gentle at all, totally different from his public persona. His charming eyes were so cold that


    one who saw into his eyes could not help shivering.


    "Is that done?"


    "Generally, it''s almost done, but I have an important piece of information to tell you."


    Nn threw the paper out of his hand. For him, the entanglement of the Xaviers was really a piece of


    cake, but it was a good show for him.


    "What information?"


    Mr. Xavier frowned slightly, and what Nn said next shocked himpletely.


    "I saw the results of the paternity test of Meredith''s baby. Her baby is of the lineage of your family. So,


    what are you going to do about it?"


    "The baby... Is it of the lineage of our family?"


    Mr. Xavier was full of disbelief. He had never thought of this possibility at all. Shouldn''t that baby be a


    bastard with whom Meredith wanted to force Derek to take responsibility?


    The shocking truth silenced him for a while, and Nn said again, "If you don''t want to leave any


    trouble behind, I can help you... Solve the problem."


    For Nn, getting rid of an unborn baby was nothing.


    Mr. Xavier clenched the microphone in his hand, "I need to think it over. Don''t do anything until you get


    my instructions."


    After saying that, he hung up the phone in a daze.


    Derek had a baby, which meant he had a great-grandchild. The news brought him mixed feelings of


    both shock and happiness.


    If this baby''s mother was not Meredith, perhaps he would happily find the great-grandchild back.


    However, it was Meredith who had this baby, even at the time when Derek had agreed to get engaged


    to Chloe.


    For a moment, even a man like Mr. Xavier, who had been ustomed to the ups and downs, was at a


    loss.


    What should he do with this baby...


    Mr. Xavier thought for a moment and called Violet over.


    "Meredith''s baby is Derek''s."


    After all, Violet was Derek''s mother and the child''s grandmother, so she had the right to know about it.


    "What? That''s impossible. How... How could that woman be pregnant with Derek''s baby?"


    Violet''s first reaction was not to believe the information. She knew that Derek, her son, was not willing


    at all to touch any of the women he despised.


    That was why she was so sure that Meredith''s child was unrted to the Xaviers.


    "Can there be anything wrong with the paternity test?" Mr. Xavier shook his head, "It''s useless for you


    to run away from reality now. Think about how to deal with this baby now."


    At the same time, Mr. Xavier thought of the fortune-teller who said that Meredith''s fate was very


    "No, this..." Violet shook her head when she saw Mr. Xavier''s hesitation.


    Although she had always wanted a grandchild, the grandchildren she wanted should be from a mother


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    of a prestigious family and high status, not from a woman who had been in jail, with a bankrupt family


    gued with scandals!


    Meredith, even if she was pregnant, could never be admitted.


    "Can''t the baby be aborted? We can induce Meredith, can''t we?"


    "Violet, that baby is almost due. If you go to induce Meredith now, you are killing Derek''s baby with your


    own hands!"


    After being warned by Mr. Xavier, Violet gradually calmed down. However, the calmer she was, the


    angrier she became.


    Meredith, this damn woman! Why did she not do the paternity test sooner orter but at the critical


    moment when Derek was about to get engaged to Chloe? What else could it be if she didn''t want to


    force Derek to marry her?


    How a woman like her wanted to marry Derek with the baby?


    "Dad, I have an idea..."


    Violet''s face darkened. She leaned against Mr. Xavier''s ear, whispering a few words. A trace of


    determination and malice shed across her eyes.


    She would never allow Meredith to be an obstacle to Derek''s future!


    ...


    Derek had been staying in the hospital. Since Meredith was in aa, he didn''t want to continue his


    work. He just wanted to stay here until she woke up.


    However, due to the busy work in recent days, which was almost day and night, he was a little tired and


    unconsciously fell asleep beside Meredith''s bed.


    When Meredith woke up, it waste. She opened her eyes. Because the lights were not on in the room


    to avoid disturbing her rest, everything was blurry.


    She raised her hand and found a man lying on the side of the bed. She reached out and touched the


    man''s face. Only then did Derek wake up, "Are you awake?"


    Derek was roused from sleep, and his exhaustion was swept away.


    Hearing Derek''s voice, Meredith was in emotional turmoil. What was he doing here now?


    Was Derek afraid that something might happen to her, which would then implicate him and ruin his


    reputation?


    At the thought of that, the bitterness in Meredith''s heart grew stronger. She lowered her voice,


    preventing Derek from hearing the restlessness in her heart, "What are you doing here?"


    Derek recognized the coldness in her words, but he didn''t want to argue with her, "I''ll call the doctor."


    "No, I can do it myself. If there''s nothing else, Mr. Xavier would better leave here. Otherwise, it''s not


    good to cause unnecessary misunderstandings to others."


    Meredith said coldly. The only thing she could be d of was that the room was now totally dark.


    Therefore, Derek could not see her expression clearly, allowing her to retain her dignity.


    "Don''t you want to see me that much?" Derek had been here all afternoon. He had just woken up when


    he was given the cold shoulder, so his tone was a little angry.


    "Yes, I don''t want to see you. I''m afraid I''ll feel sick when I see your face."


    Meredith clenched her fists. With her nails embedded in her palms, waves of sharp pain hit her, but it


    seemed that she couldn''t feel it.


    He has been engaged to Chloe, but he kept her uninformed about it. Now he was acting as he cared


    about her so much. Who would he show it to?


    She was probably another pet that he kept outside, like the woman in the hotel that day. When he was


    happy, he came to tease her, and when she was unhappy, he just kicked her away.


    She couldn''t... She wouldn''t let herself be a despised mistress, and she couldn''t let her child be


    illegitimate...


    "Say it again?" Hearing Meredith''s words, Derek suddenly felt that his worry just now was silly.


    How could she feel disgusted about him? Who was the one who made her feel delighted?


    Is the one Julius or Parker? Or the biological father of the baby in her stomach?


    "Mr. Xavier, please conduct yourself with dignity in the future. Don''t bother me again. The father of my


    baby will be unhappy!"

 Chapter 238

    Chapter 238


    "Your child''s father? Who''s that coward? You''re now lying in the hospital and he doesn''t even care


    about you. How well do you think he will be to you?"


    It was better not to mention it. Derek''s anger could not be suppressed at the mention of the so-called


    father of the child.


    A man would leave a woman who was pregnant with his baby abroad, and Meredith would mention him


    from time to time. This made him angry.


    What was this if it was not looking for trouble on her own?


    When Meredith heard this, she suddenly found it very funny.


    It was so close that she would tell him the identity of the child. But now, Derek was right in front of her.


    He didn''t know that the child in her womb was his, and he was just saying something to show disdain.


    What a funny scene!


    Meredith couldn''t help butugh, but the sour feeling in her eyes made her cover her face, and she


    quickly concealed her weakness. "It''s none of your business. Mr. Xavier just needs to take care of your


    wedding and fianc¨¦e. Besides, don''t let her know that you are unfaithful in love and that you''re flirting


    with other girls. If she finds out, I''m afraid she''ll start a fight with you."


    "You..." Derek was still holding back his anger. But when he heard Meredith mention the word


    "fianc¨¦e", he suddenly didn''t know what to say.


    These should be strictly confidential. How would Meredith know?


    Meredith could not help butugh at herself when she saw that the man who had always been so


    eloquent had nothing to say. As expected, she was just a ything Derek had found outside of


    marriage. She was a fool, and she was yed by him.


    Fortunately, it wasn''t toote to know the reality. Now that Derek didn''t know the identity of the child,


    she could still run away with the baby. She and her child could run far away from all these rights and


    wrongs.


    "Is there nothing else to say?" Meredith said sarcastically, "Mr. Xavier, although in your eyes, a person


    like me is like an ant that can be trampled to death with just one foot, I have a sense of shame and


    won''t be the third party who destroys someone''s family. So, isn''t it good for everyone that I want to


    break up with you now?"


    "..."


    Derek turned on the light. The ring light made both of them very ufortable. The man looked at


    Meredith''s expression, and on her face, he could only see a thickyer of sarcasm and resistance.


    How on earth did they get to this point...


    "Meredith, about the engagement..."


    Derek subconsciously wanted to say it out that he and Chloe reached an agreement that it was only a


    formal engagement, and there would be no substantive rtionship between them and she


    misunderstood.


    But Meredith covered her ears. "I''m sorry, I don''t want to hear it."


    She really didn''t want to hear the story between him and Chloe. She had heard it countless times. They


    were like princesses and princes who got together after breaking up in a fairy tale. What was she?


    Perhaps, she was just a vicious supporting actress who overestimated her strength and wanted to


    disturb them.


    "If you don''t want to provoke me anymore and if you don''t want me to die here, I beg you to get out of


    here and let me be here alone. I will return your things to you. Please, let me go."


    At this point, Derek did not know what to say and especially when he saw Meredith''s pale face, he


    remembered the doctor''s advice to him.


    Meredith couldn''t be stimted anymore. He didn''t dare to say anything more. Otherwise, he wouldn''t


    be so lucky this time.


    "Okay, I''ll go. You stay here and have a good rest."


    "I won''t see you out, and... I hope thest time I see you is to deal with our separation. Besides that, I


    don''t want to see you again!"


    Meredith said these words calmly, but those words pierced Derek''s heart like a thorn.


    Suppressing the restlessness in his heart, Derek turned and left.


    Meredith watched him walk out, breathing heavily. The pain in her chest did not alleviate and it became


    even more intense.


    Perhaps this was the so-called heartbreak. He did not exin or perhaps, he also knew that he was in


    the wrong, so he did not dare to exin anything, right?


    Meredith closed her eyes wearily and unconsciously stroked her abdomen. She still had a child.


    Although Derek hadpletely made her give up, she wanted to give birth to the child.


    The child belonged to her alone. Even if she had nothing now, the baby was still there and she could


    only hold on and walk on.


    ...


    A few dayster.


    Meredith was discharged from the hospital.


    Damian was waiting downstairs early. When he saw here out, he wished to speak but stopped on


    a second thought.


    "What''s the matter? Are you going to deal with the thing between me and him?"


    Meredith shrugged indifferently. After a few days, she was able to hide her emotions well.


    At the very least, she would no longer show her weakness in front of outsiders.


    "Yes... If it''s not convenient for you right now, you can..."


    They dide here to deal with this matter.


    "It''s okay. I''m fine. Just tell me what you want to say."


    Speaking of this, Meredith still sighed with emotion. She had known Damian for a long time. He had


    taught her a lot and helped her a lot, so Meredith had no resentment towards him.


    Damian nodded and took Meredith to a private room in a coffee shop not far away.


    Derek was already waiting there. As soon as Meredith entered, she saw the man sitting by the window,


    looking at the scenery outside the window with an indifferent expression.


    He was still as good-looking as ever, his well-manicured suit outlined his perfect figure, his delicate


    face shining like a star in the sun. Meredith looked at her ordinary or even mediocre outfit, and the


    feeling of being unable to reach him reappeared.


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    They, as expected, were not from the same world...


    Now that she was standing next to Derek like this and someone might consider her as his nanny.


    "This is the agreement boss gave you."


    Damian said, interrupting Meredith''s whims and handing over a brown paper bag with a thick stack of


    documents.


    Meredith took it, and before she opened it, she couldn''t help butugh. Derek was really not an


    ordinary person. Even if it was just that they would break up, he had to make such a fuss.


    He gave her such a thick pile of documents and made such a fuss. Was he afraid that she would do


    something to damage his reputation?


    Derek could not help but frown when he saw her expression on the ss.


    This woman could stillugh. Was she heartless?


    Meredith took out the contents. Sure enough, there was a confidentiality agreement and some messy


    uses which said that Meredith could not reveal their rtionship at will.


    The more Meredith looked at it, the more amused she became. She thought that they were breaking


    up. But in the eyes of Derek, it may be that he just got rid of someone who was shortsighted.


    Without thinking, Meredith took the pen and signed her name on it.


    "Is this okay?"


    Meredith didn''t want to stay any longer. After signing, she wanted to leave.

 Chapter 239

    Chapter 239


    "Wait a minute."


    Derek said. This was the first time he had said something after Meredith came here.


    Meredith paused, feeling indignant. "The contract has already been signed. What? Afraid that I will be a


    bbermouth and tarnish your reputation? Don''t worry. I don''t want to get involved with you either."


    From being together to breaking up, he had never dropped his guard. Meredith felt that her pride was


    hurt. She could only feel better by taking him as rabid dog and deciding never to see him again.


    "There''s something else here. Don''t you want to take a look?"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s determined face. He had never realized that this woman had such a


    decisive side.


    Was all her decisiveness for herself?


    Meredith frowned. She didn''t read the contract very carefully, so she didn''t know its content.


    Could there be any unreasonable uses?


    Meredith turned back and took the contract. Derek then threw a new bag over. "This is for you."


    Meredith opened it and saw that it was an equity agreement on the shares of the Masons. She could


    retrieve the Masons'' shares and vi after she signed it.


    "What are you up to?"


    Meredith looked at Derek vigntly, and the man shrugged. "These assets belong to you. The members


    of The Masons are now either in jail or in hospital. You are the only one who can take charge of these


    things in the Masons, so I''ll give them back to you."


    Meredith seized the document in her hand. "I don''t believe you can be so kind..."


    "I just won''t take anything that doesn''t belong to me. If you don''t want it, you can throw it away. Anyway,


    the contract you just signed includes that I will return your things to you."


    With that, the man stood up. He didn''t want to see the vignce and indifference in Meredith''s eyes,


    which would make him lose control of his emotions.


    After Derek left, Meredith flopped down on the sofa, confused. Although she had always been hellbent


    on getting back the Masons'' assets, she knew little about these things. So she was bemused when she


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    suddenly got them back.


    "Miss Mason, actually boss..."


    Damian had something to say but hesitated. She knew that Derek devised this confidentiality


    agreement not because he was afraid that Meredith would divulge their rtionship, but because he


    was sure that Meredith would sign the contract in a fit of anger.


    Only in this way could he give the Masons'' assets to her.


    However, it seemed that Meredith did not understand Derek''s thoughtfulness.


    Damian was about to say something, but Derek interrupted her coldly, "Don''t say stupid things. Let''s


    go."


    Damian had no choice but to leave with Derek. Meredith stayed motionless for a while, staring nkly


    at the contract, then carefully put them away.


    Derek was right. These assets were the result of the joint efforts of her mother and Wesley. Since


    Wesley was no longer able to manage it, she had every reason to get it back.


    When she walked out, Derek''s car was no longer there.


    It seemed true that men were more ruthless than women. He just left without any hesitation.


    Meredith was lost in thought for a moment, then smiled bitterly and grasped the bag in her hand.


    Fortunately, she still had this, her mother, and her baby. Life didn''t need to revolve around a man.


    ...


    Meredith went back to the hospital and handed the Masons'' equity agreement to Amelia for


    safekeeping. She didn''t know much about these things, but her mother knew them very well.


    "Huh?" Amelia read the Masons'' financial report and felt perplexed.


    She thought the Masons should be in a mess now, all its property mortgaged, but it turned out that all


    its property remained untouched.


    Moreover, the wages of the workers seemed to have been paid off, and there was actually enough


    money on the ount to keep thepany running. It didn''t look like a bankruptpany at all.


    Amelia felt something was wrong.


    "What''s wrong, mom?"


    Meredith looked at Amelia''s thoughtful face and thought that she had found something wrong.


    "Nothing." Amelia shook her head. It urred to her that maybe it was Derek who did all these, but at


    the thought that her daughter was abandoned by him during pregnancy, shebeled Derek as a


    scumbag.


    How kind could a man who abandoned a pregnant woman be? It must be a coincidence.


    Seeing her busy reading those documents, Meredith said, "Take your time. I''ll be back soon."


    Now, she could no longer live in the house that Derek provided, so she had to find a ce to live as


    soon as possible. The hospital was endurable now, but she couldn''t live here with her baby after she


    gave birth.


    Although she didn''t have much money, Meredith wanted to try her best to provide afortable and


    safe environment for the unborn baby, so finding a house became a top priority.


    Meredith went out and bought a newspaper first. She checked Home For Rent and called thendlords


    one by one.


    However, being pregnant and unfamiliar with this ce, she felt exhausted after a few calls.


    Unexpectedly, it was so difficult for her to find a house without Derek''s help.


    Just as Meredith somehow distained herself, a nurse came over and asked, "Miss Mason, are you


    looking for a house?"


    Meredith was a little surprised but still nodded.


    "Well, there''s a small house near my ce. It''s just fit for you. Thendlord is in a hurry to rent it out, so


    you may rent it at a good price. Are you interested in it?"


    Hearing this, Meredith nodded hurriedly. Although she didn''t know the nurse very well, she felt safe to


    have someone she knew by her side.


    "Then I''ll take you to the house after work."


    When Meredith heard this, she smiled, relieved.


    Perhaps, she was not so unlucky. Perhaps she was able to live well without Derek.


    "I hope it won''t cause you much trouble. I really don''t know how to thank you. That''s really helpful."


    The nurse smiled and shook her head. She walked out and entered the vip reception room. "Mr. Xavier,


    everything has been done as you said."


    Wearing a pair of sunsses, Derek nodded at her and asked, "She didn''t suspect anything, did she?"


    The nurse shook her head, and Derek took out a check from his pocket. "A thank you gift. Besides,


    please take good care of her. Don''t let her be in any danger."


    The nurse glimpsed the number on the check and smiled broadly. It was several times more than her


    monthly sry. "Mr. Xavier, don''t worry. I''ll do my best."


    Derek nodded, pulled his cor, and walked out of the reception room.


    Meredith happened toe out and was stunned to see this familiar figure.

 Chapter 240

    Chapter 240


    Was that Derek?


    Meredith walked over. However, the man was tall with long legs, and his footsteps were much faster


    than hers. Soon, he was gone.


    Meredith didn''t catch up. In the end, she just shook her head. It must be just an illusion. Why was


    Derek here? He should be busy preparing for the wedding with Chloe, right?


    Thinking about it, Meredith smiled at herself self-deprecatingly. It was useless to think about those.


    Instead, it was better to think about how to live a good life in the future.


    The day passed quickly.


    Meredith followed the nurse who was off work to visit the room. To her surprise, the price of the house


    was quite eptable. It was clean and tidy without the problems she had imagined. Besides, it had


    everything. Also, it was not the sort of house that was within her budget.


    "Well, is the price correct?"


    Meredith held the rental agreement and looked incredulous. She always felt that it was not her turn to


    encounter such a good thing.


    Thendlord nodded quickly and his smile even tinged with eagerness. This morning, a man found him


    and asked him to rent the house to a woman. As long as he could manage it well, the man would give


    him a better house.


    At first, he was skeptical, but he didn''t expect that the man was telling the truth and gave him a house...


    How could he refuse such a good thing?


    "This isn''t a haunted house, is it?" Meredith looked at it, but it didn''t appear so. Still, the price really


    didn''t convince her. After all, she couldn''t have any problems giving birth here.


    "Of course not."


    Thendlord found out all the photos from his family to prove that the house was fine. Meredith looked


    through them carefully before finally bing relieved and signing them.


    Meredith was relieved that she had finally solved a major problem. Thendlord handed her the key


    and left.


    "You can rest here. You can call me if you need anything."


    The nurse saw that everything was arranged and left after a few words of concern.


    Meredith nodded, lost in her thoughts with a pillow in her arms. She looked at the clean and warm


    house, and touched the baby that was still moving in her stomach. "Baby, do you think mommy is finally


    a little lucky? Maybe god is still fair..."


    Meredith felt a little tired, so she went upstairs and found the bedroom.


    ...


    It waste at night, and the streets were getting more and more empty. Not far from where Meredith


    was, a ck car slowly stopped.


    Obviously, the car was expensive. However, it was toote for people to notice the situation outside.


    "Everything is done." The nurse andndlord stood in front of the car and respectfully reported the


    progress to the people inside.


    "Good."


    The car window slowly rolled down, and a handsome face appeared. Derek gave the two documents to


    them, who looked at each other in surprise. "Thank you, Mr. Xavier."


    "Sir, do you want to go back?"


    Damian looked at Derek thoughtfully. On this day, although Meredith did not know about it, Derek had


    already arranged all aspects of her life properly. He, as an outsider, saw it clearly.


    His boss still cared about Meredith, but...


    Thinking about the uing engagement ceremony, Damian did not know what to say. Perhaps, he


    could only help quietly.


    "I''ll go down and take a walk."


    Derek then got out of the car, walked slowly and looked at the environment here. Then he walked to a


    big tree, where he could see the second floor of Meredith''s house.


    Now that the lights were on, Meredith must have gone upstairs to rest.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Derek looked at the dim light affectionately, as if he were looking at something precious.


    Meredith looked around the bedroom. She didn''t know if it was her illusion. She felt that the bedding


    here was new. It didn''t look dirty or old at all. It could even be used directly.


    It was so convenient to stay here.


    Meredith smiled and went to the window to open it. Looking out at the scenery, there was a small


    garden not far from here. Although it was not as charming as the one in the Xaviers, it had already


    satisfied her.


    Seeing that she suddenly opened the window, his eyes darkened. He should be in the blind corner of


    Meredith''s vision now, so he didn''t have to worry about being discovered by Meredith. He just looked at


    the blurry figure like he was possessed, as if he wanted to imprint her figure in his mind.


    Meredith looked at the house for a while. She was satisfied with the ce. "Derek, you bastard. Look!


    Even without you, I would be fine. Don''t think you''re so great."


    Meredith said loudly, as if she was announcing something or cheering herself up.


    Her voice reached Derek''s ears and made himugh bitterly.


    This woman, who didn''t know that he had arranged everything for her, thought she was lucky.


    Perhaps this was fine. Meredith''s previous life was so hard that she did not believe that the so-called


    luck would fall on her.


    However, Derek was not angry, but rather amused. He saw a little more anger on Meredith''s face.


    Although it was caused by scolding him, at least he could see that she was not beaten down. If she had


    the thought, she could deal with any trouble.


    In this way, even if he left here temporarily, he could still feel at ease.


    After a while, the lights went out, the window was dark and there was no light. Derek stood there for a


    while, then slowly turned around and left.


    ...


    At the airport.


    Violet slowly stepped down from the Xaviers''s private ne, and a car was waiting outside.


    "Did you find out where Meredith is now?"


    Naturally, Violet had her own purpose. She had to control the child herself and never give Meredith the


    chance to be rich.


    "Now that Meredith has moved to a new ce, we have a rough idea of where she is."


    "Oh? Changed the ce?" Violet''s originally tense face lightened up because of the news. It seemed


    that Derek still followed her idea. At least, he knew to drive that woman away.


    Did that mean that he was no longer interested in that woman? If that was the case, she would feel


    much more at ease.


    "We''ll see what''s going on tomorrow. Let''s take a break today."


    Since Meredith had already left, Violet was not in a hurry to deal with her. After all, she needed to


    recover from jetg after flying here from home.

 Chapter 241

    Chapter 241


    The next few days, Meredith''s life was very peaceful and too calm that even she couldn''t believe it


    would be.


    When it rained, someone came and gave her an umbre. When she couldn''t get a taxi, someone


    came and gave her a ride.


    She, which had been unlucky for more than 20 years, seemed to suddenly be lucky at this


    moment.


    Meredith smiled when she thought of this. Maybe this was her new beginning, and her new life was


    about to start here.


    Just as she was thinking, a familiar Rolls-Royce stopped not far away.


    How could Meredith not recognize it? It was Derek''s car. The moment she saw the car, she would


    remember the humiliation and pain she had felt at the hotel entrance that day because of this man.


    What was Derek doing here?


    Damian stopped the car and wanted to open the door for Derek. "She saw you."


    Derek immediately saw Meredith standing not far away. Something was so strange. When he got close


    to her, he unconsciously noticed the woman, just like it was an instinct.


    "Miss Mason?" Damian noticed Meredith now. He didn''t notice what was going on here. "So, are we


    leaving?"


    After all, Derek had been helping Meredith secretly. If he was found out, all his previous efforts would


    be useless.


    "No." Derek shook his head. He looked through the window and met Meredith''s eyes. She had noticed


    them and recognized him.


    Leaving now would be even more suspicious.


    "I''ll go down and talk to her."


    Derek tugged at his tie. His heart was beating faster because of this simple meeting.


    It was only a few days since he had seen her, but he missed her so much. He had been watching her


    movements secretly all this time, but when he thought of meeting her face to face, he was not as calm


    as he had thought.


    Derek got out of the car and walked towards the hospital. Meredith saw the tall and straight figure


    getting closer and closer, and her heart beat faster unconsciously.


    Why was he here? Wasn''t he getting engaged? What was he up to?


    Meredith tried her best to calm her breathing and remain expressionless. She did not want to seem


    fragile or nostalgic at all in front of this man, because he would only mock her.


    Derek walked over but did not speak to Meredith. The two of them, like strangers, brushed past each


    other coldly.


    No one spoke first, and there was a strange vibe between the two of them.


    Finally, Meredith lost her cool and asked, "Mr. Xavier, why are you here?"


    When Xavier heard her cold voice, his expression did not change at all. She sounded like she had


    calmed herself.


    He was surprised that she could be so philosophical now.


    "I don''t need to exin anything to you, do I?"


    Derek clenched his fists. It was thest time he had asked those people to do as he had told, and then


    he was going home.


    But Derek''s tone did not change at all. Meredith could not help but sneer in her heart. " I don''t care


    what you''re doing here. I just have to be on guard in case you would do something that will hurt my


    mom and me."


    Derek''s eyes shed with anger. What did Meredith take him for?


    Was he such a petty and vengeful person in her eyes?


    "Don''t worry. I have real things to do. Have you ever seen someone step on an ant for no reason?"


    Little ant...


    Meredith wanted tough, but it was in agreement with Derek''s personality. To him, she was indeed a


    small ant that could be trampled to death with one foot.


    "That''s the best." Meredith said and turned to leave.


    Derek looked at her back. She left without looking back. She had no idea that they might not see each


    other for a long time.


    "Mr. Xavier..."


    The doctor was puzzled when he saw the two of them at loggerheads. Derek was very concerned


    about Meredith. He was so careful that he took care of everything about her, but why did he act so


    cold?


    "What you shouldn''t say, remember, don''t say it. And... What I told you to do, you must do it well. There


    must be no mistakes."


    Derek said and left.


    After the engagement, the Xaviers would monitor strictly him for a period of time. He could only warn


    them so that they would take good care of Meredith.


    ...


    In the evening, Meredith returned home.


    What she didn''t know was that this time, as soon as she left the hospital, a car followed her from afar.


    In order not to be discovered by her, Derek took a taxi and kept a low profile.


    Derek didn''t know why he did that, but when he thought that there was still a long time before he could


    see Meredith, he just wanted to seize thest moment and look at her.


    Also, he still hoped that no other man would appear in Meredith''s house. Fortunately, he had not seen


    any suspicious people in the past few days.


    This made Derek even more confused. Now that Meredith''s due date was getting closer and closer, did


    the father of the child really not care, not even appear once...


    Derek felt a mixture of feelings. On the one hand, he didn''t want to see other men around Meredith. On


    the other hand, he was very angry. Meredith was stupid to have children for such a man.


    Seeing Meredith entering the house and that she had no intention of leaving the house, Derek got out


    of the car and found the spot with ease. Then he looked closely at her every movement...


    At the same time, a car came quickly.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Violet also found out where Meredith was now and that she seemed to be living alone, so she came to


    see how Meredith was doing.


    She had just asked the driver to stop the car when she saw what she did not want to believe.


    Derek came down from a taxi and went under a tree. Then, he looked at a window, seeming to be


    thinking about something.


    Violet looked over and she almost rushed out of the car in anger.


    In that window, one could see Meredith looking at the scenery by the window. She didn''t seem to notice


    that someone was looking at her. Her face was peaceful, and she seemed to be living a good life.


    Violet was furious. Before she came here, she was relieved to know that Meredith had already left and


    that she had signed a breakup agreement with Derek. Because of that, she did not rush over to get rid


    of her.


    She didn''t expect that Derek was deceiving and fooling them by putting on such a show.

 Chapter 242

    Chapter 242


    Today, Derek stayed here a little longer than before. After taking onest look at the window where the


    lights had gone out, the man left.


    Watching him leave, Violet suppressed her anger and asked the driver to drive. Her body, which had


    been almost fully recovered from Derek and Chloe''s engagement, was now faintly ufortable.


    She couldn''t let him go on like this. Did he know that Meredith''s baby was his own?


    If he didn''t know, she would absolutely prevent him from knowing the truth.


    If he knew, she would have to control the child.


    Thinking about it, Violet called Derek. "Derek, when are youing back?"


    Derek received the phone call from Violet. He was rather worried. "I''ll go back tomorrow. How''s your


    surgery going?"


    Violet could not help but smile coldly in her heart. Her son, who had been brought up by her, started to


    lie to her and deceive her.


    She could not bear to me Derek. Instead, she could only me Meredith, who was a troublesome


    timed bomb.


    "I''m fine. By the way, how''s the engagement ceremony going?"


    Derek did not care about the so-called engagement. In his opinion, it was just a show without any


    practical significance. However, worried that Violet would think too much, he could only mumble a few


    words.


    The more Violet listened, the more resentment she felt towards Meredith. It was all Meredith''s fault.


    Otherwise, how could Derek lie to her like this?


    "Derek, don''t lie to me and let me down." As Violet spoke, she looked up at Meredith''s position.


    The ominous feeling in Derek''s heart grew stronger. "Mother, you..."


    Instead of saying anything, Violet hung up the phone.


    The engagement ceremony between Derek and Chloe would be held in a few days, so she had no time


    to dawdle and must do it as soon as possible.


    ...


    Meredith slept in the room, but the sudden thunder outside woke her up.


    She sat up abruptly with a strong palpitating feeling in her heart. The room was very stuffy because the


    window was not open. Meredith took a few breaths and the feeling of shortness of breath did not ease.


    "What... What''s wrong..."


    Meredith shook her head and got up to turn on the light to open the window and get some air. However,


    when she pressed the switch, the light did not turn on.


    It was dark in the room. Only the terrifying light from the lightning that pierced through the sky lit up the


    room a little. The room appeared like the scenes from those horror movies that she had seen before.


    "No... It''s okay... I must have been thinking too much."


    Meredith woke up in shock. Even so, sheforted herself by picking up her phone and trying to call


    someone for help, only to find that she couldn''t get the cell phone reception.


    There was no electricity, no cell phone reception and she was the only one in the house. Meredith was


    out of sleep and cold sweat came out of her body. Just then, there were some messy footsteps outside


    the door.


    Meredith nced at the time on her phone. It was past 12: 00 in the morning. This was a suburb, so no


    one would wander around at this time. Could it be that the power outage andck of signal were all


    intentionally done by someone?


    Meredith felt her heart beating faster and faster, as if it was about to jump out of the room. She


    breathed heavily to avoid the emotional stress, which would affect the baby. She just picked up a vase


    by the bed and quietly hid at the door.


    What would she do if a bad person came in and tried to rob her? She would let nothing happen to the


    baby...


    Meredith''s mind was in a mess. Just then, the thunder outside the window grew louder and louder,


    which was mixed with the crackling of rain. The depressing atmosphere grew stronger.


    The footsteps were getting closer and closer, and Meredith''s face was covered in a cold sweat. Her


    bangs were pressed against her forehead, and she was soaked from the sweat.


    "This is it."


    At this moment, someone spoke.


    Meredith was stunned. These people spoke Chinese rather than foreignnguages, which at least


    meant that they were not local gangsters, but Chinese.


    But who woulde all the way to find her?


    Meredith racked her brains and couldn''t figure it out. Just as her mind was in a mess, those people


    moved. The door was opened from the outside. Meredith quickly took a few steps to hide. A shlight


    shone in and cut through the darkness.


    "That''s her."


    When the group saw Meredith, they did not do anything drastic. Instead, they were very calm.


    "Who are you? What''s your intention?" Meredith held the vase in her hand. These people were so


    strange. If they were here to rob for money, why didn''t they ask for money? Instead, they didn''t look for


    anything and just stared at her?


    It was as if she had been targeted by wild animals in the forest. She was the prey that could not


    escape. She was frightened, but had nowhere to run!


    "Miss, you''d better calm down. Do you still want to fight so many of us with your physical condition?"


    "Who the hell are you?"


    "Don''t worry, we won''t hurt you. After all, you''re pregnant with a baby of the Xaviers. You''d bettere


    with us obediently."


    The leader of them sounded reasonable. After all, Meredith''s baby was already a few months old, so


    he could not bear the responsibility if he made a hasty move to abort her.


    "..."


    Why would they know whose child she had?


    And... The Xaviers?


    These people were sent by the Xaviers to rob her of her child?


    Meredith was furious. She refused to reveal who the biological father of the child was as she was afraid


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    that the Xaviers would think of eliminating her and keeping the child. Sadly, these people still came to


    take her child away.


    Why? Derek didn''t even want her, but he still wanted to take the child away.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about. The child in my stomach has nothing to do with the Xaviers. I


    had him with someone else''s. Please leave."


    "Miss Mason, since we''re here, we know the truth. You''d better save your energy ande with us. Be


    obedient to avoid suffering. Otherwise..."


    As soon as she finished speaking, a tall man suddenly rushed over. While Meredith''s attention was on


    the person who was speaking, he directly knocked the thing in her hand to the ground and had her arm


    pinned behind her, firmly controlling her.


    "Let me go. Let me go. You''re mistaken!"


    Meredith didn''t expect these people to move so fast. She didn''t even react. She struggled twice. Apart


    from hurting herself, the person who controlled her didn''t move at all. The size differences between the


    two made Meredith''s little struggle seem like a mosquito biting him.

 Chapter 243

    Chapter 243


    Meredith was brought down the stairs with her mouth covered. She struggled and twisted her body all


    the way, but it didn''t work.


    These people were all kung fu masters. It was too easy for them to deal with a physically weak woman.


    Seeing that she could not struggle to get free, Meredith quieted down. She tried to calm down. Now


    she could not panic. If she did so, she would have no chance to escape.


    Seeing that she had finally calmed down, the group of people felt much more at ease. After all, this


    woman was pregnant, and their master had told them not to hurt the baby in her belly, which was


    difficult to be ensured.


    "Miss Mason, it''s best for you to calm down. We''re not trying to cause trouble for you. Come with us,


    and you won''t get hurt."


    Not hurt?


    Meredith wanted tough when she heard it. Only a fool would believe their lies. Seeing that these


    people carefully avoiding her stomach, she knew that their target was her baby.


    How did the Xaviers know about her baby...


    Meredith''s mind was in a mess. She closed her eyes and didn''t want to see those people. Her mind


    was racing as she was trying to figure out how to escape.


    If she wasn''t pregnant, she might have had a chance to jump out of the car to be rescued. But now, she


    couldn''t take the risk. If she did that now, both she and her baby would die.


    It seemed that she had fallen into a desperate situation...


    Meredith clenched her lips. Her heart had never been filled with hatred for the Xaviers as it was now.


    Just as she was thinking, the car finally stopped at the entrance of a vi in the outskirts. Meredith was


    brought over, and she was obedient. Since she was now in other people''s territory, there was no need


    to struggle anymore. She could only y it by ear!


    The door was opened. Having stayed in the dark for a long time, she was not ustomed to such a


    bright light for a while. When she finally saw the person in front of her, she did not react violently.


    It was no different from her guess. The one sitting in front of her was Violet.


    In stark contrast to her awkward look, Violet was dressed in neat, expensive clothes, and even with


    exquisite makeup on her face. She was holding kung fu tea sets, slowly making tea.


    She looked so quiet and peaceful, not like a kidnapper at all, but like ady who was about to attend a


    tea party.


    Her air of superiority made Meredith very unhappy. How arrogant was the Xaviers to enjoy their own


    elegant life and ignore her suffering when she was greatly frightened and threatened!


    "Mrs. Xavier asked them to bring me here in the middle of the night. I''m not supposed to be here to


    watch you ying with the tea ceremony, am I?"


    Meredith said with no politeness. Violet didn''t like her, so it was useless to tter Violet no matter how


    much she tried.


    "Humph, you''re still so annoying and vulgar."


    Violet gently put down the teacup in her hand, her eyes filled with contempt and boredom.


    Meredith would be such a lower-ss woman forever...


    However...


    Violet''s eyes fell on Meredith''s stomach. Looking at the bulge, she had an indescribablyplicated


    feeling.


    Derek had been unconscious all the time. Even he woke up now, he didn''t show much enthusiasm for


    women. It was impossible that she wasn''t eager for her grandchild, but Violet didn''t expect her first


    grandchild to be from the woman she hated the most.


    If she held the baby against Derek and depend on the Xaviers for a living, it would be terrible.


    "I''m here to talk about your baby. Let her go. I don''t think she can escape in the situation."


    Violet said indifferently, not paying any attention to Meredith, whose face became gloomy at the


    moment when she heard the words.


    Meredith knew that Violet must have some schemes against her baby, but she didn''t expect Violet to be


    so shameless and disdainful. How could Violet not cover her malice up in front of so many people?


    Or... Did Violet feel that victory was certain and hence there was no need to hide it in front of her?


    Meredith clenched her fists. Because of the force, her nails even left several deep marks on the skin of


    her palms, but Meredith didn''t seem to notice them. She stared at Violet in front of her like a trapped


    beast.


    The group of people retreated when they heard Violet''s words. Meredith''s legs almost went limp, but


    she held on to herself without showing any weakness. Facing Violet, she didn''t want to reveal any


    timidness.


    "Sit down." Violet pointed to the sofa, "Don''t worry. I''m not asking you to sit down. I''m just protecting the


    baby in your stomach."


    Gritting her teeth, Meredith sat down. Since she was frightened and curled up in the narrow carriage for


    a long time, it was hard for her to stand still now.


    "What exactly do you want to do?" Meredith looked straight into Violet''s eyes, forcing herself to calm


    down and confronting Violet.


    "Of course... I''m going to deal with your baby."


    Violet smiled strangely, and Meredith immediately covered her stomach in fear.


    Deal with her baby?


    What did Violet mean?


    Was she going to abort her baby?


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Seeing that Meredith was frightened, Violet smiled, "I have ned to abort the baby in your stomach,


    but... There should be a fetal movement now, right? If I did that, I would kill my grandchild myself."


    "I already said that the baby was not his!"


    Meredith didn''t care too much and yelled at Violet.


    She had thrown away the result of the paternity test. No one would know the baby''s father.


    "Do you think I will believe what you''ve said?" Violet sneered. It had to be said that Meredith''s reaction


    was still quick, but it was too naive of Meredith to continue to deceive her at this moment.


    "Right now, you have only one choice. I will take you to an ind where you give birth to the baby and I


    will take it away. Then, the child will be raised by the Xaviers. It has nothing to do with you for the rest


    of your life."


    "Why? Why?" Seeing that she could not deceive Violet anymore, Meredith looked at Violet with red


    eyes, like a mother beast who had lost its child. Now, she wanted to perish together with Violet.


    "You are also a mother. You know what a child means to a mother, but you still want to separate my


    baby and me. Don''t you feel guilty?"


    Meredith''s emotions were about to copse, and things about her baby came into her mind bit by bit.


    Even though she did not want this baby, who was unexpected, in the beginning, her feeling changed


    little by little. After so many life and death trials, how could she give up the baby?

 Chapter 244

    Chapter 244


    Meredith''s eyes turned firmer as she recalled the details. No matter who it was, no one could take her


    child away from her. She was the mother.


    "If I were you, I wouldn''t have such a shameful rtionship with a man who was going to marry


    someone else, and I wouldn''t have turned my child into a bastard that everyone despised."


    Violet looked at Meredith coldly. It was because she was also a mother that she had to solve the


    problem caused by Meredith.


    Only in this way could Derek''s future be sessful.


    This was the only thing she could do as a mother.


    "Even if it is true, so what? I will give him everything I can. I will not let him suffer. Will a child be happy


    without his mother''spany?"


    "Nonsense, Meredith. Look at you now. What can you give him? Money? Resources? Or what?"


    Violet said disdainfully, "Being with an ipetent mother like you is the greatest misfortune of a child.


    For the sake of his future, I advise you to calm down and cooperate. When the child is born, then I can


    be kind enough to give you a sum of money so that you don''t lose both money and your child."


    Meredith''s eyes widened. "I won''t sell my child. Who do you think I am?"


    Meredith was so stubborn that Violet worried that she would hurt her grandson if she kept getting


    emotional like this.


    "In order to take care of your mood, I didn''t want to say this, but, Meredith, aren''t you curious how I


    know who your baby''s father is?"


    Meredith looked up at Violet as if she had been frozen. She thought about it, but she didn''t dare to think


    about it, because no matter who it was, it wouldn''t be what she wanted to hear.


    Someone must betray her.


    "Derek told me."


    Violet said indifferently, even if she was lying, her face remained unchanged.


    "No... Impossible..."


    Didn''t Derek never believe that it was his child?


    Why would he say that to Violet?


    "You were sent to the hospital by him. He had a paternity test done at that time. In fact, he already


    knew about it."


    "Then why didn''t he tell me? Why did he keep..."


    Meredith felt that she was in chaos at all. Why did Derek do that?


    "Of course it''s because he''s engaged to Chloe. Do you think he want an illegitimate child whose mother


    was you? the Bets is a famous family. How can they ept an illegitimate child?"


    "You think he treats you well and gives you those things because he loves you? It''s just his slight guilt.


    After all, it''s sad that you''re a pregnant woman who''s not epted by us."


    Violet said word for word. Her words, like a sharp knife, stabbed into Meredith''s heart, so painful that


    her breath became slow and difficult.


    Derek... Knew?


    He knew from the start that the child was his, just to marry Chloe, and he didn''t want to admit the fact?


    No, she didn''t believe it. That man... How could he be so cruel?


    "If that''s the case, then why would he tell you? Since he doesn''t want this child, why not let me raise


    him alone?"


    "Of course it''s because he''s worried that you''re insatiable. Even though you signed a confidentiality


    agreement, if you ever need money someday and change your mind about making a scandal with a


    paternity test, how much damage will it do to his reputation."


    "Meredith, you are really stupid. You really think that Derek will fall for a woman like you. It''s just to get


    some fun. When he feels interested, he can treat you well as the apple of his eyes. But once he gets


    tired of you, you are a piece of trash on the roadside for him. He won''t even look at you."


    Violet approached Meredith step by step and saw despair and helplessness in her eyes, which gave


    her a strange pleasure.


    This woman, like a thorn in her heart, was going to bepletely crushed by her.


    Seeing how shocked Meredith was, Violet guessed that Meredith still had hope in her heart. She


    thought that Derek would make up with her as soon as she revealed who the child''s father was.


    In that case, she could only nip all this in the bud.


    "No, it''s impossible..."


    "How could this be..."


    "Let me call him. Since he did it himself, he had to admit it to me. Otherwise, I wouldn''t believe it!"


    Meredith''s emotions had been pushed to the extreme. She covered her head and felt a splitting


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    headache, which made her want to scream. She even just wanted to faint, and expected it was over.


    However, the more she tried to escape, the more that feeling haunted her.


    She could not even faint from the scenes that had happened before urred to her, so she could only


    "Do you think he''ll answer your call?"


    Violet smiled and threw the phone at her. Meredith immediately called him like she was holding onto a


    straw.


    Dialing the number, Meredith almost implored Derek to answer the phone. She wanted to the answers


    and whether Violet was telling the truth.


    However, the phone was still not connected.


    The light in Meredith''s eyes dimmed little by little, and in the end, it became hollow.


    He was so tired of her, had enough fun, and even felt there was no need to contact her. He did not


    even give her a face-to-face break-up.


    "I see. You juste with me. Don''t do anything meaningless. He won''t care about you."


    Meredith had already lost consciousness. Violet''s words made her sit there in a daze without any


    reaction.


    After a few words, seeing that Meredith was as dull as a puppet, without saying a word, Violet felt


    bored and snorted coldly. "Then you can rest here. We will leave tomorrow. Don''t try any tricks. I have


    to inform you, your mother''s treatment is arranged by our the Xaviers. If you dare to do anything stupid,


    it''s easy for us to deal with you."


    Meredith''s eyes shed.


    After a long time, she moved her lips. "I know. I won''t run around."


    How ridiculous. When Derek arranged for her mother to be treated by the best doctor in the hospital,


    she thought it was a sign that he loved her.


    Unexpectedly, it was only the back hand. When they really fell out, he could threaten her with her


    mother''s health, forcing her topromise.


    Such a smart man. How could Derek be so despicable? He had been waiting for this day from the


    beginning.


    Violet left and silence returned to the room, but Meredith was still sitting there. Her nails scratched the


    sofa under her body, leaving marks on the leather surface.


    "Why? Why?"


    "Derek, I hate you, I hate you..."


    "I will never forgive you."

 Chapter 245

    Chapter 245


    Derek, who was boarding the ne, was suddenly enveloped in a very ufortable feeling.


    It was as if something was pressing on his chest, and the moody feeling made his face look a little


    gloomy.


    What happened?


    Derek couldn''t help but caress the painful part just now. He didn''t get hurt at all. How could it be so


    ufortable?


    It was as if something important was about to be lost.


    "Mr. Xavier, are you okay?"


    Derek had always been only in first ss by ne, so everyone was serving for him.


    Seeing that his face was not as normal, the stewardess immediately came over and asked with


    concern.


    "I''m fine." Derek waved his hand. The feeling had subsided for a while, but there was a feeling of


    unease in his heart, "When will we get there? "


    The current state of istion, for no reason, made him feel flustered.


    "About five hours." Although Derek said he was fine, the stewardess brought a cup of warm water and


    a nket, "You may be too tired, right? Do you want to have a rest?"


    These days, Derek had been dealing with thepany''s affairs abroad while he had to focus on


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    solving the difficulties that Meredith encountered in her life.


    Although it was not impossible for him to leave the trivial matters of Meredith to others, he still took care


    of them all by himself.


    He wanted to be able to do more for her and see that woman one more time. These all make him feel


    at ease, he was quite content even in adversity.


    "Maybe. Wake me up an hour early."


    Derek rubbed his eyebrows. Maybe he really needed to rest.


    Meredith vented her anger in the room for a while before slowly calming herself down.


    Right now, she could no longer give up on herself. If she gave up, there would be no hope. If she


    persevered, perhaps, there was still a new life.


    Meredith thought about it, opening the door, and, unsurprisingly, saw the guard standing outside, "Miss


    Mason, what do you need?"


    Meredith shook her head. She just wanted to see what was going on outside. However, just such a


    nce was enough to make her speechless. Violet obviously prepared a lot to her. She was only a


    pregnant woman, and there were a dozen of strong guys to guard her.


    In that case, even if she wanted to run away, it was impossible.


    "I want to have dinner."


    Meredith said calmly.


    Her request surprised the guards. After all, being kidnapped but still having an appetite for food was


    something unusual.


    However, Violet had ordered that they should give daily supplies to Meredith, and that of course


    included food. Violet didn''t want to harm the baby. Thus, they immediately sent someone to make the


    dinner.


    Meredith closed the door. She didn''t want to talk one more word with those evil people.


    She went back to her room, found out a sheet of paper and a pen, and marked the positions of the


    people she had just seen, as well as the shape andyout of the building.


    Now, she was on the third floor of a vi. With a baby, it was impossible to jump and escape from the


    window. Outside, there were four guards on duty every day. And more stood by downstairs.


    Escape? No way!


    Meredith''s brows furrowed tightly, and she was holding the pen in her hand with great power, almost


    breaking it off.


    Was there really no other way?


    Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure out how to get out of here, someone knocked on the


    door. Meredith walked over and saw that someone had brought dinner.


    In such a short time, they made a very sumptuous nutritious meal for a pregnant woman. She looked at


    it and wanted tough. What was this? It was like thest sumptuous dinner before the killing.


    In the eyes of the Xaviers, she was probably a fertility machine.


    "Thank you."


    Meredith was about to close the door when the person who had just spoken to her said slowly, "Miss


    Mason, if I guessed right, you didn''t want to eat anything at all, you wanted to see our distribution,


    right?"


    In order to ensure the safety of this incident, Violet specially brought in a group of highly trained people.


    Their abilities surpassed ordinary bodyguards quite a lot.


    It was only after a short contact that he realized something was wrong.


    "I don''t understand what you''re saying." Meredith pretended as if nothing had happened, but her palms


    were already soaked with cold sweat.


    Unexpectedly, these people were not only numerous but could even observe such tiny details.


    "It doesn''t matter if you don''t want to admit it, but I have something to say."


    "Right now, the Xaviers doesn''t want to hurt you and your baby. As long as you cooperate with us,


    you''ll be fine. But if you don''t want to be obedient, we also have other methods-- If you don''t mind


    being tied down for a month before the due date, and being watched 24 hours a day..."


    Meredith sensed a threat in his words and said, "Don''t you think it''s shameless of you to threaten a


    pregnant woman like that?"


    "We''re just doing things with promised money. As for being shameless or not, you can discuss it with


    the Xaviers."


    Meredith turned around and shut the door tightly. Out of anger, she locked the door a few more times,


    deliberately making the sound very harsh.


    But even she knew it was pointless.


    She was now the meat on the chopping block and could only be ughtered.


    the Xaviers... had been manipting her for so long, but now they still wanted to manipte her life?


    Meredith suddenly felt very tired in her heart. Since Ava''s car ident of hitting Derek, fate seemed to


    be an invisible thread that linked her life to everything in the Xaviers.


    She wanted to get rid of it, but she could not. Could this be the so-called "in a fitting twist of fate"?


    Meredith''s eyes shed with confusion.


    At this moment, the baby in her belly kicked her again.


    Now, not long after the due date, the child would asionally make a fuss in her belly, as if it was


    showing its presence.


    Normally, Meredith would be happy to record such a situation, but now, she was not in the mood at all.


    She caressed her belly mncholically. Now, as soon as the child left her body, the Xaviers would


    probably start to handle her immediately.


    But now that it was still in her body, how could she bear it?


    Meredith clenched her lips and drove all these thoughts out of her mind, ignoring them, then forced


    herself to pick up her chopsticks and start eating the food prepared by those people.


    Although she did not have any appetite, she could not give up on herself. The child in her belly needed


    nutrition. She must eat and drink something, by doing so she could have a good condition. Only by


    keeping her strength, could she have the chance to escape.

 Chapter 246

    Chapter 246


    Derek had a dream while he was dozing off on the ne.


    In his dream, he saw Meredith.


    She sat in a very clean room with a newborn baby in her arms and smiled at him. The smile was as


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    pure as an angel.


    Derek walked over gently when Meredith said to him, "The child is yours. It''s our child."


    Just as Derek was about to take the baby from her arms, it all suddenly vanished.


    Instead, Meredith was lying in the delivery room with arge pool of blood under her. She looked at him


    resentfully. "Derek, I hate you. It''s all because of you. I hate you. I will never forgive you for the rest of


    my life!"


    The difference between the two scenes was so great that even Derek could not help but feel


    frightened. Especially, the woman''s voice was so real, full of hatred for him, so strong that it could not


    be weakened...


    Derek opened his eyes suddenly and a few drops of cold sweat slid down his forehead.


    How could he have such a bad dream?


    Derek was breathing heavily when the stewardess came over as he instructed, "It''s less than an hour


    away. Mr. Xavier... Did you sleep well?"


    Derek waved his hand to let her out. He would not reveal his fragile side in front of any strangers.


    Meredith, what happened to you? Derek had never been a superstitious person. But when it came to


    what people cared about, they would be blind, even he was no exception.


    Was she in trouble?


    Derek looked out the window. The beautiful blue sky did not make him feel rxed. Instead, he felt


    heavier and heavier...


    Meredith, you must take care of yourself. Otherwise, I would go crazy...


    An hourter, the nended, and Derek immediately turned on his phone. He saw an iing call


    from Meredith.


    Derek called back immediately, but no one answered.


    The beep sound boiled him.


    He had a premonition that something bad had happened to Meredith...


    Worried and uneasy, Derek resisted the urge to smash his phone and called the bodyguard who stayed


    there.


    Because he didn''t want Meredith to find out that he was still monitoring her life, and he didn''t want the


    Xaviers to get somthing more on him, Derek let Damian go home first and hired other people to keep


    an eye on Meredith.


    "Where is Meredith now?"


    "Miss Mason? Is there anything wrong?"


    Now, it waste at night abroad due to the jetg, and the people who were asked were confused.


    They watched Meredithe home, so they went back to their ces.


    The people Derek hired were the most expensive bodyguards, and some had even been mercenaries


    before. They only epted the most dangerous tasks. This task of protecting a woman was really


    below their pay grade.


    In addition, Meredith''s life was routine, from hospital to home, from home to hospital. They really


    couldn''t figure out what would go wrong, so they slowly put their guard down. This time, they made a


    huge mistake. They left Meredith alone.


    "Mr. Xavier, we will go checking it out right away."


    Derek was instantly enraged. Check it out? Then it meant that Meredith was out of their sight. He


    clearly asked them to watch over Meredith 24 hours a day to protect her, but these people were so


    sloppy?


    "If anything happens to her, I will hold you all responsible. Don''t even think about getting away."


    Derek''s face was so heavy that he wanted to book the ne ticket immediately and flew back without


    hesitation. Now that something like this had happened, how could he have the mind to rx here? He


    wished he could show up there instantly.


    However, just as he was about to book a flight, a the Xaviers car arrived.


    This time, Mr. Xavier and Chloe came to pick him up.


    "Derek, you''re finally back. Is everything going well abroad?"


    "Grandpa, Derek doesn''t look pale. He must be tired. Why don''t you spare him this time?"


    Chloe could see the gloominess in Derek''s eyes at a nce. Although it did not affect his handsome


    appearance, it still made her heart ache, so she said coquettishly.


    Of course, this was also to show her concern for Derek.


    Her words were effective. Mr. Xavierughed, "You''re right. You are so considerate, much better than


    me. Come on, Derek. Let''s forget about the work now. Go home and take a rest. I have prepared your


    favorite cuisines."


    "Grandpa, I..."


    Derek looked at his grandpa and said, "The overseas department just reported an emergency. I have to


    go back now."


    "Nonsense!"


    Mr. Xavier shouted, "You just came back and you have to go back now? Do you think your body is


    made of iron? Come home with me now. Look at you. You look so haggard. the Xavier Group would not


    go bankrupt even if you don''t go to work today. Get in and go home!"


    "Grandpa, it''s an emergency. I must..."


    How could he leave Meredith behind? Therefore, he chose to ignore his grandpa and insisted, "I''ll


    After that, he turned around and was about to leave. He had to race against the clock. Meredith was


    alone now. Derek was worried.


    "How dare you!" Mr. Xavier was infuriated and kept coughing. The engagement was just around the


    corner. If he left, everything would get out of control.


    "Go take him back, by any means!"


    A group tall men got out of the car and ran after Derek. "Young master, pleasee with us!"


    "Unless you want to fight with me?" Derek didn''t want to waste time with them.


    Now, he would not hesitate to beat the crap out of whoever stood in his way.


    "If you insist."


    As soon as the words fell, all guards rushed up and circled Derek. They didn''t dare to hit Derek hard,


    but after all, they were trained well. With good team work, they quickly got Derek under control.


    Derek did not expect his grandpa to be so cruel. He struggled but failed. His eyes reddened out of


    anxiety and helplessness.


    "Grandpa, let me go... I have to go back..."


    Those guys dragged Derek to the car, and Mr. Xavier slowly said, "Derek, since you''re home, you can''t


    leave. I know you well and have got fully prepared."


    Mr. Xavier brought a few guards with him, just in case Derek would regreat or even escape. He didn''t


    expect them toe in handy.


    "Go home now! Chloe has been busytely."

 Chapter 247

    Chapter 247


    His grandpa said it nkly yet resolutely, leaving no chance for Derek to say no.


    Derek clenched his teeth. His grandpa had made the decision and got well prepared. He even hired so


    many guards.


    He could only pretend to be obedient at first. He must figure out another method to do that ASAP.


    "I... got it."


    He said unwillingly. Hearing his answer, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. "Derek, go back and have a


    good rest. I''ve prepared a feast for you. There won''t be many people. Make yourself at home. It''s


    time... for you to meet my parents."


    Derek was annoyed by her, "I know. I''m tired. I''ll get some rest first."


    Immediately, he closed his eyes and took a nap. He was indifferent to Chloe without showing any


    respect.


    Chloe felt ashamed.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She was put on a pedestal by other people. But with Derek, she almost lost all her dignity. She even


    begged him to get engaged with her.


    Chloe''s eyes shed with a hint of unwillingness. She would not let this situationst long. She would


    make Derek fall in love with her again.


    "OK." Then she asked the driver to drive slowly with a forced smile on her face.


    His grandpa nodded and was very satisfied with her thoughtfulness. With her by Derek''s side, he could


    rest in peace.


    Knowing that he could not leave this ce for the time being, Derek closed his eyes. But he could not


    fall asleep at all. As soon as he closed his eyes, the scene of Meredith lying in a pool of blood


    appeared in front of him.


    She was so desperate, so helpless. If he didn''t help her, who else could...


    Derek unconsciously clenched his fists. He had to get out. He had to get Meredith back quickly.


    Just then, Derek''s cell phone rang. They didn''t find Meredith. She might be kidnapped by some


    professionals. They didn''t leave any evidence.


    "Mr. Xavier, Miss Mason was kidnapped. We''ll go find her right away and make up for this mistake."


    Derek red at the message and read it word by word, again and again. His eyes got darker and


    colder.


    It turned out that his dream was a warning telling him that Meredith was in danger.


    He couldn''t help but smash his fist on the car seat. He didn''t expect that although he had made so


    many arrangements, Meredith was still kidnapped. If something happened to her, he would make those


    negligent people pay.


    Chloe was startled by him. Seeing that he looked gloomy, she couldn''t help but mutter to herself.


    "What''s wrong? He never lost his temper. Did something bad really happen?"


    Derek immediately sent a message to Damian asking him to go abroad. Although those people he had


    hired said they would try their best to make up for their mistakes, he didn''t trust them anymore.


    The message Damian received was very short. Derek didn''t tell him what to do specifically. But after all


    these years with Derek, he knew him well. He would never do anything meaningless, so Damian


    immediately booked thetest ne ticket to go abroad.


    "Derek... What are you..." Chloe looked at Derek''s gloomy face. She wanted to care about him and


    asked in fear, but he just gave her a cold look.


    She suddenly felt a little aggrieved. These days, she had let go of all her pride and tried to behave well


    to show that she was worthy to be a daughter-inw of the Xaviers, but Derek didn''t appreciate it at all.


    "Derek, are you... unwilling to get engaged to me?"


    Chloe sounded like she was crying. She purposely asked it loud so that Mr. Xavier, who was sitting in


    front of them, could hear her clearly.


    Derek was already upset. Seeing Chloe''s aggrieved face, he was not in the mood to coax her. "If I said


    yes, would you cancel the ceremony?"


    Chloe''s face turned pale, and Mr. Xavier was so angry that he reached out to p Derek.


    Everyone knew thatthe Xaviers and the Bets were about to be bonded. He''s insane to say


    something like this to Chloe at this moment.


    But meanwhile Mr. Xavier noticed that Derek was obviously being strange. He knew that Violet had


    gone abroad to take care of Meredith and her baby. Maybe that''s why Derek was worried.


    He didn''t care about thepany. He was worried about Meredith.


    "Chloe, go back first. I have something to talk to him."


    Mr. Xavier got out of the car, and Derek followed silently. Chloe was a little guilty. She couldn''t help but


    say that. Derek did not care about her feelings at all. If he really decided to cancel the engagement,


    she would cry in regret.


    Recently, she had been busy pleasing the Xaviers at the cost of her own career. Luckily, Mr. Xavier


    recognized her and gave her moremercial resources.


    She now endorsed many products. She liked this feeling and wanted to be more sessful. The


    Xaviers was powerful to support her, unlike the Bets which was in a dire state now and could not


    boost her career at all.


    Therefore, she must firmly hold onto the Xaviers, at all costs.


    "I... I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have said that."


    Chloe said with a grievance. Mr. Xavier shook his head to show that it was not her fault.


    Derek didn''t say anything but looked down at the ground. Mr. Xavier was so angry. He raised his hand


    and pped Derek. "What did you say? Now that the Xaviers has publicized your engagement, do you


    think it is still an unimportant thing between you two? This concerns the reputations of the two families!"


    Derek looked at the old man in front of him. Even though his hair was grey, he still looked so powerful.


    Even Derek was at a disadvantage in front of him. "Grandpa, all you care is the interest and reputation


    of our family. When you threatened me with Meredith''s mother, have you ever thought about it in my


    shoes?"


    Derek roared, "Meredith and her mother were suffering, because of us. Don''t you feel any guilt at all?"


    "Who do you think I''m doing this for? Do you think I want to?"

 Chapter 248

    Chapter 248


    "I did all these for you, for the whole family!"


    Mr. Xavier red back at Derek and raised his voice, "If you want to leave, then go and nevere


    back. The Xaviers doesn''t need a unfilial heir!"


    He was outrageous that he kept coughing. His face was red. He stumbled and almost fell.


    Derek was angry as well, but he got worried when he saw his grandpa being unwell. He walked over to


    help him, "Grandpa, calm down."


    "That''s all I want to say. My days are counted, Derek. Why can''t you satisfy myst will? This


    engagement is important for the Xaviers. As the heir, you have to make some sacrifices for the family."


    His grandpa persuaded him.


    Derek had never thought that his grandfather, who had always been dominant, would say that. His


    hands trembled and many recollections came into his mind.


    The happy days with Meredith, how worried and excited his grandpa was when he woke up, how his


    grandpa held his hand and taught him to walk when he was a kid... Meredith and grandpa, two most


    important person in his life.


    He could not any of them go.


    "Come back with me when you think it through."


    Mr. Xavier coughed again. He pushed Derek away and teetered foward.


    Only then did Derek realize that his grandfather, who had always been his hero was getting old. Even if


    he didn''t admit his being old, his bent back and gray hair would not lie.


    "Grandpa..."


    Derek walked over. After all, he couldn''t bear to look at his grandfather''s lonely back. It was a sad


    feeling when seeing a hero getting old.


    "Good boy. You have to remember no matter how long you''re out there, you have toe home


    eventually. Derek, don''t let me down again!"


    Mr. Xavier held Derek''s hands. For him, he really abandoned his dignity and left the Xaviers'' family


    affairs to the Leslies. Now, he was even willing to expose his vulnerable side to get Derek''s empathy.


    However, he had no other choice. As long as Derek was safe, it was worth it.


    "I... I know."


    Derek lowered his eyes. It was obviously not a wise choice to provoke his grandpa now. On the one


    hand, Meredith''s mother was still in the hand of the Leslies. If Meredith was missing and Amelia in


    trouble, then he was the one to be med.


    "Okay, let''s go back."


    Mr. Xavier nodded. Derek said nothing more and quietly helped his grandpa out of here.


    After a sleepless night in bed, Meredith heard a knock on the door.


    She went out to open the door and saw Violet standing at the door. Compared to Meredith''s haggard


    and disheveled figure with dark circles under her eyes, Violet was still elegant and energetic.


    She didn''t seem to feel guilty about kidnapping a pregnant woman. When she saw Meredithe out,


    she even smiled. "You don''t look very well. Don''t worry, I won''t do anything harmful to you. You can


    sleep tight."


    Meredith sneered in her heart, thinking how hypocritical Violet was.


    Meredith knew Violet well. In her eyes, people without wealth and power mean nothing. She didn''t


    consider others'' feelings at all. No one could resist her power and wealth. She could do whatever she


    wanted.


    "If Mrs. Xavier can keep calm after being kidnapped, then you cane back and lecture me."


    Meredith said indifferently. Violet was not angry at all. She just frowned. Meredith was from a humble


    family. Without proper education, she didn''t know how to respond to others'' kindness. That''s not


    unusual.


    However, it didn''t matter. Meredith couldn''t do anything but say some harsh words now. When the child


    was born, she wouldn''t meet such a poor woman again.


    "We''re leaving today. The Xaviers has an ind in the open sea. Everything has been prepared. I''ll


    send you there. After giving birth to the baby, you can leave."


    The open sea?


    Nice n! Although she knew what Violet was up to, she didn''t expect her to be so sick.


    After all, even if she died in the open sea, no one would know, even if someone reported it, no police


    would take care of it.


    "Is Mrs. Xavier trying that hard to kill me?"


    Meredith felt a little scared. She had seen how cruel the Xaviers could be. Violet hated her. If she really


    wanted to kill her, she would and can do it.


    Seeing that Meredith was frightened, Violet smiled, "Rx! I''m not that crazy. You just have to be


    obedient and don''t do anything to provoke me. I won''t be so stupid to do those bloody things on my


    own."


    It''s more like a warning than promise.


    Meredith''s face turned pale. She did think of a few ways to escape. She nned to pretend that she


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    was going to give birth, and then take the opportunity to call for help. Unexpectedly, Violet cut her off.


    Did that mean that if she dared to y tricks, Violet would never let here back?


    Meredith suddenly realized that she was really too weak to fight back.


    "I... Got it..."


    Meredith said in humiliation. Violet was pleasant to hear that. "Then let''s go."


    Meredith obediently followed behind the woman, her eyes filled with hatred that could not be resolved.


    Was she going to be a fertility tool and give her child to the Xaviers?


    She was really unwilling, but she couldn''t do anything.


    Meredith followed Violet into the car. Along the way, she didn''t say anything. Violet called a professional


    obstetrician and gynecologist to look at her the whole time. People who didn''t know the truth probably


    thought Violet cared about Meredith so much.


    "This person will be with you 24 hours a day from now on. She is an expert in foreign obstetrics and


    gynecology. I hope you can listen to her and follow her instructions, okay?"


    Violet said inly. In order to ensure the health and safety of Meredith''s baby, she thought thoroughly.


    "Got it."


    Meredith did not resist. She did not dare to act rashly at the thought of what Violet might do. She must


    not provoke this woman.


    "Very good." Seeing that Meredith was quiet and obedient, Violet was much more rxed. Soon, the


    car drove to the airport, where the Xaviers ne had been waiting for a long time.


    Meredith got out of the car and walked over step by step. Every step she took was as painful as if she


    was going to the execution ground. However, she had no choice but to follow Violet.


    Was there anyone... Who could help her?


    Seeing that she was about to board the ne, Meredith looked around in a daze, as if searching for the


    <pst straw. At this moment, a familiar figure lit up her eyes.

 Chapter 249

    Chapter 249


    Damian?


    Why was he here?


    Although she didn''t know what Damian was doing here, Meredith believed that if he knew her difficult


    position, he would help.


    "I''m going to the bathroom."


    Meredith spoke calmly. Violet frowned. "Can you wait? You can go to the bathroom on theer..."


    "No! My belly hurts. The bathroom on the ne is too narrow. Do you want my baby to suffer too?"


    Meredith didn''t care if it was embarrassing or not. She looked at Violet.


    "Fine. You, take her there."


    Violet''s face was filled with disgust. "Keep an eye on her. Don''t let her y any tricks. But I don''t think


    she dares."


    Meredith said nothing and followed the group to the restroom not far away.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    The group of people first drove everyone out of the bathroom before letting Meredith in.


    Meredith walked in without any objections. She took a look at the furnishings. No wonder they allowed


    her toe in. The windows were very high, so she couldn''t climb out. As long as she didn''t have her


    phone, she couldn''t escape.


    Meredith bit her lower lip tightly, then took out a lipstick from her pocket and quickly wrote a few words


    on the wall. The bright red color was conspicuous.


    She could only hope that these obvious marks would attract the attention of others.


    After doing all this, Meredith walked out of the bathroom and washed her hands slowly, looking rather


    normal.


    "Do we need to investigate the room?"


    Just as everything was going smoothly, someone suddenly suggested. Meredith paused, and then she


    covered her belly and screamed.


    "My belly hurts. Send me back!"


    Meredith''s voice was trembling, and it sounded as if she had lost all her strength in pain. Those people


    did not dare to neglect her and had no time to care about anything else. They quickly helped her out of


    here.


    Meredith breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, felt very nervous. She hoped that someone


    could see the traces she left behind, and then, make a big fuss so that Damian could know about this!


    "Are you okay this time?" Violet urged impatiently when she saw Meredithing back.


    "Yes."


    Meredith did nothing more. Obediently, she followed Violet on the ne. Through the window, she took


    onest look at the city where she had lived for some time.


    She would be back, for sure...


    When Damian arrived at the ce, he first called Derek to report the situation. Meredith''s


    disappearance was confirmed, but it was still unknown who took her away.


    Those people had obviously made sufficient preparations before they took action. The surveince


    cameras were destroyed, so there were no traces left. The locator on Meredith''s phone was also


    destroyed.


    Therefore, finding Meredith was difficult.


    "No matter what, you must find her."


    Derek''s face was very grim. He was trapped here. Even if he was anxious, he could not do anything.


    He felt extremely helpless.


    "I see. If anything happens, I''ll report to you immediately." Damian said. Suddenly, there was a


    "Ah, what is this? It''s so scary!"


    "Is it blood? It looks scary."


    Damian frowned. He didn''t want to see it, but someone''s voice caught his attention.


    "It seems to be written in Chinese. Can anyone understand it?"


    Damian walked over and nced at it. It was only then that he saw the handwriting on it. It looked so


    familiar.


    After thinking for a moment, he remembered that this was Meredith''s handwriting!


    Why was it here?


    "Get out of the way. Let me see."


    Because it was written in lipstick, the handwriting was a little blurry now, but Damian still quickly


    recognized the contents.


    "I was kidnapped by the Xaviers. If you can see it, help me contact this person!"


    There was a phone number below. Damian nced at it. It wasn''t Derek''s, but he still took it down.


    Meredith was kidnapped by the Xaviers?


    Damian thought to himself. Could it be that the Xaviers didn''t want her to disturb the engagement


    ceremony a few dayster?


    Damian hesitated for a moment. Should he report this to Derek?


    If the engagement ceremony was dyed, the Xaviers would be in a mess. No one could afford the


    consequences.


    Meredith was brought to the ce Violet had arranged in advance. It was an isted ind with


    beautiful scenery and a beautiful sea around it, but there was no one but a very majestic building


    standing in the middle.


    "This is the resort that the Xaviers once invested in, but for some reason it''s vacant. It''s perfect for you


    to live in right now."


    Violet had already sent someone over to clean up the ce. "It takes a few hours on a speedboat to


    get to the closest ce with people. It''s a quiet ce. You can rest easy here... and take care of your


    baby.


    Her words sounded sweet. But Meredith could know what she really meant. Violet was warning her that


    she was isted from the world and that not even to think about asking someone to save her and that


    she didn''t have any chance to escape.


    "You''re not a fool. I think you know what to do and what''s best for you and the people you care about."


    Violet said faintly. The wind blew up her long hair, making her look gentle and beautiful, but Meredith


    felt disgusted even looking at her.


    "Don''t worry. The child in your belly is Derek''s first child. After it is born, I won''t have any prejudice


    against it. It will be taken care of and will be a thousand times better than with you."


    With that said, Violet told the medical team behind him, "Go and examine her body. There must be no


    problems in this month."


    Meredith only found it ironic. If someone saw this group of people getting busy for her, they would think


    Violet cared about her so much.


    However, she did not refuse. She just followed the doctors and received a checkup.


    Because she was very concerned about the child''s condition. This inspection took a lot of time.


    Meredith was like an obedient toy. She did as she was told. Finally, the inspection was over.


    "Miss Mason is fine."


    Violet nodded. "Someone is in charge of your diet and life from now on. I hope you can coordinate with


    them. I don''t want to hear any news that you refuse to eat or something."


    Meredith nced at Violet. This woman was a control freak, hoping that everyone would listen to her


    and wanting to control everything.

 Chapter 250

    Chapter 250


    This desire to control made her breathless. Meredith didn''t know what happened to her that she could


    be so paranoid.


    "I''m tired. Can I go and rest now?"


    Meredith didn''t want to tangle with Violet anymore, so she said faintly.


    "As long as you cooperate with us obediently, I won''t make it difficult for you. Just go."


    Violet replied, but something in Meredith''s eyes made her very unhappy.


    She actually saw disgust and pity for herself in this woman''s eyes? How could a lowly person like her


    behave like this?


    Violet felt that as long as it had something to do with Meredith, it would make her ufortable, so


    she said to the servants, "Keep an eye on her. I''m going back to prepare for the engagement. Make


    sure the child is safe and sound."


    Meredith had not gone far. When she heard the word "Engagement," she couldn''t help but tremble.


    Only when Violet saw it did she feel better.


    It seemed that this woman was still thinking of the idea of "raising her status by her son", but now Violet


    thought she had ruined it.


    Fortunately, she found out in time.


    Violet left, Meredith went back to the bedroom, and two nurses followed behind her, with no intention of


    leaving.


    "What are you doing here?" Meredith felt ufortable being watched and wanted to drive them out.


    "We''re doing as instructed, Miss Mason. It''s only been a month. Just bear with it."


    Meredith looked at the indifferent expressions of these two person and held a deep breath in her heart.


    "You''re helping the devil. I couldn''t sleep when seeing you. Get out!"


    "I''m sorry, Miss Mason. You should get used to it as soon as possible."


    Meredith''s words had no effect at all. They were still standing by her bed, as still as two door-gods.


    Although Meredith was unhappy, there was nothing she could do. "Whatever you want, I want to rest.


    Don''t make any noise and disturb me."


    Then she pulled the nket over her head, trying to escape the feeling of being watched.


    "Miss Mason, you''re going to feel suffocated. For the sake of your baby, it''s better not to do this."


    Meredith waspletely annoyed. "You forbade me this and that again and again. What do you want


    on earth!"


    "Our mission is to ensure that the child is born safely and healthily. We hope you won''t make things


    difficult for us, Miss Mason. Otherwise, we can only report it to madam and let her handle it."


    Meredith''s face was gloomy. If Violet knew about it, she might attack her mother. Thus, Meredith could


    do nothing but cooperate with them.


    Thinking of this, Meredith was filled with endless hatred. Perhaps this was Derek''s n from the


    beginning.


    It was all a lie to ask a doctor to see her mother. His aim was just to control her. Now, her mother had


    be a bargaining chip for them to threaten her.


    Meredith didn''t try to make things difficult anymore. Shey on the bed with her eyes closed, but she


    couldn''t sleep.


    Will Damian see that line of words? Or could someone help her to make a call and contacted other


    people for her?


    All she could do now was to wait.


    In the evening.


    Derek tossed and turned around in bed, unable to rest even though his body was screaming to be


    exhausted.


    Because as soon as he closed his eyes, he would see Meredith''s miserable appearance. Her eyes


    were so helpless and desperate that he couldn''t breathe.


    What would he do if something really happened to her?


    Derek gasped in pain, and his chest hurt badly.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the door.


    "Derek, everyone''s here. How are you feeling? Are you okay?"


    Chloe''s voice came. Her parents were here today. After all, it was a lifelong event like her daughter''s


    engagement, so they naturally came to discuss it.


    Derek didn''t want to talk to anyone at all. He just wanted to be alone, but when he thought of what his


    grandfather said, he could only force himself to get up.


    Chloe breathed a sigh of relief when she heard footstepsing from the house. If Derek didn''t show


    any respect and refused to see her parents, then she really had no dignity at all. Now, fortunately,


    Grandpa Xavier was on her side and gave her some support, otherwise...


    Thinking about it, Chloe made up her mind. She had to seize the opportunity given by Mr. Xavier''s so


    that even if Derek had a grudge against her, he could not drive her away.


    Derek opened the door, and Chloe looked up at him, which shocked her. Derek was no longer as


    energetic as he used to be. His hair was messy, which looked like weed. Under his eyes were dark


    circles, and stubble appeared. It waspletely different from his usual exquisiteness.


    What the hell was going on...


    If he went on like this, her parents would be confused.


    "Derek, do you want to clean up?"


    Chloe said cautiously, but now Derek had a dangerous aura all over his body. She had mustered up a


    lot of courage to say this.


    "You don''t think it''s appropriate for me to be like this? Since it''s not suitable, then don''t see me. I''m not


    interested, either."


    Derek nced at Chloe. Sometimes, he really didn''t understand this woman. When he loved her and


    only wanted to marry her, she disdained him and wanted to go out to pursue the so-called ideal.


    Now that he had no feelings for her at all, she stuck to him all day and refused to leave.


    Combined with the current situation in the Bets, this even made Derek suspect her motives.


    Although the Bets was a famous family, due to poor management, the family had long been


    emptied into an empty shelf.


    Although Chloe appeared to be a goddess with boundless scenery, after all, without the support of the


    family, she was no longer as confident as before.


    "Chloe, why do you want to marry me? Is it because you like me, or because I am the best you can


    choose and will bring you the most benefits?"


    Derek''s words stunned Chloe for a moment. She could not deny that she had some inferior intentions


    from Derek, but after being said so bluntly, she couldn''t calm down anymore.


    "What do you mean?"


    "You know what I mean."


    Derek withdrew his eyesight and grabbed her hair casually. "Do you remember what I told you?"


    "It''s just a deal that I''m engaged to you. If you want anything else from me, don''t even think about it. It''s


    impossible."


    After that, Derek went downstairs and did not look at Chloe again.


    Chloe clenched her fists in anger. Derek''s attitude towards her was getting worse and worse. Why was


    it like this when that woman had already left?


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    In a moment of anger, suddenly there was a piercing sound of musicing from Derek''s room.


    Chloe nced at it. Derek forgot to take his phone away. Driven by curiosity, she nced at the words


    on it.

 Chapter 251

    Chapter 251


    "We''ve found a clue to Miss Mason''s disappearance, but..."


    The message was sent by Damian, but he didn''t make it clear.


    Chloe''s face darkened. As soon as Meredith''s name appeared, she suddenly had the urge to smash


    the phone in her hand.


    Why was this woman omnipresent?


    She was practically everywhere in her life, but... what did Damian mean by disappearance?


    Was Derek being strange because she was missing?


    Chloe''s heart was filled with jealousy. Sure enough, Derek hadn''t moved onpletely. Missing?


    Maybe that woman had ned this herself to sabotage their engagement ceremony.


    Thinking about it, Chloe replied, "Don''t butt in this anymore. I''ll take care of it."


    After sending it, Chloe immediately deleted it so that no one would know she had done this.


    It took Damian a long time before he decided to report it. If it was reported, it might affect Derek''s


    engagement and his own future.


    But he couldn''t just sit back and watch Meredith suffer.


    Seeing Derek''s reply, Damian thought that he might already know the truth, so he decided to stay out of


    this. After all, the person who kidnapped Meredith was from the Xaviers. This was a family matter, and


    he could not interfere more.


    After Chloe had done all these things, she went downstairs as if nothing had happened.


    Derek had already sat down at the table. When he saw hering, he asked, "Why are you sote?"


    Chloe felt a little guilty and didn''t know if Damian would report it, but as long as she could hide it from


    Derek after the engagement ceremony was held, everything would be easier.


    As long as she and Derek got engaged, she could keep this man.


    "Nothing. I fixed my makeup."


    Chloe smiled and walked gracefully to the dining table, her expression the same as usual.


    Derek nced at her and felt something was wrong with this woman, but since he had no interest in


    her, he just looked away.


    ...


    Meredith stood by the sea and looked at the ce where the blue sky and sea intersected, but her


    eyes were not focused at all.


    This was an ind that the Xaviers had bought to develop a holiday base. The scenery here was as


    good as anywhere else. She could see the cleanest sky and the bluest sea, but she was not in the


    mood to appreciate it. She just looked at the waves in the distance, her hands on her belly. She


    couldn''t help but clenched her fist.


    Her knuckles were a little white because of too much force, but Meredith seemed she didn''t notice it at


    all.


    She had been here for three days.


    It was so deste here that she could see none other than the Xaviers, and there was nothing but the


    vast sea.


    It was as if the whole world was against her, and she was the only one who was waiting for the hope


    that might or might not appear.


    She was about to give up


    Meredith''s eyes grew darker and darker. She tried to persuade the women who were guarding her, to


    ask them to understand her difficulties as a mother, hoping that someone would be soft-hearted, but


    they had no reactions at all, let alone release her.


    "Miss Mason, we''re just doing what we''re told. If anything goes wrong with you, we will be doomed, so


    you''d better get rid of those thoughts."


    Meredith''s despair deepened as she thought about what these people had replied. She even


    remembered the days when she was grounded by Derek at his house.


    First Derek, then his mother, then the Xaviers. They all had no respect for her.


    What did she do to get involved with these robbers?


    "Miss Mason, you seem a little unstable. You should go back to your room and have a good rest."


    The doctor''s indifferent voice rang out.


    Meredith did not say a word. Although she knew that they were doing as told, she could not help feeling


    resentful to them.


    Without them, she would not be here, as a captive animal.


    Therefore, she refused to say a word to these people now. This was her way to show her resistance.


    "Miss Mason, even if you don''t speak, we won''t soften up. But if you keep standing in the wind, you''ll


    catch a cold."


    Then another guard came over with a coat. "Since you don''t want to go back, please put on your coat."


    The doctor stood there respectfully with a coat in his hand and said nothing more.


    Meredith''s eyes fell on the dress. It was a cashmere coat that looked very expensive and exquisitely


    made. Without touching it, she knew it was a luxury that she would never buy.


    However, she did not appreciate it. She just stood there and did not make any movements.


    "Miss Mason, you''re making things difficult for us. You don''t want to go back and refuse to put on your


    clothes. But if you catch a cold, you and the baby in your belly, and... your mother will suffer."


    Meredith''s eyes shed. "Don''t you think it''s too shameless to say such things? Are you still a doctor


    that puts patients first?"


    Now, these people scared her with the baby in her belly and threatened her with her mother who was


    still in the hospital. Did they have no shame?


    "I''m just thinking about your baby."


    The doctor said coldly. His face was expressionless and he was like a robot.


    Meredith turned around. Seeing that she was silent, the doctor called the maid to put her clothes on.


    Meredith did not resist and let the maid put her clothes on like an unconscious doll.


    Seeing that she was finally wearing a coat, the doctor called the maid again. "It''s almost time, Miss


    Mason. You should have the nutritious meal for this afternoon."


    Meredith shook her head wearily. "I don''t feel like eating."


    How could she be in the mood for a nutritious meal if she was locked up like this every day?


    "Even if you have no appetite, you have to eat. Yesterday''s examination showed that you stillck


    some nutrients. If you don''t eat, it will be bad for the child."


    As he spoke, the servants came over and ced a few carefully prepared nutritious dishes.


    On the te was a cake with fruit and nuts. All the ingredients were carefully selected and cooked to


    ensure nutrition and taste.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    "If you don''t eat it, the chef''s efforts will be wasted."


    Meredith was so annoyed by him that she picked up a spoon and took a bite. It tasted really good. The


    food here was made strictly ording to her taste. Every dish was delicious.


    But Meredith never enjoyed it. "Doctor, you don''t think I''m like an animal now? When it''s time, you can


    kill me, take what you want, and I have no value."

 Chapter 252

    Chapter 252


    "Miss Mason, the Xaviers didn''t treat you badly. The doctors, chefs and nurses here are all the best.


    Your ideas are too radical."


    Radical?


    Meredith looked at this isted ind. She knew that the Xaviers would never understand that people


    can not be carefree as long as they have material possessions. She was a living person, not a machine


    to have children.


    "Forget it. You don''t understand. I''m going back."


    Meredith felt a little bored and turned to leave. The doctor immediately followed her and apanied


    her back.


    Before the baby was born, he would protect Meredith like this.


    "Miss Mason, I don''t think you have to go against the Xaviers. It''s good for both you and your child to


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    stay here. You''re also a mother. You must hope that your child can grow up healthily, right?"


    Meredith sneered. "Yes, I am a mother. However, I am a miserable mother who gives birth to a child


    and can only watch him be taken away."


    "Miss Mason, your thinking is really too radical. Is the child happy to be with you? In the Xaviers, he


    can enjoy the best material conditions and receive the best education. From the very beginning, he will


    be ahead of the other children."


    "So I should be grateful that my child was taken away?" Meredith felt that talking to someone from the


    Xaviers was like a chick talking to a duck. What this person said to her was simply ridiculous.


    "It''s not gratitude, but... Sometimes when you encounter problems, if you can''t resist, then it''s good to


    ept. It''s not good for your health to be emotionally agitated all the time." The doctor wasn''t trying to


    persuade Meredith, he was just worried that she would go all out and do something that would hurt


    both of them.


    "Miss Mason, you may not know that manyrge families not only refuse to ept such illegitimate


    children, but also use some means to deal with them. Therefore, you should really be d that this is


    the young master''s first child. Even if he may not inherit the property of the Xaviers in the future, at the


    very least, he can live a luxurious and carefree life."


    "And be the same person as the Xaviers?" Meredith was very disdainful. "A person who thinks


    he''s extraordinary and noble but always uses the most underhanded methods. Do you want your child


    to be like this?"


    The doctor didn''t know what to say. After all, the Xaviers was his client. He felt that Meredith was an


    abnormal person.


    Wasn''t the average person envious of the Xaviers''s overwhelming power?


    "Miss Mason, let''s not talk about this anymore. Your baby is still going to grow up in the Xaviers. If


    something you said provokes the madam, it''s not good for the child, right?"


    Meredith stopped talking. She lowered her eyes. She wouldn''t let go of her baby easily.


    In the hospital.


    Amelia covered her face in bed and kept crying. A few policemen were around the bed, taking notes.


    "You mean your daughter has been missing for three days?"


    Amelia nodded. She hated her ipetence. Meredith was gone, but she couldn''t even get out of bed


    to find someone for help. She had to call the police.


    These days, Amelia hadn''t thought too much at first. However, when Meredith didn''te to see her


    on the first night and the phone couldn''t get through, she realized something was wrong.


    However, she was unfamiliar with this ce and she didn''t even know who she could ask for help.


    Now, with the help of others, she called the police.


    "We will find thisdy''s whereabouts as soon as possible."


    "Officer, my daughter is still pregnant. You must find her as soon as possible!"


    The police were also sympathetic to the pleading of a mother who was paralyzed in bed. Since her


    daughter had been missing for three days and no one had called for ransom, the possibility of


    kidnapping for money was slim.


    The worst scenario was that she had been killed by a gangster.


    Amelia also thought of such a possibility. She would rather have someone ask for a sky-high ransom


    than be kept in the dark. That way, with every minute and second passed, Meredith''s chance of survival


    decreased.


    How could she stay here and recuperate peacefully?


    Could it be that Derek''s enemies wanted revenge on him, but they couldn''t find anyone and could only


    kidnap her daughter?


    Amelia was in a mess. She didn''t know Derek''s number and couldn''t even contact him.


    Nn walked in and could not help but frown when he saw Amelia''s sad look. "If you act like this, the


    progress of recovery will be disrupted."


    "With all this happening, how can I be in the mood for treatment?"


    "I know where Meredith is."


    Nn said inly. He had already epted Mr. Xavier''s entrustment to cure Amelia. Therefore, no


    matter what, he couldn''t give up all his previous efforts.


    What''s more, if something happened to Amelia when she was in an emotional state, the Xaviers would


    lose the leverage to threaten Meredith. So he had to ensure that she was safe and sound.


    "You know..."


    Amelia didn''t believe her ears. "How did you know?"


    Very soon, she realized that Nn was assigned by Derek. Since he knew the inside story, wasn''t it


    obvious that the Xaviers did it?


    Why did they do that?


    Amelia was not stupid. She calmed down and quickly figured out the reason. "the Xaviers wants to take


    the child away?"


    Amelia knew the strict rules of these famous families as she had seen many simr things before.


    Many women thought they could marry into a rich family after they were pregnant, but the result was


    either that their children were knocked out or that they were snatched away. There was no chance of


    resistance against those powerful people at all.


    She never expected such a thing to fall on her daughter.


    "Where did you take her? I... You can''t take her child away. I''ll take her away from here, far away from


    the Xaviers. It won''t cause them any trouble. Can you let her go?"


    How could Amelia not understand her own daughter? When she mentioned Derek, the feelings and joy


    in her eyes were genuine. She just liked that man instead of wanting to get rich from being pregnant.


    If the child was taken away, Meredith would not ept it.


    As a mother, how could Amelia bear to see her own child in such a situation?


    "I beg you. Let my daughter go. We won''t do anything to hurt the face of the Xaviers."


    Amelia struggled to get up, knelt on the bed, and kowtowed to Nn at the thought that Meredith was


    suffering somewhere.

 Chapter 253

    Chapter 253


    Seeing Amelia struggling to kneel down, Nn remained unmoved. "It''s useless for you to kneel down


    and beg me now. I''m just following orders. The only thing you can do now is to actively receive


    treatment here and not let Meredith''s painstaking efforts go to waste."


    "the Xaviers... How could the Xaviers be so ruthless, how could they do this to my daughter?"


    Amelia understood that it would make no difference no matter what she said now. She pounded on the


    bed and couldn''t help but cry. She med herself for getting into the current situation. She might as


    well have died from the illness, so she didn''t have to drag Meredith down.


    Now, where was her daughter? Would the Xaviers do anything bad to her? Amelia was tortured by


    these thoughts, her eyes red, and she almost lost her mind.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Nn took a look at her and called the doctor to inject Amelia with the medicine to make her fall


    asleep.


    As an assassin trained by the Leslies from a young age, having seen all the deaths happening in the


    hospital, he was already numb to this. For him, Amelia''s response was more bewildering than moving.


    They would be fine if they just did what was told, but they had to struggle like a wild animal trapped in a


    cage. Resisting would only bring more pain. Why did the mother and daughter never understand?


    Nn nced at Amelia again. "You guys keep an eye on her. Don''t let anything happen to her. If she


    wakes up unstable, continues to inject sedatives, and then use nutrient solutions to maintain her basic


    life needs."


    Nn left the hospital after giving a cold order.


    This job, for no reason, annoyed him. He only hoped that the marriage between the Xaviers and the


    Bets would end as soon as possible, lest he might continue to do this kind of thing.


    ...


    Time passed quickly, and the day of the Xaviers and the Bets''s engagement soon arrived.


    For the engagement ceremony, the two families did everything they could. Not only did they invite all


    the relevant parties to witness it, but they also contacted the local media to make the ceremony a


    headline.


    Derek woke up early, but he was not in a hurry to change into the suit. Instead, he was staring nkly


    at the custom-made dress.


    What the hell was he doing? Meredith was still missing, and he was actually going to be engaged to


    Chloe with a fake smile on his face.


    It shouldn''t be like this...


    Derek lost control and mmed the vase on the table onto the ground with a loud, piercing sound.


    Violet was trying on her dress. But when she heard the noise, she rushed over and saw that Derek had


    not changed, and the smile on her face disappeared instantly.


    "Derek, why haven''t you changed? There are so many guests waiting for you to go down. You can''t


    make a scene now even if you''re in a bad mood."


    Violet took the clothes personally. "Damian came in, you keep an eye on the young master and help


    him change."


    Knowing that the person Derek trusted the most was Damian, Violet specifically called him back.


    "Damian?"


    Derek frowned deeply and watched Damian appear in front of him. After Violet left, he said, "Why are


    you back? Didn''t I ask you to look for Meredith abroad?"


    Damian looked at Derek confusedly. "Boss, didn''t you say you wanted to handle this on your own after I


    reported it to you?"


    Damian was originally on standby abroad, but seeing that Derek had not acted and the engagement


    ceremony had been carried out in an orderly manner, he thought that Derek decided to give up


    Meredith and did not want to have any conflict with the other elders of the Xaviers for her.


    Since Derek had made his decision, Damian naturally wouldn''t say otherwis. After all, he was just an


    outsider. Even if he was worried about Meredith, he couldn''t interfere with the Xaviers family affairs


    "Report?" Derek quickly realized something. "What did you report? Show me!"


    Damian was confused, but he still took out his phone. He hadn''t deleted the message and it was still


    there.


    Derek''s face darkened when he saw the words. "Who is it?"


    When Damian saw Derek''s face, he had an ominous feeling in his heart. Could it be that the boss didn''t


    see his message at all?


    But at this critical moment, how could he tell him?


    Now that the entire city''s media had gathered, if anything unexpected happened, it would be messy.


    So, Damian bit his words back, "I''m sorry, boss, I... Can''t say it."


    The veins on Derek''s forehead throbbed. He wasn''t even in the mood to ask who was the person that


    answered the message. He just wanted to know where Meredith was and whether she was okay.


    "Damian! Say it!"


    Derek grabbed Damian by the cor. The pressure was so strong that Damian could not help but be


    frightened.


    He had never seen Derek so angry, like a beast about to lose control.


    The movement in the room made Violet, who had been waiting outside, feel uneasy. She pushed the


    door open and walked in. She saw Derek grabbing Damian by the cor, his face cold and angry.


    Even though as his mother, what she saw just now still made her heart skip a beat. "Derek, what''s


    wrong with you? It''s alreadyte now. What are you doing?"


    Seeing Violeting, Damian had a feeling of being saved. His relieved expression fell into Derek''s


    eyes, making him suddenly seem to understand something.


    Damian was his confidant all along. There was no need to doubt his loyalty. There was no one else


    who could make him hesitate like this except for someone in the Xaviers!


    "the Xaviers?"


    Derek had thought about many possibilities, not without suspecting that the Xaviers had captured


    Meredith, but he had not delved into them.


    In his opinion, the Xaviers would not do such a thing to a pregnant woman no matter what he thought


    of the Xaviers.


    "..."


    A shock shed in Damian''s eyes. Although he tried to hide it, it didn''t escaped Derek''s eyes.


    "No wonder..."


    Derek let go of his hand. Damian staggered two steps and breathed heavily. Only then did Violet


    understand something.


    She guessed Derek already knew that Meredith''s disappearance was caused by her.


    Violet''s smile did not change at all. It was still the perfect angle. "You know?"


    "Damian, get out."


    Derek''s face was calm and he looked at the woman in front of him with a look he had never used


    before.


    Violet was the person he respected the most. His father died early when he was a child, and his mother


    had raised him by herself in a wealthy family. In his eyes, his mother was the noblest and decent


    woman in the world.


    But what she did disappointed him.

 Chapter 254

    Chapter 254


    "Why did you do that?"


    Derek looked at Violet. His tone was colder than ever.


    He thought that no matter how much Violet hated Meredith, she would not deliberately target Meredith


    for this.


    After all, Meredith was still a pregnant woman and could not withstand any irritation.


    "What can I do for, Derek? I did it all for you."


    "I have already had nothing to do with her..."


    Derek said with difficulty, but Violet shook her head. "If you really had nothing to do with her, would you


    talk to me like this? Derek, I''m your mother, and I know you better than anyone else! Don''t worry, that


    child, I''ll bring it back and raise it, and I won''t treat it badly..."


    "Bring the child back to raise?"


    Derek was suddenly stunned. His expression froze for a moment. The Xaviers was not so kind and


    would not raise children for others. The only exnation was that the child in Meredith''s stomach was


    the child of the Xaviers.


    That''s why Violet took Meredith away to avoid encountering troubles in the future.


    But... Impossible...


    Derek thought as his hand pressed against the table, his veins bulging from overexertion.


    Meredith''s child...


    Bits and pieces of images shed through his mind.


    Meredith had told him that the woman he used as an antidote in the hotel that day was her and that


    when she was abroad, she had pulled out his hair, andter showed him a document, but he had


    mistakenly missed them all.


    Could it be...


    What Meredith wanted to show him that day was a paternity test that could prove the kinship between


    the child in her uterus and him...


    Derek suddenly felt a lot of pain in his head. It was as if his head was about to explode. In an instant,


    his mind seemed to be lit up and his mind wentpletely nk.


    What did he do?


    Why did he always refuse to believe that Meredith''s child was his? He doubted her time and time again


    and he hurt her time and time again.


    Derek hit the table in front of him with his fist. He used a lot of strength. The skin on his hand was


    bleeding from overexertion. The blood was dripping on the white marble table. It was ring, but he


    didn''t seem to notice it. He continued to hit...


    Back then, how exactly did Meredith feel as she watched him and that woman enter the hotel door?


    Did she already hate him so much and want him to die?


    He even felt that he had been good enough to her and had done a lot for her. In the end, he was the


    one who hurt Meredith the most!


    "Derek, calm down."


    Violet didn''t expect Derek to suddenly do this, and then she realized something. Could it be that Derek


    did not know that the child was his at all in the beginning?


    He always thought that the child was someone else''s, but he still wanted to ept that woman?


    At the thought of this, Violet was even more afraid. Fortunately, she had caught Meredith, otherwise,


    there would be endless trouble in the future!


    "Where is she? I''m going to find her!"


    Derek suddenly came back to his senses. He didn''t want to care about the wedding or anything else


    now. He just wanted to see Meredith and make sure that she was safe. He wanted to make up for his


    past mistakes.


    If he had the chance to see her, he would apologize and clear up all the misunderstandings. Even if


    Meredith did not forgive him, he would not let her go.


    "Derek, you really let me down."


    Violet''s eyes shed with pain when she heard that Derek was going to find Meredith. This was her son


    who made her feel proud the most. Her marriage was not satisfying, so she devoted all her efforts to


    Derek.


    In the end, he was seduced by a lowly woman. This was something that she could not ept.


    "So many people are waiting for you and all of them are preparing to watch a wedding of the century.


    Are you going to make the Xaviers theughing stock in everyone''s eyes if you leave now?!"


    "Is it only the dignity of the Xaviers that matters? Mother, why are you doing this? I have to go..."


    Derek shook off Violet''s hand for the first time.


    He suddenly felt that it was very boring. From the moment he was born to now, he had been living for


    the Xaviers. Now, he just wanted to find what was most important to him back.


    "If you go out now, I''ll ask them to kill her."


    Violet said word by word. Derek stopped in his tracks.


    He looked at Violet in disbelief, as if he had seen something horrible.


    "Now that Meredith is on the high seas. Even if I do it, no one will know. Or... Derek, are you going to


    send your mother to prison?"


    Violet stepped forward. She picked up the full dress and threw it at Derek. "I''ll give you ten minutes.


    Change your clothes and go down to the engagement ceremony. You''re my son. Remember to be


    dressed properly at all times."


    "I won''t allow any ws to exist in this engagement. If you really don''t want anything to happen to


    Meredith, do as I say."


    Derek stared nkly at Violet as she left, and the door was mmed shut by her.


    He was lost in thought for a long time.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    It never urred to him that his familiar family members would be like this.


    "Kill Meredith?"


    Derek knew that Violet would do such a thing if she was pushed so hard. If Meredith had really been


    brought to the high seas by her, she would have been prepared for it.


    If she wasn''t satisfied, Meredith would really be in danger.


    Derek''s hands trembled at the thought that something could happen to Meredith and their child. That


    child was the child of the two of them.


    After a long time, he held back all his emotions and began to wear his clothes in an expressionless


    way.


    Soon, he finished changing his clothes, and the person in the mirror was still handsome and tall. He


    was as elegant and generous as the prince in a fairy tale. However, there was no light in his dark and


    deep eyes. His eyes only had the coldness that no one dare to see.


    After changing, Derek walked out. Violet gave him a satisfied look, then she smiled and tiptoed towards


    Derek to straighten Derek''s tie. "This is my son. Let''s go. Everyone is waiting for you."


    Derek''s eyes shed. Violet held his hand and this made him feel strange for the first time.


    He even wondered whether Violet, as his mother, loved him, her son, or she just loved the praise he


    had brought...


    The two of them slowly went downstairs, and everyone looked over.


    Chloe was already impatient to wait. She was even worried that Derek would suddenly run away and


    make her a joke for everyone. Fortunately, he came.


    "I''m sorry, Chloe. I don''t know what shall be said to Derek... He is even slower than you, the bride of


    today."


    Chloe shook her head. Today, she was wearing a luxurious wedding dress which was custom-made by


    designers abroad. The whole wedding dress was iid with 9999 diamonds. They were all iid by


    bare hands. As she walked, the dress was shining. It was as if she had put the stars on her body.

 Chapter 255

    Chapter 255


    Chloe''s beauty meant nothing to Derek.


    He nced at her indifferently, not as if he were looking at a woman who would spend the rest of her


    life with him in the future, but just a nobody.


    Chloe was upset by his nce, but she couldn''t say it out. She could only bite her words back, smiled,


    and walked over to hold Derek''s arm, "The ceremony will start soon, let''s go."


    Derek wanted to get rid of Chloe the moment he was touched by her, but he forced himself to hold


    back. The reporters were all taking pictures, and Violet was fixing her eyes on him from behind. He had


    to walk step by step towards the center of the hall.


    "Chloe, did you touch my phone that day?"


    Derek could easily guess who had done such a boring thing. Besides being indifferent to Chloe, he was


    even more disgusted with her.


    The once noble and kind woman had changed a lot.


    "What are you talking about? I ... I don''t understand."


    Of course, Chloe knew what he meant, but she still pretended to be innocent, as if she really knew


    nothing about what he said.


    "You know exactly what I am talking about."


    Derek saw a sh of panic in her eyes and was more certain that she had done some dirty things


    behind his back.


    Was this so-called the life partner that his mother and the whole the Xaviers had carefully selected for


    him?


    No, it was all for family interests.


    "Derek, do you have a prejudice against me? I really..."


    Chloe wanted to exin, but Derek waved his hand. "There''s no need to exin. I don''t want to hear


    it."


    "But let me be clear: you want to be my wife? Okay. But I won''t let you get anything you want. No


    matter what happens in the future, it will be your own fault!"


    Derek''s voice was bitterly cold at the thought of what he and Meredith had been through for so long


    because of this woman, and Meredith was threatened with life.


    Chloe trembled. Fortunately, her dress was very heavy; no one noticed that she had forgotten herself


    for a moment.


    Derek''s expression just now was terrible. She had never seen him like this before. He was extremely


    aloof and angry, like an irritated beast.


    What would her future be like?


    For a second, Chloe didn''t know whether it was right or wrong for her to put in all her effort to marry


    Derek.


    Just as she was lost in thought, Derek had pulled her onto the stage.


    Chloe managed to calm herself down. She couldn''t show her ws. This was the most important


    moment of her life. She had to be beautiful and perfect.


    As the new couple received the blessings of the guests, both of them had their own thoughts. They


    didn''t even look at each other sweetly once.


    The guests were unaware of the strangeness as they were all amazed at the perfect match, but not


    Chloe''s parents.


    There was no joy in their daughter''s eyes on such a big day, and their son-inw looked aloof and


    unapproachable. Something must go wrong.


    Could the two of them live a happy life together?


    "Mrs. Xavier, is Derek... in a bad mood?"


    Chloe''s mother talked to Violet. Derek was indifferent to her daughter in public, and she could not


    imagine how aggrieved her daughter would be in private.


    Although the good old days of the Bets were gone, and the marriage was now out of Chloe''s


    league, but as a mother, she wanted her daughter to be happy.


    "He''s ... not feeling well today. Don''t worry. He''ll be nice to Chloe in the future. I know my son. He


    hasn''t been in rtionships for a long time or got close to any woman, but time will help."


    Violet was squeezing her handbag. She knew exactly what was going on. Derek''s behavior was like a


    p in her face.


    However, it was the climax of the ceremony. With so many people watching, she could not say


    anything. Instead, she vented her anger on Meredith, who was thousands of miles away.


    If it wasn''t for that woman...


    Violet was fierce. She got the photos and recordings of the engagement ceremony from the


    cameraman, and then she sent them to the doctor who was taking care of Meredith on the uninhabited


    ind.


    "Madam, What are these?"


    It was morning on the uninhabited ind. Meredith had just gotten out of bed, and the doctor was


    taking her temperature.


    "Show her." Violet ordered.


    She wanted Meredith to see what a perfect match was like so that Meredith wouldpletely give up


    her son.


    "Isn''t that too..."


    The doctor couldn''t bear to let a pregnant woman watch the father of her child getting married to


    another woman. It was too cruel.


    "What do you mean?"


    Violet added coldly, "If you have any sympathy for her that you shouldn''t have, I don''t mind recing


    you with someone else."


    If he offended the Xaviers, it would be difficult for him to find any other new job. The doctor''s hands


    were tied. He asked the servant to y the videos that Violet sent on the screen outside. If Meredith


    didn''t go out, she wouldn''t be able to watch them.


    And he wouldn''t feel so guilty by doing so.


    "You look very strange."


    Meredith looked at the doctor and frowned, "Is there something wrong with the baby?"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Meredith just stayed here with boredom and waited to give birth. She wanted to run away, but there


    was nothing she could do other than waiting here quietly.


    Therefore, all she focused on was her baby, and she worried about anything that might harm the baby.


    "No... The baby is healthy. Miss Mason, there''s no need to worry."


    The doctor stammered, "If you don''t have anything special to do today, please don''t go out."


    Meredith was even more confused. The doctor required her to go out for a walk every day. If she


    stayed in bed all the time, she might have some trouble giving birth.


    Why was he acting so strangely today?


    Meredith felt something wrong, and she heard some unfamiliar sounds came from outside.


    It was an uninhabited ind without any signal or the Inte. Life was boring here. Although it was


    equipped with a home theater, she had only heard some soothing light music. However, the sound


    outside was nothing like music.


    It sounded like someone was talking...

 Chapter 256

    Chapter 256


    Meredith seemed to hear someone talking. Although she felt it was impossible, she put on her shoes


    and wanted to go out.


    The doctor wanted to stop her, but Meredith looked at him and said, "Are you hiding something from


    me? Aren''t you afraid that Violet will find it out and make trouble for you?"


    Seeing this, the doctor had no choice but to let Meredith go out.


    As soon as she left the house, Meredith immediately saw several servants surrounded by arge


    screen, their faces full of envy and longing.


    On the screen, it was an extremely gorgeous venue, thousands of fresh flowers posing elegant shapes,


    white and fans intertwined, like a dream, which almost attracted every woman.


    Meredith watched, but there was no appreciation of the mood. A guess floating in front of her eyes, and


    she suddenly felt a pain in the chest. The next second a pair of men and women slowly came out,


    walked on the road with flower petals scattered by flower girls, even these few steps were exuding a


    noble aura.


    The light of the camera kept shing, shining on the two people on the screen, as if they were gods


    from heaven, dazzling and shining.


    Meredith looked at her and felt a little blurry before her eyes. Only then did she realize that she had


    unknowingly cried.


    She had already known about this kind of thing... She had never listened to Chloe''s warning before.


    She thought she was special to Derek. After all, it was just a joke.


    Now, on the stage in the limelight, Chloe was standing beside Xavier, looking like a perfect match


    containing a talented man and a beautiful woman. The picture was so harmonious that make her feel


    blinding, while she, however, was just standing here watching on an isted ind thousands of miles,


    watching them step by step towards the glorious future that belonged to them.


    Meredith raised the corners of her lips in a self-deprecating manner. Suddenly, she lost all strength


    under her feet and shook her body. The doctor who came out of the room quickly held her up and saw


    the smile on her lips, which frightened the doctor a lot.


    "Miss Mason..."


    "Who told them to y these videos?"


    Meredith blinked, hiding the moisturepletely. She didn''t want to be seen as fragile.


    The person purposely showed her the happy side of those two people in such a ce just to make her


    look upset and miserable...


    She wouldn''t let them get what they wanted. Why did they think they could manipte her emotions?


    "This..."


    The doctor paused for a moment. Of course, Violet had instructed before.


    If Meredith asked about it, the doctor could only say that it was Derek''s intention, so that the two of


    them could bepletely cut off.


    Violet wasn''t crazy to kill Meredith, so she just wanted to use some small schemes to make it


    impossible for the two of them to reconcile together.


    Perhaps this was the best way for Meredith to cut off with Derek. Although the doctor couldn''t bear it,


    he still followed the arrangement and said word by word, "It''s young master. Young master asked us to


    show you this."


    "..." Meredith''s smile deepened. Sheughed so hard that her voice was hoarse. A group of servants


    who were watching the video saw the situation and hurriedly left, fearing that something unexpected


    might happen and they should take responsibility.


    "Miss Mason, calm down."


    When the doctor saw Meredith like this, not only did he not feel rxed, but he felt terrible.


    "I''m calm, I can''t be calmer."


    Meredith''s eyes were filled with hatred, despair, pain, and resentment had filled her mind and heart.


    How cruel of him to think of such a cruel way to mock her? He felt that his previous days with her had


    tarnished his nobility, so he purposely used such a method to make her understand what was the


    feeling of heartbroken?


    In that case, he seeded.


    There was nothing else in Meredith''s mind but endless hatred for those two people.


    "I want to stay alone for a while."


    Meredith slowly walked into the room. The doctor couldn''t have left her alone originally.


    But now that Meredith''s mental state was too unstable, he could onlypromise. "Please call me


    anytime."


    Meredith waved her hand. She sat on the bed, and as soon as she closed her eyes, the image


    appeared in front of her eyes and made her nearly copse.


    Thinking about it, Violet and Mr. Xavier were also very satisfied with Chloe, their daughter-inw. She


    just saw their faces and expressions.


    Pride, happiness, and approval were emotions that Meredith had never seen from them.


    She could only see disgust and disdain on the faces of the Xaviers .


    Thinking about it this way, she was really thick-skinned. After being clearly rejected by the Xaviers, she


    still wanted to be with Derek shamelessly.


    She was really regretful and thought herself a bitch. She was the one to me for what happened


    today.


    Meredith clutched the sheets under her body with her hands. She hated both the Xaviers and herself.


    Meredith''s body kept shaking. Although the air conditioning was turned on and the temperature was


    always sofortable in the room, she still kept shaking, as if she had just fallen into ice water and


    been fished out.


    But she still forced a smile on her face. It turned out that she could not cry at this time. She blinked her


    eyes but no tears fell.


    She was the only one in the room. She could cry freely, but she just wanted tough. Sheughed and


    coughed a few times.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    It was just returning the thing that belonged to someone else. She didn''t care. There was nothing to


    care about.


    Meredith took a few deep breaths. Just then, her belly suddenly ached a thousand times more than


    when she was beaten up in prison.


    In an instant, Meredith''s face was pale and cold sweat was dripping down. She slowlyid herself on


    the bed, one hand holding onto the quilt, trying to make a sound and call for someone toe in, but


    she found that she did not even have the strength to make a sound.


    It hurt so much...


    Meredith clutched at the quilt, her fingernails intertwined and broke, but she seemed to have lost


    consciousness.


    Could it be... The birth-giving time?


    Meredith''s pale face was constantly sweating, and her hair was soaked, pressing against her forehead.


    She looked as wet as if she had just fallen into the water.


    "Oush... it hurts so much..."


    No, she had to call someone in.


    Although she did not believe and was unwilling to seek help from the Xaviers, Meredith did not even


    have another choice at the moment. She moved her body little by little and dragged her belly forward,


    "Can anybody help?"


    At this moment, she realized how important it was to have someone by her side. Because of the pain,


    Meredith''s voice was very hoarse. She screamed a few times, but no one seemed to hear her.


    Those people had never listened to her when she wanted her own space before, but now she needed


    help, she couldn''t find anyone.


    Meredith gritted her teeth and used all her strength to knock the things on the table to the ground.

 Chapter 257

    Chapter 257


    After Meredith finished all this, shey on the bed and waited for someone toe over.


    Hearing the sound of something falling in the room, the doctor immediately became alert and walked in,


    only to see Meredith writhing in pain on the bed.


    He was professionally trained. Seeing this, he immediately realized something. "Call the specialist in


    obstetrics and gynecology, she may have to give birth early!"


    Meredith also realized this, and the warm liquid under her body slipped out. It was obviously a very


    shameful scene, but she didn''t even think of covering it up. She bit her lips and looked at the doctor,


    "Hurry up, call the doctor. The baby can''t be hurt..."


    Meredith had long been tormented by the pain to some delirium, but at this moment, her eyes are so


    firm when she said it. The doctor immediately nodded and was also a little shocked at her feelings for


    the child, "Don''t worry, someone will soone over to help, you have to breathe deeply now!"


    "Take a deep breath, exhale... Inhale... Rx a little. The pain will pass soon."


    "..."


    Meredith held the doctor''s hand and she tried to do as he said, but the pain was still so persistent that


    there was no sign of going away.


    After a while, the medical team from the Xaviers came over. Seeing this, they didn''t dare to let her go to


    the prepared delivery room. "Miss Mason, your amniotic fluid has broken. You can only give birth here!"


    Meredith nodded with difficulty, but her heart was filled with fear. She was already a little weak just now.


    How could she give birth to the child easily?


    "Miss Mason, you can talk to me. If you divert your attention, it won''t hurt so much." The doctor looked


    at her anxiously.


    "Say what? The splendid scene on Derek''s wedding?"


    Meredith clenched her fists tightly. She looked at the white ceiling and the bright light. The light hurt her


    eyes and tears finally trickled down her cheeks.


    Now, no one would care why she was crying. It was such a painful moment that she could release her


    painful feelings.


    "Miss Mason, Miss Mason? Cheer up!"


    The doctor looked at Meredith''s empty eyes and suddenly became worried. If anything happened to


    her, Violet would only me himself for doing it, and it would be catastrophic.


    Meredith gritted her teeth. She had just felt a sense of distraction. In the midst of this excruciating pain,


    she actually felt that perhaps eternal relief was not a bad thing.


    However, the doctor''s voice awakened her reason and maternal affection. "No, my child was not born


    yet, how could I just give up?" She thought.


    Meredith gritted her teeth. She had to think of something to keep herself from going into aa. She


    thought, scenes suddenly appeared before her eyes.


    Derek and Chloe stood in the middle of everyone, smiling happily at the family and friends who came to


    celebrate, and vowing to the priest their determination to be together forever.


    Everyone blessed the perfect couple. She even seemed to see the smile on Violet''s face, so satisfied,


    so elegant.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    In the bright light, apuse rang out warmly.


    The picture was so harmonious and beautiful that it was a far cry from the mess she was in right now.


    Here she was suffering more than she had ever suffered before, and on the other side, he was


    enjoying the best of everything. All the good he promised her could be forgotten in a sh. He once


    said to protect her, no longer let her suffer any aggravation, now all these turned into the most vicious


    irony to her.


    In the end, he would take her child away.


    How could this world be so unfair?


    Meredith felt a pain in her chest and head, which almost drove her crazy, but she couldn''t stop.


    Only such a scene could arouse the deepest hatred in her heart.


    She couldn''t die, the child couldn''t die as well. If she died, how could she see the day Derek and Chloe


    broke up. If she died, nothing was left...


    "Derek, I hate you."


    Meredith''s hoarse voice gave out a few difficult sybles. She would never forget this kind of pain and


    she would remember the cause of all this was the Xaviers and Derek forever.


    "Miss Mason, what did you say?"


    Realizing what Meredith was talking about, someone asked, but she didn''t answer. Instead, she


    repeated what she had just said, "Derek, I hate you."


    "Derek, I hate you."


    "Derek, I hate you."


    ...


    When the doctor heard this voice, his body shook. It was not like a human being''s voice, it was more


    like a devil crawling out of hell.


    Was this what the Xaviers wanted?


    Just as the doctor was about to say something to stop her from thinking all the hateful things, a sharp


    pain suddenly overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.


    "Oush! It hurts, it hurts..."


    Meredith couldn''t help but cry out, her hands were picking the edge of the bed and the nails were


    broken, "No, I''m going to have a cesarean section, I can''t make it..."


    "For the sake of the baby''s health, it''s better to give birth naturally!"


    The doctors who were delivering the baby turned a deaf ear to Meredith''s pain. These were renowned


    obstetricians and gynecologists who helped deliver the baby many times, so they were used to the


    miserable scene.


    the Xaviers had told them to make sure the baby was healthy, preferably delivered naturally, so the


    doctor would not perform a c-section on Meredith until thest resort.


    "No... I can''t..."


    Meredith reached out and tried to catch someone. The pain made her feel like she was dead.


    She really couldn''t bear it anymore. It was so scary. It was much scarier than she thought.


    "Miss Mason, you''ve been taken care of by the Xaviers, and you''re in good health. Try harder! Try a


    natural birth now. Don''t give birth by cesarean section until you have to."


    "Are you real doctors..."


    Meredith was so tortured that she had no strength to speak. She almost begged those people.


    "It hurts. I really can''t hold on."


    Crazy pain tortured her desperately, Meredith felt that her body was being separated by the five horses,


    and someone was madly tearing her body and her flesh.


    However, those people still refused to let her go for a c-section but kept talking about the useless


    encouragement, let her continue to work hard to give birth.


    "How long has it been? How long has it been since I start?" Meredith suddenly realized something after


    she couldn''t persuade anyone.


    "About... An hour."


    "Is it... The Xaviers? Is it them..."


    Meredith suddenly seemed to understand something.


    If that was the case, it was not iprehensible. The Xaviers only cared about the health of the child,


    and natural delivery was definitely healthier than c-section, so they insisted on her natural delivery.

 Chapter 258

    Chapter 258


    In the eyes of the people in the Xaviers, she was just a fertility machine. Even if she was in so much


    pain and wanted to die, no one would care.


    "Derek, you''re so ruthless..."


    Meredith''s body twitched, and her vision was blurry. Her hands had already oozed blood because she


    had been grabbing things so hard. She waved her bright red hands, trying to grab anything, but she


    could not catch anything.


    Another wave of pain came, and Meredith felt the entire operating room spinning before her eyes.


    "It hurts so much, so much... Ah!" Meredith screamed hysterically.


    "Since you can''t give birth, you''d better hurry..."


    After all, the doctor who had been treating Meredith couldn''t help but speak. Everyone had feelings. He


    had some sympathy for Meredith, and now he couldn''t bear to see her suffer so much.


    So, he advised those stubborn doctors not to wait any longer.


    "No, it''s the demand!"


    "She can still hang on for a few hours. If not, we''ll do the operation!"


    Everything was so absurd. These people were all famous doctors who were pursued and praised by


    people outside. They knew clearly that Meredith felt so much pain now, but they were extremely


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    stubborn at this moment and did not dare to make any mistake.


    Meredith listened to this voice and she almost became desperate.


    This was the Xaviers. This was the Xaviers that did not treat her as a person at all.


    Meredith tried to control her emotions. Instead of begging these people to do the operation, she


    breathed hard and endured the intense pain as the doctor had said.


    ...


    The engagement ceremony was over.


    After all the guests left, Derek ripped off his tie and did not look at Chloe again.


    "Where is she? Where is she?"


    Derek went straight to Violet, and he couldn''t bear it any longer. The thought of Meredith giving birth to


    their child on her own at somece he didn''t know made his heart ache.


    Moreover, from the beginning, his heart had been weighed down by something. He felt it heavy, and he


    had a premonition that something might have happened to Meredith.


    "Today is a good day for you to get engaged, so don''t ask such an unpleasant question."


    Violet shook her head. "Chloe must be waiting for you. She''s already your fianc¨¦e. You have to take


    good care of her emotions."


    "Take care of her emotions..."


    Derek clenched his fists. Chloe stood there safe and sound and she got what she wanted. Meredith, on


    the other hand, was suffering some unknown hardships, but Violet didn''t even mention it at all.


    "I think she''s fine. She doesn''t need me to take care of her. Meredith... Where is she?"


    "Derek. If you keep being like this, I won''t be able to tell you where she is. Forget it, I''ll just say it. I n


    to bring her back when she gives birth and then I''ll send her away."


    "As for whether she can get out of there alive, it depends on your performance. Derek, don''t let me say


    it again. You know what you should do."


    After listening to this, Derek''s original anger suddenly dissipated. For a moment, he felt sad.


    In his mother''s eyes, everything was important. The face of the Xaviers, the view of everyone and


    Chloe''s mood.


    However, the only thing she did not care about was the feeling of him, her son.


    She did not care about the child who was biologically rted to her, nor did she care about the woman


    who had suffered so much in order to give birth to his child.


    Did his mother care about her son or did she just care about the vanity he brought?


    "Mother, for the first time, I have a feeling of not being able to recognize you. Perhaps, I have always


    been wrong. What you love is the feeling of nurturing a perfect heir, not me."


    With that said, Derek turned around and left. Violet suddenly had the illusion that the gap between her


    and her son had deepened.


    Looking at Derek''s lonely back, she couldn''t tell what she felt now.


    She wanted to do these outrageous things just for Derek''s future, and she didn''t want to dirty her


    hands. Why did her obedient and filial son fail to understand her painstaking efforts?


    Was she wrong?


    ...


    Derek walked out step by step. Just as he was about to find Damian to continue investigating the


    matter since he could probably guess some situations where Meredith was now.


    After all, there were only a few uninhabited inds that could be controlled by the Xaviers, even if the


    Xaviers was rich and powerful. As long as he investigated one by one, he was not afraid that he would


    not find her.


    However, as soon as the call was made, Mr. Xavier walked over. "You don''t have to ask Damian to go


    out and find that woman. He''ll be under control until you behave yourself."


    Compared to Violet''s hesitation, Mr. Xavier was calmer. He knew that Derek would not give up easily


    and he just simply made Derek not be able to do anything from the source.


    "I made your mother do it. If you want to hate someone, just hate me. Don''t hate her. She''s done and


    sacrificed a lot for you."


    With that said, Mr. Xavier staggered out of the ce. He knew that Derek would be estranged from


    them because of this, but he had to do so.


    He just hoped that one day, Derek would understand their painstaking efforts.


    Derek called Damian, and sure enough, he couldn''t get through the phone call at all.


    At this moment, Chloe came out of the room. Since they were engaged, they were a legal unmarried


    couple. There was no need for her to be overly reserved.


    She had just learned the whole story from Violet, and Chloe was so jealous when she found out that


    Meredith and Derek had a child.


    That woman was going to give birth to Derek''s first child, and she didn''t allow it.


    "Derek, I... If you like children, I can..."


    "Get lost!"


    Derek pushed her away. It was okay if she did not mention the child. When she mentioned the child, his


    heart was nearly broken Where was his child on earth?


    And Meredith, ording to the Xaviers, nothing would happen to the child, but what would happen to


    the child''s mother after she was used?


    Derek clutched at his hair. His eyes were red and bloodshot from the pain and filled with despair


    because of the pain.


    Chloe was startled by his appearance and took a few steps back. After all, she did not dare to say


    anything more to provoke Derek. He looked like that he was trying to tear her apart if he was unhappy.


    She thought that it was okay. Since they were already in this kind of rtionship, there was plenty of


    time in the future. Giving this, Chloe left kindly. "Derek, since you''re in a bad mood, I''ll go back to my


    room first."


    Derek looked at her back and punched the wall as he tried hard to hold back his anger. Blood flowed


    out and he continued as if he didn''t feel any pain. Only in this way could the anger he was holding in


    his heart be alleviated so that he could not suffer so much.

 Chapter 259

    Chapter 259


    "Ah..."


    The heart-wrenching screams were especially terrifying at midnight on the uninhabited ind. It broke


    the silence and darkened the night.


    Meredith felt that she was numb from the pain. She could not feel the time, but she was still not free...


    Meredith gritted her teeth to surpress the pain.


    "Miss Mason, push! Take a deep breath!"


    Meredith used herst bit of strength. Finally, a baby''s cry echoed in the room.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Then, Meredith heard the doctor''s cheers. "The child is out!"


    "Great, hurry up and tell Mrs. Xavier the good news!"


    "It''s a boy. Come on, check it out and put it in the incubator."


    The child was born, and the tearing pain temporarily eased. She hadn''t even seen him. They said it


    was a boy. She didn''t know if the child would be like her...


    Meredith bit her lower lip and forced herself to stay awake, "My child, let me...let me see him..."


    The doctors looked at each other, then someone came over and took the child away. "I''m sorry, Miss


    Mason. You can''t see him."


    "Why?"


    Meredith had suffered for hours but was forbidden to see her son.


    "That''s my son, why...why can''t I see him!"


    Meredith felt like she was going crazy. That was the baby she had given birth to with all the energy in


    her life. How could they be so cruel?


    However, she could only hear the baby''s cry fading away, as if the baby would be separated from her,


    his mother from now on. The gradually distant cry made her heart-broken.


    Meredith couldn''t even care about her weak body and struggled to see the child being carried away.


    "Miss Mason, calm down!"


    "It''s good for you and for your son..."


    The doctor quickly held her down, when she struggled.


    What did he mean?


    Her baby was taken away before she could take a look at him. How dare they say that?


    "Your son will grow up in the Xaviers. He will get good education and ample love. As for Miss Mason...


    you should just forget him!"


    When she heard this, Meredith held his hand tightly. "No~~No~~~I can''t live with this..."


    Meredith''s voice waspletely hoarse. She wanted to scream but lost her voice.


    What the hell they think she was? A surrogate?


    Meredith breathed heavily. The child''s crying was going far, and she gradually could not hear it. She


    began to lose her consciousness.


    The doctor went out to report to Violet. It was not after a long while did he came back to check


    Meredith, only to find her get soaked in blood.


    Did those guys just leave her alone like this? That was so cruel!


    He walked out to ask for help, but noticed arge pool of blood on the ground. He was terrified.


    Her face was as pale as a sheet of white paper due to excessive blood loss, and even her lips had


    turned purple.


    "The pregnant woman is bleeding heavily. Come back quickly and do something!"


    "Blood transfusion, now!"


    Blood bags were brought in one by one, but that''s not enough.


    Meredith was still bleeding.


    The doctors were panic. Although they didn''t care much about Meredith, they were afraid that the


    Xaviers woulde to them for trouble. After all, she died in their hands.


    Therefore, they spared no effort to save her.


    "BP?"


    "Heartbeat?"


    "The patient is still bleeding!"


    "We can''t stop the bleeding!"


    After the mess, then they realized that there was not enough blood as well.


    On the uninhabited ind, it should be said that the doctors only thought about how to get the best


    care of the child after he was born, so there were no adequate facilities to revive the pregnant woman.


    "What should we do?"


    Everyone panicked. Someone was giving Meredith first aid measures, but they couldn''t stop her vital


    signs from disappearing.


    "She is A-positive. Anyone has the same type?"


    A few people stood up and were taken out to donate blood, but all people in the room remained


    solemn.


    Just like amniotic fluid embolism, they need a lot of blood to save her life.


    "If she continues to bleed, we have to remove her uterus..."

 Chapter 260

    Chapter 260


    "No... This..." The doctor lowered his head in pain. He had just given Meredith a blood transfusion, but


    it still didn''t seem enough.


    The uneasiness in his heart grew stronger as he looked at the pale face under the oxygen mask.


    After all, he had been with her for months. He could not bear to watch this woman lose her child and


    her womb. He... really couldn''t do it!


    "I''ll contact the Xaviers and get her out of here by helicopter!"


    The only way to save her was to get out of here as soon as possible and go to arge hospital with a


    reserve of blood before the blood here were used up.


    When Violet heard about the birth of the child, she immediately prepared to go to the ind to check on


    the situation.


    After all, this was her first grandson. It was a lie to say that she didn''t care.


    Just as she was about to board the private jet of the Xaviers, the doctor called.


    Violet was shocked. "What''s wrong?"


    "The little master is healthy and safe. It''s Miss Mason. She bled a lot and has to be sent to a major


    hospital for a blood transfusion!"


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    "What?"


    Violet hesitated. Knowing that the child was fine, she was relieved, but when she heard that Meredith


    need to be sent out for treatment, she frowned.


    "No other way?"


    After all, Meredith was forced to stay there by her. If it was an uninhabited ind and there were none


    but the Xaviers''s own people, no one would know about this. But if she was sent outside, what would


    happen might not be certain.


    She did not want this to be known by others because it would tarnish the image of the Xaviers.


    "There''s no other way... Unless..."


    The doctor hesitated for a moment. He did not expect Violet, who had always looked gentle, to be so


    cruel. Did he have no choice but to remove Meredith''s uterus?


    Her first child was taken away by the Xaviers. And he would deprive her right to be a mother?


    "Unless what? Say it now!"


    "Unless we remove her uterus."


    Violet did not hesitate at all. "Then do it! Why are you hesitating? After she was released, I don''t know


    how much trouble she will make."


    "But..."


    The doctor was still hesitating.


    "Try your best to keep it. If you really can''t, remove it. I''ll give her a sum of money to make it up to her."


    After a long silence, the doctor agreed.


    He couldn''t help but remember what Meredith had said to him in the first ce. She said that the


    Xaviers was always like this, treating all the people outside the Xaviers as tools and worthless ants.


    They manipted other people''s lives at will, and they didn''t feel guilty at all.


    Once, he didn''t believe it, but now, he saw it clearly.


    The doctor walked in, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "Draw my blood again... We must try our best to


    keep her uterus. We can not let her... lose the right to be a mother for the rest of her life."


    "But, you just gave your blood. I''m afraid..."


    "It''s okay. Hurry up!"


    After another tube of blood was drawn, the doctor walked to Meredith''s bed. She was still very weak.


    "Miss Mason, I don''t know if you can hear me. You have to get better. Otherwise... no one will know


    about your resentment. Your baby will lose its mother..."


    Thinking about it, the doctor suddenly thought of something. He walked to the nursery where the baby


    was and this ce looked like paradisepared to where Meredith was, full of confusion and blood.


    The baby was lying in the incubator, surrounded by several maids, but instead of falling asleep, he was


    crying loudly.


    "What should we do? He has been crying for a long time. His throat will hurt!"


    "We can''t let him cry like this!"


    A few maids were also helpless with the crying babies. They had used all kinds of methods, but failed.


    "Give him to me."


    The doctor reached out his hand and brought the child over. The baby''s small face was covered in


    tears, wrinkled, and not very good-looking.


    "Do you know that your mother is in danger now?"


    The doctor coaxed him a few times. Seeing that he was still crying, he carried him to Meredith''s bed.


    He thought that mothers and their children were closely connected. Meredith wanted to see her child so


    much after giving birth. Maybe the child''s cry could arouse her desire to live.


    "Why did you bring young master here?"


    "What if he is scared? Send him back."


    "young master must be fine..."


    The doctor didn''t care what the others said and walked over. "Meredith, your baby is here. Wake up. At


    least, wake up for him. Listen, he''s crying!"


    Meredith''s eyes were closed tightly. She was not totally unconscious and she felt ufortable in her


    heart, making it impossible for her to fall into the darkness.


    It seemed that she had heard the sound of a baby crying.


    Was it... her child?


    Meredith struggled and opened her eyes. For a moment, she couldn''t see anything clearly, but she still


    tried to reach out to where the sound came from.


    "It''s your child..."


    As if sensing his mother''s voice, the baby stopped crying and looked around with his eyes open.


    Meredith heard him stop crying and thought that the child had been taken away again. "Where''s the


    child? Let me... Let me see him!"


    She had painstakingly given birth to the child. She hadn''t seen him yet.


    "Don''t move. I brought him here just to tell you that you have to persevere. You can''t give up. Look, he


    won''t cry when he sees you."


    Meredith struggled to look up at the tightly wrapped baby. The newborn was still wrinkled and she could


    not see who he looked like, but this one look made her feel that everything was worth it.


    This was her child, which had been in her womb for ten months.


    Meredith''s eyes were wet, and the thought of giving up disappeared. She reached out and found that


    her hands were covered in blood. She didn''t want to dirty the baby''s face, so she didn''t touch him.


    "It''s mom... You have to remember mom, you have to remember..."


    Meredith''s voice was weak, but the baby in the doctor''s arms seemed to understand her andughed.


    Meredith''s heart warmed up. She couldn''t die here. Her child was still here. She had to live.


    Seeing that Meredith seemed to have no intention of giving up her life, the doctor called for someone to


    carry the child away.


    When he came back, several doctors were chattering and discussing.


    "She''s in a bad situation right now!"


    "Give her a blood transfusion to keep her alive. But it is of no use. Why not..."


    "the Xaviers is responsible for this. It''s not our fault."

 Chapter 261

    Chapter 261


    The doctor was distressed to hear this. His colleagues did not seem to have any sympathy for the


    patient.


    The man''s eyes darkened as he walked into the room and leaned closer to Meredith''s ear. "Now, I can


    help you contact the people outside, but there''s only one chance. You decide who you want to find!"


    Meredith looked at the man in surprise, thinking that he would only listen to the orders of the Xaviers.


    She didn''t expect him to help her.


    "Why would you help me?"


    "..."


    Why?


    The doctor himself felt a little incredulous, perhaps because he still had a little conscience, and he


    couldn''t stand that the rest of Meredith''s life was destroyed.


    In this way, he was afraid that he would feel guilty for the rest of his life.


    "Help me contact this person!"


    Seeing that he did not speak, Meredith did not ask any more questions. She was not spiritless because


    of the blood loss and pain. She had no time left.


    Now she had no other choice but to hope that the person in front of her really wanted to help her,


    instead of ying trick on her.


    After getting a phone number, the doctor found an excuse and walked out. The thick smell of blood was


    almost suffocating.


    He thought of it as doing thest thing he could do for Meredith, which was a little constion to him.


    ording to Meredith''s instructions, the doctor sent her distress signal to the owner of the number.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    But he didn''t leave his name in order to protect himself.


    Now, he could only pray that the man was reliable enough to think of a way to help Meredith.


    ...


    Parker received an MMS in the middle of the night. There was only one sentence: "I am on the


    uninhabited ind of the Xaviers, help me."


    He frowned, wondering what was going on. Could it be harassment?


    Just as he was about to delete it, he suddenly stopped.


    Kidnapped by the Xaviers?


    Parker''s eyes widened. Although the message was unsigned, he had a strong feeling that it was from


    Meredith.


    After all, she had not got in touch with him for a long time.


    At first, Parker didn''t bother her as he thought Meredith was with Derek. Since it was her decision, he


    decided to respect her choice.


    But now it seemed that things were not that simple.


    Parker stood up and the chair behind him fell with an enormous crash, but he paced back and forth as


    if he didn''t notice it.


    How could Meredith be kidnapped by the Xaviers?


    These days, although Parker had been very concerned about Meredith''s current situation, he tried to


    focus on his career after realizing the huge gap between himself and the Xaviersst time.


    Only with a strong power could he protect the people he cared for. His past failures reminded him to


    keep it in mind.


    He thought that Derek had done so much for Meredith and that Meredith had his child in her belly.


    At the very least, Derek would keep her safe and make sure nothing would happen to her. But now,


    obviously, that was not the case.


    Parker looked at the words, not knowing what happened to Meredith. But he knew it must have been a


    very troublesome thing to force her to do such a thing.


    "Send someone to check immediately!"


    Parker immediately sent someone to investigate the matter, but his expression remained serious.


    He had no confidence in the Xaviers intelligence. Since they dared to kidnap a person directly, it


    showed that they were very confident.


    There was little hope of finding out where Meredith was.


    But he had another way...


    Parker was deep in thought, clenching his fists, but that way...


    Ten minutester, Parker''s man stepped forward. "I''m sorry. There are only a few uninhabited inds in


    the Xaviers, but it takes at least 24 hours to locate them..." he exined.


    24 Hours?


    Parker couldn''t wait a minute.


    He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, then got up and said, "No need to check, I have another way!"


    ...


    Meredith managed to hold on for a few more hours, relying on the blood that a few people had taken


    out temporarily.


    She had been trying to keep her head up and not fall asleep.


    At the same time, she prayed in her heart that Parker would be able to see her call for help.


    Meredith had no choice but to ask Parker for help. Among the people she knew, the only one who


    could help her was him.


    "Miss Mason, your condition is getting worse. We''re going to remove your uterus..."


    A few gynecologists took out a notice and asked Meredith to sign it seeing that things were getting


    worse.


    In their view, it would be better to end this ordeal than take a risk.


    As for Meredith''s future, it was all up to the Xaviers to think about it.


    Meredith''s eyes widened in disbelief. Were these people doctors or not? Was her future so insignificant


    to them?


    "No!"


    Meredith refused without any hesitation. Removing her uterus meant she would not have a chance to


    be a mother and she would not be aplete woman.


    How could these people be so cruel? How could they take away her child and deprive her of the


    possibility of having a child?


    "It was you guys who insisted on me having a natural birth. It''s your fault. You people are not deserved


    to be doctors..."


    Meredith hated them at the thought of her struggling to give birth for the past few hours. She hated


    these sanctimonious people.


    She managed to stay conscious, but they looked at her impatiently.


    "As a mother, it''s better for you to have a natural birth. Don''t you understand? We''re also doing what


    we''re told. You should me the Xaviers, not us!"


    They seemed to force her to have the operation regardless of her feelings.


    Meredith''s eyes widened in despair, but she was too weak to struggle, so she could only watch


    helplessly. "You can''t do it. No, I don''t agree!" she cried.


    "This is for your own good."


    "If you put it off any longer, the blood here will be used up, and we won''t even be able to save your life


    by surgery."


    "the Xaviers will give you somepensation. With the money, you won''t lose if you don''t have a child


    in your next life."


    Just as Meredith was on the verge of despair, a roar came from outside.


    It was the sound of a helicopternding.


    The people present were startled as very few people coulde to the uninhabited ind.


    "Is Mrs. Xavier here?"


    After learning that the baby was born, Violet wanted to see her grandson first.


    "Go and cheer up young master."


    Meredith hated so much upon hearing the name. But just as everyone was waiting for Violet to appear,


    the door to the operating room was kicked open.


    Everyone''s eyes widened in disbelief at the people who came in.

 Chapter 262

    Chapter 262


    Parker!


    And behind him was Violet.


    There was disdain in Violet''s eyes, but she tried to conceal his disdain.


    She did not know what this bastard said to Mr. Xavier, and which made the old man let hime and


    find this woman.


    "So, you take her away and never let him appear in front of Derek."


    Violet said a few words, which decided Meredith''s future.


    "That''s right. In exchange, you have to announce that Meredith is dead!"


    Parker looked at the mess in front of him. The strong smell of blood made him want to cover his nose.


    Violet had already done that, but he didn''t.


    Seeing the red blood and the dried blood on the ground, he understood what Meredith had suffered.


    "What... Are you talking about?"


    Meredith struggled. At this moment, her brain couldn''t work. She wanted to figure out what the two of


    them had done, but she couldn''t hear anything.


    "It''s okay. It''s okay. No one will hurt you anymore."


    Parker strode forward without looking at Violet and picked Meredith up from the bed.


    The blood on her body dyed his suit red, but Parker walked out the door as if he didn''t notice it.


    She had to get better treatment as soon as possible. The Xaviers didn''t even want to treat her. If she


    just kept waiting for treatment, she would die!


    "Parker, remember what you said. If I see you and this woman in front of the Xaviers again, I will..."


    "Don''t worry. I don''t want to see that disgusting thing again, especially your disgusting face..."


    Parker gave Violet a cold look and said something that made her angry.


    At that moment, Violet felt as if she had seen Parker''s mother, the woman who took her husband and


    made her a widow.


    She was indeed a child born of a lowly woman. His kinds of behaviors were disgusting.


    "Parker, child..."


    Meredith felt that she had been taken away from here, and as she was released from her cage, a


    strong pain struck her.


    Her child was still here...


    Meredith had an unrealistic fantasy. Since Parker was here, could he take her baby with him?


    "I''m sorry, I can only take you away... I''m sorry..."


    Parker looked at Meredith''s wounded hand, which clutched his shirt. He felt heartbroken and guilty.


    Although he dealt with them and took Meredith out in exchange, he failed to take away the child that


    she valued so much.


    "Child..."


    Meredith mumbled a few times. She wanted to see the baby who she had only seen once, but she


    couldn''t hold on any longer and fainted.


    Without further dy, Parker boarded the helicopter and headed for the nearest city.


    "Well, the two eyesores disappeared together."


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Violet watched the two of them leave, frowning in disgust, and then looked at the bloody room. "Hurry


    up and clean this ce up. They are disgusting."


    With that, she went upstairs to see her newborn grandson.


    Although she was not satisfied with the child''s mother, the baby was Derek''s first child. So she would


    be good to him.


    Violet went upstairs. When the baby woke up again, he seemed to realize that his mother was


    gradually far away from him. He kept crying with his small hands clenching tightly, and he kept waving


    her small fists and kicking his legs, as if he was trying to escape the person who was holding him now.


    Violet quickly carried him over and looked at him. The child was too young to see who he looked like.


    However, when she thought that it was Derek''s son, she hugged the baby tightly with joy.


    "Well, you look very energetic, little guy. You will be the eldest grandson of the Xaviers in the future."


    Violet said with satisfaction, but the baby ignored her. After seeing her, he cried even more, as if he


    knew that the person in front of him was the one who bullied his mother.


    "The patient is in an emergency and needs to be operated on immediately."


    "Why did you take so long to get her to the hospital? Hurry up, first aid!"


    "Get the blood and anesthetic ready!"


    Noises kept ringing in her ears.


    Meredith felt that she was sunk into a coldke. She wanted to sleep, but those voices troubled her and


    made her unable to sleep.


    After some time, the voice stopped, and the pain of tearing came again.


    Meredith thought she was back in that room, where she suffered for a few hours. However, when she


    opened her eyes in horror, what she saw was not a scene she was used to.


    "This is not an uninhabited ind... Where am I?"


    Meredith was in a daze for a moment. At this time, Parker was awakened by her movements. He


    looked up and saw that she was awake. He called the doctor happily.


    Meredith had been asleep for a long time. The doctor said that if she couldn''t wake up within 48 hours,


    then the chances of waking up in the future would be lower and lower. Fortunately, she survived...


    Otherwise, he really didn''t know what to do.


    "Parker?" Meredith called softly when she saw Parker''s happy face.


    "Where''s my child?" Parker''s eyes dimmed when he saw that she was about to look for a child as soon


    as she woke up.


    "I''m sorry. I couldn''t..."


    There was no need to say the rest. Meredith understood.


    The child was left behind by the Xaviers while she, an irresponsible mother, was saved.


    She suddenly felt the urge to cry. Was her child separated from her forever?


    She couldn''t bear to...


    "Mer, stop crying, kid... The kid will be fine. He''ll be fine."


    "You''re not in good health. You can''t cry like this. You''re safe now. Don''t be afraid. No one will hurt you


    here."


    Even so, Meredith could not control her emotions at all. She still felt rather sad.


    What would happen to her child? A family like the Xaviers might have good material conditions, but


    would Violet love him well? Would he be ostracized if Chloe gave birth to her own child, a rightful heir?


    Seeing how emotional Meredith was, Parker was so heartbroken that he could hardly breathe.


    He wished that he could bear the pain for her.


    "Meredith, calm down! You must take good care of yourself. Even you''re ill, how can you afford to fight


    them in the future?"


    When Meredith heard this, she gritted her teeth and nodded. At this time, a doctor came to check her


    body.


    "The recovery is not bad. You need to stay in the hospital for observation."


    "You have to be nice to your wife in the future. Having a child is just a walk in front of the gates of


    death. You have to take good care of her!"


    The doctor clearly misunderstood the rtionship between the two and was not very polite to Parker.


    When this woman was sent here, she was dying. No one knew what was going on with this husband.


    "I know. I know."


    Parker was misunderstood and was scolded, but he was not angry.


    In his opinion, it was nothing to be scolded. As long as Meredith recovered, there was still hope.


    "Where is this ce?"

 Chapter 263

    Chapter 263


    "We are in France."


    Parker said softly, and then Meredith nodded but she was still exhausted.


    "You just sleep here. It''s safe here. You should have a good rest now."


    Parker walked up to her and patted her gently on the head.


    Meredith nodded. She was really tired. For the first time in her life, she knew how painful it was to give


    birth to a child. It was almost as if she had drained all her energy of her life.


    Fortunately, her child was fine...


    Meredith fell into a deep sleep.


    Parker sat on the side and looked at her as if to look at a lost treasure. His eyes were full of


    tenderness.


    Parker had been by the side of Meredith for a long time. Although he was just sitting there wearily, he


    was not bored at all. This peaceful time calmed him down.


    He couldn''t imagine what he would be like if he hadn''t found Meredith in time and saved her.


    "President Hill, it''s time for dinner..."


    Parker''s assistant, Fanny, came in with the food in his hands and the tempting aroma wafted into


    Parker''s nose. Parker then realized that he had been busy searching for Meredith and was worried


    about what happened to her, so he had not eaten anything all day.


    "Well, put it there." Parker nodded and indicated that Fanny could go out.


    Fanny hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he felt so curious that he asked, "President Hill, what on


    earth happened to you..."


    At that time, although he used all the contacts of thepany to look for Meredith, he struck a dry


    hole.


    However, Parker only went out for half an hour and got it done.


    While in exchange, from now on, they would give up the foundation they hadid in H Country and


    return abroad.


    What exactly happened made him really curious.


    "You are probably not supposed to ask me about this."


    Parker waved his hand. Fanny knew that he didn''t want to talk about this, so Fanny had to leave.


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    When he saw that Meredith seemed to wake up, Parker walked over and shut the drapes to protect her


    eyes from being hurt by the light and let her sleep a little longer.


    In order to find Meredith, he went to Mr. Xavier.


    This was thest resort he was forced to make.


    In the house of the Xaviers.


    Violet brought the child back, but not directly to the house of the Xaviers.


    After all, it was not a legitimate child. Although Violet didn''t want the offspring of the Xaviers to be out in


    the street, she didn''t want to embarrass Chloe since Chloe was just engaged to Derek.


    So she asked a group of people to take care of the child outside.


    Mr. Xavier also wanted toe and see him, after all, he was his great-grandson.


    When the Old Master arrived, the baby was sleeping.


    The little guy was tired from crying and had some milk. Now he fell asleep.


    "This is... Derek''s first child."


    Mr. Xavier was also full of emotion. He watched Derek grow up and now that Derek''s child was born. It


    seemed that he was really old.


    "Yeah, I can''t tell who he looks like yet. I hope he looks like Derek."


    As Violet spoke, she immediately asked about something that she had always cared about.


    "Why, do you ask Parker to go with me to look for Meredith?"


    Mr. Xavier knew about those things before, so he also knew that Parker was his other grandson, but he


    never cared about him and his mother.


    "I just think that''s good for everyone."


    Mr. Xavier''s eyes darkened.


    His son, Derek''s father, grew up independently to some extent. Mr. Xavier was still working hard on his


    own business at the beginning and had no time to care about the rtionship between him and his son.


    They never knew each other well. So, it was toote for him to educate Derek when Mr. Xavier learned


    that Derek had be a drunken yboy.


    So, in order to get his son on the right track, Mr. Xavier asked him to marry Violet, the eldest daughter


    of the Garcias, a famous socialite in J City.


    Mr. Xavier had thought that under the constraints of marriage and his wife, he could change the nature


    of his son, the yboy. At least, he might not go out and flirt with women outside.


    Unexpectedly, it was futile after all. Even if he was married, there was no sign for him to change. He


    even went out to have a so-called rtionship with a female college student and had a child.


    Mr. Xavier was also aware of what Violet had done, but he turned a blind eye to it.


    After all, it was just his thought that made a good girl a victim, so Mr. Xavier pretended not to know


    what she had done, and it was toote when he realized that the woman had given birth to a child for


    his son.


    Parker had already disappeared, and Mr. Xavier had never found him again, so he thought Parker was


    dead.


    Unexpectedly, not only was he alive, but he also seeded in his business.


    The moment he saw Parker, Mr. Xavier was in aplicated mood. This man was the proof that his


    son was having an affair outside, but there was no doubt that Parker had the blood of the Xaviers.


    What he didn''t expect, however, was that Parker didn''t even want toe to him when Parker had


    been suffered so much hardship before. Instead, now Parker came to ask him for help for Meredith.


    What kind of charm did that woman have that made both men in the Xaviers obsessed with her?


    "Dad?"


    Violet saw that the Old Master was deep in thought and did not know how long it took before she


    started to disturb him.


    Could it be that the Old Master knew what she had done in the past, and had pity for Parker?


    She was worried that the Old Master would give Parker shares topete with Derek to make up for


    something.


    "Don''t worry, only Derek is the heir to the Xaviers. He''s just here to make a deal with me."


    Mr. Xavier saw through Violet''s idea immediately, and he shook his head.


    "Wanjing, I didn''t say anything about what happened back then, but actually, I knew them all. You


    should end your resentment now. That child has paid enough for it and promised not to go back to H


    Country with Meredith, not to disturb Derek''s life, just... let it go."


    When Mr. Xavier spoke, there was actually some vicissitudes and helplessness.


    Perhaps because of his old age, he was no longer as ruthless and decisive as he used to be. He got


    up, picked up the sleeping baby, and touched the baby''s soft hair. "This is over."


    "In the future, I will gradually hand over the control of the Xaviers to Derek, and then, I will take care of


    my great-grandson at home!"


    Mr. Xavier looked at the baby in his arms. "This child doesn''t have a name yet. What are we going to


    call you, eh?"

 Chapter 264

    Chapter 264


    "You decide."


    Violet didn''t care much about the child''s name. She took a long breath when she learned that Mr.


    Xavier


    didn''t let Parker join the Xaviers.


    Otherwise, she would have to find a way to get rid of this threat as soon as possible.


    "Let''s call him Easton. We don''t expect this child to have a great career in the future, as long as he


    lives in peace."


    "Okay."


    Violet looked at the baby in the old man''s arms and nodded.


    Meredith slept for a long time.


    The fatigue of her body gradually eased after a long sleep. At the same time, as the effects of the


    anesthetic gradually faded, it was difficult for her to sleep so soundly.


    The pain was so intense that it felt as if someone had torn her apart and then forced her body parts


    together.


    "Ahem..."


    Meredith opened her eyes and breathed heavily in the air. When she saw that the scene in front of her


    was no longer the ce that made her depressed, she heaved a sigh of relief.


    She just had an illusion that she hadn''t escaped.


    Fortunately, it was fake. She had left the horrible uninhabited ind and returned to the real world.


    "You''re awake?" Parker heard the noise and stood up from the sofa beside him. "How do you feel?


    Does your wound still hurt?"


    "I''m okay..." Meredith didn''t want Parker to worry about her, so she shook her head and saw a circle of


    ck under the man''s eyes. Her eyes shed with gratitude and guilt.


    "Sorry to trouble you again."


    Parker smiled. "Don''t say that. I''m willing to save you. Even if you didn''t look for me, I would look for


    you after I hadn''t heard from you for so long."


    Even so, Meredith shook her head. "No, I heard it. For me... Really, can''t I go back to H Country


    anymore?"


    At that time, when Violet and Parker were negotiating terms, although she did not hear it clearly, she


    still understood one thing.


    Parker came to save her at a high price.


    She could only remember this favor in her heart and return it when she had the chance.


    "In H Country, everything has just started. It''s not a pity to give up. To me, your life is more important


    than anything else. If you''re fine, it''s worth."


    Parker said word by word. He had something to do with all of Meredith''s experiences, so he had the


    responsibility and obligation to ensure her safety.


    Of course, his feelings for her had been beyond that...Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Next, you can''t go back to H Country. Under the arrangement of the Xaviers, you will be a dead


    person. I will arrange a new identity for you."


    Parker took out a cotton swab and wiped the corners of Meredith''s mouth. Her lips were peeled


    because of the dryness. However, since the wound had not healed yet, he could only use this method


    to moisten her lips rather than let her drink water.


    He was a little worried that Meredith would not ept this condition. After all, it meant abandoning


    everything in the past, turning herself into a nk sheet of paper and starting over.


    Meredith closed her eyes and recalled the past 20 years. It seemed that there were only endless


    miserable experiences.


    It seemed that there was nothing left to miss...


    Derek''s face shed in her mind, but Meredith only clenched her fists. The scarred hands were in pain


    because of this action.


    She opened her eyes suddenly...


    "I see! The Meredith from the past is dead. That''s better."


    Seeing that she was not too sad, Parker heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he saw deep hatred in


    Meredith''s eyes and he couldn''t help but worry. "You are still too weak now. Don''t think about revenge.


    You have much time."


    Meredith nodded and looked at Parker firmly. "I see..."


    She had been through so much since she got out of prison. She had been entangled with Derek just for


    more than a year, but she felt like a century had passed.


    She was supposed to draw a lesson from that period of time. In the future, she would not be so stupid


    again...


    "Parker, my mother..."


    After Meredith finished talking about her own matter, she immediately thought about her mother.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve already sent someone to pick her up. Now, she''s arriving."


    Just as he finished speaking, the sound of a wheelchair rolling over the ground came from outside the


    door.


    Amelia was brought over by Parker''s men.


    After waiting in despair for so long in the hospital, Amelia even felt that Meredith could have been


    killed. Every day, she was tortured by all kinds of terrible guesses, and she quickly became thin and


    haggard.


    And just as she was about to copse, Parker''s men came and said that her daughter was fine and


    was now in the hospital.


    Amelia immediately rushed over without even asking the background of the person. If Meredith was


    gone, what was the point of living as a cripple?


    "Mer!"


    Amelia saw Meredith and cried excitedly. She pushed the wheelchair and hurried forward to see her


    daughter.


    "Mom!"


    Meredith saw that Amelia had lost a lot of weight, and her already pale face was nowpletely


    devoid of flesh. Her mother must had been greatly worried about her, so her resentment towards the


    Xaviers had increased.


    "Are you okay, Mer? You don''t know how worried I am these days..."


    Amelia held Meredith''s hand tightly, only to find that there were a variety of wounds on her hand, which


    looked shocking. When Amelia looked again, her originally high and bulging abdomen was now t.


    Obviously, the child had been born.


    Amelia''s eyes shed. She seemed to have guessed something.


    With Meredith''s personality, if the child was around, she would definitely show her. Now that there was


    no one, it could only mean that the child had been taken away.


    "Mom, I''m fine. I''m fine..."


    Meredith didn''t know what to say. She had lost her baby and now she was covered in scars. She was


    exhausted, but she still didn''t want her mother to worry.


    She was too stupid and naive to be manipted by the Xaviers.


    "I understand. It''s not your fault. There''s nothing wrong with you..."


    Amelia hugged Meredith andforted her. In her heart, she hated the Xaviers more and more.


    Thanks to the Xaviers, her dear daughter was treated so cruelly and tortured like this.


    "Auntie, you are tired froming here. Just rest. Meredith is not fully recovered yet. You can leave


    her alone for rest."


    Parker felt a headache when he saw that both of them were losing control of their emotions. What was


    more, he still had something to say to Amelia.

 Chapter 265

    Chapter 265


    Amelia knew how weak the woman after giving birth was, so she reluctantly let Meredith rest first.


    Parker pushed her out.


    "The thing is..."


    Parker exined the terms of his deal with the Xaviers. In the future, Meredith would y dead, and


    Amelia was also an important part of it.


    There must be no one to reveal the truth. Otherwise, Meredith would be in danger again.


    "I know. I will cooperate in this matter."


    To Parker''s surprise, Amelia agreed without blinking. It was as if it wasn''t a big deal for her to give up


    and let go of everything in the past and act with them.


    "I can do anything for my daughter, and... I won''t let the Xaviers hurt my daughter again."


    Hatred shed in her eyes. Amelia held the handle of the wheelchair and the veins on the back of her


    hand popped up.


    "Then, this matter has been decided. In the future, I will live abroad with you. You can rest assured."


    As Parker spoke, Amelia couldn''t help but look at the man in front of her.


    Although Parker looked a little tired from being busy all the time and had stubble on his face, when


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Amelia saw his eyes and his straightened back as he was extremely tired, she concluded that he was


    not an ordinary person.


    This man was definitely a somebody among men.


    Why would he help her and her daughter?


    "Do you... Like Mer?"


    After all, Amelia had lived for decades. Amelia knew what happened as she thought about this kind of


    thing. If a man considered so much about a woman, he definitely loved that woman.


    Moreover, she had just noticed the way Parker looked at Meredith. His feelings could not be concealed.


    "I..."


    Parker was caught off guard by the sudden question. But when he saw that Amelia seemed to be


    serious, he nodded. "That''s right."


    "Really? But I warn you, if you want to date my daughter, you have to win my approval first. A man who


    doesn''t have my approval will not date my daughter. Although you are her savior, I won''t give her to you


    just because of this."


    Amelia said. She was like a mother beast protecting her cubs.


    Her daughter had suffered too much and she could not let any man have the chance to hurt her again.


    "I know, auntie, I won''t be in a hurry. As for whether you are satisfied or not, it will be known in the


    future."


    When Parker heard this, he was neither angry nor impatient. He smiled. "the Xaviers may check your


    location, so you can''t be reunited with Meredith for the time being."


    "I see."


    Amelia nodded. Although she couldn''t bear to part with her daughter, she understood that there were


    many things that were more important to do.


    the Xaviers.


    Derek remained awake all night. He couldn''t sleep at all.


    The next day, he went to Violet in a rage. Since the engagement was over, she had to tell him where


    Meredith was.


    When Derek''s phone call came, Violet was trying to coax the child. She didn''t know what was going on


    as Easton was not close to her, the grandmother, at all. Easton would cry and make a scene if Violet


    hugged Easton. It was as if Easton knew that Violet didn''t like her from the very beginning.


    This also made Violet feel a headache.


    "Derek?"


    When Derek put through the call, he heard waves of baby''s crying in the background.


    His heart immediately tightened. Child? Where did the childe from?


    Could it be...


    The child of him and Meredith was born?


    "Meredith gave birth? Is that my child?"


    Derek couldn''t believe it. He didn''t know if he should be happy or what. At this moment, he was at a


    loss.


    "Yes, your child is born."


    Violet deliberately emphasized that the child was Derek''s and had nothing to do with Meredith. In her


    opinion, that was the case.


    "Where''s Meredith? Is she okay?" Derek didn''t have time to think about this. He just wanted to know


    where Meredith was. After giving birth, she must have had a hard time. How could he not be by her


    side...


    "Meredith... She''s dead."


    Violet frowned when she heard that Derek was concerned about Meredith instead of asking about the


    child as he spoke. An unhappy, cruel light shed through her eyes, and she spat the words out without


    hesitation.


    Just let it be like this. It would be better for Derek to give up, lest there would be any further changes


    that would cause trouble.


    "Dead..."


    Derek''s body shook as if he couldn''t believe what he heard.


    What the fuck? How did Meredith die?


    "You''re talking nonsense. Where the hell is Meredith? Let me go find her!"


    "I said, she''s dead. Don''t you believe your mother''s words?"


    "How can I believe it?"


    Derek smashed his cell phone with a bang, and Violet''s voice sounded in his ear like a life-threatening


    spell.


    Meredith was dead. She was dead...


    How could that be possible?


    Thest time they met, she was still fine. She was pregnant with their baby and was bickering with him.


    His mother must have lied to him.


    It must be like this.


    After smashing everything in the room, Derek rushed out with red eyes. He wanted to investigate on his


    own. He didn''t believe that Meredith was really dead. She must be alive and well!


    Derek immediately dispatched all the manpower he could send to find out Meredith''s whereabouts. Not


    long after, he found out where Meredith was being held.


    It was an uninhabited ind on the other side of the ocean.


    Derek immediately flew over. The building was already empty. Before those people left, someone had


    cleaned up all the traces.


    It was as if a poor woman had never been imprisoned here, and nothing shady had ever happened


    here.


    "Meredith, where are you?"


    Derek seemed to have lost his mind and kicked the door open one by one, but there was nothing.


    All the rooms were empty. And there was only one room with some blood on the wall that had not been


    cleaned up.


    The bright red blood had now dried up. The dark red color on the wall hurt Derek''s eyes.


    "What''s going on? Where are the people? Where are the people here?"


    Derek looked at the blood. It was as if the nightmare scene had reappeared. It was as if he had


    witnessed Meredith screaming and giving birth to the child in a pool of blood.


    So painful. So helpless.


    The scene almost drove him crazy.


    "Everyone has left, boss."


    Damian followed Derek, and it was shocking for him to see this scene. What exactly happened here


    was unknown, but...


    Meredith must have suffered a lot!


    "Now, send someone to look for the people who have appeared here before. All of them must be found.


    I want to see them all!"


    Derek''s hand touched the blood, and then, his fists hit the wall hard. He waste!

 Chapter 266

    Chapter 266


    Derek sat in the room without moving. The faint scent of blood was still in the air.


    It was quiet outside since he threw everyone out.


    Damian left to look for any sign of Meredith, though it was somewhat pie in the sky.


    After all, it had been all cleaned up here, and it was an uninhabited ind with no witnesses at all. It


    was also hard to figure out who did those things.


    "Meredith, you''ll be fine, definitely..." Derek looked at the blood on the wall.


    the Xaviers had always been very cautious about these things. The blood must have been very dark so


    it couldn''t be cleaned up and then was left here.


    So, how much pain did she suffer and how much blood had she lost on the day she gave birth?


    No one knew that. Derek felt as if his heart had been squeezed by something. In the empty room, he


    could do nothing but touch the wall.


    "Meredith, it was my fault. Pleasee back..."


    The man let out a wail of despair and his mournful cry echoed in the room.


    ...


    What Derek did quickly reached Violet. In the past few days, she had thought that she could have


    breathed a sigh of relief since Easton had been brought back, and Meredith had disappeared, and the


    engagement ceremony had finally ended smoothly.


    Unexpectedly, Derek found the uninhabited ind and had asked others to look into the ident


    before.


    Why did he pay so much attention on that woman?


    Violet was quite unhappy.


    Without taking a rest, she rushed to the uninhabited ind where Derek was.


    Violet hated that ce to the extreme since it was there where the woman Violet hated the most had


    given birth to a child of the Xaviers.


    Derek was sitting in the room where Meredith had given birth. He knew that the Xaviers would send


    someone here sooner orter. Now that the alliance of the Xaviers and the Bets by marriage had


    just started, he ran out and was nowhere to be seen. This would certainly arouse suspicion outside.


    the Xaviers wouldn''t look unconcerned, so someone would definitelye to him.


    He needed an exnation, an exnation about Meredith.


    When Violet arrived, it was already night.


    There was a beautiful sunset in the sky, and its crimson color was as red as bright red blood. Violet felt


    a little nervous somehow.


    It was hard for her to forget that day when she came here and the scene she saw. It was different from


    the sessful birth she had given at the noble hospital. The scene when Meredith gave birth was


    simply tragic.


    At the thought of the strong smell of blood, Violet still felt sick.


    "Where is he?" Violet only wanted to bring him back as soon as possible. She ned to sell the ind


    to others after she hadpletely wiped out the relevant traces. Thus the disgraceful memories would


    be wiped out as well.


    "He is in the room."


    Someone came out to lead Violet in.


    Violet followed him in, but as she walked, the annoyance in her heart became more obvious because


    she was clearly taken to the room where Meredith gave birth.


    Why was he there?


    Violet was a little confused with a grim look. When she walked to the door of the room, the door was


    closed. It was quiet with no sound inside, but it was gotta rattle her nerves.


    "Wait outside." Violet said coldly. "Don''t let anyone near us."


    Next moment, something in their talk might defame the Xaviers so she couldn''t air the dirtyundry of


    the Xaviers in public.


    "Yes."


    Everyone retreated respectfully, and then Violet knocked softly on the door. "Derek, it''s me."


    Derek sat on the floor, which was so cold. If he sat there for a long time, his body would be cold,


    but he did not seem to notice that.


    "Pleasee in." Derek''s voice was calm, even cold.


    Violet walked in and noticed the faint smell of blood still lingering in the room. She frowned. "Now every


    news outlet is waiting for you. You''re here, and nothing will change anymore. Go back with me."


    "Meredith is still alive." Derek suddenly sneered. He looked at Violet, the woman standing at the door,


    with a faint sign of craziness in his eyes.


    He didn''t believe that Meredith was really dead. It must be a lie of the Xaviers.


    Violet looked at her son''s pathetic and depleted figure. She had never seen such an expression on his


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    face before.


    As his mother, was not she the closest person in the world to him?


    Had their rtionship been worn thin just because of a woman?


    "She''s dead, Derek. She''s really dead!"


    Violet cried out in a broken voice. She had no regard for the manners as ady. This ce, and the


    way her son looked at her, made her nervous.


    "Don''t you believe me, I''m your mother!"


    "Mom, this is the second time you tried to control me with the title of my mother..."


    Derek murmured.


    The first time, she forced him to get engaged to Chloe, or else she wouldn''t have had the surgery and


    made him guilty about killing his mother for the rest of his life. Hepromised.


    Now, again, with the title, she tried to stop him from looking into the matter.


    She used the word "mother" to make him so depressed.


    Why did they be like this?


    "...


    Violet''s heart suddenly lurched. She took two steps back. She never expected Derek to say these


    words.


    "Derek, you really..."


    "Really...what?"


    Derek interrupted Violet.


    He stood up and walked closer step by step. "Did I really disappoint you and the Xaviers?"


    Violet was suddenly speechless. She did want to say that, but now she couldn''t.


    "You disappoint me too."


    Derek tugged at his hair in pain. At the thought of how much pain Meredith had suffered here, that she


    might not be in this world anymore, and that he would never see her smile or hear her voice again,


    Derek felt like he was going crazy.


    However, his mother was the one to me for this, so he couldn''t even avenge Meredith.


    "I always thought you were the best mother in the world, and I never wanted to disappoint you, but


    now..."


    "I don''t know if all of this is right or wrong. Maybe Meredith is right."


    When she heard Meredith''s name, Violet took two steps back in fear.


    A sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of Derek''s mouth. "She used to say that the Xaviers were


    condescending, superior, and never cared about others'' feelings. I didn''t believe it at that time."


    "Now it seems that it is true. Mom, do you see the blood there? It was left by Meredith, and it was also


    left by you..."


    "Knock it off!"


    Violet suddenly couldn''t control herself and reached out to p Derek hard. "Are you going to go


    against the Xaviers and your mother for a dead woman?"

 Chapter 267

    Chapter 267


    Derek was pped, but there was no expression on his face. He stared at her bitterly. "You''re still


    thinking about the Xaviers. Don''t you feel even a little guilty about Meredith?"


    Violet suddenly felt exhausted. She was running around in the domestic and overseas. Yet she was still


    being contradicted by her son when she was severely jetgged. It was really hard for her to stay calm.


    "Derek, everyone has their own most important thing. In your opinion, all the glory of the Xaviers is


    nothing, but that''s all I have."


    Ever since she married into the Xaviers, Violet''s life had not been easy. Her husband had been flirting


    around and even wanted to divorce her for a mistress, which was known throughout the city.


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    The only thing Violet felt she could make up for herself was the glory of the Xaviers.


    That was the only thing thatforted her, making her feel that her youth was not wasted.


    "What about me?" Derek looked at her and suddenly wanted tough. "Have you considered me?"


    She had taken into ount everything about the Xaviers, but she had forgotten about her son as a


    living person.


    "Derek..."


    There was a suffocating silence in the air.


    "I won''t give up. I''ll keep looking for Meredith, alive or dead."


    Derek suddenly opened his mouth. He no longer confronted Violet. He knew that she would not give


    him any clues, nor would she have any regrets or guilt about Meredith, so he could only do it on his


    own.


    "I hope you don''t stop me this time. Otherwise, I don''t know what I will do."


    Derek''s voice was filled with depression and pain.


    Only then did Violet see the wound on his hand. He had just punched against the wall, and the blood


    kept flowing down, as if it were hitting her chest.


    Violet was suddenly confused for a moment. She thought that her son would stand on the same side as


    her no matter when. She did not expect such a day of tit-for-tat.


    Meredith had a dream.


    In her dream, she saw her baby, the one who was taken away after just one look.


    In her memory, she could not see the child''s face clearly. She only heard his cry. She looked around for


    the child''s traces, but in the end, she only saw the figure of a man and a woman.


    It was Derek and Chloe. Chloe was holding her child, looking arrogant as usual.


    "Meredith, look how arrogant you were back then. Now I have your child."


    "But when my child is born, he will be useless. He is just an illegitimate child."


    Chloe turned a deaf ear to the baby''s heartbreaking cry. It seemed that she wasughing at Meredith''s


    ignorance and stupidity.


    "Give me back the child!"


    Meredith tried to run in their direction, but she could not get close to them, as if she were separated


    from an invisible barrier.


    She could only watch the child being taken away by Derek and Chloe, but she could do nothing.


    "No, give me back the child... Give it back to me..."


    Meredith struggled, and then someone held her hand. "Meredith, wake up. Did you have a nightmare?"


    Meredith woke up from her dream and opened her eyes to see Parker standing by the bed with a


    concerned face.


    "How are you? Are you okay?" Parker had just heard the noise in the room outside. He was worried


    that something might happen to Meredith, so he barged in.


    Then, he heard her screaming in pain. There was nothing he could do but wake her up. Now that


    Meredith was too weak, it was draining her energy.


    "I..." Meredith breathed heavily, like a fish thrown onto the shore. She recalled the scene in her dream,


    her child...


    "I dreamed about the baby..."


    Meredith''s tone was painful. She had just realized that she didn''t even have a picture of the baby. Over


    time, she might not even remember what the baby looked like.


    By then, the only connection between them would be gone, just like... She had never had a biological


    child before?


    "He''s not doing well. I dreamt that the Xaviers must be bad for him. I''m going... I''m going to find him!"


    After being a mother, Meredith became superstitious. She panicked at the thought of the crying baby in


    her dream and Derek ignoring her.


    Chloe was not the mother of the child. How could the child live well with such a stepmother?


    She couldn''t let her baby suffer like this in the Xaviers.


    "Calm down! Meredith!"


    Seeing how excited Meredith was, Parker was worried. He knew what it was like to be a mother, but...


    It was impossible to bring the child out of the Xaviers. Even if Meredith went there, she would probably


    just be kicked out.


    "Meredith, the child is fine. He''s the only child in the Xaviers. Why don''t they treat him well? Calm down


    and stop thinking."


    Parker''s voice gradually cooled Meredith''s heart.


    She calmed down and realized that she had no ability to bring the child out, and Parker... Could not do


    the same.


    If it weren''t for him, she would have died.


    What did she take to bring the child back?


    "..." Meredith was silent and was no longer struggling. However, looking at her like this, Parker''s heart


    hurt even more.


    It was all because of his ipetence that he could not protect her and let her encounter such a thing.


    He hated the Xaviers even more.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll try my best to arrange for someone toe over and keep an eye on the child.


    Nothing will happen to him."


    Meredith nodded. "Thank you, thank you so much... I don''t know how to repay you."


    Meredith knew that this was the best way to treat the child, and she couldn''t help but feel a little more


    guilty and grateful for Parker.


    "No need. I do all these things willingly..."


    As Parker spoke, Meredith saw the deep affection in his eyes, but she looked away.


    She no longer wanted such feelings. She just wanted to protect her child secretly.


    Seeing Meredith''s reactions, Parker was a little sad, but he didn''t show much. He knew that Meredith''s


    heart had been hurt so badly that it was difficult for her to ept a new rtionship.


    But it didn''t matter. He wasn''t in a hurry. He would be by Meredith''s side in the future. He could wait for


    the day she opened her heart.


    "Your mother is now back in the hospital for treatment. Now, I can''t be sure that everyone believes in


    your death, so I can only make you stay here for a few more days, but it''s safe here."

 Chapter 268

    Chapter 268


    Meredith nodded. Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Parker stayed with her for a while. Then,


    someone brought her dinner.


    "Eat something." Parker specifically ordered servants to make her favorite vor, and now she was


    almost a circle thinner than before, looking very haggard.


    "Okay..." Meredith looked at the dishes that used to be her favorite, but she had no appetite at all.


    However, she naturally couldn''t bear to waste Parker''s kindness, so she ate some reluctantly.


    Seeing Meredith eating normally, Parker was relieved and left.


    Seeing him leave, Meredith covered her mouth and rushed into the bathroom.


    She forcefully ate everything she had just eaten. Although she didn''t eat much, she felt nauseous and


    sick.


    It seemed that because of the dream she had just had, she could not even eat now. She had no


    appetite at all when she thought that her child might be suffering.


    In the Xavier Group.


    In the office on the top floor, Damian stood in front of Derek''s desk with a serious expression.


    He spent thest few days looking for the whereabouts of those people on the uninhabited ind, but


    Violet had long eliminated all traces, and now, no one even knew who had been there.


    Moreover, in order to destroy the evidence, Violet persuaded the Old Master to sell the development


    rights of the uninhabited ind.


    Once that piece ofnd was sold to others, it would only be harder to continue investigating.


    "Nothing?" Derek had dark circles under his eyes, and he had been searching for Meredith''s


    whereabouts through his power these days.


    Perhaps it was because of intuition, perhaps it was because of some kind of obsession, Derek refused


    to believe the fact that Meredith was already dead.


    Now, he had sent people to check all the hospitals in the country, but there were still no gains.


    "Impossible. I don''t believe there''s anything in this world that could leave no trace. Keep investigating!"


    Derek ordered in a hoarse voice.


    Damian looked at the red blood in Derek''s eyes and couldn''t bear it. He had never seen Derek in such


    a mess.


    Since the news of Meredith''s ident, Derek had not returned home for three days and nights and had


    been looking for her whereabouts in thepany with an unwell eye.


    Just as Damian was trying to persuade Derek to take a break, someone knocked on the door and a


    beautiful and gentle voice sounded. "Derek, are you there?"


    Just as they were engaged, Derek not only rejected all the events that Chloe had attended, but now he


    didn''t even go home.


    For Chloe, she had to try to maintain the public fame of the marriage between the two families but


    actually she only stayed in an empty room and couldn''t see her fianc¨¦. In the end, she couldn''t help but


    "Miss Bet is here. Then, shall I go out first?"


    Although the two were engaged, Damian did not change the calling way. In his heart, he still did not


    approve of another woman to be ''Mrs. Xavier''.


    "No, you stay here."


    Derek did not even lift his head and paid no attention to the knock on the door outside. He was not


    even in the mood to deal with Chloe now.


    If she hadn''t taken the chance to delete Damian''s message that day, perhaps Meredith wouldn''t be like


    this now.


    Chloe clearly heard someone talking in the office, but she never got Derek''s permission to let her in.


    The smile on her face froze slightly, and then she knocked on the door.


    "Derek, are you there? I''m going in."


    A trace of impatience shed between Derek''s brows. Just as he was about to speak, Chloe pushed


    the door open and walked in.


    "Derek, tonight our two families..."


    Before she could finish speaking, Derek suddenly got up and said, "I suddenly remembered that I have


    something to do. You can do it yourself at night."


    With that, Derek left without looking at Chloe standing in front of him.


    Chloe''s face turned from red to pale, as if she had never expected Derek to be so disrespectful in front


    of his assistant.


    She wanted to say something, but the man had already left, leaving her with a cold back.


    Derek walked out of thepany, but he didn''t know where to go. A few days of busy work also made


    him feel very tired.


    However, he did not dare to stop. As soon as he stopped the search, he would think of Meredith lying in


    a pool of blood to give birth to a child.


    That scene was shocking to him.


    Sitting aimlessly in the car, Derek was in a rare daze. At this moment, a mother and daughter walked


    over.


    The young daughter seemed to be pregnant, and her mother carefully supported her. "Look at you. You


    should just rest at home. What are you running around for?"


    "I can still move. It''s so boring to stay at home..."


    The conversation between the two of them reached Derek''s ears. He couldn''t help but wonder if it was


    the same for Meredith abroad...


    At this moment, he suddenly realized something. If something really happened to Meredith, Amelia


    would have known about it. Why did he forget about it?


    "Damian, book a flight right away. I want to go abroad."


    Without thinking, Derek set off immediately.


    Amelia had already left the hospital, and with Nn''s help and the hospital''s careful care, she had


    almost recovered. Although her legs and feet were not very nimble, she could already walk a few steps.


    As long as she continued to her rehab, she should be able to continue walking soon.


    When Derek found her, Amelia was sitting on the sofa and calling Meredith. When she heard someone


    knocking on the door, she pushed the wheelchair to open the door with her cell phone.


    When she saw it was Derek, she was surprised at first, then hung up the phone.


    Meredith''s whereabouts must not be known to this man!


    It was Derek''s first time seeing Amelia. Although he had been looking for someone to take care of the


    mother and her daughter, he never had the chance to meet her. This was the first time he met her, but


    it was really unusual.


    "Auntie, I''m..."


    As soon as Derek''s words came out, Amelia could not control her anger. She reached out and gave


    him a hard p.


    This p exhausted all her strength. "Don''t introduce yourself. I will never forget you in my life. Even if


    you turn into ashes, I will recognize the person who killed my daughter!"


    Derek''s face was tilted to one side by the p. He was not angry. His first reaction was unbelievable.


    He looked at the woman in front of him. "Meredith isn''t dead, is she?"


    When Amelia saw his eagerness, she was not moved. Instead, she was even angrier. Now, who was


    he pretending to be so affectionate and caring?


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    If Parker hadn''t shown up to save Meredith, she had already suffered from the pain of losing her only


    daughter. Derek was hypocritical to her.


    She would never forgive the Xaviers for what they did to Meredith in her life.

 Chapter 269

    Chapter 269


    "It''s all over. You can go now." Amelia pped Derek. Although she knew that this might make the man


    take revenge on her, she still felt very happy.


    The one who hurt her daughter and stole her grandson away was the man in front of her... She wished


    there was no Derek in this world!


    Derek looked at Amelia''s every expression, every movement, and he was eager to see what was


    wrong with her face.


    But Amelia''s performance didn''t show anything wrong to him.


    Her anger and her pain were real, just like a mother who lost her daughter.


    In an instant, Derek''s heart was empty. He had been holding on for so long because he didn''t believe


    Meredith was gone.


    He didn''t believe that Meredith was dead. He didn''t believe that she would leave the child she cared so


    much about to die.


    He did not believe that she would not hate him, not hate the Xaviers, and die in that ce.


    "It''s fake, isn''t it?"


    Derek muttered. The seque of days without rest and traveling abroad was now apparent. He


    staggered and fell to the ground.


    Amelia looked at his awkwardness but sneered in her heart.


    Her animosity and disgust were so openly disyed that there was no sense of restraint.


    It was the man in front of her... who made her daughter suffer so much, and in the future, her daughter


    still had to suffer the separation of mother and son.


    Did she have to be nice to this person?


    Hehe...


    "I don''t believe... Impossible..." Derek''s face was pale. He knew he was in a mess, but he couldn''t


    control his fear.


    If all this was true, what would he do?


    If Meredith really wasn''t in this world, he wouldn''t even know who to make up for.


    How could he stop like this?


    Amelia looked at the man''s painful look, and for a moment, she wondered a lot. Why did he hurt her


    daughter so much but still acted as if he loved her so much deeply?


    Then, Amelia thought of the wedding of the century, and her shaking thoughts disappearedpletely.


    Since he was a married man, what was the purpose of doing this kind of y now?


    Could it be that he wanted to exterminate her daughter?


    Amelia pushed the wheelchair closer to Derek. "I say I don''t wee you. Please leave!"


    In Derek''s mind, there were all kinds of messy sounds, which almost made him unable to think and his


    head was splitting.


    Amelia''s cold words made him struggle out of pain. He realized that he had no right to be decadent. His


    only hope was that the woman in front of him was lying.


    He couldn''t just leave like this...


    Unless he saw Meredith''s body with his own eyes.


    Ignoring Amelia''s hostility and attitudepletely, Derek asked in a hoarse voice with his thin lips


    moving slightly.


    "Where is she now?"


    "What?"


    "I want to see her if she was alive, if she was dead, I want to see her body!"


    Derek''s eyes were frighteningly red, faintly tinged with madness.


    He was now cornered in a desperate way and would not give up until he gave uppletely.


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    "I won''t tell you."


    Amelia also rejected her bluntly, and her face was cold and full of disgust. "Do you want her to die


    strugglingly?"


    With that said, Amelia turned to drive the wheelchair to get out of here. Lying was actually a very tiring


    thing, especially to a man like Derek.


    If there were any ws, she would lose everything.


    "Then I will wait here until... Until you are willing to say the truth out."


    Derek grabbed the back of the wheelchair, and the veins on his hands bulged with force, making him


    look a little ferocious.


    "You!" Amelia didn''t expect Derek to be so persistent. She was furious. "You''re trespassing in a private


    house!"


    Derek smiled. He looked around at the decorations. This house was hand-picked for Meredith by him,


    but she didn''t know.


    However, she was kidnapped here, and he did nothing.


    "Even if I want to trespass here, no one dares to stop me."


    Amelia was a little annoyed, "President Xavier, are you using your power to suppress me?"


    She had no doubt about Derek''s words, and the Xaviers was truly capable of doing this.


    "I just want to know the truth."


    Amelia''s hand was on the handle, turning pale with force. "In that case, do as you wish."


    "But I don''t think such a busy boss like you can spend all your time with a cripple like me abroad,


    right?"


    Derek, after all, was the president of the Xavier Group, and he attended to numerous affairs every day.


    Amelia didn''t think he would stay here for long.


    Derek frowned and looked at her side of the face, then he called Damian, "I will deal with the domestic


    things of ourpany abroad in the future."


    Amelia paused and stiffened in an instant.


    Was this man serious or not?


    What was his purpose?


    Amelia had to say that she had no idea what he was thinking, but she knew that it seemed difficult to


    solve this problem.


    "I know as the man in charge of the Xaviers, you have the power to do whatever they want, but as a


    mother, for the sake of my daughter''sst peace, even if I die, I won''t let people like you disturb her."


    After that, she stopped pestering him and pushed her wheelchair out.


    She could no longer entangle herself with Derek, or else she might reveal something.


    Also, she had to warn Parker to hide Meredith well.


    When necessary, she should probably take some necessary measures.

 Chapter 270

    Chapter 270


    Derek settled down at Amelia''s ce.


    Amelia was always cold to him, and she always spoke as harshly as she could, but he turned a deaf


    ear.


    Unlike working day and night at the Xaviers, Derek calmed down.


    He hadn''t got to see Meredith''s body for such a long time, so he became more and more suspicious of


    whether she was really dead.


    Although Amelia''s excuse was reasonable, saying that she did not want him, who had taken the child


    away, to continue disturbing Meredith''s peace, he was still waiting with a glimmer of hope.


    If Meredith was still alive, she wouldn''t be able to keep her cool and not contact her mother. She cared


    so much about her family, how could she do that?


    Amelia was getting more and more agitated.


    Because of Derek''s arrival, she did not dare to have any contact with Meredith. She did not even dare


    to send a message.


    Because the Xaviers could have monitored all hermunications devices, she couldn''t risk her


    daughter''s safety.


    Now, she didn''t know how Meredith was doing. As a mother, she wanted to take care of her daughter,


    but she couldn''t.


    So she med Derek for this.


    "President Xavier, don''t you feel bored being here every day with a cripple? Your beautiful fianc¨¦e is


    waiting for you at home. She won''t make a fuss if you stay out for so long?"


    Out of disgust with the Xaviers, Amelia did not have any good impressions of Chloe. She wished that


    the Xaviers would be stirred up and be restless so as to relieve the resentment in her heart.


    "She''s got what she wants. Why would she make a fuss?"


    Derek sneered. What Chloe wanted was to be the Xaviers''s young madam. She wanted a man who


    was worthy of her. Didn''t she already have both?


    Although he would definitely ignore her.


    Amelia was a little speechless at his words. It seemed that the Xaviers was not as harmonious as she


    thought.


    She wondered whether her grandson would be treated well in the Xaviers.


    Amelia could not help but worry. After all, the child had left his mother at birth, and the environment


    around him was not normal. There were always many skeletons in the cupboard of a big family.


    "Then don''t you care about your child?"


    Amelia was also very concerned about and missed her grandson. Derek''s indifference made her


    uneasy.


    "My child..."


    Derek put out the cigarette in his hand. He had not seen the child. He had never liked that child since


    he had been born. Meredith had suffered so much and almost lost her life because of the child.


    He would want to vent his anger on the child.


    Perhaps, if he didn''t exist, there wouldn''t be so many things now.


    Derek understood he was transferring his anger, but he had made up his mind not to see the child


    before he found Meredith.


    "Do mothers love their children very much?" Derek suddenly answered, "Will Meredith miss him?"


    "Of course she will."


    Amelia blurt that out without thinking too much.


    Men would never understand how deeply a woman loved her child.


    However, as soon as she spoke, Amelia realized that this was Derek''s trap.


    "Even if she was gone, she would still look at him in the sky."


    With that, Amelia ran out.


    She was over twenty years older than Derek, but she didn''t have the slightest advantage.


    She almost showed her emotions just now, and he might find out something she was hiding.


    After Amelia left, Derek''s brows furrowed tightly. His instincts were always urate. He had just seen


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    the panic in her eyes.


    So, did that mean he was right?


    Thinking of this, Derek was no longer sleepy. He looked out the window at the moonlight, lost in


    thought.


    "Meredith, I won''t leave. I''ll be here for you. One day, you''ll show up..."


    It was alreadyte at night, but Derek was not sleepy at all. He just stared out the window at the


    scenery in a daze.


    Here, he could clearly see the intersection where he had been. Suddenly, the figure of the woman in


    the window appeared in his mind.


    At that time, he had often looked at her figure in a trance. He hadn''t thought about anything else, but


    that moment had been the happy moment he could not experience now.


    Meredith did not live a good life in a faraway country.


    Amelia''sst message was to remind her not to appear again and to tell her that she must hide well


    and not be discovered.


    This meant that Derek really went to her mother''s to look for her.


    Meredith could not tell how she felt about this.


    She didn''t feel touched but felt more resentful and it was absurd for him to do that.


    Since he cared so much about her, what didn''t he do that before?


    Why pester her family now?


    But no one could answer her questions.


    Meredith was limited in the safe zone set up by Parker and could not contact the outside world or


    Slowly, she found herself in a worse mental state.


    The asional nausea was getting more and more frequent, and almost as soon as she had eaten


    something, she had an ufortable feeling in her stomach that made her throw up all over again.


    She didn''t want Parker to worry about this, so she never showed it.


    But in the end, Parker noticed. He had been wondering why Meredith who had received such good


    care was getting thinner and more haggard.


    Normal pregnant women would gain weight after giving birth. She was even thinner. She was already


    slim, and now he was worrying that even a gust of wind could blow her away.


    "Meredith, are you really okay?"


    Parker had tried his best to find some time with Meredith these days. But since he was always worried


    about what Derek would do, he was always on guard and could not be rxed.


    "I... I''m fine! I''m fine!" Meredith said stubbornly, not wanting to worry Parker.


    But at this moment, a strong feeling of nausea hit her, and she couldn''t help but cover her stomach.


    "Are you okay?" Parker was a little flustered when he saw this. Meredith was about to say something,


    but she couldn''t help but rush into the bathroom.


    She really couldn''t hold back the feeling.


    Parker knocked on the door. "Meredith! Meredith!"


    No one answered him. Immediately, he heard the sound of a heavy objectnding on the ground. He


    panicked and immediately kicked the door open.


    Only then did he see Meredith lying on the ground, her face pale. Meredith threw up everything in her


    stomach and fainted in the bathroom.


    Parker immediately called the doctor.


    "The patient''s recovering well, but she is suffering from malnutrition. If this continues, it may affect her


    future fertility..."


    "Why is she suffering from malnutrition?"


    "Judging from her various symptoms, I think it''s because of postpartum depression."

 Chapter 271

    Chapter 271


    Parker looked grave. "I asked you to take good care of her. How could this happen?"


    The doctor was also helpless. Postpartum depression could not be cured by good care, not to say


    Meredith was having more problems.


    She could not go out now, nor could shemunicate with others. She could not be with her children.


    She was already under a lot of stress, and those would just aggravate her condition.


    "Miss Mason must have been depressed because she had to separate with her child right after she


    gave birth. Plus... Now that she has lost her freedom, she is naturally getting worse."


    The doctor said solemnly, "It seems that if she doesn''t get treatment as soon as possible, something


    bad will happen."


    "Something bad? What do you mean?!" Parker was furious. He grabbed the doctor by the cor and


    pressed him against the wall. "I don''t care what method you will use. You must cure her!"


    "Then we''ll have to rely on sedatives and nutrient fluids..." The doctor pushed his sses and looked


    helpless. "She is depressed because of her child, so maybe we can try to cure her by... We can''t let her


    forget everything..."


    Parker let go of his hand and looked at Meredith, who was lying on the bed with a pale face. He held


    her cold hand and felt his heart became colder.


    All of this was the fault of the Xaviers. If Derek hadn''t been frantically searching for Meredith, perhaps


    Meredith''s situation wouldn''t have been so serious with her family around.


    "There''s another way..."


    Parker was silent for a moment, and a look of determination shed across his eyes. "Hypnosis. Make


    herpletely forget about the past trauma and the existence of a child!"


    This was thest method Parker could think of since Meredith was in such a serious condition. He had


    dealt with a very famous hypnotist before. He could blur and distort people''s memories. People who


    were hypnotized by him would think that what had happened did not exist and that what did not exist


    was true.


    "But... This..."


    The doctor was startled. Parker''s expression was cold, but the doctor could tell that he was serious.


    "This is thest way. You take care of her. Don''t tell anyone about this!"


    Parker clenched his fist and looked at Meredith''s face. He knew that it was unfair and kind of


    shameless to deprive her of her memory.


    However, the thought of freeing Meredith from her pain, and... making her forget everything that


    happened with Derek, Parker wavered.


    He admitted that it was a bit despicable, but from the beginning, he had used some base means to be


    with her. In order to get what he wanted, he was used to resorting to unscrupulous means.


    "If you knew, would you me me?"


    Parker gently stroked Meredith''s face and muttered to himself.


    Amelia spent a few days with Derek.


    To her surprise, Derek did not leave this ce as quickly as she had imagined. Instead, he lived here,


    as if he would not leave until he knew Meredith''s whereabouts.


    This made her extremely anxious. In order not to be with the man who had harmed her daughter, she


    spent almost every day rehabilitating in the hospital.


    However, Derek also sent someone to watch her, as if afraid that she would run away.


    "You have been doing well in the rehabilitation. It''s a miracle that you can still achieve this effect at this


    age."


    When Amelia wasmunicating with the new doctor about her rehabilitation, the doctor in front of her


    suddenly kicked her leg under the table and a note was stuffed into her hand.


    Amelia was stunned. Seeing the doctor winking at her, she understood and took the note as if nothing


    had happened.


    When she got home, she opened the paper and saw the words written on it. "Meredith is fine here, but


    she needs thepany of her family. Make Derek leave as soon as possible."


    Amelia held the piece of paper in her hand and was very anxious. Although the note said Meredith was


    fine, Amelia was still worried unless she could see her. She continued to read it. "I have already made


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    a fake tombstone in the cemetery on the outskirts of the city. As long as you take Derek there, things


    will be over."


    Parker didn''t expect Derek to be so persistent. Did he have to manage the Xaviers?


    Seeing that Meredith''s condition was getting worse and worse, he didn''t want to waste any more time.


    Meredith couldn''t afford any dy.


    Amelia looked at the address and quickly tore the notes into pieces, threw them into the toilet and


    flushed them away.


    Now, there was no other way but to do so.


    When Derek came back, he saw Amelia waiting for him.


    This surprised him. After all, Amelia did not hide her disgust with him these days.


    "Didn''t you say you wanted to see a person and her body? Then I''ll show you."


    Derek''s hand trembled imperceptibly. "What?"

 Chapter 272

    Chapter 272


    Amelia said expressionlessly, "I''ll take you to see Meredith''s tombstone. After that, please get out of


    here. I don''t want to see your face again."


    Derek clenched his fist, his arm trembling involuntarily because of the force. "Tombstone?"


    Amelia smiled coldly, pushed the wheelchair, and gave Derek an address, which was a remote


    cemetery.


    Derek looked at the ce on the paper. He wanted to tear the damn thing apart. He had been waiting


    for so long. However, he didn''t expect to wait for such news...


    How could Meredith really die?


    "Why, didn''t you say you were going?"


    Amelia saw that Derek''s hand was trembling. He showed no sympathy and his tone was still cold.


    Derek gritted his teeth. "You''re lying to me. You don''t want me to find her. You''re lying on purpose,


    aren''t you?"


    "Don''t you know when you go?"


    Amelia didn''t say much. Derek clenched the steering wheel in his hand, mmed the elerator, and


    sped to the top of the road, heading for his destination.


    He didn''t believe it was true...


    But Amelia''s look made him nervous.


    For the first time in his life, Derek drove at this near-death speed to that location.


    As the cemetery caught his sight, Derek mmed on the brakes.


    A screeching brake sounded, and the car did not stop immediately. After slipping three or four or five


    meters, it finally stopped. Because of the intense friction, the wheels even emitted smoke.


    Derek did not stop. He pushed open the door and ran towards the depressing ce.


    It was a very ordinary cemetery, where no one came to worship on weekdays. So it was cold, silent,


    and looked bleak.


    The caretaker of the cemetery saw a luxury caring and greeted it with some trepidation. "May I


    ask..."


    "Is there a tombstone for Meredith here?" Derek grabbed the man by the cor and asked with gritted


    teeth.


    The guard was frightened by Derek''s eyes. He had an illusion that if he nodded, the man in front of him


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    would tear him apart.


    "Meredith... I... Remember there was..."


    However, he did not dare to lie. This person in front of him could not be offended at first sight.


    Derek heard an answer he didn''t want, and angrily threw the man on the ground. He rushed into the


    cemetery and looked around at the tombstones.


    It was a ck and white photo, looking cold. It made people feel depressed.


    Derek felt as if his heart had been sunk into an icy sea. As the tombstones were swept by him, he


    could hardly breathe.


    Finally, he saw a familiar face.


    It was a ck and white photo of Meredith.


    Derek looked at the photo and felt as if he had been struck by lightning, unable to move.


    Meredith in that photo was still smiling. It seemed that the photo was taken when she was still a


    student. Back then, She had not experienced the pain and suffering, and there was still some naivety in


    her eyes.


    That smile was as beautiful as a lily blooming quietly. Sadly, such a picture was printed on her


    tombstone.


    Derek was stunned and speechless. He didn''t even know where he was. He was wandering around.


    The guard was afraid of any ident and quickly carried Amelia over.


    Then he saw the cold man standing in front of the tombstone, expressionless and motionless as a


    statue.


    No one knew what he was thinking, and no one dared to disturb him.


    Derek thought about it a lot. He thought that the time he spent with Meredith wasn''t that long. The


    memories between the two of them weren''t that deep.


    But now he realized that he was wrong.


    It turned out that many things were deeply engraved not because of time, but because of the right


    person.


    Now, his mind was filled with the image of that woman. When she first saw him, she was scared to


    death every time like a frightened rabbit. And her eyes were red.


    She was bullied. But when she saw him, it was as if she saw a hero and caught the straw.


    When she was pregnant, she wanted to make him believe in her and recognize her child. There was


    hope and desire in her eyes.


    It was as if it had been repeated in front of him one by one.


    And... There were also many trivial things in life.


    The way she cooked for him, the way she carefully kissed the corner of his mouth in the morning...


    When did he start to care about that woman so much that he remembered every little detail of their life


    together?


    Time passed, and the sun went down.


    Amelia pushed the wheelchair over and said, "You saw that you killed Mer. If you still have a little


    conscience, just let her go and let her stay here quietly and peacefully..."


    "Why is she buried here?" Derek was interrupted. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like the


    desperate wild beast in his hand.


    Meredith was born in China. How could Amelia not understand the meaning of returning to her roots.


    Why did Amelia bury her here?


    "Do you think I can send her back to China? Since I can''t, that''s all I can do! Besides, it''s very peaceful


    here and there won''t be any shameless people bothering her."


    "Shameless people" referred to those in the Masons and those in the Xaviers.


    Derek was pointed at his nose and mocked. He wasn''t angry as couldn''t be provoked now.


    The shocking reality made him look like he had lost his soul.


    "Yes, you can go now. From today on, I don''t think we should meet again..."


    Amelia said something cruel, and then Derek suddenly reached out and tore the picture off the


    tombstone.


    "What are you doing?" Amelia was shocked. This man waspletely insane.


    "It''s so cold and it''s overseas here. She won''t like it. I''ll take her back..."


    Derek murmured, his eyes burning with a strange me.


    Yes, it was dark and lonely here. Meredith wouldn''t be happy here. He was going to take her back...


    "Are you crazy?"


    Amelia did not expect Derek to be so crazy. The man in front of her was obviously not joking. He


    walked directly around the two people, found the tools not far away, and started digging Meredith''s


    grave.


    "Sir, what are you doing? This won''t do!"


    Both of the people present were frightened by his crazy and unbelievable behavior and quickly tried to


    stop him. However, Derek, as if he could not hear anyone else''s words, moved his arms mechanically


    and dug down fiercely.

 Chapter 273

    Chapter 273


    Amelia was so angry that she almost fell off her wheelchair. Dug grave. What was Derek thinking?


    Did he try to make a "Deadman" turn in her grave?


    However, she couldn''t even stop this man in her current state, so she immediately took out her cell


    phone and called Damian.


    She didn''t want to contact anyone at the Xaviers, but she couldn''t just sit by and watch Derek mess


    around here.


    "What? Boss is..."


    Hearing Amelia''s words, Damian felt he was not himself. He knew that Derek was deeply affected by


    Meredith''s death, but he didn''t expect it to be so serious.


    Could Derek, who was as cold as ever, do such things?


    If such news went out, his reputation would be ruined.


    After all, this was a rather hical approach.


    "I''ll be right there!"


    As the situation admitted of no dy, Damian rushed over as soon as he knew where they were.


    By the time he found them, Derek was about to dig out the urn. Damian immediately stopped him,


    regardless of the fact that Derek was his boss.


    "Boss, stop... Stop disturbing her... You''ll make her restless..."


    Damian also choked at the thought of the woman whom he had been with all day and night had turned


    into a cluster of ashes and slept here alone. But in the end, he needed to stop Derek.


    The man''s face was grim and unmoved. "How can she be at peace here... I''ll take her back. Falling


    leaves settle on their roots. Don''t you understand?" he insisted.


    Damian''s forehead was dripping with sweat. Derek was too stubborn to listen to others. "Boss, it''s


    illegal to dig a grave without permission."


    "Meredith is my woman, the mother of my child. I want to take away her ashes. Is that illegal?"


    "But... Right now, your fianc¨¦e is... Miss Bet."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Fianc¨¦e..."


    Derek sneered. He had promised to get engaged to Chloe in the first ce for Meredith''s safety.


    Now that she was dead, why should he keep the invalid promise?


    "Chloe has nothing to do with me. I have to take Meredith back."


    With a pale face, Damian was bewildered about what else to do. Soon, Derek''s efforts paid off, and an


    urn was revealed in front of everyone.


    It was an exceptionally ordinary urn, but Derek bent over and carefully picked it up as if he had seen


    the most precious treasure in the world.


    He stroked the cold, smooth surface with affection in his eyes... She came back and was lying quietly in


    his arms.


    Everyone present was lost for words when they saw his expression.


    Amelia, in particr, almost fainted at the sight of this and came over in a wheelchair, crying. "Derek,


    can you stop pretending? What are you pretending to be? Where were you when she was suffering?


    Do you think you''re doing this to her? Put your things down!" she yelled.


    Amelia grabbed Derek''s arm and squeezed it out with all her might.


    She was on the verge of a breakdown because of the man''s insane behavior. Oh goodness. Did Derek


    want to keep Meredith in his sight after she died and be with him forever?


    "Damian, put her back."


    Derek didn''t seem to feel any pain. He held the urn in his arms contentedly for fear that anyone


    touched it.


    Damian was also helpless, pulling away Amelia, who was emotional. "I''m sorry, I can''t do anything


    about it. Let me send you back."


    Damian knew that no one could stop Derek from making his decision. The only thing he could do was


    to send Meredith''s mother back home and make sure nothing else happens.


    "That bastard, how could he..."


    Although she knew that the urn was not her daughter, Amelia was genuinely worried.


    A mad man like Derek might able to find Meredith one day. How could she protect her from being hurt


    again?


    Derek returned to the country overnight.


    Having achieved his goal, he had no reason to stay here any longer. He would never want to take


    another step in this country.


    Here, he lost the most important woman in his life.


    Instead of going back to the Xaviers, he went to the apartment that Meredith had rented. He just


    wanted to be alone now.


    The small apartment had been empty for a long time, and everything inside was covered in a thinyer


    of dust.


    Derek walked in without a trace of disgust. He carefully ced the things in his arms and theny on


    the sofa in a daze.


    Now, he didn''t want to think about anything, nor would he cry. He just felt that his heart was empty as if


    something was missing.


    "Meredith... You''re really dead... Don''t you hate me?"


    Derek curled up on the sofa. "Since you hate me so much,e to me in my dreams. You should


    Derek muttered, and then he gradually lost his consciousness. After days of spinning and turning, his


    body could not bear it. He almost fell into aa.


    Derek didn''t wake up until it was getting dark for some time.


    In the darkness, the man''s choking voice was filled with despair. "Are you not even willing to meet me


    in my dream?"


    When he got up, Derek held the box in his hand again. He never believed in anything groundless, but


    at this moment, he hoped that Meredith coulde to his dream.


    At the very least, let him know that she had existed in his own world, not in a dream, and woke up with


    nothing.


    Just as the man stubbornly held the urn, his cell phone rang.


    It was from Chloe.


    Now, more than half a month had passed since the two were engaged.


    Apart from the time he found Derek and was ignored, Chloe never even saw him again.


    Although Derek said he was going abroad to deal with things, Chloe didn''t think so.


    "Derek, I found out you''re back. You... Where are you?"


    Hearing the woman''s cautious voice, Derek sneered. "Where am I? What does it have to do with you?"


    "After all, we are engaged!"


    "Then quit it."


    There was a chill in Derek''s eyes. Since the chip that threatened him was gone, why did he keep a


    woman he didn''t love with him?


    "You... What are you talking about?"


    Chloe was shocked. They were engaged, and the whole world knew about their rtionship. How


    could he...


    "I''m serious. Chloe, We''ll annul the engagement. You''re not the woman I want to marry."

 Chapter 274

    Chapter 274


    "If it''s not me, then who else could it be? Could it be Meredith? She''s already..."


    Chloe was in a panic and blurted out all that Violet had said to her.


    Derek''s face grew colder and colder. "You know all about it?"


    So, everyone in the world knew what had happened to Meredith, but he was the only one who was kept


    in the dark?


    "I..."


    Chloe knew that well. These days, she had not been able to see Derek, it was impossible for her to be


    calm.


    She always felt that Derek had gone to find that woman.


    And to reassure her, Violet told her that Meredith was dead and gone.


    Chloe was relieved that a dead woman would not pose any threat to her. She believed that as long as


    she gave Derek some time, he would forget that woman sooner orter.


    But she didn''t expect him to get worse.


    Chloe felt a little creepy. She always felt that Derek had changed, and was somewhat different from


    before.


    "Derek, where are you? I''ll pick you up, okay? I''m really worried about you."


    Derek smiled coldly and said nothing, "If you''re here to tell me that you agree to cancel the


    engagement, thene here. Otherwise, I don''t want to see you."


    After that, the phone was disconnected.


    Chloe was tickled with anger. Now many people have doubted that they are not engaged because they


    seldom show up as a couple. In order to attract people''s attention, some gossip tabloids even


    fabricated rumors that they had broken up.


    If she could not persuade Derek to attend some major events with her, the rumors would snowball.


    She didn''t marry Derek to be a joke.


    The more Chloe thought about it, the more unhappy she became. She called Asher. "Asher, help me


    figure out where Derek is now? He''s back!"


    "What? He''s back, but still refuse to go home?"


    After Chloe got married, Asher also kept a quiet distance from her. He had feelings for her, but he could


    not have affairs with the fiancee of his best friend.


    But Chloe''s words provoked his heart restless again.


    Perhaps getting them engaged wasn''t a good choice, at least Chloe wasn''t happy.


    "Chloe, is Derek still seeing Meredith?"


    "Meredith is dead!" Chloe''s teeth itched at the thought of a dead woman causing such a big problem for


    herself.


    "What?"


    Asher waspletely stunned when he heard the news. Meredith was dead?


    Although he didn''t like Meredith, Asher still sighed for the loss of such a young life.


    "I don''t believe I can''t beat a dead woman. I don''t believe it. It''s impossible..."


    Chloe held the phone in her hand, her eyes filled with wild jealousy.


    Asher listened to her and was speechless.


    He always regarded Chloe as the kindest and most elegant girl in the world. In his eyes, she was like a


    princess, innocent and beautiful.


    But what she just said made him feel like he was copsing.


    Perhaps, before he knew it, the once-innocent woman had also changed.


    Asher''s emotions became a little moreplicated.


    "Asher, please help me... Now that everyone thinks I''m happy, I can''t... I can''t let people see my


    downfall. I would beughed at."


    "Chloe, were other people''s thoughts more important than a livelful life, more important than your


    happiness for the rest of your life?"


    "You don''t want to help me?"


    Chloe sensitively recognized Asher''s resistance, and she immediately squeezed out a few tears, with a


    crying voice, "Please, I chose this road myself. Now I have no room to turn back. If you don''t help me, I


    have no way to go."


    Asher sighed in his heart. Finally, hepromised. After sending her the address, he walked to the


    window and lit a cigarette.


    Perhaps, everyone has changed, and it was time for him to change, not to be the person like a shadow


    of Chloe who followed behind her, wanting to get some love from her...


    After Chloe got Derek''s address, she drove to it. When she saw the situation, her beautiful eyebrows


    furrowed tightly, and her expression became more disdainful.


    This was the apartment that Meredith had rented in the past. In order to save rent, the ce would not


    be much elegant. It was surrounded by ordinary, even some old houses. Chloe had never been in


    contact with this kind of thing since she was a child, so she naturally felt disgusted.


    How did Derek endure such a noisy environment?


    Chloe walked step by step, careful not to get her skirt dirty. Finally, she reached Derek''s position and


    knocked on the door.


    There was no sound inside. It was quiet.


    Chloe had an ominous feeling, but she continued to knock a few more times.


    Derek was in a daze. He had just heard a knock on the door and thought it was an illusion, but when he


    heard it again, he immediately came over.


    In his heart, some unrealistic thoughts were stirring, perhaps...


    Maybe Meredith was back...


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Knowing it was a fantasy, Derek could only believe it. When he opened the door and saw Chloe, his


    face changed from anticipation to indifference.


    "What are you doing here? Have you made up your mind, are you going to withdraw your


    engagement?"


    Of course, Chloe didn''te to cancel the marriage. No matter what happened today, she was going


    to take Derek home.


    She couldn''t let him mess around outside anymore.


    "Derek, let''s go home..."


    Home?


    Derek suddenly wanted tough. He used to think that the Xaviers was his home, but now he only felt


    that his family was so strange that they could give up even one life secretly. He just felt horrible.


    That was not his home...


    "Get out, don''t step in here."


    This was Meredith and his home, and no outsiders could step in and taint their memories.


    Chloe was pushed by Derek, staggered a few steps, and fell to the ground. Her hand mmed into the


    ground violently, and a burst of pain caused her tears to flow out.


    "Ouch!"


    Chloe''s face turned pale out of pain. She is a pianist. Her hands are as important as her life. How could


    Derek...


    Chloe raised his eyes and looked at Derek, who was indifferent and didn''t give her a damn, "Derek,


    don''t you think you''re going too far? No matter what happened, you can''t..."


    Chloe didn''t finish her sentence because her eyes fell on the urn nearby. It seemed like a cinerary


    casket.


    "What''s that?" Chloe asked.

 Chapter 275

    Chapter 275


    "What''s that?" Chloe asked.


    It couldn''t be the thing she was thinking about, right? How could he do that? Was he crazy? Chloe


    thought to herself.


    "It has nothing to do with you."


    Derek frowned and pushed Chloe out, but Chloe dodged and went into the room. A ck and white


    photo was standing there.


    "Derek, you''re insane..."


    Chloe stumbled and leaned against the desk to support herself.


    Living and sleeping with a cinerary casket? Nobody, at least normal people, would not do that.


    There must be something wrong with Derek. Otherwise, it would be herself who was deviant.


    Chloe shook her head in disbelief and sorrow. She smiled bitterly. She stepped back step by step, got


    tripped by a wine bottle and fell.


    "Ah!"


    Her world had copsed.


    "You want to divorce me because of a dead woman?"


    Chloe''s voice trembled.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "I told you that you were not qualified to be my wife. My wife was, is and will always be Meredith."


    Derek''s eyes were dark.


    The Masons had given Meredith love, so Meredith would not die as a Manson, but a Xavier, as his wife.


    She was the only wife he wanted. By then, even if he went to hell, he could find her...


    "You''re a lunatic..."


    Chloe shook her head. What was this for?


    She thought that everything was over since Meredith was dead. However, she found that in Derek''s


    heart, she could not even bepared to a dead person.


    The pain in her hand hit. It reminded Chloe if this continued, her hand would be irreversibly injured. If


    the injury couldn''t be healed, she would no longer be able to y the piano.


    "I''m leaving. You''re mad!"


    Chloe muttered as she struggled up.


    But Derek grabbed her hand. He exerted a lot of strength. It was as if he was going to crush her wrist.


    "I said. Sign the annulment agreement!"


    Derek was not interested in wasting time with Chloe anymore. Meredith had to be buried as soon as


    possible.


    "No..."


    Chloe struggled. Now, they were engaged for less than a month. If they annulled the engagement, her


    reputation would be ruined. She would bring shame to the Bets.


    She would be theughingstock of everyone.


    "Let me go. I''m going to the hospital. If I keep staying here, my hand..."


    "Your hand..." Derek looked at Chloe''s painful face, but he was unmoved. "You''re just suffering a little


    bit now. What about her? How much has she suffered? Do you know?"


    "What about her? What does it have to do with me? What does it have to do with me since it was the


    Xaviers who decided to let her quit?"


    Chloe said with a very guilty conscience. It was because that she knew what happened to Meredith.


    She knew all the things Mr. Xavier did in order to rest her assured. How could she not know.


    But, out of selfish motives, she didn''t tell anyone and didn''t want that woman to be saved.


    Knowing that Meredith was dead, she was a little scared, but she felt the happiness more.


    Finally, she was able to be Mrs. Xavier at ease since the tiger in the road was killed.


    How could Derek not see the escape and sparkle in her eyes?


    How could this woman be so vicious?


    "Today, either you agree to annul the marriage, or... you will let your hand not be healed."


    Derek mmed the door shut and locked it.


    He dragged Chloe into the middle of the living room and looked at her coldly.


    He would never let this woman take up the ce of Mrs. Xavier anymore.


    "No... Derek, have you forgotten our rtionship in the past?"


    Chloe had goosebumps all over her body as she was stared at by the man''s cold gaze. She realized


    that she suffered all of these because of her own since she took the initiative toe to Derek and


    give him the chance to torture her.


    Afraid of angering the man by saying the wrong thing, she could only y the emotional card.


    After all, they were childhood sweethearts, and he wouldn''t be so merciless...


    "Have you forgotten the time when I yed for you? You said that my music was the best in the world


    and you would listen to it for the rest of your life. Don''t you remember all of these?"


    Chloe begged. The arrogance and pride of a girl from a rich family had beenpletely disappeared.


    Derek did not take Chloe''s plea seriously. "There''s only one way you can get out of here. Don''t force


    me to say it again."


    Chloe''s lips trembled and her body kept trembling. "Derek..."


    "Don''t call me by my name, or I''ll shut you up forever."


    Derek frowned in disgust and said this to Chloe coldly.


    He felt disgusted when she called his name.


    He actually indulged this vicious woman for such a long time.


    Chloe''s face turned white and time passed by.


    The wounds on her hands were getting more and more painful, and Chloe''s lips had lost their color.


    She felt as if her hands were about to be crippled, but there was no mercy in Derek''s eyes.


    "I agree, I agree!"


    Chloe cried and nodded. Only then did Derek throw a contract in front of her. "Sign it."


    Chloe looked at the big words on it. She was unwilling to give up. She had been scheming for so long.


    She had spent so much time and energy, trying to please the Xaviers. How could she just give up like


    this?


    A resentful look fell on the urn on the table, and a vicious thought arose.


    Since that you still made me not at ease as you had already died.


    Then I didn''t need to have any extra sympathy for you!


    Chloe shook her hands and picked up the pen. Derek''s attention was drawn to the agreement.


    Suddenly, Chloe exerted a strong force and held Meredith''s urn in her hands. She raised the urn high


    up. "Let me get out of here. Otherwise, I''ll smash her urn and make her remain not at ease even if she


    had died!"

 Chapter 276

    Chapter 276


    Derek looked fiercely at the woman who was holding something up to threaten him.


    Chloe was also gambling. She didn''t want to lose what she finally got, but she didn''t want to destroy


    her hands here.


    So, she had to take a gamble.


    "Chloe, if you don''t want to piss me off, put it down immediately. Otherwise, I''ll make your life worse


    than death."


    Word by word, Derek gnashed his teeth and said fiercely.


    His eyes seemed to tear Chloe apart.


    "No, you let me go, and I''ll give this to you!"


    Chloe shook her head, and she moved step by step to the door. "Otherwise, Chief''s Showdown!"


    Derek held his breath. He had never felt this nervous before. He could not imagine what would happen


    to him if the only connection with Meredith had disappeared.


    He thought he would really go crazy.


    "Put the things down and get out..."


    Derek''s lips moved and his cold words came out.


    Chloe fumbled to open the door and rushed out like she was escaping a gue. She was so scared


    that she didn''t even look at the steps and fell down them.


    Everything happened so suddenly that Derek had no time to stop it, so he could only watch the woman


    fall down with the box in her arms.


    With a ''crush'', the contents scattered all over the floor. Chloe was frightened. She looked at the blood


    on her body, mixed with the things that scared her. She screamed and fainted.


    Derek rushed over and tried in vain to grab back what had spilled, but... It was like gripping a handful of


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    sand with his hand. No matter what, he couldn''t recover everything.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Hearing the loud noise outside, the neighbor came out and saw a woman lying on the ground with a lot


    of blood on the ground. He immediately called the police.


    Derek didn''t notice it.


    He just grabbed the thing tightly in his hand.


    It turned out that he was so ipetent that he couldn''t even protect the only thing Meredith had left in


    this world.


    "I''m sorry... I''m sorry..."


    Derek reloaded the things he could pack and carefully hugged it. He gently stroked the photo on it with


    his bloodstained hands.


    After a while, the police arrived at the scene.


    Soon, he recognized the two people who were involved in the ident.


    After all, the wedding of the century was a well-known event in J City, but now...


    Everyone was terrified as they watched the man holding the urn and not even looking at his fianc¨¦e


    lying on the ground.


    What... Happened?


    Chloe was quickly sent to the hospital.


    When she fell down the steps, the urn hit her face and hurt it. The wound was not shallow and might


    leave a scar.


    In addition, due to the impact on the head, there may be a blood clot in the brain, and what kind of


    seque it would bring was unknown.


    The injured hand, on the other hand, did not look so serious.


    "What the hell is going on?"


    With such a big thing happening, the Xaviers people would naturally not sit idly by.


    The first step was to shut down the witnesses and prevent the scandal from spreading. Otherwise, it


    would have a huge impact on the reputations of the Xaviers and The Bets.


    "How can you do such a thing? Do you know how badly it will affect your reputation?"


    It took a long time to get rid of all the gossip papers about Derek''s tendency to domestic violence.


    Violet was on the verge of breaking out in anger.


    She thought that no matter what her son did, he would not do such a shameless thing as hitting a


    woman.


    "I didn''t touch her. She fell down on her own."


    Derek said coldly, "Maybe this is karma."


    The man still held the box in his hand. After the shock just now, he was now reluctant to let it go, just


    holding it like this as if to make it a part of his body.


    "You mean... karma?"


    Violet couldn''t believe her ears. She looked at whatnded in Derek''s hands and an unknown fear rose


    in her heart.


    There was something wrong with Derek. He was so wired. She had never seen him like this.


    It was as if he was going to kill whoever took what was in his hand, paranoid and cold.


    Violet nced at the box again, then, after recognizing what it was, she widened her eyes. "Derek, you


    are..."


    "This is Meredith, my wife..."


    It was a dead woman''s urn!


    No, Meredith wasn''t dead...


    Violet felt as if she had been struck by a thunderbolt and could not move.


    She never thought that Derek would have such deep feelings for that woman.


    "What wife... You have nothing to do with her anymore. Your wife is still in the ward!"


    Violet clenched her teeth in order to restrain herself from losing herposure and trembling.


    "I have nothing to do with her. I won''t marry her."


    Derek said calmly, but it was this tone that made Violet''s hair stand on end.


    "You''re engaged, Derek. Stop messing around."


    "I''m not messing around. I''m serious."


    The man slowly raised his head and looked at his mother, whose eyes resembled those of his


    deceased husband. There was no joking in them.


    He was serious.


    Violet seemed to go back a long time ago when the man who was called her husband came to divorce


    her for another woman.


    It was the same expression.


    Violet was going crazy.


    How could this father and son be so alike in such matters?


    In the beginning, Derek''s father was the same. For a woman, amoner, he not only wanted to


    divorce Violet and give up the Family marriage but also gave up the right of inheritance to live a normal


    life.


    This madness terrified her to the extreme.

 Chapter 277

    Chapter 277


    "I didn''t expect this to happen."


    After Mr. Xavier dealing with the issue, he called Damian over and asked about everything in detail.


    "When did he find... That thing?"


    It was definitely not Meredith''s ashes in that thing, it should be just Parker''s cover tricks, but no one


    expected this to happen.


    "A few days ago."


    "Why didn''t you report this in time?" Mr. Xavier frowned.


    Now, it was alreadyte for him to tell Derek that Meredith was not dead.


    It would be better to keep this mistake.


    The heir to the Xaviers must not be defeated by such a small thing.


    "Where''s young master?"


    Thinking for a moment, Mr. Xavier sighed and asked about Easton.


    The housekeeper brought Easton over here, who was still asleep.


    Now he was much bigger than when he was born. He was as light and tender as a snowball. He knew


    nothing about what was happening. He looked as adorable as an angel when he fell asleep.


    "I''ll take Easton to him. I''ll take care of this."


    Mr. Xavier held Easton in his arms with mixed feelings.


    ...


    Mr. Xavier arrived at the hospital soon.


    Not long after, he found Derek.


    Violet was present too, but they didn''t talk. Violet was too shocked to know what to say.


    Derek didn''t want to talk at all.


    Right now, he didn''t want to say anything. He just wanted to be alone.


    Mr. Xavier''s eyes trembled when he saw the urn in Derek''s arms.


    Although he was mentally prepared, it was impossible not to be surprised when he saw his grandson,


    who had been inspired since he was a child, turn to this situation.


    "Derek."


    Mr. Xavier called him faintly, his voice frazzled.


    "It is time. Just let go. You can''t keep doing this, and... You have to let Meredith rest in peace. If you


    keep doing this, she won''t be peaceful."


    Derek didn''t say anything. Mr. Xavier came closer, and then Easton woke up.


    Since he felt he was not in a familiar environment, with the hospital''s pungent smell, Easton wrinkled


    his little nose and cried loudly.


    "This is you and that woman''s flesh and blood. Don''t you even care about him?"


    Mr. Xavier also felt sad when he saw that Derek did not touch at all.


    Derek listened numbly to the child''s crying. It was so noisy...


    He stood up and nced at the little boy with his little hand outstretched and his face flushed with


    tears. "I never thought of trading Meredith''s life for his birth. It was your wishful thinking all along."


    "But this is the only thing that Meredith left behind. If you don''t believe me, look at his face. It looks like


    her..."


    Derek''s footsteps paused. He looked at the tightly wrapped child. Indeed, his eyes and brows were


    almost exactly the same as Meredith''s. They were crystal clear and gave people a feeling of closeness.


    "Even if you don''t care about the Xaviers and hate us, do you even want to give up Meredith''s child?"


    Mr. Xavier said wearily.


    Derek didn''t say anything. Easton saw a tall man appear suddenly in front of him. Although he had


    never met him before, he had an inexplicable sense of closeness.


    For a moment, he stopped crying and making a scene. Instead, he blinked his big eyes and looked at


    Derek, reaching out his fat little hands to touch the man in front of him.


    "Look, this is the strength of blood. He stopped crying when he saw you."


    Mr. Xavier loosened his hands and motioned for Derek to hold Easton.


    Derek was stunned. He looked at the baby, who inherited Meredith''s face, and unconsciously took him


    into his arms.


    The warmth made him want to cry.


    This was... The child that Meredith gave birth to at the expense of her life...


    Mr. Xavier was relieved to see that Derek had finally put down the urn and no longer had the look of


    being eager to die.


    "Bury her... Someday..."


    Derek held the child tighter. "I want to bury her in the Xaviers''s cemetery, in the name of my wife."


    Violet, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, heard his words and walked over. "What nonsense are


    you talking about... How could she..."


    He answered her with silence.


    Sometimes silence was more determined than words.


    "Okay, I promise you."


    Mr. Xavier gritted his teeth. "Inform the Bets that the engagement between our two families will be


    canceled."


    Everyone present was shocked.


    The engagement between the Xaviers and the Bets''s was a big deal, and everyone knew it, and


    they just cancelled that easily?


    "Dad!"


    "That''s it. I was wrong."


    He was wrong about underestimating Derek''s feelings for Meredith?


    He thought that if he continued to argue and drove Derek crazy, he would regret it.


    So, that was it.


    "This is for the good of the Bets, in case something like this happens again..."


    Thinking of Chloe, who was still undergoing treatment, Mr. Xavier sighed. "Make it up to her in other


    ways."


    Seeing that the Old Master had made up his mind, Violet said nothing more.


    ...


    News of the cancetion of the Xaviers and the Bets''s engagement soon spread.


    Although nobody knew what happened, under the Xaviers''s forceful methods, no tabloids dared to


    write in any incredible ways.


    Everything was surprisingly calm.


    It was just that someone asionally mentioned it, but it was just a word after a meal.


    On his own idea, Derek buried Meredith''s urn in the Xaviers cemetery.


    It was a good day, and Derek carried Easton to her grave.


    The stolen photo, with a calm and beautiful smile, was carefully embedded on the tombstone.


    "Meredith, our child, I will take care of him... What I owe you may only be repaid in the next life. Wait for


    me."


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Derek stood in front of the tombstone. Not long after, Damian pushed Amelia over.


    "Meredith will be buried here. You can visit her anytime."


    Amelia refused toe at the beginning, but in order not to arouse Derek''s suspicion, she had to


    She only thought that this man might have gone crazy.


    She could not understand what he was thinking, but at the thought of meeting her grandson, whom she


    had never met before, she decided toe.


    If she could take a picture and let Meredith take a look, Meredith might be happy.


    Amelia walked to the tombstone and felt ufortable when she saw her daughter''s photo pasted on


    it.


    It was like her daughter was cursed, but she held back her unhappiness.


    Immediately, a line read below - "Wife of Derek."


    "What does that mean?"


    Amelia''s face was full of disbelief, thinking of the end of the marriage between the Xaviers and the


    Bets. Did he do this to make Meredith rest in the name of his wife?

 Chapter 278

    Chapter 278


    Amelia was shocked. She didn''t understand why Derek did this.


    "Derek, what''s the point of doing this?"


    Derek did not say anything. He ced the flowers in front of the tombstone with his expression


    unpredictable.


    Amelia turned very angry suddenly. "She''s gone. When she''s alive, why don''t you treat her well?


    Instead, you hurt her and make her sad. Now she''s dead, you''re suddenly in love. Such a good actor


    you are!"


    "So that''s what you think..."


    Derekughed when heard Amelia''s question.


    She was right.


    Totally.


    If he had not hesitated; if he had sent a few more people to protect her; if he had found the uninhabited


    ind where Meredith was, she would not have died now.


    He deserved the result. It was all his own fault.


    "So I can only ept the reality. If she hates me,e to me and let me pay."


    The man''s words drifted in the wind, making people feel a little cold.


    Amelia''s lips moved. She felt that Derek was different from what she had imagined.


    But she wouldn''t risk Meredith.


    "Let me see... The child."


    Amelia said and took Easton from Derek''s arms.


    Although he was not one month old yet, under the care of the Xaviers, he had grown up in good


    condition, and he was such a good boy. He was held by a person he had never met before, and he did


    not cry or make a scene. Instead, he stared at her with wide eyes with curiosity.


    This was her grandson...


    Amelia suddenly wanted to cry. She knew how much Meredith had done to give birth to this child. Now


    that she was holding him in her arms, she had the urge to take him away.


    She knew Meredith had some symptoms of postpartum depression because she could not be with the


    child. If she could bring the child over...


    "Derek, can you let me take the child back..."


    "No."


    Derek refused decisively.


    Now, Easton was the only link that could connect him and Meredith. Without the child, he would go


    crazy.


    Amelia was not surprised by the rejection. She made a decision in her heart, "Then I cane and see


    him more in the future? Or, you can send him to be with me for a while and then pick him up."


    "It depends."


    Derek couldn''t let anything happen to the child, so he didn''t say yes. "But if you want to pay a visit,


    anytime."


    Amelia sighed inwardly, her heart in a mess.


    She thought she could take this opportunity to bring the child to Meredith. If possible, it would be worth


    risking her life.


    However, Derek''s vignce prevented her from doing this.


    The two of them stood there for a long time with different ideas in their minds. Finally, Derek put out the


    cigarette in his hand. "It''s gettingte. I have to take him back."


    Amelia nodded reluctantly.


    After being sent home, Amelia called Meredith.


    Meredith was now in bed, and although she had been receiving psychological counseling, it still could


    not make up for the pain of a mother losing her child.


    She was much slimmer than before and looked very haggard.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Mom, how''s it going? That man... Didn''t make things difficult for you, did he?"


    Meredith said faintly. As for Derek, she... Didn''t even want to mention his name.


    It would be better to never remember this man.


    "I''m fine. No matter what, he won''t do anything to an old woman like me."


    Amelia hesitated for a moment. "I saw the baby today."


    Meredith''s hand clenched her phone, breathing heavily, and her pupils narrowed. "What did you say?


    My baby?"


    "Is he okay? Does the Xaviers treat him okay?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but shedding tears. From the day the baby was born, she never stopped thinking


    about him.


    However, she never had the chance to meet the baby, nor could she give him a hug and warmth.


    She was even a little flustered when she heard about him all of a sudden.


    "He''s fine. The Xaviers takes good care of him. His name is Easton."


    Easton...


    Meredith murmured that name softly. It was a beautiful name. In Chinese culture, his name Easton


    means safe and stable. If only this child could live such a good life in the future.


    No need for him to achieve something; no need for him to inherit the huge fortune of the Xaviers, as


    long as he was safe and sound...


    "He''s fine. Then that''s good... Very good..."


    Meredith could not help but read it. The excitement of the moment made her cough suddenly, and once


    she started coughing, it was difficult to stop.


    Now she was so fragile to this point.


    "Meredith, what''s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"


    Amelia''s heart ached at her painful voice.


    Meredith wanted to reply, but the oppression in her chest was so strong that at the same time, a wave


    of dizziness came...


    With a bang, the phone fell to the ground.


    "Mer!"

 Chapter 279

    Chapter 279


    "Mer? What''s wrong with you?"


    "Mer, how are you? Don''t scare mom. Talk to me."


    Amelia was choked with sobs. Hearing the dead silence on the phone, she was so anxious but could


    do nothing. There was no sound except for the sound of the phone falling just now. She could only call


    out Meredith''s name weakly...


    What happened to her daughter?


    Hearing the noise in the room, Parker immediately walked in.


    As soon as he entered the room, his eyes widened.


    Meredith fell there. It seemed that she still had some consciousness and wanted to pick up the phone


    that had fallen to the ground. However, she had no strength and could only fall back into bed.


    Parker immediately rushed to Meredith''s side and held her hand. The cold temperature made him


    panic.


    "Meredith, don''t worry. I''ll call the doctor in right away," Parker said sadly.


    "The phone..."


    Meredith spoke with difficulty. Just then, hearing about her child, she suddenly felt a wave of pain from


    inside out.


    Hearing her mother''s anxious voice, she was just unable to respond.


    Parker immediately picked up the phone.


    Hearing Amelia''s cries and shoutsing from inside, he felt depressed.


    "Auntie, I''m here. It''s okay..."


    "Parker, you must take good care of Mer, please." Amelia said weakly.


    "Don''t worry. I will look after her well."


    Parker immediately agreed. In a short while, the doctor ran in with various instruments.


    Parker stepped aside and watched the men beginning to give first aid to Meredith.


    Looking at Meredith, he was so heartbroken that he almost couldn''t breathe. He even hoped that he


    was the one who was hurting now, not her.


    She could no longer bear the pain.


    "Baby, I want to see my baby..."


    Meredith was like a child who had lost her favorite toy. Almost unconscious, she still kept repeating this


    sentence, with her lips parting gently.


    There was some pain in her body, but she didn''t seem to notice it. She kept repeating and struggling, "I


    want my child, I want my child..."


    Her child, she didn''t want him to grow up alone.


    For her, the child was just a haunting solicitude in the past. However, today she heard his name and his


    news, and she even saw his face.


    She could no longer suppress her desire for a reunion with her child.


    She missed her child so much. She wanted to see him grow up, from a baby to an adult.


    Seeing that Meredith was getting more and more agitated, Parker could only walk over andfort


    her, "Don''t be agitated. You''re not in good health. As long as you take good care of yourself, I will... I


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    will try my best to bring your child to you..."


    Meredith wasforted by him and gradually fell asleep under the sedative. Parker looked at her


    sadly.


    Was this a mother''s obsession with her child?


    These days, he had done almost nothing except staying with Meredith, hoping to help her out of her


    current anguish.


    But now... Her situation was still overwhelmingly discouraging.


    Did he still have no way to achieve that?


    Perhaps he could only use the most extreme means to make Meredithpletely forget the pain.


    After Meredith fell asleep, Parker walked out with a poker face, "Have you found the person I''m looking


    for?"


    The assistant paused and then said, "I found the person, but..."


    Was it necessary to hypnotize Meredith to obliterate her memory?


    In this way, no one knew what the result would be.


    Perhaps she would forget everything and live happily ever after.


    Perhaps, she would be a fool.


    "I''ve decided."


    Parker''s eyes shed with a hint of intolerance. If there was any other alternative, he didn''t want to use


    this kind of method. However, it seemed that there was no other way now...


    "Get ready for that."


    Parker said. Then he took out a cigarette and lit it.


    The smoke slowly rose, blurring his expression.


    Not long after, the hypnotist Dennis was called over.


    He was a man in a suit that didn''t fit him. His beautiful blonde hair was now dirty and smeared with all


    kinds of stains. He looked more like a homeless man rather than such an outstanding hypnotist.


    Parker did not dislike his sloppiness. After Parker told him the whole story, Dennis nodded.


    "But, I have to tell you in advance. This is definitely a big risk. Are you really... Going to take this step?"


    "There''s no way..."


    Parker shook his head. Dennis didn''t ask any more questions. He walked in and looked at Meredith. To


    be honest, he couldn''t understand why Parker was so concerned for this skinny woman, who had been


    obviously sick for a long time.


    But maybe this was the so-called love...

 Chapter 280

    Chapter 280


    When everyone had left, the hypnotist looked at Meredith and frowned.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "She''s too obsessed. If she is forced to be erased her memory, I''m afraid it might cause a strong


    negative reaction."


    "Then... What should we do?"


    Parker didn''t expect it to be soplicated and snuffed out the cigarette in his hand.


    If the hypnosis encountered a strong negative reaction, the chance of failure would increase


    dramatically.


    What if something happened... He wouldn''t forgive himself even if he died.


    "What is she obsessed with now?"


    Parker frowned. What could it be... The first thought popped into his mind was her child, but there was


    a deeper guess that he didn''t even want to say.


    Had Meredith... really let go of Derek now?


    There was no love or hatred for no reason in this world. As to whether her hatred had deepened


    because of the damage caused by Derek or of her love for him, Parker found it hard to tell.


    But it was true that he wanted to erase Derek from Meredith''s mind thoroughly.


    "If we could think of a way to have her drop her guard for a while, she would be more likely to be


    hypnotized."


    Dennis said, waiting quietly for Parker''s answer.


    "I see. Please get ready first. I''ll take care of everything else."


    Dennis nodded, but couldn''t help asking, "But, once her memory is erased, would she still be that


    person you like? Have you ever thought about it?"


    As he spoke, a glimmer of gloominess shed in the man''s blue eyes.


    Back then, it was just because he had wanted to get some woman he loved that he had learned this


    kind of crazy hypnosis. After he had hypnotized that woman, indeed, she had fallen in love with him just


    like the way he had built her.


    However, this kind of love was obtained through deception and maniption. Even if he had owned it, it


    hadn''t felt real. In this kind of panic, Dennis had gradually lost the ability to see deeply into his own


    heart.


    In the end, he had chosen to leave that woman, but the woman who had been imnted his ideas into


    could not ept the fact, and she had died in a car ident while looking for him.


    From then on, Dennis had changed his name and wandered around. He had not dared to live a normal


    life without worries. Guilt had made him lose his breath.


    Dennis hade across Parker in an unexpected way. He had had an ident on his wanderings. He


    had thought that his miserable life was about to end, but he had been saved.


    The one who had saved him was exactly Parker, who had still been a punk fighting with his own hands.


    However, seeing Parker struggling in pain, Dennis hade up with the idea of helping and repaying


    him, and that was how Dennis had been following him until now.


    However, it didn''t ur to Dennis that the man who had used to be cold to everything should fall in


    love with such a woman, a woman who looked very ordinary.


    "Actually... I owe her, and I have to pay back..."


    Parker sighed and told Dennis everything about Meredith. Dennis was a subordinate he trusted, so he


    had nothing to hide.


    "I don''t want her to fall in love with me because of hypnosis, or anything, but... I don''t want her to be


    here suffering for someone who''s not worth it. I hope she will be happier in the future."


    "This is kind of the amends that I make to her."


    Parker said tly. Dennis looked down and understood what he was thinking.


    "In that case, perhaps you could let her see her child and then, we could hypnotize her when she feels


    most satisfied. It''s quite possible that she could be hypnotized at that time."


    "Is that so?"


    Parker nodded. "I see. I''ll do my best."


    It was hard for Meredith to see her child, but for her future, Parker decided to give it a try.


    Something popped into his mind and Parker called Amelia.


    "How''s Mer?"


    Anxious, Amelia answered the phone and asked about Meredith immediately.


    "She''s okay. She''s asleep now, but..."


    Parker''s hesitation was about to drive Amelia crazy. She even began to regret and hate herself for


    having sent Easton''s photo to Meredith.


    If Meredith hadn''t seen it, it would have probably been fine. However, once she saw it, how could she


    suppress the urge to be with her own child?


    How stupid she was.


    "You''ve seen that child today, haven''t you?"


    "Yes. I shouldn''t have shown her the photo... I have been negligent..."


    "No, I know what you''re thinking. You did it because you wanted her to be happy... It''s not your fault. It''s


    the Xaviers''s fault. They have separated the mother and the son, and it has led to this dilemma."


    Hearing this, Amelia felt more relieved.


    "I have an idea..."


    Parker said inly. If he wanted Meredith to live happily, he had to free her from the fetters of her child.


    He could not go off with the child from the Xaviers for the time being, so, in order to achieve that goal,


    he had to let Meredith see that child.


    "You mean..." Amelia''s eyes widened. Parker''s idea was bold but feasible.


    If Meredith could see her child, even just a few times a month, perhaps she would be much better.


    "I see. I''ll tell you when I visit the baby next time."


    Amelia agreed to this, and a hint of determination shed in her eyes.


    Parker hung up the phone. He hadn''t told Amelia about the hypnosis. If Amelia knew about it, she


    might object to it. Then the situation would be hard to deal with.


    So, this was all he could do now. He would make an excuse to stall her off then.


    ...


    Parker was in the room, waiting for Meredith to wake up.


    He looked at the woman lying on the bed. She was so pale, just like a piece of white paper, floating


    down on the bed, making people feel that she would disappear at any moment.


    No, he wouldn''t let her disappear.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Parker stared at her. He had owed her too much and he had to pay back. Before that, he would not let


    anything happen to her.


    Meredith had slept for a long time, and the sedative had be less effective. She opened her eyes.


    Then she saw Parker sitting at the bedside.


    "What time is it now? Have I slept for a long time..."


    Meredith was still in a daze. She felt like she had had a dream. In the dream, she had seen her child,


    as well as the father of the child.


    However, when she had wanted to grab the child''s clothes, she had failed.


    "You''ve slept for about seven or eight hours." Parker could see the worry in her eyes and felt


    heartbroken. "I know what you''re thinking. During this period of time, you must get well. I can''t take you


    to see your child until you get better..."

 Chapter 281

    Chapter 281


    Perhaps, she was moved by Parker''s serious expression.


    Meredith nodded seriously.


    Parker wouldn''t lie to her. So, did she really have a chance to see her child?


    Thinking about it, Meredith sat up and said, "I know... I won''t copse."


    ...


    Perhaps because her life had been full of darkness and confusion for a long time, Meredith became


    more optimistic when there was a little more hope in her life. After some time, Meredith recovered a lot


    and was gradually able to go out for a walk.


    After Parker and Amelia set the time, they took Meredith back to J City.


    The moment they got off the ne, Meredith felt as if she had left here for a vert long time.


    These days, she was abroad. Although the scenery there was beautiful, it was not her hometown after


    all.


    Now, back in the ce where she grew up, she only felt familiar and happy.


    "If it''s appropriate, we can go out for a tour."


    Parker reached out and pressed the brim of Meredith''s hat.


    In order not to be recognized and cause trouble, Meredith disguised herself this time. She was wearing


    a big hat, covering half of her face. The sunsses and mask covered the other parts of her face.


    Fortunately, it was alreadyte autumn in J City. When others saw her like this, they looked at her a few


    more times and didn''t feel strange.


    "The child will be brought here tomorrow, right?"


    Meredith nodded and dodged Parker''s hand.


    The man''s hand was very gentle, tinged with intimacy, but Meredith subconsciously wanted to avoid.


    Noticing this, Parker sighed in his heart but did not show his disappointment.


    It seemed that her previous failed rtionship caused her to be vignt towards others.


    "That''s right. When the timees, you have to dress up so that no one can recognize you. Then,


    cherish every minute you have with the child. Auntie will try her best to hold back those people."


    Meredith nodded. Her hands trembled when she thought of seeing her baby.


    Now, the baby should be three months old...


    She wondered what he looked like now. Would he... look like her?


    A sweet yet sad feeling welled up in Meredith''s heart when she thought of this.


    ...


    The next day, Meredith got up early.


    Afraid of being found out, she stayed in the hotel instead of the Masons'' vi.


    Besides, she specially prepared a lot of cosmetics, ckened her face, made a few freckles, and then


    put on thick bangs. She then wore a pair of thick sses and oversized clothes.


    She now looked like a very ordinary middle-aged woman who would not be noticed in a crowd.


    Parker knocked on the door and Meredith walked out. Seeing her outfit, he couldn''t help butugh.


    "This is too much..."


    Meredith looked at herself. "I think it''s OK. Just to be safe. I don''t want any trouble."


    After saying that, she pulled her clothes and some strange thoughts came to her mind.


    She dressed up like this as if Derek would definitelye to her. But that man didn''t care about her at


    all, but she still dressed like this...


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Maybe she was thinking too much.


    Thinking about it, Meredith smiled bitterly at herself and followed Parker into the car.


    Today, she will pretend to be Amelia''s nanny, and then Amelia would find an excuse to talk to Derek, so


    that she could spend some time alone with the child.


    As the car got closer to the Masons, Meredith''s hands tightened, cold sweat came out, and her heart


    was beating fast.


    Only then did she notice that Derek''s car was parked outside, and it was still that cool limited edition


    luxury car. It looked very conspicuous and could not be ignored.


    Meredith''s mind suddenly shed with memories. She used to ride in this car, and many things


    happened on this car between her and the owner of the car. But in the end, everything vanished.


    She had nothing to do with him anymore.


    "I''ll wait for you outside. If you need anything, call me. I''ll be right there."


    Because they were doing it behind Xavier''s back, Parker could not follow in. If Derek saw him, he


    would be suspicious.


    Meredith nodded. "Don''t worry. It''s okay. I won''t be recognized since I am dressed like this."


    After that, she took a few deep breaths, suppressed the tension and agitation she was feeling, opened


    the door, and entered the vi through the back door.


    the Masons was now in the charge of Amelia, so and all the traces left by Wesley and ra were


    erased, and only the things that Meredith was familiar with were left.


    Because Amelia hadn''t given her the signal yet, she didn''t dare toe in. She went into the room that


    once belonged to her.


    As soon as she opened the door, she felt the room so familiar.


    Meredith''s room was exactly what it was like of her teenage years ording to Amelia''s memory.


    There was a piano in it. There was pink bedding on the big bed and a curtain for a princess that she


    used to like. Seeing them, she seemed to go back to many years ago.


    At that time, she had been the darling of her parents, the little princess, and could get whatever she


    wanted, but now...


    Meredith looked at those things. Although she missed them, she no longer wanted them. She... had


    changed, and no longer liked the things that should be for young girls.


    Just as Meredith looked at the room in a daze, there was a sound of footsteps outside.


    Derek hade out for a cigarette. Ever since Meredith died, he had the habit of smoking.


    As soon as he came out, he saw the door of Meredith''s room open.


    No one was allowed to enter the room.


    Meredith''s room was restored by himself. He bought everything himself. Even the piano was bought


    when the Masons went bankrupt and its belongings got auctioned.


    Everything in the room had traces of Meredith, so no one could enter except him.


    The servants of the Masons knew the rules and wouldn''t go in and clean up. But someone dared to go


    in today?


    Derek walked over in a few steps and saw a suspicious woman trying to escape.


    He immediately stood in front of her. "Who are you? Why are you here?"


    The familiar voice stopped Meredith in her tracks. She thought she hadpletely forgotten this man,


    but the moment she saw him, she realized that she was deceiving herself.

 Chapter 282

    Chapter 282


    It was asplicated as knocking over a seasoning can.


    Looking at Derek''s still handsome, sculpted face, she was flustered for a few seconds, and even had a


    feeling that everything she saw at this moment was an illusion.


    Meredith stunned for a moment, subconsciously wanted to run away from Derek.


    However, it was unfortunate that she tripped.


    "Ah..." Meredith shook her body and let out an exmation. Then, she quickly covered her mouth.


    Too presumptuous. Her voice...


    Derek couldn''t hear it clearly, right?


    Feeling the body''s center of gravity fell backward, Meredith felt that she was really stupid that she


    would fall down in front of Derek like this. When she was about to ept this embarrassing thing, the


    man in front of her suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed her.


    Clothes.


    After doing this, Derek himself felt incredible.


    He was a neat freak, and the person in front of him looked in and ordinary, with thick sses and


    freckles all over his ordinary face. She would never be the person he could be interested in.


    But...


    A familiar feeling made him do it without knowing the reason.


    Meredith was stunned for a moment. She didn''t know why did Derek help her, but her heart was still


    uneasy. After she was able to stand still, Meredith took a few quick breaths before calming down.


    "Thank you." Meredith was embarrassed and agitated and wanted to disappear right away.


    However, she still thanked him in a low voice. If she just ran away without looking back, it would only


    arouse suspicion.


    Derek stared at her. Her voice was hoarse, with a hint of vicissitudes. It had no resemnce to


    Meredith''s soft and cool voice.


    Then why did he have the illusion that he heard Meredith''s voice?


    "Who are you? Didn''t anyone tell you that this room can''t be entered at will?"


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Derek let go of his hand and spat out harsh words coldly.


    "Well, I''m the new nanny. I don''t know the rules..." Meredith was a little surprised, but she apologized in


    a humble manner.


    This room should have be a forbidden ce in the house?


    Why did Derek look so concerned?


    What was he up to? Did he think that she, the previous master of the room had dead was unlucky, so


    he was afraid that someone would disturb the dead and bring disaster to him?


    Just as Meredith''s mind was in a mess, Amelia walked out because she found that Derek hadn''te


    back for a long time and heard the noise outside.


    Then, she saw the two of them in a confrontation.


    Her heart almost stopped in fear.


    Was it exposed?


    "What''s wrong?"


    "It''s okay. I identally walked into mistress''s room. I''m sorry."


    Meredith immediately put away her divergent thoughts and apologized in a low voice.


    It seemed that nothing had been exposed.


    Amelia breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Derek. "Come here. I have something to say."


    Then, she handed the child to Meredith. "You take young master to bed firs


    t."


    Meredith became nervous. Looking at the child in Amelia''s arms, her breathing slowed down.


    This was her child...


    Easton seemed to be tired, so he was sleeping soundly. His small face looked much better than when


    he was born. It should be said that he had grown up. A few hairs had grown out, and he looked like a


    little doll, which was very cute.


    Meredith could hardly move her feet. She looked at the child in a daze and almost burst into tears.


    Derek looked at this scene and he felt something was wrong.


    This woman, no matter how much she liked children, shouldn''t be behaved like this?


    It was as if she had seen her own child. Something was wrong with her.


    "No, I don''t believe this person."


    Derek interrupted theirmunication.


    Easton now was the most precious person of the Xaviers, how could he give it to someone he didn''t


    believe?


    No, absolutely not.


    "..."


    Meredith looked up and saw the vignce in Derek''s eyes. She gritted her teeth and said, "But, your


    conversation will disturb young master''s sleep. I''ll be in the Masons and I can''t run away. Let me watch


    him!"


    Meredith was reluctant to give up on the chance to get along with the child that she had finally gotten.


    "..."


    Derek was silent for a moment. "You hold the child and stay where I can see it. Otherwise, I''ll do it


    myself..."


    Derek said this on purpose. This person was really suspicious. Although there was no evidence and


    her face and voice were unfamiliar, Derek still felt that she was very familiar. That familiar feeling made


    him suspicious.


    Although he rationally understood the fact that Meredith was no longer there and was buried by


    himself, in the end, he was still unwilling to admit it was the reality.


    Seeing that Derek was decisive, Meredith had no choice but to agree.


    Holding the child, she followed them to where they could see her. She hid in the corner. Easton was still


    sleeping and didn''t cry.


    Meredith hugged him like this. Although the baby was only a few months old, it was already a little


    heavy. It was not an easy job for Meredith, who had been sick all this time, to carry him around.


    But she couldn''t bear to let go. She wanted to hold her child forever and never leave.


    Amelia nced at Meredith''s position a few times and then looked at thending of Derek.


    Seeing that he didn''t seem to have any strange reaction, she was slightly relieved, opened a contract,


    and handed it over.


    Now, she had taken over the Masonspletely. But Amelia insisted on not epting any help from


    the Xaviers. She did not want the Xaviers to meddle in her family affairs, nor did she want to owe the


    Xaviers a favor.


    After all, this kind of debt was hard to repay.


    However, in order to buy time for Meredith and the children, Amelia specially prepared this contract for


    Derek to see.


    Derek looked at the contract, but he was a little absent-minded. From time to time, his mind drifted to


    the quiet woman in the corner of the room.


    She was now carrying Easton and walking gently, her ordinary face filled with indulgence, which made


    her ordinary face more touching and gentle.


    But...


    Derek looked at her hand gestures to hold the child. Her posture was not very skillful. Although she


    was careful, he could tell at a nce that this was the first time she had done such a thing.


    Why would someone like that be called by Amelia to take care of the baby?


    "When did this nannye? Last time, I haven''t seen her."


    Derek looked at the contract casually and pretended to ask casually.


    Amelia was not surprised at all. She answered with a well-prepared reason, "She''s also a poor person.


    I saw that she had nowhere to go, so I took her in. I saw that she liked children, so I asked her to do


    some childcare work."

 Chapter 283

    Chapter 283


    "Oh, really?"


    Derek''s tone was intriguing.


    Meredith was frozen for a moment but immediately she calmed herself down.


    Now that she was dressed like this, how could Derek recognize her? It must be her illusion, but...


    This man was always dangerous so she needed to be careful.


    Just like that, Meredith was lulling the baby to sleep in the corner. Her body was stiff, not hearing any of


    their conversations.


    After a while, Easton woke up.


    First, he blinked his big eyes, then he looked at the stranger in front of him.


    Derek stood up as soon as he sensed it.


    Easton was usually not a crybaby, but he was in a bad mood when he got up. If he woke up and saw a


    stranger, he would definitely cry and make a scene. Thus, he immediately ned to bring the child over


    to cheer him up personally.


    However, to his surprise, Easton, who had always been difficult to deal with after waking up, did not cry.


    Instead, he looked at the woman with sses curiously and even smiled.


    Meredith looked at the cute baby in front of him, and her heart was melting.


    Was this the so-called mother-son connection?


    Even if they had only seen each other once and never got along, the connection between the blood


    vessels could not be severed.


    Derek frowned, thinking that it was obviously not a normal phenomenon.


    Could this woman have some magical power?


    Last time, even Violet was rejected when she tried to hold Easton, who had just woken up, but now he


    smiled at a stranger...


    The more he thought about it, the more doubtful he was. Derek walked over and tried to take Easton


    from Meredith''s arms. "Have you ever taken care of a child before? It seems that he likes you very


    much."


    Meredith blinked, her hands tightening involuntarily as she didn''t want to return the child to him.


    This feeling was amazing as if the pain disappeared in an instant during childbirth.


    To be able to see his happy smile was more satisfying than anything else.


    "Ah?"


    Derek directly took Easton away from Meredith''s arms with force. She was a little disappointed. It was


    not until then she remembered what he seemed to have asked...


    "Maybe young master and I are on good terms."


    Despite mixed feelings, Meredith made up a random reason to avoid being recongnized.


    Derek took a few looks at her and said nothing.


    But Easton, who was held by Derek, was unhappy. He felt very warm and safe when he was in


    Meredith''s arms. Suddenly he was upset.


    As a baby, he immediately took advantage of his privileges and cried loudly.


    Derek was dumbfounded. Usually, Easton was very dependent on his father, especially when he was in


    a bad mood. Derek was the only one who could cheer him up.


    Now he was crying and making a scene because he was taken from a stranger''s arms?


    But how could the little boy understand this? He just wanted to go back to the ce that made him feel


    warm andfortable...


    Thus, he could only cry at the top of his voice. Looking at the tears on the baby''s face and the red face


    from crying loudly, Meredith was distressed and immediately reached out to take the baby.


    "Why don''t you leave him to me."


    Derek''s hands tightened and his eyes were fixed on her.


    However, Derek, who was afraid that Easton would cry himself hoarse, had topromise and handed


    him to her.


    Meredith immediately took the child back carefully and gently patted his body as she smoothed him


    down. "Don''t cry, good boy. Don''t cry..."


    Trying no to be recognized by Derek, Meredith deliberately lowered her voice. Her hoarse voice was


    not so soft and pleasant.


    It worked on Easton, who stopped crying, but he was still sobbing, and he looked a little pitiful.


    Meredith''s maternal love was aroused and she carefully wiped the tears and snot from his face with a


    tissue.


    It was indeed that she gave birth to him with difficulty..


    This kind of blood connection was unable to be severed...


    Easton was very obedient and allowed Meredith to wipe his face. After wiping his face clean, Meredith


    smiled, "young master''s crying is really earth-shattering."


    Of course, Easton didn''t understand what she was saying, but the familiar feeling made him very


    happy. Looking at the woman in front of him with a smile, he alsoughed out loud.


    At the same time, he reached out his chubby little hand, grabbed the sses on Meredith''s face, and


    pulled them down.


    He thought it was a little eyesore, so he wanted to take it off.


    Meredith was startled by his actions. Although she might not be able to be recognized as she was


    wearing makeup now, she would feel very insecure if she lost the sses that could cover most of her


    face.


    "I can''t give you this. Can I give you some other toys to y with?"


    Meredith hurriedly held her sses, but Easton, who was stubborn, insisted on pulling her sses off.


    Seeing this, Derek said, "Just give it to him. If they breaks, I''ll pay you back."


    Seeing how persistent Easton was, Derek spoke slowly.


    As long as his son was not asking too much, Derek would definitely satisfy him.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Besides, they were just a pair of sses, he could give her a more expensive one if they were broken.


    "Well... No, if I take it down, I can''t see anything clearly."


    Meredith quickly took a small toy that she had specially bought for Easton and put it into his hands.


    "Is that so?"


    Derek narrowed his eyes and looked at therge frame on the woman''s face. This pair of sses


    looked very old and did not look like the style that people of her age would choose.


    A strange sense of feeling made him feel inexplicable.


    "Well... Is it that you can''t see clearly when you take it down, or that you don''t want people to see you


    clearly?"


    Derek said in a low voice, making Meredith break out in a cold sweat.


    Did he notice something?


    It was impossible. How could he recognize her now...


    "It''s almost time for feeding..."


    Amelia, on the other hand, noticed something was wrong and came over to smooth things over.


    Easton ate several meals a day these days, and it was almost time to feed him.


    "I''ll get ready right away."


    Meredith was relieved from Derek''s oppressive gaze and returned the child to Derek reluctantly, then


    walked out quickly.


    Easton''s attention was drawn to the toys, but this time he didn''t cry.

 Chapter 284

    Chapter 284


    Meredith was absent-mindedly brewing the milk powder when Amelia came looking for her.


    She looked at her daughter with concern. "How are you? Are you okay?"


    Just now, Meredith had been reluctant to put the child down. Amelia was worried that her newly


    recovered body would not be able to bear it.


    "I''m... Very well."


    Meredith couldn''t tell her feelings. When she saw Easton, the child she thought about for so long, she


    was bittersweet.


    If only it could continue like this.


    Unfortunately, it was utterly impossible.


    Meredith washed the milk powder, carefully tested the temperature in her hand, and then looked at her


    worried mother. "I''m fine. I''m happy to see him."


    As she spoke, Meredith walked into the room and saw Derek hold Easton, who was enjoying himself


    with his toys. She could not tell what she felt.


    After seeing Easton, her hatred for Derek also faded a lot.


    Given time, perhaps one day the pain in her heart would be smoothed out, and she would get out of


    grudges.


    With a deep sigh in her heart, Meredith walked over and said, "The milk powder is ready."


    Speaking of this, Meredith felt a little guilty. She had read a lot of books about mother and baby health


    and knew that breastfeeding was the best for newborns, but...


    She did not have such a chance. What a pity!


    Derek took it over and inadvertently, the fingers of both of them ovepped. Meredith jumped away as


    if she had been electrocuted.


    Perhaps it was a psychological effect. When Derek touched her, she would feel ufortable, fearful,


    and resistant.


    "..."


    Derek looked at her unnatural movements and did not speak, but his eyes were deeper.


    He remembered this woman.


    He was going to ask someone to look into itter as he felt that something was wrong.


    Derek didn''t like the feeling that others hid something from him.


    Thinking about it, the man did not speak to Meredith again. After feeding Easton milk powder, he


    finalized some details with Amelia and then left.


    Meredith see them at the door and watched as Eastonnded in the car. She watched the car leave her


    sight before returning to the room, feeling lost.


    Ameliaforted her. "It''s okay. You can still see each other afterwards."


    Meredith nodded. "I''m relieved to know that he''s doing well, but..."


    Still, such a short period time ofpany with her son was far from enough.


    Amelia didn''t say anything. She just walked over and hugged her daughter. The two of them snuggled


    up to each other and didn''t say a word.


    ...


    Derek sat in the back seat. Ever since he had Easton, he rarely drove himself.


    Easton was too young to be alone in the back seat. He had to look after him to feel at ease.


    As a result, all the drivers came to pick him up, which reassured the Xaviers who had been worried


    about his having another ident.


    "Ahhh..."


    Easton clutched the little toy that Meredith had given him. It was an ordinary looking little grey rabbit.


    Compared to the expensive and exquisite toys that the Xaviers had bought for him, it was simply crude.


    However, Easton seemed to like it and kept holding on.


    "Like this?"


    Derek rarely saw Easton being stubborn about anything. He had too many toys, and he used to lose


    interest in many of them after ying for a few seconds and threw them aside.


    Only this ordinary rabbit...


    Derek took the thing in his hand and looked at it. Suddenly, a familiar feeling welled up in his heart.


    This rabbit...


    He felt that he had seen it somewhere before...


    Thinking about it, Derek frowned.


    Just then, a car drove past the window and Parker came to pick up Meredith.


    Derek naturally had some impressions of Parker''s car. After all, it was he who drove his car directly to


    the repair shop because he was angry.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Parker... What exactly was he going to do?


    "Follow that car. Be careful."


    Derek ordered faintly, Parker... a strange nanny... Thebination of these two factors gave him a


    strange uneasiness.


    Her heart began to beat faster.


    After hearing Derek''s order, the driver immediately turned around. However, since he was worried that


    the windy car would attract attention, he could only follow from afar to maintain the distance.


    Derek watched as the car turned into the road to the vi of the Masons. "That''s it."


    He had already figured out Parker''s destination. It was indeed the Masons, so there was no need to


    rm them.


    "Go back."


    The driver immediately drove back in the same direction as before.


    Was this all a coincidence?


    Derek smiled coldly. He never believed that there were coincidences in this world for no reason. So...


    There must be some secrets hidden inside.


    Derek immediately called Damian and asked him to arrange for someone to check on Parker''s recent


    activities.


    One thought made his breathing quicken.


    Perhaps, Meredith was really not dead. If Parker wanted to help her escape from her shell and have


    that woman from now on, it was not impossible.


    "If it''s true... Parker, you can never achieve your goal."


    Derek''s eyes shed with a hint of cruelty. He would not let anyone take Meredith away from him.


    Besides, he looked at Easton, who was tired from ying, rubbing his eyes and feeling sleepy...


    Meredith was the mother of his children, so it was only reasonable for them to form a family, wasn''t it?

 Chapter 285

    Chapter 285


    Derek brought Easton home.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Now, he lived alone in the apartment where Meredith had lived.


    He wanted to stay here. He could feel her.


    He also wanted to spend as much time with Easton as possible. He wants to make up for Easton. He


    would double and even triple his love to do that.


    Therefore, there was no one else in this vi except Nanny Zhang, who was trustworthy and usually


    responsible for taking care of the children.


    "You''re back, young master."


    Seeing Dereking back, Nanny Zhang picked up Easton and said, "Dinner is ready."


    Derek nodded, and Nanny Zhang carried Easton to his bedroom. She put Easton on the thick carpet


    and let him crawl around to y.


    She shook her head when she saw that he was holding a toy with some saliva on it and it looked dirty.


    Nanny Zhang reached out her hand because she was afraid that he might get diarrhea from eating


    unclean food. She wanted to bring the rabbit toy over.


    Easton, however, held on tightly to his hand, with an expression that he would never give in to anyone


    else.


    "Young master, I just want to clean it up..."


    Nanny Zhang didn''t take it seriously. Easton had a lot of toys, and he rarely cared about anything.


    However, protecting young master from any physical difort was her responsibility.


    She didn''t expect the little one was somehow strong. It took her quite a while to take the toy from his


    hand. She headed out to disinfect it, but Easton twiched his lips and cried.


    It seems like the toy is little Easton''s whole world. Once it was taken away, his world copsed.


    Nanny Zhang sprayed some disinfectant fluid on the toy and quickly went back to coax Easton.


    His chubby little hands were waving around, and his calves were kicking Nanny Zhang''s body


    everywhere. He kept struggling, as if he didn''t know her.


    "What happened?"


    Derek, who was having dinner, heard the cry in the room and walked in frowning.


    Nanny Zhang was someone who had looked after a lot of children. She was very good at dealing with


    children and was rmended by his grandfather. Derek never doubted her ability.


    This seemed to be the first time that something like this had happened to her.


    "I just want to clean and disinfect it..."


    Nanny Zhang looked helplessly at Derek. She walked around, swaying Easton in her arms, and gently


    patting his hand. It was usually a very effective way to appease baby, but now it was useless.


    Easton''s hands and feet were moving, and he was crying at the top of his voice. Not long after, the


    small white face was flushed from crying forck of oxygen, and at the same time, his clear voice was a


    little hoarse.


    "There, there. Here is the rabbit." Nanny Zhang had no choice but to give the gray rabbit back to


    Easton.


    However, Easton used his small hand to hold onto it for a while, but he continued to cry.


    The smell on the toy was soothing just like the beautifuldy who gave it to him. But now, it''s all the


    smell of disinfectant fluid.


    Although Easton was still very little, he remembered the scent of Meredith. It was so warm, serene, and


    soothing. It waspletely from any other smells.


    This time, Nanny Zhang waspletely helpless.


    Although Easton had cried before, he had never been like this. If he continued like this, he would have


    to cry his throat out.


    That would be a big responsibility for her.


    "Give him to me."


    Derek took Easton into his hands and tried to appease him, but didn''t work.


    Easton''s crying was very upsetting.


    Derek''s brows furrowed as he heard Easton''s cry grow louder and louder. As if he had thought of


    something, Derek suddenly said, "You want thedy who gave you the toy? Do you want me to call her


    over?"


    Easton''s eyes blinked. Although he was only a few months, Derek''s words seemed to have magic


    power, which made the baby feel a little happier. Miraculously, tears stopped and Easton nodded.


    Nanny Zhang was stunned. What was going on? Who was that person?


    A single sentence had managed to coax the crying young master.


    Seeing Easton''s reaction, the spection in Derek''s heart surfaced even more.


    Although there was no evidence, Easton''s reaction only made him wonder.


    Was that woman really Meredith?


    Thinking about it, Derek immediately called Amelia.


    Amelia was a little surprised when she got the call. "What''s wrong? What happened?"


    "Is that woman still here today?"


    Derek''s simple words scared Amelia into a cold sweat.


    Was it discovered?


    "She''s off work... What''s wrong?"


    Amelia did not lie about this. Meredith was taken away by Parker, and she was not here now.


    Derek frowned. "Easton is crying now. I need someone tofort him. I think they''re quite close to


    each other, so I want her to take care of him at the Xaviers, the sry would be doubled."


    Amelia breathed a sigh of relief, but she was also worried when she heard that her little grandson was


    not being properly coaxed.


    But let Meredith take care of him at Derek''s ce?


    She couldn''t be so careless. If anything happened, she couldn''t bear it.


    "I would ask her about this..."


    "Where is she now? Easton is making a fuss to find her. If he can''t find her, he might just keep on like


    this."


    Amelia gritted her teeth. In the background, she did hear some children crying and shook her head.


    Was this the child''s natural attachment to his mother?


    If he kept crying like this, she couldn''t bear it, so she hesitated for a while. "I''ll contact her now. Wait a


    minute."


    Derek was not in a hurry. At this time, Damian called and said that he had found out where Parker lived


    after he returned home.


    "Is there a woman with him?"


    Derek asked faintly. Damian thought for a moment, "Yes."


    "What''s the name..."


    "I don''t know, but that woman looks a little mysterious. Should I investigate more?"


    "No."


    After hearing this, Derek had basicallye to a conclusion that the woman was probably Meredith...


    Didn''t she die?


    Then why did she pretend to be dead?


    And the Xaviers, why would they lie to him with Parker?


    Derek asked for the address of the hotel, picked up Easton, and left.

 Chapter 286

    Chapter 286


    "I might not be back today."


    Derek said to Nanny Zhang. He then got in the car, showed the driver the address and told him to go


    there ASAP.


    Nanny Zhang watched Derek leave, feeling a little uneasy as she was worried that she would be


    reced by someone else because of her mistake.


    She heard the conversation of Derek''s phone call.


    Naturally, Derek didn''t know about this. When he held Easton, he looked serious.


    Although he did not know what Meredith was thinking now, there was no doubt that she still had


    feelings for the child.


    Perhaps what made her reluctant to show up was what the Xaviers did and... The hurt he had done to


    her.


    A glint of determination shed in Derek''s eyes. He knew how much the incident had hurt Meredith, but


    it was still impossible for him to let go of her.


    The moment he found out that she might still be alive, he could no longer be described as happy or


    joyful. Instead, there was strange calmness within him, which only he himself could feel. And the


    missing part of his chest was filled.


    He had to bring that woman back, even if she was unwilling, and would hate him for it. Now that he had


    discovered her, he would never let her go again.


    "Ah..." Easton didn''t know what happened, but he reached out and poked Derek in the face.


    "Easton, are you happy to see your mother?"


    Derek held the child tightly. Easton''s presence was his bargaining chip in his belief that Meredith would


    not leave.


    ...


    Soon, the car stopped at the hotel where Parker stayed.


    Perhaps he chose it for the sake of not attracting attention. The ce he lived in was very remote.


    Although it was also a five-star hotel, it was located in the suburbs, and usually there was not much


    traffic.


    As soon as Derek walked in, he attracted the attention of many people, especially the lobby manager.


    After recognizing him, the manager immediately came over eagerly.


    "Mr. Xavier, what can I do for you?"


    Derek was not so polite. "Parker, does he live here?"


    The lobby manager hesitated for a moment. "I''m sorry, it is our guest''s privacy. We can''t disclose it."


    Parker was also someone he could not afford to offend. So after hearing Derek''s question, the lobby


    manager felt that he was caught in a dilemma.


    It was obvious that this man was not here to stay, but to look for someone. He might be involved in


    something troublesome.


    Derek smiled and looked at the hotel. Although the various architectural styles were extremely


    luxurious, the business here was not very good because of the poor management of the owner. It was


    put up for sale a long time ago.


    Derek had no intention of investing in this kind of hotel, but now...


    He smiled. "Recently, I''ve been interested in buying a hotel... It seems like it''s not bad here."


    If someone else said that, it might make people sneer. However, when Derek said it, it sounded very


    convincing. After all, now that the Xavier Group was rapidly expanding, it was not a big deal to buy a


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    hotel.


    "I like people who are flexible."


    Derek''s hint was already obvious.


    The lobby manager hesitated for a moment, then said obsequiously. "Well, Mr. Hill does live here."


    "Who else lives with him?"


    Derek was most concerned about Meredith.


    "There''s another woman, but I don''t know what her name is..."


    "Don''t you all register?"


    "Well..." The lobby manager smiled awkwardly. After all, it was Parker who brought the woman here.


    How dare he ask more questions?


    "What kind of woman is she?"


    Derek asked with a frown.


    "I can''t see her clearly. She always wears thick sunsses and a scarf, looking a little suspicious."


    Speaking of which, he was also a little curious. No matter when she appeared, she was always armed


    to the teeth, as if afraid to be seen.


    Such a person must have something to hide.


    "Really?"


    Derek was more certain, and then he asked the manager the question he cared about the most.


    "Do they live together?"


    Derek was anxious.


    The thought of Meredith sharing a room with Parker made him very depressed.


    If Parker dared to touch Meredith, he wouldn''t mind making him pay a price.


    "No, it''s two separate rooms."


    Hearing this, Derek felt a surge of joy in his heart.


    After knowing that there was no rtionship between Meredith and Parker and Meredith didn''t ept


    anyone else because she still had a crush on himself, Derek felt much better.


    "Give me that woman''s room card."


    Derek ordered without hesitation.


    Not long after, a room card was sent to Derek.


    Looking at the room number above, the man raised the corner of his lips, picked up the sleepy Easton


    from the car and strode in.


    The thought of seeing Meredith made his footsteps much lighter.


    Derek didn''t knock and opened the room with his room card.


    Meredith wasn''t there. There was no one in the room.


    "Is she out?"


    Derek frowned, but he didn''t want to leave. Instead, he put Easton, who was a little sleepy, on the bed.


    Perhaps it was because of the familiar smell of the bed, Easton didn''t cry. Instead, he crawled up and


    down the bed, looking curious.


    Derek took the opportunity to look at everything here.


    Meredith didn''t bring any luggage, so everything looked like a normal hotel room, except for some


    cosmetics on a table.


    Derek looked a few times and saw a mask and a pair of sunsses.


    It must be said that her disguise was very attentive.


    In this way, Derek sat here. Surprisingly, he was not impatient during the waiting. Instead, he was


    overwhelmed with joy.


    He was curious about Meredith''s... Expression when he appeared in front of her.


    ...


    After Meredith and Parker finished eating outside, the two of them walked back as they talked.


    "The ne ticket has been booked. We''ll go back as soon as possible."


    Parker was worried that something might happen. Now that Meredith had fulfilled her wish, he hoped


    that he could bring her back as soon as possible to receive hypnosis treatment.


    "So soon..."


    Meredith hesitated a little. Today, she saw Easton very smoothly. She had a kind of hope that maybe


    she could see him a few more times.


    "I''m afraid there''ll be trouble."


    Parker held Meredith''s hand. Meredith didn''t say anything more as she saw the worry in his eyes. She


    knew that the man had always been thinking for herself.


    "I see."


    Meredith nodded and the two of them said something else. Then Meredith went back to her room.


    However, as soon as she opened the door, her mouth opened wide in surprise.

 Chapter 287

    Chapter 287


    Easton was lying on her bed, ying with the sheets.


    For a moment, Meredith doubted her own eyes. How could it be...


    Didn''t Derek take the child away?


    Just as Meredith was astonished, the door behind her was suddenly mmed shut by arge, slender


    hand. And with a bang, her confused thoughts were pulled back.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Derek came out of the bathroom. Water was still dripping from his hands. It seemed that he had just


    heard the noise made by her as she came back, so he came out.


    "How did you..."


    Meredith was startled. She spoke subconsciously, but suddenly, she remembered something.


    She forgot to change her voice...


    "Sure enough... It''s you..."


    How could Derek not recognize that this was Meredith''s voice? He felt that he had missed the voice


    countless times, and he had recalled the voice countless times in his mind.


    Even if there were more spring, summer, autumn and winter, he would not forget it.


    Meredith''s body tensed up in an instant and her mind went nk. How could Derek stand in front of


    her?


    She was exposed. No, she shouldn''t have...


    Meredith pinched herself. She felt that maybe she was too tired recently, so she had hallucinations.


    However, the man''s face in front of her was so close and so clear, and it was different from the cold,


    repulsive cold of today.


    Derek''s handsome face had a tinge of eagerness, and there was a burning desire in his eyes that she


    did not want to guess.


    Derek looked closely at Meredith. The make-up on her face made her face not like her at all. No


    wonder she dared to appear in front of him.


    But fortunately, he didn''t miss it. It was really her.


    Meredith was not dead yet. She stood in front of him alive like this.


    This feeling even made him breathe with some caution. He was afraid that this was a dream, and once


    he did something, the dream would wake up.


    After a while, Meredith came back to her senses. She realized that her disguise had lost its meaning,


    and it was useless to pretend in front of Derek.


    So, she immediately took a step back, turned around and grabbed the doorknob, trying to open the


    door and escape from here.


    The joy in Derek''s eyes dimmed a little when he saw her actions. The first thing she thought of was


    running away from her?


    He reached out and held the doorknob. How could a weak woman like Meredith be able to resist the


    strength of an adult man''s hand?


    Only then did she realize that she could not escape from here.


    And now, because of Xavier''s action, Derek covered her whole body in his arms. The ambiguous


    feeling made her heart skip a beat.


    It was as if Meredith was stung by something. She tried to get away from him and distance herself from


    Derek.


    But how could Derek let her go so easily? With both hands on the door, he kept Meredith staying in his


    arms.


    Meredith lowered her head and clenched her fists. Her teeth bit her lips unconsciously. She didn''t want


    to look into Derek''s eyes. She had nothing to say to this man.


    "Can you move?"


    Meredith spoke coldly, suppressing pain and anger.


    With Derek around, she didn''t want to stay here any longer.


    Derek''s eyes became furious.


    He thought that when Meredith saw him, she would be angry, sad, and, perhaps she may p him.


    He could endure all of these.


    He owed her this. And as long as she lived a good life, it didn''t matter even if she wanted to beat him or


    scold him.


    But Meredith''s reaction was indifferent.


    It was as if she had never cared about him before, and the coldness chilled his heart.


    "Don''t you have anything you want to tell me?"


    Derek''s voice suppressed something, but Meredith did not want to explore what was the thing he


    suppressed.


    She no longer had the strength to chase Derek.


    "I''m not interested. Please, get out of the way."


    Meredith made up her mind. She pushed Derek''s body, trying to get out of here and get out of this


    ambiguous atmosphere, but before her handnded on Derek, the man suddenly grabbed her arm.


    Derek used so much strength that Meredith immediately felt a rush of pain.


    "Let me go!"


    Meredith struggled, and Derek''s actions made her recall some bad memories.


    The memories of being imprisoned and forced made her face show pain.


    However, Derek was almost blinded by anger. He didn''t want to see this woman ignore him. He would


    rather let her hit him than let her run away from him like this all the time.


    Derek yanked Meredith''s slender body into his arms and pressed her body against his chest.


    "Why are you pretending to be dead? You don''t want to see me that much?"


    Derek told Meredith to listen to his heartbeat. He said that word by word and he said in pain.


    She had no idea how he hade over these days. He was like a walking dead. He lost everything.


    Even if this was to punish him for all the mistakes he made, it was too cruel.


    "Well, isn''t that good for everyone?"


    Meredith gradually calmed down from her previous panic.


    Under such an overwhelming physical gap, Meredith understood that no matter what she did, it would


    be difficult for her to break free. Simply, she would not struggle anymore.


    However, this kind of close contact made her feel ufortable.


    "You, you got what you wanted. What else are you dissatisfied with?"


    Meredith said coldly.


    Whether it was a qualified fianc¨¦e, the benefits of a Family Marriage, or a child, he had already


    plundered them.


    She was the loser who lost everything, and in the end, the man had to me her like a victim.


    Wasn''t that so ridiculous?


    The understatement sounded harsh to Derek.


    Only then did he realize that Meredith always seemed to know how to provoke him in the fastest and


    simplest way possible.


    She said that he got what he wanted. But she was the only one he wanted.


    He probably never understood and knew what she wanted.


    Looking at the man''s cold face, Meredith couldn''t help butugh. She thought that Derek''s appearance


    was really funny.


    Obviously, it was all his choice. Now, why did he have to act like that he was hurt?


    Shouldn''t he be satisfied?


    Just as the two of them looked at each other without opening their mouths to break the silence,


    Parker''s voice rang out.


    "Meredith, it''s almost time. We should go."


    Hearing Parker''s words, Derek''s eyes became dangerous.


    Go?


    Where were they going?


    Meredith''s panic just now had lessened a little. Parker''s presence outside had calmed her down much.


    Sensing Meredith''s change, Derek''s heart burned with jealousy.


    Did that man reassure her with just a single sentence?


    Meredith looked up and said faintly, "I''m sorry. I''m leaving here today. Please, let me go."

 Chapter 288

    Chapter 288


    Leave?


    Was she still thinking of leaving with another man as she was in his arms now?


    Derek was suddenly annoyed. Listening to Parker''s voice outside, he smiled coldly. His handsome face


    had a chilling curve.


    Meredith immediately had an ominous feeling.


    She wanted to speak and call for help. But Derek suddenly kissed her, making her unable to speak.


    Meredith''s struggling hands were forcefully held by him. At this moment, Derek ignored the strong


    resistance of the woman, regardless of what she was feeling. There was only one crazy thought in his


    head. And that was to punish this damn woman in his own way.


    She shall be left with his own mark, so she could no longer think about other men.


    Meredith felt that she was unable to speak and her mind went nk, forgetting how to react.


    Derek, on the other hand, felt his blood boil. The first time he saw this woman, he never thought of


    letting her go again. She was his own thing.


    While Parker''s voice just now and her refusal stimted his impulse.


    Derek''s overbearing kiss was a thing that Meredith waspletely unable to resist. And to Xavier, he


    didn''t care about her resistance.


    Meredith wanted to speak, but she felt like she was running out of oxygen.


    Outside the door, Parker was anxious.


    Why didn''t Meredith answer him?


    Wasn''t she inside?


    It was impossible. He saw her return to this room with his own eyes.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    An uneasy thought lingered on Parker''s mind, and he began to knock hard on the door.


    But there was no response.


    "Meredith, what''s wrong with you? Say something. Don''t scare me!"


    Hearing Parker''s trembling voice, Derek felt a strong sense of revenge. Parker thought that he could


    take this woman away from Xavier?


    Daydreaming...


    "He''s looking for you..." Derek kindly let go of Meredith and whispered in her ear. The hot and humid air


    made Meredith shrink.


    "What do you think I would do if he took you away by force now?"


    Derek''s hand began to wander restlessly around her body. He even put his hands into her clothes


    suddenly...


    Meredith froze in fear.


    When she saw the desire in Derek''s eyes, she couldn''t help but be afraid. But what he said just now


    made her have fear.


    Parker had given up his domestic business for her, and now he couldn''tpete with Derek.


    If Derek was determined to make things difficult for Parker, then Parker would definitely fight with him.


    By then, Parker would be the only one injured.


    Her thoughts were suddenly in a mess.


    Derek, on the other hand, did not feel happy when he saw her struggling and being in pain. Instead, he


    felt that his chest was stifling.


    She was worried about that man. A man who was other than him.


    Meredith suddenly became very scared. How could he do such a thing...


    But at this moment, Meredith seemed to have no strength to resist. Originally, her body was rtively


    weak and now she was controlled by Derek. She seemed to be unable to do anything.


    "Meredith, Meredith!"


    Parker was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot. "Wait for me. I''ll get someone to open the door."


    Hearing Parker''s words, Meredith''s eyes widened in fear. She didn''t want to be seen like this.


    She was now embarrassed and she felt shameful. It would be better for her to die if someone saw her


    being like this.


    "Derek, how long do you have to keep humiliating me so that you could be satisfied?"


    Words that were filled with hatred were spat out of her mouth in a trembling way.


    Derek''s movements paused. The impulse that had just upied his mind cooled down.


    He saw Meredith who was ring at him as she couldn''t stop the tears from falling. Her stubborn look


    was heartbreaking.


    As he stopped moving, Derek suddenly felt that he might be a jerk. Even if he met her again after a


    long time, it seemed that...he was still hurting her.


    Derek withdrew from her lips. Derek looked at the tears on her face. Those beautiful eyes, which had


    been soaked in tears, looked more and more clear now. It made a man unbearable to hurt so as to


    avoid making it show the pain.


    "I''m sorry..."


    Derek apologized subconsciously and he reached his hand out, trying to wipe the tears off Meredith''s


    face.


    Meredith was stunned when she heard his apology, but she soon came back to her senses.


    What happened between them could not be erased by a light apology.


    Even when Meredith saw the guilt in his eyes, her anger and hatred towards Derek did not diminish.


    Just as the two of them were at a loss for words, Parker got the room card from the staff.


    Beep-beep


    The door was opened, and Derek pulled Meredith back so as to avoid making her get hurt by the door


    which was pushed open.


    Parker immediately saw Derek. Xavier was always noticed by everyone at the first nce.


    He narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. "What are you doing here?"


    "What am I doing? I''m here to bring Meredith back of course."


    Derek stood in front of Meredith, but when Meredith saw Parker appear, she immediately ran away


    from Xavier.


    Parker quickly shielded her. "Get out of here first. The driver is waiting downstairs. You go to the airport


    first!"


    In the current situation, if she didn''t leave now, she might not be able to leaveter.


    "But... Are you okay to be here?"


    Meredith looked at Derek''s dangerous eyes. She knew that it was a sign that Derek was angered.


    She was worried that something would happen to Parker since he was trying to protect her. If


    something happened to him, she would have to feel guilty for the rest of her life.


    "Don''t worry, he can''t do anything to me."


    "Let''s go."


    Parker said so, but he didn''t have any confidence at all.


    He didn''t have much confidence when he was confronting Derek, but the only thing he could do was to


    send Meredith away first. Otherwise, the situation would only get worse for him.


    "I see."


    Meredith saw the anxiety in Parker''s eyes. She understood that she could not continue to dawdle, and


    she immediately turned to leave.


    Derek watched coldly as the two of them chattered in front of him andpletely treated him as air.


    This made him very unhappy. It was as if he was isted from Meredith''s world.


    Seeing that Meredith was leaving, Derek wanted to catch up with her. But Parker stopped him. "If you


    have anything to say, tell me. But you can''t disturb her any longer in the future. You can''t disturb her


    even a tiny bit!"


    Derek sneered. He was a few centimeters taller than Parker, so he was even more imposing. Looking


    at the man in front of him, Xavier said, "Do you think you have any right to speak to me like that? Or do


    you think you have be an important person to her as you yed some tricks and hid her?"


    Parker did not step back. He looked at Xavier''s face. "I don''t think I mean much to her, but at least, I


    won''t hurt her and let her suffer so much in that ce alone!"


    ?

 Chapter 289

    Chapter 289


    Parker''s words irritated Derek, but Xavier could not refute them.


    Indeed, he knew better than anyone that he was the one who made Meredith suffer.


    That''s why he wanted to keep Meredith by his side. Even if she was not willing to do it now, one day,


    she would understand his thought.


    "This has nothing to do with you."


    "Oh, is that rted to you? Don''t forget, you''ve already divorced, and now you have nothing to do with


    each other."


    "Really?"


    Derek gave a sneer and then looked to the bedside.


    Easton was tired of ying in bed, and now he was asleep. It could clearly be seen that he resembled


    Meredith.


    There was no need for words, and Parker understood what Xavier meant.


    Was Xavier telling him that there was a child between Xavier and Meredith and he had nothing?


    Clenching his fist, Parker gritted his teeth. "So what?"


    "She won''t give up her child, so one day, she''lle back to me."


    Derek''s tone was firm. He knew that Meredith had always valued her family more than anything else. It


    was impossible for her to abandon her own child just like that.


    Parker hated Derek''s superior attitude. Xavier always thought he could control everything and the lives


    of others.


    He won''t let Xavier seed...


    This time, he had sacrificed a lot, and he would never give in again.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Your confidence is simply out of thin air. What if I told you her that I could make her forget you and this


    child..."


    Parker said coldly, fighting against Derek head-on.


    Derek looked at the face that was somewhat simr to himself. Even if he did not want to admit it, this


    man was indeed very simr to himself. Not only in appearance but also in character, their


    determination that meant not giving up was also simr.


    What was he up to?


    Did he really have a backup n?


    Derek suddenly became agitated. He took two steps back. "It depends on whether you can escape


    from here."


    Derek''s tone was still confident. J City was the territory of the Xaviers, where no one could escape as


    long as he asked.


    Even if Parker had the power and men, there was no chance of winning in his territory!


    "You..."


    Parker knew that once Derek asked, Xavier might get Meredith back, so he had to prevent Xavier as


    long as possible.


    "I won''t let you harass her..."


    Parker grabbed Derek by the cor with great strength and tore the man''s expensive custom-made


    suits.


    Derek was a little more violent. He was not afraid that Meredith could run away, but he did not want to


    waste time with Parker.


    However, if Parker provoked him, he didn''t mind letting he know who was the stronger one.


    After all, during this period... Parker yed him so badly!


    "Do you want to fight?"


    Derek raised a sneer and gracefully threw the tie aside.


    Parker''s face darkened, and new and old grudges welled up in his heart, causing him to punch Derek


    directly.


    "That''s right, I hit you. Who do you think you are, the god? You think you can control everything. You


    are dreaming!"


    Derek narrowly avoided Parker''s fist. "So what? In the end, I''m better than you. Only strong people can


    control others."


    "Also, you hid Meredith and stopped me from finding her. I haven''t even settled the score with you yet!"


    The two men abandoned their usual gentlemanly demeanor and began to fight with the punch and kick.


    At this moment, both of them had red eyes and attacked each other crazily.


    After all, it was Derek who had the upper hand.


    Although Parker was good at fighting, Derek was better.


    Parker was soon defeated, and Derek looked down at Parker who was in a sorry state coldly.


    "I didn''t expect you to make any progress so far."


    "Looks like you won''t be able to beat me for the rest of your life."


    Derek said this before, and so did Violet.


    Their inherent arrogance was simply annoying in the same line.


    Parker seemed to be stung by something, and his eyes were filled with madness.


    Regardless of the pain in his body, he grabbed Derek''s pants. "Don''t think you''re in control of


    everything. Now, it''s almost time. They should have escaped..."


    "I''ve already arranged for someone to be at the airport. She won''t be able to leave J City even if she


    flies."


    Derek gave him an indifferent look, then called in Nanny Zhang who was waiting outside, handed


    Easton over to her, and walked out.


    "Bastard!"


    Only then did Parker realize that Derek probably had a backup n. By the time he arrived, Xavier had


    probably sealed off the escape route, so what he had just done was meaningless.


    For Meredith, there''s no way out.


    "No..."


    Parker''s hands were shaking. He couldn''t fail again...


    In the speeding car, Meredith''s mood was indescribably chaotic.


    She thought that it wouldn''t have anything to do with Derek, but she didn''t expect him to find her.


    However, Meredith only felt bored and scared.


    the Xaviers had taken away everything she had, her freedom, her first marriage, her child...


    She really didn''t dare to get involved with such a person anymore. She didn''t want to be used to death


    for nothing again.


    "Miss Mason, what''s going on over there?"


    Dennis was driving. Thinking of Parker''s eagerness just now, he was very worried.


    Because Parker didn''t trust anyone else, he had full authority over this matter to the people closest to


    him.


    "It''s my fault. I identally revealed my identity and had to run away."


    Meredith said guiltily, hoping that nothing would happen to Parker. Otherwise, how could she repay his


    kindness?


    Dennis frowned and stepped on the elerator even harder. He heard Derek''s story. Now, the man''s


    methods were getting more and more vicious.


    Besides, this was Xavier''s home court, and he was really worried about what would happen to Parker.


    Dennis''s face was a little gloomy, and unknowingly, the speed of the car was getting faster and faster.


    At this moment, Parker''s phone call came.


    "Dennis, don''t take Meredith to the airport. There''s no way out... Go back to our stronghold


    immediately!"


    "So soon?"


    Dennis gritted his teeth. Derek''s reaction speed was terrifyingly fast, and he didn''t dare to dy. He


    immediately turned the car around and wanted to go back to the ce Parker had just said.


    However, the restless Dennis did not see arge truck speeding behind him...

 Chapter 290

    Chapter 290


    The truck suddenly appeared at a very fast speed. When Meredith saw it, she screamed uncontrobly.


    At that moment, she felt that everything was over...


    Dennis was shocked when he saw the situation. He knew that he was driving very fast, but the timing


    of the trunk was also very creepy that he didn''t even notice it.


    Instinctively, he looked to the side of the guardrail. He had no other choice, the truck at such a speed


    straight over, if hit, even if this was a luxury car worth tens of millions, it would be smashed into a pile of


    scrap metal.


    He mmed on the elerator and without stopping, the car crashed out of the guardrail and into the


    river below.


    The sudden ident scared the cars behind them into rear-ending. A dozen cars collided and the


    scene was very chaotic.


    The car fell into the river, which was Dennis''s choice and the only way to preserve a chance of survival.


    However, because of the impact, Dennis had fainted. Meredith was tied to her seat belt and didn''t lose


    consciousness, but sadly, the car began to slowly drown...


    The murky river water invaded their car little by little, Meredith struggled to open the door but found that


    under the strong water pressure, she could not even struggle. She could only watch the car''s little


    oxygen was squeezed away little by little.


    Was this... The end?


    Despair welled up in Meredith''s chest. Slowly, the vision was blurry.


    "Easton..."


    Finally, in front of her was her child, and... The man she thought she would hate for the rest of her life.


    The driver of therge truck also collided with other cars. He held the main responsibility for this


    ident. He might go to jail, but there was no fear or panic on his face. On the contrary, there was a


    dissolution expression on his face.


    Hey on the steering wheel and said to the person on the other end of the phone before he lost


    consciousness, "I have done everything you want me to do. You have to talk and count!"


    Derek, who was about to leave the hotel to look for Meredith, paused and his heart suddenly throbbed.


    The pain, like a thorn pricking him, shook his body.


    What happened?


    Parker, who came out of the room and was about to meet Meredith, saw Derek''s strange appearance


    and sneered, "What''s wrong? Can''t you walk away because I beat you? You don''t seem to have much


    ability."


    Derek suppressed the throbbing and did not look at Parker, "Shut up."


    The unease raised a lot in Derek''s heart. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Parker''s cor, "Did


    you do something again? Where''s Meredith now?"


    This feeling was the same as when Meredith had dystocia. Thus, was Meredith in danger?


    "What I did has nothing to do with you. Let me go!"


    Parker was also a little angry and wanted to throw away Derek''s hand. Just then, a piece of urgent


    news broke out on the TV in the lobby of the hotel.


    "Arge truck driving illegally on a cross-river bridge collided with a speeding Maserati. Now the


    Maserati has overturned and fallen into the river, the life and death of the people in the car are not


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    known, because the river is swift, there is no progress in rescue for the time being..."


    Parker looked at the news in a daze. The footage from the surveince video was frightening and it


    could tell how terrible it was, but...


    What shocked him even more was that the car was he gave to Dennis and asked him to take Meredith


    away!


    Derek looked at Parker suddenly upset and his whole body facing the screen in agony. An ominous


    guess surfaced in Xavier''s heart and he immediately released his hand, "Don''t tell me... This car is


    yours... and Meredith, was in it."


    Parker could no longer answer. His lips moved, but no sound was made.


    The absurd reality made him not know what to say. "Impossible..."


    Parker muttered to himself, "How did this happen?"


    Why it was exactly Meredith''s car?


    "No!"


    Parker suddenly burst out with a strong force, pushing Derek who was holding him still away and then


    ran out as if he was crazy.


    Derek saw him like this and immediately understood what had happened.


    Something really happened to Meredith this time!


    He didn''t care about anything else. After confirming the location of the ident, he rushed out


    immediately.


    He sped all the way to the scene of the ident.


    Now, because of the series of collisions, the area had been cordoned off and only a few police officers


    were maintaining the order.


    Parker and Derek arrived almost at the same time. The two men, who had always been calm and


    reserved, lost theirposure in public for the first time.


    "What''s going on? Why isn''t anyone rescuing?"


    Derek was furious when he saw that there were only a few rescue workers and that no one had gone


    down to retrieve the car.


    The rescue condition was like this and time was life, and if they continued to dawdle like this,


    Meredith... Was there any chance of survival for her?


    "I''m sorry, it''s been raining these past few days. The water level is too high and the current is very


    rough. Even if we send someone down, it will be a waste of time."


    A rescue worker came over. "Besides, the experts have already calcted that the car rushed down


    extremely fast, and the inertia alone was enough to cause serious injuries to the people inside.


    Besides, when we got there, the car was already far away, and now going down to rescue... It doesn''t


    mean much."


    "What do you mean it doesn''t mean much? It''s human life!"


    Derek tugged at their cors. He looked at the rushing water and his mind went nk.


    Subconsciously, he pushed the speaker away again, untied his tie, and was about to jump off the


    damaged railing.


    Meredith must be here.


    She must not be dead yet. He had to save her...


    "This gentleman, calm down! If you go down now, you will sacrifice your life for nothing!"


    The staff at the side saw this and quickly held him down, but Derek struggled as if he was crazy to


    jump down from here and save Meredith.


    "What''s the meaning of ''sacrifice for nothing''? She must still be alive. It''s you who are afraid of death


    and not going to rescue her. You are dying the golden rescue time..."


    Seeing that Derek was agitated, several rescue workers quickly controlled him. If they didn''t rescue the


    person in the car and another one died, their responsibility would be even greater.


    Parker was looking at the current as if he had lost his soul. Originally, he just didn''t want Meredith to be


    taken away, and he didn''t want to lose her again. He wanted to protect her!


    But why did this happen?


    In particr, when he saw the time of the ident notification was a few minutes after he called, his


    heart seemed to be torn apart.

 Chapter 291

    Chapter 291


    Did he hurt Meredith?


    Parker didn''t want to think about these, but his mind kept reying the scene which happened back


    then.


    If he hadn''t insisted on leaving with Meredith and if he hadn''t called at that time, maybe nothing would


    have happened to her.


    Parker fell to the ground, feeling guilty and regretful.


    After a while, Derek calmed down. "Let go."


    The men hesitantly let go. Derek immediately invited the most professional rescue teams. Now, time


    was life. He couldn''t wait, and Meredith couldn''t afford it even more.


    Soon, foreign rescue teams arrived and began to salvage the river.


    It began to rain again, but Derek stood by the river, waiting for the results.


    Parker''s mood wasplicated when he saw Xavier''s solemn expression.


    What he had said to this man was now ironic. He said he would never hurt Meredith, but now, it was


    him who made her life uncertain.


    If something really happened to Meredith, he wouldn''t be able to pay back even if he died ten thousand


    times.


    Parker approached Derek step by step. "What if she really dies?"


    "I don''t believe she''s dead. It''s impossible."


    Derek didn''t have an umbre. Raindrops fell from his hair and dripped along the tight lines of his face.


    Parker didn''t say anything, and the two of them just waited in the rain for the results.


    After a long time and until it was getting dark and everything became extremely blurry, the rescue team


    slowly went ashore, "Only found some debris, I''m afraid..."


    "Look again."


    Derek said expressionlessly, ncing at the fragments left by the cars after the strong shing without


    blinking.


    He had experienced all the ups and downs of his life in the past few days. First, he thought that


    Meredith was still alive, thinking about how to start over with her in the future. Then, it was a terrible car


    ident, and now he couldn''t find her anywhere.


    Was this a silly joke made by God?


    Derek didn''t believe in fate, so he had to keep looking.


    "But it''s too dark now, even if we keep looking..."


    "I said, go on!"


    Derek said coldly. He was like a gambler who put all his chips on it. There are hints of madness.


    Rescue teams came here for a very generous reward which could be regarded as a windfall. Seeing


    that Derek was so stubborn, they had no choice but to continue to salvage.


    Time went on and it waste at night.


    Derek''s body gradually lost its temperature in the cold rain, and everything in front of him began to blur.


    But the man didn''t want to find a ce to hide from the rain. He just stood straight there like a statue.


    He was both supervising those people and doing a useless form of self-punishment.


    He couldn''t help but wonder whether he had pushed her too hard. If he hadn''t been so anxious and


    forced Meredith to stay by his side, she wouldn''t have wanted to run away and wouldn''t have


    encountered such a thing.


    All sorts of messy thoughts intertwined, causing Derek to have a splitting headache. Finally, his tall


    body shook. It was as if he could not bear this kind of torture. He fell down.


    Fortunately, someone on the side saw that he was about to fall and immediately stepped forward to


    hold him up. The man only to find that Xavier''s skin was cold. And in order not to cause more trouble,


    Derek was immediately sent to the hospital.


    Derek woke up in the hospital ward.


    He opened his eyes and saw a pure white ceiling. That color was like the color heaven, pure but cold.


    For a moment, he thought he was dead too. He died in that ce with the woman who disappeared.


    "Derek, don''t scare me."


    Violet stayed by the bed. When she saw that Derek open his eyes, she pounced on him. Her eyes were


    red and swollen from crying and staying upte. They were swollen like walnuts.


    The way Dereky on the bed made her recall things during that three years when he was bedridden. It


    could be said that things now were even more frightening than that.


    Derek, who had been sent to the hospital at that time, was pale and had no temperature on his body.


    He was like a ghost, and these were all the punishments he gave himself.


    "Did you find it?"


    Derek''s eyes were open. He just asked like this but his voice was faint. It was as if he had not seen


    Violet''s grief.


    "No. It has already been like that. How can we find it?"


    Violet knew who his son was concerned about without even asking.


    Meredith, that woman, had clearly agreed to y dead and had promised not to appear in front of


    Xavier again. Why did Meredith go back on her word?


    "What about downstream? Did you send someone to guard there?"


    As Derek thought, he wanted to sit up. The river must be very cold now. Meredith''s body was so weak.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    How could she stand it?


    "Why are you still caring about her? Can''t you just care about your body and stop making me worry


    about you?"


    Violet hurriedly pressed Derek onto the bed. He was still having a high fever and he still wanted to get


    out of bed. He was risking his health.


    "Mother, you know that, don''t you?"


    Derek''s body was weak for a while, and he was held down by Violet. He could not struggle, so he did


    not do anything else. Instead, he looked at Violet who was by the bed with his ck eyes.


    Violet was the one who knew what happened when Meredith was giving birth best. Naturally, she knew


    the truth about whether Meredith was dead or not.


    But just in order to make him do what she wanted, she kept hiding that truth.


    "I..."


    Violet hesitated and said intermittently, "I did it for your own good."


    "Unfortunately, that is too good for me to ept."


    When Derek heard Violet''s words, he was not surprised at all, but in the end, he still felt very tired. It


    was a feeling of exhaustion from the inside out.


    No matter when and no matter what she did, his mother always suppressed all his resistance by using


    ''For Your Own Good''. It was as if that it was a monstrous crime if he did anything against her will.


    "But I... Didn''t expect anything to happen to her."


    Violet was a little scared. If Derek was agitated and had a big fight with her, maybe she wouldn''t be so


    flustered. But now, looking at her son who remained calm, she had a feeling of fear.


    Something seemed to be slowly changing in this calm.


    "Maybe Meredith was right. To her, the Xaviers was her doom. She was wrongly imprisoned and she


    almost lost her life in parodynia, and she lost her child..."


    "Now, she''s lost her life. The Xaviers really owes her too much."


    "Derek, don''t be like this. Seeing you like this makes me feel so worried and scared."

 Chapter 292

    Chapter 292


    Derek did not respond to her.


    He just kept watching the rescue reporting on TV.


    Violet didn''t know what to say, so she could only watch the reporting with him.


    Just like that, time passed by.


    No other news, no progress...


    There was even no news of finding out the body.


    "Derek, you have to eat something. If you go on with this, you won''t be able to bear it."


    Violet tried to persuade him again, holding the food that Derek liked, but Derek didn''t even look at her.


    "Mom, for this time... I would rather you have been acting."


    Violet slightly trembled when she heard the word "Acting." She couldn''t help but think, was it wrong to


    deceive Derek?


    Not only did it not work as she wanted, but it also made Derek grow to stand aloof from her, and she


    seemed like losing her son''s trust.


    "Derek, I won''t lie to you anymore. But you need to take some time to get over with Meredith."


    "If only you could continue to lie, then she might still have a glimmer of hope for survival."


    Twenty-four hours had passed since the ident, so did the prime time for rescue. Even if Derek did


    not want to admit it, he could only ept it.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Meredith''s chances of survival were diminishing.


    After Violet left, the room became quiet again. Derek buried his head in the sheets and sobbed in a low


    voice.


    "Why, why you have to break it after giving people a glimmer of hope, Meredith..."


    After winning her love back, he lost her again. Even it was he who couldn''t bear the pain.


    In the empty room, the man''s painful voice echoed, like a wounded beast roaring in despair.


    ...


    Meredith felt as if she was floating in the clouds. Her body seemed to have lost weight. It was a strange


    feeling.


    Thest image in her memory surfaced. Meredith thought, was she dead?


    So that was how it felt to be dead.


    She actually didn''t feel any sadness or pain.


    She couldn''t help but think of the acts she had yed to get rid of Derek. Maybe lying was karma.


    She tried so hard to pretend that she was dead, that she was not alive, and that she did not hesitate to


    act for so long. In the end, she really died...


    Meredith suddenly found it amusing, but she was still thinking about the two people... Her mom, and


    her baby.


    Just off the top of her head, Amelia''s face suddenly appeared in front of her, and she seemed to have


    just heard about Meredith''s ident. At this moment, she was crying so hard that she looked ten years


    older.


    Meredith felt a dull pain in her heart. It was all her willfulness that made her mother suffer the pain of


    loss again.


    Parkerforted Amelia from the side. Although he was also heartbroken, he tried to calm her down,


    and at the same time, he med everything on himself.


    "It''s all my fault. If I didn''t let her leave alone... If I didn''t..."


    Meredith looked at Parker''s remorse and couldn''t help shaking her head. No, it wasn''t...


    None of this had anything to do with anyone. If she had to find a reason, it could be that woe was her...


    However, no one could hear what Meredith wanted to say. Her fingers passed through the two of them,


    leaving no trace.


    Meredith was a little disappointed, right, she was already dead, she was not alive in this world


    anymore, how could she talk to them?


    Thinking that she might disappear at any moment, Meredith drifted back to where Easton was.


    Since she was going to disappear, let her see her baby for thest time.


    As soon as she thought about it, she appeared where Easton was.


    The little baby, now lying in the arms of a nurse and drinking milk powder, looked carefree.


    It was good that he didn''t know anything. It was better than being sad.


    Meredith looked at him quietly. At this moment, Easton, who had been feeding obediently, suddenly


    reached out his hand and waved at her position.


    Meredith was startled. She thought Easton saw her, but she shook her head to deny the childish idea.


    That was impossible. How could Easton see her?


    However, Easton was still babbling on towards her direction and even threw away his favorite feeding


    bottle, looking anxious.


    "What''s wrong, young master?"


    Nanny Zhang was confused. Easton usually didn''t make such a fuss. He was always very clever when


    he was fed with milk.


    There was no way. Seeing that Easton didn''t calm down, Nanny Zhang could only carry him to where


    he was pointing.


    Easton reached out his hand as if to grab Meredith''s finger, but he couldn''t touch it.


    Inexplicably sad as he was, he felt heartbroken. After a few scratches, he burst into tears.


    Meredith reached out and tried to hold Easton''s chubby little hand, but she also passed through him.


    For the first time, she felt powerless and frustrated because of her current status.


    It was terrible to see her baby in front of her but not be able to hug andfort him.


    As a mother, she didn''t leave him anything. Even if she wanted to say goodbye now, it made him cry.


    Meredith suddenly felt a sour feeling in her heart. An intense thought made her body heavy.


    She... didn''t want to die.


    She wanted to see her baby again, and the people she valued.


    The more she thought about it, the faster the powerlessness of Meredith''s body disappeared. Easton


    looked at the person in front of him faded and cried even more.


    Derek, who was in the other room, heard him and walked over. He looked a little haggard, and his


    beard, which had not been shaved for a few days, looked decadent.


    "What''s wrong? Easton?"


    Although Meredith''s whereabouts had pushed him to a dead-end, Derek kept lightening up and


    continued his life for Easton.


    In any case, he had to see their baby grow up healthily so that Meredith could be at ease even if she


    was not around.


    Derek held Easton in his arms and tried to coax him, but nothing worked. He was still staring in


    Meredith''s direction, and the air was rent by hismingling cries.


    Derek also looked over. Suddenly, he had a very strange feeling.


    Familiarity, or rather, a sense of relief that had not been felt for a long time, what was it? In short, it


    made his heart beat wildly.


    But there was nothing... It was just a feeling that the woman might have returned.


    "Meredith, is that you?"


    Meredith could not answer him. Looking at Derek''s haggard and painful face, her hatred for him


    suddenly seemed to relieve a bit.


    "It''s me... Derek, take care of our baby..."


    Meredith muttered to herself, and then a strong pull made her disappear into the air.


    At this time, in an intensive care unit, the electrocardiogram, which had shown an almost straight line,


    suddenly resumed fluctuations.

 Chapter 293

    Chapter 293


    Five yearster


    J City


    In the huge airport, the sound of the radio was constantly broadcast, and there were peopleing


    and going to their respective desTinations.


    Inside the airport lobby, a tall, slender woman slowly walked in, holding arge suitcase in her hand,


    looking like she had just gotten off the ne.


    A pair of sunsses covered most of her face, but it did not detract from her beauty. Instead, she


    looked more magnanimous and capable. Wearing a simple beige trench coat, without extra


    embellishment, it made her look neat and sharp. She emanated a confident and powerful manner.


    Many passers-by could not help but look at her. Facing these people''s eyes, the woman did not have


    the slightest timidity, and the smile on her face was still generous and touched, giving people a feeling


    of spring breeze.


    However, when she walked outside and looked at the exceptionally luxurious airport, the woman''s


    smile gradually disappeared and her face became more confused.


    This was clearly her first time to J City, but for some reason, she was inexplicably familiar with every


    facility here. She didn''t even need to ask for directions and could instinctively find where she wanted to


    go.


    "Miss Gray, why did youe out on your own? Our people are looking for you everywhere."


    Just as Nora was thinking about something, a voice interrupted her thoughts.


    "Is this really your first time here? J City Airport is thergest airport in the country. When most people


    Nora shook her head. She didn''t know what was going on, but the familiarity was real.


    Five years ago, she lost all her memories because of an ident and was rescued from the river. It


    was a miracle that she could survive that situation.


    She wasn''t sure if it was because of this ident that she lost her memory. She didn''t have any ID on


    her body or any relevant clues.


    Originally, she thought that life would continue in such despair, but she did not know if the God was


    making up for her misfortune and Henry, who saved her, did not despise her. Instead, he paid arge


    sum of money to help her with the stic surgery.


    Later on, he wanted her to integrate into society, so he let his nephew take care of her in person.


    Under Sheldon''s gentle care, she gradually regained her confidence and began to work hard to


    integrate into a normal life.


    Not long ago, Sheldon proposed to her.


    On the one hand, Nora was moved by his action, on the other hand, she could not refuse it.


    Such a great savior who gave her a new life, she could describe him as selfless, and his nephew


    Sheldon was also gentle and considerate. It seemed that she had no reason to refuse.


    However, for some reason, when she said yes, she felt a strange resistance in her heart, as if


    something was obstructing her.


    However, after a few days of consideration, Nora agreed.


    She didn''t want to disappoint the man who was like her father.


    Thinking of the man who saved her from the abyss, he told her that they would be a real family in the


    future.


    Thinking about how Sheldon took care of her, Nora''s eyes were filled with lightfort, and this


    peaceful life was not bad.


    Now, she came to J City to prepare for their wedding.


    J City, as an international fashion hub, was also the ce where Sheldon was born, so Sheldon said


    that he would hold a spectacr wedding here.


    Although Nora did not care much about the scale of the ceremony, she was deeply moved that her


    future husband could value her so much.


    "Miss Gray, do you want to go to thepany first or I send you to rest first?"


    The junior staff who came to pick up her were very attentive.


    This woman, although she was just an ordinary employee now, was someone Henry valued very much.


    It could be seen that she had a very deep background, and ordinary people naturally did not dare to


    offend her.


    "I''ll just walk around on my own. I won''t bother you."


    Nora had a strange sense of familiarity with J City, and she felt that maybe this was where she had


    lived before, or else she wouldn''t have felt that way.


    So, she wanted to take a good walk alone and maybe find something rted to her lost memories.


    "Well, then be careful. You can contact us if you need anything."


    Seeing that Nora was very insistent, they did not force her and gave her a car key and left.


    Nora watched as the man left and went to the garage to find the car. She smiled, then got in, opened


    the map, and looked for the destination.


    A custom-made wedding dress, specially prepared for the wedding, she needed to try it on.


    Nora resisted the urge to look around and started the car.


    Soon, Nora drove the car to her destination. After she opened the door, there were already people


    waiting there. She nodded politely to thedy at the door and handed over the car key in her hand.


    After a while, someone led her forward. "This is the wedding dress that you ordered."


    Nora nodded. Although she had lost her memory, Henry did not despise her. When she wanted to start


    working, he helped her find a designer job.


    Originally, Nora felt that she was just looking for a job to earn a living, but she didn''t expect to discover


    her talent in designing.


    Now, her designs had been admitted by some people. In that case, she didn''t fail her efforts.


    In a daze, suddenly, her phone rang. She unlocked it and saw that it was from Sheldon''s mother.


    Sheldon''s mother did not go out with her son, but stayed in J City to enjoy her retired life. This time, the


    wedding was held in J City,rgely because of her.


    However, his mother never liked her very much, so Nora was always very polite to her. Originally, she


    ned to buy gifts to visit after checking the wedding dress, but now, it seemed that it was not that


    simple.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Nora did not dare to neglect and quickly picked it up. "Auntie? What''s the matter? Is everything OK"


    "Where are you now?" The woman''s voice was cold, but Nora didn''t care.


    Hailey''s attitude towards her was always the same cold.


    "I''m checking the wedding dress at the bridal shop." Nora answered carefully for fear that she might get


    angry.


    "Wedding dress? That''s good. You don''t have to waste your time. I don''t agree to your marriage. You


    leave there immediately ande to see me.


    Nora widened her eyes and couldn''t believe her ears. "Auntie, are you angry about something? Our...


    Our wedding has been arranged..."


    "Don''t you understand what I''m saying? Come here now. I have something important to tell you."


    Looking at a medical report in her hand, Hailey said coldly, without leaving any face for Nora.

 Chapter 294

    Chapter 294


    Nora realized how serious the problem was and was a little nervous about what Hailey said about the


    important thing.


    She spoke to the people in the shop and drove to Hailey''s vi.


    "Auntie..."


    Nora opened the door as she called Hailey, but she was shocked to be hit by a folder.


    A pile of pieces of paper flew in the air and fell down. Nora was stunned, and her face was streaked


    with blood.


    "Nora, I thought you were a woman of unknown origin. Now, you disgust me."


    Hailey looked at her with disgust.


    Nora squatted down to pick up the scattered pieces of paper and quickly read them. Then her face


    became paler.


    These documents were the results of a premarital checkup she had done a few days ago. The other


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    items were normal, except...


    She had a child.


    Nora stared nkly at the line.


    She could not remember what had happened before. She had been worried about it when she started


    dating Sheldon.


    If she had married before or something like that, would Sheldon despise her?


    However, the man did not worry about it at all. Instead, he said that he would ept everything about


    her, including her past, even the most disgraceful past.


    It was his determination that gradually moved Nora, but...


    She actually had a child.


    Could Sheldon really not care about this?


    "See them clearly?"


    Hailey spoke in an arrogant manner. Seeing Nora''s helpless expression, she didn''t show any pity.


    She had always felt that her son was so outstanding and worthy of a better woman and that this Nora


    was simply a burden.


    But knowing that this woman had given birth to other people''s children, she couldn''t pretend she was


    satisfied with Nora.


    "Nora, you''ve given birth to a child. I can''t help but doubt if you''ve been aborted."


    "How can you, such a shameless woman, tie your savior down?"


    Hailey''s sarcasm was like a knife stabbing her in the heart, and she didn''t even know how to refute and


    defend herself.


    She knew that she was not worthy of Sheldon. She, who had always felt inferior, almost lost all her


    confidence after knowing the news.


    "Auntie, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to, but I really want to be with Sheldon..."


    "I don''t want to hear any of this. Is that how you repay someone who has helped you? By asking him to


    marry someone who has given birth to a child?"


    Nora did not know what to say.


    "Oh, by the way, if it''s just an abortion, that''s fine. What if you have been married to someone and your


    husbandes to you with the baby? What do you want Sheldon to do?"


    Hailey''s words were biting. Nora had wanted to exin, but since those were all truths, whatever she


    would say would be useless.


    She knew that Hailey was right. If that happened, she would be a burden to Sheldon.


    "That''s all. I think you lost again. If you''re really grateful to my son, then leave him. Remember, don''t


    mention what I said to you."


    "I... I... understand..."


    It was a long time before Nora said with difficulty, "I will leave him... I won''t be a burden."


    Then Nora stood up and walked out of the ce where her heart was broken.


    She walked to the street and the crowds of people were passing by her, but she didn''t feel anything.


    She was a woman with no past, no family, no friends. And she could not be with the only person who


    cared about her.


    When she woke up five years ago, she didn''t remember anything. She felt inferior and helpless. She


    had thought that her life would be like this, and even thought about suicide. However, Sheldon had


    always been with her.


    He was such an outstanding man and had been protecting her and helping her build confidence.


    Without Sheldon, she would not be herself now. But now, the brightest light in her life would disappear.


    Nora was in a trance. She wanted to curse the god for his cruelty.


    Why let her know such a message when everything was getting better and better?


    For five years, her so-called husband had never shown up, not given her any help, but he destroyed


    her life.


    Walking in such a daze, Nora did not know where she went and turned into a dead end.


    Was this a sign of her future?


    Nora sneered and was about to leave when suddenly a child appeared in front of her. He stumbled and


    ran. Before she could dodge, the boy ran into her.


    "What''s wrong with you? What are your eyes for?"


    Nora was an adult, so after being hit, she didn''t fall down. But the little boy was bumped to the ground.


    He was so upset that heined loudly.


    When he saw Nora didn''t even say anything and didn''te to help him up, he said, "Hey, I''m talking


    to you. What are you thinking?"


    Nora, whose mind was in a mess, came to her senses. She found the little guy in front of her was only


    four or five years old.


    Although he was just a child, he was very handsome now. One could see that he would attract many


    women after he grew up.


    Although the clothes he was wearing were simple, they had excellent texture. They were all foreign


    luxury brands. At first nce, one could know that he was from a rich family.


    "Sorry, I was just thinking about something, so I didn''t see you." Although she had also been bumped,


    Nora still apologized.


    Reaching out, she pulled the little boy up, and patted the dirt out of his clothes.


    The boy looked at her a few times. "Hmph, a strange woman."


    At this time, he saw a few sneaky men in ck not far away. He wanted to drive this woman away, but


    he suddenly changed his mind. "You bumped me, so you have to be responsible."


    When Nora heard his righteous tone, she thought this little guy a little cute. Seeing that there was a


    hole on his pants and the skin was exposed, she said, "Okay, I''ll take you to buy a new pair of pants,


    okay?"


    "Okay, let''s go right now."


    Afraid of being discovered, the boy nodded quickly. Nora was just about to take him away when the


    people in ck who had been sneaking around came to them.


    "He is here!"


    "Damn, this little brat is quite good at running."


    "Get him back!"


    "Oh god." The boy was anxious. "They''reing to catch me. Let''s get out of here, now!"


    Only then did Nora realize that a few suspicious people were running towards them, and the arrogant


    little guy was holding her hand and ran hard, but he was too young to run fast.


    Were they going to hurt this child?


    Although it was only the first time they met, Nora couldn''t bear to think that something might happen to


    the cute little guy in front of her.

 Chapter 295

    Chapter 295


    Nora did not know where this feeling came from, but when she realized it, she had already picked up


    the little guy.


    "This is faster."


    Before the boy could refuse, he was held in her arms. He wanted to struggle, but she was so warm that


    he forgot to struggle.


    "Do you know these people?"


    "No, they must be my father''s enemies. They want to use me to threaten him."


    Hearing this, Nora became solemn. It seemed that it was not easy to protect this little guy.


    But she didn''t want to hand him over to those suspicious people.


    When she was thinking about it, a few people suddenly rushed out, and someone unexpectedly


    blocked her way. They were surrounded.


    This was not OK...


    Seeing the bad guys getting closer and closer, the little guy jumped out of Nora''s arms and said, "They


    areing for me. You should run away, or you will be hurt."


    Nora was stunned for a moment. A four or five-year-old child was willing to sacrifice himself to protect


    her?


    She felt a little more touched, but more determined."Nonsense. You''re a child. If they catch you,


    something bad will happen to you. Listen to me. I''ll hold them back for a while, and you''ll run.


    Understand?"


    Nora looked at the cute little boy in front of him. He must be the darling of his family. Unlike her, no one


    cared about her in the world. If she saved him, she could probably achieve her value as a person.


    "You..."


    The boy did not agree, but Nora rushed out and started to fight with those people as if she didn''t care


    about her own safety.


    Perhaps because those men were caught off guard, the men in ck did not react at once and were


    really held back by her for a moment.


    "Why are you standing there?" Nora roared and the little boy who was at a loss came to his senses. He


    immediately clenched his fists and ran out.


    He had to go out and get someone to save this woman.


    ...


    At the same time, a few ck luxury cars were parked in this inconspicuous corner, attracting some


    people''s attention.


    "Here?"


    Derek rolled down the window with an indifferent expression.


    Damian looked at the positioning system in his hand and nodded.


    These days, because Derek had been very busy, he did not have time to be inpany with his son.


    Besides, he did not allow his son to run around, his son felt angry.


    No one knew how he had unlocked the door before he ran out on his own.


    However, Derek didn''t let his son out because he was afraid that his son would be in danger. He had


    bought apany a few days ago, and the boss was unwilling to go bankrupt and had been up to


    something secretly. He may have targeted Easton, so Derek grounded Easton to keep him safe.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    But he didn''t expect what he was afraid of would happen.


    However, Easton was born a darling of the Xaviers, so there was a special positioning chip in his body.


    Now the chip told them Easton was here, they arrived immediately.


    "Send someone out to search." Derek said coldly, "Remember to capture those alive so that they can


    know what happens to those who try to hurt the Xaviers."


    Hearing this, his men immediately dispersed and began to search for Easton.


    Just as everyone was concentrating on their search, a small figure appeared from a dark corner. When


    he saw Derek''s car, he ran over immediately.


    "Dad!"


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Easton was all right, they felt much relieved.


    If something happened to Easton, everyone would have to suffer.


    "Easton, get in the car. We will talk about thister!"


    Derek was relieved to see that Easton was safe, but the expression on his face became colder.


    He ran around, so he had to suspend his work and went to find him, causing many losses to the


    "No, dad, I can''t go back..."


    Easton shrank. He knew he had angered his father, but this was not the time to talk about it.


    Seeing that he was refusing toe back, Derek was furious. His face was even colder and and his


    eyes shed with anger. "What do you want?"


    Easton looked so stubborn, and he wiped the sweat stains on his face mixed with dirt. "A woman just


    saved me. She was taken away by those people. Hurry up and save her! If I can''t find her, I won''t go


    back!"


    Easton looked worriedly at the alley.


    "A woman?"


    Derek frowned at his words.


    Easton didn''t look like he was lying. If there was someone...


    "Go find her."


    It was not his style to leave his son''s savior alone, so Derek did not lose his temper, which was rare.


    "You are right to save this woman, but you know what the consequences are. When you get home, you


    know how you will be punished."


    Easton was getting goosebumps. Especially when he saw his father''s poker face, he felt sadder. He


    knew he would definitely be punished severely, but he still nodded. "I see. When I find that woman, I''ll


    go back with you."


    Derek was a little surprised. This little guy was usually the most cunning. Every time he wanted to


    punish him, he would find all kinds of excuses. This time, in order to find the woman he didn''t know, he


    was willing to be punished?


    He was being so strange.


    Just as Derek was thinking about it, the people who had just gone to look for the woman came back.


    They also took some men with them.


    Those men in ck were fierce, but there was no possibility of escape from the Xaviers''s well-trained


    bodyguards.


    "There''s a woman. She seems to be unconscious."


    The bodyguard brought Nora out as Easton had told them.


    "Unconscious!" Easton was scared and jumped out of the car immediately. The bodyguard saw that he


    seemed to care about the woman very much, so he put her on the ground. "When we went over, she


    was already on the ground. I don''t know what happened."


    Easton looked at Nora''s face and felt guilty and sad. Was she hurt because she tried to save him?


    What should he do?


    There was blood on Nora''s face and no one knew what caused it. Her clothes were torn. Her fair skin


    was slightly exposed, and there was some dust on it. She looked in a mess and fragile.


    "Send her to the hospital." Derek was not interested in a strange woman, so said indifferently.


    "I''ll go with her."


    "What''s the use of you going?"


    Derek frowned and got out of the car to bring Easton back. At this moment, he saw the woman lying on


    the ground.


    He had never seen this woman before, but this woman was inexplicably familiar to him.

 Chapter 296

    Chapter 296


    "Hey, are you okay? Say something! You can''t die. You mustn''t die here!"


    Easton always liked pretending to be an adult, but he still panicked when he encountered such a thing.


    What if he killed someone?


    Besides, this woman was good to him. He would feel guilty for the rest of his life.


    Derek regained his senses after hearing Easton''s voice.


    He walked over, bent down, put a finger in front of the woman''s nose, and then touched the artery in


    her neck. "Don''t yell. She is not dead."


    The man nced at her torn clothes, then took off his zer and put it over the woman.


    After that, he bent down and picked her up. It was easy for him to do that since she was so light.


    How could such a thin and weak woman have the guts to fight those people?


    Derek inexplicably had a strange feeling about her and carried her to his car.


    Damian looked at this in surprise. He had intended to send this woman to the hospital, but since his


    boss did it himself, he didn''t have to do anything.


    But... She was the first woman that boss chose to get close to after Miss Mason left.


    Easton was relieved to hear that Nora was not dead. He quickly followed Derek. "Daddy, be gentle.


    She''s injured!"


    Derek nced at him, knowing he forgot what had happened just now. "Be quiet."


    As he spoke, he opened the car door and ced the weak woman in the back seat of the car. The


    space was slightly small, so their bodies were close, but he didn''t feel disgusted.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Derek frowned and his face turned cold. Since Meredith''s death, he had had no physical contact with


    any woman. He was now more obsessed with cleanliness and hated women more.


    Although the Xaviers had been arranging for him to go on blind dates with thedies of different


    distinguished families, he had rejected them for various reasons.


    He just didn''t want to be with any woman again.


    The scent of other women would make him queasy and disgusted.


    However, this strange woman did not disgust him.


    Feeling he was being strange for no reason, Derek was a little annoyed and roughly put the woman


    into the car. Then, he left immediately.


    He didn''t like this strange feeling.


    Easton couldn''t help but sigh when he saw what Derek did. "Dad, you''re so rude. No wonder you''ve


    been single all this time."


    Derek was ridiculed by his son for no reason. Hearing that, he just sat back in the driver''s seat and said


    as if nothing had happened, "Do you think I should throw you into the army and have you be


    disciplined, or do you prefer to be sent back to the Xaviers?"


    Easton stopped talking and widened his big eyes to express his displeasure. Choosing the first meant


    he couldn''t have fun with others. Choosing the other meant he would be watched and coddled too


    much by the elders and had to be a good boy.


    Neither of them was good and funny at all. He hated them both.


    Derek saw that his son was quiet and did not say anything more. He quietly drove towards the hospital.


    ...


    In the VIP ward of the hospital.


    Nora had a dream.


    In her dream, she was wearing a white wedding dress and was happily walking into the church with


    Sheldon, but a child appeared at the door of the church. He grabbed her wedding dress and cried


    loudly. "Are you my mother? Why are you marrying someone else? Are you leaving me for him?"


    Nora was covered in a cold sweat from fright. At this moment, a man who looked very fierce appeared


    beside her. He grabbed her arm and roared. "You are such a shameless woman. Abandoning your


    husband and son and running away with another man! This is bigamy, and this man is a shameless


    man too... Wait to see how I will punish you!"


    Then, everything was ruined. The wedding venue was a mess, but she seemed to be frozen in ce


    and had to see the image that she had longed for gradually copse...


    "No, let me go..." Nora suddenly opened her eyes and gulping in the air filled with disinfectant. Her


    eyes were filled with fear and panick.


    It was a dream... Nora stared at the ceiling for a long time before she came to her senses. She had


    been sweating, and her dry clothes were wet, which made her feel bad.


    However, for a long time, the images in the dream did not disappear from her mind.


    "Ah, what happened to you? Did you have a nightmare?"


    Easton had been watching her, and when he saw that she was struggling, he wanted to wake her up,


    but Nora sat up by herself and startled him.


    It was only then that Nora saw that she was in the hospital. The white walls and the needles in her


    veins all proved that she had just had a nightmare.


    Smelling the disinfectant, she could not help coughing, causing pain in several parts of her body.


    She looked at the little guy in front of her and remembered what had happened.


    At that time, in order to save this little guy, she rushed up. Although she dyed those strong men for a


    while, she still couldn''t beat them. She was beaten several times, and when she fell down, she fell on


    her head and fainted.


    Now that she was in the hospital, did this boy get someone to save her?


    Nora touched the back of her head, which was wrapped in thick gauze, and it hurt a little. It looked like


    her head was hit when she fell to the ground.


    But why did she hit her head again and not regain her memory?


    Sure enough, the TV shows were full of lies...


    Easton, who had been ignored all this time, was a little unhappy when he saw Nora was lost in thinking.


    "What are you thinking?"


    He had been here for a long time, and she just ignored him. He felt his feelings were hurt.


    Only then did Nora realize that there was someone beside her. Looking at the cute little face in front of


    her, and seeing that he didn''t seem to be hurt, she heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Were you hurt?"


    Nora was stunned when she finished speaking.


    She did not like children. When she saw a child, she would not try to delight them. Instead, she felt


    children were troublesome. However, she was genuinely concerned about the little guy in front of her.


    Why...


    Nora thought about it and looked at his cute face again, thinking maybe it was because this boy was


    more beautiful than child actors and she was captivated by his looks.


    Seeing Nora staring at him, Easton suddenly blushed.


    This woman was really strange. She was hurt but the first thing she did was to care about him. Why?

 Chapter 297

    Chapter 297


    "I''m fine, but you are not. I told you not to try to do anything stupid. Look, if I hadn''t sent someone over,


    you would have been finished."


    Easton pretended not to care. But when Nora saw that he blushed with his ears going red, she knew he


    was lying.


    He was obviously very concerned about her...


    "Are you worried about me?"


    "Well, don''t tter yourself, woman. I just don''t want to be in debt to a stranger."


    Having been figured out, Easton was so angry that he almost exploded.


    "Is that so? I seem to be fine. No need to to worry about me asking you for anything. Go and have


    some fun."


    Nora thought the little guy was cute. He was obviously concerned about her, but he was so stubborn to


    admit it.


    "I, I just pity you and I thought you might need somepany." Easton had been here for half a day,


    and it would made him look bad if he left like this, so he hurriedly said.


    Nora''s mouth curved with a faint smile when she saw that he was so eager to exin himself that he


    stuttered. However, it hurt even with the slightest movement.


    Those people were really animals. How could they hit someone on the face?


    "Why, are you in pain?" Easton was worried when he saw her look of pain.


    Not to mention that there were some swollen spots and bruises on that pretty face, he felt guilty just


    looking at it.


    It was all because of him.


    "I''m fine."


    Nora shook her head. When she woke up from that amnesia, she was much worse than she was now,


    so she didn''t care about such minor injuries.


    Easton was not convinced. This woman was so strange. She was beaten like this and she still thought


    she was fine.


    Was she just saying that so he would not be worried?


    Easton was suddenly touched and thought for a second before saying, "I''ll go having someone bring


    you an ice pack. It''ll make you feel better."


    Nora wanted to save him the trouble, but the little guy had already jumped off the chair by the bed and


    ran out of the room.


    Nora watched him leave, but she couldn''t help but smile. Although this cute boy was tough on the


    mouth, he was actually kind.


    For some reason, when she saw him, she suddenly thought of the child she had just found out about


    today.


    If she had a child, he would have been this old.


    She wondered where the child was now and how he was doing.


    When she thought of the child, Nora''s eyes were filled with mncholy.


    Knowing that she had a child, she was at a loss. Where was the child and who was his father?


    These were unknowns, and the unknowns were often the scariest.


    She was even worried about whether the boy''s father was a decent man.


    After all, it took her ten months before giving birth and it was naturally for her to care about the child.


    Just as she was thinking, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door. Nora thought it was


    Easton, and she looked up but saw a straight figure instead.


    It was a man in perfect shape, dressed in simple casual clothes, but not at all casual. A few buttons


    were opened casually, revealing a coveted pectoral muscle. His features were very simr to Easton''s,


    but there was a bit of mystery and arrogance in his brows, a kind of authority that one would not dare to


    look straight at.


    Nora was in a trance, and a strange feeling in her heart made her stare at the man for a while.


    Derek saw her eyes glued on him, but he was not angry somehow.


    With a light cough, he interrupted her trance.


    Nora reacted awkwardly. What happened to her?


    It was not that she had never seen a good-looking man before. How could she have lost her mind when


    she saw this man? It was really embarrassing.


    "Are you... Easton''s family?"


    Nora guessed so because this man was so much like Easton, and she wouldn''t believe if they were not


    rted.


    "I''m Easton''s father. Thank you for saving him."


    Derek walked in with an aristocratic air.


    "My name is Nora."


    After thinking for a second, Nora gave him her name.


    Derek nodded, inexplicably disappointed, and then his eyes fell on the woman''s face.


    The person sitting on the hospital bed had changed into a clean hospital gown, and the dirty and torn


    clothes had been thrown away by him.


    Perhaps, because she was too small, she wore that dress as if a child was in an adult''s. It hung loosely


    on her body, and her corbone was clearly exposed, reminding Derek of the way he felt when he


    picked her up.


    He didn''t expect such a weak woman to have the guts to stand up for a child she had never met before.


    Nora was a little ufortable with Derek''s gaze. She nced at him and Derek was stunned. These


    eyes...


    Her eyes were beautiful, simr to those of the woman in his memory, but there were some subtle


    differences.


    When Derek tried to get a closer look, Nora lowered her head.


    She felt ufortable being stared at.


    What the hell was he looking at?


    Was he worried that she was up to something?ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    But why did his gaze make her feel so familiar?


    "Well, I''m just trying to help him out because he''s so cute that I can''t ignore him. Don''t worry, I have no


    other intentions."


    Easton''s name, wrapped around the tip of her tongue, was inexplicably likable to her.


    Easton, Easton, was that name meant for him to have a carefree life?


    It was a nice name.


    "You misunderstood. I don''t have any doubts about you."


    Derek exined for he did not understand what the woman was thinking sometimes.


    Did she have no idea who she was?


    If it was someone else who saw him appear, even if she did not go crazy about him, she would


    certainly ask for a generous reward, right?


    After all, in J City, no one would not know what the name Derek meant.


    "You saved Easton, and you''re his benefactor, so you can ask for anything you want, even if it''s too


    much. I can still satisfy you."


    This confidence was a little overbearing. If someone else said it, Nora would think he was ridiculous.


    But... Looking at the man''s deep and reserved eyes, she inexplicably believed it.


    With such a distinguished demeanor, his words were indeed quite convincing.


    However, she really didn''t want to get paid. After all, she helped Easton only because she liked him.


    But just as she was about to speak, her head hurt. The pain was abrupt and intense. It was killing her.


    She could not say anything but frown.

 Chapter 298

    Chapter 298


    "What''s wrong? Your wound hurts?"


    The man''s voice was very pleasant, but it made her headache even worse. She patted Derek''s hand


    off and dripped with cold sweat. "I''m fine..."


    Derek looked thoughtfully at his hand that was waved away by her.


    This seemed to be the first time he had been pushed away by a woman.


    After a while, the pain eased, and Nora gasped for breath. Seeing that Derek''s hands had been beaten


    red by herself, she quickly apologized, "I''m sorry, I just felt a little ufortable, but I''m fine now. And,


    the remuneration, I don''t need it. I don''t want anything, that''s all."


    Nora suddenly wanted this man to leave.


    Her instinct told her that this man was dangerous and not someone she should mess up with.


    Derek looked at her stubborn expression, which clearly had no resemnce with Meredith, but he still


    felt something familiar from her. "You... Have you ever been to J City? Have we met before?"


    Nora was stunned for a moment, but soon she shook her head in denial. Although she had an


    inexplicable sense of familiarity, she had no specific memory.


    "Sorry," Derek took two steps back.


    Today, he was really a little abnormal. He was always cold to women, but surprisingly he didn''t hate the


    woman in front of him.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Just as the two of them were lost in their own thoughts, Easton ran back with two ice packs in his


    hands, who was somewhat ostentatious.


    "I''m back. Look, what I have got?"


    However, when he saw Derek Easton became obedient immediately, like a mouse seeing a cat, and he


    put ice bags on the table right away.


    Nora chuckled.


    Easton blushed when he saw Noraughing at him. What a shame!


    "What are youughing at? Is your face not hurting anymore? Hurry up to put the ice pack on it, or you


    will be ugly."


    Easton said awkwardly, hiding his embarrassment.


    "Easton, manners."


    Derek frowned. He didn''t want to see Easton being rebellious. Easton grew up being spoiled, and even


    Derek couldn''t bear to be too strict with this brat.


    He didn''t know if it was because of this, but sometimes Easton really didn''t talk like a five-year-old


    child.


    "I... I was wrong. I didn''t mean it."


    "It''s okay. I know that."


    Seeing that Easton was upset, Nora quickly helped him out.


    Easton heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Nora. "By the way, I don''t even know your name."


    "My name is Nora."


    When she said that name, she herself felt a little dazed. She couldn''t remember anything at that time,


    and she didn''t have any identifiable information. Even the name she was using now was given to her


    by Sheldon.


    At that time, he said that the name meant that nothing needed to be worry from now on, so it was a


    name that great hopes were ced on it.


    "Nora...Beautiful!" Easton usually had arge vocabry. Her name was beautiful and he loved it the


    moment he heard it.


    Derek nced at him.


    He had no idea that his troublemaker son wanted to be close to others.


    "Miss Gray, please think about my suggestions carefully. Give me the answer when you''re ready. No


    hurries." Derek took out a business card.


    "This is my number. If you have made your mind, call me directly. You are not feeling well, so excuse


    me."


    Easton watched Derek and thought, "dad rarely gave his number to others."


    Did he like Nora too?


    A sense of crisis came to mind.


    Easton took out his phone and said, "Nora, let''s be friends on this chat app. We can have a chat when


    we''re free!"


    Nora had thought that they would nevere into contact again after this separation, but looking at


    Easton''s expectant eyes, she couldn''t bear to refuse.


    "But..."


    "You don''t want to?"


    Easton''s cheeks puffed up, and the tender and bun-like face looked extremely cute.


    He hadn''t been rejected yet.


    Nora nced at Derek, worried that he might think she was scheming.


    Also, what if the child''s mother knew it and made a misunderstanding?


    "Whatever you want, I have no problem with that." Derek went out without expressing his agreement or


    objection.


    "He didn''t refuse, hurry up, let''s be friends, and we can chat in the future." Easton understood Derek''s


    thoughts quite well. With his dad''s strong desire of controlling, if he didn''t stop his action, it meant that


    he agreed.


    "Okay." Nora also took out her phone and handed it to Easton.


    Easton fiddled with his phone, which was not exactly fittable to the size of his palm, and flipped his


    fingers nimbly. It wasn''t long before it was ready. "Okay, take a look."


    Nora took it and found that she had a friend named "I''m The Best" on her WhatsApp. The conversation


    between the two of them had been pushed to the top, and she had two more bright little ''hearts'' in her


    notes to this person. "Is this you?"


    "Me The Best", he really dared to name himself.


    Easton nodded heavily. "That''s right. Don''t be careless and delete me."


    "No." Nora shook her head and did not change the note on the WhatsApp. Instead, she thought it was


    fun.


    "Then I''ll go back with dad first. I''lle and see you when I have the chance!" Easton nodded with


    satisfaction, jumped off the bed, and left with a brisk pace.


    Silence returned to the room, and Nora moved her body and slowlyy back. Her mood, which had just


    been lightened by Easton''s agitation, slowly sank and down.


    In her mind, the picture of today''s daylight emerged. It was a line of words that she couldn''t forget, as


    well as Hailey''s heart-breaking words.


    What was her past like? Could she be a bad person, a wicked woman, or else, why hadn''t her family


    Also, what would Sheldon think of her if he knew that she had given birth to a child? After all, no matter


    how good a person he was, he wouldn''t mind such a thing at all, would he?

 Chapter 299

    Chapter 299


    Thinking about it, Nora was very upset.


    Without drowsiness, she walked down from the bed and felt some pain in some parts of her body, but it


    was not severe. It seemed that she didn''t get hurt severely.


    After looking around at theyout, Nora realized that the Xaviers had ordered a VIP ward for her.


    The spacious room was equipped with all kinds of furniture, which were extremely clean and gorgeous.


    There was a sofa, a bed, a bar for tea and a dining table...


    All kinds of things were avable, and it was obviously the enjoyment of the rich.


    Nora shook her head. This kind of thing was supposed to be a piece of cake for him, but it made an


    ordinary person like her admire it a lot.


    Sure enough, they weren''t from the same world from the start.


    Thinking about it, suddenly there was the sound of footsteps.


    Opening the door, a man came in, "I''m Mr. Xavier''s assistant. I''m here to give you these things."


    Nora thought for a moment. "What''s that?"


    She didn''t remember what Derek took anything from her.


    "Well, since your clothes were damaged to save young master, the boss told me toe and deliver


    them to you."


    As Damian spoke, he asked the people behind him to bring over a pile of clothes.


    As soon as he came in, Nora was stunned.


    Even if he wanted to give somepensation, one or two identical clothes would be enough. However,


    Derek actually sent a lot of designer clothes over?


    After all, she was also a designer and was used to the brands, so she could tell at a nce where they


    came from.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "No... No need... This is too much."


    Nora was very ttered. She was usually very thrifty and would not buy the clothes of big brands.


    Derek sent these to her, which made her feel uneasy.


    "Miss Gray, you shouldn''t refuse. If you don''t ept them, the boss will just send someone else to


    deliver things here until you take it."


    Damian looked at Nora and said calmly.


    Derek would not owe a favor for no reason. He would definitely give it back to the benefactor. As for


    sending some clothes, it was just a piece of cake.


    "Ah?"


    Nora was a little dazzled as she looked at the clothes piled on the sofa like a hill.


    "What''s this? The rich''s reciprocation? Are they all like this?" She thought to herself.


    "Then... I''ll leave one to wear."


    "No, you have to take them all."


    Damian insisted, with a smile on his face, but there was an irrefutable force.


    While Nora was still frustrated about how to dispose of these things, someone knocked on the door.


    "Miss Gray, your dinner."


    Nora was a little surprised and went to open the door. A medical staff brought a box of packed food.


    Nora said, "I didn''t ask anyone to bring food over..."


    "It''s yours."


    Nora had been in the hospital for several years after the ident many years ago, but it was the first


    time that the medical staff had been so attentive to her.


    "Mr. Xavier ordered it." The person was very respectful to Nora.


    Nora was not used to the feeling of beingplimented for no reason.


    When she looked back, Damian took the opportunity to leave, and all those things were left behind.


    "... What are these people going to do?"


    Nora was rather speechless.


    Just as Nora was looking at the thing in front of her, the phone rang to interrupt her thoughts.


    "Where are you, Nora? Didn''t you say you were going to try on the wedding dress today? I''ve been


    there for a long time. Where are you?"


    As soon as Penelope opened her mouth, Nora was greeted with a barrage of reprimands, which


    stunned her.


    Penelope was a rare good friend of hers after she lost her memory. She had told Penelope that the two


    of them would go to the bridal shop to try on the wedding dress and let her have a look ande up


    with some ideas for her.


    Who knew that all this happened after that? She went to the hospital and her head was in a daze. She


    was in no mood to think about marriage, so she forgot about it.


    "Hey, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. Something unexpected happened to me, so I didn''t go over. I didn''t mean to


    stand you up." Nora admitted her mistake with a good attitude because she didn''t know what to say.


    "What''s more important than your wedding dress? It won''t be your future evil mother-inw who''s


    picking on you again, will it? Tell me, why are you being bullied so badly by that old woman... Do you


    want me to help you?"


    Penelope was a straight-tempered woman, so hearing Nora''s strange tune, she immediately thought of


    Hailey''s usually annoying face.


    If Nora married into their family so easily, she might have suffered much in the future.


    Penelope was exasperated at her.


    "No..."


    Although Penelope guessed correctly, Hailey was not unreasonable this time. Her reason sounded


    reasonable.


    "Then what happened? Where are you now?"


    Penelope listened to Nora''s hesitant voice and became anxious.


    "Wasn''t something bad happened? She seemed to be weak." She thought to herself.


    "I''ll tell you when I get back."


    "If you don''t say it now, we''ll break up, so hurry up."


    Penelope always behaved like this and Nora had no choice but topromise. "I''m in a bit of trouble


    and I''m in the hospital now."


    "Huh?" Penelope yelled, "Which hospital? I''ll be right there!"


    Nora was touched to hear that her best friend was so generous toe to her. "Aren''t you busy at


    work?"


    "No matter how busy I am, I have to see how you are. Stop talking nonsense and send me the


    address. Hurry up."


    Although Penelope''s words were harsh, the concern was self-evident. After Nora gave Penelope the


    address, there was some relief on her face.


    Not long after it, Penelope rushed to the ce.


    Seeing Nora''s bruised face, Penelope frowned. "What happened? Did someone hit you? Where was


    he?"


    "He has been caught."


    Nora smiled to show that she was fine. Penelope looked at her with pity. "How can you be beaten up?


    You don''t usually go to cause trouble."


    "Well, something happened..."


    Nora had nothing to hide from Penelope, so she told her everything.


    Penelope nodded as she listened. After listening, she nced at the luxurious ward and then at the


    ''mountains'' of designer clothes.


    She couldn''t help but scream, "Are you kidding me?"


    "What kind of young master did you meet? Now that they had promised it, why don''t you let they give


    you arge sum of money and live afortable life?"


    Penelope''s face was full of discontentment and thought this Nora was really a simpleton.


    How could an ordinary person be so virtuous when they encountered such a thing?


    "That''s not why I helped him."


    "I know you have a noble character, but it''s hard to find someone who thinks she had too much money


    like you."

 Chapter 300

    Chapter 300


    "Do you know how sCarolh your future will be if you can get Derek''s help?"


    Penelope patted her thigh.


    She deemed Caroline Yoou thoughtless. She was upright to the point of being naive


    "It''s useless to regret now."


    Nora didn''t mention that she had the phone number of Derek. She had already made up her mind that


    she would not get involved with that person again.


    "Well, you''re hurt. Where''s Sheldom? I don''t expect Hailey toe, but at least your fiance is


    supposed to be here for you."


    "He''s very busy at work, and he''s still abroad..."


    It was harrowing for Nora to hear Sheldom''s name.


    She hadn''t yet mustered up the courage to contact that person.


    Nora was terrified at the thought that she might be abandoned. She had nothing, so she had a morbid


    fear of losing what she had now.


    "Don''t tell me he doesn''t know about your ident."


    Penelope was shocked. How could Sheldom be so nonchnt when his fiancee was suffering?


    The rtionship between them, in her opinion, was simply twisted.


    Ostensibly, Sheldom was all along very affectionate and tolerant, but there seemed to be a mysterious


    veil over everything he did. One just couldn''t see through his motive.


    Penelope had mentioned that with Nora before, but she did not heed her advice, so she never brought


    that up again.


    "No matter how busy he is, this is not the time to stand by. What if anything happens to you in the


    future? Is he going to be the same indifferent? Then what''s the point of getting married?"


    "There have been a lot of things going on at thepanytely, and he calls less frequently than


    before, but I think it''s understandable and we''ll be what we were after he finishes his work."


    Nora just had been just a little disappointed before Penelope said that, but now she inevitably felt


    aggrieved.


    She was a sensible woman, she needed the care from a man notwithstanding, especially when she


    was vulnerable.


    She barely bothered Sheldom with her own things, afraid of annoying him.


    "It''s everything but understandable. Haven''t you watched soap operas? If a man loves a woman, he will


    find every minute without her harrowing and never get tired of talking with her. If he is so cold to you


    now, are you expecting to live like a widow after getting married?"


    "That won''t happen."


    Nora murmured, but she was not sure.


    "If a man seldom contacts you, it''s definitely not because he''s busy with work. He''s either not interested


    in you anymore, or he''s interested in someone else."


    Nora paled at Penelope''s words.


    Of course, she trusted Sheldom wholeheartedly, but...


    Sure enough, she was not as strong as she thought, and she needed his sce and care now.


    "Forget it. Think hard for yourself. I''m hungry. I''ll go grab a bite."


    Penelope didn''t want to push her too hard, so she changed the subject.


    Nora then remembered the food in the room brought by that man. "Wait. There is food here."


    Penelope nodded. Meredith opened the box and was surprised.


    All the food in it was her favorite.


    However, she couldn''t recall telling Derek what she liked.


    How did that person figure it out?


    Nora suddenly felt a chill. Could it be that she was being thoroughly investigated?


    "What''s wrong? These are all your favorites."


    Penelope looked at her, puzzled.


    Nora shook her head, her eyes locked on the food, suddenly losing her appetite.


    On the one hand, she fretted about her rtionship with Sheldom, on the other hand... Derek''s


    presence made her uneasy.


    After a few bites, Penelope offered to spend the night with her, perhaps because it was too pitiful to see


    her live here alone.


    Nora did not refuse. The two of them tidied up the bed,y down, and idled time way.


    On TV was a boring mediation program, about the altercation of a married couple after the husband


    found that his wife had an abortion before their marriage.


    Nora was absorbed.


    On the screen, the couple cursed a blue streak at each other and they almost pounced upon each


    other before the host could stop them.


    "Is it true that no man can ept that his woman has given a child to someone else?" Nora watched


    the show, a little touched, but also a little lost, and subconsciously asked what she was thinking.


    "Child? There is nothing uneptable. Is there anyone in 2019 still caring about that? But it''s the girl''s


    fault to hide the truth from her husband. She''s too insincere. She deserves it." After that, Penelope


    realized something was wrong with Nora and cast a nce at her carefully.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "I''m okay. Just asking." Nora changed the subject in a daze.


    "Unless it''s he''s a king who needs a male heir to inherit the crown, or he should not care. An open talk


    will be helpful. After all, there are so many women with children who find their happiness again."


    Nora nodded, but she was still dazed. Seeing that she was not in a good mood, Penelope shut up.


    She didn''t know very much about Nora''s past, but she knew that she had been through a lot of twists


    and turns, though she didn''t know exactly what it was. It was not her to stick her nose into her privacy,


    so she could onlyfort her. "This kind of program is just a performance with script. Don''t get serious


    with such humbug."


    Nora listened absent-mindedly to Penelope''s constion. She knew she meant well, but her life, if she


    had to recall all those experiences in detail, was probably more ridiculous than the so-called script on


    TV, but life still had to go on.


    She remembered what Sheldom had said before. The day he asked her to be his girlfriend, she


    couldn''t believe her ears. She thought it was a joke, but he said firmly that he didn''t care about her


    past.


    Because of these words, even if he became colder and colder, she never doubted him. If he hadn''t


    loved her, he wouldn''t have started a rtionship with a woman who had nothing.


    So, shouldn''t she have more confidence in him?


    Thinking about it, Nora stood up. "I''m going to the bathroom."


    Locking the door, she turned on her phone and dialed Sheldom.


    In a different time zone, he should have just gotten up.


    The seconds she waited for the phone to get through was as long as a century. She held her breath


    and didn''t want to miss anything from the other side.


    Finally, the call was connected.


    "Hello?" Sheldom''s voice sounded tired and faintly impatient.


    "It''s me..." Nora stammered nervously. She didn''t know how to put her words in a proper way.


    "What''s the matter?" Sheldom''s voice sounded, and Nora vaguely felt that his voice was exceptionally


    hoarse, very different from his usual gentle voice. His breath sounded a lot heavier too.


    Was he not feeling well?


    Nora remembered that his ce seemed to have cooled down a few days ago, and wondered if he had


    listened to her and changed into warm clothes.


    "Where are you now? In the hotel? I heard something wrong with your voice. Did you catch a cold?"


    "It''s okay. Get up early... Get a little cold... That''s all." Sheldom''s voice drifted into his ears intermittently.


    It was a blur, and there was the sound of the quilt flipping across from him. Nora was about to say


    something, but he suddenly said in a hurry, "I... Have something on my side. I won''t talk to you first."


    After that, the phone hung up.


    Nora looked at the disconnected call log and was a little confused. What happened to him? He''s not up


    yet. Is he feeling unwell?


    What happened to those strange sounds just now?


    Sheldom hung up the phone. At this moment, a pair of slender hands stretched out from under the quilt


    that he was covering. They brushed vaguely across his chest and stopped on the man''s shoulder. "Oh,


    whose phone is it? Early in the morning, rounds?"


    The man in the morning couldn''t stand being teased. Sheldom looked up and met the woman''s


    charming peach eyes. Her soft parts were clinging to his chest, stirring his nerves emotionally.


    "Are you jealous? You did it on purpose, huh?" Sheldom''s lips curled into a wicked smile and patted


    Aubrey''s plump buttocks. The force was not heavy. Obviously, it was just for flirting.


    "It''s just fun." Seeing that he was not angry, Aubrey felt bored and was about toe down from


    Sheldom''s body when the man grabbed him by the waist.


    "Is it fun?"


    "It''s interesting. If that woman had known that you were doing this with me, it would have been even


    more interesting." Aubrey smiled and gently pointed at the man''s chin.


    "Forget it. After all, the design is still in your bag. Soon, your name will be put on it. You should save


    her face for using other people''s things."


    "That''s true... But since it''s already in use, I don''t mind using more..." After listening to him, Aubrey


    went up and kissed the man''s chiseled lips.


    In the room, for a moment, there was a delicate cloud and the ambiguous waves.


    ...


    Nora hung up the phone. Although she was still worried about what happened to Sheldom, she also


    knew his temper. If she kept calling, he would be angry. So, she could only hold down the uneasiness


    in her heart, wash her face, and go back to the ward.


    "What''s wrong? You don''t look good."


    "It''s okay. The wound is not veryfortable." Nora suddenly felt very tired and didn''t say much. The


    two of them watched tv for a while and fell asleep.


    A dreamless night.


    Nora did not sleep well. In the middle of the night, the painkillers had worn off and he had a bad


    headache. The wounds that were not so serious had begun to ache.


    As soon as she woke up, her face became much haggard.


    Habitually turning on his phone, there was a WhatsApp message on it. Nora thought it was from


    Sheldon. When she opened it, it came from the "Number one in the world" on the top of WhatsApp.


    "Morning, worry. How are you feeling now? Does the wound still hurt? How are the people in the


    hospital treating you? Did they neglect you?"


    Nora looked at the line above, his heart warm, did not expect that a child would be so considerate.


    "Who is it?" Penelope saw that she rarely smiled and couldn''t help but lean over. Seeing the series of


    concerned questions above, he couldn''t help but smirk and question her. "Tsk tsk, what''s wrong with


    you? Someone is chasing you? Then Sheldon must feel a little dangerous and treat you better."


    "What are you talking about... This is the child I saved yesterday. I sent a message to ask if I''m okay."


    "Can a five-year-old type so many words? Are you lying?" Penelope was skeptical and insisted that


    something was wrong with Nora outside.


    Nora couldn''t exin and didn''t want her to have any strange misunderstandings, so she sent a


    WhatsApp message for Easton to send a voice message.


    After typing, he didn''t expect that he woulde back immediately. Nora urged Penelope to wash up.


    He looked like he was going to ask for leave, but Penelope still had to go to work. It would be toote if


    he didn''t hurry up.


    Soon, the two of them finished washing up and Nora came back. Easton''s message had already been


    sent several times. Apart from the voice she requested, the rest of them had been asking why she


    hadn''t returned.


    It was a series of blockbusters, almost brushing the screen.


    "What''s wrong? You want to hear this young master''s gorgeous voice? Then satisfy yourself. Who


    made you a patient?"


    Don''t worry. Easton''s deep voice couldn''t hide her childishness. Penelope believed her and couldn''t


    help but exim, "This kid is pretty good. He can type so many words at the age of five. Is he a


    genius?"


    "The people I''m with say you''re a little genius." Nora sent Penelope''s praise to her truthfully. As


    expected, Easton, who had just been very unhappy that she did not reply in a second, was happy.


    "Really? That''s natural. Genius, that''s my young master."


    Nora looked at his news, as if he could think of his smug little appearance, and couldn''t help but


    chuckle. At this moment, the phone vibrated again. "Is the person with you a man or a woman?"


    Nora looked at this line of words and couldn''t help butugh. This child, would actually ask such a


    question?


    Isn''t it too cute?


    "Well, it''s a secret."


    Nora suddenly became less unhappy and deliberately didn''t tell him to see how he would react.


    Easton''s small face on the other side of the phone suddenly copsed. "No way. Does worry already


    have a boyfriend?"


    Thinking of this, Easton fell on the bed with a look of despair. It was the first time he had a good


    impression of a girl.


    Normally, Easton was precocious and had no interest in the little kids in the kindergarten wearing


    princess dresses. Nora was the only girl he knew that he didn''t hate. He didn''t expect her to have a


    name.


    "Woo woo woo, why is my life so hard..."


    Derek was about to call Easton to dinner when he heard him talking nonsense again. He frowned,


    opened the door and walked in. "What nonsense are you talking about again?"


    He was so well fed and well-fed that he could have whatever he wanted, and yet he was still


    Sure enough, children are too early to be cute.


    "Hmph, you don''t understand. After all, you never understand what love is."


    Easton waved his hand and was about to go out with his phone. Derek picked up the little guy who


    didn''t take him seriously.

 Chapter 301

    Chapter 301


    Nora remembered that the temperature was dropping sharply a few days ago in his city. She wondered


    if he had prepared warm winter clothes.


    "Where are you now? In the hotel? Um~~Your voice. Did you catch a cold?"


    "I''m okay. I just got up early... and caught a slight cold... That''s all." Sheldon''s voice drifted into her ears


    intermittently. It sounded fuzzy and there was the sound of the quilt flipping. Nora was about to say


    something, but he suddenly said in a hurry, "I... have something to deal with. I''ve got to hang up."


    After that, he hung up the phone.


    Nora looked at the dropped call and felt a little confused. What happened to him? Hadn''t he got up yet?


    Was he feeling unwell?


    What happened to those strange sounds just now?


    Sheldon hung up the phone. At this moment, a pair of slender hands stretched out from the quilt with


    which he was covering. She stroke vaguely across his chest and stopped on the man''s shoulder. "Well,


    who was it? It''s so early in the morning. Just checking?"


    The man in the morning couldn''t stand being teased. Sheldon looked up and met the woman''s


    charming slender eyes. Her soft parts were clinging to his chest, stirring his nerves erotically.


    "Are you jealous? You did it on purpose, huh?" Sheldon''s lips curled into a wicked smile and he patted


    Aubrey''s plump buttocks. The force was not heavy. Obviously, it was just for flirting.


    "It''s just fun." Seeing that he was not angry, Aubrey felt bored. When she was about toe down


    from Sheldon''s body, he grabbed her by the waist.


    "Is it fun?"


    "It''s interesting. If that woman had known that you were doing this with me, it would have been even


    more interesting." Aubrey smiled and gently pointed at the man''s chin.


    "Just drop the matter. After all, her design is still in your bag. Soon, your name will be put on it. You


    should save her face for using her design."


    "That''s true... But since I already use her design, I don''t mind using more..." Hearing his words, Aubrey


    went up and kissed the man''s chiseled lips.


    They covered themselves with quilt and immediately had another round of wild sex in the room.


    Nora hung up the phone. Although she was still worried about Sheldon, she was afraid he would be


    angry if she kept calling him. So, she could only hold down the uneasiness in her heart. After washing


    her face, she went back to the ward.


    "What''s wrong? You don''t look good."


    "I''m okay. My wound hurts slightly." Nora suddenly felt very tired and didn''t say much. The two of them


    watched TV for a while and fell asleep.


    A dreamless night.


    Nora did not sleep well. In the middle of the night, the painkillers didn''t work and she had a bad


    headache. Those minor wounds began to ache.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    As soon as she woke up, her face became much haggard.


    When she turned on the phone, a message popped out. Nora thought it was from Sheldon. When she


    opened it, she found the message was from the "I''m the No.1 in the world" on the top of the chat box.


    "Morning, Nora. How are you feeling now? Does the wound still hurt? How are the people in the


    hospital treating you? Did they neglect you?"


    Nora felt warm when reading his words. She did not expect that a child would be so considerate.


    "Who is it?" Penelope saw that she showed a rare smile and couldn''t help but lean over. Seeing many


    thoughtful greetings, she couldn''t help but smirk and tease her. "Well well, do you have an affair?


    Someone is pursuing you? Then Sheldon must have a sense of crisis and treat you better."


    "What are you talking about... This is the child I saved yesterday. He sent a message to ask if I''m


    okay."


    "Can a five-year-old type so many words? Are you kidding?" Penelope was skeptical and insisted that


    Nora had an affair.


    Nora couldn''t make her understood and didn''t want to cause misunderstandings. So she messaged


    Easton and asked him to send a voice message.


    After typing, she didn''t expect that he would send messages back immediately. So Nora urged


    Penelope to wash up. She was going to ask for leave, but Penelope still had to go to work. It would be


    toote if she didn''t hurry up.


    Soon, they finished washing up. When Nora picked up her phone, she found Easton had already sent


    many messages. Apart from the voice message she requested, he had been asking why she hadn''t


    answered him.


    He sent so many messages that they almost covered the screen.


    "Why? Do you want to hear my gorgeous voice? Then satisfy yourself since you are a patient."


    Nora clicked the voice message and heard Easton deliberately mocking the adult with his childish


    voice. Penelope finally believed her and couldn''t help but exim, "This kid is smart. He can type so


    many words at the age of five. Is he a genius?"


    "The person with me says you''re a little genius." Nora sent Penelope''s praise to him truthfully. As


    expected, Easton, who had just been very unhappy that she did not reply in a second, was happy.


    "Really? Of course. Genius, that''s me."


    Nora read his news as if she could think of his smug little appearance. She couldn''t help but chuckle.


    At this moment, the phone vibrated again. "Is the person with you a man or a woman?"


    Nora couldn''t help butugh at this line of words. How could a child ask such a question?


    He was so cute.


    "Well, it''s a secret."


    Nora suddenly became less unhappy. She deliberately didn''t tell him to see how he would react.


    Easton pulled a long face on the other side of the phone suddenly. "Oops. Does Nora already have a


    boyfriend?"


    Thinking of this, Easton fell on the bed with a look of despair. It was the first time he had a good


    impression of a girl.


    Easton was precocious. He had no interest in the little girls wearing princess dresses in the


    kindergarten. Nora was the only girl that he didn''t hate. He didn''t expect her to have a boyfriend.


    "Woo woo woo, why is my life so hard..."


    Derek was about to call Easton to dinner when he heard him talking nonsense again. He frowned,


    opened the door, and walked in. "What nonsense are you talking about again?"


    He was well fed and well dressed that he could have whatever he wanted. But he was stillining.


    How would others live on this earth?


    Sure enough, precocious children were not cute.


    "Hmph, you don''t understand. After all, you never understand what love is."


    Easton waved his hand and was about to go out with his phone. Derek picked up the little guy who


    didn''t take him seriously.

 Chapter 302

    Chapter 302


    "Oh?" Derek narrowed his eyes. He couldn''t bear that a five-year-old brat said that. "You mean, you''re


    crossed in love?"


    Noticing the line on his phone, Derek took it over without being polite. He had a look and saw that it


    was the WhatsApp interface of that woman they met yesterday.


    The man''s eyes darkened as he looked at thest chat record between them.


    Was that woman really with another man?


    Derek suddenly felt ufortable, but he quickly shook his head. How could this be...


    But a woman he just met who saved Easton''s life. How could he have any wrong thoughts about her?


    Derek''s expression darkened, and then he exined his anomaly by saying that he didn''t want his son


    to be unhappy.


    Easton watched as the phone was snatched away helplessly. "Hey, dad, you''re viting my privacy.


    Give me back my phone!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Derek realized how strange his actions were, but he did not


    immediately return the phone to Easton.


    Easton''s bulging cheeks showed how unhappy he was. Derek saw that and persuaded, "Go out for


    breakfast and finish your milk, then I''ll return your phone to you."


    Easton is a picky eater, and he hates milk. Now Derek took hold of him, and his tone was an obvious


    threatening.


    "You... You''re amusing your power and bullying me!" Easton had no choice. He hated drinking milk all


    his life. He tried to escape every time, but this time he was caught in a vital position. He was almost


    wronged to death.


    "Hmm? You don''t want your phone anymore?" Derek ignored his little protest. "If you don''t finish your


    breakfast, don''t bother me."


    As he spoke, he took Easton''s precious cell phone with great ease, leaving him alone in front of the


    table to eat the vegetables and milk he did not like.


    When he walked into the study, Derek called the head of the hospital directly and confirmed that the


    visitor was a woman. His gloomy expression eased a little.


    His fingers moved on the screen. "It''s a woman."


    On the other side of the phone, Nora looked at the strange message. After thinking about it, she


    answered truthfully, "You''re right. It''s a friend of mine. It''s a girl."


    Seeing the message, Derek''s tense lips rxed a little. "You are alone there. Are you getting bored?


    Where''s your family?"


    Nora thought about it. She was in a special situation, and she didn''t want to talk to a five-year-old child


    about it. "Well... My family is out of town. They can''te back. It''s not a big deal anyway, so don''t


    worry about them."


    Derek was shocked to see that she was a little lonely in these few lines.


    She was hurt, but she held on and didn''t talk to her family. Should say that she was strong enough or


    didn''t even dare to rely on others?


    "If I have time, I''ll go see you." Derek replied, "If there''s anything you need right now, you can tell the


    staff over there directly. If someone neglects you, just tell me."


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Nora looked at this long message in a daze, not sure if it was an illusion. She always felt that the tone


    did not sound like a five-year-old child. Although Easton usually liked to pretend to be an adult but he


    was not so overbearing.


    Could it be Derek?


    A secondter, Nora shook her head vigorously. She had gone to check on Derek yesterday. He was a


    busy CEO. How could he have extra time to send text messages to a small potato like her?


    After a while, Nora thought of a serious problem. "You''d better note. What if you''re in danger


    again? Your family can''t afford to go through this."


    Derek frowned. At this moment, the door of the study was pushed open by a pair of small hands.


    Easton wiped the milk stains on his mouth with his sleeve and came over to take his phone back. "I''ve


    finished eating. If you don''t believe me, go check it. Give me my phone."


    Derek didn''t y with him anymore. He gave him his phone back. Easton quickly flipped through the


    message. "Dad, why are you doing this? You''re actually using my WhatsApp to chat with other girls.


    Are you shy?"


    "She is still waiting for your reply." Derek ignored his question.


    "Well... She won''t let me go by myself, I could just get someone toe with me." Easton tilted his


    head. He didn''t think it was a problem at all. There were so many bodyguards at home. It is easy to


    take two people out.


    "No, I couldn''t feel easy." Derek rudely denied it.


    "Then..." Easton was a little speechless. There was nothing to be worried about. The bodyguards of the


    Xaviers were all carefully selected, one of them fights with ten people wouldn''t be a problem, okay?


    "I''ll go with you." Derek picked up a book and looked casually.


    "..." Easton was suddenly choked to the point of being speechless. Why did he feel that his father was


    obviously having a bad motive to do that?" You go, how ufortable I am...


    Easton''s impression of his father was super outstanding, especially awesome, but very boring and


    strict.


    If his father went with him, wouldn''t he be scolded to death again? It would be embarrassing to be


    called around like this in front of a girl.


    "What do you think I will do to you if that thing that happened yesterday repeats?"


    Derek''s expression was unkind. If he dared to do that again, the Old Master would have to strangle him


    to death.


    "Isn''t that an ident?" Easton knew he was in the wrong. "Let me tell her."


    Without saying anything, Derek looked at the little guy''s unwilling face.


    "Don''t worry, my father sent me there. No one dares to challenge him."


    Nora was a little surprised. Wasn''t Derek very busy?


    "Would it be a waste of his time?"


    "Of course not. That''s settled." Easton quickly decided. Seeing that the matter was over, he waved his


    cell phone to Derek. "Since it''s all over, I''ll go back first."


    "Wait a minute." Derek stopped him.


    "So... So what?" Easton felt that he had said nothing good and hid his phone behind him.


    "Give me her contact." Derek spoke very naturally.


    Easton looked at him strangely, then, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly had a bad smile


    and leaned over. "Dad, tell me the truth. Did you take my phone away today because you left a phone


    call yesterday but she didn''t talk to you?"


    The more Easton thought about it, the funnier he felt about it. Yesterday, his handsome father gave her


    a business card and left. As a result, he was ignored...


    Was it that people shouldn''t pretend to be something, or he would be struck by lightning?


    Derek tightened his hand on the spine of the book, then picked up his phone and dialed a number.


    "Hey, I have a disobedient..."


    "No, no, no!" Easton quickly snatched his phone. "It''s okay. He''s joking. Haha."


    After that, he quickly rmended Nora''s WhatsApp to Derek. As he sent it, he couldn''t help but


    <pin, "Isn''t this the so-called bullying..."

 Chapter 303

    Chapter 303


    Derek ignored him. Easton thenined for a while. After seeing that his father didn''t pay any


    attention to him, he grumbled and left the study.


    Derek looked at the woman''s contact information on the phone in a daze for a while. He felt that he


    was a little weird.


    He had not been interested in women for a very long time.


    However, he had the urge to know about this woman named Nora.


    He closed his eyes and felt he could see the woman''s eyes.


    Her eyes were very clean and clear. They were simr to the eyes of Meredith in his memory, but there


    were a little more toughness and vicissitudes in Nora''s eyes.


    But Meredith was gone...


    After Meredith disappeared, Derek spent a lot of time and energy searching for her whereabouts but


    only found an unimed female corpse on the river bank.


    At that time, he almost broke down, but because of Easton, Derek was not struck down.


    He even recovered faster than the people in the Xaviers had expected.


    But only he knew that at the moment Meredith''s body was buried, his heart died with her.


    In this life, he would never fall in love with another woman.


    This was supposed to be the case. Derek thought it was a punishment for him. But his thoughts now


    wavered because of Nora.


    Derek thought about it and called Damian to find out where this woman came from.


    Nora was bored as she stayed in the ward.


    She had called Sheldon in the morning, but Sheldon didn''t call back. She didn''t know if he was busy or


    felt ufortable.


    She was a little worried that he was in trouble abroad.


    Just as she was staring at the nk wall, her phone rang.


    She took a quick look and thought it was Sheldon''s message, but it was a request to add someone to


    her friends.


    De...Derek?


    Nora shook her head, wondering if she was in a daze.


    He had so many things to do every day, but he actually took the initiative to add her...


    It was unbelievable.


    However, Nora thought about it. Maybe it was about Easton. She didn''t think too much and quickly


    added him to her friends.


    Seeing that she had added him to her friends, Derek quickly went to see her Moments, only to find that


    Nora didn''t share anything in her Moments. There were no traces of her life in her Moments.


    "Can I help you?"


    Nora asked cautiously as she found that Derek didn''t send any message.


    She really didn''t know what he was thinking.


    "Nothing."


    Derek replied calmly, "Easton is going to visit you, probably tomorrow. Is it convenient for you?"


    Nora thought about it and found that she had nothing to do. "It''s ok."


    "That''s good."


    Derek replied politely. At this moment, Damian sent over the documents he was looking for.


    It could not be regarded as the documents as there was only one resume.


    Damian reported on the other end of the phone, "I''m sorry, boss, although thepany''s intelligence


    system was used to investigate,... Miss Gray seems to have a lot behind her. Other than this resume,


    there is no information we can find."


    Damian also found it strange as the Xaviers''s intelligencework was the best. It was a piece of cake


    to use thework to find out a person''s background. If the document was not deliberately hidden, it


    would only take a few minutes to find out a person''s background thoroughly.


    Even the interpersonal rtionships that a person had from birth to adulthood could be found.


    However, there was no information about Miss Gray at all. Her past was like a nk sheet of paper.


    "Fine..."


    Derek nced at the resume. There was only an identification photo and some very ordinary words on


    it. It looked like that there was nothing interesting and special about it.


    However, Derek quickly found something unusual. There was no information about her on her resume


    before she started to work.


    There was no academic qualification or her educational background on it.


    Normally, people would write this information down on their resumes.


    Derek frowned. "I got it. Keep investigating. Let me know if you find anything new."


    Damian nodded and hung up.


    Derek then picked up the piece of paper and nced at the chat screen. "Miss Gray, may I ask which


    university you are from?"


    Nora was watching TV, and when she saw Derek ask this, she looked embarrassed.


    What did he mean? Did Derek have to know anything about her, even her educational background,


    before making friends with her?


    It seemed that...she really had no educational background...


    Nora lost her memory after she woke up. How could such a thing be remembered? Although Sheldon


    had mentioned that she could be arranged to continue her studies at university or get a diploma


    directly, she still refused.


    "I''m sorry, but there shouldn''t be any need to tell you."


    Seeing her answer, Derek felt weirder.


    "I don''t mean anything else. I''m just a little curious."


    Derek did not continue to ask, but in his heart, he was looking forward to the meeting tomorrow.


    If they met face to face, he should be able to get more information.


    The sound of Aubrey taking a bath woke Sheldon up.


    Sheldon then remembered things about Nora.


    He looked a little impatient, then picked up his phone and called.


    If it weren''t for the fact that this woman was still of some use, he really didn''t want to keep pretending.


    Thinking of something, Sheldon gloomily took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, and smoked hard.


    However, by the time they got married, with that woman''s personality, she would probably be delicate


    to him, so he probably wouldn''t have to y those boring dramas with her anymore.


    Thinking about it, Sheldon smiled and the phone rang a few times before it was put through.


    Nora was relieved to see that it was Sheldon calling. It seemed that he was not in any trouble, but at


    the same time, there was a feeling of unease in her heart.


    Hailey''s words still echoed in her ears.


    She couldn''t hide her situation. Sheldon was her savior. Requiting kindness with enmity was not her


    style.


    "What''s wrong? When you called today, I was a little ufortable. Did you run into any trouble?"


    After the call was put through, Sheldon did not show any impatience, but asked gently.


    However,pared to his indifferent expression at the moment, the warm voice made people feel


    extremely discordant.


    "Are you okay?"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    As soon as Nora heard that Sheldon was not feeling well, she immediately became concerned about


    Sheldon and even forgot to mention that she was still in the hospital.


    "Nothing."


    Nora heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Sheldon say that. Then, she bit her lips and said, "You


    may find it hard to ept what I am about to say, but no matter what your answer is, I will ept it."

 Chapter 304

    Chapter 304


    Sheldon frowned slightly. "Go ahead."


    "Sheldon, the premarital examination shows that I was pregnant before and even gave birth to a child.


    But I didn''t know it before. So, our engagement..."


    It was difficult for Nora to say it word by word. She was so brave to tell him.


    She didn''t want to be disliked, especially Sheldon, who had always helped and supported her. If he


    hated her, she could rely on nobody in the world...


    Sheldon was silent for a moment. He shook the cigarette. He was annoyed for a moment but he said


    gently: "Nora, don''t worry. Since I proposed to marry you, I''ll ept all of you. I don''t care about your


    past."


    Nora felt calm when she heard his voice. She was stunned at first and then couldn''t help crying.


    She felt that she was really lucky to meet him, who gave her a new like and tolerate everything about


    her.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    "If you''re worried that it might hurt me, it doesn''t matter..."


    Nora was still unsure, so she spoke again.


    "No. I''ve told you that I don''t care about your past. No matter who you were in the past, I''ll still marry


    you."


    After hearing it, Nora suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, she felt a little guilty.


    She should have confidence in Sheldon, who had been with her for five years.


    "Are you relieved now?"


    Sheldon spoke again. Nora nodded, "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have doubted you."


    Sheldonforted her with a few more words. And then he hung up the phone and threw it casually by


    the bed.


    At this moment, Aubrey, who had a bash, came out with a mocking smile on her face. She said: "I


    almost believe what you said. You said that no matter what happened to her, you would ept it. You


    sounded so affectionate..."


    Aubrey sneered at the woman who called Sheldon. She didn''t know Sheldon at all and thought that he


    loved her wholeheartedly. But she didn''t know what he did when she couldn''t see him.


    "Hehe, didn''t I do it for you?"


    Sheldon looked at Aubrey''s enchanting figure. He could sniff the fragrance of her body after the bath.


    He was passionate.


    Five years ago, Nora was saved by his uncle instead of him. His uncle, who he rarely met, sent her


    here.


    About 90 percent of the Joneses''s assets were managed by this uncle. So he did not dare to neglect


    the woman he entrusted to him.


    After all, his uncle didn''t get married for some reason and had no heir. If he could please her, he would


    be likely to inherit the huge fortune of the Joneses.


    The woman who was entrusted by his uncle especially must be important. Although he didn''t know


    where she was from, he courted her directly. So his uncle, who knew it, affirmed him by rewarding him


    apany.


    Although he didn''t know the rtionship between his uncle and her, he was sure that he would be


    rewarded if he could marry her. So he pretended to be a good boyfriend and tolerated her.


    He had a fewpanies and some spare money, so he was not satisfied with staying with only a


    woman.


    With the excuse of going abroad to work, he started to court beautiful women in ces where Nora


    didn''t know about.


    Aubrey was one of them. She is a domestic famous designer and beauty. It took him great efforts to


    pursue her.


    But unexpectedly, she was moved by Nora''s design draft.


    At first, Nora insisted on finding a job to earn money to support herself. So Sheldon casually found a


    friend, who worked on the design and sent her to his studio. He thought that she was in a state of


    amnesia and she would just kill the time casually.


    However, she was unexpectedly outstanding. Although she had no foundation, she was very diligent


    and had the talent of designing at the same time.


    And Aubrey happened to need someone who had no fame and could be easily manipted. They hit it


    off. So they became lovers and exchanged Nora''s design draft for their benefit.


    "You know exactly who it is for." Aubrey chuckled. She wouldn''t believe Sheldon''s sweet words.


    However, she had run out of ideas. So she needed to maintain her reputation with Nora''s draft. They


    were just getting what they need.


    "Ask her to change the subject next time. I need something shy to take part in apetition."


    Aubrey sat on Sheldon''sp. He was passionate, so he picked her up and threw her on the bed...


    Nora, who was in another country, naturally did not know what happened in the distance. She was just


    touched by Sheldon''s promise and affirmation.


    How could she be unsatisfied when she met such a man?


    Perhaps, she should be courageous to face the possible troubles.

 Chapter 305

    Chapter 305


    The next morning, Easton didn''t stay in bed but got up early and began to rummage through his closet.


    While he was changing his clothes, he asked Nanny Zhang, who was taking care of him, to look at him.


    "How about this?"


    "It''s pretty."


    "What about this?"


    "Little Young Master looks good in anything."


    Nanny Zhang was telling the truth. Although Easton was a child now, he looked quite good. His hair


    was a little longer now and he had a white and tender face with delicate facial features, so he looked


    like a doll from a distance.


    "That''s true."


    Hearing Nanny Zhang''s praise, Easton was in a good mood, but looking at the clothes and


    essories, he still had difficulty choosing.


    Thest time he saw Nora, he was running away. He was so disheveled that he didn''t show his face or


    temperament. This time, he had to dress up to attract her attention and make Nora look at him in a new


    light.


    With that in mind, Easton ran back to his bedroom, rummaging around for suitable clothes again.


    Derek was awakened by the sound of his running footsteps. He frowned and sat up.


    Derek was a light sleeper. Derek looked at the time and it was not even eight o''clock. It was not like


    that brat''s character. Easton always stayed in bed until noon.


    The man lifted the quilt and walked out with his hands on his forehead, only to see Easton looking at


    himself in the mirror.


    "What are you doing?"


    Easton ignored what he said and ran up to Derek, looking at him with eager eyes. "Does this suit look


    good? Dad, you seem to have a matching suit. Shall we wear parent-child clothes?"


    Derek looked at his little face, which is full of expectation, and snorted coldly. "Why did you suddenly


    think of wearing parent-child clothes? Are you... excited today?"


    "Do you forget what we''re going to do today?"


    Easton saw Derek leave with a cold face, so Easton was anxious.


    Easton couldn''t go to the hospital alone. If Derek forgot about it, wouldn''t it be a waste of time for


    Easton to prepare for all of this?


    "Go to the hospital, I remember."


    Derek picked up his coffee and took a sip. After the bitter taste had driven away some of his


    sleepiness, the man opened the newspaper and answered faintly. His voice was a little sexy and


    hoarse, which was particrly alluring.


    "You''re not going to give a performance. Do you need to wear like this?"


    Easton was teased, so he blushed. "Why not? Huh, you don''t understand. How can I be careless to


    meet my favored girl? I must be at my best condition anytime and anywhere."


    After that, Easton stopped talking to Derek and hid in his room to find something.


    This man, like an inhuman iceberg, couldn''t understand.


    Derek''s fingers, which were flipping through the newspaper, paused and hesitated for a moment before


    he believed what he had heard was correct.


    This brat was actually talking about his favored girl?


    They only met once in all.


    Easton looked lively, but Derek knew his character best that this boy was definitely not the kind of


    person who would easily ept someone.


    Especially for those women who wanted to marry Derek and be his stepmother, Easton resisted


    more than anyone.


    But now, he liked Nora very much.


    Was it a coincidence?


    Derek remembered the strange feeling when he saw that woman, and frowned. That woman had


    indeed aroused his curiosity and interest.


    After a while, Derek walked into Easton''s room and saw that he was still struggling with what to wear.


    "Go to have breakfast."


    Easton looked at him a little unhappily. "Dad, please wear that suit. When we go out together, we''ll be


    eye-catching. Then Nora will definitely look at me more."


    This brat...


    Derek''s eyebrows twitched, but when he looked at Easton''s eager eyes, he did not refuse. "You go to


    eat breakfast first. If you are not picky about the food today, I will agree."


    Easton grinned happily. "I got it. I''ll go right now!"


    After that, Easton ran out briskly.


    Derek looked at his back and couldn''t help shaking his head, but he rarely saw Easton so happy.


    During Easton''s growth, although Derek apanied him, took good care of him, tried his best to give


    him the best things, and never told him about his mother, a child of a few years old was sensitive after


    all.


    Easton didn''t say anything about the fact that he didn''t have a mother since he was a child, but Easton


    still felt it.


    In particr, when Easton was in kindergarten, other children had their parents to pick them up, but he


    didn''t have. Derek saw Easton''s disappointment, but he didn''t know what to do.


    No matter how much he tried to make up for it, he could not rece the role of a mother.


    Maybe it''s not a bad thing for Easton to get in touch with Nora?


    Thinking about it, Derek went back to his room and found the suit as Easton had said.


    Just as Derek was done, Easton ran in and saw Derek change into the suit he wanted. He couldn''t help


    nodding and giving a thumbs-up.


    "Nice, you look really handsome, but you''re still a little less handsome than me."


    With that, he took Derek''s hand and walked out.


    "Nanny Zhang, we''re noting back for dinner today."


    Easton had already arranged for a whole day''s journey. He said it carelessly and got into the car


    obediently.


    Derek nced at him. "I didn''t say I wanted to go out with you for a whole day."


    Did he learn to act first and report afterwards?


    "Ha-ha, I''ve already made a n. Look."


    Easton grinned and showed Derek his n.


    The man shook his head when he saw his n. It wrote that he would go to y and eat snacks that


    he had never eaten before. He was still a child.


    "Dad, you usually don''t have time to go out with me, so this time we can go to y by the way~"


    Easton''s words made Derek deep in thought. Derek was indeed busy and rarely took him around, so it


    was normal that Easton would think so.


    "Just this once."


    Derek said faintly and started the car.


    Easton then happily put away his things and instructed Derek to buy some things ording to the road


    map he had nned. Then Derek drove to the hospital.


    When the two of them arrived, Nora was drawing a script.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Although she was being treated in the hospital, she was never idle. So when Sheldon suddenly said


    that he wanted her to help make a gorgeous design, she would not shirk it. She took a pen and paper


    and started to draft.


    "Nora, I''m here."


    Hearing Easton''s voice, Nora raised her head and looked at the father and son at the door. She was


    stunned at the moment.

 Chapter 306

    Chapter 306


    Although she knew that the father and son had always been outstanding in appearance, she was still


    surprised when she saw them.


    The adult and the kid had very simr delicate facial features, especially when they were wearing


    parent-child clothes. They were carved from the same mold, like some elegant artwork. So it was


    natural that people were unable to take their eyes off. People found themselves envious of the father


    and son.


    "Nora, are you feeling better?"


    Seeing Nora looking like she was wandering in her dream, Easton came over with an unnatural blush


    and put the roses on the table. "I bought them for you specially."


    Nora was so infatuated that she actually looked at the father and son absent-mindedly, lowered her


    head awkwardly, and coughed to hide her absent-mindedness.


    She sensed the fragrance of roses came, then she nodded quickly. "Thank you."


    She didn''t expect Easton to be so considerate. After all, he was just a little kid. Nora immediately


    became more fond of him and took the flowers over.


    Easton looked at her holding the roses he had bought and did not know what to say for a moment.


    Although he had prepared a lot of opening remarks, now his tongue seemed to be knotted and he


    suddenly could not say anything.


    Nora carefully ced the flowers on the table. Only then did Easton see a drawing in her hand. He was


    immediately attracted and walked over to read it.


    "What is this? Did you draw it?"


    Seeing that Easton seemed interested in her drawing, Nora nodded. "What do you think?"


    It was a draft of her design. Since it was not finished yet, it still looked exquisite, and the various lines


    were also messy.


    So, Nora only asked casually.


    Easton thought it was a good opportunity for them to bond and quickly took Nora''s drawing board over


    and looked at it carefully.


    Nora looked at his serious expression and thought it was funny. "If you think it''s messy, you can tell me


    directly. I won''t be angry."


    "No, it''s not messy at all. I think it''s very nice and the color is very bright. It makes people feel better


    when they see it."


    Easton said seriously. Although he was still young, he had received elite education since he was


    young. Not only in terms of learning, but also in terms of aesthetic appreciation. He really thought the


    painting was beautiful.


    "Really?"


    Hearing Easton say this, Nora became very happy. Children would not lie. Since he thought it was


    good, then it was good indeed.


    Derek frowned when he saw the two of them talking, as if he waspletely invisible in front of this


    woman.


    The man coughed softly. When Nora heard the sound, she looked over and realized that Derek had


    been standing at the door.


    She hadpletely ignored this person''s existence...


    Nora couldn''t help but admire herself. She was really good.


    However, for Derek, Nora always had an inexplicable sense of resistance. She always felt that nothing


    good would happen if she got too close to this person, so she just smiled apologetically and nodded at


    Derek.


    "Mr. Xavier, if you''re busy, you can leave first. I''ll keep an eye on Easton."


    Nora was thinking that a president of a group like Derek, making millions every minute, should not have


    time to stay here with such a small person like her. The reason he stayed here was that he was worried


    about Easton''s safety.


    However, this was a hospital. The security was very strict and there should be no big problem. Besides,


    his being here also made her feel very ufortable. As a result, she subconsciously said so.


    Derek''s brows furrowed even tighter when he heard her words, especially when Easton couldn''t help


    butugh when he heard that his father, who had always been popr with women, was so neglected.


    Derek felt a sense of being disdained.


    "Are you driving me away?"


    Derek sounded angry.


    Nora was immediately embarrassed and quickly waved her hand, although... She was hoping that the


    big shot in front of her would leave as soon as possible, but it seemed... Impolite to be spoken so


    bluntly?


    "Well, no, I was just afraid of wasting your time."


    Nora quickly exined, but the man''s face did not soften because of her exnation. Instead, he was


    a little more unhappy. "My time is not so tight. Don''t worry."


    Nora felt embarrassed for a moment. "Well, it was just a suggestion.."


    After being swept by Derek''s eyes, Nora smiled awkwardly to ease the awkwardness. The man looked


    at her carefully and his expression softened.


    He was still muttering to himself. What did he do? When facing this woman, he was already very polite.


    Why did she look so afraid of himself?


    Seeing Nora''s uneasy expression, Derek looked away from her and did not force her to do anything


    more. Then, he looked at Easton, who was still smiling.


    Because it was rare for him to see his high and mighty father being treated like this, he was very happy


    in his heart, but when that cold gaze stopped on him, Easton immediately shivered and calmed down.


    "Hehe, dad, do you want to see the painting of Nora?"


    With that said, Easton handed over the painting in his hand, and Nora suddenly felt embarrassed.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Although her design draft had improved a lotpared to the amateur handwriting at the beginning,


    she was still not confident that it would make Derek feel satisfied.


    When she thought of this, she reached out her hand and tried to get the drawing back, but Derek easily


    avoided her hand. The man''s hand gently brushed over her arm. It was just a soft touch, but Nora


    suddenly withdrew her hand. Her originally fair face turned red.


    The feeling just now was so strange... At that moment, it was as if she had been in contact with him


    countless times, causing her heart to beat wildly.


    Derek was unaware of her emotional reaction. He held the design in his hand, and loosened his slightly


    furrowed brows.


    He had always been picky, and for such things, he had always been straightforward, so it is impossible


    for him to give some good evaluation against his will.


    But this design...


    Although the overall picture was a little messy, it had a very unique design. The messy colors


    crisscrossed the ne, but they did not make people feel dazzled. Instead, it had a new sense of visual


    explosion.


    This should not be something a novice can do, at least this woman was quite capable of drawing.


    "Not bad."

 Chapter 307

    Chapter 307


    "Nora, my father rarely admires people, especially women. You are the first one." Easton winked at her.


    Nora also felt happy, after all, a powerful man like Derek must have good taste. His appreciation meant


    at least her work was approved.


    Derek nced at the two of them, and then said, "The overall structure is good, but there are many


    details that need to be improved, and there are still shorings. What is the theme of your design?"


    She didn''t understand why he asked this question, but she answered, "There''s no theme. It''s to design


    a gorgeous dress."


    Derek raised his eyebrows, took the pen, and pointed at a few ces in the design.


    "On the neckline, you can cut two inches on both sides."


    "If you want to hold the skirt out, you have to buckle it up on both sides of the waist. The effect will be


    more obvious and safer."


    "Your design is a long dress. Decoration only needs to be added on the hem of the dress. In other


    ces, it''s better to focus on the design and be simple and generous."


    "And..."


    Nora was stunned. She had never expected Derek to have such a professional understanding on


    design. As expected, not everyone could be the president.


    She took a look at the design draft. After Derek''s exnation, the vague outline of the structure in her


    mind gradually became clear.


    "Mr. Xavier, thank you so much. This design is in a hurry. You solved a big problem for me," She


    thanked sincerely.


    Easton sat by the bed, swaying his legs proudly. "Nora, do you think my father is damn good?"


    Nora nodded and smiled, "Mr. Xavier has a wide range of knowledge. He''s really something."


    He held his head high and waved his hand. "It''s a piece of cake. Look at me. An ordinary man can''t


    give birth to such a handsome, outstanding, smart and cute child like me."


    Derek, "..." For the first time, he felt a little ashamed of his son.


    Nora chuckled, but she agreed with the little guy in her heart. He was really cute. She couldn''t help but


    touch his head in a very gentle way.


    Easton was stunned and suddenly ufortable. He moved his butt awkwardly on the bed, coughed


    softly, looked at his father, and immediately changed the subject.


    "Dad, we''re here so early. I''m sure Nora hasn''t had breakfast yet. Go buy some."


    Nora was shocked. She didn''t dare to order Derek around. If she really ate the food Derek bought, she


    was worried that she would choke and have indigestion. She waved her hand to reject immediately.


    "No, thank you. I''ve already eaten. I''m not hungry."


    The little guy refused to give up, and took an apple from the fruit te and stuffed it into Derek''s hand,


    "Then daddy, please peel an apple for Nora. It''s good for her health to eat the fruit after breakfast."


    Derek didn''t know what his son was up to, but after looking at Nora, he took the fruit knife and began to


    peel it.


    Nora saw that he had already started to deal with the apple, and it was not good to keep refusing, so


    she could only wait awkwardly.


    His long, slender fingers were dealing with the apple regrly. Soon, the thin apple peel fell off


    "Daddy, girls have tiny mouths. It''s inconvenient and rude to eat such a big apple. You have to cut it


    into small pieces."


    Derek narrowed his eyes and asked slowly, "Do you want me to feed her personally after I cut it into


    pieces?"


    Easton nodded naturally. "Of course. Nora safe me, and she''s sick now. It''s our responsibility to take


    care of her."


    Nora was frightened by them. She was afraid that Derek would really feed her, so she immediately


    grabbed the apple and twitched her mouth stiffly.


    "Don''t bother. I''ll help myself. Thank you, Mr. Xavier."


    After she finished, she immediately took a big bite of the apple, as if to prove it. However...


    Nora coughed.


    Her face turned red as she coughed. She said to herself speechlessly in her heart, "Well, as expected,


    what I said came true and I was choked."


    Easton panicked and patted her on the back to calm her down. "Nora, are you okay?"


    She waved her hand and took a deep breath, "It''s okay. I just choked."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    The little guy immediately pursed his lips and looked at her as if he was saying I told you before, "What


    did I say just now? My father should feed you."


    Derek took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over.


    Nora looked at the delicate and high-end handkerchief in front of her with a gold-lined border and a


    magnificent character in the corner of it. She was going to refuse immediately.


    But Easton took it to wipe her mouth directly.


    She froze, and the faint fragrance slid into her nostrils, making her feel an inexplicable sense of


    familiarity. Her heart beat rapidly, and her cheeks couldn''t help but turn red.


    Easton found out, blinked his big eyes, looked at Nora''s blushing face and then at his father, frowned,


    and thought of something, jumped off the bed and looked at Nora again with a serious face.


    "Nora, although my father is very handsome, he is not young now. I am different. I am still young. When


    I grow up, I will definitely be more handsome than my father. By then, my father will be old. You will find


    that I am the perfect match for you."


    Nora looked at him in a daze, feeling a little messy. What did she hear just now?


    Derek''s face darkened and he red at his son. He had the urge to throw him out. He couldn''t help but


    frown, "What nonsense are you talking about? Shut up."


    He looked at Nora. "Miss Gray, just ignore what he said."


    Nora nodded silently, and she thought so.


    Easton was not convinced, but under Derek''s cold eyes, with his face corded, he gave in shamefully.


    The little guy was sulking for a while, and his mind began to liven up again. He had made a n today,


    so how could he spend the whole day in this room?


    "Nora, let''s go out and y. You stay in this room all day long, and you need to go out and get some


    fresh air."


    Nora looked at him with some difficulty. She didn''t want to go out. To be more precise, she didn''t want


    to go out with Derek.


    Although she liked Easton very much, she knew the situation very well. She had only saved the child


    by ident. In fact, she was not very familiar with Derek and his son.


    Coupled with the inexplicable alert to Derek from the bottom of her heart, she resisted even more.


    "You two go have fun, and I won''t go with you."


    Easton couldn''t agree. He begged her so many times and even acted coquettishly. Seeing that Nora


    was still indifferent, he pinched his arm ruthlessly and his big eyes were instantly misty.


    "Nora, do you not like me?"


    Nora''s heart ached at his sad face. "Why? I like you."


    "Then you won''t even go out with me. You''re lying to me."


    Pouting his mouth, he was about to cry. He thought to himself that his cool character setting was


    ruined. Damn it.

 Chapter 308

    Chapter 308


    Nora didn''t know how to deal with it, and in the end, her heart melted and she agreed. Derek watched


    the whole scene and didn''t want to say anything about his son''s acting skills. Instead, this woman...


    He looked at her, and the unusual and familiar feeling appeared again. He could not help but frown.


    Easton''s first stop was an amusement park that all children wanted to go to. Derek was usually busy


    and had nevere with him to y there. Today, he could take this time to make up for it.


    The amusement park was very big and many parents brought their children to y there. Surrounded


    by children''sughter and looking at the innocent smiling faces of the children, she felt much more


    rxed.


    "Dad, there are cameras for rent over there. Please rent one for me. I want to take a picture with Nora."


    He would always agree to his son''s reasonable demands.


    Not long after Derek left, Easton met an acquaintance who was his kindergarten ssmate.


    Unfortunately, the rtionship between them was not good.


    "Easton, I didn''t expect you toe here too." He said in a young voice, with a little arrogance.


    Nora turned around and saw a dandified woman walking over with a fat boy. His words showed


    obviously they know each other.


    Easton''s face stiffened and he was clearly unhappy. He snorted. "The amusement park isn''t owned by


    your family. Of course I cane whenever I want to."


    The fat boy pursed his lips and grimaced at him. As if he thought of something, he immediately hugged


    his mother''s arm and smiled smugly.


    "My mother came with me today. I''m not like you. You don''t even have a mother. How can youe to


    the amusement park without feeling ashamed? Humph."


    The little boy said in a naive way, but what he said was really hurtful. Nora could not help but frown. For


    some reason, when she heard someone say that Easton didn''t have a mother, she felt inexplicable


    anger and bitterness in her heart.


    She looked at Easton''s small face, which had be very tense, and his big eyes, which were always


    bright but suddenly shed with lonely emotions in the moment. Her heart ached.


    Although she didn''t know what the fat boy meant by "don''t have a mother," she didn''t want to see the


    little guy like this.


    Nora held Easton in her arms without hesitation and looked at the fat boy. "Little boy, I''m Easton''s


    mother. What you said just now is very impolite. You can''t say that anymore."


    The fat boy was stunned as if he didn''t believe Easton could have a mother all of a sudden.


    Easton looked at her in a daze, then put his arms around her neck and looked at the fat boy and


    shouted, "Who said I don''t have a mother? Do you see it? This is my mother."


    As he spoke, he began to be smug again and cast a disdainful nce at the fat boy, "My mother is


    much prettier than your mother. Do you know why you are so fat? This is a gic problem, don''t you


    know? Of course you don''t know, you stupid boy."


    The corner of Nora''s mouth twitched. When she saw the fat boy''s mother''s livid face, she immediately


    apologized and pped Easton on the butt.


    She finally realized that the little guy didn''t know to stop when it should stop.


    Easton, who was warned, immediately became obedient.


    After the fat boy and his mother left, Nora breathed a sigh of relief and turned around only to see Derek


    looking at the two of them.


    She thought of what she had just done and did not know how long he had been looking at them. She


    put Easton down awkwardly and hesitated to exin.


    Derek didn''t give her a chance to exin. He looked at Easton and asked, "What do you want to y?"


    The little guy immediately took out his n paper and began to y one by one. Just one morning, the


    three of them yed a lot of projects.


    Although they were all children''s games, Nora still found them quite interesting.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    At lunch, Derek suddenly said, "Easton, apologize to Miss Gray."


    The two of them were stunned and looked at him nkly.


    Derek said faintly, "Miss Gray is not married yet. It will damage Miss Gray''s reputation if you take her


    as your mother in front of others. You can''t do this anymore."


    Easton pouted unhappily and did not speak.


    Nora immediately said, "It''s not Easton''s fault. It was my idea. I didn''t think too much at the time. Mr.


    Xavier, if it bothered you, I''m sorry. It won''t happen again."


    Derek kept looking at her till it made Nora''s toes curl, and then he slowly said, "So Miss Gray


    volunteered to do so. If that''s the case, then it''s nothing."


    Hmm?


    Nora was a little stunned. Did he mind or not? She did not understand, but she did not intend to


    continue this topic.


    In the afternoon, Easton''s amusement park n was aplished except one


    thing, the haunted house.


    Nora frowned a little. "Forget it, and there''s an age requirement."


    The notice on the side did indicate that it was best for children under 12 not to participate. She also felt


    that it was better for children not to experience this.


    However, Easton had to y. He patted his little chest, "Nora, it''s okay. If you''re scared, hold my hand.


    I''ll protect you."


    Nora: "..."


    Derek didn''t care. He knew his son well enough and knew that a haunted house was not scary enough


    to scare him.


    Two to one, the majority obeyed the minority, Nora could only agree.


    After paying the money, he went into the haunted house. As everyone thought, the light was very dim


    inside.


    The surrounding walls were uneven, with piles of skeletons stacked in the corners, and spiders


    crawling on the walls.


    Because it was too realistic, Nora was not sure if it was real or not at the moment. To be honest, she


    was afraid of these insects and couldn''t help swallowing out of fear.


    Easton walked carelessly, not only kicking over the pile of skeletons, but also picking up a spider from


    the wall and looking it over and over holding its ws.


    Nora''s blood froze as she looked at the spider in his hand which was still writhing.


    "Dad, there''s a sensor in it. It''s not realistic at all." Easton pursed his lips and threw the spider away


    with disdain.


    The three of them walked straight ahead and entered a room. There were several iron beds in the


    room, and there were ''people'' on each bed.


    As they entered, one of the ''people'' on the bed came towards them. Nora couldn''t help but be startled


    and let out a short cry.


    "Nora, don''t be afraid. Look at me."


    Easton immediately put his small arms and legs into a standard fighting posture. Then he turned


    around abruptly, raised his legs, and kicked the ''person'' who came over directly to the ground.


    After he finished the kick, he turned to Derek to ask for merit smugly, "Dad, how about the kick?"


    Derekmented lightly, "The speed is barely enough, but the strength is not enough."


    The little guy could not help but pout and became unhappy.


    Nora suddenly widened her eyes and pointed to the front. "It, it, it stands up again."


    The quality of this haunted house was actually very good. The props inside were made very lifelike, just


    like this ''person'' in front of them. Just now, after being kicked down by the little guy, it even let out a


    muffled hum, just like a real person.

 Chapter 309

    Chapter 309


    As it turned out, the ghost was a human.


    Seeing that Easton was about to attack him again, he took a few steps back and coughed. "Don''t kick


    me! I''m human."


    Nora frowned. She knew that some haunted houses would arrange staff to pretend to be ghosts to


    scare tourists for the excitement and yer''s experience.


    But this amusement park was obviously opened for children. If the owner of this haunted house


    arranged a fake ghost, it would be inappropriate. What if the child was frightened?


    Easton was not surprised at all. When he kicked the ghost just now, he knew it was a human. He


    pped his hands, then stood in front of him with his hands on his hips.


    "I don''t care what you are. You are working here, then you are a ghost. You have to act like a real


    ghost. But you revealed that you are fake. It''s too unprofessional. I must report it to your boss and let


    him deduct your sry."


    She suddenly felt a little pity for the ghost worker.


    "Please don''t. Kid, you''re awesome. I can''t resist at all."


    Easton raised his eyebrows proudly. "Really?"


    The staff immediately praised, "Of course, you are the most awesome little boy I have ever seen."


    "I''m not a little boy! I''m not little! Call me master."


    Nora twitched her lips,pletely speechless.


    Derek frowned and shouted, "Easton."


    Easton pursed his lips for being warned, then let go of the poor staff. Later, the three of them continued


    to walk forward.


    At a corner, the light suddenly dimmed.


    Nora suddenly felt something on her shoulder. She patted it with her hand. It was so soft that she


    thought it was a bug and was frightened to scream.


    Her waist was suddenly held tightly, feeling the masculine air immediately rushed to her face.


    "What''s wrong?" A deep voice sounded in her ear.


    Nora''s face turned red, and she had an inexplicable feeling that this hug was very familiar. She mocked


    in her heart that she was really crazy. She immediately pushed him away and tried to calm her


    panicked heart.


    "I, I''m fine."


    The little guy immediately ran over. "Nora, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine."


    "Hold my hand, then you won''t be afraid." Easton put his little hand into Nora''s palm.


    The rest of the journey was much smoother, and the three of them quickly ended their adventure in the


    haunted house.


    After dinner in the evening, thest item Easton arranged was to enjoy the hot spring.


    Nora didn''t bring her swimsuit, so she had to buy one. The father and son wanted to apany her.


    She immediately shook her head and refused. "No, Mr. Xavier, I can buy it myself. I''ll be back soon."


    Were they kidding her? With these two around, she would be unable to choose her clothes.


    "Nora, please take me with you. I can give you some advice." Easton held her hand.


    Derek exposed his son''s real purpose without hesitation, "Advice? I see you''ve been watching Altman


    and Iron mantely. There''s no such thing on the swimsuit."


    Easton blushed and red at his father. "Who likes such childish things? You must be mistaken."


    Derek didn''t argue with him. Without giving Nora the chance to refuse, Derek raised his leg and said,


    "Let''s go. Don''t waste time."


    Nora had no choice but to follow.


    Inside the swimsuit store, Nora ignored the sexy swimsuit that the clerk rmended to her and took


    a conservative one-piece suit.


    Easton rolled his eyes and immediately pounced on her. "Nora, are you afraid of changing by yourself?


    Do you want me to go in with you?"


    Nora looked at him helplessly.


    Derek frowned and pulled him back with his big hand. "You better behave yourself."


    The little guy red at Derek discontentedly. Nora shook her head in amusement and went into the


    fitting room.


    When the three of them entered the hotel, Nora was holding Easton''s hands, followed by the tall Derek.


    They looked like a happy family of three. This scene was seen by Hailey at the door.


    Her chest heaved with anger and she immediately called Sheldon.


    Sheldon was looking at the file. "Mom, what''s up?"


    "You''d better break up with Nora, this fickle woman," Hailey shouted angrily.


    Sheldon frowned. "Mom, what are you talking about? We''re getting married."


    "I don''t agree. You can''t marry her. She''s a second-hand product who gave birth to a child. She''s not


    good enough for you. Son, I think you''re obsessed with that vixen."


    Sheldon knew his mother didn''t like Nora, but just in case, there were some things he couldn''t tell his


    mother in detail.


    "Mom, Nora and I are going to get married, so stop messing around." He hung up.


    Hailey gritted her teeth angrily, thinking that her son had always listened to her, now he rebutted her for


    that bitch.


    It was all because of Nora. No, she must not let that woman harm her son.


    Nora didn''t know about this. She had a good time with Easton in the hot spring.


    The child was easy to feel tired. He yed all day and was soon sleepy at night.


    Easton''s eyes were almost closed, but his hands were still tugging at her neck, clinging to her arms


    and muttering.


    "Mom..."


    Nora and Derek heard the sound, and she couldn''t help but feel embarrassed.


    Derek stepped forward, took his son into his arms to take care of him. He looked at Nora, and suddenly


    said.


    "Don''t mind. Easton''s mother passed away not long after he was born. He''s young, but he knows a lot.


    Although he never mentioned it, we all know that he yearns for a mother."


    Nora''s nose was sore, and even the corners of her eyes were wet. She was not sentimental, but at this


    moment, she really felt sorry for Easton.


    Derek was surprised to see her cry, "Miss Gray?"


    Nora sniffed embarrassingly. "I''m sorry, Mr. Xavier. I, I just might have been moved. Sorry."


    "Don''t worry, I really like Easton. I don''t mind what he calls me. It''s gettingte. I''ll go back to my room


    first."


    Derek looked at her back and narrowed his sharp eyes thoughtfully.


    Nora was not seriously injured. After recuperating in the hospital for a few days, she was discharged


    from the hospital and immediately went to thepany.


    She remembered what favor Sheldon had asked her for. She checked the deadline for submissions to


    thepetition and rted matters, and suddenly there was some noise outside.


    "Madam, you can''t go in without admission." This was the voice of Nora''s assistant.


    Soon, another arrogant voice sounded.


    "Where''s Nora? Get her out of here."


    Nora stood up in shock. The voice was more familiar to her. It was Sheldon''s mother, Hailey. Nora


    immediately walked out.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "Auntie, why are you here?"


    Nora was a little nervous and did not know what exactly Hailey was going to do, but it was obvious that


    her attitude was terrible.

 Chapter 310

    Chapter 310


    Expectedly, Hailey put on a sullen face when she saw Nora. And she was gnashing her teeth angrily.


    But she was self-respecting and did not scold Nora in public. She gave Nora a cold look and walked


    into her office arrogantly.


    Nora sighed and followed in. She closed the door and blocked the curious eyes outside.


    Hailey threw a stack of photos and said, "Look what you have done."


    She lowered her head and widened her eyes. In addition to her, there were also men of the Xaviers in


    these photos, which were taken two days ago when they went to the hotel to take a hot spring bath.


    Nora asked, "Did you send someone to follow me?"


    "Bah, follow you? What do you think you are?"


    "Don''t expect to hide what you''ve done. I happened to meet you that day, or you would have kept our


    family in the dark."


    Hailey squinted and pointed at her. "Nora, I knew you weren''t a good person. There''s something wrong


    with you, and I caught you."


    Nora did not expect this to happen, and she exined in a panic, "It''s not like that. You misunderstood.


    This child is a friend of mine, and the man next to him is his father. We..."


    "Enough."


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Hailey interrupted her madly and red at her. "Cut your crap. This is the evidence."


    "One of them is your lover, and the other is your son. It just happens to be a match. I can see why you


    have lost your memory. It''s not true. Your purpose is to use my son''s sympathy so that you can get


    money from our family."


    "Don''t even think about it. As long as I''m alive, you can''t marry into our family."


    It was beyond Nora''s dispute, and she almost cried. She grabbed Hailey''s hand and exined


    anxiously, "Auntie, believe me. Let me exin. It''s not like that."


    "Let go!"


    Hailey pushed Nora to the ground and rubbed her hands as if they were infected with a virus. She


    looked at Nora with disdain and condescension.


    "I''m warning you onest time. Leave my son. Otherwise, I''ll make public what you''ve done and let


    others know how shameless you are."


    With that, she strutted off in her high heels.


    Noray on the ground. Tears she held back in her eyes for a long time finally flowed out.


    Hailey would only hate her more this time. She suddenly felt so tired. There seemed to be an invisible


    She didn''t me Hailey for her harsh and vicious remarks. She just med herself for agreeing to


    went to the hot spring.


    She had been with Sheldon, and they were getting married soon, so she should avoid such asions.


    Otherwise, things would not turn out to be like this.


    After a while, she slowly got up. Her phone rang. When she saw that it was Sheldon calling, she patted


    her face, cleared her throat, and took a deep breath before answering it.


    "Sheldon."


    Sheldon sat on the bed, and Aubrey wrapped her arms around his neck like a snake.


    "Nora, have you had lunch?"


    His voice was as gentle as ever, but his hand was touching Aubrey''s body. When Aubrey was about to


    cry out, he quickly covered her mouth.


    Hearing his concerning voice, Nora felt pain and grievance. Her eyes were wet again. She wiped them


    quickly and smiled.


    "I have."


    "That''s good. Don''t forget to eat something even if you are busy. Otherwise, it will be bad for your


    health."


    Soon, Sheldon got to the point, "How''s the design going? The one that I asked you for thest time."


    "I''ve finished it. I''ll send it to you now. See how it works."


    Nora replied said and faxed the manuscript without hesitation.


    A minuteter, Sheldon received it. He waved the manuscript in front of Aubrey and pointed at his


    mouth.


    Aubrey smiled and kissed him affectionately.


    She looked at the manuscript in her hand and was amazed at how beautiful the dress would be, even


    though it was still on paper.


    The woman was obviously extraordinary at this time. She was really good at this. But so what? It


    belonged to Aubrey now.


    At this thought, a trace of disdain shed across Aubrey''s eyes. What a stupid woman!


    Nora thought of Hailey''s words and asked cautiously, "Sheldon, I mean, if our wedding is canceled,


    what would you think?"


    Sheldon didn''t take it seriously. He thought it was her wild thoughts before she got married, and his


    eyes shed with extreme impatience.


    "Our wedding will not be canceled. Is something wrong?"


    She pursed her lips, "Sheldon, your mother doesn''t like me, so..."


    Sheldon understood. He knitted his brows and thought his mother must have said something ill to Nora.


    "Nora, don''t worry. When you and my mother get to know more about each other, she''ll change her


    mind about you."


    "Well, don''t think about it. We''re getting married. You''ll be my wife. Trust me. You will be the happiest


    woman in the world."


    Nora was in tears again.


    She covered her mouth and was touched, but she felt guilty and sad when she thought she had to


    break up with him because of Hailey.


    Sheldon was in no mood to continue the charade with Nora. He said he had something to do and hung


    up.


    Aubrey looked at the manuscript in his hand, and her brows drew together. "If she knows I use her


    manuscript to contribute, will she make a scene?"


    "Don''t worry. She''s stupid and weak. She''ll believe everything I say. Just make up a reason. She won''t


    pursue it." Sheldon didn''t take it to heart at all.


    The call ended, but Nora was still worried and frowning. Her boss Harvey was annoyed when he came


    over and saw such a sad face.


    "Nora, what are you crying about at working hours? It''s displeasing."


    Nora was startled and stood up in no time when she saw him, "Mr. dors, why are you here?"


    "I''ve been invited to dinner tonight. You areing with me," Harvey rolled his eyes and said.


    "Okay, I got it." She nodded.

 Chapter 311

    Chapter 311


    Harvey looked at her red and swollen eyes and frowned. "Clean yourself up quickly. Don''t scare my


    client away."


    Embarrassed, she nodded immediately. "Don''t worry, Mr. Specter."


    In the evening, Nora did not expect to meet the client at the nightclub. She hesitated and saw that her


    boss was urging her, so she had to follow him.


    In the private room, several bosses sat on the sofa and immediately got up to greet them after seeing


    them.


    "Oh, Mr. Specter is here. Please take a seat."


    "Who is this beauty? She''s pretty." One of the bosses stepped forward and put his arm around Nora''s


    shoulder.


    Nora was startled and immediately dodged. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room was a little


    awkward, and the boss immediately became unhappy.


    Harvey frowned, stood up, and tried to mediate the dispute, then he red at Nora fiercely. "What are


    you doing? Quick, go get a ss of wine and apologize to Mr. Cook."


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Cook. This is mypany''s designer. It''s my first time bringing her out. The little girl is a


    little nervous."


    Mr. Cook looked a little better.


    Nora pursed her lips and, at the request of her boss, poured herself a ss of wine and walked over.


    "Mr. Cook, I''m sorry. This ss of wine is to apologize to you."


    She had lost her memory, but not her wits. She could tell that Mr. Specter had called her here today to


    apany those bosses. She was very resistant, but she didn''t know how to refuse.


    "Well, it''s good to know that you''re wrong. I can understand that a beautiful woman has a temper, but


    people sometimes have to know their position and know what should they do."


    Mr. Cook said calmly, picking up the ss from her. At the same time, he touched her hand and patted


    the seat beside him, "Sit here and have a few drinks with me."


    Nora immediately said, "No need. Mr. Cook. Bosses talk. I''ll sit next to you..."


    Before she could finish her sentence, another boss pulled her over and forced her to sit beside Mr.


    Cook. "If Mr. Cook asks you to sit, just sit."


    She sat ufortably, her body stiff. She took a deep breath, and the next second, a hand suddenly


    fell on her leg. She was startled and stood up abruptly and took a few steps back.


    The atmosphere had not yet begun to warm up but she had made it awkward twice.


    Mr. Cook''s expression was gloomy. He nced at Harvey and said in a strange tone, "Mr. Specter, I


    don''t think you''re here to talk about cooperation today. You''re here to make things difficult for me."


    "She''s just a small designer. But it looks like she is a somebody. Hmph, the people in yourpany


    are really capable."


    Harvey broke into a cold sweat and immediately got up to apologize. He tugged at Nora''s clothes and


    whispered as he gritted his teeth, "What''s wrong with you? I''m just asking you to drink, not ask you to


    die."


    "Let me tell you. Ourpany''s cooperation ns for the second half of the year will all be supported


    by Mr. Cook. I take you out to enrich your experience, but you act like this."


    Nora lowered her eyes. "Mr. Specter, I''m sorry, I can''t apany those bosses."


    Harvey red at her. "What did you say? What''s your attitude?"


    She took a deep breath. "Mr. Specter, I really can''t. I''ll go out first." With that, Nora turned around and


    left, leaving the bosses behind her.


    Out of the box, Nora breathed a sigh of relief. She felt much better now, but before she could take a


    few steps, she was blocked by a staggering drunkard in front of her.


    "Jesus. Pretty girl. Alone? Go y with your brother." The drunkard grabbed her hand.


    The strength the drunkard exerted on her wrist was so strong that she frowned in pain and could not


    help struggling. "Sir, please let go of me."


    The drunk reached out his hand with a smile and pressed her against the wall. He was about to kiss


    her as his mouth was full of the strong stench of alcohol. Nora was so startled that she paled in fear


    when she saw that the drunkard was about to kiss her.


    But in the next second, she broke free. The drunkard suddenly leaned back and fell directly to the


    ground. He fell asleep.


    Her heart was beating fast. She breathed a sigh of relief. When she looked up, she saw Derek with a


    sullen face. She was stunned and quickly reacted.


    "Mr. Xavier, thank you so much for that."


    Derek looked at her and frowned. "Why are you here?"


    What he really wanted to say was, "Is this ce where you should be?"


    "I came with the boss to meet the client."


    She didn''t exin much. But who was Derek? He just looked at her and knew what happened. His


    expression became gloomy.


    "Your boss forced you to apany the client?"


    She was stunned and immediately waved her hand, "No. I just feel a little stuffy inside. So Ie out


    and get some fresh air."


    Nora still had some self-knowledge. She knew that Derek was an important person, but she only met


    him by chance. There was no need to tell things about her to an outsider like Derek.


    At this moment, the phone rang. It was Mr. Specter. She looked at Derek apologetically and then


    answered the phone as she tilted her body slightly. Mr. Specter''s angry voice immediately came out of


    the receiver.


    "Nora, you don''t want to do it anymore, don''t you? You made me lose face just now. You actually left so


    many bosses here at a critical time. How can you do this? Why didn''t I see that you have the guts?"


    "I''m warning you. I''ll give you a minute toe back immediately. Serve Mr. Cook well and make him


    sign the contract. Then I won''t have a grudge against you about this today, otherwise..."


    Harvey''s voice was very loud. Derek must have heard it. Nora felt very embarrassed.


    At this moment, the phone was suddenly taken away.


    Derek answered the phone with a cold face, "Hello."


    Harvey froze and frowned. "Who are you? Give Nora the phone."


    "I''m Derek Xavier."


    This name immediately suppressed Harvey''s fury. Harvey widened his eyes in disbelief. "Are you... Mr.


    Xavier?"


    Derek coldly snorted as he said yes. Without any nonsense, Derek said directly," I know about your


    Nora snapped back to her senses. Her eyes were wide open as she tried to grab the phone. "Mr.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Xavier, this is not appropriate. Don''t talk nonsense."


    Derek hung up the phone, returned the phone to her, and raised his eyebrows. "If I say something,


    there''s no reason to take it back."


    "Cooperation is a big deal. You really don''t have to do this for me."


    Nora was very anxious. One couldn''t take credit for nothing. How did she dare to ept this kindness?


    She would only feel uneasy if she epted.


    "You''re thinking too much. I''m a businessman. Businessmen are interested in profits. It has nothing to


    do with interpersonal rtionships." He purposely made it sound moremercial and didn''t want her


    to be burdened.


    "Privately, you saved my son''s life, but you didn''t ask for any remuneration. So, I do this to offset what


    you did."


    "Officially, the Design Department of the Xavier Group happens to have a clothing project in the second


    half of the year. Yourpany is a pure designpany. I appreciate your design talent. Even if there


    is no such thing, I intend to look for you. It is a thing which can benefit each other."

 Chapter 312

    Chapter 312


    "Moreover, whether or not we can cooperate will be decided by the contract tomorrow." He concluded


    without a trace of emotion.


    Nora was relieved to see that he was expressionless and perfectly impartial. The burden did lift from


    her mind.


    She nodded, "Mr. Xavier, don''t worry. If we can cooperate, I will do my best."


    Derek looked at his watch, "Let''s go. It''ste. I''ll take you home."


    "Don''t bother. I''ll just take a taxi home. You''ve helped me a lot today."


    He was not a good-natured person. Nora''s repeated rejection made him a little angry. He couldn''t help


    but narrow his eyes and take a step forward, trapping her between his arms.


    Nora eximed. When she found their posture, her heart thumped and her ears turned red.


    "You seem to be afraid of me?"


    His deep voice swirled around her ears, and she could clearly feel his unique masculinity. Nora''s first


    instinct was not to push him away, which was very rare.


    There was a sh of confusion in her eyes, and she was at a loss. She wondered if it was her delusion


    that his smell... felt familiar to her. It was so familiar that it made her feel that she used to be in close


    contact with this smell.


    This idea startled her and she immediately came back to her senses. She flushed and could not help


    but despise herself in her heart. After all, this was not the first time she had such an idea about Derek.


    Derek took the initiative to let her go, "Let''s go."


    This time, Nora did not say no and followed him obediently.


    The next day.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Harvey and Nora went to the Xavier Group early in the morning.


    Standing outside the Xavier Group and looking up at the giant building in front of her, Nora felt once


    again that she was totally out of Derek''s league!


    It was the first time for both of them to set foot in the Xavier Group. Harvey was smiling all the way,


    even to the receptionist.


    Soon, a handsome, cultured man in a suit walked towards them.


    "Hello. I''m assistant Damian. Mr. Xavier has told me to lead you up."


    "Oh, yes, yes, yes. Mr. Xavier is such a busy person. I''m so honored that he still remembers us."


    Harvey had a big smile on his face.


    Nora had been working at designpany for a long time, but this was the first time she had seen her


    boss like this, but it was understandable. After all, this was the Xavier Group.


    Assistant Damian told them to wait in the conference room and then he left.


    Harvey heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Damian leave and looked at Nora strangely, "Nora, good


    for you. I don''t expect you to know Mr. Xavier. I''ve never heard you talk about him. You hide it so well."


    "But it''s not toote to for me know it now. Nora, you''ve been in thepany for so many years, and I


    haven''t treated you badly. Now thepany is at the critical moment, and it''s up to you whether the


    Nora''s blood froze. She was very helpless and exined, "Mr. Specter, you''ve got it all wrong. Mr.


    Xavier and I just met by chance. We are not friends."


    Mr. Specter didn''t believe it at all. Who was Derek? Why would he care so much about someone he


    didn''t have a rtionship with?


    Harvey waved his hand unconcernedly, with an ambiguous smile on his face, "I know. I know. Don''t


    worry. I won''t say anything."


    She felt like she was making the matter even worse.


    Just as she was about to rify, Derek came.


    A well-ironed suit wrapped his tall and straight figure. The cor of his shirt was unbuttoned and he had


    one hand in his pocket. There was no expression in his extremely handsome features, and he looked


    haughty and unruly.


    Nora was stunned when she saw him like this for the first time. Sure enough, this was a man who


    seemed to shine everywhere.


    Harvey immediately stood up. He was grinning from ear to ear, making people couldn''t bear to look


    straight at him.


    "Mr. Xavier, I didn''t expect you to meet me in person. I''m ttered."


    Derek nced at Nora and sat down in front of them without saying anything. Damian, the assistant


    behind him, took out a document and put it in front of Harvey.


    "Here are our terms. Please have a look."


    Harvey was stunned. At once he opened the contract and read it carefully. The more he read it, the


    more he frowned. It looked like he was in a dilemma.


    He originally intended to take advantage of the rtionship between Nora and Derek to expand the


    SPECTER Group by relying on Xavier Group this time.


    He had such good ideas, but this contract put an end to his ns.


    The requirements in the contract were clear, and there were two options. Xavier Group could invest


    and develop sales channels, and the SPECTER Group could follow the trend. The Xavier Group would


    not care, but the time limit was only one year.


    To put it bluntly, following the trend meant counterfeiting in the field of fashion design. There had been


    giarism in domestic fashion industry chain, and now had been set up to punish this phenomenon.


    When the sales season began, countless niche clothingpanies copied the designs and logos of


    the big brands. As long as they made some changes, no one could sanction them.


    However, the Xavier Group was different. In the past few years, whenever they found giarism, they


    would crack down hard.


    Now, Xavier Group''s contract specifically mentioned that SPECTER Group could follow the trend for a


    year without any investigation. Nheless, it was up to Harvey to see how far SPECTER Group could


    go after the one-year contract expired.


    The second option was that the Xavier Group would buy all the design drafts of SPECTER Group for


    the second half of the year and open the 0.1 % channel to the SPECTER Group for three months.


    When the time limit was up, the cooperation would be terminated.


    Harvey was torn between this two options. The first option had a one-year deadline, and so long as it


    worked well, the SPECTER Group could even establish its own brand and be very popr.


    However, there were risks. The contract was only for one year, and if it didn''t work, it was all ruined.


    As for the second option, whether it was buying out or opening up channels, the profit would multiply


    several times, which was an irresistible temptation.


    Harvey couldn''t help butugh, "Well, Mr. Xavier, Nora had been working in mypany for many


    years. She''s a senior employee."


    "Nora''s department is in charge of design, so this..."


    He was about to take advantage of the rtionship between Nora and Derek. Nora''s brows tightened


    as she listened, eager to interrupt Mr. Specter.


    Derek nced at him without any emotion in his eyes, "Mr. Specter, are you saying you''re not going to


    cooperate?"


    He was stunned and immediately shook his head, "No, no, that''s definitely not what I meant. It''s


    SPECTER Group''s honor to work with the Xavier Group. I just..."


    Before he could finish, Derek frowned and said aggressively, "Since that''s not what you meant, choose


    one of the two contracts. I have a video conference in five minutes. I hope Mr. Specter can be more


    efficient."


    Harvey, "..."

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    Chapter 313


    He forced a faint smile, being deep in thought.


    What did Nora say to him just now?


    Derek had no affair with her?


    Did he really misunderstand?


    Nora, on the other hand, looked more rxed and breathed a sigh of relief. Derek''s attitude was


    normal. It would be bad if she really agreed to Mr. Specter''s unreasonable demands.


    In the end, Harvey did not dare to take the risk and chose the second contract.


    Derek said coolly, "In addition, there is also another use. During the cooperation, Nora, the designer


    of the SPECTER Group is fully responsible for this project. In order to improve the progress, she''d


    better to be trained at the Xavier Group and participate in this design until the contract ends."


    In other words, Nora needed to stay temporarily at Xavier Group for three months as a designer of the


    cooperativepany.


    Harvey immediately agreed, but he couldn''t help but wonder if Nora and Derek were very close in


    private.


    Nora was stunned. She knew that she would be a responsible designer if the cooperation went well,


    but she did not expect that Derek would ask her to stay at the Xavier Group.


    She watched the two of them sign the contract, frowning. Ever since she was photographed by


    Sheldon''s motherst time, she had been trying to keep the Xaviers at a distance.


    But now, somehow, they seemed to be getting closer to each other.


    Two dayster, Nora started her first day in the Design Department of Xavier Group. The three-month


    design cooperation officially began. At noon, Derek called her to the president''s office.


    "How did you feel? If there''s anything you don''t like, you can tell me."


    She said, shaking her head, "I''m fine. There''s nothing wrong. Thank you, Mr. Xavier."


    Derek got up and walked to the file cab. "The clothing industry is one of the core industries of the


    Xavier Group. The design project in the second half of the year is very important. I''ll get you some


    information. Go back and take a good look."


    At this moment, thendline on the table rang.


    His office was huge, and the filing cab was a distance from his desk. Derek nced at it and


    motioned for Nora to press the connect button.


    Damian''s voice came.


    "Mr. Xavier, there''s something wrong with the r & d department. Pleasee over and take a look."


    Derek frowned and said, "Sit here for a while. I''ll be back soon." Then he strode out of the office.


    Nora had no choice but to wait.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    In fact, she really wanted to say that she coulde hereter. She felt that it wasn''t proper to be


    alone in the president''s office.


    Seeing that the internal line was not turned off, she raised her hand to turn it off. When she withdrew


    her hand, she identally touched a picture frame on the side and the frame fell down.


    Nora was startled and immediately tried to straighten it up. When she caught sight of the person in the


    photo, she was stunned.


    There was only one woman in the photo. In a white dress, she had a bright smile on her face in a green


    garden.


    She was beautiful, but Nora was sure she didn''t know her. But the moment she met the woman''s eyes,


    a sharp pain immediately attacked her brain.


    Nora stood up and took two steps back. She gripped the photo frame tightly and stared at the woman


    in the frame in shock, her wrist trembling slightly.


    "Ah..."


    Her brain was bloated and her nerves were throbbing in pain, and a few blurry fragments shed


    through her mind. She could not capture them at all, but those fragments were like a knife, stirring in


    her mind. Her face turned pale from the pain.


    What happened? Nora was in a panic, wondering what was wrong with her.


    With a bang, the frame in her hand fell uncontrobly. The ss shattered all over the floor. She froze


    and the pain passed.


    At this moment, Derek came back.


    As he nced over the broken frame on the ground, his face darkened and he said in a cold voice,


    "Who allowed you to touch it?"


    Nora was startled. She looked at him and then at the ground. Her face turned even paler. She shook


    her head and said, "I... I''m sorry. I just, I, I didn''t mean it. I''m really sorry."


    Unable to exin what had happened to her just now, she could only keep apologizing. The girl in this


    photo must be someone important to him.


    Nora''s heart was filled with guilt and a tinge of indescribable bitterness.


    Derek walked over, carefully picked up the photo, and gently brushed the ss shards on it as if he


    was protecting a treasure.


    He looked at her coldly. His forehead knotted as he saw that she didn''t look well, but he didn''t ask


    anything. He said faintly, "Get out."


    Nora had no face to stay here. After bowing with an apology, she left with her head down.


    Derek looked at the person in the photo with tenderness that he had never shown to anyone else.


    Suddenly, he was in a trance. The woman''s face in the photo actually ovepped with Nora''s.


    He froze and immediately returned to his senses, his face darkening. Thinking of what Nora had done


    just now, he walked to his desk and turned on the monitor yback on hisputer.


    He stared intently at the screen and saw Nora lost herposure with her hands covering her head in


    pain. A sh of surprise shed in his eyes.


    Derek magnified the picture and watch it over and over again. The guesses that had never been


    verified in his heart were all rushed up at this moment.


    Taking a deep breath, he managed to calm himself down and called Damian up.


    "Did you find anything about what I asked you to dost time?"


    Damian immediately understood what he was referring to, and he said with a serious expression, "Mr.


    Xavier, I did find some clues. There''s really something wrong with Miss Gray."


    "I didn''t find anything about her. Her past seems to be non-existent andpletely untraceable. Every


    time I try to probe deeper, I fail as if there was an invisible force blocking it."


    "But it''s still easy to investigate people who are close to her. So far, one thing I can be sure of is that


    Miss Gray has lost her memory."


    His words made Derek''s heart skip a beat, and his face changed. "Lost her memory? When?" he


    asked.


    Damian lowered his eyes and replied, "...Five years ago." What he has said afforded much food for


    thought.


    Derek tied to keep hisposure, but his slightly trembling voice still exposed the ups and downs of


    his heart at this moment.


    "Damian, do you think..."


    As Derek''s assistant, as well as his underling and confidant, Damian knew about his boss.


    "The memory loss of Miss Gray is not a secret in the circle of people she knows. Mr. Xavier, are you


    ready to take action?"

 Chapter 314

    Chapter 314


    He was tired and closed his eyes. He waved his hand and said: "No, don''t rm her for now. You can


    leave first."


    It was Derek''s hope, but he didn''t dare to prove it in the first ce. He was afraid that it was his


    delusion and the final result was different from what he hoped.


    Five years was a long time. He wished to see Meredith again even in his dreams. But he had never


    met her.


    He raised his hands and slowly covered his eyes. Soon, he would whether Nora was Meredith.


    Nora was in the way of a woman of the Design Department. She is Avril, one of the top designers of


    level A in the Design Department.


    In the Design Department of the Xavier Group, the designers would be divided ording to their ability


    and qualification. And there were four levels from A to D. Avril was a designer of level A, which meant


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    that she had high ability.


    She was one of the people in charge of the clothing project of the Xavier Group for the second half of


    the year. She was very disdainful of Nora, who was from anotherpany and had the same position


    as her.


    She researched the SPECTER Group before. She thought that it was a bigpany, but it was just a


    smallpany. She couldn''t believe that the Xavier Group cooperated with such a smallpany.


    And the Xavier Group also invited a designer from the SPECTER Group to participate in the project.


    What''s more, the designer had the same rights as her. So she was not willing.


    Avril even despised the SPECTER Group, let alone Nora. But they had to work together for three


    months because of the project.


    In the design room, Nora was earnestly drawing a design draft. Bang! A document was suddenly


    thrown in front of her, which scared her.


    "Ah..."


    She covered her hand and looked over. The brush was on the ground and the half-finished draft was


    destroyed. She could not help but frown.


    Avril put her hands around her chest and stepped on her high heels. Her face was bright and she was


    arrogant. When she saw it, she raised her eyebrows and said perfunctorily. Obviously, she didn''t want


    to apologize sincerely.


    "Oh, I''m sorry. I made a slip just now."


    Nora pursed her lips. Although she felt ufortable, she was in the Xavier Group and couldn''t say


    anything about it. She just shook her head lightly and said: "Never mind. What''s the matter? "


    As she spoke, she picked up the document which was thrown over.


    "Nora, take a look. There are more than a dozen design drafts in this document. Are they yours?" Avril


    said coldly.


    Nora looked at it and nodded, "Yes, they are mine."


    They were designs for children. And it was not her first time to design clothes for children. When Nora


    saw Avril''s expression, she couldn''t help but say.


    "Designer Avril, you can tell me if there''s anything wrong with my design. We''re discussing them now."


    Avril sneered. She felt that Nora was not qualified to work with her, let alone discuss them with her.


    "I would like to ask you. What are they? If the designs of the Xavier Group are so childish, it will be


    Nora wasn''t angry. "I don''t know what designs are not childish."


    Avril nced at her arrogantly, And then she took her design book and said:" They''re my designs. You


    might as well take a look at them andment on them."


    Thest four words were sarcastic.


    Nora didn''t care. She opened the design book calmly and looked at the drafts carefully one by one.


    Avril was indeed a designer of level A in the Xavier Group. She was really capable.


    The clothes were so eye-catching but were not vulgar. It would be fine for the adults, but...


    "Designer Avril, your designs are all very good, but I don''t think they''re suitable for children."


    "The first designs were for children ranging from five to ten years old. It seemed a little inappropriate to


    design too luxurious clothes," Nora said slowly.


    Avril thought that it was her joke to ask her toment on them, but she didn''t expect that she would


    darement on them and gave her a bad evaluation. She was so angry that she snatched the design


    book away.


    "What do you know? Clothes are for people to wear and see. Who doesn''t want to wear beautiful and


    gorgeous clothes? Do youe here to be funny?"


    Nora looked at her, "Your designs are dazzling. But I''ve said that the first designs are for children. So


    the children''s clothes should be interesting and beautiful. And more importantly, they should be suitable


    for children?"


    She did not like to argue with others, but it depended on the matter and the person. Even she was


    quiet, she would argue with her on her favorite design.


    Thinking of it, she said directly, "Designer Avril, I am responsible for the first designs ording to the


    rules of cooperation. You don''t have to worry too much."


    Nora didn''t mean anything, but Avril thought that Nora indicated that it was none of her business. Avril


    looked unpleasant.


    "You''re Nora, right? You have to know where you are. You''re in the Xavier Group rather than your small


    "Mr. Xavier has given you full authority to participate in the project. It sounds nice, but you shouldn''t


    take it seriously."


    Nora really wanted toplete the cooperation peacefully for the three months, but she always got into


    trouble.


    "Designer Avril, I''m not an employee of the Xavier Group. I''m a partner from anotherpany. If you


    have any advice, you can tell Mr. Xavier."


    When Avril saw that Nora oppressed her with Mr. Xavier, she was even angrier. Just as she was about


    to say something, she heard a cold voice behind her.


    "What are you arguing about?" Derek came down at some point.


    He wanted to see whether Nora worked smoothly, but he didn''t expect to see them at loggerheads. He


    could not help but frown.


    When Avril saw him, her eyes lit up. She was not arrogant anymore. And she smiled and said in a


    charming voice, "Mr. Xavier, why are you here?"


    He ignored Avril, who was passionate and looked at Nora, "What''s going on?"


    Nora repeated what had happened and said softly, "I really don''t think the designs for children should


    be too luxurious. And they are just mid-range clothes."


    Avril red at her coldly and immediately ran to Derek.


    "Mr. Xavier, most of my designs are sold out. You know my capability. But she directly denied my


    designs."


    She took Nora''s drawings and flipped them open. "Mr. Xavier, look, here are her designs. They''re so


    funny and childish. And they aren''t innovated. It will be a disgrace to thepany if we make it."


    Derek flipped through the pages. Nora was a little nervous and breathed slightly. After some time, he


    spoke slowly.


    "Good designs."

 Chapter 315

    Chapter 315


    Nora was relieved by what he had said.


    Avril''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Mr. Xavier..."


    Derek ignored her and still kept looking at Nora. "I think there''s nothing wrong with Nora''s idea.


    Children''s wear shouldn''t be too shy. Just follow Nora''s advice."


    Nora''s heart skipped a beat when he stared at her, and her face turned red.


    Avril looked at them and was so angry that they were making eyes at each other, "Mr. Xavier, you''re


    using power for personal gains. I''m not convinced."


    Derek''s face darkened and he looked at her coldly. "Avril, who are you talking to? Watch your mouth."


    Her heart sank and she was a little nervous, but anger still prevailed. In her opinion, judging from how


    Nora reacted and Derek protected her, there was clearly something romantic going on with Nora and


    Derek.


    This made her jealous. She was sure that Derek was ying favorites for Nora, and she felt even more


    ufortable.


    "Mr. Xavier, I don''t know what your rtionship is, but this can''t be your reason for favoring her. Her


    design is clearly not as good as mine. It''s not fair."


    Nora frowned. She didn''t want to have anything to do with Derek, but she couldn''t do anything about it


    when it came to her work. Now that the things she designed so attentively werebeled like this, it was


    impossible for her to feel at ease.


    Before Derek could get angry, she looked straight at Avril. "So what do you want?"


    That was what Avril was waiting for. A hint of malice shed across her eyes and she said proudly,


    "Compete with me. If you lose, you will quit this project."


    Derek narrowed his eyes and finally looked at Avril, but his eyes were so cold that they made people


    feel chilly.


    "Avril, who gave you the right to be self-righteous? The cooperation of both parties for the project is


    legally bound by a contract signed by them. You''re not in the position to change the result of the


    cooperation."


    "Let me tell you, in terms of this cooperation, I trust in Nora''s ability, but you are only a candidate


    chosen randomly by A Department. Do you need me to more clearly?"


    In other words, the main design of this project was on Nora, and you, Avril, was just an assistant.


    Anyone can rece you.


    Nora was stunned by what he said. After all, she knew what she was capable of. She had certain


    talents, but she was not talented to make the whole Xavier Group trusted her.


    Avril''s face turned pale, but her eyes dimmed in anger. As the designer of A Department in the Xavier


    Group, she had a reason to be proud. However, today, she was humiliated by her immediate superior.


    It was all because of the bitch Nora.


    At that moment, Nora suddenly spoke.


    "I''llpete with you."


    Derek''s face darkened and Avril''s eyes brightened.


    Nora bit the bullet and tried to ignore the sharp sight from Derek. She knew that it was not good or


    even ungrateful to pull the rug.


    After all, he was a CEO. In order to protect her, he even taught his own designer a lesson.


    However, she was annoyed by his protection. If the news of today were to spread, everyone in the


    Xavier Group would only think that there was an improper rtionship between her and Derek.


    Whether it was to prove her ability or to use her strength to distance herself from Derek, she had to


    agree to thispetition.


    Avril didn''t know why Nora said that, but it was good for her. She immediately said, "Okay, it''s a deal."


    She looked at Derek. "Mr. Xavier, Nora made the decision herself. I didn''t say anything."


    Derek suppressed his unhappiness and said coldly, "Give me your design done in thest week."


    That meant he agreed to it.


    He selected one from arge number of folders. "Since you want topete, don''t waste time. This


    customer wille to check the samples today. There is an hour left. You should prepare on your


    own."


    Derek felt that as a dignified president, he was humiliated. Not only could he not be angry, but he also


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    suppressed his anger to take care of her. He was so angry that his stomach hurt.


    He supervised and notarized the two of them. The two design tables were ced opposite each other


    in the big Design Department. In order to save time, both sides arranged for a design assistant to assist


    them, but they could only do auxiliary work.


    An hourter, the customers arrived. A man surnamed Yang brought his two twin daughters with him,


    who were both 18 years old this year and would hold an adult ceremony next week.


    This time, he went to the Xavier Group, hoping they could customize two sets of clothes for his two


    daughters to wear at the ceremony.


    "Hello, Mr. Yang, I am..."


    Derek shook hands with the customer and briefly exined the situation.


    "You can rest assured that if you are not satisfied with the designs of the two designers, our Design


    Department will modify the designs and this time the Xavier Group will pay for the designs as an adult


    gift for your two daughters."


    Mr. Yang agreed and took his daughter to the lounge to wait. It was not a big deal, and it was free.


    Everyone would be happy to ept that.


    He was not short of the money for two pieces of clothing. But the customized clothes in the Xavier


    Group was not cheap and he was happy he could save a lot of money.


    Avril couldn''t wait to start. She never thought she would lose. She was confident that as long as Nora


    agreed to thepetition, she would get her out of the Xavier Group.


    Not only did she want to win, but she also wanted to win handsomely so that Nora would be convinced.


    The time for design was two hours. They needed to design two sample clothes. Because the


    customers were twin sisters, so they actually only needed to design one outfit.


    After all, most parents tend to think that if their sons or daughters were twins, they should dress


    simrly, in style or color.


    But...


    As soon as the twin sisters came in, Nora had been observing them. If she was right, the rtionship


    between the two sisters did not seem very good, and their dress preferences were different.


    At first nce, she knew that the bigger sister was quiet, and her style was more elegant and simple.


    The younger sister, on the other hand, had smoky makeup on her face at such a young age, meaning


    her style was sexier.


    Even if they were twins, there would be some changes in their looks as they grew older, but the twins


    still looked very simr, almost identical.


    If she was right, the younger sister''s look at her sister was even hostile, which was interesting.


    Nora pondered for nearly ten minutes before he started to draw.


    With a thought in her mind, she drew very quickly. Two sets of dresses inpletely different styles


    appeared on the paper. She slowed down and carefully outlined the details.


    Because it was a sample dress, there was no need to be so meticulous in the workmanship, which


    greatly saved time for thispetition.


    Avril had already started making clothes, and Nora was still drawing. Forty minutes had passed.


    An hourter, she stopped writing and began to choose the fabric.

 Chapter 316

    Chapter 316


    As a qualified designer, in addition to creativity and drawing, the hands-on ability should also be very


    strong. High-quality haute couture was handmade by the designer.


    Time passed by.


    On Avril''s side, the two models had already been dressed in two very simr gorgeous dresses.


    The waistline and hemline were both made of gold thread, and the two dresses were designed for a


    sisterhood. The styles were very simr, but in some details, there was a little different.


    Nora took a look and had to admit that Avril was very good at designing. These two dresses were very


    beautiful and exquisite. No matter which girl saw them, she would have the impulse to wear them.


    She calmly withdrew her gaze and continued with her work, which was about to bepleted.


    Avril stopped first and nced at Nora disdainfully. When she saw the clothes on Nora''s model, the


    irony in her eyes became more obvious.


    At this level, it was not enough topare with her.


    Derek remained expressionless the whole time and others could not see who he was more satisfied


    with.


    Time was over. The twins in the lounge were brought over by the secretary.


    "Mr. Yang, these are the work of two designers. You and your daughters can try them on."


    The style, color, and design of Nora''s two dresses werepletely opposite.


    The one designed for the elder sister was a beige dress with bare diamonds at the shoulders, which


    was elegant.


    The other one was a knee-length purple dress, mysterious and charming. If the younger sister put it on,


    she would be like a little night elf.


    Both of their designs were good, but it was Avril''s design that was even more dazzling. At least, Mr.


    Yang noticed her design at first sight and was obviously very satisfied with it.


    "Mr. Xavier, I think these are okay." Mr. Yang chose Avril''s design.


    Avril''s face was with pride, but the next second...


    "Dad, I like this one."


    The younger sister, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, pointing to the purple dress


    Nora had designed. Then, her sister pointed to the white dress beside the purple dress.


    "Dad, I like this one too."


    Nora could not help but heave a sigh of relief. It seemed that she had made the right bet.


    Mr. Yang was stunned. Although he didn''t know why, since both daughters had chosen the same


    designer, he had to follow his daughters'' preferences.


    Derek was joyful in his heart. Nora could find this, and he also did. But he didn''t expect that this woman


    was still so attentive, just like before...


    He stopped thinking and his eyes sparkled.


    For Avril, it took all the strength to control herself without losing her temper. She took a deep breath


    and walked over with a stiff face and a fake smile.


    "Two little sisters, don''t you like the dresses I designed? They are obviously beautiful, aren''t they?"


    "Besides, you are twin sisters. Don''t you want to wear simr dresses to attend the adult ceremony?"


    The younger sister''s character was straightforward, and she did not hide her feelings at all. Thest


    sentence provoked herpletely. She red at Avril fiercely, and her tone was very aggressive.


    "Who said the twins should wear the same clothes? Do we have to wear the same clothes when we


    look alike? If so, there is no need to have the adult ceremony. Just celebrate it for one of us."


    "You''re the designer, aren''t you? You''re not creative at all. You designed two identical clothes. Are you


    trying to be perfunctory orzy? Hmph."


    Avril was livid and trembling.


    The smile on the elder sister''s face was gone, and she lowered her eyelids silently.


    Mr. Yang didn''t expect his little daughter to suddenly lose her temper and speak without any manners.


    He couldn''t help but look embarrassed and red at his daughter.


    "Why are you so rude? Apologize to her. This designer is right. You two are twins. You''re wearing..."


    Before he could finish, his daughter became even more aggressive.


    "We are the twins. That''s right. Look at me and my sister. We grew up wearing the same clothes, eating


    the same food, living in the same room, receiving the same gifts every year."


    "We''re 18 years old, but over the years, we still look the same. We have the same height, the same


    weight and the same blood."


    "Dad, do you know that I look at my sister every morning as if I were looking at myself? Everyone else


    is unique in the world. However, we are like the same person. After all these years, you and mom still


    can''t tell me from my sister. I''ve had enough."


    Mr. Yang was shocked to hear the younger daughter''s words, and he subconsciously looked at the


    older daughter.


    The elder sister pursed her lips and said faintly, "Dad, the twins just look the same, but in other ways,


    we''re not the same, and... We don''t want to be the same."


    Their parents always liked to let them do something together, but they didn''t like it at all.


    Mr. Yang was at a loss. He looked at his two daughters and his lips moved. He really didn''t know what


    to say.


    Derek interrupted the family''s conflict. "Mr. Yang, since your two daughters have chosen these two sets


    of clothes, we have to hurry up the production here. In three days, someone will deliver the goods to


    you."


    Mr. Yang didn''t want to talk about this in front of outsiders, so he left with his two daughters.


    After they left, Derek announced that Nora won thepetition.


    Avril had just understood what the twins were saying and understood why they didn''t choose her


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    designs, but she was not willing to let Nora win this time. She won because of her luck. It shouldn''t be


    like this.


    But before she could protest, Derek continued, "In addition, during the coboration for this project,


    Avril quit. I''ll let someone rece her."


    She widened her eyes and panicked. "Mr. Xavier, why? I should have won thispetition. You heard


    the twins, not..."


    "Enough."


    He said coldly, "First, thepetition has the rule from the beginning. Whoever has the design which


    made customers satisfied is the winner. There shouldn''t be any objection. You lose."


    "Second, the thing that I let you quit has nothing to do with thepetition. Even if you win this


    "You are just a designer. But you dared to disobey thepany''s arrangement. Since you''re so


    capable, I don''t think you should stay here. I already gave you dignity because I don''t fire you on the


    spot."


    Avril bit her lip and didn''t say anything, and no matter how angry she was, she didn''t dare to say


    anything.


    In the domestic clothing industry, Xavier Group was the top. It was not easy to enter the Design


    Department of Xavier Group and be a designer here. Naturally, she did not want to be fired


    because of this.


    Avril was always going well in designing. But Nora made her lose face now. She won''t let it go.

 Chapter 317

    Chapter 317


    The result ofpetition in the Design Department was still spreading.


    Avril was a high-profile and arrogant person, and many employees knew her. Now, she was beaten by


    a designer from a cooperativepany, and Mr. Xavier personally eliminated her from the project.


    Many people gloated at her.


    But on the other hand, the rumors of Nora and Derek''s having affairs also stirred up.


    In contrast, those employees cared more about the rumors.


    In the Design Department bathroom.


    The two female assistants started gossiping.


    "I heard that Avril didn''te to work at this time. She took a week off."


    "She is too embarrassed toe to thepany after suffering such humiliation. If I were her, I would


    de the same thing."


    "That''s right. She deserves to be punished like that."


    "By the way, have you seen that designer named Nora? She is indeed pretty. No wonder she could


    hook up with Mr. Xavier."


    "Isn''t it rumored? Mr. Xavier is famous for being sexually continent."


    "Nonsense. There''s no smoke without fire. When did our Xavier Group cooperate with a small


    Neither of them expected that the Party A of their discussion would be in the bathroom.


    Listening to the two assistants, Nora''s face was very glum. That was what she was worried about. The


    wilder the rumors spread, the more she felt sorry for Sheldon.


    Nora was about to open the door to exin to them, but her hand stopped just as she put it on the


    doorknob.


    "Mr. Xavier is married. I heard he treats his wife very well."


    "Everyone knows about this, but his wife is dead. After all these years, it''s normal to fall in love with


    someone else."


    "What''s her wife''s name? I remember it''s..."


    "All right, stop it. This is taboo in ourpany. Let''s not talk anymore."


    Nora didn''t know what she was thinking, but she couldn''t help but want to hear it, but she still couldn''t


    figure out who Derek''s wife was.


    She couldn''t help but think about the photo she identally smashed in the president''s officest time.


    That woman... It must be his wife, Easton''s mother.


    In the office on the top floor.


    Damian reported the results of the investigation during this period of time, "Mr. Xavier, we have a clue


    about the kidnapper. It''s from the Universe International Corporation."


    Universe International Corporation and Xavier Group had been rivals for a long time. The two


    They were the biggestpetitors.


    If it was a typical business fight, Derek wouldn''t care at all, but they dared to kidnap his son, so Derek


    had to fight back and make things difficult for them.


    "What''s Universe International Corporation doing recently?"


    "Their beauty industry has developed a new perfume, and theunch of the new product will be held in


    three days."


    "A batch of imported products will be delivered to the warehouse in the southern suburbs tomorrow, of


    great value."


    Derek''s slender fingers tapped on the desk regrly, "Well, tell them to be careful and not to be


    captured."


    "Yes, boss."


    After so many years of tacit understanding, Derek didn''t need to say it out loud while Damian would


    understand what Derek meant.


    Damian thought of something and continued, "Mr. Xavier, there''s one more thing. When I was


    investigating Miss Gray, I found someone else was investigating her too."


    Derek''s face immediately darkened, his eyes twinkled, and he immediately asked, "From Universe


    International Corporation?"


    "Yes, boss. It looks like they didn''t catch Little Young Masterst time, but Miss Gray got their attention.


    Do you need me to send someone to protect her?"


    "Well, just let them protect her in the dark. Send more people."


    Damian nodded without surprise.


    Nora had been in the Xavier Group for three months, and the happiest person about that was Easton.


    Derek worked overtime today. It was already 9 pm when he got home, but no matter howte he went


    back, he would go to his son''s room to check on him.


    Today, as usual, he gently opened the door and found out that his son was not sleeping, but reading


    books with his two short legs swinging.


    Easton was startled. When he saw his father, he closed the book he was reading and hid it under the


    pillow.


    He squinted and walked over, "What are you reading?"


    The little guy rolled his ck eyes, "Nothing, it''s just aic book."


    Derek would be stupid if he trusted his son. He didn''t talk nonsense and reached out his hand, "Do you


    want to hand it over yourself, or should I?"


    He pursed his lips but knew that he couldn''t keep it anymore. He took it out unhappily. Derek''s face


    darkened when he saw the title on the book''s cover.


    Ny-nine Tricks to Conquer a Young Girl?


    What the hell?


    "Where did you get this?" He red at his son.


    Easton pursed his lips, "I bought it."


    "Who bought it for you?"


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Derek''s mind quickly filtered through people with such guts at home.


    "I bought it myself. I ced the order on my phone and they delivered it to my door. It''s easy." The little


    guy said with his arms outstretched and couldn''t hide his pride in his tone.


    Derek, "..."


    He took a deep breath, "You are not allowed to buy or read this bullshit in the future."


    The little guy was displeased and stood on the bed with his waist crossed. He was very unhappy, "How


    can you say it''s bullshit? I think it makes sense."


    Derekughed angrily and told himself that children should not be taught by violence, but reason with


    them. Then he sat on the bed.


    "This kind of book is not something you should read at your age."


    "Dad, this is age discrimination. I''m already five years old. I''m going to primary school next year. I''m a


    big boy," Easton stressed.


    He nodded, "Okay, you''re not a child. Tell me, what''s the purpose of reading this book?"


    "Of course it''s for Nora. Nora is now working in ourpany. The book says that firste, first


    served. It''s a great opportunity for me."


    "So, I must seize it and let Nora be my girlfriend in three months."


    Derek, "..."


    He rubbed his palm and squinted, suddenly having a sudden impulse to hit his son.


    Well, it was more effective to deal with the wild child with violence. Derek felt that his son was in need


    of punishment, so he stood up.


    "The book is forfeited. Sleep tight."


    Easton widened his eyes and looked as if it was the end of the world, "Dad, how can you do this to


    me?"


    "Hmph, there''s more. Do you want to try it?" He sneered.


    The little guy shrank his neck and immediately gave in. Hey down and covered himself with the quilt,


    and then made a face at Derek.


    Although his eyes were closed, his mind was still active as he thought about how to pursue Nora. If


    Derek knew what he was thinking, he would beat Easton up first.

 Chapter 318

    Chapter 318


    The next day, Nora received arge bouquet of roses, fresh and brightly colored. There were drops of


    water and they were very beautiful.


    "Wow, Nora, who gave these to you? Your boyfriend?"


    "Your boyfriend is so romantic. My boyfriend hasn''t sent me flowers for a long time."


    Since Avril was fired, no one in the Design Department dared to cold-shoulder Nora. Although they


    didn''t know whether the rumor in thepany was true, they didn''t dare to risk it. What if it was true?


    Nora was also confused. She smiled awkwardly and took out the card in the bouquet.


    It read "Dear Nora, the roses represent my heart. Your future husband, Easton."


    Nora was amused. She never thought that this bouquet of flowers would be sent by the little guy.


    Looking at the picture on the card, she was delighted.


    She smiled and put the flowers aside in a joyful mood.


    Although Derek was on the top floor, he still paid much attention to Nora. He soon found out about the


    roses. His face darkened and his brows furrowed. He kept thinking who sent the flowers.


    Damian asked cautiously, "Mr. Xavier, do you want me to find it out?"


    "Yes, go now," Derek said coldly.


    They soon knew the result, and neither Damian nor Derek expected the flowers to be from Easton.


    Derek couldn''t help thinking of the book his son readst night. He was even more upset, even if it was


    his own son who sent the flowers.


    Nora who was in the Design Department received a video call from Easton.


    "Nora, I''m at XY Kindergarten. Can you pick me up?" Easton''s cute little face was full of expectation.


    She was stunned and immediately asked, "No one in the Xaviers went to pick you up?"


    "The driver has something to do and went his own home. Dad said he has to work overtime and has no


    time, so you have to pick me up."


    Nora thought it was strange, but she still agreed. She couldn''t let a little child go home alone. It was too


    dangerous.


    Hesitating for a while, she sent Derek a text message telling him about it.


    Derek was stunned when he received the text, then narrowed his eyes. He didn''t know what his son


    was going to do. How could no one in the Xaviers not have picked him up?


    He thought about it and replied, "You can go pick him up now and wait for me in the parking lot."


    Nora was confused again. Wasn''t she the person who was going to pick Easton up? Why should she


    wait for him?


    Full of confusion, she went to the parking lot and saw Derek at a nce.


    There was an elevator in Derek''s office. It led directly to the parking lot, which was fast and convenient.


    "Mr. Xavier, what are you doing?"


    "I''ll go with you," he said faintly.


    "But, didn''t Easton say you had to work overtime and didn''t have time?"


    "I don''t need to work overtime today. Easton told you that probably because he didn''t see you for a long


    time. After all, you know, he doesn''t have a mother."


    Hearing thest sentence, Nora decided to shut up and just go with him. She got into the car silently,


    feeling much pity for the little guy, and was willing to pick him up.


    Easton, who didn''t know his n had been ruined by his father, smiled and called the hotel after


    receiving a reply from Nora.


    "Hey, I want to book two seats for a romantic dinner..."


    But when he saw Nora and Derek appearing together not long after, his proud little face froze.


    Seeing this, Derek smiled faintly and picked up the little fellow. "Buddy, I am here. Are you happy?"


    Happy?! Easton struggled to jump down and red at him discontentedly. "Dad, you don''t have to pick


    me up. Nora can do this."


    Derek raised his eyebrow and asked, "Why?"


    "Because..." Before Easton could finish, a soft, childish voice called out to him from behind.


    The children in XY Kindergarten were from rich, powerful families. Now sses were over, so there


    were many people who were here to pick up the children outside the kindergarten, but most of them


    were nannies or housekeepers.


    "Easton..."


    A cute little girl in a pink bubble skirt ran over.


    Derek had picked the little guy up several times, so this girl knew him and looked at Nora curiously,


    "Easton, is this your mother?"


    Last time at the theme park, he told others Nora was his mother. He was very happy then, but this time


    he was not happy at all. After all, he would be Nora''s boyfriend.


    Derek curled his lips and took a step forward. "Yes, this is Easton''s mother."


    "Wow, Easton, your mother is so beautiful, just like me." The little girl was obviously a little narcissistic.


    While she was praising other person, she didn''t forget to praise herself.


    Nora couldn''t help chuckling.


    Easton was displeased and looked at the little girl with a little disgust, "Who is like you? My mother is


    much prettier than you."


    The little girl pouted but was not angry. Instead, she walked up to Nora and smiled shyly, "Auntie, do


    you think I''m pretty?"


    Nora gently touched her head. "I think you''re pretty and cute."


    She immediately looked at Easton happily. "Easton, your mother said I was pretty. When I grow up, can


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    I be your wife?"


    Nora was stunned.


    Derek stood by with his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking at them as if it was none of his


    business.


    The little guy''s face darkened and he red at the little girl. "I don''t want you to be my wife."


    "Why?" The little girl was angry.


    "Because you''re so annoying and you like to cry. When you cry, you look ugly."


    "You are ugly when you don''t cry," the little guy added.


    Seeing that the little girl looked sad and wanted to cry, Nora immediately whispered, "Easton, be


    friendly with your ssmate. Don''t be so rude."


    Easton''s little face turned cold and his cheeks puffed up. "Nora, she''s your rival in love. How can you


    speak for her?"


    Nora was shocked again. Wait? What did he say?


    She suddenly thought of the bouquet of roses she had received and the words on the card, and


    instantly understood the meaning of "her rival in love". She was speechless and amused.


    The little girl bit her finger, her big eyes full of confusion. "Easton, what is the rival of love?"


    "Hmph, you''re so stupid. You don''t even know this. I don''t want to talk to you. It will make me stupid


    too." Easton looked arrogant.


    Derek, who had been watching them, felt that his son was pushing too far, so he stepped forward to


    pick him up and put him under his arm.


    Nora said goodbye to the little girl and quickly followed them.


    "Put me down, dad. You''re so annoying. You are embarrassing me."


    Derek pped him on the butt and sneered. "Embarrassing you? I don''t think so. You even wet your


    bed. That''s embarrassing." As he spoke, he threw Easton into the back seat of the car.


    The little guy covered his butt and blushed. "Who, who wet the bed? I stopped wetting the bed long


    ago. This is nder."


    When Nora caught up, she heard this. Sheforted the little guy gently, "Easton, you''re just a little


    boy. You''re still in kindergarten. It''s okay."

 Chapter 319

    Chapter 319


    The implication was that it didn''t matter if he wet the bed.


    Derek chuckled.


    Easton was so upset, feeling that his image waspletely destroyed by his father. He pouted and


    sulked.


    He had nned to send flowers in the morning and ask Nora out in the afternoon. They could go


    shopping, eat and watch movies together. He had been longing to watch Part II Deformation Machine


    which came out recently. And then they could have dinner together in the evening.


    Now that all his n was in vain, the little guy decided not to talk to his father for at least a week.


    Derek didn''t know that his son held a grudge against him. Even if he knew, he wouldn''t take it seriously.


    It was a cold night.


    Derek was lying on the bed with his eyes closed and his brows frowned. Obviously, he was not


    sleeping well.


    He slowly opened his eyes. His head ached so much. It was already bright outside. When he walked


    downstairs, only to find there was no one at home. Suddenly, a familiarughter came in from outside.


    Was this voice from Meredith?


    Derek''s heart thumped violently and he ran out. On thewn of the big garden, Meredith was wearing a


    white dress with a smile. Looking at her, Derek couldn''t tear himself away from her.


    Suddenly, Meredith looked at him and waved, "Derek,e here."


    Of course, he wouldn''t refuse. He ran over with a smile, but before he got close, another voice came


    from behind him.


    "Dad."


    Derek paused and turned his head. It was his son.


    Easton looked at him with a smile. The person standing next to him... It was Nora, who was holding his


    son''s hands, and smiled at him.


    "Dad, where are you going? Mom and I are here."


    He was stunned and suddenly looked at the garden. Meredith was still there, waving at him with a


    bright smile. "Derek,e here."


    "Dad, where are you going?" His son on the other side was shouting at him.


    Derek''s mind was in a mess. He looked at both sides, at a loss to choose which direction to go. His


    wife was Meredith, but...


    "Honey, why are you in a daze? Come in." Nora smiled sweetly and waved at him.


    "Derek,e out and have fun with me."


    "Dad, where are you going?"


    Their voices rang out one after another, echoing in his ear. Derek frowned and his head suddenly


    ached.


    He shouted irritably, "Shut up."


    The voices around him suddenly disappeared. He looked at both sides in a daze. There was no one.


    He ran out in a panic and ran into the garden.


    Meredith, who had been here just now, was nowhere to be seen. Everything seemed to be an illusion.


    "Meredith."


    He yelled, opened his eyes and sat up. He panted heavily, and his forehead was covered in sweat.


    Looking at his familiar room, out the dark window, he realized that it was just a dream.


    Derek turned on the light and leaned against the bed, frightened and uncertain. After a long while, a


    dark light shed through his sharp eyes as if he had made a decision.


    Nora walked home with a nervous look.


    The surrounding environment of the house she rented was not very good, but the location of the


    neighborhood was good. Because of working overtime these days, it was dark when she took a car


    home.


    Probably it was her illusion, every time she went home these days, she felt someone following her.


    She had lived here for a few years, and for the first time, she had this feeling during several days. Nora


    knew that this was not her illusion, but she found nothing every time she looked back.


    For the past few days, she had been very nervous at home, afraid that someone would suddenlye


    out.


    Nora stopped, her heart thumping, and she looked back. There was nothing behind her except the


    silhouette of the streetlights on both sides.


    She did not feel at ease. She slowly turned around and ran with gritted teeth. But the next second, she


    felt footsteps behind her, and she couldn''t get rid of it.


    In the past few days, she didn''t hear footsteps, but she just felt that someone was following her. It was


    an inexplicable feeling. Today, it was getting stronger. Nora was so scared that she almost broke down.


    "Nora." Someone suddenly called her name.


    Her breathing quickened and she suddenly stopped. The sound was familiar... She turned around


    quickly and saw Derek looking at her from behind.


    For some reason, the fear and panic surged up, and the tip of her nose ached. A tear rolled down her


    face.


    Derek didn''t expect her to cry. He panicked and strode over, frowning. "What''s wrong?"


    Nora shook her head. She didn''t say anything and didn''t know what to say. She didn''t want to cry, but


    her tears fell endlessly.


    Five yearster, he once again felt a sense of helplessness in a woman. In the past, only Meredith


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    could make him panic.


    After a while, Nora gradually calmed down. Crying in front of Derek, she felt embarrassed and sniffed.


    "Mr. Xavier, why are you here?"


    "Tell me first, why were you crying just now?" he asked in a tender voice.


    Nora pursed her lips in embarrassment and told him about the past few days.


    Derek was at a loss what to say. It never urred to him that the culprits were his men.


    "Well, that must be my illusion," Nora whispered, lowering her head.


    His face was grim, and he looked at the corner with sharp eyes.


    The underlings who were hiding in the shadows looked at each other, frightened. They swore that they


    had no intention of scaring Miss Gray.


    These people were also surprised by Nora''s sensitivity to the fact that she could feel their presence.


    They felt wronged.


    "Let''s go. I''ll take you home."


    It was at least a quarter of an hour''s walk from her house, and it was already night. Nora was still a little


    scared, so she didn''t refuse.


    "By the way, there is a fashion designpetition. The time is almost up. You can sign up for


    submission and the winner can go to F Country to continue to participate in the international


    "I know that, but there''s not so much time left. It''s toote."


    "Didn''t you design a manuscript at the hospitalst time? That''s great. You can use it," Derek reminded


    her.


    Nora also remembered that the manuscript was given to Sheldon. Every time he asked her for a design


    with the excuse that Jones Group needed it.


    And it was just a model, and thepany would only use it as a reference. Even if she wanted to use it


    in the end, it would be approved by her. Therefore, she had no idea that her manuscript had been


    taken over by others forpetition.

 Chapter 320

    Chapter 320


    Derek added, "The design manuscript is very good. If we win in the end, it will be a good promotion for


    our cooperation."


    Speaking of cooperation, Nora became more serious and nodded, "Okay, I''ll do it when I go to work


    tomorrow."


    "Yeah."


    The promotion of the coboration was just a pretext. Derek had asked Damian to investigate Nora and


    read Nora''s previous works. He knew she was very talented in design.


    Perhaps because of the small size of the SPECTER Group, or perhaps for some other reason, Nora


    did not have any record of winning, which made him very confused.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    As a designer, fame was very important. Fame came from awards, and awards came from


    The next day.


    Nora took a good look at thepetition Derek mentioned. With one day to go before thepetition


    closed, she immediately sent the manuscript electronically.


    Suddenly, she felt a sharp nce behind her as she had always been sensitive. She turned around and


    saw Avril in a daze.


    Sincest week''spetition, they hadn''t seen each other for days because Avril asked for leave.


    Avril folded her arms around her chest, still looking very proud. However, Avril looked at Nora in a


    strange and unpredictable way. Nora did not know what Avril meant, but she knew that Avril must still


    be thinking about thepetition.


    Nora pursed her lips and looked away to continue her work.


    Even though she had a good temper, she was not a coward. Thest time she beat Avril fair and


    square. No matter what the other party thought, she had a clear conscience.


    In the afternoon.


    As soon as it was time toe off duty, the people in the Design A Department left one after another.


    Soon, Nora was alone in the office.


    Thinking about her returnst night, she decided not to work overtime. It was the same for her to take


    her work back to do it. After packing up, she stood up and went to the bathroom.


    Nora did not notice that there was someone quietly following her.


    Avril stood outside the bathroom, listening to what was going on inside. She narrowed her eyes and


    walked in with her lips curled.


    She took the mop from behind the door, quietly inserted it into the handle of the door and it stuck. Then


    she stood on the stool with a bucket of cold water. She poured down the cold water without hesitation.


    "Ah..."


    Avril threw the bucket away, pped her hands, and listened to the screams inside. A glimmer of


    satisfaction shed through her eyes. She walked out leisurely in her high heels, turned on the fan in


    the bathroom and turned off the light.


    Design Department had four sectors, upying two floors. There are two sectors on each floor, one to


    the left and one to the right, with a space between them.


    The A Department was quiterge, and the bathroom was at the end of the department corridor. The


    employees were off work. It could be said that Nora couldn''t get any help.


    At this moment, Nora was drenched, and the cold water made her shiver. The exhaust fan behind her


    whirled quickly, and the wind blew on her, making her feel cold.


    Although it was summer, she still felt cold.


    There were a lot of water and broken ice on the ground. She took a deep breath and tried to open the


    door, but found that even if she opened the bolt, she couldn''t open the door.


    Nora''s eyes widened. Finally, she panicked and kept banging on the door.


    "Is there anyone? Is there anyone out there? Someone here is locked. Anybody? Help..."


    There was only her voice in the empty bathroom. As soon as she stopped, it was very quiet. Nora''s


    face became paler and paler, not knowing whether it was because of the cold or because of the panic.


    Suddenly, she stepped on a piece of broken ice. She slipped and fell to the floor.


    On the top floor, Derek called Nora but got no answer, so he came to the Design Department. He was


    going to send her back today.


    The big Design A Department was quiet and there was no one there. He walked over to Nora''s desk


    and saw that everything was in order. Nora''s bag was still there, and her phone was on the table, but


    he didn''t see Nora.


    "Nora, Nora?"


    Derek called his men and frowned when he learned that Nora had not left the Xavier Group.


    When he walked out of the Design Department, he suddenly stopped and looked at the end of the


    corridor. His hearing was so good that he could hear everything clearly. Besides, it was very quiet.


    He walked over, and the sound grew louder, which was like a knock on the door. The bathroom was


    dark, but he could see that one of the doors was stuck with a mop.


    He suddenly thought of something and his expression changed. He turned on the light and strode in.


    "Nora? Are you there?"


    When Nora heard his voice, she was stunned and immediately excited. She had a lump in her throat


    and she could not help but sob out, "I, I''m here. I''m inside."


    Derek opened the door and his face clouded over when he saw what was going on inside.


    Nora crouched in a corner, pale, wet, and embarrassed.


    He went in, picked her up, and walked away without saying anything with a straight face.


    Nora leaned into his arms and heard his steady heartbeat. When she raised her eyes slightly, she


    could see his firm and cold chin.


    In an instant, the inexplicable sense of familiarity rose from her heart again. This strong feeling not only


    reassured her, but also somehow made her feel sad and wronged.


    She took a deep breath and immediately looked up, trying her best to hold back these emotions.


    "Mr. Xavier, I can..."


    "Shut up," Derek said coldly.


    In an instant, she couldn''t say anything.


    Derek''s office wasrge and there was a lounge.


    He put her on the bed and brought a towel to wipe her.


    He did it naturally, but Nora felt a little awkward. She stood up abruptly and took a step back, "Mr.


    Xavier, I''ll do it myself."


    Derek squinted at her for a while and handed her the towel.


    "You need to change your clothes. Go to the bathroom and take a bath. I''ll get someone to prepare a


    new set of clothes for you."


    Nora was embarrassed, but that was the only thing she could do now. Besides, her clothes were very


    thin, so it was better to change.


    She nodded, "Mr. Xavier, thank you."


    In the bathroom, when Nora looked at therge bathtub and thought of Derek bathing in it, she


    immediately blushed and shook her head fiercely.


    It made her very ufortable, so she took a quick shower. However, just as she stepped out of the


    shower cubicle, she slipped and fell violently to the ground.


    "Ouch..."


    Derek''s heart skipped a beat when he heard her scream and rushed in without thinking. The next


    second, she screamed louder.


    Nora endured the pain all over her body and leaned hard to her side, covering her body in a panic. Her


    mind was in a muddle and she was extremely embarrassed.


    Derek also did not expect to see this scene, so he was also stunned, which was very rare. When he


    came back to his senses, he immediately looked away. Mr. Xavier was seldom at a loss.

 Chapter 321

    Chapter 321


    Looking up, he saw the bath towel on the shelf. He immediately took it off and shook it out, quickly


    covering Nora''s body.


    Nora tilted her head, revealing her red earlobes. Her fair fingers gripped the edge of the bath towel


    tightly. She wished she could faint right away while her fingertips were whiting and her wrists were


    trembling.


    Derek coughed softly, "I''ll carry you out."


    He waited for a few seconds, and when he saw that she had not said anything, he thought that she


    agreed. He immediately bent down and picked her up. When his arms touched her soft skin, his heart


    couldn''t help mess up.


    Nora''s body was as stiff as a b stone. As soon as she got close to the bed, she immediately rolled


    herself up with the quilt and buried her head deeply in it, motionless.


    Seeing this, he didn''t know what to say. He hesitated and said, "Don''t worry, I didn''t see anything."


    After saying that, he regretted it. In that instance, how could he not have seen that? She wouldn''t


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    believe it. He shouldn''t have said anything.


    Sure enough, Nora buried her head deeper.


    Her hands under the quilt were tightly clenched, and the sweat sprang up in her forehead because of


    hot. When this happened, she was not only ashamed and angry, but also mixed with unspeakable pain


    and grievance.


    She attributed this inexplicable emotion to Sheldon.


    Thinking of Sheldon, she recalled what his mother had said to her in the office thest time. Her


    flushed face turned a little pale, her brain was in a mess, and she even had an angry feeling towards


    Derek.


    She knew it was not right. He saved her, and she should not be so ungrateful.


    But she felt overwhelmed. What happened today seemed to confirm Sheldon''s mother''s nder on her.


    She took a deep breath and thought that she was sitting on Derek''s bed with his nket over her. She


    felt very ufortable and didn''t want to stay there any more.


    Nora looked up slowly, "Mr. Xavier, thank you for saving me today. What happened just now was just


    an ident. Don''t take it to heart. I want to change my clothes. Can I trouble you to wait for a moment


    outside?"


    Her voice was so calm that she admired herself.


    Derek was surprised at her calmness and immediately frowned, feeling a little ufortable.


    Nora changed her clothes and waspletely at peace. She opened the door and walked out.


    "Mr. Xavier, if there''s nothing else, I''ll go back first."


    Derek immediately got up and said, "I''ll see you off."


    "No, thanks, Mr. Xavier. It''s not toote. I can go home alone, so I won''t bother you."


    Her tone was t, but her attitude was firm. Derek could not help but squint his eyes and finally knew


    the reason why he was unhappy just now.


    This woman was trying to avoid him. No, more urately, she was drawing a line between him and


    herself.


    A sharp dark light shed in his eyes, and he looked at her without saying anything.


    Under this gaze, Nora''s calm heart could not help but waver again. She frowned. It was strange that


    she felt that he was angry.


    She looked at his expressionless face and said, "Mr. Xavier, then, I''ll go first."


    Until she was out of his sight , Derek did not ask her to stay. He just looked at her back, and it seemed


    to have a whirlpool flowing in his eyes.


    A few dayster, Damian reported the results.


    "Mr. Xavier, ording to your requirements, I have done it at the most professional agencies in this


    city, the whole province, and the whole country. These are the three results. Please have a look."


    Derek looked at the three documents in front of him and did not move for a long time.


    Finally, he reached out his hand and slowly opened the first document.


    The result of the first appraisal report showed that the possibility of Nora and Easton were mother and


    son was up to 98%.


    His pupils suddenly constricted. Even though he had expected it for all this time, it was still a great


    shock when he saw it with his own eyes.


    Derek flipped through the remaining two results, one showing a 98 % chance and the other showing a


    99. 5 % chance.


    There was no need to doubt that Nora was Easton''s mother and his wife.


    She... was Meredith, his wife, who had been missing for five years.


    With a swish, he couldn''t help but stand up in excitement and the chair behind him fell to the ground.


    As a qualified assistant, Damian naturally wouldn''t check the results before his boss. Now that he saw


    the status of his boss, he knew what happened.


    He felt incredible, but at the same time, he was happy for his boss.


    "Congrattions, Mr. Xavier."


    After waiting for so many years, he finally got what he wanted.


    The corners of Derek''s lips trembled. God knows what kind of emotions he had in his heart at the


    moment he made sure of it. It was like fireworks had exploded in his heart. His heart, which had been


    nk for five years, was finally filled with brilliant colors again.


    He was not a religious man, but at this moment, he really thanked God for Meredith''s life. Thinking of


    this, he couldn''t help but rush out of the door.


    Now, he desperately wanted to see Nora. He had so much words to tell her.


    But...


    Damian had just expected this situation, as a qualified assistant, he had to pull back the boss''s


    rationality when the boss lost control of his emotions.


    So, as he stared at Derek''s murderous eyes, he resisted the urge to going out and said quickly.


    "Mr. Xavier, please calm down, Miss Gray. No, Mrs. Xavier has lost her memory. She doesn''t remember


    anything about you. If you rush over now, she may be terrified."


    Derek''s face darkened and his brows tightened. He looked at Damian with an unfriendly gaze, but he


    had already calmed down.


    Damian was frightened and said again, "Don''t worry. I''ll call Madam up now. Please wait for just a little


    while."


    These words finally eased Derek''s expression.


    After what happened in the rest roomst time, they had not contacted each other, and Derek had not


    sought her out, which made her relieved.


    But now that she was summoned to the Office of the President again, she was a little confused, but still


    went upstairs.


    Damian really overestimated his boss''s control over himself. The moment Nora walked in, Derek


    couldn''t help but stride over and hold Nora tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to embed himself into her


    body.


    Nora was naturally startled. After a short cry, her face changed and she started to struggle, but it was


    useless.


    Damian sighed and could only retreat quietly. After stepping out of the room, he stood there and


    guarded the door consciously.


    "Mr. Xavier, what are you doing? Let me go." Nora was very angry.


    The words "let go" irritated Derek. He hugged her tighter and buried his head deep in her neck." I won''t


    let go of you. I won''t. You couldn''t leave me again."

 Chapter 322

    Chapter 322


    Nora didn''t understand what he meant, but she was even angrier. She treated Derek as a pervert,


    gritted her teeth, and bit him hard on the shoulder.


    Hiss...


    Derek felt a sharp pain, but he didn''t reduce the strength in his grip at all. He even thought that the pain


    was good, because the pain meant that it was all true.


    His wife Meredith had reallye back to him.


    The rusty smell of blood in her mouth quickly brought Nora back to her senses. She suddenly released


    her mouth and looked at the bleeding part. She was shocked and involuntarily frowned.


    She pursed her lips, feeling the force that was holding her back, even suffocating her, and she took on


    aplicated expression.


    No matter how retarded she was, she could feel that something was wrong with Derek.


    Nora stopped struggling and said cautiously, "Mr. Xavier, can you let me go first? I feel terrible."


    Derek froze, panicked, and immediately let her go.


    But when he let go of his hand, Nora pushed him violently and retreated a few steps. She stood almost


    near the door, keeping a safe distance from him. She looked rather vignt.


    He sighed in frustration and walked to the sofa beside him and sat down.


    "I''m sorry I scared you just now, Mer...No... Nora, I have something very important to tell you. Can you


    sit down?"


    Nora looked at him without speaking or moving.


    Derek was not in a hurry and just waited.


    A few minutester, Nora took a deep breath and slowly walked over to sit across from Derek.


    "Mr. Xavier, I''m listening."


    He looked at her deeply with his eyes. The emotions in his eyes made Nora uneasy. She felt a sense of


    panic and restlessness.


    "Let me tell you a story. You must listen carefully. Five years ago..."


    In the big office, there was only Derek''s voice. He spoke very carefully. His voice was very soft, and his


    speed was very slow.


    As time passed by, Nora''s expression gradually changed from the calm one she took on before.


    "After five years, I still haven''t given up looking for her. I never thought that she is so close to me."


    "She saved our son Easton by ident. She went to the amusement park with us father and son. She


    helped Easton out as a mother. She was very talented in design. She..."


    At this point, Nora suddenly stood up and couldn''t help but raise her voice, "Enough."


    Derek still looked at her, opened the three testimonials in front of her, and continued, "I wasn''t sure until


    today that she is really my wife and Easton''s mother."


    Nora looked awful and shocked. Her heart was pounding. She was looking at the testimonials in front


    of her, and tears welled up in her eyes.


    She was so shocked that she didn''t know what to do. It turned out that Easton was her child, the child


    she gave birth to five years ago before she lost her memory.


    No wonder every time she saw the little guy, she had a sense of familiarity.


    Her nose was sore, and she almost burst into tears.


    Derek looked at her, and his heart ached. He couldn''t help but stand up and walk over, holding her in


    his arms, "It''s all in the past. You don''t have to remember the past. Now, it''s the most important thing for


    our family to reunite."


    Nora was not struggling this time. She felt Derek''s embrace and listened to his gentle words, but she


    wasn''t having a change of heart. She lowered her eyes and pushed him away.


    Derek frowned, "Mer?"


    The name Meredith was unfamiliar to Nora at this moment.


    Today, she finally knew her past, who her child was, who her husband was, but...


    "Mr. Xavier, I believe what you said, but it also means that I lost my memory five years ago, and I was


    separated from my son. All of this, do you think it has nothing to do with you in the story you just told?"


    Derek was shocked. He looked at her and panicked, "Mer, I..."


    Yes, he told Nora everything. He hid nothing, telling her all including happiness between them, but also


    turbulence.


    "Listen to me first." Nora interrupted him calmly.


    "In your story, from the beginning to the end, I have not wronged anyone. But your parents, and even


    you, have hurt me again and again."


    There was a clear contrast between what she said and the expression on her face, as if she was not


    talking about herself, but a stranger.


    The truth was like that. Even after hearing all this and knowing that she had been treated unfairly in the


    past, because of her amnesia, she was not emotional at all.


    Nora was only analyzing the situation rationally, "Mr. Xavier, no matter what our past was, I have lost


    my memory. I may not remember it for the rest of my life."


    "But I still want to thank you for letting me know about my past and my son, but that''s all."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "I''m living a good life now, and I have a fianc¨¦. I don''t want to change anything. I like Easton very


    much. He''s my son. I won''t deny it. But as for the rtionship between us, I think it might have well


    ended five years ago."


    Nora was neither impulsive nor angry. She was really analyzing everything rationally.


    After all, after five years, she had a new life and Sheldon, and there was nothing else but guilt for


    Easton.


    The word "fianc¨¦" made Derek''s eyes dim.


    He never expected this to happen. His face was so cold that it could be called it was "twisted", but he


    knew very well that he could only me himself for everything. Meredith had always been innocent.


    He tried to suppress his anxiety and looked at her, "Meredith, you can ignore me, but what about


    Easton? He was born without his mother aside. Now that you know he exists, do you bear to make him


    a child without a mother for the rest of his life?"


    It was despicable to force her with her son, but Derek had no choice. After all, the only person who


    could make her soft andpromise now was Easton, which was the key to ask Meredith back. He


    knew this very well.


    Sure enough, Nora was shocked and speechless.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and curled his lips, "It''s not urgent. I know it''s a big shock to you today. I''ll find


    a time to tell Easton about your identity. He''s qualified to know this."


    "Let''s take it slow for the things in the future. You should go back and think about it first."


    Nora really didn''t know how to answer this question. Of course, she wanted her son back if she could,


    but she knew that it was impossible, whether five years ago or five yearster.

 Chapter 323

    Chapter 323


    Nora looked very calm in the office and said in a calm tone. She told Derek exactly what she thought in


    her mind, but after returning to the Design Department, she could not calm down when she was alone.


    The story that Derek told her echoed in her head over and over again. Five years had passed. It was a


    memory that belonged to her past. Although she was not touched much, she was still feltplexed.


    After she thought for a while, Derek and Easton were the only figures left in her mind.


    Derek went straight to the little guy''s room after work. He wouldn''t hide Nora''s identity from his son.


    Obviously, this was a blessing to him, but not to Easton, at least not now.


    The little guy was shocked and then thought of something. He frowned and looked at Derek


    suspiciously.


    "I don''t believe it. I''ve seen pictures of mommy. It doesn''t look like Nora. Dad, it''s wrong to lie to child."


    He raised his eyebrows, "When your mother disappeared five years ago, she had an ident. Not only


    did she lose her memory, but her face was also injured. She had stic surgery, so she looked different


    from the picture five years ago."


    He found out what happened after the investigation.


    "I did a gicparison between the two of you in two hospitals in the country and one foreign


    institution, and these three institutions all gave positive results. It''s undoubtedly that she''s your


    biological mother, Meredith."


    The little guy looked at his father and made sure that Derek wasn''t lying to him. His small mouth


    shriveled and his bean-sized tears slid down without warning.


    The next second.


    "Crying..." Easton burst into tears, looking very sad.


    Derek sighed, sat down, picked up his son, put him on hisp, and rubbed his little head tofort


    him.


    "Why are you crying? Haven''t you always wanted your mother? Now that we found your mother, you


    should be happy. Your mom is back."


    Easton was crying so hard that he hupped. He didn''t pay attention to what he said and shouted, "But


    my girlfriend is gone."


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Derek, "..."


    His face turned gloomy immediately. He didn''t expect that this kid was crying for this. He had the urge


    to throw him down the window.


    Suppressing his anger, he threw him onto the bed, stood up, looked down at the little guy, and frowned,


    "Shut up. Stop crying."


    As a result, he cried even louder. Not only that, he simplyy on the bed and kept rolling back and


    forth.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Easton, I think you are missing the feeling of my


    hand pping on your ass."


    Under the warning and threat, the little guy could only give in and pout, feeling very aggrieved.


    His face was red, his big eyes were still teary, and he looked listless. He sniffed and waved his little


    hand, "Go out. I want to be alone and mourn my lost love."


    Derek, "..." This little bastard.


    He took a deep breath and picked him up, "Don''t talk nonsense. She''s your mother. You''re not allowed


    to call her by her name from now on. Do you hear me?"


    Easton''s face was grim, and his eyes were full of awkward emotions. The little guy was so


    embarrassed in his heart but pretended to be calm on the surface. He was in aplicated mood. He


    was happy, but at the same time, he felt a little ashamed of his previous behavior of treating his mother


    as his girlfriend.


    "Well, Nora... What was her reaction when she found out?"


    When he didn''t know who Nora was, it was easy for him to call her mother. Now that he knew, the little


    guy was too shy to call.


    What he wanted to ask was whether Nora was happy or unhappy when she knew he was her son.


    "She was calm." Derek said lightly.


    The little guy was dumbfounded and felt terrible. He jumped down from the bed, "Calm? How could it


    be calm? Dad, you must lie to me."


    A smile shed in Derek''s eyes, and his face remained expressionless, "It''s possible that a son of this


    age suddenly appeared. She was too surprised in her heart to show her excitement."


    "All right, let''s go downstairs for dinner." After Derek finished speaking, he went out, leaving the little


    guy alone in a tangled state of mind.


    Easton hadpletely forgotten about the girlfriend thing, and now he was full of thoughts about


    whether Nora would like him when she found out the truth.


    Although she used to like him, things were different now.


    Dad said that she had lost her memory and couldn''t remember what happened before. Now, a son


    suddenly appeared. What if... What if she didn''t like him?


    Easton sat at the dining table, frowning and losing his appetite. Finally, he threw the spoon away


    impatiently.


    "I don''t want to eat anything."


    Derek didn''t stop him from running upstairs, but elegantly put down the cutlery, took out his cell phone


    and called Nora.


    Nora answered the phone with hesitation, and then suddenly stood up. She looked anxious, "What?


    He''s not eating anything?"


    "Easton is so young. How can he not eat?"


    The corners of his mouth curled up in a beautiful arc, but he sighed, "I told him who you are. Maybe


    because of this, he refused to eat."


    "Nora, this kid is very stubborn. Why don''t youe over and see him? Otherwise, he won''t eat or


    drink. He''s so young and couldn''t survive like this." Derek deliberately made the situation serious.


    Nora was so anxious that she couldn''t judge if Derek was exaggerating and agreed immediately.


    She came over very quickly, and Derek had been waiting for her in the courtyard.


    "Where''s Easton? I''ll take a look." Her face was full of worry.


    "Turn left on the third floor, the first room is his room. You can go." As he spoke, he handed her a tray


    with a bowl of egg soup and some delicious dishes.


    Nora immediately held it upstairs. Along the way, her heart ached as she thought about her son''s sad


    face.


    However, the reality was the opposite.


    The little guy sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands propped up his chin, and his face tensed up as he


    thought about life, whether he should send a message to Nora, and what he should say.


    A knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. Easton was unhappy and frowned, "Who is it?


    Don''t disturb me."


    After a few seconds, Nora carefully whispered, "Easton?"


    The little guy''s eyes were wide open, and he looked silly. When he regained his senses, he


    immediately wanted to stand up, but he tripped over the bed and looked funny.


    He straightened himself up immediately, his little face extremely serious, but he stammered, "Come,


    Nora gently opened the door and met Easton''s cute face. She was relieved. Fortunately, he didn''t cry.


    She put down the tray and hesitated whether she should move close or not.


    Derek said that Easton didn''t eat after he knew she was his mother.

 Chapter 324

    Chapter 324


    Nora was wondering if he didn''t like her. She was a little sad, but she felt even more guilty.


    Easton looked at her without blinking, as if it was the first time they had met. The little guy was very


    happy that she coulde, but he tried hard not to show it.


    So the two who had been tricked by Derek had their first meeting as mother and son.


    "Why are you here?"


    Nora''s voice was very gentle. "I heard from your father that you didn''t have dinner. I was a little worried,


    so..."


    She pursed her lips. "Easton, you, you don''t like meing over?"


    "Of course not," the little guy said immediately. His voice was loud, but then he felt embarrassed after


    saying this. He still kept a straight face.


    Nora was so happy and smiled. She walked over with the tray and asked, "Easton, if you don''t eat at


    night, you''ll be hungry. If you''re hungry, you''ll feel ufortable. Get something to eat, OK?"


    Easton blushed at her tone. She sounded so gentle and motherly. He didn''t say anything.


    Nora picked up a spoon, scooped up some steamed eggs, blew it, and handed it in front of his mouth.


    "Easton, honey, you are the most obedient. Eat this, and you can grow tall and strong."


    Honey... The little guy''s face turned even redder, and he was very shy, but he couldn''t help stealing a


    nce at Nora, his eyes shining.


    When he was very little, he wondered if the mother of other children would coax them to eat and bathe,


    and also read them bedtime stories.


    Mothers'' voices must be very gentle, and they would look at their children happily. He had seen those


    looks in kindergarten and was very envious.


    But now... He was enjoying those things he once envied. The little guy was happy and excited, and


    then gulped down the eggs. He felt that these were the best eggs he had ever eaten.


    Nora fed the child who was eating and they were both happy. The scene was very warm and loving.


    A mother knew her children very well. Nora naturally knew from his reactions that Easton did not dislike


    her. She was relieved and wiped his mouth.


    Nora finished feeding, took a shower for the little guy, carried him to the bed, covered him with a quilt,


    and Easton immediately stuffed the storybook taken out from the cab to her.


    Although they did notmunicate much, they got along very naturally.


    Of course, Nora wouldn''t refuse her son''s request for a bedtime story. Shey down beside him,


    lowered her voice, and began to read.


    Time passed by. When Easton fell asleep, Nora closed the book and looked at the little boy''s lovely


    face with loving eyes. She bent down and kissed him gently on his little face.


    It was a simple action, but her heart was filled with joy and satisfaction.


    Just then, Derek came in.


    "Is he asleep?"


    Nora shushed him and nodded.


    Seeing the expression on her face, he knew that they were getting along well. "It''s gettingte. Stay


    here tonight."


    Nora hesitated.


    She finally knew Easton was her son, so she naturally wanted to spend more time with him, but...


    "The child is very sensitive. He''s so happy today. If he can''t see you when he wakes up tomorrow, he


    must be sad again. You can sleep with Easton tonight," Derek said faintly.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Nora had to stay here.


    The next day.


    Easton woke up and when he saw Nora beside him, he was really excited. His big ck eyes turned


    around and stared at her without blinking.


    When Nora woke up and opened her eyes, the little guy smiled and shouted, "Good morning, mommy."


    After spending the night together, Easton was no longer troubled. He felt that it was better for Nora to


    be his mother than his girlfriend. After thinking that through, he immediately epted Nora as his


    mother.


    In the morning, of course, it was Nora who dressed him and washed him up. After they were done, they


    went downstairs for breakfast. When Derek looked at theming down the stairs, his eyes softened.


    He sincerely hoped that he could see such a scene every morning in the future, and he believed that


    this day woulde soon.


    A child meant everything to the mother. Easton was very happy today.


    But the harmony was broken up by a phone call.


    Nora looked at the caller ID on her phone, and the joy in her heart was immediately dissipated by more


    than half.


    Derek caught a glimpse of the caller''s name, and a sharp light shed in his eyes, then he looked back


    as if he hadn''t seen it.


    "Excuse me, I''m going out to answer the phone." As she spoke, she got up and walked out quickly.


    Easton immediately asked, "Dad, who called mom?"


    "None of your business. Eat your food," Derek, who was in a bad mood, said in a somewhat bad tone.


    The little guy pursed his lips and snorted. He jumped off the chair and followed Nora quietly. Derek did


    not stop him when he saw this.


    Nora answered the phone and said, "Sheldon."


    Sheldon seldom called her. In the past, she had been eager to receive a call or a message from him,


    which would make her especially happy.


    But this time, strangely, she didn''t feel happy.


    Nora felt guilty not only for her son but also for Sheldon. She found her son, and she didn''t know how


    to tell him about it.


    Sheldon called on a whim. He was going back, and Aubrey wasn''t with him, so he thought he should


    tell Nora.


    After talking for a while, Sheldon realized that Nora was not in a good mood, which was rare. Every


    time she received his call, she used to be very happy, and he was verycent about it.


    "Nora, what''s wrong? Is something wrong, or... my mom scolded you again?"


    "No, no, maybe because I''ve been working overtime recently and haven''t got enough rest. Sheldon,


    you don''t have to worry," Nora said quickly.


    She did not notice that there was a little boy behind her who was eavesdropping. When the boy heard


    this, his little face immediately became serious. He was not just an ordinary kid who would be deceived


    easily. He immediately turned around and ran in.


    "Oh, no, dad. Mom is on the phone with a man, and they are not only friends."


    Derek narrowed his eyes and said faintly, "It has nothing to do with me."


    The little guy stared at him in disbelief. "Dad, aren''t you worried? She''s your wife. What if she likes


    someone else?"


    Derek shrugged. "I can do nothing about it. Although we gave birth to you, she''s not my wife yet."


    Easton understood and immediately despised him. "Dad, you and mommy have me, but you didn''t win


    her heart. You should try harder."

 Chapter 325

    Chapter 325


    Derek was not annoyed by what Easton said, and he nodded leisurely, "Well. If your mother marries


    another man, they will have their own child. Then your mother won''t have time to take care of you."


    To the little guy, these sentences had a deterrent effect. Thinking about that situation, he was


    immediately frightened. His little face turned pale with fear.


    Seeing Easton''s change, Derek knew that he had achieved his purpose and said slowly, "So, son, now


    we should unite and clear away all the other man around your mother so that your mother and I can be


    together as soon as possible."


    After they reached an agreement, Nora came in. Easton gave his father a meaningful nce which


    stood for "I will handle this".


    He ran over, hugged Nora''s lower leg, and looked up expectantly, "Mom, can you give birth to a little


    brother or a little sister to y with me?"


    Nora and Derek were all shocked by Easton''s words.


    Derek looked at his son in astonishment. He waspletely unaware that Easton would say this kind


    of thing. Although this was actually his heartfelt wish, it was really inappropriate now.


    Nora was also shocked, but then she felt embarrassed. She was too embarrassed to look at Derek and


    didn''t know how to answer the little guy.


    "Ah, what Easton said was that he would be lonely at home alone. He wants you to spend more time


    with him and take him out to y when you are free." Derek tried to ease the embarrassment.


    Curling his lips, the little guy nodded, "Yes. Mom, today is a rest day. I don''t need to go to kindergarten.


    Can you take me out to y?"


    Nora was eagerly looking forward to ending the topic that had just been popped up, so she immediately


    nodded in agreement.


    Derek also wanted to go with them, but he had two important meetings today, so he could only envy his


    son.


    Nora took Easton to the zoo and the aquarium. In the afternoon, they watched an animated movie, and


    then prepared to eat on the top floor of the mall.


    Unfortunately, she saw an acquaintance who she didn''t want to meet at the mall.


    Holding her son, she said, "Auntie, you''re going shopping there, too."


    Yes, the acquaintance they met was Sheldon''s mother, Hailey.


    Wearing a pair of sses, Hailey was dressed like a queen. She looked at Nora with disdain and


    frowned, "It''s bad luck that I meet you here."


    She continued, "I let you tell my son to cancel the wedding. Do you tell him that?"


    Pressing her lips, Nora felt embarrassed to be asked such a question in front of her son.


    "Auntie, Sheldon ising back soon. We''lle to that when hees back, okay? I have other


    things to do today, so I''ll leave for now."


    She was afraid that if they continued to stay here, Hailey would act like thest time she was in her


    office. She could ignore her as usual, but Easton was here today.


    But Hailey was such a bad person that she wouldn''t let Nora leave so easily.


    "Stop, did I let you go? You''re in such a hurry to leave. Afraid to be seen?"


    After she said that, she looked at Easton, who had been staring at her with a grim face, and said,


    "Nora, who are you? You are so uneducated that you stare at me."


    Nora''s face turned sullen and she looked straight at Hailey, "Auntie, if you have anyints, just


    Hailey didn''t expect that Nora would talk to her like that, so she was so angry and said, "Who do you


    think you are? You said that I said awful things. Do you deserve me to say something nice?"


    "I''ve never seen such a shameless person like you who clings to my son. You''re a bitch."


    Hearing that, Easton was angry with a cold face, "Silly woman, shut up."


    As he spoke, he dashed over and kicked Hailey''s lower leg. Although he was young, he had been


    trained in the military camp. He was more than enough to deal with such an old woman.


    "Ouch..."


    In high-heeled shoes, Hailey was so painful that she couldn''t regain her footing. Then she fell on the


    ground hard.


    Eastonughed happily. As the Little Young Master of the Xaviers, he had never suffered losses. No


    one dared to do anything to him, even if he made a hole in the sky.


    So, Easton dealt with Hailey without any pressure. He took the coffee in his hand, opened the lid, and


    then sshed it on Hailey''s face without hesitation.


    "Ah..."


    "Easton."


    Nora waspletely dumbfounded just now. When she came back to her senses, she nearly died of


    fright. She pulled Easton over and took a few steps back.


    Hailey''s head was covered with coffee which looked like sewage. The coffee dripped from her head


    asionally.


    Being a noblewoman for decades, she was always elegant. For the first time, she was treated like this.


    She was so angry that she wanted to kill Easton. She gritted her teeth and looked ferocious.


    "Little bastard, I''ll kill you."


    Easton rid himself of Nora''s hands and walked forward with his arms folded around his chest. Then he


    held up his head high arrogantly.


    "I''m afraid you don''t have the right to kill me. I think maybe you are in your fifties. You''re old, and you


    should pay attention to your words and umte some virtues. In this way, when you are in a coffin,


    it won''t affect reincarnation in hell."


    As he spoke, he took out his cell phone and snapped several photos at Hailey.


    Trembling, Hailey was so angry that all her internal organs were painful. She could not say anything


    because of angry and red at Nora with burning eyes.


    This was the shopping mall, and the sound of them quickly led a crowd of people to gather and


    discuss.


    With great trepidation, Nora was afraid of making a big fuss. For Hailey, she had never been so


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    humiliated before. She put it all on Nora.


    In her opinion, this little bastard was brought in by Nora, so they were the same kind of people,


    probably he was taught by this bitch Nora.


    There was a lot of noise. Soon, the manager came over. He obviously knew Hailey. When he saw her


    look, his eyes widened and he immediately stepped forward.


    "Mrs. Jones, you are..."


    "Shut up and help me up."


    "Oh, oh, okay, okay."


    After she stood up, Hailey red at them as if she was going to rush over and eat their meat the next


    second.


    Rolling his eyes secretly, the little guy felt that he chided her too lightly. He had never seen an old


    woman who was more detestable than her.


    "Mom, let''s go."


    Turning around, he took Nora''s hands and was ready to leave.


    But Hailey heard this.


    "Wait, what did you just call her? Mom?"


    Feeling a little flustered, Nora''s heart trembled.


    Easton turned around impatiently and looked at her unhappily, "What''s wrong with me calling her


    mother? You also want to be my mother?"


    As he said, his little face was full of disgust. "Do you still want to give birth at your age? It''s too


    shameless. Besides, you look so ugly, so you can''t give birth to a handsome son like me."

 Chapter 326

    Chapter 326


    Poof...


    The crowd around them began to snicker.


    Nora was also shocked by her son''s words and quickly picked up him. "Auntie, I have something to do.


    Excuse me," said Nora.


    With that, she left immediately, afraid that something else would happen if she stayed for another


    second. Then Hailey roared loudly behind her.


    "Mom, we don''t have to be afraid of that old woman." Easton disagreed.


    Nora let out a breath and poked his little nose. "boy, you''re too bold."


    He pursed his mouth with his hands folded around his chest. "I''m not afraid of her. She had the nerve


    to scold me. If dad knew, he would definitely punish that old witch."


    She pursed her lips and felt guilty. "I''m sorry, Easton. I got you into trouble. If it weren''t for me, you


    wouldn''t have been scolded by her."


    "Mom, what does this have to do with you? It''s all that old woman''s fault," said Easton, pouting.


    She shook her head and said nothing, but her heart was in a mess. After what happened just now,


    things between her and the Joneses were getting more and moreplicated, and Sheldon''s mother


    would definitely not let her marry him.


    But Easton was her son. Even if she couldn''t marry Sheldon in the end, she couldn''t watch her song


    feel wronged.


    On this side, Hailey, who was asked into the dressing room by the manager of the mall, immediately


    called her son and couldn''t help shouting angrily.


    "Sheldon, I''m warning you onest time. If you don''t break up with that bitch Nora, you''re not my son.


    Don''t ever think about marrying that bitch."


    It was the first time that Sheldon had felt that his mother was so furious. Listening to the gasps of her,


    he held back his impatience in order not to irritate her.


    "Mom, what''s the matter now? Don''t be angry. I''ll be back soon. Can you wait until I get home?"


    "Son, you don''t know how that bitch bullied me. I''ve never felt so humiliated. I don''t want to live."


    Hailey, who was furious, had the urge to cry and burst into tears as a result.


    "She can be a real bitch. Not only did she dare to kick me today, but she also spilled coffee on me. If


    you are my son,e back and teach her a lesson. She was going too far."


    She med Nora for everything Easton did. After all, Easton was only a child.


    Sheldon wondered if he had heard wrong.


    Nora kicked his mother? And spilled coffee on her? Was the role reversed? It was quite possible for his


    mother to do these things. His mother''s words did not convince him at all.


    After Haileyined about her grievances, she put eye drops in front of his son.


    "Son, listen to me. I met that bitch Nora today. There''s a little boy about five or six years old next to her.


    That little bastard called her mother, don''t you know?"


    "Sheldon, the Joneses is a respectable family. Nora wants to marry you, but on the other hand, she has


    a son. If this were to be spread out, it''ll definitely lose our face."


    "I think she did it on purpose. She was bold while you were away. I don''t think she takes you and the


    Joneses seriously. What an ungrateful woman!"


    Hailey took every chance to smear Nora, hoping to change her son''s impression on her, but she


    couldn''t get her way.


    Not to mention that Nora had a son, even if Hailey was caught in bed, Sheldon must marry Nora.


    Sheldon pondered for a while and said, "Mom, you might have some misunderstanding about Nora. I''ll


    be back soon. I''ll ask her about it then."


    "Mom, I''m getting on the ne. My phone can''t be turned on. That''s it. I''m hanging up."


    "Hello? Son, son?"


    Hailey covered her chest in anger, gasping for breath.


    As for Sheldon, Derek had investigated him since he confirmed Nora''s true identity.


    Not only did he know that he would return home in the next two days, but he also got a lot of photos of


    him and Aubrey flirting.


    "Boss, do you need to show these to Miss Gray?" Damian asked.


    He squinted and waved his hand. "Not yet."


    Derek had never taken Sheldon seriously, thinking that he was not qualified to be his rival in love. It


    was useless even if he got rid of Sheldon before Nora had not regained her memory or fallen in love


    with him again.


    "By the way, I have to go out for a few days. Put this week''s work off. Wait till I''m back to sign the


    documents. Call me directly for emergency documents."


    "Okay, Mr. Xavier."


    Knowing that Sheldon woulde back, Derek was going to take Nora away and go out for a few days


    to strengthen the bond of their rtionship.


    He took out his cell phone and sent a message to Easton, whom Nora would not refuse. Derek was


    very good at calcting.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Easton was naturally very willing to help strengthen their bonding. He immediately made a video call


    with Nora.


    "Mom," he called as soon as it got through.


    Nora couldn''t help butugh, "Easton."


    "Mom, dad is going abroad on a business trip tonight. I''ll go too. Can you be with me?" Easton


    repeated what his father said.


    Although she wanted to spend time with her son, she felt a little awkward with Derek around. Besides,


    he was on a business trip, so it was definitely not appropriate for her to follow him.


    "Easton, forget it this time. Your dad is going to work, and I have my own job. Next time, I will take you


    to have some fun, just two of us."


    Easton almost readily epted. He wanted to go out with his mother alone, but he held back at the


    thought of his father''s grim face.


    The little guy sighed in his heart, then put a pitiful face and said, "Mom, don''t you like going out with


    me?"


    As he spoke, he pinched his leg. It hurt so much, and tears welled up his big eyes immediately.


    "Mom, when I was in kindergarten, I always heard from other children that their mother would take


    them out every time they had a holiday."


    "Dad is very busy at work and rarely takes me out. Now that I have a mommy, I thought I could go out


    with you like other children do."


    "Mom, you don''t go out with dad and me. Don''t you like me anymore..."

 Chapter 327

    Chapter 327


    He said it in a miserable way, and Nora was heartbroken to hear it. How could she bear to say no? She


    quickly agreed, for fear that the little guy would cry out.


    Easton made a victory gesture in his heart and said quickly, "Mom, you should go back and pack up


    now. The ne leaves at 6: 30 pm. Dad and I will pick you up at 5:00. Bye."


    With that, he hung up the phone and send an "OK" emoji to his father. Then he jumped off the bed and


    dragged his iron man suitcase out from under the bed.


    Just like that, when Sheldon came out of the airport, he called Nora but her phone was off. She had


    already boarded the ne to F Country with the Derek and Easton.


    Ont only that, Derek secretly cklisted Sheldon''s phone number to prevent these days from being


    disturbed, and when they returned, he secretly unfroze, without anyone noticing.


    In fact, Derek wanted toe abroad with Nora for a vacation alone. He thought his son was actually


    the third wheel, but there was no other way. His son was a necessary weapon.


    It was already ten o''clock in the evening when the three of them arrived in F Country and checked in


    the hotel suite. Nora was still sleeping with the little guy and Derek was alone in one room.


    The next day, Easton woke up the earliest and immediately woke Nora and Derek up. This was the first


    time he and his parents went on a trip, and he was very excited.


    When they went downstairs to have breakfast, Easton received a text message from his father across


    the table.


    The message was, "Son, after breakfast, find an excuse to stay in your room. Your mother and I are


    going to enjoying the vacation alone."


    Derek''s action was aplete disrespect. Easton immediately became angry, secretly red at his


    father, snorted in his heart, immediately turned his head and smiled sweetly at Nora.


    "Mom, where are we going after dinner? I want to go to the beach and ride in a float. Dad has work to


    do, so we have to go ourselves."


    Derek was dumbfounded and red at his son, this little liar, "I don''t have any work to do. I can go with


    you."


    "Is that true? Dad, aren''t you here on a business trip? Why aren''t you working?" Easton asked


    innocently.


    He looked at the little fellow with a long face, his eyes full of warning.


    Easton pursed his lips, snorted and turned to look at Nora, "Mom, can you feed me?"


    He was only five years old anyway, so he could ask anything he wanted, like acting coquettish.


    Nora agreed without hestitation, but the table was toorge and the distance was too far to feed, so


    she carried the little guy over and put him on herp.


    Nora and Easton started their sweet breakfast. Derek''s face turned gloomy and he couldn''t help but


    scold, "You are that old. You should feed yourself."


    The little guy''s mouth was puckered and his body shrank. He looked extremely aggrieved, "Mom, I''ll


    eat it myself."


    Nora couldn''t bear it. She immediately kissed him and coaxed him, "It''s okay, I can feed you."


    As she spoke, she couldn''t help but look at Derek with disapproval in her eyes and said in a bad tone,


    "Mr. Xavier, Easton is so young. It''s OK to ask an adult to feed him. Are you too strict?"


    Derek, "..."


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    He looked at his son hiding in Nora''s arms with his face full of pride, and he dared to secretly make a


    face at Derek to show off. Derek was so angry that he wanted to spank him.


    But he knew that he could only imagine it with Nora around. He smiled and said, "No, I just want him to


    learn to be independent."


    Nora did not appreciate it at all. She gently fed her son a mouthful of porridge and said


    expressionlessly, "A five-year-old child has right to act coquettish to his parents. There is no need to be


    independent."


    Derek didn''t dare to refute at all, and agreed corwardly, "Yes, you''re right, I''m a man. I don''t know how


    to raise a child, but it''s okay, we''ll have you in our family in the future."


    Thest sentence was very ambiguous. Nora wanted to refute, but she was afraid that Easton would


    be sensitive. She swallowed the words and didn''t say anything.


    The little guy looked at his father like this and couldn''t help shaking his head. Hey, what did uncle


    Damian say before? Oh, right, even the hero was the prisoner of love.


    Derek smiled with satisfaction, looked at Easton, narrowed his eyes and curled his lips, "Son, I''ll take


    you back to the old residence in a few days. Your grandpa said he missed you."


    The little guy''s rm immediately sounded and looked at his father warily, "I have to go to kindergarten.


    I can''t go back."


    "It''s okay. It''s just a few days. It won''t take much time. Your grandpa has great expectations of you. He


    asked me to tell the guards of the garrison in advance. He especially reserved a ce for you and let


    me take you there when I have time."


    He looked at the little guy''s changed face and was very happy. He raised his eyebrows, "As for when I


    am free..."


    Derek didn''t finish his sentence, but the little guy could feel the evil intention in his tone. He even felt


    his legs trembling and immediately smiled tteringly.


    "Dad, it must be hard for you to manage such a bigpany. You don''t even have time to sleep.


    There''s no time to go back."


    He snorted, "Time is like a sponge, and there''s always some if you give it a little squeeze. Son, since


    you know that I have worked so hard, how I make the choice depends on whether you are good or


    not."


    The little guy nodded fiercely, "Don''t worry, dad. I will be a good boy."


    Derek didn''t believe him at all but at least he could be obendient for a while, "It''s better that way."


    After breakfast, the three of them came to the seaside. Derek changed into shorts, showing his perfect


    figure, not worse than these foreign muscles. Nora took a look and quickly turned her gaze.


    She also changed into a swimsuit herself, but it was the more conservative kind with a skirt.


    The little guy was wearing a pair of hot pants and a small swimming ring. He shouted happily and


    rushed to the beach. Nora was terrified at the roaring waves.


    "Easton, slow down and y by the seaside. Don''t go too far."


    Derek was not worried at all. If Nora took a closer look, she would find that there were at least four tall


    and strong men around the little guy, with a serious face. They surrounded the little guy without any


    loophole.


    Xavier Group''s business was spread across many countries. These people were his men in F Country.


    With them around, the little guy couldn''t be in danger.


    Looking at the boundless sea, Derek suddenly thought of the scene of Nora falling into the river five


    years ago. His heart sank.


    If Meredith had known how to swim, she might not have been seriously injured and lost her memory,


    and he might not have missed her for five years.


    "Nora, let me teach you how to swim."

 Chapter 328

    Chapter 328


    Swimming?


    Nora looked at the foreign men and women around them. People of F Country were very okay with


    wearing less on certain asions. Women in bikinis and especially couples were at ease and their


    behaviors made Nora blush.


    Physical contact was inevitable when it came to teaching swimming. She averted her eyes


    embarrassedly and refused without thinking. "No, I''m not interested in swimming."


    Then she walked straight to the little guy.


    Derek sighed with regret.


    What was Easton doing? He was defending his dignity.


    On the beach, a little boy with blonde hair and blue eyes suddenly appeared beside Easton. He was


    very cute. The two little boys didn''t wear clothes and wereparing their abdominal muscles.


    Easton put his hands on his hips and his back was straight. He patted his belly and looked at the little


    boy in front of him proudly, "See? These are my abs."


    As soon as Nora came over, she heard his words. She couldn''t help curling her lips.


    The other boy was displeased and stuck up his stomach. "I have abs too."


    Easton immediately said disdainfully, "No, they are not. This is fat."


    "Then yours is fat too."


    "No, I have abs, and yours is fat."


    Their childish words made the adults aroundugh, and no one stopped them.


    Nora stood barefoot on the edge of the beach and looked at Easton with a smile. Suddenly, a man and


    his girlfriend rushed over behind her and identally bumped into her.


    Her eyes widened, and she lost bnce and fell back into the sea. Then a big wave came and carried


    her away.


    Nora couldn''t swim, so she was panicked and scared. Although she was still in the shallow area, she


    didn''t know how to breathe in the water and choked.


    At the same time, she felt a headache, and many images kept flooding her. Her heart palpitated and


    she felt this was familiar. Her temples suddenly throbbed.


    The boundless water drowned her. She wanted to call for help, but she could not make a sound. It


    seemed that she had experienced such despair before so that she could not even distinguish reality


    from illusion.


    "Ah..."


    The sudden headache made her scream, but she choked again. She was floating on the surface of the


    sea and struggled.


    All of this happened in just a few seconds. Derek had been looking at her all the time. When he saw


    this, he was scared and immediately rushed over.


    "Meredith..."


    In a panic, he shouted out Nora''s real name.


    In the sea, Nora heard him. At this moment, the words "Meredith" brought back more memories to her


    mind.


    "Ah..." Her face turned pale, and her brain was throbbing with pain. The images in her mind seemed to


    be clearer. She seemed to be hearing some people whispering in her ears.


    Meredith...


    Whose voice was this? Who was calling her?


    This feeling suddenly disappeared. When Derek picked her up, Nora fainted.


    Derek panicked and immediately carried her back to the hotel.


    There was nothing serious with Nora, and she didn''t choke on much water, so she soon woke up.


    Derek held her hand tightly and looked worried. "You''re awake. How are you feeling? Are you feeling


    unwell?"


    She frowned, rubbed her brows, shook her head, and remembered that she had fallen into the sea and


    fainted, and...


    Nora''s eyes flickered at the thought of the weird things happening to her. She looked at Derek. Her lips


    moved slightly, but she didn''t say anything.


    She tried to remember those memories at that time, but they became blurry. Derek said that the reason


    why she lost her memory five years ago was that she fell into the river.


    It seems that the scene reappeared when she fell into the sea today, which was why she suddenly


    remembered something.


    "Mom, mom..."


    Easton ran in, with tears on his face and the rims of his eyes red.


    Nora immediately ignored Derek and looked at Easton, her heart breaking. "Easton, what''s wrong?


    Why are you crying?"


    "Mom, I''m worried about you. It''s all my fault. I won''t go to the beach anymore." When the little guy saw


    her, he burst into tears.


    She carried him up to the bed, gently wiped his eyes, kissed his face, and smiled. "It''s my fault. I was


    being careless. Easton, it''s not your fault. Look, I''m fine. Don''t cry, okay?"


    Easton was still crying. He put his arms around her neck and buried his face in there. He looked like he


    didn''t want to leave her.


    Derek stood aside, his face livid, and was ring at his son. He was crying, so he got to be in her


    arms? Unfair.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    However, when Nora''s eyes swept over him, he immediately put on a bright smile.


    The next day.


    Derek suddenly received a text message from Damian. When he opened it, his expression changed,


    and a light shed in his eyes.


    Since they were here, they couldn''t just stay in a hotel.


    The three of them strolled along the road. Easton was a real delight. His childish words made Nora


    smile all the way. Obviously, she was very happy. And she felt morefortable with Derek being


    around.


    At this moment, a young girl walked towards them. She was carrying a beautiful basket, filled with fresh


    roses, and there was a bright smile on her face.


    "Sir, today is Valentine''s Day. Buy a flower for your girlfriend."


    Nora only knew English and didn''t know French, so she didn''t understand what the little girl said.


    But when she saw her movements, she could guess it. She felt a little embarrassed and wanted to


    refuse. But Derek said something with a smile. She froze and red at him.


    What Derek said was that she was not my girlfriend; she was my wife.


    Seeing Nora ring at him, he raised his eyebrow in surprise and then curled his lips. "You understand


    that?" That was a very unwise move.


    She shook her head and said coldly, "I don''t."


    "Then..."


    "But I happen to know thest word you said."


    Derek, "..."


    Nora could not help snorting and turned away from him. She did not speak French, but she knew some


    Why did he say that?


    She didn''t remember their past. And even if she did, they were not married ording to him.


    Easton looked at Nora and then at his father. His big eyes turned and he looked at the little girl with a


    smile. His soft and sweet voice sounded.

 Chapter 329

    Chapter 329


    "Pretty sister, this is my father and mother."


    The little guy was young, and he spoke French very well.


    Nora froze. Unfortunately, she knew the French pronunciation of Father and Mother. But Easton was


    different from Derek.


    Faced with her son, she could not refute and could only smile awkwardly.


    Derek curled his lips in satisfaction. He felt that his son had finally done a good thing.


    Although the little girl selling flowers thought the family was very strange, she smiled and said again,


    "Sir, you can buy a bunch of flowers for your wife. I wish you a happy life."


    Derek was so happy that he waved his hand and took out the money and bought all the roses,


    including the basket.


    "Happy Valentine''s Day, Nora." He handed the flowers over and spoke in French.


    Derek''s deep voice and affectionate gaze made Nora''s heart tremble and her heart began to beat


    faster uncontrobly. She coughed softly and took the basket over instead of taking the flower in


    Derek''s hand.


    "It''s not easy for a little girl to sell flowers. It''s nice of you to buy all the flowers...and the basket."


    Her single sentence indicated that Derek bought flowers because he was a good man. Derek chuckled


    and didn''t care.


    Yes. Today was Valentine''s Day.


    Naturally, Derek wouldn''t pay attention to this kind of festival. He was very satisfied with Damian as


    Damian sent him a message this morning to remind him.


    As a qualified assistant, Damian felt it necessary to provide useful information when his boss was


    pursuing someone.


    "Mom, there are a lot of people there." Easton''s voice made them stop woolgathering.


    In front of them was a park. A tform was set up on the spaciouswn. A banner was pulled up on the


    tform. There were many people over there.


    A handsome man from F Country said something on stage with a microphone. The scene was very


    lively.


    "Is this an event?" Nora asked.


    Derek picked up Easton and said, "Let''s go there. We''ll see when we get there."


    It was rare to see local activities while traveling abroad, and Nora was also interested in it.


    They walked over. The little guy was not a boy who wanted to stand behind. He blinked his big eyes


    and kept speaking sugared words.


    He called every man he saw the handsome brother and every woman he met the beautiful sister. Every


    man and woman liked this little guy and found the little guy cute. So, they all let the little guy stand in


    the front.


    Nora chuckled and rubbed her son''s little head.


    Nora, Derek, and Easton all looked very beautiful and handsome. They attracted a lot of people''s


    attention. What the others found more surprising was that they were all dark-eyed and dark-haired. The


    others thought that they came from H Country. This made the others feel more interested in them.


    At the same time, the host on stage also noticed them.


    The handsome host''s eyes lit up and he immediately jumped down, "You two can take part in our


    activities. If you lose, you will get the constion prize. If you win first ce, you can also get a special


    award."


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    The host personally came down to invite them, and the onlookers immediately cheered them up and


    encouraged them to go on stage.


    Nora didn''t understand and could only look at Derek.


    Derek''s eyes sparkled and his lips were curved. Before he could say anything, little Easton in his arms


    looked excited, "Mom, he asked you and dad to go up and y games."


    Huh?


    Nora was stunned. How could she y any game?


    But Easton obviously wanted to watch them y games. He broke free from Derek''s arms and pulled


    them to the stage.


    With a smile on his lips, Derek let Easton pull him and he went up to the stage. Nora was in a bit of a


    dilemma. She was forced to y games by her son.


    "Come on, mom." The little guyy on the tform and shouted with his fists clenched.


    Nora smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to do.


    Suddenly, she felt that something was wrapped around her waist. Derek put his arm around Nora''s


    waist and said, "Don''t worry. I''m here."


    She pursed her lips and moved awkwardly, trying to make him let go of her.


    Derek exerted more strength, "Don''t move. We''re Easton''s parents. Are you sure you want to reject me


    like this in front of him?"


    Nora froze, frowned and retorted, "Easton knows."


    Although her son was young, she knew very well that Easton was different from other children of the


    same age, and he was very smart. She did not believe that her son was not clear about the real


    rtionship between her and Derek.


    "He does know, but knowing doesn''t mean he wants to see the truth. Easton is very sensitive. No child


    doesn''t want his parents to be together."


    She gritted her teeth but could not refute.


    Derek squinted, pulled Nora to the stage, and changed the subject, "Let''s think about what to do now."


    Nora you was expressionless, "It''s just a game."


    "But... Our son seems to really want us to win? Do you want to see him disappointed?" Derek asked


    lightly.


    She took a deep breath and red at him angrily. She wanted to say that he shall not treat her as an


    idiot as she could tell that he used her son as an excuse every time.


    But every time, she had no choice but to cpet.


    At this moment, little Easton, who waspletely unaware of what was going on, was still shouting as


    loud as he could with a smug look on his face. It was as if he was absolutely sure that the Nora and


    Derek would win the championship.


    Nora twitched the corner of her lips. What could she do? She could only smile at Easton and nod.


    "Don''t worry, the rules of this game are very simple. Male is the main force and female is his assistant."


    The smile at the corner of Derek''s mouth was ambiguous.


    In fact, if she was a little more sensitive when she saw the little girl carrying a basket of roses on the


    bridge, she could tell that today was Valentine''s Day in France.


    This event was held today, and it was naturally rted to the festival. So, there were a row of male and


    female partners on the stage, every two of them boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife.


    The host said the rules of the game. The game had three rounds. The couple who could hang on till the


    end would be the champion. But if a couple was eliminated halfway, they could still get a small prize.


    After all, the most important thing was to participate.


    The first round began.


    Before Nora could react, she spun around and was picked up by Derek. She was shocked, "What are


    you doing?"


    Derek looked innocent, "In the first round, the man picks up the woman and does the deep squat.


    There is no time limit and it won''t stop until half the team is eliminated."


    What the hell was this game?


    She couldn''t help but look to the side. Sure enough, the other teams did the same.


    Even if Derek had told her about what happened before she lost her memory, she had never had such


    close and intimate contact with him. The hot palms which were of great strength on her waist and legs


    made her ufortable.


    Nora bit her lip and closed her eyes. "What eyes do not see is regarded as clean." She tried her best to


    stop thinking about anything.


    But it was easy to say. When she closed her eyes, her perception became sharper. She could clearly


    hear Derek''s steady breathing above her head.

 Chapter 330

    Chapter 330


    Her heart suddenly began to beat, and she couldn''t help it. It beat faster and faster.


    Nora was a little flustered and twisted slightly, as if she was afraid of being discovered by someone,


    feeling guilty and upset. She prayed in her heart that the first round would end soon.


    Most of the men in F Country were tall, strong and muscr. The first roundsted almost half an hour


    and only half of them were eliminated.


    The crowd below continued to shout excitedly. To their surprise, the only Chinese man and woman


    managed to persevere and didn''t seem to be very tired.


    After all, in their eyes, Derek''s physique was notparable to the native men, so how could they not


    be surprised?


    When it was over, Nora jumped down and took a deep breath. It was finally over.


    Soon, the next round began.


    The staff gave the remaining pairs of partners on the stage each a small table beside them. There was


    a crystal te on it, and the te was filled with bright red rose petals, with an empty flower basket on


    the side.


    Nora looked and had a bad feeling, "What is this?"


    Derek''s lips curled up slightly, and a satisfied smile shed across his eyes. Obviously, he was very


    satisfied with the game. He said slowly, "Nothing. This game is very simple. I''ll pass you the petals and


    you just need to put them in the basket."


    She froze, and her first reaction was, "Could it be so simple?"


    Then she frowned. That was not right.


    "How will you pass me the petals?" She suddenly realized something and subconsciously widened her


    eyes.


    Derek chuckled and his lips curved in a seductive arc. He lifted his slender fingers and rubbed them on


    his thin lips. His movements were natural, with a kind of flirtatious and evil sense.


    With a bang, Nora''s face turned red before the game even started.


    Without waiting for her to say anything, Derek lowered his head and sucked a petal into his mouth. He


    leaned forward slightly and stared at her with a pair of deep eyes.


    Nora blushed and she was at a loss. She froze and didn''t know what to do.


    She didn''t move. Easton was very anxious down there. The other partners had already passed a few


    pieces, but his mom and dad hadn''t.


    "Mom, take it. Take it with your mouth. Come on."


    The young voice sounded high and anxious, making Nora''s face redder. She wanted to step back but


    stopped stiffly when she heard this.


    She looked at the petal close to her lips and took a deep breath. The corners of her lips trembled


    slightly, and there was a little sweat on her forehead.


    Derek narrowed his eyes, suddenly holding the back of her head in one hand and her waist in the


    other. Then he clinged to her body, and his lips were pressed directly over. The petal in the middle


    crushed between their lips.


    The onlookers immediately burst into exciting shouts.


    They obviously couldn''t understand what the Chinese couple had done, especially what Nora had


    done. They were confused, but Derek''s strong behavior made them shout out.


    The little boy covered his face and looked through his fingers with a sly smile. Easton grinned like a


    little fox.


    Nora, on the other hand, felt that she could hear nothing around her. Her eyes widened and her mind


    went nk. She could only vaguely feel the heat at her lips and the strange and familiar breath


    between her nose, which wrapped her tightly.


    She didn''t know how long it took...


    In fact, it was not very long. The rest of the partners finished passing the petals soon, and Derek slowly


    let go of Nora. His dark eyes seemed to be filled with morning light, shining, and a light smile


    overflowed from his face.


    She suddenly came back to her senses and covered her lips. The blush on her face became more


    obvious, and her sparkling eyes red at him fiercely.


    Derek did not care at all. He nced at the empty basket and sighed regretfully, "s, not a single one.


    We lost."


    Nora still red at him. Just as she was about to speak, he said again, "I don''t care, but the little guy is


    going to be disappointed." Then he nced at Easton.


    Nora was stunned and looked over subconsciously. Sure enough, Easton felt quite embarrassed. His


    little face looked depressed.


    After all, the other teams all finished and there was not a single piece in his parents'' basket.


    Looking at the little guy''s lost face, she did not feel so angry but a little regretful. She thought she


    should have closed her eyes just now. Anyway, there were petals blocking between their lips.


    Nora looked at Derek, "We lost this round. Are we eliminated?"


    She sighed with relief. It was good to be eliminated. At least she didn''t have to take part in thest


    round. ording to the first and second rounds, she didn''t know what to do in thest round.


    With that in mind, Nora was very happy to be eliminated, but...


    "Didn''t I tell you? This round is not part of the elimination system," he said in surprise.


    She turned her head and looked at the surprised but smiling look on his face. A wave of anger rushed


    to her head, which made Nora, who always had a good temper, unable to help but be angry.


    "You did it on purpose." She gritted her teeth.


    If this round was not in the elimination system, in other words, it didn''t matter if she took part in or not.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    In that case, he just...


    "Yes, I did it on purpose."


    What she didn''t expect was that he would admit it directly.


    Derek said, staring at her with his dark eyes, "Why did I do it on purpose? Nora, don''t you know?"


    His focused gaze, ambiguous tone, and meaningful words made it impossible for her to resist. His


    questioning seemed to have passed by and easily disappeared.


    Next, they came to the final round.


    Thest round was a test of the man''s stamina. Whether the man was holding or carrying the woman,


    all he needed was for the woman to hang her feet off the man''s body. At the same time, the man


    needed to spin ten times clockwise and then within 30 seconds, he should be able to shoot the dart into


    the five rings that were extended from the center.


    If more than two groupspleted the task, the group that used the shortest time would win.


    In the final round, Easton was so excited that he let his men carry him onto the stage, cheering and


    twisting his butt. He looked so excited, as if his parents could definitely win the final champion.


    This game was really a piece of cake for Derek.


    He spun around ten times with Nora on his back. He threw the darts in his hands three times quickly,


    and all three darts were targeted at the center of the hearts.


    It didn''t take 30 seconds. Within almost three seconds, he finished. His technique was so quick that no


    one could see it clearly.


    The next second, the crowd erupted into a burst of exmations and disbelief, and the little guy ran


    over and hugged Derek''s leg.


    "We win! We win! Dad is so great..."

 Chapter 331

    Chapter 331


    Nora was also dumbfounded. She did not expect Derek would be so good at this.


    Of course, they won. After receiving the prize, they returned to the hotel.


    As soon as she entered the room, her cell phone rang. It was a call from her good friend Penelope.


    She picked it up without hesitation and heard a familiar voice.


    "Nora, where are you?"


    "Penelope, what''s wrong?"


    "Nothing. Sheldon couldn''t find you, so he called me."


    Sheldon?


    Nora was stunned. Shepletely forgot about it. Before she left the country, Sheldon told her that he


    would be back soon. So he must arrive by now.


    Her phone''s volume was a bit high, so Derek and Easton heard this too.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and a dangerous light shed across them. He naturally had investigated the


    woman who was on the phone with Nora.


    He didn''t expect that Sheldon would try to call Nora''s friend. What a mistake.


    After Nora hung up the phone, she thought of something and immediately looked at Derek. A feeling of


    guilt shed through her heart. She was stunned and then angry.


    Although she had a son with Derek, she had nothing to do with him now. Why should she feel guilty?


    Thinking of this, she was a little annoyed. "Mr. Xavier, it looks like I have to go back tomorrow. If you


    still have something to deal with, I can leave myself."


    He just smiled and said lightly, "Nothing to deal with. We''ll leave together tomorrow."


    She was relieved that he did not refuse.


    Easton pursed his lips and was unhappy. He was having a good time, but now his trip was ended


    because of that guy Sheldon. "I hate him," Easton thought.


    Nora opened the contacts on her phone and muttered to herself in confusion, "He can call me. Why did


    he say he could not find me..."


    Derek''s eyes flickered and he stopped her from calling Sheldon. "It''s veryte now. We''re going back


    tomorrow. You can have a better talk with him after you see him."


    If she called Sheldon, she would know what he had done. He had to find a chance to remove his


    number from the cklistter.


    The next day, they took the earliest flight back.


    Nora called Sheldon and made an appointment.


    After Sheldon returned from abroad, his mother began toin about Nora in front of him in tears.


    And this time, he couldn''t smooth things over with just a few words.


    No matter what heforted his mother calmly, his mother insisted to ask him to break up with Nora,


    which made him very unhappy.


    His mother even scolded him and gave him an ultimatum. She said if he didn''t break up with Nora, she


    would disown him.


    Sheldon naturally wouldn''t let that happen, so he really didn''t know what to do.


    He felt that he couldn''t hesitate any longer. Now that he was back, he should get married to Nora as


    soon as possible. But the wedding might be off the table because it would upset his mother.


    He would exin to Nora, or deceive her by saying that the wedding could wait and that they should


    get their marriage licenses first.


    When he got what he wanted, he would divorce her, which was not a big deal.


    He had made up his mind, but he couldn''t get through to Nora''s number, and nor could he find her, so


    he called Penelope.


    In the cafe.


    As soon as Nora entered, she saw Sheldon who was sitting by the window. She walked over


    immediately.


    "Sheldon, I''m sorry I''mte. There''s a bit of traffic on the road."


    Of course, Sheldon wouldn''t me her. A smile appeared on his handsome face. "It''s okay. I haven''t


    been here long either."


    As he spoke, he stood up and pulled out the chair across from her. He was being considerate, but Nora


    was a little ttered.


    Although he had been very gentle to her in their five-year rtionship, it was the first time he had done


    this for her. She had every reason to be shocked.


    After they sat down, he handed over the menu. "I ordered your coffee and some popr desserts. See


    what else you want to eat."


    Nora was very ufortable with his rare attentiveness. She smiled awkwardly and waved her hand.


    "These are good. I can''t eat too much."


    He agreed and closed the menu. Then he crossed his fingers and looked fixedly at her. "Nora, I haven''t


    seen you for so long. I miss you so much."


    Nora was a little flustered, hearing his affectionate words. At this moment, she felt a little dizzy and


    could not help remembering what Derek had said to her on the stage in F Country yesterday.


    She regained her senses, but she was startled when she realized what she was thinking just now. She


    felt a little ashamed and annoyed. She even wanted to pat her head so as to knock some sense into


    herself.


    "Nora, what''s wrong?"


    Sheldon saw her like this and asked worriedly, but he was a little unhappy. He didn''t know if it was his


    illusion, but he felt that Nora had changed a little.


    "No-nothing." She took a sip of coffee to hide her strange behavior.


    Outside the cafe.


    A low-key, luxurious ck car pulled up. The door opened and a handsome little boy came down. He


    was wearing a denim jacket and jeans, a hat, and a pair of sses. He looked very cool.


    It was Easton.


    After hearing what Nora said about Sheldon yesterday, he became vignt. After hearing his father''s


    instructions, he decided toe here himself.


    His dad had told him not to let some random man take his mother away from him. He came here today


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    to make the man give up.


    "Are you sure they are inside?"


    Behind him, a few men dressed in casual clothes nodded respectfully. "Yes, Little Young Master."


    "Okay, let''s go."


    As he spoke, he extended his arms and one of the men held him in his arms. Several of them walked


    to the cafe.


    The little boy was afraid of being discovered by his mother, so he pulled down the brim of his hat and


    lowered his head.


    The designs of the coffee shop were very elegant. There were beautiful screens ced between every


    table, so every table looked like a small private room without actual walls.


    Several men in in clothes knew their mission very well and sat directly at the table next to Nora''s.


    Easton immediately jumped down.


    The waiter came over with a strange look in his eyes. After all, most of the people who came here for


    coffee were couples or close friends. It was the first time that he had seen a few mening together.


    "What would you like to drink?"


    One of the men looked at Easton. The little guy waved his hand and they ordered a cup of coffee each.


    The little guy was not in the mood to drink coffee. He was staring at the screen as if he wanted to burn


    a hole on it.


    His ears were pressed against the screen, and although he could not see, he could hear the two of


    them talking.

 Chapter 332

    Chapter 332


    When the coffee came, he immediatelyy down on his stomach. The bottomyer of the screen was


    hollow, so he could see it as soon as he lowered his head.


    But he could only see four legs under the opposite table, two from a man and the other two from a


    woman, and... arge bouquet of bright roses next to Sheldon.


    Easton''s little face immediately turned to be sullen, and he groaned in his heart. As his big eyes rolled


    around, he covered his mouth with a sly smile.


    He took out a roll of transparent threads from his wallet. The threads were so transparent that they


    could only be seen when they were rolled together. When they were unrolled, such thin and transparent


    threads could not be seen if one did not pay close attention to them.


    The little boy tied the threads into a circle, and with a flick of his wrist, he used his skillful strength to


    throw the threads away, which urately hitched the big bouquet of roses.


    His little hands tightened the threads. He was on his stomach, his little face full of pride and his short


    legs swaying happily, and he slowly dragged the bouquet of roses towards him.


    The men in casual wear who were protecting him naturally knew the purpose of this trip, but when they


    saw what Little Young Master did, they could not help but twitch their mouths.


    Little Easton dragged the roses over, took them from the side of the screen, threw them to one of the


    men, and whispered, "Be quick, find a way to deal with the petals."


    To deal with the petals? The men immediately understood and looked at each other.


    One of them raised his eyebrows and picked up the bouquet of roses with one hand. A cold dagger


    appeared in his palm.


    As his hand moved quickly, within a few seconds, arge bouquet of roses was left with bare flower


    stems, looking so pitiful.


    Easton''s eyes lit up, and he was very excited. Then he pointed to the opposite side, his purpose


    obvious.


    The man in casual wear nodded expressionlessly. He bent down a bit, quietly leaned his hand with the


    bouquet over the side of the screen and slightly shook his wrist.


    The bare bouquet returned to its original position without making a sound. Everything was perfect.


    The little guy covered his mouth. He knew that Sheldon was going to give the flowers to his mother.


    Now that the flowers lost their petals, he wondered how Sheldon would give them to her.


    Sheldon was nning to propose today, and ording to his n, after the proposal, he would go


    straight to get the marriage certificate.


    He had never thought that Nora may not agree to his proposal or refuse to get the marriage certificate.


    After all, ording to his five-year memories, she would only cry with joy if he was willing to marry her.


    Sheldon was very confident about that.


    "Nora, I have something for you."


    As he spoke, he looked at the bouquet behind him out of the corner of his eye. Because of its position,


    he could only see the beautiful colored paper wrapped around the bouquet.


    So Sheldon did not find anything suspicious. He said as he bent down slightly and took the bouquet to


    the table without even taking a look at it. As a result...


    "Ha..."


    He looked at the bouquet in his hand, which had no petals left. Because the bouquet was so big, the


    bare stems looked even more conspicuous and ridiculous.


    Sheldon''s eyes were wide open and his face was filled with astonishment. So many roses had


    disappeared. His mind went nk. He really didn''t understand how this could happen.


    Although there was a screen between every two tables in the cafe, they were not in a private room, so


    some guests and waiters saw this scene.


    One snicker after another broke out uncontrobly, and even the waiter tried hard to hold back his


    "Look, that man is really interesting. There isn''t a single flower in such a big bouquet."


    "That''s right. He didn''t do it on purpose, did he?"


    "That''s possible. Otherwise, who would have given this to a girl?"


    "He went too far, though."


    "But it''s really funny, haha..."


    Naturally, Nora and Sheldon vaguely heard the whispers around them. Nora did not think that Sheldon


    was ying jokes on her, but it was really weird.


    "Well, Sheldon, it''s okay."


    Sheldon''s face was gloomy. He did not feel any better because of herforting words. He held the


    bouquet tightly and put it aside.


    He took a deep breath, "Nora, believe me. I didn''t mean it. I bought a big bouquet of roses, but now...


    This..."


    After pausing for a long time, he still couldn''t say why. Holy shit. He really couldn''t exin such a


    strange thing. He was still in a daze.


    Nora really didn''t care and smiled, "It''s really okay. I know you didn''t mean it. It''s okay."


    He breathed a sigh of relief but was still very angry. He felt that he had never been so embarrassed or


    humiliated in his life and tried to suppress his anger.


    At this time, a waiter came over. He was holding a tray with a cake on it which was so delicate and


    good-looking that it made people really want to eat.


    His face finally brightened up a little, "Nora, this is the dessert I prepared for you. Try it. It tastes great."


    At the table behind him, Easton covered his mouth with his hand and patted his thighs in silent


    in his ear, his small face darkened.


    "What did you say?"


    "Little Young Master, the news is true. What do you think?"


    The little guy immediately got up on his butt and was very angry. So Sheldon was going to propose to


    his mother today and even had bought the ring. He had to stop the man.


    With this in mind, the little guy quickly tidied up his clothes and walked straight over. In Nora''s


    astonished gaze, he sat down beside her with a smile on his face.


    "Mom..."


    What?


    Sheldon looked at him in shock.


    Nora was surprised, "Easton? Why are you here?"


    "I''m here for coffee, and I''ll bring one back for dad."


    After he finished speaking, he looked at Sheldon across from him with his big eyes and quickly


    ''Well, he''s average-looking, not as good as me and dad. He''s barely fit, not better than... He looked at


    his little arms and calves, his mouth puckered up. Well, not better than dad.


    Also, dad is much taller than him.''


    He then looked at Sheldon''s clothes and assessed the overall value of his clothes. He turned down his


    lips in disdain, thinking that Sheldon didn''t have as much money as his father, either.


    ''Hmph, he''s really Mr. Wrong with nothingparable.'' While he thought like this, he wore a cute smile


    and asked curiously, "Mom, who is this uncle?"


    Uh...


    Nora froze and was embarrassed. Although she told Sheldon that she had a son, she did not expect


    them to meet in this way all of a sudden.


    Sheldon had already adjusted his expression. The little kid called Nora mom. It must be her son that


    she had told him before that she hadn''t seen for five years.

 Chapter 333

    Chapter 333


    He really didn''t mind that Nora had a son. After all, he didn''t really like this woman and didn''t want to


    spend the rest of his life with her.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Sheldon smiled gently, "Little cutie, I''m your mother''s boyfriend."


    Easton was so angry. There was a curious look on his face and he blinked his big eyes, "What''s a


    boyfriend?"


    "A boyfriend is..."


    "Nothing, Easton. This uncle means that he and I are good friends."


    Nora interrupted Sheldon''s detailed exnation. She pursed her lips, and looked apologetically at


    Sheldon. Her son was still young, and her things were a littleplicated. She didn''t want her son to


    know this.


    At this point, Norapletely forgot that her son was intelligent and precocious. How could he not


    know what a boyfriend meant?


    Sheldon was a little unhappy, but he did not show it and did not continue.


    Easton was happy. It seemed that his mommy didn''t like this man at all. At least, she must like Easton


    more than Sheldon.


    "Wow, mom, this cake is so beautiful. I want to eat it."


    Easton''s eyes were immediately fixed on the cake that had just been delivered on the table. He


    reached out his small hand, trying to get the cake.


    However, Sheldon was so agitated that his eyes widened and he blurted out, "No."


    The little boy seemed to be startled that he suddenly withdrew his hand back and leaned towards Nora.


    He twitched his mouth and looked aggrieved. It seemed that he was about to cry.


    "Mom..."


    Nora''s heart ached, and for the first time, she felt dissatisfied with Sheldon. In her opinion, it was


    Sheldon who was biased against her son.


    It was just a cake. So what if her son ate it?


    What was more, her son was just a child of five or six years old, so what he did just now was perfectly


    understandable. Nheless, it was Sheldon who shouted at her son for a piece of cake, which made


    her angry.


    She frowned at him, "Sheldon, he''s just a child. Why are you doing this?" After that, she hugged


    Easton and gently coaxed him, then opened the menu.


    "Good boy Easton, there are many more cakes. Let''s take our time and order whatever you like."


    Sheldon looked at Nora in disbelief. It was the first time in five years that this woman dared to treat him


    this way.


    Easton felt happy in his heart and still looked at the cake on the table, "Mom, I just want to eat this."


    Then he looked at Sheldon.


    "Uncle, can I have this cake?"


    Of course, Sheldon was not happy. If it was just a normal cake, it would be fine. But there was...


    "Sheldon, or I''ll pay the bill." Nora had no choice but to say that. Of course, she didn''t want her son to


    be disappointed.


    Sheldon was very upset when he saw that Nora and her son sang the same tune. It wasn''t about the


    money, but he couldn''t tell the truth.


    He knew in his heart that he must put an end to this as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would really be


    him giving a kid a hard time, which would be bad.


    At first, he thought Easton was cute, but now, he got a bad impression of this little kid. He thought


    Easton was really ill-bred.


    "Your name is Easton, right? It doesn''t matter. Eat it if you want." He took a deep breath and pulled the


    corners of his mouth.


    Easton immediately smiled and said, "Uncle, you are such a good person."


    He took the cake with his little hand and started eating it with a spoon. He was thinking of an evil n


    as he ate it. This bastard''s wedding ring was in the cake.


    Sheldon kept watching Easton eat.


    As the little guy ate, the cake became less and less. He saw a little light in the middle of the cream with


    his sharp eyes. He raised his eyebrows andughed in his heart.


    Easton thought in his heart, "I''ve got it..."


    He changed the angle of the spoon in his hand and continued to eat. In this way, he ate all four corners


    of the cake, leaving only some in the middle.


    The corner of Sheldon''s mouth twitched and his face took on a ghastly expression. If Easton was not


    so young, he would have doubted whether Easton did it on purpose.


    How could it be so coincidental?


    He smiled, "Easton, the rest..."


    Before he could finish his words, the little guy immediately dropped his spoon and smacked his lips,


    "I''m full. I don''t want to eat it anymore."


    After Easton finished his words, he rolled his eyes quickly and immediately took a swig of the coffee in


    front of Nora. The next second, he threw it all up on the cake te.


    "It''s so bitter. It''s awful."


    Sheldon, "..."


    He looked at the te, where the rest of the cake was mixed with coffee, like ck mud on the white


    cream. It was disgusting.


    Moreover, after Nora quickly wiped Easton''s mouth with a tissue, she threw the tissue on top of the


    cake, making Sheldon absolutely livid about it. His hands trembled a little, and it took him a lot of effort


    not to lose his temper on the spot.


    He spent a hundred thousand dors on... the ring.


    Easton looked at his masterpiece and felt extremely satisfied and happy. Looking at Sheldon''s face


    opposite, Easton showed a beam of satisfaction.


    "Hey, uncle, what''s wrong with you? Do you want to go to the toilet? This is how I look every time I


    have diarrhea."


    She coughed softly and patted her son. Then she looked at Sheldon, and found that he really looked


    strange, "Sheldon?"


    The expression on his face quickly disappeared and he managed to force a smile, "No, I''m fine."


    He was not fine at all.


    Sheldon felt that he was having a really bad day. The flowers he bought faded. Also, the proposal


    ceremony was ruined by the sudden appearance of this little brat, who also ruined his ring.


    Without a proposal, it would be impossible for him to get a marriage certificate with Nora.


    "Mom, can you take me to y?" The little guy said coquettishly.


    Nora touched his little nose and said, "Yes."


    Sheldon narrowed his eyes. He had been abroad for such a long time. Today was the first time they


    had met since he returned. However, this woman ignored him for her son.


    He could tell that this kid meant a lot to Nora, even if they had only met for a short time. Although he


    and Nora had been together for five years, he was not that important to her.


    If he asked her to marry him, and Nora had to take care of this little devil...


    An unhappy look shed in his eyes, and he hated Easton even more. It was not the right time for


    Easton to show up. At the same time, he was thinking that he had to settle the marriage as soon as


    possible so that he could carry out his n.


    Thinking of this, Sheldon immediately curled his lips, "Easton, where do you want to go? Can I go with


    you? This is the first time we''ve met and I haven''t given you a present."


    "Sheldon, thank you, but you don''t have to do this." Nora refused.


    However, the little guy knew his own mind and he agreed. Nora had no choice, so they left together


    and got into Sheldon''s car.


    After they left, a few men in in clothes also left and followed them.


    Sheldon drove them to the famous Dihao Mall. This shopping mall had 18 floors, where people could


    have a lot of fun. Also, there were all kinds of goods, such as food, clothing, amodation and


    luxury.

 Chapter 334

    Chapter 334


    Sheldon took the two of them to the clothing area.


    "Sheldon, I''m going to the bathroom. Please keep an eye on Easton."


    "Of course, don''t worry. I''ll take good care of him."


    She had been with Sheldon for five years. Besides, the Joneses was her savior. Nora trusted Sheldon


    and left after giving him a few instructions.


    The little guy felt that God was helping him. If his mother was here, he wouldn''t be able to give Sheldon


    a hard time.


    Sheldon also thought it''d be easier for him tomunicate with the kid without Nora around.


    He thought a little kid would be easy to be bought with some snacks or toys. Sheldon wanted to bribe


    the him to get Nora to agree to marry him as soon as possible, but he didn''t take Easton seriously.


    "Easton, I will buy whatever you like for you."


    Easton grinned, "Really?"


    "Of course it''s true. I never lie."


    "There''s a ssmate in my kindergarten. His father bought him beautiful clothes. I want them too,"


    Easton said innocently.


    Sheldon said, raising his eyebrow, "No problem. I will buy them for you too."


    "Okay, thank you, uncle."


    He said cheerfully, then pulled Sheldon to his destination. "Then let''s go. I''ll take you there."


    Easton''s ck eyes shed with cunning. He was d that his trick worked.


    He took Sheldon to a shop that specialized in children''s clothing.


    Although clothing industry was one of the Jones family''s business, he didn''t know much about


    children''s wear. But he could roughly see that the store''s children''s wear was really good in design.


    He was a little surprised, but he didn''t think much about it. After all, Easton was a little boy. He never


    thought that a shop selling clothes for children would be so expensive.


    The salesgirl quickly weed them with a smile, "Wee, how can I help you?"


    Easton blinked, gave the salesgirl a cute smile, and then looked at Sheldon. "Uncle, are you really


    going to buy clothes for me?"


    "Yes, you can choose which one you like."


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    "These clothes are so beautiful. Can I choose a few more?" the little guy asked expectantly.


    "Of course." He waved his hand generously.


    "Well... Is it going to cost a lot of money? What if my mom scolds me?" Easton said.


    "It''s okay. I''ll exin it to your mom. I will satisfy you no matter how expensive they are," Sheldon


    smiled.


    Easton said happily, "Thank you, uncle."


    He immediately pulled the salesgirl inside and Sheldon sat casually on the sofa in the lounge.


    This store upied a lot of ground. It would take some time to run around on his own. He was worried


    that his n would fail when his mom came back.


    He immediately looked at the salesgirl and blinked his big eyes. "Pretty sister," he called.


    The salesgirl had never seen such an outstanding young boy with such a noble temperament, and she


    immediately fell in love with him.


    "Little boy, what kind of clothes do you like? I will show you."


    "Where is the most expensive clothes in your store? Take me there."


    Salesgirl, "..."


    The most expensive clothes were divided into a separate area. Under the attention of the salesgirl,


    Easton chose more than 20 sets of clothes, pants, and six or seven pairs of shoes. The salesgirl was


    surprised.


    As children''s clothes were small, it didn''t look so spectacr when more than 20 neatly folded. Easton


    returned back with the clothes.


    Sheldon came over and said, "Easton, have you done chosen clothes?"


    He smiled and nodded, "Yes, they''re all here."


    He nced at it and saw that they were a lot. He suddenly felt a little disdainful for the little guy''s deed,


    but he did not show it on his face. He took out his wallet and went to the counter. "How much?"


    The salesgirl remained calm. She packed the clothes and shoes in tworge shopping bags and neatly


    wrote out the receipts and invoices.


    "Hello, sir. It''s 528,000 in total."


    Sheldon''s hand trembled, and he suspected that he had misheard. "... How much?" he asked again.


    "Sir, the total is 528,000," the salesgirl repeated with a smile.


    She saw that the little boy picked these clothes casually without taking a look or trying them on. There


    were many sizes in them that couldn''t match. Some were big and some small.


    She specifically reminded him, but the little boy didn''t care at all. He just asked her to pick out all the


    more expensive ones in the most expensive areas.


    The salesgirl was a little suspicious that the little boy did it on purpose. But thinking that he was such a


    little boy, she felt that she was over thinking it.


    No matter what, this is a big deal. If the sales were sessful, she would be well-paid this month. She


    was overjoyed at the thought.


    She was happy, and so was Easton, but Sheldon didn''t feel the same way.


    He still wondered if he had heard wrong and tried to maintain a smile on his face. "Can you show me


    the unit price list?"


    "Of course, sir."


    Sheldon took a look at the unit price list, and his face darkened.


    The cheapest and most expensive pieces of children''s clothing were 13, 000 and 26, 000, respectively.


    He was a clothing manager who had been in charge of thepany for so many years. He didn''t know


    that children''s clothing would be so expensive.


    They were as expensive as designer adult suits.


    Looking at his expression, the salesgirl exined, "Sir, every clothes in our shop is carefully designed


    by foreign designers. Although our brand is only avable for children''s clothing, it is also very famous


    in the clothing brand."


    Easton pulled the hem of Sheldon''s clothes and said, "Uncle, you don''t want to buy them for me


    again?"


    He said with a puckered mouth, "But you just said that I can choose a few more and that you would buy


    them as long as I like. Our teacher said we should be honest. You can''t lie to me because I am a child."


    Sheldon was lost for words.


    This was not about being honest or not. He never expected this little guy to be so picky. Sheldon''s face


    was grim, and he had the urge to hit the kid.


    The strange feeling in his heart came again. He frowned at Easton and wondered if he had done it on


    purpose.


    Easton looked at him with a confused face. Seeing that he pulled a long look, he immediately ran to


    hide behind the salesgirl and shouted.


    "Uncle, I don''t want these clothes. Don''t scold me."


    The salesgirl also noticed that this gentleman found the clothes very expensive.


    But she despised him. The little boy was right. When he was at the door, he did promise that he would


    buy these clothes for him. Now he wanted to go back on his word. It was not something that a


    gentleman would do.


    He had the right to not buy them, but he went too far to scold such a child.

 Chapter 335

    Chapter 335


    Of course, even though she despised that man, she did not forget that he was her guest and that she


    was only a salesperson, so she kept smiling. But the words she said were harsh.


    "Sir, would you like to pay by card or cash?"


    The salesperson''s words made Sheldon''s face look even worse. Sheldon even felt that the salesperson


    was deliberately embarrassing him. How could he pay five hundred thousand dors by cash?


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    He knew that he could not be angry with Easton in public, because this little devil was Nora''s son.


    Sheldon took a deep breath and looked at Easton. Even though he wanted to strangle Easton, he still


    managed to force a smile.


    "Easton, do we buy too many clothes? Why don''t we return some? Easton is a good boy. A good boy


    would listen to adults, right?"


    Easton rolled his eyes in disdain, thinking that Sheldon was a penniless wretch. Hmph.


    His face was still full of confusion. He looked at Sheldon with big eyes, as if he didn''t understand what


    he meant. Then he pursed his lips and was about to cry.


    "Uncle, if you don''t want to buy them for me, I''ll buy them myself. I have pocket money."


    As he said, he looked at the salesgirl, "Miss, I have a piggy bank. There are many coins in it. I can buy


    them myself."


    A few salesgirls giggled because of Easton''s childish words,, but their attitude towards Sheldon was


    not that kind. They stopped smiling at him.


    "This man is so mean. I will never marry such a stingy man in the future."


    "You''re right. I just heard that he pretended to be rich when he was at the door and told the kid to pick


    what he wanted casually. Now the little boy picked these clothes, but he was unwilling to pay because


    they are expensive."


    "Five hundred thousand is not a small number. That little boy really picked too many clothes."


    The only salesperson who spoke for Sheldon was immediately ridiculed.


    "Heh, what can such a small child know? Could he know which is expensive and which is cheap?"


    "Yes, if the man hadn''t promised, the little boy wouldn''t have picked these."


    "It''s a shame to pretend to be wealthy and generous in our store."


    The salespeople were whispering in a low voice, but Sheldon heard a few sentences because the store


    was very quiet and there were not many customers.


    He had never been so embarrassed outside, and his lungs were hurting from anger.


    No, it should be said that he was very embarrassed all day today, and it seemed that most of it were


    because of this little devil.


    He had nned to send flowers and propose to Nora, and he had prepared a romantic cake with the


    proposal ring in it. Now all his preparation was in vain.


    A big bouquet of roses had disappeared. It was really strange that all flower stems were left.


    Then the carefully prepared cake was ruined by Easton who suddenly appeared and dirtied his ring


    which was worth a hundred thousand dors.


    Then Sheldon took him to the shopping mall, nning to buy him some gifts to get the good impression


    of this little brat. However, Sheldon didn''t expect to spend so much money. He was really...


    Sheldon felt that he had never been more unlucky than today. He was so angry that he trembled all


    over. However, in the end, he took a deep breath and smiled easily in order to save face.


    After all, he represented the Jones Group and was the only young master of the Joneses. If this


    incident was exposed one day, it would be bad for his image.


    "Uncle didn''t break his promise. Of course, you could buy anything you want. I just thought that we


    might have to go to other cester. It''s not convenient to hold so many bags in our hands."


    Of course, this kind of nonsense can only deceive children. But Easton is not an ordinary child. Those


    salespeople became disdainful.


    "Don''t worry, sir. Our store can deliver the goods to your home, and it''s free of charge." The salesgirl


    disdained Sheldon''s hypocrisy, then said.


    She didn''t feel it improper. After all, this was also part of their employee service code, so she can say


    that to her customers.


    Sheldon''s face froze and he cursed in his heart. He nodded with a smile and handed the card over as if


    nothing had happened.


    His heart was bleeding...


    "Wow, uncle, you''re so nice."


    Seeing that Sheldon really bought those clothes, Easton praised him innocently and happily.


    Anyway, Easton had achieved his goal. He just said one sentence, then he got so much. How valuable


    was the deal? The little guy was very scheming in his mind.


    Sheldon helped him carry bags, only feeling that the things in his hand were as heavy as an elephant.


    He left the store with Easton.


    "Uncle, let''s go to another shop."


    Hearing Easton''s proposal, Sheldon''s heart tremble. It was the first time to have been frightened by a


    little boy under the age of six.


    His reaction was understandable. They just stayed in a shop for only ten minutes, then he lost five


    hundred thousand. If he continued shopping with Easton, his wallet would be empatied.


    Actually, to the Joneses, five hundred thousand dors was nothing.


    But Sheldon was only a subsidiary of the Joneses. Over 95% of the property of the Joneses was in the


    hands of Sean, the head of the Joneses.


    Sheldon was called the young master of the Joneses, but the money and personal assets he could use


    were just an angle of the icebergpared to the Joneses.


    Although Sheldon could pay five hundred thousand dors, he felt ufortable and angry to spent so


    much money on Easton who had nothing to do with him.


    "Well, Easton, uncle suddenly feels a little hungry. How about we go eat first?" Sheldon changed the


    subject.


    Easton blinked and did not refuse. He nodded with a smile, "Okay."


    As Easton spoke, hisrge round eyes scanned the opposite floors and locked onto a restaurant called


    Beauty Restaurant opposite them on the same floor, whose decoration was elegant.


    The little guy immediately ran across the opposite side, "Uncle, I discovered a beautiful restaurant.


    There must be delicious food. Let''s go."


    As Easton ran, he took out his phone and told Nora the location of the restaurant so that she could join


    themter.


    "Hey, wait a minute..."


    Sheldon cursed in his heart and had no choice but to chase after Easton and run into the restaurant.


    There were not many guests eating inside. The whole restaurant was filled with faint fragrance in the


    air. The soothing music was melodious, making people feel rxed andfortable as soon as they


    entered.


    Although it was a restaurant, the guests inside were obviously of good quality and did not make much


    noise. Therefore, when Easton ran in, he attracted a lot of attention.

 Chapter 336

    Chapter 336


    When they saw that it was a cute little boying in, they smiled and looked away.


    People would always get a thing for cute and beautiful creatures, especially girls. The young waitress


    came over and said, "Dear, how can I help you?"


    Easton smiled and said, "I''m here with my uncle and my mom. Can you find us a table for three?"


    The waitress chuckled and happened to see Sheldoning to him, so she led the two of them in


    dutifully.


    Sitting on the dining table, the little boy flipped through the menu and then came up with a bad idea. He


    was so naughty as if he was swinging his devil-like''s horns if there was.


    "Uncle, can I order now?"


    "Of course. You can have whatever you want."


    Sheldon unconsciously paused after speaking, feeling that this sentence was so familiar. It seemed to


    be the same at the clothing store before. Sure enough, the next second, the little boy''s big eyes lit up.


    "Really? The ce is packed with so many delicious food. Can I have a lot?"


    Sheldon: "..."


    He twitched his lips. This conversation was really simr to what they just had, but his expression didn''t


    betray him since of the waitress was there.


    Sheldon thought to himself, the restaurant was different from the clothing store. How much could this


    little guy eat at most? It wouldn''t cost much anyway.


    With this in mind, he slowly rxed his facial expression and returned to his upper-ss elite, confident


    look, "Yes, as long you can finish them all, you can eat as much as you want."


    He stressed, "But the premise is to finish them all. The teacher should teach you not to waste food,


    right?" Sheldon said with a gentle smile.


    With such a small belly, Easton wouldn''t have much, even if the food here was expensive.


    A trace of light shed through the little guy''s bright eyes, and he first naturally agreed, then he started


    ordering.


    Sheldon ordered a square simple meal and a cup of coffee. This time, Easton voluntarily ordered a


    piece of kid''s meal that barely satisfy him.


    Seeing this, Sheldon waspletely relieved.


    But did he think that was it? Of course not, the little guy thought to himself.


    Hmph, stingy guy, did you think I won''t bleed you dry? Well, that was truly not something for a kid''s


    meal, but...


    He quickly flipped to the back of the page listed all kinds of beverages with glittering wine bottles with


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    his little hand, which seemed to be so ssy.


    The little guy''s eyes immediatelyid on the first page of the boutique, pointing at the picture, the ss


    goblet beside the wine bottle, which contained a slightly reddish-purple transparent liquid, making it


    very tempting.


    "This color is so beautiful. It looks like grape juice. I''ve had grape juice before. It''s sour and sweet. It''s


    tasty."


    Easton''s eyes sparkled, and the waitressughed at his childish words. Not many people would take


    children''s words seriously.


    "Uncle, this grape-colored water must be delicious. My daddy likes it too. Can I pack some and bring it


    back to my dad?"


    Sheldon couldn''t help but sneer at his words imperceptibly. He didn''t take it seriously at all. He was full


    of disdain and looked down on his dad.


    Sure enough, a woman like Nora had nothing but good looks. She couldn''t make a marriage worthy of


    the name. She could only get the worst for her, s.


    With a lot in his mind, he didn''t show any of his disdain but nodded casually, "Sure."


    Easton smiled even more brightly and looked at the waitress, "Miss Pretty, I want this one. Please pack


    it for me. Um... Five bottles. Remember, I want five bottles."


    As he spoke, one of his little hands covered the wine ss on the side in the picture, and the other


    pointed a whole bottle of wine next to the ss, which was very obvious.


    He asked for five bottles, not five sses.


    He made a fair point because many people ordered this kind of wine by the cup.


    She looked at the little guy in surprise with her hands trembling. Five bottles? This...


    Easton was afraid that she might ruin his n, so he closed the menu and stuffed it in for her, "That''s


    all. Don''t forget my five bottles. Pack them up and bring them to me."


    The waitress quietly looked at Sheldon with her eyes fell on the watch on his wristwatch. After a few


    seconds, she averted her gaze and returned to normal with a smile, "Okay, please wait a moment."


    She thought to herself that a man who could afford to wear a watch worth millions would not care about


    such a small amount of money.


    Sheldon put his reputation above everything. No matter how much money he had on his ount, he


    would definitely dress up decently when he was not at home, especially when he was nning to


    propose today. It was rare for him to dress with scrupulous care.


    Sheldon missed a chance to save it without knowing if he had set himself up.


    He looked at the little guy in front of him and didn''t want to waste any time on him. Nora wasing


    soon, so it was better to make a quick decision.


    Thinking of this, Sheldon coughed softly, leaned forward, and looked at Easton with such a gentle


    smile, but in the little guy''s eyes, he was just like a big devil who bear him malice and was ready to


    kidnap him.


    "Easton, do you like me?"


    Easton held the ss in both hands and sipped the lemonade. He looked so cute and nodded, "Yes,


    you are so nice to me."


    His smile deepened, "Then do you want me to be your daddy?"


    He licked his lips and said doubtfully, "Daddy? I have my own daddy."


    "I know you have your biological dad, but do you want to have another one? Think about it, one more


    daddy who will buy you everything you want, isn''t that nice?"


    Hmph, shameless miser.


    Easton moaned, but he was overjoyed on the surface, "Really? Then will you take me out to y in the


    future? Will you buy me delicious food, toys, and clothes?"


    Sheldon went speechless in embarrassment for a moment on thest three words and couldn''t help but


    think of the seventy thousand dors that made him bitterly regret, but that was that.


    "That''s right. If I be your daddy, I will definitely buy you a lot of good things in the future."


    Of course, he was lying to this little bastard. As long as he and Nora were issued with the marriage


    license, who would care about this little bastard, still less spending on him? Hmph, there was no way.


    Easton looked at him without saying a word, but his mouth was pouting a little bit. He turned his head


    away and did not look at him but looked out the door.


    It was almost time. Why hadn''t mom back yet?


    Sheldon grew impatient without revealing any sign and continued in a warm voice, "Easton, what''s


    wrong? Don''t you like the clothes that I bought for you today?"


    "Think about it. As long as your mother and I..."


    At this time, the waitress came over and served the food together on the table while pulling the dining


    cart in her hand, and took out a delicate bag from below.


    "Hey boy, here are the five bottles you asked for..."

 Chapter 337

    Chapter 337


    Before she could say the words "red wine", she was interrupted by Easton." I know, I know. This is my


    grape juice. Pretty sister, you''ve finished your task. You can leave."


    The waitress, "..."


    The little guy looked at Sheldon and said, "Uncle, give me the clothes. I want to see them."


    Sheldon didn''t think too much about it, and children''s clothes were useless for him. Besides, seeing


    those clothes would only upset him, so he gave them to him.


    Easton was young, small, but a bit strong.


    He had been specially trained for three years by Derek since he was three years old. He was no match


    for an adult male in strength, but he had more strength than some women.


    Just in time, Nora came over.


    "Easton, Sheldon..."


    The little guy immediately turned around, lunged at Nora, and shouted, "Mom..."


    The sound attracted everyone''s attention, and then, Easton began his final show.


    "Mom... Mom..."


    Easton''s mouth was pursed, and he started to wail. Tears soon flowed down. This skill was acquired in


    the Xaviers''s residence when he was a child.


    Back when he was less than three years old, his father began to be strict with him. Every time he felt


    hurt by his father, he went straight to the Mr. Xavier forfort and protection.


    Mr. Xavier valued Easton, the only grandson of the Xaviers very much. Every time Easton cried, Mr.


    Xavier would let him do whatever he wanted and give him whatever he liked.


    The little guy''s cry was a big shock, especially to Sheldon. For some reason, he had a bad feeling.


    Nora was anxious. She squatted down and hugged the little guy. "Easton, don''t cry, don''t cry, tell me


    what happened. Calm down."


    Easton''s tears streamed down his cheeks, and his soft and sweet voice was filled with grievances. He


    then pointed at Sheldon.


    "Mom, uncle just told me a lot of things."


    "He said you were getting married. He told me to stay away from you. He said I was a burden."


    "He also said that when you were married, you wouldn''t want me anymore. He said that I couldn''t see


    you in the future, that I couldn''t be with you, that I was a child without a mother..."


    "Mom, don''t you want Easton? I want to be with you, mom."


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    He cried out while saying those things. His loud voice echoed in the quiet restaurant.


    At first, Easton was trying to y a trick on Sheldon, but gradually, he really felt sad and was really


    crying. He felt aggrieved.


    Because he suddenly realized that if mom didn''t get along with dad, then mom would be with someone


    else even if she wouldn''t be with this annoying guy.


    Even if all that he said just now didn''t be true, at least half of it would be true.


    Oh, this was a terrible result.


    With this in mind, the little guy made up his mind, thinking he must try his best to get his father and


    mother together. For the sake of his happy life, he must not rx.


    While Easton was crying and sniffling, his eyes rolled around and he pinched his arm. "Ouch, it hurt so


    much," he thought.


    "Mom, my arm hurts so much. He had to hold me just now. He was so strong."


    As he spoke, he rolled his sleeves, and there was a conspicuous red mark on his arm. Everyone was


    shocked and all looked at Sheldon who was stunned.


    Nora was filled with disbelief at Easton''sint. She could not imagine that Sheldon, such a


    gentleman, would say such things to her son.


    Easton was so young.


    But now, when she saw the mark on her son''s arm, she was enraged.


    It was very hard for her to find her son. Easton was so cute and obedient, and always considerate


    toward her. She would not allow anyone to hurt Easton.


    Nora raised her head, her face cold, and her eyes filled with anger. "Sheldon."


    For the first time, she called him by his full name, and for the first time, sheshed out at him.


    "Easton is only five years old. He''s just a child. Why did you do this to my son?" She was furious.


    From Easton''s words, the customers could almost guess what kind of rtionship this man and woman


    had.


    But the undeniable thing was that no one suspected that Easton would lie, not even Sheldon, not to


    mention a group of outsiders who thought this was an interesting show.


    They gave Sheldon a disdainful and reproachful look. Sheldon suddenly thought this was the worst day


    for him.


    The humiliation before was nothingpared to this. Now he felt more embarrassed than ever and at


    the same time...


    Sheldon suddenly red fiercely Easton opposite him. His face was distorted and he couldn''t believe


    this little boy would lie in front of so many people!


    How dare this bastard plot against him in front of so many people?


    Was this a five-year-old child? He was so scheming!


    Since he was a child, Sheldon had never been treated like this by anyone, let alone a kid. His eyes


    were red with anger and he couldn''t help stepping forward and gnashing his teeth.


    "What are you talking about, you brat? When did I say those things?"


    The way he addressed Easton in a fit of anger and the frightening look on his facepletely changed


    Nora''s impression of him. She put her son behind her and stared at Sheldon coldly.


    "Shut up, my son has a name. Who are you cursing?"


    Easton suddenly seemed to be scared. He trembled and hugged Nora tightly. His voice was trembling


    as if he was scared a lot.


    "Mom, mom, I''m scared. Don''t hit me..."


    Hearing thest sentence, all the women were worried, and the guests sitting beside them quickly


    stood up in front of him and red at Sheldon.


    "What do you want to do? You even want to hurt a child? You monster."


    "Yes, this is a public ce, not a ce where you can hit people."


    "He looks like a man. But he is such a beast. I am wrong about him."


    "If you dare to hit him, ..."


    "Girl, this man, your boyfriend? Are you blind? Break up with him before it''s toote. Open your eyes


    and think more about your son."


    Some people were persuading Nora to break up with Sheldon. They all felt pity for Easton, a weak


    child. In just a few hours, Sheldon was framed and scolded by others because of Easton.

 Chapter 338

    Chapter 338


    Nora''s face was expressionless, and no one would tell what she was thinking through her dark and


    deep eyes..


    Sheldon was so angry that he could not hold back his anger and his previous elegant and gentle cover


    was removed instantly.


    "Shut up, all of you."


    He red at Nora, his eyes full of rage, and pointed at her, "Nora, are you sure that little bastard is your


    son? He''s a little liar. He''s talking nonsense just now. Don''t be fooled by his innocent face."


    However, his behavior only made people feel that he was crazy and unreasonable to scold even a


    child.


    Easton was Nora''s weakness. For anyone who dared to touch her son, regardless of who that person


    was, she would change from a weak sheep to a fierce wolf in a moment.


    Nora looked at him expressionlessly, "Sheldon, you can humiliate me, but you can''t do that to my son.


    Nobody can. Calm down yourself. We don''t need to meet in a short time."


    As she spoke, she was ready to leave with her son.


    Easton immediately picked up the two bags and was led out by his mother. When he was about to


    leave, he couldn''t help but look back at Sheldon.


    As expected, Sheldon met his eyes, and Easton''s mouth slightly raised a small arc and gave him a


    smug smile.


    This time, Sheldon was furious to death. This little bastard really did it on purpose. How hateful he was.


    He looked at the people around him fiercely, "Get out of my way."


    When the leading actors were gone, the audience naturally dispersed, but everyone gave him a


    disdainful nce, which almost drove him crazy again.


    He picked up his coat and was about to leave with a gloomy face. The waiter hurried over with a list in


    his hand.


    "Sir, you haven''t paid the bill yet."


    He froze and looked at the two fresh meals on the table behind him. His face darkened again, but it


    was no big deal. The next second, the waiter''s words made him stare in disbelief.


    "What did you just say?"


    The waiter repeated, "Sir, you spent a total of neen hundred and thirty-three thousand dors on


    this table."


    Sheldon''s face instantly turned glum and red at the waiter. His tone was vicious and he sneered,


    "How did you do your work? Are you blind? The two packages on the table, you dare to tell me the cost


    is neen hundred and thirty-three thousand?"


    The waiter was scolded inexplicably, and he felt angry. He looked at Sheldon expressionless, "Sir, the


    steak you ordered is 1,800, and the children''s package is 1,200."


    He was in an extremely bad mood at the moment, and he was not an easy person to deal with, "So, it''s


    just three thousand dors. Where does the extra 190,000 dorse from? Good job, ask your


    manager for me."


    The waiter''s face remained calm. He paused for a few seconds and continued, "Sir, there are taken-


    away five bottles of red wine."


    Sheldon froze and suddenly thought of what Easton, the little bastard, said before. Something that


    tasted like grape juice?


    Now it looked like it was not juice, but red wine?


    But even if it was red wine, his face was still furious, "What red wine costs nearly two hundred


    thousand?"


    The waiter didn''t want to exin anymore, so he handed him the list. Sheldon looked at the list and his


    face turned angry. The list read, "Lafite from the 1980s. It costs 38,000 for one bottle and 190,000 for


    five."


    "Sir, the ''Lafite from the 1980s'' is our boutique red wine. It is absolutely authentic... You spent a total of


    190,000 dors today. Would you like to pay cash or credit card?"


    It was the same question the salesperson in the children''s clothing store asked. With the same eyes,


    Sheldon squeezed the documents into a ball, his face was violently gloomy.


    "Easton... You fucking little bastard, don''t let me see you again, or I''ll strangle you."


    Sheldon said viciously in his heart. After what happened just now, he figured out that everything


    happened today was intentionally designed by that little bastard.


    Including the missing roses, it must be the little bastard''s masterpiece.


    Even though he hated him to death, he still had to take out his credit card again, trembling, and


    watched as nearly 200,000 was paid.


    After all, restaurants and clothing stores were different. Clothes could still be returned, but food


    couldn''t.


    In just a few hours today, a bouquet of roses worth tens of thousands, a diamond ring worth hundreds


    of thousands, more than 20 pieces of children''s clothing worth more than 500,000 dors, and a meal


    worth nearly 200,000 dors,


    tsk, tsk, Sheldon lost nearly 900,000 dors because of Easton.


    Outside the Grand Imperial Building, Nora, who was already in the car, did not know all of this. Easton


    could have thought of it, but he couldn''t tell her.


    At this moment, his eyes were still a little red. Out of the corner of his eye, Easton looked at Nora''s


    expressionless face and did not know what she was thinking. He had some idea in his heart.


    He didn''t feel guilty to trick Sheldon at all. He also knew that it might hurt Nora a little, but he still didn''t


    regret it.


    "Mom, are you angry?" He asked carefully.


    Nora returned to her senses and looked at him with a gentle look. She kissed his little head, "No, mom


    will never be angry with Easton."


    "It''s mom''s fault today. I shouldn''t have let you leave my sight."


    "... Mom, are you going to marry that Mr. Gray?" The little guy suddenly asked.


    His little heart was in his mouth uncontrobly, hoping to hear that her mother said.no, so that what he


    did today wouldn''t be a waste of time.


    Nora was silent for a while, took a deep breath and shook her head, "I don''t know, but... I don''t think


    so."


    The voice was light, but the little guy still heard it, and his heart was extremely excited. He tried so hard


    to control himself fromughing out loud.


    Easton thought that what he did today worked, but in fact, it only contributed 50% percent, and another


    half came from Sheldon''s mother.


    She was shocked by Sheldon''s reaction today. When she calmed down in the car, she couldn''t help but


    think of his mother, Hailey.


    She was reminded of the disrespect and embarrassment Hailey had given her over and over again


    before, as well as thest time Hailey had scolded Easton in front of her. Whether it was to her or her


    son, as long as it was someone close to her, Hailey seemed to have a grudge against them.


    In the past, she was used to it, so she just let it go. She had a son now, she would not let him suffer this


    grievance.


    She had always thought that Hailey was the only obstacle between her and Sheldon, and now it


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    seemed that there was more than that. She suddenly had a feeling that she had not really known


    Sheldon for five years.


    This feeling was a little scary and shocking, but it also made her aware of one thing.


    It seemed that her marriage to Sheldon really couldn''t go on.

 Chapter 339

    Chapter 339


    This thought made her sentimental, but she did not seem to feel anything else.


    Ever since her son Easton was born, Nora, who had always been adrift, felt satisfied. As long as she


    had her son, she didn''t care about anything else.


    In the past five years, she was saved by the Joneses. When she lost her memory, of course she was


    uneasy and regarded the Joneses and Sheldon as her whole world.


    Now, everything was different.


    Nora wrenched her mind back to the present and nced at the bags beside Easton, "Easton, what


    are these?"


    The little guy''s heart trembled and he subconsciously hid them. He forgot all about them.


    If his mother knew the true value of these things, she would definitely get angry. Easton knew that he


    couldn''t say anything. His mind raced and he said.


    "Mom, Sheldon bought these things for me. These two bags are full of clothes, more than 20 sets in all.


    I said no, but he insisted on buying them for me."


    "Isn''t he the young master of a rich family? He''s too stingy. All these clothes add up to only 8,000


    dors." Easton only said a fraction of the cost of the clothes. In fact, they were worth hundreds of


    thousands dors.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Nora was thrift, so she thought 8,000 dors was a lot of money. However, one set of clothes included


    a jacket and pants. There were more than 20 sets, so after careful calction, the average price of one


    garment was about only three or four hundred dors.


    Such clothes would be good for a child from an ordinary family.


    However, her son was the grandson of the Xaviers. Besides, Nora couldn''t help but frown when she


    thought of the financial strength of the Joneses.


    It was not that she thought Sheldon looked down on her son, but that Sheldon was trying to coax her


    son just because her son was still young, which made her unhappier.


    "What about this gift box?" Nora asked again.


    "This is grape juice. I think it''s sweet and delicious, so I asked the waiter to pack up a few bottles for


    me. It''s not expensive, which costs 38 dors a bottle."


    The grape juice actually cost 38,000 dors a bottle. He was probably the only one who could say it


    that calmly.


    Nora did not know that there was nothing cheaper than 100 dors in that store. Even the napkins were


    carefully designed and perfumed, costing thousands of dors.


    Easton nned very well. ording to the price he said, he believed that my mother would not take it


    to heart, let alone go to Sheldon to verify it.


    However, he didn''t know that after sending him back, Nora directly transferred 10,000 dors to


    Sheldon''s ount, and said that it was for clothes and juice for her son today.


    Sheldon returned with a face full of anger. As soon as he got home, he received the money and her


    message. He was so furious that he almost lost his breath and fainted.


    Ten thousand dors? Grape juice?


    He spent hundreds of thousands of dors on them. Was that bitch trying to fool him with only 10,000


    dors?


    Sheldon took a few deep breaths and tried to restrain his head from being dizzy with anger. His eyes


    were fixed on the message and he read the words "grape juice" a few more times.


    That was not right. ording to the character of that bitch, she would not do this. Since the woman


    thought 10,000 dors was enough, was it possible that...


    After figuring it out, Sheldon''s face clouded over again. It must be the trick of that little bastard again,


    damn it.


    He had lived for more than 20 years, and he was the young master of the Joneses. He had no idea that


    he would one day be tricked like this by a little boy of about five.


    Well, that was great. There was a fierce look shed across Sheldon''s eyes. He really wanted to torture


    that kid...


    Sheldon sat on the sofa, and there was a sinister look on his handsome face. He couldn''t get angry


    with that bitch yet. Besides, he had to try to exin to her what he had shown in his anger today.


    He had to get the woman to agree to marry him. Sheldon had never been so depressed.


    "Son, what''s wrong with you? You don''t look well. Are you not feeling well?"


    Hailey, who hade back from a walk in the back garden, immediately walked over with a worried


    look on her face when she saw her son like this.


    Nora couldn''t tell his mother what had happened today, so he could only say in a deep voice, "Nothing."


    Seeing her son was so aggressive, she thought that his son was annoyed because she had asked him


    to break up with Nora, so she immediately became unhappy.


    "Sheldon, are you still thinking about that bitch?"


    Sheldon''s face clouded over even more and he did not speak. He was extremely unhappy and did not


    want to talk to anyone, including his mother.


    Hailey thought her son was silently resisting her, so she stood up and said in a sharp voice.


    "Sheldon, listen, you want Nora to marry into the Joneses? That''s not gonna happen even if I''m dead.


    You''d better give up this idea."


    "Shut up."


    Sheldon finally lost his temper. He stood up abruptly and couldn''t help shouting at Hailey. He said


    fiercely, his eyes red and his teeth bared. He looked like a raging beast.


    "Listen, I have my own ns for this. Cut the crap. You''re too verbose." Then he strode away.


    Hailey''s eyes widened, and she could not recover for a long time. It was as if she could not believe that


    the man who had been angry with her and disrespectful to her was her son.


    She was so angry that she had difficulty breathing and passed out.


    "My god, madam, madam has fainted."


    "Call an ambnce immediately..."


    The Joneses was in a mess.


    the Xaviers.


    Easton was very happy. As soon as he arrived at the Xaviers, he told the butler to throw the bags of


    clothes and red wine away.


    "Do you want me to throw them all away?" The butler was not sure, so he asked.


    The little guy blinked and stroked his chin. Although he didn''t like these things, throwing them away


    seemed wasteful.


    "Oh yes, let''s donate these clothes, and you can share this red wine with servants."


    The butler of the Xaviers earned a lot every year, so he had tasted better red wine. He didn''t


    necessarily appreciate the Lafite which cost 38, 000 dors a bottle.


    Nheless, other servants didn''t see it that way. These were good things for them.


    "Okay."


    Easton nodded, "Where''s my dad?"


    "The Eldest Young Master is in the study."


    Easton immediately trotted upstairs to look for Derek. What was he doing? Of course he was going to


    ask Derek for a gift. He had to be rewarded for his hard work today.


    Derek had learned from the men who were protecting his son about what his son had done today,


    which surprised him and made him happy. For the first time, he liked his son so much.


    As expected, he was right. His son was the best one to deal with those people.


    ...


    At this time, Hailey, who came to her senses in the hospital, was angry at the thought of her son''s


    attitude towards her. At the same time, she med everything on Nora.


    Her slightly pale face clouded over and the evil re from her eyes was terrifying.

 Chapter 340

    Chapter 340


    Mrs. Jones was no pushover even before she married into the Joneses. When her husband was still


    alive, she used various means to deal with the women who threw themselves at him many times.


    Now, only her and Sheldon were left in this branch of the Joneses. Therefore, Sheldon was her


    everything, and she would not allow anyone to take him away from her.


    But Sheldon was actually mad at her for that bitch Nora, which aroused a strong sense of crisis within


    her. She would not let that bitch off.


    In the Xavier Group.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Mrs. Jones dressed herself up carefully and walked into the Xavier Group carrying a handbag. There


    was a faint smile on her delicately made-up face. Anyone who saw her would think that she was an


    elegant and intellectualdy.


    As the madam of the Joneses, she could easily enter the Design Department.


    Nora was making sketches seriously. When she heard the assistant''s voice, she looked up and her


    heart skipped a beat. Then she stood up immediately.


    "Auntie?"


    She hadn''t seen Hailey for a while and didn''t know her purpose ining.


    In the past, Hailey had always been mean to her, but today, she was actually smiling and unexpectedly


    kind, which made Nora a little uneasy.


    "Nora, I came here today specially to see you."


    Hailey was full of enthusiasm when seeing Nora, holding her hand affectionately.


    Nora stiffened uncontrobly. This was the first time she had seen Hailey behaving like this. She was


    ttered and felt a little weird at the same time.


    "Auntie, what did you want to see me about?"


    Hailey smiled and said, "The reason I came here today is to give you something."


    As she spoke, Hailey took out a vacuum sk from her bag and unscrewed the cap gently.


    Since Nora didn''t pay attention at all, she didn''t see the sinister smile in Hailey''s eyes. The next


    moment, an ident happened.


    "Bitch, go to hell."


    With a shrill and malicious curse, Hailey opened the cap and sshed the boiling water on Nora''s face.


    Nora was very close to her. She widened her eyes in panic, drew back subconsciously and raised her


    hand to ward it off. The moment the boiling water was sshed over her body, she fell to the ground.


    "Ah..."


    Although her face was protected from the boiling water, her arm was not spared. The burning pain in


    her tender and fair arm made her cry out in agony.


    Arge area of skin on the outside of her arm went red and blistered, looking awful.


    The other designer assistants around were so scared that they shrieked the moment they came to their


    senses. The whole office was thrown into chaos.


    Her face reddened, Hailey had that mean look in the eyes.


    She pounced on Nora, who was on the ground, her sharp nails piercing hard into Nora''s bare skin.


    Scratching and pinching, Hailey showed no mercy and acted as if she was crazy.


    "Little bitch, how dare you to seduce my son! You cheap whore..."


    "I''m going to tear you to pieces today, you slut! I just want to see how you''ll seduce my son and defy


    me in the future..."


    Nora was no match for her. Besides, her arm was injured, and she was suffering the burning pain. Nora


    couldn''t be more painful at this moment.


    Fortunately, a few designers called the security guards immediately. Trembling, another designer


    contacted Damian, a man nted in the Design Department by Derek.


    Since the Avril incidentst time, Derek had nted a man to watch the office, so that he would know


    what happened immediately once Nora was wronged in the Design Department.


    Damian waspletely taken aback when hearing that Nora was sshed with boiling water by a


    womaning out of the blue. He couldn''t afford to hold back the truth and told Derek about it at once.


    The security guards came to the Design Department soon and pulled Hailey away from Nora.


    Hailey struggled frantically, "What are you doing? How dare you touch me? Let go of me. Get out of my


    way..."


    "Do you know who I am? Let go of me..."


    Several designer assistants helped Nora up.


    Although Nora was not seriously hurt, she still looked miserable at the moment. Her face turned pale


    due to the intense pain and the shock a while ago, and she couldn''t help trembling.


    Derek strode over with a sullen face, looking furious. Especially when he caught sight of Nora, his eyes


    darkened instantly, sending a chill down people''s spines.


    Everyone could feel the ferocity he exuded. The female designers of the Design Department all went


    silent in fear, their hearts racing.


    Derek walked over, his sharp eyes running over Nora''s body inch by inch. The bloody scratches and


    bruises didn''t matter that much.


    However, therge area of burns on her arm was very eye-catching. In addition, in order to ward off


    Hailey just now, Nora had her burnt skin torn off, which was too horrible to look at.


    Derek''s eyes went red. While his heart was torn apart, he also felt like killing the crazy woman.


    He never expected that someone would dare to hurt Nora like this under his nose and on his turf.


    Derek took off his suit, draped it over Nora''s shoulders gently and scooped her up, his voice piercing


    cold.


    "Get the car ready. To the hospital."


    Even Damian, who was behind him, held his breath and said at once, "Yes, Mr. Xavier."


    As he went by Hailey, Derek paused and nced at her.


    This nce made Hailey''s ferocious look freeze. As if someone was seizing her by the throat, she


    could say nothing.


    A bone-chilling coldness shot up from the bottom of her feet, and in an instant, Hailey was too scared


    to look him in the eye.


    Naturally, Derek would not let her off so easily. He wished he could tear her to pieces, but not now.


    What mattered more was Nora''s injury. She needed to be sent to the hospital immediately.


    It was the same hospital that she had gone to when she had saved Eastonst time. Before long, she


    was here again.


    The Xaviers was the biggest shareholder of this hospital. As soon as Derek stepped in, the director


    rushed over to wee him with his people.


    "Cut the crap. Arrange a room and treat her immediately."


    "Yes, yes, I''m doing it right now." The elderly director wiped the sweat off his forehead.


    Derek ced Nora on the bed gently. Along the way, Nora had been enduring the pain and suffering,


    but she made no sound.


    Derek was heartbroken to see Nora like this. He couldn''t say anything harsh to her, and had no choice


    but to hold back his emotions. His face turned more and more sullen, and he looked like the King of


    Hell.


    "Bring the medicine," he said faintly.


    Damian, who was behind him, was stunned and realized what kind of medicine his boss was referring


    to at once. His lips were twitching, his heart aching, but he acted very quickly and took out a little


    wooden box immediately.


    The wooden box was opened and a small bottle filled with light blue liquid was shown in it.


    This medicine worked simrly to the anesthetics used in various hospitals. The only difference was


    that there was that those ordinary anesthetics were not allowed to be used as much as people wanted


    to.

 Chapter 341

    Chapter 341


    And no matter how much it contained, some ingredients would be harmful to humans.


    But this vial is different. It wouldn''t do harm to humans at all. It can also be absorbed to improve


    immunity and nutrients.


    And the effect of the anesthesia was amazing and targeted. It would work within a few seconds after it


    was absorbed. What''s more, it would just work in the wound. And the usage of it was not limited.


    But no one would use it indefinitely, because it was too expensive.


    It was made by a foreign research institute recently. Derek got several vials. And when Damian was


    injured, he used one vial.


    Normally, it''s unnecessary to waste the medicine for scald.


    Nora would be tortured without an anesthetic. The scalded dead skin should be removed before the


    medicine was applied. Derek didn''t want Nora to suffer.


    He opened the vial and handed it to Nora. He said gently, "Good girl, it won''t hurt after drinking it."


    Nora looked at him with cold sweat all over her face. Although she did not know what it was in the vial,


    she felt a sense of security from Derek. It seemed to be familiar to her. She was sure that he would not


    hurt her.


    She opened her mouth obediently and swallowed the medicine.


    It was just a scald and the wound was not in the fatal part. But three authoritative doctors came to


    apply the medicine to her.


    They were professors and were respected in the hospital. But at the moment, they didn''t dare to be


    discontented and applied medicine to Nora seriously. They tried their best to prevent scarring.


    After Nora drank the medicine, she didn''t feel the pain and felt much better.


    Even when she saw that a doctor tore off the horrible dead skin on her arm with tweezers, she didn''t


    feel it, as if it wasn''t her arm at all.


    Nora was shocked. She thought of the magical vial, but she did not ask about it.


    She was shocked, as were the doctors.


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    Looking at Nora, who was calm and didn''t frown, the doctors were surprised.


    After all, they had done operations for half their lives and saw many patients. Even if the patient could


    bear the pain, he or she wouldn''t be so rxed. They were confused but dared not ask.


    "Mr. Xavier, the medicine should be changed once every two days. It will be fine after changing the


    medicine four or five times. The wound should be kept away with water. And the patient should avoid


    spicy and oily food.


    The doctors left after giving some advice to the patient. And Damian left too. Only Derek and Nora


    were left in the room.


    Derek helped her to lie down, "ording to the doctor''s advice, you should stay in the hospital until


    your arms are healed. I wille to apany you every day."


    "No. I can take care of myself. You''re so busy. You don''t have toe over." Nora didn''t want to take


    up his time. The wound wasn''t serious anyway.


    Derek didn''t seem to hear her. He said, "I''ll leave a few people to take care of you. Just go to bed. I''ll


    bring you delicious food in the evening."


    He sounded gentle, but he looked bad. Nora did not dare to say anything more. She was frightened


    and hurt today. She was so tired and soon fell asleep.


    Derek looked at her for a while and gently kissed her on the forehead. When he saw the phone in her


    coat pocket, he thought of something and immediately took it over.


    After setting the phone, he stuffed it back in.


    When Derek got out of the room, he saw Damian, who waited outside. Damian asked: "Where is


    Hailey?"


    "She was detained. Are you going over now?"


    He nodded expressionlessly and got into the car. Damian shrugged and silently mourned for Hailey for


    a second.


    In the car, Damian showed the video of the surveince screenshot to Derek as instructed. It was a few


    minutes that Hailey entered the Design Department and was caught.


    But Derek just wanted to chop up the damned woman.


    "I want detailed information of the Jones Group."


    Damian was not surprised, "Okay, boss."


    Derek got into the detention center.


    "Mr. Xavier, this way please. The woman you sent is in custody."


    "Take me there."


    "No problem."


    There was only a small vent on the top floor in therge and dim room. There was nothing but an iron


    bed.


    Before he got into the room, he heard Hailey yelling and swearing virulently. Derek looked angrier, and


    he nced at Damian.


    Damian immediately understood him. So he asked the detainee for the key and asked the detainee to


    leave first.


    Hailey was stunned and immediately recognized him. He just took the bitch away in the Xavier Group


    and he was also the man who stayed with her several times before.


    She regarded Derek as a toy boy and never read the business news. So she had no idea who he was.


    Although she was a little afraid, she was angrier, especially when she was locked up here for no


    reason. She never dreamed that she would be imprisoned one day.


    "I know you. You''re the man who hangs out with that little bitch, Nora. Well, you want to take it out on


    me, don''t you? Do you know who I am?"


    "Listen to me, when I get out of here, I am sure you will die." Hailey said viciously.


    Derek had no expression on his face. He asked Damian to open the door.


    When Hailey saw it, she immediately thought that they were afraid of her due to her identity and


    released her immediately. She was more arrogant.


    "Hmph, are you scared now? It''s toote. I won''t have mercy on you."


    She gritted her teeth and was about to walk out of the room as she spoke. She didn''t want to stay in


    this damned room for a moment.


    But when she just stepped out with one foot, she fainted. She was like a kite without a string and


    mmed into the wall. She fell down.


    Bang, there was some dust.


    "Poof, cough..."


    Hailey opened her mouth and couldn''t help but puff out a mouthful of blood. Her three front teeth fell


    out with blood and saliva.


    Her face was pale. She opened her eyes wide and whimpered. She was so painful as if her internal


    organs shifted.


    Damian looked at her expressionless and slowly turned the doorknob.


    Derek walked in slowly with his long legs.


    Hailey''s body shook violently. She was not arrogant and looked at Derek in horror. Derek walked in


    step by step. He was like King of Hell in her eyes.


    "No, no..." She opened and closed her months and could only utter the two words.


    Derek looked down at her as if she was dead. He spoke and his voice was so cold.


    "Which hand did you use to hurt Nora?"

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    Chapter 342


    The piercing pain indicated Hailey that the man was ruthless. She trembled slightly, and fear overtook


    her.


    "Not speaking? Let me guess. Left hand?"


    As Derek said with a casual air, he raised his foot, stepped on her left wrist, and twisted it violently.


    Thump... The sound of a broken bone reverberating in the quiet surroundings made one''s soul tremble.


    "Ah... Uh..."


    Hailey''s face swelled and she sweated profusely. Her pupils widened. The veins on her forehead


    bulged and she could feel the pain of her wrist being broken. It was so painful.


    At the moment, she was terrified. This man was a demon, not a human.


    She now regretted that she had provoked Nora today. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have had to take it.


    Derek looked calm as if he had a dead branch broken it under his feet . He squinted and said, "Or, right


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    hand?"


    Not surprisingly, there was another creak, and Hailey''s right wrist was crushed. Hailey didn''t say a word


    this time, because she fainted from the pain.


    Seeing that she had fainted, Derek was still angry and walked out with a cold snort.


    "Tell the people here to take care of her."


    Of course, he didn''t mean that. It was clear what he mean by saying take care of her.


    Damian was not surprised. Miss Gray mattered a lot to his boss. This old woman had the guts to hurt


    her. This was the lightest punishment his boss had ever given her.


    In the hospital.


    Nora was in the ward recovering, and on the small moving table in front of her were several clothing


    magazines.


    Although both her hands were injured, she was fine. The more serious one was her right hand. The


    area of her left hand that was scalded was notrge. She could moved her left hand with attention.


    At this moment.


    "Mom, mom..."


    Easton''s voice came through the door, and at the same time, he rushed in immediately, crawled on the


    edge of her bed, his round eyes full of worry.


    Obviously, he knew what happened to Nora.


    Nora missed him, but she didn''t intend to tell her son about his injury. She didn''t want to make the little


    guy sad, but now it was unrealistic.


    "Easton, I''m fine. It''s just a minor injury. I''ll be discharged soon. Don''t worry," Nora coaxed him gently.


    Easton''s little face was tense. It was only a day or twoter. Nora''s arms were tightly wrapped, and


    nothing could be seen.


    But he knew that she was scalded by the old woman he saw at the mallst time. He was very furious.


    He knew how painful the burn would be. Thinking of how painful his mother was, he burst out crying.


    But he also knew that he was too young to do anything big. Fortunately, he believe that his dad would


    never let that old man go.


    After he knew that the old woman was Sheldon''s mother, he regretted that he did not take more money


    from him that day, or make him even more humiliated.


    But it didn''t matter as he thought there would be opportunities in the future.


    Every day, Derek would visit Nora with Easton and stay in the ward with her until night. They looked


    like a harmonious family of three.


    Nora had a good life while she was recuperating, but things didn''t go well on Sheldon''s side.


    After Hailey was imprisoned, most of the Joneses industries were affected and attacked by various


    unknown factors.


    the Joneses was powerful, but it was still no match for the Joneses. It waspletely impossible for


    Sean to shake up the Joneses with this.


    Moreover, Sean soon found out what went on with Hailey''s missing. He was furious and secretly


    med Hailey for messing up his n.


    Derek could do this for Nora. He was not sure if he recognized Nora.


    He didn''t want to show up, and Hailey caused the trouble. He asked Sheldon to solve these things.


    Although Sheldon was selfish, he cared about his only mother. He never thought that she would get


    into such a big trouble.


    But at the same time, he was also very confused. Logically, even if his mother scratched Nora, it was


    between Nora and them. He didn''t understand why the president of the Xavier Group got involved and


    stood up for Nora.


    When he thought of this, his face darkened.


    He had nned to contact Nora first, but then the same thing happened as the days when he returned


    back. He couldn''t get in touch with her.


    It happened again and again, which made him suspect that thest time it was the woman who


    deliberately doing that, otherwise it would not be such a coincidence.


    He was unable to find Nora, and on the other hand, he was worried about his mother. He had no way


    but to go to the Xavier Group.


    The office of Xavier Group''s president.


    "Boss, Sheldon wants to see you. He''s waiting at the front desk in the lobby," Damian reported.


    Derek expected that Sheldon woulde to him. After all, his mother was still in his hands. He said


    with a faint smile, "Tell him to wait. Just say that I might have time to see him this afternoon."


    Sheldon waited for an afternoon in the lobby lounge. He was told that Derek had no time to see him


    and asked him toe back tomorrow.


    Although he was angry, he was sensible and dared not say anything more.


    Even the Joneses did not dare to be presumptuous in front of Xavier Group, let alone him.


    As a result, same happened the next day. He waited a whole day in vain, and the third day was the


    same.


    Sheldon also realized that Mr. Xavier was always making things difficult for him.


    If Derek really didn''t want to see him, he could just say that. But he asked him toe back the next


    day on purpose. Sheldon, who had never been treated like this before, was filled with resentment.


    But he came to beg for help. Three days had passed, and he did not know what his mother was doing.


    He could only control his emotion.


    Finally on the fourth day, Derek agreed to see Sheldon.


    When he entered the office, he subconsciously put on a respectful smile.


    "Mr. Jones, what can I do for you?" Derek looked at him expressionless.


    Sheldon felt the pressured, smiled and said cautiously, "Mr. Xavier, I heard that you arrested my


    mother. Well... There may be some misunderstanding."


    Derek shook his head and said bluntly, "There''s no misunderstanding. She hurt my woman. She should


    pay for that."


    What?


    He was stunned and focused on the words "My woman." His mother hurt Nora. Didn''t Derek mean


    that?

 Chapter 343

    Chapter 343


    Sheldon''s face suddenly darkened, but he was a little uncertain. He had investigated the president of


    the Xavier Group.


    He knew that Derek had a son, and it was said that in the past five or six years, there was no woman


    around him and that he had remained a celibate. How could he have anything to do with Nora?


    To be sure, Sheldon asked, "Mr. Xavier, who is your woman?"


    Derek raised his eyebrow slightly and smiled faintly. "She''s a designer of ourpany. Her name is


    Nora."


    Sheldon''s pupils suddenly dted. He did not expect it to be Nora. His brows immediately furrowed. No


    wonder Derek would treat his mother like this.


    In an instant, he was extremely upset with Nora. She was his girlfriend, but she seduced the president


    of the Xavier Group. Good for her.


    Although he didn''t like Nora and wanted to marry her just for benefits, he still thought Nora was his toy.


    Only he got to throw this toy away. The woman could only listen to his orders obediently. Now, his toy


    was trying to run away. Naturally, he was not happy.


    Moreover, if Derek got involved, it would be even harder for him to marry Nora.


    "Mr. Xavier, I think you might be mistaken. Nora of the Design Department in yourpany is my


    fianc¨¦e." Although Sheldon was nervous, he still said it.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and stared daggers at Sheldon.


    Sheldon felt a strong pressure, and his back instantly became wet with sweat.


    "Your fianc¨¦e? I don''t care what rtionship you were in before, but after this, everything will soon


    disappear," he said while sneering.


    "What, what do you mean?" Sheldon was shocked.


    "If you want to save your mother, stay away from Nora. Otherwise, Hailey will never be released,"


    Derek said bluntly.


    Sheldon''s expression suddenly changed and his face darkened. He had never expected that Derek


    would really take a fancy to Nora, and it seemed that Nora meant a lot to him.


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    Even in an ordinary family, it was difficult for a person to choose between his wife one and his closest


    rtives, let alone he was in a much moreplicated situation.


    He had to marry Nora so that he could get benefits from Sean, the patriarch of the Joneses. He had


    been nning this for many years. How could he give this up?


    But now, Derek was using his mother to force him. Sheldon felt it really hard to choose.


    Although he wanted the benefits more, Hailey was his mother, and he couldn''t let her suffer there.


    There seemed to be short of air suddenly. Of course, only he felt that way.


    In the end, Sheldon reluctantly agreed to Derek''s request.


    Of course, he didn''t take his choice seriously. His n was that after getting his mother out, he would


    ask Nora what was going on between her and Derek.


    "Only when Nora''s injury is healed will Haileye out."


    Derek said and asked Damian to get Sheldon out.


    Although Sheldon was dissatisfied, he did not dare to say anything. He could only wait with anger. At


    the same time, he needed to think about how to marry Nora after Derek was involved.


    "Boss, Sheldon didn''t seem to have given in," Damian said.


    "I have no choice. Meredith has always been soft-hearted, even after she lost her memory and became


    Nora. Plus, the Joneses saved her life. Even if Hailey did that to her, she wouldn''t pursue it."


    This made Derek ufortable but helpless.


    In fact, getting rid of the Joneses and Sheldon was very easy.


    However, for the sake of Nora, he could only intimidate Sheldon and gave him a small punishement.


    Derek didn''t pay much attention to Sean of the Joneses, and he didn''t know that Nora was not saved


    by Sheldon, so naturally, he didn''t know, for benefits, Sheldon wouldn''t let Nora go.


    Nora followed the doctor''s instructions, so her injuries were almost healed in about ten days. She had


    used the lotion to remove the scars that Derek had specially prepared, so her skin had recovered


    At the same time, Sheldon, who received the news, quickly went to the detention center to pick up his


    mother.


    But the moment he saw Hailey, he was stunned.


    Was this... his mother?


    Hailey had been a richdy for more than 20 years, and as she got older, she became plump. She had


    always been taking care of her skin, so her skin was very fair and smooth.


    But now, her hair was disheveled and dry, and her eyes were bloodshot with dark circles under them.


    Her face was sallow, her lips were pale and cracked, and her cheeks were sunken.


    She looked as if she had suddenly aged by more than a decade. Her skin was also wrinkled. She


    looked she had lost half of her weight and looked miserable.


    Sheldon opened his mouth and wanted to call her, but he didn''t make any sound.


    All of a sudden, his eyes widened and he immediately stepped forward to hold his mother. "Mom, mom,


    your hand. What happened to your hand?"


    Hailey''s wrists were crushed by Derek crushed and hadn''t been treated effectively since then, so her


    wrists were bruised and swollen.


    Sheldon lifted her arm. Her palm drooped, and as it moved, it shook left and right, looking like a


    prosthetic. It was terrifying.


    He was really frightened and immediately sent his mother to the hospital.


    "Mr. Jones, the patient''s injuries are very serious, especially her two wrists. It is aminuted fracture,


    and since she didn''t receive immediate treatment, she had nerve necrosis and we can do nothing


    about it."


    "Also, although there are no scars on the patient''s skin, we found that her internal organs were


    severely injured and she had abdominal bleeding."


    "In addition, she has not eaten for a long time. The gastric lining is severely damaged and there are


    signs of perforation. This requires a long time to recover."


    "And..."


    The doctor solemnly told Sheldon everything about Hailey''s injuries. Sheldon couldn''t believe it. His


    face was livid. He clenched his fists and his eyes were full of hatred.


    Damn it, he knew that prisoners might be abused in the detention center.


    But he thought that his mother was at least the olddy of the Joneses, and that her mother had not


    done anything heinous. Although he was worried, he did not expect such a bad result.


    A fool would have thought that someone must have asked the staff to do this on purpose. He knew


    exactly who that person was.

 Chapter 344

    Chapter 344


    Sheldon was pissed off to see his mother''s change. However, he didn''t have the guts to retaliate


    against Derek.


    He knew very well that he was no match for Derek.


    Therefore, he vented his anger to Nora in his heart. In his opinion, Nora was the one who should be


    med for what happened to his mother.


    If she hadn''t hooked up with Derek while he was gone, his mother wouldn''t have been like this. It was


    all this woman''s fault.


    She didn''t expect that damn bitch, who looked old-fashioned, to be so dissolute in private.


    Sheldon had nned to divorce Nora after getting what he wanted from their marriage, but now he had


    to change his n. When that bitch married him, he would let her suffer. Hmph.


    Sheldon''s face darkened and finally narrowed his eyes, then he wore a twisted smile.


    ...


    Nora waspletely unaware of Hailey''s tragic fate and the changes in Sheldon''s thoughts. All she


    knew was that as soon as she was discharged from the hospital, she was informed by some


    domineering man that he had helped her resign and was promoted to the official designer of the Xavier


    Group''s Design Department.


    "I have the contract ready. It will be faxed to your office in the afternoon. You can take a look at it and


    voice your opinions about your sry or other terms." Derek.


    When she regained her senses, her brows furrowed and she felt a little angry. After all, it was her


    business. Why didn''t this man make the decision before discussing it with her?


    She believed that no one would be happy to be offended.


    "Mr. Xavier, did you force all the designers of your Design Department to work for you?" She was


    angry, so she said sarcastically.


    Derek was not angry at all. His lips curled up and he smiled seductively. "Forced? Of course not. I don''t


    care about these people, but only you."


    "Easton is yours, Xavier Group can be yours. Of course, most importantly, Derek is yours."


    Nora was stunned by such shameless words in front of their son, and then her face turned red. She


    couldn''t help but re at him fiercely. She looked at her son on the side and felt a little embarrassed.


    Derek gave Easton a look, and he immediately threw himself into Nora''s arms. His face was full of


    sorrow.


    "Mom, don''t me dad. I brought this up. I hope mom can work in our ownpany. That old bitch


    dares to hurt you in the Xavier Group. If she were anywhere else, she would do something more


    violete. You would be very dangerous."


    "And if you be Xavier Group''s designer, it would be much easier for me to meet you."


    "In addition, you are an outstanding designer. I have learned a saying, ''Keep the goodies within the


    family.'' Mom, you are my family, so your goodie should leave to your family."


    After all these sweet words, he began to be sadfishing, "Don''t you want to be with Easton at all? Don''t


    you want to see Easton?"


    Derek could not help but raise his eyebrows. Well, he didn''t know Easton''s ability to make white ck


    inherited from whom. However, it wasmendable.


    Well, he was his good son.


    Nora saw that Easton''s eyes were red. How could she bear to say no? She had to coax and say nice


    words to him to make the little guy happy.


    Easton said happily, "So, do you agree to work at the Xavier Group?"


    What could Nora say?


    "Yes, since Easton asked, mommy can''t refuse." Nora smiled helplessly.


    In fact, if she was really angry, it would be pretentious reaction.


    After all, it was so hard to join the Xavier Group''s Design Department. As a designer, if he or she


    wanted to be famous in the country, but he or she would desperately want to work for the Xavier Group.


    Of course, she was no exception. However, firstly, thepany she worked for before was arranged by


    Sheldon. If she resigned for a better job opportunity, she felt she was a little ungrateful.


    After all, without the SPECTER Group, she would not have been able to tap into her own design talent.


    Secondly, what she was really angry about was that Derek did first and asked her permissionter. If


    he discussed with her in advance, she could be mentally prepared.


    After all, although she and he had Easton, she was still in a state of amnesia. The rtionship between


    her and Derek, at least in her heart, was not so close. So she was very unhappy about it.


    But all of this could only turn into a helpless sigh. After all, what had been done was done, and it was


    useless to argue.


    At night, Nora called her boss. Technically, Nora was her former boss.


    "Mr. Specter, this is Nora. Yes, I want to apologize to you..."


    After all, it was a ce where she had been working for several years, and she could guess that Derek


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    would not be very polite to help her resign, given Derek''s way of solving things.


    Nora exined her situation and apologized for the sudden resignation. She promised that she would


    Harvey was very polite and didn''t make things difficult for her. After hanging up the phone, Nora was


    relieved.


    On the other hand, after Harvey hung up the phone, he called Sheldon directly and reported Nora''s


    situation. It turned out that he was Sheldon''s man.


    Sheldon arranged Nora to thispany to monitor her. He didn''t care if she would be wronged or


    bullied. He only cared whether he could keep Nora in his hands.


    Sheldon mmed his phone to the ground, "Damn bitch, fine, you are really good. You hook up with


    Derek in such a short time. Well, don''t be too happy. Let''s wait and see."


    In Sheldon''s view, Nora''s resignation was aplete provocation.


    Otherwise, why didn''t she resign early but at this crucial period of time?


    Even if she resigned, he wouldn''t have a problem if she went to any otherpanies, but why the


    Xavier Group?


    Sheldon''s imagination got more and more incredible. In the end, he could not help but suspect that


    Nora had been pretending to be innocent for years. In fact, she was a greedy and sophisticated


    woman.


    His expression was gloomy, but there was one thing that mattered, no matter what kind of person Nora


    was, no matter if she was fooling around him, the fact that he would marry that woman must not


    change.


    With that in mind, he controled his anger and called Nora directly.

 Chapter 345

    Chapter 345


    However, as before, no one answered.


    Sheldon listened to the mechanical voice and threw the phone out angrily. He thought Nora did it on


    purpose.


    "Bitch, you think you are with Derek so you can get rid of me, huh? You wish."


    The next day.


    Nora walked out of the Xavier Group after work. Suddenly, something red shed. The next second,


    Sheldon''s handsome and gentle face appeared.


    He was holding arge bouquet of roses and smiled very gently. "Nora, this is for you."


    Nora was stunned when she saw him. To be honest, she had almost forgotten Sheldon since the


    conflictst time at the mall.


    "Nora, I know that you are still angry with me. No matter what happened at the mallst time or how my


    mother hurt you, I''m really sorry."


    "Don''t worry. I persuaded my mother. She will never interfere in our rtionship again," Sheldon said,


    but his heart was filled with hatred.


    He wasn''t wrong. His mother really couldn''t meddle in his marriage to this woman, but that wasn''t


    because he had persuaded her, but because she was scared out of her wits.


    Aftering back from the detention center, his mother was apletely different person. She locked


    herself in her room every day, unwilling to go out, and would be shocked at the slightest movement.


    Even if the servant who took care of her touched her a little, she would be scared, screaming, crying,


    and apologizing. She looked like she had lost her mind.


    How could she be able to meddle in his business now?


    No matter what, it was his mother, the best person to him since he was a child. His heart broke to see


    her like this.


    And all this was because of the woman in front of him.


    He wanted to strangle Nora, but the more he thought about it, the gentler the smile on his face became.


    Nora waspletely unaware of this. The two of them were standing outside the entrance of the


    Xavier Group. People were getting off work at this time. And many people were secretly looking at


    Sheldon.


    Nora was so embarrassed and ufortable that she had no choice but to take the flowers and follow


    him into the car.


    Nora was usually vignt.


    But this was Sheldon, who had saved her five years ago, gave her her name when she lost her


    memory, gave her a ce to live, protected her, and then helped her find a job, so she didn''t see a


    need to be on guard.


    In her heart, the people of the Joneses were like her own. Who would be wary of their own family?


    Those people sent by Derek to protect Nora immediately reported to him that Nora had left with


    Sheldon, and were ordered to follow them.


    In the office.


    Derek''s face was very grim. Thest time he had made it so clear to Sheldon, but he didn''t take it


    seriously and dared toe to hispany and pick Nora up.


    "When was thest time someone went against him? Sheldon is so brave." Derek thought.


    If it wasn''t for Nora''s sake, he would have let Sheldon die miserably, but he couldn''t do it. Nora would


    refuse and be unhappy.


    Sheldon drove his car into an underground parking lot of a shopping mall. He looked at Nora and


    couldn''t help narrowing his eyes.


    To be honest, this woman was really pretty, even a little prettier than Aubrey.


    He used to see her as a stepping stone to his sess. Although they had been in a rtionship for so


    many years, nothing intimate had happened between them.


    Thinking about it carefully, Sheldon himself found it incredible. For so many years, he rarely held hands


    with Nora, let alone kissed or went further. It was really strange.


    He didn''t want to lower himself to do anything before, but now...


    "Nora, I haven''t seen you for so many days. I really miss you."


    He looked at her with passion in his eyes and said that in a low voice. Then he leaned slightly to her,


    trying to kiss her.


    Kissing was normal for those in a rtionship, but for some reason, Nora wanted to avoid him.


    She hadn''t had this feeling in the past five years. She subconsciously jerked back, then turned her


    head and blurted out.


    "No."


    The two hurried words dissipated the romance in the car.


    Sheldon''s face darkened and he looked at her tilted face, his eyes burning with anger.


    She refused him? How dare this damn woman refuse him?


    Sheldon had never been refused by a woman before. How did this happen? A lowly woman whom he


    He wanted to roar, but he had to be calm. He pursed his lips.


    "Nora, what''s wrong? Are you still mad at me?"


    Nora''s heart was pounding. She also knew that she was being strange just now. After all, Sheldon was


    her boyfriend. Although thest time they had friction at the mall, they were still in a rtionship.


    She didn''t even know what was going on with her. When Sheldon came over, Derek''s face popped up


    in her mind.


    And at that moment, she even felt guilty. Nora felt like she was going crazy.


    Logically speaking, Sheldon should be much closer to her than Derek since she had lost her memory.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Why should she feel guilty?


    Hearing Sheldon mentioning the mall, she took a deep breath and said, "Sheldon, I am not mad at you


    for myself, but for my son."


    "He''s very important to me. I won''t let anyone hurt him."


    She said it slowly, which enraged Sheldon.


    "I hated this lowly woman. I also hated that brat." Sheldon thought.


    He would never forget how that little bastard had deceived him that day. That brat fleeced him, and this


    bitch had gone out of her way to protect and defend him. They disgusted him.


    "I know that it was my faultst time. I shouldn''t argue with a child. Since he is your son, he is also my


    son. Don''t worry. I will treat him like my own."


    He said thest sentence very gently, but his eyes were filled with hatred.


    Nora lowered her eyelids and did not speak. After a few seconds, she put the roses in the back seat of


    the car, opened the door, and got out.


    She knew very well that Easton would never ept Sheldon as his other father, especially when Derek


    was still around.

 Chapter 346

    Chapter 346


    It was impossible and unrealistic for the Xaviers to allow their precious grandson call someone else


    "father".


    Nora''s own feelings for Sheldon were also veryplicated. At first, it seemed that she had been


    pursuing after him. However, since the father and son appeared, this situation had changed.


    Now it was Sheldon who was pursuing after her. He was different from before. But now she didn''t seem


    to be looking forward to it.


    This made her guilty when facing Sheldon.


    After watching a movie and having a meal, the two people went for a walk in the square. It was very


    lively and there was a huge fountain in the middle. Many people sat down to rest or took pictures.


    Not long after they sat down, Sheldon left for a while.


    Soon, he came back with a guitar in his hand.


    Nora was confused, "What are you doing?"


    Sheldon smiled gently at her, getting down on one knee in front of her and putting the guitar in ce.


    He put his long fingers on the strings, and there came some pleasant melodies.


    She looked at him in astonishment and was somewhat at a loss. She wanted to stand up. There were


    so many people around her. It was embarrassing for her to see Sheldon to kneel in front of her.


    "Nora, sit there. I''ll sing you a song."


    As he said this, he started to pluck the strings and sing. He was ying the guitar while singing, and he


    did it fairly well.


    When Hailey was educating Sheldon while he was growing up, she wanted him to learn the piano


    which could make him elegant. But each man had his time of being young and frivolous.


    Children usually thought that guitar was cooler than piano. Sheldon was no exception when he was at


    school. Back then,he secretly took guitar sses with a few close friends and learned it for a while.


    Although it had been so many years, it was still possible for him to y it after some practice. Although


    not high-leveled, he could still y some pieces.


    Because of Sheldon''s show, more people gathered around him in the crowded square, which made it


    even more impossible for Nora to leave and she could just sit there awkwardly.


    This good-looking couple and Sheldon''s action of kneeling down to y the guitar made many young


    men and women feel very romantic and they apuded.


    They were excited to see the scene, but Nora didn''t feel anything. All she wanted was for Sheldon to


    finish it soon and they could leave.


    Neither of them realized that in the crowd around them, there were two pairs of eyes that were almost


    spitting fire. Two were staring at Sheldon.


    These two figures, one big and one small, were just Derek and Easton, father and son.


    When Derek heard his people report that the two of them were shopping and watching movies, he


    could not be calm and directly came over.


    Not only that, but he also brought his son over. After all. If anything happened to him, he can definitely


    turn things around by asking his son to get involved.


    Little Easton clenched his fists tightly while sitting on his father''s shoulder. He was so angry that he


    wished he could rush up and give Sheldon a good lesson. He scratched his ear unhappily.


    "Hmph, it''s terrible. He sings terribly." His tone revealed his disgust.


    Derek nodded with no expression on his face.


    Derek was surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. Because he was wearing a hat and its brim was


    lowered, most of his face was covered, so no one paid attention to him.


    But little Easton''sment was heard by the people around him, and the dissatisfaction they felt was


    dissipated the moment they saw the boy who had said that was so cute and good-looking.


    "Little baby, the key is not whether he can sing well. Look, that handsome brother is singing and his


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    girlfriend is the one who is sitting there listening. How romantic is this?"


    One of the young girls smiled kindly and exined to him. Everyone around nodded in agreement.


    "Yeah, if only my boyfriend could be so romantic."


    "Let''s not talk about romance first. If only I could find such a handsome boyfriend."


    "Yes, his girlfriend is so beautiful. Ah, handsome guys are really always with beautiful girls."


    Easton was furious to see that no one was supporting him, but he wasforted by Nora''s nk


    expression. She was not smiling.


    At this time, Sheldon finished his song. He took the guitar off and put it aside. He still kept kneeling on


    one knee and looked at Nora affectionately.


    Standing in the crowd, Derek and Easton had a premonition.


    As expected, Sheldon took out a red velvet box from his pocket and opened it. A shiny diamond ring


    Derek''s face darkened, his dark eyes narrowed, and his eyes were filled with danger. How dared he


    propose to her?


    If it wasn''t for the public space, Derek would definitely go over, beat Sheldon up, and break his hand


    like his mother''s. Just looking at them was annoying enough.


    Little Easton red at them and gritted his teeth, wishing he could rush up, snatch the ring and throw it


    away.


    At the same time, the father and son had the same idea. Nora... Don''t agree.


    The protagonist they were thinking about, Nora, was petrified at the moment she saw the ring and was


    so stunned that she had no reaction.


    Sheldon didn''t care. He was still affectionately talking about his feelings for Nora, which made the


    listeners moved.


    "Nora, will you marry me? I will treat you well and give you happiness for the rest of your life."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd around him burst into a roar.


    "Marry him."


    "Say yes."


    "I will."


    There were also some bold and uplicated girls who shouted these words directly, which caused a


    burst ofughter, and Nora finally returned to her senses.


    She looked at Sheldon with aplicated expression and her eyes were on the ring which he was


    holding. She didn''t expect Sheldon to propose directly to her, and in such a way.


    Nora looked at the people around them and listened to their heckling, who were urging her to say yes


    immediately, but...


    There was no joy in her heart at this moment. She lowered her eyes silently and she was a little


    confused.


    In her mind, Derek''s face appeared again, which made her frown even more deeply. It was Sheldon


    who was her lover.


    But every time, she would think about another man, which was obviously abnormal and inappropriate.


    An answer that made her a little panicked seemed about to break out of her mind.


    However, she suddenly recalled what Derek had confessed to her thest time, about her rtionship


    with him and the reason why she had lost her memory, including everything that happened five years


    ago.


    His voice still seemed to echo in her ears.

 Chapter 347

    Chapter 347


    Her life five years ago didn''t seem happy or settled.


    What was she thinking now?


    No matter what happened five years ago, at least in her memory, it was Sheldon and the Joneses that


    was nice to her and gave her a second life, wasn''t it?


    "Nora, you can''t be so selfish. Are you going to ignore what the Joneses did for you because of


    Derek?" She thought.


    She suddenly regained her senses and realized that Sheldon was already standing in front of her.


    He gently held her hand, "Nora, will you marry me?" As he spoke, he took out the ring and picked up


    her right hand. He was about to put it on her finger without waiting for her answer.


    Derek''s face was cold in the crowd. Easton looked anxious and fixed his eyes on the ring.


    Derek had a thin de between his fingertips, and he prepared the strength on his waist. He thought


    evilly, " I''ll cut off Sheldon''s hands if he dares to put the ring on Nora''s finger. He will never hold the ring


    again."


    Nora stared at the ring and watched as it drew closer and closer to her finger. Her heart thumped, and


    she withdrew her finger in an instant.


    Sheldon was stilted.


    No one expected this at such a critical moment. The crow thought that he was about to seed. The


    noises quiet down.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and slowly retracted the de.


    Sheldon had no idea that his fingers had just almost gone, and he was now filled with anger and


    embarrassment.


    How dared this hateful woman refused him in front of so many people?


    Damn it. He couldn''t reveal his anger.


    He took a deep breath and tried to suppress his anger, "Nora, you..."


    Before he could finish speaking, Nora looked a little flustered and said, "I''m sorry, Sheldon, I, I haven''t


    thought about it yet. Let me think about it. I have to go."


    She then strode away and even started jogging. It looked as if Sheldon was a monster that would


    chase her, and her action was undoubtedly a p in his face again.


    The father and son in the crowd suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. The little guy said happily, "I knew it.


    Mom wouldn''t have such bad taste and be with this kind of guy. Hmph!"


    Derek was in a good mood. With a random gesture, the man who secretly protected Nora immediately


    followed her.


    Not only that, but he also asked his man to take Easton with him, "Your mother must be in a bad mood


    tonight. You stay with her for tonight. I''ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow."


    Derek could see Nora''s tangled expression all the time. He didn''t want her to overthink, so he sent their


    son to her without hesitation.


    Easton was very happy to sleep with Nora.


    As for Derek, he still stood where he was. When the crowd dispersed, he followed Sheldon at a certain


    distance.


    Sheldon put on a gloomy face, but he didn''t go home. Instead, he went to a famous nightclub and


    ordered a few prostitutes to apany him.


    He had to vent his anger. Otherwise, he might lose his mind and strangle Nora the next time he saw


    that bitch.


    The door of the private room opened. It was not a prostitute who came in, but a waiter, "Sir, someone


    asked me to give this to you."


    Sheldon took it over impatiently and looked at it. He was stunned, and no one could tell what he was


    thinking from his face. He walked out in suspicion and went straight to the back door of the nightclub.


    He looked at the empty road behind him. There was no one, and he looked even more annoyed. He felt


    that someone was ying tricks on him.


    Suddenly, there was a sh of shadow in front of him. Before he could react, something was stuck in


    his mouth, and he could not speak.


    With a crisp sound, his arms dislocated in an instant, and he screamed in pain. He was warped in a


    ck cloth bag and was kicked, and he fell to the ground.


    He whimpered and writhed on the ground, unable to remove the ck cloth bag or the tape from his


    mouth because his hands were dislocated.


    Four agile men appeared in the dark, and a tall figure slowly walked over. It was Derek.


    He was still wearing a hat, his hands in his pockets, and he looked at Sheldon, who was writhing like a


    worm on the ground, with a smile. A strange expression shed in his eyes, and he waved casually.


    The four men, who were standing still, moved instantly and rushed forward, punching and kicking


    Sheldon.


    They could easily kick someone to death with their strength. Obviously, they were not allowed to kill this


    person, so they controlled their strength. But even so, Sheldon in the ck cloth bag still wanted to die.


    He only felt endless paining from his whole body.


    His tears and snot were alling out, and he could not make a sound. He thought he would die.


    With all kinds of horrible guesses and pains, he passed out.


    The next day.


    Nora, who had been having fun with Easton all night, was delighted. After she went to thepany,


    she was still rather nervous and looked at her cell phone from time to time.


    She was afraid that Sheldon would call and ask her about her answer, which she could not give any


    answer.


    At least for now, she didn''t want to answer him, but she couldn''t face Sheldon at all. Fortunately, her


    phone didn''t ring all morning.


    At this moment, Sheldon woke up and found himself in the hospital. When he moved a little, he couldn''t


    help crying out. His whole body ached, and he recalled what happened yesterday.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Yesterday, he thought he would die. He was furious even though he survived. Just then, the door of the


    ward opened, and his assistant came in.


    "Mr. Jones, you''re awake."


    He grimaced and gritted his teeth, "Why am I in the hospital?"


    "It was the chef of the nightclub who found you, then called the police and an ambnce to take you to


    the hospital. Did you offend anyone? Why would anyone do this to you?"


    Sheldon was furious and moved abruptly. Then he let out a scream. It was painful.


    "Mr. Jones, don''t move. The doctor said that although your injuries are not fatal, they are still severe.


    You''ve broken four ribs, and you''ve got many bruises on your body. Also, your arms are dislocated. You


    need to take a good rest."


    Sheldon was speechless.

 Chapter 348

    Chapter 348


    His gloomy eyes were fixed on his assistant and he was furious.


    "Investigate it! I must know who dares to attack me. Find him out for me..."


    Sheldon roared out, his face livid. However, it was not obvious because his face was badly battered.


    Now he looked very funny.


    At this moment, Sheldon just wanted to find the culprit andpletely forgot that he had just confessed


    to Norast night.


    That was Derek''s idea. Through this way, not only could he vent his anger on Sheldon, but he could


    also stop Sheldon from harassing Nora.


    In the Xavier Group.


    A fashion designer needed to master various skills and his work might involve many fields.


    Designers sometimes maye across customers from bigpanies and they would bring their


    assistants to personally negotiate with their customers, in order to measure the data, discuss the


    design style and requirements.


    Therefore, employees from the Design Department of Xavier Group needn''t stay at thepany every


    day. They asionally went out for tasks.


    Nora had just received a task today. She needed to go out to the crew and design a set of costumes for


    the male and female protagonists for a scene in the script.


    Nora carried her bag and a workbox. As soon as she left thepany, she met her son.


    "Easton?"


    "Mom..."


    The little guy hade to look for Easton, so when he saw her, he rushed over without hesitation and


    smiled, showing his love towards his mom.


    "Easton, go upstairs and find your father. I need to go out to work."


    "I''m going too," Easton said without hesitation.


    "Mom is going to work. I''ll y with you aftering back, okay?" She coaxed him gently.


    Easton was not the same as other children. He was young, but he was very smart and decisive. He


    rarely changed his mind. So Nora had to take him with her.


    The filming location was not too far away from the Xavier Group. It was the crew of an urban workce


    drama, in which the heroine happened to be a fashion designer.


    Therefore, the crew specially invited staff from the Design Department of Xavier Group.


    Although Easton knew that the crew''s work was to film TV dramas which he usually saw on the TV. It


    was the first time he had came here, so he found it fresh and interesting.


    Nora identified herself, then the steward led her to a shed.


    "Easton, mom has to work now. Sit here and don''t run around. If you''re bored, call your dad''s men to


    pick you up."


    Easton nodded obediently.


    Nora waspletely absorbed in her work. It was rare for Easton toe to such a ce. Certainly,


    he would walk around on his own instead of just sitting obediently.


    There were a lot of people on the set. Some were shooting, and some were setting up shooting


    scenes. These were all very strange to the little guy.


    He walked and looked around like he was walking in the back garden of his house. Many people


    noticed Easton. After all, no one could look away from such a beautiful and graceful little boy.


    "Hey, boy, who are you?"


    "Kid, you are so cute. Come here. I''ll give you some candies."


    Easton rolled his eyes, his small face expressionless and he didn''t answer a single word. He kept


    attracted by candy. Hmph!


    At this moment, the sound of horns came from a shed in front of him. He turned his eyes and walked in.


    There was a scene being filmed inside, and the director was shouting with a loudspeaker. There was a


    lot of staff working around him.


    At this moment, a boy who was almost as tall as him ran over from behind, directly bumping into


    Easton.


    Easton leaned forward and turned around unhappily. He saw a clean boy in a suit sitting on the ground.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Although it was Easton that was bumped into, he had done physical activity and was stronger. So the


    person who bumped into him fell to the ground.


    That little boy stood up from the ground, his face flushed with anger, red at Easton fiercely, and said,


    "How dare you hit me?"


    Easton, "..."


    Easton stared nkly at that boy and his anger suddenly disappeared. Easton looked him up and


    down, thinking that there was something wrong with him.


    Easton was quite sure about that. Then he pursed his lips and turned to leave, feeling unlucky.


    That little boy was even angrier. He ran over and gave Easton a hard push, "I''m talking to you. Are you


    deaf?"


    Easton''s little face darkened. He hadn''t been bullied by anyone outside the camp. He looked at that


    boy coldly, his eyes narrowed.


    "How dare you push me?"


    Although Easton was still young, he really scared that boy through his indifferent attitude.


    But then the little boy became more furious. He had beening to this crew for several days, and


    everyone liked him very much because he was the only child who was very cute.


    Since he was spoiled at home, so he was arrogant.


    "What''s wrong with me pushing you? I''m going to kick you."


    As that boy spoke, he raised his calf and kicked Easton hard.


    Easton gave a sneer and dodged to the side as that boy kicked over. Easton also stuck out his foot and


    tripped that boy. The next second, a burst of screams and cries suddenly rang out.


    That boy fell to the ground, and he immediately burst into tears in pain. All of a sudden, the staff,


    directors and others surrounded them.


    "What''s wrong? Did you fall?"


    A staff member helped that boy up. Then he pointed to Easton with red eyes, "He hit me and pushed


    me."


    Easton, "..." He felt speechless and rolled his eyes.


    The crowd looked at Easton who was also about five years old, standing with his arms folded around


    his chest. Even if he was facing the gaze of a group of adults, he didn''t show fear.


    Everyone''s eyes lit up when they saw Easton. What a beautiful little boy. This was their first reaction.


    Everyone would love beautiful things, so at first nce, everyone had a good impression of Easton.


    Thinking that he was just a child, they believed these two boys just had a conflict, which was not a big


    deal.


    But that boy was unsatisfied when he saw no one avenged him. He cried more and more loudly and


    even screamed, as if he would not stop until someone helped him.


    Easton frowned and looked at him impatiently, "Shut up. You''re noisy. If you keep crying, I''ll sew your


    mouth up."


    Everyone, "..."


    Maybe that boy was frightened. He immediately covered his mouth with his hands, his face full of


    grievances, but he did not dare to make a sound.


    The director coughed softly and squatted down to look at the beautiful little boy that he had never seen.


    He could tell that the little guy was from a rich and powerful family through his clothes and behaviors,


    but he didn''t know who brought this boy here.

 Chapter 349

    Chapter 349


    "Kid, is this your first time to be here? Who brought you to our site?"


    "My mother," Easton said proudly. He could still answer that question.


    "Then who''s your mother?" The director continued.


    The kid gave him a sideways nce and said, "Why should I tell you?"


    Director, "..."


    He coughed softly and said, "Well, then why are you two arguing? You can tell me that."


    Easton didn''t bother to exin. But after thinking about it, he said, "He hit me from behind and scolded


    me. I ignored him. But he pushed me again. I was so angry that I tripped him."


    Everyone, "..."


    That little boy immediately blushed. He pointed at him and shouted, "You lied. You lied. You hit me. You


    hit me first."


    Easton nced at him with disdain, "I will directly hit you if I want. I don''t need to lie. Humph."


    "For example, I really want to beat you up now." Finishing speaking, he showed his clenched fists to


    him.


    Everyone, "... " What a cocky kid.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "Hmph, if you dare to hit me, I must tell my aunt and you will be doomed then. You are over." The little


    boy was afraid. But when he saw the crowd, he dared to shout.


    As soon as he finished speaking, his aunt really came.


    "Dan, are you crying? What happened? Who bullied you..." An anxious and angry voice came in from


    outside the shed.


    With a gust of fragrance, a woman in her thirties strode in.


    When the little boy named Dan heard her, he immediately bucked up and rushed out of the crowd like a


    small cannonball. He grabbed the woman''s thigh and burst into tears.


    "Wow, Auntie, I''m going to be beaten to death."


    Everyone, "..."


    Easton, "..."


    The onlookers couldn''t help but frown. They liked Easton better in any aspect. After all, no one liked


    spoiled children who could only cry.


    Moreover, in their opinion, the small conflicts between children were nothing important at all. The child''s


    Easton rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, "Stupid name. Dan? Hmph, why don''t you call yourself


    ''Damn?'' It sounds awful."


    The crowd was speechless. They looked at him in silence and all thought that it was not appropriate for


    this beautiful child to say such provocative words at this time.


    Dan heard it and became anxious again. He pointed at him and stamped his feet with anger, "Auntie,


    listen, he scolded me again. He just hit me..."


    His aunt was called Melody. Coincidentally, she was the female lead of the crew, an actress from


    Sheldon Company.


    Sheldon Media Company ranked very high in the domestic film and television industry. Although its


    development was not very promising recently, as an old brand mediapany, it still had decades of


    foundation and a big influence that could not be underestimated.


    Melody looked at Easton. She apparently was shocked by his beautiful appearance at first nce. She


    quickly came back to her senses. She gave him an unkind look and spoke coldly.


    "Kido, Dan has always been docile and sensible. He never picks a fight."


    Easton didn''t save her face. He looked at them coldly and sneered, "What? The little one just ndered


    me, and the old one jumped out so quickly to question me? You are really rted by blood."


    Well...


    The people around him took a deep breath and looked at Easton in surprise. They didn''t expect that he


    was so little but so sharp in his words.


    Melody did not expect the little boy''s witty retorts. She looked embarrassed and said, "Kid, children


    should be polite. Even if your parents didn''t teach you, the school teachers should have taught you."


    Her words seemed very gentle and harmless. But people frowned at it and realized she scolded him for


    his bad manner and his parents'' negligence.


    Of course, the little guy understood at once. His eyes narrowed, sending a dangerous signal. He raised


    his neck and opened his mouth, speaking in a crisp voice.


    "Of course, my parents have taught me good manners. They also teach me to be polite to people, not


    other things. I think it makes sense, so I learned. What do you think, auntie?"


    The people around them stared at Easton, who was so small but fearless in front of Melody. His eyes


    were clear and his voice was loud. They could clearly hear a hint of contempt in his words.


    Hiss, were children so amazing now?


    Contrary to their exmation, Melody was so angry that this little guy dared to call her auntie and scold


    her without talking dirty. How dared he?


    She couldn''t keep her fake smile anymore and pulled a long face under her exquisite makeup. A deep


    gloominess shed in her eyes. She stared at Easton and took a deep breath, saying directly.


    "What did my nephew do to you? Why did you hit him?"


    Easton put his hands around his chest and sneered, "Who hit him? Auntie, do you have proof?


    Although I am a child, I am also protected by thew. You can''t insult me with ungrounded reasons just


    because you are older than me."


    Words like "auntie" and "old" seemed to be constantly repeated in his mouth. He always mentioned


    them whenever he could. Melody was very angry.


    She frowned and became so angry that she stopped pretending to be kind, "My nephew just told me.


    You''re still trying to defend yourself."


    "Ridiculous, who is your nephew? Does everyone have to believe him? And who are you? Does


    everyone have to believe you?" Easton''s tiny body was emitting a domineering aura that intimidated


    her.


    Melody took a deep breath. She finally suppressed her urge to p Easton hard and looked at the


    director angrily.


    "Director, did you hear what this kid said? You should ask his parents toe here. I was going to


    calm things down if the kid apologized. But you have seen it. He didn''t apologize and had been so


    overbearing and rude at such a young age."


    Director, "..."


    He frowned slightly and was a little unhappy. However, he wasn''t angry with Easton but with Melody. In


    his opinion, Melody was just bullying the kid Easton.


    Originally, he was worried that the child would suffer herint. He didn''t expect that the kid was so


    smart that he kept the weather. The director didn''t need to worry at all. Then he coughed lightly and


    stood up.


    "Well, well, well. This is the film site. It''s just a conflict between the two children. It''s not a big deal.


    Hurry up, pack up and get ready to start filming."


    It was so obvious that he tried to smooth things over. The staff looked at each other and then echoed.


    Melody was furious.


    Just then, Dan, who was standing next to Melody, suddenly shouted, "I''ll beat you to death."

 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350


    His delicate small face was filled with cruelty. The most frightening thing was that he got a fruit knife


    from somewhere, and at that point, he was throwing it at Easton.


    "Oh ..."


    It made the surrounding people pale and frightened. In this small circle, the two children were not far


    from each other. Even if he was only a five or six-year-old child with nearly no uracy, the knife would


    very likely hit Easton.


    Melody did not expect her nephew to do that either. She was startled in a sudden, but then she smiled


    inapparently and a vicious gleam shed in her eyes.


    She pretended to be panic, but she cursed viciously in her heart, hoping that the knife would scratch


    Easton''s face.


    No one noticed that in the crowd, there stood a few tall, strong men in casual clothes. Their faces all


    went annoyed when they saw this. Just as they were about to make a move, one of the men raised his


    hand and stopped them.


    They stared at Easton nervously and the little guy did not disappoint their expectations either. Although


    he was a little flustered at first, he soon calmed down.


    He dodged quickly and the knife slid down near his waist. Seeing this, many people broke out in cold


    sweat. It would be so pitiful for such an attractive and intelligent little boy to have any ident.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The director was so scared that he immediately came over and check if Easton was hurt. Then he was


    relieved to know that Easton was safe.


    Although Easton avoided it, he was in a very, very bad mood. Ever since he was born, he had rarely


    been so angry. His small face was tense, and he walked step by step towards Dan who threw the knife.


    Melody was very regretful to see him safe and sound. When he came over, she frowned and


    subconsciously hid her nephew behind her.


    "Well, Dan was just joking with you."


    Almost all the staff members could not help but re at her angrily after hearing the words. It was so


    unashamed of her to say like that. They felt guilty for that.


    The little man looked at her, with no emotion in his big dark eyes, and his voice was very soft, "Oh?


    Joking with me?"


    "Yes, yes."


    Melody could only say that. For some reason, she felt a little nervous and guilty. When she regained


    her senses, she felt like she was totally insane.


    He''s just a little kid. There is no need to worry about it, let alone nothing happened to him.


    Who was Easton? He was the only grandson of the Xaviers. From birth until this moment, he was


    spoiled by the whole family and was born with an unruly nature.


    Derek never suppresses his son''s natural instinct, but only held it back for a little when he asionally


    crossed the line.


    As the little overlord of the Xaviers, he did not take Melody and her nephew seriously at all. The verbal


    Easton squinted and suddenly smiled, "Since it''s a joke, please excuse me, auntie. I have something to


    whisper to your nephew."


    The staff was a little confused and did not know what the little boy was going to do, but somehow,


    everyone felt something was wrong.


    Melody frowned and naturally, she wouldn''t agree, "If you have anything to say, just say it openly."


    "Since it''s a whisper, of course, I should say it quietly. What''s the matter? Your nephew just threw a


    knife at me as if nothing big. Now I just want to talk to him, can''t I?"


    Melody:"..."


    After Dan threw the knife, Easton, as the victim, didn''t react much. Instead, Dan himself suddenly


    screamed in shock.


    "Go, go away! I don''t want to talk to you."


    Easton smiled, "Auntie, still won''t let me go?"


    Melody still didn''t say anything. Her face was very disturbed.


    The anger in the little guy''s mind had reached its limit, and he lost his patience immediately. The smile


    on his face disappeared, and he suddenly raised his foot and stepped on Melody''s foot.


    It was summer now, and Melody was wearing high heels with bare toes. Easton used all his strength to


    step on them, and it must be very unbearable.


    Melody''s face turned white from the pain. She screamed and immediately abandoned her protection of


    her nephew. Easton seized the opportunity and yanked Dan out.


    He pped Dan hard, then twisted his right wrist and dislocated it. After taking two steps back, he


    turned around and kicked Dan roughly, mming him against the tarpaulin behind.


    It was not finished yet. The fruit knife appeared in Easton''s hand. He squinted and threw the knife at


    Dan without hesitation.


    Poof, the tip of the knife urately pierced through Dan''s shirt on the shoulder and nailed on the shed


    cloth.


    The little guy had been training these skills like rear sidekicks and throwing darts since he entered the


    military camp for the first time. After two or three years, it was far more than enough for a little kid.


    Of course, this was his opinion, but for the rest of the people around him, it was simply shocking, even


    astonishing.


    Melody was the first toe back to her senses. She screamed uneptably and rushed to her


    nephew, "Dan, are you okay? Don''t scare me."


    She shouted incessantly like a mad woman.


    Dan looked really miserable now. His white face became red, swollen, and bloodshot on both sides.


    The little boy''s skin was tender, and Easton also hit hard, so his face became like this.


    This is on the surface. Inside the body, except for the stomach pain, it is the wrist that got hurt.


    The pain of wrist dislocation was unbearable to an adult, not to mention a child. Dan cried painfully and


    kept screaming for help.


    The whole shed was in a state of chaos, and they called the ambnce in a rush, although everyone


    was very dissatisfied with Dan''s previous actions.


    He was only a child of five or six years old, and as people at the adult age, everyone was quite tolerant


    to him. What''s more, he was now so miserable, so it was really unbearable to watch this.


    The director looked at Easton with vexation. He sighed and couldn''t help but say, "You, how can you..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, the little guy red at him, "Shut up. He dared to throw a knife at


    me. This would give him a small lesson. Hmph."


    When Melody heard this, she turned around and looked at him fiercely. Her eyes were red, and she


    looked as if she wanted to eat him alive. Watching this, the staff felt a little creepy, but Easton was not


    afraid at all.


    "What are you staring at? I''m warning you, take care of your nephew. If he dares to do it again, it won''t


    be as simple as dislocating his joint. I''ll just cripple both of his hands."


    Although he was young and his voice was soft, he was almost as powerful as an adult in his rage.


    Hiss...


    The people around looked at each other in disbelief. They simply admired Easton, the little boy. They


    had never seen an arrogant boy like this.

 Chapter 351

    Chapter 351


    Melody was so provoked by Easton''s attitude that the tense string in her mind snapped and her eyes


    turned red. She rushed over with her teeth gnashed.


    "Little beast, who are you threatening? I must teach you a lesson today."


    Her action was so sudden that no one had time to respond, and no one expected that she would really


    bully a child, so they just watched as she ran up to Easton.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The little guy looked at the woman in front of him. His big eyes narrowed, and he didn''t do anything.


    Instead, he sneered at her with disdain.


    Melody raised her hand fiercely, and everyone was terrified when they saw that her beautifully


    manicured nails were about to touch Easton''s tiny tender face.


    At this moment, there was a crack, followed by a scream. Everyone looked closely and found that


    Melody''s hand was being held in a twisted shape and was attached to her back.


    Several bodyguards, who had been hiding in the crowd to protect Easton, took action. There were five


    bodyguards in total. Four of them dispersed into four corners to stand beside Easton.


    The other one, with a cold face, twisted Melody''s wrist with one hand and stopped her. This woman,


    who dared to do something to their Little Young Master, was really daring.


    The crowd was in an uproar and looked at Easton in astonishment.


    It was only then that they knew that this beautiful little boy had been protected by someone all the time.


    Tsk tsk, he was really a young master of some family. How imposing it is!


    "Let go of me. It hurts so much. Let go..."


    Melody''s face was pale and she screamed in pain. It really hurt. She had a feeling that her wrist must


    be broken. This possibility made her copse.


    The director was in a state of shock and rattled, and he felt a mess. It was a small matter today


    originally, but now it''s all like this.


    Dan and Melody were both actors on the set. Dan was just a child, but Melody was different, and she


    was the leading actress. If something happened, it would involve thepany and the investors.


    The director looked at the bodyguards around Easton and went forward biting the bullet, "Well, little


    boy..."


    Easton nced at him and pursed his lips, "What?"


    "Well, Melody, she''s the leading actress of our crew. There''s can''t be any problem. Otherwise..."


    He stammered helplessly. Facing the fierce eyes of several bodyguards, he felt a lot of pressure, but he


    still needed to say something.


    Although Easton was arrogant, he was not domineering. He was reasonable anyhow. He would just


    look for who provoked him and not affect irrelevant people.


    He turned his big eyes and pointed at Melody, "Is she important?"


    "Um... Well, how can I put it? She''s our leading actress. We can''t run without her." the director said


    gingerly.


    Easton was still young, and how did he know so much about the film and television industry? One of


    the bodyguards looked at his Little Young Master and whispered a warning,


    "Young Master, the leading actress can be reced."


    Huh?


    "Can she be reced?" Easton pointed at Melody and asked the director.


    The director was stunned and his mouth twitched, "Well, she can be reced, but..."


    Before he could finish, the little guy was relieved and nodded, "That''s good. Then, rece her. I don''t


    like this old woman."


    The director: "..."


    The staff: "..."


    Then, in front of everyone, Easton called his father, Derek. Today''s matter was beyond what the little


    guy could handle, so he needed his father''s help.


    "Dad, today I..."


    He told his father the whole story, and Derek''s face darkened. He didn''t expect that someone would


    dare to throw a knife at his son. This was unbearable, "Give that director the phone."


    Easton handed the phone to the director, who picked it up uncertainly, especially when he saw the


    words "devil father" on the screen. The corner of his mouth twitched and he picked it up.


    Then, people saw that the usually irascible director''s face changed from time to time, and finally, they


    saw his face turned into a chrysanthemum because of his smile, and he spoke softly, bowing and


    scraping.


    After a while, the call ended. The director''s heart was pounding and he wiped the sweat off his head.


    He never expected that the person who had just spoken to him would be that one.


    Thinking of this, his eyes immediately changed when he looked at the little guy. Thinking of the little


    guy''s honorable status and especially the scene when he was almost stabbed by a knife, his face


    turned pale with fear.


    When he looked at Melody, his eyes were as sharp as a knife. He returned the phone respectfully,


    "Little Mr. Xavier, I''m really sorry to let you startled today."


    The rest of people were stunned to see this.


    Easton pursed his lips and didn''t want to talk to him. Looking at Melody, who was sweating in pain, he


    waved his hand. The bodyguard immediately released her hand and kicked her to the side.


    At this time, Nora, who found her son missing, came over. Easton''s eyes lit up. His overbearing


    expression disappeared in an instant and returned to a cute and pure beautiful little boy.


    "Mom..." He rushed over with a smile.


    Nora breathed a sigh of relief, but could not bear to me him. She hugged him in her arms and said,


    "You scared me to death. I thought you were lost. Next time you go out, you have to tell mom, okay?"


    "Ok, mom." The little guy was extremely obedient.


    Seeing this scene, the others in the shed looked straight.


    But soon, Nora left with her son in her arms. Her eyes were barely focused on anything else and she


    waspletely unaware of what her son had just done.


    Those bodyguards naturally followed.


    The director who only knew the inside information looked at Nora''s back in shock. What did Little Mr.


    Xavier just call? Mom? Did he hear right?


    But everyone knew that although Mr. Xavier had a son, his wife had passed away for many years.


    The director couldn''t figure it out at all, so he just gave up thinking. It had nothing to do with him


    anyway. All he had to do was to make the teley well. When he thought about filming, he thought of


    what Mr. Xavier had told him on the phone just now, and he couldn''t help but rejoice.


    Melody had no idea what was going on. She had no idea about Easton''s identity. All she knew was that


    the little beast not only hurt her nephew but also her. She could not bear it.


    Thinking of this, Melody stood up in pain and prepared to chase after them. Just now, she heard that


    the mother of the little beast hade. It was better for the big one toe. She had to have a good


    talk with her.


    But before she could leave the shed, she was stopped by the director. Melody was so angry. She was


    very dissatisfied with the director''s behavior and her face was gloomy.


    "Director, what have you done? It is me who am the actoress in your crew. I''m the leading actress. You


    don''t help me but help that little bastard. What do you mean?"

 Chapter 352

    Chapter 352


    "Get out of the way. His parents are here, aren''t they? I have to..."


    If it had been before, the director might not have been able to do anything about her, but now it was


    different. The director sneered.


    "What do you have to do? I warn you. If you want to bring trouble, get out of here. Don''t make trouble in


    my ce."


    Melody was in a daze, looked at him in disbelief, and almost went mad from anger, "Okay. Okay. Heh,


    let me tell you, I won''t star in this TV show anymore. I''ll see what you can do."


    The director was still expressionless, "I forgot to tell you that whether you want to star in it or not, you


    won''t be the heroine of this show."


    "... What do you mean?" She was startled.


    "I meant that literally. You and your nephew don''t need toe to the crew anymore. Ask your boss if


    you have any questions." The director waved his hand impatiently, not even bothering to look at her.


    Although Melody had a good reputation, she couldn''t have any further development. She had offended


    the Little Young Master of the Xaviers, so it was impossible for her to continue her career in this


    industry.


    The next day.


    As soon as Nora entered thepany, she noticed that there was something wrong with the way


    people looked at her. In addition, there were also many people pointing at her and whispering about


    her.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "So she''s the one who was discussed on the Inte. I really don''t know how she got into the Xavier


    Group."


    "Oh, it counts nothing of entering thepany. I heard that this Nora is very close to our Mr. Xavier.


    Many people in ourpany know that. You are new here, so you haven''t heard about it yet."


    "Wow, she is capable. And she''s indeed pretty. No wonder the boss likes her."


    "Oh, what''s the use of being pretty? She only has the attractive semnce. Look, it has been exposed


    that she actually giarized other''s work in such a bigpetition, which is really disgraceful."


    "That''s right. Not only is she embarrassed this time, but thepetition has a bad reputation abroad


    because there are foreign judges."


    They didn''t talk so loudly, and Nora didn''t hear them all. But she was sure they were talking about her,


    and they didn''t say any words of praise. She only heard some sensitive words likepetition and


    giarism ocassionally.


    She looked flustered, with her hands clenching and her face pale. An inexplicable sense of panic was


    spreading in her heart, and she immediately ran towards the Design Department.


    At this moment, all the employees of the Design Department were gathered in front of aputer and


    looked at it. When they saw her, they immediately stopped talking and stared at her with malice.


    Nora took a deep breath and strode into her office, turning on herputer. After she opened the


    section had the same news.


    She looked at the name of thepetition that she was familiar with on the pages. She knew that


    today was the day when the rankings were dered. Moreover, she had heard the words along the


    way, so she had preliminary spection in her heart.


    After she opened the official website of thepetition, the news that dominated the first ce was a


    letter of criticism. The big word "giarism" behind her name deeply hurt her eyes.


    There was a loud boom in her brain as if something had exploded. She was nk, staring nkly at


    the words on it.


    giarism? No, how could she giarize?


    Nora''s brain was in a daze, and her heart was almost suffocating. She bit her lip fiercely. The sharp


    pain made her sober a little. Her wrist trembled slightly, and she held the mouse tightly and slid it down


    little by little.


    The rankings had been dered, but she wasn''t on the list. What she was given was an article


    criticizing her for giarizing, saying that the manuscript she submitted was exactly the same as that of


    another contestant.


    The judges referred to the time when two manuscripts were submitted, and the other contestant


    handed in the manuscript almost ten days earlier than Nora, so they decided that Nora was the


    copycat.


    And the person she copied was actually the first winner. Nora looked at the name of the person on it.


    Aubrey?


    She shook her head subconsciously. She did not know this person at all and had never heard of this


    name.


    Of course, one of the two identical manuscripts was giaristic. No one else knew about it, but Nora


    was very sure that the person who giarized was Aubrey but not her.


    But how did Aubrey get Nora''s manuscript? And how could Aubrey hand it in so many days ahead of


    Nora?


    Nora''s mind was in a mess. It seemed that something had shed by, but before she could catch it, her


    mind was attracted by thements below.


    This incident caused quite a stir and impact, and thements below actually exceeded a million in


    just one night.


    Everyment was an insult to Nora, the "giarist''''. There were all kinds of words including civilized


    ones and unpleasant ones. There were thousands of mouths. How could Nora fight against them?


    Her eyes were misty, and her heart ached heavily. She felt very bitter. Why? Why did things turn out


    like this?


    Her tears flowed down her face in a sh. Nora knew that her dream of design would be turned into


    bubbles at this moment with the explosion of this matter.


    At this moment, the phone rang.


    She didn''t look at the caller ID and picked it up without saying a word.


    "Nora..."


    A familiar voice came from the other end of the phone. There was a buzzing in her ear. She opened her


    mouth and wanted to say something, but her throat seemed to be stuck by something and she could


    not say anything.


    The grievance that she had never had before exploded in her heart, and the tears flowed even more


    violently.


    Derek didn''t hear her voice, but he could still hear her messy breathing. His brows immediately


    furrowed, "Are you crying?"


    Nora took a deep breath, "No." Her hoarse voice made her words be not convincing at all.


    Derek''s face darkened and he looked at the screen in front of him. It was also the official website of the


    "Nora, I asked the driver to pick you up. The car is parked downstairs. Youe here. Our son is also


    waiting for you at home."


    He didn''t say anything rted to these things online. Nora listened to his gentle and soothing words.


    For the first time, she didn''t feel so ufortable about going to the Xaviers.


    Especially thest sentence that their son was waiting for her at home made her heart gradually warm


    up and her mood calm down.


    In her heart, her son was the only blood rtive in the world as for today''s Nora who had lost her


    memory. She hung up the phone, tidied herself up, and walked out expressionless.


    She really couldn''t stay at the Xavier Group currently. The omnipresent malice would suffocate her if


    she stayed there one more second.


    The car slowly drove into the courtyard of the Xaviers. When she got out of the car, Easton, a little kid,


    rushed over like a shell.


    "Mom."


    She squatted down and hugged her son''s creamy little body tightly. She was overwhelmed by the


    emotions that she had suppressed again and her tears shed.


    "Mom?"


    Easton heard Nora crying. Although she didn''t make a sound, he still felt it. He panicked and didn''t


    know what to do.


    Nora breathed out slowly, wiped away her tears, and released her hand, smiling, "I am fine."

 Chapter 353

    Chapter 353


    Behind her, Derek saw her sad face and felt heartbroken. He strode forward and pulled Nora up into his


    arms.


    Nora stiffened and subconsciously tried to struggle. Derek held her tighter, "Don''t move."


    The two of them hugged each other so intimately for the first time since they reunioned. Derek patted


    her gently on the back, "Live here in the next few days. You don''t need to go to thepany for the


    time being. Just take a vacation and spend more time with our son at home."


    "Don''t worry about the results. With me around, I won''t let you suffer like this."


    "It won''t take long. I''ll give you a satisfactory result."


    His soft voice echoed in Nora''s ears, and her stiff body gradually rxed.


    She could not deny that at this moment, this man gave her an indescribable sense of security, and all


    her negative emotions just now dissipated.


    This sense of security was too tempting, coupled with Derek''s strong manner, so Nora could not refuse,


    and she did not want to refuse at this moment.


    Easton looked up at the two of them, rolled his eyes, and pursed his mouth, wanting to speak, but


    Derek seemed to have felt something. With a look in his eyes, Easton immediately did not dare to


    speak.


    In the study.


    Now, Norapletely calmed down. She knew that the most important thing now was not immersed in


    her sadness, but to find a way to solve this problem.


    "In the middle of that long time from thepletion in the hospital to the submission of it, the possibility


    of theft is too high. Do you have any suspicions in your heart?" Derek asked.


    Suspect?


    The first one that came to Nora''s mind was Sheldon. She shook her head, trying to get the idea out of


    her mind.


    "Why? Who did you think of?"


    She hesitated for a moment, thinking that there was no need to keep secret, and then said that


    Sheldon had asked her to design the manuscript as a reference sample for the Design Department of


    the Jones Group.


    This was not the first time Sheldon had made such a request since she joined the Jones Group for a


    year or two, so Nora did not take it to heart.


    Derek was not surprised by this answer and said bluntly, "In this case of giarism, Sheldon is


    obviously an important breakthrough."


    Nora frowned and subconsciously defended Sheldon.


    Derek was very upset, but did not show it, "Do you know who Aubrey is?"


    She pursed her lips and shook her head. She looked serious. Obviously, she didn''t like the woman who


    copied her design and framed her.


    "Aubrey is a designer. This is her information and some of her works. You can tell by reading them."


    Derek handed her a document that he had already investigated.


    Nora took it and read it page by page. Her face changed when she saw some of Aubrey''s previous


    works, especially her prize-winning works.


    "No, this design? And this one..."


    She was stunned and speechless as she stared at theposition of several works in the prize area.


    ording to this document, there were three of her winning works.


    But the point was, all three award-winningpositions were clearly her designs.


    All three of them, none of them was an exception. She was speechless for a moment when she found


    out such a terrible fact.


    Derek did not expect that this Aubrey was actually an oldg, lifting from Nora over and over again, as


    the cornerstone of her road to fame, this woman deserved to be die.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Of course, not only her, but Sheldon, neither of them could run away.


    Nora was not very tough, but she was not a fool. She put so much effort into every design of her own,


    and she remembered them very clearly.


    These three prize-winning works, no, four, plus this one, onemon thing was that they were all


    samples that Sheldon asked her to design for the same reason.


    At this point, even if she was stupid, she couldn''t help but suspect Sheldon.


    Nora''s face changed. If the truth was really what she thought, then why? Why would Sheldon betrayed


    her works, and why to this woman named Aubrey?


    As if aware of her doubts, Derek took out another file bag and handed it to her, "This is something I


    found out. You should understand it after you read it."


    Nora was eager to know the truth and opened it without any hesitation. The file bag was full of photos,


    thick stacks.


    There were a man and a woman in each picture, the same two people, Sheldon and Aubrey.


    When Nora saw these photos, she felt terrible. She flipped through them one by one with her fingers


    trembling. They were all intimate photos of them two.


    There were hugging, shopping, kissing, and even a variety of private photos on the bed at home.


    She stared nkly at Derek, "These are..."


    "They have been together for three years. Aubrey was abroad most of the time and rarely came back.


    Sheldon was with her every time he went abroad."


    "There were no pictures at the early stage. These are recent."


    In other words, Sheldon had more than one romantic rtionship at a time, being together with Nora at


    home, and with this Aubrey abroad.


    Looking at the intimate behavior of the two in the photo, she couldn''t help but think of herself again. In


    stark contrast, Sheldon and Aubrey were obviously more like a loving couple.


    Because she and Sheldon had been together for five years, but they spent very little time together.


    Even if they were together, the two of them were more like friends, only hugging and holding hands.


    Five years was neither too long nor too short. Nora couldn''tbine the man in the picture with the


    gentle person in her mind.


    She clutched the photo in her hand so tightly that she couldn''t help but feel angry at Sheldon for


    proposing to her and giving her gifts when he returned home.


    It was not until this moment that Nora realized that she might never really know Sheldon.


    "I want to go out." Her voice was calm.


    Derek knew where she wanted to go. He narrowed his eyes unhappily. But he knew that Nora would


    not listen to him, so he could only agree. Anyway, with his men secretly following her, she would not get


    hurt.


    He asked his driver to send Nora where she wanted to go, and of course, the driver had to wait and


    pick her up. Nora didn''t refuse, and she didn''t have the energy to worry about these details right now.


    As soon as she got in the car, she called Sheldon to meet him.


    Sheldon''s injuries were almost healed. He had just been discharged from the hospital yesterday, and it


    had been so many days since he proposed to Norast time. During this time, she didn''t call him once,


    which made Sheldon very angry.

 Chapter 354

    Chapter 354


    Sheldon was surprised to answer her call. He looked unpleasant, but he spoke gently. It was his habit


    over the past five years.


    Sheldon was injured and focused his attention on the person who beat him. So he didn''t know about


    the affair of giarism, which was exposed on the Inte.


    Nora got out of the car and walked into the coffee shop. She was still angry when she saw Sheldon,


    who had arrived early.


    But...


    "Nora, I''m here. It is a new shop and their desserts are delicious. I ordered some for you. Try it."


    Sheldon thought that Nora asked him out for the answer of his proposal more than ten days ago.


    It was a make-or-break moment. He had to be gentle and considerate. He looked at Nora tenderly. If


    she didn''t know him, she would think that he loved her so much.


    Nora looked at his behavior and the familiar expression for five years. She was in a daze and was not


    angry anymore. She just felt incredible.


    Even though she was thinking of many things, she was shocked by his expression.


    How could he trick her for years and curried favor with another woman with her designs? How could he


    face her when he ruined her reputation?


    Was she too blind before? Or was Sheldon too good at acting?


    Neither. The most important reason was about herself.


    She lost her memory when she was injured and she was saved by the Joneses. They epted her


    and gave her the surname Jones as well. So she was grateful to them and had to conceal her own


    thoughts.


    Nora took a deep breath and suppressed all sorts of thoughts. She sat down opposite Sheldon and


    looked at him without any expression.


    "Nora, what''s wrong?"


    Sheldon naturally didn''t know her thoughts and said: "Did I scare you when I proposed in the square


    the happiest couple after we get married."


    As he spoke, he looked at her affectionately.


    Nora didn''t know what to say.


    If he didn''t mention it, Nora would have forgotten it.


    She didn''t want to listen to the hypocrite. So she said directly, "I''m in trouble."


    Huh?


    Sheldon was stunned and a little unresponsive.


    Nora looked at him and said slowly, "I''m in trouble. A big trouble."


    He recovered and chuckled, "Nora, it doesn''t matter. You are my fianc¨¦e, the future hostess of the


    Joneses. Don''t worry. I will help you."


    Sheldon didn''t take it seriously. He knew her well. Even if she took the initiative to cause some trouble,


    she would not cause any big trouble.


    What was more, she wouldn''t take the initiative to cause trouble.


    Nora nodded and said casually, "I''m relieved to hear that. I took part in a designpetition. The


    ranking was announced and I failed. But I was wrongly used of giarism. I don''t know what to do.


    Can you help me?"


    "What? Don''t worry, Nora. I''ll help you." Sheldon promised without hesitation.


    She took out a document from her bag expressionlessly and said, "It''s fine. It is the relevant


    information, including the culprit who giarized me. See if it is useful for you."


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    The first page of the document was Aubrey''s information, which was put on purpose by Nora.


    Sheldon didn''t expect her to have everything ready. He had to look through it, so he took it and opened


    it casually.


    In his opinion, Nora couldn''t take part in the bigpetitions in the small design circle. And it was easy


    for him the intervene in a smallpetition.


    He had intended to nce at it perfunctorily. But when he opened it, he almost wasn''t cool at first


    nce.


    Aubrey...


    He was shocked to see the name. He stopped looking at the document and suddenly looked up at


    Nora, who looked calm.


    Nora lowered her eyes and slowly stirred the coffee. She picked it up and took a sip. It seemed that she


    had no abnormal reaction.


    Aubrey was his secret mistress. He never thought that he would talk about her with Nora. He always


    looked down on Nora.


    But it''s different now. He had not married Nora and everything was uncertain. It was not good to talk


    about Aubrey.


    He looked at Nora carefully. And then he took a deep breath and scanned the document. He was


    serious now.


    The more he read, the more surprised he was.


    He finally remembered that Aubrey asked him to coax Nora into designing a draft for thepetition


    when he was abroad. And of course, Aubrey submitted the design in her name.


    Sheldon forgot about it. He never expected that it would go wrong. After all, it was not his first time to


    do so. But he didn''t expect that Nora would participate in thispetition in her own name.


    "Why didn''t you tell me when you participated in thepetition?" He was a little irritated and question


    her subconsciously.


    Sheldon knew that it was not a smallpetition. On the contrary, it was very authoritative. Whether


    the giarism was serious depended on thepetition.


    However, it was a serious problem in thispetition.


    He frowned and thought it was Nora''s mistake. She shouldn''t submit the design without telling him.


    What''s more, she had given him the design. She should design another one if she wanted to


    participate in thepetition.


    Nora pursed her lips and realized what Sheldon was like. He refreshed his impression in her mind


    again and again.


    How could he question her? Did he mean that it was her mistake to take part in thepetition?


    "What''s the matter? Couldn''t I take part in thepetition?"


    Sheldon choked and he furrowed up his eyebrows more deeply.


    Nora continued to say as if she hadn''t seen him, "Sheldon, do you know Aubrey?"


    "How could I know her? Of course not," Sheldon denied immediately.


    "Well, I thought she was a designer or employee of the Jones Group. After all, I only gave you a copy. I


    don''t know her. And I really don''t know how she got my design."

 Chapter 355

    Chapter 355


    Nora''s casual words scared Sheldon out of his wit.


    "Sheldon, you said that you would help me. It was Aubrey who giarized my design. Now it''s all over


    the Inte. She is ruining me. You will help me, right?" Nora looked at him.


    The corners of his lips moved. He really didn''t know what to say. It would be wrong no matter how he


    chose to answer.


    Nora looked at him. She was surprised by her performance just now. She had nned to get straight to


    the point after meeting him.


    But the moment she sat down, she suddenly changed her mind and wanted to see how Sheldon would


    handle it.


    This was the first time in her memory that she had ever gotten along with someone while being slightly


    calcting. She had never expected that Sheldon would be her first target.


    "Well, Nora, I''ve read the material. ording to my conjecture, it''s unlikely that we can turn the


    tables..."


    Sheldon thought about it in his heart and said, "As you said, this matter has spread. The public is prone


    to believe what they see first, so it is basically impossible to change that situation."


    "Nora, to put it bluntly, designing is just a random job. Don''t worry. As long as you''re married to me,


    you''re the youngdy of the Joneses. You can have whatever you want. Why care about a stupid


    designpetition?"


    Nora looked at him in a daze,pletely unaware that he would say that, especially thest sentence.


    She remembered that when she first came into the field of design, Sheldon rmended her. At that


    time, because of amnesia, she didn''t even know her name, let alone what she could do.


    During that period of time, she lived a life of fear almost every day.


    Ever since she discovered her talent and interest in design, the excitement was almost indescribable.


    From that moment on, at least she knew that she was no longer a useless person.


    The Joneses saved her life, and she was finally able to repay some of what she could.


    She didn''t tell anyone about these things, but she told Sheldon about her dream of fashion design.


    What did Sheldon do at that time?


    Right, at that time, he looked at herself gently and said, as long as she wanted to do it, she should do it


    boldly and confidently, and he would fully support her dream.


    But now?


    He actually told her not to care about reputation, that design was nothing but a job, that she should


    better wait to get married and stay at home every day as a youngdy?


    Nora thought it was incredible how a person could suddenly change so much. Sure enough, he must


    have acted so well in front of her before.


    She sighed deeply in her heart and suddenly didn''t want to pretend anymore. There was no meaning at


    all.


    "Sheldon, we''ve known each other for five years. It''s not long or short. You saved me back then, for


    which I''m very grateful. I don''t want to use this to get into the Joneses or rely on you."


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "If you have someone you like, you can tell me."


    Yes, Nora didn''t understand why Sheldon chose to sit on the fence. In her opinion, she had no right to


    control who Sheldon wanted to like.


    From the photos Derek gave her, she had no doubt that Sheldon liked this Aubrey. In that case, she


    hoped that he could be frank with her.


    He was clearly in love with another woman, but he still coaxed her, being gentle and considerate to her,


    and even proposed to her. Nora could not understand why Sheldon did so.


    How did she know that Sheldon only hoped to gain benefits from Sean through her?


    Sheldon was still racking his brains trying to figure out how to get Nora to give up trying to save her


    reputation for thepetition. Her sudden words stunned him.


    What?


    "Nora, what are you talking about? Why can''t I understand? Who else can I like besides you?" Sheldon


    said so, seemingly angry.


    Nora looked at him and sighed, "Like me? If you really like me, you won''t give my design to Aubrey and


    let her take my work to thepetition."


    She said it lightly, but when Sheldon heard the words, they were as loud as the sound of an


    earthquake, and his head was about to explode.


    "Nora, do you even hear yourself? I, how could I... I don''t even know this Aubrey."


    He was incoherent and his eyes twinkled. For the first time, he stuttered in front of Nora and finally


    turned to look at her all of a sudden, "Nora, did someone say something to you?"


    "No matter what anyone says to you, don''t believe it. I swear, you''ve always been the only one in my


    heart. There''s no other woman besides you."


    "I don''t know this Aubrey at all. You have to believe me. We''ve been together for so many years. When


    have I ever lied to you?"


    She pursed her lips and was too embarrassed to tell him that almost every word he said was lying to


    her and that he was lying to her in the face, treating her like a fool.


    After all, it was not difficult to find the information of Aubrey''s prize-winning works. Every work was


    handed to Sheldon by her own hands, but they appeared in Aubrey''s prize-winning works. Wasn''t that


    obvious enough?


    Even without the information that Derek had found for her, through these works, even if she was stupid,


    she would know, but Sheldon was still fooling her.


    She didn''t know whether she should be angry or not, as if there was no need for it.


    "Sheldon, I know you''ve known Aubrey for years. I don''t mind if you like her, but what I care about is


    that you have given the design which I value the most and have put a lot of effort in to her, so she could


    win the glory in thepetition.


    She stood up and said, "I hope you can contact Miss Brown. Please give her a message for me. If she


    is willing to rify it in person, I will not pursue this matter."


    "But if she doesn''t want to, then I''ll have to do it my own way."


    As she spoke, she took the file out of her bag and put it in front of him and left without returning.


    Sheldon waspletely taken aback by her words. For a moment, he did not even realize he should


    stop her. He watched her leave. For a long time, his eyes were on the file in front of him.


    He had a bad feeling in his heart. When he took out the contents of the file and took a look, his face


    turned green.


    Sheldon gripped the photos in his hand so tightly that his fingertips turned white. Before he opened


    them, he thought about what could be inside, but he didn''t expect these photos at all. He felt like he


    was hit head-on.


    He sat in his seat, his face livid and flickering. Thepetition giarism exposed, the words Nora had


    told him, and the photos in his hands caught him off guard.

 Chapter 356

    Chapter 356


    In other words, he had coaxed Nora for so many years. But he almost failed in the most important


    period. He was so angry that he wanted to kill someone.


    He had negative emotions and he med it on Nora. He thought that Nora secretly asked someone to


    take the photos.


    He never expected that she dared to find someone to track and investigate him. She was so hateful.


    But it waste. He had to think about what to do now.


    He couldn''t cover up Aubrey with the photos. But what he told Nora didn''t mean it.


    No matter what, Nora must marry him.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Sheldon thought about it and took his phone to call Aubrey.


    Aubrey was also unhappy now.


    Although she won first ce in the designpetition, she never expected that Nora would participate


    in thepetition with the design without telling Sheldon.


    Aubrey knew how she won first ce. It was a hot topic now and she naturally felt guilty.


    She only hoped that Nora would bear it quietly. And it would be best if it was solved as soon as


    possible. She was restless at home every day.


    When she saw Sheldon''s call, she immediately find how to react. Without waiting for him to speak, she


    directly rebuke him.


    "Sheldon, what the hell is going on?"


    "What did you promise mest time? Why did Nora participate in thispetition? Why didn''t you tell


    me? What do you mean?"


    Sheldon was also annoyed. He helped Aubrey win so many awards. It was unreasonable of her to


    rebuke him when it went wrong. And she seemed to be so righteous.


    He was angry and said: "Aubrey, what do you mean? You just won first ce and you are so ungrateful


    now. How could I know that Nora participated in thepetition?"


    "If you have the ability, you needn''t giarize her design. And nothing would happen. How could you


    yell at me?"


    Aubrey was furious. Although what she did was not good, she was also a designer and wanted to be


    somebody in the design circle.


    But it seemed different when Sheldon said it.


    "Sheldon, you bastard. Why didn''t you say it when you pursued me and slept with me? Now you talk


    about my ability. It''s ridiculous."


    "Listen, no matter what you do, deal with her as you promised. You''d better solve it as soon as


    possible." Aubrey yelled.


    Sheldon closed his eyes and his face turned pale. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. If


    Aubrey was in front of him, he would not hesitate to p her.


    He couldn''t fulfill Aubrey''s request. Nora was obviously much more valuable than Aubrey.


    The most important thing now was to immediately fix his impression. So the only way was to help Nora


    solve the affair of giarism.


    Obviously, the root of the problem was Aubrey.


    "Aubrey, I didn''t call you to argue with you. It''s influential. Nora is gathering evidence to take action


    now."


    "So, you''d better rify it in public and return the first prize to Nora."


    "Don''t worry. I will ask the most professional team to write a speech for you and they will definitely


    minimize the impact on you."


    Aubrey was in a daze and almostughed out of anger, "Wait, do you want me to rify and tell every


    one that I giarized Nora? Do you mean it?"


    "Yes."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Aubrey burst, "Sheldon. Are you mad? Why should I make such a


    rification?"


    "I am the champion now, and Nora is the giarist. The critical letter of the judging association was


    posted on the official website. And I am supported by the public."


    "In this case, you ask me to take the initiative to rify? Fuck off!"


    Aubrey roared angrily and said whatever she thought of: "By the way, I''m warning you, Sheldon. I don''t


    know what''s wrong with you. You are helping Nora now."


    "But you''d better remember that you are involved in it as well. So the only thing you can do is to let her


    make a fool of herself."


    Sheldon was so angry that he gritted his teeth, "How dare you threaten me?"


    "Oh, so what? You are on my side. Stop dreaming about being out of it." Aubrey was furious.


    Sheldon clenched his fists and sneered, "Aubrey, you''re overestimating yourself. I am the young


    master of the Joneses. How would I be threatened by you? It''s ridiculous."


    Aubrey was not frightened at all. Instead, she curled her lips and smiled, "Sheldon, you are pretending.


    Only Nora will believe you. I don''t believe you."


    "I know who you are. The Joneses is powerful but it has nothing to do with you. I know why you have to


    marry her. You told me before, hehe..."


    "If you dare to do anything to me, I''ll damage you as well. You are in charge of the clothing part in the


    Jones Group. If we are exposed, I can guarantee that your powerful uncle will fire you."


    "And although you are still the young master of the Joneses, you will have no power."


    Aubrey calmed down. She sat gracefully on the sofa with her long legs crossed. She did not care about


    Sheldon''s threat at all. Her eyes were full of disdain.


    At this moment, the door of the bathroom was opened. A tall and strong middle-aged man with blond


    hair and blue eyes walked out in a bathrobe.


    Aubrey was still in the mood to seduce him. She threw away the phone and jumped up to hold the man


    with her legs on his waist.


    The man obviously heard her roar and asked her with a look in his eyes. Naturally, Aubrey didn''t


    answer. She smirked and kissed him with her red lips. And they entered the room impatiently.


    Sheldon was furious, but he could do nothing. Aubrey was hateful, but what she said was true.


    He hung up the phone. He was not gentle as usual but was insane and ferocious.

 Chapter 357

    Chapter 357


    The news of giarism was still brewing. After all, it was an internationalpetition with a strong


    influence.


    There were alsoints from the senior managers of the Xavier Group.


    After all, the Xavier Group''s Design Department had a first-ss reputation and ability, but now, in


    everyone''s eyes, it could be said that a little leak would sink a great ship.


    Even so, the most important thing was that if the leak appeared, they just needed to get it repaired, but


    Derek not only refused to repair it but tried to protect Nora.


    In this way, coupled with the affair between him and Nora a period of time ago, those high-ranking


    staff''s impression of Nora reached an extremely bad level.


    Since Derek took over the Xavier Group, every single decision he made was wise, but this was the first


    time that he gambled with the Xavier Group actually for a woman with a bad reputation.


    No one would agree with him.


    Nora did not know about this, and Derek would not let her know.


    He could not suppress the public''s voice for the time being, but he could control his ownpany.


    Derek dealt with a few staff that mored the loudest, no matter they were on high or department


    managers.


    In this way, the rumors within thepany were finally suppressed, although they were unwilling, but


    so what?


    In the Xavier Group, if one employee wanted to keep his job, then he should always keep his mouth


    shut. Otherwise, he would be fired. There were a lot of talents waiting for these stupid people to give up


    their jobs. Humph.


    In the president''s office.


    "Has the F Country branch seeded in doing their job?" Derek asked.


    Damian nodded, "Everything is settled. After we pushed thepetition judges for deleting the


    announcement about giarism from the official website, it has been withdrawn and reced with


    another one that said the results needed to be re-eximed, but..."


    "But?" Derek nced at his assistant.


    Damian coughed softly, "The Chinese jury has no problem with it, but the F Country''s jury doesn''t


    agree. They are making a scene recently. Our attitude is too strong, but we can''t provide any evidence,


    so the situation is a little bit tense."


    "Tell them the evidence is on the way, but that new announcement is not allowed to be withdrawn. Plus,


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    I have reviewed the draft drafted by the PR Department. It can send to the public."


    "Got it."


    Derek thought of something and said, "And as for Aubrey, it''s impossible for her to stayfortably in


    F Country."


    Damian blinked and immediately understood what his boss meant. He nodded and made the


    arrangements.


    In this way, the truth that everyone believed had a different vision in a few days. No one expected that


    the announcement that charged Nora with giarism from thepetition official was canceled,


    instead, there was reced by a new one.


    Reexamination meant that the so-called giarism had be uncertain again. Or, who exactly was


    the one that giarized, or there was a new version?


    ording to this trend, the opinions and suggestions of the masses began to change.


    Derek ignored the objections from on high and gambled with the reputation of the Xavier Group. He


    wrote a statement and posted it on the Xavier Group''s official website. It was so infuriating, but no


    employee dared to do anything.


    The statement from the Xavier Group caused quite a few people to be in an uproar, especially other


    The giarism case had reached its climax, and Sheldon and Aubrey were the two most frightened


    people.


    The statement from the Xavier Group made Sheldon recall what Nora said before she left the coffee


    shop that day that she would solve this problem with her own method.


    So, her so-called method was to let the Xavier Group take action?


    Sheldon sneered and was very angry. Once again, he thought that Nora had betrayed him tantly.


    She was unforgivable for her crimes and she did not feel that she was wrong at all.


    Aubrey was about to be crazy. She was not at home. Although she knew Nora''s existence for years,


    she never took this woman seriously.


    She didn''t expect that this woman, whom she had never paid any attention to, would have the Xavier


    Group


    to protect her? How could it be?


    Working in the Xavier Group was like her dream, and every year she would join the Xavier Group''s


    Design Department recruitment.


    But now, that ordinary woman Nora easily got what Aubrey dreamed about, walking smoothly in the


    path that Aubrey was still working hard on. She felt that the entire world was unfair.


    Aubrey, who was immersed in her thoughts, did not notice when there was another person standing


    behind her in her room.


    The next second, Aubrey''s neck hurt, and her eyes went nk. She fainted.


    Nora waspletely unaware of the confusion from the outside world. At the urging of cute Easton,


    her cell phone and othermunication tools were locked in a small box in Easton''s room.


    Nora yed with Easton at home every day, doing homework, watching cartoons, ying games and


    puzzles, and the rtionship between them got closer sharply.


    She didn''t feel bored ying these games with children at all. Instead, she felt extremely satisfied. For


    several days, she almost forgot about the noise outside.


    These few days were the happiest time she had ever had in the past five years.


    That night, after Nora coaxed her son to sleep, she got out of bed and went straight to Derek''s study.


    The happy time was always short. After so many days, she needed to know what was going on. After


    all, she was involved.


    "Come in." Derek knew it was Nora.


    "How''s that going?"


    Nora hesitated and said, "Is it troublesome? You must be very busy managing such a bigpany. If


    you really can''t help it, forget it." She felt embarrassed.


    Derek looked at her, narrowed his eyes, stood up, and walked over step by step. He was very slow, but


    it gave Nora a strong sense of pressure, and her heart immediately thumped.


    She was a little overwhelmed and slowly backed away, "What''s, what''s wrong with you?"


    Derek took Nora into his arms and looked down at the little woman in his arms, "This... Is really


    troublesome."


    Nora''s attention was immediately diverted, and she stopped struggling. She felt sorry, and there was a


    hint of inexplicable bitterness in her heart, "I''m sorry. After all, this is my own business. I''m really sorry


    for causing you so much trouble."


    "Tsk, I haven''t finished yet. What''s the rush?"


    Derek pinched her chin and crouched over her slowly. They were getting closer and closer, and he


    suddenly turned his head and whispered in her ear.

 Chapter 358

    Chapter 358


    "It depends on whose trouble it is. If it''s yours, I''ll still be happy."


    "You..."


    Nora was in a panic. Her face was red, and her heart seemed to be about to jump out of her chest


    uncontrobly. The two of them were so close that she was afraid that Derek would notice her


    heartbeat, so she immediately struggled.


    "You, let me go first."


    Instead of letting go, Derek hugged her even tighter. Just as the two of them had retreated to the side


    of the bed, his lips curled up with a wicked smile and they fell on the soft bed while she was in his


    arms.


    As they fell hard, Nora directly sank deep into the bed. This time, they were even closer to each other


    as if they had merged into one.


    Nora was stiff and her face was as red as if it had been cooked. It was not normal at first sight. Derek


    was very satisfied with it. He would be devastated if she didn''t feel anything.


    He hugged her, his forehead against hers, and they were in an intimate position.


    "Don''t worry, the progress on that matter has been very smooth. The evidence is already avable.


    After the public opinion is guided to our advantage, then it can be released. By then, this matter will be


    solved."


    Every word he said was printed in her mind, but she couldn''t react at once. Her mind was muddled,


    and Derek''s face was so close to hers.


    Even when he spoke just now, whether on purpose or by ident, his lips asionally rubbed against


    the corner of her mouth, which was so exciting that she almost fainted.


    The pleasant smell of Derek was all over her nose, which made her dizzy, and she was almost


    suffocating from holding her breath.


    "You, you get up first, I uh..."


    As she spoke, Derek suddenly sealed her lips with a passionate kiss.


    Nora had been in a daze just now, but now she was even more overwhelmed. In the end, she didn''t


    know what she was doing and just let it happen.


    For five years, many days and nights of yearning, he finally got news about her and found her in the


    end, but Nora lost her memory andpletely forgot him.


    Derek did not know how many times he had fantasized in his mind, pinning Nora down on the bed so


    that he could quench the thirst of years of missing her.


    But he did not dare, for fear of scaring her. If she ran away again, he really did not know what he would


    do, so he could only suppress the lust that almost burst out of his body and get near to her and wrap


    her up little by little.


    To be honest, he was thankful for the giarism, which allowed Nora to stay at his home and under his


    own watch these days.


    Every day when he came home, he could see her, hear her voice, and see her smile, which gave him


    the illusion that they had been married for a long time.


    At this moment, Derek had been suppressing his emotions for too long, causing the fire to go out of


    control, almost setting Nora to fire. She waspletely unable to handle the strangeness, but


    physically there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the enthusiasm.


    It was not until a strange sensation came from her body that she suddenly came back to her senses.


    The corners of her eyes turned red and she immediately pressed Derek''s hand with a cry.


    Derek almost lost his mind and returned to the cage of reason bit by bit. He snorted and frowned, but


    he still hugged Nora tightly. His heart was full of regret and unhappiness.


    At the same time, he was thinking that in a situation like this next time, the two of them should drink


    first.


    Nora had no idea what he was up to, but right now she was embarrassed to the greatest extent. What


    she didn''t realize was...


    That the clothes and pajamas on her body were gone, not only that, the buttons of her underwear were


    unbuttoned behind her, the straps were half off, and the beauty of her upper body was almost revealed.


    She was going crazy. Seeing that Derek was still hugging her, she couldn''t help but punch him in anger,


    "Let me go."


    Derek didn''t let go, not only that, but also hugged her, rubbed her and pinched her here and there, and


    not only that, before Nora got angry, he announced proudly.


    "Nora, you like me." Yes, it''s a statement and a statement of affirmation.


    With a light sentence, the anger that had umted in Nora''s heart was instantly relieved. She froze


    and immediately denied it loudly.


    "Nonsense, who likes you? It''s you... Let go of me." She struggled desperately.


    Derek knew that it was not gonna happen tonight, and it was not wise to push it too far, so he had to let


    go of his hands regretfully. Nora quickly put on the pajamas on the side, never wearing clothes so fast,


    almost in a second or two.


    Her breathing was disordered and she immediately ran out the door. Behind her, Derek announced


    what he had just said loudly again. She almost stumbled and fell.


    Nora returned to Easton''s room, her thoughts still in a mess, and her


    rapid heartbeat seemed to never slow down.


    Even though she tried to tell herself not to think about it, Derek''s words ''Nora, you like me'' echoed in


    her ears over and over again, without stopping for a second.


    She closed her eyes, covered her head, and shook it violently. As a result, her head was dizzy and the


    sound in her ear was still there. Nora was half spirited. How could she remember the giarism now?


    She had long forgotten about it.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Nora covered her heart and couldn''t help thinking, "do I really like him?"


    No, thinking about what Derek said in thest sentence, her heart was originally on Derek, but because


    of amnesia, she was not awakened.


    She touched the irregr heartbeat and blushed at the thought of what she had just done. A look of


    confusion shed across her eyes. Was that really the case?


    While Nora was trapped in love here, in the corner of a garbage collection station in H Country, a


    woman in sexy pajamas fainted in a corner, wearing slippers on her feet.


    Soon, the woman frowned, her eyelids twitching, and she woke up in no time. That was right, this


    woman was Aubrey.


    ording to Derek''s orders, Damian had his men from F Country take Aubrey directly back to H


    Country from F Country. Besides, she had nothing on her, not even an ID.


    This way, even if she woke up and wanted to go back, it would be impossible in a short time.


    When Aubrey woke up, all she could see was darkness, and she sat up with her still sore neck in her


    hands. Her mind recalled the memory before she fainted and she suddenly felt refreshed.


    She looked at her clothes, stood up in panic, and staggered forward. Her eyes had adapted to the


    darkness and there were street lights, so it was not difficult for her to walk.


    Aubrey was so angry and scared at the moment. She didn''t know where she was or who did this to her.


    Why did that person put her here after knocking her out?

 Chapter 359

    Chapter 359


    At this moment, she did not realize that she was no longer in F Country.


    This was a garbage dump. The big gates were open with the lights on. Aubrey calmed down when she


    saw someone was there. She immediately ran forward and shouted out, "Hello, hi!"


    Before she could see the maning out clearly, she asked a series of questions quickly, but what she


    spoke was thenguage of F Country.


    As an old and lonesome gatekeeper, this man prepared some food and wine for an enjoyable meal.


    However he was suddenly startled by this strange person, as well as her weird dresses, and the


    "Oh, hey, who is this? Don''t try to scare me!" The old man patted his heart and said angrily, preparing


    to take the broom for self-protection.


    Aubrey was shocked. She looked at the old man''s obvious H Country-looking and the surrounding


    environment, then she stammered, "Where, where is this?"


    Well, subconsciously, the question was still in the F Country''snguage.


    "What the hell is she talking about? Dressing like this at night, she must be a lunatic." The old man


    muttered with a dark face. He didn''t bother to look at her and hesitated to call the police.


    After all, Aubrey''s personal life was chaotic and it wasmon for her to be naked at home, no wonder


    that the gatekeeper would think that way. Even though she was wearing a sling pajama outside, the


    cor was so wide that it was almost half exposed, and there was nothing under the pajama.


    Fortunately, it was dark and there were no others around. Otherwise, what would have happened?


    Listening to the old man''s muttering, Aubrey was so angry but fortunately, she regained her senses.


    After a deep breath, she had a bad feeling and finally spoke in H Country''snguage.


    "Excuse me, where is this?"


    The old man waved his hand angrily, "You came here by yourself but don''t know where this is? Look at


    the door. Recycling station. This is a garbage dump here."


    What?


    Aubrey trembled in shock. No wonder that she felt a sour smell in the air. It turned out to be a recycling


    station here.


    She wanted to get away immediately, but there were still questions to ask. She could only stand there


    stiffly.


    "So, excuse me, is this... F Country?" She looked at the signs next to her, which were all in H Country''s


    The old man frowned and looked at her as if she were a lunatic, "F Country? How about M Country?


    Go, get out of here, go away quickly. Why did you behave like this in my ce?


    At this moment, he had already determined that Aubrey must be mentally ill. He felt unlucky and was in


    no mood to eat or drink anything.


    Aubrey gritted her teeth. She was almost certain that this was not F Country, but H Country. The


    problem was... She had just fainted for a while, and when she woke up, she even did not know where


    she was. This was simply uneptable to her.


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    Until that moment, her mind was still in a muddle. She had no idea why the man had made her dizzy


    and bring her back to H Country.


    Suddenly, Aubrey got a clue, and Sheldon''s face came to her mind.


    She just broke up with Sheldon a few days ago, and she threatened him. Now that she had fallen to


    this, could it be Sheldon that did it?


    The more Aubrey thought about it, the more likely she felt it was. Her face turned livid and she wished


    that she could rush to Sheldon and scratch his face with blood. But now, she didn''t even know where


    she was.


    The more frustrating thing was that she didn''t have any money, not even a piece of clothing that she


    could wear to walk on the street. Even if she was open-minded, she had to face the situation.


    If she wore this suit and walked on the street during the day, she would definitely be regarded as a


    psychopath.


    After thinking about it, Aubrey could only take one step forward, "Well, sir, I''m sorry. Look, I''m in a bit of


    trouble. I don''t have any other clothes. I don''t have any money. Well, uh, can you..."


    Aubrey was so embarrassed that she couldn''t say the word "borrow money." How could she have


    imagined that one day she would be reduced to borrowing money from an old gatekeeper of a garbage


    dump?


    The old man squinted at her and suspected when he saw that she spoke clearly. But there was no way


    to lend her money. But the old man made his living only by this rxing job, and there was not much


    money for her.


    He walked into the room and took out a set of uniforms that he had worn for work at young ages. After


    all, he had no chance to wear them at this age.


    After the old man threw the dusty yellow uniforms with all kinds of indelible marks into her arms, he


    immediately let her leave like whisking off the flies.


    "These are the only clothes I can give to you. There are no more clothes or money for you. Hurry up


    and leave."


    Aubrey looked at the work clothes in her hands and the old man''s scornful look. She was stunned and


    she nearly went mad.


    In F Country, she had a thriving life and lots of intimate friends. Many people were willing to spend


    money on her. How could she expect to be despised like this when she returned to H Country? It was...


    annoying!


    But the truth was that, however angry she was, she could only hold back her anger. Then, she clutched


    her uniforms and strode out of this ce.


    Aubrey frowned and stood outside the dump, looking at the clothes with disgust under the streetmp.


    She was so eager to throw it away as quickly as she could.


    But now...


    She looked at her nightgown angrily and rolled her eyes. After taking a deep breath to ease her anger.


    She pinched the uniforms and sniffed carefully.


    The clothes had been in the bottom of the closet for many years, so they did not smell good. The smell


    was eptable for the average person, but not for Aubrey who had been perfumed all day long.


    Wearing these smelly dresses was much more uneptable than killing her.


    At this moment, she hated Sheldon so much that she made up her mind to give him a lesson when she


    found him.


    Aubrey resisted the terrible mood and put on the clothes nearly in a manner of self-abuse. She leaned


    against the wall and retched for a while with a livid face, then she left in anger.


    After walking for a long time, she finally saw a brightly lit street. Then she found a grocery store and


    begged for a long time before she was allowed to make a free call in there.


    Aubrey''s face was white with anger and her eyes were full of violence. At this moment, she was very


    d that she remembered Sheldon''s number.


    Probably due to the strange number, Sheldon hung up several times. When Aubrey was about to lose


    her temper, he finally answered the phone.


    "Who is that? Why keep calling at midnight? Are you tired of living?" Sheldon''s angry roar came over


    from the phone.


    Strangely, Aubrey''s anger actually dissipated a little. After a deep breath, she narrowed her eyes and


    gritted her teeth, "SHELDON..."


    Sheldon frowned, and he felt the voice was so familiar...


    "Aubrey?"


    "That''s right, it''s me. I don''t care what you''re doing right now. I am on East Street. Let your staff pick me


    up immediately. Right now."

 Chapter 360

    Chapter 360


    Sheldon was stunned for a second when he heard the address. He immediately reacted and asked


    uncertainly, "You''re back?"


    Aubrey said impatiently, "Cut the crap ande pick me up."


    He was so angry that he could not help but sneer and say, "Aubrey, who are you ordering? Are you


    regretting it? Let me tell you, even if you still want to be my woman, it depends on my decision."


    Obviously, she still didn''t know the situation. Sheldon was still upset about this woman threatening him


    thest time, and now she had such amanding tone. He wouldn''t do what she asked.


    Aubrey almost screamed because of anger when she heard the beep on the other end of the line. Her


    gorgeous face was grim and she held the phone tightly.


    She took a deep breath and continued to call, but Sheldon didn''t answer the phone. Later, she was on


    the cklist.


    "Hey, hey, what''s wrong with you? You promised that you would only call once. How many times have


    you called? Do you know I''m the one who pays for this? Go away."


    The shopkeeper looked at her discontentedly and snatched the phone from her hand. Then the


    shopkeeper waved her hand as if she was facing a beggar.


    Aubrey, "..."


    It was already at night, and if no one was willing to help her, she could not find a ce to rest. She had


    no choice but to go to the police station full of resentment.


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    Aubrey had always suspected that Sheldon arranged her back, but she did not know that her every


    move was observed by the people with the intention, and finally, those people reported to Derek.


    The next day.


    A short video appeared on Xavier Group''s official website.


    And there was a detailed exnation that the video is Nora submitted, who was thepany''s


    designer. There was also the so-called copy of the original design draft and the original design process.


    If Nora saw it, she would be surprised to find that this video was photoed in the hospital. It was when


    she saved Easton and was hospitalized.


    The design was designed by her in the hospital and was directed by Derek himself.


    The video was edited, only the important ones left, including Derek''smentary.


    Derek obtained the hospital''s surveince that day to provide such a piece of video evidence.


    ording to the month and date were shown on the video, it was very clear.


    The same original video was sent by the Xavier Group to the organizers of thepetition. After an


    investigation into the authenticity of the video, the truth was quickly revealed.


    A critical letter wase forth at the front page of the official website again, but there was a change of


    subject this time. Thest time, it was a criticism of Nora as a giarist.


    This time, Aubrey was criticized for being a giarist.


    Not only that, but Derek also found out that Aubrey had previously giarized Nora''s design and won


    the prize. He didn''t know if Aubrey was too fearless or stupid. She actually used the original.


    This gave Derek a chance.


    Because Aubrey''s nationality was still here, he directlypared Aubrey''s prize-winning designs with


    the giarism this time and concluded that they were all designed by the same person.


    Derek submitted these documents to the design association in the name of the Xaviers. An honorary


    neer who had won several awards was a giarist, which was shocking.


    The criticism on the Inte, under Derek''s deliberate push, had been to Aubrey. When the truth was


    revealed, it was really a wonderful y.


    This time, Derek took this opportunity to teach Aubrey a lesson and to take the opportunity to introduce


    Nora to the design association. He was killing two birds with one stone.


    "Boss, things are going well ording to your expectations. Do you need to end all of this now?"


    Damian asked.


    Derek stood in front of the french window and looked down at the crowd and cars, "Where''s Aubrey?"


    "ording to the report below, she has now gone to where Sheldon is."


    He nodded, "Do what I asked before."


    "Yes, boss."


    In the past few days, Aubrey had been living in the female dormitory of the police station, and the


    police officers were very efficient. In two or three days, her ID card was made.


    After she left with her ID card, she immediately went to the bank to refill her bank card. The first thing


    she did when she got the money was to go to the mall to buy some beautiful clothes, and then to the


    beauty salon to take care of her whole body, including her hair.


    Only then did she feel alive.


    While she was doing all of these, she happened to see the TV in the mall and see the hot news in


    recent days, which was the giarism between her and Nora.


    The bright red and bold text on it, as well as her own photo, made Aubrey feel astonished.


    She never thought that in just a few days, the situation hadpletely changed.


    What exactly happened? How did they find she was the giarist?


    Aubrey hurriedly went to the Computer City on the second floor of the shopping mall and randomly


    entered one. She chose aputer connected to the Inte and began searching. The more she


    browsed, the grimmer her face became. Her hand holding the mouse could not help but tremble.


    She did not expect that the Xaviers would actually intervene.


    Not only that, when she saw the hype on the Inte that her previous prize-winning works were


    giarized, but she also took a breath of cold air, and her heart sank.


    Aubrey shuddered and there was only a sentence left in her head. It was over.


    "Miss, you can ask me whatputer you need to buy, and I can introduce it to you in detail." A


    She suddenly came back to her senses. Her face turned pale, and she immediately turned around and


    strode away. In just a few days, her reputation had been ruined, and there was no possibility of a


    This unexpected consequence almost made Aubrey break down. At this moment, she couldn''t consider


    anything and took a taxi to see Sheldon.


    Sheldon was naturally paying attention to the situation of giarism in the past few days. He didn''t


    expect Derek to solve it so quickly.


    Over the past few days, he had called Nora to try to save the rtionship between them, but it had no


    effect. Aubrey had long been forgotten by him.


    He didn''t expect this woman to find him in person.


    "Why are you here?" Sheldon looked at her with a gloomy face and was full of impatience.


    Aubrey''s face was also grim, "Open the door."


    Based on what happenedst time, she continued without waiting for Sheldon to open the mouth, "Of


    course, you can choose not to open it. I don''t mind making a scene at Jones Group. I believe it will


    quite be a scene. After all, I''m a celebrity now."


    The word "celebrity" was uttered in a sarcastic tone.

 Chapter 361

    Chapter 361


    Sheldon''s face clouded over in an instant, and he looked at Aubrey with his deep eyes. He said


    nothing.


    Aubrey looked back fearlessly and even smiled provocatively, but in fact, she was nervous. In just a


    few days, public opinion online changedpletely.


    She became from a young and talented champion designer to a target for criticism. But Aubrey didn''t


    think it was the end yet.


    Although she didn''t know what else was going to happen, it didn''t stop her from getting help. In here,


    the only person she could find in the shortest time was Sheldon.


    If Sheldon was not afraid of her threats, to be honest, there was nothing Aubrey could do.


    Fortunately, she was right. Sheldon valued his reputation at the Jones Group.


    Sheldon turned around abruptly and strode in. He ordered coldly, "Open the door."


    Aubrey heaved a sigh of relief and her lips curved in a charming arc.


    As the saying went, once hepromised, he would do so again. Aubrey firmly believed that with her


    understanding of this man, he would be totally controlled by her.


    As she thought about it, she rxed a lot and she walked in gracefully.


    She sat opposite Sheldon and naturally told the servant, "Make me a cup of ck coffee with milk and


    no sugar."


    Sheldon narrowed his eyes, and an unhappy look shed in his eyes. This damn bitch thought of


    herself as the hostess. She was risking her neck.


    "Tell me, what do you want?"


    "Heh, I should be the one to ask you that. You tried everything to get me back here. What do you


    want?" When Aubrey thought of the situation she had faced when she opened her eyes a few days


    ago, she was very angry and said rudely.


    But before Sheldon could get angry, his focus was shifted and he frowned, "Wait a minute. What are


    you talking about? I get you back? What do you mean? It''s none of my business whether youe


    back or not."


    Aubrey hesitated and stared at him suspiciously, "I was knocked out in my home in F Country, and I


    woke up here again... It isn''t you?"


    Sheldon couldn''t help but sneer and say directly, "Who did this to you? Why didn''t he just kill you?" His


    Then he added in a grim tone, "If I could get you home from abroad without being found out, do you


    think you could talk aggressively with me outside the door just now?"


    Aubrey was furious at what he said, but her suspicion of him was dispelled. Indeed, on second thought,


    Sheldon really didn''t have the ability.


    At this moment, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the door.


    The next second, the butler ran in anxiously, "Something''s wrong, Eldest Young Master. A police car


    suddenly appeared outside the door and several policemen broke in."


    What?


    Sheldon stood up abruptly. He had never been visited by the police in his entire life. He couldn''t help


    but mutter something.


    "Did the police get a conclusion on the thing I asked them to look into?" He was thinking about thest


    time he was beaten up at the back door of a nightclub.


    Until now, he was still trying his best to find the people who beat him that night, but there was no result.


    In contrast, although Aubrey was startled at first, she quickly calmed down. After all, this was the


    Joneses, so of course the policeing to the Joneses had nothing to do with her.


    Aubrey looked at Sheldon and couldn''t help but tease, "Tsk tsk, what have you dely, Mr. Gray?


    The police are here to arrest you."


    "Shut up, you bitch." Sheldon picked up the pillow behind him and threw it at Aubrey''s face.


    Soon, a few policemen strode in, and the leading policeman said directly, "Where''s Aubrey? Is she


    here?"


    Sheldon was stunned. Aubrey was shocked and stood up abruptly. She had no idea that the police


    were looking for her. The bad feeling in her heart grew stronger.


    These days, her information and stories were all over the Inte, and it was definitely not a good thing


    to be found by the police at this time.


    Sheldon heaved a sigh of relief and pointed at her without hesitation, "Aubrey is here." He really hated


    this woman now.


    Aubrey red at him and wanted to rush up to strangle him.


    A few policemen came over. The leading policeman took out a photo and looked at it to confirm that


    she was the one they were looking for. Then he nodded.


    "It''s her. Take her away."


    Aubrey was startled and couldn''t help but take a few steps back, pulling the corners of her mouth,


    "Wait. Officer, I didn''t break thew. You can''t arrest me without saying anything."


    The leading police officer looked at her coldly, "You didn''t break thew? Do you think it''s legal for you


    to giarize someone else''s design?"


    "We received a tip-off from the Xavier Group. Regarding your giarism of the designer''s work of their


    Aubrey was dumbfounded. She never expected that she would be sent to jail one day. Thinking of


    something, she suddenly looked at Sheldon.


    "It''s Nora. It must be her. Sheldon, isn''t she your fianc¨¦e? Call her and ask her to drop the charges.


    Call her. She can''t do this to me..."


    When the police heard her words, they immediately looked at Sheldon. They didn''t expect that Sheldon


    had this kind of rtionship with another party.


    Nora was Sheldon''s fianc¨¦e, but Aubrey was at Sheldon''s house. The leading police officer figured


    everything out when he thought of the report he had received.


    "Mr. Jones, if that''s the case, pleasee with us."


    Sheldon froze and looked at him in disbelief. Then he red at Aubrey with hatred, wishing he could


    kill this bitch.


    "Officer, this has nothing to do with me. I don''t need to go."


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    "Mr. Jones, ording to the informant, you and Miss Brown are obviously very close. We have a few


    questions to ask you."


    One of the policemen stepped forward and handcuffed Aubrey. The leading policeman looked at


    Sheldon, "Are you going with us or..."


    As he spoke, he nced at the handcuffs and his meaning was self-evident.


    Sheldon''s face was ghastly pale, but he had to follow them. He regretted letting the bitch Aubrey in just


    now.


    Everything was going the way Derek had expected.


    After Aubrey was arrested, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison because all the evidence was solid


    and someone had a hand in it.

 Chapter 362

    Chapter 362


    Knowing this result, she was going crazy, and her state of mind suddenly changed. Without hesitation,


    she confessed what Sheldon had done. Not only did she reveal that Sheldon had personally given her


    the blueprint designed by Nora, but also made up a series of statements.


    Her purpose was very simple. Sheldon couldn''t get away with it anyway. She was already a goner, so


    she had to let Sheldon be her scapegoat.


    But Sheldon was different from Aubrey. The Jones Group was Sheldon''s backup, and because of his


    rtionship with Nora, Derek had no intention of getting rid of himpletely.


    So, Sheldon was only detained for twelve days. Twelve years and twelve days sounded simr but they


    werepletely different numbers, which seemed to be ironic.


    Of course, Nora didn''t know anything about this.


    All she knew was that her reputation had been kept. In the past few days, it had been like a long


    nightmare for her. Now, she just woke up from the nightmare.


    Nora knew that the person she should be most grateful for this time was Derek. If it wasn''t for him, she


    wouldn''t know what she might be like now.


    But ever since the thing happened in the study that night, Nora had no idea how to face him.


    After this was over, she moved out of the Xaviers and returned to her own home. Derek was very


    frustrated with this.


    In the Xaviers.


    Today was the second day after Nora moved out, and Easton was very unhappy. In Easton''s eyes, his


    mother did not stay because his father was not good enough.


    "Dad, you don''t deserve to have such a handsome face." The little guy was full of resentment.


    Derek, "..."


    Derek could not help but touch his face and felt self-doubt at the moment. He had been with Nora for a


    long time, but he made no substantial progress.


    "Hmph, you have to count on me at the critical moment."


    After Easton finished speaking with pride, he picked up his phone, clicked on it a few times, and then


    handed it to Derek, "Take a look."


    Derek took it, nced at it, raised his eyebrows, and raised the corners of his lips.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve already called mom. She''lle to meet us at the kindergarten this afternoon. Of


    course, I didn''t tell her that you woulde too. If mom sees you and leaves again, it''s none of my


    business."


    There was a message on the little guy''s phone, saying that their kindergarten would hold a parent-child


    activity this afternoon. The request was that the parents should be present together.


    In the afternoon, outside the kindergarten.


    Because of this parent-child activity, the kindergarten was very lively and almost every child had adults


    with them.


    However, most of these adults were not parents, but the family''s nanny or housekeeper. Only a few of


    the children were with their parents.


    All the children in this kindergarten came from rich or powerful families. How could those parents waste


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    their time attending such a school event?


    "Mom..."


    As soon as Easton got out of the car, he saw a familiar figure beside the flower bed and ran over with a


    bright smile.


    Nora quickly held her son in her arms. The little boy was almost six years old. Perhaps because of his


    annual training in the military camp, he was much taller than other boys in his age.


    After holding him for a while, she felt a littlebored. She couldn''t help but put the little guy down. When


    she looked up, she saw Dereking towards her, who put one hand in his pocket. She was stunned


    at the moment.


    Nora usually wore career apparel when she was out. She thought that it was a parent-child activity


    today and she probably had to y some games.


    Therefore, she was wearing a white T-shirt, light-colored denim shorts and sneakers, with a tall


    ponytail. She looked youthful, like a college student.


    Derek was also dressed casually, in white casual shoes, khaki shorts and a white shirt. He looked like


    he was in his early twenties.


    Most importantly, the two of them matched very much, as if they were wearing his-and-hers clothes.


    Nora looked at him and couldn''t help but remember what happened in the study that night. It was the


    first time in the past five years that she had been so close to a man, and her face turned red again.


    "Easton, he... Why is he here?" She stammered.


    "Our teacher''s request. It''s best if both parentse. Mom, you promised me. You can''t go back on


    your word." Easton hugged her thigh tightly.


    Although Derek''s arrival surprised and embarrassed her, she naturally wouldn''t go back on her word


    because of it. She rubbed the little guy''s head.


    Derek walked over and looked at her, never forgetting to tease her, no matter physically or verbally.


    "We really have a tacit understanding. We both wore the same clothes. We''re destined to be a perfect


    match."


    "Who is your perfect match?" Nora was a little angry, red at him, and took her son into the school.


    Derek followed her leisurely.


    In front of the teaching building, a shady field was prepared with rows of seats. The three of them


    chose three seats to sit down.


    Easton didn''t want to sit alone, so he went to lie between Nora''s legs even if he was standing.


    At this moment, a sweet and soft voice came, "Easton..."


    They looked over and saw a little girl in a bright yellow dress with a cute round face walking over. Her


    big ck eyes were like grapes. She looked at Easton and looked very happy.


    Nora looked at the little girl and remembered thest time she met a little girl wearing a cute fluffy skirt


    at the gate of the kindergarten who wanted to marry to her son at such a young age.


    Was... this girl also her son''s admirer?


    Easton nced at her and ignored her.


    The round-faced girl didn''t care either. She took out a beautiful transparent box from her backpack and


    said, "Easton, these are the cookies my mom made. They''re delicious. Do you want them?"


    "No, go away." The little guy''s attitude was very bad.


    Derek didn''t care, but Nora worriedly frowned and patted her son''s little butt, "You can''t be so rude."


    The little guy pursed his lips, "But I don''t want to eat it."


    "Then you have to say it politely. When other children treat you to food, whether you want to eat it or


    not, you should say ''thank you'' first. Do you know?"


    Easton looked at the round-faced girl with a straight face and said stiffly, "Thank you. I don''t want to eat


    it."


    The little girl was a little disappointed and put the cookies back in her backpack, "All right."


    Nora smiled and said softly, "Little girl, Easton doesn''t like sweet food. You can eat it yourself."


    The round-faced girl smiled again. Looking at Nora, she couldn''t help but say, "Auntie, you''re so


    beautiful."

 Chapter 363

    Chapter 363


    The little guy was obviously more interested in this topic than in biscuits. Finally, he looked at the little


    girl proudly.


    "Of course, you have good taste."


    Nora was a little embarrassed.


    "Easton, can I y games with youter?" The round-faced girl asked hopefully.


    "No way, I want to be with my parents, not with you." Easton said rudely.


    He added, "You talk too much. I don''t want to talk to you. You should go."


    Nora''s face finally hardened as she watched the little girl leave with reddened eyes. For the first time,


    she looked at her son with a straight face.


    "Easton, she''s a girl. You''re a boy. You have to be polite and tactful when you are talking to a girl. Didn''t


    mom tell you? Look at that little girl just now. She''s almost crying."


    "I didn''t make her cry," Easton tried to justify himself.


    "If it weren''t for yourst words, she wouldn''t have cried, would she?" Nora continued to lecture.


    The little guy pursed his mouth, rolled his eyes, and immediately shifted the me to his father, "My


    father told me so. He said that I can ignore anyone I don''t want to talk to."


    Derek was stunned, and his face immediately darkened, "Easton, what did you just say?"


    As he spoke, he reached out his hand and was about to bring the ungrateful kid over, but Nora pped


    his hand away.


    "What else do you want to do after teaching your son such nonsense?"


    She did not doubt her son''s words at all. After all, Easton was still so young, and children saw things as


    the way how grown-ups behaved. Derek was not wronged at all.


    The man who had been pped in the hand arched an eyebrow slightly but was not angry at all.


    Instead, he looked at Nora with great interest.


    This woman probably didn''t even realize herself that she was getting less and less afraid of him and


    more and more daring.


    Of course, this was a good sign.


    Nora looked at her son again, "Easton, if there are children talking to you in the future, especially girls,


    you must have a better attitude. Do you understand?"


    Easton blinked, "What if they are trying to make advances to me?"


    Nora didn''t know whether tough or cry at what he just said. She couldn''t help but re at her son,


    "Nonsense. You are all just little kids. The little girl just wants to talk to you. How is that making


    advances to you?"


    Derek leisurely interjected, "Your son was kissed by his deskmate on the first day of kindergarten."


    The little boy''s face turned red with anger and shame.


    Nora was stunned, "Really?"


    Easton couldn''t help but look at her resentfully. Nora was speechless.


    Derek continued, "When your son first started kindergarten, he received all kinds of snacks, flowers,


    gifts, love paintings, and so on every day."


    "Wait, what is love painting?" Nora wondered.


    Derek curled his lips, "It is something simr to a love letter. How many words can a kid in kindergarten


    write? They draw a painting if they don''t know the words. It''s something like that."


    "By the way, there are still girls in the ss fighting because of this boy every two or three days. I can


    get two or three calls from the school teacher almost every week."


    "But it gradually quieted down since your son became as bad-tempered as he was just now."


    So, she was making the wrong remarks just now?


    Nora opened her mouth and looked at her son''s resentful little face. She suddenly didn''t know what to


    say.


    Sheldon''s 12 days in custody passed quickly. When he returned to the Joneses, he saw a familiar


    figure on the sofa as soon as he entered. He was shocked and immediately stepped forward.


    "Uncle, why are you here?"


    That was right, the man on the sofa was the man Sheldon respected and feared, his uncle, the head of


    the Joneses, Sean.


    Sean was fifty years old. He was tall and had sharp features. He looked only in his early forties. He


    only nced at Sheldon, who was stiff and seemed to be frozen.


    He slowly stood up and looked at Sheldon, his eyes cold.


    With an unexpected p, he pped Sheldon hard. Sheldon fell to the ground, which showed how


    hard the p was.


    Sheldon waspletely stunned. He looked at Sean in a daze, but his heart was filled with only fear


    for he dared not to get angry at all.


    "Uncle, uncle..."


    "What did I tell you five years ago?" Sean looked at him coldly, his tone gloomy.


    His heart thumped, and he suddenly understood why the other party was angry, because of the


    Sheldon immediately got up and gritted his teeth, "Uncle, I''ve been doing what you asked me to do for


    the past five years. I even proposed to Nora, but she didn''t agree."


    "All of this was messed up by Derek, the president of the Xaviers, who suddenly appeared. I don''t know


    how Nora and Derek hooked up."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Our the Joneses saved her. During the five years, I treated her so well but she was still not satisfied


    with it. She immediately hooked up with him when she saw that Derek was rich and powerful. And this


    time, if it weren''t for that woman, I wouldn''t have been detained."


    The more Sheldon spoke, the angrier he became. He had been in prison for the past 12 days and had


    not suffered like this since he was a child. He med Nora for all this.


    How could he have suffered like this if she had not been so fickle and seduced someone like Derek?


    Sheldon, who was so immersed in hisining, did not even notice Sean''s eyes. They were getting


    colder and colder.


    Sean jerked his foot up and kicked Sheldon hard, "Idiot."


    Sheldon covered his stomach and his face turned white from the pain. He looked at Sean in horror,


    "Even until now, you still have the guts to y tricks on me. Do you think I don''t know what you''ve been


    doing for the past five years? Do you think I don''t know about you and that Aubrey?"


    "I warned you five years ago to make Nora rely on you and fall in love with you wholeheartedly. In the


    end, you should not only marry her but also win her heartpletely."


    "What did you do in the end? The Aubrey incident broke out and you''re still arguing with me? I think


    you''re looking for death."


    As Sean spoke, he picked up the ashtray on the table and threw it at him. Sheldon was frightened and


    suddenly turned to avoid it.


    With a bang, most of the broken ss hit the back of his head, and several blood cuts were made on


    his neck.

 Chapter 364

    Chapter 364


    Sheldon touched his neck and spread out his hand. The blood dazzled his eyes.


    At this moment, he had no doubt that if he hadn''t dodged just now, his head would be broken by such a


    "Uncle, I was wrong. It''s all my fault. Please forgive me. I promise, it won''t happen again."


    If Nora was there, she would be shocked to see Sheldon to be such a coward


    Sean said with a gloomy look "Next time? Do you think you still have a chance?"


    "There''s a chance, uncle. Believe me. No matter what happened, I''ve been taking good care of Nora


    for the past five years. Before Derek showed up, she had been very dependent on me."


    "I believe that as long as I have some time, I promise that Nora would feel the same way about me as


    before. I mean it, uncle. Please give me another chance."


    Sean snorted and looked at him for a long time without saying anything. When Sheldon thought there


    was no hope, he finally said.


    "In that case, I''ll give you another chance. Remember, this is thest time. If you still can''t do what you


    promised, then the Joneses will kick you out of the Jones familypletely."


    Sheldon red at Sean in disbelief.


    "Uncle, you..."


    He wondered what did he mean by getting out of the Joneses. Sheldon looked into Sean''s eyes, and


    he was filled with dread.


    He was really scared. He never thought that things would turn out to be so awful. He never thought that


    his uncle would be so cruel to an outsider.


    Although he was a subsidiary of the Joneses, he was also a young master of the branch of the


    Joneses. Now whether he would be kicked out of the Joneses depended on a woman. How ridiculous!


    He lifted the corners of his mouth, but he failed to force a smile. What''s more, he did not dare to show


    even a trace of dissatisfaction.


    In the past, he had always thought that whether he could marry that woman was only rted to his


    future interests, but now it seemed things were not as simple as he thought.


    If he couldn''t get Nora change her mind, he, as the big young master of the Joneses, would be left with


    nothing.


    It was the worst nightmare for Sheldon. At this moment, he no longer afforded to take chances. All he


    could think about was how to win Nora''s heart again.


    Nora, who was involved in all this, did not know.


    Ever since her reputation for giarism was saved, she had been promoted by Derek. She was no


    longer an ordinary designer for the Design Department.


    It was different now. She was the design director of the B Department.


    Although she had been demoted from A Department to B Department, she had been promoted to


    director. And since the giarism incident ended, everyone in thepany had realized that Derek


    stood by her.


    Therefore, in the Xavier Group, any normal person did not dare to provoke Nora and was very polite to


    her.


    After Nora got off work, she went back to her apartment. Before she could enter the gate of the


    neighborhood, someone immediately appeared and frightened her.


    "Nora..."


    She didn''t expect it to be Sheldon. After a moment of shock, she returned to her sense and said,


    "Sheldon? What brings you here? What''s wrong?"


    No matter what her feelings for Sheldon were, at least one thing was clear to her.


    Since thest time she saw Sheldon treat her son like that in private, and it was only a while ago that


    she learned of his true color, things would never work out between them.


    However, it was Sheldon who had been helping her for the past five years and he treated her well,


    which was undeniable. She would never forget that.


    Therefore, they could not be lovers, but they could only be ordinary friends.


    Of course, if Sheldon needed her help in any way, she would certainly help him within her scope.


    But Sheldon didn''t think so.


    After what happened to Aubrey, if Nora was angry if she saw him, it''d mean she still cared about him at


    least.


    But now, Sheldon had a bad feeling that she was so cool when seeing him like she saw a friend.


    "Nora, I want to talk with you, okay?" He took a deep breath and tried his best to suppress the irritation


    in his heart. He was dispirited with a gloomy look.


    Nora pursed her lips and thought about it. She agreed. Anyway, since she had a n in mind, she


    should talk to Sheldon. After all, all things were never do things by halves.


    Sheldon, who didn''t know what she was thinking, was secretly happy to see her agree.


    In the nearby coffee shop, the two ordered a cup of coffee and sat opposite each other.


    The few people had been following Nora to keep her safe. Two of them came to the table behind them,


    and they dutifully sent the scene of their conversation to Derek via online video.


    The top floor of the Xavier Group.


    Damian entered the president''s office with a tablet in his hand, "Boss, there''s something going on with


    Miss Gray. Have a look."


    Derek took the tablet and saw Sheldon on the screen. Unconsciously, he frowned, turned it up, and


    watched it silently.


    Sheldon and Nora in the coffee shop were unaware of all this.


    "Nora, I know you must still be ming me for Aubrey''s thing. Yes, I admit, it''s all my fault."


    "I shouldn''t have lied to you, and I shouldn''t have been unfaithful to our rtionship of five years, and I


    shouldn''t have been obsessed with that woman, Aubrey, and ended up hurting you."


    "Nora, it''s okay. Thank god that you''re finally okay. Otherwise, I really won''t forgive myself."


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    In Derek''s office, because of the loud tone, Sheldon''s apology echoed in the quiet room, .


    In particr, he said in a sobbed voice when he finished thest sentence. Most people who didn''t


    know the truth would have forgiven him in a moment of weakness.


    Damian twitched his lips and couldn''t help but worry, "Mr. Xavier, Sheldon is so eloquent. What if Miss


    Gray''s heart is softened..."


    Thest words were left unsaid, but the meaning was clear. Once Nora got soft on him, what they had


    done earlier would be in vain.


    To be honest, with what Damian knew about Nora''s character, he felt that she was likely to get soft-


    hearted.

 Chapter 365

    Chapter 365


    Derek''s face remained cold, and he did not say a word.


    Inside the cafe, Sheldon continued to "repent."


    "Nora, I regret it. I really regret it. When I think about what I''ve done, I really want to p myself a few


    times. I don''t know what came over me to do that."


    "Nora, if you don''t want to forgive me, I don''t me you at all. Really, I deserve it. It''s all my fault, but...


    I still beg you to give me onest chance."


    I swear I won''t make that mistake again."


    Sheldon begged Nora to forgive him "painfully" while carefully looking at her expression. He had said


    so, but this bitch was stillpletely indifferent. He could not help but curse her in his heart.


    No matter what, it was not easy to meet this woman. Even if he couldn''t achieve what he wanted all at


    once, he had to make some real progress today.


    "Nora, all I''ve been thinking about all this time is the first time we met five years ago. Those days were


    like a dream."


    "Anyway, you can''t deny that we did have some good memories, right? Nora, I really know I''m wrong.


    Tell me what it takes to forgive me, and I will do it."


    Nora was a grateful person who valued rtionship. When Sheldon mentioned things that happened


    five years ago, it really made her sentimental at the memory of the past.


    She still remembered that when she woke up in the Joneses five years ago, the first person she saw


    when she opened her eyes was Sheldon.


    She still remembered it very clearly that when she hadpletely lost her memory, the first thing she


    saw was Sheldon''s gentle and elegant smile. His smile was like a ray of light that made her feel safe.


    She seemed to be right. Whether it was in the Joneses or outside, Sheldon had always been the only


    one who could give her that sense of security.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Every time she saw him looking at her affectionately, her face reflected in his eyes, and warm smiles on


    the corners of his eyes and brows, she felt reassured.


    Plus, Sheldon was very nice to her. No matter what she said, Sheldon would say yes. Day by day, the


    feeling of dependence or attachment grew deeper.


    When Sheldon told her that he loved her and wanted to be with her, Nora remembered that she agreed


    at once.


    She was a person without a past. When she came to her senses again, it was a blessing to meet


    Sheldon, who was so kind to her.


    Before Derek appeared, it never urred to Nora that there was any possibility of breaking up with


    Sheldon. Nheless, since Derek appeared, her seemingly fixed life waspletely changed.


    Everything seemed to be different.


    She had lost her memory, but she suddenly found two people who were important to her in the past.


    One was her lover, the other was her son.


    Then, cracks began to appear in Sheldon''s gentle face. When cracks werepletely torn, she


    realized that the cracks covered a face she did not recognize.


    Nora, who was lost in her own memories, had no idea that she was being watched by two men.


    Sheldon was a little excited and thought that he was too clever. Sure enough, this woman was as


    sentimental as ever.


    As long as he talked more about what had happened five years ago, she would definitely forgive him.


    Not to mention him, even Derek, who was watching the screen, could not help but feel nervous. After


    all, Nora was not the same as she was five years ago.


    For Nora, Derek was just a man who had been around for only a few months, but Sheldon was the man


    who had been by her side since she lost her memory.


    Derek was the president of the Xavier Group, and he was a masterful man, controlling tens of millions


    of employees. However, such aparison made Derek nervous.


    Nora gradually wrenched her mind back to the present and looked at Sheldon. Although she had mixed


    feelings and was sentimental, her determination never wavered.


    It was true that she was meek and sentimental, but she was surprisingly stubborn about certain things.


    In the matter of Sheldon, she had made up her mind, and she would not change her mind.


    "Sheldon," she said.


    Sheldon looked at her immediately. His eyes were soulful and filled with hope that could not be ignored.


    "Actually, I have always wanted to tell you that no matter how much unpleasant things have happened


    between us recently, I have always been grateful for your care and help over the past five years."


    "If you want, we can be good friends."


    What?


    Sheldon was dumbfounded and looked at her in a daze.


    Derek''s nervousness subsided. His back, which had been involuntarily straightened, was now rxed


    against the back of his chair. His face softened, his lips slightly curved, and he was in a cheerful mood.


    When Damian saw this, he smiled in his heart and remained a serious expression.


    However, he was surprised to Nora''s reaction.


    Inside the coffee shop.


    Sheldon looked at Nora in disbelief. She wanted to be friends with him? He was not gonna be this


    woman''s fucking friend.


    He had never said anything so touching in all his life, but this bitch was still not satisfied. What else did


    she want?


    He gave a good performance, but it didn''t work. Sheldon was so angry that he almost lifted the table. It


    took him great efforts to hold back his anger.


    "Nora, I don''t want to be your friend. I just want to be your boyfriend. I really love you. Please give me a


    chance. Don''t reject me directly."


    When Sheldon thought of what would happen to him if he couldn''t finish the task, he was worried and


    became a little anxious.


    Nora sighed, "Sheldon, I''m sorry. It''s really impossible for us to be together."


    She was not good atforting people, so she could only tell him firmly what she thought. She stood


    up with her bag, "Sheldon, I''ll go first."


    How could Sheldon let her leave so easily?


    "Wait."


    When he thought of something, his face took on a ghastly expression for a moment. He looked at other


    guests in the cafe out of the corner of his eye and his face twitched violently.


    He didn''t want to do such a shameful thing at all, but this bitch was too heartless to give him any way


    out, so he could only do this.


    He was gonna me this woman for everything that happened today. As long as he married her, he


    would torture her.

 Chapter 366

    Chapter 366


    "Nora, are you really not going to forgive me? Or, do you think I''m not sincere enough? Well, if I kneel


    down and apologize to you, will you give me a chance?"


    His words thundered in Nora''s ear. She looked at him in disbelief. It had to be said that he had once


    again greatly refreshed Nora''s perception of him.


    With a thud, Sheldon really knelt down in front of her. Her eyes widened in shock and she was


    speechless for a long time.


    This scene surprised everyone in the coffee shop, including waiters and guests, and they kept looking


    over here and talking.


    "Nora, I''m kneeling down to apologize to you. I don''t want anything but a chance." Sheldon lowered his


    eyes, and had a gloomy expression on his face.


    "My god, the man knelt down."


    "This woman must be his girlfriend, right? Why does this man kneel?"


    "He just said he kneeled to apologize. How could she get such a handsome man to kneel? Tsk tsk."


    "Isn''t this woman a little too heartless? Even after her boyfriend did that, she''spletely indifferent. If I


    were her, I would forgive him."


    "No matter what mistake this handsome man made, it''s the greatest sincerity for a man to kneel down.


    After all, a man''s dignity is as valuable as gold. No matter what, he should be given a chance."


    There were some young girls who were fanning the mes just because they thought Sheldon was


    handsome. They loudly asked Nora to forgive Sheldon.


    What was more, they even used Nora of being too cold-blooded and heartless.


    Nora, who had done nothing, had somehow be the target of public criticism just because of


    Sheldon''s action.


    Nora suddenly became angry. Moral ckmail was the most disgusting.


    When Derek watched the turning point on the screen, there was an extremely cold expression on his


    face. He looked at Sheldon kneeling with his cold eyes, as if he were looking at a dead man.


    He wasn''t worried about Nora''s safety. After all, he already had his men inside and outside the coffee


    shop to protect Nora, but he put all the me on Sheldon for his woman being so wronged.


    Damian, who was next to him, was confused.


    "Boss, don''t you think it''s a little strange? ording to our investigation of Sheldon, even if he really


    likes Miss Gray, he would never do this."


    "ording to his character, it''s not normal for him to kneel down to make his peace with Miss Gray."


    Derek didn''t say anything. Of course he also noticed this, but he focused more on Nora.


    "Something''s wrong. Let them continue to investigate," he ordered coldly.


    "Yes, boss."


    Inside the coffee shop.


    Nora looked at the people who thought that she should forgive Sheldon and give Sheldon a chance


    with a straight face.


    She couldn''t help but look at Sheldon again. He was still kneeling with his head down, as if he hadn''t


    heard the voices around him.


    Although he didn''t say anything, his behavior was already a silent coercion. Nora''s eyes gradually


    became cold.


    She raised her eyes and looked at the people who were criticizing her. Her lips moved, but she didn''t


    say anything in the end. She turned around and left without looking at Sheldon before she left.


    Sheldon was stunned and immediately stood up to chase after her.


    However, the men who were protecting Nora wouldn''t let him catch up with her. She threw a pebble at


    Sheldon, which made him fall on his face in a puddle by the side of the road.


    At this moment, arge truck drove past him. With a ssh, the dirty water drenched him.


    Sheldon, "..."


    He had no choice but to leave first. When he looked at where Nora had disappeared, his face clouded


    over and he cursed fiercely.


    Kneeling down was thest move he had long thought of, but he didn''t expect that that bitch Nora had


    really changed.


    ording to his understanding of Nora over the past five years, she had always been soft-hearted. In


    the past, she always obeyed him. Nheless, he didn''t expect that after he had said so much and


    even knelt down, it still didn''t work.


    However, he wouldn''t just let it go. In the end, even by despicable means, he had to marry Nora.


    Humph, since this bitch refused when he talked nicely to her, then he was about to y dirty.


    Derek had thought of many ways to teach Sheldon a lesson, and it was best to let him spend a year


    and a half in bed, but after thinking about it, Derek decided not to act rashly.


    Anyway, Nora really wouldn''t ept Sheldon in the current situation. In that case, there was no need


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    for Derek to do something unnecessary to prevent Nora from finding out and thinking badly of him.


    After confirming that Sheldon meant nothing to Nora, Derek began to chase after Nora crazily and told


    everyone that he was Nora''s boyfriend.


    Of course, the simplest way was to directly let his son show up.


    Thus, under the gaze of the employees of Xavier Group, Easton, a child with a heavy responsibility,


    strutted and ran all the way to the Design Department with his short legs.


    Almost everyone in thepany knew the little prince of the Xavier Group. His arrival caused a


    sensation. Of course, something even bigger was about to happen.


    "Mom, mom..."


    The cute and soft voice sounded as soon as the elevator reached the floor of the Design Department


    and never stopped.


    Then all the employees, filled with doubts, looked at the little prince rushed excitedly into Design B


    Department while calling "mom."


    Just as Nora came out of the office, Easton rushed to her and put his arms around her thighs.


    "Mom, I miss you so much. Do you miss Easton?"


    Well...


    The scene made all the employees who saw it gasp. They looked at each other in dismay, and they


    began to wonder if they had seen or heard it wrong.


    But obviously, no matter how many times they wiped their eyes, this scene did not disappear.


    The whole floor was silent as never before, and everyone was staring at Nora.


    Easton''s identity was so special that she never let anyone know she was his mother to avoid causing


    unnecessary trouble.


    Not only did she tell Derek about this, but she also told her son about it.


    But apparently, her son seemed to havepletely forgotten what she had told him.


    Nora had a premonition that after today, her life would be even more difficult. Thinking of this, she


    looked at her son holding her thigh and wanted to cry. For the first time she felt an impulse not to admit


    that he was her son.

 Chapter 367

    Chapter 367


    The little guy didn''t realize that Nora almost wanted to abandon him, and he was still acting


    coquettishly.


    Nora had no choice but to pick him up, turn around and stride into the office, close the door and the


    window with a bang, ensuring nobody seeing.


    But outside the office, there was an uproar, and the atmosphere boiled over.


    "Oh My God, what did I hear just now? Easton actually called Miss Jones... Mother?"


    "You heard it right. I heard it too. Incredible. I always thought that our president was dating with Miss


    Jones. I didn''t expect..." They didn''t expect them to have a son.


    "Well, isn''t Mr. Xavier''s wife gone? Isn''t Nora going to be Mrs. Xavier soon?" Someone in the crowd


    suddenly said this.


    Everyone was silent for a moment, looked at each other, and suddenly realized that it was highly


    probable.


    After all, the heir of the Xaviers had called Nora mom. Tsk tsk, it was really a shocking news.


    In the office.


    There were no outsiders around and his goal was achieved, so Easton was sitting on the sofa with


    satisfaction, swinging his short legs and looking at Nora with innocent eyes.


    Nora felt troubled and could not help but squat down and look at her son, "Easton, didn''t... I tell you not


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    to let anyone know I am your mother beforehand?"


    Easton pursed his lips, "You are my mother. If you don''t let others know, they will still think that I am a


    child without a mother."


    "Mom, do you not want to abandon me?"


    "Of course not. You''re my precious. I will never abandon you." Nora promised immediately.


    The little guy immediately smiled, and a sly look that was hard to catch shed through his eyes.


    Ever since that day, Nora could receive arge bouquet of roses every day, and the person who sent


    was Damian.


    In thepany, Damian was like Derek''s "executor". In thispany, Derek was the only one who


    could order Damian to do anything.


    Not only that, Easton woulde to the Design Department every day when it was time to get off. His


    favorite thing to do was to call Nora mother and act like a spoiled child in front of so many people.


    The employees of the Xavier Group had been shocked and unbelievable from the beginning, and they


    were used to it now. Everyone admired Nora so much.


    People talked in the world. In this situation, the media had gotten wind of it.


    Any news rted to Derek, whether it was the business or entertainment section, was a trending topic.


    If Xavier Group had not controlled the press in advance, the news would have been spread all over.


    Nora was very embarrassed and annoyed by what happened, but because of Easton, there was no


    way to change it.


    Now Mr. Xavier was pursuing Nora, so some other men shouldn''t appear to stir up a mess. It referred


    to Sheldon.


    Although the incident at the coffee shop made Derek see Nora''s determination, he couldn''t help but be


    wary of Sheldon, the pestering bastard.


    Derek didn''t know what disgusting things Sheldon could do since he could kneel down in public to force


    a woman.


    As for now, whenever Sheldon wanted to find Nora, whether it was to go to the Xavier Group or to


    Nora''s house, he would always encounter some inexplicable "natural disaster" on the way.


    It was either a sudden fall or a t tire, which would cause him a lot of trouble every time. In short, for a


    while, he would not be able to show up in front of Nora.


    "What is this?" Nora was told to go to the president''s office and was standing in front of Derek, looking


    at the gold-gild invitation in her hand.


    "Take a look at it." Derek raised his eyebrows casually.


    Nora opened it, a little surprised. It was an invitation to a banquet, and the host of the banquet was the


    mayor of J City.


    Recently, the shockingtest news on the Inte was the change of the political officials in J City.


    Normally, after the previous mayor was transferred, the current deputy mayor would take office to be


    the mayor.


    But this time, it was different. The mayor was sent to the J City from on high, and his surname seemed


    to be James.


    Of course, these things were not Nora''s business, and she never thought that they would have contact


    with her.


    Nora held the invitation and looked at Derek with a questioning look in her eyes.


    "The party is tonight. Youe with me," Derek said indifferently.


    Nora frowned and refused, "I''ve never been to a party like this. You''d better let another woman go with


    you." She actually felt strangely jealousy to say so.


    Had never joined?


    Derek was stunned and immediately remembered that Nora was still in amnesia and did not remember


    the past.


    He stood up and said slowly, "If I show up with another femalepanion, it will be very troublesome if


    the reporter takes a picture of me and others."


    Nora didn''t believe it at all and couldn''t help but give him a stinky-eye, "Wouldn''t it be too troublesome


    to take me with you?"


    After this period of pursuit, although no substantial progress was made, Derek was rtively satisfied.


    At least, Nora''s attitude towards him was changing.


    When they were alone, she was much more casual in her speech and expression, and no longer spoke


    in a respectful tone as before, as if the two of them were strangers.


    "Of course, at the very least, Easton would be happy... If he saw a strange woman standing next to me,


    he would lose his temper."


    Derek was not lying. During the past five years in D City, even if he had a son, there were still


    numerousdies from the rich and powerful family pursuing him.


    His son was overbearing so that he would lose his temper to those who threw themselves into his arms


    and wanted to be his stepmother.


    Nora had already seen through his trick of using his son as a shield every time, and could not help but


    sneer, "Then it should be a good solution that you don''t take a femalepanion."


    "Of course not. I''m the president of the Xavier Group. It''s appropriate to attend a party without a female


    partner." This shameless man said.


    She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes at him, "I can attend the party with you, but with one


    condition, you can''t send me flowers or gifts anymore."


    "No problem." Derek''s lips curved, and he agreed.


    He agreed so easily all of a sudden, which stunned Nora. She felt something was wrong, but she


    couldn''t figure out why, so she just gave up.


    Even if she didn''t mention it, Derek was prepared to stop sending gifts. After all, the purpose of this


    high-profile behavior was to tell everyone about their rtionship.


    The goal had already been achieved, and there was no need to continue.

 Chapter 368

    Chapter 368


    The banquet was held in a private resort. This resort was the personal property of the mayor. From this,


    it could be seen that the mayor was also supported by his family.


    Luxury cars came slowly from several intersections of the vi and stopped on the field outside the


    vi. Someone in one of the low-key luxury ck cars opened the door slowly.


    Derek was the first toe out. A high-fashion suit wrapped around his slender, upright figure. He


    slowly walked around the car and opened the door on the other side with his own hands. The corners


    of his mouth curled up in a charming curve and he extended his slender hand.


    A pretty woman with an elegant and noble temperament took his hand and slowly got out of the car.


    A simple and generousvender waist-length dress outlined her tall and beautiful figure. The side waist


    was beautifully knotted by a ribbon and her long, slightly curly hair was draped over her shoulders


    It looked casual, but every strand of hair looked as if it had been carefully groomed. She only had a


    diamond hair clip in her ear.


    The delicate and beautiful features were lightly made up, and there was not the slightest w to be


    found. Around her neck was an inky ck and bright gemstone ne, which shone brightly in the


    night.


    Although Sheldon was good to her, he had never taken her to a party, let alone a banquet. For Nora,


    who had only five years of memory in her mind, it was impossible not to be nervous.


    Derek immediately noticed the thin sweat on her palms. He quietly wrapped his arms around her waist


    and gently held her hand, "Don''t worry. I''m here."


    "Don''t worry. I''m here."


    Miraculously, such four words slowly relieved the anxiety in Nora''s heart, as well as the timidity brought


    about by the various looks and gazes around her.


    Derek keenly noticed that. Then the smile on his lips deepened as he held her hand and walked inside.


    The soft and soothing music and the faintughter of conversation came from not far ahead. At the


    banquet, the guests in full dress chatted with each other.


    The Xaviers was one of the most powerful in D City. This was only J City and of all the guests, no one


    was of a higher status than him.


    As soon as he showed up, the bosses at the banquet came forward topliment him, looking as if


    they were afraid of being a step behind.


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    Derek did not talk to them too much. He gave a faint signal and prepared to take Nora to the table.


    But then, his phone rang. Derek looked at the caller ID and hung up, but the next second it rang again.


    His brows furrowed.


    "Deal with it in advance." Nora let go of his arm and said softly.


    "No, it''s not important. I''ll take you in."


    Derek hung up again and led her on, but the phone continued to ring, and Derek looked sullen.


    Nora stopped and said, "I can do it by myself. There are so many people at the party. I''ll just find a


    ce to rest and wait for youter. You can be with me when you''re done."


    Derek thought that no one at the party would dare to bully the woman he brought. So he nodded and


    said, "I''ll be back soon. Contact me if you need anything."


    Just like that, the two of them separated before they could sit down.


    Nora naturally did not want him to leave. After all, it would be much easier for her to have someone


    with her, but if Derek had something to deal with, she would not be able to force him to stay.


    She looked at the scene in front of her that waspletely unfamiliar to her, took a deep breath, and


    walked in calmly.


    The banqueting venue wasrge, divided into a food area, a drinks area, a flower tform built with a


    master musician, a dancing area below and rows of open-air lounging areas at the back.


    Nora randomly took a ss of red wine, found an empty seat in the lounge, and sat down with a few


    magazines on the table.


    It was not until the moment she sat down that her slightly stiff body slowly rxed.


    Although Derek was not around, everyone saw the scene of the two of theming with each other.


    Many eyes fell on her with mixed feelings, which really made her feel ufortable.


    She had expected all this, and even if she was mentally prepared, she was still very stressful. She


    regretted having agreed toe to the party.


    Nora intended to sit here and wait for Derek, not going anywhere. Thinking of this, she felt a little


    relieved.


    But the next second, a strong fragrance came, apanied by the sound of chaotic footsteps. Soon,


    in front of her, stopped five or six sexy women of different styles.


    These women sat opposite and on both sides of her, almost surrounding her, each with an cordial smile


    on their faces, and greeted her.


    Nora didn''t react instantly.


    "Well, who are you?"


    The leading woman in the red dress giggled, "We came to the party with the boss. Of course, we can''t


    Nora couldn''t help but frown. The red-dressed woman''s words didn''t sound offensive, but they left her


    with an ufortable feeling.


    "Well. Mr. Xavier is a big shot. He is out of our league. At this point, we admire Miss Gray very much."


    A woman in a ck dress said.


    Nora remained silent, and she didn''t know what to say. Not only that, she didn''t understand what these


    people were talking about, so she just kept silent.


    Seeing this, a few women gave each other a faint look and the red dress woman smiled.


    "Miss Gray, please don''t mind. The party is just for dinner and talk. So, are we disturbing you?"


    Nora smiled politely and shook her head, "No, do as you please."


    Soon, another woman in a white dress couldn''t wait to say, "Miss Gray, it''s our fate to meet each other.


    How did you hook up with Mr. Xavier? How about sharing with us?"


    What?


    Nora looked at her in a daze, a little displeased with her words "hook up with." What were these women


    trying to do?


    The lounge areas were arranged in four rooms with sofas and a crystal table in the middle, in irregr


    shapes, with more than 20 or 30 groups.


    Before Nora could figure it out, a very unpleasant and even shrill voice suddenly came from the table


    next to her, "Hmph, it''s true that thingse in groups. It looks like this bunch of shameless vixens are


    hugging the nest."


    Nora looked over and saw seven or eight women in their 40s and 50s sitting at the two tables next to


    her, dressed asdies. This sentence came from one of the richdies.


    She couldn''t help but frown. If she felt right, the unfriendly tone of the other party was referring to her


    table. But she didn''t know these people, so it wasn''t her, was it?


    Nora thought and couldn''t help but look at the women who suddenly appeared in front of her.

 Chapter 369

    Chapter 369


    Soon, She would know who they were.


    "Huh, foxes represent young beauties. The olddy praised us. We should thank them." The woman in


    the red dress first smiled charmingly.


    "Yes. They envy us. Tsk tsk, we are so attractive."


    The women around Nora said one by one, which made the rich madams at the table angry.


    "Bitch! It is shameless of you to flirt and seduce men. You are even proud of it. You are shameless."


    "Hmph, there are so many young beauties outside. How long can you show off?"


    "Yes, the mistresses who destroy others'' family will die sooner orter."


    The rich madams were venomous.


    The women around Nora might be experienced. They still smiled and remained calm when they were


    scolded. They also cursed the rich madams.


    "It is the young people''s world in any field. Olddies, don''t you know what you are like?"


    "Yes, look at your wrinkles, which are so deep to entrap flies. It''s fine during the day, but you can scare


    people to death at night."


    "Hehehe, you''re right. I really sympathize with their husbands. They are so pitiful."


    "My boss told me that everyone liked to have fresh vegetables. If the vegetables overgrow the best


    edible time or are pickled, we shouldn''t eat them. It''s unpleasant to see them."


    "I think they look bad and also smell bad..."


    Nora didn''t know what to say.


    She twitched her mouth and was stunned.


    She finally knew that the women at her table were... mistresses. No wonder the rich madams cursed


    them directly.


    Nora had no expression and looked around. She was considering whether it was suitable and eye-


    catching to go out now.


    The young women were good at quarreling and were experienced. The rich madams were so angry


    and they almost fainted.


    Since the olddies failed, the young ones started.


    Many bosses brought their wives as well as children to the banquet.


    When these rich youngdies came over, they heard their mother, who was annoyed. They red at


    the women at Nora''s table.


    Their mothers took their identities into ount. But the youngdies were different. They were spoiled


    and were never bullied.


    A young girl in a blue dress strode over and pped the woman in the ck dress at Nora''s table.


    What she did was like a signal. The rest of the youngdies came to spill the wine in their hands.


    For a moment, the women screamed and cursed. It was in a mess.


    Nora''s was surprised to see it. She never expected the youngdies and madams to do it. She was so


    speechless.


    She suddenly stood up to leave nervously. Although she was fast, her dress was still stained with some


    wine.


    It was not easy for Nora to leave.


    "Stop, do you want to escape?" A girl in a pink dress stopped her in a soft voice.


    She had beautiful and lovely features. But she was fierce and was not lovely. Nora couldn''t help but


    frown.


    She could only stop and asked, "Miss, what''s the matter?"


    "Hmph, don''t you know? You are a mistress. How could you be so bossy? Do you want to die?"


    First, she was surrounded by a group of women for no reason, and then she was treated as a mistress.


    Naturally, she was unhappy.


    Nora had a good temper. But it didn''t mean that she would not be angry. She looked cool and said,


    "Miss, please be polite. First, I don''t know them and you."


    "From the beginning to the end, I was just sitting there. Your fight had nothing to do with me."


    Of course, the girl in pink didn''t believe her. Even if she believed her, she wouldn''t let Nora leave


    because of her appearance.


    Nora was much better than the other women in terms of appearance and temperament. So any woman


    would envy her no matter where she was.


    It was fine when there was no one to stimte. But it was inevitable that the girl in pink found fault with


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    Nora when so many girls were fighting.


    "Cut the crap. I can tell that you are bad from your appearance."


    The girl said rudely and raised her hand to fight.


    Nora was startled. She looked cool and was so angry. She was much taller than the girl and grabbed


    her wrist without much effort.


    It''s her first time to argue with others and to touch others. She was so nervous and she still held her


    wrist firmly.


    Although Nora looked weak, she was strong. She was not like the designers who draw pictures every


    day.


    Nora knew about it, but she could not find out the reason. After all, she had lost her memory. How


    could she know what she had done before?


    "Ah, bitch, let me go. You dare to fight back. I''m going to kill you."


    Hearing the shrill voice, Nora frown unhappily. She had a terrible impression of these so-called young


    Suddenly, she groaned because of sharp pain in her calf. The girl in pink was so angry and kicked her


    with her sharp heel.


    Nora bit her lips and looked cool. She couldn''t help but push the girl away with all her strength. She


    didn''t want to get tangled up with them and strode away.


    She ignored the girl in pink, who screamed and cursed her and didn''t notice the hateful look in her


    eyes.


    Nora endured the pain in her feet and walked to the food section. She was in a bad mood, so she was


    identally hit when she strode away.


    "Ah..."


    "Are you Nora?"


    She was familiar with the low voice. She looked up and was stunned.


    "Mr. Gray?"

 Chapter 370

    Chapter 370


    Nora was not particrly familiar with Sean.


    During these five years, she had met Mr. Gray several times the first two years and had barely seen


    him since then.


    At the age of 50, he looked like he was in his early forties because of his proper maintenance. He was


    handsome and elegant with his tall stature. The deposit of time made him look charming.


    He looked at Nora with a smile on his lips, "Girl, I didn''t expect you to be at this party."


    Nora fixed her dress and nodded with a smile, "My boss needs a femalepanion, so he took me as


    a temporary recement." She wouldn''t exin her rtionship with Derek in so much detail.


    Sean nodded and casually handed her a ss of champagne, "By the way, we haven''t seen each other


    for a long time. It''s been so long. How about having a nice talk with me?"


    She wouldn''t refuse.


    "I''ve been abroad for the past few years, and I just came back a while ago. I heard that there seems to


    be some conflict between you and Sheldon?" He took a sip of the wine and said casually.


    Nora pursed her lips. She didn''t expect him to start talking about this topic, but it was reasonable. After


    all, he was Sheldon''s uncle, and it was natural for him to care about his nephew.


    "I''ve watched Sheldon grow up. I''ve witnessed how you get along these five years. Sheldon has never


    been so interested in a girl."


    Nora didn''t say anything, but she could guess what Sean was going to say.


    "Although he is from the coteral branch of the Joneses, as his uncle, I value him very much. In the


    future, I am also prepared to trust him with the Jones Group."


    "Nora, conflict happens, but you two have been together for five years. After all, your rtionship was


    not that easy to be broken. What do you think?" Sean looked at her.


    Sean knew about Sheldon kneeling in the coffee shop, and Nora''s attitude was important to him.


    He did not expect that the seemingly soft Nora would not change her attitude at all in that situation.


    It took him five years to get the pawn ready, so he didn''t want anything to go wrong. He couldn''t pin all


    his hopes on that stupid Sheldon, so he had to solve the problem himself.


    But Sean forgot that although he had saved Nora, Nora didn''t know that.


    In his n, under his deliberate misguidance, Nora had always thought that Sheldon was the one who


    saved her, and Sean was just an unfamiliar elder in the Joneses.


    She never changed her mind about Sheldon, her savior, let alone Sean.


    "Mr. Gray, love is the mostplicated and inexplicable thing. I have always been grateful to Sheldon


    and the Joneses, but as for my rtionship with Sheldon, let it be."


    Nora said awkwardly, afraid that Sean would persuade her again, and simply said, "Mr. Gray, the party


    is about to start. I''ll go to my boss first."


    After she finished speaking, she lifted her skirt slightly and walked away quickly, not seeing the gloomy


    expression in Sean''s eyes behind her.


    Nora saw that there was a chair in the garden ahead with no one around, so she nned to go over


    and sit down.


    At this moment, a waiter with a tray passed her. Suddenly, the waiter seemed to have lost his bnce


    and his body shook violently, bumping into Nora.


    With his wrist tilted, a ss of red wine from the tray spilled all over Nora, from her shoulder to her


    chest, almost all of it.


    Nora was startled and gave a short and soft cry. She backed away and almost fell to the ground.


    The waiter was also frightened, his pale face full of fear, and his whole body trembling, "Yes, I''m sorry,


    Miss. I didn''t mean to. I''m so sorry."


    No one would be in a good mood when meeting such an unforeseen disaster, and neither would Nora.


    However, it was not that easy for her to lose her temper, and the waiter was so scared, which made her


    not bear to scold.


    "Forget it, you didn''t mean it."


    Nora sighed and smelled the strong smell of alcohol. Arge area of wine stain on her chest was very


    obvious, and the sticky feeling on her skin was very ufortable, so she couldn''t help but ask.


    "Can you take me to the bathroom? I need to clean up."


    The waiter immediately nodded, "Of course, Miss, I''ll take you straight to the dressing room. You can


    pick out a dress and put it on. This is what our vi specially prepared for the female guests to avoid


    such an ident."


    "You can rest assured that every dress was designed and made by one designated designer and then


    send over. They arrived yesterday." The implication was that these dresses were allpletely new.


    The red wine stain was not easy to clean, and it was obviously better to change to another one. Nora


    nodded and followed the waiter to the second floor of the vi.


    "This is the dressing room of our vi. Pleasee in. Do you need me to watch over for you outside?"


    The waiter was very respectful.


    "No, you can leave. I can do it myself."


    "Okay."


    After the waiter closed the door for her, the respectful expression on his face immediately changed.


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    With the strong malice in his eyes, he took out a key from his pocket and gently inserted it into the


    keyhole. After a turn, the door was locked from the outside with a slight click sound.


    At this moment, a pink figure appeared at the front staircase. It was the girl who had a physical conflict


    with Nora in the banquet lounge.


    Her name was Rose, and she was a rtive of the mayor.


    The waiter immediately walked over and handed her the key, "Miss, I''ve done my job. She''s locked in."


    Rose rubbed the keys in her hands, a vicious smile on her elegant face, and she sneered at the door of


    the dressing room.


    "Bitch, you dare to fight me on my ce. You''re really searching for death. I will teach you a lesson


    today."


    Rose turned around and left. The waiter immediately followed her.


    After they went downstairs, they came straight out from the back door and went to the area under the


    window of the dressing room on the second floor along the corner. There were two other waiters


    standing there long ago, with adder beside them.


    "Is everything ready?" Rose asked coldly.


    "Yes, Miss."


    One of the waiters answered and took out a ck cloth bag from the corner of the wall. Although she


    could not see what was inside, she could still see that the thing in the cloth bag was writhing, obviously


    something alive.


    "Miss, please take a look."


    The waiter unwrapped the opening of the bag. Under the moonlight, there were snakes that were as


    thick as an adult''s thumb. There were at least dozens of them.

 Chapter 371

    Chapter 371


    Rose only nced at these snakes, and her heart couldn''t help but tremble. She immediately looked


    away in disgust. Thinking of the use of these snakester, a creepy smile appeared on her face.


    "What are you waiting for?" She said impatiently.


    "Yes, Miss."


    The waiter with a bag of snakes immediately climbed up thedder to the second floor and peeked out


    of the window. He saw a female shadowy figure inside the room.


    He immediately picked up the bag, aiming at the window, and poured all the snakes into the room one


    by one.


    These snakesnded one after another, then separated quickly and crawled across the darker corners


    of the room.


    Afterpleting the task, the waiter quietly closed the window and locked the bolt outside the window.


    Relieved, he quickly climbed down thedder.


    "Miss, everything is done ording to your instructions."


    Rose''s lips curled happily and looked at the locked window on the second floor. She slowly left with the


    sinister smile in her eyes.


    And in the dressing room at this time.


    The dressing room was veryrge, and all kinds of beautiful and exquisite dresses were neatly hung on


    rows of shelves. She randomly picked out a simple and elegant dress to change into, and heard some


    strange noise.


    Although it was very low, she still heard it. Her bright eyes looked around in confusion. Suddenly, a


    long, thin shadow appeared on the ground and made her face pale.


    This was... a snake?


    Nora had no idea why there were snakes in the room. Her heart thumped, and she was very scared.


    Although the snake was not big, it still made her feel numb, as if all the blood in her body had solidified.


    Her face was pale, and she tried to calm down her uncontroble heartbeat. She stiffened and moved


    towards the door slowly.


    At this moment, the snake''s tongue flicked out on the ground. She was so frightened that she almost


    screamed and dared not move any further when she saw the snake moving.


    "What should I do? What should I do now?" She screamed in her heart.


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    She did not dare to move or scream, for fear of alerting the snake.


    Suddenly, she felt a cold touch on her toes, and she looked down subconsciously.


    There was another ck snake crawling over her open-toe high heels, its dark body with the tip of its


    tail resting on her toes.


    Suddenly, with a bang, Nora felt something in her brain explode in an instant, and she copsed. She


    could no longer restrain her fear and screamed loudly.


    "Ah..."


    The piercing shriek was heard through the walls of the second floor and reached the banquet, but in


    the end, the sound of dance music made few people could hear her.


    But coincidentally, Derek, who had not appeared in public since entering the banquet, was at the end of


    the corridor on the second floor of the manor in the other direction.


    As soon as he hung up the phone, he heard this scream of terror. Although he did not know where it


    came from, he was sure he did not hear it wrong.


    More importantly, he felt that it was Nora. The thought made his heart sink and his face darkened, so


    he quickly moving towards the source of the voice.


    Nora''s screams rang out one after another, making Derek more sure that it was her. At the same time,


    he quickly arrived outside the dressing room.


    "Nora, are you in there?"


    He pped the door, then took a step back and kicked it violently. With a bang, the locked door was


    thrown open and he rushed in.


    Derek saw Nora in the corner and... snakes all over the floor.


    His pupils suddenly shrank, and the momentum of his body suddenly sent out waves of cold. His dark


    and deep eyes faintly shed across a blood-red light.


    He never expected that Nora would suffer this after he had only been away for a while.


    Derek had no time to think about what was going on here. Ignoring the snakes on the ground, he


    strode towards Nora in the corner.


    He could easily tell that these snakes were harmless.


    "Nora, don''t be afraid. I''ming."


    At this moment, Nora was extremely frightened. Her pale face was covered with sweat stains. There


    were no lights in her wide-open eyes, but only endless fear, and she couldn''t focus.


    Derek suppressed his desire to kill people, held Nora in his arms, ignoring her screams and struggles,


    gently stroking her back in a gentle tone, and patiently coaxed her over and over again.


    "It''s okay. I''m here. Don''t be afraid."


    After he kept appeasing her, the focus in Nora''s eyes gradually returned, and the familiar smell eased


    her frightened brain.


    Nora leaned into his arms and could still see the snakes crawling on the ground. They moved slowly


    and leisurely. Although they did not attack people, they still scared her.


    Sensing her stiff body, Derek raised her face and gently imprinted soothing kisses on her brows, "Sorry


    I''mte."


    It had to be said that this gentleforting was very effective. Nora took a deep breath. Although she


    was still afraid and her voice was trembling, she was much better than before.


    "A, a lot of snakes. I''m scared."


    Her lips trembled, and tears rolled down uncontrobly, making Derek feel terrible.


    "It''s okay. I''m here. There''s nothing to be afraid of."


    Derek said and picked her up, "Don''t think anything now. Close your eyes and sleep. Let''s go back."


    As he spoke, he stuffed the earphones into her ears, and the soothing and soft music blocked out all


    the noise from the outside world.


    Nora did not refuse. She rarely learned in his arms very meekly. It was unrealistic for her to walk by


    herself now. Her legs were too weak to stand.


    After all, almost every woman was afraid of creatures like snakes.


    Besides, Nora was surrounded by dozens of snakes, watching them climb up and down in front of her,


    even on her toe.


    If it was a woman with weak willpower, it was possible to be scared out of her wits.


    Nora suffered a lot tonight.


    She was really exhausted and didn''t want to think about anything. She just wanted to get away from


    this ce quickly.


    At this time, a few more people rushed into the room, led by Damian, who had been waiting outside the


    vi. When Derek broke into the room, he sent a message to his assistant asking him to bring someone


    over.


    "Boss."


    Damian came with a few of his men, and he noticed the snakes on the floor at once. His face changed


    suddenly, and he looked at Nora in his boss''s arms. In an instant, he almost guessed what had


    happened.


    Derek''s hands were very gentle, but his expression told the opposite. He looked at the snakes coldly,


    and there was an unmistakable murderous look in his eyes.

 Chapter 372

    Chapter 372


    Under such gazes, the snakes, a kind of naturally cold-blooded animal, also felt uneasy and they


    twisted their bodies anxiously.


    "Catch all these animals first, and find out who did it immediately. I want the answer in five minutes," he


    said coldly.


    Damian felt a chill and immediately nodded, "Yes."


    It seemed that the thing had not happened for a long time. The key was that it happened in the


    mountain vi and there were many surveince cameras installed on every floor of the vi.


    In that case, it would be much easier to investigate.


    Derek took another group of his followers with him and strode downstairs with a ferocious look.


    Not needing Derek''s orders, the followers behind him. They unplugged all the power needed to be


    unplugged in the banquet nimbly.


    The party, which was supposed to be filled with happyughters and cheerful voices, was interrupted


    by the sudden outburst of rm. The lively music stopped abruptly and the banquet ended directly.


    Derek sat in a chair, still holding Nora gently in his arms.


    Nora''s face was still a little pale, with her eyes closed. She fell asleep dazzledly listening to the music


    in her ear, not knowing anything about the outside world.


    "Well, what''s the matter? Who are these people?"


    "Look, Mr. Xavier is there. These people are obviously his people."


    "What is Mr. Xavier going to do?"


    "Who knows?"


    As the host of the banquet, the mayor Mr. James was terrified when he heard the servant''s report and


    hurried over.


    Sure enough, he saw Derek sitting in the middle of the banquet square with a person in his arms and


    being surrounded by a group of people looking like bodyguards.


    The guests that Mr. James invited to the banquet were all scattered outside a circle and were talking


    about it.


    His face changed and he had various thoughts in his heart, but he really didn''t know what Derek


    meant. Before he could think much, he rushed over immediately with a smile on his face.


    "Mr. Xavier, I really appreciate youring to my banquet. If there is anything wrong with these


    servants, please forgive them."


    Derek looked at him coldly, "Forgive them? Something happened to my people in your territory. Do you


    think an apology can offset it?"


    Liam''s face changed, and his heart thumped. Feeling a little bad, he said cautiously, "I wonder what did


    Mr. Xavier mean? Can you tell me in detail?"


    In the crowd, Rose stood beside her parents. From the moment Derek showed up with the followers,


    she waspletely flustered.


    Especially when she saw Derek''s nimble followers, her face turned even bluer. But when she looked at


    Nora in his arms, she felt scared on the one hand but felt her anger vented on the other hand.


    Rose was afraid that they would find out what she had done, and she felt her anger vented when she


    saw Nora''s look now. Rose still thought viciously, hoping that it would be better if the snakes had bitten


    that woman half dead.


    Rose tried to find reasons in her heart tofort herself over and over again. She was still young on


    earth. Although her mind was vicious, the thing she did was not perfect enough.


    She had never thought of such things as surveince recordings. The only thing she could think of was


    catching those waiters who worked for her finally.


    She even thought that if the waiters betrayed her, she would deny it. Without concrete evidence, no


    one could frame her and she would refuse to admit even unto death.


    Thinking of this, Rose rxed a lot in her heart.


    At this moment, Damian strode over with some people, holding a tablet in his hand, "Boss, I have found


    out. This is the surveince recording outside the dressing room."


    "In addition, there is the surveince recording of the back wall on the second floor. Although it''s a little


    blurry, you can still see it clearly."


    In addition, there were two followers behind Damian. Each of them held a waiter. The waiters'' hands


    twisted behind their backs and their mouths were covered, their eyes filled with panic.


    Liam''s face was very pale, but in front of Derek, he could not say a word.


    Derek looked at the screen in his hand. In the two surveince images, one was outside the corridor of


    the dressing room. Although the conversation between Rose and the waiters could not be heard


    clearly, with the waiters'' action of locking the door and the look on their faces, even a blind person


    could see that nothing good was going on.


    Then, another surveince recording confirmed that.


    Seeing the waiters pour a bag of snakes into the window and lock the window upside down, Derek''s


    anger in his eyes was ready to burst.


    His cold eyes slowly turned to the two waiters in his followers'' hands.


    "Where is the mastermind?" He asked.


    Damian naturally knew what his boss meant. Although the two waiters were hateful, they were not the


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    mastermind. He turned his eyes and did not even need to look for the person among the crowd. He


    directly locked his eyes at a pink figure in the crowd.


    With a wave of his hand, two of his followers immediately walked towards Rose and carried her directly


    under her panicked and frightened eyes.


    "Ah, what do you want to do? Let me go, let me go..."


    Rose''s parents also didn''t expect them to arrest their daughter directly, so they immediately became


    angry.


    "Stop, why are you arresting my daughter?" Mrs. Leslie was furious and wanted to step forward, but


    Derek''s followers stopped her outside the circle.


    Mr. Leslie couldn''t get over either. He could only bear his anger and look at Derek, "Mr. Xavier, the


    Leslie family and the Xavier Family have never crossed paths. What do you want to do now?"


    As he spoke, he saw that no one responded to him. He became anxious suddenly and he couldn''t help


    but look at Liam.


    The Leslie Family and the James family were not only old family friends but also had connections


    through marriage. Rose also called Liam uncle. Naturally, he could not ignore it.


    It would be fine if it was someone else, but it was Derek.


    "Mr. Xavier, I don''t know where Miss Leslie has offended you. I apologize on her behalf. She''s young


    and ignorant. Please don''t bother with her."


    Liam knew how he got his position, so he didn''t dare to offend Derek at all. He could only hold back any


    grievances in his heart.


    Everyone had been found out, so Derek was not in a hurry. He looked at Liam and threw the tablet


    directly at him.


    Although Liam was hit, he did not dare to show any dissatisfaction at all. When he saw the two images


    on the screen, his face changed greatly.


    When he thought of something, he subconsciously looked at the woman in Derek''s arms. And with the


    recordings in his hand, the truth was self-evident.


    Derek looked at Rose, "You were really bold to attack my wife."


    His words caused an uproar among the guests. Of course, they were surprised at the wife that Derek


    had mentioned. In an instant, all eyes were thrown at Nora in his arms.


    At the previous banquets, there were many people who guessed Nora''s identity, but they never thought


    that this woman would actually be the youngdy of the Xaviers.


    Although they wondered why they had never heard of it at all, since Derek had admitted it himself, it


    wouldn''t be false.

 Chapter 373

    Chapter 373


    Compared to the Xaviers, the Leslie Family was nothing. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie could not help but gasp at


    his words.


    ording to Mr. Xavier, his wife, whom Mr. and Mrs. Leslie had never heard of, seemed to have


    something to do with their daughter.


    This idea scared them.


    He knew about it. But they didn''t.


    Rose was scared by Derek''s men. She panicked even more when she heard Derek''s words. She


    immediately denied it and shook her head violently.


    "No, I don''t know what you''re talking about. I didn''t do anything."


    She looked in the direction of her parents, "Dad, mom, help me. It''s none of my business." She said as


    she ran over.


    But the next second, she screamed, because just as she stepped out, her leg was kicked back by the


    men behind her.


    The pampered youngdy could not bear the pain. Her cries were heartbreaking and the guests were


    shocked. They did not expect Derek to treat her so badly in front of so many people.


    They were all scared.


    "My dear..."


    Mrs. Leslie gave a shrill cry and was about to rush over frantically. Then she shrieked again as the men


    around her kicked her without mercy.


    What had happened consecutively shocked these business owners in J City. Even if they were not


    targeted, they still felt scared.


    Then the discussion suddenly ended and it became so quiet. No one dared to speak or take the


    initiative to leave.


    Mr. Leslie saw his daughter and wife being hurt. He became furious. He red at Derek, who had a


    calm expression. Mr. Leslie trembled all over and gnashed his teeth.


    "Mr. Xavier, you are going too far." He said almost every word through gritted teeth.


    Damian looked at him coldly, "Mr. Leslie, you''d better ask your wife to remain motionless. As for your


    daughter, who dared to harm the young madam of the Xaviers, she must be prepared to bear all the


    consequences."


    Mr. Leslie choked and blushed. Suddenly, he was unable to say anything.


    Liam, who was on the side, knew that today''s matter was probably not so easy to settle. He was not


    able to stop Derek, so he could only feel helpless and anxious.


    Rose stared nkly at her mother who had fallen to the ground. She was in a daze. She had never


    thought that things would turn out this way.


    Although her parents told her that at the banquet today, the president of the Xavier Group was thest


    person that she would want to provoke among all these guests.


    She also knew that Nora was brought by him, but she didn''t take it seriously.


    Rose had attended numerous banquets since she was a child, but today''s banquet was different. Derek


    broke in with arge group of people and made a scene without restraint,pletely disregarding the


    face of her uncle and so many guests.


    Most importantly, seeing the attitude of her uncle, parents, and the others, she suddenly realized that


    she had caused a huge disaster.


    Especially when her mother was kicked and her father was too afraid to do anything, she felt that her


    outlook on life had been shattered and her face was pale.


    Derek didn''t want to waste too much time with this group of people. He nced at Damian, who


    immediately understood what he meant.


    Damian ignored Rose and walked to the two waiters. Looking at one of them, he narrowed his eyes


    and said expressionlessly, "Which hand did you use to lock the door?"


    The waiter had never seen such a scene before and was so frightened that he could not speak. Seeing


    that he did not answer, Damian raised his eyebrows and said, "Since you don''t want to tell me, then


    forget it."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the man behind him snapped the waiter''s hands forcefully.


    "Ah..."


    Short shrieks could be heard along with the waiter''s shrill scream. They were all made by timid women


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    among the guests.


    Rose looked at this scene and felt cold all over, as if she had fallen into an ice-cold cer. She was so


    scared that a chill stole over her body. She opened her mouth, but she couldn''t make a sound, as if she


    had lost her voice.


    Damian looked at the other waiter and asked the same question, "It''s your turn. Which hand did you


    use to release the snake?"


    The waiter who released the snake was stunned by the scene and his face turned deathly pale. Before


    he could regain his senses, Damian nodded.


    "No answer? Okay."


    The next second, there was another scream, and the waiter''s both hands suffered the same fate.


    Seeing the cruel scene, everyone in the venue remained silent.


    The people here were all calcting businessmen. They had never seen such a scene before, and


    their hearts were pounding hard with their screams.


    They have heard a lot of nicknames of Derek, but today was the first time they saw something like that.


    At this moment, they were all clearly aware of one thing.


    They should never provoke Derek and the Xavier Group.


    After dealing with the two stooges, Damian stared at Rose atst.


    The guests looked at each other with stiff faces. Everyone thought to themselves, what would happen


    to Miss Leslie?


    Some people thought that Rose would suffer more.


    However, others believed that no matter how bad Rose was, she was the daughter of the Leslie Family.


    She was a rich youngdy. Even if Derek wanted to teach her a lesson, he wouldn''t go too far.


    Father and Mrs. Leslie could not believe that their daughter would suffer the same fate as the two


    waiters. Mrs. Leslie was so scared that she almost fainted. She cried uncontrobly.


    Mr. Leslie was also frightened. He had plucked up the courage to question him, but having seen the


    ruthless methods of Derek''s men, he lost his nerve. However, he could not turn a blind eye to his


    daughter.


    "Mr. Xavier, my daughter is only 18 years old. She''s still a child. I beg you, please forgive her. If you''re


    still angry, you can punish me. I''m her father."


    Mr. Leslie almost knelt on the ground and lost all his dignity.


    Damian looked at Mr. Leslie, indifferent, and his lips even curled up, "There is a debt to be owed. Mr.


    Leslie, you can rest assured that our boss is always a man with principles. Irrelevant people will not be


    involved."


    Hearing these words, Mr. Leslie almost fainted.


    Rose was scared out of her wits.


    Derek''s eyes fell on her.


    She snapped back to her senses. Her legs were weak and she was unable to stand up. Her mind was


    filled with what had happened to the two waiters, and she shook her head, "No, don''te over."


    "I was wrong. I dare not do it again. Let me go. Please! I don''t want to have my hands broken. I don''t


    want..."


    She regretted it. She had never regretted it this much before. She regretted offending someone she


    shouldn''t have.


    Derek looked at her and said softly, "Don''t worry, we won''t break your hands."


    Rose was stunned, so were Mr. Leslie, Mrs. Leslie, and Liam were all stunned. They thought they had


    hope and that Derek would not punish Rose after he had punished the two waiters.


    But was it possible?


    Damian looked at the expressions on their faces and a hint of sarcasm shed in his eyes. He raised


    his hand and one of his men stepped forward, took out two ropes, tied Rose''s hands behind her back


    and then tied her legs together.

 Chapter 374

    Chapter 374


    "Ah... What are you doing? Let go of me! Get away from me!"


    Everyone had the fear of the unknown, especially after watching what happened to the other two


    people just now, and it aroused endless fear within them.


    Damian took out a small ss bottle filled with white powder. No one knew what it was. He opened the


    bottle and sprinkled the powder on the grass beneath him.


    Soon, Damian drew a circle with the white powder that could contain five or six adults, tied up one of


    Rose''s men, picked her up and threw her into the circle.


    Another man came over with a ck bag in his hand. He stood outside the circle, waiting for orders.


    With a cold smile, Derek looked at the screaming and struggling woman in the circle, "Don''t worry. You


    will definitely be satisfied with this punishment."


    "Since you like snakes so much, I''ll just let them y with you."


    His words drifted into Rose''s ears. Rose froze, and then realized something. Her face turned pale and


    she screamed at the top of her lungs, shaking her head continuously.


    Mr. and Mrs. Leslie were standing outside the circle, their faces distorted. No matter how they begged


    for mercy, it was to no avail, so they could only watch their only daughter suffer.


    Liam broke out in a cold sweat, but he said no more and made no effort to save Rose. Since there was


    nothing he could do, why bother? He had already figured it out.


    Hardly had Derek''s voice faded away than his man stepped forward with the ck bag. He opened the


    bag and flipped it hard. Suddenly, thin and long shadows were poured down one by one, falling on


    Rose''s face and body.


    Ah...


    People began to scream in fear one after another again, but their screams were soon overwhelmed by


    Rose''s cry of despair.


    The guests had thought that the two waiters already had a miserable end, but at this moment, what


    was happening was really shocking.


    Because of the powder, the snakes were unable to leave the circle. Besides, the ropes wrapped around


    Rose''s wrists and ankles were soaked with a kind of unique medicine.


    The medicine had no special effects, but had a strong attraction for snakes.


    Everyone watched in horror. The ck snakes kept wriggling around over Rose''s body with excitement


    in the circle, burrowing beneath her gown up and down.


    People were terrified by the scene, not to mention Rose, the person involved.


    It indeed was a brutal way to deal with such a young girl who just came of age, but Derek couldn''t care


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    less.


    When he thought of the moment he saw Nora once he entered the dressing room just now, he wished


    he could kill Rose.


    The originally lively banquet still looked festive. So many people gathered together, but remained quiet,


    an indelible chill running down their backs.


    They knew that this scene would never be erased from their memories.


    Mrs. Leslie was so scared that she cried and fainted.


    "You should be grateful that the snakes you asked your people to catch were harmless, otherwise..."


    Derek''s faint voice rang out again.


    Although he didn''t finish his words, everybody understood what he meant. If these snakes were


    venomous, Rose would definitely have been a thousand times more miserable now.


    Rose was unable to answer him. She could not even hear the noises around her. There was nothing


    else within her but great fear.


    The sticky feeling all over her body, the lingering stinking smell, and the snakes'' hisses in her ears... All


    of this was like a spell to her, blocking her mind.


    Rose was so terrified that she cked out.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and snorted, "You''re lucky to have fainted. Otherwise, I''ll make you swallow


    these snakes."


    His words made the people present pale as a ghost.


    No one doubted his words, and no one dared to challenge him. What happened just now was enough


    to prove that he would put his words into action.


    The crowd couldn''t help but imagine the scene where these snakes were stuffed into the mouth alive.


    "Eww..."


    Most of the female guests covered their mouths, their stomachs churning.


    Almost all the rich and famousdies in J City gathered here today. However, this scene made these


    girls, who had held romantic expectations of Derek, give up the idea quickly.


    They only considered Derek as a terror right now. Even his handsome face couldn''t erase the indelible


    impression that he had left in their mind tonight.


    Now that he had avenged Nora, Derek naturally did not stay any longer. Without even saying a word,


    he strode away with his assistant and men, and no one dared to stop him.


    Everyone was relieved since the devil had gone.


    "Rose?"


    A piercing scream split the air. Everyone was startled, only to see Mr. Leslie running towards Rose


    screaming and throwing away the snakes all over her body.


    If it were in the past, he would have been terrified to see these snakes, but now, he couldn''t care less.


    He was afraid that something would happen to his only daughter.


    Although these snakes were harmless, who could guarantee that nothing would happen if his daughter


    was bitten and thus intoxicated with snake venom?


    Now that the devil, Derek had gone, the crowd began to recover and calm down. Seeing this scene,


    they didn''t leave at once, but drew closer to Rose and Mr. Leslie slowly, showing sympathy for him.


    "Doctor, call the doctor. Rose, don''t scare me."


    Liam shuddered and came to his senses suddenly, asking the servant to call the doctor at once.


    The peopleing today were all big shots. Therefore, Liam got everything ready for the party, and the


    family doctor lived in the manor, just in case.


    The family doctor arrived soon. Since he was upstairs in the manor, he knew roughly what was


    happening downstairs.


    He examined Rose''s body, and then checked her look and pupils. When her eyelids were lifted, a few


    eagle-eyed guests among the crowd saw something and were startled.


    No one had noticed it before Rose fainted, but now people saw that her eyes were bloodshot. Not only


    that, but the white of her eyes was covered with tiny blood vessels, which looked very scary.


    The family doctor looked grim. "These eyes..."


    Mr. Leslie was shocked. "Doctor, what do you mean by that? What happened to my daughter''s eyes?"


    The family doctor sighed. He saw what happened to Rose just now. At this moment, his spection


    was confirmed by this pair of bloodshot eyes.

 Chapter 375

    Chapter 375


    "Miss Leslie has suffered an emotional shock. This is why her eyes are bloodshot. Her eyeballs are so


    congested that there is an 80 percent chance that there will be a significant effect on some of the


    nerves in her brain."


    Both the eyes and the brain were very important organs. Although the family doctor did not say it very


    clearly, Mr. Leslie already had a bad feeling in his heart.


    Sure enough, the family doctor said, "The eyeball congestion has damaged most of the retina. When


    Miss Lesliees to her senses, her vision will be affected and she may be blind."


    "Her brain will also be damaged. Of course, this requires a detailed examination. However, when the


    eye nerves are damaged like this, the central nervous that connect the brain must also be damaged.


    It''s just that the extent of the damage is unknown."


    "If it''s serious..."


    The family doctor did not continue, but sighed helplessly.


    Although he didn''t finish his words, what he meant was very obvious. The damage to her retina meant


    she could be blind, and her brain was also damaged. Wasn''t she going to... be a fool?


    This terrible result shocked everyone again.


    Mr. Leslie was dumbfounded.


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    As for Derek, even if he knew this result, he would not care about it, or perhaps, this was the result he


    wanted.


    When he was angered, a p on the wrist would do nothing to quell his anger.


    In the car, Nora was still wearing headphones. Shey in his arms with her eyes closed, motionless.


    Her face was still pale, and it looked like she had fallen asleep.


    However, Derek knew that she was not asleep, but it was as if Nora had not heard anything from the


    moment he began to deal with the three to the moment he finished.


    There was only one possibility that Nora was lost in her own thoughts, and her senses shunned


    everything outside, which made him frown.


    At night, in the dark room, Nora was lying on the bed alone. She was not sleeping well at the moment.


    In her dream, she was running non-stop in a misty forest.


    Behind her, she could clearly heard the rustling sound. When she looked back a little, she saw a huge


    boa constrictor hovering with its head held high.


    Its cold eyes were fixed on her, and it flicked its tongue fiercely. When it saw her, it opened its mouth


    without hesitation. Its sharp teeth glowed in the night, and its blood-red mouth was like an abyss.


    "No, don''t chase me, ah..."


    With a scream, she opened her eyes in sweat and suddenly sat up from the bed. She looked frightened


    and rmed.


    She did not see that a person had been sitting in the dark on the sofa in the room. When he heard her


    voice, he immediately rushed to the bed and hugged her in his arms.


    Derek was worried about her sleeping alone, afraid that she would be scared, so he decided to watch


    her sleep tonight. From the way Nora looked, she must have had a nightmare.


    "Nora, I''m here. Don''t be afraid. It''s just a dream. It''s all fake."


    Nora slowly calmed down when she looked at Derek and the surroundings. She remembered


    everything that happened at the party.


    She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again, "Thank you. I''m much better." Her


    voice was hoarse and she coughed lightly.


    Derek fed her a few sips of water and looked at her with a straight face. After putting down the cup, he


    wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled over toy on the bed with her in his arms.


    "I''m here with you. Don''t worry, I won''t do anything."


    His voice was low, and he did not allow her to refuse him. He tightened his grip domineeringly, and they


    hugged each other intimately.


    Of course Nora felt ufortable, but she was also scared. Derek''s words made her slowly stop


    struggling and her stiff body gradually rxed.


    Drowsiness soon struck her. She fell asleep again and did not wake until morning.


    A few days passed, and the gloom of that feast waspletely dissipated in Nora''s heart, and she was


    as usual.


    Today was an important day for Xavier Group as several guests from M Country woulde to discuss


    the cooperation.


    Normally, such guests should be received at the headquarters in D City.


    However, the president of the Xavier Group would rather stay in the Xavier Group''s branch office in J


    City in order to chase after the girl he loved. Therefore, several senior executives from the


    headquarters had to rush to J City to receive these guests.


    Soon, a few foreign guests with blonde hair and blue eyes arrived.


    There were about a dozen of them. Except for the two young girls who stood out in the middle, all the


    others were middle-aged foreigners in their forties and well-suited suits.


    Inside the Design Department.


    Nora knew the background of these people because Derek had already told her.


    There were severalrge family-owned fashionpanies in M Country. The garment industry in M


    Country was almost monopolized by these big family firms.


    The people who came today was one of those families, the Horton Family.


    The two young girls were the daughters of the Horton Family. One was Tina, the other was Judy, and


    the other two were their uncles. The rest were the executives of theirpany.


    Nora looked at them for a while and then turned away to do her own thing. After all, these guests had


    nothing to do with her.


    But...


    "What?" Nora looked at Derek, who was sitting in a chair, and was shocked.


    After the guests left, she was summoned to the president''s office and told that these people would


    spend two days touring J City before talking about cooperation.


    Derek decided to let Nora take the twodies of Horton Family to travel in J City on behalf of the Xavier


    Group.


    "Don''t worry, our son will go with you." Derek blinked at her.


    "No, I won''t do this. Find someone else." Nora hurriedly refused. Was he pulling her leg? She was not


    qualified for this task.


    "I have no other choice. I need to find someone with high status to show the sincerity of ourpany."


    Derek was lying through his teeth.


    "I''m just an insignificant designer and don''t have a high status. Oh, I think Damian is the best


    candidate."


    "You are my fianc¨¦e and the mother of my son. How can an assistantpare to you?" Derek said


    with great confidence.


    Nora quickly blushed and she couldn''t help but re at him, "Shut up. I''m not your fianc¨¦e. Don''t talk


    nonsense."


    Derek folded his arms around his chest, smiling charmingly and shrugging his shoulders, "I''ve already


    told them that my wife will show them the sights of the J City tomorrow. I''m the president and I can''t go


    back on my word."


    She gritted her teeth in anger. If he couldn''t go back on his word, then he shouldn''t talk nonsense.


    Derek did not speak. He just looked at her with a smile on his lips, and his dark pupils was very


    attractive.

 Chapter 376

    Chapter 376


    Under this gaze, Nora left the office in a bit of a sorry state, and unconsciously took the task of


    receiving those foreign guests as Derek''s wife.


    On the upper floor of the hotel, in a luxurious suite, one of the doors opened and a pure white figure


    emerged.


    After Tina had fixed herself, her cold eyes turned to the opposite door, and a faint light shed across


    her eyes. She walked over and raised her hand to knock on the door gently.


    "Judy, are you up yet?" The soft voice, mixed with a hint of caution, did not match the expression on


    her face at the moment.


    Tina didn''t hear anything. She pursed her lips, gently unscrewed the doorknob, and walked in. The next


    second, something flew right in front of her.


    With a bang, something fell on the wall behind Tina and was broke into pieces. An impatient voice


    came from inside.


    "Who allowed you toe in? Get out." She was familiar with the voice. It was her sister, Judy.


    She lowered her eyes and looked behind her. A transparent ss ashtray shattered on the ground.


    Because she was so close to the wall, a number of fragments bounced to her back neck. She felt a


    sharp pain.


    If she hadn''t dodged sideways quickly, it would have hit her head.


    Thinking of this, Tina lowered her eyelids, hiding the light inside, and then looked up with her clean and


    timid eyes, as if the previous emotion was a mistake.


    Without hesitation, Tina turned around and walked out.


    After what happened before, Judy''s sleepiness dissipated a lot, but her furrowed brows still showed


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    irritation and unhappiness.


    Tina put the breakfast delivered by the hotel on the table, and Judy came out wearing a sexy strappy


    nightgown.


    "Judy, you''re up. Have some breakfast."


    As she spoke, she turned her gaze and said softly, "I''m sorry to disturb you before, but people from the


    Xavier Group will be here soon. It''s better for us to get ready early."


    Judy nced at her unhappily and snorted disdainfully, "Why should I prepare early? Do you think I am


    as weak as you?"


    "We''re here to discuss cooperation. It''s their honor that we choose them as partners. Even if the


    president of the Xavier Group is here, he has to wait for me."


    Tina smiled and nodded, "You are right. I''m being unreasonable."


    "Hmph, I wish you knew." Judy gave her a cold stare.


    At this moment, the doorbell rang. Tina walked over to open the door. There was a man standing


    outside.


    "Ladies, Mrs. Xavier has arrived and is waiting on the first floor."


    "Okay, we''lle soon."


    Downstairs of the hotel.


    Nora and Easton sat at the dining table, behind them stood five men in casual clothes, the bodyguards


    who followed to protect the little guy every time.


    "Mom, when can we go y?" Easton asked.


    "We have to wait for two more guests." Nora looked at the time.


    Easton pursed his lips. He was only willing toe because he could be with Nora. He was in a good


    mood before, but now it waspletely ruined by these two inexplicable women.


    Before they met, the twodies of the Horton Family left a bad impression on Easton''s heart.


    Fortunately, not long after, two figures, one white and one red, appeared in the hall one after the other


    and walked towards them.


    When Judy saw Nora, she looked her up and down rudely, and her face turned cold.


    As the little princess of the Horton Family, she grew up under everyone''s love and indulgence. Nora''s


    exquisite and beautiful features made her very unhappy at first sight.


    Nora smiled as if she didn''t notice, "Good morning, Miss Tina and Miss Judy from the Horton Family,


    my name is Nora. Wee to J City."


    Tina smiled back at her kindly,


    while Judy nced at her with disdainful and meaningful eyes, "Since you''re shopping with us today,


    okay, carry my bag."


    As she spoke, she put her bag directly on the table.


    Nora paused, pursed her lips, and didn''t say anything. She didn''t carry her bag. If she was just an


    employee, she wouldn''t care about it and just helped her to pick.


    But yesterday, Damian told her that they had made it clear to these twodies that Nora would receive


    them as Derek''s wife, the Madam of the Xaviers.


    In other words, they still behave that rude when they knew who she was, obviously... They did it on


    purpose.


    She was a little speechless and didn''t know what she had done to offend these two women. Just as


    she was about to say something to deal with the problem, Easton frowned and gave a nce to a


    bodyguard behind him.


    Then someone immediately stepped forward, ready to take the bag, but was stopped by Judy.


    "Who do you think you are? You are not qualified to touch my bag. Plus, I asked her to carry it for me."


    The little guy''s little face darkened, "Hey, ugly woman, who are you calling? It''s already a great honor


    for my mom and me to waste time shopping with you. Behave yourself."


    After he finished speaking, he picked up the bag on the table and threw it on her.


    All of a sudden, the five bodyguards behind them did not change their faces, but Nora and Judy did.


    Nora was worried. After all, the Horton Family was here to cooperate with the Xavier Group. It was not


    appropriate for them to have an unpleasant start.


    Judy was about to go mad. She kicked the bag on the ground fiercely. No one had ever dared to do this


    to her since she was a child.


    She rubbed her aching palm, her eyes almost in fire, "You little bastard, how dare you to call me an


    ugly woman? You want to die." As she spoke, she even stepped forward, trying to hit Easton directly.


    The five bodyguards behind couldn''t let their little master suffer. They stepped forward to stop her. The


    little guy made a face at her, spat out his tongue, and put his hands on his hips to show off.


    "Gee, you ugly woman, didn''t you look in the mirror? An ugly woman like you shouldn''t appear to scare


    a cute child like me. You hideous witch."


    Nora''s mouth twitched, thinking that today''s mission would be very difficult toplete.


    "Miss Judy, I''m sorry. My son is still young. Don''t take his words too seriously. It''s gettingte. Let''s go."


    But Judy ignored Nora''s words directly. She shouted with her face pale and angry, "What do you


    mean? This little bastard dares to humiliate me. Is this your way of treating guests?"


    Not only did the address make Nora look terrible, but the faces of the five bodyguards darkened. This


    woman was really disgusting.


    Easton looked at her sarcastically, then held Nora''s hands. "Mom, we don''t have to be nice with this


    crazy woman. Just ignore her. Let''s go."

 Chapter 377

    Chapter 377


    Leaving?


    Nora hesitated, but was still pulled away by her son.


    Easton dragged his mother straight back to thepany. He was sure that the crazy woman would


    definitelye toin.


    As expected, hardly had the two people gone into the entrance of thepany than Easton got a call


    from Damian. The two took the elevator straight up to the office on the top floor.


    It shouldn''t have been long since that frenzy woman had arrived. Before they entered the room, they


    heard Miss Judy turning the facts upside down outside the door.


    "Mr. Xavier, although your son is still young, not only did he curse me once we met, but he also hit me.


    What''s more, he even threw my bag on the ground. I wonder how he was brought up!"


    "Also, Mr. Xavier, your wife, it''s one thing for her to leave your son alone, but it''s another for her to let


    your bodyguards stop me from talking to him. So, this is how you treat your guests. News to me!"


    "Uncle, the wife and son of this Mr. Xavier have gone too far. We are here to talk about the cooperation,


    not to be their punchbags. I think it''s totally all right if we just rule them out."


    Judy''s idea was very simple. In her opinion, the reason they came here was to select the capable and


    qualified cooperative partner to sign the contract with.


    In other words, they were the ones seizing the initiative. It would be a great honor for the people here to


    cooperate with their family, so anything and anyone that made her ufortable deserved nothing


    good.


    Now that Judy was mad at Nora and Easton, no one other than Mr. Xavier was the best one for her to


    vent her anger on.


    This transnational cooperation was very important to both parties. Therefore, anyone who came as the


    representative was smart.


    Robert Horton was not only Judy''s uncle, but also a senior leader who had real power in the Horton


    Family''s business. Besides, he knew his niece very well.


    Therefore, after listening to his niece''sints, Robert knew very well that it was probably not the


    case, but he did not show anything on his face. However, this was rted to the honor of the Horton


    family, so he needed to solve this problem tactfully.


    Robert patted his niece''s hand to calm her down and looked at Derek across from him, "Mr. Xavier, I''m


    really sorry. Judy has always been an outspoken girl. Please forgive her."


    "But if Mrs. Xavier doesn''t want to apany Judy, you may tell us. We won''t force anyone to do


    anything she doesn''t want to do."


    So Robert believed what Judy said.


    Easton snorted and strode in holding his mother''s hand, "You''re right. We really don''t want to stay with


    your niece."


    Their appearance drew everyone''s attention, and Judy was ring at them.


    Derek, who had been expressionless all the time, smiled when he saw Nora. He asked the two of them


    toe closer to him, held Nora''s hand personally and made her sit beside him.


    Although Nora was embarrassed, she would not go against him in front of so many people. Moreover,


    with Derek around, she did not need to worry about this trouble.


    Robert stared at Easton in an ambiguous way. "So this must be the Little Young Master of the Xavier


    Group, right? I wonder what you meant just now."


    Easton looked at his small figure, finding that he was short and unimpressive, so he asked the


    bodyguard behind him to pick him up and help him sit on the desk.


    Cross-legged, he folded his arms over his chest and looked Robert in the eye with his big bright eyes.


    Not only didn''t he show any fear, but he stared at Robert unreservedly and then pursed his lips.


    "Old man, that woman is your niece, right? Then I hope you''ll discipline your niece and stop her from


    biting people like a crazy dog."


    "My teacher said that crazy dogs would have rabies if they kept biting people. It''s scary."


    Everyone, "..."


    Except for Derek, no one had expected this little fellow to be so bold and say such words without any


    scruples, and he was clear and logical. Suddenly, silence hung heavily in the meeting room.


    Robert''s face darkened, while Judy was trembling with anger. She pointed at Easton, livid. "Shut up!


    Who''s the mad dog? Who are you talking about?"


    She turned to look at Derek abruptly. "Mr. Xavier, look at your good son."


    "Tsk, although you''re a mean person, your sight is pretty good. Of course, I''m my father''s good son. I


    don''t need you to tell me that." Easton rebutted.


    When he finished his words, Easton turned his little head to Derek and began toin.


    "Dad, let me tell you how obnoxious this woman is. Mom and I had waited downstairs for them for a


    long time. As soon as this woman came down, she treated mom as a servant, threw her bag in front of


    us, and asked mom to carry it for her."


    "She also said that no one else could carry the bag for her, but mom."


    Easton articted what happened exactly, turned around and threw a scornful stare at Judy.


    "Who do you think you are? And you wanted my mom to carry your bag? Your daydream has gone too


    far. You''re out of your mind."


    The little guy continued toin, "Not only that, but she also cursed me, and she used some really


    bad words. Everybody in the lobby heard it."


    "Dad, this woman is awful. The family that brings up this kind of women can''t be good. Let''s not


    cooperate with them."


    It was not the first time for the Horton Family of M Country to talk with the Xavier Group over the


    cooperation, and they had showed their intention half a year ago. So naturally, Derek had carefully


    investigated his partner.


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    It was just because Derek knew what kind of person this Miss Judy of the Horton Family was that he let


    his son go with his mother. With her son around, Nora would definitely not suffer any loss.


    However, Derek didn''t expect the woman to be a loose cannon. She did whatever she wanted to do


    and said whatever she wanted to say. He wondered whether she was too stupid or too confident.


    Hmph.


    Poker-faced, Derek looked at Robert with a light frown. "Mr. Robert, I asked my wife and son to


    apany your niece out of good intention, but now, my good intention seems unnecessary."


    Robert frowned and his face darkened a little. He was angry at both Derek and Judy, but he got his


    priorities straight.


    Judy didn''t, but Robert did. He knew very well that the Xavier Group was not like what his niece said.


    Their family business was booming in M Country, but it was also on par with the other big families''


    business. It was difficult to break the status quo.


    In this case, they could focus on other countries to expand their business.


    H Country was a great opportunity. It had arge poption and great demand. If they could have a


    finger in the pie, the profit would be immense.


    Even before the two of them cooperated with each other, the Horton Family had heard of this Xavier


    Group. After all, there was a branch of the Xavier Group in M Country, and it was not a small one.

 Chapter 378

    Chapter 378


    The Xaviers''s business spread across many countries, and it was in various fields. However, almost 70


    % of the Horton Family''s main business was in the clothing industry.


    Seriously speaking, the annual growth of the business of the Horton Family was notparable to that


    of the Xavier Group.


    If the Horton Family wanted to make their way into the clothing industry in H Country, they should start


    with the Xavier Group, which would be the easiest and fastest way, because the Xavier Group had


    dominated most of the clothing industrial chains in H Country.


    Robert''s eyes sparkled and he looked at his niece. His voice took on a calm and serious tone, "Judy, is


    the Little Mr. Xavier telling the truth?"


    Judy was taken aback. Her uncle did not help her. Instead, he questioned her. Judy was immediately


    angry, but she was not stupid. She refuted righteously.


    "Of course not. I''m the Young Miss from the Horton Family. How can I say such vulgar things?"


    With that, she nced at Easton sarcastically, "Kids like him often lie. Who would believe him?


    However, I, the Young Miss from the Horton Family, won''t take his misdeeds to heart."


    Robert looked at Easton again. He smiled and said in a gentle tone, "Little Mr. Xavier, you are still


    young. Perhaps you don''t know that if you don''t have any evidence, you shouldn''t use others."


    Easton watched them pretend and rolled his eyes. He did not say anything. He just took out a recording


    pen from his pocket, turned it on and yed the recording at full volume.


    The next second, Judy''s angry roar could be heard, resounding throughout the conference room and


    echoed.


    Mostly it was Judy''s voice that had been recorded, and the little guy repeated certain parts of the


    recording, which showed Judy''s insistence on Nora carrying her bag and her curses towards him.


    The words "Little bastard" echoed incessantly. The expressions of the listeners changed several times.


    Derek''s expression turnedpletely cold when he heard Judy''s words with his own ears.


    Judy''s expression changed. She never expected that they had actually recorded it.


    Robert''s face darkened. He couldn''t say a word at the moment. The recording was evidence which


    showed that Judy was lying the whole time.


    Lying was no big deal. But her insulting words made Robert feelpletely humiliated. Judy cursed


    Easton right in front of his father. No matter how they were going to exin, they did the wrong thing.


    The Horton Family really needed to cooperate with the Xavier Group, and they must get along with the


    Xaviers. Unexpectedly, before the cooperation started, his niece had offended the Xaviers.


    He nced at Judy angrily and became furious because of her stupidity.


    Of course, in his opinion, there was nothing wrong with being arrogant. But they had to be reasonable


    and should not make any mistakes in front of the Xaviers. However, they lost all their advantages at the


    moment.


    "Miss Judy is very capable. How did you address my son? I didn''t hear it clearly. Why don''t you say it


    again?" Derek looked at her coldly and said slowly.


    Judy looked into his eyes. Somehow, she suddenly felt as if she had been strangled. Her usual


    arrogance was nowhere to be found at this moment.


    Her heart pounded, and she could not help but take a step back. Her face turned pale, and an


    inexplicable chill shot up from under her feet. This inexplicable feeling made her extremely uneasy.


    "Uncle, uncle..." She looked at Robert, begging for help.


    When Robert saw her, his heart trembled. Looking at Derek''s dark eyes, he pulled the corners of his


    mouth stiffly, "Mr. Xavier, this is all my niece''s fault. Shecked judgement and offended you, but she is


    just a young girl. Please forgive her."


    Derek nced at him and sneered, "Since shecks judgement, I don''t think she should be in the


    business world. Mr. Robert, you should take her back and teach her."


    "After all, herck of judgement is not the only problem. It is really surprising that a girl from the Horton


    Family should be so ill-bred."


    Robert wore a tense expression. It had been a long time since he had been humiliated like this. His


    heart was filled with anger, but he could only hold it in.


    "Mr. Xavier, we''ll leave first. I''ll see you at the negotiating table in two days."


    After he finished speaking, he walked away with a cold expression, and his people followed. Looking at


    his back, one could see his raging anger.


    As soon as they left, Easton cheered, "Yeah, the crazy woman is gone."


    His voice was loud, and the people from the Horton Family had not gone far, so they must have heard


    it. Nora was a little speechless, certain that her son had done it on purpose.


    But she also breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, she was really scared by what had happened. She


    thought that the two sides were going to quarrel.


    "I''ve heard of the clothing brand of the Horton Family. It is influential to some extent in M Country and


    other countries around it. We want to cooperate with them. But with the things that have happened, our


    cooperation will definitely be impeded, right?" She said worriedly.


    Derek raised his eyebrows. He stretched out his long arm and held her shoulder. Then he smiled


    ambiguously, "Are you concerned about me?"


    Nora choked and her cheeks blushed. She broke free of his arm and stood up, "Who cares about you?


    I''m just talking about the matter. At least, I''m an employee of the Xavier Group."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    After she finished speaking, she was ready to leave, but Derek stopped her.


    Derek took out a thick folder from the drawer and handed it to her, "That Judy is valued in the Horton


    family because she is a fashion designer."


    "She became a designer when she was 18 years old, and she has won many awards in recent years.


    This is her information and her designs and drafts with which she has won awards in recent years."


    "In two days, the negotiation between the Xavier Group and the Horton Family will begin. You should


    study it as much as you can in the next two days. In addition... Be prepared. There may be a design


    "Of course, this is just my estimate. But you need to be prepared."


    Nora was shocked. She didn''t know much about the business world, but since Derek said so and got


    her all those materials, it was obviously possible that there might be apetition.


    She nodded. She took the things and left. She had to hurry.


    At this moment, Nora waspletely unaware of the reason why she was so active. She didn''t know


    whether it was because of Derek or because of the fact that she was an employee of the Xavier Group.


    "Dad, are you still going to work with that Horton Family? I don''t like that crazy woman."


    Derek took the little guy off the table and put him on hisp, "Son, you have to know that in the


    business world, there are no permanent enemies or friends. The only thing that is permanent is


    interests."


    Easton frowned, "What if I don''t like my partner?"


    Derek smiled, "Then find a way to gain your partner''s interests as much as possible."


    The little guy nodded. It seemed that he had understood. After a while, he stopped struggling. His


    bright eyes rolled, "Dad, you just said that crazy woman is a designer, and mom is a designer too. Is


    mom going topete with that crazy woman?"

 Chapter 379

    Chapter 379


    "It''s possible. If the negotiations go well, there will be nopetition. If not, there may be a


    The little guy clenched his little fist, "Even if they are going topete, that crazy woman will be no


    match for my mother."


    "Judy is a bad person, but her design ability... is not bad." Derek nced at his son and said slowly.


    Easton suddenly froze and looked at his father in disbelief. In his mind, not many people could be


    praised by his father.


    Since his dad said her design ability was good, it could only prove that the crazy woman was really


    capable. The little guy immediately worried.


    "Then what should we do?"


    "Don''t worry, your mother won''t lose." Derek rubbed his little head.


    The reason why he said that was that thepetition was going to be held on his turf, so no matter


    what the process was, the oue had to be the way he wanted it to be.


    Easton did not speak, but he rolled his sly eyes from time to time. It was obvious that he was up to


    something.


    At this time, an entire floor of the Emperor Grande Hotel was used to amodate people from the


    Horton Family. In one of the suites, all the members of the Horton Family were present.


    Robert''s face clouded over, but Judy, who was in front of him, did not notice it and was still making


    angry usations.


    "Uncle, that guy Xavier has gone too far. Did you see the way he looked at me just now? I''m the little


    princess of the Horton Family. What does he want?"


    "Besides, the Xavier Group is just a small group in H Country. How dare he treated me like this? Why


    didn''t you speak for me just now, uncle? I was so humiliated..."


    Robert couldn''t stand it any longer and said in a deep voice, "Shut up if you know you''re embarrassed."


    He ignored his niece''s incredulous and angry look. He said while his face clouded over, "A small


    group? The Xavier Group is one of the bestpanies in H Country. Its business covers various


    countries and it is no worse than the Horton Family."


    "Also, we can only work with the Xavier Group this time. Otherwise, we cannot get into the clothing


    market of H Country."


    "It doesn''t matter if you don''t understand this, and I don''t expect you to understand it. Nheless, I''ve


    told you at home that we are not in M Country, so you have to control your temper, but what have you


    done?"


    "It''s foolish of you to offend the Xavier Group before we start negotiating."


    Judy, who had been scolded, waspletely muddled. Before she could get angry, Robert continued,


    "If you cause any more trouble, I''ll send you back immediately."


    His words suddenly silenced Judy. No matter how angry she was, she must hold back her anger for


    this cooperation.


    Originally, as the miss of the Horton Family, she didn''t have to be here for this cross-border


    cooperation.


    However, her father said that if the cooperation was sessful, at least half of the clothes would be


    designed by her each year, and she could establish her own brand.


    Establishing a brand was a dream for every designer, and Judy was no exception.


    More importantly, her father had said that she could get a cut of the profits from that half of the clothes,


    which was arge sum of money, and she could get the money every year.


    It was impossible for Judy not to be tempted by such a big temptation, so she also came to H Country


    this time.


    Robert had just said to send her back to M Country. In addition to its literal meaning, it also meant that


    the cooperation would have nothing to do with her when she was sent back.


    How could this be?


    When Robert saw that Judy had shut up, his face did not soften much. He then vented his anger on


    Tina, who was behind Judy and seemed to be invisible.


    "And you, Tina, haven''t you been with Judy all this time? You''re her elder sister. You should stop Judy


    from doing anything inappropriate."


    When Robert med Tina, everyone could tell that Robert was taking his anger out on Tina. However,


    a gloomy look shed across Judy''s eyes. She turned around and pped Tina hard.


    "That''s right. You were standing right next to me. You must have stood there andughed at me, bitch."


    As she spoke, she pped Tina again.


    The two clear and loud ps made Judy''s anger dissipate a lot and she was in a much better mood.


    Others did not seem to be surprised by this scene and no one took it to heart. Robert only nced at


    Judy indifferently, "Okay, we''re not not at our home. Don''t make a scene."


    Both Judy and Tina were members and daughters of the Horton Family, but it was clear that the status


    of the two girls was very different at home.


    Tina lowered her head and covered her face, enduring the burning pain on her cheek. When she heard


    Robert''s indifferent words, deep in her downcast eyes was a strong resentment.


    Nheless, no one noticed this scene. Even if anyone noticed it, they would not care.


    ...


    Two days passed quickly. Today was the day for both sides to discuss cooperation. Early in the


    morning, people of the Horton Family came to the Xavier Group again.


    One side of the huge conference table was filled with the people of the Horton Family, while Derek,


    Nora, Damian and several shareholders of the Xavier Group sat on the other side.


    Robert, as the representative of the Horton Family this time, had a warm smile on his face, "Mr. Xavier,


    our Horton Family is very sincere to cooperate with the Xavier Group. I hope that we can maintain a


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    long and mutually beneficial rtionship."


    Derek curled his lips, "Of course. Cooperation is about win-win. Whether the Horton Family can get a


    share of the clothing market of H Country depends on what you can offer.


    Robert smiled, but was not angry. He tipped one of the people in his line the wink. That person


    understood and stood up to go to the front.


    He took out a USB sh drive, plugged it into theputer, and began to exin the history of the


    Horton Family and all the great achievements it had achieved in an orderly way.


    In this way, they wanted to tell Derek how famous, amazing, and well recognized the clothing brand of


    the Horton Family was.


    It could be said that as long as their brand was listed in H Country, it could represent confidence,


    reputation, and sales.


    Robert was still smiling, but there was acent look on his face, "Mr. Xavier, what do you think?"


    Derek nodded, "The Horton Family is indeed worthy of its name."


    His words made Robert happier. Robert handed over a document that had been drafted long ago,


    "Since Mr. Xavier is satisfied, we can continue to talk. This is our preliminary agreement. Mr. Xavier,


    you can take a look."

 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380


    Derek took the document and slowly opened it. The agreement had more than a dozen pages. He


    flicked through it and closed it without reading it carefully.


    People from the Horton Family did not understand what Derek meant.


    Derek had a half smile on his face, "You don''t have to be in such a hurry, Mr. Robert. Why don''t you tell


    me the distribution of benefits first?"


    Derek didn''t have the time to read the agreement which had more than dozen pages, nor did he bother


    to look for the terms on the distribution of benefits.


    Robert was taken aback, and then he smiled, "Of course, as for the distribution of interests between


    the two sides, we propose 70% and 30%."


    Derek raised his eyebrows. Unsurprisingly, there was no need to look through the agreement.


    Even a fool knew that it was the Horton Family who took 70% while the Xavier Group took 30%.


    There was also a hint of mockery in Damian''s eyes. Some of the other shareholders of the Xavier


    Group could not remain calm and snorted coldly. It was obvious that they disapproved of the


    distribution.


    Derek''s expression did not change, and his was still wearing a smile, but...


    "30% and 70%. That''s right. You 30% and we 70%. That''s good."


    His one sentence made people in the Horton Family flustered.


    Robert stiffly twitched his lips, "Mr. Xavier, we mean that the Horton Family takes 70%. You are really


    good at joking."


    Derek nodded as if he had known something, "So that''s what you mean? You 70%? Sure enough, the


    Horton Family is also very funny. Look at this, how funny." As Derek spoke, he threw the agreement in


    front of him away. It was as if he were throwing rubbish.


    Robert couldn''t maintain his smile, and the expressions of the other people in the Horton Family


    became gloomy.


    Judy was also here. Although Robert had taught her a lesson, she still looked down on H Country. In


    her opinion, Xavier Group had already benefited a lot as it could have 30% of the benefits.


    But the Xavier Group said no and felt that 30% was not enough. The Xavier Group actually didn''t know


    how to appreciate. She wanted to scold them, but when she thought of Robert''s warning, she


    suppressed her anger.


    Robert squinted, "Mr. Xavier, we only want the market channels you have. Once the cooperation is


    made, the Xavier Group will get 30 % of the profits every year without doing anything. I think this is a


    very cost-effective business."


    "Mr. Xavier also saw the sales of us. 30% is arge sum of money."


    Derek''s slender fingers tapped on the table casually. He chuckled and shook his head, "Mr. Robert,


    that''s not how business works."


    "If the Horton Family wants to upy the clothing market in H Country, you need ess which is in my


    charge. In other words, without the ess I provide, even if the clothes you designed are good and the


    sales in M Country are high, you can''t upy the market in H Country."


    "Whether Xavier Group will provide the ess depends on whether things offered by the Horton


    Family are attractive enough."


    "Under this condition, 30 % of the profits..." Derek didn''t finish his sentence, but everyone present knew


    what he meant.


    Robert''s expression became sullen, and he did not speak. Judy could not help but say angrily, "Why


    are you so arrogant? There are a lot of people who want 30 % of the profits. Do you really think that our


    Horton Family can only cooperate with you?"


    Derek shrugged and reached out, "In that case, help yourself."


    "Shut up." Robert red at Judy coldly.


    Robert saidst time that Horton Family could only work with the Xavier Group, and if there were other


    corporations to choose from, Horton Family would not be in such a passive position.


    70 % or even 80 % of the H Country''s clothing market channels were in the hands of the Xavier Group,


    in this case, Horton Family could only choose the Xavier Group.


    Robert looked Derek meaningfully, "ording to Mr. Xavier, how much profit is enough."


    "I will not make things difficult for Mr. Robert. 40% and 60%." Derek said casually.


    40% and 60%?


    Robert mused as he thought that it was eptable if the Xavier Group took 40% as it was only 10%


    higher than what he had nned.


    He thought about it for a while Derek added, "The Xavier Group takes 60 %."


    What?


    When Robert realized it, he couldn''t help but stand up abruptly. His face twisted and he said without


    hesitation, "That''s impossible."


    If the Xavier Group took 60%, Horton Family would only take 40 %. How could this be? They would


    never agree.


    Nora, who had been sitting next to Derek and saying nothing, was startled by Robert''s sudden reaction.


    After calming down, she decided to continue saying nothing.


    It turned out that the negotiation was like this. It was exciting and thrilling. She could see that Derek


    was smiling all the time. She admired Derek as he treated this tense negotiation like a family


    conversation.


    Nora couldn''t help but turn her head to look at him, but Derek suddenly turned to her and smiled


    seductively at her.


    She immediately looked away, her heart pounding and her ears red.


    Derek, who had flirted with his wife, was in a good mood.


    One of the shareholders of Xavier Group sneered, "Why is it impossible? Horton Family wanted 70%


    before, so 40% is not impossible."


    "That''s right. Your business is in M Country, and now you want to expand your business to H Country.


    Before you take, you shall learn to give. You can''t take without giving anything."


    "In my opinion, 40% is a little more. It''s better to be 30% and Xavier Group shall take 70%."


    The shareholders of Xavier Group said one after another. This made the people in the Horton Family


    blush in anger.


    Robert frowned, "Mr. Xavier, I think you know very well how famous the clothing brands of Horton


    Family are in different countries."


    "Xavier Group is just providing channels, not even taking any risks in sales. Doesn''t Mr. Xavier think


    your distribution is inappropriate in this situation?"


    Derek elegantly changed his sitting posture, "Actually, I have channels in my hand. If I can bring in the


    Horton Family''s clothing brand, I just add brilliance to Xavier Group''s present splendor."


    Robert frowned even more, "What does Mr. Xavier mean?"


    "I believe that you also know that there are many other main businesses in Xavier Group''s business


    fields besides clothing."


    "We don''t rely on the clothing sector. We will have an added bonus if we introduce internationally


    renowned brands into H Country. On the contrary, it won''t matter if we don''t."


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    "If Horton Family is not satisfied with the distribution ratio I set, then I, Derek, can only say sorry as I


    can''t help the Horton Family to realize its great ambitions and great ideals of the development."


    Of course, this was what Derek said, but he knew the truth better than anyone else. What he said was


    right, but it was not totally right.


    There was nothing wrong to say that the Xavier Group had its businesses set in many countries.

 Chapter 381

    Chapter 381


    However, the root of the Xavier Group was still in H Country. And the Xavier Group''s clothing industry


    ounted for arge proportion of the whole country. As for its other industries, they were in someone


    else''s territory anyway.


    If they could introduce foreign big brands, it would be a thorough innovation even for the Xavier Group,


    which was also very important.


    But Derek naturally wouldn''t say that. At the same time, he also decided that no matter what, the


    Horton family would be the one topromise.


    Internationally renowned clothing brands were mainly produced in M Country and F Country. With


    existing ess, the Xavier Group had already intended to import these brands even if the Horton


    Family didn''te to them.


    Everyone wanted to have a share in the clothing industry of H Country, but the initiative was seized by


    Derek.


    Unlike the Horton that came to them, the Xavier Group had more choices, so Derek was not in a hurry.


    He was willing to spend time with Horton because it was Horton who took the initiative toe over.


    After all, even if Derek had the right to make the decision, it still mattered which side took the initiative


    in asking for cooperation.


    Derek''s meaning was clear to Robert. Sitting there, this Caucasian''s face turned all dark.


    There was a terrible silence in the conference room.


    Of course, this feeling was not felt by people in the Xavier Group. Derek was still smiling. He was not in


    the slightest hurry, and he also asionally looked at the time on his watch.


    This gave the impression that he didn''t have much time to spend on this meeting, which made the


    Horton Family even more unhappy.


    Judy sat next to Robert and saw that they were in a bad position, but she didn''t dare to speak anymore.


    It was because Uncle Robert who was sitting beside her had an air of desperation.


    "50-50," Robert said suddenly, breaking the silence.


    50-50, half for each side. No one is gaining more. It seemed to be the fairest distribution method, but


    Derek''s mood experienced no fluctuation. He still smiled and shook his head, his voice still so calm.


    "40-60."


    Nora could tell the anger in Robert''s eye in the opposite direction, which was almost bursting out and


    making her very scared, but Derek seemed not to see it.


    The conference room fell into silence again.


    "Mr. Xavier, I need to make a phone call." Robert inexplicably calmed down and said faintly.


    Derek nodded, "Go ahead."


    After he finished speaking, he looked at Damian and said, "Sort out the documents that I need to sign


    for these two days."


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Damian understood his meaning and said, "Yes, boss."


    Nora: "..."


    She swallowed her saliva. Was this guy going to work in front of the Horton Family while they were on


    the phone? Was that decent?


    Robert''s eyes dimmed for a moment. He snorted and went out without a word, leaving the rest of the


    Horton Family in the conference room.


    At this time, the negotiation was suspended in the conference room.


    But as time passed, Nora felt that Derek was very prescient, because it was not until half an hourter


    that Mr. Robert finished his call and came back.


    Derek had just finished reading a document. After signing his name, he nced at Robert.


    "Mr. Robert has been on the phone for so long. There must be a result."


    Robert''s expression became calm. Looking at Derek, he suddenly said, "As far as I know, there are a


    lot of talented fashion designers in the Xavier Group. I think it isn''t worse than our Horton Family."


    Derek narrowed his eyes and curled his lips, "I''m ttered."


    Robert suddenly looked at Nora beside him, "The young madam of the Xavier Group is an outstanding


    designer. I heard that she has won many awards."


    Some time ago, the copy case went wild because of Aubrey. Thepetition whose results were


    reversed was also known by the Horton Family.


    Aubrey''s prize-winning works were all done by Nora. But after all, Nora wasn''t the one who participated


    in thepetition and Robert''s words made people ufortable.


    "Whatever Mr. Robert wants to say, just say it."


    Robert smiled, "There''s nothing special about it. Since the Horton family wants to expand the clothing


    market in H Country, in order to show respect, we should know about the designer level in H Country."


    "Since we are working together, how about we holding a friendlypetition?"


    Derek looked at him with a half-smile, "Mr. Robert, how do you want topete?"


    He smiled and looked at Judy beside him, "Our Horton family didn''t bring many people with us this


    time, and among us, only my niece was majored in design, so we will send Judy topete."


    "Mr. Xavier''s wife is also very young, not much older than Judy. Why don''t you let Young Mrs. Xavier


    Nora was dumbfounded. She felt like she was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire.


    What about the negotiation? Was it over or not? How did it get to thepetition, and then to herself?


    It suddenly urred to her that the folder Derek had given her two days ago was full of documents


    about Judy, and she couldn''t help but admire him.


    The way the thing went actually coincided with Derek''s prediction.


    Derek smiled, "Since Mr. Robert has made the decision of the contestants, the rules of thepetition


    will be up to the Xavier Group."


    Robert paused, hesitated, and agreed.


    Judy didn''t expect that she wouldpete inpetition this time, but if her opponent was the woman


    sitting across from her...


    She thought of the humiliation she had suffered two days ago, the corners of her lips curled up, and her


    eyes were slowly filled with malice, "It''s okay. Mrs. Xavier, we will see each other then."


    She swore that in thepetition, she would use her own design to humiliate this hateful woman who


    dared to offend her.


    When it came to fashion design, she was very confident, and in addition, she had always looked down


    on H Country''s design level.


    Therefore, she was not worried about thispetition at all. Her mind was full of thoughts about how to


    let Nora and the Xavier Group lose miserably.


    Thepetition was scheduled on the day three dayster.


    Robert had been talking on the phone for half an hour and decided topete with the Xavier Group in


    a designpetition when he came back. Obviously, this was the intention of the owner of the Horton


    Family.


    His purpose was obvious when he chose Nora as the contestant.


    Because Nora was announced to the public by Derek as his wife. Therefore, Nora was representing the


    Xavier Group and Derek.


    If Nora lost thepetition, she would also lose the face of the Xavier Group.

 Chapter 382

    Chapter 382


    Both the Horton Family and Derek knew the purpose of thepetition, but Derek agreed.


    As the saying went, "opportunity and danger coexist."


    As a fashion designer, Nora''s dream was that one day she would step onto a bigger stage and had her


    own brand.


    As for her dream, Derek would try his best to help her.


    Horton Family thought thispetition was to make the Xavier Group lose face, but for Derek, it was a


    chance for Nora to be famous.


    Miss Judy of the Horton Family, under the intentional training of the family, received the most


    systematic andprehensive learning, while Nora was hobbyist turned professional.


    In this situation, it was very difficult for Nora to win Judy in a formalpetition.


    But the arrangement of the schedule was controlled by the Xavier Group, which meant Derek could pull


    strings behind the scenes.


    In other words, in a regr match, Nora could hardly win against Judy. But now, with Derek''s


    underhanded operation, there was hope for Nora to win.


    Naturally, Derek wouldn''t tell Nora about these maniptions. She just needed to prepare for the match


    in three days.


    At night.


    More than half of the rooms in the Emperor Grande Hotel were plunged into darkness.


    Outside the hotel, a ck RV was parked on the side. Inside the spacious RV, Easton was lying on the


    sofa bed with his short legs crossed and a tablet remote in his hand.


    There were five bodyguards sitting in two rows of chairs in front of him. Two of them handed him juice


    and peeled fruit.


    There was also a man with aputer on hisp. His hands were as fast as lightning, and he was


    typing on the keyboard like a thunderbolt. In a short while, theputer screen showed the image of a


    luxurious room.


    "Little Young Master, it''s done."


    Easton nced at theputer, "Is that woman asleep?"


    "Already asleep," the bodyguard replied.


    "Good."


    The little one got up with interest and sat cross-legged on the bed, his big bright eyes staring at Judy,


    who was sleeping soundly on the big bed on theputer screen. His little pink mouth curled up in a


    nasty curve.


    He pulled out a wooden box from under the bedside table behind him and once it was opened, a very


    cool model of an adult palm-sized ne was resting quietly inside.


    Of course, this was not an ordinary model. Although the outer shell was simr to the model on the


    market, the structure inside was modified at a high price. It was a birthday gift from his grandfather


    when he was five years old.


    Easton wanted to teach Judy a lesson, and he immediately decided to use this model. He even


    specifically asked Damian to help him add projection technology to the model.


    Everything was ready now.


    The little guy took the small ne out and put it on the ground. The t panel remote control in his


    hand immediately operated. The small ne clicked, and four wheels appeared at the bottom.


    Under his remote control, the small ne scuttled out through a small door in the carriage and headed


    purposefully towards the Emperor Grande Hotel.


    In the night, such a small model didn''t attract anyone''s attention.


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    In this way, the small ne made its way unhindered into the central garden of the Emperor Grande


    Hotel.


    In the grand central garden, there were many beautiful flowers and mists in the fountain. Under such


    beautiful scenery, a model ne in the grasspletely covered its figure.


    There was another slight click, and the wheels at the bottom of the car were retracted. With a brush,


    the two transparent wings on the head stretched out, turning without wind.


    The next second, the small ne slowly hovered and flew upwards, following the controller''s


    instructions, straight up against the wall in the shadows. Then it entered safely into one of the rooms


    through the half-open window.


    Meanwhile, in the car outside the hotel, Easton stared at theputer screen in front of him and saw


    clearly that his beloved small nended safely on the ground beside Judy''s bed.


    Interesting...


    The little kid''s face lit up with a bright smile, and the gloating in his eyes was obvious. Thinking of the


    next scene, his eyes narrowed with joy.


    In the quiet room, a small ne appeared on the ground. The transparent wings shrank, and four


    wheels appeared again.


    There was another slight click, and two short antennas slowly appeared. In the middle of the antenna, a


    tiny red light shed, and a magical scene happened immediately.


    In the middle of the air above the small ne, a transparent projected figure appeared out of thin air,


    but the lines became clearer and clearer, and it was above Judy''s bed.


    Inside the car outside, Easton excitedly slid the tablet remote control and without hesitation chose


    terrifying mode. On the tablet screen, a lot of ferocious and bloody grimaces appeared.


    Easton did not feel scared at all. HE was interested and carefully selecting. A few bodyguards at the


    side nced at each other, and silently withdrew their eyes.


    The little guy finally chose a scary character that most people knew well, Sadako.


    As soon as the key was pressed, the transparent lines of the human body floating in front of Judy


    shed, and a character dressed in a blood-stained white dress with pale hands and feet and a deathly


    gray skin came out of the picture.


    Judy was asleep, so she couldn''t see.


    Easton immediately switched on the stereo surround sound mode inside the small ne.


    In an instant, a horrific scream sounded at the head of Judy''s bed.


    The room, as it was now, was filled with ghostly sounds and the ghost was floating. Anyone who saw it


    would probably be scared to death.


    Under this special sound, Judy gradually woke up from her sleep. She was very angry when she was


    awakened at night, and her brows were tightly furrowed.


    She finally came to her senses and opened her eyes impatiently. She turned her head and saw


    something floating in midair.


    At the same time, the ghost sound came to her ears again, and the two arms of ''Sadako'' slowly lifted.


    "Ah..."


    In an instant, Judy was so scared that she almost fainted to death. Her face was pale, cold sweat


    dripped down, her eyes bulged, and all her nerves nearly broke as she screamed.


    Empiror Grande Hotel was owned by the Xavier Group, and the proudest part of it was the hardware


    equipment. The inner core of each wall was installed with imported noise prevention equipment, which


    was extremely effective.

 Chapter 383

    Chapter 383


    Even Judy screamed aloud, the other guests close to her could only hear some subtle sound. At this


    time, such a low voice that needed to be heard carefully would not attract anyone''s attention.


    "Ghost, ghost..."


    Judy''s shrill screams resounded through therge room, but because the evening was too quiet, her


    voice echoed, making it even scarier in the dark.


    Easton had already turned off that scary sound.


    Without Judy paying any attention, the small ne on the ground flew slowly along Judy''s running


    path.


    As the small ne flew, the "ghost" in the air also floated over, which almost scared Judy to death.


    Judy''s mind was nk, and all she could see was the "ghost" chasing after her.


    In her pajamas, she staggered out of the door in a mess and fell twice, but the pain was nothing


    Her mind went nk, filled with fear. All she knew was to run away and stay away from this ce.


    Judy ran towards the door. In order not to let her have the chance to knock on the door of the other


    guests, under the control of Easton, the small ne went out of the door, came to the corridor, and


    sped up in an instant.


    In this way, the figure of the "ghost" moved even more fast, which made Judy scared to death. She had


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    no chance to knock on other people''s door at all, because as soon as she stopped, the" ghost" behind


    her would immediately rush up.


    In this case, all she knew was to run quickly ahead, along the long corridor. Soon, Judy saw stairs at


    the end of the corridor.


    Inside the car, Easton quickly controlled the ne with his two small hands, so the horrible voice and


    the "ghost" both came to her.


    The "ghost" slowly raised her head and growled at Judy with a face with seven holes bleeding, grey


    eyes and a big ck mouth. Then the "ghost" tilted her head, and darted at her.


    "Ah..."


    Judy, who was stimted by this scene, couldn''t help but scream. She staggered and fell down the


    stairs. Then she fainted.


    Judy was a woman who liked to sleep in the nude, so even if she wore pajamas, it was too short to


    hide anything. Now that she rolled down the stairs in such a mess, the private parts of her body were


    all exposed.


    The little guy in the car quickly averted his eyes, pursed his mouth in disgust, turned off the human


    body model, and controlled the small ne to return from the original road and fly back to the car


    outside the hotel.


    Easton looked at one of his bodyguards, "How''s the aftermath?"


    "Little Young Master, all traces have been erased."


    The moment the model ne came out of the car, the bodyguards invaded all the monitoring of the


    hotel, erasing all the images of the small ne.


    Especially the ones in Judy''s room werepletely erased. It was a real-time operation, so even if


    someone investigates itter, they would not find any traces of tampering in the picture.


    The little guy nodded with satisfaction and patted the model ne in his hand, "Finished! Let''s go


    home."


    The next day.


    Judy, who was found by the cleaning staff, was immediately sent to a nearby hospital.


    Due to her identity and the fact that she had an ident at Empiror Grande Hotel, the Xavier Group


    had to send someone over to take a look. Derek went there himself with his assistant.


    Easton, the main culprit who was keeping an eye on the event, wouldn''t miss out on this great


    opportunity to watch the show.


    Inside the ward.


    The Horton Family and Derek were all there, and Robert''s face was very bad.


    If it was Tina who had an ident, he would never have had any fluctuation in his heart, but it was


    Judy who had the ident. More importantly, he had just confirmed thepetition with the Xavier


    Group yesterday.


    In less than one night, the representative of the Horton Family, his niece Judy, had an ident.


    Because of such a coincidence, he really had to suspect the Xavier Group.


    And Empiror Grande Hotel was also the Xavier Group''s business.


    Naturally, Derek also knew all this. He nced at Robert and the others faintly, as well as Judy, who


    was still in bed with a pale face. His brows were slightly furrowed and he looked at Damian.


    "Where did you find Miss Judy?"


    "ording to the cleaner, Miss Judy was still in her pajamas at six o''clock this morning at the stairs,"


    Damian replied.


    "Ask the manager to check out all the monitoring of the suite she lived in, including the hallway


    surveinces, from 9 pmst night until 6 am today."


    "Boss, I''ve already given the order. It''ll be done soon." Damian nodded.


    "Hmph" Robert snorted coldly aside.


    Derek only nced at him and did not make any response. His eyes fell on Judy on the bed. What on


    earth happened? No one knew better than the parties.


    Of course, what everyone didn''t know was that there was a perpetrator among these people.


    Easton was sitting in a chair next to Easton, wearing a pair of cool suspender trousers and a cowboy


    hat. He was holding a bottle of milk in his small hand and drinking it without a word. He rolled his big


    eyes from time to time, looking so cute.


    Tina was outside the crowd, looking at Judy on the bed through a gap. There was a faint smile hanging


    from the corner of Tina''s lips, and she slightly lowered her eyes to hide her schadenfreude.


    Under Tina''s elegant and pure features, no one knew what vicious things she was thinking.


    No matter what happened to the bitch Judy, Tina sincerely hoped that Judy would never wake up and


    die.


    Now, everyone except her wanted Judy to wake up. In that hope, Judy''s eyes really moved and she


    slowly opened her eyes.


    Robert''s eyes lit up and he immediately walked over, "Judy, are you awake?"


    Before Judy''s confused eyes could focus, a sudden sound came from her ear, making her immediately


    remember what happenedst night.


    When Robert approached, Judy was frightened again. She pped Robert and shouted at him, "Get


    away, don''te over, ghost, ghost..."


    If Robert hadn''t dodged quickly, the p would have hit his face, but he didn''t have the energy to be


    angry at the moment. When Robert looked at Judy like this, his brows furrowed even tighter.


    "Judy, what the hell? I''m your uncle. Look at me."


    In broad daylight, with so many people in front of her, Judy stared at them nkly and grabbed


    Robert''s arm in horror.


    "Uncle, there are ghosts, there are really ghosts. Let''s go back. I want to go back to M Country. I don''t


    want to stay here. I want to leave. There are ghosts..."


    Her condition, and the words she said, made everyone present confused, including Derek.

 Chapter 384

    Chapter 384


    No one believed there was a ghost. But Judy''s reaction was so real.


    Derek nced at Damian. Damian stepped forward knowingly, keeping a safe distance from Judy''s


    bedside.


    "Miss Judy, no matter what happened, you are absolutely safe now. Look, you are surrounded by your


    family. Think about what happenedst night. Tell us, so we can help you."


    Robert held Judy''s hand, "Judy, it''s okay. It''s all over. Don''t be afraid. Just think about it. What


    happenedst night?"


    Judy''s face was pale. Tears were all over her face as she tugged at Robert''s arm.


    "Ghost, uncle. I saw a ghost. It kept chasing me. I''m so scared. Uncle, I don''t want to stay here. Let''s


    go back."


    Again, Robert''s face darkened.


    Damian raised his eyebrows, "Miss Judy, were you having a nightmare?"


    It seemed that this was the only exnation, and Robert looked at his niece.


    Seeing that no one believed her, Judy became even more agitated.


    "No, I didn''t dream. I really saw a ghost. I saw it with my own eyes. Believe me, I am not lying."


    Damian nodded, "We believe you, Miss Judy. Recall it, if you say you saw a ghost, when did you see


    it? Why did you faint on the stairs?"


    Judy trembled and widened her eyes, "I, I slept on the bedst night. I slept well and was woken up.


    When I opened my eyes, I saw the ghost on the bedside. It just stared at me."


    "It was floating and had no feet. I got up from the bed in fear and ran out. The ghost kept chasing me..."


    Everyone: "..."


    Derek said indifferently, "It seems that we should wait for the surveince video to be transferred over."


    The Horton Family nodded as well. For now, it seemed that was the only way.


    At this time, the hotel manager came over. His expression was very strange: "Mr. Xavier."


    "Did you see the surveince footage? What did you see?" Derek asked.


    "Well... Mr. Xavier, you should take a look for yourself. I really can''t say it."


    The hesitant look of the hotel manager made the Horton Family confused. Derek raised his eyebrows


    and looked at the USB drive in his hand, thinking.


    Damian took the USB drive and yed it directly on the TV in the ward. Everyone''s sights converged.


    As soon as there was a picture, it showed Judy in her room. At that moment, she was still sleeping


    soundly on the bed.


    Easton pursed his lips and looked away, bored. He had seen thisst night. He nced at Judy on the


    bed, and groaned secretly.


    Judy nced over and suddenly gave a shriek with her eyes widened, which shocked everyone else.


    "All right, what''s wrong with you?" Robert couldn''t help but scold her.


    In the picture, in the empty room, Judy who was on the bed woke up suddenly. She turned over and


    opened her eyes impatiently. It was unknown what she saw, but suddenly her face darkened and she


    screamed.


    But there was still nothing in the picture.


    Everyone watched Judy in the picture, who was screaming and falling out of bed, looking back from


    time to time with a scared expression, and running out of the room.


    But no one saw anything behind her.


    Out of the door, Judy was still screaming and running, as if there was really a ghost chasing after her.


    She ran to the staircase, identally rolled down, and fainted.


    The video ended.


    Everyone: "..."


    In the quiet ward, Derek looked at the picture and slightly narrowed his eyes. It was unknown what he


    was thinking. But the Horton Family looked awful.


    In their opinion, Judy was the only one in the picture and it looked as if she was cursed. She was


    fooling around on her ownte at night.


    Judy yelled again, her face turning white.


    "That''s right. That''s it. That''s what happened yesterday. Look, there''s nothing on the monitor, right? But


    I really saw a ghostst night."


    "There''s nothing in the picture. Ghosts can''t appear in the picture. Only I saw it. I really saw it."


    Robert looked terrible. The surveince footage made it impossible for him to me the Xavier Group


    for turning her niece to this.


    It seemed it was all her niece''s problem.


    "Enough, are you done?" He red at Judy.


    "Uncle, you don''t believe me?"


    Judy had an unbelievable look on her face. She was so frightenedst night but her own family didn''t


    believe her. It was a breakdown for her.


    She became even more agitated. She red at Robert angrily, scolding and yelling, which made the


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    Horton Family look even more terrible.


    Now, Derek no longer had to stay here.


    "Mr. Robert, I think Miss Judy is a little emotional, so I won''t disturb her. As for the three-day


    "During this period of time, if you need anything, please feel free to tell us."


    What could Robert say? He couldn''t say anything, and he had to thank him.


    After all, Derek really didn''t want to dy their ns or thepetition.


    After leaving the ward, Derek took his son and his assistant to the car and returned to thepany.


    In the office, Derek took off his coat and sat down in the chair, "What do you think about Judy?"


    Damian thought for a moment, "Could it be that Miss Judy had some kind of hallucination in the middle


    of the night?"


    After all, ording to the surveince footage, it was true that Judy woke up in the middle of the night.


    If she was not having a nightmare, then she might really have seen something scary since her


    expression was like that. It was really puzzling.


    Easton, who was ying on the sofa, suddenly said, "Dad, if something happened to that woman, it


    wouldn''t be better to cancel thepetition directly. There is a reason now. Why should we postpone


    it?"


    Derek and Damian both looked at him.


    "You don''t want thispetition to be held?" Derek said.


    "Dad, didn''t you say that the woman''s design skills are good and that mom might not win? In that case,


    the best way is not topete."


    Easton was just hoping that Judy would not be able to participate in thepetition because she was


    so scared, and get back to her country in a dejected manner. He didn''t expect the result to be like this.


    The little guy was very dissatisfied that he didn''t reach his goal and it was his father who ruined it.


    Derek looked at him amusedly, "Your mom may lose, but there are still some chances that she will win.


    Didn''t I tell you to have confidence in her?"

 Chapter 385

    Chapter 385


    Easton pursed his lips and thought, "What will happen to mom if thepetition is held a weekter,


    rather than three dayster?" When hearing his father''s words, he was afraid that he would make


    things difficult for his mom.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Derek shook his head. "Nothing. It''s good for us to have more time to prepare for thepetition."


    The little guy suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.


    "But... I still have to find out what''s going on with Judy. I felt this was strange. There are only two


    possible exnations for what''s going on right now. Something was wrong with Judy, or with the


    surveince footage." He pondered.


    Damian nodded in understanding, "I will have the surveince footage carefully examined."


    Clearly, thetter guess was highly possible.


    "Isn''t that crazy woman okay? There''s no need to investigate her." Easton''s heart skipped a beat. He


    didn''t expect his father to be so insightful.


    Damian looked at him and said, "Little Young Master, you are wrong. No matter what, she had an


    ident when she was staying in our hotel."


    "It would be the best if this has nothing to do with the hotel, but if someone did this on purpose, we


    have to find out the truth. If such a thing happens again, it will sully the hotel''s reputation."


    "Don''t worry. It won''t happen again." The little guy said without thinking too much. After saying that, he


    froze and covered his mouth immediately.


    Such an obvious move immediately attracted others'' attention. They both looked at him with suspicion.


    Derek''s gaze was very sharp.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and waved. "Come here, my son."


    Easton was speechless.


    The little guy regretted it very much. Why did he say so much? He was doomed. His father must know


    he did it.


    "Well, I, I''ll go find mom." After he finished speaking, he immediately ran towards the door.


    Derek looked at Damian and Damian immediately blocked the door.


    "Uncle Damian, get out of the way." The little guy was furious.


    Damian smiled, stretched out his long arms, picked up the little guy, and then put him in Derek''s arms.


    The little boy was struggling in Damian''s arms, but he became timid when he was in his father''s arms.


    His big bright eyes were filled with frustration.


    Derek never thought that his son would have anything to do with Judy''s ident.


    "Tell me, what did you do?" He put his son on his desk and looked at him calmly, waiting for him to tell


    the whole story.


    Easton was frustrated and pouted. "It''s not a big deal. I just scared her."


    Damian twitched his lips as he thought of Judy going crazy in the hospital bed. He couldn''t help


    shaking his head and thinking it was quite a scare.


    "Boss, it seems that Adam and the other four people scared Judyst night," Damian said.


    He was talking about Easton''s five bodyguards. They were all good at fighting and avoiding, and each


    of them was good at one or two things.


    The names of the five people were very simple, because they worked for the Xaviers, so they all had


    the same surname, which was Derek. Adam was the big brother and was best at martial arts.


    "Uncle Damian, why are you looking at me like this? That was clearly my idea, okay? I was also the


    one who put this interesting idea into practice. They were just helping me deal with the aftermath."


    The little guy said proudly and Damian was lost for words.


    Suddenly, Easton''s head was knocked, and he felt pain. Then a deep and dangerous voice sounded


    behind him. "What? You are proud?"


    Easton covered his head, puffed out his cheeks, and held back his anger. "No."


    The little guy said sullenly, and couldn''t help but raise his head and red at his father. "You have a


    crush on that crazy woman? I will tell mom that you hit me for that crazy woman."


    Derek didn''t know how to respond.


    His face darkened immediately. "Don''t talk nonsense in front of your mother."


    "Hmph, you are guilty. I know I was right," The little guy said triumphantly.


    Derek didn''t say anything but suddenly had an urge to pinch this kid''s cheeks.


    "Don''t do that again. Adam and others are your bodyguards. They should protect you, not y tricks on


    anyone."


    "Even if you want to teach someone a lesson, you should at least ask for my permission. Do you


    believe that I will rece Adam and the others with new bodyguards? They don''t need to be versatile.


    As long as they are strong and good at fighting, they can protect you."


    This was a serious threat, so the little guy immediately became anxious. "No, you can''t do that."


    Adam and his four brothers had all kinds of skills, which was convenient for him to prank on others.


    If they left, he would have less fun.


    "Then behave yourself." Derek scolded Easton.


    "You can''t do this. They are my men now, so you can''t just make them leave. You''re going back on your


    promise." The little boy''s face flushed.


    "Sorry, when you are in charge, you can talk to me about this." Derek sneered.


    Easton was furious. He wanted to say that it wouldn''t take long before he could go ces. But he


    suddenly thought of something and looked at his short legs. He was frustrated.


    "Tell me what you didst night."


    The little guy epted the fact that he was no match for his father now, so he was much more


    obedient. He sighed and told his father what he didst night.


    However, as he spoke, he began to be in high spirits, mainly because he was very proud of what he did


    Damian thought of something and immediately said, "Little Young Master, you insisted on installing a


    projection for this?"


    Easton snorted and thought of something. He immediately took out a small USB drive from his small


    bag and put it on the table.


    Seeing it with one''s own eyes was always more exciting than hearing the story.


    Derek raised his eyebrows, took the USB drive, plugged it into theputer, and yed the video.


    At first, the video showed the same scene as the surveince footage did. In the room, Judy was


    sleeping soundly on the bed. The difference was that an unidentified object flew in from under the


    window.


    Not long after, a female ghost floated in the air and looked at Judy. The next second, cries and howls


    were heard in the video, which made people''s hair stand on end.


    Derek was wordless.


    Damian also kept silent.


    Then, Judy woke up, and her screams echoed in the big office. They were very loud and harsh.


    All of this was exactly the same as the surveince footage, too. The only difference was that there was


    a female ghost chasing after Judy until she passed out.


    Easton looked at it again and smiled brightly.

 Chapter 386

    Chapter 386


    "This model..." Derek said slowly.


    Easton was immediately rmed, "What do you want to do? This is a gift from grandpa. You can''t take


    it."


    "I can promise you, but on the condition that you have to report to me if you do such things again."


    The little guy pursed his lips, "If I tell you, will you let me do it?"


    Derek raised his eyebrow, "Why not?"


    The little guy was surprised.


    Damian was not surprised. This Judy had insulted Miss Gray a few days ago. Given the boss''s attitude


    toward Miss Gray, how could the boss spare Judy?


    Besides, considering how protective the boss was, what Little Young Master did could only be


    considered a small trick.


    There was still a week. Judy, who had been greatly frightened, had no time or energy to cause others


    trouble.


    Nora did not know the truth about the dy, but when she heard the news, she was undeniably


    relieved.


    As Derek said, it was good to have more time to prepare.


    This week, Derek prepared a lot ofpetition and exhibition videos of the early works of prominent


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    designers for her.


    Designs came from life and inspiration, and there was no need to learn from others in this aspect.


    What Derek wanted her to learn were the finer elements and techniques that could be added to her


    designs.


    Seven days passed, and soon it was time for both sides topete.


    During this period of time, Judy had adjusted her mindset, and the frightening memories a few days


    ago had less impact on her.


    But she still felt uneasy about it.


    It could be said that as long as she did not have a reasonable exnation for what happened that


    night, she would not be able to convince herself that everything that happened that night was fake, and


    thus she could not truly get rid of this fear.


    Thepetition, which wasunched by the Xavier Group, was not only broadcast live at the request


    of the Horton Family but also invited several major domestic art design newspapers and entertainment


    media giants.


    Although there were not many people, every one of them was a big shot.


    This time, the sponsor was the Xaviers. Everyone in the country knew what this meant, so no one


    would reject this invitation.


    Since it was already open to the outside world, Derek simply publicized this matter on arger scale,


    directly broadcast thepetition live in front of the huge screens of the headquarters of Xavier Group


    in D City and its domestic and international branches.


    And he arrangedmentators on the official website.


    The Department of Public Rtions was watching all kinds ofments on the Inte about the


    opinion.


    The reason whymentators were arranged was that the famous clothing design family, the Hortons


    of M Country, would cooperate with the Xaviers of H Country.


    At the same time, the Horton Family challenged the designers of the Xaviers topete with them to


    verify that the designers of H Country were no match for them and could not survive in the international


    market.


    Nora''s sensitive identity, coupled with her giarism incident a while ago, and the fact that in the


    design world, her reputation really could not bepared to the Judy Horton all put her in a


    disadvantaged position.


    Derek had to use every opportunity to guide the public opinion.


    Changing the nature of thepetition to Nora was to protect the H Country design pce, so he had


    no choice but to ept the Horton Family''s purposefulpetition.


    This kind of guidance, of course, could not be detected in advance by the Horton Family, but could only


    be operated at the beginning of thepetition.


    In the huge studio, so many audience seats were empty. This was an internal evaluation, and it was a


    live broadcast, so the audience was not needed.


    The members of the Xaviers and the Horton Family sat in the front row of the audience, two rows left


    and right.


    The first row was reserved for the judges.


    Today, six judges from the fashion industry would be invited to give a fair review, three from the Xaviers


    and three from the Horton Family.


    Although both parties invited the judges, they were internationally renowned fashion bigwigs, so there


    was no such thing as favoritism.


    In order to make thepetition fair and impartial, the scene was also adopted in an open manner.


    The design rooms of the designers on both sides of the stage was on the left and right sides, and the


    design process was clearly visible.


    Because of the time limit, each designer could bring two design assistants.


    Although the Xaviers was the one to specify the rules, since one of the contestants was a member of


    the Xaviers, any possibility of leaking the topic should be eliminated.


    Therefore, the rules of the Xavierspetition needed to be discussed and designated with several


    judges on the same day, and the final decision would only be reached after a consensus is reached.


    At this point, although Horton was not particrly satisfied, he had no other choices, unless they did


    not want Nora to be thepetitor.


    Backstage.


    Nora''s heart pounded as she looked at the six judges sitting under the curtain. None of these designers


    was strange to her.


    They could only be seen at design shows or magazines, and now they were right in front of her and


    would personallyment on their resultster.


    Thinking of this, Nora felt so excited that she almost fainted.


    Of course, she couldn''t faint. She had topeteter.


    "What should I do? Derek, I, I''m so nervous. My hands are shaking." Nora held her hand tightly and


    was at a loss.


    Derek frowned without being noticed. Nora''s design ability and talent were not a problem, but she had


    little experience inpetitions.


    It all boiled down to thepany Nora worked for before.


    In a smallpany like the SPECTER Group, and with Sheldon''s secret operations, Nora''s talent was


    used to help others.


    She herself was like a pearl covered in dust, nestled in such a small ce, and had no chance to


    participate in all kinds ofpetitions.


    Today was her first step, and nervousness was inevitable.


    Derek hugged her and gently patted her on the back, "Nora, do you remember what you said about


    your dream? I hope one day I can stand on a higher stage and shine and show my design concept to


    more people."


    "Now is a good opportunity. This is your first time. Although there is no audience, there are tens of


    millions of people outside the world watching thispetition. These judges are also internationally


    renowned figures."


    "Today, as long as you get their approval, you are one step closer to your dream. You must seize this


    opportunity."


    Nora''s mood, as he said, had not been much calmed down, but the uneasiness and tension in it was


    slowly dissipating.

 Chapter 387

    Chapter 387


    "Don''t worry. You don''t have to say anything in today''s contest. All you have to do is use the scissors,


    needles and thread in your hands to present what you want to express, and that''s enough."


    "Anyway, just try hard. No matter what the result is, it''s a good challenge for you, isn''t it?"


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Derek''s words contradicted his previous encouragement. He sighed to himself. Well, he didn''t want to


    put too much pressure on Nora.


    Nora broke free from his arms, looked straight into his eyes, and pursed her lips. "... I will try hard." To


    win the contest.


    She knew very well that today''s contest was not only for herself, but more for the Xavier Group and


    Derek. She seemed to have no choice but to win.


    If, in the end, she lost...


    Nora knit her brows at this thought. She couldn''t help but think of the conversation between her and her


    friend Penelope, who had returned from a business trip from abroad two days ago.


    The first thing Penelope said after she heard about the contest was...


    "Then you have to win. Since the rules are set by Mr. Xavier, you have to take advantage of this good


    opportunity to get the theme first."


    "Nora! Don''t be so righteous and adamant. Now that things have gone this far, the contest itself doesn''t


    matter anymore. What matters is the result."


    "Keep in mind that only the winner has the right to speak. Who cares how you win the contest? No


    matter how admirable the loser is, if he loses, he''s the loser."


    "Those who haven''t seeded don''t deserve to talk about dignity. If you want that, you can pick it up


    when you''re standing at the top."


    Every word from Penelope kept lingering in her ears.


    Derek was the one setting the theme, and seemingly, he didn''t intend to reveal it to her. Meanwhile,


    Nora had never asked him about the theme before, but now...


    "Mr. Xavier, what''s the theme this time?"


    Nora heard her own light voice. It was really light, as if she hadn''t said anything at all, but when she


    said it, she was relieved.


    It seemed that asking Derek about the theme was not as difficult as she had imagined.


    It was very quiet backstage. Derek heard her words clearly, and looked astonished uncontrobly.


    Nora was embarrassed to see Derek like this, blushing. "I, didn''t I..."


    Derek covered her mouth and chuckled, his eyes full ofughter. "You don''t have to say that. I got you."


    Derek took her into his arms as he spoke, and whispered something into her ear.


    Derek was shocked by what Nora did just now. He was a businessman, and it was quite normal for him


    to take any means to get what he wanted.


    If he could, he wished he could set up the whole contest so that Nora could win beautifully, but the


    situation didn''t allow him to do so.


    At first, Derek had thought that Nora disdained to cheat, and was afraid that she would get angry if he


    told her about the theme. It didn''t ur to him that she would ask him first. What a pleasant surprise.


    In the Joneses.


    Sheldon saw the news about the contest between the Xavier Group and the Horton Family of M


    Country online. When he saw the contestant representing the Xavier Group was Nora, he sprang up


    from his bed suddenly.


    "Ah, ouch..." As a result, he tore the wounds and grimaced in pain.


    In the past few days, Sheldon''s gentle features had turned visibly ferocious, and it was all caused by


    what had happened to him during this period of time.


    Since his uncle, Sean, had already issued an ultimatum, Sheldon didn''t dare to procrastinate. He tried


    to figure out how to have Nora marry him.


    He didn''t even care about kneeling down in a coffee shop like before.


    But now, even if he wanted to kneel, he couldn''t even see the one he knelt to.


    Oddly enough, each time he went to the Xavier Group, or to Nora''s apartment, or learned about Nora''s


    schedule in advance, or on his way to intercept her...


    Anyway, as long as he was about to find that woman, something would happen to him on the way


    without exception. He had had car idents more than seven or eight times.


    Now, even he himself found it unbelievable that he could still stand here intact.


    If it happened once or twice, it could be called "an ident". However, if it happened seven or eight


    times, or even every time, it must be artificial. Even a fool could tell it, and naturally, Sheldon could also


    tell it.


    Although he survived each ident, he could still feel the pain. It was impossible for Sheldon to revert


    to his previous gentle look after him going through such a period of miserable time.


    There was only one person who could torture him like this without anyone noticing, and it was the boss


    of the Xavier Group, Derek.


    Sheldon couldn''t help but think of the scene where he was beaten up by some unknown men at the


    back door of the nightclub. He strongly suspected that the ident had something to do with that man


    too.


    Sheldon med all of the idents on that bitch Nora.


    If it weren''t for her, he wouldn''t have suffered at all. If it weren''t for her fawning upon the powerful


    people and seducing men everywhere, she would have married him long ago.


    That bitch was supposed to marry him. Now that she had a better man, she wanted to dump him. Nice


    try!


    Sheldon had turned into a totally different person after this period of torture. Even if Sean didn''t


    demand it, he swore to get that woman and teach her a lesson.


    He wanted to break her dream of marrying into a rich family. He wanted her to know that she would


    Sheldon used all his connections and finally found the ce where the contest was held today. He set


    off immediately to stop her.


    The contest had already begun in the studio.


    The two contestants, Nora and Judy, stood separately on either side of the stage. In the middle, the


    host gave a brief introduction and then announced the rules and the theme of the contest.


    "Today, we don''t have a theme, and the rules are very simple. We''ve invited a total of 100 model guests


    here. Among them, there are men and women, the old and the young, and now they are all waiting


    backstage."


    "Now, I have the number tes of the 100 guests. To make it fair, the two contestants will step forward


    and draw the number tes in my hand one by one. Each contestant will draw seven tes."


    "The requirement of the contest is as follows. The two designers have to design a set of fine clothes


    suitable for each of the seven models that they have drawn ording to their physical characteristics


    within the limited time. Finally, the six judges willment on their performances."


    In fact, Derek had already told Nora backstage, but she was still listening very carefully. Unlike her,


    Judy''s face darkened when she heard the rules.

 Chapter 388

    Chapter 388


    It was normal that there were both male models and female models. But she didn''t understand when


    he said that they were both young and old ones. Judy suddenly had a bad feeling.


    But no matter what, she was already on stage, and everything was on the air. The only thing she could


    do was to smile confidently and bravely face anything.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    In the end, she had to win the match perfectly.


    Judy breathed out a sigh of relief and calmed down. Herpetitor was just a designer from H Country


    who had won only one award with no experience in an internationalpetition, and she was rted


    to a giarism. She was relieved at the thought.


    She was confident to win her.


    Well, with absolute strength, no ident could stop her. Thinking of this, Judy beamed a smile.


    But could she be confident forever?


    Off the stage, Easton sat next to his father with a worried face. "Daddy, will mommy win?"


    Derek was so calm. He said with a faint smile, "Don''t worry, your mommy will win."


    He made a thorough investigation on Judy before specifically developed apetition process, plus...


    He openly gestured to the host on stage, who immediately understood and emphasized again.


    "Finally, let me emphasize once again that the two assistants of each designer can only assist, and this


    will also be included in the assessment score."


    "If a judge, or a judge from both sides of thepetition, discovers that the other designer break the


    rules, they can put forward on the spot."


    "For each of the seven hours of thepetition, the designer will reduce the number of assistants to


    help with each proposal. Please keep this in mind."


    As soon as the host finished speaking, Robert and the others from the Horton family put on a long face.


    They looked at each other with a hint of worry on their faces.


    Others didn''t know about Miss Judy, but they knew her very well.


    Miss Judy indeed had her own unique talent in design, coupled with the influence and training from


    childhood, her ability was not bad.


    But it''d be a problem to let her do it herself.


    Even if they knew what the problem was, they could not raise an objection in public.


    They had no idea how to do so.


    Could they say Judy only draw designs and not participate in hand-cut production?


    They couldn''t say that in front of six such famous judges.


    Even if it wasn''t a designer, anyone would have heard that there was a technical term in luxury


    clothing, which was advanced customization.


    Such clothes were all designed and made by the designer himself. It was a joke that qualified


    designers could not do it themselves.


    However...


    Judy had been spoiled by her elders since she was a child, and she got the recognition from someone


    that a designer with status just needed to do the designing.


    As for doing the work, it was all the work of her men.


    Such things like cutting and sewing were all hard works. Judy was not willing to let herself suffer. So


    her hands-on ability was really poor.


    Robert now realized why Derek epted the match without hesitation in the conference room. He was


    setting a trap for them.


    In any case, it was impossible to make any changes.


    The six judges present were able to stand at the pinnacle of fashion, and any one of them, whether in


    terms of design or hands-on, was powerful.


    Therefore, this request must be abided by in their opinion, even if not specifically made. It was what


    every designer should know.


    Judy tried her best to maintain the smile on her face, but anyone with a discerning eye could tell her


    smile was frigid.


    Judy was at a loss what to do.


    She subconsciously looked at her uncle Robert, who had a gloomy face. Robert gave her only warning


    of her dissatisfaction.


    Normally, she could be willful, but today, she had to do it herself.


    Judy was shocked. Although she was angry, she did not dare to say anything. She could only me


    Nora for this.


    Tina sat behind the Horton family seat. She didn''t know much about design, and she didn''t learn it, nor


    did she have the chance to learn. But she hoped that Judy would be defeated.


    In front of so many people and these judges, the Horton family, which made a fortune in fashion design,


    and the daughter of the Horton family, lost to an unknown designer from H Country.


    Well, she felt so great the thought of that. If it coulde true, she would like to see how embarrassed


    Judy would be.


    "Now, please choose your own seven numbered models," the host said.


    They walked forward. Judy picked the first one without hesitation, then Nora picked one, and Judy


    continued until they finished picking models.


    "Okay, let''s do it one by one."


    The host wrote down the numbers they had chosen and began to read them.


    "First, let''s bring out Miss Judy''s designer, number 15, and the model number 15, please walk out from


    backstage."


    Then, the crowd saw that the curtain on Judy''s side, a tall, plump young woman, came out, and she


    was a white person.


    The moment the model appeared, the entire studio fell into an eerily quiet atmosphere. In particr, the


    Horton family in the audience were dumbfounded.


    Easton''s eyes widened as he eximed, "Daddy, where did you find her? She''s fat." As a matter of


    fact, she was truly fat.


    Derek''s lips curved into a smile. "Ask your uncle Damian. He found her." However, he was doing it


    ording to Derek''s instructions.


    The little guy looked at Damian and was silent for a few seconds when he suddenly said, "Uncle


    Damian, you don''t like such a woman, do you?"


    Damian almost choked on his own saliva and couldn''t help but re at him. How could that be?


    Robert stood up and look at Derek with a gloomy face. "Mr. Xavier, what do you mean?" he asked.


    Derek looked at him, and asked in confusion, "Mr. Robert, why can''t I understand what you''re saying?


    Do you have any questions?"


    "This is apetition, not a game. Mr. Xavier, don''t go too far," Robert shouted through gritted teeth.


    His voice attracted the attention of the judges ahead.


    "What''s wrong?" one of the judges asked.


    Derek smiled leisurely, "Mr. Robert Horton doesn''t understand the choice of models. I was thinking


    about how to exin it to him."

 Chapter 389

    Chapter 389


    A female judge nodded and smiled at Robert, "Mr. Robert, it doesn''t matter."


    "The designing covers a lot. The models are not only runway walkers. Anyone can be a model for a


    designer."


    A male judge agreed, "That''s right. Actually, what I''m looking forward to seeing are the models who


    were chosen by the Xavier Group for thepetition."


    "Designers may have all kinds of projects every year. Although we have the right to choose for our


    status, we can''t forget our original intention."


    "For example, shouldn''t the fat girl on stage wear clothes? Designers can make dazzling people more


    eye-catching. They can also maximize the features of people with certain defects."


    "Yes. Every designer hopes to show his or her design better by a perfect model."


    "But they can''t deny or ignore the models like the fat girl. A qualified designer should contemte how


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    to design clothes to change her overall image instead of rejecting her."


    The six judges talked. They seemed so righteous, which made Robert upset.


    He just questioned Derek angrily. But he was not angry anymore. The judges said so. So he could do


    nothing but sat down with a bitter smile. His face was twisted.


    It was expected by Derek.


    He made all these rules, and he was confident that the judges would be very interested in the


    After all, they had seen too many conventional designpetitions. It was interesting to be a judge in


    such a trickypetition. After all, they were notpetitors and just needed to score.


    Some judges were even thinking about how they would design clothes for these models.


    Judy, who was on stage, looked at the fat woman. She was in a daze and almost broke down.


    She felt that her design knowledge waspletely inadequate.


    What the hell was it? Was she a model? Should she design clothes for her? Were they joking...


    She was confused, but no one would give her an answer.


    Judy Horton was much better than most ordinary designers because of the environment where she


    grew up, her identity and her talents.


    So she had both advantages and disadvantages.


    And her disadvantages could be seen today.


    All the members of the Horton family were brainstorming, but they couldn''t halt thepetition. Nora''s


    No. 37 model came after Judy''s No. 15 model.


    She was a tall and muscr model. She was 1.8 meters high and was like a weightlifter.


    The two models on the stage werepletely different, but it seemed that they had something in


    The 14 models walked on the stage. The people of the Xavier Group, Nora and judges were all


    prepared, but the members of Horton Family were numb.


    Among the 14 models, there was a fat man who weighed about 100 kilograms, a woman who was


    more muscr than sportsmen, a man who was darker than Africans, an old woman who had grey hair


    and wrinkles and even a disfigured person with extensive burns on the skin...


    The two designers stood beside their seven models. It was so eye-catching.


    The audience who were watching the screen outside the square and the audience who were watching


    the live broadcast were surprised. The number ofments and topics of thepetition soared


    tonight.


    Everyone knew what thepetition was for.


    Thepetition was full of gimmicks from the beginning. Since the models appeared, the audience


    was attracted. Increasing people were watching it. Immediately, thepetition became a top topic.


    "God, it''s incredible. It is the first time I''ve seen such models. How can they design clothes? Can they


    wear the clothes?"


    "I know Nora, the designer who was exposed to giarism before. And the truth was rified. But I


    don''t know the other beauty who has blonde hair and blue eyes."


    "She''s very famous. Do you know Horton Family in M Country? Even if you don''t know the family, you


    must know the brands such as Vanchy, Coldwell and Bugaro. They all belong to Horton Family."


    "An article about the woman was published in an international fashion magazine. She is ady of the


    Horton Family. She is also a designer and has won many awards."


    "Wow, she''s amazing."


    "No. Why doesn''t shepete with the international masters? She wants to have a sense of


    superiority in our country. So what?"


    "Yes. If you want to know what happened, check the official website of the Xavier Group. She is


    shameless and asked for apetition on purpose with a designer, who is not as good as her."


    "She is a foreigner who despises us. She should leave our country."


    "Anyway, I wish Nora to win."


    "Nonsense. Of course, our designer should win."


    Under the maniption of the Xavier Group, thements online were for Nora and the Xavier Group.


    Everything was going ording to Derek''s n.


    After the models appeared in the studio, thepetition started.


    The two designers respectively upied both sides of the grand exhibition stand. Besides the design


    table, there were seven spacious cells with a curtain for each. And the models would wait in the cell


    respectively.


    After all, seven hours was not short.


    Nora was talented, but she started to learn designte. And she didn''t study design systematically. But


    she knew the rules in advance and was mentally prepared.


    Therefore, she was serious even when she faced so unique models.


    Judy was totally different from her.


    If she didn''t know that thepetition would be broadcasted live, she would turn around and left.


    What the hell was thepetition?


    She was in a daze and had no idea. She was disgusted to see the models. How could she design


    clothes for them?


    No matter what happened to Judy, Nora already started topose.

 Chapter 390

    Chapter 390


    There were seven models, including six women and one man. So Nora thought of the seven colors of


    the rainbow.


    The conception might be a bit tacky. It didn''t matter if the design was amazing.


    First of all, she roughly divided the seven colors ording to the skin cr and body shape of the


    seven models.


    And then she started topose.


    While she wasposing, she asked her two design assistants to pick out the cloth of seven colors


    and the cloth of the simr colors as soon as possible.


    She cut a piece of cloth of every color ording to her data and the size of the models for backup.


    Nora progressed in an orderly manner, while Judy still made no progress.


    She didn''t hide her expression and she was disgusted. When the judges and the audience saw her,


    they frowned deeply.


    Thements on the Inte were updated in time when thepetition was broadcasted live.


    "What''s she doing? Is she here to be funny? Although they have seven hours in thepetition, it''s not


    easy to design seven outfits."


    "She asked for thepetition herself. But now she despises the models. It''s so speechless."


    "Yes. Why must every model be beautiful with white skin and long legs? Ordinary people are human as


    well. Miss Horton, If you can''t make it, you can just quit."


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "I think the models are good. We can judge their ability from their designs for the models."


    "Give you a thumbs-up."


    "Me too."


    "Is the foreign beauty really a designer? I just found out that the so-called foreign designers can only


    design for specific people. Hehe."


    "Look at our designer. She is not so picky."


    The Horton Family on the spot temporarily didn''t know thements online.


    The branchpanies of the Xavier Group were in many countries. And thepetition was


    broadcasted live at home and abroad at the same time.


    Therefore, not only the people in the design circle of F Country, but also several big design families in


    M Country watched thepetition.


    In particr, the design families of M Country seemed to be peaceful but theypeted with each


    other in private. Judy Horton made a big fool of the family of the Horton.


    The head of the Horton family, who was watching the live broadcast on the Inte, looked so gloomy.


    He called Robert several times, but he couldn''t get through.


    Derek did it to prevent any idents in thepetition.


    The signal from the entire studio wouldn''t be affected in H Country. But they could only make


    international calls seven hourster.


    And Robert and other family numbers on the spot didn''t know that thepetition was broadcasted


    live. They thought it was just broadcasted in H Country. But under the maniption of Derek, it was


    also broadcasted abroad.


    And Robert also didn''t know that his brother, the head of the Horton family, was so angry that he


    wanted to strangle him.


    Robert was in the studio.


    When Robert saw that Judy hadn''t done anything, he was so angry that he wanted to p her. She


    shouldn''t be in a daze now.


    When he saw the expressions of the judges, he was so anxious. He stared at his niece and couldn''t


    help but shout, "Judy, what are you waiting for? Do it now."


    Nobody stopped him. After all, there were only two designers, and Judy should also start to design.


    Judy jerked and looked at her uncle and her face turned pale. Robert looked angry.


    He stared at her. She thought that her uncle was so angry that he wanted to kill her. She was shocked.


    Judy gritted her lips and looked at Nora. She took a deep breath and suppressed all the negative


    emotions. She didn''t change her expression and tried to calm down to start to design.


    Compared with the Horton family, it was much easier for the Xavier Group.


    Easton red at Robert and said, "Dad, he reminded her. Didn''t he break the rule?"


    Derek touched his little head, "Never mind. Even he reminded Judy, she wouldn''t win."


    "But if he doesn''t remind her, the crzay woman will be in a daze until the end of the game. It''s great."


    The little boy pouted.


    Derek shook his head. How could they allow Judy to stay in a daze? Even if Robert didn''t say anything,


    the judges would remind her.


    Moreover, if Nora won when Judy did nothing, it seemed unfair. So it was better that Judy started to


    design.


    Because even she started, she wouldn''t be outstanding in the current state. It was not easy for her to


    design seven clothes in time.


    Derek smile. He seemed charming.


    No matter what the result was and how the process was, the Horton family asked for thepetition,


    and the Xavier Group just epted the challenge. What''s more, there were six authoritative judges.


    Thepetition was so authoritative.


    Derek specially arranged it and Judy could just make a fool of herself.


    Among her seven models, she was unlucky to have a woman and a man with disfigurements. One had


    a 70 percent burn on her entire body, and the other one was ugly for white and gray skin because of


    the natural skin disease.


    How could Judy, the arrogant and domineering richdy, calm down when she faced them?


    "Ah, don''t touch me..."


    In the quiet studio, Judy screamed in disgust.


    When Judy came over with a cloth ruler, the woman with burns subconsciously raised her arms. She


    thought that Judy was going to measure her.


    But when she reached out her arms, Judy immediately backed away in fear and screamed. Her face


    turned pale.


    The woman with disfigured skin was very brave to be a model in front of the screen.


    Of course, she was paid a lot of money by the Xavier Group. She just needed to stand in the stage for


    seven hours and she could get arge sum of money. Of course, she wouldn''t reject them.


    Although she was mentally prepared, she was hurt by Judy. So she lowered her head and held her


    clothes hesitantly.


    "I... I''m sorry, I didn''t mean it." The girl apologized softly.


    Comparing Judy''s attitude with the girl''s apology, the judges had a very bad impression of Judy.

 Chapter 391

    Chapter 391


    Seeing this, some bad-tempered people watching the live broadcast on the back of the venue


    immediately cursed out, and so did those watching this online.


    Damian who was sitting in the area for the Xavier Group sighed and said, "Why do people keep


    creating trouble for themselves? This Miss Horton is so good at her job."


    Derek''s smile broadened.


    They did have made some preparations, but this woman was ying a supporting role.


    The faces of those from the Horton family were livid. Robert stared at Judy as if he was about to rush


    onto the stage and strangle her at any moment.


    At this moment, Robert regretted having proposed thepetition.


    Judy waspletely unaware of the public anger she had caused and did not respond to the model


    girl''s apology at all. She still looked disgusted at the model.


    She took a deep breath and threw the ruler to her assistant with a gloomy face, asking her assistant to


    measure the model.


    While Nora was concentrating on her work, and there was a girl who had been burned all over in her


    team.


    There were burn marks on her arms, thighs, neck, and face.


    She looked at the female model in front of her, with no fear or disgust on her face. She fell into her own


    thoughts while looking at the drawings in front of her.


    It was summer when people wore less. But there were too many scars on the model. Even if she could


    cover the model''s lower body and arms, what about the neck?


    Nora frowned. If she did this, the model would look heavy. The most difficult part was the face.


    How could she cover up these scars, and at the same time, reflect the cool summer...


    Suddenly, something shed through her mind. She knew what she could do.


    A faint smile slowly formed at the corner of Nora''s mouth. She quickly began to draw. Fortunately, the


    model with burn marks was tall and had a nice shape, making it easier for her to design.


    She put her thoughts into a design. And quickly, a sleeveless, strapless, light blue dress with scales


    appeared.


    Nora also carefully observed the size and location of the scars on the model''s arms and neck, as well


    as the color of the scars on her face. She then marked them down on her design.


    She took the blue cloth and took the cloth of dark blue and light blue. She quickly cut out the outline of


    the model and began to sew it by machine.


    It was just a crude sample, so it was easy to make, and Nora finished it in a few minutes.


    Nora brought the model into thepartment and asked her to try it on to see if there was anything


    she needed to change.


    She then asked two assistants for help. One entered thepartment and, as she requested, put


    makeup on the model. The other attached graduated blue scales to her sample dress.


    Nora took a deep breath and looked at her second model.


    Judy, on the other hand, frowned with the pen in her hand after receiving the data that her assistant


    had got. She really couldn''t do it. The woman was disgusting! Even if she put the diamond on her body,


    she was still disgusting.


    She had never been in such a ridiculouspetition.


    As a result, she had wasted half an hour. She didn''t have one design now. She simply threw down the


    pen and ignored the model. Instead of wasting time, she decided to do another one.


    She looked at her first model, a plump, fair-skinned woman.


    Judy nced at the fat around her waist and abdomen in disgust, then withdrew her gaze and began to


    sketch on the paper with a pen in her hand. She was a European.


    For this type of model, the first thing that came to her mind was the European court dress. That kind of


    court dress could cover the fat below the waist, but the part upper the waist should be slim. Only then


    the model and dress would look pretty.


    She was very upset, but she didn''t stop drawing. She had to have an outline.


    The court dress was veryplicated, especially the patterns and essories on it. If she lost those,


    there would be something missing.


    Judy hadpletely forgotten the time limit for thepetition, and she was drawing angrily.


    Although not even one-seventh of the time had passed, the six judges had a rough guess of the result.


    No matter how talented Miss Judy was in design, ording to the rules of thispetition, she was


    more than 70% likely to lose.


    Seven hours was not too much for a designer who had to design seven sets of clothes.


    But for those watching this, it was a solid seven hours.


    The six judges could take a break.


    It was impossible for the audience outside to watch this for seven hours, so the crowd gradually


    dispersed after a while. Some decided to watch the reyter and some decided to go home and


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    watch the live broadcast now.


    Few people madements or argued online for a while.


    Derek looked at his son who looked sleepy, smiled, and put him on hisp. "Have a nap."


    The little guy shook his head and said, "I don''t want to miss mom''spetition."


    "You won''t. There are more than two hours left. I''ll wake you up when time''s up. I won''t let you miss it."


    Easton was too sleepy. He liked running around in the first ce. It was a miracle that he could sit


    quietly for so long.


    In the end, he could not resist the drowsiness and fell asleep in his father''s arms.


    Damian frowned. "Boss, seven dresses in seven hours? Is it too difficult?"


    Speaking of which, Derek also felt he had made a little mistake. When he made the rules, he was just


    thinking about how to make things difficult for Judy Horton, so he forgot that his wife would be in the


    He frowned and did not speak.


    But Derek was worried for nothing. It was normal for a designer to spend the whole day drawing.


    Time passed by.


    More than five hourster, Nora hadpleted the designs of six models and was now working on the


    Her two assistants were nowhere were in thepartment, putting makeup on the model, putting on


    clothes, doing some changes, and so on.


    At first, Nora would try her best to make her models look as stunning as possible.

 Chapter 392

    Chapter 392


    Soon, she realized that it was impossible.


    The designer''s inspiration shed in a split second. It was impossible to have seven inspirations within


    seven hours. If she paid too much attention to be perfect, she would neverplete seven designs in a


    given time.


    Nora was good at adjusting her mood and expectations. Since she couldn''t be perfect, she took a step


    back and tried to make some innovations. As long as the clothes suited the models, she would do a


    good job.


    If there were one or two sets of clothes, she would be satisfied.


    After lowering her expectations, Nora suddenly had more ideas in her mind.


    The six judges under the stage were no longer paying their attention to Judy, because she was still


    working on the third set, and ording to thepetition rules, she had already lost.


    Judy wanted to quit hours ago. Unlike other designers, she had a big problem with doing designs for


    seven hours in a row.


    As thedy of the Horton Family, she got to design what she wanted to and at any time. She had


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    participated inpetitions in the past, but she only had to design one set of clothes in two hours.


    The patriarch of the Horton Family in M Country, like Robert in the studio, didn''t think Judy would win.


    What they were thinking of now was how to minimize the impact of thispetition, whether on the


    Horton Family or on Judy.


    In the middle of thepetition, Robert tried to get out of the studio and call the head of the Horton


    Family but was stopped by staff members of the Xavier Group.


    ording to the rules of thepetition, as thepanion of the participant, he was not allowed to go


    out before the end of thepetition.


    Finally, seven hours were over, and everyone breathed a sign of relief.


    For Judy, it was a relief too. She had no idea what was waiting for her. At this moment, she just wanted


    thepetition to end soon. She wanted to return home immediately and nevere to this ce


    again.


    She didn''t care about the result of thepetition at all. These seven hours were driving her crazy.


    Nora finished all her designs 20 minutes before time was up. In thest 20 minutes, she did a final


    check.


    The host, who had disappeared for seven hours, reappeared on the stage.


    The audience outside watching the live broadcast also gathered just in time. Those watching this online


    began to makements too.


    "The seven-hourpetition is finally over. Thank you, every judge. All right, now, let''s focus on the


    two contestants."


    "Let''s take a look at Miss Judy''s work first. Miss Judy''s models, please walk out of thepartment


    one by one and our judges will makements."


    At this moment, thements on the Inte increased crazily, and many people were mocking Judy.


    "I''m sure once again that this woman named Judy is here to amuse us."


    "I agree. She went into much trouble toe to our country to amuse us. We must thank her."


    "Hrious. You are a genius."


    "I fast forwarded the video and found this woman seemed to have only designed three sets, which


    were far less than seven. I think she can get off the stage now. I even feel embarrassed for her."


    "Look at our designers. We don''t know she is good at designing, but at least she is conscientious.


    There are big-time judges today, but that foreign woman didn''t take this seriously. She is really bold."


    "Our designer is not only conscientious but also good at her job. Didn''t the giarism be cleared up a


    while ago? This Nora is the winner."


    "No need to watch anymore. Everyone knows who the winner will be."


    Not to mention thements on the Inte, at this time, after seven hours, their phones had


    receptions now. Poor Robert Horton didn''t want to know how Judy was doing. He immediately went out


    to call the head of the Horton Family in M Country.


    "Sir, this is how thepetition is like... We have to do something immediately."


    There was silence on the other end of the phone. All Robert could hear were heavy breaths.


    Robert was stunned, looked at the phone, and said cautiously, "Sir?"


    "You idiot."


    The next second, an roar sounded, scaring Robert so much that he almost threw his phone away. He


    stood dumbfounded by the scolding.


    The head of the Horton Family yelled at Robert on the phone with a ferocious face. Robert finally came


    back to his senses and his face turned pale with fright.


    "What? It''s live in M Country too?" How did that happen?


    "Not only in M Country! All the branches of Xavier Group are broadcasting this. We are humiliated."


    The head of the Horton Family usually doted on his daughter Judy the most, but at this moment, he just


    wanted to strangle that fool.


    If it was only broadcast live in H Country, even after seven hours, they could think of a way to fix it, but


    what about now? It had been broadcast in so many countries. The Horton Family was not powerful


    enough to make the video stop or disappear in so many countries.


    None of this affected the finalment in the studio.


    Only three of Judy''s models were standing next to her, and the other four had already left.


    The three of them were an old man, a fat woman, and that girl who had been disfigured and despised


    by Judy in the beginning.


    The girl''s face and skin were ruined, but her figure was the best of the several models.


    So it was the easiest to design a set of clothes for her.


    Judy thought of all the balls and parties she attended at home, and among them, there were many


    masquerades.


    She decided to design a dress for a masquerade for this disgusting woman and cover her whole body.


    All she had to do was show everyone the clothes she designed.


    "This woman is like a rack for her design and she would ignore her," Judy thought.


    In this way,pared with the fat woman and the old man, the dress this girl who Judy hated was


    wearing was the most outstanding.


    It was a gorgeous golden dress. Both arms were covered with pure whitece, covering the scars on


    her arms. The girl was also wearing a golden feather mask.


    The design alone was great, but ording to the rules of thepetition and the intention of selecting


    these special models, the judges were still strict, so Judy received only half marks.


    Judy''s face darkened. She knew that she had little hope of winning thispetition, but she couldn''t


    ept it.

 Chapter 393

    Chapter 393


    She thought that if she could have a striking design, she might be able to win even if Nora had seven


    designs.


    After all, it would be useless if there were no special designs.


    She was very confident with her golden dress, but she didn''t expect that the judges under the stage


    would only give her 50 % after discussion.


    What a joke!


    Judy was furious, but her remaining reason prevented her from losing her temper, and she took a deep


    breath.


    "About my golden dress, I want to know yourment on it so that I can have progress."


    The six judges had been in this circle so long. They could know Judy''s dissatisfaction from her tone. If


    it wasn''t for her identity, they wouldn''t have cared about her at all.


    "Miss Judy, this golden dress of yours is indeed very good in design."


    "But this is not your private design studio. This is thepetition. All the standards, except for the work


    itself, still have a system."


    "ording to the rules of thepetition, the reason why these models are selected is to test the


    diversity and changeability of the designer''s inspiration."


    "The final criterion for thispetition is the ability to erase the body defects of the model with


    exquisite fashion design and cover up their shorings."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    "Miss Judy''s design is good, but how''s the model like with your design? The design is for people first,


    then clothes. You''vepletely reversed the point."


    "Any art has spirituality. Spirituality is given by people. What we want to see is the overall appearance


    of the model with the designed dress, but you only showed us the effect of the dress. You missed the


    important point, so we can only give you half the score."


    Judy was speechless, but her face remained pale.


    She could not refute the words of these people, but in her mind, she was very disapproving. She did


    not care about spirituality and the models.


    From her point of view, since it was a fashion designpetition, it should be based on clothing.


    Whoever designed the most beautiful clothes should be the champion.


    These models from nowhere didn''t deserve her to design clothes.


    As for the other two models, the old man''s clothes were not outstanding. It was very ordinary, and the


    score was very low.


    As for the fat woman''s ancient clothes, well, they had been designed, but they weren''t on the fat model


    at all because they couldn''t be worn.


    Judy had barely known the figure data that didn''t fit the supermodel, and the model was so much fat


    that even if Judy intentionally increased the size of her waist, the model still couldn''t put it on.


    So, thest set of ancient clothes was worn on the wooden model, with the fat girl standing next to it.


    However, the problem came again. The model''s figure was standard. Because of the increase in size


    when the dress was designed, it was very unfit to put the design on the model, so the score was very


    low.


    Each outfit had a full score of 100 points, and the seven outfits had a total score of 700 points. In the


    end, Judy didn''t even have a score of 100 points.


    If not for the six judges'' status, the people from Robert Family would have left long ago.


    Judy still stood on the stage angrily. Her eyes, like knives, were constantly fixed on Nora opposite her.


    She wanted to see what kind of good dress that that bitch across from her could design. Hmph.


    "Okay, now, let''s take a look at Miss Gray''s design." The host said.


    Nora took a deep breath, opened the firstpartment, held the model''s hand, and walked with the


    model to the center of the stage.


    On the huge screen behind the stage, the former appearance of the first model appeared at the same


    time, so that a clearerparison could be made.


    The six judges felt their eyes light up, then they talked to each other and nodded from time to time.


    The girl next to Nora had burns all over her body like the former model, but their design style was


    The dress the girl was wearing was like a mermaid in a fairy tale.


    The gradually changing blue scale dress wrapped the model''s curvy body. The upper part of the waist,


    namely the chest part, was designed with a hollowed-out light yarn.


    Most importantly, the burned areas in the model''s arms and neck, which were exposed to the air, were


    all covered with beautiful scales of varying depths to cover up the ugly scars.


    The covering of these scales perfectlyplemented the scale skirt on her body, and the design was


    perfect.


    And about the model''s facial features, after makeup, the scars had faded a lot.


    Nora used a few colorful pigments, mainly blue, to paint some beautiful floral patterns at the corners of


    her eyes, chin, and cheekbones, then she sprinkled with fluorescent powder.


    She curled the model''s long hair and didn''t tie up the hair, then she put some fluorescent powder on the


    model''s hair.


    Under this kind of dreamy effect, the young girl standing in front of herpletely changed. She was


    no longer a person full of scars and she waspletely a beautiful mermaid princess in the fairy tale


    now.


    It had to be said that with all aspects of the setting, the transformation was very sessful, and the


    judges gave her 98 points.


    Derek was the first to apud, and Easton, who had already woken up, shouted without any scruples,


    "Mom is so great."


    Unlike their excitement, the people from Robert Family and Judy, who were on stage, had sullen faces.


    But this kind of appearance, which could not afford to lose thepetition, was even more


    contemptible.


    Nora''s next six models appeared in turn. Although they were not as eye-catching as the first model in


    terms of transformation, the designs were all good ideas.


    To be able to design seven different styles of outstanding clothing in seven hours was already very


    good. In the end, Nora''s total score was 580 points.


    She won without a doubt.


    With the signal of the people arranged by Derek, the reporters who had been waiting for a long time all


    rushed to the front of the people of Horton Family and surrounded them.


    "Miss Judy, I heard that you always got rewards in the previouspetition. What do you want to say


    when you lose thispetition?"


    "Miss Judy, you looked unhappy the whole time. Are you dissatisfied with the judges''ments?"


    "I heard that you initiated thispetition, but now you lose. Do you regret it?"


    "..."


    All kinds of questions came one after another, and Judy, who was holding her temper, couldn''t stand in


    an instant, so she cursed in Chinese and English alternately.


    The people from Xavier Group walked out easily.


    Of course, he didn''t forget Sheldon, who had been waiting outside. He had directly tricked Nora into


    taking a special passage. As for the aftermath, he naturally handed it to his assistant, Damian.

 Chapter 394

    Chapter 394


    Sheldon, who had been waiting patiently outside, had no idea that his target had long gone by car from


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    another road and was still waiting outside.


    As for the cornered people from the Horton family? Derek had no intention of saving them.


    After all, the request for media''s witness was put forward by Mr. Robert before thepetition. So they


    asked for this.


    By the way, the live channel was online the whole time, so the attitude of the Horton family in the face


    of the media was also broadcasted. Oh oh.


    As for the six judges, Derek had a good impression of them. He treated them well and then he booked


    them first-ss tickets for the flight the next day.


    Evening at the Emperor Grande Hotel.


    The Horton family, except for Judy and Tina, were all in Robert''s room. They had an urgent video


    conference with the head of the family of the Horton in M Country to discuss how to resolve this matter.


    As for the culprit of losing the game and causing all this, Judy Horton, no one had the spare time to


    care about her at the moment.


    Judy sat in her suite with aputer in her hand and logged on to her foreign blog. Sure enough, the


    Seeing that almost 90 % of thements were mocking her opinions, Judy felt as if her heart was


    being roasted by a ball of fire and she was painful to death.


    "Ah..."


    She screamed angrily and smashed theputer in her hand. With her blonde hair, she looked like a


    raging lioness.


    Just then, Tina walked out of the bathroom in her pajamas, brushing her hair after a shower, and their


    eyes met.


    Judy usually treated Tina as a servant and a punching bag, without any respects, not to mention now.


    She had be an object to release her fury.


    Originally, Judy came with the negotiating team this time, and Tina followed her as a servant to take


    care of her.


    "Tina, you must be very happy that I lost today." Judy''s tone and eyes were sinister.


    Tina was really ecstatic. She had never been so happy before. In her mind, Judy was always high and


    mighty,manding everyone to do as she likes.


    Tina was naturally excited that she had made such a big mistake today, but of course, she wouldn''t say


    it out.


    In particr, there was something obviously wrong with Judy''s expression at the moment, so Tina was


    secretly vignt.


    "Of course not, Judy. I know you''re in a bad mood, but thispetition was an ident. Just let it go."


    Her constion did not have any effect. Judy''s face darkened even more and she said without


    hesitation, "You''re lying."


    As she spoke, she strode over and grabbed her hair, "don''t think that I don''t know what you''re thinking.


    You must be gloating at me for losing the game and losing so much face."


    "You must be like those bitches on the Inte, scolding me in your heart andughing at me, right?


    You''re all bitches, all of you deserve to die."


    Tina did not expect her to strike suddenly. Her hair was caught in her hand, and her scalp was about to


    explode in pain.


    "No, I have never thought of that. Believe me, Judy. We''re sisters, aren''t we? How can Iugh at you?


    Please, let go. It hurts so much, ah..."


    Judy''s face was grim and she grinned, "Yeah, we''re sisters. We''re different. You''re in pain, aren''t you?


    We''re sisters. We have to suffer together if one of us has suffered."


    She looked as if she had suffered a great deal from losing the game, her mind was twisted, her hands


    were even more forceful, arge part of Tina hair was torn by her, and blood oozed out of her scalp.


    Tina couldn''t stand it. She screamed and screamed. The pain brought with it the anger that had been


    suppressed in her heart. For the first time, she resisted. She grabbed Judy''s hand, turned around, and


    reached out to grab Judy''s arm. Her sharp nails pierced into her flesh.


    The screams of the two women mark the beginning of their scuffle.


    "Ah, you bitch, how dare you attack me." Judy gasped in pain. She was so mad that her face turned


    red and she smashed all the objects in the room at Tina.


    Tina, too, stared at her fiercely, and the years of resentment and anger in her heart erupted in an


    instant, no less than Judy''s fury.


    In the living room of the spacious suite, it was a mess. On the ground, broken ss and porcin were


    everywhere. The two women were stained with blood all over their bodies and looked very miserable.


    Tina was so red that he stood behind the sofa, picked up a chair, and threw it at her.


    Judy subconsciously avoided it, but identally stepped on a piece of ss fragment under her feet.


    Screaming in pain, she slipped and fell down.


    The tragedy was that the ce where she fell was right in the densest area of the tiles. Not only did


    those tiles stick to her body, but the chair she threw over made the tiles on the ground shot.


    A porcin fragment near Judy flew directly into Judy''s right eye, deeply rooted, and blood burst at


    once.


    "Ah..."


    Tina was stunned and stared nkly at the bloody scene in front of her. Her brain, which was


    controlled by anger, suddenly woke up. Her face turned from red to pale.


    Tonight is destined to be another sleepless night.


    Derek only got the news the next day. Judy''s eye was hurt and she had been sent home overnight.


    Derek contacted the head of the branch in M Country and learned that ording to the extent of Judy''s


    injury, the probability of being blind was as high as 80 % or 90%.


    It was so sad.


    Derek''s penthouse conference room.


    The exhausted Horton came here again. What a familiar scene.


    It was the same conference room, the same people on both sides. The difference was that the once


    confident Horton family was very frustrated now.


    The outsiders who didn''t know what was going may think that they were attending a funeral.


    The two sides faced each other. Instead of speaking, Robert snorted heavily and red at Derek in the


    beginning. His eyes were gloomy and he was very unkind.


    Derek didn''t care. After all, why bother with the loser?


    Today, the two sides gathered in the conference room again to discuss the unsigned cooperation


    before thepetition.


    Robert and the head of the Horton, although furious at thepetition, would not immediately cancel


    the cooperation this time and return home.


    After all, expanding their cooperation was what they wanted in the end.


    At thest meeting, the final distribution of the profit was 40% to 60 %. Although the Horton family was


    dissatisfied, they were too embarrassed to bargain after they lost thepetition so badly.

 Chapter 395

    Chapter 395


    Most importantly, even if they wanted to renegotiate, the Xavier Group would not allow that to happen.


    In that case, it would be better to give up.


    "This is a new contract drawn up by our Horton Family. ording to Mr. Xavier''s request, the Xavier


    Group gets 60%."


    Robert took out the agreement, almost gnashing his teeth.


    However...


    Derek looked at the contract in front of him with a faint smile in his eyes. He turned his gaze after one


    nce and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.


    This perfunctory look made Robert and others angry.


    "Mr. Xavier, what do you mean by that?" He asked, suppressing his anger.


    Damian, with an official smile on his face, said, "Mr. Robert, our president means that what you just


    said is wrong."


    "Wrong? Isn''t that your request?" Robert''s tone was harsh.


    Damian''s face remained calm and said slowly, "That the Xavier Group gets 60% is indeed our minimum


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    requirement, but this is before thepetition."


    Robert, "..."


    His face froze. No one was an idiot here.


    When he realized what Damian implied, his face suddenly changed. He looked violently furious and


    stared at Damian as if he was going to eat Damian alive.


    But Damian didn''t care. He said directly without waiting for them to speak.


    "Our Xavier Group has branches all over the world and is in a lot of fields, so our president is very busy


    and his schedule is set up preciously every day."


    "And this time, because of the Horton Family''s visit and intention of cooperation, our president


    specifically freed nearly a week for receiving."


    At this point, Damian looked at them, raised his eyebrows, and continued, "This cooperation could be


    settled within a week, but Mr. Robert, you insisted on holding apetition."


    "Mr. Robert, you have messed up our CEO''s schedule, and we haven''tined. Now that the


    negotiations?"


    Damian said with a slight smile, "Most importantly, we won thepetition, not you."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the entire conference room was silent, and even the air around it


    seemed to be frozen.


    The people from the Horton Family were all furious and red at the shareholders of the Xavier Group


    across from them after the trantors delivered the message.


    Xavier Group''s shareholders were tough, and their eyes were full of disdain in the face of burning eyes


    from the Horton Family.


    Robert''s hand was tightly clenched. He never expected this to happen. How dare the Xavier Group...


    Well, why wouldn''t they dare?


    This was their territory, and he should have noticed it from the start of the game.


    At this moment, as if the fire was not strong enough.


    Derek slowly opened his eyes, looked at his watch, and then stood up, unhurried... He left without


    giving Robert a look.


    Damian was stunned and smiled instantly, "I''m sorry, our president has a meeting to holdter. I''ll have


    full authority in the next cooperation discussion with you."


    Robert couldn''t stand it any longer and mmed the table, "What does Derek mean by that? I don''t


    think you want to cooperate with us at all."


    Damian''s smile slowly controlled, "Why are you so angry, Mr. Robert? Of course, if the patriarch of the


    Horton Family is here, then it is totally fine that our president would spend more time here."


    The implication was that you were just an employee from the Horton Family, not the patriarch of the


    Horton Family. It would be a great honor for Robert that Derek personally entertained him in the early


    stage.


    Robert''s mind was in a daze and he was so angry that he almost vomited blood, but all of a sudden he


    was too angry to refute it.


    Damian didn''t bother to waste any more time with them. As the all-around assistant of Derek, he was


    very busy every day.


    He took out a document, "This is drawn by our Xavier Group. Seventy percent of the profit shall be


    given to the Xavier Group. More detailed regtions are in it. You can take your time."


    "If there are no other problems, we can sign the contract today."


    Robert shuddered and was about to make a few sarcastic remarks when Damian thought of something


    and continued, "Oh here is one more thing. This contract, ording to our president''s style, should be


    valid only today."


    "Mr. Robert, if you can''t make a decision within today and dy it to another day, some of the terms in


    this contract may change."


    The implication was that this condition was avable today. If it was dyed until tomorrow, it might be


    invalid, but... Ho ho.


    With one sentence, Robert shut up, but the shaking became more obvious.


    Robert was a direct descendant of the Horton Family. It had been a long time since anyone had dared


    to irritate him like this.


    Although he was angry, after taking a few breaths, he did not dare to dy for any longer. It was


    another overseas call to the patriarch of the Horton Family to report the situation here.


    In the end, the expansion partnership between the Horton Family and the Xavier Group was signed in


    ordance with Derek''s request but the duration of the cooperation was changed from five years to


    two years.


    This was requested by the Horton Family, and the Xavier Group agreed.


    Finally, this overseas cooperation was finally over. Although the process was frightening and


    dangerous, the lion''s share was on Xavier Group''s side.


    ...


    In the Joneses


    The servants looked at each other in the courtyard and listened to the thumping sounds from inside the


    house from time to time, which made them frightened. They found that Young Master Sheldon''s temper


    had gotten more and more irritable recently.


    In the living room, Sheldon smashed the house with a baseball bat, treating this stuff as Nora and


    Derek so as to vent his anger.


    Because he was beaten up again.


    Sheldon was wearing a ck shirt with no scars on his body, but his face was miserable. His


    handsome face was terribly hurt now.


    Not only were there bruises, but his entire face was almost twice as swollen as before. His cheekbones


    were bulging, making him extremely ugly.


    It was the first time he turned to be so ugly since he was a child.


    During this period of time, Sheldon was almost going crazy. He suffered the physical and mental injury.


    After venting his anger, he stopped, panting. His face hurt so much that he was furious. His oral cavity


    was congested, and the pain made him unable to eat or drink.


    Nobody knew if Sheldon got used to it, after venting his anger, he gradually calmed down.


    Seeing this, the butler who was waiting at the side carefully hand over the towel. Only when he saw


    that Sheldon had taken it did he breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Young Master, I have some news about that Miss Garcia."


    Sheldon''s eyes lit up and he looked at him fiercely. He turned his head too fast and his muscles was


    strained. His nose felt sore out of the pain and he gritted his teeth in anger.


    "Say it."

 Chapter 396

    Chapter 396


    "Miss Garcia was arranged abroad by thepany for a business trip. She just returned recently."


    There was finally some good news. Sheldon felt batter, "Then what are you waiting for? Stick to the


    n."


    "Yes, Young Master."


    In the J City Hospital,


    Sheldon was lying in the VIP ward with the butler standing beside him. The butler had ady''s phone in


    his hand. They sent someone to steal this phone from Penelope without being noticed.


    He nned to deceive Nora by torturing himself. Of course, the premise was that Nora could be


    connected.


    Sheldon had never tried to call Nora from other phone numbers, but he couldn''t damn get through to


    her. He wondered if Nora had changed her phone number behind his back.


    Therefore, there was really no choice but to do so.


    Now, when he checked the address list on Penelope''s phone, he realized Nora didn''t change her


    number.


    Nora picked up the phone very quickly and a smiling voice sounded, "Penelope, what''s wrong?"


    Sheldon''s face was gloomy and his breathing was heavy. Damn it. So it turned out that he was the only


    one who couldn''t get in touch with her.


    The butler held the phone and began to act ording to the prearranged n. He sounded anxious.


    "Miss Gray, it''s me, Butler Qin."


    Nora, who was staying at home, was shocked. She checked the caller ID again and frowned, "Butler


    Qin? How could it be you? Isn''t it Penelope''s phone?"


    Butler Qin ignored her question and went straight to the point, "Miss Gray, Young Master is in the


    hospital, and he''s dying. If you have time,e to visit him immediately."


    Nora was even more surprised, "Hold on, Butler Qin. What did you say? What happened to Sheldon?"


    "It''s not something that can be exined in a single sentence. Young Master had an ident. He was


    beaten up so badly that he had been in the ICU for a long time before his condition stabilized."


    "Miss Gray, no matter what happens between you and Young Master, he has always been cared about


    you. I''m begging you. Come to see him."


    After she hung up the phone, she feltplicated all of a sudden. If it wasn''t for this call, she seemed...


    It had been a long time since she thought of Sheldonst time as if he hadn''t existed in her life.


    Thinking of this, Nora felt guilty.


    No matter what, during the five years she lost her memory, Sheldon did help her a lot. It could be said


    that without Sheldon, she didn''t know what would happen to her now.


    Now that she recalled, ever since Sheldon proposed to her, it seemed like he had disappeared. So it


    turned out that he was injured and hospitalized.


    Whether she had feelings for Sheldon or not, since Sheldon was hurt, she should go to see if he


    needed her help.


    The next day.


    It was Sunday, so there was no need to ask for leave. Since Nora worried about him, she got up early,


    bought some supplements, and went straight to the hospital.


    So much so that Easton, who was on holiday, came to a locked door.


    The little guy was dumbfounded. He was going to surprise his mother, so now he frowned.


    When the bodyguard Adam saw his expression, he asked cautiously, "Do you need me to check Miss


    Gray''s whereabouts?"


    Easton blinked and nodded immediately, "Yes, hurry."


    Adam nodded and turned to go downstairs.


    He didn''t need to investigate at all. He just needed to call Nora''s secret bodyguards.


    Nora was protected by someone. Not only did Nora not know, but the little guy also didn''t know, so the


    investigation needed to be implemented in dark.


    Adam came back very quickly and he looked a little troubled.


    "Where is my mom?" The little guy asked.


    "At J City hospital."


    "Yes? The hospital? Is my mom sick?" The little boy was worried.


    Adam pulled the corner of his mouth, "Little Young Master, don''t worry. Miss Gray seems to be visiting


    someone."


    Easton breathed a sigh of relief and said casually, "Well, who is that?"


    "Sheldon."


    Easton, "..."


    The little guy really didn''t expect that he would hear this name, his fair and tender face suddenly froze,


    and then slowly twisted.


    So it was Sheldon.


    That man''s appearance and fake smile urred to his mind all of a sudden. Damn, how could this man


    appear again that he almost forgot him?


    Adam looked at his Little Young Master''s expression, and he knew very well who that man was. He


    thought of when contacting Miss Gray''s bodyguards, there was fear in their voices.


    That made sense. His boss was on guard against this Sheldon. After all this time, he didn''t expect Miss


    Gray to meet him again in the hospital.


    He could imagine how gloomy his boss would be when he found out about this, and how terrified the


    cold aura on his body would be. Tsk, tsk, he silently mourned for Nora''s bodyguards for a second.


    "Hmph, let''s go. At least Sheldon and I have some history. Since he''s in the hospital, let''s go visit him."


    The little guy said with a cold little face.


    Derek was the first to receive the news while he was in a video conference, listening to the reports from


    department managers of the headquarters.


    When he found out that, his face was terribly gloomy so that the sales manager who was speaking was


    scared to death, and he almost bit his tongue. Cold sweat broke out in an instant.


    The sales manager''s heart kept thumping. What happened to Mr. President?


    Was he dissatisfied with the sales performance in the first half of the year? But it had risen by five


    points. He was quite pleased before the meeting. He didn''t expect that Mr. President was still


    dissatisfied with the five points increase?


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    The sales manager couldn''t help but burst into tears.


    "Email me the contents of today''s meeting." After Derek said that, he hung up the video call.


    Damian was surprised, "Sheldon is in the hospital? But how did he contact Miss Gray? Mr. Xavier, do


    you want me to check?"


    Of course.


    Derek nodded, "Get me the surveince of his ward." It was a piece of cake to get the surveince


    footage in his mouth.


    After a few words with his men over there, Damian handed the tablet over, "Little Young Master knows,


    too. He''s on his way to the hospital."


    Derek raised his eyebrows, and his anger eased a little. His son had passed by. This scene was


    probably a bit interesting.


    In the hospital ward.


    Nora went upstairs with these gifts she bought and was frightened by Sheldon''s face the moment she


    entered the ward.


    "Nora, you''re here."


    Sheldon looked at her and coughed weakly a few times. He said hello feebly. Butler Qin took the things


    in her hand and brought her a chair.


    It had to be said that Sheldon''s injured face had a great visual impact.

 Chapter 397

    Chapter 397


    Nora looked at his face andpletely believed the so-called truth that Sheldon was seriously injured


    and had just moved out of the ICU.


    Looking at Sheldon, she was worried. "Sheldon, how did you get such a serious injury? What did the


    doctor say?" she asked.


    Sheldon opened his mouth, trying to say something. But he bit back the words he wanted to say.


    The butler Qin said, pretending to wipe his tears, "Miss Gray, ask me anything you want to know.


    Young master can''t talk too much. His mouth hurts when he opens it. My poor young master."


    "He had a car ident, and suffered broken bones. His face was knocked out of shape. When he was


    sent to the hospital a few days ago, he almost lost his breath several times. Fortunately, young master


    is lucky enough to survive."


    "Miss Gray, by rights, there are some things that I shouldn''t have said as a housekeeper, but you are


    too heartless. I have called you several times, but you haven''t answered them once."


    "Young master''s life was in danger. When he was almost unconscious, all he said was your name."


    After the housekeeper finishedining, Sheldon red at him angrily and warned, "Uncle Qin,


    forget it."


    Nora felt even more guilty, but at the same time, she was very confused. "Uncle Qin, I, I didn''t get your


    call. Not once."


    ording to Sheldon, he shouldn''t be struggling with this point, but he couldn''t help it. After all, he was


    so impressed by the various experiences of the past few days.


    And all he did was trying to get in touch with Nora.


    Feeing resentful, Sheldon said, "Nora, did I scare you when I proposed to youst time? Is that the


    reason you don''t want to answer my phone?" He wondered if she cked him out.


    "No. Of course not. You can definitely reach me. I didn''t change my number."


    Nora felt wronged and couldn''t help but pick up the phone on Sheldon''s bedside table and dialed her


    number. As a result...


    "Sorry, the number you dialed is not answered for the time being. Please try againter." The cold and


    familiar female voice sounded in the big ward.


    Nora was lost for words.


    She stared at the cell phone in her hand, then at her own unresponsive cell phone. She was confused.


    "What''s going on?" she thought.


    Butler Qin on the side reminded, "Miss Gray, have you forgotten you cked the young master?"


    Nora pursed her lips, silently turned on her phone, and pulled out the cklist. She had never used this


    function before, but now there was a person''s name in the list.


    It was Sheldon.


    She had a feeling that she was unable to exin herself, but...


    Nora wanted to say something, but she was at a loss what to say.


    It was her own phone. If she said that she didn''t do it, no one would believe it. Nora couldn''t figure it


    out.


    In the end, it could only be attributed to the unconscious operation that she had identally blocked


    him some time ago.


    "Sorry, Sheldon, this is my mistake." Nora was embarrassed to remove his number from the cklist.


    Sheldon could only pretend he didn''t care.


    He gave uncle the housekeeper a look and asked him to go out first. Only the two of them were left in


    the ward.


    "Nora, I feel like I haven''t seen you for a long time. I''ve been thinking of you all the time. Can you talk to


    me?" Sheldon said weakly.


    Nora said with disapproval, "You are badly injured. Can''t you talk for a long time? Wait until you are


    better."


    He shook his head and said, "No, I''m afraid. I''m afraid that when I get out of the hospital, I won''t be


    able to find you again and don''t have a chance to talk to you."


    "Nora, the moment I was hit by a car, I thought I was going to die. At that time, you were the only one in


    my mind."


    "At that time, I really regretted it. If I hadn''t done that kind of thing, we would have been married and


    living happily together."


    "But I''m also d that none of this happened. I''m d that you weren''t with me, because if I really died,


    I won''t be relieved to leave you alone."


    Sheldon had no business talent, but he was really good at coaxing women.


    His words were really moving.


    In the CEO''s office of the Xavier Group, Damian felt goosebumps all over his body hearing Sheldon.


    He couldn''t help but say, "Boss, Sheldon is really troublesome."


    Derek felt the same way.


    He narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. There were too many ways he could destroy a person


    by his own means.


    However, he could not go too far dealing with him, the annoying man, considering Sheldon''s


    rtionship with Nora. All he could do was to teach him a lesson.


    Derek was at his wits end with him.


    Inside the ward.


    Nora was really touched by Sheldon''s words, but she was embarrassed and bewildered.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Because no matter how much Sheldon said and did, she couldn''t lie to her heart and cater to him. It


    would not work out between her and Sheldon.


    She knew this very well.


    Whether it was because of his son or...


    She was sure about that.


    As she was at a loss what to do when the door of the ward was opened and a small figure came into


    their view.


    He was followed by two bodyguards, Adam and Andy, while the others were guarding outside the


    hospital.


    Looking at him, Sheldon and Nora hadpletely different reactions.


    Nora asked in surprise, "Easton? Why are you here?"


    On seeing Easton, Sheldon, who was on the bed, remembered all things about him, especially when


    he was humiliated at the mall.


    Not only that, in his opinion, the moment that Nora''s attitude towards him began to change was the


    time that this little guy set him up in the mall.


    Therefore, he med Easton for his failure. For a moment, his face twisted in anger and he almost lost


    his mind and jumped out of the bed.


    Fortunately, the wound on his face was pulled, and the pain brought him back to his senses.


    Easton pounced into Nora''s arms, and the coldness on his face was disappeared and he turned into a


    soft baby that everyone loved.


    But only the little guy knew that he buried his face in Nora''s arms, just in case he burst outughing.


    He didn''t expect to see Sheldon''s pig-headed face when he came in. He found it amusing.

 Chapter 398

    Chapter 398


    He tried hard to suppress his smile. He moved his head away, trying not to look at the funny face on


    the bed, and pinched himself secretly.


    "Mom, why are you at the hospital? Are you sick?"


    Easton pretended that he didn''t know why she was there. His eyes turned red, and he wore a tearful


    look, so Nora forgot to go into the whys and wherefores.


    "No, I''m not sick. Do you remember Mr. Gray? He''s in the hospital. I''m here to visit him."


    Easton looked at Sheldon in the hospital bed. He pretended topletely forget what happened in the


    mall and put on a shy smile.


    "Hello, Mr. Gray."


    It urred to Nora what happened before. Her son was the Little Young Master of the Xaviers, and he


    had a strong personality. She was worried that her son would be unhappy and impatient.


    But her son''s performance surprised her. Her precious son was very polite.


    In any case, Sheldon was the patient, and she was here to visit him. She didn''t want her son to have a


    conflict with Sheldon.


    Sheldon narrowed his eyes. He hated this little bastard, but he had to force a stilted, throbbing smile for


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    the moment.


    "Hello, Easton. Nice to see you."


    "Yuck!" Easton secretly rolled his eyes and thought.


    In fact, he had been standing outside for a while and had opened the door slightly. He had heard the


    conversation inside.


    He was so angry when he heard the disgusting words Sheldon had said. He was afraid that his mother


    would believe Sheldon.


    Therefore, he had to teach Sheldon a good lesson.


    The little guy had all kinds of ns in his heart. He batted hisshes and looked adorable.


    "Mr. Gray, you must feel ufortable. I''ve been sick before. That felt awful. Every time I got sick, my


    dad would read me a storybook."


    "Mr. Gray, let me tell you a story. What do you want to hear? How about Ultraman?"


    Sheldon was confused.


    The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrobly. What the hell was this?


    Nora stroked her son''s lead. She felt that he was such a nice boy and was the best child in the world.


    She was touched and kissed him.


    Easton beamed and kissed her back.


    Sheldon was upset to see them like this. He had a ruse of self-injury today.


    Again, this little brat messed up with him.


    "Mom, It''s time for lunch. The restaurant across the hospital makes good herbal cuisines. Their herbal


    porridge is good for your health."


    The little guy took out a golden card from his bag and continued, "This is dad''s card. With it, you don''t


    have to wait in line. Mom, you can buy something for Mr. Gray. He will be fine after having the meal. I''ll


    stay here and tell Mr. Gray a story."


    This restaurant was famous and popr. Customers had to make reservations, and the restaurant only


    served limited dishes.


    But Nora had heard that the food it provided was good for health and tasty.


    Nora was not surprised that Derek had this privilege. Sheldon''s injury looked severe, and she thought


    he might need something nutritious.


    She left the ward with the card without hesitation before Sheldon could stop her.


    Easton''s cute face changed as soon as his mother left. He waved to Andy to guard the door while


    Adam stayed in the ward.


    The little guy sat down on the chair, swinging his short legs and touching his chin. He looked at


    Sheldon''s pig-headed face with interest.


    The next second.


    Easton burst intoughter.


    He patted his leg and pointed at his face. He was overjoyed.


    "Mr. Gray, you looked decent thest time I saw you. What makes you look like a pick after only a few


    days? It''s so funny."


    Anyway, he had a grudge against Sheldon thest time in the mall. Now that Nora wasn''t around,


    Easton didn''t want to maintain the friendliness with this guy.


    Sheldon was sullen in a instant. But the bruises on his face hid his anger.


    Sheldon had no scruples when Nora''s was not there. Easton''s smile stimted the anger and


    resentment in his heart, and he gnashed his teeth.


    "Little bastard, I knew you did it on purpose."


    Adam''s face turned cold when Sheldon yelled at Easton. Adam had a stone in his hand and threw it to


    hit Sheldon hard on the mouth.


    "Ouch..." Sheldon cried out in pain and covered his mouth, which was numb. He jumped up from the


    bed angrily and red at Easton, his eyes terrifying.


    But would the little guy be scared? Of course not.


    He put his hands on his hips and sneered, "Watch your mouth, or I will break your teeth off one by


    one."


    After that, he looked at Sheldon''s legs and cocked a brow.


    "Aren''t you going to die in a car ident? Why are you still alive and well? You''ve been lying to my


    mother, haven''t you?"


    After finishing speaking, he touched his chin and seemed to ponder, "My mother is so kind. If she knew


    you lied to her, she would be sad. I don''t want her to be sad, so..."


    Easton''s ruddy little mouth curled, and the words spoken by such a lovely child were frightening.


    "So, let me help you make the liee true so that mom won''t know you lied to her. I''m a genius."


    He nced at Adam, and thetter came forward.


    Sheldon was horrified. He could still feel the pain in the corner of his lips. He widened his eyes and


    moved back, shouting, "What do you want? Nora will be up soon. How dare you..."


    "Don''t worry, Adam will be gentle and make sure you don''t feel any pain when he breaks your legs," the


    little guy said with a smile.


    Adam quickly poked at Sheldon''s jaw, and Sheldon found himself speechless.


    In the next second, sharp pain in his legs came with the crisp sound of bones breaking. His eyes and


    mouth were wide open, but he could only breathe out without making a sound.


    It hurt. It really hurt.


    Adam dislocated Sheldon''s knees, which would only cause great pain but wouldn''t do any harm.


    But that was what the little guy wanted.


    Since the bastard dared to trick his mother for sympathy, then he would let Sheldon experience what it


    felt like to really be hit in the legs by a car.

 Chapter 399

    Chapter 399


    If anyone asked Sheldon how he felt right now, Sheldon would rather die.


    In the president''s office of Xavier Group.


    Seeing everything that had happened in the ward, Damian could not help but sigh in a thrilled tone,


    "Mr. Xavier, Easton is indeed your son. His way of doing things is so much like you."


    At such a young age, when it came to torturing people, he felt Easton was incredibly impressive and


    Derek curled his lips slightly, obviously in a good mood.


    If he wanted to teach this Sheldon a lesson, he could only y dirty, but his son was different. He was


    too young, so he could deal with Sheldon openly without arousing any suspicions. Tsk tsk.


    Outside the hospital, several men were guarding in the dark.


    Adam got the update that Nora had returned, he made a slight move, and a slender needle appeared,


    filled with a light blue liquid, and he injected it into Sheldon''s leg.


    When the little guy saw this, he immediately understood, "Mommy is back?"


    Adam nodded.


    The effect of this injection was immediate, and the pain that tormented Sheldon so much disappeared


    in an instant, as if everything just happened was an illusion.


    His face was still swollen, but he was sweating profusely and his body twitched slightly as if he had lost


    his soul.


    The liquid was a painkiller, a product developed by Xavier Group''s foreign research institute. It was the


    same as the one Derek Nora when her arm was scalded.


    However, thest time was a finished product, it couldpletely relieve the pain, and this one was a


    half-finished product, and the effect could onlyst for two hours.


    Easton looked at Sheldon, who was lying on the bed like a dead body, and pursed his lips, "I''ll keep my


    word. I have a way to make you feel better."


    Sheldon suddenly came back to his senses and looked at him with red eyes full of hatred, which was


    rather frightening.


    The little guy snorted, "My mother is back soon. I warn you, shut up."


    When he found out that he could speak, he burst into an angryugh. His face was ferocious and his


    do this to me, I am sure..."


    Before he could finish, Easton frowned impatiently and looked at him disdainfully, "What will you do?


    I''m doing it for your own good. My mother won''t believe you even if you tell her."


    "And as for me, I will be angry. If I get angry, maybe your legs will break permanently."


    Sheldon''s eyes widened, and he turned startling after feeling something. Now his leg didn''t hurt, but...


    he actually felt that his legs could not move and his legs were numb.


    Easton saw that he was sweating profusely. He took the towel from Adam and walked to the bedside.


    He wiped Sheldon''s sweat "gently" and said in a very "sensible" tone.


    "If you dare to move, I will make you unable to stand up forever." Sheldon froze at Easton''s casual


    words and allowed the towel to rub against his head.


    Nora was holding a packed lunch box in her hand. When she entered the room, she saw her son''s


    obedient and sensible behavior, and she smiled gently.


    "Easton is a good boy."


    Sheldon, "..."


    Easton threw the towel away and ran to Nora''s arms, "Mom, you''re back. I told Mr. Gray about Altman''s


    story. He likes it."


    Sheldon, "..."


    Nora kissed her son on the forehead, opened the box, and a strong smell of food spread out, "Sheldon,


    I bought you chicken shredded porridge and vegetable porridge."


    She spread open the folding table beside the bed, put the porridge on it, and hesitated, "Can you eat


    on your own?"


    Sheldon took a deep breath and twitched the corner of his mouth, "I''m not sure. Nora. Can you feed


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    me?"


    Easton''s face darkened and he gritted his teeth.


    This son of a bitch didn''t learn from what happened before. It seemed that he was too kind to Sheldon.


    Hmph.


    With that in mind, he immediately ran over and grabbed the spoon, "Mom, let me feed him."


    Sheldon''s heart skipped a beat and refused without thinking, "No need."


    The little guy turned to look at him and smiled brightly, "It''s okay, uncle. You don''t have to be so polite."


    As he spoke, he gave Adam a nce. Thetter stood by the bed without any trace, he made a move


    as fast as lightning, once again attacking Sheldon''s jaw, making him unable to speak.


    Easton immediately looked at Nora and said, "Mom, the doctor just came to check, but it seems that


    something has happened and he left. Mom, you should go take a look, and ask about Mr. Gray''s


    injury."


    With one sentence, Nora was once again left the ward.


    As soon as the door closed, Easton''s little face immediately turned glum. He stared at Sheldon and


    snorted coldly, "Broken arm? Need someone to feed you? Fine, I''ll help you. Don''t worry, I''ll feed you


    well."


    Sheldon was really scared and regretted it at the same time. He had known this little bastard was not


    easy to deal with. Why did he ask for help just now?


    His mouth was wide open, his face terrified, and he shook his head violently, but he could not say a


    word.


    Seeing his mouth was wild open, Easton immediately scooped up arge spoon of porridge and stuffed


    it in.


    Sheldon groaned in panic.


    The porridge from the medical diet restaurant, even if it was packed in a food box, the heat


    preservation effect was very good. This spoonful of porridge was actually so hot.


    Even Sheldon was healthy, it was wrong to stuff this porridge into his mouth like this, not to mention


    that his oral cavity was injured. This one mouthful of hot porridge, tsk tsk, would make him suffer a lot.


    Sheldon felt as if his mouth was on fire. The pain was unbearable. His nose was sore, and tears and


    snot flowed out in an instant.


    Easton stuffed him a few more mouthfuls, only stopping when he felt disgusted.


    At this moment, Adam came over, "Little Young Master, Miss Gray is here."


    The little guy froze and said, "Hurry, knock him out."


    As he spoke, he took the towel by the bed and wiped away the snot and tears on his face. With disgust


    all over his face, he threw the towel and the porridge on the table into the trash can.


    Nora just entered the door, and Easton immediately rushed over, "Mom, Mr. Gray fell asleep after


    eating porridge. We should not disturb him."


    Asleep?


    Nora looked at the bed. Sheldony down with his eyes closed and his breathing steady. She


    subconsciously kept light on her foot, nodded, and left with her son in her arms.


    Adam exerted his force properly that Sheldon woke up in only ten minutes. When he woke up, the first


    thing he felt was the pain in his mouth.


    "Somebody, help..." He shouted vaguely.


    Sheldon did not forget his numb legs and frantically rang the emergency bell. Soon, several doctors


    and nurses in white coats rushed over.


    Nora was unaware of all this.


    After thest live broadcast of thepetition, Nora waspletely famous, and her fame reached a


    higher level.

 Chapter 400

    Chapter 400


    In particr, the ice blue mermaid dress she designed for the disfigured model girl during the


    Recently, many of Xavier Group''s orders were for this dress, which made Nora didn''t know whether to


    feel happy or to feel sad.


    In addition, there was one thing that deserved to be celebrated. As Derek had expected, many people


    in the clothing industry had already paid attention to Nora.


    This point could be proved by an invitation from F Country to the BL fashion week. The organizer was


    very famous in the fashion circle, and not everyone could get this invitation.


    Because the fashion week would be held next year, so it wasn''t something that should be considered


    now.


    the Xaviers vi


    For Nora, this ce was no longer as strange to her as the first time she went there. Besides her, her


    good friend, Penelope, was also there today.


    Penelope was working in a foreignpany, and her position was not low. She was sent by the


    familiar with each other.


    Therefore, Penelope naturally didn''t know the events that happened during this period of time. All she


    knew was that after she came back from her business trip, her friend''s life circle had undergone such a


    drastic change.


    She did agree that Nora broke up with Sheldon.


    Penelope had been unhappy with her best friend''s rtionship before, and it was said that the


    onlookers saw the game best. In her opinion, Sheldon did not take Nora too seriously. Frankly


    speaking, he just did not take Nora to heart.


    When Penelope came back to find out the thing about Aubrey, she despised Sheldon even more. It


    was better for Nora to break up with him.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    What she didn''t expect was that her best friend had quietly entered the Xavier Group and became a


    designer of Xavier Group, which was a great progress.


    As Nora''s good friend, she was naturally happy for her, but the news that cameter shocked


    Penelope.


    She knew that Nora had lost her memory.


    However, she had never expected that Nora had given birth to a child before she lost her memory. That


    child was actually the heir of Xavier Group.


    It was so exciting that she couldn''t digest it. TV shows didn''t even dare to have this scene.


    Derek, president of Xavier Group, was really a big shot!


    Penelope usually only read interviews or photos of him in magazines. To them, he was the top person


    in Pyramid who needed to be looked up to.


    Who knew that this top person had an affair with her best friend?


    Nora and Penelope were chatting at a coffee shop that day. Derek came directly to Nora ording to


    her cell phone location. He thanked Penelope for taking care of Nora over the years and invited her to


    go to the Xaviers kindly.


    That was why this scene happened today.


    The butler was naturally familiar with Nora and smiled eagerly, "Miss Gray is back. It''s almost time for


    dinner. The chef has stewed the soup early in the morning. Knowing you will be back, the young master


    personally ordered it."


    He said that Miss Gray was back rather than say that Miss Gray came, which just sounded like Nora


    was originally a member of the Xaviers.


    Penelope touched Nora secrectly and smiled ambiguously, which made Nora feel very embarrassed.


    "I see. Thank you, butler. By the way, this is my good friend, Penelope."


    The butler smiled, "Wee, Miss Garcia."


    Penelope immediately greeted him with a smile. Even if he was just a butler, she was very respectful,


    not as overbearing as usual.


    "Mom..."


    With a soft and cheerful voice, Easton rushed out like a small cannonball, hugging Nora''s thigh and


    looking up at her with big ck eyes.


    "Easton."


    Every time Nora saw her son, she was very happy. She picked him up, kissed him on the face, and the


    little guy also kissed her.


    Although Penelope had heard this child, she felt different after seeing him with her own eyes.


    Penelope''s eyes lit up, especially when she saw the little guy''s delicate and beautiful face. She really


    liked him.


    Tsk, tsk, Nora was so lucky to have such an outstanding husband and such an enviable son. It was


    really...


    "Easton, this is my good friend. Her name is Penelope. You can call her Aunt Pen."


    Penelope red and blurted out ferociously, "Hey, Aunt Pen? I''m only in my twenties. Why did you let


    him call me aunt?"


    After she finished speaking, she looked at Easton and smiled like a flower, "Your name is Easton, right?


    Just call me sister."


    Easton blinked with his big eyes. He knew that his mother had a good rtionship with this woman. His


    father also said that this woman took good care of her mother, so...


    "Hello, Sister Pen. Sister Pen is so beautiful."


    Ouch, what a honey-lipped little child who made her soft. She couldn''t wait to take the little guy back to


    raise. Of course, unless Penelope had the guts to do so, she only dared to think about it in her heart.


    "Little baby, who do you think is prettier? Your mother or me ?" Penelope obviously coaxed Easton as


    an ordinary child and asked jokingly, touching his face.


    Easton pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. He turned his head away from her.


    Nora couldn''t helpughing and nced at her, "Go in."


    As soon as they entered, Derek came down the stairs.


    He nodded to Penelope as a greeting. He took his son out of Nora''s arms directly and then stretched


    out his long arm to take her by the waist and went to the dining room.


    Nora froze because Penelope was still behind her. She struggled in shock but was quietly held in


    Derek''s arms. He leaned closed to her ear.


    "Shh, don''t move, or I will be so embarrassed in front of outsiders."


    She couldn''t help but re at him. How could she be so flirtatious with him in front of other people?


    When she saw that he didn''t let go, she became anxious and subconsciously stomped on him hard to


    break free.


    Derek touched his nose, with a gentle and inclusive smile in his face. He continued to try to approach


    her shamelessly.


    Behind them, Penelope watched them in shock. At the same time, she was overwhelmed with


    admiration for her best friend.


    ording to Nora, she still hadn''t recovered her memory. It was Mr. Xavier who recognized her first,


    then secretly did a paternity test between her and Easton.


    Now, it was seen that Mr. Xavier hadpletely thrown himself at Nora''s feet. She was really capable


    to subdue such a top man.


    After a meal, Penelope was no longer so restrained because she had seen they showed their affection


    often.


    Derek went to the study to work, and Nora and Penelope took the little guy to the garden behind the


    vi to have a walk.


    "Nora, aren''t you and Mr. Xavier not married yet? When are you going to register for marriage?"


    Penelope looked at Easton who was running ahead and asked casually.


    Nora was stunned and didn''t know how to answer.


    "Penelope, he and I, our rtionship is not as what you think."

 Chapter 401

    Chapter 401


    Penelope blinked and suddenly felt something was wrong. She looked at her friend and suddenly


    widened her eyes, "You never thought about this, did you?"


    Nora pursed her lips and sighed, "I don''t know."


    "How can you not know? It is obvious that Mr. Xavier falls for you. Besides, you have a son... It''s


    impossible for you to reject, right?"


    Reject?


    Nora thought for a moment. She didn''t want to reject actually. Her ears turned red and she said


    immediately, "I haven''t recovered my memory yet. I want to make the decision until I remember what


    happened before."


    Penelope nodded, "That makes sense. After all, you were in love before you lost your memory. The


    situation is reallyplicated."


    At this time, Easton ran over. Nora caught her son, wiped the sweet on his face and hands, and fed him


    some juice, naturally and skillfully, which made Penelope shake her head in astonishment.


    "Hey, a few months ago, I thought you were an unmarried woman just like me. I didn''t expect you to be


    a mother all of a sudden."


    As she spoke, she popped her chin and looked at Easton, "But if I could have such a handsome son, I


    would be willing to be a mother."


    Nora felt speechless.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    She suddenly thought of something, "Penelope, we''re going to the suburbs for two or three days the


    day after tomorrow. Derek arranged for us to go on a vacation at a local resort. Do you want to go with


    us?"


    Derek had never forgotten to bond with Nora, so he suggested celebrating somewhere under the cover


    of this victory.


    When he was done with his work rted to thepetition, they would go on a vacation together for


    two or three days, not far away, at a local resort.


    Nora did not refuse.


    ording to Derek''s imagination, it would be perfect if there were only him and Nora during this


    vacation, but he also knew that it was impossible for their son would definitely go.


    However, he did not expect that Nora woulde up with a n and let Penelope join them.


    Penelope couldn''t see through Derek''s thoughts. Besides, the resort was a ce for rich people to


    enjoy. With Derek''s arrangement, it would definitely be free. So she was excited about that.


    She agreed immediately.


    Easton, who was standing next to them, rolled his eyes, took out his phone, and sent his father a


    message to inform him of this bad news.


    Easton was very happy to see this happen.


    Every time his mother was with him, his cruel dad would do everything to separate him from his mother.


    In the study, after he received the news, Derek frowned and felt helpless. After thinking for a while, he


    sent a message to Damian,


    asking Damian to go with them the day after tomorrow to the vi. Derek nned to trust Penelope and


    his son to Damian.


    In this way, there were two more members in this family vacation


    In the eastern suburbs of J City, the picturesque resort was a private property of the Xaviers.


    Since they wereing for the vacation, Derek informed the manager in advance and made sure


    everything was well prepared. They could travel light and bring one or two sets of clothes to change.


    In the afternoon, as a luxury car arrived, Derek and others got off the car. Penelope was missing.


    The n couldn''t keep up with the change. Penelope had toe by tomorrow to meet them because


    of the urgent work that the boss had arranged.


    The next day


    Penelope arrived. Because Derek''s order in advance, the manager served her very well.


    "You must be Miss Garcia. Mr. Xavier has told me that if you have any requests, please feel free to


    make."


    She nodded perfunctorily, dazzled by the beautiful scenery in the vi.


    "Miss Garcia, do you need me to take you up?"


    "No, thanks. Just give me a spare room card for room 305." She waved her hand casually.


    "Okay."


    After getting the card, Penelope carried her bag and took the elevator briskly, humming a song. With a


    ding, she opened the door of room 305.


    After she went in, she threw her backpack on the sofa and sat down. She took afortable breath


    and ran over happily to the French window.


    Through the French window, a pond was seen. Penelope was amazed. It was so beautiful.


    It was a huge pond in an irregr shape. There were exquisite pavilions at all three corners. Beautiful


    water lilies bloomed under the sunlight.


    There were many colors of this water lily that Penelope had never seen before. It was definitely a rare


    variety. There was even a golden water lily in the middle, which was very eye-catching.


    She looked back, confused and muttering.


    "It''s early in the morning. Why isn''t Nora in the room?"


    She thought of something and widened her eyes, "Nora shouldn''t sleep with Mr. Xavier, did she?"


    Penelope hadn''t immersed herself in this question for so long until she heard the movement in the


    direction of the bathroom. Subconsciously, she walked over and the sound of the water became more


    obvious. It turned out that Nora was taking a bath.


    The naughty woman once again tried to y a prank, so she tiptoed into the bathroom.


    Perhaps it was unexpected that someone would break in. The owner of the room was bathing with the


    door unlocked. It could be easily opened.


    The bathroom door was frosted. As soon as Penelope came in, she could see the reflection on the


    door. She walked up with a smile and decided to scare Nora.


    She pulled the door open little by little, and hot air rushed towards her. Penelope just stuck her head in


    and saw a... naked male body at a nce?


    Not only that, but because of her height, she could clearly see this man''s penis at close range.


    Suddenly, Penelope''s eyes widened, and her brain exploded with a bang. In an instant, she screamed


    out in shock.


    Damian, who was taking a shower with his eyes closed, did not expect anyone toe into his room at


    all, nor did he expect anyone to peek at him. He was so shocked by the scream that he almost fell to


    the ground.


    The moment he opened his eyes, he looked in shock at the woman''s head in the bathroom door. It was


    so horrifying that no matter how calm he was, he could not stand it at all.


    Damian was no less excited than Penelope. He gave a cry of surprise and the bathroom immediately


    was in a mess.


    Penelope was dizzy and staggered out of the bathroom. Her head was in a mess and she was


    Oh My God, what just happened? Was it an illusion? It must be an illusion.


    Damian put on a towel and came out. He didn''t know Penelope. Although he knew that a good friend of


    Nora woulde over, he had never seen a picture of Penelope.


    Coupled with the shock of the scene just now, he didn''t even think about the possibility that it might be


    Penelope at all. He red at her with a livid face, "Where did youe from? How did you get in?"

 Chapter 402

    Chapter 402


    Penelope looked at him in a daze, and the image came back to her mind uncontrobly. She


    subconsciously looked at his lower body and screamed again.


    Damian''s face darkened and he gritted his teeth, "Shut up.You are so noisy. Believe it or not, I''ll throw


    you out the window."


    Penelope was so shocked by his roar that she suddenly came back to her senses. Her cheeks were


    burning, and she stood up abruptly. Trembling, she pointed at him, "You, you..."


    "You what? How did you get into my room?" Damian stared at her impatiently.


    "Your room? This is clearly my room. I should ask you this. Who are you, bathing in someone else''s


    room early in the morning? You''re a pervert."


    Penelope was so angry that she was going crazy. It was the first time she had ever seen such a thing.


    She was so furious that she wanted to kill him.


    This woman had seen him all naked, and she called him a pervert? Damian looked at her in disbelief


    and almost burst intoughter.


    Because the door was not tightly shut, the voices of the two of them were heard by Derek and the


    others next door, and they went over.


    Penelope had never seen Damian before, and she had no idea who Damian was. When she saw Nora,


    she immediately felt as if she had found a backup and ran over.


    "Nora, you''re just in time. Get Mr. Xavier to call the police and take this pervert away."


    Damian looked at her as if she were a psycho, "Shut up, women. You were the one who peeped at me


    taking a shower. Who the hell is that pervert?"


    These words shocked Derek and the others. What happened?


    Damian finally realized it. Seeing that this woman was so familiar with Nora, he immediately thought of


    her identity.


    "Bullshit, who peeped at you taking a shower? I didn''t know it was you. If I had known, I would definitely


    not open my eyes. I''ll go to the hospital and have some medicine prescribed to wash my eyester."


    Penelope''s face was red and she was extremely angry.


    "Oh, you''ve seen it all. Who knows what''s your intention? There are all kinds of people in this world.


    Although female voyeurs are rare, they are not absent. I just saw one."


    Damian sneered and said so deliberately.


    "Ah, you son of a bitch, shut up. Who wants to see you? Do you think you''re so good-looking? Yours is


    short and small, not much better than my finger. I won''t even look at you if you are in a porn."


    Penelope was so mad at him that she just exploded as she was always hot tempered. She blurted out,


    and the whole room fell silent.


    Nora was so shocked that it was toote when she wanted to cover Penelope''s mouth. After all,


    Penelope was her good friend, and Nora''s face was twisted.


    Derek was also shocked and looked at Penelope in astonishment. For the first time, he saw how fierce


    she was. At the same time...


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Because of Penelope''s words, he subconsciously nced at Damian. The corner of his lips twitched.


    He coughed softly and tried to keep a straight face. He felt a little pity for his assistant as he was


    described like that by a woman.


    Damian did not expect this woman to say this. As the subject of her words, his face was so dark and he


    had the urge to strangle Penelope.


    "Woman, what did you say?" He uttered these words. He was so angry with his teeth grinding.


    Penelope realizedter that there were others present. Her face turned red and she wanted to faint to


    death. God, she had never felt so ashamed before. All of this was to me on this pervert.


    She gritted her teeth and red at him with no less anger than Damian''s.


    Nora thought that it couldn''t continue like this, or who knew what Penelope was going to say. She


    pulled her best friend over.


    "Well, Penelope, why are you here?"


    Penelope instantly regained her senses and said unhappily, "Didn''t you send me a message yesterday


    saying that you are in Room 305 and asked me toe to find you there?"


    Nora''s eyes widened, "305? What? Didn''t I tell you that it is Room 302?"


    Penelope: "..."


    She immediately took out her phone and looked at the message again, then...


    Nora took a closer look and suddenly realized.


    When she textedst night, the number of the room was not written in Arabic digitals, but they were


    electronic numbers, so that two, at first nce, looked like five.


    It was probably because of this that Penelope didn''t see it clearly. She was just a careless person. Nora


    suddenly felt she was partially responsible for today''s drama, and she was inevitably a little


    embarrassed.


    She textedst night and didn''t write it in Arabic digitals but sent them as electronic numbers, mainly


    because she didn''t expect such a thing would happen.


    The others also understood that she got a wrong number.


    Damian could not help but snort coldly, "So what if you got the wrong room number? It is a fact that you


    peeped at me. What''s wrong with you? You peeped when you know someone was taking a bath?"


    Penelope suddenly looked up and stared at him. Even if she knew that this was her problem, it didn''t


    mean that this guy could teach her a lesson.


    "Man, you can''t stop, can you? What''s wrong even if I saw you? Do you think it''s a big loss? Do you


    want me to help you call the police? Then you can tell the police that thisdy used her eyes to rape


    you. Don''t worry, I will definitely exin the details clearly and won''t deny it."


    Nora: "..."


    Derek: "..."


    Exin the details? For some reason, Derek thought of what Penelope had just said, about it being


    short and small.


    Damian''s face suddenly darkened. It was the first time he had ever met such a woman, and it really


    made him speechless.


    Nora took a deep breath and dragged Penelope back to her room immediately before she could say


    something shocking again.


    Easton, who was at Derek''s feet, blinked at Damian, "Uncle Damian, you''ve beenpletely seen by


    Sister Pen. Should Sister Pen be responsible for you?"


    Damian: "..."


    He took a deep breath, "Little Young Master, that''s not how you use the word ''responsible''."


    Derek couldn''t help butugh and patted his assistant on the shoulder sympathetically, "Damian,


    actually... I think that Penelope is good enough for you."


    He then took his son and left.


    Damian was the only one left in the room with a thunderstruck expression on his face. He was so


    depressed and angry. What was it?


    Room 302


    Nora looked at Penelope who was lying on her bed and patted her with amusement and anger, "Girl,


    what did you say just now? I give you best."


    Penelope kept rolling on the bed, then sat up abruptly with her face crumpled, "Then what can I do?


    You saw how that guy keptining."


    "What was the big deal for a man to be looked at by a woman? I didn''t mean to. He just wouldn''t let it


    go. I was so mad."

 Chapter 403

    Chapter 403


    Penelope looked at him in a daze, and the image came back to her mind uncontrobly. She


    subconsciously looked at his lower body and screamed again.


    Damian''s face darkened and he gritted his teeth, "Shut up.You are so noisy. Believe it or not, I''ll throw


    you out the window."


    Penelope was so shocked by his roar that she suddenly came back to her senses. Her cheeks were


    burning, and she stood up abruptly. Trembling, she pointed at him, "You, you..."


    "You what? How did you get into my room?" Damian stared at her impatiently.


    "Your room? This is clearly my room. I should ask you this. Who are you, bathing in someone else''s


    room early in the morning? You''re a pervert."


    Penelope was so angry that she was going crazy. It was the first time she had ever seen such a thing.


    She was so furious that she wanted to kill him.


    This woman had seen him all naked, and she called him a pervert? Damian looked at her in disbelief


    and almost burst intoughter.


    Because the door was not tightly shut, the voices of the two of them were heard by Derek and the


    others next door, and they went over.


    Penelope had never seen Damian before, and she had no idea who Damian was. When she saw Nora,


    she immediately felt as if she had found a backup and ran over.


    "Nora, you''re just in time. Get Mr. Xavier to call the police and take this pervert away."


    Damian looked at her as if she were a psycho, "Shut up, women. You were the one who peeped at me


    taking a shower. Who the hell is that pervert?"


    These words shocked Derek and the others. What happened?


    Damian finally realized it. Seeing that this woman was so familiar with Nora, he immediately thought of


    her identity.


    "Bullshit, who peeped at you taking a shower? I didn''t know it was you. If I had known, I would definitely


    not open my eyes. I''ll go to the hospital and have some medicine prescribed to wash my eyester."


    Penelope''s face was red and she was extremely angry.


    "Oh, you''ve seen it all. Who knows what''s your intention? There are all kinds of people in this world.


    Although female voyeurs are rare, they are not absent. I just saw one."


    Damian sneered and said so deliberately.


    "Ah, you son of a bitch, shut up. Who wants to see you? Do you think you''re so good-looking? Yours is


    short and small, not much better than my finger. I won''t even look at you if you are in a porn."


    Penelope was so mad at him that she just exploded as she was always hot tempered. She blurted out,


    and the whole room fell silent.


    Nora was so shocked that it was toote when she wanted to cover Penelope''s mouth. After all,


    Penelope was her good friend, and Nora''s face was twisted.


    Derek was also shocked and looked at Penelope in astonishment. For the first time, he saw how fierce


    she was. At the same time...


    Because of Penelope''s words, he subconsciously nced at Damian. The corner of his lips twitched.


    He coughed softly and tried to keep a straight face. He felt a little pity for his assistant as he was


    described like that by a woman.


    Damian did not expect this woman to say this. As the subject of her words, his face was so dark and he


    had the urge to strangle Penelope.


    "Woman, what did you say?" He uttered these words. He was so angry with his teeth grinding.


    Penelope realizedter that there were others present. Her face turned red and she wanted to faint to


    death. God, she had never felt so ashamed before. All of this was to me on this pervert.


    She gritted her teeth and red at him with no less anger than Damian''s.


    Nora thought that it couldn''t continue like this, or who knew what Penelope was going to say. She


    pulled her best friend over.


    "Well, Penelope, why are you here?"


    Penelope instantly regained her senses and said unhappily, "Didn''t you send me a message yesterday


    saying that you are in Room 305 and asked me toe to find you there?"


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Nora''s eyes widened, "305? What? Didn''t I tell you that it is Room 302?"


    Penelope: "..."


    She immediately took out her phone and looked at the message again, then...


    Nora took a closer look and suddenly realized.


    When she textedst night, the number of the room was not written in Arabic digitals, but they were


    electronic numbers, so that two, at first nce, looked like five.


    It was probably because of this that Penelope didn''t see it clearly. She was just a careless person. Nora


    suddenly felt she was partially responsible for today''s drama, and she was inevitably a little


    embarrassed.


    She textedst night and didn''t write it in Arabic digitals but sent them as electronic numbers, mainly


    because she didn''t expect such a thing would happen.


    The others also understood that she got a wrong number.


    Damian could not help but snort coldly, "So what if you got the wrong room number? It is a fact that you


    peeped at me. What''s wrong with you? You peeped when you know someone was taking a bath?"


    Penelope suddenly looked up and stared at him. Even if she knew that this was her problem, it didn''t


    mean that this guy could teach her a lesson.


    "Man, you can''t stop, can you? What''s wrong even if I saw you? Do you think it''s a big loss? Do you


    want me to help you call the police? Then you can tell the police that thisdy used her eyes to rape


    you. Don''t worry, I will definitely exin the details clearly and won''t deny it."


    Nora: "..."


    Derek: "..."


    Exin the details? For some reason, Derek thought of what Penelope had just said, about it being


    short and small.


    Damian''s face suddenly darkened. It was the first time he had ever met such a woman, and it really


    made him speechless.


    Nora took a deep breath and dragged Penelope back to her room immediately before she could say


    something shocking again.


    Easton, who was at Derek''s feet, blinked at Damian, "Uncle Damian, you''ve beenpletely seen by


    Sister Pen. Should Sister Pen be responsible for you?"


    Damian: "..."


    He took a deep breath, "Little Young Master, that''s not how you use the word ''responsible''."


    Derek couldn''t help butugh and patted his assistant on the shoulder sympathetically, "Damian,


    actually... I think that Penelope is good enough for you."


    He then took his son and left.


    Damian was the only one left in the room with a thunderstruck expression on his face. He was so


    depressed and angry. What was it?


    Room 302


    Nora looked at Penelope who was lying on her bed and patted her with amusement and anger, "Girl,


    what did you say just now? I give you best."


    Penelope kept rolling on the bed, then sat up abruptly with her face crumpled, "Then what can I do?


    You saw how that guy keptining."


    "What was the big deal for a man to be looked at by a woman? I didn''t mean to. He just wouldn''t let it


    go. I was so mad."

 Chapter 404

    Chapter 404


    On the side of the lotus pond.


    Damian couldn''t help but exin, "I didn''t do it on purpose. It''s just a bug. You''re so scared that you fell


    off yourself. Do you me me?"


    "Do you want to continue to say? Shut up. You did it on purpose. Wait, I won''t forgive you." Penelope


    was still shouting angrily.


    She stood in the muddy lotus pond and was about to climb up when she suddenly thought of


    something. Her beautiful eyes shed with a sinister look and she looked at Damian on the slope,


    gritting her teeth.


    "You look great up there, don''t you? Come down, pull me up."


    Although Damian wanted to watch the fun, he wouldn''t really ignore her. Even if she didn''t say it, he


    would pull her up.


    Looking at the muddy hands in front of him, he curled his mouth and couldn''t help butugh. He quickly


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    stopped, coughed slightly, and held Penelope.


    Just as he was about to pull her up, he suddenly felt a pull. He was unprepared and standing high, so


    he was easily pulled down.


    With a plop, not only did he fall, but he fell even more heavily than Penelope.


    Penelope fell on her back. He fell on his face. If he hadn''t reacted fast enough, his face would have


    been buried.


    "Hahaha..."


    Looking at his mess, Penelope suddenly felt her anger vented andughed loudly and heartily.


    Damian was trembling with anger. This dead woman, he really did not expect Penelope to do this. How


    resentful!


    But Penelope didn''t just pull him down. The pond wasn''t deep anyway because of the mud below. Even


    if people stood there, the water just reached their thighs.


    So, Penelope pounced on him suddenly.


    "Hmph, bitch, what are you doing?" Damian let out a muffled roar after being pressed by her.


    "Oh, what am I doing? I told you, I won''t be Penelope if I can''t beat you to death. Do you think I am


    joking with you?" Penelope pressed him down and punched him mercilessly.


    It could be said that the suppressed feeelings that had not been vented in the room just now had all


    erupted.


    Damian was angry and speechless about her behaviour. Seeing that this woman took it seriously, he


    was immediately angry. They started to fight in the mud.


    Naturally, Penelope was no match for Damian, but it was impossible for Damian to really attack her, at


    most stopping her hands and feet.


    But because it was in the mire and Penelope yed various tricks like throwing mud, grabbing and


    pinching at him, she pounced on him when she had the chance.


    Damian was also attacked by her several times. It was really hard to end the fight.


    "You crazy woman, stop it. You really think I can''t deal with you, don''t you?"


    "You cheap man,e on. Hit me if you have the ability. I tell you, I can''t be provoked easily."


    When Derek and the others came here, they saw two mudmen who had been muddled and could not


    been told who they were. They beat and scolded each other.


    Nora and her son were dumbfounded. It was the first time Derek had seen his assistant like this. He


    really didn''t know what to say.


    "Stop! Why are you fighting?" Nora came back to her senses and stopped them. She almost wanted to


    go downhill. Fortunately, Derek stopped her.


    It was no fooling matter. If they were to pull the two people in the mire, they would definitely be


    involved.


    "Don''t worry, Penelope won''t lose. The lotus pond is not deep and there is no danger. When they get


    tired of fighting, they will naturally stop."


    Nora: "..." Was it really good to say something like that?


    She couldn''t help but re at him, "You shouldn''t have let Damian follow Penelope just now. Sure


    enough, something happened." She just didn''t expect that they would fight so intensely that they all


    went to the lotus pond.


    Derek couldn''t help but touch his nose and mock.


    Easton, on the other hand, could not help but p and his eyes lit up, "Uncle Damian, fighting. Sister


    Pen, fighting."


    Derek raised his eyebrows and shrugged. His meaning was obvious: look at how calm our son was. He


    still had the heart to cheer them on.


    Nora: "..." She felt a little tired. She was really speechless to the father and the son.


    Fighting in the mud was much more tiring than fighting onnd. Penelope was a woman after all, and it


    didn''t take long for her to exhaust her strength. Damian was also troubled by her.


    Theyy in the mud and finally separated. Nora sighed with relief, "Come on up."


    Penelope had sessfully taught him a lesson and her goal was achieved. She didn''t bother to pester


    him. So she crawled toward the shore herself.


    Damian went up after she had went up. He was really afraid of this woman. She was not a woman. She


    was a freak.


    This time, the ingredients could only be prepared by Derek, Nora and Easton. Penelope and Damian


    each headed to the hotel room and had to take a good bath. They had never been so dirty in their lives.


    An hourter, they finished washing at about the same speed. Their rooms were on the same floor, so


    once they went out, they met again.


    When Penelope saw his sullen face, and the key was that there was a band-aid at the corner of his


    eye, she was so happy that sheughed in a good mood.


    "Oh, what''s wrong with your face? It''s scratched, isn''t it? Tsk tsk, it''s not that good-looking, but it''s even


    uglier. Haha."


    Damian was so angry that he almost spat out blood. She didn''t just scratch his face. It didn''t know how


    many wounds on his body were made by this woman.


    "What, are you so proud of yourself? If I hadn''t tolerated you, do you think you''d be fine now?" He


    gritted his teeth and red at her.


    She blinked, thought about it, looked him up and down, and shook her head, "Since ancient times, men


    who beat women are all brutes. So, men who are no match for women are worse than brutes."


    "Then what kind... do you belong to?" Penelope seemed to be thinking.


    Damn, Damian couldn''t help but curse. This dead woman really needed to be dealt with.


    Penelope sneered after seeing this, "Tell me, which kind do you belong to? It doesn''t matter if you say it


    or not. You do belong to both kinds, hahaha..."


    Leaving behind an arrogantugh, the woman swaggered off. Damian stood there and took deep


    breath, afraid that he might strangle her out of anger.


    In the afternoon, the barbecue grills and different kinds of ingredients had been set up on thewn by


    some people. And there were also all kinds of unfrozen fish, shrimp, and crabs. There was everything


    that one expected to find. The ingredients were very abundant.


    When they saw Penelope and Damianing one after another, especially when they saw the marks


    on Damian''s face, their expressions were very subtle.


    Nora felt a little sorry for Damian because Penelope was brought by her. But she caused so much


    "harm" to Damian within half a day.


    Afraid that Penelope and Damian would meet each other again, Nora purposely asked someone to set


    up four barbecue grills ording to the number of people. They were enough for every one to use a


    separate one. Penelope was in a good mood and found everything satisfactory.

 Chapter 405

    Chapter 405


    When she saw so many ingredients, she happily picked up a few of her favorite ones and started


    roasting them.


    "Little Easton, what do you want to eat? Sister Pen will roast it for you. I will make it delicious."


    They were roasting and eating the food. As long as they were not clumsy, they could make a good


    meal. Time passed quickly, and the sky gradually darkened before they closed the stall.


    Nothing unpleasant happened during this period. Damian and Penelope were fine, but whether the


    harmony was permanent or temporary was unknown.


    The vi at night was more beautiful than in the day.


    Penelope flew her kite happily while Damian stayed in his room to deal with some of thepany''s


    documents. Derek sat in the pavilion with Nora bathing in the wind.


    The little guy was on the side, ying games on iPad with his headphone on.


    Derek narrowed his eyes. He took out a bottle of wine and two sses and poured one for each of


    them.


    "Why are you drinking at night?" Nora shook the wine ss in her hand and smelled it. The aroma was


    not heavy, but the wine had a mellow fragrance and smelt good.


    "It''s almost autumn. It is a little cold at night. Drink some wine to warm yourself up. It''s okay to drink a


    little." Derek said and took a sip.


    Nora could not help but take a sip after smelling the fragrance. She did not have a pte for wine. This


    wine was not as spicy and bitter as other wines. It seemed to have some fruit vor, and it tasted good.


    "What kind of wine is this?" She asked casually and couldn''t help but take another sip.


    Derek smiled, "Peach blossom wine."


    Nora was a little surprised.


    "This is unique to the vi. There is a peach grove in the back of the mountain, and the wine is


    specially made by a senior winemaker. Almost everyone whoes on vacation will order it," he


    exined.


    As they chatted over the wine, Derek suddenly said, "Nora, I''m going back to D City next month."


    After all, the headquarters of Xavier Group was not in J City. He was the president, and many things


    were much more convenient for him to deal with in the headquarters. Originally, he didn''t have to stay


    in J City for so long, but after Nora''s ident, he had decided to stay in J City for the time being.


    Nora was stunned. It was so sudden that she wasn''t prepared at all. She couldn''t help but feel a little


    confused.


    Derek was going back to D City. Was he... Leaving her?


    That was not hard to imagine. He was the president. How could he stay here all the time? But Nora


    never thought about this before. She didn''t even figure out where they were in terms of their


    rtionship yet, and how could she think so far away?


    Before she could think of anything to say, Derek added, "Come back with me."


    Nora suddenly turned to look at him. Derek''s eyes were bright in the night, and he was staring at her


    with seriousness, with... anticipation, and with nervousness.


    She silently lowered her eyelids and did not speak.


    Derek couldn''t help but feel a little upset. Was he still too anxious? But ording to Nora''s


    temperament, he was afraid of something unexpected happening if he didn''t take action.


    He narrowed his eyes and said directly, "You can''t refuse. Anyway, your job transfer has already been


    sent back to the headquarters. Next month, you will report to the headquarters with me. You are still the


    design director of design B Department. It''s just a different working ce."


    The corner of her mouth twitched and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. What did he mean by


    saying just a different working ce? She was not a fool. How could the branchpare with the


    headquarters?


    Before she could finish digesting this, Derek dropped another bomb, "My grandfather already knows


    about you. He said he wanted me to take you back and meet him."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    What?


    This was really scary. Nora red at him, "What meeting? What do you mean? Your grandfather


    couldn''t have possibly known about me..."


    "No, don''t worry. The rest of the Xaviers don''t know who you really are. For the time being, they just


    think that you are a woman who is approved not only by me but also by Easton, so they want to see


    you."


    "Besides, it''s not a secret about Aubrey and the recent match in D City. It''s normal for my grandfather


    to want to see you."


    Normal? How the hell could that be called normal? She didn''t believe it was normal at all.


    For some reason, as soon as Nora heard about the Xaviers or meeting the Xaviers, she felt a strong


    sense of rejection and resistance in her heart.


    It made her wonder if she was too nervous or what.


    Derek didn''t want to give her a chance to escape, so he stood up and leaned over, hugging her in his


    arms, "Nora, can''t you tell me what''s the rtionship between us?"


    "No matter what, I won''t let go of you and my son. Think about it. If you don''t stay with me, Easton


    might have a stepmother in the future. If he has a stepmother, he might have a stepbrother or


    stepsister."


    "How pitiful Easton will be then. Can you bear for your son to live like this? In a single-parent family,


    most children will not be happy. Do you really have the heart to see that happen?"


    Nora was almost about to burst outughing out of anger. If that was the case, wouldn''t it be Derek''s


    fault? After all, he was the one who would find a stepmother for Easton. Now he was actually trying to


    me her for that.


    But Nora just thought about it and didn''t say it out loud. After all, if they were not together, with the


    status of the Xaviers and the care from elders of the Xaviers, Derek would definitely not stay single.


    Moreover, she seemed to have no right to stop Derek from remarrying. It was normal for him to


    remarry.


    Although she knew that the man was deliberately trying to make herpromise, Nora was very clear


    that this was indeed very likely to happen.


    She could not help but sigh.


    "I don''t know what answer to give you. After all, I haven''t recovered my memory."


    Nora had always thought that only when she remembered her past with Derek could she give the most


    urate and true answer in her heart.


    Derek frowned, "What if your memory neveres back? Are we always like this? Nora, the memory


    of the past is not important. People should look forward."


    "I like you, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, whether it''s before or after you


    lost your memory, it hasn''t changed. What about you? Forget about the past, just focus on the present.


    How do you feel about me now?"


    After he finished asking, he said directly, "You don''t have to deny it. It''s useless. I know you like me


    too."


    Not knowing whether tough or cry, she couldn''t help but step on him. How could he say something


    like this?


    "Not only do we like each other, but we also have a son. I really don''t understand what you''re hesitating


    about."


    After Derek finished speaking, he raised his hand and pulled his son''s earphones away, "Tell your


    mother that if she doesn''t stay with me, not only do you have no mother, but you also have a


    stepmother. Then you will be miserable."

 Chapter 406

    Chapter 406


    Easton knew his father very well. He realized the situation instantly, dropped the tabletputer at


    once and threw himself into Nora''s arms.


    "Mom, don''t you want me anymore?" The little guy pursed his lips and acted as if he was about to cry


    immediately.


    Nora was asked this question again. She didn''t know what to do with Derek and Easton, but she had a


    soft spot for her son. Even though she knew Easton was putting on a show, she couldn''t bear to see


    his sad face.


    "Of course not."


    "Mom, I don''t want a stepmother. I just want you. People in TV dramas say that stepmothers treat their


    stepchildren poorly, and I don''t want to be treated poorly."


    Although the little guy said so, he was thinking to himself, "I''ll give anyone who ill-treats me a hard kick,


    hmph."


    Derek also added, "Nora, I just want you. Go back with me in a month. After we visit grandpa, let''s get


    our marriage certificates."


    Things were going too fast. Howe they were talking about that?


    Nora took a deep breath. When she heard that Derek might marry someone else in the future, what


    she was thinking about was not whether her son was living a good life but she felt bitter for herself.


    It wasn''t that she was an insensitive person, so how wouldn''t she understand what was going on?


    It was not surprising that Derek might marry some other woman. After all, almost every woman would


    take a fancy to a man like Derek. Moreover, she was lucky enough to be liked by him.


    Not to mention, they had Easton.


    For a few moments, all kinds of thoughts shed across Nora''s mind. She seemed to have no reason


    to refuse him, so... she agreed.


    Derek got another room for Penelope at night. If she slept with Nora, how would he sneak into her


    room?


    Well, after all, he was the president of the Xavier Group, and it was a terrible thing to say that he would


    "sneak into her room".


    Anyway, Derek got happy and excited after Nora finally agreed. He took a shower, put on his bathrobe


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    and went into Nora''s room next door.


    As for how he got into Nora''s room, it was easy for Derek to get the key because he was the owner of


    the vi resort.


    Easton had long fallen asleep after ying all day, so he had no idea of his father''s shameless


    behavior.


    When Derek went in, Nora was still in the shower.


    Derek went straight to bed without any hesitation. When Nora came out, she was shocked to see a


    man appear on the bed in her room suddenly.


    "How did you get in?"


    Nora asked grumpily. But once she said that, she realized it was a stupid question, so she asked


    another question, "What do you want to see me about?"


    Derek put on a smile. "I''m sleeping here tonight."


    Nora''s face darkened the moment she heard Derek''s answer, and her cheeks started to burn


    uncontrobly. She couldn''t help but throw the towel onto his face. What a shameless man!


    "There''s no way you''re sleeping here tonight. Go back to your own room."


    Derek raised his eyebrows. Now that he was here, it was impossible for him to go back. He stretched


    out his long arm, pulled Nora into arms and turned over. Now, he was on top of her.


    "We are getting married. What''s wrong with us sleeping together? Just take it as a rehearsal." Derek


    said firmly.


    Nora rolled her eye in annoyance. Fuck the registration and fuck the rehearsal. She sure had agreed to


    be with him, but she hadn''t agreed to get registered.


    "Why, do you want to go back on your word? You are being naughty, and you will get punished for


    that."


    After that, Derek pressed his lips against hers.


    Derek was always gentle, but tonight, he was acting in a reckless and overwhelming manner. In fact,


    the two of them had drunk a lot.


    Nora was not a strong drinker. Although she sobered up a little after the shower, she still felt dizzy. Now


    that Derek treated her this way, she was too weak to resist him and thus obeyed meekly.


    Both of them were in bathrobes, and it was easy to take them off. Derek stared at her, his sharp and


    deep eyes glinting. Without hesitation, he reached out and turned off the bedsidemp.


    The room plunged into darkness, and only the moving figures on the bed could be faintly seen.


    The next morning, the sunshine came in through the window, leaving mottled shadows on the floor.


    Nora''s eyelids twitched. Shortly after, she opened her eyes in a daze, moved her body and froze


    instantly, giving a low moan with a frown.


    The soreness and aches all over her body and the strange feeling in herher regions reminded her


    of what had happenedst night. Nora felt that her head was about to explode.


    Last night, she and Derek¡­


    Nora could not help but close her eyes. Her face was blushing with anger and annoyance. She was not


    only annoyed with Derek, but also with herself.


    It wasn''t that she was heavily drunkst night. She just felt a little dizzy but was totally conscious. In


    other words, she didn''t reject himpletely enough to prevent what had happenedst night from


    happening.


    Thinking of this, she blushed even more furiously.


    "What are you thinking? You''re blushing." Suddenly, Nora heard a chuckle. Before she could react, an


    arm wrapped around her waist and she was pulled into his arms.


    Startled, Nora looked back. She was so angry just now that she forgot Derek was still by her side.


    When she heard what he said, she couldn''t help but re at him.


    "Keep your hands off and let go of me."


    Not only didn''t Derek let go of her, but he drew her closer to him. "Tsk tsk. You want me to let go of you


    after what happenedst night? No way."


    Derek stroked Nora''s underbelly with his warm palm as he spoke. "Maybe Easton''s younger brother or


    sister is already here."


    Nora was about to burn upon hearing that.


    In addition, both of them were naked under the nket. Nora stiffened when Derek was fondling her,


    her fair skin glowing, and Derek got the physical response at the sight of it.


    However, Derek dared to do nothing else but caress Nora. If he really annoyed her and thus she went


    back on her promise, it would be toote for him to regret it.


    When Derek was still fondling Nora, there came a knock at the door, followed by Penelope''s yell.


    "Nora, are you up yet? Open the door and let me in. I''ll show you something fun."


    Derek could not help but roll his eyes. Now that it was impossible for him to continue enjoying the


    romantic and private time with Nora, Derek got out of bed with a sullen face.


    Nora was almost scared to death by Penelope. Ignoring the aches all over her body, she got up


    immediately and said, "Hide yourself. Let me..."


    Before she could finish her words, Nora saw Derek grab the bathrobe casually, put it on and walk


    towards the door.


    As soon as the door was opened, Penelope, who was ready to rush in, flinched at the sight of Derek,


    staggered back and almost fell.


    Penelope looked at the room number to make sure she was not mistaken, then at the sullen Derek,


    and realized something suddenly.


    "Nora is sleeping. Come to herter." Derek said.


    Penelope almost choked on her own drool. Shocked, she kept nodding, ran back to her room and


    closed the door.

 Chapter 407

    Chapter 407


    Penelope didn''t continue disturbing them, but Derek didn''t look any better. Just as he was about to


    close the door, Nora, who was behind him, came up angrily, pushed him out fiercely and mmed the


    door shut.


    Derek was chased out. He was stunned for a while, then twitched his lips. He had no choice but to go


    to his own room next door.


    On the other side, Penelope, who had been listening to them outside, quietly poked her head out again.


    Seeing that Derek was not there, she immediately knocked on Nora''s door.


    "Wow, Nora,st night, you and Mr. Xavier..." Penelope looked at the messy bed and smiled


    ambiguously.


    Nora''s cheeks were red and she said in embarrassment, "You''ve been thinking too much. He just came


    to my room this morning."


    Penelope''s expression implied that she didn''t believe Nora''s exnation at all.


    They could have fun for another day today. Penelope heard that there was an open-air swimming pool


    here, then immediately excitedly pulled Nora over. Derek and the others followed them.


    Therge outdoor pool was decorated with white jade tiles on the edges. With blue water, it looked


    amazing. It was surrounded by rockery trees, creating a natural artistic conception.


    On the shore of the pool were rows of chairs for rest, along with snacks, fruits, and drinks.


    Penelope was beautiful and sexy. She was narcissistic and chose a revealing swimsuit for herself and


    put it on.


    Besides, she had originally nned to get Nora to wear the same kind of swimsuit as hers, but Nora


    refused her. Penelope suddenly thought of something, then stopped forcing Nora.


    Looking at Penelope''s expression, Nora was rather ashamed and angry. She had never felt so


    embarrassed before and scolded Derek a thousand times in her heart.


    They just had a ridiculous night. The mark on her body hasn''t disappeared yet. How can she wear a


    swimsuit?


    "It was not easy toe over and y. But it''s not fun not to get into the water."


    Penelope frowned. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she snapped her fingers, "I have an idea."


    Not long after that, she rummaged through the rows of swimsuits, took apart two sets of swimsuits and


    rematched them. Looking at her achievement, Penelope nodded with satisfaction.


    "You can wear this. Don''t worry. The pool is so big and there are just a few people. What are you afraid


    of?"


    Nora looked at the swimsuit in her hand. It was a ck one-piece swimsuit with a short skirt, with a


    ck tight-fitting seven-cent legging.


    In this way, her back, chest, and thighs would be covered. Nora looked at Penelope speechlessly and


    reluctantly changed them.


    When the two of them went out, Derek and Damian had changed swimsuits. Men just need wear


    swimming trunks, which was very convenientpared with women.


    Easton had also changed into a pair of beach pants and was equipped with a small swimming ring.


    "Mom..." It was the little guy, who jumped at Nora every time he saw her.


    Derek also had a smile on his lips and walked over with a gentle face. The atmosphere among the


    family of three was warm and sweet. Penelope was ignored.


    But she didn''t feel ufortable. She just nced at Damian, who was beside her, and pursed her


    lips and jumped into the water. Damian rolled his eyes and went into the water in the opposite direction.


    Nora was still afraid of water. Fortunately, Derek was patient and kept coaxing her,forting her, and


    gradually conducted her to get into the pool.


    Penelope enjoyed herself very much. She could swim and roll in the water like a beautiful fish.


    After a while, she swung to the side, picked up the juice and took a sip. Suddenly, a wave came out of


    nowhere.


    She was choked to cough.


    Penelope was so shocked that she was choked and spurted out the juice that had not been swallowed.


    The corners of her eyes even were red. Turning around, she was furious, "Shit! Why did you make


    such a big noise? You did it on purpose, right?"


    That wave was indeed made by Damian.


    However, Damian really didn''t mean it. He was a member of the swimming team when he was in


    college. After graduation, he worked for Derek. During all these years, he was too busy with his work,


    and he hadn''t swum for a long time.


    This was a rare opportunity, so he subconsciously wanted to practice. He just focused on swimming to


    the end, and didn''t pay attention to the situation on the surface of the water.


    Damian wiped his face, frowned, and sneered, "So what if I did it on purpose?"


    Penelope flew into a rage and lunged at him. Damian quickly dodged and the two chased after each


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    other in the pool.


    The next second, she suddenly paused, her face changed, and she struggled in the water, "Ah, help,


    my foot..."


    Because her mouth was choking on water, her cries for help were not loud, and didn''t alert Nora and


    others in the distance, but Damian, who was not far away from her, heard it.


    He knew she must have a cramp in her foot.


    Damian frowned. He swam over and stretched out his arms, ready to grab her by the waist and bring


    her up.


    But unfortunately, because of Penelope''s constant struggle, Damian failed to hold her waist but...


    "Ah, bastard."


    Meanwhile, there was a crisp sound.


    Derek and Nora, who were far away, heard her shriek and looked in her direction. They just happened


    to see Penelope pping Damian.


    The whole pool was suddenly quiet. Nora was shocked and wondered what happened, then she was


    immediately brought over by Derek.


    Perhaps it was because of being shocked by Damian, Penelope''s foot stopped cramping. After


    pping Damian, Penelope swam away immediately, covering her chest with both hands. Her pretty


    face was full of embarrassment and anger.


    Damian''s face was gloomy. His muscles were taut and blue veins were popping out of his forehead. He


    was obviously extremely angry and his eyes at Penelope were murderous.


    "What''s wrong? Penelope, you just..." Nora looked at her, wondering why she pped Damian.


    Penelope looked aggrieved and red at Damian, "He deserved it. He took advantage of me and


    touch my boobs."


    Derek looked at his assistant. Even if he didn''t know what happened, he knew that Damian would


    never do such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding.


    "I shouldn''t have saved you just now." Damian gritted his teeth, and his harsh words came out.


    Nora looked at Penelope, who pursed her lips and whispered, "I just had a cramp in my leg."


    After that, she pointed at Damian boldly, "I thank him for saving me, but it''s true that he took advantage


    of me just now. If you don''t believe me, you can ask him."


    "No one would do the same thing as you when they are saving people. Where did you put your hands?


    Do you dare to say that you didn''t take advantage of me just now?" Penelope pursed her lips and


    suspected this guy did it on purpose.

 Chapter 408

    Chapter 408


    Damian had deeply understood the meaning of the old saying "only women and flunkies are hard to


    live in peace with" in just two days.


    Heughed and calmed down when his anger reached its peak. Then, he looked at her and said faintly,


    "Did you said that I touched your chest? I''m sorry. I didn''t feel your chest just now."


    "Besides, I really want to say that you are as hard as a man. There is no difference between the front


    and the back. Even if I did touch your chest, you have nothing to lose. After all, I didn''t feel anything."


    He said with a shrug and a look of disgust.


    Nora: "..."


    Derek raised his eyebrows and looked significantly at his assistant. Why didn''t he notice that Damian


    was good at witty remarks? Tut tut.


    Penelope was so enraged by his words. She looked down at her chest subconsciously as if she wanted


    to confirm what he said.


    But then she was irritated by her subconscious behavior and came back to her senses. Her pretty face


    was twisted and ferocious and her roar resounded throughout the pool.


    No one could enjoy swimming anymore.


    The next day, they ended their vacation and returned home.


    They came here in one car but returned in two cars because Nora was afraid that Damian and


    Penelope would quarrel again on the way back.


    Others could tolerate their quarrel. But what if they fought again? It was dangerous to have a fight while


    driving. Fortunately, they were separated.


    It took more than two hours for them to drive back from the suburbs to the city. Along the way, they


    passed a winding mountain road again. The traffic flow was smooth when they came. However, they


    were stopped this time.


    A group of young men and women gathered together ahead, with gs of various colors on both sides.


    All kinds of cars, including luxurious ones, were parked on both sides.


    Derek and Damian''s cars stopped side by side and they pulled down the window.


    "Why are there so many people in front? What are they doing?" Penelope looked up curiously.


    Derek squinted and slowly spat out a few words: "Car Racing Party."


    Three words was enough to exin.


    Damian nodded and understood immediately, "Boss, I''ll go talk to them."


    Derek nodded.


    Penelope''s face was filled with excitement when she heard about the car racing party. She only saw


    them on TV. It was her first time to see them in real life.


    As soon as they appeared, their cars attracted the attention of the group opposite them. They looked at


    them with different expressions.


    Car racers were naturally familiar with cars.


    Derek''s cars were both top-ss luxury cars. Obviously ordinary people could not afford to drive. So


    the group of people was just watching and not directly looked for trouble.


    Among the group of people, there were several leaders. Damian went to negotiate with them and came


    back soon.


    "Boss, they said, ording to the rules, if you want to pass, just y with them."


    It meant to race cars.


    Derek was not surprised at the answer. He had already guessed what they wanted. This group of


    people was mixed up with good and evil people. Some were mobsters and some were the second-or-


    third-ss rich second-generation.


    They wouldn''t let them go easily.


    Damian hesitated and said, "Shall we turn around?"


    Though it would be a little troublesome to turn around, it was also feasible.


    Before Derek could say anything, Penelope behind him said excitedly, "Why are you turning around?


    It''s just car racing. y with them."


    Nora tugged at her with disapproval, "No, it''s too dangerous."


    Even if she had never raced cars, she had seen one and heard of many people who lost their lives in


    car racing.


    Penelope''s words were heard by Damian.


    He narrowed his eyes and gave her a meaningful look, "Bitch, do you want to race cars?"


    "It''s none of your business whether I want to y or not." Penelope nced at him angrily.


    Damian didn''t mind but smiled very handsomely, "Of course it is. If you want to y, I can take you with


    me."


    After that, he looked at Derek, "Boss, I''ll y with them."


    Derek gave a meaningful look at him and Penelope and curled his lips, "Go ahead."


    "Hey, listen to the rules of racing. Everyone has to bring one when racing. Come on. Do you dare to


    follow me?" Damian said with a provocative tone and looked at Penelope.


    Penelope couldn''t stand others'' goading at all, especially Damian''s. She gave an exaggeratedugh


    and said, "Tut, it''s just racing. Who dares not?" Then, she opened the door and got off.


    Nora was stunned. How did this happen all of a sudden?


    "Derek, why did you agree to such a dangerous thing as racing?" She panicked.


    "Don''t worry. Damian has raced cars before. He''s good. Don''t panic. We''ll just wait patiently." Derek


    Everyone had been young and frivolous. What he didn''t tell her was that Damian wasn''t the only one


    who raced cars. He also raced cars in his teens and his skills were even better than Damian''s.


    But after taking over thepany, he barely raced cars.


    Damian drove directly over with Penelope. Seeing that they were quite sensible to follow the rules, the


    car racing party kicked up a fuss and became less hostile.


    Damian, in particr, added a one-million-dor check as the winner''s reward, which brought the


    atmosphere to its highest level.


    Although car racers were rich, there were also differences in sses. A million was not a small number.


    Most of these car racers were excited. They immediately grabbed the chance to join this game.


    Therefore, they started soon.


    Penelope sat in the passenger seat and watched the cars on both sides constantly move back and


    forth and make a whine. She couldn''t help but feel excited.


    It was her first time ying this game. Before beginning, she felt extremely excited. She turned her


    head, looked at Damian with raised eyebrows, and pursed her lips.


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    "Hey, you better work harder. Even if you can''t get to the top, don''t be at the bottom. It''s too


    embarrassing."


    Damian squinted, "Don''t worry. I promise I won''t disappoint you."


    He put on his sunsses to hide the sneer in his eyes.


    This wretched, dead woman, peeped at him taking a bath the first time she met him. But she even


    dared to call him a pervert. The next time she dug him into a lotus pond and even scratched his face.


    Last time, when he was kind enough to save her in the swimming pool, she wronged him and even


    pped him.


    These incredible things happened to him one after another. He suffered a loss and the main culprit was


    this woman.


    She wanted to race cars now. Heh, he would take her for fun.


    Just now, Damian had an idea. He thought that he could teach Penelope a lesson through car racing


    and regain his reputation. Moreover, she asked for it and couldn''t me him anymore.

 Chapter 409

    Chapter 409


    A row of cars was in position, one line in the middle separating them into two parts. A beautiful woman


    dressed in sexy clothes was holding a bottle of wine with the lid open.


    She walked in the middle with a charming smile, took a big gulp of wine, pulled the scarf off her neck


    with her other hand, shook it a few times, and threw it out into the air.


    The red scarfnded lightly. The moment itnded on the ground, there were a few sounds of


    whooshes. The cars on both sides of the road sped out and disappeared in a few seconds.


    There was a route on this hillside road that started from this direction and returned to its original ce


    from the opposite direction after a long circle and a small road.


    The first car toe back would be the champion.


    Damian clenched the steering wheel as he drove, mmed the elerator to the ground, and the


    moment he rushed out, Penelope, who did no preparations and had experience, bounced back.


    If she hadn''t fastened her seat belt in advance, her forehead would have mmed into the front seat


    ss, which would been a tragedy.


    Penelope bounced out halfway and was pulled back into the back seat by the seat belt. There was a


    muffled sound on her back, which sounded very painful.


    Damian saw this, and the curve of his lips became even worse, and he began to turn violently the


    steering wheel in his hand.


    Just like that, while Penelope bared her teeth and her head was still in a daze, her body began to


    shake vigorously from left to right. After shaking violently for a few times, the speed of the car began to


    slow down.


    She steadied herself, her heart pounding. She gritted her teeth and red at Damian, "Are you crazy?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Damian stepped on the gas pedal again, and there was a curve


    ahead.


    Penelope red, "Ah, stop the car. Stop the car. It''s going to crash."


    When her face was filled with horror and she thought that she was going to die today, the head of the


    car jerked and squeaked. She was thrown and mmed against the door.


    The car passed the curve safely in this way.


    Penelope''s face was pale and blue, and she suddenly covered her chest, where her heart beat so


    violently that she felt as if she had survived a disaster. She took a deep breath and trembled with


    anger.


    She could tell that this jerk did this intentionally. He must be. He could have done it more safely, but he


    wanted to scare her. Damn it.


    "Pervert, wait, wait..."


    Before the harsh words could be spoke out by her, the entire car was once again running forward in a


    zigzag route. Damian squinted, not expecting the woman to scold him at this point.


    Hmph, then don''t me him for not going easy on her .


    What happened next was definitely Penelope''s nightmare.


    With Damian''s intended operation, the speed of the car was almost raised to the extreme, and the view


    outside the window became fragments, but the road ahead was still very clear.


    Because of this, Damian still liked to drive towards the tree, the wall, and every time Penelope thought


    he was going to hit on to these barriers, he could avoid it. It was really thrilling, challenging the


    heartbeat.


    "Ah, Damian, you bastard. I''m going to kill you. What kind of driver are you? Stop the car."


    "Turn around,e on, we''re going to hit, ah..."


    "I don''t want to y anymore. I want to get out of the car. I don''t want to sit in the car you drive. Ah..."


    Penelope''s screams were heard all over the winding mountain road.


    Damian didn''t forget the mission to win the race beside scaring her. Although a million dors was


    nothing to him, who would want to lose if one could win.


    In the end, of course, Damian was the first to reach the finish line, which shocked the people who were


    waiting.


    "Look, is that Damian''s car? Have we won?"


    Derek smiled and nodded.


    Nora''s heart finally rxed and she ran up to him.


    Damian took off his sunsses and was in high spirits. Penelope, on the other hand, had a pale face


    and was as soft as a dead fish, with her eyes wide open, obviously not regaining her senses.


    Nora was startled and immediately opened the door to help her down, "Penelope, are you okay?"


    Damian said faintly, "Don''t worry. It''s her first time to sit in my car. She''s just not used to it. She''ll be fine


    soon."


    His voice made Penelope''s eyes move. She looked at him in a daze. The next second, her eyes


    became fierce. She swallowed saliva hard and her legs trembled.


    "You, you are, you''re so..."


    He raised his eyebrows and grinned, "I''m so good indeed, but you do not seem very good. Tsk tsk."


    Damian shook his head as if he had thought of something, "By the way, you sign up for this to sit in my


    car. It has nothing to do with me. I took you to experience it. Don''t thank me too much."


    Penelope''s head was dizzy with anger, and her expression suddenly changed. She immediately broke


    away from Nora''s hand and ran to the side to support the wall. She suddenly bent down and vomited.


    Derek nced at Damian, "Are you angry?"


    Damian smiled, "Much better."


    Derek chuckled and shook his head, "I think Penelope is not bad. She suits you very well."


    "Boss, I''ve been working for you for so many years. Is it really okay for you to trick me like this?"


    Damian''s face darkened.


    Thetter shrugged and stopped talking.


    But regarding rtionships, the destiny was very mysterious. Who knew what will happen in the future.


    After Penelope vomited for a while, she felt much more rxed,fortable, and recovered a lot.


    She took a bottle of water to wash her mouth. She took the tissue from Nora and wiped her mouth. Her


    face was gloomy and she turned around to stare at Damian.


    Nora thought she was going to fight with Damian again, which was a trouble for her. She hugged her


    and coaxed her.


    Damian nced at her and snorted, not taking her anger seriously.


    Penelope kept taking deep breaths to calm her anger, but she wouldn''t just let it go. Such a jerk. Just


    wait for her.


    She gritted her teeth and lowered her eyes. It was rare for Nora to be able to pull her into the car


    without any resistance. Damian could not help but be surprised to see that she did not burst into fury.


    After they got off the field and won the race, ording to the rules, the racing gang made way for them


    and they drove back smoothly.


    the Joneses.


    After Sheldon''s leg was broken by Adam, he recuperated in the hospital for two weeks. The swelling on


    his face had disappeared and he was still in the hospital. However, his whole temperament was even


    gloomier.


    It was said that a person''s temperament could change a person''s appearance. If Nora stood in front of


    him, she would not recognize him at once.


    In the ward, Sheldon stood by the side with his head lowered. There was no expression on his face.


    Sean sat in front of him, his expressionless face full of deterrence.


    "After so many days, you still haven''t made any progress, and you even made yourself look like this."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    The light words did not sound like any usations, but they made Sheldon feel cold all over.

 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410


    Sheldon''s reverence for Sean was not nurtured in a day or two but umted over the years. He


    always had an inexplicable fear for his uncle.


    "Uncle, that woman, Nora, has a son who is less than six years old. That little boy is not so good. He''s


    the one who asked others to hurt my legs." Sheldon said with difficulty.


    "Hmph, that child''s name is Easton. Until now, you still don''t know who his father is." Sean said coldly.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    His father?


    Sheldon was confused.


    Looking at him like this, Sean''s face became even colder, "That''s Derek''s son. He is Derek and Nora''s


    son."


    Sheldon was stunned as if there was thunder that exploded in his mind with a bang.


    He didn''t move in a daze. That little bastard was... Derek''s son.


    Yes, that was right. Sheldon thought about the man next to Easton and the way he was hit. After


    hearing, he knew why a child could have such a bodyguard.


    Besides, Easton''s surname was also Derek. Wasn''t it obvious? Why did he never think of it?


    It seemed that everything made sense at this moment.


    He was just wondering why Derek suddenly paid attention to Nora. That was a strange thing.


    It turned out that the two of them had been together for a long time. And they actually had a son, which


    Nora had never told him.


    At this moment, Sheldon had a strong feeling of being teased. His hatred for Nora had increased once


    more.


    Looking at his constantly changing face, Sean scolded him rudely, "Idiot."


    Sheldon''s face turned sullen, but he did not dare to refute or show any sign of it. "Uncle, I have a n."


    "Do you think I''ll give you another chance?" He squinted.


    "Uncle, it''s up to you to decide, but you won''t lose anything if you listen to me." Sheldon insisted.


    "Hmph, tell me."


    Sheldon''s n was to make an appointment with Nora and find a way to take her away. He wanted to


    force Nora to have sex with him.


    He thought someone proud like Derek wouldn''t be with a slut. Even if he didn''t mind, this matter would


    stick in his heart forever.


    But there was also a possibility that Derek would abandon Nora directly so that Nora could only be with


    him.


    Sheldon still did not fully understand why Sean asked him to marry Nora, nor did he understand what


    kind of feelings Sean had for Nora.


    Therefore, he did not dare to reveal his innermost thoughtspletely.


    After so many things, he had abandoned all the ns such as cultivating feelings with Nora, capturing


    her heart, and then getting married to her...


    Now he had only one thought in his heart, which was to make Nora suffer.


    He also hated Derek. But Sheldon was also self-aware. He knew very well that with his ability, it was


    impossible to hurt Derek. He could only hurt Nora.


    He felt at ease when he thought about the look on Derek''s face after he had sex with Nora. All he could


    think of now was revenge on them.


    Sheldon did not know what Sean was really nning and naturally did not know that the purpose of his


    n was exactly the same as Sean''s final n.


    ording to his previous thought, he wanted to take advantage of Nora''s amnesia topletely break


    the rtionship between Nora and Derek, but now it seemed that this was not going to work.


    He didn''t know if Nora had recovered her memory, but they two had already met. With Derek''s


    interference, Sheldon was useless.


    However, Sheldon''s n could still be implemented. As long as it seeded, Derek would definitely


    felt worse off than dead. Thinking about it, Sean finally smiled.


    Sheldon sighed with relief and continued, "Uncle, there should always be someone around Nora to


    protect her. I need your help to find a way to get those people away from her."


    Sean naturally knew that. He agreed without much hesitation. Sheldon obviously had no ability to make


    Derek''s men away from Nora.


    Everything was arranged. Two dayster, Sheldon called Nora and told her that he was discharged


    today and asked if she coulde to pick him up.


    Nora felt a little guilty about the cklist and agreed without much thought. As soon as she arrived at


    the hospital, someone informed Derek immediately.


    What could Derek do?


    Although he was in a bad mood, he could only let his men protect Nora from the outside as before.


    Nora walked near the ward with a bunch of flowers and knocked on the door. Then she went in and


    saw the person lying on the bed.


    "Sheldon."


    As soon as she opened her mouth, she sensed there was someone behind her. She subconsciously


    turned her head, but before she could see it clearly, her neck suddenly hurt and she lost


    consciousness.


    Nora fell to the ground with her eyes closed. Because she was standing by the sofa, she fell to the


    ground and hit the back of her head hard on the corner of the table on coffee table.


    Sheldon jumped up from the hospital bed and looked at Nora on the ground. His handsome features


    were particrly ferocious now. He took a deep breath and looked at the two tall men in front of him.


    These were Sean''s men.


    "Make it quick. Take her out first. I will try my best to buy time."


    The two nodded. One of them lifted the sheet and dragged a woman out from under the bed. She was


    still wearing a nurse''s uniform. She was obviously a nurse in the hospital.


    With Sheldon''s help, the two of them quickly took off Nora''s clothes and quickly exchanged them with


    the nurse''s uniform. Soon, they carried the nurse out.


    Sheldon looked at Nora, who was wearing a nurse''s uniform on the ground, and a strange smile


    appeared on his face.


    The car that had been prepared ahead of time was parked at the entrance of the hospital. Two men,


    carrying the nurse, quickly stuffed her into the car and drove away.


    This scene was naturally seen by Derek''s men in the dark.


    They were cheated. Although they didn''t see the woman''s face clearly, they saw her clothes and


    thought it was Nora. They were shocked and immediately informed Derek.


    President office of Xavier Group.


    When Derek heard this, he stood up abruptly, his face sullen to the extreme, "What did you say?"


    "Boss, Miss Gray is in aa. She is taken away by two men. We are chasing them now."


    He smashed his cell phone, grabbed the car keys, and strode away. Damian followed him immediately.

 Chapter 411

    Chapter 411


    Derek and his men chased after the car carrying ''Nora''.


    While the real Nora had been brought back to the vi of the Joneses by Sheldon. In Sheldon''s mind, it


    was safer for her to stay in his own ce.


    On the big bed, Nora gradually regained her consciousness. She opened her eyes in a daze. Her


    brows were tightly furrowed and she was dizzy with the headache.


    There were countless fragments that kept appearing in her mind. The fragments were getting more,


    which made her head swell up. She was ufortable, and her face was pale.


    Before she could figure it out, a familiar yet somewhat strange voice said, "Oh, you''re awake."


    Nora looked up and saw Sheldon. She froze. The next second, her memories immediately came back


    to her. Sheldon was discharged from the hospital. She went to the hospital, and then... Someone


    knocked her out.


    Nora''s heart suddenly was suspended, and she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of uneasiness. She


    looked around.


    "This is..."


    She recognized it at a nce that she was in the Joneses mansion. After all, she had lived here for so


    long.


    "This is the Joneses. Our home. You won''t forget it, will you?" Sheldon crossed his arms and legs,


    sitting on the sofa beside him. The expression on his face was very strange to Nora.


    "Sheldon, what is going on? Why am I here?" She felt confused.


    Sheldon raised his eyebrows and curled his wicked lips, "I brought you here, of course."


    "Nora, we''ve been dating for five years. We''re all adults. It''s time for us to have sex after such a long


    time. It was my fault. You must be very angry that I ignored you, right?"


    "It doesn''t matter. I''ll change. This is the Joneses and your home. There''s one thing we should have


    done a long time ago, but it''s not toote. Nora, I''ll make you mine. Are you happy?"


    Nora was stunned at the obvious hint that even a fool could understand.


    She suddenly regained her senses and shivered. She shrank back in fright. She looked at Sheldon with


    wide eyes and shook her head in disbelief.


    "Sheldon, you, what''s wrong with you? We''ve already broken up. Don''t do this."


    "Break up? Who allowed you to break up with me? Did I agree?" Sheldon yelled and his face was


    contorted.


    He gritted his teeth and red at her, "Why? You were dying to do this before. I never expect you to


    change your heart so quickly. Heh."


    "Let me tell you. If it weren''t for we the Joneses, you would have drowned to death long ago. There


    wouldn''t be a day like today. You should be grateful that I, Sheldon, was willing to marry you. What right


    do you have to refuse?"


    "Bitch, you think it''s great that you got Derek, don''t you? How dare you y me around? Don''t worry, I''ll


    let you know the consequence."


    Nora was shocked. Sheldon''s words and appearance really scared her. She opened her mouth but


    didn''t know what to say.


    She took a deep breath, repressed the tension in her heart and told herself to calm down.


    Nora only had one feeling right now. That was Sheldon was not in the right state. She looked in the


    direction of the door with a nce. She had to find a way to escape, or else she would be done here.


    "Sheldon, I don''t know how you became like this. Just calm down and let''s have a good talk. Don''t get


    emotional."


    "I lied to you about Derek, but I didn''t mean to. I didn''t think it was necessary. I..."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Nora said incoherently while unconsciously retreating. Sheldon naturally saw all of this, and the vicious


    smile on his lips became more obvious.


    "Haha, haha..." He burst outughing.


    "Nora, there''s actually something that you didn''t know. Now I''ve decided to tell you."


    He looked a little crazy, "You know my uncle, right? Actually, I wasn''t the one who saved you from the


    river. I didn''t care if you would drown. The person who saved you was actually my uncle."


    Nora''s voice stopped abruptly and she looked at him, stunned.


    "After he saved you, he assigned me a mission. Do you know what that mission is?" Sheldon''s


    expression was very weird.


    Nora subconsciously felt a sense of uneasiness in her heart.


    "My uncle told me that as long as I can make you fall in love with me, be with me willingly, and marry


    me, I can share at least half of the property of the Joneses by that time."


    "Do you know how excited I was? The thing I''ve always dreamed of was almost right in front of me. As


    long as I can coax you to fall in love with me and be controlled by me."


    "I, Sheldon, have yed with countless women, so to me, this request is as simple as eating and


    drinking. And it turned out to be true."


    "I just pretended to be gentle and considerate to you. It wasn''t long before you were with me. I''m just


    regretting that I didn''t get registered with you earlier."


    "You''re so easily fooled by me. To be honest, it''s not challenging at all. Do you know what I do every


    time I answer your phone? I spend my nights with different women."


    "Those women, even if they were not as good-looking as you, I was reluctant to look at your dull face.


    Just like an idiot. You made me lose my appetite when I your face. Hmph."


    Sheldon''s words were undoubtedly shocking to Nora. She was almost dumbfounded when she heard


    them. She felt that this Sheldon in front of her was apletely different person.


    Sheldon''s uncle? That very dignified face surfaced in Nora''s memory, followed by confusion.


    She never thought that she lived the five years after she lost her memory in a huge lie, but why?


    She had no idea what Sheldon''s uncle was doing. Of course, she might not know because she lost her


    memory. She might have known Sean before.


    But now, it was clearly not the time to think about it. Nora only felt more pain in her head, as well as the


    dizzy feeling.


    "Don''t you feel weak now, without any strength? It''s natural."


    Sheldon''s words sent a chill through Nora''s body. She looked at him in horror and realized something.


    She struggled down from the bed, but her legs became weak and she fell to the ground.


    The feeling of failure to gather her strength made Nora scared.


    Sheldon smiled very happily. He slowly stood up, stroke forward, and walked towards Nora...


    On the other side.


    On a highway, several cars chased closely, and each car was geared up to the highest speed. If it


    weren''t for this small road where not many cars would normally pass by, they would definitely attract


    the attention of the traffic police.

 Chapter 412

    Chapter 412


    "Get a map of this area," Derek said coldly.


    Damian, in the passenger seat, nodded and kept typing on the keyboard with theputer on hisp.


    Soon, a detailed map of the area was disyed.


    "There''s a small road 200 meters ahead on the left. If you''re fast enough, you can take a detour and


    stop that car."


    Derek did not hesitate to give orders through the headphones to keep them chasing.


    The distance of 200 meters was not far, and soon the car arrived. Sure enough, there was a small path


    around the corner. He turned the steering wheel and rushed onto the path.


    Derek stepped on the gas pedal to the extreme and kept elerating. The tires kept rubbing and


    sparking. Damian grabbed the handrail above his head and didn''t let himself get thrown out.


    Soon, their car rushed out of the otherne, and the steering wheel spun sharply, while the car


    stopping directly across the middle of the road.


    They looked to the other side of the road, and a familiar ck van appeared in sight, from far to near,


    and was about to rush over.


    Derek opened the door and had an iron bar in his hand. He looked at the van and calcted the


    distance in his heart. Then he flung the iron bar at the van.


    The iron bar hit the front ss of the van with great precision. With a bang, the entire ss shattered in


    an instant.


    The impact of the iron bar was not reduced much. It went straight through the broken ss and hit the


    driver hard on the head.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    With a sharp sound, the van braked violently, and the driver turned the steering wheel quickly. Then the


    van crashed into a fence on the side, splitting into pieces.


    The car that was chasing it also stopped. Derek''s men quickly got out of the car and surrounded the


    van.


    Derek strode over, pulled open the door, and pulled out the two dizzy men inside. At first nce, he


    saw the woman in the corner.


    His heart shrank and he immediately picked the woman up, but the next second, he froze.


    Damian was confused, so he subconsciously nced at her, and suddenly widened his eyes. A chill


    came out of his heart. Who was the woman in the boss''s hands?


    This was not Nora at all.


    Derek looked at the familiar clothes on the woman in his hands. What else did he not understand? His


    hands loosened, and his dark pupils were filled with violent storms.


    The bodyguards, who had been secretly protecting Nora, came along. They were so scared and they


    didn''t expect the swap at all.


    At that time, it was a touch-and-go situation so they didn''t notice it. The men looked at each other and


    saw fear in each one''s eyes.


    It was over. They were sure to be med for what happened, but more importantly, they couldn''t


    ept such a stupid mistake.


    They knelt down in an instant, feeling desperate and waiting for the doom. It would be a miracle that


    they could still be able to live after the event.


    But Derek didn''t have time to punish them at the moment. Looking at the two men beside him, he held


    a dagger in his hand.


    "Where is she?"


    Their face changed violently. They looked at each other and neither of them spoke.


    The next second.


    "Ah..."


    Poof! The sharp dagger pierced one of them hard in the shoulder. Derek''s face was grim, and the


    dagger in his hand kept stirring in the wound.


    "I said, where is she?"


    Derek threw the dagger away and crushed the man''s fingers one by one.


    As the saying went, the fingers were linked to the heart. This kind of pain was unbearable even for


    men. The man couldn''t stop screaming and finally gave away the location.


    Derek handed them over to his men, took Damian and a few people into the car, turned around directly,


    and drove towards the Joneses mansion.


    In Sheldon''s room, the Joneses.


    At this moment, it was also a mess in the room. Nora''s clothes and cuffs were ripped open, and half of


    her underwear was exposed, and there were palm prints on her face.


    At this moment, Nora''s usually gentle expression disappeared, and the corners of her eyes turned red.


    She was like a hedgehog, tightly biting the corner of her pale lips.


    She held a piece of ss in her hand, which she got from smashing the frame on the bedside table.


    She was so tense while staring at Sheldon, her eyes filled with fear, despair, and a hint of madness.


    What Nora looked like now would be strange even to Derek.


    Sheldon''s earlier assault and insult had aroused a hatred that Nora had never felt before. Sheldon''s


    heart was filled with a trace of resentment when he saw her struggling just now.


    Sheldon was also in a mess at the moment. He covered his forehead with his hand and red blood


    oozed from his fingers. Nora had just smashed the ashtray on him.


    His whole face was gloomy and he red at Nora, his eyes full of violence. Sheldon never thought that


    this bitch who had always been soft like a rabbit would dare to hit him.


    He walked towards Nora step by step, every step seemed to step on Nora''s heart, and her heart


    seemed to jump out.


    "You, stop, go away..." Nora was stiff and trembling, and all kinds of extreme emotions rushed in. She


    cut her snow-white arm without hesitation with the ss in hand.


    The sharp pain made her face even paler, but she was slightly relieved because the pain could restore


    some strength to her soft limbs and make her feel safe.


    Her self-muttion caused Sheldon to pause for a moment, and then a sinister arc formed around the


    corner of his mouth as he moved forward again.


    Nora clutched the broken ss with blood in her hand and retreated step by step.


    The two of them were not far from each other. Sheldon walked close to her very quickly. She screamed


    and stabbed him fiercely with the broken ss. He grabbed her wrist defensively and the ss fell to


    the ground.


    "Damn it, bitch. How dare you try to hurt me? Let''s see how I deal with you today."


    Sheldon pinched her shoulders and pinned her against the wall. With a wave of his big hand and a


    piercing sound, her entire blouse was ruined.


    This time, it alsopletely stimted Nora''s nerves. She shrieked bitterly. She did not know where


    the strength came from and she struggled desperately. She cut the corner of Sheldon''s eyes with her


    sharp nails.


    "Ah..." Sheldon covered his left eye and released his hand.


    Nora looked around and subconsciously ran towards the window.


    Several times, Sheldon was hurt by a woman who he was about to torture. He lost his mind in anger


    and pped Nora in the face.


    "Bitch, do you want to die? Fine."


    He grabbed Nora by the neck while gritting his teeth with a vicious look.


    The window wasrge, but the height of the window was very low, only the height of an adult''s thighs.


    Nora was forced to hang half of herself outside the window.

 Chapter 413

    Chapter 413


    Nora was trying hard to remove therge hand around her neck. Her breathing became slow and her


    face turned red. She felt very ufortable.


    She coughed and said, "Let me go."


    At this time, she heard a ping sound. Then a ck car crashed into the iron gate of the Joneses.


    With a loud noise, the iron gate was knocked open, which frightened the servants to scream who were


    working outside the yard.


    Sheldon, who was on the second floor, heard the noise. When he looked up, he saw Derek get off the


    car. A trace of terror shed in Sheldon''s eyes, which he himself didn''t notice. He subconsciously


    loosened his hand.


    Nora could breathe and she pushed Sheldon away hard. However, because of inertia, she fell from the


    window.


    She screamed.


    Derek just saw that when he got out of the car. His pupils shrank, feeling that his heart stopped beating.


    Before he realized what happened, his body responded first and he rushed over.


    Fortunately, the window on the second floor was not far from the courtyard below. Derek ran to catch


    Nora. With the force, he rolled on the grass twice.


    Nora had fainted. Looking at her her pale face and bloody body, Derek immediately took off his coat to


    cover her, with a heavy pain shing in his eyes.


    He suddenly looked up and met Sheldon''s eyes. Sheldon, who was by the window of the second floor,


    hurriedly retreated. He opened the door and rushed out.


    Derek wanted to kill Sheldon to vent his anger, but it was too good for Nora. Moreover, Derek was


    worried about Nora. He took a look at Damian and carried Nora to the car and left.


    Damian ordered his men to knock out Sheldon and took him away. He left too.


    At the Xaviers''s vi.


    Nora was lying in bed unconsciously.


    "Mr. Xavier, I have treated the bruises of the patient. There are no other serious injuries. Hera is


    caused by panic attack. When she wakes up, she will get well after several days'' rest."


    After sending the doctor out, Damian went back to the room and whispered, "Boss, there''s something I


    need to report."


    Derek nced at him. He knew that under such circumstances if it wasn''t an emergency, Damian


    wouldn''t have told him specifically. He looked at Nora and tucked her in. Then he walked out.


    "What is it?"


    Damian pursed his lips, "Two men in the car which we are tracking during the day are dead. Sheldon


    goes crazy."


    His face suddenly darkened and he looked at Damian, with his brows furrowing, "What''s going on?"


    "I asked someone to check. They have taken a poison. After research, the poison will kill them twelve


    hourster. That is to say, they took the poison twelve hours ago."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "ording to the surveince, they probably didn''t know they had taken the poison."


    "The same story with Sheldon. The reason of his craziness is that there is a toxin, which will destroy


    cranial nerves, in his body and it will take effect 12 hourster."


    Derek looked unhappy. The craziness of Sheldon and the death of the men showed that there was


    someone behind it.


    Of course, he had noticed this before. But he hadn''t found out the reason.


    Now it seemed that what had happened to Nora was not as simple as he had thought. It felt bad to lose


    control of something. Derek had not experienced it for a long time.


    ...


    Nora was in aa. Everyone thought she would wake up the next day. But two days passed, there


    was no sign that she would wake up.


    Derek asked a lot of doctors toe over. Every one of them came to the same conclusion. Nora''s


    body function was normal. At the moment, she was more likely to sleep. They couldn''t find out the


    reason why she didn''t wake up after such a long time.


    Because of this, Derek has been irritable these days.


    But day by day, Nora had been lying in bed for six days. Her breathing was normal and her face was


    rosy. Her wounds were healed long ago.


    If people hadn''t known that she has been lying in bed for many days, they would have thought she was


    asleep.


    On the seventh day, Nora finally opened her eyes slowly.


    There was no one in the room. Nora blinked her dry eyes. Her clear eyes seemed to be covered with a


    She was lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, not knowing what was in her mind. Nora didn''t know


    how she had been in aa. But she opened her eyes this, she had a feeling of separating the world.


    Because she had restored her lost memory.


    She remembered what happened in the past, including the things in the past five years.


    She was lying on the bed like this. After a long time, the door was gently opened. Seeing her was


    awake, Derek was ecstatic and almost came at her.


    "Nora, you''re finally awake. How are you? Are you feeling all right?"


    A familiar voice came, Nora blinked her eyes and then slowly closed, not saying a word. She didn''t


    know what to say, nor did she want to face Derek for the time being. She could only avoid him.


    But Derek was shocked to see Nora like this. He thought that she didn''t feel well. He was going to call


    the doctor. Nora had to stop him.


    "No." Her voice was hoarse.


    Derek breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately took the warm water and wanted to feed her. Nora


    raised her hand to stop him.


    She struggled to sit up with her hands. She had not eaten for so many days, only relying on the nutrient


    solution to meet her body needs. Naturally, she was weak.


    Derek wanted to help her up, but she refused again firmly.


    He could not help but frown, noticing that Nora''s attitude was different. But for the time being, he could


    onlye down to that she was just awake; Or she may not recover because she was frightened by


    Sheldon.


    Derek asked the butler to bring some porridge and dishes. Nora did not refuse this. But She asked him


    out in a light tone.


    He did not dare to provoke her. So, he agreed.


    The room became quiet again. Nora looked at the empty room and then looked down slightly, having


    the porridge silently. No one knew what she was thinking.


    In the afternoon, she regained some strength. So, she washed up, changed her clothes and went


    downstairs. Easton immediately ran over in excitement.


    "Mom."


    She didn''t show much emotion after she woke up. Now, she finally smiled. Sitting on the sofa, she held


    Easton in her arms tightly.


    The little boy was puzzled, "Mom?"


    "It''s okay. I just haven''t seen you for a long time. I misses you very much." Nora smiled.


    Easton didn''t think much. He pouted with grievance. Nora had been in aa for a long time. Yes, it


    was a long time.

 Chapter 414

    Chapter 414


    "Mom, you''ve slept for a long time. I was scared."


    "I''m sorry baby. This won''t happen again. I promise." Nora held him tighter.


    Although she had known that Easton was her son, she had not regained her memory, and it was


    different now. She could clearly feel how hard it was to give birth to the little guy in her arms.


    No matter what happened between her and Derek, Easton was her son, a soft spot in her heart.


    If it was possible, she really didn''t want to leave Easton, but...


    At this moment, Derek came over, "I heard from the butler that you areing downstairs. Are you


    feeling well? You must tell me if you feel unwell."


    As he spoke, he sat beside her, ready to hold her. Nora subconsciously avoided him, and Derek''s smile


    froze.


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    The atmosphere between the two of them was inexplicably oppressive.


    The butler at the side saw this and immediately took the little guy away. Although Easton did not know


    what was going on, he could feel that something was wrong between his mom and dad.


    "Nora, what''s wrong with you? Did what happenedst time scare you? It''s all my fault. I waste. You


    can rest assured that this won''t happen again," Derek looked at her.


    Listening to his patient and soft words, Nora''s nose was sore. She could not suppress her resentment.


    She took a deep breath and looked at him expressionlessly.


    "Derek, I''m not Nora. You should call me Meredith."


    A simple sentence made Derek freeze in ce.


    He did not expect her to regain her memory so soon. If it was before, he hoped that Meredith would


    remember what happened before and their feelings for each other.


    But now...


    When he thought of the distance and the indifference in Meredith''s tone since she woke up, Derek felt


    a sense of panic.


    "Nora, no, Meredith, you, you remembered, that''s great, I..."


    Derek spoke in a sad tone. For the first time, a powerful man like Derek was so flustered and stuttering.


    "Why? Aren''t you happy? Do you want my memory back or not? Why do I feel you don''t seem very


    happy?" Meredith said coolly.


    "How could that be? Meredith, I''m so happy that you could remember our past."


    "Our past? Is our past a wonderful memory? Why don''t I know..." The corners of Nora''s mouth curled


    up in sarcasm.


    Derek froze and panicked. He pulled her over and held her shoulders, "Meredith, what do you mean by


    that?"


    "What do I mean? Don''t you know?"


    "Did you forget what your the Xaviers did to me, what your mother did to me, and what you did to me?


    Oh, or did you lose your memory about our past when I regained?"


    Nora looked at him coldly. The secret affection in Nora''s eyes was gone.


    Derek was speechless in the face of her questioning. Looking into her indifferent eyes, he felt flustered.


    He had the feeling that the woman he loved was right in front of him, but he could not have her.


    He suddenly held Meredith in his arms and hugged her tightly, "Meredith, I''m sorry. I know it was all my


    fault before, but you have to believe me. My feelings for you have never changed."


    "I know that no matter what I exin the purpose of what I did before. The damage is here, but I''ve


    long regretted it."


    "Meredith, I really regret it. I shouldn''t have hurt your heart in the name of protecting you. Can you


    forgive me?"


    "What''s done is done. I swear that no matter what happens in the future, I will stand by your side firmly.


    Please give me another chance to make up for it."


    "I was wrong. I''m sorry."


    Derek hugged Meredith tightly, buried his head in her neck, and apologized like a child, afraid that the


    woman he loved would disappear.


    Nora did not struggle and slowly closed her eyes, "Derek, do you know what I was thinking when I


    regained my memory?"


    "I swore, this time, I must keep distance with you so that I can live a stable and happy life as long as I


    am far away from you."


    "I''m only in my twenties. I was so young when I first met you, but because I met you, I lost my freedom


    twice."


    "I went to jail because of you, and because of you, your mother locked me up on an ind when I was


    pregnant. Your the Xaviers is powerful, and I can''t fight with you."


    "But at the very least, I can control my feelings."


    Every word of Meredith''s was like a knife, piercing into his chest. The pain was violent. He opened his


    mouth slightly but found himself unable to refute her.


    But he had to, he had to say something, otherwise, the woman in his arms would leave him. This was a


    scene that Derek would not want it to happen.


    "Meredith, I''m sorry, I''m really sorry. I''m begging you, don''t deny me and our past so quickly. Give me


    another chance."


    "Think about Easton. Think about our son. I''m not threatening you. I''m begging you. For Easton''s sake,


    give me another chance."


    "I promise you that what happened in the past will never happen again. Whether it''s the Xaviers, my


    mother, or anyone else, it won''t be a hindrance to us."


    "Trust me once, give me a chance to make things right, Meredith..."


    Meredith listened to his almost choked voice and felt his strong arms trembling slightly. She bit her lips


    and smiled bitterly in her heart.


    Recalling what she had suffered before, she thought that she could have forced herself to leave him,


    and she could finally control her feelings, but now it seemed that she was too naive.


    Her heart told her that she could not remain unmoved in the face of Derek''s pleading.


    She knew very well that it had nothing to do with her son. Because of this, she felt pathetic for herself


    and for falling in love with Derek.


    But even so, she had no intention of forgiving him. There were too many problems between them.


    The past had not been cleared up, and she could not agree to be with Derek easily this time. She didn''t


    want to fail herself again.


    "Derek, it''s too early to say this. We still have a lot of unfinished business between us, your mother.


    She made it impossible for me and Easton to be together. I won''t forgive her."

 Chapter 415

    Chapter 415


    "That''s what I should do. You can do anything you like, and I won''t interfere. If you don''t like someone,


    you don''t need to care about her. If you don''t like doing something, then just don''t do it." Derek said


    immediately, afraid that he would speak too slowly.


    Meredith, "..."


    She pursed her lips. She didn''t know what to say about Derek''s attitude. Anyway, that was his


    biological mother.


    Although she thought so in her heart, she did say those words on purpose. She did not expect that


    Derek would say these words, and now she did not know what to do.


    "Meredith, I told you that you can believe me. I will resolve any obstacle between us. I just hope you


    can trust me and not reject me so quickly, okay?"


    Meredith looked at him. Deep in Derek''s dark eyes, there was nervousness and uneasiness, and even


    a tinge of imperceptible fear. She lowered her eyes slightly.


    His look, undeniably, softened her... heart.


    "We''ll talk about itter," she said softly.


    Derek heaved a sigh of relief. Although Meredith didn''t agree, she didn''t refuse. As long as she didn''t


    refuse, there was still hope for a change.


    Before, he would have done everything he could to get Meredith to stay. But now, he did not dare to go


    overboard.


    He could only watch her leave, but before she left, he asked the housekeeper to quickly prepare his


    son''s daily necessities. Then he took two suitcases and sent his son to Meredith.


    Even if Meredith rejected Derek, she was grateful for his actions.


    After regaining her memory, she did not want to be separated from her son at all. It was her dream to


    live with her son.


    Easton could tell that something was wrong between the two of them, but it was improper for him to


    ask. He just obediently followed his mother and left. Of course, he was happy to be able to live with his


    mother.


    As for his father, he could only express his sympathy.


    Inside the small box of the coffee shop, there wererge french windows and the whole room was


    bright.


    "My god, you''ve changed so much. I just haven''t seen you for few days, but you are totally different


    from before when I saw you just now."


    "It turns out that you have recovered your memory. Your real name is Meredith. Sounds good. It''s much


    better than Nora. Sheldon and his family are evil. It''s an insult to have the samest name as them."


    Penelope and Meredith sat on the sofa, with coffee and a few desserts on the small table in front of


    them. The soothing and pleasant music flowed slowly in the room.


    Meredith smiled and said nothing. After regaining her memory, she was more broad-minded about


    Sheldon.


    If she had not known the lies the Sheldon family had told her, she would have still been grateful to the


    Joneses, but at this moment, there was no need.


    Although they lied to her, they did take care of her for the past five years, which could make up for their


    harm to her.


    Meredith only knew Penelope, her only close friend. Except for her, Meredith really didn''t know whom


    she could talk about her confusion with.


    Penelope looked at Meredith in shock. She was usually unconcerned and careless and had never


    suffered any difficulty.


    Meredith''s story was asplicated as a TV y.


    Penelope really did not expect that her friend''s previous experience would be so ups and downs,


    sorrowful and tactful.


    "Do you think I should forgive Derek? Would it be a mistake for me to be with him? Would it be good for


    both of us to be apart?"


    Meredith lowered her head and stirred the coffee. Her voice was very soft, almost unable to hear. She


    did not sure whether she was asking Penelope or herself.


    Penelope thought for a while, "Actually, I can''t empathize with your heart just by listening to your story,


    so maybe my advice would be improper."


    "To be honest, you have Easton, which means that you can''t bepletely separated no matter


    whether you are together or not in the future."


    "Actually, I advise you to be together with Mr. Xavier. He''s a powerful president. ording to your


    description, if he didn''t really love you, he wouldn''t have done that at all."


    "Since you ask this question, it means that you still love him and have feelings for him which maybe


    even deeper than you think."


    "In that case, let''s make an analogy."


    "If you don''t forgive him and are determined to separate with him, then you, Mr. Xavier, and little


    Easton, the three of you, will not be happy. Moreover, Easton is still so young, so he would be


    damaged most."


    "In other words, if you forgive him and you choose to be together with him, Mr. Xavier and Easton will


    be happy. As for you, you will be eased if you follow your heart."


    Meredith couldn''t bear to give her a nk look, "ording to you, if I don''t choose the second one, I''ll


    be med by God."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Penelope smiled, "Think about it. Even if there is no love, many couples wouldprise and not


    separate for their children."


    "But your situation is much better. Except for your son, you have deep feelings for each other. Then


    there is no reason to separate."


    "As for the external factors, didn''t Mr. Xavier say he would handle them? Then just leave them to him to


    deal with."


    "Anyway, you''re single now and you don''t like someone else. So what if you have a chance with Mr.


    Xavier?"


    "In any case, when he meets your requirements, you can break up with him as your will and then


    choose a good match. It is you that control everything, so there is no need to worry so much."


    "All you need to do now is to rx. You don''t have to worry about the things rted to Mr. Xavier, Mr.


    Xavier''s mother, Mr. Xavier''s family, or anything else. You just need to do what you like. This time, no


    one could harm you."


    "As long as Mr. Xavier does something wrong and makes you unhappy, you can abandon him. It''s a


    simple thing. So, it''s Mr. Xavier who should feel nervous and worried, instead of you."


    Meredith couldn''t help but chuckle. Penelope''s words lightened the burden in her heart, even if her


    words might be unjustified.


    As Penelope said, no matter what would happen in the future, she just needed to treat herself well and


    not let herself be wronged.


    If Derek knew that Penelope not onlyforted Meredith but also created more hope and possibility


    between the two of them.


    Perhaps he would be so grateful that he would tie Damian up and send him to Penelope to let her vent


    her anger on him.

 Chapter 416

    Chapter 416


    Penelope thought of something and pulled a long face.


    "Meredith, I may not be in J City in a while. The head office has transferred me to a branch office in D


    City, where there are more chances for me. Although it''s not in the headquarters, it''s actually a


    promotion. But we won''t be in the same city."


    As she spoke, she failed to notice Meredith''s strange expression.


    "Penelope, I was just about to tell you that I''m going to D City too. It''s about the same as you. I''m


    transferring to Xavier Group''s headquarters in D City."


    Penelope: "..."


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    She thought they were going to separate from each other. It was a pleasant surprise.


    Out of the box, as they passed the hall, Penelope suddenly stopped, and immediately dodged to the


    side of the flower bed to cover herself sneaking around.


    Meredith asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "Shh, look at the table by the window on the left. Is that man''s side face familiar?" She squinted.


    Meredith looked up and said in surprise, "Hey, isn''t he Damian?"


    "It''s really that pervert." Penelope pped her palm and gritted her teeth.


    Meredith: "..."


    "Hey, wait, what are you doing?" Seeing that she was ready to rush out, Meredith grabbed her.


    "Revenge, of course."


    "Stop it. There are so many people in the store, and there is someone opposite Damian. It''s not proper


    to make a scene," Meredith said quickly.


    Penelope paused, nodded thoughtfully and muttered, "Yeah, you''re right. I can''t lose face with that


    pervert."


    As she spoke, she immediately took out the delicate and makeup pouch from her bag and began to


    make up.


    Meredith thought that Penelope changed her mind. But soon, Meredith was shocked to see the girl in


    front of her with her bangs and two big braids, thick ck eyebrows and freckles.


    Penelope looked around in the mirror, frowned, and fiddled with her bangs. "Why do I feel something is


    missing?"


    She looked up and immediately summoned a waiter who was walking towards her, "Pretty girl, can you


    lend me your sses?"


    The waiter was bewildered, but she did as she was told.


    Penelope immediately put the sses on. She took out the small mirror and looked at it again. She


    snapped her fingers and said, "Haha, this is right. No one could recognize me now. I am so clever."


    As she spoke, she took out a few pieces of cash from her bag and stuffed them into the hands of the


    waiter. "I''ll buy these sses. Thank you, pretty girl." After saying that, she immediately ran towards


    Damian''s table before Meredith could stop her.


    "Damian, it''s really you. I thought I was mistaken. I finally saw you." Penelope howled and pounced on


    Damian.


    Damian, who was agile enough, subconsciously dodged.


    Penelope stared at him in disbelief, as if he had done something so infuriating. "Damian, how can you


    do this to me?"


    With that, she red at the beautiful woman in the western-style dress and pointed at her. "You


    abandoned me because of her, right?"


    Damian looked at Penelope with a dark face and asked, "What do you want?"


    Penelope pursed her lips, lowered her head slowly, and touched her t belly with both hands.


    "Damian, I know you don''t like me and think I''m not good enough for you."


    "It doesn''t matter if you don''t care about our past vows, those wonderful memories, your promises to


    me. I won''t me you, but..."


    "But the baby needs a father. Damian. I didn''t listen to you to go to the hospital to have an abortion.


    Please don''t me me. This is my first child. I don''t want to lose him. Can you let me keep him? I beg


    you, please."


    As soon as she said that, the whole store was in an uproar, and all the guests were talking.


    "Poor woman. She met a scumbag at such a young age. What a jerk."


    "Yes, if I were her, I wouldn''t let this man off the hook. He''s handsome. Well, never judge people by


    their appearance."


    "Of course. Let me tell you, in these days, handsome guys are scumbags. We have to be careful."


    "What I look down on the most is this kind of man, who is not responsible for making someone


    pregnant. Look at the woman across from him. He looks down on this girl when he sees a beautiful


    woman. It''s disgusting."


    There were a lot of female customers in the coffee shop. Standing in the same gender perspective,


    everyone was attacking Damian. The sound was loud and there was no scruples.


    Damian was dumbfounded.


    Looking at them with disdainful eyes apanied by condemnation around him, he was furious and


    turned his head a little bit. He looked at Penelope with a extremely gloomy face.


    "Penelope, what are you trying to do? Are you crazy?"


    Penelope was stunned. She blinked at him and pulled the sses down in half with one hand. "Can


    you still recognize me?"


    Damianughed in anger. He narrowed his eyes and said through gritted teeth, "I know you when you


    turn into dust."


    She raised her eyebrows and smiled, whispering, "Well, anyway, it won''t change the fact that you''ve


    be a scumbag."


    "You..." Damian took a step forward.


    "Ah... Damian, don''t hit me. I was wrong. I dare not do it again. Please don''t hit me." Penelope, who


    enjoyed herself in acting, took a step back with one hand covering her belly, and the other hand on her


    forehead. She panicked, and pleaded with fear.


    Damian was speechless with rage.


    Everyone couldn''t stand it. A few angry female guests suddenly pped the table and stood up,


    pointing at Damian and scolding him.


    Damian''s face darkened.


    Penelope''s eyes rolled. Seeing that the time was ripe, she immediately yed her trump card. She


    looked at Damian and said softly.


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t expect the reaction from the crowd to be so intense. Isn''t it particrly ufortable


    to be scolded by so many people?"


    Damian said, gritting his teeth, "What do you think?"


    "Oh, don''t worry, I''ll help you solve this. I promise, soon these people won''t dare point at you. Not only


    that, they''ll be far away from you."


    Damian frowned and had a bad feeling.


    The next second.


    "Damian, I came here to tell you that I, I saw the test sheet you left at home. AIDS is not terrible. I


    heard that there is already hope of cure for this disease. You must not give up."

 Chapter 417

    "You have to remember that no matter who you be, neither I nor the baby in my womb will care. We won''t despise you, nor will we abandon you. You must pull yourself together."


    As soon as Penelope said the words, she felt a slight flutter from the baby. It was as if the baby was agreeing with her, giving her strength. She ced her hand on her belly, feeling a sense of calm and determination. The warmth of her touch seemed to spread, offeringfort not only to herself but also to the person she was speaking to.


    "Thank you, Penelope," the voice replied, filled with gratitude. "I needed to hear that. I promise I will try my best to be strong, for you and for our baby."


    Penelope smiled softly, knowing that they would face any challenges together as a family. She knew that love and support would guide them through even the darkest times.


    Just then, the door opened, and a nurse walked in. "Penelope, the doctor would like to speak with you about yourtest test results."


    Penelope''s heart skipped a beat. She had been anxious about the results, hoping that everything would be alright with her pregnancy. She nodded and stood up, giving onest encouraging look to herpanion before following the nurse out of the room.


    As she walked down the hallway, she took deep breaths, trying to steady her nerves. When she reached the doctor''s office, she knocked gently before entering.


    "Ah, Penelope, please have a seat," Dr. Harris said, looking up from his desk with a warm smile.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Penelope sat down, her hands sped tightly in herp. "Is everything okay, Doctor?"


    Dr. Harris leaned forward, his expression serious but kind. "Penelope, I have good news. Your test results came back normal, and both you and the baby are healthy. However, I do want you to continue taking it easy and avoid any unnecessary stress."


    Relief washed over Penelope, and she let out a breath she didn''t realize she had been holding. "Thank you, Doctor. I''ll make sure to follow your advice."


    Dr. Harris nodded. "That''s good to hear. Just remember to take care of yourself, and don''t hesitate to reach out if you have any concerns."


    Penelope thanked the doctor again and left the office, feeling a sense of lightness. She made her way back to the room, her steps more confident. When she entered, she saw the worried look on herpanion''s face turn into one of relief as she shared the good news.


    "Everything is fine," she said, sitting down beside them again. "We''re going to be just fine."


    The person she wasforting smiled, tears of gratitude in their eyes. "Thank you, Penelope. I don''t know what I would do without you."


    Penelope hugged them tightly, feeling the strength of their bond. "We''ll always have each other. No matter what happens."


    The following days were filled with a renewed sense of hope and determination. Penelope focused on her well-being and the health of her baby, ensuring she followed the doctor''s advice meticulously. Each day, she felt the baby growing stronger, a constant reminder of the new life she was nurturing.


    Herpanion, too, seemed to find sce in Penelope''s strength. They started to regain their own sense of purpose and began nning for the future, filled with optimism and gratitude.


    One evening, as Penelope was preparing dinner, she felt a soft kick from the baby. She smiled and ced her hand on her belly, feeling a deep connection with the little life inside her. It was moments like these that made all the hardships worth it.


    "How are you feeling today?" herpanion asked,ing into the kitchen.


    "Better," Penelope replied with a smile. "The baby kicked today."


    A look of awe crossed their face. "Can I... can I feel it?"


    "Of course," Penelope said, guiding their hand to her belly.


    They waited in silence, and then, another gentle kick. Their eyes lit up with wonder. "That''s incredible."


    Penelope nodded, her heart full. "It is. I can''t wait for the day when we can hold them in our arms."


    As they shared this intimate moment, Penelope realized just how far they hade. Despite the challenges, they were building a future together, filled with love and hope.


    Over the next few weeks, they prepared for the baby''s arrival. Penelope''spanion helped set up the nursery, painting the walls in soft, calming colors and assembling the crib. They spent evenings reading parenting books and discussing names, each day bringing them closer to the moment they had been waiting for.


    One morning, Penelope woke up with a sudden, sharp pain. She knew it was time. "It''s happening," she said, trying to stay calm.


    Herpanion immediately sprang into action, helping her to the car and driving to the hospital. The ride was a blur of emotions ¨C excitement, fear, anticipation.


    At the hospital, Penelope was quickly admitted, and the medical team took over. Herpanion stayed by her side, holding her hand and offering words of encouragement.


    After several hours ofbor, Penelope heard the first cries of her baby. Tears streamed down her face as they ced the tiny, wriggling newborn in her arms. She looked at herpanion, who was also crying, overwhelmed by the miracle of new life.


    "We did it," Penelope whispered, her voice filled with awe.


    Herpanion nodded, unable to speak. They both gazed at the baby, feeling a love so profound it was almost overwhelming.


    As they sat together, their baby nestled safely in Penelope''s arms, they knew that no matter what challengesy ahead, they would face them together, as a family.

 Chapter 418

    Chapter 418


    There was also a cartoon sticker on the closet that read, "Don''t refuse. You are the director of design.


    Wherever you go, you represent the image of the Xavier Group. So, these are necessities."


    Meredith, "..."


    She remained silent for a while, silently removing a small part of her clothes and hanging it in.


    Derek wanted to give Meredith thetest dresses of the major fashion brands, but he knew better that


    Meredith would not want it, and now he did not dare to use the previous rogue methods to force her.


    He could only use roundabout tactics and work hard in another aspect. Now it seemed that the effect


    was really good.


    Meredith finished packing her few belongings andy on the big bed, looking at the ceiling, No one


    knew what she was thinking.


    The next day


    She changed into a pink and white business suit and went to the headquarters of the Xavier Group to


    report.


    Derek told her that the headquarters in D City and the branch in J City werepletely different. In D


    City, the entry and promotion of each position needed to go throughyers of trials and selections in


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    order to choose the fittest through the fiercepetition.


    She now worked directly as the design director. It happened before, but was umon, even if she


    was still the design director of group B.


    But D City''s design B Department and branch''s design B Department were not on the same level at all.


    He hoped that Meredith would be prepared for anything. If she couldn''t handle it, she must tell him in


    advance.


    Derek was so detailed as to almost tell Meredith directly that in her new position, there would be a lot of


    dissatisfaction, all kinds of difficulties and embarrassment.


    After all, it was very difficult to be a design director at B Department without showing some real


    But it also took time and opportunity to prove whether she waspetitive enough for this position, so


    it was normal for others to be jealous, unconvinced or contemptuous at first.


    In the face of this situation, the most basic requirement was to have good endurance and mentality.


    There was no way. If she wanted a peaceful working environment, she had to climb up from the


    assistant position step by step. It was not a good choice for Meredith.


    Meredith herself thought so too.


    She was just calm, but her IQ was not a problem. Naturally, she understood what Derek meant, and


    she was fully prepared for these situations.


    To get some convenience, she naturally had to pay for it. She was very clear about this principle and


    did not think it was weird.


    Of course, if Derek stepped in personally, Meredith would have been able to secure the position of


    design director, but that was not what Meredith wanted.


    Derek himself also hoped that Meredith could undergo some trials. Although he liked Meredith''s


    character, sometimes it was her big disadvantage.


    A manager with a gentle and pliable personality would never seed, let alone in an environment like


    Xavier Group headquarters.


    Design B Department.


    "Have you heard that our department is about to have a design director over? Her name is Meredith.


    Have you heard of her?"


    "I haven''t heard of it at all. Maybe she came back from studying abroad. She was appointed as the


    design director when she was new here. How enviable."


    "What studying abroad? I have news that this new design director has not even learned the orthodox


    design major yet."


    "No way?"


    "Why not? I heard that she was transferred from the J City Branch. How can that cepare to our


    D City? I don''t know whatpetative skills this new guy has."


    "No matter what, as soon as the new director of design is in ce, there will naturally be some pain in


    the ass for her. The one in the office, who has been the deputy director for so many years, has long


    been craving for this position. Once the director left, she immediately moved in."


    "Well, now that there is a new appointed director, all her hopes are gone."


    "Not necessarily. In my opinion, let''s just go and see how it goes."


    Meredith stood outside the door and listened to the discussion inside clearly. There was no change in


    the expression on her face. Instead, she got an important piece of news.


    "Second person in charge of designing B Department, right?" She lost in thoughts.


    Derek said that unlike the branch office, there were four design departments in the headquarters, each


    with not only a design director, but also a deputy director.


    It seemed that if she needed to secure her position in the B Department, this second person in charge


    was the one she needed to make friend with the most.


    Meredith thought as she walked in calmly. Derek might be worried that she might not get used to her


    work the first day she worked. It turned out that he was just thinking too much.


    If she hadn''t recovered her memory, she might have been as nervous as Derek thought.


    But now it was different. Meredith had been in the police station, tortured, tied to no man''s ind, and


    so on. These were not ordinary experiences. After all, she was a person who went through a lot. She


    really wouldn''t be affected by these things in the office.


    In fact, she was calm, which even surprised herself a little.


    Her appearance made the office atmosphere, which was very lively thest second, silent immediately.


    Meredith curled her lips and smiled gracefully, "Hello, everyone. I''m Meredith, the new design director.


    I''ll work with you in the future. I hope we can work together with joy."


    In the big department, men were naturally much more tolerant of beautiful women, even the director got


    here by pulling strings.


    However, female designers outnumbered the male designers in this office. Everyone looked at each


    other, their eyes sending a signal.


    OMG. Did the new guy hear their conversation just now? What should they do?


    What was the big deal? Many people had said it, so what if she was angry? She couldn''t just fire them.


    The people who could enter the Design Department of Xavier Group were basically top students from


    famous universities, rookies who had won many awards, or emerging designers.


    These people, in their bones, had a kind of pride. Once the psychological construction of selffort


    was achieved, some of them feared nothing.


    But no matter how fearless they were, they only dared to do it behind the scenes. On the surface, they


    didn''t dare to going too far. They were all smart people. They wouldn''t do anything stupid until they


    knew Meredith''s background.


    Everyone greeted her and went back to their seats and worked.


    But this situationsted only a few seconds, and the sound of high heels came from far to near.


    Meredith looked over and saw a woman with big waves of hairing out. She had enchanting figure


    and fiery red lips.


    Her bright face was full of coldness.


    As soon as she arrived at the design area, she gave a stern scolding, "What are you all doing? We had


    a meeting this morning. Don''t your stupid brains remember? Go to the conference room immediately."

 Chapter 419

    Chapter 419


    "Got it, Director Emma."


    People were all stunned for a while before walking towards the conference room one by one with their


    own notebooks. They each had different looks.


    Director Emma''s name was Emma, the second-inmand of Design B Department.


    Emma''s face softened when she saw that everyone was cooperating. After looking around, she turned


    around and strutted into the conference room.


    She left Meredith in the same spot and ignored her.


    Meredith looked around. The office was empty, and she was standing right in the middle of the aisle


    where Emma was standing just now. They were only a few steps away.


    They were standing face to face, so it was impossible that Emma did not see her. Then she must do it


    deliberately.


    Meredith stood there in silence for a while, then took her bag and walked towards the conference room.


    After a few knocks, Meredith pushed open the conference room door and walked in gracefully, but...


    There was a loud bang.


    Emma''s face was sullen, and she mmed the document in her hand onto the table, making a loud


    noise. Then she shrilled angrily.


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    "Who are you? This is the conference room, the most important department. Who allowed you toe


    in without permission?"


    Meredith could not help but frown slightly. No matter how unhappy this Designer Emma was, she had


    received a transfer order through formal procedures.


    To put it bluntly, from the moment she was transferred, she was the Design Director of the B


    Department. And Designer Emma was still a deputy director.


    In fact, she was Emma''s immediate superior.


    But Meredith was a little surprised by Emma''s unbridled rejection and provocations regardless of their


    leader-member rtion.


    Meredith just thought about these for a few seconds, then her lips slightly curved and made a gentle


    smile. She was calm, as if she was not angry at being offended.


    But what she said hit the nail on the head.


    "Sorry to interrupt the meeting. You must be Ms. Ross. Let me introduce myself. I''m Meredith Mason,


    the new Director of B Department."


    "Although you are sitting in my seat at the moment, I just came here and haven''t had time to familiarize


    myself with the design cases for B Department. Then today''s meeting will be temporarily reced by


    Ms. Ross."


    As Meredith spoke, she calmly sat in the back row of chair and smiled, "Ms. Ross, you can continue."


    The whole conference room was dead silent.


    The designers on the left and right side silently looked at the others out of the corner of their eyes.


    Even though their hearts were in turmoil, their faces did not show a trace.


    They were really surprised. Sure enough, the person who could be directly appointed Director would


    not be easy to bully. Director Emma''s face was scary.


    Emma was almost mad, but she could not refute a single word that Meredith had said.


    She had been the Deputy Director for years, and she hated the word deputy for a long time. So the


    staff in B Department usually called her Director Emma.


    She had not heard of the title Deputy Director for a long time. Now she heard it again, she felt she was


    reminded that she was just a Deputy Director, and that she would never be Director.


    Wasn''t it natural for the Deputy Director to take over the position of Director when it is vacant? She was


    confident that she would be Director a few days ago and just began to work in the office of


    Director without waiting for the transfer order.


    Only a few dayster, the reality destroyed her,pletely ruining all her dreams.


    How could she not be angry?


    Emma''s furious face could not be covered even if she wanted to. Meredith lowered her eyes and


    sighed silently. If she could, she really didn''t want to build a stiff rtionship with Emma.


    Meredith preferred to focus on the design, but it was obviously impossible. Even those fashion bigwigs


    who had already stood at the top still had things they had to face and had no opportunity to refuse.


    Meredith put these thoughts away and looked at Emma, "What''s wrong, Ms. Ross? You don''t look well.


    Are you feeling well?"


    Emma took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. She had been able to make trouble with


    Meredith when Meredith was not appointed Director.


    Now that Meredith had be Director, she couldn''t openly make things difficult with Meredith.


    After all, Emma was an old employee who had been working in the department for so many years. If


    she wasn''t too angry, she wouldn''t have made mistakes and let others have chance to me her. She


    had to be polite on the surface.


    As Emma thought about it, she forced a tug at the corner of her mouth, but the curve she revealed was


    ferocious, "No, I''m not ufortable. Thank you for your concern... Miss Mason."


    Emma just couldn''t call Meredith Director Mason.


    Meredith naturally realized it and smiled faintly, "I heard that the rules and regtions of Xavier Group''s


    headquarters are very strict, and the upper and lower sses are clear. In thepany, I think Ms.


    Ross should call me Director Mason."


    Emma, "..."


    "I see, Director Mason," Emma said reluctantly.


    "We''ve wasted much time, so let''s start the meeting as soon as possible," Meredith said.


    In fact, this meeting, originally, was an excuse that Emma used to embarrassed Meredith. But now,


    even if she was unprepared, she still pretended that she did have something important to talk about on


    the meting. Emma had no choice but to discuss the topic which had been discussedst regr


    meeting.


    As a result, the faces of the people on both sides who attended this conference were very strange.


    After half an hour, the meeting was over.


    Meredith stood up and walked up to Emma, "Ms. Ross, I''m on my first day of work today. I don''t know


    where my office is yet. Can you help me lead the way?"


    Emma''s face stiffened, and it urred to her that although the notice had been issued for several days


    about the transfer, she did not move out of the Director''s Office.


    Now that Director came, it meant that Emma was going back to her original office. Naturally, Emma


    was not happy.


    Emma now knew the difference between the Deputy Director''s Office and Director''s Office. The


    Director''s Office was the right workce for a manager. On the aspects of room size, the facilities, the


    configuration, her office was notparable to this.


    After enjoying the big office, no one would be willing to go back.


    Emma tugged at the corner of her lips, "Director Mason, I''m so sorry. I''m using the Director''s Office."


    "After all, after thest Director left, Design B Department still had to run normally. There were many


    things every day. The Director''s Office wasrge and spacious and I thought it was more convenient


    and efficient to work, so I moved in."

 Chapter 420

    Chapter 420


    "How about this? Director Mason, since you have just been transferred here, it will take some time for


    you to be familiar with B Department''s working process. You can move to this office when you can


    get the hang of it. And it won''t be toote. What do you think?"


    Emma looked like she was doing it all for Meredith''s good.


    Meredith was not a fool. She certainly knew this was a trap hidden in Emma''s nice words after second


    thoughts.


    What did she mean by saying "when you can get the hang of it"?


    If she agreed, she would be an honorary director as long as Emma upied her office and


    arranged the work for B Department.


    In this way, the so-called adjustment period would have no end.


    She smiled, "Ms. Ross, as I said earlier, the headquarter has a strict and clear division between the


    upper and lower levels. I was just transferred here. If the superiors find that B Department''s two


    directors are reversed, that''s not proper and will also bring trouble to Ms. Ross."


    She didn''t mean anything else. But Emma felt that Meredith was threatening her with the top


    management of the headquarter. She immediately looked gloomy.


    Meredith ignored her anger. If she had taken back her power, she would have offended Emma, which


    was inevitable.


    She couldn''t do as Emma asked her to do in order not to offend her. Then there would be no point in


    her transferring over.


    She continued, "Well, I''ll temporarily set aside an area for Ms. Ross in my office. In three days, I''ll try to


    hand over the work. It''s more efficient. What do you think?"


    Emma thought to herself: How did I think? I thought the idea sucked.


    She thought hard and wondered what she should do to make Meredith retreat. She already deemed


    this office as her own.


    She hated Meredith who were taking over her position.


    But before she coulde out with an idea, a design assistant rushed in, "Director Emma, Damian is


    here."


    There was only an assistant named Ann in the whole headquarter. Emma''s face changed and she


    immediately ran out to receive him regardless of Meredith.


    Damian was Mr. Xavier''s personal assistant and had been working with him for many years. No one


    else in the whole group, except Mr. Xavier himself, could order Damian.


    He was only second to Mr. Xavier in this group. Even the shareholders at the headquarter had to save


    Damian''s face.


    In addition to Mr. Xavier, Damian was also the golden bachelor in the eyes of whole female employees.


    Actually more people dreamed to be his girlfriend. After all, Mr. Xavier was a high and unreachable


    rack.


    In contrast, Damian was at least a little more approachable.


    He actually came to Design B Department himself. Emma''s heart was mixed with joy and worry as she


    did not know why he came.


    Meredith naturally thought of Damian. Was Damian came at this time because of her? Thinking of it,


    she followed them out.


    "Damian, it''s a great honor for our B Department to have you ..." Emma''s originally rigid face was now


    smiling brightly.


    Damian didn''t need to pay attention to such an unimportant person like her. He looked around and saw


    Meredith, who had juste out of the conference room. He curled his lips and walked towards her


    with people behind him.


    "Director Mason, today is your first day on the job. Boss asked me to bring someone over to see if you


    need anything and to redecorate the office for you."


    His words had a huge impact on the entire B Department, especially Emma. Her face instantly turned


    pale.


    What did Damian just say? Did the boss ask him toe over? Whom could Damian call the boss?


    There was only one person.


    There were usually two types of paratroopers. One had either strength or strong background. The other


    type had both. Meredith obviously had a strong background.


    Emma had asked more than once about who backed up her. But it never urred to him that it was Mr.


    Xavier.


    Meredith blinked and looked at Damian doubtfully.


    What Damian did and said was clearly supporting her and telling the others that Derek was standing


    behind her. If anyone tried to make trouble for her, he should weigh up the consequence.


    But Derek had said before that she needed to secure the position of design director with her own


    strength. In that case, why did he ask Damian toe over?


    Damian sighed in his heart. His words were not matched by deeds. Boss obviously still couldn''t bear to


    let Meredith face it alone.


    Since yesterday, Mr. Xavier was absent-minded several times in his office. Today, he couldn''t help but


    send him over. Tut, tut.


    Although she did not know the reasons, Meredith smiled bitterly in her heart that she did feel slightly


    relieved when Damian arrived.


    She was still not used to deception and ckmail in the workce.


    "I haven''t been to my office yet. I need to see it and then decide whether to change the decorations. "


    Meredith did not reject Damian. After all, both the office and the workce were private spaces.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Afortable environment was more conducive to work.


    Meredith looked at Emma, "Ms. Ross, please lead us."


    Emma snapped back to her senses and stammered, "No, no problem." She walked towards the office


    and felt like she was stamping on the cotton.


    The branches certainly couldn''t bepared to the Design Department in the headquarter. Each


    Design Department upied a whole floor with arge area.


    Emma led them to the office. Until she was standing outside the office door did she suddenly thought of


    something. She widened her eyes and tried to stop them. But Damian had already pushed the door in.


    She looked uncertain and followed in with a pale face.


    ssical music was ying in the big office. The tea on the coffee table was fragrant and a few


    women''s coats and shoes were scattered on the sofa. There was a strong smell of perfume in the air.


    Damian: "..."


    He didn''t show his anger but he already knew what was going on. He red at Emma sharply, "Are you


    the deputy director of B Department?"


    Emma''s face turned pale and her legs trembled. She could not speak for a moment and could only


    nod.


    "I remember Director Smith of B Department was transferredst week. And the new transfer notice


    was announced three days ago. Could you please exin to me what these are?"


    As he spoke, he ran his eyes over the things in the office, "Who made all this mess?"


    At this moment, Emma was not as domineering as she used to be in the conference room. Her mind


    became muddled and she had put aside the position of the director.


    Today, this matter could be negligible or very serious. If the top really wanted to pursue it, she might not


    even keep her position now.

 Chapter 421

    Chapter 421


    Thinking of this, Emma trembled even worse.


    She opened her mouth, trying to exin. But her throat seemed to be stuck. She couldn''t say anything


    and cold sweat run on her forehead.


    The door of the office was open. Since Damian was here, the entire department turned so quiet that


    people could hear what happened from outside the door.


    The designers of B Department looked at each other. Some of them sympathized with Emma, but


    some gloating over her. After all, everyone who was employed in the Xavier Group design


    headquarters had his or her own strength.


    Emma was a person of intolerable personality. So many people hated her.


    But for the neer Meredith, who seemed important, everyone had different thoughts. But they


    agreed about one thing, even if Meredith was ipetent, they dared not to provoke her.


    All the designers of B Department hid their thoughts at this moment. Sometimes, a strong backstage


    was much more useful than strength. Any trick would cause bad results.


    Although Meredith couldn''t agree with Emma''s approach, she understood her. She did not bear a


    grudge against her. So, she said.


    "Damian, let''s take a look at the office first."


    "I don''t mind much about the decoration. I''d prefer simplicity. But I need a separate area for Ms. Ross,


    who needs to stay in my office for a few days to hand over the work."


    Damian didn''t say anything.


    At this moment, Emma wanted to kill herself. She thought she could finally get out of this. But what


    Meredith had said made her anxious again.


    Damian looked weird, thinking that Meredith might not know anything as this was the first time she had


    handled these things. He had to exin to her.


    "Director Mason, you are the director of B Design Department. Even if there is some work that needs to


    be handed over, it should be the previous director, not a deputy director, hand over to you in person."


    "Headquarters is not as idle as branches. There are a lot of projects. The reason why each department


    has a deputy director is to help the directorplete the project better."


    "For director''s decisions, the subordinates can only make suggestions or implement them. But they


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    can''t refute them."


    Meredith had worked as a director in J City. Although the process wasn''tplicated as here, it was


    roughly the same. Naturally, she knew who she would talk with.


    But...


    "Didn''t Director Smith transfer?"


    "Yes. His family is moving abroad, so the headquarters transferred him to a foreign branch. But there


    are one month left. He wille to hand it over. He will be here this afternoon."


    Meredith understood. So it was.


    She didn''t know that, nor did Emma who thought Director Smith had left and wouldn''te back.


    Damian looked at Emma and said coldly, "Every deputy in the Design Department should be familiar


    with thepany system. Ms. Ross, I think you know nothing, don''t you?"


    Emma shook her head violently and said tremulously, "No, I, I..."


    She immediately looked at Meredith and forced a smile, "Director Mason, I was just kidding. Please


    forgive me."


    At this point, she had no choice but to give in. She felt regret and hid the hatred for Meredith in her


    heart.


    Meredith did not know what she was thinking. She looked at Damian. Although she did not speak, what


    she wanted to say was clear. She hated to put people on the spot.


    Seeing this, Damian couldn''t say anything more. He told the people behind him, "Clean up the mess,


    open the windows and clean the room. Redecorate the room ording to Director Mason''s


    instructions."


    With Damian in charge here, Emma didn''t say anything. She just wanted to stay away. It would be


    better if Damian ignored her.


    Although she had worked at the headquarters for a few years, she was a deputy director. The director


    in charge would handle major matters. It was the first time she had experienced what happened today.


    It freaked her out.


    Director Smith was a woman in her forties. Most of the decorations in the office did not fit in with


    Meredith in her twenties.


    Thendscape paintings hanging on the wall, the potted nts in the corner, and some ornaments on


    the table were all reced. Soon, the solemn office seemed fresh and warm.


    Damian hadpleted his task. He thought and said, "Director Mason, the boss said that you just


    came here. At first, there may be a lot of things you don''t understand. If the assistant director is not


    helpful. You can choose among the designers on your own."


    "This is not a big deal. Director Mason can decide for yourself. There is no need to report to the


    superior."


    After saying this, he left with his people. Completely ignoring what he said would cause a storm in B


    Department.


    Even the position of deputy director, there were many people desiring for it. Everyone wanted a


    promotion. What Damian said made the designers outside stir.


    But for Emma, it was a bolt from the blue.


    Although she was a deputy director, she was barely on the management team. Any management job


    transfer would submit an application to the personnel department, who would review it and then report


    it for approval.


    However, ording to Damian, Emma''s staying or going depended on Meredith''s decision, without


    going through this process. That was to say Emma was subjected to Meredith in thepany.


    Emma''s face was exceptionally pale and she was feeble.


    After dismissing others, Meredith sat alone in the office. Thinking of what had happened in the morning,


    she sighed. Even if she was well-prepared, she thought simply.


    She had a feeling that the entire headquarters would know what Damian did today soon. At that time,


    there would be all sorts of spections about her rtionship with Derek.


    Although she knew the result, she could not me Derek.


    If she handled it herself, even if Emma was momentarily intimidated. Nobody could guarantee that she


    wouldn''t make small moves in the future.


    In this case, it may not have a big impact, but there would be an endless small trouble. And if


    something happened to her, it would directly affect the progress of design B Department.


    Over and over again, she couldn''t focus on designing and the workce struggle would distract her


    attention, which was clearly against her ideal.


    Derek arranged Damian toe here, which could tackle the cause once and for all. Although there


    would be various rumorster, it was inevitable.

 Chapter 422

    Chapter 422


    In the afternoon.


    As expected, the previous Director Smith had arrived. During the handover, she was nice, telling


    Meredith anything that she didn''t understand in detail.


    Director Smith woulde to Meredith''s office every day for the next week and teach her personally,


    trying to get Meredith to get familiar with the work as soon as possible.


    After work, she gave Meredith some advice on design, which was a surprise.


    Although her ability was limited to B Department at Xavier Group''s headquarters, she was still a rare


    teacher for Meredith who was not professional.


    Derek ordered Director Smith to do so, which was why she was so dutiful. She rarely had chances to


    meet Mr. Xavier, so she had to do a good job for him.


    The next few days, as she had expected, many people stared at her with different eyes as long as she


    walked out of the Design Department.


    Some were curious, some were malicious, disdainful...


    This was a situation she had experienced before in J City, so this time, she adapted well. She ignored


    them and did what she was supposed to do.


    This week, because of Director Smith''s generous guidance, Meredith was very quick at her work. She


    was very familiar with the situation of the B Department, as well as the performance in recent years and


    somerge projects.


    She was much more rxed.


    As for Ms. Ross, her attitude was totally changed this week. She showed great respect to Meredith and


    didn''t even dare to make a sound during the meeting, probably because she was afraid that Meredith


    would pick on her.


    For several days, she didn''t see Derek, and he didn''t look for her, nor did he contact her. To be honest,


    Meredith felt a little ufortable, and when she came back to his senses, she couldn''t help but


    After work one day, she drove back to the neighborhood where she lived. Naturally, the car was offered


    by Derek, like the house. She was unable to refuse him.


    As soon as she went upstairs, she was stunned.


    In front of her apartment stood a child and an adult, looking at her in unison with pitiful eyes.


    "Mom, you''re back. I''ve been waiting for you for a long time." Easton immediately threw himself at


    Meredith.


    She picked up her son and looked at Derek. "Why are you here?" she asked.


    Derek took her bag with a smile and said, "Our son misses you. Well, I miss you too, so we came


    over."


    Meredith pursed her lips and opened the door without answering.


    She sat on the sofa with her son.


    Derek offered to make dinner on his initiative, but...


    "Meredith, Easton wants to eat tomatoes and eggs. Should I put eggs first or tomatoes?"


    "Meredith, how do you cook? If I turn on the electric cooker, I don''t have to keep an eye on it, do I?"


    "Meredith, do you want lotus root or lotus root slices?"


    "Meredith..."


    She rolled her eyes helplessly, then got up and walked over. Looking at the mess in the kitchen, she


    said, expressionless, "Let me do it."


    "No, you''ve been working so hard all day. I''ll make it. Just wait to eat."


    Meredith was speechless.


    "When do you think I can eat?"


    Derek smiled, "Well, you make dinner and I''ll give you a hand. It saves time. What do you think?"


    "No, leave me alone. Don''t get in the way," said Meredith with a frown.


    "How can I get in the way? Let''s do it together. It''ll definitely save time. It''s gettingte. Our son is


    hungry. He''s still young. It''s not good for his health, is it, son?"


    After Derek finished speaking, he quickly asked Easton for confirmation.


    Easton was very cooperative, covering his stomach. He lied on the sofa and said, "Yes, mom, I''m so


    hungry."


    Meredith: "..."


    In the end, Derek got his way and stayed in the kitchen to help out.


    Both of them were wearing aprons. They shared out the work. Derek, who couldn''t do anything, was


    now a handy helper.


    Derek was satisfied that they looked like a family of three.


    At the dinner table, Derek was obviously preupied, looking at Meredith from time to time. Meredith


    put down her chopsticks and asked, "What do you want to say?"


    "No, I didn''t mean to say anything. Just eat. This lotus root is good. Eat more." Derek picked up food


    for her.


    Meredith said in a t tone, "If you don''t say it now, don''t say it again."


    Derek: "..."


    He sighed in his heart. Ever since Meredith regained her memory, he felt himself more and more soft.


    When he faced Meredith, he had no dignity at all.


    "It''s not a big deal. I told you in J City that my grandfather wanted to see you. He wanted to ask you to


    Meredith was silent.


    In fact, she was not surprised at all. Since she had regained her memory and now had Easton, she


    knew very well that she had to go there in any case.


    Meredith wanted to refuse subconsciously, but she changed her mind at the thought of something.


    "Does your grandfather know who I really am?"


    "No, he doesn''t know you''re Easton''s mother yet. I haven''t said that yet." He wouldn''t have dared to


    say it without talking to Meredith beforehand.


    "What about your mother? Doesn''t she want to see me?" Meredith said calmly.


    Derek''s face shed with embarrassment. "Let''s just meet grandpa. If you don''t want to see the others,


    we won''t see them."


    She looked over and said, "So your mom actually asked to see me, right?"


    Derek nodded.


    Meredith''s heart shed with a hint of sarcasm. Derek''s mother didn''t know who she was yet, so she


    probably thought Meredith wanted to married into the Xaviers for a better life.


    Probably she wanted to remind Meredith up not to overestimate herself.


    Meredith wondered how surprised his mother would be if she knew it was her.


    Meredith wanted to say something, but she bit back the words when she saw Easton, thinking it''d be


    not good to say it in the presence of her son.


    "When?"


    Derek looked at her and said, "Next weekend, any day is fine."


    Then none of them spoke again.


    Derek wanted to spend more time with Meredith, but when they finished eating, he helped to put away


    dishes.


    He held his son and said reluctantly, "Then, I''ll take Easton back."


    "Well, be careful on the road," Meredith said lightly.


    In fact, Derek wanted to stay here as it was already sote. Thinking that Meredith would definitely not


    agree, he still didn''t say it out loud.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 Chapter 423

    Chapter 423


    Compared to his struggle, Easton was much happier. He also got a kiss on the cheek from Meredith,


    which made Derek jealous.


    A week passed quickly, and in a sh, it was the weekend.


    Meredith was still dressed professionally. She stood in front of the mirror this morning, wondering if she


    should wear something nice.


    But for the Xaviers, it was just a meeting. Besides, the people from the Xaviers didn''t seem to be worth


    her effort.


    Maybe she would be mocked by Derek''s mother, so she decided to put on her business attire.


    In any case, the professional outfits that Derek had prepared for her were designed in a casual style,


    suitable both in work and after work.


    The Xaviers mansion was thousands of meters in size, and the tree-lined green road covered the


    perimeteryer byyer. From time to time, the guards could be seen patrolling.


    Derek looked at Meredith, who was absent-minded. He held her hand and whispered, "Don''t be


    nervous. Grandpa has a good impression of you. For Easton''s sake, he won''t make things difficult for


    you."


    Meredith nced at him, took her hand back, and said calmly, "Why the hell do you think I''m nervous?


    It''s just a meeting. Why should I be nervous?"


    Derek, "..."


    He frowned tightly. Meredith''s reaction made him realize that her grudge was more serious than he had


    imagined.


    It seemed that Meredith''s usual calm look would disappear as soon as he mentioned his family, as if


    she was ready to fight.


    Derek didn''t know what to say. His eyes were dim and he looked thoughtful.


    In the middle was the main mansion. The Xaviers didn''t have many family members and they all lived


    in the main mansion.


    At the back of both sides of the main mansion, there were piles of auxiliary buildings, most of which


    were empty, and a few were for servants and housekeepers to live in. The huge mansion looked very


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    deserted.


    Derek and Meredith got out of the car. The servants outside the house greeted Derek one after


    another. They did not dare to look at the strange woman beside their young master because of the


    strict rules.


    Although the Old Master of the Xaviers was rather elderly, he had always been the pir of the Xaviers.


    "Where''s the Old Master?"


    The butler said respectfully, "In the back garden, ying with Little Young Master."


    Derek took Meredith to the back garden and saw a young and old figure from afar. He could vaguely


    hear an old but energeticugh.


    Before the two of them got close, they were noticed by the old and young.


    Mr. Xavier was dressed in a long robe and a coat. His grey hair was neatlybed. His old face did


    not look haggard. Although he was nearly 80 years old, he looked very energetic.


    A pair of muddy eyes became sharp the moment they locked on Meredith.


    Easton''s big eyes lit up and he immediately threw away the things in his hands. He ran towards


    Meredith and shouted, "Mom, mom..."


    The little fellow''s reaction and address towards the woman surprised the Old Master, then his face


    darkened, and he scrutinized her with cold eyes.


    Meredith''s face remained calm and expressionless in the face of this distinguished Old Master, but her


    heart was filled withplicated emotions. Perhaps she was in a different mood.


    If it was her old self, no matter which the Xaviers member she was facing, she would feel inferior and


    uneasy.


    Because she didn''t dare to offend the Xaviers until she had confirmed the rtionship with Derek. She


    was initially afraid that the Xaviers would send her back to prison, the abyss of darkness.


    Even after she and Derek were official, although Meredith''s mentality changed, she still felt flustered


    because she liked this man and she hoped to leave a good impression on the elders of the Xaviers.


    She still felt like walking on the thin ice, afraid that she was not doing well enough. Thinking of herself


    in the past made her feel a little dazed.


    It was different now. As for Derek, she didn''t know if she had figured it all out. She didn''t exactly know


    what she was thinking either. Maybe she had just learned to live with it.


    Nervousness, uneasiness, and other simr feelings had all been far away from her.


    Derek looked at the Old Master''s expression, frowned slightly, and coughed softly, reminding the Old


    Master not to forget the promise, otherwise, he would immediately leave with Meredith.


    He promised that he would not let her suffer the slightest grievance.


    Since he was still on probation in this rtionship with Meredith, how dared he make Meredith unhappy


    again? If she decided to never talk to him again, who would he cry to then?


    The Old Master red at the eldest grandson, looked at his most precious great-grandson, and waved


    at him, "Easton,e here."


    "Great-grandpa, I want to stay with mom." Easton said without hesitation.


    The Old Master was so angry that he stabbed the ground with his walking stick, "Mom? Who told you


    to call her that? You should call her auntie."


    The little guy pursed his lips, "She is not auntie. She is my mother. Great-grandpa, you''re so stupid.


    You haven''t even figured out how to address people. I don''t want to exin anymore."


    Mr. Xavier, "..." The old man was almost out of breath, and he was very embarrassed and angry now.


    Sin Easton refused toe, the old man had no choice but to look at Meredith reluctantly, "Your name


    is Nora?"


    She raised her eyebrows, nced at Derek and shook her head, "My name is not Nora."


    The Old Master paused and frowned, "Aren''t you Nora? Then what''s your name?"


    "My name is Meredith."


    The Old Master was taking a sip of the tea and suddenly spat it out.


    He wiped his mouth and stared at the strange woman in front of him in astonishment, "What did you


    say your name was?"


    Meredith repeated her name calmly.


    Mr. Xavier looked at her in disbelief and thought of something that made his brows tighter. He waved


    Derek over and wanted to kick him.


    "Don''t you tell me you like this woman just because of her name?"


    The Old Master''s face was intense. It seemed that if Derek nodded, he would definitely hit him with his


    walking stick.


    Derek didn''t know whether tough or cry, "Grandpa, how is that possible? She''s Meredith, Easton''s


    mother. Five years ago, there was an ident. She had a face injury and had stic surgery. It took


    me a long time to get her back."


    Mr. Xavier did not expect things to turn out this way, much less would he expect that the woman


    standing in front of him was Meredith, who should have been his granddaughter-inw long ago.


    He always thought that Meredith was already dead.


    The Old Master thought of what his great-grandson had just said and narrowed his eyes. No wonder he


    would behave like that.


    Originally, the Old Master was happy that his grandson had fallen in love with another woman. After all,


    five years had passed and he didn''t want his only grandson to be immersed in the sad memories of


    Easton''s mother''s death.

 Chapter 424

    Chapter 424


    She didn''t expect that she would be with the same person twice after so much happened, which was


    really unpredictable.


    Mr. Xavier had prepared to say something, but now he didn''t know how to start. Thinking of this, he


    couldn''t help but re at his grandson.


    "It''s such a big deal. I can''t believe you''re hiding it from me. Hmph." He thought to himself.


    "If that''s the case, you can wed in a civil ceremony, and then pick a date to hold your wedding. It should


    have been done long ago." Mr. Xavierbed his beard and said so.


    He did not have too strict requirements for the choice of his granddaughter-inw. Her personality was


    the priority and her family background was lesser. After all, there was no need for the Xaviers to marry


    a woman from a rich family to make things better.


    Derek and Easton''s eyes lit up and they all looked at Meredith. The anticipation in their eyes was


    identical.


    Meredith did not look at her son deliberately but lower her eyelids.


    Mr. Xavier was the mighty existence in the Xaviers, and once he made up his mind, it was basically a


    foregone conclusion.


    But strangely, after he said that, Meredith did not feel very happy in her heart.


    "Sir, I don''t want to marry into the Xaviers for the time being. We... We''ll talk about itter."


    In an instant, the light in Derek''s eyes dimmed. He stared at Meredith, his eyes filled with mixed


    emotions. He couldn''t help but walk over and hold her hand firmly.


    Because if he didn''t, he felt like Meredith was getting further and further away from him.


    Mr. Xavier was stunned for a moment. He might not understand what Meredith was thinking at all. His


    face immediately darkened. Nobody should underestimate this old man because of his age.


    The demeanor in his bones suddenly attacked Meredith, "You don''t want to get married? Give me a


    reason."


    Her brows tightened, and the resistance in her heart was instantly aroused. She only expressed her


    opinion, and Mr. Xavier''s facepletely changed.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Oh, why should I tolerate the arrogance from the Xaviers?" She thought.


    "I don''t want to. There is no reason for that." For the first time since she came in, her face had turned


    gloomy.


    "Hmph."


    Mr. Xavier had been a powerful man for most of his life. He had always been a man of his word.


    Meredith was the second person who dared to disobey him, except for his grandson, Derek.


    "You and Derek have a son, and you don''t want to marry him? Do you want to abandon your son?"


    Meredith subconsciously held Easton''s little hand tightly, "Of course not, I would never abandon my


    son. Since he is my son, then whether I marry Derek or not, Easton is my son. This cannot be


    changed."


    Mr. Xavier sneered, "Young girl, don''t be so naive. Easton grew up in my the Xaviers since he was


    born. You can''t take him with you with just one word."


    "If you hadn''t married into our the Xaviers, of course, you would have nothing to do with our heir of the


    Xaviers. I''m not threatening you."


    Meredith''s heart tightened, "What do you mean?"


    Derek saw that she was on the defensive again and knew that if his grandpa continued pushing her,


    the situation would only get worse.


    "That''s enough, grandpa. You promised me you wouldn''t make things difficult."


    Mr. Xavier red at him angrily, "Have you told me who she is? Have you told me that she doesn''t


    want to marry you? You little bastard."


    "Grandpa, this is between me and Meredith. You don''t have to interfere. Whether she wants to marry


    me, it''s up to her. No one can force her."


    "Since you have already met her, we will leave first."


    After Derek finished speaking, he took Meredith and Easton left. Mr. Xavier was furious.


    But perhaps it was not a lucky day.


    The three of them walked through the garden. Before they reached the gate, a beautiful woman in a


    cheongsam came towards them.


    Meredith stopped and looked at the woman across from her. She would never forget that woman''s


    face.


    In her memory, every time Meredith saw that woman, she had never been nice to Meredith, either cold


    or arrogant. The way she looked at Meredith was as if she was looking at a piece of trash.


    It was as if Meredith should be grateful that she could take a look at her. After all these years, those


    memories were still clear.


    "Hey, grandma?" Easton whispered.


    Derek frowned and tried to take Meredith to another way. Subconsciously, he didn''t want the two of


    them to meet, "Meredith, let''s go that way."


    She didn''t move and looked at him expressionlessly, "Why do I have to take a detour when I meet your


    mother? Why? Do you think I don''t deserve to meet her?"


    Derek was a little helpless, "Meredith, you know that''s not what I mean. You know my mother very well.


    I just don''t want her to hurt you."


    "Oh, really? She has hurt me that much. It makes sense for previous Meredith to hear your words, but


    it doesn''t mean anything to me now."


    Derek, "..."


    He was silent. Ever since they entered the Xaviers, Meredith seemed to have changed to another


    woman, very sensitive. It was the first time he had faced the extremely senstive Meredith, which made


    him feel a little helpless.


    At the same time, he couldn''t help but wonder if Meredith would really be willing to marry him and


    marry into the Xaviers now. His confidence suddenly swung,


    which gave him an unprecedented sense of panic, but for the time being, he had no way to solve it.


    Easton stood between the two of them. He was smart enough to sense something from the asional


    atmosphere and conversation between his parents.


    But he was too young to be sure, even if he had some vague perception.


    The grudges of the previous generation, Derek or Meredith did not want their young son to know too


    much and let the servant take him to another room.


    Violet, who was across from them, saw them too. Her beautiful face and graceful figure made her look


    like a young woman in her early thirties even though she was over her forties. She looked the same as


    five years ago.


    She came over and didn''t even look at Meredith but only at Derek, "You''re back. Come in." After that,


    she took the lead and walked into the house.


    Derek frowned even tighter, "Mom, we''re busy. We''ll see you next time."


    Violet stopped and slowly turned around. Her cold and unchanged eyes finally rested on Meredith, but


    they only stayed for a second before moving away.


    "It''s been a long time, and you finally came back home once. As your mother, do I need to make an


    appointment if I want to see you?" Her voice was a little more dignified. Obviously, she was dissatisfied


    with her son''s resistance.


    As long as it was about her only son, Derek, she had always been consistently domineering throughout


    the years.


    But ever since her son met the woman named Meredith a few years ago, her son, who had always


    been obedient and filial to her, had changed.

 Chapter 425

    Chapter 425


    Now, Meredith left but Nora came.


    With that thought in mind, Violet, once again, looked at the woman next to her son. Her line of sight


    became especially sharp when she saw the two of them holding hands together.


    Her son''s attitude made her very dissatisfied. She didn''t do anything and didn''t say anything. But her


    son guarded against her as if she were his enemy and it seemed that her son was afraid of what she


    would do to this woman.


    She didn''t like Nora. But now she found Nora even more annoying, and her face finally darkened.


    "This must be Miss Gray. Why don''t youe in?" She asked indifferently.


    Meredith looked at her and smiled softly, as if she had regained her usualposure, "Okay."


    As she spoke, she broke free of Derek''s hand. She did not even look at him, and slowly followed Violet.


    What could Derek do? Of course, he followed her immediately. He couldn''t let Meredith suffer.


    They entered the low-key but luxurious hall. And servants served tea.


    "Where is Miss Gray from?" Violet said as if she were chatting about the household stuff.


    "J City."


    "Really? It seems that Derek is very fond of J City. The girls he likes are all from that ce." She raised


    her eyebrows and was speaking casually.


    Meredith smiled and said nothing.


    "I heard that Miss Mason studied fashion design. I wonder where you graduated from?"


    "I didn''t learn it at college. I was only interested in it at first, and I''ve been doing it till now," Meredith


    said faintly.


    "... Never studied it at college? But as far as I know, Miss Gray is currently the design director of B


    Department in Xavier Group."


    Meredith nodded.


    Violet looked at Meredith, "I also heard that when Miss Gray was working for the branch of Xavier


    Group in J City, you had been used of giarizing design. It caused turmoils back then and also


    affected the reputation of the branch of the Xavier Group. Am I right?"


    Meredith looked straight at Violet and suddenly smiled, "Since Mrs. Xavier has known that, it seems


    that there is no need to ask me about it."


    Violet narrowed her eyes and stopped talking as her expression turned sullen.


    "Miss Gray, is that how you treat your elders?" After a moment of silence, Violet said slowly.


    Because of the case of Meredith before, Violet had scruples against her son and she rarely didn''t go


    too far, but she never thought that this woman would dare to talk to her in this manner.


    Didn''t this woman know she was Derek''s mother? This woman was even more uneducated than that


    Meredith. Hmph.


    "I''m sorry, Mrs. Xavier doesn''t seem to be my elder." Meredith brushed her hair and said calmly.


    Violet, "..."


    For the first time, Mrs. Xavier felt as if she had been hallucinating.


    Derek didn''t say anything and sighed in his heart.


    "Miss Gray, what is your rtionship with my son? I find that I may have misunderstood your


    rtionship." Violet quickly adjusted her mood and said meaningfully.


    "Naturally, it''s the rtionship between the boss and the subordinate," Meredith said without hesitation.


    But Derek frowned as he felt displeased, "It is not. We are a couple now and will marry in the future."


    With that said, he held Nora in his arms and whispered, "You said you would give me a chance. You


    can''t go back on your words."


    Meredith nced at him emotionlessly and saw Violet''s astonished look without refuting.


    "This is ridiculous." Mrs. Xavier finally lost her temper.


    She pointed at Meredith and said in a stern tone, "Derek, is this the woman you like? She is worse than


    the previous one. Are you going to piss me off?"


    "What did she just say? What attitude did she have towards me? Why do you like such a disrespectful,


    uneducated woman?"


    "You want this woman to be the mother of my grandson? Don''t even think about it."


    Derek frowned and looked at his mother without saying anything, but the determination in her eyes was


    obvious. Violet was so angry upon seeing this.


    After a few seconds of the standoff, Meredith suddenly smiled softly.


    "Mrs. Xavier, your grandson, Easton, has long recognized me as his mother. Don''t you know?"


    Violet didn''t understand what Meredith meant. She thought what Meredith said was that Easton had


    agreed to let Meredith be his mother.


    Violet nced at her and sneered, "Miss Gray, I have the final say in what kind of woman can be the


    mother of my grandson. Not to mention that you want to marry Derek, you don''t even have the right to


    walk in the Xaviers."


    Meredith looked at Violet and shook her head, "You are exactly the same as you were five years ago."


    Violet frowned and looked at Meredith rather unkindly as Violet didn''t know what Meredith was talking


    about.


    "Mrs. Xavier, do you really not recognize me? Although my face has changed a little, I should have left


    a deep impression on you."


    Meredith said softly and looked at Violet, "I''m Meredith. How could you not recognize me?"


    She said all these in a low voice, but her words were like thunder in Violet''s ears. Violet''s mind went


    nk and she stood up abruptly.


    "You. You are..."


    Violet opened her mouth and didn''t make a sound, but one could tell what she said as one looked at


    the shape of Violet''s mouth.


    Meredith curled her lips, nodded kindly, and repeated, "Yes, I am Meredith. The one you may have


    thought that is dead."


    Violet was indeed Violet. Although she had been too shocked, she lost herposure for a moment


    and soon she calmed down. However, she was still staring at Meredith in disbelief.


    Meredith didn''t care. She just smiled and looked at Violet.


    Violet looked at Meredith condescendingly and resumed her superior demeanor, "So, you are alive."


    She was wondering why her son stayed in J City and didn''t want toe back. Why did he suddenly


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    fall in love with another woman? It turned out to be like this...


    Violet became gloomy and her grudge towards Meredith didn''t get reduced. Instead, Violet had more


    grudge against Meredith. Her attitude towards Meredith didn''t change even though Meredith gave her a


    grandson.


    Seeing this, Meredith looked down to hide the mockery inside her eyes. It was unrealistic to expect the


    other party to have even the slightest bit of guilt for her.


    To people like Violet, even if they really killed her back then, they must think that she deserved it.


    Damn.


    With this thought in mind, she suddenly had a hint of malice.


    "Mrs. Xavier, I just went to Mr. Xavier''s ce. He meant to let me get my marriage certificate with


    Derek and get the wedding done. What do you think?"


    Violet''s expression changed again.


    Meredith looked at Violet and smiled as if she thought Violet''s reaction was funny, "Don''t worry, I didn''t


    agree."


    "But now, seeing your reaction, I suddenly feel that it will be interesting."

 Chapter 426

    Chapter 426


    Yes, she was provoking her. Anyone could tell that.


    Derek stood aside, keeping out of the confrontation between the two women. He did not think that


    Meredith went too far.


    After all,pared to the suffering his mother had inflicted on Meredith, Meredith only said a few


    unpleasant words.


    "How dare you..."


    Violet was so angry and gritted her teeth.


    "Hey, it''s just a throwaway remark, but you already can''t stand it. If I..."


    "How dare you?"


    Violet had never been so furious like this for a long time. She pointed at Meredith and her fingertips


    were trembling.


    "Do you think you are emboldened by Old Master''s agreement? I''m telling you. As long as I don''t


    agree, even the Old Master can''t help you."


    Derek finally opened his mouth. He had already been fed up with his mother''s fierce resistance.


    "Mom, although you may not be happy to hear that, grandfather is the only one who can call the shots


    in the Xaviers. You can''t stop him and you have no right to object to his decision."


    "You..."


    Violet was infuriated. This scene repeated itself again. Her son was against her five years ago. Now, he


    was still against her.


    He did it all for the same woman.


    Thinking of this, she looked at Meredith with a strong disgust and anger.


    Derek''s face darkened.


    Meredith was expressionless. But she suddenly felt very tired. She closed her eyes and stood up, "I''ll


    leave first."


    "I..." Derek wanted to say that he would go with her and send her back.


    She said directly, "I want to stay alone. Don''t follow me."


    The greenery around the Xaviers mansion was so big that if she didn''t take a car, it would take so long.


    So, Meredith didn''t refuse the car the housekeeper had arranged for her and let him send her out of the


    Xaviers mansion.


    She walked alone on the street, thinking about how she had behaved in the Xaviers. Meredith could not


    help but smile bitterly. Even she herself did not know who she was just now.


    Meredith walked and walked, not knowing how long she had been walking. When she suddenly


    stumbled and almost fell, she suddenly woke up. Then she sat alone on a stool on the road and


    watched all kinds of people.


    After a while, she took out her cell phone, flipped through the address book, and shook her head at the


    pitifully limited contacts in it.


    In today''s society, it was quite strange to have such few contacts.


    She called Penelope and hung up after a few words.


    Not long after, a fiery red car stopped in front of her. Penelope rolled down the window and took off her


    sunsses. She waved at her and whistled.


    "Hey, beauty. Where are you going? How about I give you a ride?"


    Meredith couldn''t help butugh and seemed not to be gloomy anymore.


    Seeing her get into the car, Penelope stepped on the gas, "Tell me, where do you want to go?"


    "... Bar."


    The car jerked to a halt. Penelope looked at her through her rearview mirror and blinked, "Where did


    you say you wanted to go?"


    "I want to go to the bar," Meredith repeated.


    "Come on, daddy''s girl has degenerated." Penelope teased her.


    "By the way, I forgot to ask you, why are you on the side of the road on weekend, and..." Meredith


    sounded like she was in bad mood.


    Meredith closed her eyes andy sideways in the back seat, "... I came out of the Xaviers just now."


    Penelope: "..."


    Well, she had known about what happened between her best friend and Derek before. So now when


    she heard about it, she could basically guess what was going on. Looking at her depressed look,


    Penelope thought that her trip was not pleasant.


    In that case, Penelope didn''t ask any more and stepped on the gas again, "Okay, let''s go to a bar."


    Although most of the bars were open at night, there were also bars open during the day. Even if


    Meredith needed a drink to vent her depression, Penelope still felt that the atmosphere of a Lounge Bar


    was more suitable for her.


    They had better not go to nightclubs where rogues of all kinds running wild. She was afraid of being


    hunted down by Mr. Xavier.


    She picked a sofa on the corner and ordered drinks and snacks. Penelope poured the alcohol, handed


    Meredith a ss, took a sip, and raised her eyebrows.


    "Why did youe out alone when you went to Mr. Xavier''s house? Didn''t Mr. Xaviere out with


    you?"


    Meredith shook her head, "I didn''t want to see him then." As she spoke, she took a sip of the alcohol


    and immediately frowned.


    The two of them were like this. One asked questions and the other one answered. They talked about


    the Xaviers, Derek, Damian, and all kinds of things. Time passed quickly.


    It was getting dark outside.


    Their alcohol was not high. Besides, Penelope ordered the fruit wine for Meredith. She thought it was


    not intoxicating, but she miscalcted Meredith''s tolerance to alcohol.


    Meredith was not very good at drinking. So when she drank the fruit wine for the whole afternoon, she


    was easily drunk. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were already blurred.


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    But Penelope on the side was almost drunk.


    She was not used to fruit wine. So she ordered Brandy for herself. After an afternoon, she also drank a


    lot and felt dizzy.


    "Meredith, it''s dark. We should, should go."


    Penelope shook her head and got up to help Meredith. She drank too much that she had no strength at


    all. Meredith did not cooperate. So it took her a long time.


    There were very few drunk people in the lounge bar. The two of them were beautiful and attractive. The


    boss of the lounge bar saw them and asked the waiter to help.


    "Miss, you are a little drunk. Do you want us to help you and ask someone you know to pick you up?"


    Penelope waved her hand, "No, I, I called someone."


    As she spoke, she went to pull Meredith. The waiter had no choice but to help them up and send them


    out.


    Penelope''s mind cleared up when the wind blew her outside. She squinted at the outside and then


    looked at Meredith, who was leaning against her.


    She took out her cell phone from her bag and looked for Derek''s number in a daze. Then she dialed it


    and babbled.


    "Hey, Mr. Xavier, burp... Mer... Meredith''s drunk. Come and pick her up. Yeah, that''s it."


    She hung up as soon as she finished speaking. Her mind began to faint again.


    On the other side, Damian frowned at the phone that was hung up. He didn''t want to answer the call


    from that bitch, but he picked it up atst.


    He thought about it, turned on the navigation, and looked at her location. They were really around a


    lounge bar.


    Damian did not hesitate. He got up, took his coat, and went out. He also called his boss to exin the


    situation. The two men in different directions were heading to the same ce at the moment.

 Chapter 427

    Chapter 427


    In front of the bar, two hooligans in slippers walked over. When they saw Penelope and Meredith, their


    eyes lit up and they stopped.


    "Beauties, you''re drunk. Do you want us to send you home?" One hooligan who was in ck said


    maliciously. He kept ncing at Penelope and Meredith with his sneaky eyes.


    The other hooligan dressed in redughed, stepped forward and reached out his hand.


    Penelope blushed and narrowed her eyes as she looked at the two hooligans. She frowned impatiently


    and waved her hand, "Get out of here."


    "Oh, a hot-tempered beauty."


    The two hooligans didn''t take it seriously. Instead, they startedughing, one on the left and the other


    on the right, approaching in slowly.


    The hooligan dressed in ck grabbed Penelope''s arm and touched, "Tsk tsk, it''s fair and tender, ah..."


    Before he could finish speaking, the hooligan dressed in ck let out a scream.


    When Penelope was caught by him on the wrist, she flew into a rage and she squinted. She kicked him


    directly without thinking and hit the private part of the hooligan.


    The other hooligan was startled. He looked at the pair of pointed stiletto sandals on Penelope''s feet


    and saw his fellow''s miserable state. There was also a dull pain in his private part.


    "Stay away, get lost."


    People who had drunk too much had a strange look on their faces. But Meredith was normal. Penelope


    looked like having not drunk. She was like a firecracker that could be ignited easily.


    The only difference was that when she was drunk, she was unconscious.


    She patted Meredith on the shoulder, "You, stay here. Be good. Be good. I, burp... I''lle back soon."


    After the serious instructions, Penelope locked her eyes on the hooligan dressed in red with a serious


    face and reached out, "You,e here."


    The hooligan who was in red was in a daze for a second, hesitated, and moved over with confusion.


    The next second.


    "Ah..."


    Penelope made a sudden move without any struggle. She was holding a leather bag full of sharp


    rhinestones and mmed it hard on the head of the hooligan who was in red. The moment it fell down,


    bloodstains were left on his forehead.


    The hooligan who was in red was in so much pain that he grimaced and red at Penelope after he


    touched his face, "Damn it, bitch."


    He rushed up and want to teach Penelope a lesson. Penelope frowned and wasn''t afraid of danger at


    all. She raised the "sharp weapon" in her hands and rushed over.


    The head of the hooligan who was in red was still painful, so he was a little afraid of the bag and was


    fearful. He wanted to hide in an instant, but he was stumbled by the stone pier behind him


    inadvertently.


    Penelope immediately pounced on the hooligan and rode boldly on him. She kept hitting the hooligan


    on the forhead rudely with the "murder weapon" in her hand.


    Every time it hit on him, it looked painful and the hooligan screamed.


    When Damian arrived, he saw such a ferocious scene. The corner of his mouth twitched violently and


    he walked over speechless to pull her up.


    The two hooligans immediately ran off , helping each other.


    "Who..."


    Penelope yelled and threw the bag in her hand backward. Damian dodged quickly and intercepted the


    ''''murder weapon'''' in her hand conveniently.


    At this time, Derek also arrived. His target was naturally Meredith, who was about to fall asleep


    standing nearby.


    "Boss, then she..." Damian wanted to say something.


    Derek waved his hand, "You''re in charge of sending Penelope back. I will go first."


    Damian: "..."


    Penelope was much quieter now, perhaps because she had exerted too much force just now. Her eyes


    were half-open and it didn''t know what she was looking at. She stood still and let herself helped by him.


    Damian looked at the woman in his hand and couldn''t help but roll his eyes. He could only ept his


    fate and dragged her into the car.


    On the other side.


    Derek took the drunk Meredith back to DX Garden Community. After entering the room, he changed


    Meredith''s clothes and got a hot towel to wipe her hands and face withoutint.


    Meredith, who had always been very quiet, suddenly began to struggle. She looked at the man in front


    of her in a daze. Then her tears suddenly started to flow, which made Derek be at a loss.


    "Meredith, what''s wrong with you? Don''t cry. Are you feeling unwell? Tell me if you feel unwell..."


    "You bastard, why did you do this to me? why did you lie to me..."


    Meredith suddenly stood up and punched him with tears. Although her fists were soft and weak, they


    hit Derek and still made him feel painful.


    "Woo woo, why are you lying to me? I don''t want to be with you. I''m so scared, so scared..."


    She cried miserably and spoke incoherently, but Derek understood and could not help but hold her


    tightly in his arms.


    "I''m sorry, Meredith. I''m sorry. It''s all my fault. I''m sorry..."


    After some time, Meredith''s crying gradually faded and she fell asleep.


    Derek gently picked her up and gently ced her on the bed. Looking at her swollen eyes and nose, he


    gave her a tender kiss.


    He leaned against Meredith''s forehead and sighed in his heart. Meredith, what should I do with you?


    Compared to Derek, Damian was not easy, and it almost could be regarded as a disaster.


    Penelope had been making trouble almost since she got in the car.


    "Who are you? What are you doing? Let me go, let me go..."


    Damian was sullen. He finally buckled her seat belt but got kicked a few times. As soon as he drove,


    the dead woman started making trouble.


    Both of her hands were hanging on the window and half of her head was going out. She could stretch


    her head out if she wanted. There was nothing dangerous anyway because the half-open window was


    small.


    But...


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    "Help, here is a rape. Here is a rape, help..."


    With a piercing sound, Damian mmed on the brakes. He looked at the woman beside him with a


    sullen face and wished he could strangle her.


    Seeing the car stop, Penelope stopped howling and looked at him in a daze. Then she burped and


    Damian: "..."


    Just like that, as soon as he drove, the woman started to make trouble. When he stopped, she became


    quiet. He finally drove to his apartment with great difficulties.


    It was not a long journey, but Damian felt like he was about to go mad, so he carried the woman


    upstairs angrily.


    When they finally got home, he thought he could breathe a sigh of relief. But when they went upstairs,


    "Oh..."


    Damian: "..."


    He stopped, stiffened, and froze at the stairs, feeling the warmth and wetness of his back, and the


    peculiar smell in the air.


    Damian''s face was livid and he gritted his teeth. He was shaking with anger, and he was about to break


    down.


    "Penelope..."


    He now regretted why he picked up this woman. If he called the boss directly and stayed at home, this


    would not happen.

 Chapter 428

    Chapter 428


    Damian was thinking too much. Even if he did so, Derek would still ignore Penelope and call him out of


    the house with one phone call. The result was the same.


    He kept a straight face, endured his anger and carried the woman back. When he put the woman


    down, he immediately took off his coat and shirt unbearably.


    As a result...


    Penelope tilted her head. When she saw that he had taken off his shirt, she pointed at him and


    and threw it away.


    She took off the top and continued to take off the skirt below. She unzipped the dress, and pulled it


    down boldly.


    Damian''s eyes widened. It was toote for him to stop her. What he could do was watching the leather


    skirt fall off her legs.


    Penelope was left with nothing but underwear.


    "Wait..."


    Damian was so shocked when he saw that she was still going to take it off. He immediately ran over to


    stop Penelope, but he was not as fast as her. The straps of her bra loosened, and the bra fell off freely.


    In this situation, Damian immediately looked away expressionlessly.


    As he turned his face away, he saw from the corner of his eyes that Penelope had also took off her


    panty.


    Damian froze.


    After Penelope took off all her clothes, she feltfortable. She stretched herself and narrowed her


    eyes with a smile. Then she went to the master bedroom.


    She took over Damian''s big bed,id down, took the quilt and rolled herself up. Then she closed her


    eyes and didn''t move.


    After a while, Damian came over. He felt helpless when he saw that that woman was sleeping soundly.


    He leaned against the door and pinched his brows. Every time he saw this woman, nothing good would


    happen to him.


    The next day, at DX Garden Community.


    When Meredith woke up, she rubbed her head and was still in a daze. Derek pushed the door open


    and walked in. When she woke up, he curled his lips, "Morning. Go wash up first, then have breakfast."


    As he spoke, he walked over and opened the curtains. The sun shone in and the room was bright.


    She looked at him in surprise, "You..."


    Suddenly, she thought of something and looked down at herself. Seeing that she had changed into


    pajamas, she suddenly felt freaked out.


    Seeing that she had misunderstood, Derek shook his head and exined, "You went to a bar with


    Penelope yesterday to drink. Remember? You were drunk, and I brought you back. I changed your


    clothes and you fell asleep."


    Meredith suddenly remembered that she was in a bad mood when she came out of the residence


    yesterday. She did ask Penelope to drink with her.


    However, she couldn''t remember the rest...at all.


    She pursed her lips. Although nothing happened between them, she still felt embarrassed that Derek


    had changed her clothes.


    "I see. You can go out first. I need to clean up."


    "By the way, what about Penelope? Is she alright?"


    Derek raised his eyebrows, "She''s as drunk as you are. But don''t worry. Damian took her away."


    Meredith didn''t expect that.


    Damian took Penelope away?


    Could she really not worry? Somehow, thinking about what had happened between the two of them


    before, she felt even more worried.


    Meredith''s hunch was correct. At least,pared to the harmony between Meredith and Derek,


    Damian''s morning started with Penelope''s screams.


    "Ah..."


    Penelope lifted the covers and looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and her naked self under the


    sheets. What was even more frightening was that she had absolutely no recollection of what had


    actually happenedst night, and she was instantly devastated.


    Penelope thought, "What should I do? What should I do? Have we..."


    At this moment, an impatient voice came outside the door: "Why are you shouting in the morning?


    You;re so noisy. Shut up."


    She stared at the door, feeling that the voice was familiar. The door was opened and a familiar face


    appeared.


    Penelope felt even more horrified, "How could it be you?"


    Damian looked at her angrily and sneered, "That''s a good question. Who do you think it will be?"


    "Wait, I mean, why am I at your house? And I... I..." She looked at herself and at him with a sullen face,


    not knowing what to say.


    Damian understood, folded his arms around his chest, and said lightly, "I forgot to tell you that you


    stripped yourself. It has nothing to do with me. Don''t me me."


    After that, he walked away.


    Penelope froze.


    She sat on the bed in a daze. The expression on her face changed from anger to disbelief. After a


    while, she punched herself in disbelief.


    "Where are my clothes?"


    "I throw them away."


    "Why did you throw them?" She widened her eyes.


    "You vomited all over me yesterday. Do you know how bad you smelt? Do you know how smelly your


    clothes were? Can''t I throw them away?"


    Damian sat on the sofa with a very arrogant attitude.


    Penelope wrapped herself in a sheet, took a deep breath, and secretly told herself, "Don''t be angry. It''s


    not worth getting angry with such a person."


    "What should I wear, then?"


    Damian nced at her, took out a set of clothes from the storeroom and threw them away.


    She looked at the thing in her hand and fell silent.


    "What...is this?"


    "Clothes."


    Penelope shook the set of clothes in her hand that was obviously worn by the domestic nanny for work


    and said with a nk expression, "You mean that after you throw away my clothes, you n to let me


    go out in this one, right?"


    Before he could answer, Penelope threw the clothes at him and narrowed her eyes, "Now give me one


    set of normal clothes I can wear, including underwear."


    Damian suddenly sneered, "Why do you think I should listen to you?"


    She curled her lips, "If you don''t want to buy it, then I''ll stay with you. If you can give up your work and


    watch me every day, you can try. I can''t guarantee that your home won''t be destroyed if you leave."


    "Of course, you can also use coercion. Then I have to call the police. Did you ask my permission to


    abduct me, a virtuous woman, to your cest night? Not to mention the fact that I am like this in the


    morning."


    At the end of the conversation, Penelope red at him, apparently not believing that she had stripped


    herself of her clothes.


    Damian was speechless.


    He couldn''t be bothered to get angry but only felt he was stupid.


    Why did he let this woman spend time in his own home? She should have been sent away in a hurry!


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    After thinking about it, Damian immediately called the mall to send a whole set of clothes ording to


    her size and treated her with apletely different attitude from just now.

 Chapter 429

    Chapter 429


    Looking at Damian, Penelope eased up a bit. And Damian breathed a long sigh of relief at the thought


    that she would soon leave.


    In this way, both of them were satisfied.


    ...


    In a blink of an eye, Meredith had been working for Xavier Group for almost a month. She was fully


    qualified for this position in a short time.


    She was already in full control of the department.


    Today, she came to work as usual, but as soon as she entered the gate of Xavier Group, she sensed


    something was wrong.


    Design Department was a very important area for Xavier Group''s headquarters. When Meredith first


    took office, everyone in thepany knew about her because of Chen''s appearance on the first day.


    The new executive director of design B Department and Damian, who was close to the president, were


    very respectful to her.


    Whenever a colleague saw her, they would nodded at her.


    But today...


    She saw the receptionists at the front desk were looking at her from time to time, and some colleagues


    huddled together in twos and threes. She had no idea what they were whispering.


    But from their asional nce, Meredith also realized that these people were talking about her.


    She couldn''t help but frown, wondering what happened.


    For some reason, it reminded her of the day when the news that she was copying other''s design was


    exposed at Xavier Group''s branch in J City. When she went to work, the same situation happened to


    her, and she felt a sense of unease.


    She would know what was going onter anyway.


    She took a deep breath and took a quick step up the elevator, expressionless.


    As soon as she left, the staff in the hall started to talk loudly.


    "Look at her. I''m afraid she doesn''t know what''s going on. There''s going to be a good show."


    "Do you think that would be true?"


    "Sure, the police is here. This is Xavier Group. If there is no conclusive evidence, how can the director


    of design be arrested?"


    "You''re right. It must be approved, or else those people won''t show up."


    "Well, Meredith has only been here for a month. She was once somebody, but now she might be going


    to jail soon. It''s really unpredictable."


    Meredith didn''t know what these people were talking about. She went straight to design B Department


    under the attention of everyone.


    Emma had been waiting at the door, and when she saw hering up, she put on a sarcastic


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    expression.


    "Oh, our design director is finally here," she said, looking at Meredith with sarcasm, and her eyes were


    full of malicious and gloating smiles. Meredith was in a daze for a moment.


    After all, Emma had been in a low position for a month, afraid of doing something wrong. Seeing her


    sudden change, Meredith felt ufortable, as if this was Emma''s true color.


    She shook her head and walked into the department without paying attention to her.


    Emma''s face turned red in anger. She looked at Meredith''s back with resentment in her eyes, but then


    she thought of something and smiled happily.


    At first, she thought that Meredith had Mr. Xavier back her up. She had been walking on eggshells for a


    month.


    She thought that she would be live under the pressure of Meredith, but things changed. She was d.


    The police wereing to arrest Meredith, but thepany''s top management did not show up to


    exin, which made her wonder whether Meredith had a back up.


    Anyway, she was overjoyed that Meredith would be in trouble and her miserable life was about to be


    over.


    This time, she must seize the opportunity to win the position of design director as quickly as possible.


    Confidence shed in Emma''s eyes.


    Meredith entered the department under the watchful eyes of the designers. She immediately saw a few


    police officers sitting inside drinking tea, and she became more uneasy.


    They looked at her and stood up. "You''re Meredith?"


    She nodded, "Yes. How may I help you?"


    One of them took out a few A4 papers and handed them to her. "Do you have any impression of these


    designs?"


    Meredith took them and knew what they were at a nce. She frowned tightly.


    The B Department needed to design clothes in advance for the second half of the year, and these were


    designs of the first batch of hand-drawn drafts. Including Meredith, the entire department submitted


    together.


    These were confidential manuscripts. She locked them in herputer. How could they be exposed?


    "These are our department''s hand-drawn design for the second half of the year. May I ask why they''re


    in your hands?"


    Before the police officer could speak, Emma on the side couldn''t wait to say, "Director Mason, how can


    you ask the police about this? You should ask yourself."


    Meredith looked at her coldly and said, "What do you mean?"


    "Well, you''re really stubborn. Didn''t you pay attention to the news? Yesterday, AKpany held an


    emergency fashion press conference."


    "The designs presented at the press conference are almost identical to those in your hands."


    "Director Mason, I don''t think it''s proper for you to do such a thing. These manuscripts are made


    through the countless efforts of the entire B Department. But you take the manuscripts to AKpany


    and exchange them for money. You''re so calcting."


    Meredith''s eyes widened and her heart sank. Yesterday was the weekend. Although she was resting at


    home, she didn''t pay much attention to the current news, so she didn''t notice.


    However, she was shocked that the manuscripts from her department came to AKpany. She knew


    that its clothing field and Xavier Group werepetitors.


    "Miss Mason, we have received a report from the Xavier Group that you are suspected of being


    involved in the theft of trade secrets. You need toe back with us for investigation."


    Meredith bit her lips in panic. She felt that all these things were very strange, but now, panic could not


    solve the problem.


    "Sir, I didn''t steal these manuscripts, and I don''t know how these designs came to otherpanies. I


    hope you can investigate."


    "We will investigate the truth, but you still need toe with us."


    Meredith wasn''t a fool. She knew that she couldn''t get out of trouble this time. After all, she was the


    design director of B Department who was responsible for keeping the manuscripts.

 Chapter 430

    Chapter 430


    Now that the manuscript was lost, even if the theft had nothing to do with her, as the director, she had


    to take responsibility for the improper protection. And she had no reason to refute it.


    When she realized that Derek was not at thepany, she felt depressed. The receptionist told her


    that he was away on a business trip and would not be back for a week or so.


    Derek may not even know her situation in thepany. So she smiled bitterly in her heart as she felt


    that she was rather unlucky.


    When something urred to her, Derek happened to be absent from thepany. Damian naturally


    followed Derek on the business trip. There was no one to help her within the entire Xavier Group.


    Meredith did not know that at the moment she was captured, the person who was secretly protecting


    her immediately contacted Derek, who was on a business trip.


    At that time, Derek was negotiating with the partners. Damian received a call. Not daring to dy or


    hide anything, he told his boss directly.


    Derek stood up in an instant, didn''t even have time to exin, and left the table in big strides. He left


    the business partners directly on the negotiation table.


    Damian had expected what his boss would do. Since his boss was unreliable, as the assistant, he had


    to stay to clean up the mess.


    In D City.


    After Meredith was brought into the police station, she was locked up in the interrogation room. Soon, a


    male interrogator and a female interrogator came in with documents.


    She sat in her seat and watched her hands being handcuffed to the railing. She frowned, "If I didn''t


    hear you wrong, I''m just here to cooperate with your investigation."


    "In the case of theft, you do not have any substantial evidence to prove that I am involved. In that case,


    this..." She said, gesturing for her hands.


    The female interrogator had a serious face, while the male interrogator lookedzy and he even


    yawned. They did not seem to have heard herint.


    Meredith''s face darkened, "Excuse me, can you hear me?"


    The two people finally looked at her. Then the female interrogator sneered, "Do you know what this


    ce is? You are not at home. Since you''re here, be obedient. How dare you make a request? So


    outrageous."


    "There are rules everywhere, especially in the police station. Before you have proof against me, I am


    not a prisoner. You have no right to treat me like a prisoner."


    The male interrogator waved his hand, "All right, cut the crap. You''re right. We have rules here too.


    That''s what we do here."


    The female interrogator looked at her coldly and began to ask about her basic information, her name


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    and gender. Meredith answered them one by one.


    "I can answer your question now. First, ording to our preliminary investigation, the rest of your


    department can prove that only you have aplete copy of the stolen manuscript."


    "Second, we did a crime scene investigation. Yourputer has no trace of intrusion. Even your office


    has no footprints or fingerprints of a second person other than yourself."


    "Last but not least, we have just received thetest news that a 5 million dors remittance has entered


    your ount. Therge sum arrived yesterday evening. The remitter''s ount indicated that it was


    from overseas."


    "Based on these three points, we have every reason to believe that this theft case is conducted by you.


    The five million remittances will be the best proof."


    Meredith, "..."


    She frowned. If that was the case, she suddenly had nothing to say. However, the truth was that she


    really didn''t know what was going on.


    "Five million? I''m sorry. I have no idea about it. Can you please check the remitter?"


    The female interrogator sneered, "Ten out of ten people whoe here will say they were wronged.


    Your denial is not fresh to us."


    "But it doesn''t matter. With all the evidence, it doesn''t make any difference if you admit it or not. We can


    basically draw a conclusion."


    Meredith, "..."


    "Wait, what do you mean you can draw a conclusion?"


    "ording to your logic, you can prove that I am the most suspicious, so what? ording to your


    investigation, you ruled out the possibility of othersmitting crimes, but you didn''t find any evidence


    of my crimes, did you?"


    "If you can''t find anyone else, does it mean that I did it? Your conclusion is too hasty and irresponsible."


    She got angry.


    "You''re trying to quibble." The male interrogator coughed lightly and knocked on the table.


    "I''m not quibbling. I''m telling the truth."


    Her face was grim, and she was disappointed and terrified. She didn''t expect that the investigation she


    thought would turn out like this. She should have called Derek before she came in.


    The female interrogator looked at her, "We havee to a conclusion. Since you refuse to repent and


    admit your mistake, we have to do something about it."


    Meredith''s heart tightened, "What do you want?" It shouldn''t be what she thought, right?


    The two people did not talk to her. Instead, they tidied up a little and left her alone in the interrogation


    room.


    After the door mmed shut, she did not know if it was her illusion. She felt that the light in the room


    seemed to be getting brighter.


    Soon, she knew that it was not an illusion.


    Only then did she realize that the entire ceiling and the cracks in the surrounding walls here were


    equipped with powerful lights.


    As the sound rang out, these lights suddenly lit up, and the direction of the light gathered around her.


    The light from these sources was powerful and it gathered in all directions. The intensity doubled by


    tens of times. Meredith closed her eyes and felt ufortable.


    Before she could regain her senses, she vaguely heard some music on both sides of her ear.


    Gradually, the music became louder, the rhythm was urgent, and the momentum was huge.


    She closed her eyes and felt the light around her. The sounds around her ears were endless. She was


    filled with shock, anger, and panic.


    Just like that, time passed minute by minute.


    Derek, who was far away from home, had an bumpy journey on his way home. He sat in the VIP


    lounge and was informed of the route he needed to return to. He was unable to fly at night because of


    the heavy airflow detected. He had to wait until night to see.


    The announcement was a bolt from the blue, testing Derek''s patience.


    He paced around restlessly in the lounge and immediately contacted his D City contacts to get them to


    check on Meredith.

 Chapter 431

    Chapter 431


    No matter who caught her, who was in charge of this matter, he asked his man to ensure that she must


    be taken good care of. He would handle it when he came back.


    After arranging this, Derek rxed a little.


    The person he contacted took the matter seriously and immediately gave a series of orders to arrange


    it as he said.


    However, he did not know that someone in the police station who received the news hesitated after


    receiving another call and decided to ignore the action they were about to take.


    Time passed by.


    Every second was torture for Derek, who was waiting for the ne from far away, and Meredith, who


    was being interrogated in D City.


    Meredith was in a very bad condition, her face pale and her brows furrowed.


    She felt that it had been a long time since anyone else had entered the interrogation room. She was


    alone, facing the intense light and the deafening sound.


    Her temples were swollen and she felt a dull pain. Her brain waspletely a mess and she couldn''t


    think at all.


    This kind of mental torture could drive one crazy.


    Under the constant re of the light, she felt a pricking sensation in her eyes, both physically and


    mentally exhausted, but the sound around her ears made her unable to sleep. She was very painful.


    She had always thought that what the two men had said before they left was to use lynching or


    something and she was not afraid of the changes in the interrogation room.


    But in retrospect, she was too naive.


    One who suffered this kind of torture may not appear to have any changes for a while, but he would


    feel as much pain as what he would take from physical torture.


    At night, the light around her suddenly dimmed, and the music around her ears seemed to fade. Her


    eyes opened slightly and she looked over.


    The door to the interrogation room, which had been closed for some time, finally opened.


    She frowned and shook her head slightly, but the pain in her temples became more intense, making


    her feel sick and nauseous.


    Even though the sound was turned off, the music still seemed to be echoing, as if it was still ying


    over and over again.


    Her vision was a little blurry, but she could still see one of the two men who came this morning enter


    with a folder in his hand. He opened it in front of her.


    He said something, his lips moving, but she found she couldn''t hear him clearly.


    Although she could not hear what he said, she could tell from his actions that the other party wanted


    her to sign the document. She closed her eyes, knowing what the document was about even without


    looking at it.


    Of course, she would never sign it. She did not open her eyes, not even noticing the male interrogator''s


    cursing as he left again.


    Soon, the intense and ring light lit up again, and the music around her ears became clear and harsh


    again.


    Meredith thought that it had been a long time, but it was actually just a day and a night.


    In the evening, Derek finally got the news that he could return and sessfully boarded the ne.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Even so, he couldn''t arrive in D City until around 8 o''clock the next day.


    The next day.


    Derek got out of the ne and didn''t go anywhere. He took the people who picked him up at the airport


    and rushed to the police station where Meredith was being held.


    When he arrived, the gate of the police station had just opened, and he rushed in with his men, which


    caused a stir.


    The officer inside suddenly saw someone rushing in and was about to give a stern scolding, but when


    he looked into Derek''s eyes, he couldn''t shout out.


    After all, who in D City couldn''t recognize Derek''s face or know his identity?


    The officer had a sense of foreboding and his heart trembled as he saw Derek''s scowl.


    "Hello, Mr. Xavier. Why are you free toe over?"


    "Where''s she?" Derek''s eyes seemed to be filled with ice, and the officer did not dare to look at him.


    "Who, who is she?"


    The officer naturally knew who she was, but somehow, he was dumbfounded and blurted out the wrong


    answer. The next second, he suddenly couldn''t breathe as his neck was tightly gripped by a pair of


    "I said, where is she? Do you want to die?"


    Derek was so angry with his vague attitude that he could not help but squeeze his neck. His big palms


    tightened in an instant as if he could break the neck as long as he used a little more strength.


    The officer''s face turned red. His mouth was wide open and he could not breathe. He was terrified and


    knew that even if Derek really did something to him, he could only bear it.


    Now, not daring to hide it, he pointed to the interrogation room with his trembling hand.


    One of Derek''s men, who was very observant, immediately strode over and kicked the door hard. The


    strong door was broken instantly as if it was made from tofu.


    All of a sudden, the room was filled with bright light and harsh noise. Unlike Meredith, Derek


    understood at first sight because he knew what was going on. His face clouded over with anger.


    Derek strode in and saw Meredith, who was tied to a chair, seemingly unconscious. Her face was as


    pale as a ghost.


    He felt a sharp pain in his heart and he rushed over. His hands were trembling. The next second, the


    handcuffs on Meredith''s hands were ripped apart by Derek.


    He gently held Meredith in his arms and strode away from the torturous ce.


    Derek stared at the people in the police station with red eyes. Very well. These people were really bold


    to treat his girl like this.


    He would let everyone here know what would happen if they crossed the line, and it would not be better


    than staying in hell.


    After Derek and his men left, the sofficer slumped into the chair, sweating all over, as if his heart was


    about to jump out of his throat.


    He looked out of the door in a daze, and he had a clear feeling when he thought of the look Derek gave


    him before he left.


    He was doomed. He was doomed for sure.


    Derek strode toward his apartment with Meredith in his arms and contacted the family doctor to wait


    there.


    In the car, he held the motionless woman in his arms and stared at her closed eyes. His eyes were full


    of pain and anger. He was angry with himself.


    He really wanted to give himself a p at the moment. He had clearly promised not to let her suffer any


    harm.


    However, it was only a short time ago that something happened to Meredith again, and it happened in


    his territory, in hispany. Thinking of this, Derek really wanted to kill himself.

 Chapter 432

    Chapter 432


    He swore that he would not let go of everyone who had hurt Meredith. These people must pay the price


    for hurting Meredith.


    Inside the apartment.


    Derek put Meredith on the bed and looked at the doctor beside him, "Hurry, check her out."


    The doctor carefully stepped forward and looked at Meredith''s face. He felt her pulse and gently


    pushed her eyelids up.


    All of a sudden, the situation of her eyes made Derek''s breath unstable.


    Her clear eyes were full of dense red lines. Not only were her whites, but also upper and lower eyelids.


    Her eyes looked like blood eyes and were very terrifying.


    Knowing what Meredith had suffered, Derek was mentally prepared, but even so, he could not


    suppress his anger.


    He clenched his fists, "And her eardrums, please."


    The doctor nodded. Her ears were indeed damaged, and he had already noticed it when he felt her


    pulse.


    After a while, the doctor stopped and looked serious.


    "Young Master, this youngdy''s eyes should have been exposed to the strong light for a long time, so


    there are a lot of red lines. Fortunately, the exposure time is not long enough to cause any danger."


    "The degree of damage to the eardrums are simr, but the excessive explosive sound will damage the


    brain nerves."


    "Her eyes need to be applied with medicine. As for her damaged eardrums and nerves, she needs to


    take medicine to recuperate. In general, she is out of danger now. If she follows my instruction, she will


    heal after a period of time."


    "The only trouble is that after this youngdy wakes up, she may have symptoms of blindness and


    tinnitus, but don''t worry, these are temporary"


    "Take good care of her, and in about two weeks, she will basically recover."


    Derek heaved a sigh of relief, but his face was still very gloomy. He sent the doctor away.


    He stood by the bed and stared at Meredith for a while.


    Derek carried her to the bathroom, gently bathed her, helped her change into clean andfortable


    pajamas, and put her back on the bed.


    The doctor said that it would be better for Meredith''s eyes not to be exposed to the light source, not


    even a bit.


    He took the ointment from the side, squeezed out the transparent ointment, applied it evenly on the


    gauze, and gently fixed it over Meredith''s eyes.


    After doing all this, he sat next to Meredith and watched her closely.


    It wasn''t until it was getting dark that Meredith woke up.


    "Meredith, are you awake?" Derek immediately sat up.


    She didn''t say anything and subconsciously wanted to open her eyes, but suddenly she felt a sharp


    pain. She raised her hand and only touched the gauze.


    Derek took off her hand and said gently, "Your eyes are hurt. You need to rest. I put some ointment on


    you. You can''t open your eyes for a while."


    Unfortunately, Meredith could only feel someone talking in her ear, but she could not hear what the


    person was saying.


    She opened her mouth, but just as she made a sound, she coughed a few times. The next second, she


    was gently helped up. She was leaning against a warm and strong chest, and a cup of warm water was


    fed to her mouth.


    If it weren''t for the familiar smell and the fact that Derek was beside her, she would have been uneasy


    since she couldn''t see or hear anything.


    After drinking water, her throat was moistened and she felt much better.


    "You, what did you just say? I can''t hear you..."


    Derek was stunned and suddenly remembered that Meredith not only had her eyes hurt but also her


    ears. The doctor said that she would have tinnitus.


    He felt a pain in his heart, pursed his lips, took a deep breath, gently hugged Meredith, spread her


    hand out, and in her palm slowly wrote out the words.


    Meredith was silent.


    She remembered that she had been locked up in the interrogation room. It seemed that Derek had


    rushed back to get her out. As for her eyes and ears, it was normal to get hurt in that situation.


    But...


    "My eyes and ears..."


    She was not sure if her injuries were serious or not. What she feared most was that they might not


    recover anymore. No matter it was her eyes or ears damaged, that would be fatal.


    Before Meredith could finish her sentence, Derek immediately knew what she wanted to ask and


    immediately wrote in her palm, "Don''t worry. The doctor has checked. It''s not a big deal. You just need


    to take medicine and apply ointment. They can be cured in about ten days."


    Meredith was relieved.


    "I''ll be at home with you during this period of time."


    Meredith pursed her lips, not knowing what to say. Her symptom would take at least ten days to


    recover, so long...


    After a moment of hesitation, her hand was picked up and ced in Derek''s heart.


    He wrote in the palm of her hand, "Your ident has been hurting my heart, so don''t refuse me, okay?"


    Meredith continued to be silent, and she could not say no at all. She did not mean to reject Derek''s


    approach but was worried about his work.


    Fortunately, after Derek took care of Meredith at home for three days, Meredith''s tinnitus finally


    disappeared.


    It was just that her eardrums didn''t fully recover, but she could hear people speak clearly. But for the


    time being, she couldn''t bear a loud voice.


    After Meredith could hear the sound of the outside world, the uncertainty in her heart immediately


    dissipated. She was relieved and began to chase Derek away.


    His work in Xavier Group was so busy, and it was inconvenient for him to stay at home all the time.


    Since she could hear others, she did not need to be apanied at all times.


    Derek had no choice but to bring their son over, and with Easton around, Meredith was in a much


    better mood.


    Easton''s arrival meant that the five bodyguards who protected him would follow him over. At least


    Derek could rest assured in terms of security problems. He also asked a servant from his grandfather


    to take care of Meredith.


    Derek had his own ns. He decided to reorganize thepany while Meredith was recuperating.


    Some things needed to be settled.


    The investigation for what happened to Meredith at thepany this time, the so-called theft incident,


    was very fast and easy. Once Derek''s men took action, very quickly, the suspects immediately were


    found out.


    Derek looked at the list on the table and finally, his eyesnded on a name. He closed his eyes and


    reopened them soon. His eyes were very cold.


    "Here is my order..."


    Soon, a rification message on the top of the official website caused quite a stir in the entire Xavier


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Group''s headquarter.


    This piece of news was published personally by Derek.


    It clearly stated that the so-called case of stealing design manuscripts that happened in the Team B of


    the Design Department a few days ago was fake news.

 Chapter 433

    Chapter 433


    Also, Meredith would receive a two-week paid vacation and a hundred thousand constion fee as


    There was a red warning at the bottom that the theft issue hade to an end, and no one could hold


    any discussion about it. Once discovered, the person would be fired.


    Then, almost everyone in thepany believed that Meredith was wronged with thepany''s letter


    of apology andpensation.


    However, discussions were impossible to stop. But this was because people didn''t believe they would


    be fired after discussion. After all, thew didn''t punish numerous offenders.


    The idea changed when a department head was suddenly fired, and private discussions ended from


    then on.


    In the conference room.


    The executives and shareholders of Xavier Group were sitting on both sides. Normally, these people


    only gathered all together for major events of thepany.


    They were confused by Derek''s sudden summoning today.


    Derek looked at the crowd expressionlessly and said, "I want you here today to discuss what happened


    to the Design Departmentst week, the so-called business theft."


    People present were gazing at one another. But if they looked carefully, they would find a few of them


    had slightly changed their looks.


    "Mr. Xavier, you don''t have to invite us all over only for such a minor issue." Bryan smiled and said


    casually.


    Mr. Zhang opposite echoed, "Yes, it''s all over. The design director has received thepensation."


    Derek looked at them and asked, "Bryan, what do you mean by a minor issue? Is it a minor issue that


    an employee is wronged, or is it because you are the one who wronged the employee?"


    Bryan was panic all of a sudden. "Mr. Xavier, what do you mean by that? What does this have to do


    with me?"


    "The police said they received a report from ourpany, saying that AK Group somehow had the


    design drafts of B Department."


    "I did some investigation. AK Group did hold a fashion design show a while ago, but the design


    drawings on that show were not the drafts from B Department."


    "In other words, someone took advantage of this and framed Meredith, the design director of B


    Department."


    "Bryan, shouldn''t you give me an exnation for what you did while I was not in thepany?"


    The entire conference room fell silent from the moment Derek spoke.


    Bryan was nervous and in a cold sweat. He didn''t dare to look at Derek at all. Meanwhile, he was


    annoyed that Derek didn''t respect him.


    In his opinion, Meredith was just a small design director of B Department. Even if she were the director


    of A Department, he could still destroy her easily with his power and status. He didn''t have to get the


    police involved.


    "Mr. Xavier, I was misled by others. When AK Group was holding the fashion show, rumor had it that


    AK had stolen the design drafts of B Department."


    "When I heard about it, I was angry and worried, so I didn''t go into detail but called the police to take


    Meredith away. I did it for the sake of ourpany."


    Derek looked at him with narrowed eyes and said coldly, "Bryan, I don''t think you understand what I


    mean. I personally brought Meredith to the headquarters. She works for me. I think you all know that."


    "I want to ask you, what is the reason and motivation for you to frame my man while I am not in the


    His words shocked the people present, and they couldn''t help but hold their breath.


    Even though everyone here was much older than Derek, they didn''t dare to look down on Derek.


    They knew clearly what Derek was capable of ever since he took over Xavier Group. Even the other


    shareholders present were overwhelmed by Derek''s aura and sat up straight.


    What Derek said just now was a serious usation.


    Bryan widened his eyes and panicked. He had no idea that Derek would make things difficult and


    speak so bluntly in front of everyone.


    "Mr. Xavier, you, what are you talking about? You can''t just say that. I have never been disloyal to our


    "Only your actions can prove your loyalty, not your words. At least, I didn''t see iting from what you


    did," Derek said coldly.


    Bryan was speechless, but what awaited him was not as simple as criticism.


    "Bryan, since you don''t feelfortable as the head of the marketing department, I can find someone


    else to rece you."


    People were dumbfounded. Was this a dismissal? But Bryan not only had power, but he was also a


    shareholder of thepany.


    Bryan stood up abruptly and red at Derek. "Mr. Xavier, you can''t do this. I..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, Derek sneered and became domineering. "I can''t? Ridiculous. No


    one in thepany has the right to say that I can''t."


    With that, he raised his hand to Damian behind him. Damian understood, stepped forward, and opened


    the files in his hand. He looked at Bryan expressionless and began to read.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "In 2019, the Xavier Group and XX Construction Company reached cooperation agreement. Bryan took


    advantage of his power to take bribes more than once in purchasing raw construction materials. He


    made money by buying high and selling low. The amount was millions."


    "In 2020, a foreign branch of Xavier Group worked with a foreign softwarepany to develop..."


    Damian''s voice was not loud, but every word was like a hammer that smashed the people present,


    especially Bryan. There was much sweat on his face, and he looked more ashamed. Finally, his face


    turned pale.


    His hands were trembling uncontrobly, and his mind was nk. These things had been over for so


    many years. He didn''t even remember some of them.


    But with Damian''s words, they urred to him again. He thought he had done them wlessly, and he


    didn''t expect that Derek knew every detail about them.


    He felt desperate.


    Not only him, but the rest of the people in the room all looked pale. It was not hard to tell from Bryan''s


    face that these things were true.

 Chapter 434

    Chapter 434


    After Damian finished reading, he walked to Bryan and handed the document to him personally.


    Bryan was terrified at the sight of the folder as if he had seen a ghost. He slowly reached out his hand,


    opened the file with trembling hands. He flipped through it, feeling dizzy.


    Derek leaned back in his chair and looked at Bryan. "Bryan, here are two options for you. One, sign the


    "Two, these evidence will appear in the prosecutor''s office, so you''ll spend the rest of your life in it with


    your money."


    Bryan''s cheeks were bulging, looking a little ferocious, but what could he do? He had no choice but to


    agree him in order not to go to jail.


    But he was reluctant. He had 5 % of the shares in Xavier Group. The dividends he could get every year


    from Xavier Group were considerable.


    But now he had nothing.


    He could only grit his teeth, sign his name on the equity transfer. He then staggered away like a man


    out of his wits.


    With one less person, the meeting was not over yet and continued.


    Derek''s eyes fell on Bob. With the example of Bryan, he was on tenterhooks.


    "Bob, you seem to be involved in the Design Department."


    Hearing Derek''s words, Bob stood up abruptly and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Xavier, I, I didn''t


    mean to. Bryan did it. I am absolutely loyal to thepany."


    Bob, who was on his fifties, was so scared that his face turned white with fear at this moment.


    Is Derek, however, was not soft-hearted.


    He gave him a cold nce without speaking, and he asked Damian to continue.


    This time, it was about all kinds of bribery, and the record evidence of using power to collect money in


    thepany was all rted to Bob.


    Bob ended up the same way. He signed the share transfer agreement and left Xavier Group


    awkwardly.


    In a short period of time, everyone watched as two powerful shareholders were forced to leave the


    But nobody dared to say one more word.


    Derek was obviously trying to get someone punished. They were lucky if they were not be involved, so


    they were no longer in the mood to care about others.


    Thest one Derek was going to punish was Bill.


    Bill, who was also involved in the Meredith''s incident, learned the lesson of the first two people. He did


    not need Damian to read what he had done in front of everyone in the past few years. He stood up and


    looked at Derek.


    "Mr. Xavier, since you can find out about us, you should also know who asks us to do so."


    Derek looked at him and raised his eyebrow. "So what? Whether it''s you or the rest of the Xaviers, I''m


    the president of the Xavier Group. Everything you guys do should get my permission. That''s enough."


    Bob lowered his eyes and suddenly became dejected. After a moment of silence, he signed his name


    and left.


    Damian nced at the crowd and continued to name a few people. These people were all real


    shareholders, but from today onwards, they would be changed from real shareholders to dry


    shareholders.


    In other words, these people, from now on, could only get dividends, and no longer had the right to


    interfere in any matters and decisions of Xavier Group.


    With the lessons of the first three, the shareholders who were named didn''t dare to say anything but


    admit defeat.


    After all, these people were not innocent. At least,pared to the first three, they had no rights, but


    they still had dividends.


    Everyone was afraid that Damian would read evidence once they madements, and they ended up


    leaving like the three of them.


    Derek stood up and said, "Most of you made great contributions to our firm. You''ve been working for


    Xavier Group for decades."


    "Because of this, I will turn a blind eye to some of your little tricks as long as they don''t have much


    impact. However, if you provoke me, I will be sorry. No matter how much contribution you have made to


    thepany, remember your assets are insufficient to cover your debts."


    Today''s meeting made it clear to everyone that Derek was venting his anger for the design director


    named Meredith of Design Department.


    At this moment, everyone realized that Meredith could not afford to offend.


    The shareholders thought it was over, but on the afternoon, they heard that the three directors who left


    in the morning were taken away in handcuffs from home.


    This incident sent chills through the hearts of everyone else who attended the meeting.


    Everyone could not help but think of the three people that Derek had asked to make a choice at the


    meeting.


    In the beginning, Derek had no intention of making the three of them feel better for the rest of their


    lives. Whether they signed the transfer or not, they would end up in prison.


    All of a sudden, thepany''s top executives were in a panic.


    The news also spread in thepany, and everyone was shocked.


    The three directors, in the eyes of their employees, were at the top of the hierarchy, out of reach. As a


    result, so quickly, they lost their touch instantly.


    Just because they provoked Meredith, they were dealt with in a fit of anger by the president, and their


    endings were miserable, whichpletely startled them.


    Meredith''s name was deeply engraved in the hearts of everyone in the headquarters.


    Emma, in particr, from the Design Department, had been extremely happy ever since Meredith was


    taken away. She had an air ofcency, but soon she was caught unprepared by the change,


    As soon as this high-level change happened, the whole design B Department looked at with strange


    eyes and took a detour, as if she were a gue.


    But she was the gue in the eyes of the rest of the B Department.


    The president punished those directors. In their opinion, Emma was about to be in trouble. At this time,


    they tried to avoid her as much as they could.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    At this situation, panic had taken ce of Emma''s anger. She was also afraid that she had to leave one


    day.


    Meredith had no way of knowing what had happened to Xavier Group.


    Her ears were all healed, her eyes were still bandaged, and the wound still needed to be dressed.

 Chapter 435

    Chapter 435


    As soon as Derek came home from work, he heard his son''s soft voice in the room. He was actually


    reading a storybook. Derek couldn''t help butugh and walked over.


    "Hi, dad." Easton heard the sound and ran out immediately.


    "Did you take good care of mom today?" He touched his head.


    The little guy pursed his lips, "Of course. I know what to do. Humph." After that, he ran back to his


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    room.


    Easton had a good time these days. He stayed with his parents every day and slept with them at night.


    He sent his son to the bodyguard and went into the room to apany Meredith. He told her about the


    so-called stealing case briefly.


    "You mean, there was no design flowing to the AK group, and the whole thing was a lie?" Meredith was


    shocked.


    "That''s right. It''s the senior shareholders who did it. They are no longer in the Xavier Group. The whole


    "I promise that no one will discuss about it."


    Meredith was silent.


    During the past few days at home, she often recalled the day she was taken away. She calmed down


    and thought about it. There was much suspicious ce.


    Especially in the interrogation room, those people were just trying to make her confess under torture,


    and the more they behaved in this way, the more it became clear that there was something wrong with


    this event and that someone was trying to frame her.


    Now that it was confirmed from what Derek said, the problem arose again.


    She had only been at Xavier Group''s headquarters for less than a month, and even if someone wanted


    to frame her, it was impossible for the senior shareholders to involve.


    Let alone there were three senior shareholders who were involved in framing her, a small design


    director. It sounded ridiculous, but since that was the case, there was only one final exnation.


    "Derek... Is that your mother?" Her voice was cold.


    Derek froze, his heart got tense, and his brows immediately tightened. He didn''t know what to say. To


    tell her it''s not his mother? He didn''t want to lie to her. However, to tell her it''s his mother? He didn''t


    know how to say it.


    His silence showed Meredith his answer.


    She didn''t know how she was feeling at the moment. Sure enough, she didn''t have to be surprised, did


    she? ording to Violet''s personality and ways of doing things, it would be strange if she didn''t do


    anything after she provoked herst time.


    "Meredith, don''t worry. I''ll give you an exnation as for my mother."


    Meredith sighed in her heart and said faintly, "You go out. I want to sleep alone for a while."


    "Meredith..."


    Derek still wanted to say something else, but Meredithy down on her side, obviously unwilling to talk


    more. His face immediately darkened and he pinched his temples tiredly.


    At this moment, his phone rang. He took it out and looked at it. His face turned cold. He looked at


    Meredith and gently closed the door and left.


    In the Xaviers mansion.


    It was Violet who called Derek. There had been such a big event at thepany, and all her people


    had been discovered, either leaving or being prisoned. It was no wonder that Violet would be so angry.


    "Tell me what happened to those directors of thepany? What did they do to make you do this?"


    Derek sat across from her and looked at her, "Don''t you know best what those people did?"


    Violet''s heart skipped a beat and her face darkened. She did not deny it. After all, she knew that with


    her son''s ability, she could not hide it.


    "That''s right, the matter of Design Department is my order. I just want to teach that Meredith a little


    lesson. Do you have to be so aggressive?"


    Violet''s understatementpletely angered Derek.


    With a swish, he stood up abruptly, his face darkening, "A little lesson? What a relief. Meredith is


    Easton''s mother and my favorite person. You didn''t care anything and did all the things to get her into


    jail. Have you ever cared about how me, your son, feels? Do you take me seriously? You even made


    use of thepany. You''re so imposing."


    "That was the case five years ago. Do you really think that I didn''t care about what you did to Meredith


    back then? That''s because I thought Meredith had died and she wouldn''te back no matter what I


    did."


    "But it''s different now. She finally came back to me. I won''t allow anyone to harm her, including you."


    "I''ve gotten even with the people inpany. There are some debts between us. And even if you don''t


    look for me, I''ll look for you."


    Violet was startled by his sudden outburst and stared at her son in a doze. When she regained her


    senses, her face turned red, and she trembled all over,pletely devoid of grace.


    "You, you, what do you want to do? Oh, you mean, you want to do the same to me for that woman,


    don''t you? How dare you."


    Derek said sternly, "You are the one who are so daring. Don''t think that you can do whatever you want


    just because you are my mother. Mother, don''t forget the rules of the Xaviers. The Xaviers has been


    ruled by men for generations. Women who marry into our family have no right to speak."


    "If my father hadn''t died when I was a child, how could you, a woman who doesn''t even have shares in


    the Xavier Group, have the right to do such things?"


    "These rights are given to you by the men from the Xaviers. You only have them because the men


    gave them to you. If they didn''t give any right to you, you cannot do anything."


    For the first time, Derek said these words to Violet, and she waspletely at a mess.


    She widened her eyes, unable to believe that her son, who had been brought up by herself, would grow


    up to treat her like this for a woman, and she could not ept it no matter what.


    Violet covered her chest, her face pale, and she looked like she was about to fall.


    Derek closed his eyes and hardened his heart, "Mother, if you are not feeling well, take a good rest.


    That''s all I want to say. Please behave yourself." Then he strode away.


    In the top floor of the house.


    "Master, the young master just came back and had an argument with madam. Madam seems to be so


    angry that she doesn''t feel well," the housekeeper reported.


    Mr. Xavier was standing on the balcony, cutting the potted nts with scissors. After a while, he


    stopped.


    "Humph, don''t worry. No one forced her to marry in our family back then. After all these years, Violet''s


    behavior has really gone beyond the rules of the Xaviers. It''s time for someone to control her a bit."


    Ten days passed, the gauze over Meredith''s eyes had been taken off, and she finally recovered. She


    returned to work at the Xavier Group.


    On the day of work, more people paid attention to her and more people greeted her. What''s more,


    there seemed to be a trace of respect in their passionate tone of greeting. She didn''t know if it was her


    illusion.

 Chapter 436

    Chapter 436


    Emma had left Xavier Group, and Meredith didn''t say anything to that.


    She spent the whole morning dealing with the backlog of more than ten days. In the afternoon, a


    woman in a ck coat with short, neat hair and delicate features came to her.


    "Boss, I''m Nikita."


    She was the bodyguard that Derek hired for her, who would protect her all day long and live with her at


    night.


    In fact, Derek had wanted to hire a bodyguard for Meredith long ago. But he was afraid that Meredith


    would not like that, so he didn''t do anything. But this time, he made up his mind.


    Meredith was sensible. After so many idents, he didn''t reject having a bodyguard around her and


    silently epted the arrangement.


    Inside a cafe in a mall.


    "Meredith, I''ve been so busy these days because of a project at thepany that I didn''t even know


    you were taken to the police stationst month. Why didn''t you tell me? What''s going on?" Penelope''s


    face was full of anxiety.


    "It''s not a big deal. Thepany had made a mistake." Meredith did not want to go into detail about


    this matter


    Penelope didn''t think much about that. After all, in her opinion, Meredith couldn''t suffer any losses


    since Derek was the boss of the Xavier Group.


    Taking a sip of coffee, she nced at Nikita, who was sitting on the side straightly with a serious face.


    She asked Meredith,


    "Who is she?"


    "The bodyguard Derek hired for me. Her name is Nikita."


    Penelope''s eyes widened and she looked at Nikita with sparkling eyes. Awesome, she was a female


    bodyguard. No wonder she looked so cool.


    "Hello, Nikita. My name is Penelope. I''m Mer''s friend. Well, you''re a bodyguard. You must be really


    good at martial arts, right? I''ve admired martial artists since I was a child. You''re awesome."


    Meredith, "..."


    Nikita ignored Penelope''s hospitality, and continued to observe the surrounding.


    Penelope smiled awkwardly and took back her hand without getting angry. Well, it was understandable


    that a bodyguard was cold and aloof.


    Meredith shook her head, "Okay, stop. I haven''t asked you what''s wrong with you? You heard


    heartbreaking on the phone. What happened?"


    The woman who was screaming for help on the phone just now waved her hand. "It''s nothing serious. I


    rented a man to be my boyfriend, and I want you to help me evaluate him."


    "What?" Meredith looked at her in astonishment. Her words were quite surprising.


    After Penelope''s exnation, Meredith finally understood.


    It turned out that Penelope''s parents arranged a lot of blind dates for her since she was almost 30


    years old but still didn''t have a boyfriend.


    Penelope was so annoyed and she thought of this way to get rid of the blind dates.


    Well, people could get everything online. Renting a boyfriend was trendy, so Penelope also paid to rent


    one.


    After paying the deposit on the Inte, she would meet him face to face, and if she felt he was good


    enough to act as her boyfriend to deal with her parents, she would pay him the rest money. Meredith


    was surprised by this deal.


    "Let me tell you, this man I rented is as handsome as stars. I''ll show you the photos."


    Penelope said excitedly, taking out her phone and handing it over.


    Meredith nced at the photo and raised an eyebrow. She was not very interested in the man, but


    indeed he looked really good. He wasparable to the male stars.


    "But it''s not very appropriate to do that, right?"


    "What''s the matter? The blind dates are just a waste of time and energy. If I rent a boyfriend back, my


    parents can be at ease, and they won''t nag me all day long. We will be relieved."


    Meredith, "..."


    Not long after, the man showed up. His name was n, which was quite funny.


    Penelope waved at him and he came over.


    At first nce, he was really eye-catching. n was 1.75 meters tall. He was not very tall but slender.


    He was wearing jeans, a white shirt, a coffee-colored trench coat and sneakers. His features were


    delicate and he looked youthful like a college student.


    The moment he came in, the young girls in the coffee shop were all attracted by him, and Penelope


    was pleased and proud.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Tsk tsk, look, although his payment is a little expensive, he''s worth it."


    She was speechless. n looks good, but she wondered why he would work as a rented boyfriend to


    make money.


    n walked over and sat across from them. Her clear eyes nced at the three women. Then he


    looked at Penelope calmly and nodded.


    "You must be Miss Garcia. Hello, I''m n."


    "n, it''s a pleasure to meet you. This is my good friend, Meredith, and this... Uh, you can call her Miss


    N."


    n nodded faintly, without any extra expression.


    Meredith raised an eyebrow in surprise. Penelope was very satisfied that n was a gentleman. After


    all, both Meredith and she were great beauties and many men would be surprised when seeing them.


    But n was so calm and his calmness made her feel good.


    Just as she was about to speak, her expression froze.


    n suddenly took out a small mirror and a... cushion foundation from a small ck leather bag on his


    shoulder.


    Then, he started to powder his face. They could tell from his posture that he was very skillful.


    Meredith was also dumbfounded.


    "Well, n, are you... putting on makeup?"


    Penelope asked uncertainly as she looked at his wless skin. She felt speechless.


    As the saying went, fair skin offset all one''s shorings. She had been wondering why this man''s


    skin was so fair but she never thought that he had put on makeup.


    n nced at her, "Miss Garcia, don''t you wear makeup?"


    Penelope was surprised, "I, yes." She put on light makeup before going out. After all, it was normal for


    a girl to put on some makeup when she went out alone.


    "That''s it. You don''t need to be surprised." n shrugged and rolled his eyes at her.


    Penelope, "..."


    Meredith, "..."


    Penelope felt speechless. She took a deep breath. She didn''t think n was a gentleman now.

 Chapter 437

    Chapter 437


    She saw that n had finished his foundation. The next moment, he even took out a pinkish-orange


    lipstick. She immediately stopped him.


    "Wait, n, don''t tell me you''re going to visit my parents like this?" Penelope red.


    n nodded naturally and waved his hand, "Don''t worry. I''m very dedicated. Haven''t you read my


    reviews online? They''re all 5-star reviews. I dress up a bit and the old people will adore me when they


    see me."


    Penelope thought, "Bullshit! My parents want to see their son-inw, not their daughter-inw. Whom


    are you trying to upset by dressing up like this?"


    Penelope''s face darkened. She had the feeling that she had been tricked into buying fake goods


    online.


    "No, you''re not allowed to wear any make-up. Just be normal."


    "What''s wrong with me, Miss Garcia? How can you curse?" n was very dissatisfied.


    Penelope snorted, "Who cursed you? I''m the one who pays you. You have to do whatever I say. If you


    are unwilling, I''ll find someone else."


    Since the customer was God, n reluctantlypromised, unhappily shoving the lipstick back into


    his bag.


    Looking at n, Meredith was speechless.


    At this moment, a familiar voice came from behind, "Meredith, Nikita, why are you here?"


    Penelope turned around and saw that Damian wasing towards her. She turned her head, thinking


    anxiously, "How did I run into this guy here?"


    He would haveughed at her if he knew about her renting a boyfriend.


    Damian naturally saw Penelope and raised his eyebrows, "Oh, isn''t this Miss Garcia? I didn''t expect to


    meet you again. What a coincidence."


    He looked at n across from him again, "Who is this?"


    Penelope''s brain nerves suddenly tensed up, and her brain turned sharply and opened her mouth to


    say something. Nikita, who had not spoken the whole time, suddenly spoke up at this time.


    "Her boyfriend."


    Penelope was speechless. What about the cool act?


    She took a deep breath and curled her lips calmly, "That''s right. n my new boyfriend." She hesitated,


    but still did not say n''s full name. After all, the name was not very powerful and domineering.


    "Rented boyfriend." At this moment, Nikita continued to say two words.


    Meredith froze.


    Penelope looked dumbfounded at the expressionless Nikita, her heart kept screaming, "Nikita, where


    did I offend you? Can''t you say it out and I''ll change it? Do you have to break me down so directly?"


    Damian was stunned for a moment and looked at Penelope. The curve of his mouth was a little


    strange, and Penelope was furious.


    "What are you looking at? Who said it was rented? This is my real boyfriend. True love, do you know?"


    But she was particrly unlucky today. Another person showed up to tear her down.


    n immediately red at her, "Who''s in love with you? Don''t talk nonsense and ruin my reputation."


    Penelope froze.


    Meredith didn''t know what to say.


    After n finished speaking, he immediately took out the lipstick from his bag and put it on his lips.


    Then he pursed his lips and pouted his pink lips at Damian, smiling brightly.


    "Hello, handsome. Introduce myself. My name is n."


    Damian''s face darkened. He gave n a cold look and looked away.


    Meredith swallowed her saliva and suddenly felt that the situation was so chaotic.


    Penelope''s forehead was throbbing with anger. She looked at n and pointed at him with gritted


    teeth. When Meredith thought Penelope might do something, Penelope mmed the table.


    "You fucking sissy, give me my money back."


    Meredith didn''t know what to say.


    "Miss Garcia, the deposit is not refundable. You not only don''t know the rules, but also scold me. You


    have no quality." n frowned.


    "How dare you talk about me. I gave you money to do things for me. You get paid but you don''t do your


    job properly. I can understand you as a man making a lustful face at a woman. But you''re also blushing


    at a man." Penelope gritted his teeth.


    n was unhappy immediately. He looked at her and then at Damian. Then he pursed his lips, "Do you


    like this handsome guy?"


    "How is that possible?" Penelope retorted instantly.


    "Then why are you so angry?" n rolled his eyes.


    Penelope was speechless.


    She was panting and trembling. Was that the point? She felt like she was going to die of anger.


    Through a brief conversation between the two of them, Damian could basically guess what was going


    on. He was watching the y with interest.


    After all, it was a pleasure to see Penelope being so angry that she couldn''t speak.


    But soon, he regretted it.


    n immediately locked his eyes on Damian and walked over excitedly, "Handsome man, what''s your


    name? Let''s leave each other a contact number. We can talk more often in the future."


    Damian took a step back, "This gentleman..."


    Before he could finish speaking, n stamped his foot and said coquettishly, "Oh, I told you. Just call


    me n."


    Damian froze.


    Meredith felt that they really shouldn''t stay any longer. So she immediately stood up and pulled


    Penelope up, "Let''s go out first."


    When n saw that they were leaving, he was ready to catch up with them immediately, "Handsome


    man..."


    Nikita turned around with a twist, and she lifted her long legs and pinned his entire body directly onto


    the table.


    A Western-style knife appeared between her fingers at some point. Only to see that knife fly out. The


    tip of the knife went precisely through n''s shoulder shirt and nailed itself deeply to the table below.


    It only happened in a second or two, and she quickly withdrew her legs and turned to leave.


    On the way.


    After holding back for a long time, Meredith couldn''t helpughing, so much so that tears came out of


    her eyes.


    Penelope nced at her angrily, "You don''t even want tofort me, but you''re stillughing like this."


    She waved her hand, "I''m sorry, but I can''t help it. Haha..."


    Penelope was upset. She caught a glimpse of Damian, rolled her eyes and sneered, "Damian is such a


    popr man. You are a ma for women and men."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Damian gave her a cold look and ignored her.


    Once, he was sure that meeting this woman was not a good thing.


    Xavier Group.


    Meredith suddenly heard a loud noise outside when she was in her office.


    Confused, she walked out and saw that the people who usually worked at this point were all gathered


    together at this moment, not knowing what they were talking about.


    "What''s the matter?"


    The designers of the B Department suddenly stopped talking. They all looked at each other and


    gestured to each other to stand out, but no one came forward to speak


    Meredith was not in a hurry and waited patiently. Among these designers, there were always impatient


    people. Soon, a female designer in the middle opened her mouth.

 Chapter 438

    Chapter 438


    "Director Mason, you must help us. Those from A Department go too far."


    Meredith raised an eyebrow. A Department?


    After some investigation, she finally knew what had happened.


    There were four departments in Xavier Group''s Design Department, which basically cover all the


    clothing items of different grades, including supplying to the clothing stores and some star


    customization activities that Xavier Group''s headquarters organized.


    The four departments could also be roughly divided into two categories, high-end and low-end, of


    which A Department and B were high-end, so the two directors would deal with the same project for


    time to time.


    ording to the department staff''s statement, A Department members had always looked down on the


    other three departments, including B Department.


    A Department didn''t bother to bag the project cases from Department C and D, for they looked down


    on them and had never paid attention. Naturally, no grudges happened among them, but it was


    different in the case of B Department. The projects in their hand were often snagged by A Department.


    The same situation happened this time. One of the clothing projects assigned by the headquarter, a


    new fashion show would be held next month. For A Department already had several major projects on


    hand, the holding of this fashion show was handed over to B Department.


    Unexpectedly, it was robbed by A Department again.


    Thepetition among the various departments in the Xavier Group had always been fierce As long


    as it did not affect the final result, the headquarter generally didn''t care about that.


    "Since it''s a project assigned to B Department, how did they grab it from you?" Meredith asked.


    As a result, the people of the B Department looked at each other, but none of them could give an


    answer.


    She frowned. Was this a difficult question to answer?


    After careful inquiry, she knew that there was no need for any reason. Among thepany''s clothing


    design departments, the existence of A Department was like a leader in this field, and the other three


    departments had to follow its instruction obediently.


    It was perfectly natural for the leader to take from them. There was no need for a reason. After a long


    time, the other three departments took it for granted, and there was no resistance.


    Meredith looked at the group of people in front of her with meaningful eyes. She lowered her eyes


    silently and could not help but sigh. She got it.


    Since they didn''t feel anything wrong about A Department''s actions before, the reason why they started


    a fight this time was wanting her to stand up for them.


    As for why they felt that she could seed that the previous director couldn''t, Meredith knew that it


    was probably because they thought Derek was her back.


    To be honest, such a scheme made Meredith very disgusting.


    However, as the design director of B Department, the mission belonged to her department was robbed,


    and if she didn''t stand up and do something, it didn''t seem reasonable.


    While Meredith was hesitating, an uninvited guest came to the B Department.


    "Oh, it''s quite kicking here. Are you in a meeting?" A clear female voice sounded.


    She looked over and saw a pretty and charming woman walking over with her arms folded around her


    chest, followed by two designers.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Meredith guessed who she was and stepped forward, "Hello, may I ask who you are?"


    "I''m Arya, the design director of A Department. I went abroad to participate in the design exhibition a


    while ago. I just came back and heard that the director of B Department had changed, so I pay a visit


    with my designers."


    Meredith was silent and smiled, "Hello, Miss Collins. I''m Meredith, the new design director of B


    Department."


    The situation in A Department was different from the other three departments. The design directors of


    the other three departments basically had the final word in any decision, but it was different in A


    Department.


    Arya was the director, but the A Department designers were full of intelligent talents, and every one of


    them was proud.


    All the important matters in the department were decided by the discussion and voting of the public. It


    was very difficult for her to make any decision on her own.


    In face, Arya, the so-called A Department design director remained in name only.


    But she still did her best to get the title because, for one thing, the design director of A Department


    needed to personally deliver the important documents to the president''s office or she would have the


    chance to meet the president during some big departmental meetings.


    In that case, Arya could have more chances to meet Derek and get closer to him. That was her


    purpose.


    But now, the moment she came back, a lot of people were whispering in her ears about how pretty the


    new design director in B Department was, and most importantly, she was personally appointed by Mr.


    Xavier.


    She heard about how much Mr. Xavier valued her, and Mr. Xavier had fired a few senior managers a


    while ago for her. All of this was like a knife that stabbed into her chest


    Arya was excellent enough to be the director of the A Department. Among her peers, she had the


    capital to be conceited.


    Therefore, she thought that she knew Derek very well, and with her years of observation of him, so


    most of these rumors must be exaggerated, but this did not prevent her from seeing Meredith as her


    eyesore.


    In her opinion, even if most of those rumors were just rumors, Meredith must have something to do with


    Derek, which she could not tolerate.


    "Director Mason, I heard that you have a school uniform project in your hand. When I was on a


    business trip abroad, I happened to go back to my alma mater for a tour. I have some ideas about this


    project, so please handle this project to our A Department."


    The school uniform project was to design student uniforms for some schools.


    Meredith had two school orders on this project, one public and one private.


    However, both of them were for kids from rich and powerful families. Besides the basic generosity and


    decency, the most important thing was that the design had to be novel and beautiful. It should look


    perfect. After all, the school uniform was the face of a school.


    Meredith had never tried to design a school uniform before. When she got the project, she was very


    interested and had been thinking about it for the past few days.


    The rest of B Department members had a subtle expression on their faces. The director of A


    Department personally came to ask for the project, and everyone sensed theing of the war.


    Meredith felt it, although she did not know where Arya''s inexplicable hostility came from.


    She smiled coolly, "What a coincidence. Miss Collins, even if you don''te to see me, in fact, I''m


    going to visit you."


    "I heard that A Department took the project data from our B Department this morning. I wonder if you


    can exin to me why this happened?"


    Arya, "..."


    She was a little stunned and angry. She did not expect Meredith to ask her for an exnation. In the


    eyes of the people in A Department, it was normal for them to take any projects they want freely.


    It was quite new to her to be asked for exnations.

 Chapter 439

    Chapter 439


    Although she was angry, she was too embarrassed to say anything. After all, the tasks assigned to


    various departments were fixed.


    It was unreasonable for A Department to take the project. A Department used to do such things


    unscrupulously. Arya really had nothing to say if Meredith expected an exnation.


    Naturally, Meredith knew it. She smiled at Arya.


    "Of course, maybe I was thinking too much. Maybe you''re just interested in that project, so you took it


    to have a look."


    "If that''s the case, it''s nothing. I just hope that A Department will return the materials as soon as


    possible. After all, it will take time for B Department to do the task."


    Arya looked at Meredith with a cold face and gritted her teeth in anger. Then she thought of something,


    she narrowed her eyes and looked at the two people behind herself.


    One of them immediately understood and whispered something in her ear, looking at a designer from B


    Department surrounding her.


    Arya folded her arms around her chest and looked sharply at a female designer in avender


    professional dress opposite her.


    "You are Chole, the designer of B Department, right? I heard that the project that took away this


    morning was yours. In that case, did you not see the design director of your department is unsatisfied?


    Should you exin to Director Mason?"


    "You should tell Director Mason that because you were worried about not being able to finish the


    project alone, you gave the project to our A Department to help finish it."N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "People in A Department always likes to help others. Chole, am I right?"


    Arya said gently, and the entire B Department looked at each other withplicated expressions.


    Everyone was quiet.


    Seeing this, Meredith frowned. She also looked at Chole, who was obviously afraid of Arya. She


    lowered down her head and didn''t know what to do.


    Meredith pursed her lips and said, "Chole, you are from B Department. If you have anything to say, just


    say it. Don''t worry."


    Arya''s lips curled up in a sarcastic arc. She continued, "Yes, Chole, look at you. It seems like there is


    something difficult to say. If there are difficulties, our A Department will definitely help you in the future."


    The implication of Arya''sst sentence was obvious. And Arya had no intention of hiding it.


    After all, they were talking in B Department, her own ce. Meredith was really ufortable with A


    Department''s attitude here.


    "I don''t have any difficulties. As for the project... It''s exactly what Miss Collins said." Chole lowered her


    head and whispered.


    Meredith didn''t feel surprised at all. She was just only disappointed. What was funny was that Chole


    gave in to Arya, but secretly looked at herself, begging for help.


    What did Chole want to ask for help? Did Chole expect her to do something?


    However, Chole herself did not have the courage to defend her own interests and dignity, what can


    Meredith help? Meredith looked away coldly and then looked at Arya.


    "I see. Thank you very much for your help to our B Department''s designer."


    "As for my school uniform project, I''m sorry. I didn''t find anything difficult that I need Miss Collins''s help,


    so I won''t bother you with this."


    "Our department has a meetingter. If Miss Collins has nothing to do, please leave."


    Arya''s face turned pale. As the design director of A Department, no one in all the design departments


    dared to speak to her like this. Meredith was the first.


    Arya looked at her coldly, snorted, and marched away.


    Meredith''s eyes fell on everyone in B Department, and finally settled on Chole''s face, who was


    aggrieved.


    "Chole, I remember when the A Department didn''t show up, you told me angrily that they stole your


    project."


    "But when Miss Collins asked, what you said waspletely different from what you told me," she said


    faintly.


    The B Department people were stunned. It seemed that they didn''t expect Meredith to settle the score


    with them.


    Chole froze. She opened her mouth and didn''t know what to say, but there was still some


    dissatisfaction in her heart. Not only did she, but also the entire B Department didn''t dare to offend A


    Department at all.


    That was why she had to say that. In her opinion, no matter what she said, Meredith, as their director,


    had an obligation to speak for them, didn''t she?


    Chole''s didn''t speak out what she was thinking, but Meredith could tell that from her expression.


    Meredith couldn''t help but sneer, "Look at you. You seem to be very dissatisfied with what I just did. I


    just told you to speak out boldly, but you acted a double part. You don''t even know how to protect your


    own interests. Do you expect me to help you?"


    With that, she looked at the others expressionlessly, "Every department needs KPT, and so does B


    Department. So I hope that what Chole did just now will only appear once in the entire B Department in


    the future."


    "If the people of A Department still take the project in your hands, you have only one choice, and that is


    to refuse. If the people of A Department have any opinions, you can let theme to me."


    "But in the future, if I hear that someone''s project has been taken away by another department, then


    I''m sorry. If you can''t even keep your own project, B Department doesn''t need you."


    "For someone like that, I will apply for her to be transferred to Department C or Department D. In that


    case, no one will steal your project."


    She turned around and entered the office. The whole B Department behind her was stunned. As for


    Chole, she looked awkward.


    Meredith knew that it was not easy for her to break the conventional customs of the Design Department


    with one sentence, but she did not expect that something bad would happen so easily.


    Arya didn''t snatch the project from Meredith. She didn''t deal Meredith with a head-on blow as she


    wished. Therefore, she was furious.


    But at least she had the upper hand when it came to Chole''s case.


    Therefore, Arya began to act evilly, exaggerating yesterday''s incident in A Department, constantly


    urging the designers of A Department to snatch the projects of B Department.


    She thought, what if Meredith was tough? The other designers in her department were cowards.


    So the next day, Meredith heard that another designer''s project was snatched by A Department.


    She wasn''t surprised by it. However, to her surprise, it was Chole again.


    Perhaps because Arya was satisfied with Chole''s performance that day, she started from Chole again.

 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440


    She was very calm, "Your project was taken away by the A Department. What''s the reason this time? Is


    it because you can''t finish it on your own and need the help of the people from the A Department?"


    Chole''s face turned red, "I, I turned them down, but people from the A Department took an intransigent


    attitude, so..."


    "Just because people from the A Department took an intransigent attitude, you let them take your


    project away?"


    Chole was rendered speechless.


    Meredith nced at her and went straight back to the office without saying anything. Everyone in B


    Department looked at each other in dismay and soon began to whisper.


    "Why didn''t Director Mason say anything?"


    "I don''t know either. I was wondering if she would transfer Chole to another department."


    "Gee, how is that possible? Didn''t you see how calm she was when she left? Although B Department is


    not as good as A Department, we are better than other departments. She couldn''t easily transfer Chole


    to a department worse than ours."


    "That''s right. I''ve told you that she was just bluffing that day and she couldn''t do it at all. Now my words


    havee true, and we have nothing to worry about."


    Designers in B Department, who had beenpletely relieved and were a little disdainful of Meredith,


    panicked in the afternoon because of a transfer order from within the department.


    The contents of the transfer order were simple and clear, "Chole is transferred to Department C


    because she cannot meet the requirements and regtions of B Department. Thank you for your


    cooperation!"


    At the same time, the authenticity of the transfer was beyond doubt because it was stamped with the


    official seal of the personnel department.


    It wasn''t just the designers of B Department who were stunned by the news, but the most


    dumbfounded person was Chole.


    "Director Mason, why are you doing this?" Chole couldn''t help but rush to Meredith''s office and ask


    angrily. She was really in a panic at the moment. She didn''t expect to be transferred to Department C


    one day.


    "What did I do?" Meredith looked at her indifferently.


    "You transferred me to Department C," Chole wore a defiant look.


    "I thought you had anticipated this when you were robbed of the second project today."


    "I..."


    "Obviously you haven''t pay any attention to what I said to you yesterday. In that case, it''s the only thing


    I can do. After all, I''ve already warned you."


    "Although the projects are distributed to each of you, they do not belong to you personally. These


    projects still belong to the B Department. As designers of the B Department, you are responsible and


    obligated to contribute economic benefits and achievements to the department through these projects."


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    "And every time you lose a project, the performance of the whole department suffers. Besides, the day


    after I gave you another warning, you lose another project. What else do you want me to say to you?"


    Meredith looked at her.


    Chole gritted her teeth but had nothing to say.


    When they were arguing, the door to the office was open. Meredith''s words could be heard by all the


    people outside, but everyone was quiet outside.


    Chole was eventually transferred to the Department C. At least, from today on, the designers of B


    Department, who put their faith in luck, really didn''t dare to lose any of their projects.


    Of course, they were wondering why the transfer order hade so soon. The incident happened in


    the morning, but the transfer order was issued in the afternoon. Obviously, it had something to do with


    Director Mason.


    Meredith did turn to Damian for help on this transfer order. When Damian heard about her situation, he


    immediately made the decision after consulting Derek.


    That was why the personnel department issued the transfer order so quickly.


    Otherwise, the transfer order for this kind of situation usually needed to be verified over and over again.


    It usually took one to two weeks for the personnel department to check the situation.


    At the same time, Arya also found that people of the A Department could no longer get projects of the


    B Department. Even their threats were no longer effective.


    She looked into it and when she found out what had happened, she was very angry.


    It took time for the personnel department to make personnel transfers. Meredith was not clear about


    this, but Arya was very clear about it.


    Thus, when she thought of the rumor that the backer behind Meredith was Mr. Xavier, her jealousy was


    growing like a weed.


    She thought about it all afternoon in the office and finally came up with a way to deal with Meredith that


    she thought was pretty good.


    The next day, she went to Meredith again.


    "You said you wanted topete with me in design?" Meredith looked at her and asked.


    Arya raised her eyebrows and looked proud, "In ourpany, although B Department is not as good


    as A Department, it is only second to A Department. Besides, you are the design director of the B


    Department. Thus, you must be the best designer in the whole department."


    "I heard that it was Mr. Xavier who brought you to the headquarters from the branch office of the Xavier


    Group. Since you have impressed Mr. Xavier so much, you must also have outstanding skills in


    design."


    "I don''t have any other hobbies but topare notes with people who are good at design. It''s a mutual


    learning process. Director Mason, you''re not gonna give me that chance, are you?"


    Although her exnation was highfalutin, Meredith was not that stupid to believe that her purpose


    would be so simple. Obviously, Arya was up to something else.


    "I don''t know if cross-departmental discussions are allowed. I may need to ask for instructions from my


    superior."


    Arya raised her eyebrow and did not care, "Sure. How can the design director of A Department and the


    design director of the B Departmentpare notes in private?"


    The next second, Meredith was pulled upstairs to Derek''s office. she looked aside. Meredith looked at


    Arya, who had been absent-minded and obviously excited since they got on the elevator, with some


    doubts in her heart.


    Meredith didn''t know that although Arya was the design director of the A Department, she rarely had


    the chance to see Derek.


    Even if she asionally went upstairs to sign documents, most of the time she saw Damian or the


    secretaries of the president''s office.


    Arya was very excited at the thought of seeing Derek this time.


    Arya even looked at herself awkwardly, regrettinging up so hastily and not changing her clothes


    and putting on makeup.


    The president''s office.


    When Damian saw that Meredith had alsoe, although he didn''t know what had happened, he still


    let them into Derek''s office.


    "What did you say?" Derek looked at Arya expressionless.


    His eyes were so cold, and he had an aura of authority. However, Arya, who was infatuated with his


    beauty, did not notice this at all. She shyly exined her purpose ofing.


    "Mr. Xavier, Director Mason is new here. I heard that she is very good at design, so I want to learn from


    her andmunicate with her."

 Chapter 441

    Chapter 441


    "There''s no need for that."


    Derek said coldly, "Is there anything else?"


    Huh?


    Arya was taken aback. Then, she hurriedly said, "Mr. Xavier, I''ve already discussed it with Director


    Mason. Both of us have reached an agreement. I think this kind of friendly technical exchange is very


    good..."


    Before she could finish speaking, Derek ignored her and looked directly at Meredith. His voice was


    obviously much softer. Such a disparity in treatment woke Arya up. She gnashed her teeth in hatred


    and swore to carry out her n.


    "Meredith, do you agree topete with her?"


    Meredith shrugged, "I didn''t fully agree with her. I didn''t have much desire, and I didn''t know if the


    Derek suddenly understood, and looked at Arya with an even more unfriendly look, "So, Miss Collins,


    you raised this so-calledpetition, did you? Miss Collins, do you have so much spare time?"


    Arya bit her lips and tensed up. But she still boldly asked as if she had thought of something, "Mr.


    Xavier, thepany doesn''t have rules and regtions about this, right? In that case, why can''t we


    "Or in other words, Director Mason doesn''t dare topete with me? Or maybe she just enjoyed an


    unwarranted reputation and her design skills are not good."


    "Shut up, how dare you." Derek yelled out. His momentum made Arya''s face pale with fear.


    Only when her heart thumped and her body stiffened did she realize what she had just said.


    Mr. Xavier brought Meredith to thepany by himself. She had just said that Meredith didn''t have real


    design skills. But she also refuted Mr. Xavier''s decision and vision.


    Arya was immediately filled with fear and frustration. She immediately exined, "I''m sorry Mr. Xavier,


    I, I didn''t mean that. But I really wanted topete with Director Mason, so I was in a hurry and said


    the wrong thing."


    "In that case, I''ll tell you again. There''s no need for thispetition. Did you hear me clearly?" Derek


    said coldly.


    Arya: "..."


    She lowered her head and gritted her teeth. Though she was full of dissatisfaction, she did not dare to


    say anything. Arya froze there and did not move. Derek became ck in the face. Just as he was


    about to get angry, Meredith stopped him.


    She looked at Arya and said faintly, "Since you want topete with me, then I will take up the glove."


    Meredith looked at her and had a premonition that even if Derek escorted her today so that she


    wouldn''t have topete with Arya, this woman would spread the news all over the Design


    Department in the next second.


    Undoubtedly the news must be that Meredith''s skills were showy and she was afraid to ept the


    challenge.


    In that case, it would be better than to agree with her. Anyway, she was from B Department. It was no


    big deal even she failed in thepetition with people from A Department.


    At the same time, she wanted to see how strong Arya was as A Department''s director.


    Since she chose to take the road of design, she already knew that the brilliance was made through


    countlesspetitions. This time, it was just a smallpetition.


    If she didn''t even dare to take this, how would she go further down the road?


    Arya was overjoyed. She was filled with pride and ridicule, thinking that Meredith was stimted by her.


    Derek frowned. It wasn''t long before Meredith became the director of B Department. If she had won the


    would have flooded in.


    He looked at Meredith hesitantly. Seeing her determined face, he could only agree helplessly.


    He tried every possible means to pave a smoother path for Meredith. But there were always some


    arrogant and insensible people who irritated him.


    So.


    He looked at Arya and narrowed his eyes, "I can allow you topete, but I''ll add one rule. Miss


    Collins, if you lose, you won''t be the director of A Department anymore and your position will be


    reced by someone more capable."


    Arya looked up in shock and blurted out, "Why?"


    Derek''s face darkened, "What did you say?"


    Arya turned pale. She took a deep breath and remained silent for a while, "What about Director


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Mason? What if she loses?"


    "Then Director Mason loses thepetition. Nothing will happen then." Derek said unconcernedly.


    Meredith: "..."


    Such obvious favoritism made Arya feel ufortable and resentful as if ants were gnawing at her.


    She was very unhappy and said rashly.


    "Mr. Xavier, that''s not fair."


    "Oh, you want fairness? I don''t agree with this unnecessarypetition. It''s you who insist. So you


    have to pay the price."


    "Besides, you are the design director of A Department. If you lose to Meredith of B Department, don''t


    you feel shameful to ask for fairness then? I didn''t demote you from the headquarter to the branch


    office, which is fair enough for you."


    Arya: "..."


    "Or rather? Do you actually want to go to the branch office? I won''t refuse either," Derek said


    indifferently.


    Arya''s eyes widened. She wasn''t angry anymore and said immediately, "No, I don''t have this idea."


    Although she was angry at Mr. Xavier for being so partial to Meredith, no matter what, she could start


    thepetition she wanted.


    By then, when she won against Meredith, her goal would be achieved.


    Arya had never thought she would fail at all. In her opinion, it was simply unrealistic. The reason why


    she was angry just now was that Mr. Xavier was obviously protective of Meredith.


    As Derek approved, the news of thepetition quickly spread throughout the headquarters.


    Many people knew that Arya of A Department personally asked Mr. Xavier topete with Meredith.


    Although Mr. Xavier agreed, he said that if Arya would be demoted if she lost.


    And if Meredith lost, there would be no punishment at all.


    This time, the wholepany was in an uproar.


    Of course, they were not surprised at thepetition but at Mr. Xavier''s attitude towards the two


    directors. Based on ability and value, it was obvious that Arya, as the director of A Department, was


    much higher.


    But even so, Mr. Xavier still humiliated Arya in public and was so partial to Meredith. Now everyone


    spected again about Meredith''s rtionship with their big boss.


    A lot of people were looking forward to this match. Of course, they were not looking forward to


    Meredith. They wanted to see what would happen if Arya really lost.


    The rules of thepetition were very simple. In order to be more formal, Derek was appointed as the


    supervisor of thepetition. In order to make it fair, he was randomly selected one topic from the


    unfinished project list of the Design Department.

 Chapter 442

    Chapter 442


    The two designerspleted their designs within the required time on the spot simultaneously. The


    clients of the project would choose the winner.


    When the clients arrived, the one whose design the clients liked would be the winner. To this, the two


    had no objections.


    Derek took one document out of a pile of folders and asked his secretary to make two copies of it and


    give the copies to the two designers. He was going to contact the clients and invite them toe.


    Meredith looked at the document in her hands carefully.


    The client of this design project was actually a pair of twin girls. The twins wanted the designer to


    design the dresses they were going to wear at theiring-of-age ceremony.


    In other words, since they were twins, the designer had to design two dresses.


    Soon, a middle-aged couple came over with their twin daughters. Indeed, the twins were two pretty little


    girls who looked exactly the same.


    Derek personally received the couple and briefly exined the situation to them. He also indicated that


    the design fee was waived as a gift to two young girls who were about to be 18 years old.


    Naturally, the couple was satisfied. Although they ran apany, the scale of the industry was not


    And it was apetition between two designers who were going to design clothes for their daughters,


    so the designers would definitely do their best. The couple had everything to gain while nothing to lose.


    The couple happily took their daughters to the lounge to wait.


    While Derek wasmunicating with the middle-aged couple, Meredith identally saw that although


    the two girls looked the same, the expressions on their faces were obviously different.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    One stood there quietly. And although the other did not speak, the expression on her face was not very


    good. When she looked at her sibling, there was hostility in her eyes.


    Meredith could not help but be surprised and she frowned.


    In her opinion, the twin sisters not only looked the same but also seemed to have vague telepathy.


    Logically speaking, the rtionship between the two sisters would be very good.


    But the twins in front of her didn''t seem to be like this.


    After Meredith asked, she knew that the quiet one was the elder sister, and the one with an unhappy


    expression was the sister.


    Meredith also noticed that although the two sisters were wearing the same clothes and shoes and even


    their hair and headgear were the same, the sister not only rolled up the sleeves of her coat but also


    removed the beautiful tie at the cor.


    The hair that had been tied up was put down, and the headdress was changed. Meredith had an


    immature guess in her mind when she saw the sister''s expression as the sister looked at the elder


    sister.


    Meredith''s attention was once again focused on the document in her hands. Meredith was thinking that


    no matter what, she would design two sets of clothes in a way she thought was right.


    Arya, on the other hand, only nced at the twins and then stopped paying attention to them. She paid


    more attention to Meredith.


    Seeing that Meredith did not show any nervousness, Arya sneered in disdain and said in her heart,


    "Just pretend. Anyway, I will be the winner."


    Three hours were given. The two designers had to design two sets of clothing in three hours. In three


    hours, they had to choose materials, figure out the conception and make the sample clothes manually.


    In this way, two designers faced great pressures caused by the time limitation. But, there was an


    assistant for each of them.


    From the beginning, Arya stopped caring about Meredith and devoted herself to designing. She wanted


    to design amazing works and let Meredith losepletely in every aspect.


    She wanted Mr. Xavier to see with his own eyes that she was the strongest and she was the only one


    who could help him the most in designing.


    Meredith put her heart and soul into the conception and handed over the matter of handling the


    materials to her assistant.


    She thought of the two girls'' personalities and decided to gamble as she wanted to make the immature


    thoughts in her heart into practice.


    Meredith had heard of Arya''s background. Arya won a number of design awards. Arya was famous


    both at home and abroad. Arya graduated from a famous school and seemed to have a teacher who


    was also a celebrity in the fashion world.


    With such a background, Arya''s ability must be outstanding. So, Meredith could only take a gamble,


    because she knew clearly that she was definitely inferior to Arya in terms of skills.


    If Meredith wanted to win, she had to gamble and try something different. Meredith hoped that she


    would win.


    Meredith stopped woolgathering and quickly drew outlines on the white paper.


    Time passed minute by minute. An hour had passed.


    Meredith looked at the draft in her hand. There were two sets of women''s clothing which were of


    on campus.


    But unlike those school uniforms, senses of design could be seen in many details and essories of


    the clothing. The entire dress looked very youthful and beautiful.


    The other was a slightly bold and avant-garde dress, and it hadpletely different styles from the


    previous one. And this set was naturally designed for the sister.


    She used chiffon for the first dress and denim for the second. Meredith began to tailor.


    Arya had the things she excelled in as she could be the general director of Design A Department of


    Xavier Group. At least, there was no challenge for her in the design field.


    Her previous observations may not be as meticulous as Meredith''s, and her ideas were more


    traditional. She thought that naturally, the twin girls'' dresses shall be simr. The twin''s full dresses had


    toplement each other even if the two dresses had different design characteristics and colors.


    So when the two outfits came out, even if people didn''t know what the owners looked like, they knew


    the outfits were for twins.


    Both designers had already started to make sample clothes.


    ck was the main color of the shell fabrics Arya used. Then, she used some golden and red shell


    fabrics toplement the ck shell fabrics. One dress had the gallus on the left shoulder and the


    other on the right shoulder.


    The cuffs of each dress had corrugated edges. Although the decorative designs of each dress''s


    hemline were different, those designs of each dress were both linked by red and golden shell fabrics.


    When the two sets of dresses were disyed together, the ornaments on the hem of the two dresses


    looked like aplete painting at a nce. It was very beautiful and eye-catching.


    It must be said that Arya''s design ability and ideas were very outstanding. No wonder she could be the


    general director of Design A Department. Meredith looked at Arya''s design and eximed in her heart.


    But as shepared her designs to Arya''s, she would not belittle her own design, nor would she think


    that her design was so bad. However, it had to be said that Arya''s design was indeed more dazzling


    than hers.


    She couldn''t help but smile bitterly. It seemed that she could only rely on her luck.


    Derek had been sitting in his seat and his attention had always been on Meredith. As for Arya, he didn''t


    even look at her and it could be said that he ignored Arya.


    Fortunately, Arya waspletely focused on designing. Otherwise, no one knew whether Arya would


    be able to hold her scissor steadily in anger.


    Three hours passed quickly. The models on both sides were wearing sample clothes.

 Chapter 443

    Chapter 443


    Arya leisurely tidied up the cor of her dress and nced at Meredith carelessly. She could not help


    but sneer with disdain.


    With her picky eyes and preconceived ideas, she naturally looked down on Meredith''s design. This


    time, she was sure to win thepetition.


    A confident and proud smile rose appeared on her face.


    Meredith sensed her gaze, and there was no expression on her face. She calmly did the final finishing


    work.


    Derek stood up and waved to the secretary next to him, who immediately went to the lounge and asked


    all three of them over.


    As soon as the girl''s parents entered the design room, they were immediately attracted by Arya''s


    design. They looked around her design in amazement.


    Arya stood beside them with her arms folded around her chest, a smug smile almost spilling over her


    face. She looked at Meredith with disdain.


    Meredith ignored her. Instead, her eyes focused on the girl beside her, and she sighed with relief.


    She found that the girl did not show any aversion to her design, but looked at it curiously. She was


    relieved a lot.


    Because she clearly saw earlier that the girl looked at Arya''s design without any surprise on her face.


    She then looked away calmly.


    "Mr. And Mrs. Wang, you can look at Director Mason''s design again and choose between the two of


    us," Arya said with a smile on her face.


    Mr. Wang and his wife were stunned, then they thought of another designer''s design. They immediately


    looked at Meredith and noticed the model''s sample clothes next to her, and a look of disappointment


    revealed on their faces.


    Derek saw it clearly and his face darkened. His eyes were full of warning as he looked at Arya, then he


    looked at Meredith with a worried look.


    To be honest, although she also knew that Arya''s design was really eye-catching and that her clothes


    paled inparison, she still felt terrible looking at the disappointed eyes of the two guests.


    "Meredith''s designs are also very good, but my wife and I still decided to choose Miss Arya''s."


    The couple immediately summoned their daughter and said, "Come over and try it on."


    The girl looked at Meredith''s design. "Why did you design it like this?"


    Most people wouldn''t think she liked to wear women''s clothes when they saw her dressed like that.


    She wondered what Meredith was thinking.


    Meredith smiled faintly. Her designs attracted the attention of the girl who had always been indifferent,


    which meant that she was halfway through. "Because I saw the ring on your hand," she replied.


    "Ring?"


    The girl was taken aback, but she deliberately said coldly, "Then you really think you''re smart!"


    Arya was very happy to hear that. When she saw the girl looking at Meredith''s clothes, she thought she


    had neglected something.


    Now it seemed that Meredith failed to tter the girl.


    "It doesn''t matter if I''m smart or not, but why are you wearing a ring that doesn''t go with your style?"


    When the couple heard this, they came over to take a look. When they saw what was in her hand, their


    faces changed. "This is?"


    The girl''s mother suddenly choked up, "Isn''t this the ring your brother gave you before? You still have


    it!"


    The others remained in silence.


    Mrs. Wang wiped away her tears. "I''m sorry. Her brother had an ident a few years ago. Since then,


    my daughter doesn''t like those beautiful dresses and dolls?"


    Mr. Wang was also very emotional when he heard this.


    When their son was 17 years old, he died in a car ident. Since then, they didn''t dare to have much


    sway over their daughter.


    The loss of a child was already very painful. They couldn''t bear to stand seeing anything happen to


    their daughter if they kept their daughter under control.


    Therefore, she liked to wear men''s clothes, and Mr. And Mrs. Wang did not interfere. This time, it was


    her adult gift, and they specially invited a famous designer from Xavier Group to surprise her daughter.


    Hearing this, Meredith understood something.


    She had always felt that this girl was not money-strapped, but she always wore a ring with a different


    style and a less expensive material, which made sense.


    In particr, after learning about the past, she was more sure about her guess.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to touch your sore spot. I just felt that your daughter shouldn''t be carrying


    something extra."


    "When you came in, you didn''t look at the gorgeous men''s clothes over there, but at my rather ordinary


    women''s clothes. This means that you don''t want to be a boy. You want to put on the clothes that your


    brother used to wear, pretending he was still there, right?"


    When the couple heard this, they looked at their daughter in astonishment.


    The girl shook her head, but Meredith fixed her eyes on her.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    She looked at her as if she could see through her.


    Meredith wasn''t quite sure, but they were all people who had been traumatized. She had a natural


    empathy for this girl''s psychology.


    "I asked my brother to buy me candied chestnuts when he had a car ident,."


    The girl lowered her head and spoke slowly.


    Her brother, who was several years older than her, had always been indulgent towards her.


    That day, she insisted on eating the sweet-fried chestnuts from a shop downtown. Her brother could


    only take a taxi to buy them.


    Unexpectedly, he got into a car ident.


    From that day on, she felt that she was a sinner. She thought such thing would not happened to her


    outstanding and gentle brother if she had not forced him to buy things.


    Sometimes, she even felt that she deserved to die.


    Seeing her parents'' sad expressions, she felt so guilty that she didn''t know what to say. Without


    knowing it, she got used to it.


    Because she looked a little like her brother, she put on her men''s clothes. It was as if her brother was


    still alive. If her parents saw it, she thought they would be happy.


    After listening to the girl''s thoughts, Mrs. Wang suddenly burst into tears.


    Perhaps she had once med her son''s death on her daughter and hurt her fragile and sensitive heart.


    It was her negligence.


    "I''m sorry, kid. It''s our fault for ignoring your feelings."


    Meredith looked at the family in front of her hugging each other, and she felt bitter. When Derek saw


    her, he came over in time and held her shoulder, as if he wanted to give her strength.


    After that, the girl looked at Meredith''s clothes. "Me? Can I try?"


    "Of course."


    Meredith immediately handed the clothes over.


    Arya looked at them coldly. She gritted her teeth with a livid face. She thought she was going to win,


    but she never expect that she would be defeated by Meredith.


    What kind of luck did she have to know about this client''s privacy?


    It was clear that her design was better, but she lost because she didn''t know what this girl was going


    through. She was not convinced.


    She suspected if Derek have revealed something in advance.

 Chapter 444

    Chapter 444


    After a while, the girl changed her clothes and walked out embarrassedly.


    Meredith walked over and smoothed out all the wrinkles on her clothes. This dress, to be honest, was


    simple.


    However, the girl was tall and slender, with fair skin and slender bones. She looked very pretty in this


    dress.


    "Is it weird?"


    The girl was a little embarrassed because she hadn''t worn a dress in a long time.


    "No, my daughter is the most beautiful girl in the world."


    Mrs. Wang said with relief, looking at her daughter who had be a slim and graceful girl. She had


    inexplicable feelings.


    "I consider that you might not be used to dresses, so I made such a design."


    Meredith said slowly.


    The family was also amazed by Meredith''s attentiveness and observation.


    The result of thepetition was obvious.


    After the clients were sent away, Meredith was relieved.


    Admittedly, she was lucky to win this time. If she had a wrong guess, it would be all over.


    "Miss Collins, are you convinced?"


    "Convinced? How can I be convinced?"


    How could Arya be convinced, since she was left alone the entire time?


    "How could you have guessed that at a nce? You must have cheated in advance."


    "Arya, as the design director of the Xavier Group, you have forgotten your basic duties. Do you need


    me to remind you again?"


    Derek heard the words and he became angry. His cold and gloomy voice extinguished Arya''s fire of


    anger instantly. She wanted to retreat but was not reconciled, so she could not help but bite her lips.


    "Mr. Xavier, I, I just find it unbelievable. How did she know all this? If there were any shady deal,


    wouldn''t I be treated unfairly? I didn''t mean anything else."


    "You should ept any results as soon as you were in thepetition. This is because your skills are


    not as good as hers," Derek said directly.


    Although he did not know how Meredith guessed it either, he believed that Meredith would not do


    anything unfair.


    Thest words of Derek seemed to hurt Arya. If her skills were not as good as others, she would admit


    her defeat. But it wasn''t the truth. Why should she admit this?


    "I drew the title. Do you mean that I broke the fairness of thepetition? Are you using me?"


    Derek obviously did not forget what Arya had done and looked at her coldly, "I originally nned to


    remove you from your job, but I still let you stay at the A Department, but now it seems that this is not


    necessary."


    "From this moment on, you are no longer a member of the headquarters. The new transfer order will be


    sent to you tomorrow. Please behave yourself."


    In other words, was Arya to be degraded from the headquarters to the branch?


    Arya looked at Derek in disbelief. She never thought that this was what was waiting for her and she


    broke down.


    "Mr. Xavier, why? Are you going to do this to me just because I lost thepetition? It''s not fair. You


    can see clearly that Meredith''s design is not as good as mine. She just happened to have a right


    guess."


    "That girl''s abnormal, so I lost. It''s not a matter of ability. You can just remove my title as the director.


    Why can you kick me out of the headquarters?"


    "Why? Based on what you just said to the client, if I wasn''t standing here just now, are you going to


    threaten the client?"


    Derek''s face was grim, "I told you before that if you insisted on holding thispetition, you had to pay


    the price. Now the result came out. No matter what the process was, you just lost."


    "You need to bear the consequences of thepetition. After thepetition was over, you ruined our


    Since you can''t afford to lose, don''t overestimate yourself and have thispetition in the first ce.


    Since you epted the challenges but couldn''t afford to lose, you don''t deserve to stay in the


    headquarters."


    "Do you need me to make it more clear?"


    Derek said and stood up, "I don''t think you need to wait for tomorrow. Now you can pack your things


    and report to the Ru City Branch."


    Ru City, which was far from D City, but very close to J City, was a city in the edge zone. Meredith was


    also surprised.


    But she lowered her eyes and didn''t say anything. She wasn''t a fool. Though Derek''s words were


    harsh, it was appropriate for him to say that.


    It was impossible for her to refute him in front of others. Of course, she had no intention of speaking for


    Arya.


    "Of course, if you feel that going to Ru City can not give full y to your talents and you are not


    satisfied with it, you can also find another job. It''s up to you."


    After Derek finished speaking, he took Meredith away and left Arya alone, who looked like she was


    overwhelmed by her anger.


    In the office.


    "Congrattions, Meredith." Looked at her, Derek couldn''t help but reach out and hold her in his arms.


    Meredith did not struggle. She lowered her eyes and shook her head, "There''s nothing to congratte.


    It''s just luck. My design was indeed not as good as Arya''s."


    "Don''t belittle yourself like that. How many years has Arya been in this field? How long have you been?


    She graduated from a famous college and was instructed by a famous teacher. If she couldn''t finish a


    task as simple as this perfectly, she is not qualified to stay in the headquarters for so long."


    "You are very capable. I believe that as long as you have enough time, you will be able to shine in the


    field of design." Derek looked at her with a serious expression.


    Meredith pursed her lips and remained silent for a while, "Thank you."


    "Don''t be so polite to me. We don''t need this, you know."


    "By the way, since you won thepetition, the wholepany will soon know the result. I want to ask


    you if you want to go to A Department?" Derek said.


    Meredith looked at him in surprise, "A Department?"


    "That''s right. I know that you''re not that obsessed with being a director. You just want to do your job of


    design. The position of director will only distract you."


    "The designers of A Department have a wide range of styles of clothing, even including the niche


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    market. They are all the best of these styles. You can definitely learn more when you go in."


    Meredith was surprised. She really didn''t expect Derek to see through her thoughts. She didn''t like


    being the director.


    It seemed that from the moment they met after five years, no matter what decision she made, he was


    unconditionally supporting her, even though many people were against her.


    "You''re so good to me. I''m afraid in the end, I won''t be able to pay you back." She said softly. In


    addition to being touched, she felt a heavy burden.


    Derek couldn''t help but frown, "Then I''ll treat you better. I''ll treat you better than anyone else. That''s


    what I should do, and that''s what I want to do."

 Chapter 445

    Chapter 445


    The more moved she was, the better. It would be even better if she was so moved that she couldn''t


    leave him in the end.


    For Derek now, he needed to be more careful about his rtionship with Meredith, and he couldn''t be


    as confident as before. Meredith might not choose him in the end.


    Therefore, he would never let go of any reason for Meredith to stay by his side.


    After thispetition, whether it was the result of thepetition, Arya''s dismission or Meredith''s


    promotion, it caused another sensation in thepany.


    After Derek''s performance at the shareholder meetingst time, Derek was very satisfied with the


    peaceful reaction of the shareholders.


    In this way, Meredith sessfully entered the Design A Department.


    Although she was no longer a director, entering A Department was the only way to really get ess to


    the core design projects of Xavier Group.


    the Xaviers.


    Violet had been quiet for a long time since thest time Derek and she had had a bad fight, but it was


    absolutely impossible for her to stop forever.


    At the dinner table, she personally brought a te of fruit to the sofa and sat down next to Easton, who


    was watching cartoons.


    "Easton, you are watching TV, right? I haven''t seen you at hometely. Where have you been?" Violet


    said casually.


    Easton ate a piece of banana, "Dad took me out."


    If it was in the past, Easton would usually answer honestly to any question from this grandmother,


    Violet.


    But ever since thest time Meredith visited the Xaviers, the little guy had been dishonest and even


    deliberately hiding anything about his mother.


    "Easton, have a chat with grandma." Violet smiled and sat the little guy on herp.


    "What do you want to talk about, grandma?" Easton rolled his dark eyes.


    "We can talk about anything. Easton, let me ask you. Do you want a mother?" Violet hesitated for a


    moment and asked tentatively.


    "Yes." He nodded without hesitation.


    She was overjoyed and immediately smiled, "Okay, I got it. You can tell dad yourselfter and tell him


    that you want a mother, okay?"


    The little guy blinked, "But grandma, I already have a mother."


    Violet''s face darkened, and she realized almost instantly who the mother her grandson referred to,


    which she could not tolerate the most.


    "Nonsense, Easton, you should know that you don''t have a mother yet. You can''t say that again,


    okay?" She immediately instructed him.


    Easton immediately pouted and moved his butt to jump off her leg. He grimaced at Violet, his face full


    of unhappiness.


    "I''m not lying. I already have a mother. My mother''s name is Meredith, and I only recognize her as my


    mother. Grandma, you are so annoying." He ran upstairs as soon as he finished speaking.


    Violet was irritated by her own grandson.


    She sat on the sofa, her expressionplicated. No way, if this continued, this Meredith would sooner


    orter move into in the Xaviers, this was something she absolutely did not want to see.


    Violet didn''t like Meredith at all. Ever since she was disrespectful to herst time, her impression on her


    had dropped to the bottom. What she felt towards her was just disgusting.


    She could tolerate her son marrying anyone in the future, but this Meredith was the only one she could


    not tolerate. She must find a way to choose a daughter-inw that she liked for her son.


    Originally, it was hard to find a pleasing candidate but she didn''t expect that in a few days, God sent


    her one.


    "You''re Caroline, right? I remember I held you once when you were a kid, and then your family moved


    abroad. I haven''t seen you for so many years. You''re really getting more and more beautiful."


    Today, there was a guest in the Xaviers named Caroline, 26 years old, who was the granddaughter of a


    well-connected revolutionaryrade of Mr. Xavier.


    It was said that Caroline''s parents died when she was very young. She was brought up by his


    grandfather and lived abroad for so many years.


    A while ago, his grandfather died of old age and illness. Before he died, he made a special call to his


    oldrades in the country, Mr. Xavier, to entrust his granddaughter to his oldrades so that she


    could be taken good care of.


    After all, after his death, there were not many rtives of his granddaughter, Caroline. Even if there


    were still others, they were not close to her as his oldrade.


    Mr. Xavier was very happy to receive a call from his oldrades, so he was naturally obliged to take


    such a request.


    Caroline''s face were very delicate. In terms of appearance, she was almost as good as Meredith.


    Violet''s attitude towards her, in contrast to Meredith, was totally different.


    "Auntie, I dide to the Xaviers for two days when I was a child. I still remember the scene. It


    seemed that you had not changed at all."


    Violet smiled happily, "Look at this sweet little mouth. Everything you said is so pleasing."


    "Old Master has already told me about your situation, so you can just live in the Xaviers and make


    yourself at home."


    "After I gave birth to Derek, I really wanted a daughter. A daughter was so obedient and obedient. Now


    it seems that God has granted my wish."


    Caroline sat upright. Her little dress made her in a very elegant manner, sitting upright and elegant, with


    a shy smile on the corner of her mouth.


    Violet liked her everything, and the more she looked at her, the more satisfied she was with her. Then


    her idea instantly came, and she could not stop it.


    Her daughter-inw should be a well-educated girl like Caroline, who also came from a well-educated


    family.


    "By the way, do you remember my son, Derek? You saw him when you were a child, but you probably


    don''t remember him after all this time."


    "It doesn''t matter. When Derekes back, I''ll ask him to take you around the capital to get you


    familiar with the environment. If you want to buy anything you like, let Derek buy it for you. Don''t be


    shy."


    Caroline''s eyes moved slightly and smiled, "Brother Derek, I remember. He was very serious when he


    was a child. I saw his picture in magazines these days after I came back."


    As she said this, she frowned slightly and instantly remembered Derek''s handsome face in the photo


    and the magazine''s description of his achievements. A moving smile slowly formed on the corner of her


    mouth.


    As soon as Derek came home in the afternoon, he saw Caroline sitting at the dining table, who


    immediately stood up when she saw him.


    Violet introduced them to each other, and Derek understood it. Although there was no expression on


    his face, he was a little unhappy in his heart.


    A strange woman suddenly came to live in the Xaviers before Meredith could move in. This was really


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    unpleasant news.


    After all, she was the granddaughter of his grandfather''s old friend, which made it difficult for him to


    meddle in.

 Chapter 446

    Chapter 446


    He nodded at Caroline indifferently and was about to go upstairs. Violet immediately stopped him. If her


    son went upstairs and sat down in the study, no one would see him again tonight.


    She wanted to give them more time alone.


    "Derek, Caroline is a girl, and it''s her first day here. You two are the same age. Talk to her. That''s what


    your grandfather asked you to do."


    Afraid that her son would not agree, Violet said this was Mr. Xavier''s requirement.


    However, Derek was not so easily swayed. It was useless for her to mention Mr. Xavier.


    "I still have work to do. I have a video conference to attend toter and I can''t miss it. As for Miss


    Baker, mom, please entertain her."


    After saying that, he strode away.


    Violet suddenly felt humiliated. In front of the guest, it was a disgrace that her son refused to obey her


    at such a trivial thing.


    She was very angry, but there was nothing she could do. She smiled apologetically at Caroline,


    changed the subject with a random excuse, and apanied Caroline to dinner.


    Caroline sat in her room and thought of Derek, who she had just seen downstairs.


    Unsurprisingly, he was even more charming in person than in the photos. She covered her heart, which


    was thumping, and a blush shed across her face.


    But then she could not help but frown. She had always been very confident about her appearance, but


    today, Derek''s attitude dealt a heavy blow to her.


    The man didn''t even look at her. Caroline couldn''t help but reach out and touch her face. Although she


    was disappointed, she wouldn''t give up like this.


    Everyone in the country knew the status of the Xavier Group. Derek was such an outstanding man, so


    of course she liked him. Moreover, she was so close to him, which was an advantage, and she must


    grasp the opportunity.


    The next day.


    "Derek, Caroline has been abroad for years and is not familiar with the situation at home. You''ll show


    her around the D Cityter." Violet said.


    Derek nced at his mother. Something came to his mind, and instead of refusing this time, he agreed.


    This surprised and delighted Violet, who was prepared to be rejected.


    Caroline was also very happy in her heart. She believed that with her own excellence, as long as she


    had enough time, she could make Derek like her.


    After breakfast, Derek got into the car, and Caroline followed him. She wanted to open the door of the


    passenger seat, but...


    She tried two or three times, but she couldn''t open it.


    At this moment, the car window was rolled down a little, and Derek nced at her, "Sit in the back."


    Caroline let go of her hand awkwardly and sat in the back seat.


    "Well, brother Derek..."


    Derek involuntarily frowned at the way she addressed him, "Wait, you''d better call me by my full name.


    It sounds strange to me."


    Caroline, "..."


    At this moment, she felt that she was defeated before she could seed. She couldn''t help but feel a


    little resentful, but she didn''t dare to show it, "I''d better call you Mr. Xavier."


    Derek nodded indifferently.


    He drove into the parking lot and took the president''s exclusive elevator to the top floor, so no one saw


    Caroline.


    "I''m going to have an early meeting. You can wait in the lounge."


    Of course, Caroline would not have any objections.


    But half an hourter, instead of Derek, another man who was also very tall and handsome came to


    her.


    "Hello, my name is Damian. I''m Mr. Xavier''s special assistant."


    "Hello, my name is Caroline."


    Hearing Damian''s identity, Caroline suddenly became more sincere and friendly.


    "Miss Baker, the president is very busy. He asked me to show you around the D City. When shall we


    set out?"


    Caroline, "..."


    She couldn''t help but stand up, "Is Mr. Xavier very busy? It''s okay. I can continue to wait."


    "Miss Baker, Mr. Xavier is very busy every day, and his schedule is very full. Even if you continue to


    wait, Mr. Xavier won''t have time." Damian smiled apologetically.


    Caroline felt that Derek was going to brush her off, so he asked his assistant to take care of her. The


    thought made her upset.


    Thus, she would rather believe the reason given by Damian, the special assistant. It seems normal for


    Mr. Xavier to be busy as president of the Xavier Group, a multinationalpany.


    Even so, Caroline would not go shopping with an assistant. She still sat with a grudge in her heart, "It''s


    okay. I can go shopping any day. I''ll wait for lunch with Mr. Xavier."


    Damian, "...Well, okay. Miss Baker, Mr. Xavier always orders takeout at noon and doesn''t go to the


    restaurant."


    Caroline didn''t take it seriously. Even if he usually didn''t go to the restaurant, she thought Derek


    wouldn''t refuse to have lunch with her because he had promised his mom that he would entertain her


    today.


    Thus, Caroline waited in the lounge until noon.


    Of course Damian reported the situation to Derek.


    "She''s still waiting?"


    "Yes. I couldn''t persuade her to leave."


    Damian nodded and smiled, "Boss, Miss Baker must take a fancy to you."


    He nced at Damian with a deep frown on his face, "Stop talking nonsense."


    "I''m not talking nonsense. Mrs. Xavier is obviously trying to make you and Miss Baker a match."


    Damian shrugged. It was so obvious that anyone could tell that.


    Derek was silent for a few seconds. He looked at his watch and closed the document, "Let''s go meet


    Miss Baker."


    There was no need for him to go to the lounge. As soon as it was noon, Caroline, who had been


    waiting for a long time, could not help but leave the lounge and look at the office.


    Seeing Derek, she immediately greeted him with a smile. Before she could say anything, the smile on


    her face froze because of the other party''s words.


    "Why are you still here? What''s up?"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Caroline was stunned, "Didn''t you tell me to wait here? And then..."


    Before she could finish her words, Derek could not help but frown, "Didn''t you want to go shopping? I


    heard from Damian that he wanted to take you shopping, but you rejected him."


    He looked at his watch and said, "In that case, forget it. I''m busy and don''t have time. If there is nothing


    else, you can go back."


    After Derek said that, he took Damian away without giving her another look.


    Caroline stood there and looked at his back in disbelief. She felt like she had been fooled and flushed


    with anger.


    She had been admired by countless men since her childhood, and she had never been so


    embarrassed. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and strode away with a cold face.


    When Caroline returned to the Xaviers, Violet immediately came out to wee her.


    "Caroline, why are you back so soon? Where''s Derek?"


    Caroline immediately lowered her eyelids. When she raised her eyes again, the sinister look in her


    eyes had disappeared and tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip with a look of grievance.

 Chapter 447

    Chapter 447


    She shook her head, "Auntie, Derek is too busy. I shouldn''t have let him go shopping with me." What


    Caroline said waspletely different from what she thought.


    Violet had a feeling that things were not going so smoothly. Her son promised her happily, but he did


    such a thing behind her.


    She immediately took Caroline''s hand and led her into the house, "Caroline, Derek really went too far.


    Don''t worry. When hees back, I''ll give him a lesson well. Please don''t mind it."


    "No, auntie, I don''t mean to me Mr. Xavier."


    "Mr. Xavier is a person who was born for great ambition. He should be busy managing such a big


    Violet was satisfied. She didn''t really mean what she had just said. She knew exactly what her son was


    like, but whatever he may be, he was still her son.


    Caroline''s words made her feel veryfortable. Such a gentle girl was indeed her favorite daughter-


    inw candidate.


    She took Caroline''s hand and sat on the sofa, "Caroline, what do you think of Derek?"


    A sh of light shed in Caroline''s eyes that looked slightly downward, "Mr. Xavier is young and


    capable, and he is outstandingly capable. It is of course the best person who can make so many


    people praise him."


    "Auntie, why did you ask me about this?"


    Violet looked at her with a smile, "Since you think so highly of him, do you think my son is someone


    worth trusting for the rest of one''s life?"


    Caroline looked as if she had been startled. She immediately lowered her head to look downward. Her


    face was full of shyness and timidity, "Auntie, what are you talking about?"


    Violet covered her mouth and chuckled, "There''s nothing to be shy about. Your parents passed away


    early and your grandfather was now gone. The more I look at you, the more I like you."


    "That''s what I want my daughter to be like. If you marry Derek, you''ll be my real child."


    "Of course, that''s just what I think. If you don''t want to, I won''t force you. I just want to ask what''s your


    impression of Derek? Do you like him?"


    Caroline''s face was flushed, and it took her a while to squeeze out a few words out of her mouth, "I, I


    like him."


    Violet was not surprised. In her opinion, her son was the best. How could any girl not like him? She


    patted her hand with a smile on her face.


    "As long as you like him. Okay, I know what you want. Don''t worry, you have my full support."


    They did not notice that there was a small figure standing at the corner of the building.


    Easton listened to everything they said and his face was so angry that he looked down at Caroline on


    the sofa. He curled his mouth, rolled his eyes, and ran back to his room.


    Downstairs, Caroline suddenly whispered, "Auntie, I heard that Mr. Xavier has a son. Where is him?"


    "Oh, right. How could I forget about such an important thing? You mean Easton. That''s right. Easton is


    Derek''s son. He''s almost six years old. Don''t worry. Easton is still young. As long as you love him as


    your own son, he will ept you."


    "Of course... I wonder, who''s Easton''s birth mother?" Caroline said softly.


    Violet''s face froze, then she waved her hand as usual, "That woman is dead, and she''s not a good


    person. You don''t have to care. And Derek has never been married to that woman. She didn''t count."


    Caroline''s eyes sparkled, but she was relieved in her heart.


    Before she came, she had already asked someone to inquire about some matters in the country.


    Although she was dissatisfied with Derek having a son, she would not give up on him just because he


    had a son.


    In her opinion, even if he had a son, how could a little brat stir up any storm? What made her more


    concerned than this child was the child''s mother.


    But to this woman, she could not find anything, even her name, as if someone had deliberately covered


    up information about her, which made her very confused.


    But for now, the investigation can only be carried out gradually.


    Now with Violet''s words, although it was not clear if the woman was really dead, at the very least,


    people of the Xaviers did not seem to wee her.


    This was very beneficial to her, especially when she heard that Derek and the woman were not


    married.


    In this way, if she married Derek in the future, there would be no bad reputation as a second marriage.


    Yes, in Caroline''s opinion, with the support of the Xaviers, she would eventually marry him and be


    called Derek''s wife. Everything seemed to be going better after she returned the country.


    The only thing that was harder to deal with now was Derek herself, but it didn''t matter. She always had


    confidence in herself. The more difficult a man was to get, the more attractive she was in front of them.


    At this time, Easton was lying on the bed in his room, editing text messages with his cell phone.


    He sent Caroline''s name and basic information, especially the news that his grandmother wanted her


    to marry her father, to Meredith''s phone.


    He also told Meredith not to worry at the end of the message. He would never let this woman have a


    good time.


    Xavier Group.


    Meredith looked at the text message on her phone and did note to herself for a long time.


    Although her expression was not obvious, the design paper in front of her had been changed all


    afternoon, and the drawing had been ruined in the end.


    This was clearly a state of absent-mindedness.


    Mansion of the Xaviers.


    After lunch, Caroline learned from the housekeeper''s instructions to the servants that the only


    grandson of the Xaviers, Easton, was ying in the garden behind the manor.


    She suddenly had an idea in her mind.


    Although she didn''t care about the little brat, she still had to do some good gestures on the surface


    before she got married. Besides, she heard that Derek was very fond of his son.


    In that case, before she had a firm foothold in the Xaviers, she really needed to curry favor with this


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Easton.


    In the flowerbed, a small figure in overalls was squatting on the ground with his back against the light,


    hands one after another, No one knew what he was doing.


    Bored, he shoveled the soil with a small shovel in his hand. Through his small mouth, he was talking to


    a ck button at the top of the cor that covered his ears.


    "Is that woman here?"


    A faint red light flickered from the inside of the button, indicating that it was not a real button.


    "Miss Baker is walking this way. She will be here soon." Adam''s steady voice came through the


    buttons.


    The little guy pursed his lips and said rudely, "What Miss Baker? What kind of Miss is she? Adam, you


    can''t call her that."


    "Then what should I call her?"


    "Just call her... That woman," the little guy said, touching his chin.


    Adam: ... "Master Easton, that woman is here. She''s about twenty steps away from you."

 Chapter 448

    Chapter 448


    Easton immediately took the shovel and mashed the soil in front of him.


    Caroline went to change into a warm suit with a tray in her hand, which contained snacks that Easton


    liked to eat.


    "Easton?" she called softly.


    The little guy ignored her and didn''t turn around.


    She called again, but still did not get a response. Not knowing what he was doing, Caroline could not


    help but step forward and pat him gently on the shoulder.


    "Easton?"


    The next second.


    Easton, who had been motionless all this time, suddenly rose and turned around. What Caroline saw


    first was not his appearance, but several dark shadows flying towards her.


    Caroline was rooted to the ground. She felt the coldness on her neck and arms. She lowered her head


    slowly and saw that her new clothes were stained with diluted ck mud.


    She froze.


    As far as she could remember, this was her first contact with dirty soil.


    "Ah..." she screamed uncontrobly.


    Easton pursed his lips and held a small shovel in one hand, with the one hand on his hip. He said with


    a displeased look, "Who are you? Why did you pat me? You scared me."


    Caroline immediately choked in anger and looked up at him. She could also see the ground in front of


    Easton. The area that had been covered with grass had now be a puddle of mud.


    Her face was livid with anger, but what angered her most was that she could do nothing to the culprit in


    front of her and she had no way but to hold back her anger.


    "Ah, you''re so dirty."


    As a result, before she could suppress her anger, Easton took a few step back with a look of disgust.


    Caroline was pissed off.


    It was all Easton''s fault. He got her clothes dirty, and in the end, he had the nerve to despise her. What


    a brat.


    Sure enough, the child without a mother was uneducated, and she despised him in her heart.


    In her opinion, a child from a family like the Xaviers would naturally receive the highest education. It


    was impossible for him to y with mud like an ordinary child.


    He was so rude and impolite. She wondered how the Xaviers taught him.


    Easton threw away the shovel and pped his hands. "There is still a lot of flower fertilizer in this mud.


    You stink. Go wash up,"


    Caroline''s face changed immediately. Flower fertilizer?


    She couldn''t help but think of a kind of fertilizer that the vigers used to water vegetables... The next


    second, she was ovee with a feeling of nausea, and her face turned pale.


    The little guy turned around and said, "There''s a bathroom over there. I''ll take you there."


    The manor was veryrge, and Caroline could not bear to see herself like this in the eyes of the


    servants and butlers in the front hall, so she could only hold back her anger and follow Easton.


    Easton, who was leading the way ahead, kept a smile on his face.


    From afar, he looked at the pool surrounded by rockeries and trees, and his big eyes lit up.


    As he passed by the pool, he yawned slowly, and then a rustling sound came from the grass.


    In the next instant, a slender green shadow shed over quickly, circling Caroline''s feet and entering


    the grass, and soon came out and circled her.


    When Caroline saw the snake, she got a fright and screamed in panic, her screaming spreading


    around the pool again.


    "Snake, snake, help..."


    Many girls were afraid of snakes, and Caroline was filled with dread at the sight of something soft and


    slippery. Standing by the pool, she kept retreating in fear.


    As a result, with a plop, she fell into the pool with one foot in the air. Soon, the butler came over with a


    few servants.


    "Little Young Master, what happened? I just heard someone calling. Are you okay?"


    Easton shrugged and spread his hands. "Uncle butler, I''m fine."


    "Then that scream just now was..."


    "Oh, you said that. It was from her. It was terrible, but she can''t scream now," said Easton, pointing his


    little hand into the pool.


    The butler had been preupied with Easton just now when he suddenly realized that there was


    another person in the pool, only to find it was Miss Caroline.


    Caroline had fainted, and the butler was so shocked that he immediately had her brought up.


    Easton was fine. He took out a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into his mouth. The


    sweet smell made him squint.


    With his hands in his pockets and sugar in his mouth, he hopped towards the main house, ignoring


    Caroline.


    Violet and Mr. Xavier were rmed by such a big event.


    After Caroline was awakened by the doctor, she opened his eyes and shouted that there was a snake.


    After careful inquiry, they knew what had happened.


    Mr. Xavier couldn''t bear to reprimand his dear grandson. After a long struggle, he decided to pretend


    he didn''t hear it. Anyway, his old friend''s granddaughter were fine.


    Violet showed up in front of Easton for questioning, but she was more concerned about her grandson


    ying with mud. In her opinion, this was much more important than getting Caroline covered in mud.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Easton, how can you y with mud? It''s so dirty."


    Easton got his way, and he was so happy that he said in a sweet tone, "Grandma, it won''t happen


    again."


    Anyway, he didn''t like to y with mud. This time, it was necessary for the n.


    "Grandma, I''m hungry."


    Hearing this, Violet was not in a mood to scold him and immediately asked the butler to prepare the


    food.


    With that, the whole thing passed.


    After the meal, Easton specially asked the butler to prepare an extra soup for him. He nned to


    personally serve it, and let Caroline eat it to warm her up.


    Violet was quite satisfied with her grandson.


    In the room, Caroline had already woken up. She was angry with Easton, but she was also very clear


    that she could not do anything to him, so she could only bear it.


    As a result, she managed to keep a smile when the little guye to her with the soup. Sheforted


    him, but she was filled with resentment.


    After Caroline finished her soup, she fell asleep again and woke up with a stomachache. She covered


    her stomach and rushed into the bathroom. During the night, someone had a great time but someone


    was suffering.


    The next day, Violet looked at Caroline''s face and was shocked.


    "Caroline? What''s wrong with you? You didn''t look well."


    Caroline looked terrible. The corners of her eyes were ck and blue, and her face was as pale as a


    ghost.

 Chapter 449

    Chapter 449


    Caroline opened her mouth and wanted to speak, but she was a little powerless. After a night of


    suffering, she only felt sore and weak all over her body. She also felt dizzy. From time to time, she had


    the illusion that the world was spinning around.


    She woke up at 11:00st night with a stomachache and went to the bathroom to excrete. After


    sleeping in the bed for a while, her stomach started to ache again.


    She couldn''t remember how many times she had had loose bowels till 8:00 this morning. She even had


    the feeling that she would die from having diarrhea.


    It was the first time she had felt so bad. It was so terrible.


    Violet hurried over to help her to stand, "Jesus. What''s wrong with your hand? It''s so cold. What


    happened to you?"


    Caroline opened her mouth with difficulty. Just as she was about to speak, her expression changed.


    She suddenly covered her stomach and bent down. She felt extremely ufortable. The next


    second, she fainted from exhaustion.


    In the hospital.


    "Doctor, what happened to the patient? She was fine yesterday."


    Apart from Violet, Mr. Xavier was also in the ward. This was rare. But after all, Caroline was the


    granddaughter of his oldrade. He promised to take care of Caroline, but Caroline fell ill after only a


    few days in the Xaviers.


    Derek was also there, holding his son''s hand and standing aside. He was probably the only one who


    didn''t care about Caroline.


    The doctor stroked his eyes, "Don''t worry. The patient''s life is not in danger. It''s caused by exhaustion."


    "After our examination, the patient was diagnosed with food poisoning and she had diarrhea all night.


    So, she fainted. I will prescribe some glucose and she will be fine after having intravenous drips."


    "But you should be careful. Although it''s just diarrhea, if it goes on for a long time, something serious


    will happen. After all, it is not good to have loose bowels for a long time."


    Violet''s expression was a little strange. She had thought it was a serious illness, but she didn''t expect it


    to be just diarrhea. But all in all, she was relieved to hear it was just diarrhea.


    At this moment, Caroline slowly woke up.


    Violet immediately walked over, "Caroline, you''re awake. Do you feel any difort? You have to tell


    me if you feel it."


    Mr. Xavier also leaned on his crutches as heforted Caroline, "You live in the Xaviers, and it''s our


    responsibility as you fell ill. You don''t have to think about anything. It''s important to rest and take care


    of yourself."


    Easton couldn''t help but curl his mouth and tilt his head to one side.


    Caroline was already awake when the doctor spoke, and she wanted to know what happened to her, so


    she didn''t open her eyes.


    She never thought that it was food poisoning.


    As she grew up, she had always been very careful about eating. She didn''t even touch that kind of


    unsanitary food. How could it be food poisoning?


    Caroline could not help but recall that yesterday, before she went to bed, she had a bowl of soup. This


    soup was...


    She thought of something, and she was in a state of doubt and confusion. She could not help but look


    at the two men, one big and one small, in suspicion. She happened to see Easton curling his mouth


    and tilting his head. Her lungs hurt from anger.


    Derek''s nonchnt look also irritated her. One shall know that sick people were always very sensitive.


    She had a feeling in her heart that it was very likely that Easton made her be like this. After all, he


    served the soup.


    The reason was obvious as Easton had that attitude just now, wasn''t it?


    She thought of the scene that she had loose bowels all night, and a wave of anger and resentment


    surged in her heart. The corners of her eyes became moist immediately.


    "Caroline, what happened? Why are you crying? Do you feel ufortable?" Violet asked.


    Caroline shook her head, "Auntie, what exactly did I eat caused food poisoning? Can doctors check it


    out?"


    If people here were ordinary people, they would not feel anything special about what Caroline said. But


    people here were all sophisticated. Apart from Violet, Mr. Xavier and Derek were both shrewd.


    "What do you mean?"


    Mr. Xavier frowned a little but found it inappropriate for him to ask further, while Derek asked her


    directly.


    Caroline pursed her lips and said softly, "I just want to know the reason, so I can avoid it next time.


    Maybe I''m allergic to something."


    Violet didn''t think much about it and nodded in agreement, "Yes, we should check it out. So, we can


    avoid it next time. No one can stand it if it happens again."


    As Violet spoke, she casually said, "Caroline, you had a stomachache yesterday. Did you eat anything


    before going to sleep?"


    That was what Caroline was waiting for. She lowered her head and looked a little embarrassed. She


    didn''t see Mr. Xavier''s frown.


    "There''s nothing you can''t say. Just say what you ate yesterday."


    Easton could not stand Caroline''s pretentious look and could not help but snort.


    Caroline heard this voice and her tears immediately fell down: "I, I didn''t eat anything before I went to


    bed. I just drank a bowl of chicken soup."


    Violet paused and pped her hands, "Yes, I remember that you drank a bowl of soup and Easton


    brought it up for you."


    Violet blurted out, but she actually did not mean anything. She was just worried, "Is it because of some


    of the ingredients in the chicken soup? You are allergic to these ingredients?"


    Violet had never thought of the possibility that the food materials were not fresh. After all, food


    materials were bought early in the morning. Every day was the same. Food materials would not be kept


    for use the next day.


    Caroline could not help but scold Violet in her heart for being brainless. But the expression on her face


    was even more miserable. She could not help but look at Easton, sobbing.


    "Easton... Do you dislike me?"


    Mr. Xavier and Derek had not spoken for a long time, and they had a vague presentiment. Caroline''s


    question basically confirmed their premonition.


    Their face clouded over and their expression became very cold.


    A dark light shed in the depths of Easton''s big, innocent eyes. He pouted and looked confused,


    "Auntie Caroline, what are you talking about? Easton didn''t say I disliked you."


    "You didn''t say it, but you did." Violet thought to herself.


    In fact, Caroline could not believe that the child in front of her, who was less than six years old, would


    have such a thought to put the drug in her soup.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    But what if it was a prank? It was not impossible that the child disliked her and wanted to y a prank


    on her, but he was so young that he went too far and let her suffer so much.


    At the thought of this, she suddenly felt a sense of horror. Children at such an age didn''t know what


    they were doing clearly. Today, it could be thexative in her soup bowl. But what would happen if he


    used poison tomorrow?


    Caroline herself broke out in a cold sweat and felt the need to utilize the elders in the Xaviers to teach


    this damn boy a lesson.


    Violet couldn''t help but say, "Caroline, don''t think too much. How could Easton dislike you?"


    Caroline did not speak and the atmosphere suddenly froze.

 Chapter 450

    Chapter 450


    Derek looked at his son. Easton also looked at his father, rolled his eyes, and shrugged, indicating that


    he didn''t know anything.


    Looking at his son''s fearless appearance Derek''s eyes moved and he realized something.


    He looked at Caroline with an undisguised coldness in his eyes, "Miss Baker, you mean that my son


    put drugs in your soup to make you sick, don''t you?"


    Violet was startled and stared at Derek angrily, "Derek, what are you talking about? Why would


    Caroline think that?"


    "Mom, does she think so? You should ask her about this."


    Violet couldn''t help but look at Caroline again, but Caroline remained silent. The silence at this time


    could mean a lot of things.


    Violet''s expression turned gloomy. In any case, Easton was also her grandson who she loved for many


    years. In her mind, Easton was as important as Derek.


    What Caroline meant made Violet feel bad. Unconsciously, Violet shook off Caroline''s hand and stood


    up.


    Mr. Xavier tapped on his crutch and said in a deep voice, "All right, call the doctor and have a test."


    Caroline could not help but stiffen. Her hands under the quilt were tightly clenched. She suddenly


    sobered up, realizing that she might have made a wrong decision.


    Who was Easton?


    He was the only grandson of the Xaviers and the treasure of the Xaviers.


    But as an outsider, she openly used that Easton had drugged her. The point was that he was still a


    child, not even six years old.


    Caroline could not help but feel uneasy and regret that she was too impulsive.


    What happened to her just now? Why was she so impulsive? It had not been verified yet. And she


    could do nothing if this little bastard really drugged her.


    She still could do nothing to him. After all, she only had diarrhea, and she suffered no other harm. It


    was of no use no matter how good the rtionship between her grandfather and Mr. Xavier was.


    After all, she was just his good friend''s granddaughter. How could she be as important as Old Master''s


    grandson?


    Thinking of this, Caroline couldn''t help but say, "No need. I''m sorry. I might have been too emotional


    just now. I can''t control what I said. Please don''t take my words seriously."


    "Easton is such a cute kid. How could he have drugged me? I lost my mind. Don''t take my words


    seriously."


    Violet''s face looked a little better, but the others didn''t want to let her go.


    Mr. Xavier remained silent as he pulled a long face.


    Derek sneered and said rudely, "Miss Baker said it yourself that you couldn''t control what you said.


    This means that your thoughtes from the bottom of your heart."


    "Since you have doubts in your heart and you said it out, then we shall take it seriously. My son is still


    so young. Do you think you can erase your harm to him easily by saying that you didn''t mean it?"


    "It''s better to check it out. After all, you live in the Xaviers. When we find out the reason, we can ask the


    staff in the kitchen to be more careful so that you won''ty in bed because of the illness again. After all,


    if you suffer from this illness again, I don''t know what you will say uncontrobly. That''s not good."


    Caroline felt extremely embarrassed by what he said. Her face flushed. She was both embarrassed


    and angry, and at the same time, she trembled with fear.


    At this moment, she was very regretful. She knew very well that everything was ruined by herself. Now,


    she was unable to get out of this embarrassing situation.


    It would be fine if the final result proved that it was really because of the chicken soup. But... if it turned


    out that it was not because of the chicken soup, then...


    She couldn''t help but close her eyes. At this point, she could only pray silently that the result was that


    Easton had put drugs in her soup.


    The test results of the contents of her stomach acid came out an hourter.


    The doctor took over an x-ray report and a medical record and diagnosed, "The report on the analysis


    of Miss Baker''s stomach residue hase out.


    Our conclusion is, more than 95% of thexativeponent in Miss Baker''s body came from tannic


    acid and caffeine. These two ingredients can be found in coffee."


    Derek asked, "How long is the interval?"


    "It''s been 48 hours. Because it has been a long time, we''re just 75% certain about our results."


    Derek nodded, "Apart from the twoponents mentioned, are there any residual drugs?"


    The doctor shook his head affirmatively, "No."


    Caroline felt embarrassed, and the most impossible result she had thought came true. She felt that she


    was going to faint.


    Easton looked up at his father and said in a childish voice, "Dad, what does the doctor mean? I didn''t


    drug this woman."


    It wasn''t him but Adam. The little guy thought to himself.


    Derek rubbed his son''s head, "I know. The doctor just said that the medicine was not in the soup, but in


    the coffee."


    Easton nodded and pointed at Caroline, "Hmph, you just asked me whether I dislike you. I can tell you


    now that I dislike you very much."


    "I''m only six years old. You''re a grown-up and you''re ndering me, a six-year-old child. You''re so


    hateful. You''re a bad woman."


    "Grand-grandfather, didn''t you say she is the child of your good friend? Why did she nder me? I


    don''t want her to live in our house. Ask her to go away."


    As a child, Easton could say anything, and no one would me him. Besides, he was indeed


    ''ndered'' just now.


    Caroline''s expression became extremely gloomy. She took a deep breath and knew that if she didn''t do


    anything else, she might really be kicked out of the Xaviers.


    "Easton, I''m sorry. It''s all my fault, but I didn''t mean it. I was sick. I didn''t mean it. Can you forgive me?"


    Caroline raised her pale face and looked pitifully at Easton.


    The little guy didn''t save her face, and he immediately began toin, "Dad, I heard grandma tell


    this woman that she wants this woman to be your wife and my stepmother."


    "Dad, you must not marry this woman. She dares to insult me now. Easton will be bullied by her in the


    future."


    Caroline and Violet were stunned. The thing of drugging was not settled yet. They didn''t expect Easton


    to say this all of a sudden.


    Violet panicked. She didn''t expect her grandson to hear what she said. If it was in normal times, it


    wouldn''t be a big deal. But now that Caroline just said those words, then things were different.


    Mr. Xavier was also stunned. He did not expect his daughter-inw to have such thoughts. He looked


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    at the two women with a dark look in his eyes and stood up.


    "All right, that''s it. Violet, if you really have nothing else to do, I think you should listen to Derek and go


    to the vi."

 Chapter 451

    Chapter 451


    After speaking, Mr. Xavier left with the help of the bodyguards.


    What he said shocked the two women in the ward.


    If Derek said the same thing, Violet would just feel angry. After all, Derek was her son. However, now


    that the authority of the Xaviers Mr. Xavier said so, the situation waspletely different.


    Violet had been married to the Xaviers for so many years, and Old Master had always treated her with


    respect. It was the first time he had treated her so disrespectfully in front of an outsider.


    She was so shocked and disappointed that she felt like the world was spinning in an instant. Her legs


    trembled and she held the edge of the bed with one hand and clenched her chest with the other. Her


    face reddened.


    Caroline suddenly realized something else.


    Although Violet had always hinted that she wanted to marry into the Xaviers, it seemed that it was


    simply her wishful thinking. Violet clearly understood what Mr. Xavier said just now.


    Mr. Xavier didn''t seem to want her to marry into the Xaviers.


    After Caroline realized that, she felt even more disappointed. She cursed a few words in her heart. In


    the Xaviers, the real head was Mr. Xavier. Even if Violet was confident, she couldn''t change the


    situation.


    Caroline gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. Ever since she returned to the Xaviers, Violet''s


    enthusiastic attitude towards her misled her, causing her to go in the wrong direction from the start.


    Derek ignored them and took his son''s hand and left.


    As for Caroline and his mother''s thoughts? Sorry. He had been showing that woman respect, but now it


    seemed that respect was unnecessary.


    "Easton, tell me. What have you done?"


    After getting out of the hospital gate and sitting in the car, Derek looked at the little boy beside him and


    asked.


    He knew his son very well. If Caroline really wronged him in the hospital, judging from the boy''s temper,


    he should not be so calm.


    The boy didn''t hide anything and told Derek what he had implemented. Anyway, if his father asked


    Adam, he knew that Adam would never help him hide it.


    His n was to get Caroline covered in mud in the garden and then take her to a nearby cleaning area


    ¡ª a natural pool.


    The snake that came out of the grass was actually a mock snake, not a real one. It was Adam who


    operated it by remote control in the dark.


    The butler arranged for the servants to spread the insect repellent every day in the back garden of the


    Xaviers. How could a snake suddenly appear?


    The n was perfect. Caroline was so scared that she fell into the pool and drank a few mouthfuls of


    water. While she was scared and cold, Easton went to see her in person with a bowl of chicken soup.


    Caroline had a food poisoning reaction that night.


    This part was also schemed by the little boy.


    He set a trap for this woman to jump in, and she did.


    The day before, when the woman had bought a cup of coffee in the shop outside, Easton asked Adam,


    who had been following her for a while, to add some ingredients to her coffee without being noticed.


    This medicine still worked likexatives, but it took about 40 hours to attack. However, once it


    functioned, it would be very fierce.


    When Caroline woke up, she really thought that Easton had added something to the chicken soup to


    hurt her. So she pointed it out, which was what Easton expected.


    He was not afraid at all. No one knew better than him that the medicine was not in the chicken soup at


    all, so he was not afraid of the investigation. As expected, the result was that Easton was ''innocent.''


    He was a six-year-old child, the eldest grandson of the noble the Xaviers. Since he was maligned by


    Caroline out of thin air, the woman would definitelye to a sticky end.


    It didn''t seem like something a six-year-old could have nned, so Derek was shocked by his own son.


    "Oh, brat. Good. What a clever n!" Derek sighed with emotion.


    Easton was very proud of himself, holding his head high, "That''s right. My great-grandfather likes to tell


    me stories about military tactics. I''m so smart. Of course, I can learn it."


    "It''s still exciting, isn''t it? If your great-grandfather knew how you drew inspirations from what he had


    taught you, he would be furious." Derek looked angry.


    The little boy looked at his father and suddenly pointed at him with his little fat finger, "Dad, tell me the


    truth. Are you interested in that woman?"


    "What are you talking about, brat? You deserve a beating." Derek patted him on the forehead.


    He covered his head, pursed his lips, and looked aggrieved, "Hmph, that woman wants to be my


    stepmother. I''m helping mom teach that woman a lesson. You should praise me rather than me. You''re


    too suspicious."


    Derek, "..."


    He rubbed his son''s little head, "Well, I didn''t scold you. Don''t talk nonsense in front of your mother."


    Derek admired his son''s cleverness, but he didn''t want his son to be proud of what he did. Moreover,


    Caroline held thoughts that she shouldn''t have, so it was okay for his son to teach her a lesson.


    Ever since Caroline returned to the Xaviers from the hospital, she had been behaving herself and she


    basically did not go out. Most of the time, she either stayed in her room or took the initiative to walk with


    the Old Master and chat with Violet.


    Everyone else thought she was trying to make amends for what happened in the hospital, but only she


    knew that it was only one of her purposes.


    After a month or so, Violet''s attitude towards her returned to the past.


    However, Mr. Xavier was not easy to be fooled. It was impossible to trick him by a few words. The Old


    Man had always regarded his grandson Easton as the apple of his eye. When Easton was maligned by


    Caroline, the Old Master did not embarrass her on the spot only because of his friendship with her


    grandfather.


    However, with his personality, it was hard for Old Master to forgive Caroline, not to mention that


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Caroline was not his daughter or granddaughter.


    "Caroline, this is an invitation to an auction for a charity fund. I''ve been there a few times before, but I''m


    not going this time. You can go for me."


    Violet handed a ck gold post to Caroline.


    Caroline was overjoyed, but there was no expression on her face. She looked at Violet confusedly,


    "Auntie, I just came back. I don''t know anyone. It''s not proper for me to go."


    "Silly girl, that''s why you should go."


    Of course, Caroline knew that, so she was happy. Staying in the Xaviers was not her style of doing


    things. Being able to represent the Xaviers in a legitimate name and attend more of these upper-ss


    circles was what she wanted.

 Chapter 452

    Chapter 452


    Of course, it was not proper for her to ask for that directly. Now that Violet offered her the chance,


    things got really convenient for her.


    Violet patted her hand and smiled archly, "Derek has been invited too. He would be there this year.


    Remember to dress up nicely, all right?"


    A blush shed on Caroline''s face, and she lowered her head bashfully to hide the joy in her eyes.


    Then, as if thinking of something, she raised her head and said in embarrassment.


    "Auntie, Mr. Xavier has been at odds with me since what happened in the hospital. Would he be


    unhappy to see me at the auction?"


    "Don''t worry, you''re Mr. Xavier''s guest. Derek respects his grandfather very much and won''t let him


    down. You can just go there."


    "If there''s anything you like at the auction, ask Derek to buy it for you."


    "Derek has always been very busy at work. Even if he works in D City, he rarely has time toe back.


    You must seize the opportunity this time," Violet said genially.


    That was true, and Caroline also agreed with that.


    Ever since she lived in the Xaviers, she had only seen Derek several times. Even when Derek came


    back, he always plunged into the study and ordered the housekeeper to serve dinner for him.


    Originally, she had nned to get closer to Derek, but now, even if she was at the Xaviers every day,


    she had got the least chance of meeting him.


    During the time since she went back, all clues she had seen on tv, in newspapers, in magazines, and


    experienced personally in the Xaviers had exposed that the Xaviers had overwhelming power and


    financial resources.


    Every time she thought of this, she felt a rush of enthusiasm in her heart, and her inted ambition was


    getting bigger and bigger.


    As long as she could marry Derek, and became the mistress of the Xaviers, all of the power and


    fortune would belong to her, and she would also enjoy numerous wealth and fame.


    That was right, that was the life she had been longing for, the life that she should live. She believed that


    she would definitely seed.


    Soon, the date of the auction came.


    Derek attended the charity auction, but he also brought a femalepanion with him, who was


    naturally Meredith.


    It took him several days to let Meredith agree to go with him.


    It was not because Meredith felt reluctant to go with Derek, but because the participants of such arge


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    auction were all from prominent families, and there would even be journalists at the scene.


    Derek would definitely be the focus of these people''s attention at that time. Meredith did not want to be


    paid attention to. Then the rumors between them would be spread again.


    But after all, Meredith was too tender to reject his persistent request, so finally she agreed.


    In fact, to be honest, in the headquarters of Xavier Group, rumors about her and Derek had been


    spread for a long time. If Derek had not restrained them forcefully, the news had already been reported


    by the journalists.


    Derek was dressed in a custom-made suit and Meredith in avender slim dress with a girdle. They


    stood together, both elegant and attractive, drawing countless attention as soon as they entered.


    Derek calmly responded to everyone''s pleasantries, but every time when someone asked about


    Meredith beside him, the smile on his face became more sincere. Then he naturally told others that he


    was courting her.


    The woman pursued by Derek with his confirmation immediately received as much attention as Derek


    himself, which made Meredith felt so awkward that she almost turned around and left.


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Meredith red at him and gritted his teeth.


    Derek took her by the waist and leaned close to her ear with a chuckle, "Dear my wife, it''s not fair to


    say that."


    "I''m just telling them that I''m courting you. Think about our son. He would surely know nothing about


    the proper asion. Think what if he calls you mom when he sees you. It''s much more appealing than


    what I said."


    "You''re not angry about how your son called you or what trouble it may cause. I can''t even say the


    word " girlfriend." Are you not even satisfied with that? Isn''t it much too unfair to me?"


    In the end, Derek''s tone was filled with grievances and resentments, which was definitely his true


    feeling.


    Meredith was really surprised by him, and she was a little dumbfounded for she could not refute what


    Derek said, but she would never show it.


    "Our son is still a kid and he knows nothing. How can you wish to be treated equally with our son?"


    "Of course I can. I''m just showing them a hint. So that someday when our son calls you mom in public,


    they can be prepared for that."


    Meredith, "..."


    She sighed helplessly in her mind. She just couldn''t debate this man.


    They walked into the inner field, without noticing a pair of shocked, angry, and embarrassed eyes


    behind them.


    Caroline couldn''t believe what she saw. A man like Derek, with a serious and cold face, would actually


    show that expression to coax a woman?


    She could have lied to herself that it was normal for a president like Derek to attend such a party with a


    femalepanion.


    Maybe she was his secretary or a friend, so she didn''t have to worry too much.


    But now with this scene, and the words that Derek had just told to others, how could she continue to lie


    to herself? Had Derek found his lover?


    The news really caught her off guard.


    Caroline looked at herself. She had dressed from head to toe, and she had imagined many times what


    would Derek behave or look like when he saw her.


    Considering Derek''s opinion of her, she had even thought of countless opening remarks, only to get


    along better with him.


    But now it seemed that what she had thought before was just too ridiculous. Caroline''s face turned


    flushed, and she was filled with anger.


    There were numerous eye sights around her. She came here on behalf of Violet so she could say that


    she was from the Xaviers. But now, it was really embarrassing for her to say so.


    If these people asked Derek for confirmation and the aloof man did not consider her decency at all, she


    would definitely lose face.


    Caroline clenched his palms tightly and hesitated for a moment. Finally, she organized her expression


    and walked in with a graceful smile again.


    So what if Derek had someone he loved? She was just a woman. Caroline thought herself was no


    worse than any other woman.


    Moreover, in a different way, she was notpletely gainless today. At least she knew that there was a


    woman beside Derek, a rival of her.


    Since she met her, an inquiry would naturally be requisite.

 Chapter 453

    Chapter 453


    Meredith went to the bathroom as the auction went on halfway.


    She was walking with the hem of her skirt held in her hand. Around the corner, someone came from the


    other side, she was caught off guard and bumped into that person.


    "Ah..."


    Meredith was startled and steadied herself, and then she found a young woman in a dress fell to the


    ground.


    Her expression changed and she immediately stepped forward to help her up, "Miss, I''m so sorry. Are


    you okay? I didn''t mean to bump into you."


    Caroline stood up, patted the dust off her body, looked at Meredith up and down quickly, and then


    raised a friendly smile.


    "I''m okay. It''s not your fault. I didn''t expect someone to suddenly appear. I was so scared that I


    identally fell to the ground. It has nothing to do with you."


    Seeing her being nice and generous, Meredith was relieved and had a good impression of her. She


    smiled and said, "I''m d you''re okay."


    "Are you here to join the auction? There are so many exits and bathrooms in this auction house. It''s


    some sort of destiny to meet each other. Nice to meet you."


    "My name is Caroline, and you?" Caroline asked suddenly.


    N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    Hearing her name, Meredith was stunned. Her son had reported to her every day. Every day, she could


    hear the same name.


    That name was Caroline. It was hard for her not to remember it.


    Caroline, a young woman who suddenly moved into the Xaviers, the granddaughter of an oldrade


    of Mr. Xavier, had returned home recently.


    Meredith had never expected that the woman she identally bumped into would be Caroline. What a


    coincidence.


    Meredith''s expression froze as she thought about it, and she quickly regained herposure, "My


    name is Meredith. Nice to meet you."


    Caroline had observed her expression, her eyes twinkling, and she thought to herself, "it seems that


    Meredith has known about her?"


    "Where did she find out? It couldn''t have been Derek who told her, could it?"


    Caroline couldn''t figure out for a moment. Since this Meredith knew who she was, Caroline had an


    idea.


    "Meredith, what a nice name. Are you going to the bathroom? Let''s go together."


    As she spoke, she turned around and left. Meredith had no choice but to follow her.


    Caroline stood by the table to refine her makeup. When she took out the powder box, she seemed to


    be exerting too much force, and something inside dropped on the ground.


    "Ah..."


    She screamed in surprise, then hurriedly put her makeup tools in her bag and washed her hands.


    Seeing this, Meredith subconsciously bent over to help her pick it up. It was the invitation to the party.


    "Thank you, Meredith, but it''s wet. Is it invalid? It''s my first time attending a party like this. I don''t know if


    this invitation will be of any useter."


    Meredithforted her, "Don''t worry. This invitation is just a confirmation. You won''t need itter."


    "Really? Then I''m relieved."


    "Hey, I told my mother-inw that I didn''t want toe to this auction. She insisted that I should attend


    more social activities since I''ve juste back." Caroline looked helpless.


    Her words made Meredith''s heart skip a beat, "Your mother-inw?"


    Caroline nodded, "Yes, my mother-inw was invited to this auction. Actually, I''m not invited, but she


    insisted that I shoulde with her."


    As she spoke, she opened the invitation and showed it to her, "Here, see? It''s not my name at all. It''s


    my mother-inw''s name."


    Inside the invitation, the gold-gild printed name at the first line was very eye-catching. Violet''s name


    bumped into Meredith''s eyes. Her hands clenched tightly, and she felt shocked.


    "You... Are married?" Her face stiffened.


    "No." Caroline shook her head.


    Meredith bit her lips and lowered her eyes, "Since you''re not married, what do you call..."


    "Oh, you said why I called her mother-inw? I haven''t married her son, but soon will. She''s my future


    mother-inw. She talks to me all the time about how good her son is and we are a perfect match."


    "It was as if she wanted us to tie the knot right away. I feel embarrassed."


    "And my future husband''s grandfather, who is also looking forward to me marrying into their family,


    well."


    Caroline seemed not to notice that Meredith''s expression was getting stiffer and stiffer. She kept talking


    about this fake reality and in the end, she almost believed the story she made up.


    "Caroline, I still have something to do, so I''m leaving first."


    Meredith''s mind was filled with what Caroline had just said, future mother-inw, future husband.


    These addresses constantly stimted her brain nerves.


    She couldn''t help but smile bitterly. She thought that she should hate Derek to the extreme after


    rejecting him again and again but in the end...


    As long as it was about him, her emotions were still so easily affected. Even though her past with that


    man was terrible, she could not escape the influence of that man.


    She was not in the mood to be with Caroline, so she found an excuse and went out.


    Looking at Meredith''s somewhat embarrassed back, Caroline slowly turned around and looked at her


    beautiful face in the mirror. Her lips slowly curled up.


    Derek looked at Meredith, "Why have you been there so long?"


    Meredith did not answer him, but remained silent.


    He could not help but frown, feeling that something was wrong, but now it was not a good time to ask.


    He could only change the topic, "Later on, there is a perfect jade bracelet of the early Qing dynasty. Do


    you like it? I''ll bid it for you."


    Meredith still didn''t respond and didn''t even look at him.


    Finally, the auction was over and they got in the car.


    "Meredith? What''s wrong with you? You don''t look well. Are you feeling well..."


    She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him expressionlessly, "I''m fine, just a little tired."


    "Is it because working in A Department is under a lot of pressure? Do you need me to give you


    someday off? You have to take care of yourself. Your health is the priority. Don''t make me worried."


    Derek said.


    Meredith looked at him as if she didn''t hear what he said and suddenly asked, "Derek, I want to ask


    you a question."


    "Please."


    "... If one day you get married, can you give me custody of Easton?"


    Derek mmed on the brakes. Even though he was a calm man, he was shocked by Meredith''s


    sudden question.


    He looked at the woman next to him and his face turned gloomy uncontrobly. He really didn''t


    understand. They were fine just now. Why would Meredith suddenly ask him this question?


    "Meredith, what''s wrong with you? Did you hear something? Or did someone tell you something?"

 Chapter 454

    Chapter 454


    Besides this, Derek could not think of any other possibility for a moment.


    Meredith''s attitude changed after she came back from the bathroom. He wondered if Meredith had met


    someone or heard something.


    She lowered her eyes and said slowly after a while, "I heard that your mother likes Miss Baker, who


    lives in your house, very much."


    Derek understood. He didn''t know that Caroline was also at the auction. He had thought that she heard


    something.


    "Meredith, I''ve told you that you don''t need to care about what my mother says or does. I want you, and


    no one can change my mind."


    Meredith sneered, "No one can change your mind? It''s not the truth."


    Derek''s face darkened. He furrowed. Meredith was now like a hedgehog. No matter what he said, it


    didn''t work at all. He really felt tired.


    Meredith also stopped talking and they remained silent for a moment.


    The next day.


    As she had expected, there were a lot of reports about that Derek attended the auction with a beauty


    and they acted intimately on the spot, and he admitted publicly that he was pursuing the beauty and so


    on.


    As soon as Meredith entered thepany, everyone was looking at her curiously.


    She pursed her lips. Thinking of what she saw on her phone this morning, she totally ignored them and


    walked in.


    In Xavier Group.


    "Grandma, grandma, mom makes the headline."


    Easton was sitting at the table drinking milk. With a milk mustache around his lips, he was very cute.


    He caught a glimpse of the headlines in the newspaper and immediately shouted, afraid that others


    wouldn''t hear him.


    Caroline paused and also looked at the newspaper. As expected, she saw the picture of Derek and


    Meredith standing together.


    But that wasn''t the point. She looked at Easton asked in surprised, "Easton, what did you... say?"


    Easton pouted and snorted at her. He ignored her and jumped off the stool and ran to Violet,


    "Grandma, look, my mother makes the headline."


    Violet''s face was very gloomy, and after hearing her grandson''s words, she felt even more unhappy.


    "Mom? Easton, I''ve told you not to call her like that."


    "Hmph, but she''s my mom."


    The little guy was displeased. He pouted and retorted, then red at Caroline and ran upstairs.


    The two women at the dinner table had lost their appetite.


    Caroline was shocked. She felt that things were once again out of her control.


    Yesterday, in the bathroom of the auction, she deliberately said something to that woman. And seeing


    that the woman looked like she was struck out of her wits, she felt very proud.


    Such a useless woman was not her match at all. She had thought that she didn''t need to pay attention


    to her.


    But she never expected that Easton would admit that woman as his mom. Thinking of what that little


    bastard did to her, her face turned sullen.


    How could Caroline bear that?


    Mr. Xavier obviously didn''t want her to marry into the Xaviers. Did the old man like that Meredith too?


    If that was the case, only Violet was on her side. Caroline suddenly felt that Meredith was dangerous.


    She had to find a solution.


    A few days passed, and the weather in D City was getting colder and colder. The Xaviers was about to


    hold a big event this Friday.


    Mr. Xavier was going to have his eightieth birthday, and Easton''s birthday was near, so they had a


    birthday party together every year.


    This year was no exception. The Xaviers invited many guests toe to celebrate their birthday, and


    the party was held at the Xaviers.


    This time, there was no need for Derek to invite Meredith. Meredith could not refuse her son''s


    invitation. As his mother, she could not be absent.


    So Meredith would attend too.


    After knowing this, Violet was very unhappy. And Easton angrily retorted with a childish voice, "I can


    invite whoever I want to attend my birthday party. Grandma, since you don''t want to celebrate my


    birthday, you don''t need to attend."


    Mr. Xavier echoed him since he didn''t want his grandson to feel aggrieved.


    She could teach her grandson a lesson, but she didn''t dare to say anything to Mr. Xavier. Now, no


    matter how angry Violet was, she could do nothing.


    With the status of the Xaviers in D City, Mr. Xavier''s eightieth birthday party was crowded with guests.


    Almost every powerful families and enterprises attend.


    Caroline stood in front of the window on the second floor and saw the scene below with bright eyes.


    She turned around gracefully and looked at herself in the mirror to make sure everything was perfect.


    Then she went downstairs with a confident smile.


    Violet took Caroline with her and greeted the people she knew with a smile. Everyone asked about


    Caroline, and Violet introduced her.


    So everyone looked up to Caroline. Of course, there were many people who were sensitive to notice


    more from Violet''s introduction.


    Mrs. Xavier was clearly introducing Miss Baker as her daughter-inw.


    After all, Mr. Xavier was an old man, and he couldn''t stay in such a noisy scene for a long time. He


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    showed up, took the gift and went back room to rest.


    When Easton found that the annoying woman became the main character of his birthday party, he was


    unhappy, and so no one else could have a good time.


    The little guy rolled his eyes and thought of something. He was dressed in a handsome and cute little


    suit, and he walked towards the crowd.


    "Ah, our birthday boy is here."


    "Little Young Master is getting cuter and cuter."


    "Cute? Little Young Master is handsome. Hehe..."


    As soon as he appeared, everyone''s attention was attracted. After all, Caroline was not necessarily an


    important figure.


    But Easton, the precious young master, was very noble. Everyone knew that the whole the Xaviers


    loved him very much.


    And he was supposed to be the head of the Xaviers in the future. So even though he was a kid, they


    should please them.


    "Grandma, grandpa asked you toe over."


    Violet was stunned, "Did your grandfather ask me toe over? Okay, I''ll go."


    Without any doubt, she immediately put down her wine ss and left.


    Without Violet by the side, the guesses felt more rxed when talking to Caroline and Easton.

 Chapter 455

    Chapter 455


    "Easton, what do you want to eat? I''ll get it for you. You''re young. It''s not good for your health if you


    don''t eat at night."


    Caroline looked at Easton in a very natural and amiable way. She acted as an elder and looked at


    Easton with concern.


    She knew this little bastard didn''t like her. He always looked at her coldly and treated her badly. If it


    wasn''t for Derek''s sake, she wouldn''t have been bothered to talk to this little beast.


    But now that so many people were watching, she knew that she still had to pretend to care more about


    this little thing. Caroline even had figured out how she would react if Easton lost his temper in public.


    But...


    Easton looked at Caroline and shook his head. His voice was very calm and he looked at her seriously,


    "Thank you, but no need. Dad told me not to eat anything that a stranger gives me."


    Caroline''s smile froze immediately.


    The guests around looked at each other in confusion. What did Little Young Master mean? Did he


    mean that Caroline was just a stranger?


    When they saw Violet introduce Caroline so seriously, they thought...


    Caroline really wanted to strangle the little bastard. But she still tried to suppress the anger in her heart,


    and she forced out a smile, "Children like to joke. It''s okay."


    Easton pouted, "I don''t like to joke. Auntie Caroline, grandpa said that you''re only staying at our house


    for the time being. When will you move out?"


    Such straightforward words quieted down the whole ce.


    Caroline felt so awkward. She only felt embarrassed when she saw people around looking at her. She


    gripped her palms tightly. The stinging pain prevented her from losing her mind in anger.


    "Easton, do you really want me to leave?" She almost squeezed these words out of her gritted teeth.


    Easton nodded, "Yes, because my dad said my mom wille soon."


    As soon as he said this, Caroline''s expression became sullen. The guests around them were in an


    uproar and there were mours ofments.


    On the outskirts of the crowd, Meredith stopped and felt helpless. She took a deep breath, turned and


    quickly left the ce.


    She came because she heard Easton''s voice, but as soon as she came, she heard her son''s heroic


    words. What could she do? Naturally, she couldn''t bear to scold her son, so she had to run away.


    Caroline inadvertently looked up and saw Meredith leaving. She narrowed her eyes and a cold light of


    ruthlessness shed across her eyes. Without saying a word, she stood up and left.


    Easton naturally ignored her and let her go.


    "Miss Mason?"


    Caroline quickly caught up with Meredith and stopped Meredith.


    Meredith turned around and was taken aback when she saw Caroline. Then, Meredith nodded calmly,


    "Miss Baker, what a coincidence."


    Caroline smiled gently, "It''s a coincidence, Miss Mason. I need your help with something. Can you help


    me?"


    Meredith was a little surprised, "What is it?"


    Caroline''s smile remained the same, "Miss Mason will know when youe with me." After that, she


    turned around and left first.


    Meredith couldn''t help but frown and thought for a moment before following Caroline.


    To her surprise, Caroline walked straight through the guests and brought her to the main hall of the


    Xaviers. Meredith couldn''t help but stop.


    "Miss Baker, what''s is it? I won''t go inside."


    "Just give me a little hand. You''ll know when youe with me. It''s okay." How could Caroline let her


    back off? She grabbed Meredith''s hand and pulled Meredith up to the second floor forcefully.


    Meredith felt uneasy. Caroline was acting weird. Meredith could not help but shake off Caroline''s hand,


    "What do you want to do?" Caroline didn''t look like that she needed help at all.


    They stood at the staircase. Caroline looked at her, "Miss Mason, actually, I brought you here just to


    find a quiet ce and have a few words to say to you."


    Meredith looked at Caroline expressionless, "What do you want to say?"


    "We''re about the same age, so I''ll just call you Meredith. I know you heard what Easton said just now,


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    and I know that the so-called mother in Easton''s mouth is you."


    The so-called mother? Her words made Meredith feel a little ufortable. Easton was her son. No


    one could deny this.


    Meredith put on a long face and said nothing.


    Caroline didn''t care and she continued, "Miss Mason, I really didn''t expect you to get tangled up with


    my fianc¨¦."


    Meredith, "..."


    She was a little dumbfounded, a little speechless, and a little amused. Meredith could not help but


    refute as Caroline said these words in a merited way.


    "Miss Baker, I''m sorry. I have a boyfriend and I don''t know who your fianc¨¦ is, so please watch your


    Caroline was stunned, "You have a boyfriend?"


    Meredith curved her lips slightly, "Yes, my boyfriend''s name is Derek. I just don''t know who your fianc¨¦


    is."


    As soon as these words came out, Caroline became sullen.


    Meredith continued, "By the way, you should have read the papers a few days ago. There''s a report


    about our rtionship. As for your fianc¨¦, I''m not interested in him."


    "Meredith, what do you mean?" Caroline couldn''t help but grit her teeth.


    "I should have asked you this question. Last time, at the auction, you bumped into me on purpose and


    told me all that specious information to make me misunderstand."


    "Now what do you mean by doing this?"


    Indeed, on the way back from the auctionst time, Meredith had a cold war with Derek for a while. But


    when she got home, she suddenly thought of something that she hadn''t paid enough attention to.


    Derek was at the auction, and so was Caroline. Logically, Caroline must know that Derek was there,


    but from the beginning to the end, Meredith didn''t see Caroline appear in front of Derek.


    Besides, since Caroline was there, Caroline should have known that Meredith was Derek''s female


    Caroline narrowed her eyes and shrugged nonchntly as she found that Meredith had seen through


    her tricks, "On purpose? The Xaviers are really satisfied with me. I''m not lying to you about that."


    "If you don''t trust me, you can ask Auntie Violet if she wants me to be her daughter-inw."


    Meredith didn''t need to ask. Of course, she knew that Violet would not prevent anyone from marrying


    Derek except her.


    We Mer looked at Caroline coldly and was about to walk past Caroline to go downstairs, but Caroline


    stopped Meredith, "Wait. I haven''t finished speaking. You can''t go."


    Meredith frowned and nced at her. Meredith was toozy to talk to her. Meredith walked sideways


    and was about to leave.


    Caroline gritted her teeth and a sinister gleam shed in her eyes. She immediately took a step back


    and tried to pull Meredith. But Caroline missed her step and immediately fell back and rolled down the


    stairs.


    "Ah..." In an instant, a shrill scream pierced the sky.

 Chapter 456

    Chapter 456


    Meredith was still stretching out her hand in a daze. She didn''t expect Caroline to fall down at all.


    Subconsciously, she wanted to pull her, but it was toote.


    She looked down at Caroline, who was lying motionless on the ground. Her face was slightly livid, the


    corners of her mouth were a little pale, and her lips trembled. She was obviously frightened.


    Caroline''s scream before she fainted attracted all the guests outside.


    They all eximed, and some timid women screamed incessantly. The next second, all kinds of


    suspicious and questioning eyes shot at Meredith.


    Meredith was even stiffer.


    "God, isn''t this Miss Baker? What''s going on?"


    "I''m afraid only the one upstairs knows what''s going on. Look at her. I think she must have something


    to do with Miss Baker''s falling."


    "Of course, there are only two of them here. Miss Baker fell down while she stood well. She must have


    something to do with it. Perhaps she did it on purpose."


    "Shh, keep your voice down."


    "There''s no need to be so alert. Do you know how much Mrs. Xavier likes this Miss Baker? I heard Mrs.


    Xavier is going to make Miss Baker her daughter-inw. If anything happens to her, that woman


    upstairs will definitely suffer."


    "Quite on the contrary, I heard that Easton, the young master of the Xaviers, hated Miss Baker very


    much. He just humiliated her in public."


    "That''s right, I heard about it too, and you haven''t forgotten about the newspapers a while ago, have


    you? Meredith was the apple of Mr. Xavier''s eye."


    "Well, no matter what, it''s wrong to push someone. It''s such a high staircase. She''s going to kill Miss


    Baker. How horrifying."


    "Yes, yes, you''re right."


    All the unscrupulous discussions below ran into Meredith''s ears. Her face was pale, and she clenched


    her fists tightly, her lips moving slightly.


    She wanted to say that she didn''t push Caroline, and that it was Caroline who identally fell down,


    but even if she said so, would these people believe her?


    Just as Meredith didn''t know what to do, Violet appeared.


    "Caroline? Caroline, what''s wrong with you?" She immediately walked to Caroline''s side, her eyes wide


    and her face full of anxiety, and the guests beside her said a few words to her.


    Her eyes shot at her like a sharp sword.


    "Meredith." Her name was called out by Violet through gritted teeth.


    "I knew you were a scourge. It''s not enough for you to harm my son. Today is the Old Master''s birthday.


    What do you want to do?"


    "And you are so vicious that you pushed Caroline down from such a tall staircase. How dare you?"


    Meredith bit her lips and stared at Violet, her throat tightening. She said, "I didn''t push her."


    "Shut up, how dare you say that? You just don''t know when to stop, do you? Where''s the butler? Help


    me call the police, call the police immediately to arrest this murderer."


    Meredith''s face turned even paler. It was ridiculous. She didn''t do anything. Violet didn''t know anything


    and justbeled her as a murderer that easily.


    Violet really wanted to destroy her all the time. Meredith was bitter and angry.


    The butler looked troubled and hesitated for a moment.


    He knew the real identity of Miss Mason. Not only did young master Derek value her, but more


    importantly, she was Little Young Master''s biological mother.


    How dared he let the policee and arrest her? If young master Derek knew about it, he would never


    be spared.


    Violet saw that he did not move and immediately bristled with rage. But before she could do anything,


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Derek came.


    "What''s going on?"


    The butler heaved a sigh of relief and immediately recounted what had happened here. Derek frowned


    and strode over.


    He looked around. His eyes did not linger on Meredith for long. Instead, he walked to Caroline''s side


    and saw the back of her head bleeding. His face immediately darkened.


    He picked her up at once and looked at Meredith expressionlessly, "Come down and follow me."


    Meredith did not react. She stared at him, more urately, at the woman in his arms. She did not


    expect that he would go to Caroline first.


    Then she shook her head in a self-deprecating manner. The woman fell down the stairs and was


    unconscious. It was normal for him to worry and pay attention to Caroline.


    Seeing that she didn''t move, Derek couldn''t help but frown, "Meredith?"


    He subconsciously ced his hand on Caroline''s head, which was witnessed by Meredith. She silently


    lowered her eyes and felt a sharp pain in her heart.


    She felt dizzy at the moment, and there seemed to be countless buzzing sounds in her ears and she


    could not hear the voices of the guests around her anymore.


    She did not want to stay in the Xaviers at all. She walked stiffly down the stairs step by step.


    "No, Derek, this woman pushed Caroline. She can''t leave." Violet''s face was sullen.


    Derek was also wearing a cold face, "Mom, did you see her push Caroline?"


    "I..." Violet paused.


    "Since you haven''t seen it, please be careful about your words. I brought her here. I know what to do. If


    you''re tired, go to rest."


    When he saw Meredithe down, he didn''t say anything more. He strode off with her and left Joshua


    to deal with the rest.


    "Derek, you, stop right there." In front of so many prestigious figures, her son did not show any respect


    for her. Violet felt so angry and her heart ached.


    "Madam, I''ll take care of the rest for Mr. Xavier, so you don''t have to worry about it. Butler, help madam


    upstairs to rest."


    Violet was so angry that she gritted her teeth and stared at Joshua for a long time, unable to speak. In


    the end, she really felt ashamed and went upstairs with a cold snort.


    Joshua apologized and dismissed the party in advance.


    Meanwhile, on the bus to the hospital.


    Derek put Caroline''s head on hisp and pressed her wound with the palm of his hand, his hand


    covered with blood. The atmosphere in the car was strangely oppressive.


    Meredith watched from the corner of her eye as he gently held Caroline''s head and even took off his


    coat to cover her wound with a straight face.


    She withdrew her gaze and leaned back, looking out of the window at the scene. Her sad face was


    reflected on the ss.


    Derek was so worried about Caroline, was it... Was it because he liked her and cared about her that he


    was so worried to see her get hurt?


    From the moment she got in the car, Derek didn''t even look at her, let alone talk to her.

 Chapter 457

    Chapter 457


    For the first time, Meredith had been treated so coldly by him, and this pain was killing her.


    Did he, too, believe that she had pushed Caroline, and that was why he didn''t want to look at her?


    Meredith''s heart was overwhelmed with unprecedented agony as if she had relived what happened five


    years ago.


    "Derek, I didn''t push her."


    In the end, she couldn''t help but say it, but there was no response from him. Meredith slowly closed her


    eyes.


    They arrived at the hospital soon, and Derek ran in with Caroline in his arms. The doctors and nurses


    who had already been in contact were waiting downstairs. He was relieved when he handed Caroline


    over.


    While Caroline was in surgery, Derek and Meredith waited outside.


    Derek went to the bathroom and cleaned himself up. After he came out, he sat next to Meredith and


    looked at her. He said slowly, "Meredith, what happened tonight? You must tell me in detail."


    Meredith looked at his serious eyes expressionlessly and couldn''t help but sneer. She did not have any


    hopes.


    "Don''t you already believe that I pushed her downstairs? Then why bother to ask?"


    Derek was stunned and looked at her with confusion. He had to know the details of the matter to deal


    with it.


    He did not understand why Meredith suddenly became so grumpy. Was she frightened?


    At the thought of this, he couldn''t help but feel a little guilty. He brought her here himself, but in the end,


    something like this happened under his nose. In fact, he was also responsible.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Meredith, be good. Don''t be willful at this time. Tell me the details."


    "You know, so many people there think that you pushed Caroline, so Caroline had to be safe at this


    time. If something really happens, it will also affect your career. I don''t think you would like to see it."


    Now Meredith was stunned. She looked at him in a daze and whispered, "Are... Are you doing this for


    me?"


    Derek looked at the woman who seemed to have lost her soul and couldn''t help but rub her head, "Of


    course I''m doing this for you. Who else could I do it for?"


    "Meredith, what''s wrong with you? Are you out of your mind? Are you frightened by what happened


    tonight?"


    He gently took her into his arms, caressed her shoulder, and said softly, "I''m here. Don''t be afraid. As


    for Caroline, I believe it had nothing to do with you that she fell down the stairs."


    "In other words, even if it really has something to do with you, it''s definitely because of what she did.


    That''s what she deserved. You don''t have to me yourself."


    As soon as these words came out, the familiar and domineering Derek, who would always protect her,


    came back. Meredith leaned into his arms and couldn''t help but close her eyes.


    Knowing that she had misunderstood him, Meredith felt a little embarrassed and thought that she had


    lost her mind just now.


    She took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, and slowly recounted what happened tonight.


    Derek listened quietly. When he heard what Caroline said to Meredith, a chilling light shed in his


    eyes. He understood everything.


    Sure enough, he thought there was something fishy going on tonight, and the source was really that


    woman Caroline.


    Caroline''s series of action tonight was full of loopholes. Even though he didn''t witness it, he had every


    reason to infer that the woman might have fallen down on her own.


    He could not help but think of Caroline''s wound. She fell from such a high staircase, causing such a


    serious head injury and massive loss of blood. It was too real. Who would have thought that she would


    deliberately hurt herself like this?


    It was also a little too shocking. A woman who could be so cruel to herself was the granddaughter of


    Old Master''s old friend. It was really troublesome.


    Derek''s face was a little gloomy, but his voice to Meredith was still gentle, "I see. I''ll handle this. It''s


    veryte now. I''ll ask the driver to send you back to rest."


    Meredith shook her head, "I''m fine. I want to wait and see how her wound is."


    No matter what, Caroline fell right under her nose. She couldn''t sleep without hearing the truth.


    It took more than an hour. After the operation was over, the doctor came out and told them that the


    patient had just lost too much blood and her life was not in danger. The operation was sessful and


    the two of them went home.


    The next day, Derek came to the hospital again, apanied by Violet and Mr. Xavier.


    This was the second time that the Xaviers had visited this Caroline in the hospital. The woman could


    really make a fuss.


    "Caroline, I asked the kitchen to make you some tonic soup. Drink it when it''s not too hot. You''ll have to


    take a good rest after losing so much blood this time." Violet looked at her with pity.


    Caroline nodded obediently, "I see. Thank you, auntie."


    When Mr. Xavier saw that she was fine, he focused on another thing, "Caroline, you''re lucky to be fine


    this time. Tell me what happened that day."


    Violet immediately put on a long face, "What else? It''s so obvious. She was pushed down. If Derek


    hadn''t stopped me, I wouldn''t have spared that woman."


    Mr. Xavier and Derek''s faces darkened.


    Seeing this, Caroline immediately put down the soup and said, "Auntie, no, you misunderstood,


    actually... That night, I was standing at the stairs, not pushed by Miss Mason... I fell down by ident."


    After she finished speaking, she nced at Derek cautiously.


    Derek was expressionless. She could not read him.


    Derek was not surprised at what she said. If she was a smart person, she would tell the truth. After all,


    if they really looked into this matter, the story where she was pushed down could not stand.


    Violet''s face froze. She did not expect Caroline to say that. She could not help but frown, "Caroline, do


    you remember wrong? You''re a grown-up. How could you fall down the stairs? There were only you


    two at that time. It was she who pushed you, right?"


    "Enough."


    Mr. Xavier looked at his grandson''s increasingly sullen face and couldn''t help but scold her, "What are


    you talking about? Caroline said that Meredith didn''t push him."


    "She already said that. But you, the mistress of the Xaviers, draw conclusions based on your


    preference and supposition. Are you going to bring shame on the Xaviers?"


    "Violet, all these years, you have be more and more ridiculous."


    After all, Violet was afraid of Mr. Xavier. Her heart tightened and she did not dare to say anything more,


    but her anger at Meredith was even more intense.


    She believed that Meredith was the one who caused her to lose face so many times. She was a


    seductress and a scourge.


    After sitting for a while, Mr. Xavier forcibly took Violet away, while Derek who had been silent stayed.

 Chapter 458

    Chapter 458


    "Mr. Xavier? Anything else?" Caroline wanted to stay with Derek alone, but she couldn''t ignore Derek''s


    unfriendly gaze.


    "Caroline, you should be d that you are the granddaughter of my grandfather''s old friend. Otherwise,


    I will not let you off the hook since you dare to frame my fianc¨¦e," Derek said coldly.


    Caroline''s face dropped uncontrobly, "Mr. Xavier, I don''t understand what you meant."


    She immediately understood and said, "It must have been Miss Mason who told you something. I really


    didn''t expect it. I already admitted that she hadn''t pushed me. Why would she still nder against me?"


    Derek narrowed his eyes, "Admitted? You mean you were indeed pushed down by Meredith?"


    A malicious look flickered across Caroline''s eyes. She lowered and shook her head, "I don''t know. My


    memory of the details of what happened is a little hazy. I can only remember that we were arguing on


    the stairs at that time. Miss Mason was a little emotional."


    "Maybe she just identally pushed me down rather than intentionally did that..."


    Derek looked at her. Nobody could know what was going on in his mind. He suddenly said, "What did


    you argue about?"


    Caroline gave him a hesitant nce and said slowly, "Maybe Miss Mason was angry since she saw me


    in the Xaviers. She always said that I didn''t have the right to live in the Xaviers and asked me to get


    out."


    Derek nodded directly, "Meredith is right. It''s quite inappropriate that you live in the Xaviers. However, it


    was a bit outspoken of her to say that. You just need to move out."


    Caroline: "..."


    She suddenly looked up at him, and her face contorted for a moment.


    Derek continued, "If she identally pushed you down for that, it was not a big deal. After all, people


    always lose control of their hands when strong feelings sweep over them. You can only me your bad


    luck."


    Caroline: "... "


    She looked at him in disbelief, her face ashen. She was obviously shocked by what she had heard.


    How did this happen? Why would Derek think Meredith was right after she implied that Meredith


    pushed her? Was it all her fault?


    How could he have such strange logic as the president of Xavier Group? Fury mounted and burnt


    inside Caroline, but she couldn''t vent her anger and had to stifle it.


    Derek looked at her with a sneer and turned to leave.


    Since this woman was so fond of yacting in front of him, he could let her know his honest opinion.


    He''d like to appreciate how she continued to affect innocence.


    Eastonter learned about the sensational event that happened at the party. When he heard so many


    people besmirching his mother''s reputation, he was so furious.


    His anger, of course, would be vented on Caroline.


    In his opinion, Caroline was an evil woman. It must have been her who framed his mother this time.


    Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Easton had never been treated unfairly. Therefore, he would only


    try to take revenge instead of holding back his anger.


    Today, unusually for him, he asked Violet to take him to the amusement park. Of course, Violet, an


    upper-ssdy, would never go to such a crowded ce.


    However, when her beloved grandson endearingly requested her, her heart almost melted. When she


    felt reluctant to refuse Easton, she was suddenly inspired.


    "Easton, let Auntie Caroline go the amusement park with you, okay?"


    The more Violet thought about it, the more she felt that it was a good idea. Because of what happened


    good rtionship.


    If Easton could have a good time with Caroline and like her, that would be great.


    Caroline, who was standing beside her, immediately responded with a smile after a short while of


    bewilderment, "No problem. Easton, let me take you to the amusement park, okay?"


    Even Easton had got what he wanted, he still pretended to be displeased and curled his lip, "Humph,


    have you ever been to an amusement park? Do you know how to y there?"


    "Easton, you definitely know, right? You can teach meter, and I promise I will learn very seriously."


    Caroline said softly, looking very obedient.


    Violet looked at them with satisfaction.


    "All right, you said it yourself. You have to y with me and can''t go back on your word. Otherwise, it''s


    not fun for me to y alone."


    Caroline did not take it seriously and agreed.


    In her mind, what else could such a young child y at an amusement park except for things like


    carousels and trampolines?


    Well, Caroline''s impression of the domestic amusement parkgged well, so her trip today was


    destined to be miserable.


    They arrived at D City''srgest amusement park. Because today was a weekday, tourists were not as


    many as usual. But there were still a lot of people.


    Among Easton''s five bodyguards, only Adam and Andy were along with him. The other three just kept


    a distance behind him and protected him secretly. As soon as they entered the amusement park,


    Easton ran towards the dodgems with familiarity.


    Caroline listened to the cacophony of screams of the children inside and the sounds of collisions. She


    felt very ufortable and unable to fit in with this ce.


    She had always stayed away from such a noisy and crowded ce, but today she had to be here.


    "Let''s go y with that." Easton pointed inside with a sudden gleam in his eyes.


    Andy went straight to buy the tickets without saying anything.


    Caroline didn''t want to go in, so she forced a smile and said to him, "Easton, I think this game is too


    dangerous. Let''s y another game. That''s pretty good."


    Easton followed her finger and saw the merry-go-round. His face crumpled, and he looked at her with


    disdain.


    "I didn''t expect Auntie Caroline to like such childish games. I have outgrown them."


    After he finished speaking, he ran directly into the dodgem''s yard. Caroline had no choice but to follow


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    him with a poker face.


    Sitting in the narrow seat, Caroline didn''t know how to put her hands and feet. She felt that there were


    no clean ces at all in the whole dodgem.


    Just as she was about to take out a wet tissue with a hard face to wipe the inside of the dodgem car,


    the car suddenly rushed forward. Caught off guard, she was hit in her back and screamed out.


    Easton looked at her from the corner of his eye and sneered in his mind. He held the steering wheel in


    his small hand and crashed into other dodgem cars.


    However, Caroline suffered. Her screams and cries echoed through the yard.


    "Easton, stop! Stop! I''m going off."


    Eastonpletely ignored her and hit other cars even harder instead. Unfortunately, there was a time


    limit to this game. In just a few minutes, Easton jumped out of the car.


    Caroline''s face almost twisted. She came down by holding the car door, and she even failed to care


    whether the door was clean.


    Easton looked at her and curled his lips, "Auntie Caroline, you''re so cowardly that you are scared of


    such a small car. If you hadn''t screamed and disturbed me, I would have driven better."

 Chapter 459

    Chapter 459


    Caroline, "..."


    She was so angry that she almost couldn''t breathe. She clutched her palm tightly and took a deep


    breath. The corners of her lips trembled, "Really? I''m sorry."


    Easton was happy in his heart, then waved his hand and looked around. His eyes lit up and he pointed


    to a cart in front of him, "Auntie Caroline, there are people selling candied gourd. I want to eat them.


    You buy me a bunch."


    The tone of hismand was so righteous.


    Caroline looked at him in a daze and subconsciously at Adam and Andy. How could she do such


    errands? Shouldn''t he hand this over to these two bodyguards?


    Adam and Andy kept their eyes straight and their figures remained motionless.


    "Your name is Adam, right? Easton wants to eat candied gourd. Go and buy him." Caroline had no


    choice but to order again.


    Easton looked at Caroline with a stern face, "Auntie Caroline, what are you talking about? I asked you


    to buy it for me. Why did you instruct Adam?"


    "They have to be by my side all the time to protect me. How can they leave? What if I get caught by the


    bad guys? Will you be responsible?"


    Caroline, "..."


    Her expression changed constantly and her heart was filled with bitterness. She thought to herself,


    children were really not pleasing, and the children raised by rich people made people want to strangle


    them.


    There was no other way. Caroline went there herself.


    Easton looked at her back and snorted coldly, "You dare harm my mother. You should pay the price."


    Adam and Andy looked at each other and whispered, "Master Easton, what are you going to do next?"


    "Something funny."


    As he spoke, he looked around and pointed to a ce far away, "That''s good."


    They looked over and saw a high tform in the distance. A man jumped down from it. Was this...


    Bungee jumping?


    Adam and Andy were speechless. They shook their head in their mind. Caroline was going to be


    tricked by Little Young Master today.


    Caroline bought it back, and Easton nibbled on the sweet candied gourd as he waved his little hand


    and led them forward to the bungee jumping tform.


    Caroline looked at the high jump in disbelief and had a bad feeling that she was unwilling to move


    forward.


    "Easton, aren''t we going to y those games? What are we doing here?"


    "Those games are not fun. I want to y this. This is fun at first sight," Easton said.


    Her face turned pale, "Easton, this is not fun at all, and it''s too dangerous. Listen to me. Let''s go y


    something else."


    Caroline had the urge to faint at this moment, and she regretted it so much. Why did she agree to bring


    this annoying child to the amusement park?


    Wasn''t the yground a ce for children to y? Why was there such a dangerous game as bungee


    jumping?


    How could Easton make her flinch when she was here? He grabbed her hand, pulled her hard, and


    dragged her into the cable car.


    Adam and Andy quickly followed in and the cable car door slowly closed.


    This was a cable road, which was especially for bungee jumping tforms in front of it. They could take


    the cable car to arrive there.


    Caroline sat in her seat, her legs weak and her face terrible.


    The road was not long, and it arrived in less than a minute.


    There was also a rule on this bungee jumping tform. If there was no ident, people who came by


    cable car couldn''t go back the same way. The only way to get down was to y bungee jumping and


    jumped off the high tform.


    There was ake below, and there was a special boat waiting to pick up every person who jumped


    down at any time. When they were safely sent ashore by boat, it was over.


    Caroline saw that Adam had bought four tickets directly. Her legs were really weak and her face was


    turning pale. She was holding the fence tightly and unwilling to go forward.


    "Easton, listen to auntie. Auntie is afraid of heights. Really, auntie can''t y with this." Caroline was


    really scared at the moment and wanted to cry.


    Easton was serious and looked at her expressionlessly, "Auntie Caroline, you promised grandma at


    home that you would y with me on any game. You actually don''t keep your word."


    Caroline gritted her teeth. If she knew she was going to y such a deadly game today, she wouldn''t


    havee with him even if she died.


    "No, you''re all up here. You have to y with me. Not only you, but Adam, Andy and I have to y."


    Easton thought to himself, this bad woman liked to roll down stairs so much. What''s the point of rolling


    down from a high ce? It''s only fun to jump down from a high ce.


    Since she liked this game so much, he brought her to experience an upgraded version, heh.


    Easton saw that she did not let go, shrugged, and looked at Adam and Andy. They immediately


    stepped forward, directly dragging Caroline forward.


    "Ah, let go of me, you two bastards, let go of me. I don''t want to y this. If you want to jump, just


    jump. How dare you! Do you know who I am..."


    All the cells and nerves in Caroline''s body were under the control of fear. At this moment, she was


    constantly struggling,pletely devoid of the calm and self-assured look of ady of a great family.


    At this moment, she was like a madman shouting, kicking her legs and roaring, leading the people


    around to look over again and again, but many people were very calm.


    Because they saw too much about this phenomenon. Safety maintenance and overhaul were


    performed at regr intervals, so it was very safe.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Besides, there was a lifeboat standing by.


    When a lot of people came to experience it, many people wouldn''t have the guts to jump.


    But once they really jumped down, they would realize that it was not as scary as they thought. It was


    just a moment, and it was very fast.


    The staff had seen too many simr situations and did not care about Caroline''s attitude at the


    moment. They calmly set about preparing four sets of safety equipment.


    Caroline was forced to walk forward by Adam and Andy. The staff put safety equipment on her very


    easily. Hearing her scream so fiercely, they couldn''t help but persuade her.


    "Girl, since you have the courage toe up, you might as well be brave to the end and jump down


    with your eyes closed. It''s very simple. It''s not scary at all."


    Caroline red at the staff ferociously. She didn''t have the courage toe up. She didn''t want to


    Now Adam, Andy, and Easton were also equipped with safety equipment. Caroline looked at the


    height, felt that her heart almost jumped out, and her face became even paler with fear.


    She was trembling all over, "I don''t want to jump. Let me down. I don''t want to jump." She held on to


    the pole and refused to loosen her grip.


    Easton walked over and spread out his hands, "Okay, if you really don''t want to jump, forget it. You can


    watch us."

 Chapter 460

    Chapter 460


    "Really?"


    Caroline was stunned for a second and looked at him doubtfully. But she subconsciously loosened her


    hand which held the handrail: "I don''t have to jump, right?"


    Easton raised his innocent smiling face and nodded, "Yes, Auntie Caroline. You have been like this, so


    I can''t force you to do it. Well,e down."


    She was like a frightened bird now. When she heard that she didn''t need to jump and that she could


    hurry.


    But the next second.


    "Ah..."


    A figure flew out from the high tform. At the same time, a shrill cry pierced the sky. There was no


    doubt that it was Caroline who flew out.


    The little guy slowly retracted his little foot that kicked her, wiped off a non-existent sweat, and shook


    his head, "If she had jumped earlier by herself, nothing would have happened. But she had to let me do


    it. Ah."


    Adam and Andy: "..."


    Staff: "..."


    "Okay, it''s our turn."


    Easton said as he stretched out his hands towards Adam, who immediately hugged Easton''s small


    body tightly in his arms, and then jumped down without expression.


    Adam held the little boy in his arms, Easton''s eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep. He was so well-


    protected that the wind didn''t even let in much. His treatment was very different from that of Caroline.


    As they dropped, Eastonnded safely on the boat. As soon as he looked up, he saw Caroline, who


    had a pale face, lifeless eyes, and a stiff and trembling body.


    He tilted his little head to admire her look for a while, his pink lips lifted. With a snort, he looked away.


    There was no sympathy in his heart, only gloating.


    The boat docked, and Caroline was supported by Andy. The little guy gave him a look. Andy


    understood and helped her to a round flower bed in the front.


    "Miss Baker, you don''t look well. Sit here and have a rest."


    Caroline was still in shock and could not stand up. She nodded and sat quietly on the stone steps,


    calming her own beating heart.


    On this side, the little guy turned around and stretched himself. He made a gesture in one direction with


    his right hand inadvertently. The person who saw the gesture in the dark immediately began to adjust


    the remote control in his hand.


    The ce where Caroline was sitting was actually a round fountain. It only openned during the


    holidays. If people didn''t pay attention, they wouldn''t notice it.


    She sat in the middle of the flower bed. There was a huge stone lion in the middle of the flower bed.


    The lion''s mouth was wide open downward, just in the direction where Caroline was sitting.


    At this moment, the two eyes of the stone lion shed a few red lights, as if something had started.


    The next second.


    "tter..."


    The stone lion''s mouth suddenly burst out a waterfall of water, pouring down. Caroline, who was sitting


    below, was drenched in cold water.


    You know, it was winter now.


    Caroline had not fully recovered from the shock of bungee jumping before, and now there was such a


    sudden attack. So she was hit forward by the water in a very awkward position and fell on the ground.


    Shey motionless on her stomach, stunned.


    "Hahaha..."


    In the distance, Easton covered his small mouth and couldn''t helpughing. Finally, his anger was


    vented.


    When the stone lion was not spraying water, he waved his hand and asked Andy to take her with him.


    Today''s journey ended finally.


    Caroline was frightened and drenched so heavily that a serious illness was unavoidable.


    When she thought about it carefully, it seemed that since she lived in the Xaviers, there had been a lot


    of disasters and small troubles. It was as if the Xaviers was unsuitable for her to live.


    ...


    It was winter, so the Xavier Group needed to design a few exquisite winter clothes, and then sent


    representatives to bring them to the BLSZ in F Country for exhibition.


    This task, of course, was assigned to the Design A Department of the headquarters.


    There were five pieces of winter clothing need designing. Derek directly assigned one to Meredith, so


    that she couldplete it alone.


    Ever since the incident with Aryast time, no one would retort the various privileges given to Meredith


    from time to time.


    It was noughing matter. If people wanted to be cklisted by the president, they could retort. No one


    wanted to die early.


    Since Caroline''s incidentst time, Derek nned to take Meredith out for a stroll to improve her mood.


    This exhibition was just a good opportunity.


    Besides them, there were a group of bodyguards, Damian and the little third wheel who insisited on


    following them, Easton, apanying them.


    Xavier Group had a branch in F Country, and Derek had his own manor here. In addition, they would


    be staying in F Country for more than ten days, so the group settled directly in the manor.


    At this time, Damian took a phone call. After he hung up, he immediately turned to Derek''s side and


    whispered, "Boss..."


    After listening to his brief report, Derek frowned and subconsciously nced at Meredith.


    "I see. You can go out."


    He walked over to the sofa and pondered for a few seconds, "Meredith, there''s something I haven''t told


    you."


    "What is it?" Meredith was stunned for a second and asked.


    "About your mother..."


    Meredith was startled and stood up suddenly with a look of excitement, "You, you say, my mother?"


    She was at a loss. Since she regained her memory, she had naturally inquired about her mother''s


    whereabouts, but could not find her.


    She had thought of asking Derek for help, but at that time, the rtionship between them was


    At that time, she was very repulsive to Derek. She wanted to draw a line with him, not wanting to owe


    him anything, so she dismissed the idea and decided to find her mother on her own.


    But she didn''t get any result, and then a series of events put it on hold.


    "You know where my mother is?" She grabbed his hand.


    Derek sighed, "Listen to me first."


    "Your mother has a very intractable disease. There is no precedent for this disease at home. I arranged


    for her toe to F Country for treatment."


    "At that time, I always thought you would nevere back. Although we met againter, I never found


    the right opportunity to tell you about it. In addition, your mother''s condition is not very good. I was


    afraid you would be worried, so I didn''t mention it to you."


    "I''m going to tell you when your mother gets better."


    "But just now, the hospital called me and said that the cancer cells in your mother''s body were


    spreading again and that she needed surgery immediately, so..."


    Before Meredith could digest the bad news that her mother had cancer, she was frightened by Derek''s


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    She tried her best to suppress the panic in her heart. It was clear to her that she could not me Derek


    for keeping it from her.

 Chapter 461

    Chapter 461


    After all, all these years, if it weren''t for him, her mother wouldn''t have been able to survive and see her


    again.


    "Quick, take me to the hospital. I want to see my mother." Her eyes were red and her voice was full of


    choking.


    "Okay, I''ll take you now. Don''t be excited. Trust me, your mother has been fine for so many years, and


    nothing bad will happen now."


    In the hospital.


    As soon as Derek and Meredith arrived, Amelia''s attending doctor and nurse hurried over.


    "Mr. Xavier, the situation is very urgent. The cancer cells in the patient''s body are not only spreading


    but also rapidly disintegrating. This is very dangerous and must be controlled immediately."


    "I just had a discussion with a few other doctors, and the most effective way is to perform a cell


    transnt." The attending doctor said very seriously.


    "In that case, you guys should get the surgery done. Money is not a problem." Derek said immediately.


    The attending doctor waved his hand, "No, it''s not like this. Mr. Xavier. It''s not about money. You have


    to know that cell transntation can only be done between rtives."


    Hearing the word "Rtive," Derek immediately thought of Meredith beside him, and his face became


    dark." Between rtives, you mean..."


    "That''s right. You should quickly ask the patient''s rtives toe over. They could be her parents,


    her sisters or siblings, or her daughter and son. The more people there are, the better. We will find the


    person with the highest matching degree for surgery, and the sess rate will increase significantly."


    Derek said in a deep voice, "Is there any other way?"


    The attending doctor nodded, "Yes, but considering the degree of repair and danger after surgery, we


    do not rmend other ways. A cell transnt between rtives is the safest and most effective


    method now."


    "Okay, I see. Please wait a moment. I''ll think about it."


    "Okay, but please be quick."


    Meredith was not familiar with French. When the doctor and Derek were talking, she had a premonition


    that they were talking about her mother, and she was very anxious.


    "What''s wrong? What happened? Is there something wrong with my mother?" Meredith immediately


    grabbed his hand and asked.


    Derek held her shoulder and repeated what the doctor had just said.


    Privately, he didn''t want Meredith to give Amelia a cell transnt at all. The so-called cell transnt


    was to transnt healthy, living cells from the best-matched rtives into the patient.


    With the active cells imnted, the cancer cells in the patient''s body would be able to controlled and


    bnced. It could effectively suppress its growth, but also promote the patient''s body functions.


    However, for healthy people, the cells in the body were very important. After losing a part of the active


    cells, perhaps Meredith would have nothing wrong in a short time because she was young.


    However, what about five or ten yearster?


    If some of the functions of a healthy body were extracted, bad effects would happen. Resistance and


    other aspects would be reduced. This was what Derek did not want to see.


    But he knew well that he would tell Meredith the truth although he didn''t want to, and he knew that


    Meredith would choose to do the surgery without hesitation.


    In this matter, he had no way and no right to make a choice for her.


    As expected,


    Meredith immediately said, "No problem. I can do it. Tell the doctor that I agree to the transnt. I''m


    her daughter. Mine must be the best match for her."


    Even if it wasn''t the most matchable, Amelia had no other choice. She couldn''t find any other rtives


    that could be transnted other than her own daughter.


    "You told the doctor that I was her daughter, and my mother said that she and my father both had O-


    type blood, and I also had O-type blood. The matching degree must be very high, so I could do the


    surgery."


    Derek felt helpless when hearing this. However, when he saw Meredith''s anxious face, he did not dare


    to fool her. He repeated her words to the doctor word for word.


    However, when the doctor heard this, his face suddenly became very strange. He nced at Meredith


    a few times and then asked, "Miss Mason, are you sure that you have O-type blood?"


    Derek told her the doctor''s words in confusion.


    Meredith,pletely unaware of the abnormality, nodded vigorously, "Yes, our whole family are the


    same."


    The doctor looked even weirder. After thinking for a while, he didn''t say anything and nodded, "Okay,


    Derek led Meredith up and couldn''t help but ask, "Doctor, what''s wrong with what my girlfriend just


    said?"


    The doctor shook his head, "Miss Mason just said that they all have O-type blood, but the patient''s


    blood type is obviously B-type blood."


    "Mr. Xavier, I suggest that the patient''s parents or siblings should be there and make a match test. The


    matching degree will be even higher."


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Derek didn''t care about the doctor''s words. His attention was on the doctor''s first sentence.


    At a time like this, whether it was for Amelia''s health or surgery time, Meredith would not lie. But she


    said that her whole family had O-type blood.


    Then there must be someone who told her about it, and it should be Amelia herself.


    But now, the doctor also made it clear that Amelia was B-type blood.


    As Derek thought about it, a strange possibility suddenly popped up in his heart, making him frown.


    The doctor asked for a drop of Meredith''s blood to be measured, and the matching result would be


    given quickly.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Mason. Your match with Ms. Flores is too low to transnt." The doctor gave the


    answer.


    Meredith was stunned and she looked at the report in her hand, "No, it''s impossible. Doesn''t this kind


    of matching just base on the blood type?"


    "My mother and I both have O-type blood. How could..."


    The doctor nced at Derek and said expressionlessly, "Miss Mason, I need to tell you something. You


    have indeed O-type blood, but the patient, Ms. Flores''s blood type is B."


    "This report shows that the cellpatibility between you is not only low, but alsopletely


    inconsistent."


    Derek frowned hard and he couldn''t help pinching his nose. He was a little shocked, but more worried


    about Meredith.


    Sure enough, when he looked over, Meredith stood there in a daze,pletely stupefied. He


    immediately walked over and supported her to stand, "Meredith?"


    She immediately came back to her senses. The doctor had just said that her mother''s blood was not O-


    type. She was still confused and was stunned by what the doctor said next.


    "Not only low but... It doesn''t match at all?"


    She understood what his words meant. She knew very well that if they were really rtives, ording


    to their rtionship, it was impossible to happen.

 Chapter 462

    Chapter 462


    How could it bepletely inconsistent?


    A sh of confusion shed through Meredith''s eyes, and her mind was in a daze. She muttered, "It


    can''t be wrong. How could it be?"


    The doctor knew about the reason for this so he hesitated and said again.


    "If you need it, we can use this test report to produce proof of your kinship with the patient and find the


    reason."


    Proof of kinship?


    A thought that had just been formed in Meredith''s mind was instantly ignited by the doctor''s words and


    grew up in her head.


    Subconsciously, she grabbed Derek''s hand and looked at the doctor, "Proof of kinship? What, what do


    you mean?"


    The doctor shrugged, "The proof of kinship is to verify that if there is a direct kinship between the two


    parties. Your blood type with the patient does not match. ording to your rtionship, this should not


    happen, so I think..."


    Before he could finish his sentence, Meredith didn''t want to hear it anymore. She rarely got angry in


    public, but this time she did. "Why do you want to test this? The person lying in the operating room is


    my mother."


    "No one knows this better than me. How could it be wrong? If something goes wrong, it must be your


    equipment."


    "I know it. It must have been because of your wrong test result."


    She clutched Derek''s hand tightly and looked at him expectantly, "What do you think? Am I right? It is


    normal that the equipment is out of order, right?"


    Derek nodded and immediatelyforted her. He could understand Meredith''s feelings. After all these


    years as the family, no one could ept that the rtionship was suddenly questioned.


    But Derek knew the standard of this hospital very well. When such a test began, the machine would


    work at least three times. If the three results were the same, only then would the machine give the final


    answer.


    As for the equipment, ording to the three results, it was still working well.


    So, Derek knew in his heart that Amelia and Meredith might have no blood rtionship.


    "Mr. Xavier..." The doctor looked at Derek. After all, the patient was still waiting for the results in the


    operating room and she couldn''t wait for so long.


    Derek immediately said, "Cell transntation can''t be carried out. Follow the conservative treatment of


    your second n."


    The doctor nodded helplessly, "Ok, do you still need the proof of kinship?" He nced at Meredith


    meaningfully.


    "Yes." Derek said faintly.


    Then he brought Meredith to the lounge.


    Meredith was in a very unstable mood. When she finally regained her senses, she suddenly


    remembered her mother''s condition and her face turned pale.


    Derek immediately hugged her, "Don''t worry, your mother''s surgery has beenpleted. Although


    there is no cell transnt, the hospital has a conservative treatment n. Your mother is fine for the


    time being."


    "She''s in the sterile ward now. Let''s go and have a look."


    Meredith nodded immediately.


    In the sterile ward, non-medical personnel was not allowed in, so the two of them could only look inside


    through the transparent ss window outside.


    Amelia was lying on the bed, and Meredith immediately covered her mouth at a nce, tears flowing


    uncontrobly.


    At this moment, her mother waspletely different from who she remembered. She couldn''t believe


    that this lifeless and motionless woman lying there was her mother.


    Her hair, which was originally ck and long, was nowpletely gone. Her forehead was bare and


    she wore a white woolen hat. Tubes were inserted into her neck, nose, and arms.


    Her beautiful face had also be extremely gaunt at this moment. The sallow and pale color made


    Meredith''s heart sour.


    How did her mother be like this?


    Derek hugged her andforted her softly. When Meredith calmed down a little, he hesitated and said.


    "Actually, Meredith, no matter if you and she have a blood rtionship, you still love her because you


    have been getting along with her for so many years, so, in fact, you don''t have to care so much, do


    you?"


    Meredith was stunned and looked at him in a daze. Her lips trembled slightly, "What do you mean?"


    "The resultes back." Derek said softly.


    Meredith froze again. She lowered her eyes and looked slowly at Amelia again. She froze and did not


    move for a long time.


    Derek knew that she understood what he meant, and it turned out that they had no blood rtionship.


    After a long time, Meredith made a move.


    "Derek, let''s go back. Tomorrow is the fashion show, isn''t it? We have to go back and prepare for it."


    Her voice was very calm, and she said it calmly. She was just about to leave but Derek stopped her.


    He frowned. "Meredith? Don''t be like that. Like I just said, you still love her even if you have no blood


    rtionship. You can''t fake your feeling. Do you want to abandon her because of this?"


    "Of course not."


    Meredith red at him, then lowered her head, "I didn''t think too much, and I know what you mean. I


    want to go back and rest, okay?"


    Derek had no choice but to take her back.


    After returning to the manor, Meredith locked herself in her room and did note out until night.


    After dinner, Meredith started talking to Derek about tomorrow''s fashion show and listed all her


    suggestions.


    If some people didn''t know what had happened, they might have such a thought that Meredith had


    locked herself up all afternoon to think about the things about the fashion show, but Derek knew it


    wasn''t like this.


    He didn''t know what Meredith was thinking, but seeing that she was in a good condition, he thought


    Meredith had been over this. She was not like when she was in the hospital and not nning to


    mention Amelia.


    Meredith did get over it. The fact that she and Amelia had no blood rtionship really made her unable


    to ept at first.


    But then what? Like what Derek said, they still loved each other. That was enough. In that case, she


    should try her best to be open-minded.


    This kind of clothing exhibition didn''t have the ranks as thepetition, but there was also a secret


    It was held once every three to five years, and thest time it was held was five years ago.


    The BL Exhibition was held in the BL Hall. The hall was veryrge. Behind the hall was an open venue.


    The surroundings had been set up and the sky was dark, so the lights around the venue were shining


    brightly.


    Outside the hall, there was a long red carpet. There was a huge lighting screen on both sides of the


    steps, and a crowd of foreign media and spectators gathered outside. The scene was very lively.


    Derek was dressed in a silver-gray suit, tall and straight, with a handsome face. A man like him was


    enough to make the crowd scream.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.

 Chapter 463

    Chapter 463


    Meredith was wearing a long ck dress which was decorated with diamonds. Her delicate cor


    bones and left shoulder were revealed, and a dazzling obsidian ne was around her neck.


    For the first time, her delicate features were heavily made-up, which made her look even more


    attractive and charming. Tonight, Meredith was dressed boldly than ever.


    Well, people had different dressing styles at home and abroad. Since they came here, it was better to


    do as the Romans do.


    "Honey, you''re beautiful tonight." Derek held her slender waist and whispered to her with a faint smile.


    The smile on Meredith''s lips did not disappear, but she pinched his arm secretly. "So many people are


    here, don''t be ridiculous."


    Derek didn''t care. In fact, he felt she was just tickling him although Meredith pinched him hard.


    They walked on the red carpet, went up the steps, signed their names on the red board, and took a few


    photos together before entering the venue.


    ording to the figures in the invitation, they found the seats prepared for the Xavier Group. ording


    to the status of the Xavier Group in Country H, their seats were at the front.


    Damian and the others did not need to walk on the red carpet. They had already entered through a


    special passageway in advance and were sitting in seats that prepared for the Xavier Group.


    More and more representatives came in through the entrance. Damian suddenly said, "Boss, the


    Horton Family arrives."


    This name was not unfamiliar to them at all, especially to Meredith. She hadpeted with ady from


    the Horton Family when she first attended apetition.


    They immediately looked over.


    The strong middle-aged man in a ck suit with blond hair and blue eyes walked in front should be the


    head of the Horton Family, Green Horton.


    They also saw their old acquaintance, Robert, who had gone to the headquarters of the Xavier Group


    to negotiate with them. And others should be shareholders or elders of the Horton Family.


    But...


    And they were surprised to see a young girl who they had met before.


    She was Tina, the unfavored elder daughter of the Horton Family.


    They remembered thatst time, Tina had been following Judy obediently, not daring to speak loudly or


    raise her head to look into others'' eyes.


    But at this moment, Tina waspletely different. She dressed in a dazzling violet dress and wore


    exquisite makeup, and her eyes were no longer timid but confident and proud.


    Damian raised his eyebrows, "It seems that Tina reces her sister because her sister was disfigured


    after the fight?"


    Derek withdrew his eyes, "Although the second Miss of the Horton Family is not very smart, she does


    have a talent for design. But I don''t think her sister is talented though she may be smarter..."


    His meaning was quite obvious.


    Indeed, what Horton Family had done was quite confusing. Fashion design had nothing to do with


    designers'' appearance, so their second Miss''s disfiguration should not be a problem.


    But they allowed the elder Miss who had never studied design to rece the second Miss.


    The head of the Horton Family also saw Derek. He paused and turned to walk towards them.


    "Mr. Xavier, we haven''t seen each other for three or four years, right?" Green Horton smiled and


    reached his hand.


    Derek shook his hand, "Maybe, I don''t remember it very well."


    "Mr. Xavier has achieved so much at such a young age. You''re really a role model for the younger


    generation of our Horton Family. It''s not a shame that Robert lost to you at the negotiating table."


    Green Horton''s words were meaningful.


    Derek raised an eyebrow, "Lose? Mr. Horton, you''re joking. The business has always been about


    mutual benefit. If there is no benefit, there is no cooperation. No one has lost, it''s a win-win situation."


    The head of the Horton Family smiled and didn''t say anything. He turned to look at Meredith.


    "This is Mrs. Xavier, right? She''s a perfect match for you, Mr. Xavier. I heard that Mrs. Xavier hasn''t


    studied design at college before, but she had defeated my talented second daughter. I really appreciate


    her."


    Damian frowned. What did this old man mean?


    He said that Meredith, a person who had never studied design at college had defeated his talented


    daughter. Did he mean that something was wrong with thepetition?


    Derek narrowed his eyes. He didn''t know if Meredith understood Green Horton''s words. She was


    smiling shyly.


    "Mr. Horton, you ttered me. I''m already very happy that several masters liked my design. As for the


    Damian almostughed out loud. Derek raised his eyebrows in surprise and then curled his lips.


    Meredith meant that it was enough for her ability to be recognized by those masters. As for the


    evaluation of the head of the Horton Family, it was dispensable. It was not important anyway.


    Green Horton''s expression did not change, but it seemed that he was both embarrassed and angry. He


    smiled again and introduced Tina.


    "This is my eldest daughter, Tina. You''ve met each otherst time. This time, the works of our Horton


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Family are all by her."


    "Although she is smart, she hasn''t studied design. Today, I brought her here to learn more."


    "There must be Mrs. Xavier''s work in today''s exhibition. In that case, you can learn from each other


    and make progress together. Hahaha..."


    Derek''s face turned cold. How dare the old man say that?


    They could learn from each other? Wasn''t he indicating that Meredith''s design skills were about the


    same as her daughter, who had never learned how to design?


    After Green Horton finished speaking, Tina immediately stepped forward, smiled at Meredith and said


    softly, "Mrs. Xavier, I really hope we can learn from each other."


    Her words immediately froze the atmosphere.


    ''Learn from each other?'' What could Meredith learn from her? Tina Horton was quite brazen.


    Derek''s sharp eyes stared straight at her and he said without being polite, "Miss Tina, since you


    represent the Horton Family, you''d better be more humble."


    "Since my wife has won your sister, who is very talented, then only you, who is not very talented, can


    learn from my wife, but she can''t learn anything from you."


    Tina''s face stiffened and her gentle smile almost disappeared.

 Chapter 464

    Chapter 464


    She had been living in the shadow of Judy Horton. With her own efforts, she finally had a brighter


    future. But she did not expect to bepared to her now.


    That bitch had great talent while she didn''t have any talent, did she?


    Her sister waspletely ruined. Now she was the only person in the Horton family who was valued.


    That brainless Judy? She was not a match for her at all.


    Tina''s lowered eyes were extremely dark.


    But now she had to swallow all her resentment into her stomach, not daring to show it at all.


    Even her uncle could not afford to provoke the Derek of Country H, let alone her.


    The head of the Horton Family narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Please don''t take her words seriously.


    Mr. Xavier, are you overreacting?"


    Derek didn''t bother to continue the talk. He just said indifferently, "Mr. Horton, if you think so, so be it."


    The head of the Horton Family, "..."


    He narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly. He turned around with his men and sat down in seats


    prepared for the Horton Family.


    After all the guests arrived, the lights immediately dimmed and the exhibition began.


    A blonde, blue-eyed host in a gown came on stage, warming up the atmosphere and briefly exining


    the process of the exhibition. Then the exhibition officially began.


    Soothing and elegant music came. On the wide runway in the middle, colorful neon lights began to


    flicker, and transparent bubbles slowly rose. The venue was beautifully decorated.


    The first show was prepared by Country Y.


    Meredith was very serious. She took out her phone and took pictures of all the clothes that were novel.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Derek turned his head and looked into her bright eyes. The corners of his lips were slightly curved and


    his eyes were soft.


    Time passed by.


    "Next is the model show prepared by the Xavier Group of Country H."


    Meredith''s heart skipped a beat. She abruptly looked up and subconsciously tugged at Derek''s sleeve


    tightly and nervously.


    Derek was confused and he whispered, "Meredith, what''s wrong?"


    She pursed her lips and shook her head without answering him.


    Considering that the models at the exhibition were Europeans, the five pieces of clothing that the


    Xavier Group brought for the exhibition could only bebined with western and orientational styles.


    Women in Country H were more petite and graceful than Europeans, who were taller and sexier.


    It was actually very difficult to keep a bnce between maintaining their own characteristics and


    surprising the westerners.


    Seeing the media taking pictures of her models, she thought that if she was lucky, her design might


    appear in the fashion weekly and she felt excited.


    Of course, she didn''t expect that to be true. There were so many clothes and so many choices, so


    it was really difficult to stand out.


    Soon, a model show prepared by the Horton Family started.


    Meredith was attracted immediately.


    Their designs were luxurious and eye-catching, and two of them were very stunning. As a family long


    enjoyed the fame of good design, the Horton Family didn''t disappoint her.


    But.


    "If I remember correctly, the head of the Horton Family said that the clothes were all designed by Miss


    Tina?" Meredith said uncertainly.


    "That''s right, that''s what he said." Derek nodded.


    Damian raised his eyebrows and said meaningfully, "I don''t think a novice who has no talent and hasn''t


    do many designs could finish all of them."


    That was right.


    Meredith couldn''t help but look in the direction of the Horton Family. She happened to see Tina''s


    smiling and confident face. She looked back and remained silent.


    After a while, she said, "I''m not as good as her." Her tone was very frustrated.


    "Meredith, what are you thinking about? You don''t really think that it was Tina who designed these


    clothes, do you?" Derek''s expression looked weird.


    "Isn''t she the designer?" Meredith was confused.


    Damian shook his head and said, "Although we don''t have conclusive evidence, it is certain that the


    clothes are not designed by Tina. Even Judy Horton, her sister, couldn''t do that."


    Meredith was stunned. She was not a fool. She immediately understood Damian''s words. But she was


    surprised, "You mean?"


    Derek nodded, "You''re right."


    "This is interesting. Is the Horton Family nning to use the trick to build a good reputation for Miss


    Tina? What''s the purpose?" Damian was puzzled.


    Derek said calmly, "I have heard something interesting. Miss Tina and the son of the head of the Lyle


    Family will mrry soon."


    Meredith did not understand that what had it to do with the design, so she was still confused, but


    Damian immediately realized. He said, "I see. Miss Tina is indeed very smart."


    The Lyle Family was one of the eight families that enjoyed good fame of design, who was almost on


    the same level as the Horton family in M Country.


    After the marriage, the two families would be stronger together. And what was more important was that


    Tina would marry the son of the head of the Lyle Family.


    The head of the Lyle Family only had one son, in other words, his son would be the next family leader.


    Once Tina Horton married him, her position in the Horton Family would naturally arise. It was no


    wonder that she y those tricks.


    "In this way, it''s understandable why Green Horton helped his niece y the tricks. After all, the Lyle


    Family is also famous for its designs. If she''s found not talented at all, the Horton Family will be very


    embarrassed."


    "But why did the head of the Lyle Family agree to this marriage since he knew Tina is not talented at


    all?" Damian stroked his chin, losing in his thoughts.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and said nothing.


    At this moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and took a look. Then his expression


    changed slightly. He turned to look at Meredith.


    Meredith blinked, "What''s wrong?"


    "It''s the news from the hospital saying that your mother is awake."


    Meredith''s attention was immediately diverted. She almost jumped up. "Derek, I..."


    She wanted to ask if she could leave now. All she wanted to do at the moment was to rush to the


    hospital.

 Chapter 465

    Chapter 465


    However, as Meredith was about to leave after giving an exnation, Tina suddenly stepped forward


    and stopped her.


    Meredith was a little displeased, but Tina had made up her mind to stop her. She found that Meredith


    changed her expression after talking with Derek, so she wanted to know what happened.


    Meredith tried to leave but Tina was still in her way. She knew that Tina did it on purpose so she asked


    her directly, "Miss Tina, what''s the matter?"


    Tina looked at Meredith and said, "You look not well, I am worried about you."


    Meredith took a step back. Tina still smiled elegantly. But the smile didn''t make Meredith feel closer to


    her. She shuddered.


    She suddenly felt it was not easier to deal with the eldestdy of the Horton Family than the second


    It is said that it was easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from


    hiding. She couldn''t underestimate Tina, who have endured for so many years.


    When they were in the standoff, Derek returned and asked, "Why don''t you leave?"


    Derek thought that Meredith must want to see her mother at once when she was awake. So he went


    straight to the parking lot to wait for her.


    But she didn''te for a long time. So he returned and found that she was stopped by Tina.


    "I just talked with Miss Mason."


    Tina saw him and smiled apologetically.


    Although Derek was discontented, he couldn''t make her embarrassed in front of so many people. So


    he just replied cooly.


    Meredith immediately followed him to leave.


    Derek drove the car and Meredith was thinking about something along the way.


    "Miss Tina isn''t as simple as expected."


    Derek nced at Meredith and said, "What did she just say to you?"


    Meredith shook her head. Tina was normal, but Meredith felt something wrong.


    In addition, Tina gained her power in a strange way, so Meredith was a little more cautious.


    "I think we should stay away from her."


    "She could gain the power steadily after her sister was disfigured. I''m afraid that there are some


    secrets."


    Meredith nodded.


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Derek drove the car quickly to the hospital.


    Meredith was in a hurry to see her mother, and Derek was thoughtful. So they didn''t talk anymore on


    the way.


    They got to the hospital.


    As soon as Derek pulled over the car, Meredith immediately untied her seat belt and ran into the


    hospital.


    Amelia was in the VIP ward on the top floor. The surgery was over, so she was sent back for


    recuperation.


    When Meredith ran over, she stopped at the door.


    Meredith lowered her head and did not know how to face her mother. She felt veryplicated at the


    moment.


    She thought that she could save her after transnting the bone marrow to her.


    But unexpectedly, she found out that her bone marrow didn''t match her mother''s.


    However, her mother cared for and protected her for so many years. So... what was going on?


    Meredith couldn''t figure it out and kept thinking about it. After all, Amelia needed the bone marrow of


    her family now. Otherwise, she might die.


    Derek went to talk to the doctor about Amelia. When he arrived at the ward, he saw Meredith, who was


    in a daze at the door.


    Her hands were now sped tightly as if she wanted to give herself some strength.


    Meredith was confused and stubborn. When Derek saw her, he sighed in his mind and walked over to


    hold her thin shoulders. He said, "I''ll send someone to investigate it as soon as possible. Don''t worry.


    And you''d better not tell your mother."


    Meredith felt the warmth from her shoulders. She felt calm as well.


    She didn''t want to lose the security so she didn''t struggle but just nodded.


    When Meredith calmed down, she knocked on the door and walked in.


    Amelia was in a daze in bed. When she heard the sound, she looked over there slowly. But she was


    stunned.


    She was not familiar with her face but felt close to her.


    Meredith knew why she was confused. She was disfigured by an ident and had changed a lot. So


    even Amelia might not be able to recognize her at once.


    "Mom, it''s me..."


    Meredith walked over and held Amelia''s hands.


    "After that car ident, I fell into the river. I thought I was going to die, but I was saved. But I lost my


    memory by ident. That''s why Ie backte."


    Amelia listened to Meredith. Although she had just undergone surgery and was very tired, she still


    listened very hard.


    When she heard that, she suddenly burst into tears. "Is it really you? Mer?"


    Meredith nodded and saw that Amelia was crying, she couldn''t help crying with her. Derek saw them


    and handed over a few tissues. He knew that they must want to say a lot.


    And he whispered, "Auntie is weak. Don''t let her be too tired. I''ll go out first. You can talk slowly."


    Meredith nodded. At the moment, she was touched by Derek, who was considerate.


    When Derek went out and closed the door, Amelia didn''t curb herself and hugged Meredith. She cried


    heartrendingly.


    She had been thinking about Meredith for many days.


    The news of Meredith''s ident was like a spell. Although she read it once, she kept thinking of it.


    She even felt that if she didn''t ask Meredith toe back to see the child, she wouldn''t have been


    found out and fallen into the river in order to escape from Derek.


    She had a great sense of guilt, and she almost couldn''t bear it.


    If she didn''t think that she should look after Easton for Meredith, she would have died.


    How could she expect that her lost daughter appeared like this?


    "Mer, am I dreaming?"


    Amelia touched Meredith''s cheek. It was warm but she still didn''t believe it.


    "Of course not."


    Meredith also choked up. Amelia was reserved. Even when Wesley brought the mistress home, she


    didn''t break down.


    It could tell how she missed her daughter.


    "How could your face..."


    "It''s all the past."


    Seeing that Meredith was cool, Amelia felt even worse.


    Although she did not say, she knew that Meredith must hurt hard and suffered a lot so that she had to


    change her appearance so thoroughly.

 Chapter 466

    Chapter 466


    However, since Meredith was unwilling to talk, Amelia did not force her.


    There was no point in drowning in the past.


    They stayed quiet for a while, and neither of them spoke. They missed this peace and quietness very


    much.


    After a while, Amelia seemed to remember something. She looked up at Meredith and ask, "Does


    Parker know that you''re still alive?"


    Not expecting Amelia to suddenly mention Parker, Meredith was stunned and shook her head.


    Although she wanted to contact Parker, his previous cell phone number had been changed, so


    Meredith did not continue to look for him.


    During her most difficult time, Parker sacrificed a lot for her and helped her a lot. If he already had his


    own life, she didn''t want to cause him any trouble.


    "His contact information has changed, and I can''t find him."


    Amelia sighed when she heard this. "That kid, after the ident, found me and knelt in front of me all


    night. He said he was sorry for you. It was all his fault."


    Kneeling all night?


    Meredith thought of that arrogant man and never expected him to do such a thing.


    Her death probably left him with a huge psychological shadow.


    "Although I was a little angry about him, I couldn''t me him anymore when I saw how upset he was.


    After all, he had put a lot of effort from the beginning to the end to help us."


    "It''s just that after that day, he changed. After spending a few days with me, he said he had something


    important to deal with and then he left."


    Meredith''s mood was indescribablyplicated after hearing this.


    She really wanted to get in touch with Parker and tell him that she was fine. He didn''t do anything


    wrong. There was no need to feel guilty.


    But it was hard.


    "But before he left, he hired a nanny for me. Now that nanny is still with me. Maybe you can ask her."


    After Amelia finished speaking, she was a little tired. Seeing this, Meredith nodded quickly. "I see. I will


    try to contact him. I won''t keep him in the dark anymore. Mom, you just had the operation. You should


    have a good rest."


    Amelia nodded.


    Since this sudden illness, she had no desire to survive. After all, her daughter was gone, and Easton


    had a good life in the Xaviers. She had nothing to worry about.


    But now, seeing that Meredith was back, she did not want to die. Her daughter was not living a happy


    life yet. She couldn''t die.


    "Mer, you haven''t been around all these years, and the property of the Masons is still there. If you have


    time, you can take it from here. I don''t have the energy to manage it."


    Meredith did not expect that Amelia had managed the Masons''spanies and property all along.


    She nodded. "I see."


    "As a woman, you may not want to run thepany, and it''s OK if you want to sell it. Just in time, I


    hope to pay off all the money Derek spent on me this time."


    Amelia held Meredith''s hand tightly.


    She had always been a strong woman, which made her seed when she started a business with


    Wesley with her bare hands.


    Ever since she was sick, she didn''t want to go to the hospital. Instead, Derek found her and sent her


    here.


    At that time, she did not want to ept such a favor. After all, she thought Meredith''s death was


    because of Derek.


    Facing her enemy, she didn''t want to owe him anything.


    But she was already seriously ill, and Derek said, "Do you want Easton to see his grandmother die


    before his eyes at such a young age? Do you want me to be a murderer who killed his own


    grandmother?"


    Ameliapromised, but she was still thinking about returning the money Derek spent on her.


    It was just that she hadn''t found any unreliable people, and now that Meredith was back, it would be


    perfect.


    "Mom..."


    How could Meredith not understand Amelia''s thoughts?


    Ever since she was in danger abroad, her mother had always hated Derek''s way of dealing with things.


    If her mother did not pay off this debt of gratitude, she would not be at ease with treatment.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    "Mer, tell me frankly, why are you involved with him again?"


    "I... It was just an ident..."


    Meredith didn''t know how to answer when her mother asked her this question.


    It would be impossible to say that she wanted to make up with Derek.


    However, there were so many coincidences that made them get mixed up again and again.


    It was doomed love.


    Apart from this phrase, she could not know how to describe their rtionship.


    "If you don''t want to tell me, I won''t force you, but you have to think clearly, will your situation be better


    even if you have a son? I don''t want what happened five years ago to happen to you again."


    "If the Xaviers dares to do this again, I will fight them to the death."


    Amelia''s words awakened those memories that Meredith did not want to recall.


    Could she really forget what the Xaviers had done?


    Even if she really let bygones be bygones, with Violet''s arrogance, it was also a question of whether


    she could ept her or not.


    "I''ll think about it."


    Meredith looked down and said nothing more.


    Seeing that she had listened, Amelia did not force her anymore.


    She had to figure it out herself, and then it would work.


    After Amelia went to rest, Meredith walked out quietly.


    As soon as she opened the door, she saw Derek waiting for her at the door.


    The man was dressed in a ck suit, which outlined his perfect shape under the cold lights of the


    hospital.


    The coldness made him unable to be approached.


    However, when he heard the sound of the door opening behind him, Derek immediately came over.


    "How is your mother?"


    The man wanted to hold Meredith''s hand, but she pretended to fix her hair and dodged.


    Derek''s eyes darkened but he remained silent.


    "She''s fine. Now that she is asleep, let her have a good rest."


    "You''re tired. Go back and rest."


    Derek looked at Meredith''s red eyes and knew that she must have said a lot to Amelia just now, but it


    was not known whether these words had affected her attitudes towards him.


    "I... I want to resign and stay with my mother."


    Meredith thought for a while and came up with the idea.


    She had been thinking that the Masons''spany was something of Amelia''s painstaking effort since


    she was young. If she sold it so easily, she would get a lot of money, but it would be a pity in the end.


    So she wanted to keep the Masons''spany. Besides, her mother''s condition was not very clear.


    Although she really liked the design, she was willing to sacrifice her carrer to apany her mother.


    "Resign?"


    Derek frowned.

 Chapter 467

    Chapter 467


    "If you want to stay here with your mother, you can take a long vacation. I''ll take care of thepany."


    Meredith shook her head.


    This was nothing to Derek. But since she was the new design director, people would gossip about her if


    she disappeared for a long time before making any achievements.


    Meredith didn''t doubt that Derek could handle this, but she owed him a favor again.


    Her mother didn''t want to owe him a single cent even when she was sick. How could she feel free to


    enjoy the privilege?


    "No, mom''s illness takes time. I''m leaving my job for a long time. I don''t want thepany to suffer a


    loss because of me."


    Derek wanted to say something more, but Meredith interrupted him.


    "Besides, I don''t like thepetitive atmosphere. Everyone is fighting. I''m afraid I''ll lose myself if I stay


    here."


    Hearing what Meredith said, Derek didn''t know how to reply.


    He knew she had always disliked the infighting, but he still felt uneasy when she suddenly said she


    wanted to resign.


    He felt Meredith had somewhat changed in just a few hours, and he had mixed feelings about it.


    "Since you say so, ... I will keep your position for you. You''re wee toe back at any time."


    Seeing that Derek insisted, Meredith said nothing more.


    Thepany belonged to Derek, and she couldn''t get involved in anything he wanted to do.


    It was awkward between them. Just as they were silent, Meredith''s cell phone rang.


    Easton called.


    The kindergarten was over, and Easton arrived home. He was unhappy when he found that both


    Meredith and Derek were not there.


    Did they go out to spend time together and left him behind?


    "Hello, Easton."


    Meredith could tell that Easton was in a bad mood. She had been down, but then she felt a little


    relieved.


    In any case, she was still full of hope when she heard Easton''s childish yet energetic voice.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Mom, where have you been? I''m back. Why isn''t anyone here? Did you go out and forget about me?"


    Easton said childishly.


    Meredith thought for a moment. "Actually, it''s your grandmother. She''s sick, and she just had an


    operation. We were at the hospital to see her."


    Easton became anxious and asked, "What? Grandma is sick? Why didn''t you tell me! I''ll be there right


    away!"


    Easton didn''t spend much time with Amelia, but Amelia loved him and was nice to him. Easton was her


    daughter''s only child. Every time they met, Amelia would give Easton the best thing she could.


    Easton was a sensible child. He was worried about his grandma.


    "Your grandma is asleep. Maybe another day."


    Derek shook his head. He nned to bring Easton to the hospital. Amelia was Easton''s grandmother,


    so how could Easton not pay a visit? But Amelia refused. She was afraid her skinny appearance would


    scare the child.


    Easton replied, "When grandma gets better, you must take me to see her."


    Both adults promised him.


    Coincidentally, Meredith had some things to do. It was inconvenient for Derek to be here. "Easton must


    be bored and lonely at home. You should go home and stay with him. I want to stay with mom today


    and look after her."


    Derek wanted to stay with her, but he didn''t insist since Meredith said so.


    Meredith seemed to be anxious, so he asked with doubt, "Are you... Hiding something from me?"


    Meredith had been thinking about what Amelia said about Parker. Hearing Derek''s question, she was


    shocked but still denied it subconsciously. "No."


    Derek narrowed his eyes.


    She said no, but he didn''t believe her.


    "Really?"


    Derek slowly walked over. Meredith was startled, but Derek slowly pushed her to the corner.


    "What are you doing?"


    Meredith swallowed as she watched the handsome face get closer.


    She had nowhere to step back.


    Meredith reached out and pushed his strong chest. "We''re in the hallway. Stop it."


    "I don''t like that you keep something from me. What were you thinking just now?"


    Derek ignored her weak resistance but moved closer. The warm breath blew past Meredith''s fair neck,


    and she flinched.


    She got nervous.


    No one could resist Derek''s charm within such a close distance.


    However, Meredith was only absentminded for a moment, then pinched her arm to regain her senses.


    "I think I have the right to preserve my privacy."


    Meredith looked at him without fear or guilt in her eyes. Her clear eyes seemed to see through his


    heart.


    Derek suddenly straightened out his thinking.


    If he forced her, he would probably ruin the harmony between him and Meredith. Their rtionship


    might be tense again.


    After all, both of them had suffered a lot due to his entanglement.


    After a moment of the standoff, Derek gave up. He took a step back and said, "I see. I''ll go back and be


    with Easton."


    Meredith let out a sigh of relief.


    The rtionship between Parker and Derek was awkward. She could tell him and cause the conflict


    between them again.


    "If you have any problems here, call me anytime, okay?"


    Derek straightened his sleeves, then reached out to straighten Meredith''s clothes.


    "Okay."


    Meredith didn''t refuse. She nodded slightly and watched Derek leave. When he walked out of the


    hospital door, she went to look for the nanny as Amelia required.


    "Are you looking for me?"


    Knowing that Meredith was looking for her, Laura came over without dy. Meredith looked at the


    nanny and knitted her brows.


    The woman looked like she was in her early thirties. She was more like a white-cor woman than a


    nanny. Although she had been doing some chores, she was not unkempt at all. Instead, she looked


    neat.


    Meredith had a hunch that this woman was not simple.


    "Well, you are Laura. It''s you who has been taking care of my mother, right?"


    Laura was dumbfounded when Meredith said that she was Amelia''s daughter.


    "Who did you said ... you are?"

 Chapter 468

    Chapter 468


    Meredith looked at the woman in front of her. The woman had the expression of seeing a ghost.


    Meredith could understand why.


    After all... She was already a dead person in the eyes of everyone else.


    "I''m Amelia''s daughter, Meredith. I didn''te back until now because I ran into some idents."


    Laura looked at the woman in front of her. She found that Meredith''s expression was sincere. At least,


    she didn''t see that Meredith hatched a sinister plot.


    Or in other words, no one would impersonate an ordinary woman.


    "You''ve been taking care of my mother these days. Thank you."


    Meredith said sincerely. She, as Amelia''s daughter, had not been around these days. It was the person


    in front of her that was taking care of her mother. Therefore, she naturally said to Laura politely.


    "This is what I should do."


    Laura hid the shock on her face and became expressionless as she was at ordinary times.


    Although she was Amelia''s nanny on the surface, in fact, she had been trained as a secret service


    agent and was not afraid to fight with others if it was necessary.


    Originally, she was trained by Parker to do some important tasks, butter on, she was assigned to


    stay by Amelia''s side. And protecting Amelia''s safety became her only task now.


    Laura did not know why Parker had this arrangement, and she even didn''t want to do this. Being a


    middle-aged woman''s nanny was a waste of his talent and capability.


    But she vaguely heard that Amelia had a daughter who Parker loved. He did this to Amelia because


    that woman had already passed away and her death was deeply rted to him.


    Unexpectedly, the woman who was supposed to have been dead for five years had returned.


    But for a moment, she did not know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.


    "Now, is he...okay?"


    Meredith looked at Laura''splicated expression. But after thinking about it, Meredith still asked.


    Laura nced at her. "Ever since you died, he''s been going crazy. He even thought about using the


    cards he had to fight against the Xaviers."


    Meredith held her breath.


    She knew that her death would cause a chain reaction, but if Parker sacrificed so much for her, she


    would only feel guilty for the rest of her life.


    "But Jenny stopped him. After all, with his mental state and the strength in his hands back then, he was


    just throwing straws against the wind if he fought against the Xaviers."


    "Where is he now? I''ve lost my memory for some reason, so I haven''t contacted him, and he changed


    his contact information. I can''t find a way to inform him. Can you give me his current number? I want to


    tell him that I''m fine. He doesn''t need to feel guilty."


    "He''s doing something very important right now. Even I can only contact him asionally. I''ll tell him


    that you''re alive."


    Laura saw the anxiety on Meredith''s face, but she did not give Meredith the contact information directly


    as Meredith thought.


    Meredith was taken aback. She felt that the woman in front of her was unfathomable.


    "I want to talk to him directly, can''t I?"


    "I''m afraid that knowing that you''re still alive will distract him. What he''s doing now is extremely


    important and he cannot be disturbed."


    Laura said indifferently. Seeing that Laura had no intention to say at all, Meredith had no choice but to


    give up. "Then, thank you."


    Laura nodded.


    Meredith was about to say something when the nurse pushed the door open and walked into the ward.


    It seemed that the nurse was about to give Amelia an injection. Meredith sent her greetings to Laura


    and went into the ward to help.


    Laura looked at Meredith''s back and frowned.


    Taking out her phone, Laura found an empty corner and called the number Parker left for her.


    After Meredith''s death, Parker was very depressed for a period of time. Later, Jenny came back from


    abroad and Laura did not know how Jenny enlightened Parker and made Parker walk out from


    depression.


    However, although Parker was no longer decadent, he turned to the other extreme. Parker began to


    work day and night, and Parker also began to actively participate in those business activities he


    disliked in the past.


    However, Laura understood that Parker was not fighting for his future. He was just saving his strength


    and waiting for the moment he had been waiting for.


    When the moment came, only one between him and the Xaviers could stay alive.


    "Hello?"


    Jenny answered the phone.


    Laura was not surprised. In Laura and the others'' hearts, Jenny was the woman beside Parker.


    Compared to the dead woman, they were more close to Jenny, and no one would be dissatisfied with


    Jenny''s status.


    "Miss Jenny, today, the woman named Meredith is back."


    Laura reported on Amelia''s condition once a week. Jenny originally didn''t take what Laura said


    seriously, but when she heard Meredith''s name, her eyes widened.


    "Who are you talking about?"


    Jenny''s face twisted slightly.


    Wasn''t Meredith dead?


    Laura exined the situation, and Jenny became flustered after hearing it.


    "You keep this as a secret for the time being. I don''t want anyone to disturb Parker."


    With a warning, Jenny immediately hung up the phone.


    However, she didn''t calm down. And her heart still beat fast.


    What would Parker do when he knew that Meredith came back? Would he want to leave everything


    behind and stay with that woman again?N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Then everything he had worked so hard all these years for would probably be ruined forever.


    She would never allow this to happen.


    As Jenny thought about it, there was a hint of gloom on Jenny''s unmatched gorgeous face. When


    Parker came back from a business deal with someone, he saw that Jenny didn''t look good.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    "No... Nothing."


    Jenny hid her phone. "How''s the negotiation going today?"


    "Not bad."


    Parker looked a little tired.


    Parker was much more mature now than he was five years ago. He had less cynicism but more


    coldness and indifference in his eyes. It was as if nothing in this world could make his emotions waver.


    However, Jenny''s performance just now made him feel a little strange.


    Jenny was not a woman who was green and inexperienced. What could make her be so


    flustered?


    Although they had been talking incoherently, they were not thinking about the same thing.


    Jenny was afraid that Parker would discover something if she talked too much, so she found an excuse


    and walked out.


    Parker watched her leave as he looked at the photo on the desk. He gently stroked the photo.


    It was a photo of Meredith. It was the only photo of Meredith which he got from Amelia. He carefully


    ced it here and never allowed anyone to touch it.


    "Unknowingly, it''s been five years."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t let you die in vain. The Xaviers. I won''t let go of those who killed you and my


    mother. I will...make them pay."

 Chapter 469

    Chapter 469


    Derek, who was far away in H Country, sneezed.


    Easton saw this and looked up. "Dad, did you catch a cold?"


    Derek shook his head. He rarely got sick. Of course, he didn''t catch a cold.


    "Tomorrow, our kindergarten is on holiday. The teacher has arranged a task, asking us to do the parent-


    child interaction. I''ll go to thepany to find my mother. Then when you all get off work, we''ll go to the


    zoo together. How about that?"


    Easton said with a smile, holding up an iPad in his hand with a picture of the zoo on it.


    It was the world''srgest wildlife park where one could see cheetahs, tigers, and pandas. Easton had


    long wanted to go.


    Derek thought about it. Easton usually liked to go to the Xavier Group to wait for Meredith after school.


    Now she took the initiative to resign. If Easton knew, he didn''t know what Easton would do...


    However, it might not be a bad thing to make a scene.


    After all, it was only when Meredith stayed at the Xavier Group that he had the advantage of gaining


    the upper hand as he was close to her.


    "Your mother resigned today."


    Thinking about it, Derek said it directly.


    Easton became angry upon hearing this.


    Now, Easton could see his parents directly after school. He had only been enjoying this for a few days


    and he wouldn''t have the opportunity to enjoy this in the future?


    "Dad, what''s wrong with you? You let mom resign? Can you find another good designer like mom? Did


    you say something to make her unhappy?"


    "Then you can help me ask."


    Derek took out his phone and handed it to Easton.


    Easton nced at Derek. Easton was smart. He knew that his cunning father deliberately set this trap


    for him. But he...


    He was willing to jump into the trap.


    He skillfully pressed a few buttons and dialed the number. Soon, Meredith answered the phone.


    Easton purposely said in a pitiful voice, "Mom, I heard that you resigned."


    Meredith had just finished wiping Amelia''s body. When she heard her baby''s aggrieved voice, she felt a


    little guilty and resented Derek a little as he said everything to the child.


    "Mom has to take care of grandma. If I don''t resign, I will take a leave every day. My colleagues must


    have something to say."


    "Who dares have something to say? I''ll fire anyone if he/she has something to say!"


    Easton patted his chest, full of arrogance.


    It was rare that Derek did not despise his son''s cocky look. Instead, Derek nodded in agreement.


    "Easton..." Meredith couldn''t help but feel speechless. If Easton really did this, she would be notorious.


    "Mom, I know it''s hard for you to take care of grandma, but can you not quit your job and just take a


    long vacation? In the future, I can still go to the corporation to look for you. Things will also be


    convenient for you, me, and dad. What do you think?"


    Meredith listened to the soft voice and didn''t know what to say. Her only weakness was Easton.


    She had been absent for five years when he was growing up. She felt guilty about this, so she wanted


    to be with him more. She would not hesitate to agree to Easton''s request as long as she could ept.


    But...


    Meredith bit her lip.


    "Easton, I''m not going to have less time to be with you just because I resigned. Mom has already


    thought it through. Can you understand?"


    It was the first time Easton had found that Meredith was in such a dilemma. For a moment, he also


    didn''t know what to say.


    Meredith remained silent as Easton didn''t say anything.


    Easton thought about it and finally agreed, "Well, I don''t know what to say about adult''s business, but


    you need to promise that you won''t spend less time staying with me just because you resigned."


    When Meredith heard this, she felt that her precious son was such a good boy. "Of course, you are


    mother''s baby. How can I not stay with you?"


    Easton''s face rxed a little. He hung up the phone, and then looked at Derek helplessly. It was as if


    he thought that his father failed to live up to his expectations. "Dad, tell me the truth. What did you do to


    make mom so determined to leave? Did anyone find out about your office romance?"


    Derek nced at Easton. Even Easton was rejected. This showed how determined Meredith was.


    "Watch less of those soap operas in the future."


    Derek took the phone back, didn''t want to talk to Easton, and went straight into the study.


    Easton was so angry as he saw Derek don''t want to talk with him. Heined to Nanny Zhang,


    "Grandma, did you also think that my father went too far? He did something wrong and implicated me.


    Now he''s still venting his anger on me. Hmph."


    Although Meredith resigned, she still had to go back and deal with her remaining work.


    When the designers in Group B learned that Meredith resigned to take care of the patients at home,


    they all gave her their blessings andforts.


    They didn''t spend much time together. But Meredith was an approachable person and wouldn''t


    squeeze her employees and took credit for herself, so she was quite popr.


    After saying goodbye to everyone, Damian waited outside. When he saw Meredithe out, he said,


    "Mr. Xavier is waiting for you upstairs."


    "Okay."


    Meredith followed him upstairs.


    The office of the Xavier Group was still the same. It made her feel that she returned to the days when


    she worked as a small assistant here.


    "Have you finished all the formalities?"


    When Derek saw Meredithe in, he stopped writing and looked over.


    "Well, it''s almost done."


    Meredith handed Derek her resignation. She couldn''t leave until Derek signed her resignation.


    "You still have something to do. Have you forgotten?"


    Derek looked at the resignation in front of him and did not sign his name. Instead, he changed the


    subject.


    Meredith was taken aback. She had already finished everything.


    Was Derek deliberately making things difficult for her?


    "The design exhibition a few days ago ising to an end this afternoon. There will also be an award


    list. As apetitor, you must attend it."


    Only then did Meredith remember that she had also participated in that design exhibition. She had


    been too busy recently and had been so focused on Amelia''s illness that she had forgotten about it.


    "I see. I''ll go."


    Meredith nodded. It was not her style not to carry things through to the end. She also wanted to see


    who had won the prize.


    "Well, go back and get ready. When it''s over, you will give a speech. You need to prepare a speech


    draft."


    With that said, Derek quietly pushed aside the resignation in front of him.


    Meredith didn''t notice anything wrong and walked out.


    Derek then threw the resignation to Damian, who was standing aside. "Take it to the shredder."


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    Damian looked at the thing in his hand and couldn''t help but sigh. As expected, the boss was smart.


    Although he promised on the surface, no one could have thought that he would do this.


    If the boss didn''t sign the resignation, the resignation wouldn''t take effect.


    Meredith was still too young and naive.

 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470


    When she got back, Meredith started to prepare the speech carefully.


    Time flew quickly. When Derek arrived, he saw Meredith looking down at the printed paper in her hand


    and muttering in a low voice, as if she was very nervous.


    However, such a serious look was also a kind of charm. People said that the serious woman was the


    most beautiful. At this moment, Derek was convinced.


    Meredith had memorized the speech several times. Although it was not a long speech, she had tried


    her best to make it perfect.


    When she was almost done, she looked up and found Derek standing not far away, looking at her with


    a smile.


    Meredith''s heart beat wildly.


    It had to be admitted that when being looked at tenderly by such a handsome face, everyone would


    feel a crush.


    "Why didn''t you call me when you are here?" Meredith immediately stood up, packed her things, and


    walked over.


    Derek helped her take the things over casually. "Not long. Seeing how serious you are, it''s not easy for


    me to disturb."


    There was a hint of indulgence in the man''s tone.


    Meredith was a little unease when she heard this, and her face got heated. "Sweet mouth."


    Derek saw her blushed face, he smiled. "Only to you. Are you satisfied?"


    Meredith couldn''t stand it any longer. Her face turned redpletely and she walked out rapidly.


    Derek looked at her fleeing back and couldn''t help shaking his head, but his smile did not dissipate.


    Although they hadn''t been together for five years, at some point, this woman''s lovely side was still


    there. For a moment, there was an illusion that time was going backward.


    Meredith went downstairs and waited for a while. Derek came out as well. She nced at him and saw


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    that Derek was driving. "Just the two of us?"


    "Well, there''s no need for this closing ceremony to be too grand."


    Derek said as he leaned over to fasten Meredith''s seat belt. "After all, Tina won the gold medal at this


    exhibition. We don''t need to bring a group of people to support her."


    "Oh... Is that her..."


    Meredith didn''t like Tina very much. She felt something was strange when thinking that Tina could win


    the award.


    This time, it was all elites from all over the world that attended the exhibition. In terms of the design


    level, even if it was not world-ss, it was definitely not a low one.


    If Tina was capable from the beginning, why was she held back by that Judy?


    Meredith couldn''t figure it out. After thinking about it, she didn''t bother to care about it, because it was


    just a family matter of the Horton Family.


    As long as those people didn''t provoke her, what they did had nothing to do with her.


    The car drove smoothly and soon arrived at the exhibition hall.


    The closing ceremony also included an award ceremony, so it was a little grander than the opening


    ceremony.


    As soon as Derek arrived, he was surrounded by a group of people who wanted to talk about


    cooperation.


    Meredith didn''t want to get involved with the Xavier Group, so she walked away and wandered around.


    But at first nce, she saw Tina in full dress, who was holding a ss of champagne in her hand,


    chatting andughing with the people in front of her. There was no such thing as being submissive


    behind Judy.


    In particr, the clothes she was wearing today were extremely gorgeous. The fiery red dress was


    embellished with gold wire, shimmering in the light, coupled with the resplendent jewelry on her... It was


    extremely luxurious.


    Meredith nced at her and quickly looked away, but before she could sit down, Tina, who was just


    chatting with others, came over.


    "Hello, Miss Mason."


    Tina walked over with a smile. "Thank you for this time''s concession."


    Meredith was momentarily speechless.


    She was well aware of her own level. With so many outstanding peopleing to the exhibition, she


    was satisfied that she could win a silver award for her design. She did not expect that Tina''s aim was


    her.


    Just as Meredith was trying to figure out how to escape, there was a suddenmotion outside.


    "Miss, you can''t go in without an invitation!"


    "Please get out!"


    Meredith looked over. Outside, a few bodyguards surrounded a thin-looking girl. It seemed that they


    were trying to chase her out.


    Meredith couldn''t bear to see it, especially when she saw that the girl seemed very sad. She couldn''t


    help but walk over with curiosity.


    "What happened?"


    Meredith went over and saw the girl clearly.


    She had a teenage face but it was exceptionally beautiful. Her red eyes were as clear and transparent


    as gemstones. She was dressed in a ck Lolita dress, paired with her wless face. She really looked


    like a beauty in an oil painting.


    Meredith had always been fond of beautiful things, especially when she saw the girl''s stubborn face,


    which made her think of herself for no reason. She walked over and asked the security guards to leave


    first.


    "What''s wrong with you? You need an invitation to get in here. Are you lost?"


    Meredithmunicated with her in a foreignnguage. When the girl heard the familiarnguage, she


    looked over but still kept silent.


    Only then did Meredith realize that although this girl had a pair of beautiful eyes, she looked at people


    strangely.


    Normally, no one would look at a stranger so straightforwardly. She had never seen that look before.


    Meredith couldn''t help but take a step back when a woman''s voice came from behind. "Rosentti, why


    are you here?"


    Meredith was relieved when she saw someone was looking for her. She nodded to the woman,


    indicating that they could leave.


    The middle-aged woman understood what she meant and was about to pull the girl away, but the girl


    seemed to be frozen and refused to leave. Her eyes were fixed on the golden prize works in the


    exhibition hall.


    The middle-aged woman was annoyed at her stubbornness and muttered, "What''s the use of looking at


    it? It already belongs to someone else."


    They said this in French, probably because they thought Meredith wouldn''t understand.


    But when Meredith heard it, she couldn''t help but frown.


    She had learned some French before and naturally understood them.


    "It already belongs to someone else?!"


    What did she mean?


    Could it be that Tina''s stunning design was actually made by this strange girl?


    "Wait a minute!"


    Meredith walked over and stopped them in French. "What did you mean by that?"


    The middle-aged woman was shocked that Meredith should understand them. She didn''t say anything


    and pulled the girl to run out.

 Chapter 471

    Chapter 471


    Meredith was only slightly suspicious when they ran away. Now she was sure and she nned to catch


    up with them and ask them.


    However, before she could leave, someone came up behind her. "Miss Mason, the ceremony is about


    to begin."


    Since Meredith was the design representative of the Xavier Group, she had to give up the n.


    Meredith could not help sighing as she watched the two men go further away.


    She had a premonition.


    "What''s wrong?"


    After the ceremony began, Derek left the crowd and walked to Meredith. Seeing her strange


    expression, he asked.


    "Nothing..."


    Meredith shook her head. She didn''t want to say anything that she was uncertain about.


    What was more, no one knew where they were, and it was useless for her to say it.


    How could Derek not see that she was hiding something? His eyes darkened a little and he said with


    certainty, "You are hiding something from me."


    Meredith was about to speak, but the host had already called her on the stage to speak.


    "Please wee Miss Meredith Mason, the silver prize-winner of this design exhibition, to speak on


    stage!"


    Meredith immediately got up and walked up.


    "I am very happy to receive this award, and I am very proud to be able to participate in this exhibition. I


    am an amateur myself, and I have only been engaged in design for five years, so there have been


    many failures while I was exploring this road... But fortunately, I havee this far and I have finally


    achieved some results. Thank you for your support."


    Meredith said slowly, following the prepared script.


    Everything went smoothly. When Meredith was off the stage, Tina, the biggest winner, stepped up.


    Compared to Meredith''s calm and humble appearance, she seemed much more content and proud at


    the moment.


    "I''m Tina from the Horton family. Many people may not have heard of my name, but it doesn''t matter.


    I''m very happy to beat one person in thispetition."


    Tina''s sight fell on Meredith.


    The owner of the Horton Family also had an inexplicably smug look on his face.


    Last time, his youngest daughter lost to this unknown woman. Not only did he lose his reputation in


    design, but he was also disfigured because of an ident. ording to him, Meredith was directly


    responsible for all this.


    This time, it would be best to keep her from winning the prize.


    Meredith would be Tina''s best stepping stone, turning her from an unknown person into a popr one.


    "This person, who once beat my sister, just said in her speech that she had only been engaged in


    design for five years. It''s not known how she won my sister, who was trained since she was a child.


    After all, thest match was hosted in a ce in her favor. Fortunately, the judges were impartial this


    time and gave our Horton family the results we deserved."


    As soon as this was said, all the people present were whispering.


    It was clear that Tina was going to use her own grade to step on Meredith and climb up.


    What was more, her speech also implicated that the judgesst time were unfair. They were partial


    towards Meredith because of the Xavier Group behind her.


    Many people looked over gloatingly. The two winners were battling, and they naturally enjoyed


    watching the show.


    Derek''s expression turned cold. Although he knew that the Horton family had always been restless, he


    did not expect them to mess around in such an asion.


    Meredith was also a little speechless. Last time, thepetition was fair and square. Even if she had


    won with some luck, she still had a clear conscience.


    But this Tina... Clearly she was using someone else''s design. But now she could say such things with a


    straight face, which made Meredith annoyed.


    "Do you mean I am abysmal?"


    Meredith stood up and spoke in a manner neither servile nor haughty.


    "If so, let''spete openly and fairly again."


    When Tina heard Meredith say that, a triumphant smile shed across her face. "Of course I''m not


    afraid."


    Meredith frowned and felt something was wrong, but she couldn''t say what it was.


    When the people present heard that they wanted topete again, they all agreed.


    Soon, the matter was settled.


    Derek looked at the situation and found it strange.


    He had someone look into Tina''s previous designs, and they were mediocre. How dared she suggest a


    livepetition?


    However, since Meredith had already agreed to it, he would not say anything on the spot, which would


    only make people feel that there were real behind-the-scenes machinations.


    "In that case, let''s find a topic topete."


    Derek said faintly. The group discussed for a while and decided to use themes for thepetition.


    The host walked over and held a fortune stick box in his hand. "There are ten theme words in it. Please


    the designers make your design ording to the theme in a moment. You only need to draw a sketch.


    There will be judges to mark it."


    Neither side had any objections. The host quickly drew out a note with the keyword "Revival" on it.


    Meredith could not help but frown. This them was indeed quite difficult. The retro-style design would


    easily be a clich¨¦ if she was not careful.


    However, looking at Tina''s confident expression, Meredith''s ambition was also aroused. Since it was a


    anything.


    The two of them began to design with pen and paper.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Meredith thought about it. The word revival" easily reminded people of the western renaissance, but


    Tina was a foreigner. If she were topare with her for the understanding of foreign elements, then it


    would be a bit like hitting a stone with an egg.


    So...


    Meredith thought for a while and did not restrict herself to conventional ideas. She started to draw a


    Cheongsam.


    Since she couldn''tpare with her for western design, it was better to change the way. There were


    many factors worth reviving in her own culture, and Cheongsam was just one of Meredith''s favorite.


    After hitting on her idea, Meredith began to draw.


    As time passed by, Meredith was immersed in her own thoughts, as if he had forgotten where she was.


    Tina, on the other hand, looked up at Meredith from time to time, but the smile on her face never faded.


    Derek looked at her actions and saw that Tina was even faster than Meredith while she was


    multitasking. He felt something was wrong.


    Did this Tina suddenly be a genius?


    Soon, the time was up for the design.


    Meredith just stopped drawing and looked up to see that Tina had already finished it. She quietly turned


    her manuscript in and sat waiting for the judges to mark.


    The judges were worried that they would be criticized for being unfair again, so they simply showed the


    two works to the public first.


    First, it was Meredith''s. Meredith designed an improved Cheongsam with a very elegant white


    background and a bright red pattern of eight traditional Chinese treasures. The two were in contrast,


    and they showed a visual contradiction.


    In such a short period of time, the design was already very exquisite.


    Everyone nodded and thought that Meredith had a good ability. Then, seeing Tina''s picture, they were


    shocked again.

 Chapter 472

    Chapter 472


    If Meredith''s design was good, then the design that Tina presented this time was stunning.


    Tina designed a western-style retro dress in a bold colorbination of red, ck, and yellow, cleverly


    decoration design as well as the gorgeous atmosphere that the whole picture presented impressed


    people.


    In just a few hours, she created a perfect design that gave people the feeling of seeing a medieval oil


    painting.


    The moment Meredith saw Tina''s work, she knew she had lost.


    Her design concept may not be bad, but her degree ofpletion was limited. In contrast, Tina''s


    details were impable.


    Soon, the judges gave their opinions, and everyone agreed that Tina was the winner.


    When Horton saw this, he came over with satisfaction. "Miss Mason, in this fairpetition, you lost to


    Tina who is not as good as Judy. Are you convinced?"


    Meredith found those words very strange.


    If she lost, she wouldn''t make excuses. Her skills were inferior, but the Horton Family always tried to


    discredit her, which made her unhappy.


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Horton. There''s something wrong in thepany. We need to go back as soon as


    possible."


    Seeing this, Derek said that and took Meredith out.


    He didn''t care how the others whispered behind him.


    Meredith struggled for a while. "If you do this, we don''t know what they will say."


    "If you don''t leave, it will only make things worse."


    Derek looked unhappy.


    Just now, the Horton was clearly here to set a trap. If Meredith said that she was not convinced of


    losing, she would be said to be a sore loser. If she said that she was convinced of losing, then just as


    said by Horton, even Tina, who was not as good as Judy, could win Meredith on the spot. That meant


    she would only be criticized for winning with dishonorable connections in the past.


    No matter how to deal with it, she would only be criticized.


    They might as well just leave. Anyway, they didn''t have to show respect for the Horton Family.


    Meredith understood what he meant, but felt more guilty. Derek pushed himself out of the way to take


    the me and put her behind him.


    "I''m not aspetent as she this time. I''m sorry."


    Meredith was upset.


    If she hadn''t blindly proposed apetition, it wouldn''t have been this awkward situation.


    Derek shook his head, reached out and rubbed Meredith''s head, messing up her long, silky hair. "No,


    they obviously nned this."


    Tina''s expression was very strange from the beginning, plus her half-hearted performance during the


    "But... this is indeed a theme that was decided on the spot."


    Meredith couldn''t figure out what was going on either. At this moment, she suddenly remembered the


    girl named Rosentti she saw today. "When you came to me today, didn''t you ask me what was wrong? I


    actually saw a strange person."


    "Oh? What''s so strange about it?"


    "I saw a foreign girl trying to break in outside, so I went to see what was going on. Then, a woman who


    looked like her family came and told her that it was useless to look at those works. They were already


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    other people''s things."


    "Also, that girl looks a little strange. Although she''s pretty, she seemed unable to speak. Her look at


    people was also a little strange."


    Derek frowned. He had been checking whether Tina''s works were ghosted. With the power of the


    Horton family, it wasn''t hard to do this, but he couldn''t find out who it was.


    Hearing Meredith''s description, it suddenly dawned on him.


    He was looking for designers that the Horton Family hade into contact with. But ording to what


    Meredith had said, that girl was probably not a professional designer at all.


    "What does she look like? What''s she wearing?"


    Derek asked about the girl''s information carefully and then called Damian.


    "Find a foreigner named Rosentti, quickly."


    Derek rubbed his brows. Seeing him like this, Meredith could not help butfort him. "There are so


    many people. How can it be so easy to find her..."


    Derek shook his head but said nothing.


    What he was worried about now was that the Horton family would continue to make a fuss about


    Meredith''s loss. On the surface, it was a loss in apetition.But it was unclear how they would use


    public opinion to attack her and raise Tina''s status.


    After all, Tina had yet to gain a foothold. If she wanted to marry without being looked down upon by his


    husband, she had to have a good reputation.


    Meredith looked at Derek''s grim expression and realized something.


    At this moment, the phone rang.


    It was an unfamiliar number.


    Meredith picked it up and a reporter''s anxious voice came from inside.


    "Miss Mason, I heard that you used the power of the Xavier Group to deliberately manipte the


    "I heard that you have an ambiguous rtionship with Mr. Xavier, Derek. Is that how you got to your


    current position?"


    "Do you have anything to do with Easton from the Xaviers?"


    "These bastards, damn it!"


    Without thinking, Derek snatched Meredith''s phone and turned it off.


    He didn''t expect the Horton family to move so fast. As soon as thepetition was over, the reporters


    were arranged. This was bound to use Meredith as a stepping stone for Tina''s promotion.


    But...


    It was really bold of them to do such a thing in front of him and to pin all the shameful things in their


    family on Meredith.


    "They..."


    Meredith''s face was a little pale. What the reporter said just now reminded her of the feeling she felt


    when she was framed as the hit-and-run murderer.


    Knowing that she didn''t do it herself was useless. The public opinion had been manipted by others,


    and no one would believe her.


    For a moment, she was actually flustered.


    Derek saw Meredith looked awful and he grabbed her hand. The cold touch made him frown


    uncontrobly.


    She, as expected, was not so strong, and would still be afraid of such injustice.


    Gently pulling the slightly absent-minded woman into her arms, Derek''s steady voice sounded in


    Meredith''s ear. "It''s not your fault, it''s just that they had set a trap from the start and waited for you to


    fall in. Don''t worry, I won''t let them seed."


    "This time, no one can wrongly use you again."


    Feeling the warmth surrounding her and the familiar smell, Meredith''s nerves seemed to have been


    steadied.


    It had to be said that the man''s words had a calming effect as a pill.


    Without her knowing, it calmed her down.

 Chapter 473

    Chapter 473


    Derek directly took Meredith home. "Easton was sad that you didn''t spend some time with him. He


    really misses you."


    Meredith did not refuse.


    The first thing she wanted to do in such a sad situation was to hug her adorable son to absorb the


    courage and strength to persevere.


    Easton was already out of school, and on the way home, he had seen the news on his phone.


    "This Tina is really shameless."


    In children''s opinion, their parents were naturally the best. And Easton thought what happened to the


    Horton Family had nothing to do with others.


    How dared they frame his mother?


    Easton was thinking about how to make these sinister people pay a price when the door opened.


    Meredith walked in and saw that Easton was back. She smiled, but she looked tired.


    "Mom, you''re back!"


    Easton had always been a smart kid. He could tell his mother was not in a good mood now. After


    thinking of something, he walked over and held Meredith''s hand. "I had done a lot of things in


    kindergarten today."


    Then he led Meredith to the ce where he kept his toys and asked her to y with him.


    Meredith didn''t want her negative emotions to infect the child, so she managed to rx and built the


    blocks with Easton.


    Easton told Meredith some funny and embarrassing things that happened to him and finally made her


    This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "Mom, help me. I''m going to the bathroom."


    Seeing that Meredith was in a better mood, Easton found an excuse toe to the study to find Derek.


    Derek was trying to find out the whole story, and he saw the small head peeking out behind the door.


    "What are you doing?"


    Derek asked, "Aren''t you ying with your mother?"


    "What on earth is going on? Hasn''t Tina gone too far? Do you want me to teach her a lesson?"


    Easton was eager to do so. Mr. Xavier bought him a high-end drone from abroad a few days ago. He


    hadn''t found a chance to y it yet.


    Thest time he used a remote control ne to scare the bad guys who bullied his mother. He could do


    that again.


    Even though others found out it was him who did that, no one would me him since he was still a kid.


    "Save your little tricks. If your great-grandfather knows, guess what will happen?"


    Easton had thought of many tricks, but when he heard this, he was frustrated.


    "Then what should we do? We can''t just watch mom get bullied and not do anything, can we?"


    Easton looked unhappy.


    After all, he was a child, and he didn''t think too much. He only knew that he had to get back after being


    wronged, but he did not know that the adult world was that simple.


    Derek frowned and was about to say something but his phone rang.


    Damian was calling him.


    "Boss, we have found out where the girl is, but the Horton Family is keeping a close eye on her, so it


    might be a little difficult to bring her out directly."


    Derek thought about it. Meredith had specifically told him that the girl looked different from normal


    people. If they brought her out forcefully, they would be in trouble.


    The hotel that the girl was staying in was remote and not a luxurious hotel at all. It was a lot worse than


    the one the Horton Family was staying in. "Pay for the attendants there to bring her out. Be careful not


    to make her hostile to us."


    Damian immediately started doing this.


    When Easton heard that Derek was about to take action, he became excited too. Rubbing his hands,


    he asked. "Do you want me toe? I can help."


    "Are you going to make things worse?"


    Derek didn''t agree and he patted Easton''s little head. "If youe with me, your mother will be alone


    at home. I''m worried. Stay with her. Don''t let her think too much and wait for my news."


    Easton was a little upset because his head was patted, but seeing that Derek was already nning to


    leave, he felt he could do nothing. "Then you have to hurry up. You''d better finish it today. I don''t want


    to see mom unhappy all night."


    Derek didn''t say anything, just walked out.


    In the Hotel.


    In a dark room, many design drafts were scattered on the floor.


    However, the girl sitting on the bed did not seem to notice the mess. She stared at the paper in front of


    her and kept moving the pen to draw something on the paper.


    After a while, a man in ck came in. He looked at the drawings on the ground and put them away. He


    was about to leave, but when he looked up, he met the girl''s fiery red eyes.


    The ghostly look in her eyes made him tremble with fear, but he quickly picked up the drafts in his hand


    and turned to leave. Suddenly, the girl tugged at the corner of his clothes.


    The girl who had been sitting motionless was now staring at the drafts in his hand. Neither of them said


    or did anything for a while. The middle-aged woman outside came back and when seeing this scene,


    she quickly pulled the girl away and let the man out.


    "Sorry, sorry."


    The middle-aged woman put on a fawning smile on her face. After sending the man away, she pushed


    the girl to the ground hard.


    "What were you going to do just now? Aren''t they just a few pieces of scrap paper? What''s the use of


    your drawing? Why don''t you sell them? At least you can earn some money and support yourself. I''ve


    raised you for more than a decade. Don''t make any more trouble for me!"


    The girl fell to the ground and did not react after hearing what she said.


    "What a lunatic."


    The middle-aged woman shook her head and was about to leave when there was a knock on the door.


    As soon as the woman opened the door, she saw a man in a custom-made suit standing outside.


    Damian looked at the shabby room. "Sorry, someone wants to have a talk with you."


    "Who are you? You''re not from the Horton Family?"


    The woman was very guarded. When she saw an unfamiliar Asian face, she asked subconsciously.


    "It doesn''t matter who I am, but I can tell you that I can give you ten times the money that the Horton


    Family had offered you."


    Damian had investigated and learned that the woman cared about money very much. Money was her


    weakness, and he would take advantage of it.


    "Ten times?"


    The woman was startled, but when she saw Damian''s clothes and his imposing manner, she felt


    thought it was a good deal.

 Chapter 474

    Chapter 474


    The woman thought for a while and looked at Damian, "How can you prove what you said is true?"


    These days, she had made a lot of money by selling Rosentti''s drawings to the Horton Family.


    However, people were always greedy. If someone offered a higher price, she was okay with changing


    partners.


    Damian took out a nk check, "As long as you make my boss satisfy, you can fill it out."


    The woman''s eyes lit up, "Then what are you waiting for? I''ll go see him now."


    "No, my boss wants to see the youngdy."


    The woman nced at Rosentti, who was staring nkly at the drawing paper again. She thought for a


    while and nodded.


    With the help of the paid staff, Damian took them out through the back door. Then they went straight to


    the Xavier Group.


    On the way, he looked at the girl from time to time.


    The young girl, wearing a ck Lolita dress, was as delicate as a porcin doll. On the way, she did


    not say a word, nor did she look out the window. She just looked ahead.


    He felt weird.


    Damian looked away and kept his eyes on the road.


    Soon, they arrived at the Xavier Group.


    Damian took them to the top floor, where Derek had been waiting.


    "Boss, they''re here."


    Derek heard and frowned, "Come in."


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Damian led them into the office. Derek ignored the middle-aged woman, who seemed money-


    obsessed, and looked at the girl Meredith mentioned.


    Her appearance was impable. But her expression and posture were strange.


    Seeing Derek sizing up her niece, the middle-aged woman, who had just been overwhelmed by the


    luxury of this ce, stepped forward and said eagerly, "This is my niece. Don''t be misled by her


    appearance. She is a genius in design."


    "Oh? So, what''s wrong with her?"


    "Her parents died when she was a girl. As her aunt, I brought her up through hard work. She has never


    said a word till now. Every day, she is drawing in front of the drawing board. Not long ago, I realized


    how awesome her paintings were. Sir, if you give us a chance, we won''t let you down."


    Hearing what she said, Rosentti still didn''t say anything. But a trace of anger shed her face, which


    was seen by Derek.


    He knew what was going on.


    I''m afraid this young girl had autism since she was a little girl. But she had outstanding talent. She


    couldn''t speak, which made her focus on designing. Thus, she was so talented.


    So, what Tina drew was probably stolen from her.


    "What price did the Horton Family quote you?"


    After listening to what the woman said, Derek suddenly asked.


    "Just..."


    The woman suddenly thought of something.


    She had signed a confidentiality agreement when she made deal with the Horton Family. She would


    never say anything about the ghostwriter. But when Derek asked, she answered subconsciously.


    Her back was sweating with cold sweat, "No, I don''t know the Horton Family."


    "Now, do you expect me to believe you?"


    Looking at her guilty face, Derek had a good guess, "All you can do now is cooperate with me. Just


    think about it. Now you''re on my turf, what will happen if you don''t coorperate."


    The middle-aged woman heard this, "You don''t make a deal. You threaten me."


    As she spoke, she pulled Rosentti and wanted to go. This man seemed not provokable.


    Derek did not stop her. He said, "Miss, don''t you want to take back what others have taken from you?"


    Rosentti, who was expressionless, looked at Derek, seemingly wondering something.


    Then she broke free of the woman''s hand and walked up to Derek, staring at him.


    "Rosentti, what''s wrong with you? If you go back on your word, our whole family is doomed. "


    The middle-aged woman screamed. She knew that if the Horton Family knew about her betrayal when


    she returned home, she would be tortured. So, she went up and dragged Rosentti to leave.


    "Damian, take her out to calm down."


    Derek gave the order coldly. Soon only they were in the office.


    "I don''t know what happened at the time. But your drawings were stolen and they hurt my lover. So, I


    want the person behind all this to pay the price. Do you want to cooperate with me?"


    Derek said slowly. Rosentti lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. Then she nodded


    slowly.


    "Well, you can stay here. I''ll let you know after I arrange the whole thing."


    After that, Derek asked someone to arrange a safe ce for Rosentti.


    On the other hand, Damian scared the women with threats. In the end, she let everything out.


    As she said, Rosentti had been adopted by her since she was a child. But she couldn''t speak since she


    was a little girl. She had autism.


    She knew something was wrong, but she didn''t want to spend too much money on her treatment


    because Rosentti''s illness was not serious. She was usually quiet and drawing. So no one cared.


    Then someone from the Horton Family saw one of her pictures. She then realized how valuable those


    paintings were.


    The Horton Family bought all of Rosentti''s works by several ten thousand. They promised that as long


    as she continued to paint, she would live afortable life.


    The woman who had never seen so much money naturally agreed. Their trip to H Country was


    arranged by the Horton Family.


    Unexpectedly, something went wrong.


    After Damian reported the whole thing, Derek almost understood what was going on.


    It seemed that Tina had taken hundreds of Rosentti''s works. No wonder she was so confident.


    After all, even if made out questions on the spot, with so many works, she coulde through.


    Moreover, considering Meredith and Tina were from different countries at that time, the host''s questions


    were neutral. That was to say, they could draw everything.


    It seemed that she had a question bank with answers. Then she chose the questions randomly. No


    matter what questions she chose, she had known the answers.


    "Inform the reporters, we will hold the press conference tomorrow."


    Derek threw the pen aside, "Since they had the guts to plot against Meredith, they must be punished."

 Chapter 475

    Chapter 475


    When Derek got home, it was already dark. Easton was washing up with Meredith.


    Meredith sat outside and waited for him toe out. When she heard the door open, she looked over.


    "You''re back."


    Meredith felt inexolicable nervous. She wanted to ask about the situation, but she didn''t know how to


    say it.


    "Don''t worry, the ghostwriter has been found."


    Derek saw that she wanted to say something but stopped. He took off his coat and walked over to her


    and sat beside her. "The girl you''re talking about is the person behind Tina."


    "Is she... Willing to tell the truth?"


    Meredith frowned.


    Derek shook his head, and Meredith became nervous. "She''s in a special situation. I''m afraid it''s


    difficult for her to say it herself."


    Derek didn''t want to hide it from Meredith, so he told her the whole story.


    Rosentti was an autistic person after all. Even if she was willing to cooperate, she couldn''t speak.


    "Autism?"


    Meredith was a little surprised.


    At that time, she thought that the girl was very strange, but she didn''t expect this to happen.


    Meredith could not help but feel the same way. This poor girl had to be cheated by the Horton Family


    and she even had such a disease.


    In the past, she was the same. She was at the mercy of others and couldn''t even protect what she


    cherished.


    "Then... What should we do? Wouldn''t it scare her if we let her attend the press conference with her


    situation?"


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Derek couldn''t help but smile.


    At a time like this, the first thing she thought about was whether she would hurt others.


    Some people, although life didn''t treat them well, they could still treat others with a kind heart.


    Derek looked at Meredith with a smile. The passion and affection in his eyes made Meredith blush. She


    couldn''t help but step back, trying to pull the distance between the two of them, but Derek grabbed her


    shoulder.


    "What are you afraid of?"


    Seeing that Meredith''s ears were all red, Derek couldn''t help butugh more. He leaned over and


    breathed a breath on her fair neck.


    Meredith shrank. A tingling sensation came from where Derek touched her. "You''re smiling so


    weirdly..."


    "Really?"


    Derek narrowed his eyes. His eyes were full of love, but this woman was really a buzzkill.


    "I just feel like I didn''t love the wrong person. You''re still the same person you were before, always soft-


    hearted and considerate of others."


    Derek was very frank about what he was thinking, and after Meredith heard it, her face burned with shy.


    Why didn''t she realize that Derek was so straightforward when he was talking about love?


    "I know, I know!"


    She reached out to push the man who was getting closer and closer, but Derek grabbed her arm and


    lowered his head to kiss her delicate red lips.


    Meredith couldn''t escape. Bewitching by the ambiguous atmosphere at this moment, she didn''t really


    want to struggle away. Looking at the handsome face getting closer and closer, she couldn''t help but


    close her eyes...


    At this moment, Easton came out of the bathroom after washing and brushing his teeth. Seeing this, he


    coughed loudly.


    "What are you doing?"


    Derek''s face darkened. The boy deliberately wanted to ruin his affair.


    Meredith, on the other hand, jumped away from Derek like being struck. Her face was blushed like a


    tomato. "No, nothing. Easton, I''ll tell you a story."


    Afraid that Easton would continue to ask something, Meredith quickly took his hand and brought him to


    the bedroom. If he continued to ask curiouslyter, she would probably want to find a hole and hid it to


    vent her embarrassment.


    Derek watched the two of them leave annoyingly, trying to figure out how to fix this little bastard up.


    Easton followed Meredith into the room and saw her blushing. In fact, he understood it very well, but he


    still pretended to be naive. "Mom, what were you doing just now?"


    Meredith was so embarrassed. How could she say such a thing to a child? She couldn''t help but curse


    herself and Derek again. She shouldn''t have done that in the living room. Now, she lost her dignity in


    front of the child.


    "Just discussing some things."


    "Oh~"


    Easton knew it, but it was not good to keep asking. If he asked again, Meredith would probably leave


    because of embarrassment.


    Meredith did not know what to say, so she could only lower her head to make the bed for him. She


    should urge him to go to bed quickly to avoid being asked more questions.


    "It''s still early. I''m not sleepy."


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Easton looked at the time. It was less than nine o''clock. He couldn''t sleep at all.


    "Then take your homework to me."


    Meredith calmed down slowly. Seeing that Ku Easton was very uncooperative, she began to scare him


    by using the homework.


    When Easton heard this, he immediately stopped talking nonsense. "Oh, it''s sote. It''s so boring to


    read homework."


    He wouldn''t say that he didn''t do his homework.


    Easton had been taught by the Xaviers since he was a child. He had learned and mastered the things


    that were taught in kindergarten. It was a waste of time to do it again, and he kept finding excuses not


    to do it.


    The kindergarten teacher had no choice but to turn a blind eye to him because they did not dare to


    offend the Xaviers.


    But neither Derek nor Meredith knew about this.


    If they knew it, he wouldn''t end well.


    "I''ll go out and get some water."


    Seeing that Meredith was a little suspicious, Easton quickly found an excuse to sneak out. As soon as


    he left, Derek caught him.


    "Dad? What are you doing here?"


    Easton shrank his neck and looked at Derek''s weird face. He felt like he was going to suffer.


    "What are you doing running out in such a hurry?"


    Derek had just walked to the door and heard both of them clearly. With his knowledge of this brat, he


    knew what he had done well.


    He must have been ying smart and throwing a tantrum. He didn''t do his homework, so he ran out in


    fear of being examined.


    Derek wanted to take advantage of it..


    "I came out to drink. I''m thirsty."


    Easton wanted to leave, but Derek caught him and he couldn''t move. He could only smile pleasantly.


    "You didn''t do your homework, right? Are you afraid of being discovered?"


    Derek squatted down and patted Easton on the shoulder. Although he had a kind father''s face, Easton


    felt creepy.


    "This..."


    "There''s no need to argue. I know you."


    "Then..."


    Easton was upset. "I''m going to write now, okay?"


    He really hated sitting at the table and writing about what he had learned.


    "Or not."


    Derek still knew Easton''s level. Even if he didn''t do his homework, his grades wouldn''t be bad.


    However, since Easton had interrupted them, it was always necessary for him to do something.

 Chapter 476

    Chapter 476


    "Do me a favor, then I''ll forgive you."


    Derek squinted. Easton looked at Derek and thought that Derek was a scheming fox, and he was the


    poor, helpless little sheep.


    "You''ll..."


    Derek leaned closer to Easton''s ear and whispered a few words.


    After listening, Easton nced at him. "Dad, is it really appropriate for you to utilize me like this?"


    "You are my son. It''s your duty to help me."


    Derek said as if it was merited for Easton to help him. Easton also had no intention toin.


    After a while, Easton returned to the room with a ss of milk.


    "Mom, this is hot milk. You can have a drink and you can sleep better at night. Besides, drinking milk


    before sleep can help you maintain your beauty and keep young."


    Easton opened his mouth and did the sweet talk. Meredith felt warm in her heart.


    She took Easton into her arms and kissed him. "Thank you, Easton."


    Easton was a little embarrassed and blushed a little. "I...have a small request."


    Meredith was drinking the milk that Easton gave her. It was sweet and made her stomach warm. When


    she heard him say that, she did not hesitate, "Say it. I won''t say no to things I can promise you."


    Only then did Easton smile and say, "I want to sleep with you and dad tonight."


    Meredith almost spat the milk out of her mouth when she heard this.


    "Sleep together?"


    Although she and Derek had slept on the same bed, she had recently deliberately distanced herself


    from him. Easton''s request came at a really inappropriate time.


    "Easton, can''t I just stay with you?"


    Meredith tried to persuade Easton with reason and emotion.


    Easton wanted to say as it would be great to sleep with Meredith alone, but he was threatened by his


    father. If he didn''t do as his father said, he would have to work all night to do his homework.


    "Mom, the other kids sleep with mom and dad..."


    Easton lowered his head and looked aggrieved.


    As he spoke, he really felt aggrieved.


    Although he had the best living conditions and everyone in the Xaviers loved him, it was impossible for


    him to say that he didn''t care that he didn''t have his mother, who was a very important person, around


    him.


    For a moment, he was curious about how the children who usually slept with their parents felt.


    Meredith couldn''t bear to see that Easton was upset, especially when Easton became upset because


    of things rted to her. Seeing him lower his head and speak in a low voice, her heart almost broke.


    "Easton, I...promise you."


    Meredith thought for a moment. It was just sleeping together. Nothing would happen even if Derek


    wanted to as Easton would sleep in the middle and she and Derek would sleep on both sides of the


    bed. There was no need to make the child upset.


    "Really?"


    Seeing that she agreed, Easton smiled brilliantly. He hugged Meredith''s neck, gave her a big kiss on


    the face, and then ran out to call Derek.


    "Mom agreed. You have to keep your word!"


    "When did I go back on my word?"


    Derek saw that Easton hadpleted the task perfectly. Derek couldn''t suppress the smile on his face.


    "Mom, the bed in my room is too small to sleep. Go to dad''s bedroom."


    Meredith was still struggling in the room when she heard Easton''s clear childlike voice. She could only


    stand up.


    After all, she promised Easton.


    Surprisingly, Derek wasn''t in the bedroom, and Easton was the only one who was rolling over on the


    exaggeratedly big bed.


    She breathed a sigh of relief and held down the little naughty guy. "Be good. Don''t fall."


    "The bed is so big that I can''t fall even if I keep rolling."


    Easton said without caring about what Meredith said at all. His father threatened him before. He had to


    try his best to make his father''s bed a mess. It was an act of small revenge.


    Meredith could not scold Easton when she saw Easton making a fuss. Fortunately, Easton was tired


    after a while. After all, he was still a child. After a while, he became sleepy.


    Meredith ced him on the bed and turned off all the lights in the room, leaving only a dim little night


    light.


    Slowly, Meredith became sleepy too, but she was notpletely asleep.


    Derek opened the door and saw Meredith and Easton lying together as they were snuggling up to each


    other and sleeping.


    He couldn''t help but smile. There was nothing more pleasant than seeing the person he loved in front


    of him. Because he had lost her before, he cherished this seemingly ordinary peace even more.


    Gently walking over, Derek did not sleep on the other side as Meredith had imagined, but slept directly


    next to Meredith.


    Because this bed was big enough, they didn''t feel that the bed was too crowded.


    Meredith didn''t sleep very soundly. She was in a daze when she felt that someone was behind him.


    She snorted softly, "You finished?"


    Derek grunted softly, "Yes." Then, he wrapped his arms around the woman''s slender waist and buried


    his face in her neck. The faint fragrance of the shower gel chased all the fatigue he had after working


    all day away.


    Meredith was a little sobered up by his actions. It seemed different from what she had imagined.


    "You sleep over there... Isn''t it crowded here?"


    Meredith struggled twice, but Derek hugged her from behind. Their bodies were tightly pressed against


    each other. She just moved a few times. But when she sensed something, she quickly stopped.


    Derek was also a little helpless. He didn''t want to do anything at the beginning. But Meredith rubbed


    against his body, and he was aroused.


    "You go over there!"


    Meredith didn''t dare to move, but her face blushed. She felt that it was very dangerous as Derek held


    her in his arms like this.


    "What if I say no?"


    Derek looked at Meredith''s shy and angry face. He felt that Meredith was like an angry cat. She was so


    cute that he immediately thought of teasing her.


    Meredith didn''t know what to say. Facing an impulsive man who was stronger and bigger than her, what


    could she do?


    "Anyway, you can''t go too far in front of Easton."


    Seeing that she seemed a little annoyed, Derek stopped teasing her. If he really did anything, with


    Meredith''s personality, she would definitely be furious.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Then give me a kiss and I''ll go over there."


    Derek gave Meredith a choice.


    Meredith looked at Derek''s handsome face, which made her feel angry and helpless. She had never


    seen Derek like this. It seemed that he was now different from the domineering person she had known


    before.


    After thinking about it, she thought it was eptable. Anyway, kissing him was better than having that


    in front of Easton.


    "Close your eyes."

 Chapter 477

    Chapter 477


    Meredith leaned over and kissed Derek''s lips quickly.


    Then she wanted to retreat, but Derek would not be satisfied. He held her waist and kissed her deeply.


    Meredith''s eyes widened in fright. She was a little sleepy just now that she waspletely sober.


    She reached out her hand to push Derek''s chest, but could not make it at all. Instead, she felt


    intoxicated, making her faint.


    By the time Derek let go of her, Meredith was almost out of breath, but she was still staring at him


    angrily with a pair of beautiful misty eyes.


    Derek couldn''t help but smile. ''Did she think she could scare him? She was rather cute.''


    However, he did not go too far. He got up, got out of bed, and walked to the other side. "Good night."


    Meredith looked at his natural movements and watched him lie down as if nothing had happened, she


    was still in a daze.


    By the time she realized it, Derek was already lying down, closing his eyes and looking like he was


    asleep...


    She was a little annoyed, ''This damn man...''


    Naturally, Derek didn''t fall asleep that fast. Seeing her staring at him, he couldn''t help but smile and


    start to tease her. "What''s wrong? Aren''t you going to sleep? I''m back, but you don''t want to sleep


    now? Or did you just show duplicity?"


    "No. Go to sleep."


    Meredith looked at the banter on Derek''s face and was so embarrassed that she wanted to get into the


    ground. She then simply pulled the quilt, covered her face, and turned her back to him. Regardless of


    whether Derek slept or not, dhe began to hypnotize herself.


    Seeing that Meredith had wrapped herself up in a ball, Derek said nothing more.


    Meredith was already a little tired today and soon fell asleep.


    Seeing that she had calmed down, Derek went over to pull the quilt off her face and shook his head


    helplessly.


    ''Sleeping like this, she would hold herself back. This woman was a little childish when she lost her


    temper.''


    However, looking at her quiet sleeping face, Derek''s heart softened. Seeing her slender eyebrows


    involuntarily wrinkled while sleeping, the man caressed them with his warm palm.


    It seemed that she was still upset by what happened today. He thought he had to solve it as soon as


    possible.


    Thinking about it, Derek kissed Meredith on her forehead and then fell asleep.


    They had s sound sleep.


    When Meredith woke up, Derek was gone.


    Easton was still sleeping soundly, but his sleeping posture was really bad. He was lying on the bed with


    his legs pressed on Derek''s quilt, carelessly.


    This bed was big enough, otherwise, Meredith was afraid that he would fall over.


    "Easton, get up. You still have to go to school today."


    Meredith leaned over and pinched Easton''s soft face. The little guy waved his hand impatiently. "Oh,


    don''t bother me. Let me sleep for a while."


    His tone was very arrogant, not as obedient as he usually pretended to be to Meredith at all.


    Meredith couldn''t help but wonder if this kid was always pretending to be obedient to her. He was quite


    fiery when he got up.


    Derek heard voices in the room, knew they were awake, so he walked in. Seeing Meredith waking up


    Easton, the picture was harmonious and beautiful, but for some reason, the attitude of that brat made


    him ufortable.


    "Easton, up or not?"


    As soon as Derek''s low male voice rang out, Easton trembled involuntarily. When he opened his eyes


    and saw Derek''s dark face, he did not dare to make a scene "I''ll get up, now."


    Seeing that Easton was so obedient to Derek, Meredith couldn''t help shaking her head. She thought


    that she had indulged him so much that she wasn''t formidable at all.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Seeing Easton leave, Derek looked at Meredith. "Get up. Breakfast is ready. We have to go to the


    press conference today. Cheer up."


    Meredith nodded. "What do you need me to do for the press conference?"


    Derek thought about it. He had already arranged everything so he didn''t need her to do anything, but...


    "Just a little bit, but I''ll see if you want to do it."


    Derek whispered a few words in Meredith''s ear, and by the time she heard it, she was already


    dumbfounded. "Is that okay?"


    "It''s up to you."


    Derek didn''t force her. He took Meredith''s hand and went out for breakfast.


    The three of them had breakfast happily together, then then the two adults sent Easton to kindergarten


    together before heading for the Xavier Group.


    There were already a lot of reporters waiting outside the door. When they saw Meredith, they rushed up


    as if they were beasts. "Miss Mason, we have a lot of questions!"


    "You can ask uster. It just so happens that we have a press conference today."


    As soon as Derek reached out and blocked everyone in front of him, Damian immediately led the


    paparazzi into thepany.


    The paparazzi were surprised. They thought that Meredith must have been panicked when something


    like this happened. They didn''t expect her to be so calm and take the initiative to give an interview.


    Although they didn''t understand, this was big news without a doubt. Naturally, no one wanted to miss it.


    When Meredith walked into thepany, Derek didn''t ask her to face the reporters directly but asked


    someone to bring Rosenttinout.


    "This is the girl you''re talking about."


    Meredith looked at the girl in front of her. With her outstanding appearance and red eyes, Meredith


    recognized her immediately.


    However, the girl didn''t talk to them. She lowered her head and fiddled with the pen in her hand.


    "Rosentti, you have to go out for an interviewter and tell everyone what happened to you."


    Derek said indifferently. Meredith was really puzzled. This girl even couldn''t speak. How could she be


    interviewed?


    "Are we forcing her too much?"


    As soon as Meredith finished speaking, the girl stood up and nodded to Derek, who was indicating that


    she was willing to do that.


    "As for the next process, I''ve already arranged it. Don''t worry, Tina won''t be arrogant for long."


    Meredith held Rosentti''s hand. The girl''s hand was cold, not even as warm as a living person should


    be.


    It had to be said that this girl had a strange aura all over her body. She was not like a human, but like


    some kind of vampire or something.


    "In a moment, you can pinch me if you feel ufortable. I''ll take you out."


    Meredith was afraid of worsening her condition, so she reminded her again.


    The girl tilted her head and looked at her. The resistance in her heart was less. She could see that the


    person in front of her was kind.

 Chapter 478

    Chapter 478


    At the press conference, a group of reporters had been waiting impatiently.


    At the same time, Tina was waiting impatiently too.


    She certainly knew that Derek was going to hold a press conference.


    But she wanted to see what this man would do for Meredith.


    "I wonder what''s so fascinating about that woman. He had spent a lot of efforts to protect her."


    Tina felt unfair. Just at this moment, the assistant came in trembling.


    "Bad news, Miss Tina, the mute and her aunt are gone."


    "What?" Tina was rxed. When she heard this, she got angry and smashed the ss in her hand on


    the ground. "When did this happen? Why did you report it now?"


    "Well..."


    When the assistant saw Tina getting angry, she was trembling with fear. Others might not know what


    Tina was like. But people from the Horton family certainly knew her.


    After Judy''s incident, Tina crushed her by chasing out all the people rted to Judy. She also punished


    people who had bullied her by very cruel means as a warning to others. Everyone did not dare to be


    careless and irritate her.


    Therefore, although the two men were found missing yesterday, everyone was afraid of being


    punished. They just kept looking for people everywhere, not daring to report.


    So, now it was toote to know.


    "A bunch of good-for-nothings!"


    Tina was so angry that her face turned red and she threw things in the room to vent her anger.


    "What''s wrong?"


    The master of the Horton Family came over impatiently when he heard the noise.


    He actually didn''t like Tina very much. If it hadn''t been for Judy''s incident, this mediocre daughter


    wouldn''t have the right to show off here.


    "Dad, those two bitches are missing. They must have been taken away by Derek!"


    "What?"


    The master of the Horton Family was also a little angry, but he was still calm. "Send someone out to


    look for them immediately. Be sure to keep it secret."


    "But the Xaviers is already holding a press conference. They must have them."


    "But what could he do? Why are you so stupid? That girl is autistic. She hasn''t said a word since she


    was a child. Even if Derek took her away, she won''t be able to prove what you did. At that time, you just


    have to think about what you said!"


    Tina calmed down slowly at his words. He was right. That person was like a mute and never listened to


    anyone else. She was immersed in her own world. What could Derek do about her even he took her


    away?


    So she didn''t need to worry about her even if she confronted this girl.


    Thinking about it, she quickly apologized to her father. "I''m sorry, dad. I''m too stupid. I''ll take care of


    this."


    With that said, she turned on the live broadcast of the press conference to see Derek''s n. She was


    going to meet changes with constancy.


    ...


    Derek walked to the podium, looked at the reporters who were waiting for him, and spoke calmly. "What


    happened yesterday has gone viral. But it was getting more and more outrageous. People said that


    Xavier Group manipted thepetition, Meredith got her position because of a shady deal, and


    Miss Judy of the Horton Family went mad. We arebeled. So, in order to exin these things, I hold


    this press conference."


    "I swear that none of this is true. Instead, Tina of the Horton family yed tricks in thepetition that


    day. She stole another person''s design, bribed the media, and ndered others."


    With that, Meredith led Rosentti up to the stage.


    "Those pieces of works are designed by Rosentti, not Tina."


    The reporters were in an uproar.


    Tina also stared at Rosentti. "This little bitch, why did she appear beside Derek? When shees


    back, I will make her life miserable."


    As soon as Derek finished speaking, many people immediately called Tina.


    Tina, on the other hand, had already figured out how to deal with it. She gave a video interview.


    On the screen, Tina looked aggrieved and lowered her head. She kept crying. "I know the rtionship


    between Mr. Xavier and Miss Mason and it''s not easy for them to admit their mistake. But it''s too much


    to try to clear it up by ndering me."


    "They said that I stole others'' design. Then, is there any evidence?"


    When Rosentti heard this, she stood up and stared at the woman on the screen.


    In her mind, she could not understand why this woman was so brazen. Tina had stolen so many of her


    drawings over the years. And there was no photocopy. How could there be any evidence?


    Meredith quickly held her down, feeling a little distressed.


    Meredith had been very sad for being stolen a few design drafts. But Rosentti''s all designs were stolen.


    She must be saddened.


    "Since Miss Tina dared to give an interview, how could she leave such obvious evidence?"


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Derek was not surprised that she would say that and smiled.


    Tina was flustered at his smile. But she still held on. "Then how can you prove what you said is true?


    Or do you want to force a charge on me because this is your territory?"


    "Of course that''s not my style. I only ask you to do one thing. Not difficult. Do you dare to agree?"


    A little cruelty was hidden in Derek''s smile. He looked at Tina with disdain.


    Tina subconsciously felt that something was wrong. But everyone was looking at her and waiting for


    her answer. She already had no way to back down. If she refused, she would only be considered guilty.


    "What is it? If it is something uneptable, I will not agree."


    "Don''t worry, it''s just that I want to see Miss Tina make a design now to prove her ability."


    Tina was relieved to hear that.


    She was not afraid of it at all because she had many manuscripts from Rosentti. Although Tina had no


    design talent, she memorized a lot by rote.


    There was no need to panic when dealing with such a situation.


    "Well, since you don''t believe me, I can draw as many times as I want."


    "Miss Tina is indeed candid. Since Miss Tina is so talented, then is it OK that my subject is a little more


    difficult?"


    "Good. Mypany is now nning to design a set of Han Chinese Clothing. Since Miss Tina is a


    genius, she has be a talented designer from nobody in just a few months. It is not difficult for you


    to design a set of Han Chinese Clothing, is it? If you can make a Chinese and western style, I will


    promote it vigorously."


    "Isn''t that too much of a request?"


    The reporters present nodded.


    With the level of design ability that Tina showed, even if she didn''t understand Han Chinese Clothing,


    she definitely had the ability to design one.


    But when Tina heard this, her legs went limp.


    Han Chinese Clothing? The designs she got were all western-style. How could Rosentti, a native


    foreigner, design Han Chinese Clothing?

 Chapter 479

    Chapter 479


    "Idiot."


    The owner of the Horton Family saw this and understood what Derek was nning.


    As for Tina, he really felt that she was useless, but after all, it was the person he chose, so he could


    only defend her.


    "Mr. Xavier, after all, my daughter grew up abroad and received western education. It would be a bit


    difficult for her to suddenly design Han Chinese Clothing."


    Derek smiled, as if mocking something, and then, seemingly unintentionally, tidied up his sleeves. "Mr.


    Horton, do you forget what your appraise is for Tina?"


    After the match with Meredith, how could the Horton Family easily let go of this opportunity to praise


    Tina? They asked arge number of reporters to praise Tina as a genius and said that she would


    be a shining star in the design world.


    If they refused now, everyone would doubt Tina''s design ability.


    "As we all know, art has no borders. Since Miss Tina is so talented that she can surpass Miss Judy, it


    will not be difficult for her to design Han Chinese Clothing on the spot."


    After Derek finished speaking, Tina was already covered in a cold sweat. She knew her ability.


    She was good at copying other people''s designs. But she couldn''t create by herself.


    If she was talented, she would surpass Judy since young.


    "Why are you so scared? Do you really steal others'' designs?"


    Derek narrowed his eyes when he saw that everyone had been led to doubt Tina.


    The atmosphere was frozen.


    Tina did not dare to agree, nor did she dare to refuse directly.


    Derek wasn''t in a hurry, so he just waited for her answer.


    Anyway, he wasn''t the one who was in a dilemma.


    After a while, Tina gritted her teeth as if thinking of something. "Well, I can ept it, but you should


    give me time. I''ll give you the script in a few days."


    "No."


    Derek smiled yfully, but there was no smile in his eyes. "After all, now I''m suspecting that if you have


    a ghostwriter. If I give you time, how can you prove your innocence?"


    At this point, Tina could not get away with it.


    Her face gradually turned pale, which made the reporters present felt something was wrong.


    In other words, with Tina''s personality, if she really had the ability, how could she be afraid of epting


    this challenge?


    Everyone immediately believed what Derek said.


    This Tina was really up to no good.


    Just as Tina was at a loss, Derek stood up and said, "I think we all have a conclusion in our mind about


    the truth. I don''t need to say anything more."


    As he spoke, Rosentti, who had been silent for a long time, stood up. Meredith was shocked.


    Just now, in order not to make her feel too bored, Meredith tranted everything that happened.


    She didn''t know if this child was stimted.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Rosentti looked at Tina with a deep hatred. Those drawings were nothing to Tina. But they were as


    important to her as life, and they were trampled on by Tina.


    "She doesn''t dare to design, but I dare."


    Holding a pen, Rosentti wrote these words.


    Meredith was surprised. This was the first time Rosentti was willing to express her wishes. It turned out


    that she had her own thoughts, but she was unwilling to express them.


    Derek didn''t expect her to do this, but it was good for the condition now.


    Immediately, someone sent over a pen and paper and asked her to start drawing on the spot.


    Meredith showed her Chinese Traditional Clothing and looked at her worriedly.


    After all, this was Rosentti''s first time designing Chinese Traditional Clothing, and if she messed it up, it


    wouldn''t end well.


    Everyone present looked at Rosentti.


    They were all thinking the same thing. If this strange girl could design Chinese Traditional Clothing


    wonderfully, then it would be clear about Tina''s ability. After all, Tina didn''t even dare to design.


    Rosentti looked at it for a while and then began to write. Her level waspletely different from what a


    young girl of her age should have. She was exceptionally experienced, but what was even more


    surprising was her use of color.


    Her use of color was particrly bold andpared to the usual conservative approach of using safe


    colors to avoid mistakes, each of the colors she chose made people feel that it was too strong, but with


    her exquisitebination, it became iparably harmonious.


    Tina''s heart slowly cooled as she looked at Rosentti''s drawing.


    She could have refused to admit it. After all, Rosentti could not speak. Even if Derek said it, it was only


    one-sided.


    But Rosentti actually showed her ability on the spot. How could she argue like that?


    "Useless!"


    The owner of Horton Family saw that things had turned out like this, and he was so angry that he took


    his men away.


    If he stayed any longer, he would be surrounded by reporters.


    "Dad, you can''t leave me behind!"


    Tina panicked, but the owner of Horton Family ignored her. "Solve your own problems! The Horton


    Family can''t lose reputation because of you."


    Designers could have no talent, but giarism and misappropriation were the biggest taboos. Just a


    moment ago, the owner of Horton Family had the decision.


    It was worth abandoning a useless daughter to keep the family''s reputation.


    "Dad, you can''t..."


    How could Tina not understand? She begged but was thrown away, and her dad left without looking


    back.


    ...


    Rosentti''s design soon appeared in front of everyone.


    Perhaps because she was a person who was not easily disturbed by the outside world, her design


    speed was also very fast.


    Meredith looked at her work with admiration, picked it up, and showed it to everyone.


    Although it was only a concept draft on the paper, it made people sigh with admiration for the


    designer''s talent because of the intense conflict of colors and the strong contrast that mixed Chinese


    and western culture.


    Seeing that everyone knew the truth, Meredith took the initiative to say, "I think it''s already clear. Miss


    Rosentti, she was cheated out of all her drawings by some ident, and the thief became the


    beneficiary openly."


    "I''ve been in this situation before. It''s like the child that I''ve been raising with all my heart was snatched


    away by someone else and the thief said that it was her child. It''s really ufortable."


    Meredith was not a person who liked to speak in public, but Derek had specifically told her to speak


    more in front of the media, and even to be pitiful. She had not thought much of it, but when she saw


    Tina''s arrogant appearance, she did not want to save Tina''s face.


    She wanted to let the rumors teach Tina a lesson. Then she could release her anger.

 Chapter 480

    Chapter 480


    "Besides, Miss Tina not only stole the work of others, but also framed innocent people through


    something that did not belong to her. This kind of behavior is really shameless and vile."


    The more Meredith spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, and there was a hint of crying in her voice. At


    this moment, she was not intentional.


    In the past few days, Tina did everything she could do to bribe many media to attack and criticize her in


    all aspects.


    If Derek hadn''t been there to support her and Easton had been with her every day to stop her from


    thinking about the things she was worried about, she would have been on the verge of breaking down.


    "Therefore, I also hope that all the reporters present can investigate this kind of thing in the future.


    Don''t let it go. Rumors are the most hurtful thing."


    After Meredith finished speaking, Derek felt a little heartbroken. He knew that Meredith was wronged.


    At this moment, she couldn''t help showing it in front of so many people. It was obvious that she also


    released her true feelings.


    "Let''s call it a day. I think you all know the truth and know what to write."


    Derek spoke faintly and walked back, holding Meredith''s hand, as if to give her some strength.


    The press conference was over, and the reporters left one after another. Many of them looked a little


    ashamed. After all, many reporters just criticized Meredith without investigating.


    When everyone was gone, Derek took Meredith into his arms andforted her carefully.


    Meredith did not push him away. At this moment, she felt that Derek''s arms were so warm, and she got


    courage and strength from him.


    However, just as the two of them were hugging each other quietly, Meredith saw Rosentti''s curious


    eyes.


    To her, she did not understand what these two people were doing but felt very strange.


    Meredith blushed and pushed Derek away awkwardly. "It''s settled, but..."


    She looked at Rosentti hesitantly. She sympathized with the child and wanted to help her.


    But she didn''t know what to do.


    Derek knew what Meredith was thinking. She didn''t even say it. He knew what she was thinking.


    "Her family has returned home."


    Rosentti''s aunt, afraid that Derek would do something to her, actually took advantage of others not


    paying attention and left early.


    She even left Rosentti behind.


    This was a matter for Derek. Who would have thought that the woman was so timid and cruel and


    abandoned her niece?


    "Then what should we do?"


    Meredith thought about it and felt very guilty. If Rosentti lost her family because of her, and her


    condition worsened, it would be a great sin. She would regret it for the rest of her life.


    "I''ve already contacted a famous doctor to give her psychological counseling. Damian has taken her to


    check. Her vocal organs are fine, but she doesn''t speak because of psychological problems. As long as


    she''s treated properly, there''s a great chance that she''ll recover. When she recovers, we''ll see what


    she wants to do."


    After listening to Derek, Meredith nodded. This way, it was good. If she could be cured, it would be a


    good thing.


    So, she told Rosentti these things directly.


    To her surprise, she did not appear happy, but rather uneasy.


    "What''s wrong? Don''t you want to see a doctor?"


    The girl lowered her head and slowly wrote on the paper, "There''s no money to see a doctor."


    Meredith suddenly felt a little sad. It seemed that her so-called family didn''t treat her well, as her


    parents and sisters.


    "It doesn''t matter. With your design skills, after curing your illness, you can go out to work. Maybe you


    cane Xavier Group?"


    Speaking of this, Meredith couldn''t help but feel a little excited. After all, Rosentti was very good at


    design. After she left, Xavier Group would be short of a designer. It would be perfect if Rosentti could


    make up for it.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Ourpany is very formal. When the timees, no one will rece you or get your award. You


    can rest assured that all the works will still belong to you."


    Hearing this, Rosentti was relieved and agreed with Meredith.


    Seeing that she had finally been arranged, Meredith felt relieved in her heart. Derek called Damian and


    asked him to arrange for the next treatment.


    In this huge space, only the two of them were left.


    Derek hugged Meredith from behind. "Are you in such a hurry to let here to the Xavier Group


    because you want her to take your ce?"


    When Meredith heard this, she knew her thoughts werepletely seen through and she smiled


    awkwardly. "I just think it''s a pity that someone like her would be taken away by anotherpany. Well,


    I''m thinking for thepany''s benefit."


    "Okay."


    How could Derek not know what she was thinking? This woman was thinking about how to escape


    from him.


    It seemed that he had to find a way to prevent her from disappearing from his sight for too long.


    "But the person Rosentti knows the most is you."


    Derek spoke slowly. This was not an excuse, perhaps because he always had a straight face, so


    Rosentti was always a little afraid of him.


    Only when Meredith was with her, she seemed to be able to rx a little.


    "In the future, I still need you to help her and let her fit into the normal working atmosphere."


    After listening, Meredith felt a little helpless.


    Derek really convinced her.


    And she couldn''t refuse yet.


    After all, she was also the one who said she wanted Rosentti to go to the Xavier Group. She was not


    an irresponsible person.


    "Well, I''ll try my best to help."


    "She''ll meet the psychiatrist twice a week in the future, and you should keep that frequency."


    Meredith listened to Derek, and she felt like she was tricked.


    "Don''t you want her to get better soon?"


    But when Derek said that, she could not refute it. "I see. Twice a week. I wille."


    "Good girl."


    Derek heard this and kissed Meredith on the cheek. Her face turned red. She remembered that they


    were in thepany and quickly broke free from his arms. "Since things are almost settled, I''ll go back


    first."


    Seeing that she was in a hurry to leave, Derek had no reason to keep her here and offered to send her


    back.


    Meredith was going to refuse, but Derek insisted and she gave up.


    The two of them went downstairs. Derek went to the parking lot to drive. When Meredith reached the


    entrance of thepany, she heard a lot of noise.


    It was Tina.


    "Meredith, you shameless woman. It''s all your fault!"


    Because of the revtion, Horton Family directly med Tina for everything, saying that she stole the


    designs and deceived the family.


    Now, Tina was left alone in this unfamiliar ce, and she had to be ridiculed and insulted wantonly. She


    was so angry that she could only find this ce to revenge on Meredith.

 Chapter 481

    Chapter 481


    After hearing Tina''s harsh words, Meredith''s face darkened.


    Meredith had seen how thick-skinned a person could be. The person was shamed into anger because


    of failing to framing others.


    "Tina, you did everything on your own. You deserve this. You have brought trouble to yourself. This is


    not a ce where you can act up."


    After speaking, Meredith called security to throw Tina out.


    Derek came back from the parking lot and saw this.


    "What happened?"


    Meredith shook her head and did not want to say more because she thought it unlucky.


    How could Derek not know what had happened? He looked at Tina, who was still scolding. Her face


    was dark.


    How could he not see the Horton Family''s strategy of sacrifice the knights in order to save the queen?


    However, he had not yet had the time to deal with them, but he did not expect that they actually had the


    face to take the initiative to make trouble.


    It seemed that he could not give them respite any more.


    "Contact the Horton Family and tell them that their giarism has affected their reputation. We intend


    to terminate our cooperation with them and sue them for liquidated damages."


    Damian heard this and immediately went to arrange it. The elites of Xavier Group''s legal department


    were also eager to try.


    At the beginning of the cooperation with Horton Family, in order to show each other''s sincerity, the


    number of liquidated damages was staggering. If the case was won, the money would be considerable,


    and there would definitely be much more annual bonus.


    "Is that okay?"


    Meredith was a little shocked to see that Derek had settled the matter on the spot.


    "Since they have the guts to cause trouble, they have to bear the consequences."


    They actually dared to plot against his woman and they just wanted to hand over an abandoned child.


    But they wanted toe outpletely unscathed. Nice try.


    Seeing that he had a well-thought-out n in mind, Meredith felt assured.


    It had to be said that Derek was really reliable at a time like this.


    "I''ll pick you up these days."


    Derek was driving, frowning.


    "Hmm? Why?"


    "Who knows what else Tina will do? If she asks someone to take revenge, you won''t be able to handle


    it alone."


    Meredith nodded and did not refuse. "Then my mother..."


    "The security there will also be strengthened, don''t worry."


    Derek immediately arranged for a few bodyguards to strengthen the guard at where Meredith''s mother


    was.


    They didn''t say anything along the way.


    Derek took Meredith to the hospital and wanted to go up with her to visit Amelia, but there was an


    emergency in thepany so he had to leave first.


    Meredith went upstairs alone and went to the VIP ward. Amelia was getting an injection and Meredith


    immediately walked over. "Mom, here Ie. How are you feeling today?"


    Meredith didn''t have time to visit Amelia these days because of those trivial matters. So she felt a little


    guilty.


    "It''s okay, I''m fine. What''s going on over there?"


    "I''ve resigned. I''m going to visit the Manson Corporation these days. It involves your painstaking efforts


    for many years. I don''t think it should be sold."


    "Well, after so much experience, my painstaking efforts aren''t important and it''s best if everyone is fine.


    Mer, if you don''t think you can manage thepany, just tell me. Even if you sell thepany, I won''t


    me you."


    Meredith smiled. "Why? Don''t you believe in my ability? I''ll work hard to learn how to manage the


    Seeing that Meredith insisted on it, Amelia stopped trying to persuade her. Instead, she thought of what


    they had said a few days ago. "Have you contacted Parker?"


    At the mention of Parker, Meredith was a little disappointed. That day, Laura said that she had


    contacted him, but Parker didn''t reply Meredith.


    Maybe he was too busy with work, or maybe he had a new life.


    Meredith didn''t look for him anymore. Since he didn''t want to contact her, she would wait until they had


    the chance to meet again.


    "I''ve already given him the news that I''m fine."


    Amelia nodded and understood that Parker had note back, so she felt a little mncholy.


    After all, the one she thought was the most suitable for her daughter was Parker.


    However, this kind of thing, after all, depended much on the fate.


    It was a pity that she was ill and not in good health. Otherwise, she would be able to look for a suitable


    candidate for Meredith.


    After all, Meredith was no longer young, so her marriage should be put on the agenda.


    The nurse came to take Amelia''s temperature when the mother and daughter said these things.


    "Miss Mason, the doctor wants to talk to you."


    The nurse was busy taking the temperature while she reminded Meredith to go to the doctor.


    "I''ll go there first."


    Meredith didn''t dare to dy and immediately went to the doctor.


    When the doctor saw hering, his face was still very serious and it looked like something bad


    happened.


    Seeing this, Meredith had a bad feeling in her heart. "Doctor, what''s the situation now?"


    "It''s still the same. If we can''t find the bone marrow, then she''ll have to do chemotherapy. But the


    problem is, your mother''s body is already weak. If this continues, the root of her body will be injured.


    Even if it can be cured, her body will be destroyed."


    When Meredith heard this, her face turned pale with fright. "Then, what is the probability of finding bone


    marrow other than that of rtives''?"


    At this moment, she only hated herself for not being able to match her mother''s bone marrow


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    sessfully. Otherwise, her mother wouldn''t have to suffer so much.


    "This probability is like looking for a needle in a haystack. It''s very small. If it fails, you can try to find


    your other rtives to have a test. What if someone else seeds?"


    Meredith nodded and walked out sadly.


    Rtives? Amelia was an only child, and Meredith''s grandparents had already passed away. Where


    could she find other rtives?


    The only possibility was to find out the truth that year.


    Meredith sighed. She had been avoiding the past, but the reality was right in front of her. She could not


    hide anymore. Only by finding out what had happened back then could she have a chance.


    Thinking about it, Meredith went back to the ward, but in order not to make Amelia sad, she pretended


    that nothing happened.


    "How''s it going, Mer? How long do I have?"


    "Don''t think too much. The doctor said that as long as you cooperate well with the treatment, there


    won''t be any problems. Now the medicine is so advanced, so there is no disease that can''t be cured."


    "It would be nice if that were the case. After all, I haven''t seen you get married yet. So if I die now, I


    can''t even close my eyes."


    Amelia''s words made Meredith want to cry. This was probably the greatness of mother. No matter how


    hard it was for her, she would always think of the happiness of her child.


    How lucky Meredith was to have a mother who loved her wholeheartedly.


    Even if they had no blood rtionship, their feelings were not fake.


    "Don''t worry, it will be cured."


    Meredithforted her a few more words, then pretended to ask unintentionally, "Mom, do you


    remember which hospital I was born in?"

 Chapter 482

    Chapter 482


    "Why do you suddenly ask it?"


    "No... Nothing. I just thought of it. I want to look for someone to tell my fortune and I think the


    forteller will ask me."


    Amelia didn''t think much about it. She frowned and recalled, "I think it was at the municipal hospital of J


    City. We were not rich, so your father sent me there."


    Meredith nodded and remembered it.


    So she could make the investigation in the hospital next.


    After chatting with Amelia for a while, Meredith stopped talking when she found that Amelia was tired.


    She didn''t leave the ward until Amelia fell asleep.


    There was no time to lose, so Meredith decided to go to the municipal hospital of J City. Maybe the


    medical records were still there and she could find some clues.


    ...


    Derek assigned the treatment of Rosentti to Damian. On the one hand, Damian knew her situation well.


    On the other hand, Rosentti didn''t resist him for the recent contact with him.


    Damian epted the mission indifferently. Anyway, he had helped to deal with a lot of difficult problems


    when he followed Derek. It wasn''t a big deal to look after an autistic girl.


    So, he apanied her to the psychological clinic he had made an appointment with.


    After sending her to the clinic, Damian dutifully went out to wait for her. When he felt bored, he met


    Penelope unexpectedly.


    Penelope happened toe with her mother, who urged her to go on a blind date every day. They


    were here to check if her mother had any psychological problems because of menopause. And she ran


    into Damian.


    "Why are you here? What''s wrong with you?"


    When Penelope saw Damian, she habitually asked him for the sake of arguing like a hedgehog with


    thorns all over her body.


    "No, but what are you doing here?"


    When Damian saw Penelope, he was annoyed as well. She always wanted to argue with him, so he


    didn''t want to meet her.


    "None of your business."


    Penelope rolled her eyes on him.


    "You shoulde. You might argue with anyone beacuse your menopause is advanced or your


    hormones are out of whack."


    "You!"


    Penelope was annoyed by him. When she was about to speak, Rosentti came out. Her treatment was


    over.


    She looked around and found that the only person she knew in the hospital was Damian. So she


    immediately walked to him like a small animal that was not protected.


    Damian was ordered to protect her and care for her mental health, so heforted her immediately.


    "What''s wrong? Is everything going well?"


    Damian spoke French. Although Penelope didn''t know French, he sounded gentle. At least he was


    much gentler to Rosentti than her when he ridiculed her...


    She felt a little angry for a moment.


    "Why are you pretending to be gentle? Are you tricking her? Scum!"


    Penelope couldn''t hold back her emotions, so she expressed her opinions immediately.


    Rosentti nced at her and felt that she was troublesome. So she hid back.


    Damian frowned. "Are you crazy? Don''t scare her. Just shout at me.."


    How could he say that?


    Penelope had thought of how to rebuke him, but she couldn''t say a word.


    Damian just protected the foreign girl she didn''t know in front of her. She felt it ironic to say anything.


    But she didn''t know exactly how it was ironic.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "Forget it. I won''t talk to you."


    Penelope felt a bit upset. But she held back the strange feeling and left without looking back.


    Damian was surprised to see her leave straight. He thought that she would keep arguing.


    When he saw her lonely expression, he felt a bit sympathetic...


    However, when he thought of what Penelope did to him before, Damian decisively suppressed the


    strange feeling and left with Rosentti.


    "Is she your girlfriend?"


    Rosentti took a pen and paper and wrote a few words.


    Although she still could not speak, she could ask it through pen and paper.


    Damian shook his head immediately. "How can such a fierce woman be my girlfriend?"


    Rosentti nodded and looked thoughtful as she looked at her finger.


    ...


    It was the next day.


    Meredith got up early to go to the hospital. Penelope called her.


    "Meredith, are you free today?"


    "I''m sorry. I''m busy. But what''s wrong?"


    Penelope looked tired with dark eye circles.


    She wouldn''t say that she didn''t fall asleep because she saw how Damian was intimate with the foreign


    girl.


    It was unbelievable.


    So, she called Meredith early this morning to ask her about Damian.


    Did Damian have a rtionship with such a young girl? It seemed that she was just fourteen or fifteen


    years old. It was illegal for them.


    However, Penelope was interested when Meredith said that she was busy.


    "What''s the matter? You''ve already resigned. Why are you still so busy?"


    "Well, I''m going out to investigate something."


    Penelope thought that it was boring to stay at home and said: "Then let me apany you. Maybe I


    can help you."


    Meredith pondered for a moment and agreed.


    Although Penelope was a bit reckless, she was very loyal to her friends. Besides, she had a quick


    mind, and sometimes she could think from a different angle. So it was good to go with her.


    So they made an appointment. Penelope drove to pick up Meredith and went to the hospital together.


    Penelope arrived when Meredith went downstairs and waited for a while.


    "What''s the matter? Should we go to the hospital?"


    Meredith told her the whole story. She had nothing to hide from her.


    "It..."


    "It''s just like the plot of a TV show. But the most important thing find the girls who were born on the


    same day or at a simr time as you. It was faster than investigating in another way."


    Penelope quickly came up with her own idea, and Meredith nodded. She had a simr idea with her.


    They discussed for a while in the car and soon arrived at the hospital.


    J City was a small city in the past, but it had be more and more prosperous over the years due to


    the efforts of the big families. And the unremarkable municipal hospital had now been expanded,


    looking extraordinarily grand.


    Meredith took a deep breath as if she was trying to persuade herself to calm down and face her past.


    Then, they walked in.


    They soon found the file manager. When the staff saw the unknown girls, he asked: "What are you


    doing?"

 Chapter 483

    Chapter 483


    The man had a bad attitude. Penelope winked at Meredith and walked up to him, secretly stuffing him


    with some cash.


    Seeing this, Meredith felt it was right to bring Penelope here.


    The man hesitated.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "We want to check the files. We won''t cause you any trouble."


    The man touched cash in his hand and thought it wasn''t a big deal. "You can only read the files and


    hand over your phones before you go in. I can''t bear the consequences if any of you take photos."


    Both of them promised. Anyway, they were not here for any secret investigation. What they wanted was


    to find out the information about the pregnant women that gave birth that day.


    The man brought them into the archives. Meredith told him the date, and the man frowned. "There''s


    probably nothing left after a long time long. You can go inside and look for it yourself."


    Meredith, who was feeling annoyed by someone staring at her, nodded and walked over.


    The files were something from more than 20 years ago. They had been messy since the hospital


    moved and merged, and no one had tidied them up.


    They went in, and there was dust everywhere. After coughing for a while, Penelope waved her hand. "It


    looks like we''re going to have a hard time finding what we want. Thank god you brought me here,


    right? Otherwise, you would be exhausted if you find it alone."


    "I know. Thanks to you, it went so smoothly. I''ll treat you to dinner when we''re done."


    Penelope smiled smugly, and both of them started searching for information.


    Meredith rummaged through a lot of things and finally found a booklet about pregnant women''s


    childbirth. She took a look at it and eximed, "Right! That''s it."


    The booklet in her hand was wrinkled and yellowed over time, the paper was fragile, and the


    handwriting was blurry, making it difficult to identify.


    They read it bit by bit and finally found the record of Meredith''s birthday in the back. However, the page


    of her birth date was missing.


    "What happened?"


    Meredith was looking for it with great hope, and she was a little excited when she found it. Then, she


    became frustrated.


    The problem was, the records of the day before and the day after were all there. How could that of her


    birth date be gone?


    Everything seemed strange.


    "Don''t worry, what if there''s more inside? Maybe it''s gone somewhere else."


    Penelope saw Meredith''s disappointed expression and tried tofort her.


    But even she herself was confused. Why was that page missing, and that was the day the thing


    happened?


    They continued to search, but they couldn''t find anything useful.


    Meredith suddenly felt uneasy. At first, she thought it was the hospital''s negligence that had mistaken


    her with another baby girl, but then...


    She had to make a conspiracy theory. Was there any secret behind it?


    "Maybe there''s something else that hasn''t been sorted out. We can ask him again."


    Penelope thought of other possibilities for Meredith. Meredith nodded, and they went out to look for the


    man just now.


    Unfortunately, a middle-aged man in a white coat came along and saw two strangers in the archives.


    He looked at them with cocked eyebrows. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

 Chapter 484

    Chapter 484


    Both of them stammered, not knowing what to say.


    The man in front of them was not an ordinary doctor at first sight. Seeing his grey hair, they thought he


    must be in a high position.


    They sneaked in by pulling strings. So they were afraid of being found out.


    They were a little stunned by his question.


    The archivist came back and was shocked to see this. "Well, they are my friends. They are here to


    check some things in the past."


    "What are they?"


    "Some kind of file from more than twenty years ago."


    The doctor''s face softened when he heard this.


    "My mother is sick now. I need some information to see if I can find a cure."


    Seeing how sincere Meredith was, the doctor''s face softened slightly.


    Now the doctor-patient dispute was serious. He was worried that someone would sneak in and make a


    secret visit. If they made trouble after getting the information, their hospital would not be able to afford


    it.


    Looking at Meredith, he thought her outfit was expensive and she probably didn''te here to


    ckmail the hospital.


    "What is it? Say it. Maybe I can answer it."


    "About... the delivering file 26 years ago?"


    Meredith asked cautiously. What she didn''t expect was that the doctor, who had just been friendly,


    suddenly became very serious. "Where could I find anything from 26 years ago? Why are you looking


    for those things?"


    "My mother is suffering from a very serious disease and needs a bone marrow transnt. I can''t match


    her at all, so I wonder if the nurse took the wrong child to her. Doctor, life is at stake. Please help!"


    Meredith didn''t care about that much anymore. She had to be reasonable and emotional. What she had


    to do now was to save her mother''s illness. Otherwise, everything would be useless.


    However, when the doctor heard her words, he wasn''t moved but became a little angry. "I don''t know


    what you said. Those things are just your spection. You should go. Otherwise, I can only call the


    security guards to get you out!"


    Meredith and Penelope wanted to say something else. But, no matter what, the doctor was unmoved


    and determined.


    In the end, the doctor did call security guards to chase them out.


    After the two women left, the doctor sat down in his chair. His tension and stiffness had eased a little.


    He had always been calm. Over the past years, he had conducted many surgeries and seen many


    deaths. There were very few things that could touch his heart.


    However, when he heard that woman was looking for the truth twenty-six years ago, his heart became


    nervous again.


    What had happened in the past had never been forgotten in his mind for a moment. It had been so


    long, and he thought no one would ever mention it again.


    But after all, someone came looking for it!


    The doctor could not help but wipe away the cold sweat on his face. If that woman was not lying, then


    her mother really had that kind ofplicated disease and needed bone marrow from rtives. This


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    could be only med for her fate.


    One must confront something even he wanted to avoid it so much.


    "Don''t let anyone in, especially those two women. Otherwise, we can''t afford the consequences!"


    The doctor warned the archivist again before returning to the office with some lingering fear.

 Chapter 485

    Chapter 485


    Meredith stood at the entrance of the hospital with frustration.


    Doctors ought to be kind. She didn''t understand why that doctor said that. He even changed his face


    when he heard her request.


    "Forget it. Since the doctor refused, we''lle back next time. But there may be other possibilities. For


    example, could your father have the wrong child or something?"


    When Meredith heard this, she came back to her senses from her earlier defeat. She didn''t want to


    mention Wesley at all.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Wesley, Erin, and Ava were imprisoned for fabricating evidence and so on, and she never came to see


    them.


    She had no idea if they were out of prison...


    It was hrious that members of the Masons had all gone to prison...


    "It makes sense. I''ll try to find him and see if I can get some clues."


    Penelope nodded. Meredith took out her phone and tried to call Wesley''s number.


    She didn''t expect anything but just tried, but it really got through.


    "Hello, who is this?"


    Meredith felt she hadn''t heard Wesley''s voice for ages.


    "It''s me."


    She spoke with mixed feelings.


    "How do I know who you are?"


    Wesley replied impatiently, "I got a lot of work to do. If you don''t speak, that''s it."


    "It''s Meredith."


    Meredith spoke without emotions, but Wesley was stunned.


    "Are you still alive?"


    Wesley stood up immediately. His movement was eye-catching in such a small store, and the guests


    looked over.


    "Yeah, I''m alive. Do I let you down?"


    Wesley''s words were not surprising, and Meredith wasn''t as upset as she thought she would be.


    She used to be frustrated by her father''s indifference and disgust. But now... She knew that she was


    not Wesley''s biological daughter, and her frustration disappeared.


    Love and hatred often disappeared in a split second. Wesley was then a stranger that Meredith had


    once known.


    Wesley didn''t say anything, and he didn''t know what to say.


    Derek had taken down the Masons and put all three of them in prison for Meredith. He hated Meredith


    so much that he wished she would go to hell after she died.


    But he didn''t know who to hate when he got out of prison and learned that Meredith was dead.


    When people died, what they had done became blurry, and it was boring to hold onto the hatred.


    Unexpectedly, she was back.


    "Why are you calling for?"


    "I have something to ask you."


    Meredith said calmly. She couldn''t imagine having such a nd conversation with Wesley in the past.


    But it just happened. The fate was unpredictable.


    "Come to my ce. I''ll send you my addresster."


    Meredith promised, but Penelope tugged at her clothes. She knew something about Meredith''s past,


    and she knew how awful the Masons was to Meredith.


    Penelope was worried about Meredith.


    "Don''t worry. They didn''t do anything to me when I was the weakest. They can''t do anything to me


    now."

 Chapter 486

    Chapter 486


    Meredith went there ording to the address given by Wesley.


    When they arrived, both of them were a little surprised.


    The address Wesley gave her was a small storefront that looked shabby and did not match his once


    insufferable appearance.


    Meredith walked in and saw Wesley moving the goods on the floor. He was even more proficient than


    she thought. It seemed like he had been doing it for a long time.


    "I''m here."


    Meredith did not address him. For Wesley, even if she did not hate him, that thorn was always there.


    Wesley looked up at Meredith and was surprised." What happened to your face?"


    "I was identally disfigured, and then I be what I am now."


    "Oh."


    Wesley replied calmly, "Why are you looking for me?"


    "I just want to ask you, when my mother gave birth to me, was there any possibility that you got the


    wrong baby?"


    Wesley was startled, and then his face seemed to turn a little pale.


    When Meredith was born, his rtionship with Amelia was not as bad as now. At that time, two


    pregnant women in the hospital went into the delivery room at the same time and gave birth to two


    girls.


    It was possible that they got the wrong baby.


    "Are you..."


    Meredith nodded. "As long as you can provide me with information, I will give you a sum of money, and


    I will not let you work for nothing."


    When Wesley heard this, he suddenly felt a little ridiculous. When he thought of what he had done to


    Meredith in the past, he would feel ridiculous that he had no feelings for this daughter.


    It turned out that they were really not rted by blood.


    At the same time, he became curious. Who was the child who was really rted to him?


    "It''s been so long that I can''t remember what happened that day, but that woman was giving birth alone


    and she always looked scared. I don''t know what she was afraid of."


    Wesley tried hard to think about what happened that day.


    "Oh, she seemed to say that she was from the Smiths. Then, the woman spoke with an ent. I don''t


    think she''s local. She should be from Capital City."


    "That''s all I know."


    After Wesley finished speaking, he frowned.


    Meredith didn''t know if he was telling the truth or not, but at least he gave her a clue, so she took out


    her wallet from her bag and took out the cash in it.


    "Thank you. This is your reward."


    After saying that, Meredith did not intend to continue talking and was about to leave, but outside the


    door, ra happened toe back.


    Seeing a strange young woman standing in the shop, she was suspicious at first, then her expression


    became very sullen.


    Perhaps, the woman''s face was unfamiliar, but she could never forget that look in the woman''s eyes!


    Meredith!


    It was Meredith who hurt her and her daughter!


    If it weren''t for her, she was still a richdy, and Ava was also a big star in the limelight. If so, they didn''t


    need to do this job to support themselves.


    "What are you doing here, bitch? Do you want to see how miserable we are now?"


    "Yalin, stop fooling around. She''s here to ask me something."


    Wesley took the money in his hand and walked over to stop ra.


    Now, he realized that Meredith had nothing to do with him and that her life was better than theirs. They


    could get nothing if they still troubled her.


    "What do you mean? Now that you see this little bitch is rich, you want to enjoy a good life with them


    again. You are so shameless!"


    How could ra not lose her mind? She fought with Wesley. Suddenly, the small space was in a mess.


    Hearing the noise, Ava, who had been out of the door, came in. She was no longer as beautiful as she


    used to be. Because of the major setback, she was drinking all day. At this moment, when she saw her


    parents fighting, she didn''t feel anything but saw the money scattered on the ground.


    "Money!"


    Ava picked up the money, put it in her pocket, and went out to buy more wine to numb herself.


    Meredith looked at the chaotic scene and didn''t know what to do. "Let''s go."


    The two of them left immediately, but before they left, ra found a chance. She hit Meredith on the


    back with a wine bottle, causing Meredith to groan in pain.


    "Are you okay?"


    Penelope was a little angry.


    "It''s okay. Forget it."


    Meredith shook her head. Her back hurt a little, but she didn''t want to go back and get involved now.


    She used to hate ra to the bone, but seeing her like this, she had no impulse to retaliate.


    Having nothing to do with these people was herst hope.


    ......


    Penelope drove Meredith home.


    When Meredith got home, she found someone inside.


    "Mom, you''re finally back. Where have you been?"


    Easton saw Meredith go home and immediately weed her. He had been looking for her all day, but


    she didn''t answer the phone. He couldn''t find her so he had toe to her house.


    Unexpectedly, she was not at home either.


    Easton had just told Derek about this, and they two were so anxious that they almost tore down the


    house.


    "My phone seems to be off."


    Meredith remembered that when she went to check the files, her phone was turned off and she hadn''t


    opened it,pletely forgetting whether anyone would contact her.


    "I''m sorry, Easton."


    Meredith squatted down and apologized to her precious son.


    She felt bad when she saw that his cute face had turned red.


    "Next time you go out, remember to take me with you."


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    Easton saw that Meredith had admitted her mistake and then hugged her.


    Meredith smiled and was about to pick Easton up for a kiss when her back suddenly hurt.


    "Hiss..."


    As soon as Meredith moaned, Easton immediately noticed, "Mom, what''s wrong?"


    At this time, Derek also arrived.


    Easton had just told him that he couldn''t find Meredith, and Derek immediately decided to take him to


    find Meredith.


    He didn''t expect that Meredith had already returned.


    "I''m fine."


    Meredith shook her head, not wanting to worry Easton.


    "Mom seems to be injured."


    Easton did not believe her lies. He looked at Derek and said firmly.


    "Injured?"


    Derek''s face darkened and he walked over. "Tell me."


    "It''s nothing. You don''t have to make a fuss."


    Meredith continued shaking her head, and the next second she was picked up from the ground. Derek


    said, "Then I''ll check to see if you''re lying."


    Easton looked at them and felt jealous, but there was nothing he could do.


    "Are you crazy? Put me down. Easton is still watching!"


    "Heh, I don''t see anything, dad. I support you to check if mom was injured."

 Chapter 487

    Chapter 487


    After hearing what Easton said, Meredith was even shyer, but it was impossible for her to break away


    from Derek.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    So she was carried into the bedroom.


    "So, it''s better to tell the truth, or else, I can only use some unconventional means."


    Derek smiled evilly. Meredith immediately understood what he meant. "Just something hit my back. It''s


    not serious. I only need to rest for two days."


    "Hit?"


    Derek frowned even tighter. Wasn''t it obvious that someone had hit her?


    After all, even if she fell or something, she wouldn''t hurt her back.


    "Show me."


    Derek reached out to untie Meredith''s clothes.


    Who knew if this woman was trying to be strong again?


    "Didn''t you say you didn''t need to..."


    "Who knows if you''re telling the truth?"


    Derek was determined to cheat. Meredith had no choice but to give up.


    When he untied her clothes, he saw a bruise mark on her fair skin, which seemed painful, and the man


    looked even more awful.


    "Who did it?"


    Now that someone dared to hit Meredith, was he tired of living?


    "Forget it. It''s been dealt with."


    Meredith didn''t want to talk about the Masons, but Derek was relentless. "You went out with Penelope


    today? If you don''t tell me, I''ll have to ask her."


    "Don''t..."


    Meredith stopped Derek. Penelope had been running with her for a whole day. It was hard enough. If


    Penelope was to be questioned by Derek, she would be too exhausted.


    "I went for Wesley because I wanted to know what happened when I was born."


    Meredith told him everything that had happened today. Unexpectedly, after Derek heard it, not only


    didn''t he feel any better, but he gave her a hard p on the buttocks. "If you want to find a clue, why


    don''t you ask me to go with you?"


    Had this woman not learned any lesson after having suffered so much from the Masons?


    At the thought of this, Derek wanted to press her down on the bed and teach her a lesson so that she


    could remember it.


    Meredith was so embarrassed by his actions that she buried her face in the sheets and her ears were


    red. "I just think you''re busy, and I don''t want to rely on you to do anything."


    After Derek heard this, he felt helpless and heartbroken. This woman''s stubbornness really made him


    helpless, but if she wasn''t like this, maybe he wouldn''t like her so much.


    "I''ll put some medicine on you."


    Derek had no choice but to find the ointment and put it on for Meredith. Although he said it unhappily,


    he did it gently.


    Of course, there was nock of thinking about how to make ra pay the price in his mind.


    "So, what information did you get?"


    "Wesley said that there was only one woman who also gave birth that day. It was said that she was


    from some the Smiths in the Capital City."


    Derek paused, as if he didn''t expect her to say this. the Smiths in the Capital City, perhaps the average


    person didn''t know about it, but how could he not know?


    the Smiths, a famous family in Capital City, was no less strong than the Xaviers in terms of money or


    power.


    However, Derek remembered very clearly that the Smiths had no granddaughter, and the Old Master


    Mr. Smith had only one daughter. She had a son and was now the only heir to the Smiths.


    In the Smiths, there was only one granddaughter, the eldest son''s daughter.


    Things gotplicated.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Seeing that Derek''s movements had stopped, Meredith thought something might have happened and


    looked up.


    "I know this the Smiths."


    "You know it? That''s great!" Meredith was grinning from ear to ear when she heard this. Since she


    knew where the Smiths was, it was much easier for her to find it.


    Derek looked at her excited expression and paused.


    This the Smiths was a famous family in Capital City with a deep foundation, which was even better than


    the Xaviers.


    In the beginning, the Xaviers expanded its business and went to Capital City to visit the Old Master of


    the Smiths.


    Coincidentally, the Old Master of the Smiths took a liking to Derek, who was still in school, and thought


    he was a talented person whom he could entrust his precious granddaughter to.


    However, Derek and Chloe were in love at that time, so naturally he was not interested in a girl he had


    never met before, and he rejected the marriage.


    At that time, the situation was not very pleasant. After all, the Smiths was used to being high and


    mighty, and they were in Capital City. They felt that it was condescending to marry their granddaughter


    to a person in such a remote city as J City, but they were even rejected by Derek.


    Therefore, it was considered bad blood, and there were very few contacts between themter.


    the Xaviers''s business, therefore, had not been promoted to Capital City.


    It would be difficult to find them and ask them to donate bone marrow now.


    "What''s wrong..."


    Derek paused, not knowing whether to say it or not.


    Meredith saw his troubled expression, and her heart wrenched. "Could it be that something has


    happened to that girl, or what?"


    At the thought of this possibility, Meredith felt the glimmer of hope that had just been found was


    extinguished, and she was so concerned that she stood up in a hurry.


    Seeing this, Derek quicklyforted her. "That''s not it."


    "Then what''s the matter?"


    Derek knew that now Meredith had ced all her hopes on it. If he told her that it was difficult to obtain


    bone marrow, she might not be able to ept it for a while, so he found an excuse to exin it.


    "The Smiths, a wealthy family in Capital City, has always acted in a unique manner and rarely interacts


    with people. If we take the risk to look for them, it will be difficult."


    "..." Meredith was disappointed to hear this.


    "But don''t be too disappointed. I''ll get someone to check on them as soon as possible. Also, you said


    you went to the hospital to look for the files?"


    Derek did not have any good feelings for Wesley''s family. Although he felt that Wesley could not make


    up such a big lie, if it was inurate information, it would be a waste of energy. So, he thought of


    looking for someone to double-check it.


    "Well, it just didn''t go well. There was a director. He was fine, but when he heard that we were going to


    check the birth records, he got angry immediately. We didn''t know what was going on."


    Meredith probably knew what Derek was thinking. This matter was rted to Amelia''s body and her


    background. Wesley''s one-sided statement was not reliable.


    "Oh?" Derek frowned.


    He had a feeling that there was something wrong with it.


    If the doctor really didn''t want to help, he could just kick them out as soon as he found them, but he


    changed his face after they mentioned the birth records.

 Chapter 488

    Chapter 488


    There must be something wrong with that.


    Derek thought a while and stood up, "I''ll get someone to check on that doctor. Maybe there''s a clue."


    Meredith nodded. This time, she didn''t say that she had to rely on herself.


    After all, she had already tried once and failed. Now it was not the time to be headstrong.


    Derek immediately called Damian and asked him to check on the doctor.


    Damian had just finished his work. Now he not only had to do his job but also to take Rosentti to see


    doctors.


    Finally, when he was able to get some rest, the call made him in a bad mood again.


    Derek gave him a brief exnation and hung up.


    Meredith found that things were almost settled but Derek still didn''t want to leave. She felt a little


    embarrassed.


    If she let him stay, it would be a little strange. What''s more, she didn''t want to live with this man, for she


    didn''t know what would happen then.


    But if she let him go just, it would seem to be very ungrateful, like kicking him away just after requesting


    his help...


    For a moment, Meredith was in a dilemma.


    Derek immediately knew what was going on in her mind when he saw her small, troubled face.


    However, he didn''t mean to point it out outspokenly. He sat on the bed and turned on theputer, as


    if he was immersed in his work.


    Seeing this, Meredith felt distressed and said after some thought, "Let me see if Easton is asleep."


    Then, she decided to sneak away.


    Derek did not stop her, but found the way she ran interesting, like a frightened rabbit.


    Meredith went out and saw Easton taking his iPad. Her face turned sullen. "Easton, why are you


    ying with this again? It''ste."


    Easton had thought that her father would keep Meredith and sleep with him, but she came out on her


    own.


    So, he squeezed out a ttering smile and said, "I can''t sleep alone! Mom, can you sleep with me?"


    Meredith had this intention in the first ce, and immediately, she nodded. but on second thought, she


    had to keep her prestige as a parent, so she kept a straight face and did not speak anything.


    Easton mumbled and kept begging for a while before Meredith finally agreed.


    "Oh yeah, I slept with mom today!"


    Although Easton behaved like an adult on the surface, he was still very childish at some times.


    What''s more, he didn''t have his mother''spany since he was a child. It was also his wish for a long


    time to let his mother apany him to sleep.


    Looking at his happy face, Meredith felt a little sad and guilty. "Easton, you can sleep with mom


    anytime you want."


    When Easton heard this, he got into Meredith''s arms and his face went blushed. "Really? Do you know


    how envious I am that all the other children can sleep with their mother?"


    "Of course, you cane anytime you want."


    Meredith touched his white and tender face lovingly and kissed on it. Then she took him to the guest


    room.


    Derek stayed in the bedroom for a while, and when he found that Meredith was not back, he


    understood what was going on.


    However, he was not in a hurry and handled his work sequentially.


    By the time Derek finished reading and processing the documents at hand, it was alreadyte at night.


    He walked out lightly to see the door of the guest room was open while lights were off, then he went


    straight in.


    At the first sight, it was the scene of Meredith hugging Easton and falling asleep.


    Such warmth and peacefulness made his exhausted body and mind feel rxed.


    He looked at them, all right... Fortunately, he had the foresight that when he helped Meredith decorate,


    all the beds he bought were big enough.


    Derek directlyy outside, hugging the two gently and slept.


    The next morning.


    Meredith slept early so she woke up early, too.


    When she tried to move, she found someone behind her, and she was frightened in a cold sweat.


    However, the smell on the man''s body was very familiar. It was the cologne that Derek usually used, so


    she quickly rxed.


    Meredith still felt confounded at the thought of him chasing her back to sleep with her.


    This man...


    However, things had already happened, and Meredith had no other choices. She looked at her watch


    and it was almost time for Easton to go to kindergarten. She had to get up and prepare his breakfast.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    So, she moved her body.


    Derek had always been a light sleeper. As soon as Meredith woke up, he woke up too. However, he


    kept closing his eyes and pretended to be asleep.


    In particr, he did not intend to move the hand that rested on Meredith''s waist. He pressed heavily so


    that she could not get up easily.


    Meredith didn''t want to wake him up and nned to pass by him to cook, but she couldn''t move his


    arm away.


    Then she thought to herself how could a sleeping man exerting that much strength?


    This guy, was meant to do that!


    Meredith blinked, then she reached out and pinched Derek''s arm at the inner side.


    Trying to y a prank and pretend to be asleep, right?


    Derek was pinched abruptly, especially when Meredith used her strength, so he almost made a sound


    and opened his eyes in an instant.


    Meredith looked at him triumphantly, as if she was saying that "how can you pretend to be asleep


    now?"


    Looking at the woman''s self-satisfied little face, Derek was suddenly in the mood for mischief. He


    simply stretched out one leg and pressed it on Meredith''s leg, making her unable to move.


    Meredith had thought that Derek would get up from the pain, but he just gave up instead.


    Moreover, this posture was not elegant at all, and it waspletely unlike what Derek would do.


    She was like a tree hugged by a ko bear, surrounded by 360 degrees without a dead angle.


    Meredith was unable to break free earlier before, and now she even had no room to struggle.


    "Derek, get up."


    Meredith didn''t want to speak loudly. She did not want to wake up Easton, who was still asleep, so she


    could only lower her voice. However, in this way, her words were not intimidating at all.


    "..."


    Derek, on the other hand, was suddenly addicted to this kind of ying. After Meredith regained her


    memory, she had been very mature and rarely had shown such a mood.


    He just couldn''t help but tease her.


    Derek still didn''t move, so Meredith could only take a few deep breaths to keep her cool.


    And just as they were hugging each other tightly, suddenly, Derek''s phone rang and woke Easton up.

 Chapter 489

    Chapter 489


    Easton opened his eyes and still had a drowsy look.


    Then he saw his father, who was usually very cold and aloof, sleeping in an extremely awkward


    position.


    "Wow, what''s going on?"


    Easton shouted out, "Well, I have to take a picture of him. I''ll show it to him when he scolds me..."


    Easton was a child daring to do great mischief. He immediately thought of how to take advantage of


    this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


    Hearing this, Meredith broke out in a cold sweat and Derek also frowned.


    This brat usually pranked others. But now he even wanted to trick his father.


    It seemed that they had left too little homework for him.


    So Derek stretched out, rubbed his eyes and pretended to have just woken up.


    When Easton had just taken out his phone, Derek had already sat up from the bed. So he failed to take


    a picture of his sleeping father.


    Derek snorted when he saw Easton holding his cell phone with a mischievous smile. "Why don''t wash


    up after getting up early in the morning? What are you doing with your cell phone?"


    Easton was caught red-handed. He scratched his head embarrassedly. "Hehe, I just take my phone out


    to y..."


    "Oh? Really?"


    Derek didn''t expose his trick. Instead, he got up first and went out to answer the phone.


    Easton heaved a long sigh of relief. He thought his father would be angry and would punish him.


    Derek walked out and looked at the number on his phone. It was from Damian.


    The man frowned slightly. "What''s wrong? What did you find at the hospital?"


    When Damian heard Derek''s low tone, he had an ominous feeling in his heart. Did he interrupt his boss


    when he was...


    "I''m at the hospital now. I need Miss Mason to make a confirmation."


    Damian said cautiously.


    Yesterday, Meredith and Penelope were kicked out without even knowing the doctor''s name. So


    Damian didn''t know which one.


    Derek raised his eyebrows and said after twice thoughts, "You can ask Penelope. She went there


    yesterday."


    After Derek said this, his displeasure at Easton''s tease had eased a lot.


    Damian asked for a snub as his phone call disturbed him just now.


    Derek also knew that Damian felt Penelope was troublesome. He deliberately added some difficulty to


    his work.


    "Boss... please..."


    Damian rarelyined about any work. But Penelope really made him have a headache.


    The woman didn''t act normally. She would cause him a lot of trouble.


    "I believe in your working ability."


    When Derek heard Damian''s reluctant voice, his originally agitated mood eased.


    Sure enough, basing one''s happiness on the pain of others was the only way to make oneself happy.


    Hearing what Derek said, Damian knew that there was no choice but to do it obediently.


    After thinking about it, he just called Penelope directly to ask about what happened in the hospital


    yesterday.


    Penelope had just gotten out of bed. She washed up and was about to work when she received a call


    from Damian.


    Penelope frowned at his number and looked confused.


    Hehe, this Damian just showed off with that foreign girl a few days ago. Why did he call her now?


    Thinking of it, Penelope didn''t want to take the call.


    Damian couldn''t get her through and scratched his head.


    Everything that had to do with that woman would be very troublesome...


    He called again and Penelope still refused to answer.


    Damian had no choice but to search Penelope''s address.


    After all, this was a task Derek had arranged. He had toplete it as soon as possible.


    So Damian had to drive to Penelope''s home.


    Although Penelope''s family background was good, Damian''s car still attracted a lot of attention when


    he parked his car downstairs in her neighborhood.


    Damian was usually in charge of picking up important clients of thepany. So his car was also a


    luxury car, which was very conspicuous on the street.


    Damian called Penelope again downstairs, but she still didn''t answer.


    Damian felt a little helpless. What was this woman doing...


    He got out of the car and was going to find her at her home.


    Coincidentally, Penelope''s mother had just returned from the market with a bag of food in the morning.


    She saw a very cool car parked downstairs.


    Then she saw Damian get out of the car and couldn''t help but look at him a little more.


    He seemed to be a promising young man. If Penelope could marry someone like him, she would be


    relieved.


    It was just a simple passing thought. Mrs. Garcia stopped looking at him and went upstairs.


    When she got home, she talked to Penelope, "Penelope, I just saw a luxury car parked downstairs. The


    owner of the car is quite handsome. If you ever find a boyfriend like him, mom will be very happy."


    Penelope was speechless for a while. Ever since she started working, her mother never stopped urging


    her to get married soon. Now, her mother couldn''t help but nag when she just saw someone on the


    road. Penelope was helpless.


    "Mom, marriage can''t be forced. It depends on destiny."


    Penelope answered skillfully. Her mother almost talked her ear off. But now Penelope was smart


    enough not to go against her parents but to answer them ambiguously.


    "Destiny, you always talk about destiny. When will your destinye?"


    Mrs. Garcia shook her head helplessly and said nothing more.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the door.


    "Who is it?"


    Mrs. Garcia put down the soy milk fritters she had just bought and walked over to open the door.


    Unexpectedly, the handsome man she had just seen appeared in front of her.


    Was him the destiny said by Penelope?


    Mrs. Garcia immediately smiled. "Gentleman,e in quickly. Oh, we have nothing good to treat you at


    home. Why didn''t you inform me before you came?"


    Damian was embarrassed to see the person in front of him being so hospitable. He didn''t seem to


    know Penelope''s family that well...


    This sudden attentiveness was really hard to bear.


    "Oh, I am not entering your home. I''m here to ask Penelope something. I won''t trouble you."


    Damian politely refused her invitation and stood outside the door, waiting for Penelope toe out.


    "Oh, Penelope,e out quickly. Someone is looking for you!"N?velDrama.Org owns all content.

 Chapter 490

    Chapter 490


    When Penelope heard the sound, she came out of the roomzily.


    "Who is it? It''s so early in the morning. What happened? "


    "What is wrong with you?"


    Her mother looked at Penelope in pajamas with messy hair.


    Why was it that my girl never wanted to dress up herself?


    She didn''t know how to dress up and always looked so sloppy.


    "It''s me."


    Damian did not pay much attention to Penelope''s appearance. After all, she often dressed in that way.


    "You? Is there anything wrong?"


    Seeing that it was Damian, Penelope''s eyes widened.


    "I''m looking for the doctor you met at the hospital yesterday. I need your help," Damian said tly.


    Penelope raised an eyebrow. She knew that he wouldn''te if he hadn''t something to ask of her.


    If he hadn''t, he would still be with that foreign girl.


    Penelope didn''t realize how strange her thoughts were. "I have to work today. I''m not avable."


    "You can ask for a leave!"


    Mrs. Garcia saw Penelope''s indifferent look and was so angry that she pped her on the shoulder


    and said, "You are not calling the shots,dy!"


    "Penelope is too young and not very sensible. Please forgive her."


    Mrs. Garcia finally found out that this man came to ask something of her daughter. But she was not


    discouraged.


    Love needed to be nurtured. Through helping each other, they may fall in love.


    Penelope was about to say something, but Damian said first, "It matters Miss Mason''s mother''s


    condition, so I hope you can do me a favor."


    At this, Penelope could not refuse.


    After all, She was Meredith''s friend and Meredith was now so fretted over her mother''s condition. How


    could she not help her?


    "Well, just a second."


    Penelope could only agree. She went back to her room and changed into a casual suit. Just as she


    was about to leave, her mother pulled her aside and whispered.


    "Now that you are hanging out with that cute boy, can you dress up herself? Don''t wear t-shirts and


    jeans. Dress like ady and do some makeup. You know, just leave him a good impression."


    "Why bother? He already has a girlfriend."


    Penelope said angrily. She knew that her mother was so kind to Chen was because she wanted her to


    get married quickly.


    "Ah?"


    When Mrs. Garcia heard this, she shook her head regretfully.


    "What a pity. Look at this young man. He looks so cute."


    Penelope didn''t want to bother herself to exin anything to her. She took her bag and walked out.


    "Okay, let''s go."


    Damian nodded and they got into the car.


    Penelope didn''t say a word. When she got into the car, she turned her head around on purpose and


    didn''t look at Damian at all.


    Damian, no matter how blunt he was, knew she was performing peevishly.


    But he did not remember anything wrong with his actions to annoy her¡­


    Was it because she was having a period?


    Damian was too embarrassed to confirm that, so he drove straight to the hospital.


    As soon as Damian arrived, he found the dean.


    This hospital received a lot of from Xavier Group funding. So the dean was very polite when he saw


    him.


    "We have something to talk to a doctor here. Is it convenient to find someone to guide us?"


    Damian directly exined the purpose of his visit. How dare the dean refuse his request? He quickly


    arranged for a person to follow Damian''s instructions.


    Penelope looked at Damian, who arranged everything in order. Even if she didn''t like this person, she


    had to admit that he was very capable.


    "Let''s go."


    Damian politely motioned for Penelope to walk in front.


    The two of them, led by a doctor, began to look for the chief physicians.


    Doctors at this level can''t be young. Even it''s the biggest hospital in the city, it doesn''t have many chief


    physicians. After a while, both of them had found everyone but the one they were looking for.


    They didn''t see the doctor who they met yesterday.


    Penelope couldn''t help but frown. "No, none of them is the one I met yesterday."


    "Did someone ask for a leave?"


    The doctor who brought them here went to have a check and said, "Exactly, there is a doctor who has


    asked for a leave."


    "Do you have his contact?"


    The man nodded and found Doctor Chow''s phone number. But when he called, the phone was turned


    off.


    "He turned off his phone."


    Hearing this, Damian''s expression suddenly became serious.


    The person who was found yesterday suddenly asked for a leave today. How could it be so suspicious?


    "Does this doctor usually ask for a leave?"


    "No, Doctor Chow is our hospital''s expert. He is very dedicated. He is not married and has no children.


    He hardly even left his job."


    After hearing this, even Penelope understood what was wrong.


    The two of them asked around and found out that the director was living in the hospital''s staff dormitory.


    With onest glimmer of hope, they went to the dormitory.


    However, as expected, Doctor Chow had already packed his things and left.


    He lived in a separate dormitory. When they went in, there were only a bunch of medical books left.


    "There must be something wrong with this person."


    Penelope was very upset. "I should have caught him yesterday. So we don''t have to look for him now."


    "You didn''t know what happened yesterday. Besides, no one expects him in this position to leave so


    decisively."


    Damian could not help butfort Penelope when he saw that she was ming herself.


    No one expected Penelope to take full responsibility for this.


    "Then what should we do?"


    "I''ll report this first. The boss will decide."


    Damian immediately told Derek about it.


    Derek was already at thepany. When he received the call and got the news, he couldn''t help


    rubbing his temples.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    If the doctor ran away, it could only mean one thing. It was not a coincidence that the two children were


    switched. It was a premeditated and nned plot.


    "Send someone to check this immediately. The man ran away not long ago. He must not have gone too


    far. Get him back as soon as possible. Also, check all the information about him and send it to me."


    Derek calmly gave the order and hung up.


    He unconsciously held the pen in his hand tighter.


    This matter became more and moreplicated.


    It even involved the Smiths in Capital City, and even Derek had to be careful.


    Damian got the order and immediately arranged for someone to check the nearest airport and train and


    bus station to see if there was any news about this person.

 Chapter 491

    Chapter 491


    The Xaviers began to act, and after a thorough investigation, they finally found some clues.


    "I found out about that man''s car. He should be going to the next city."


    After receiving the feedbacks, Damian immediately asked them to report in real time, and then he


    rushed over as soon as possible.


    Penelope quickly followed Damian, "I want to go too."


    "There''s no need for you to go over there for the time being. You can go back and have a good rest."


    Damian didn''t want to bother her too much, so he let Penelope go back first.


    When Penelope heard this, she suddenly got a little angry. Did this man think her useless and intend to


    kick her away?


    Was he making fun of her?


    "Damian, do you think of me as your servant? I don''t care. I''m going too."


    Hearing what she said, Damian felt helpless and had to bring Penelope along.


    The two of them sped all the way to the ce that they had been told.


    ...


    Since Andy met Meredith yesterday, he was very uneasy.


    He was worried that what he had done in the past would be discovered and cause trouble, so he


    thought about it and decided to give up everything he had and escape.


    He just didn''t expect to be founded by the Xaviers before he escaped from J City.


    However, Andy didn''t give up. Although there were people chasing after him, he still drove fast and


    wanted to get rid of them.


    Damian drove over and saw that Andy didn''t want to stop. So Damian honked his horn and told Andy to


    stop.


    However, the car in front did not stop but drove faster and faster.


    When Penelope saw this, she was very anxious. She opened the window and shouted at the front,


    "Hey, Doctor Chow, it''s useless to run away. We already know that the child was sent to the Smiths in


    Capital City by mistake. Even if you escape today, you''ll be caught sooner orter."


    Hearing this, Andy panicked and shook his hand on the steering wheel.


    How did they know where the child was sent?


    Andy''s car was driving at high speed. He was so distracted that he didn''t notice the sharp turn ahead.


    By the time he realized it, it was toote.


    The car swerved and the wheels screeched against the ground.


    "Damn it."


    Damian did not expect that the car in front of him would suddenly turn back. Although his reaction was


    very fast and he immediately slew the car over, he was unable topletely avoid the collision of that


    car .


    With a crash, the two cars collided.


    The airbag in Damian''s car immediately popped out.


    Both of them were pinned down in their seats, and Damian immediately looked at Penelope.


    Just now, that woman unbuckled her seat belt in order to shout. With such a strong force, she would be


    injured!


    Thinking that Penelope may get hurt, Damian was quite anxious.


    Fortunately, there were many people chasing after Andy. Seeing that there was an ident, someone


    immediately came to rescue them.


    Damian''s car was only hit on the front of the car, and the body was not badly deformed, so someone


    quickly opened the door and carried out the rescue.


    Because Damian was wearing his seat belt, he was only scratched by broken ss on his face and


    suffered some skin injuries.


    "Leave me alone and see how she is!"


    Damian immediately sent his men to check on Penelope.


    An ominous premonition enveloped his heart, then he forgot the usual tit-for-tat argument with that


    woman, ignored his pride, and shouted her name.


    "Penelope! Penelope! Are you okay?"


    However, the woman who always loved to argue with him didn''t respond.


    Damian was a little flustered. When he was pulled out, regardless of whether it was dangerous or not,


    he immediately ran to the passenger seat and saw Penelope whose face was covered by the blood.


    At that moment, Damian''s heart almost stopped beating, feeling extremely anxious.


    Pushing those people away, Damian carried Penelope to the ground and carefully probed her nose.


    Fortunately, there were still faint breaths and heartbeats.


    "Hurry to the hospital! Hurry!"


    Damian breathed a sigh of relief, then carried Penelope to another car and ordered the driver to drive


    quickly.


    The car quickly drove two people towards the hospital.


    Damian looked at Penelope, who was lying in the back seat of the car with a pale face, and suddenly


    realized that his heart was already in a mess.


    He should have hated this woman, but when he saw her lying on the ground so frail and facing life


    danger, his heart was filled with fear and panic.


    "Damian, Doctor Chow is in the car behind us, and he was also injured seriously."


    After a while, his men reported the situation of the main target.


    Only then did Damian realize that he was so anxious that he forgot his task this time.


    "Call the emergency doctor at the hospital to get ready immediately."


    Damian ordered. He was no longer as panic as just now, but he still worried about Penelope.


    "Penelope, you must survive. I don''t want to owe you anything."


    Damian said silently.


    The car drove over the speed limit, and it finally reached the hospital.


    Several medical staff had already prepared stretchers outside, and when the cars arrived, they


    immediately carried the two wounded in.


    Damian followed immediately and called Derek to report the situation.


    Derek was in a meeting, but he immediately suspended it when he saw that it was Damian calling.


    Derek walked out of the conference room.


    "What''s going on?"


    "We found Doctor Chow, but we had idents on the way to catch him. Now we are in the hospital."


    Damian said with a look of remorse.


    This time, it was mainly because he was not thoughtful enough. He not only failed toplete the task


    Derek assigned to him, but also implicated Penelope...


    "What happened?"


    Hearing Damian''s words, Derek frowned.


    "When I was chasing Andy with our men on the road, Andy suddenly stopped and turned. I didn''t


    dodge..."


    Hearing Damian''s low voice, Derek sighed. "Are you okay?"


    Although Derek usually seemed very unfriendly, he was actually very concerned about the people he


    liked.


    "I''m fine. It''s just... Penelope was injured and is still in the emergency room."


    Derek felt a little ufortable when he heard this.


    Today, Derek had wanted to trick Damian, so he let Penelope go together with Damian. Derek didn''t


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    expect this to happen.


    "Arrange the best doctors to treat her. Just let me know if you have any problems. And... You don''t


    have to me yourself. It''s not your fault."


    After listening to Derek''s words, Damian lowered his eyes and was touched. Derek''s words assured


    Damian that Derek was really a nice boss. "I know."

 Chapter 492

    Chapter 492


    About an hourter, the lights in the emergency room went out.


    Penelope was pushed out of the room, and Damian immediately stepped forward. "Doctor, how''s she


    doing? Is she fine?"


    The doctor frowned. "I''m not sure yet. Her head was hit to a certain extent in the car ident. I don''t


    know if it would leave extravasated blood. We''ll have to wait for her to wake up to have a further


    judgment."


    "Then, what''s the worst that can happen?"


    Damian''s heart sank when he heard the doctor say so.


    Now, he might have to prepare for the worst.


    "It''s all uncertain. Maybe, it''ll bepletely fine, or maybe, it''ll affect the nerves in her brain and affect


    her future life."


    Damian heard this and lowered his head. "I see."


    He walked into Penelope''s ward and looked at her. There was gauze wrapped around her head and


    her face was pale, her eyes tightly closed. She was lying on the bed like a doll.


    All of a sudden, he missed this woman''s lively appearance.


    At that time, he thought Penelope was crazy, noisy, and disturbed his blind date. However, seeing her


    so fragile, Damian could only bear and feel guilty.


    He was standing in the ward for a long time and a woman''s cry came from outside.


    It was Penelope''s mother who was informed and rushed to the hospital.


    "My daughter!"


    Penelope''s mother did not expect this to happen at all. She sent her daughter out happily, but she did


    not expect to get the news that her daughter had a car ident and was in emergency treatment.


    "Lady, your daughter is now out of danger. Calm down!"


    The doctor was used to this kind of separation, and his expression was still very calm. He took Mrs.


    Garcia to the ward.


    As soon as Mrs. Garcia came in and saw Damian standing beside the hospital bed, she copsed.


    "Did you hurt my daughter? Why are you okay?"


    The woman rushed over like a madman, grabbed Damian''s clothes, and cursed as she cried.


    Damian could also understand her emotions, not to mention, in his opinion, most of the responsibility


    should be borne by him.


    So, he just stood there and let Mrs. Garcia beat and scold him without any intention of avoiding her.


    Mrs. Garcia was getting tired, and she knew that no matter how much she scolded the young man in


    front of her, it would not help. She felt bad and sat down on the ground.


    "I shouldn''t have let her out. If I didn''t urge her out, this might not happen..."


    Damian was beaten a few times, and it was a lie to say that it didn''t hurt, but in this case, being beaten


    actually made him feel better.


    Seeing how excited Penelope''s mother was, he quickly helped her up.


    "Auntie, calm down. Penelope is in aa. If you get sick before she wakes up, how bad will it be for


    her to not find her mother?"


    After all, he finally calmed Mrs. Garcia down.


    "This is all my fault. I will take responsibility until she gets better."


    Damian said word by word in a serious tone.


    "Don''t you have a girlfriend? You''re responsible for our Penelope. What about your girlfriend?"


    "When did I have a girlfriend?"


    Damian was confused by the question.


    All these years, he had been busy working behind Derek. Some time ago, he had finally found time to


    go out on a blind date, but Penelope had ruined it.


    Where could he find a girlfriend?


    However, after saying this, Damian also felt something strange.


    What he meant was to do everything he could to help Penelope regain her health. What did that have


    to do with having a girlfriend?


    Mrs. Garcia didn''t think so. She looked at Damian and had a n in her mind.


    She was very satisfied with this young man at first sight. If he was single, he would be best to match


    her daughter.


    However, Mrs. Garcia did not forget that this ident happened because of this person in front of her,


    so she didn''t perform excitedly.


    Instead, she wanted to test Damian. If he could take good care of Penelope, she could entrust her


    daughter to him.


    "It depends on your performance. Anyway, you have to take responsibility."


    Damian nodded without any hesitation.


    Meredith first went to the hospital to visit Amelia to make sure that her condition had not changed


    much, at least until she found her bone marrow.


    Then she remembered that Derek had told her that he would send someone to look for the doctor he


    met yesterday.


    After thinking about it, she called to ask about it.


    Derek hesitated when he saw that it was Meredith''s call.


    He hadn''t decided whether to tell Meredith about Penelope''s car ident.


    Now, Amelia was sick, and Meredith''s parents'' identity was a mystery. If she knew that Penelope was


    also in an ident, she might be very anxious.


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    After a while, Derek realized that the phone had automatically hung up.


    Meredith frowned. Was Derek busy with work?


    Just as she was thinking, the man called back.


    Meredith answered, "Are you busy with work now? If it''s not convenient, you can call meter."


    "No... No."


    Derek was silent for a moment, and Meredith immediately realized that something was wrong. Derek


    would never speak like this. Something must have happened.


    "What happened? Did something bad happen? If so, don''t hide it from me. I don''t like being kept in the


    dark."


    With that said, Meredith was prepared for the worst.


    Hearing what Meredith said, Derek sighed. "It''s not what you think. It''s Penelope..."


    "Penelope? What happened to her?"


    "Today, Damian asked her to identify the doctor you met yesterday together, but the man had already


    gone away. They were on their way to chase him, and there was an ident. Now Penelope is in the


    hospital. She just got out of danger and is not awake."


    When Meredith heard the news, she was anxious.


    Penelope was her best friend and Penelope was always with her during the time she lost her memory.


    Now, it was because of her own things that they encountered such an ident.


    Meredith suddenly felt that she owed Penelope too much.


    "Where is she now? I''ll be right there!"


    Thinking that Penelope had an ident and Meredith was in no mood to do anything else, she wanted


    to rush over immediately.


    "You wait for me there. I''ming too. Let''s go together."


    Derek knew that she would react so and was worried that Meredith would make a mistake, so he


    offered to go with her.


    Meredith did not refuse. She told Derek her current position and waited for him toe.

 Chapter 493

    Chapter 493


    Not long after, Derek drove over.


    Then, through the car window, he saw Meredith standing on the side of the road. She crossed her arms


    and looked confused.


    She was anxious, so she came out early. She stood by the side of the road and waited. The weather


    was cold, but she didn''t want to go back to put on more clothes. She just wanted to ease the guilt in her


    heart by making her feel ufortable.


    If it weren''t for her, bad things wouldn''t happen to Penelope.


    She was the one who got Penelope into trouble.


    When Derek saw her like this, his heart ached. He got out of the car, took off his coat, and put it on


    Meredith.


    "You can wait for me at home. Why did youe out and endure the cold-st air?"


    "No, I... I can''t sit still..."


    Meredith stammered a little. She was really flustered.


    Seeing this, Derek sighed. "Then let''s go to the hospital immediately, shall we?"


    Meredith nodded and got into the car immediately. She was so worried that she forgot to fasten her


    seat belt.


    Derek had no choice but to reach out and fasten her seat belt. At the same time, he held Meredith''s


    hand.


    The woman''s hand was now cold, without any warmth. It showed the uneasiness in her heart.


    "It''s okay. Now that she''s out of danger, don''t worry too much. You can''t just ignore your own safety


    even though she had a car ident. Fasten your seat belt."


    Derek said softly, calming Meredith down.


    Meredith felt the warmth in his palm. She slowly regained her senses and nodded. "I...got it."


    "I know you''re worried about your friend, but you can''t copse. If you copse, someone has to take


    care of you."


    Derek saw that she had gradually regained her senses and said a few light-hearted words.


    Seeing that Meredith didn''t look so panicked, Derek started the car.


    They reached the hospital as fast as they could.


    As soon as the car stopped, Meredith got off and rushed to Penelope''s ward.


    As soon as she entered, she saw Mrs. Garcia who was taking care of Penelope. Her nose went sore.


    "I''m sorry, auntie, I''m sorry..."


    Mrs. Garcia took good care of her. In the past, she had no friends and often went to the Garcia Family


    for dinner.


    Penelope''s parents, on the other hand, did not discriminate against her even though she had lost all


    her memory. Instead, they loved and cherished her.


    Now, she made their only daughter be like this.


    "s. It''s not your fault either! Mer, don''t be like this."


    Mrs. Garcia had already vented her anger once. Now that she saw Meredithing and feeling so


    guilty, she didn''t bear to say anything. She justforted Meredith.


    "Auntie, I am also responsible for what happened. Penelope suffered because she helped me. I


    promise you, I will find the best doctor in the world and definitely bring your healthy daughter back."


    Derek saw that Meredith could not help but cry and then he made a sincere promise as she spoke.


    Mrs. Garcia looked at the man in front of her and remembered seeing him on all kinds of TV and


    financial programs and newspapers. "Are you... the boss of Xavier Group?"


    "Yes, I guarantee you in the name of the Xavier Group that Penelope willnd on her feet and be


    discharged from the hospital safe and sound."


    Hearing that Derek said that, Mrs. Garcia felt much more relieved.


    The Xavier Group would definitely arrange for the best doctors and treatments.


    Mrs. Garcia stopped crying, just holding Penelope''s hand and looking at her.


    Meredith sat there with her, praying silently for Penelope, hoping that she would wake up and have no


    sequ.


    Seeing that both women were deep in thought, Derek couldn''t bear to disturb them and he went out.


    Damian followed suit.


    "Boss, that doctor was in a car ident too. He''s unconscious now."


    Although he had been taking care of Penelope, Damian did not forget his own work. Just now, he went


    to visit Andy. Andy was now out of danger but was still unconscious.


    Moreover, because Andy''s car had bumped into another car and then bumped into the railing on the


    side, Andy suffered the most severe impact, so his injury was much more serious than Penelope. He


    had several fractures.


    "I see."


    Derek didn''t say much after listening.


    No one wanted to see this.


    "Does he have any family members?"


    Damian shook his head. "I asked. This Andy is unmarried and has no children. He works in the


    hospital, and he is a very respected doctor."


    Derek could not help but frown.


    It looked like Andy was in his fifties. He was not married?


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Judging by Andy''s appearance and financial condition, it was definitely not because he could not find


    any woman to marry him.


    So, why did he stay unmarried?


    The more he thought about it, the more suspicious Derek felt Andy was.


    "Send someone to investigate him."


    Damian nodded, but said awkwardly, "Boss, I want to apply for some private time to take care of


    Penelope."


    Derek was a little speechless. In Damian''s eyes, was he a tyrant who had no human feelings?


    If Penelope wanted to take care of Penelope, would he disagree?


    Derek reflected on himself.


    "Damian, have I been too harsh on you before?"


    "No... No."


    Damian waved his hand, but in his heart, he agreed with what Derek said. After all, he had been on


    standby 24 hours a day.


    "You have to take care of Penelope. This is a task for you. You''ll get your sry as usual. As for other


    trivial matters, you can ask someone you trust to do it."


    Hearing Derek''s words, Damian heaved a sigh of relief.


    "But..."


    Derek couldn''t help but raise his eyebrows. "When did you have such a good rtionship with


    Penelope? You actuallye to take care of her yourself."


    Damian almost choked when he heard the words "good rtionship". He coughed and his face turned


    red, "It''s just that her injury has something to do with me. I can''t shirk away from it. Naturally, I have to


    take responsibility."


    "Oh, take responsibility."


    Derek nodded and said meaningfully. "Yes, I think Penelope is pretty good too. I agree."


    Then he patted Damian on the shoulder. It was as if he had known something.


    ???


    Damian immediately felt that something was wrong, but by the time he realized it, Derek had already


    returned to the ward for Meredith.


    Was there something wrong with what he said...


    Damian was puzzled and couldn''t figure it out. After thinking for a while, he asked someone to


    investigate Andy.

 Chapter 494

    Chapter 494


    Not long after, Damian''s subordinates get Andy''s information and sent it to Derek.


    Derek took it over and looked at it. It was only then that he realized that Andy had suffered a lot.


    Andy was an orphan. He grew up in an orphanage, but he was smart and hardworking.


    With the help of some kind-hearted people, he was sessfully admitted to the best medical college in


    the country, Medical University in Capital City.


    Capital City again...


    Derek was aware of some of the details and then scanned the document again.


    In college, Andy studied hard and always got excellent results, and every year he received a


    schrship. Because he was handsome, down-to-earth and hardworking, he was very popr with his


    ssmates and became a cadre of the student union.


    This made Derek even more suspicious. Why was such a person unmarried until now?


    However, through these documents, there is no way to dig out such hidden information.


    It seemed that it was not easy to investigate this matter.


    Meredith had been taking care of Penelope in the ward, and when she saw that the drip was finished,


    she came out and asked the nurse to help pull out the needle.


    After calling the nurse over, she saw Derek sitting in a public chair in the corridor who was


    contemting.


    Derek pondered and he didn''t even notice Meredith approaching.


    "What happened? You''ve been sitting outside for a long time." Meredith stepped forward and asked


    with concern.


    Derek shook his head. "Nothing. I just went to look up Andy''s information. I felt something is wrong."


    "Is that so? But he''s still unconscious, and we have no way to interrogate him."


    Meredith only felt that the process of searching for her family was so bumpy. In fact, if it wasn''t for


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Amelia, she didn''t have any urgent thoughts about finding her biological family.


    After all, Amelia had been very good to her since Meredith was a child, and Meredith was very


    satisfied.


    If she found her biological family but they were unwilling to ept her, the situation would be a little


    awkward.


    "You don''t have to worry too much. Although Andy is unconscious, he must have some friends. If we


    ask them one by one, we will find some clues."


    Derek patientlyforted Meredith. There were so many things going on now and he didn''t want her to


    think too much.


    Meredith nodded. Knowing that Derek was trying to reassure her, she could not bear to disappoint his


    kindness.


    The two of them stayed outside for a while, then Penelope''s mother came out. "There''s no need for so


    many people here. You should go back and rest. I''ll be here to look after Penelope."


    "In that case, we will leave first. Auntie, if you have any trouble, you can call me immediately."


    Meredith thought for a moment, and knew that if they stayed here, they may add to the chaos instead


    of offering help.


    So she agreed with Penelope''s mother and left the hospital with Derek.


    "I''ll send you back to rest."


    Derek saw that Meredith looked a little tired, so he decided to drive her home directly.


    Meredith was about to respond when her phone rang.


    It was Wesley.


    Derek raised his eyebrows. He had been so busy these two days that he almost forgot about the


    Masons people who had hurt Meredith.


    "I''ll pick it up."


    Derek just took the phone and pressed the answer button.


    The call was from Ava.


    Just after one night, Ava frittered away the money Meredith gave him yesterday.


    However, the feeling of having money to spend casually reminded Ava of his former glory.


    Therefore, the mother and daughter urged Wesley to find a way to ask Meredith for more money.


    They didn''t expect to be rejected directly by Wesley.


    After all, through yesterday''s conversation, Wesley already knew that Meredith was not his daughter.


    They were not rted by blood at all. So Meredith would definitely not give him money, and he would


    lose face by then.


    However, Erin didn''t believe him at all. She just thought that Wesley regretted it. The two of them fought


    with each other and got hurt. Finally, they had to go to the hospital.


    Ava took advantage of the chaos to steal Wesley''s phone.


    "Hello, is that Meredith? Your visit yesterday caused a fight between your parents. Now that your father


    is injured and hospitalized, as his daughter, shouldn''t you pay for the medical expenses?"


    Hearing this, Meredith was speechless.


    It was Wesley and Erin that fought with each other. It was none of her business.


    Yesterday, she was beaten up for no reason, and she didn''t ask them for medical expenses...


    "Ava, can you stop being unreasonable? I have nothing to do with you..."


    "It''s not up to you. Are you going to abandon your father?"


    Meredith was amused. Ava didn''t know the truth at all. Did Ava think she would help Wesley since they


    were unrted?


    Just as Meredith was about to answer, Derek suddenly said, "We can pay for it. Which hospital are you


    in now?"


    Ava thought the voice was familiar, but she didn''t think much about it.


    Ever since Ava''s downfall, she has been addicted to alcohol to numb herself every day. She even took


    drugs with her friends, and there was something wrong with her brain.


    Therefore, she couldn''t recognize Derek''s voice.


    Anyway, when she heard that she might have money, she immediately reported the address.


    "Are you really going to find them?"


    Meredith didn''t want to see them at all.


    "It just so happens that there''s an ount to settle. Besides, if we goter, we can let Wesley recall


    what happened in the past. Maybe we can find some new clues."


    Derek said calmly, "If you''re tired, I''ll take you home first. I can go alone."


    Meredith thought for a moment. "No. I''ll go with you."


    The two of them agreed and drove to the address that Ava had just told them.


    Soon, the car arrived at the door of the hospital.


    Because there was no money, the hospital Wesley went to was not a proper hospital at all, but a small


    private clinic.


    As soon as Derek parked his car, he attracted a lot of curious attention.


    After all, this kind of luxury car, which may cost tens of millions, really did not match the environment


    here.


    "Aren''t we a little too high-profile..."


    Meredith also realized this, and her expression was a little awkward. It seemed that they were showing


    off their wealth.


    "We didn''t do anything illegal. Don''t worry so much."


    Derek smiled and got out of the car.


    Meredith followed him, and the two of them walked into the clinic one after the other.


    Just as they were walking, Derek was hugged by a woman who suddenly rushed out.

 Chapter 495

    Chapter 495


    Derek had always disliked being touched. His face clouded over when a strange woman threw herself


    at him. He reached out to push her away immediately.


    Meredith was also startled. When Meredith fixed her eyes upon that woman, she realized that it was


    Ava, who had just called her.


    However, Ava waspletely drunk in such a short time. Although she was in public, she behaved


    inappropriately and was slovenly dressed.


    Ava was pushed to the ground by Derek, frowning painfully and mumbling something.


    After calling Meredith, Ava felt that she could make a lot of money. After all, Meredith was different now.


    She was very rich and would pay her father''s medical bills when she knew he was ill.


    She even thought that if Meredith didn''t pay, she would tarnish Meredith''s reputation by publicizing her


    unfilial behaviour to her father.


    With that in mind, Ava borrowed some money from her friends to buy the "candy" that someone else


    had given her at the nightclubst time.


    In that kind of ce, in order to retain guests and increase ie, the candies were often added with


    some hidden ingredients, which could be addictive if eaten several times.


    Ava was obviously addicted to it. Several days without any candy made her feel miserable.


    This time, she finally had enough and she was in a daze,pletely unaware of what she was doing.


    Thus, even with Derek''s murderous look, Ava didn''t even have the slightest fear. She got up and threw


    herself at him.


    "Handsome man, don''t be so reserved. Let''s have some fun. Come on, smile."


    How could Derek do what she said? He dodged her with disgust. Ava lost her bnce and fell again.


    This time, she was lying on the ground and didn''t move.


    Although she had calmed down, Derek''s face took on an extreme ghastly expression.


    This damn crazy woman...


    When Meredith looked at Ava, she noticed something unusual. She walked behind Derek and said,


    "Look at her. There seems to be something wrong with her..."


    "Yes. She doesn''t know what''s going on now."


    While they were talking, Erin came out. When she saw Ava lying on the ground, she ran out quickly,


    "Lann, my daughter, what''s wrong with you!"


    After crying, she looked at Meredith and Derek.


    "Did you hit her? Oh my god, why is my life so hard? My family is broke. Can''t you just spare us?"


    Hearing her question, Meredith was speechless.


    What was this... Was this a new form of ckmail?


    They had been avoiding Ava the whole time. She looked so crazy that no one wanted to get into


    trouble with her.


    Hearing the noise outside, Wesley got up. When he went out, he saw Meredith.


    Then he saw someone fainting and someone throwing a tantrum. Yesterday, crazy Erin broke his head


    with a beer bottle, and his head was covered with gauze, which made him look ridiculous.


    Now he really humiliated himself in front of Meredith.


    "Can you stop it? It''s so annoying!"


    Wesley yelled at Erin impatiently.


    "Our daughter has passed out. You, as her father, don''t care about her at all. Instead, you''re putting


    yourself in someone else''s shoes and using me. Screw you!"


    Erin was already upset about Meredith''s visit to Wesley. Erin felt that Wesley regretted it and wanted to


    reconcile and live a good life with his ex-wife and Meredith.


    Therefore, she was not in the mood to pretend to be considerate as she had been.


    "She goes out drinking and hanging out with her friends every day. Who knows if she''s drunk on the


    ground again?"


    When Erin heard this, she was very angry and got up from the ground to fight with Wesley again.


    Meredith felt a headache and couldn''t help but rejoice. Fortunately, she had nothing to do with these


    people at all. Otherwise, She was gonna be in a lot of trouble.


    "Have you guys had enough? Can you be quiet?"


    Derek, who was not interested in watching them fight over trifles, interrupted their quarrel in a cold


    voice.


    His words seemed to have a natural power of deterrence, calming the two of them down.


    Wesley looked up and saw Derek. Of course, he did not dare to offend Derek, "Mr. Xavier, what can I


    do for you?"


    "I have something to ask you. This is not a good ce to talk. Let''s talk outside."


    Derek looked around at the noisy environment and signaled Wesley to find a quiet ce to talk.


    Wesley thought about it and just as he was just about to nod, Ava suddenly went into convulsions and


    foamed at the mouth. It looked like she was poisoned and very scary.


    "Ava, what''s wrong with you? Don''t scare me."


    Although Wesley exasperated at Ava''s ipetence, he learned that Meredith was not his biological


    daughter yesterday, and it was hard to tell whether he and Amelia''s child was alive or not.


    Thus, Ava was his only child now. No matter how much he hated her for being a loser, he couldn''t be


    "Ava, what''s wrong with you? Wake up, doctor! Doctor!"


    It was impossible for Wesley to leave in such an emergency.


    Derek''s face darkened when he saw the situation. To him, the evil woman Ava deserved whatever


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    happened to her, but what happened now really ruined his n.


    Not long after, the doctor from this clinic ran over and examined Ava with a stethoscope, then shook his


    head.


    "We can''t treat her. You have to send her to a big hospital as soon as possible. Otherwise, she may


    die."


    Hearing this, Wesley and Erin were very anxious. They had no money to go to a big hospital for


    emergency treatment. They could only watch Ava suffering anxiously.


    Erin cried for a while, then suddenly thought of something. She looked at Derek, "Mr. Xavier, don''t you


    have something to ask Wesley? In that case, you should pay him for the information."


    Wesley was originally very resistant to asking Derek and Meredith for money. Although he was poor


    now, he was still a male chauvinist.


    It was too humiliating for him to bow his head to his former enemy for money.


    But now, seeing that his daughter might die forck of money, he didn''t care about those things


    anymore.


    "Mr. Xavier, you''ve seen what''s going on here. If anything happens to my daughter, I won''t be in the


    mood to talk to you and I won''t be able to remember what you need to know then..."


    Derek narrowed his eyes, "Are you threatening me?"

 Chapter 496

    Chapter 496


    Derek finished his sentence expressionlessly.


    However, he made people feel a kind of invisible pressure. It was as if a storm wasing.


    Wesley and Erin trembled in fear. They knew that with their current status, Derek could trample on


    them like trampling on aunts.


    But, after all, Ava was still waiting for the money to get saved. So, they didn''t flinch.


    It was a standoff between them.


    Meredith coughed and tugged at the corner of Derek''s shirt.


    "Forget it. I''ll take out the money..."


    Meredith naturally understood Derek''s character.


    This man yielded to the weak but not to the strong. If others threatened him, they would end up


    miserably.


    Now, because there was no other clue, Meredith didn''t want things toe to a dead end.


    After all, Amelia''s illness was her greatest concern.


    Derek turned around and saw the worry and anxiety in Meredith''s eyes. Derek felt helpless, so he said,


    "Take this woman to the hospital first."


    Seeing that Derek had said so, Wesley heaved a sigh of relief and quickly took Ava to the ambnce.


    Then, they went to the best hospital in the city.


    Ava was quickly sent to the hospital''s emergency clinic. Derek looked at the anxious Wesley and Erin


    and said indifferently, "Now, you can tell me exactly what happened."


    "No, we have to wait until Ava wakes up."


    Erin still wanted to use this opportunity to get more money, so she pulled Wesley to forbid him to go


    over.


    Wesley didn''t know what to say because he had no impression of what happened in the past. When


    Meredith came to himst time, he told her everything he could remember.


    If he couldn''t say something that would make Derek feel satisfied, the consequences would be very


    serious.


    "I think so."


    Wesley hid behind Erin. After a while, he found an excuse to ask Erin to go outside with him.


    "It''s all your fault for not taking care of Ava properly and letting this happen to her. I don''t even


    remember what happened back then. How do you expect me to face Derek''s anger?"


    "Back then?"


    When Erin heard this, she immediately asked.


    Now, Wesley was worried that Derek would settle the score with him. So he told her everything.


    "So... Meredith is not your daughter?"


    When Erin heard this, she couldn''t help but sneer in her heart.


    She thought that no matter howcent Amelia was, Amelia was still a loser as she lost her child


    and couldn''t keep her man.


    "the Smiths? It can''t be that the Smiths in the Capital City, right? I''ve heard that of the Smiths. If


    Meredith is from the Smiths, we can''t stand the consequences if she settles the score with uster."


    Erin was usually peacockish and knew more about those famous families than anyone else.


    And she also kept an eye on the Smiths before. She wanted to get close to the Smiths by having Ava


    married into the Smiths.


    After hearing this, Wesley was also lost in thought.


    It turned out that Meredith''s biological parents were such powerful people.


    He wondered whether his daughter could live well there.


    How could Erin not know what Wesley was thinking?


    She couldn''t help but sneer and say, "Don''t think that as long as you get your own daughter back, then


    you can make aeback. She''s been in the Smiths for so many years. It''s not certain whether she


    wants to recognize you as her father or not."


    Wesley was a little angry. "What are you talking about?"


    "Humph. In short, don''t think about getting rid of me and Ava. Even if we die, we will die with you


    together."


    Wesley clenched his fists. In the past, he had always felt that Erin was gentle and kind, but Amelia only


    knew to ask him to work and develop his business. He felt that Amelia was not a qualified wife.


    Now, after aparison, he realized that people who seemed to treat you well may not be really good


    to you.


    For a moment, he regretted all the things he had done in the past.


    Ava was pushed out of the emergency room just as they were arguing.


    They immediately went over to see the situation of Ava.


    "Are you her family?"


    "Yes, doctor. How''s my daughter?"


    "You are not worthy of being her parents. Your daughter took drugs and drank, so she remained


    unconscious. If shees hereter, she''ll die."


    The doctor didn''t like the drug addict. It was as if he felt unlucky, so he left immediately.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    When Erin heard this, her heart was filled with despair.


    She didn''t expect Ava to take drugs. It was a bottomless pit. A man''s life was over as long as he/she


    took drugs.


    Naturally, Meredith heard it too. She didn''t know how she felt when she heard that Ava was taking


    drugs.


    Ava was such a morous female star before, but now she became like this. This was the karma.


    If Ava hadn''t done so many evil things in the past, she wouldn''t have had this kind of consequence


    now.


    Derek, on the other hand, felt nothing. Ava had such a devious character and no one subjected her to


    discipline. It was not surprising that Ava would end up in this way.


    Moreover, he had no need to care about this woman at all. He just nced at Wesley.


    "Now that she''s out of danger, you cane with us."


    Wesley had no excuse this time. He nced at Erin and followed Derek and left.


    Derek took Wesley to thepany and told his men not toe in and disturb them no matter what


    happened.


    "Now, tell me everything you know."


    Wesley thought about it. He wanted to help. But things had passed for such a long time, he could not


    offer much help even if he wanted to.


    "It''s a long time ago. I don''t think I can recall much."


    "You must recall."


    Derek was very impatient. He had been wasting his time and energy on Wesley for so long. If he didn''t


    get the result he wanted, he would have the intent to kill Wesley.


    "But it happened more than twenty years ago..."


    Wesley frowned. "Oh, I remember that doctor. His surname is Chow."


    Chow?


    When Derek and Meredith heard this, they immediately became alert. "Are you sure?"


    "I''m sure. I was impressed as he was a man but he came to deliver babies."


    At this moment, Derek was sure of one thing in his heart. The doctor was definitely not a simple


    person. It should be a carefully nned plot as the children were taken away mistakenly.


    "Then, do you have any connection with that the Smiths?"


    Wesley remembered what Erin said and shook his head. "I''ve never heard of the Smiths, and I don''t


    know anyone..."


    After hearing this, Derek frowned.


    Wesley did say something, but things Wesley said didn''t make much sense.


    After all, no one knew when Andy would wake up from hisa.


    "Are there any other doctors and nurses?"


    Meredith thought for a moment and suddenly thought of it.

 Chapter 497

    Chapter 497


    Since it was a Caesarean, Andy couldn''t be the only one there. There must be nurses helping.


    "Well, I can''t remember it."


    Wesley shook his head. No matter how hard he tried to recall it, he couldn''t remember all the details of


    what had happened more than 20 years ago.


    "..." Meredith bit her lower lip tightly and had a headache.


    Derek frowned, "I have a way to make him remember everything."


    Both of them looked at him incredulously when they heard this.


    "What do you have in mind?"


    Wesley had an ominous feeling.


    "Hypnotize him."


    Derek replied calmly. Hypnosis was a way to bring out the full potential of the brain. When being


    hypnotized, people could often remember things they didn''t think they knew.


    Brain didn''t ce everything on the surface, and people knew many things subconsciously.


    "What? I don''t agree."


    When Wesley heard the hypnosis, he thought of the surreal scenes he had seen on TV.


    He thought that if the hypnosis failed, he might be a lunatic or a fool. In the end, he didn''t get


    anything and sacrificed himself.


    When Derek heard this, he sneered, "It doesn''t matter whether you agree or not. Do you think I just


    paid Ava''s medical bill out of sympathy?"


    Derek had always been merciless towards people he hated.


    Wesley was even angrier when he heard this, "I just don''t agree. What can you do to me?"


    Seeing his attitude, Derek''s expression became even more indifferent, "It doesn''t matter. I''ll send Ava


    to rehab first, and then let your little shop be bought. I have plenty of ways to deal with you..."


    Hearing this, Wesley was depressed like a deted ball. He had an ambitious attempt to deal with


    Derek without a sense of his pitiable limitation, so he was bound to fail.


    Seeing that he had calmed down, Derek contacted the hypnotist.


    Soon, the man arrived.


    After the hypnotist arrived, he gave Wesley a simple mental hint, and then he shook his head, "I''m


    sorry, this gentleman is too resistant to my hypnosis. With my ability, I can''t break through his


    psychological defenses."


    "How could this be..."


    Meredith was full of hope, but when she heard this, she became spiritless.


    "But there are people who can hypnotize him. Mr. Dennis, a great hypnotist, may be able to do it."


    Meredith frowned when she heard the hypnotist''s words.


    Dennis...


    The name sounded familiar to her.


    It was just that she couldn''t remember anything for the time being.


    "I see. Thank you."


    Meredith said nothing more, and Derek immediately sent someone to find Dennis.


    Seeing this, Wesley said, "Since you can''t hypnotize me, let me go back first."


    "No, I''ll arrange a ce for you to stay until I get what I want. Before that, you can''t leave."


    After that, Derek asked someone to take Wesley away.


    Of course, Derek didn''t treat Wesley badly on purpose. He just asked people to keep an eye on Wesley


    and not let him have a chance to escape.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "I''ll get someone to look for Dennis."


    Derek nced at Meredith and patted her on the shoulder, signaling her not to worry.


    Meredith nodded. Now, it was no use for her to worry. She could only wait quietly for the result.


    Derek''s men soon found Dennis''s residence. They heard that he was entric, so they specially


    prepared a handsome reward for him.


    Dennis was wiping the photo in his studio. He looked at the woman in the photo with a very gentle


    expression, and he was careful not to damage the photo.


    He frowned when he heard that someone was looking for him.


    "They''re from the Xavier Group."


    "Xavier Group? Is it Derek''spany?"


    Dennis was no longer calm. His hand trembled and he almost dropped the photo frame on the ground


    and broke it.


    The car ident a few years ago came to his mind.


    Back then, he was entrusted by Parker to take Meredith away, but unexpectedly, they were involved in


    a serious car ident.


    Meredith disappeared in the river, and he was lucky to be rescued with only a slight cut to his face.


    Because of this, he was left with a sense of guilt. Although Parker did not me him, he still hoped to


    make it up to Parker.


    However, Parker remained faithful to the girl he loved even if he had lost her. Dennis had introduced


    Parker to many good girls, but Parker never epted them.


    It was unexpected that the Xavier Group woulde looking for him now.


    Even for Parker, he couldn''t help that man.


    "Tell them I don''t want to see them. Let them go back."


    When Dennis''s assistant heard this, he hesitated, "But they''re offering ten times the usual price, and if


    we offend the Xaviers..."


    "Cut the crap. I don''t have a voice in this studio?"


    Dennis didn''t care how much money they gave him, but just asked his assistant to kick Derek''s men


    out.


    Derek''s men were confused as they thought they were already very sincere. Dennis was really


    entric.


    Derek was at thepany, waiting for news from his men. When he learned that Dennis was unwilling


    to ept his entrustment, his face immediately clouded over.


    "You can''t even do such a simple thing. You good-for-nothing!"


    His men were scolded and dared not talk back.


    When Meredith saw this, she knew that the reason why Derek was so agitated was that he didn''t want


    her to be anxious. Meredith was touched. She walked up to him and said, "Don''t worry. That''s what the


    hypnotist is said to be. He''s cranky. Why don''t we go there ourselves and show our sincerity?"


    "It''s my fault..."


    When Derek wasforted, he did not breathe a sigh of relief. Instead, he was very angry.


    Nothing went right for him these days.


    He even needed Meredith, who should be most anxious, tofort him now. He shouldn''t be like this.


    "You''ve tried your best. I appreciate it."


    Meredith held Derek''s hand and they stayed there for a while.


    Then, remembering that the priority now was to convince Dennis, Meredith immediately let go of his


    hand, "Let''s go talk to him."


    Derek was enjoying having his hand in hers. After all, it wasn''t often that Meredith was willing to touch


    him on her own, but he managed to regain hisposure quickly.


    "Okay, let''s go."


    Then they headed to Dennis''s studio ording to the address in their hands.


    After a while, they arrived at their destination.


    "Please tell Mr. Dennis that I''m Derek."


    Derek handed his business card to Dennis''s assistant and asked him to look for Dennis.

 Chapter 498

    Chapter 498


    Seeing that Derek had actuallye here in person, the assistant hurriedly went to find Dennis.


    "Sir, the president of the Xavier Group is here. Will you..."


    "I said no. Don''t you understand me?"


    Dennis was stubborn and refused without hesitation.


    The assistant was very helpless and walked out. "I''m sorry, Mr. Dennis is unwilling to ept this task."


    "How could this be..."


    Meredith''s face was sadder. "Please, help me one more time. I have something very, very important to


    ask him..."


    Hearing this, the assistant shook his head. Even Derek couldn''t change Dennis''s idea, let alone the


    woman in front of him.


    "Forget it, Mer. I don''t believe that no other hypnotist can do this. Since he doesn''t want to, I''ll go


    abroad to find someone else."


    But just as they were about to leave, a voice suddenly came from inside. "Wait a minute, Miss, what''s


    your name?"


    When Dennis learned that Derek hade, he came downstairs especially to see what Parker''s old


    enemy looked like.


    Unexpectedly, he heard him call the woman next to him Mer.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    He could only think of one woman by that name.


    But wasn''t she dead?


    So, he couldn''t help but ask.


    "My name is Meredith..."


    Meredith didn''t know what was going on, but it was just about her name, so she answered truthfully.


    Dennis couldn''t calm down any longer and immediately walked out of the room. "Meredith?"


    He stared at the woman in front of him, disappointed.


    He still remembered what Meredith looked like, in order to let Parker move on from the past, he found


    many girls who looked like Meredith tofort him.


    Anyway, the woman in front of him didn''t look like Meredith in his memory.


    Meredith noticed he change in the man''s mood in front of her. Although she did not know why, it was a


    good thing that he was willing to appear.


    So she quickly stepped forward, pleading, "Please, I need your help very much right now. It''s a matter


    of life. It''s urgent."


    "I''m not interested."


    Dennis didn''t want to care about anything rted to Derek.


    For him, the more miserable Derek was, the better.


    "Forget it. Since this man is so heartless, we don''t have to ask him. Let''s go."


    Dennis''s arrogance made Derek so angry that he dragged Meredith away.


    "I didn''t expect that... Mighty Mr. Xavier of Xavier Group would have such a pitiful time to use another


    woman as a substitute."


    Dennis did not want to miss any opportunity to taunt Derek.


    A substitute?


    What did that mean?


    Meredith stopped. "Mr. Dennis, I don''t understand what you''re saying."


    "Aren''t you... a substitute for the woman named Meredith?"


    Only then did Meredith understand what he meant. "Maybe you made a mistake. I had stic surgery


    because I had an ident and my face was injured. I looked different from before.


    But since Mr. Dennis said so, did that mean they used to know each other? "


    Because it was so long ago, Meredith didn''t remember Dennis.


    Hearing this, Dennis''s sarcastic expression changed. "You said... Your face changed because of the


    stic surgery?"


    "That''s right."


    Meredith nodded. Dennis was so excited that he rushed up and grabbed Meredith''s wrist. "Then why


    don''t you contact people you used to know? Don''t you know how worried they are about you?"


    "It... seems like there''s no need to tell you, right, Mr. Dennis?"


    Derek saw that Meredith was caught and his face was gloomy. He stepped forward and pped


    Dennis''s hand away.


    He had no good feelings for this man now.


    All sorts of his behaviors made Derek feel strange.


    "I am willing to ept Miss Meredith''s entrustment."


    Dennis had a lot of things to ask, and at this moment, he did not bother to make things difficult for


    Derek, and directly agreed to themission.


    "Really? That''s great!"


    Hearing this, Meredith forgot the unhappiness just now. As long as she could achieve his goal, it was


    fine for her even if she was wronged.


    "I have something else to ask. Miss Mason, pleasee in with me."


    Dennis wasn''t sure what was going on, so he invited Meredith in to have a long talk with him.


    "I will be with her."


    Derek wouldn''t give them a chance to be alone. After all, he felt something was wrong with Dennis.


    "I have nothing to say to you."


    Unfortunately, Dennis did not give Derek any chance and refused directly.


    "It doesn''t matter. You can wait for me outside. I don''t think Mr. Dennis will do anything he shouldn''t..."


    Seeing that these two men were really at odds, Meredith hurriedly tried to smooth things over.


    "Don''t worry, it''ll be fine."


    Before Meredith went in, she did not forget tofort Derek.


    "I want to know what happened to you five years ago."


    Dennis asked eagerly.


    "Five years ago, I fell into the river and was washed downstream, and some kind person saved me.


    Unfortunately, I lost my memory back then, and my face was injured. With the help of that kind person,


    I had stic surgery. My face waspletely different from before, and my memory had only recently


    recovered."


    "... I see."


    Hearing this, the resentment in Dennis''s heart had dissipated a lot.


    At first, he thought that this woman was in love with Derek, so she abandoned Parker and let him waste


    so many years to be depressed.


    It turned out that it was because of an ident.


    "I work for Parker. I''ll do my best to help you with your affairs, but why didn''t you contact him when you


    regained your memory?"


    After Meredith heard this question, she remembered what happened back then.


    "Are you the one who wanted to take me away from J City?"


    Dennis nodded.


    "So you''re fine. That''s great."


    Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the car ident did not cause any casualties.


    "I have tried to contact Parker, but he didn''t answer the phone himself. His man said he would repeat to


    him, but there was nobody contacting me again. I thought he was too busy, so I didn''t bother him


    again."


    "No matter how busy he is, he will not be indifferent to the fact that you are not dead. There must be


    some misunderstanding."


    When Dennis heard this, he understood something.


    "In that case, I''ll let him know that you''re fine and let him rest assured."


    Meredith nodded. "Then I want to ask you something..."


    "Don''t worry, you''re Parker''s friend. I''ll help you. I won''t sit back and do nothing."

 Chapter 499

    Chapter 499


    "It would be much appreciated if that''s the case!"


    Meredith stood up immediately when she heard that Dennis had agreed to her request. She felt light-


    headed, not knowing how to express her gratitude.


    "It''s all right. You can bring the person over tomorrow. I will try my best to amodate you."


    Dennis nodded after Meredith told him the whole story.


    "It''s the forced hypnosis you are going to operate. Let me make it clear to you that there is a certain risk


    in doing so. You have to be mentally prepared."


    Meredith said yes and left.


    Dennis took out his cell phone right after she left and called Parker, who was far away from here.


    He called Parker''s personal number because the two of them were close friends, so there was no way


    that Dennis could not reach him.


    "Hello? Dennis, what''s up?"


    Because of the time difference, it was already midnight, and Parker had fallen asleep.


    However, seeing that it was Dennis'' number on the screen, he still answered it.


    After all, he knew Dennis too well and he know he would not call without something urgent.


    "Parker, I... Saw Meredith today."


    Dennis didn''t beat around the bush but hit the point directly.


    Parker froze and held the phone tightly in his hand. "What are you talking about? You know... She''s


    gone."


    "I''m not kidding. Derek came to me today with something, apanied by a woman called Mer. I


    asked her a few more questions, and it turned out she was Meredith. She didn''t die back then. She was


    injured and lost her memory."


    Parker sat up from the bed and began to dress after he heard the story.


    "Meredith... Is she really okay?"


    "Why didn''t she contact me after she regained her memory?" He thought to himself.


    ording to Dennis, Meredith seemed to be together with Derek now. Did they reconcile again?


    Parker felt a splitting headache at the thought of these questions.


    He must go back and found out the truth.


    "Did you get his contact information? I''m going back to China now. Please help me keep an eye on her


    and don''t let her disappear again."


    As soon as he got dressed, He Parker told his assistant to book him the next flight home.


    He did not forget to tell Dennis to get Meredith''s whereabouts so that the two of them would not miss


    each other again.


    He Parker was about to drive to the airport after he''d done these.


    His heart was no longer here but flew to J City, to the person he had thought of all this time.


    Jenny was startled by the noise in the middle of the night. She came downstairs and saw Parker


    rushing out. She hurried her footsteps and asked, "What''s wrong? You''re going somewhere at this


    time? Is it something urgent?"


    "Meredith is back. I''m going back to find her!"


    Parker was about to leave after saying this.


    Jenny clenched her lower lip. She had sealed off the news so that Parker would not leave and go to the


    woman again.


    However, he still managed to know.


    "Parker, it''s been so many years. Haven''t you given up on her yet? You''ve suffered so much to be


    where you are at now. Are you going to give it up just like this?"


    "If she were still alive, it''s worth everything."


    Parker said firmly, then broke free of Jenny''s hand and strode out into the dark.


    Jenny could only watch as the car sped out of her sight. The only thing left with her was helplessness


    and pain.


    She saw and felt all Parker''s pain over the years and tried to stay by his side so that he could walk free


    from his dark past.


    But in the end, she was no match for that woman.


    She couldn''t let go of him after all, so Jenny drove after him.


    As soon as Meredith walked out of Dennis''s office, Derek pulled her over.


    Then, he studied Meredith carefully.


    It was as if he was checking whether she was hurt or if anything unusual happened.


    Meredith was a little frustrated by his actions. "What are you doing? I''m fine..."


    She just went in and talked to the guy. Derek''s behavior seemed exaggerated.


    "Fine, but I think that person is trustworthy. It''s always better to be careful."


    Then he looked into Meredith''s eyes. "He didn''t hypnotize you when you were there, did he?"


    Meredith shook her head immediately. "Why would I be hypnotized? I don''t have any problem. You are


    just overthinking."


    "I was just afraid that he would hypnotize you and make you do something weird in the future."


    Derek''s mind went to the shocking news he had seen on the news before.


    About how people got hypnotized, lost themselves, and being turned into puppets...


    He didn''t want this to happen to Meredith.


    "Oh... I used to know him as a friend. How could he do this to me?"


    Meredith dragged Derek out of the room, afraid that Dennis would hear what he had just said.


    What if Dennis was offended and refused to help her?


    Derek was dragged out by Meredith.


    "Friend? When did you make friends with him.."


    Dennis has such a weird personality that most people probably couldn''t stand him.


    Derek obviously didn''t believe what Meredith just said.


    "Well..."


    Meredith pondered for a moment, considering that Derek and He Parker had a history before, she did


    not say anything about Parker.


    "I met him by chance. Even I would have one or two friends, right?"


    Derek couldn''t say anything, hearing what Meredith had said.


    "Is he willing to help or not?"


    "He said yes, and we can bring Wesley over tomorrow."


    Derek nodded unwillingly.


    "But..."


    Meredith thought of what Dennis had just said. "Hypnosis may have side effects on the subject..."


    Derek understood immediately that Meredith was hesitating whether to tell Wesley about it.


    Knowing Wesley, he might have a second thought when was told about the side effect. It could make


    the hypnosis hard toplete.


    But if he kept his mouth shut, he could be guilty of deliberately holding off key information.


    Meredith had never been such a person.


    "Are you considering telling Wesley?"


    Meredith nodded.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Derek smiled. "Forget it. I don''t think it''s necessary to tell him everything. Besides, we''re looking for his


    daughter. Isn''t it right for him to cooperate with us?"


    Meredith murmured an agreement. She thought about the days when Wesley thought she was his


    daughter, but he wasn''t good to her...

 Chapter 500

    Chapter 500


    However, when Meredith thought about what had happened in the past, she didn''t hesitate.


    After all, Wesley had sent her to prison regardless of her future.


    Now, in order to save Amelia and find his own daughter, he should sacrifice something.


    "We''ll bring him over tomorrow."


    Seeing that Meredith was no longer ambivalent, Derek nodded. "Don''t worry. I''ve already asked


    someone to keep an eye on him. There won''t be any problems."


    Meredith was relieved. Derek sent her home.


    Seeing that Meredith was very tired, he did not insist on staying the night there, but said a few words


    and left.


    Meredithy in bed. Although she was tired, she couldn''t fall asleep.


    In her mind, she couldn''t help but wonder what she should do if she found her family.


    What if they didn''t want to acknowledge her? Then what she should do...


    All sorts of thoughts were intertwined, and Meredith was so annoyed that she pulled the nket over


    her face and said, "Forget it. Don''t think so much about it. As for what should be done, I will n it after


    they are found."


    It was a dreamless night.


    The next day, Meredith got out of bed at dawn.


    She was not in the mood to sleep in the bed. After she sat and waited for a while, Derek arrived.


    He also guessed that Meredith must be anxious to get a result, so he got up early and nned to end


    the matter as soon as possible.


    "You get up so early, too."


    Meredith knew that Derek was different from her. Now she had quit her job as a designer and focused


    on taking care of Amelia.


    It was impossible for Derek to ignore Xavier Group, so it must have been hard for him.


    Thinking about it, she couldn''t help but feel a little more grateful. "I''ve really troubled you these days."


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Derek felt a little upset.


    From some time ago, Meredith had deliberately distanced herself from him. No matter what he did, she


    always thanked him politely, as if she was afraid of causing him some trouble.


    "There''s no need to be so polite between you and me."


    Derek replied coldly.


    Meredith didn''t say anything and didn''t know how to answer.


    They had a casual breakfast and immediately drove to where Wesley was.


    Wesley was sent to a hotel possessed by Xavier Group by Derek.


    The environment was absolutelyfortable, but Wesley could not enjoy it at ease.


    After all, he had no idea what he was going to face tomorrow.


    So when Derek asked someone to open the door, he only saw Wesley looked very sloppy with big dark


    circles under his eyes and stubble all over his chin.


    "What are you going to do to me?"


    "I don''t want to do anything to you... Do you think I''ll waste my energy on today''s you?"


    As soon as Derek spoke, Wesley was furious.


    However, he had no way to refute Derek.


    After all, Wesley had nothing now, Derek wouldn''t get any benefits from dealing with him.


    "Don''t you want to know where your own daughter is now?"


    Meredith nced at him.


    Wesley was silent for a moment and finally shut his mouth.


    Meredith was relieved to see that he was not as stubborn as she thought.


    The three people immediately headed for Dennis''s hypnosis studio.


    Dennis was already waiting there. When he saw Wesley, he asked, "Is that him?"


    Meredith nodded. "Sorry to trouble you."


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Dennis smiled faintly and led Wesley into a pure white room.


    "Now, I will start to hypnotize you. Let me remind you that when I give the order, you''d better cooperate.


    Otherwise, we may have a conflict of consciousness and you might suffer some damage."


    When Wesley heard this, he felt that he was on a pirate ship. But now he had no chance to escape, so


    he could only nod helplessly.


    Dennis took out a crystal pendant and began to hypnotize.


    Derek and Meredith waited in another room because the hypnosis scene had to be absolutely quiet.


    "I don''t know if it can seed..."


    "Don''t worry, even if Wesley can''t do it, I''ve already sent someone to investigate all of Andy''s


    ssmates and friends. I don''t believe there''s no clue at all."


    Derek was always reliable. He wouldn''t put the eggs in the same basket.


    Dennis always gave Derek a strange feeling, so he sent someone to investigate in other directions


    early on.


    Even if hypnosis failed, there were other ways.


    Hearing this, Meredith''s mood rxed a little, but she still stared at the door.


    Of course, she still hoped that the matter could be resolved sooner. The longer it was dyed, the


    worse it would be for Amelia''s health.


    Just then, the door of the hypnosis room opened with a click.


    Dennis walked out. "It''s over."


    After that, he took out a piece of paper and there was a scratchy pencil sketch on it.


    Although the strokes were messy, the person''s facial features could be clearly recognized.


    "This is..."


    "This is a picture of the nurse that Wesley saw."


    Meredith''s eyes widened. "Did he draw this? But I don''t remember that he can draw."


    "Yes, through hypnosis guidance, he can maximize his potential. Even if he couldn''t do something


    before, he can do it temporarily, but he can''t be very proficient."


    Meredith could not help but exim, "This is really amazing."


    Meredith carefully put away the paper. "Thank you, Mr. Dennis."


    Dennis shook his head. It was also a way for him to make up for the ident five years ago.


    "We have to continue our investigation, so we won''t bother anymore."


    Seeing this, Derek had to admit that Dennis was capable.


    However, Derek still didn''t want Meredith to have much contact with Dennis.


    "Wait a minute."


    Dennis did not forget Parker''s request. "Meredith, give me yourtest contact information. If anything


    happens, I can contact you."


    Of course, Meredith wouldn''t refuse. Just as she was about to leave her phone number, Derek


    suddenly stood in front of her. "I was dealing with this, so why don''t you have my number?"


    Dennis raised his eyebrows and looked at the man in front of him.


    They had the same height, looking at each other. No one was willing to make a concession.


    Meredith felt helpless. She wrote her number on the paper and put it on the table. "I''m sorry, Dennis. I


    left my phone number there. We''ll go first."


    After that, she pulled Derek away and left.


    "Don''t give your phone number to anyone casually."


    Derek frowned unhappily and was still upset about Meredith''s action just now.

 Chapter 501

    Chapter 501


    "But, as I said, he and I are friends. It doesn''t seem strange to leave a phone number between friends."


    Meredith felt helpless at Derek''s sudden childishness.


    "I''ve checked his background. It''s very unfathomable. Many of his contacts are from the underworld.


    How did you know him?"


    Derek couldn''t help but say that. He would take precautions against anything he thought was


    dangerous.


    That was why he sent someone to look up Dennis''s background. But this person was quite mysterious,


    except for some records of his contacts with the underground, Derek found out nothing else.


    Meredith didn''t want to mention Parker. After all, they were always at odds. So she prevaricated.


    "I''ve been to jail anyway..."


    Hearing this, Derek suddenly looked over and said, "The injustice of that year has long been


    redressed. You are not a woman who has been in prison. You are innocent."


    Meredith just said it as an excuse, but when she saw Derek''s serious face, she felt moved.


    But she didn''t want to show it, so she quickly turned her face away and said, "I know. I just said it


    casually."


    Derek shook his head. What should he say?


    Was this woman careless, or did she already let go of the past?


    "Anyway, the most important thing now is to find this person and find out what happened."


    Meredith did not dare to argue with Derek about this topic anymore, so she took out the portrait and


    reminded him of what he should do now.


    "I''ve already sent someone to check it out. It should be done soon."


    Meredith nodded and then they began to wait.


    It seemed like a year had passed.


    Fortunately, a few hourster, Derek''s men found out some clues.


    "Boss, we have found her. I''m going to send her address to you."


    Derek got the news and immediately sat in the driver''s seat. "I got the news. Let''s hurry over."


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith got into the car immediately.


    Derek arrived at the spot as fast as he could.


    Then, he found the person in the portrait. Now, she was the owner of a small restaurant.


    Compared to the portrait, the woman''s facial features did not change much, but she looked older than


    the portrait.


    Derek and Meredith walked over without hesitation.


    "Excuse me, did you work as a nurse in this hospital more than twenty years ago?"


    The woman who was asked trembled and almost dropped the recipe.


    "Sir, you may have mistaken me for someone else."


    They noticed her reaction, which exined everything.


    "Manroe, a straight A student majoring in Nursing in school. After graduation, she worked at the city


    hospital..."


    Derek did not hesitate to read out the information he had found.


    This information found out everything about Manroe clearly.


    Halfway through, Manroe was scared out of her wits.


    To be able to investigate her background so clearly showed that this person in front of her was really


    not ordinary.


    "Who the hell are you?"


    "Who am I? It doesn''t matter. What matters is, have you ever been involved in a conspiracy of


    swapping babies?"


    "I..."


    "You''d better not deny it. Since I can find you, it means that I have all the evidence. If you don''t want to


    lose your reputation, you''d better tell me everything you know."


    Manroe''s lips moved. Finally, shepromised.


    "Youe in with me. There are so many people here that it''s not convenient to talk."


    Hearing what she said, Derek and Meredith looked at each other with a hint of joy in their eyes.


    After they searched for so long, there was finally one clue that could work.


    Manroe walked into a small room in the back. "Back then, my mother was seriously ill and the family


    needed money, but I was just a nurse and my sry was not enough to pay for such an expensive


    medical bill. Then, at my most difficult time, Dr. Andy at the hospital came to me and said that he could


    give me a chance to make a fast buck."


    "The specific request is to help him switch over the babies of two women. I didn''t want to do that at first,


    but looking at my dying mother, I couldn''t resist the temptation. Then I agreed..."


    As Manroe spoke, she sighed. "After this incident, my conscience suffered a lot. I always dreamed


    about those two baby girls. Later, I quit my job as a nurse and ran a small restaurant for a living..."


    "Do you remember where those two babies came from? It is really important to me!"


    Meredith asked instantly.


    "Are you one of the baby girls?"


    Meredith nodded.


    Manroe thought for a moment, and then took out a few medical records from a wooden box at the


    bedside.


    "After that, all the files should have been destroyed by Andy, but I secretly saved some records


    because I felt guilty. I thought that if one of the two baby girls wanted to find her family one day, they


    could atone for my sins."


    After that, she handed over the medical records.


    Meredith''s hands trembled a little and she took it over.


    "That''s all. If you still want to hold me ountable, then I''ll admit it."


    Derek nced at Meredith. "Forget it. You didn''t do the right thing, but you were forced to do it anyway.


    Now that you''ve given us important evidence, we''re not going to pursue you anymore."


    Meredith nodded and she left with Derek.


    Getting into the car, Meredith opened the records tremblingly.


    At this moment, she did not know what she felt. Should she be excited or uneasy?


    Excitedly, she finally had a clue about Amelia''s daughter. If the bone marrow matched, she could


    recover quickly.


    Uneasily, she finally found her own mother, but she knew nothing about what was happening to her


    mother.


    "Don''t worry, no matter what happens, I will stand by your side."


    Derek understood her feelings and held Meredith''s hand, trying to give her some strength.


    Meredith nodded, opened it, and read it.


    "Cali."


    Seeing this name, Derek was sure that she was from the Smith family that he didn''t want to see the


    most...


    Cali was the beloved daughter of Old Master Smith.


    However, she had already passed away more than a decade ago, leaving only an daughter.


    "I know which Smith family it is."


    "Which? What kind of people are my family?"


    Meredith was anxious. She grabbed Derek''s hand and asked.

 Chapter 502

    Chapter 502


    Derek didn''t know how toy it out.


    If he remembered correctly, Cali, the eldestdy of the Smiths, died a decade ago.


    She had been unmarried and had given birth to a girl whose father was unknown. Although no one


    dared to say anything to that child under the protection of Old Master Smith. But many peopleughed


    at her and said she was the bastard of Cali and an unknown man.


    This, in any case, was disgraceful.


    "What''s wrong with you? What''s going on? That the Smiths, doesn''t exist anymore?"


    "No, this the Smiths, as I said, is a famous family in Capital City, and there is indeed a woman named


    Cali..."


    "Then where is she now?"


    Meredith could not help but hold her breath. The thought of what she was about to hear next, about her


    own mother, made her nervous.


    "She''s... gone."


    It was not that Derek wanted to broke her expectations at the moment, but people couldn''te back


    to life after death. Cali had died many years ago, and even if he wanted to hide it from her, he couldn''t.


    The expression on Meredith''s face froze and her eyes gradually dimmed.


    She didn''t even know how to face her biological parents because she didn''t know who they were.


    But now, knowing that her biological mother had passed away, she felt nothing but heaviness in her


    heart.


    If a person were alive, there would be countless possibilities ahead of them, but now that Cali was no


    longer alive, there would be nothing left.


    ...


    Meredith was silent for a while. Derek sensed her sadness and quickly grabbed her shoulder, trying to


    give her some strength.


    Meredith paused for a moment. "What about that girl?"


    "Her name is Evelyn, the Miss of the Smiths."


    When Meredith heard that the girl was fine, her sadness eased a little.


    "What kind of person is she?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but ask.


    The girl who had exchanged life with her. How was her life now? And what was her character?


    Derek hesitated for a moment. He didn''t have much impression of Evelyn.


    He only remembered Old Master Smith set him up with her. And her character was very arrogant,


    spoiled. At the first sight of her, he didn''t like her much.


    "I''ve met her, but it was a long time ago. Well, I''ll get someone to check her for you right away."


    When she heard this, she thought it was feasible and nodded. "Thank you."


    He immediately sent someone out to investigate Evelyn.


    Not long after, a document was sent to the two of them.


    Meredith immediately took it over and read it carefully. First, there were a few photos of Evelyn. She


    immediately saw if she looked like Amelia.


    But they didn''t look very alike.


    She thought maybe it was the shooting angle of photos or photoshopped. She might need to see her in


    person. So she didn''t obsessed with this.


    However, as she continued to look at her blood type, she was stunned.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "Impossible..."


    She muttered to himself.


    Derek saw her and immediately asked, "What''s wrong? What''s impossible?"


    "Her blood type is ab, but my mother... she''s o."


    For a long time, she had gone to many hospitals for treating Amelia''s illnesses. There was no way she


    could forget her blood type.


    So, when she saw Evelyn''s blood type, she waspletely stunned.


    A mother of O blood group could never give birth to a daughter of AB blood group.


    Derek soon understood what she meant, and he was puzzled. However, he immediatelyforted her,


    "Don''t worry. Maybe there''s a mistake in the information. I''ll send someone to verify it right away."


    She nodded in a daze.


    Because the joy of finding out Amelia''s biological daughter was gone.


    She feltpletely at a loss.


    She thought she saw the hope but soon it was squashed, which made her felt exhausted than ever.


    Derek didn''t know what to say. So he sent his men to verify the information in a hurry while


    apanying her.


    He knew that she was preupied with these things. He was worried she would do something


    reckless.


    But she didn''t listen to him.


    She was just in a daze.


    He had no choice but to call back Easton, who was still in school.


    Easton was her son, he thought, maybe a child who doesn''t know anything, can make her feel better.


    Easton didn''t like going to school at all. He was so happy to hear that he could ask for leave and stay at


    home at all without being scolded.


    When he got home, he found that the air was a little tense.


    Derek pulled him aside with a serious face. "Your mother is in a bad mood because of your


    grandmother''s illness. You need topany her and talk with her. Don''t let her think too much, okay?"


    "Okay, I know."


    Easton nodded and patted his chest, looking like a little adult.


    After knocking on the door, Easton entered Meredith''s room and saw her in a daze. He walked over


    and waved his hand in front of her eyes.


    "Mom, mom?"


    She snapped out of the moment due to his childish voice. When she saw that it was Easton, she forced


    a smile.


    "Easton, why are you back? Don''t you need to go to school today?"


    "Dad said you were in a bad mood and asked me toe back to apany you."


    He looked at her and asked with a serious face. "Mom, are you sad because of grandma''s illness?"


    Sensing her low spirits, he put away his usual careless tone and asked carefully.


    She didn''t know what to say. She just felt that a lot has happened recently and her thoughts were all


    jumbled up.


    She couldn''t figure it out and didn''t know how to solve it.


    "I''m fine."


    After all, Meredith didn''t want to spread her negative feelings to him. She hoped that he was still the


    happy child.


    "No matter what happens, I''m always here for you, mom."


    He was so smart enough to know she said that just tofort him. He then stepped forward, slipped


    into her arms, and hugged her neck.


    "Grandma is such a good person, God will not let anything happens to her. So mom, you don''t have to


    worry, just be patient, okay?"


    Hearing his words, Meredith''s nose stung.


    "I was really an useless grown-up. When things happened, I needed my five-year-old son tofort


    me." She thought to herself.


    "I know, Easton. Thank you."


    She held his body tightly. At this moment, she was d that she insisted to give birth to him.

 Chapter 503

    Chapter 503


    When Derek saw the harmonious scene of the mother and son, he was much less worried.


    Then, he continued to wait for more information.


    After about half an hour, his subordinate finally called, saying that he had found a reliable person to


    confirm that the information was correct.


    In other words, Evelyn''s blood type did not match Amelia and Wesley''s...


    Even Derek found the result inconceivable after he had done so much investigation.


    Meredith was in the room and heard Derek''s phone ring. When she came out and saw his expression,


    she understood everything.


    Seeing her expression, Easton couldn''t help but clench Meredith''s hand.


    Meredith forced a smile. "It doesn''t matter. It might be something wrong. If not, let''s keep looking for


    other suitable bone marrow donors."


    "I know. I''ll get more people to look for it. As for the issue of the Smiths, we''ll talk about it after the


    surgery."


    Meredith nodded. Now, she was too tired to think about the Smiths.


    "I''m a little tired. I want to take a rest."


    Meredith returned to her room. She didn''t want to show any negative emotions in front of Easton. She


    just wanted to calm down first.


    Derek wanted to stay with her, but after a while, he received a call from thepany.


    There were some things he needed to go back and deal with.


    "Dad, you should go back and do your own things first. I''ll apany mom."


    Easton said thoughtfully.


    Derek stroked the little guy''s head. "Thank you. If anything happens, call me."


    Easton nodded and entered the room.


    By this time, Meredith had calmed down a lot and tried to stop herself from thinking.


    "Easton, you don''t have to worry about me. I am fine."


    "Yes, I know."


    Easton stopped fussing and just stayed quiet with Meredith.


    The mother and son were lying on the bed. After a while, Easton fell asleep.


    Meredith looked at her innocent sleeping son and took out a nket to cover him.


    After all these things, what she wanted most was to protect her Easton. There was no way that she


    would let her child encounter the same experience as herself.


    And just as Meredith gazed at Easton, lost in thought, her phone suddenly rang.


    Afraid of waking Easton up, Meredith walked out of the room immediately. When she saw her phone,


    she widened her eyes in disbelief.


    The call was from Parker.


    He actually contacted her.


    Meredith had not seen Parker for a long time, so she answered his call immediately.


    "Hello, is that Parker?"


    "It''s me."


    Parker heard the familiar voice and couldn''t believe his ears.


    For days and nights, he thought he had forgotten what Meredith''s voice sounded like, but now that he


    heard it, he realized that he had never forgotten it, but buried it deep in his heart.


    However, although he was very excited, Parker was still very calm.


    He didn''t want to act so out of line.


    "Where are you now? Have you been doing well all these years?"


    Meredith didn''t know what to say. After all, thest time she saw Parker was five years ago, and she


    knew nothing about his current situation.


    So she could only make such a general greeting.


    "I''m in J City now. I just got back. Mer, can youe out and meet me?"


    Parker''s heart beat faster after he said this.


    He was never a coward, but he was a little scared at a time like this.


    He was afraid that Meredith would reject him, afraid that she no longer wanted to see him.


    "Sure."


    Meredith also remembered Parker, after all, it was this man''s selfless help to help her through so many


    difficulties, and now he wanted to meet, how could she not agree?


    "Give me your address and I''ll be right there."


    Parker became excited and asked for Meredith''s current position, then he went to pick her up.


    Meredith finished the call, looked at Easton, who was sleeping soundly, she thought that she would be


    back soon, so she didn''t want to wake him up. She changed her clothes and waited for Parker to


    contact her again.


    Not long after, Parker called again, saying that he was already waiting downstairs.


    Meredith went downstairs and saw Parker standing in front of the sports car.


    The man''s clothes were unbuttoned casually, revealing a little skin. His clothes looked very casual, but


    they did not impress people as informal. Instead, they had an unruly charm.


    Meredith''s eyes were moist suddenly as if the past was happening all over again.


    "Parker."


    Meredith spoke and walked over.


    She didn''t know what to say, but simply called his name.


    Parker then looked up at the woman in front of him.


    It was the same pair of clean and beautiful eyes, but they now showed a little more tenacity and


    courage. She was no longer bewildered and pitiful that people could not help but want to protect.


    However, they were all so shocking.


    "You... Have changed."


    Parker looked at Meredith''s face, which had almostpletely changed, and his eyes shed with


    pain.


    Dennis had already told him the exact reason, but he didn''t expect Meredith''s face to change so much.


    It was not hard to imagine how much she had suffered during the operation.


    "Yes, but it''s all in the past."


    Meredith was no longer bothered by this kind of thing. She knew that Parker only cared about her.


    "Don''t worry, it''s already gone. The saddest moment is over."


    "I''m sorry."


    When Parker heard her say that, he suddenly felt very sad.


    Back then, the rescue team he and Derek sent to search for a long time, but no one was found.


    He left J City with a grudge against Derek, and he had gone for five years.


    He could not forgive the Xaviers, nor could he forgive himself.


    Every day, he med himself for letting Meredith take the risk and ruin her future.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "What are you talking about... Parker, you''ve never done anything wrong. I''m very grateful to you."


    Meredith felt bad when she saw the guilt on Parker''s face.


    Parker was so nice to her, but he still med himself for an ident that had nothing to do with him,


    which made her feel more indebted to him.


    "I..."


    Hearing Meredith say this, Parker looked up and saw the care in her eyes, but she became more and


    more panic.


    Meredith had no idea what he had done before...


    If she knew, would she say that?


    Meredith did not know what Parker was thinking, she just thought that he was still struggling with the


    car ident five years ago. "You just came back. I don''t think anyone has celebrated your return yet.


    Let me treat you to dinner."

 Chapter 504

    Chapter 504


    After all, Meredith had stayed in J City for a long time. She knew that Parker just came back. She


    wanted to have a talk with him, furthermore, tofort him with a warm wee.


    Parker wouldn''t refuse her goodwill, for sure.


    Meredith got into the car as Parker looked at her with his gentle eyes. "Where do you wanna go for


    food?"


    Meredith considered for a moment. Now, she was not that poor girl anymore, so she wanted to treat


    him in a nice restaurant.


    "Let''s go to the Michelin restaurant on the outskirts of the city."


    Meredith turned on her phone and tried to use the navigation system. But her phone was out of charge.


    She thought it would take little time for eating. After that, she was supposed to immediately pack what


    Easton liked to eat and went back home. Everything would be in control.


    "I don''t know how to get there. Please show me the way."


    Of course, Parker listened to Meredith. For him, eating was secondary. Securing time with Meredith


    was the most important thing.


    So, although he could use the navigation system, he still asked Meredith to show him the way.


    Because only in this way could he have a few more words with her.


    Meredith did not find anything unusual, because Parker might find the J City unfamiliar after all those


    years.


    They were chatting asionally in the car, and neither of them felt bothered.


    ...


    Ding, it''s 1:30 in the afternoon. You have a reminder--getting up and going to work."


    Easton, who was still sleeping, heard Meredith''s rm clock and got up.


    When he got up, he realized that Meredith was no longer with him.


    He couldn''t help but panic. He jumped off the bed without even putting on his shoes. "Mom? Mom?"


    The house was quiet and no one answered.


    He searched all the rooms again and found no clues of his mother. She was not here.


    Easton was so angry that he stomped his feet. He shouldn''t have slept. Now that his mother was gone,


    what could he do?


    After thinking for a while, he called Derek directly.


    Derek had just settled his work and was about to go to Meredith''s when he received a call from his son.


    "What''s wrong, Easton?"


    "I''m sorry, Dad. I fell asleep. Then... Then..."


    The more Easton spoke, the more upset he became. He felt so wronged that he almost cried.


    "Easton, what''s the matter?"


    Derek had an ominous intuition when she heard Easton''s anxious voice.


    "I don''t know where mom is. I''ve searched around. She''s not at home."


    When Derek heard this, he assumed something to be wrong.


    After all, Meredith had just run into a lot of trouble. He was a little worried that she would go to


    extremes.


    However, he still chose tofort Easton with a gentle voice. "I won''t me you for this. You didn''t


    mean it. Dad will send someone to look for you immediately. Wait for me at home. Don''t cry."


    "I won''t cry."


    Easton was eager to show his machismo, but he cannot help but sniff.


    When he knew his mother was missing just now, he was really going to cry.


    After all, he had no maternalpany since he was a child. In fact, he was very insecure, and now, he


    felt inexplicably abandoned.


    "Men in the Xaviers won''t cry. I''ll go back now. Wait for me."


    ...


    Meredith and Parker arrived at the restaurant very soon.


    "What do you want to eat?"


    Parker was Meredith''s guest, so she had to take his taste into ount.


    "It''s up to you."


    Parker was not picky. He just didn''t know much about food.


    "Then I''ll choose a few signature dishes."


    Meredith nodded and ordered a few famous dishes. The waiter left and now there were only two of


    them.


    "I want to know, how had you been in those five years?"


    Parker didn''t want to miss out on any chance to get to know Meredith, and he was really curious about


    what happened to Meredith in the past.


    How was she doing in the five years without memory?


    Meredith did not hide it and told him everything.


    She just omitted Sheldon. She didn''t want to think about that man anymore. Every time she thought


    about him, she felt disgusted.


    "Then how did you regain your memory?"


    When Parker heard she didn''t suffer any miserable things during her amnesia and that things were


    going well, Parker felt less uneasy.


    "I Met Easton."


    Meredith avoided talking Derek as she knew he didn''t like him.


    But Parker knew very well that Easton was the most beloved grandson of the Xaviers, and Derek loved


    him.


    As Meredith met Easton, how could he ignore the existence of Derek...


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    So, are they getting back together?


    When he thought the three of them had reunited, Parker felt his heart tighten.


    "Then what about you and Derek, now..."


    Finally, Parker asked.


    "I..."


    Meredith blushed and did not know how to answer.


    Although she was notpletely reconciled with Derek, their rtionship was very close.


    She seemed, unknowingly, to be in close contact with Derek again.


    Parker suddenly became agitated.


    "Have you forgotten that he had hurt you so many times before? Have you forgiven his family and his


    mother for doing that to you?"


    Meredith''s face turned pale at the thought of the past.


    Though she had been at peace with many sufferings, that memory still seemed too unbearable for her.


    She would never want to taste despair and suffocation again.


    "I didn''t... I''ll never forget those things..."


    Meredith clenched her teacup and uttered word for word.


    When Parker saw it, he knew that he acted so impulsively that she was reminded of bad memories. He


    sighed. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to remind you of those experiences. I just..."


    He just didn''t want to see Meredith and Derek get back together. He just didn''t want to be a bystander


    without a glimmer of hope forever.


    "No, it''s okay. I know you''re doing it for my good."


    Meredith didn''t me Parker for it.


    What did he say wrong anyway?


    Like Amelia, they cared about her most in the world. The reason they always mentioned the past was


    that they didn''t want her to repeat it.


    "Mer, I don''t know if you remember that you said you were going to F Country with me."


    Parker stirred the coffee in his hand, with some extent of mncholy in his voice.


    Back then, he had everything prepared and wanted to start afresh with Meredith abroad.


    But everything was all disturbed by the car ident.


    "I know you''re a designer now. So, it''s a good decision to go to F Country. That''s the capital of fashion.


    All the best designers are there. Would you like to go with me?"

 Chapter 505

    Chapter 505


    "I..."


    Meredith hesitated. She did agree with him before.


    But now, what should she say?


    She had too much to worry about and it wasn''t easy for her to leave.


    "I''m not forcing you to decide right now. After all, it''s difficult, but I hope you can consider it."


    Parker could tell Meredith was in a dilemma and was very understanding not to continue asking her.


    Perhaps, if he forced her, she would reject him at once.


    He did not dare to be too eager for sess.


    "Okay, I''ll think about it."


    Meredith nodded and agreed to consider it.


    At this moment, the dishes were served.


    Meredith ordered some of Easton''s favorite dishes and then packed them back for his lunch.


    Then, they ate and chatted.


    Soon, the leisure time passed.


    Parker was still a little reluctant to part with Meredith. The time he spent with her always seemed so


    short.


    "It''s still early, or I''ll treat you to a movie."


    Parker had been busy with work in recent years and had little experience flirting with girls, so he


    suggested watching a movie.


    Meredith smiled and shook her head, "Sorry, Easton is sleeping at home. I have to go back quickly, or


    he will be unhappy if he wakes up and can''t find me."


    Hearing what she said, Parker could only give up.


    "How is Easton?"


    Although Easton was Derek''s son, Parker was also very concerned about him because he was also


    Meredith''s son. Meredith almost lost her life when giving birth to him.


    "He''s fine. If I have time, I''ll bring him to see you. After all, if it weren''t for you, he might have not


    survived at that time."


    Parker smiled and nodded, "Then, shall I send you back?"


    Meredith took a look at the time. It was alreadyte, so she got into Parker''s car without refusing him.


    At Meredith''s home.


    Derek sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. Although he was expressionless, the anxiety in his eyes


    showed his restlessness at the moment.


    Just now, he asked his men to find Meredith''s whereabouts, but they didn''t find her yet.


    Her phone was also switched off. He had no idea what was going on.


    However, Derek was also worried that Easton would feel insecure at home alone and something bad


    would happen to him. So he immediately rushed over.


    Now, he had to wait.


    "Dad, when will we find Mommy?"


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Easton walked around the living room with his hands behind his back, like a little old man. He took two


    steps and sighed.


    "Don''t wander around there. You''re making me upset."


    Derek was also in a bad mood. This little kid always made strange movements, causing him to be


    anxious.


    "Then what should I do? I can''t sit still!"


    Easton lost his temper and sat on the floor with righteous indignation.


    Derek was about to scold him when his phone rang.


    "We checked the surveince video and found that Miss Mason seemed to leave with a man."


    "What? Send the surveince video right away."


    Hearing that Meredith had left with a man, Derek had a bad feeling.


    Could she have been kidnapped by a stranger?


    A few days ago, the Xavier Group had just bought out apany. What if someone who was unwilling


    to go bankrupt kidnapped her?


    Thinking of this, Derek became very anxious.


    After a while, he finally saw the video.


    "Let me take a look."


    Easton certainly wouldn''t let this chance slip. He needed to know his mother''s whereabouts as soon as


    possible.


    Derek and Easton son frowned and looked at the video on their phone with confusion.


    Soon, Derek saw the "suspicious man".


    Then, he clenched his fists.


    Parker?


    Why did this man return to J City?


    Wasn''t he abroad?


    Parker was thest person Derek wanted to see.


    If it hadn''t been for an ident, Meredith might have left with him.


    "Dad, who is this man? It seems that my mother knows him."


    Easton was very smart. Seeing that Meredith first talked to the man, then got in the car, he knew that


    this person should not be a bad person, but an acquaintance of Meredith.


    "He is a very annoying person. Don''t be fooled by his appearance."


    Derek answered while gritting his teeth.


    Easton saw his father being so abnormal and suddenly understood who the stranger was.


    He must be Mom''s pursuer and Dad''s rival in love.


    "So, are we going to find mom?"


    Easton knew that Meredith was safe, so he rxed. He turned up the corners of his mouth and teased


    Derek with a sly smile.


    Derek nced at him and saw his wicked smile, saying, "Of course, but you don''t need to go. I can go


    alone."


    This kid became so bold that he even dared to tease his father.


    Derek should discipline him and teach him a lesson.


    "Why? No, I''m worried about mommy too. I''ll go with you too!"


    Easton certainly didn''t want to be left alone at home. So he hugged Derek''s thigh and pleaded.


    Derek tried to pull him off his leg but failed.


    After thinking about it, he didn''t want to waste time. So he could only pick Easton up and beat his ass,


    warning, "Then listen to me and don''t talk nonsense."


    Under Derek''s authority, Easton could only nod obediently.


    Derek and Easton immediately went downstairs.


    Coincidentally, Parker''s car arrived just in time.


    Parker immediately saw them standing by the road.


    No matter how much he disliked Derek, it was undeniable that this man was actually very outstanding.


    His handsome appearance and model figure was very attractive even when he stood on the side of the


    road.


    What was more, a smaller version of him stood beside. It was hard for anyone to ignore the cute boy


    and his handsome father.


    Parker nced at Meredith. She was so drowsy that she didn''t notice them. His eyes darkened and he


    stopped right away.


    Meredith quickly woke up when the car stooped. She looked outside and found it was her home.


    "Here we are. I''ll go down first, Parker. Meet again if we have leisure time."


    Meredith got out of the car with the dishes that were packed for Easton, closely followed by Parker.


    "Mer, I have a request."


    Meredith looked up and smiled, "Tell me and don''t hesitate. As long as I can help you, I will be obliged."


    Hearing this, Parker darkened his eyes and then reached out to pull Meredith into his arms.


    "Can I hug you? Over the past years, I really miss you so much."

 Chapter 506

    Chapter 506


    Meredith was startled by Parker''s sudden action and she subconsciously wanted to push him away.


    But before she could do anything, Parker had already let her go.


    "I''m sorry. I just can''t help it. I''ve been abroad for a long time all these years. Maybe I''m also used to


    their manners."


    After hearing He Parker''s words, Meredith didn''t me him.


    After all, he only gave her a quick hug. And it wasn''t so strange that Parker did so.


    "Well... It''s okay..."


    Meredith said. But she still felt a little flustered. Just as she was about to leave, Derek had already


    walked over with Easton.


    Just now, they were on the other side of the road, and they couldn''t stop it even when they saw Parker


    suddenly hugging Meredith.


    "What are you doing?"


    Derek pulled Meredith behind him and looked vignt.


    Others might not know what exactly was Parker up to, but how could Derek not know?


    This man was dangerous.


    "Just a hug between friends."


    When Parker saw Derek''s angry face, he smiled nonchntly and shrugged.


    The more he showed like this, the angrier Derek became.


    "Friends? Don''t think I don''t know what you are up to."


    Derek red at Parker face to face. He didn''t show any politeness at all.


    "Forget it. Parker only greeted me with foreign etiquette. There''s no need to make such a fuss."


    Meredith sensed the strong conflict arising from the two men, she then immediately persuaded.


    "Parker, you can go back first." Feeling worried about what might happen if the two men continued to


    re at each other, Meredith quickly asked Parker to leave first.


    Although Parker didn''t want to leave Meredith and Derek together, he knew that this kind of thing


    couldn''t be rushed, so he didn''t argue anymore.


    But before he left, he saw Easton standing next to Derek. He then walked over and looked at the child.


    The child looked more like Meredith than Derek. He smiled and pinched Easton''s face, "You must be


    Easton. I''ll get to know you properly when I have the chance to see you again."


    Easton had just been caught off guard and was pinched by a stranger. He felt bad and red at the


    man in front of him like a cat with its hair blown up, "Who are you? I don''t want to see you."


    "Easton, don''t be so rude. This is uncle Parker, one of mom''s best friends."


    When Meredith heard this, he couldn''t help feeling embarrassed and reprimanded Easton.


    After all, Parker owned part of the credit for Easton''s healthy growing up. No matter what, she wouldn''t


    allow this little guy to speak ill of Parker.


    "..." Easton suddenly felt aggrieved when he heard Meredith, who had always indulged him.


    In the past, Meredith never spoke to himself so fiercely.


    Could it be that mom valued this man more than she valued me?


    No matter how precocious Easton usually was, he was still a child after all. Feeling aggrieved, he ran


    away directly.


    Seeing this, Meredith had no choice but to look at Parker with guilt. Meredith then quickly chased after


    Easton.


    Seeing Easton running away and Meredith was chasing after him, Derek was not in a hurry. Derek then


    looked at Parker coldly, "Aftering back, what are you up to?"


    "Shouldn''t you know best about what I want to do?"


    Parker grinned.


    But when Derek looked at this, all he wanted to do was to punch him.


    "Don''t you dare hurt her."


    When Parker heard this, he actuallyughed.


    He walked closer to Derek and slowly said, "Who hurt her? Do you want me to help you remember the


    past little by little?"


    Derek suddenly could not speak out what he wanted to say.


    Parker knew Derek did not know what to say, then patted Derek on the shoulder tenderly, "For


    Meredith''s future happiness, I think you should stay away from her. She''ll be rtively safer."


    With that said, Parker had no intention of pestering him anymore. Parker then got into the car and


    drove away.


    Watching the speeding car driving away, Derek punched the telephone pole beside him.


    This Parker...


    ...


    Meredith chased after Easton for a while and held him.


    After all, Easton was still a five-year-old child. And even he often exercised, he could not run fast with


    his short legs.


    "Easton, stop it."


    Meredith held Easton in her arms, who was still struggling.


    "I''m not messing around. You care more about that uncle anyway. Why are you still looking for me?"


    The tone of what Easton had said sounded quite ufortable.


    Meredith did know she should cry orugh.


    "Easton, can you stop talking nonsense? When did mom care more about uncle Parker? uncle Parker


    helped me a lot when you were born. Without him, you might not have been born safely. Shouldn''t I ask


    you to be polite to him?"


    Originally, Easton was still very dissatisfied. Hearing Meredith''s exnation, he gradually calmed down.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "What happened then?"


    Easton was brought up by the Xaviers from a young age and naturally knew nothing about what Violet


    had done back then.


    He had no idea either.


    "I can''t exin those things for a while, but what you have to understand is that uncle Parker is not a


    bad person or an enemy of yours. He is a very good person. Without him, there will be no mother now.


    So, please treat him better, okay?"


    Meredith thought about it for a while and didn''t manage to say what Violet had done.


    She did want to implicate her child with the grudges harboured by thest generation. Besides, Violet


    was the grandmother of the child.


    "Then... Okay."


    Seeing that Meredith looked very serious, Easton stopped making a fuss. He nodded sensibly.


    Meredith then smiled, kissed Easton on his face, and showed him the packaging box in her hand.


    "Look, I specifically bought your favorite dessert. Do you still think mom doesn''t care about you?"


    Easton was just acting angrily as a child. Seeing that Meredith had really bought his favorite food, his


    anger disappeared a lot, "I know. I''m sorry, mom. I didn''t mean to contradict you."


    Although Easton was young, he still knew that he should admit it when he was wrong.


    Meredith naturally wouldn''t me him for anything. She grabbed Easton''s hand and said, "Okay, mom


    won''t me you. Let''s go back now and heat up the food. You have not eaten anything since waking


    up, right?"


    Easton was reminded that he hadn''t eaten lunch since noon, and his stomach started to growl at the


    right time. He nodded sheepishly.


    "Then let''s hurry back."

 Chapter 507

    Chapter 507


    Having coaxed Easton, Meredith took his hand to walked home.


    And Derek had calmed down and came over from the other side.


    Seeing him, Meredith didn''t say anything, "Easton is hungry. Let''s go back and eat something."


    Derek nodded and followed them.


    He wanted to ask something, but he didn''t know-how.


    Now, what was she thinking about Parker?


    He really wanted to know, but he didn''t know how to ask. He was afraid that he would get an


    uneptable answer.


    Just like that, they went upstairs quietly.


    Meredith found a bag of quick-frozen dumplings from the fridge. ¡°There''s no other staple food. We have


    a simple meal?"


    The things she packed back were all desserts. They could not be aten as a meal.


    "Well, everything is okay!"


    Touching his t belly, Easton nodded.


    Looking at his cute appearance, Meredith messed up Easton''s hair. Then she heated up other food in


    the microwave and turned on the gas to prepare the dumplings.


    Easton was already hungry, so he ate happily in the dinning room, regardless of other things.


    Derek seized the opportunity and went into the kitchen. Seeing Meredith busy, he couldn''t help but say,


    "You... and him, what''s going on?"


    Eventually, he couldn''t pretend that nothing had happened. If he didn''t ask, he wouldn''t be able to sleep


    well today.


    "...", Meredith didn''t answer because she didn''t want to.


    Parker''s return reminded her of many things.


    Her negative emotions which almost faded emerged.


    Only then did she realize that she had never let go of the past.


    In particr, with Violet''s stubborn attitude, she did not even receive a formal apology.


    How could she let it go?


    It was a betrayal to forget all the things. It was called forgetting the pain after recovery.


    So, she didn''t say anything.


    Her silence made Derek''s heart sink.


    Looking at her calm face, "Why don''t you answer me? Is it because this question is too much for you to


    answer?"


    His tone was very violent, even unconsciously with a hint of oppression.


    She suddenly felt that now he was reunited with him five years ago.


    Her mood became bad, so she answered impatiently, "Is it necessary for me to answer your question?"


    Derek was speechless for a moment.


    Was it necessary?


    Maybe it was not.


    After all, she had never recognized their rtionship, and even if they were close, it was him that


    always stuck to her.


    However, he had done his best to make up for her.


    She had never been moved at all?


    He was suddenly very anxious and subconsciously reached out and grabbed her arm.


    She was stirring the water in the pot to prevent the dumplings from sticking to the pot. At that moment,


    she was about to let him go when she was suddenly pulled into his arms.


    "Is that your answer? You fall in love with Parker?"


    His tone was dangerous and seductive.


    She struggled, but could not break free of his arm. His hands were powerful and locked her like steel


    pliers, making her unable to move.


    "Whether I love him or not, it doesn''t seem necessary to report it to you."


    She was also angry.


    In fact, she really didn''t have any feelings for Parker other than friends. She was deeply grateful to him,


    but she didn''t want to be with him.


    Such a person deserved a better woman.


    However, because of Derek''s behaviors, she did not want to talk in a normal way.


    She was tired of his sudden suspicion.


    If he was unhappy with her casual rtionship with a male friend, then how would he settle the score of


    getting in touch with so many women and having held a century wedding with Chloe?


    His anger was aroused by Meredith''s tone, and he held her wrist tighter.


    She felt painful and immediately struggled, but there was boiling water in front and Derek behind. No


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    matter how much she resisted, she could not escape from his shackles.


    Instead, her actions angered Derek. He grabbed the her slender waist and pulled the distance between


    them to a very ambiguous range.


    "Are you crazy?"


    She took a deep breath to calm herself down, then looked up at his eyes.


    He also looked down at her, but the emotions in his eyes were soplicated that no one could


    understand what he was thinking.


    Their breath sounds intertwined, and their heartbeat gradually blended.


    Just as they were at loggerheads, Easton, who had almost finished the dessert, ran over.


    He remembered that it didn''t take long to cook the frozen dumplings. Why didn''t Meredithe out for


    so long?


    "Mom, why haven''t you cooked it well yet?"


    When Meredith heard Easton''s words, she became even more ashamed and angry, trying to push the


    man against her away.


    However, he remained unmoved and looked at her expressionless, as if Easton''s voice had not


    interfered with him.


    "You, let go of your hand. My dumplings will tender too far."


    She didn''t dare make too much noise, because she was afraid that Easton woulde running in and


    see this awkward scene when he heard it.


    "Derek, Easton wille inter."


    He smiled, but the smile did not perform in his eyes.


    "To him, I am his father, and you are his mother. It is natural for us to be close."


    When she heard this, she felt that this man... was extremely shameless.


    "Then I''ll tell him right away that sometimes, mom and dad don''t have to be together."


    Meredith, like a cornered rabbit, replied forcefully.


    Derek was instantly enraged.


    He forcefully blocked the mouth that had been keeping denying, and fiercely plundered her everything.


    She was startled. What was he thinking? Was he really not afraid of Easton seeing them?


    But the entanglement between their lips and teeth became more and more intense, and the oxygen in


    her chest became thinner and thinner, making her brain gradually unable to react to how things had


    be like this.


    "Mom?"


    Easton just asked casually before. Seeing that Meredith hadn''t talked to him for a long time, he


    ttened his mouth, jumped off the dining chair, and walked towards the kitchen step by step.


    "Why are you ignoring me..."


    Easton''s aggrieved voice was getting closer and closer. She came to her senses and reached out to


    push Derek away.


    "You... let go, Easton will see us!"

 Chapter 508

    Chapter 508


    Derek ignored that.


    After all, there was a huge difference in strength between men and women.


    Meredith felt helpless.


    In particr, when she heard Easton''s footsteps which were getting closer and closer, her eyes slowly


    turned red.


    Derek still couldn''t bear to push her too hard, so he let go.


    Meredith immediately took a step back, but identally bumped into the stove.


    The scorching temperature burned her finger, and it hurt so much.


    "Are you okay?"


    Derek suddenly realized that he should not have done such a thing on impulse here.


    Hurriedly, he grabbed Meredith''s hand to flush it with some cold water.


    But Meredith yanked her hand out. Feeling so painful, but she just bore it.


    "Is this what you want? Get out!"


    Derek suddenly did not know what to say.


    Meredith meant something else by saying that instead.


    Perhaps, she also thought of a lot of things in the past.


    Derek fell into deep thought.


    Seeing that Derek had no reaction, Meredith did not want to pay any more attention to him. She


    immediately turned off the power.


    Easton, however, went straight into the kitchen.


    "Mom, what are you doing? Why are you ignoring me?"


    "Easton, your mother identally burned her hand. Go out and wait for a while."


    Derek came back to his senses, being afraid that Easton would cause more trouble, so he quickly


    exined.


    "What? Did you burn your hand?"


    When Easton heard this, he hurriedly looked forward and saw several blisters on Meredith''s fair


    fingers. His heart ached so much that he pouted and blew on her.


    "Does it hurt badly?"


    Meredith was not that angry when hearing that.


    "It''s okay. I''ll just flush it with cold water and apply some ointmentter."


    Easton nodded and stood aside, feeling a little uneasy as he watched Meredith flush it.


    "Is it because I kept pushing, I''m sorry..."


    Meredith looked at Easton who was remorseful, "Of course not, just..."


    It was only someone who did something wrong that caused her to be scalded.


    But Meredith did not say it.


    She did not want to Easton felt that his parents were ming each other.


    "I burned myself identally."


    Meredith took out her hand. After all, it was already very cold, and the tap water was bone-chilling. The


    cold feeling made her feel ufortable.


    "Why don''t we go to the hospital..."


    Easton tilted his head and thought that they should go to the hospital.


    Meredith suddenly was amused because there is no need going to the hospital.


    The doctor would say that it was nothing.


    It was too much of a fuss.


    "I''ll just apply itter. Don''t worry, okay?"


    Easton saw that Meredith really did not want to go to the hospital, remembering that when he was sick,


    he also hated seeing the doctor because he needed an injection and had to take very bitter medicine.


    It seems that everyone hated going to the hospital.


    "All right then."


    Easton nodded. "I''ll go find the medicine box. Mom, wait."


    With that, Easton ran away.


    "Ah, this child..." Meredith shook her head and knew that Easton could not find the medical kit.


    She was afraid he was going to mess up everything in the house.


    "I''ll look for it."


    Derek was standing here,pletely ignored by them. He knew that Meredith was angry with him now,


    so he did not want to stand here awkwardly and take the initiative to leave.


    Seeing him leave, Meredith heaved a sigh of relief.


    Then, she looked at the dumplings in the pot and was a little annoyed.


    It had been cooking for too long, and now it was rotted.


    So it would be better to take Easton out to eat something today.


    ...


    Derek walked out and, as expected, saw Easton rummaging around.


    Easton did not know where the medicine box was, but there were always servants following him to


    clean it up, so he just kept rummaging around.


    "Easton, don''t rummage around. You''ll have to clean it up."


    Easton was not very happy. "Then we have to find the medicine box first."


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    Derek ignored him and found the medicine box in the cab.


    After all, when the house was renovated, he had personallye to see it, so he knew exactly where


    the medicine box was.


    "Wow, no wonder I can''t find it. It''s so high."


    Easton mumbled. He was only a little tall now. How could he find such a high ce?


    Was dad ying with him on purpose?


    "That''s why I told you not to rummage around."


    Derek handed the medicine box to Easton. It was not heavy, so Easton took it away happily.


    Just as he was about to leave, he thought of something. "Dad, did you make mom angry?"


    Just now, he noticed that the atmosphere was strange, but he did not ask because he found that


    Meredith was injured.


    "No."


    Naturally, Derek would not admit it.


    "Hee hee, you don''t want to admit it. Do you want me to help you?"


    Easton liked tough at Derek at times like this.


    It was only then that he couldugh at his father.


    "Do you... Think it''s rxing not to go to school today?"


    Derek just refuted.


    "Humph, then I''ll go out with mother to see uncle Parker."


    Hearing this, Derek frowned.


    He pped Easton hard on the butt. "Saying that again? Do you want to be taught a lesson?"


    Easton replied fast, "Oh, I was just kidding."


    But Derek still wanted to know what Easton and Meredith had just said.


    "Then tell me the truth. What did your mother say to you?"


    "Well..."


    Easton thought for a moment. "Nothing. She just said that uncle Parker was a good friend of hers. He


    helped her a lot in the past and saved my life. She told me not to argue with him and to be polite to


    him."


    Hearing this, Derek felt not good.


    He was happy that Meredith only said Parker was a friend.


    But he was also unhappy that Meredith still remembered what happened.

 Chapter 509

    Chapter 509


    However, he was also very clear in his heart that it would be unusual if those things could be easily


    forgotten.


    So, without being depressed for too long, he looked at Easton and said, "You must stand firm and not


    hesitated."


    Easton suddenly became overjoyed. After all, he was always at the mercy of Derek. Now, he finally


    took charge and was a little cocky.


    "That depends on you"


    "Oh?"


    Derek frowned. "Let me think about it. How about this: let me give you a chance for some trials."


    Easton immediately shook his head. "Forget it. Forget it. I was joking."


    Then, he patted Derek on the shoulder, like a little adult. "After all, I am your biological son. No matter


    what you say, I will always take your side in the critical moment."


    After that, he carried the medicine box to Meredith.


    Meredith came out of the kitchen. Just now, she realized that her lips were swollen from Derek''s


    ravages. They were red and swollen, which were very conspicuous.


    So, she stayed in the kitchen for a while, washed it with cold water several times, and didn''te out


    until it didn''t look so apparent.


    "Easton, let''s go out for dinner. What do you want to eat?"


    Easton shook his head. "I''m not hungry. I just ate. I''ll give you some medicine first."


    Meredith did not refuse the little fellow''s kindness and sat down.


    Easton walked over and took out the ointment. He had been smart since he was a child and had


    already learned a lot of words. He found what he wanted without asking for help from an adult.


    "Is this it?"


    Easton shook the burn-aid cream in his hand and Meredith nodded. "Yes, Easton, you''re so smart."


    Easton nodded and was very impressed by thepliment. Then, he squeezed out a little bit to put on


    Meredith.


    However, he was still a child after all, and he couldn''t control his strength well. When he touched the


    blister on Meredith''s finger, she could not help but frown in pain, but she endured it.


    After all, it was Easton''s good gesture. She didn''t want him to be unhappy.


    Derek sighed and walked over. "I''ll do it."


    Easton was a little reluctant at first, but when he thought about the special situation and the need to


    draw his father and mother closer, he was ready to let him do it.


    However, Meredith interrupted him in time. "No, Easton, you can do it."


    She didn''t want to have any unnecessary contact with Derek right now.


    Derek''s expression froze. When Easton saw that his n didn''t go so well, he acted coquettishly. "I


    was afraid that I might hurt mom, so I asked dad to do it for me."


    "That''s right."


    Seeing through his son''s intention, Derek nodded in agreement.


    When Meredith heard what he said, she had no choice but to raise her chin perfunctorily, indicating that


    Derek could do it.


    Derek was not affected by her coldness. He carefully applied ayer of Burn-aid Cream on Meredith''s


    finger, and after that, he blew the wind towards it gently.


    "Let me blow it, and it won''t hurt anymore."


    The man''s deep voice was a little seductive.


    Meredith was taken aback and immediately withdrew her hand.


    She knew that this man would still be able to say such words to coax people.


    Seeing this, Easton couldn''t help but cover his mouth andugh.


    What was this, a rare love statement from dad?


    But it didn''t seem to be of any use...


    Derek shrugged. "It''s gettingte. Aren''t you going out for dinner?"


    Meredith looked at her watch. It was half-past two in the afternoon. Although she said it was lunch, but


    it was already tea time.


    "Easton, let''s go out now. What do you want to eat? Today, you can eat anything."


    "Really? That''s great."


    When Easton heard that he could go out and eat whatever he liked, he immediately followed happily.


    Meredith held his hand and walked in front of Derek, ignoring him, as if she had no intention of going


    out with him.


    Easton noticed something was wrong, "Isn''t dading?"


    Meredith paused and nced at Derek.


    "Dad hasn''t eaten because he''s worried about mom."


    It was timely for Easton to say something nice. Meredith felt a little awkward and stopped throwing


    tantrums. "Let''s go together."


    Derek had been waiting for her to say this before he slowly got up and followed her.


    Easton could not help but mutter in his heart that his father cared about his faces too much. Thanks to


    his cleverness, he was able to be less awkward. Otherwise, his father would have to eat the boiled


    dumplings alone at home.


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    ...


    Derek drove quickly to the restaurant Easton wanted to go to.


    It was more of a food fair instead of a restaurant, which was very lively. There were all kinds of food


    and snacks from all over the country.


    Derek couldn''t help but frown.


    He never came to such a ce to eat, or no one had ever brought him here.


    Easton, on the other hand, had wanted toe to the food fair a long time ago to eat the delicious food


    mentioned by his ssmates. Usually, Derek was very strict, so he could not run here at all.


    Now, he could only take this opportunity to try this.


    "I want this, bubble tea."


    Easton saw a popr red tea shop and immediately pulled Meredith over.


    Meredith couldn''t help and was able to say something. After all, Easton was a child. She was afraid


    that he would have a stomachache if he ate bad food.


    "You said you would take me to eat what I wanted to eat."


    Easton immediately quoted what she had just said.


    "Then... You can''t eat too much, just try a little."


    Meredith didn''t want to be a parent to break her words, so she had to take Easton around.


    Easton got permission to buy bubble tea first, then egg pancakes, Oden, and rice with roast meat.


    Finally, he couldn''t help but stop in front of the stinky tofu stall.


    "Mmm... This smell is quite exciting."


    Easton looked curiously at the ck tofu. He had only heard of it and had never tred it.


    "Little guy, this doesn''t smell good, but it tastes good. Do you want to try it?"


    When the stall owner saw that someone had stopped, who was still a cute looking child, he introduced


    to him enthusiastically.


    "I..."


    Easton wanted to try it, but he dared not.


    "Easton..."


    Derek followed the two of them, his face not looking too good. This little guy, was going a little too far. It


    was fine for him tp eat a pile of junk food, and now he still wanted to eat such a weird thing?


    "What''s wrong? Does dad want to eat too?"


    Easton was threatened and suddenly had a mischievous idea.


    Derek''s face darkened immediately. He didn''t want to eat that terrible food.

 Chapter 510

    Chapter 510


    "Hey, Easton."


    Derek warned coldly, and Easton shrank his neck, thought about it, and finally stopped asking.


    Otherwise, his dad would be furious.


    The three of them found empty seats to sit down and finished the food they bought.


    After a while, Violet called to say that she missed Easton and asked him to go back.


    "You guys go back. I''ll go to the hospital to see my mom."


    Naturally, Meredith would not ask for trouble and go to see Violet. She said calmly.


    Derek didn''t say anything. Although Easton wanted his mother to go with him, he could tell that his


    grandma didn''t get along well with his mother.


    So, he waved his hand obediently. "Goodbye, mom. I''ll be backter."


    Meredith waved her hand and watched the father and son leave before taking a taxi to the hospital.


    As soon as she got into the taxi, the smile on Meredith''s face disappeared.


    When she thought the woman she found was not Amelia''s biological daughter, she felt bad.


    She didn''t know what happened to the child who was swapped with her...


    Why would her biological mother do that?


    All of this seemed to be wrapped in thick fog so that she could not see through it.


    Thinking about it, Meredith arrived at the hospital.


    She went straight to the VIP ward where Amelia was.


    Although Amelia was weak now, she was better than almost dying at the beginning, because a special


    medicine was found, though it was just a temporary medical relief.


    asionally, she would get out of bed and sit down for a while.


    Meredith opened the door and Amelia was looking out the window apanied by a nurse.


    When she heard the noise, she turned around and saw that it was Meredith. She immediately smiled


    and said, "Mer, what are you doing here? Didn''t I say that you don''t have toe here all the time? It''s


    the most important to take care of your own business."


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    Meredith''s heart ached when she heard this.


    Amelia didn''t know the truth yet, but her concern was still so real.


    No matter what happened back then, she did not regret being filial to Amelia.


    Although Amelia was not the one who gave birth to her, Meredith would have to spend her whole life to


    pay back her upbringing.


    "How could I be so busy? I''m not a big boss with a lot of work to do. It''s my duty toe to see you."


    Meredith hid her emotions and walked over to pinch Amelia''s shoulders.


    "How are you now? Do you feel ufortable?"


    "No. This time the medicine works. I wake up much longer than before, and I don''t feel tired all over.


    Maybe I''ll get better soon."


    "Yes, you will be fine."


    Meredith answered with a smile, but she was not so optimistic.


    This medicine was indeed effective, but it had no effect of cure and could only relieve the symptoms.


    Moreover, the doctor said that if the drug was used for too long, it would inevitably develop drug


    resistance. At that time, things would be difficult.


    So she had to find a bone marrow donor as soon as possible before the drug resistance developed.


    The two of them talked for a while. Although they looked a little bored, both of them enjoyed the time


    together.


    "Oh, by the way, Parker is back." Meredith suddenly thought of something and said.


    Amelia had been very concerned about Parker''s whereabouts, so Meredith thought it might be a good


    choice for them to meet.


    "Hmm? Really?"


    Amelia''s eyes lit up when she heard this.


    "Of course it''s true. How could I joke about such a thing?"


    Meredith looked at Amelia''s happy face and couldn''t help but act coquettish. "Why do I think you seem


    to like Parker more than me?"


    Amelia couldn''t help shaking her head when she heard this. "Silly girl, what are you talking about? I just


    thought, if that childes back, you..."


    When Meredith heard this, she quickly changed the subject. "Mom, when you feel better, I''ll call him to


    see you."


    How could Amelia not know that Meredith was changing the subject? Amelia felt helpless. "It''s


    convenient for me at any time. But is he very busy? Mer, you have to hurry up."


    Meredith didn''t want to talk about this, so she muddled through. Although Amelia was anxious, she


    knew that this kind of thing could not be forced, so she had to give up.


    Perhaps it would be better to wait until she saw Parker and asked him what he was thinking before


    making a decision.


    ...


    Derek brought Easton back to the old residence.


    Violet had asked the servant to prepare a table of food early and waited outside herself.


    Over the years, Derek hadn''t been home many times. She missed her son and grandson, but she


    couldn''t get close to them.


    This time, of course, she took the gathering seriously.


    Derek drove to the door of the old residence. As soon as he stopped, he saw Violet waiting outside. He


    felt a little helpless.


    "Mom, why are you waiting outside alone? It''s so windy outside."


    When Violet heard that her son cared about her, she was very pleased. "I haven''t seen Easton for a


    long time. I miss him."


    After that, she was about to hold Easton''s hand.


    Easton walked over obediently. Then, he suddenly remembered that he had packed a cup of pudding


    milk tea and was going to drink it after he came back. He brought it to Violet as if he were offering a


    treasure.


    Children liked sweet food the most, so Easton thought it was delicious. Naturally he wanted to let his


    family have a taste.


    When Violet saw it, she didn''t look well.


    Milk tea?


    What was that?


    Wasn''t it something that only civilians drink?


    When did Easton develop such a bad eating habit?


    "Easton, throw away what you have in your hand. Grandma will ask someone to make you the best


    ck tea, okay?"


    Violet controlled her temper and coaxed Easton, but in her heart she was thinking of how to keep


    Easton at home and teach him by herself.


    "No, mom bought this for me. I think it''s delicious. If you don''t drink it, grandma, I''ll keep it for myself."


    Easton had a temper too. ck tea was so acerb. He didn''t like it.


    When Violet heard Easton say that it was his mother who bought him the milk tea, her face became


    even darker.


    Meredith, even if she changed her appearance, was still the same cheap as before...


    Now, was she trying to assimte Easton and preserve her position?


    "Easton, I won''t allow you to eat those things. They''re all dirty. Do you know? Hurry up and throw it


    away!"


    Violet reached out and snatched the thing from Easton''s hand.


    "Mom, only once. It''s not that serious."


    Derek looked at Easton''s aggrieved expression and couldn''t help but speak.


    "What once or twice? It''s all that woman''s fault. It''s too vicious to keep having such thoughts."

 Chapter 511

    Chapter 511


    Hearing this, Derek felt unhappy. Meredith just bought something back, and she only did this


    asionally, but Violet would feel that Meredith had an evil intention.


    It seemed that her prejudice against Meredith was still deep.


    "Mom, I promised Easton to take him and buy stuff. It has nothing to do with Meredith."


    Derek took the me on himself, but Violet did not be tolerant because of this. Instead, she put


    the me on Meredith.


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    However, she didn''t want to discuss that annoying woman with them anymore because it was rare for


    her son and grandson to be home together. So she didn''t say anything.


    "Easton, let''s go. Your great-grandfather has been waiting for you for a long time. He''s been nagging


    about why you''re noting back to apany him."


    When Easton heard this, he obediently followed behind.


    It wasn''t that he didn''t want toe back, it was just that his great-grandfather was getting old and


    liked to drag him on and talk about the past.


    Easton walked the room and went to see Mr. Xavier.


    Seeing him, the Old Master put down the thing in his hand. "You little boy, do you still know that you


    shoulde back? Have you forgotten about your great-grandfather?"


    "I know I was wrong. I wille back more often."


    Easton lowered his head, looking as if he knew that he was wrong.


    Mr. Xavier loved Easton the most, so how could he me him for anything? He quickly called someone


    over and gave him a card. He said, "I have some pocket money for you."


    Easton was very happy. His pocket money was strictly controlled by his father, so he was unable to go


    out to buy anything. Now that he had a windfall, he had to save it and think about how to use it in the


    future.


    After a while, Violet set up a sumptuous dinner and came in to ask them to eat.


    Easton took the Old Master''s arm and walked out, acting very obediently.


    The family sat together, chatting and eating.


    Derek took care of Easton while eating.


    In his heart, he couldn''t help but think that if Meredith was here, it would be perfect.


    He didn''t know when he could undo the knot in their hearts, and the whole family could be in harmony.


    In a daze, the Old Master suddenly remembered something. "Derek, I suddenly remembered


    something. Today, the Smiths called me and said that you had found someone to check the information


    about the eldestdy of their family."


    Derek heard that and he paused using the chopsticks. He knew that the Smiths was powerful and had


    a strong sense of protection for their family members, but he didn''t expect them to react so quickly.


    "the Smiths?" Violet perked up when she heard the name. "Is that the Smiths from Capital City? I


    remember they seemed to have the intention to set up a marriage between our two families."


    The Old Master nodded and said, "You remember correctly. It''s the Smiths. But they are so hostile to us


    now. As soon as they heard that Derek had asked someone to check the information, they immediately


    called. This was to punish me."


    Violet listened quietly and she didn''t think it was a big deal. She asked, "Derek, why are you looking for


    her information? Could it be that you are interested in her?"


    If that was the case, Violet was in favor of it.


    "No, mom, it''s not what you think. I just have something to confirm."


    Derek frowned. Violet was still passionate about setting him up with some other woman, which was a


    headache for him.


    "Yes, that''s impossible."


    Easton didn''t know what they were talking about, but he subconsciously denied it.


    His father could only be interested in his mother. Other women must be nobody.


    "I don''t want to say anything, but the Smiths and the Xaviers are not on good terms. There is no need


    to do so in the future. It is better not to be too abrupt so as not to cause unnecessary trouble."


    The Old Master''s head ached at the words between the two parties.


    He was toozy to meddle in such matters, so he just reminded him and said nothing more.


    Seeing that he stopped talking, Violet could not say anything more and lowered her head to eat.


    At this meal, everyone had their own thoughts.


    Because the Old Master missed Easton, Derek stayed tonight.


    Thinking about what the Smiths did, he found it increasingly difficult.


    Now, all sorts of clues showed that Meredith was Cali''s child, because there was no second Cali in


    Capital City.


    Then why didn''t the blood type match?


    He didn''t know what the inside story was, but the only thing Derek could be sure of was that, in his


    awkward position, it was very difficult to investigate this matter.


    ...


    The next day.


    Although the Old Master was still reluctant, Easton had to go to school, so he did not insist on keeping


    the kid at home.


    "Goodbye, great-grandfather!"


    Easton waved his hand obediently and got into the car.


    After that, he immediately changed his expression and took out a small toy lie detector. "Dad, tell me


    quickly. What do you mean by investigating that?"


    "What can I mean?"


    Derek ignored Easton and looked at the strange thing in his hand. "You asked your great-grandfather to


    spend money on toys for you again."


    Derek was annoyed that Easton always liked to buy some strange things and take them home, and he


    often messed up the house, so he had to control his pocket money.


    However, the Old Master doted on him too much and gave him a lot of pocket money.


    "Hehe, this is a lie detector. I bought it online. As long as you lie, I can detect it. Isn''t it great?"


    "Stupid tax."


    Derek said coldly, took it away, and threw it in the back seat.


    Easton looked at him speechlessly and asked, "Do you have any thoughts about Smith family? Let me


    tell you, if you do, I... I will..."


    Easton thought for a long time, but he couldn''t finish the sentence.


    "You what?"


    "I will take my mother and run away from home!"


    Easton waved his little fist. Derek shrugged and said, "See if you could get away."


    "Then..." Easton was speechless.


    "That woman might be able to provide your grandmother with bone marrow, so I went to check."


    Derek stopped torturing the little guy and told half the truth. As for the issue about the identity, he hid it.


    "Ah? I see."


    When Easton heard that, he nodded and felt a little embarrassed. "Then I misunderstood you."


    "It''s truly a misunderstanding. Do you have to do something to make up for it?"


    Derek smiled slyly, like a wily old fox.


    "What?"


    Easton looked over and felt like he was being tricked.


    "That uncle Parker, you know him, right? If hees to your mother, you will use your clever little brain


    to make him retreat."


    Derek finished and patted Easton on the shoulder.


    This little guy was nothing but one of the best torturers.


    Sheldon was always tortured by him.

 Chapter 512

    Chapter 512


    "You don''t me me this time?"


    Easton remembered that he once sneaked out to y tricks on them and, in the end, got scolded by


    Derek.


    "The circumstances are different. Now, I need your help."


    After Derek finished speaking, he patted Easton on the shoulder solemnly, as if he had entrusted


    everything to him.


    "I have to go to school. I''m not avable."


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Easton wanted to take this opportunity to skip ss.


    Of course Derek knew what was on Easton''s mind. But since Easton had already learned what was


    going to be taught in school, he said, "It''s okay for you to be out of school for a few days."


    "Well, I''ll help you out."


    Easton nodded smugly.


    ...


    Meredith slept in the hospitalst night. Now, she had nothing else to do. It was good to spend more


    time with Amelia.


    After getting up, Meredith washed up and went to see Amelia.


    Unexpectedly, Amelia got up earlier than her.


    "Mom, why don''t you sleep a little longer?"


    "I''m old and I don''t need much sleep. Didn''t you say yesterday that Parker woulde over? When will


    hee?"


    Amelia did not forget what Meredith had said. Meredith was embarrassed.


    She went to bed earlyst night and didn''t make the call. "I''ll ask him now."


    Amelia shook her head and thought to herself, "This girl never goes for herself."


    Therefore, she had to worry about this.


    Meredith immediately called Parker.


    Parker had been sleeping. He was irritated when he heard the phone ring. But when he saw that it was


    Meredith, he woke up, sat up, and answered the phone.


    "Hello, Meredith, what''s wrong?"


    Parker''s voice sounded a little hoarse, Meredith didn''t know if she woke him up. She apologized, "I''m


    sorry. Did I wake you up?"


    "Nothing."


    Parker immediately got up, walked into the bathroom, and looked in the mirror, "Is there anything I can


    do for you?"


    "Actually, my mother wanted to see you when she heard you''re back."


    Hearing this, Parker did not hesitate and immediately agreed, "Really? Good. I nned to visit her.


    Where are you now?"


    Meredith told him the address of the hospital, and Parker became anxious when he heard that they


    were in the hospital, "Why are you there? Any of you gets sick?"


    "Yes. My mother is sick."


    Meredith didn''t want to hide it from Parker.


    Hearing this, Parker frowned. He didn''t contact them when he was abroad. He felt sorry for not knowing


    about that.


    "I''ll be right there."


    Parker washed up quickly and immediately drove to where Meredith was.


    After receiving his reply, Meredith told Amelia that he would be here soon. Amelia nodded.


    Meredith asked someone to bring breakfast here. They had a simple meal and waited for Parker.


    ...


    Not long after, Parker''s car stopped at the entrance of the hospital.


    ording to the ward number, he went upstairs and quickly found where it was.


    Coincidentally, Meredith sent out the cutlery and they met.


    "So quickly?"


    Meredith hadn''t expected that Parker would arrive within no more than 15 minutes after hung up.


    "Hearing that your mother was sick, I had to rush over as soon as possible."


    Hearing he was concerned about Amelia, Meredith was grateful. Amelia heard someone talking


    outside, sp she asked, "Who''s there? Parker?"


    "Yes, it''s me."


    Parker said immediately.


    "Pleasee in."


    Amelia wanted to see Parker and asked him toe in instantly.


    "She''s in there. You could talk. I''ll get the stuff out," Meredith said and walked out.


    Parker went into the ward and looked at Amelia, who looked a little older than she was in his memory,


    and her hair got grayer. Perhaps because of her illness, she had lost a lot of weight and looked very


    haggard.


    However, she seemed to be in good spirits, which made Parker feel relieved.


    "Why didn''t the person I sent tell me about this?"


    Parker was angry. If he had known earlier, he would havee back earlier.


    Perhaps, he wouldn''t have met Meredith sote.


    "I didn''t let him tell you." Actually, Amelia had told the man, but it looked like something went wrong.


    Now, Amelia didn''t want to pursue that matter, so she patched up a lie.


    "How are you now?"


    Parker asked her with concern.


    "Not bad. Now, it''s the specific medicine that keeps me alive. But who knows what will happen in the


    future?"


    Amelia shook her head. After going through so many things, she went easy on death and wasn''t afraid


    of the daying.


    However, she was concerned about her daughter.


    She would not die in peace without making sure that Meredith found a good husband.


    "Howe? Can we do anything about it?"


    Hearing Parker''s words of concern, Amelia smiled, "I asked you toe here not because I wanted to


    discuss my illness with you. I want to ask you if you still have feelings for Mer right now."


    Amelia was so explicit that Parker was stunned.


    However, he quickly replied, "My feelings for her have never changed."


    Hearing this, Amelia nodded. She felt that Parker was a very reliable man. He did not abandon


    Meredith even when Meredith was at her most difficult time.


    Although he did not have a strong family background as Derek did, he fought his way up all by himself.


    He was outstanding and trustworthy, and she was willing to entrust her daughter to him.


    "I don''t know how long I can live, so I asked you here. I hope you can take care of Mer, protect her and


    let her live happily for the rest of her life."


    Hearing this, Parker immediately said, "I won''t let you down."


    Parker had never forgotten Meredith. When he was abroad over these years, he thought about how to


    revenge her. Now that Amelia made this request, how could he refuse?


    "That''s good. I believe you. However, you need Mer''s consent, so you should work hard. However, I will


    try my best to help you!"


    Amelia said with satisfaction. They chatted for a while. Meredith pushed the door open and came back,


    and they stopped talking.


    "What are you talking about? Why do you stop talking when Ie back?"


    Meredith always felt strange, not knowing if they were hiding something from her.


    Amelia didn''t want her to specte, so she asked Parker, "Have you had breakfast? It looks like you


    just got up."


    Parker shook his head. Amelia just nced at Meredith. "Mer, it''s your fault. How could you ask Parker


    toe and see me when he was starved?"

 Chapter 513

    Chapter 513


    Meredith was embarrassed when she heard this. She seemed to have really forgotten about it.


    "What do you want to eat? I''ll buy it for you."


    Meredith quickly replied and tried to make up.


    "I''m a little tired. Mer, go out and buy Parker something to eat. I''ll just take a break. Don''t bother me."


    When Amelia saw this, she did not give Meredith a chance to go out alone. After a few words, she


    made an appointment for her to have the meal together with Parker.


    Parker certainly wouldn''t refuse. He continued Amelia''s words and said, "I won''t bother you since


    you''re tired."


    After that, he got up and nned to leave.


    Seeing this, Meredith definitely wouldn''t let Parker leave on an empty stomach after visiting her mother


    early this morning. She asked, "Can we go to the restaurant at the hospital? It might be a bit


    inconvenient if we go out."


    Parker wouldn''t be picky about such things. "It''s all okay for me. As you wish."


    When the man said this, his eyes were fixed on Meredith, very serious, as if it was not only about


    eating breakfast but a lot of other things.


    Meredith noticed something was wrong and quickly changed the subject. She said, "Well, then let''s go.


    We have to hurry up, or else, we won''t have anything to eatter."


    Parker saw that she was still the same. She was trying to not respond to his words, but he had no


    choice. He did not dare to speak frankly, afraid that it would make her hate him, so he could only nod


    and agree.


    The two of them went to the hospital''s restaurant. Easton called her when they were about to order.


    "Mom, what are you doing?"


    Easton didn''t have to go to school. He was so happy now that he was about to finish the task Derek


    had given him. Anyway, it was much more fun to go out and make fun of people than to stay in the


    ssroom.


    "I''m in the hospital. I just visited your grandmother. No, wait. It''s not a day off. Why are you calling me


    at this time?"


    Meredith was happy to hear Easton''s voice, but when she looked at her watch, wasn''t it time for ss?


    Easton, was he skipping ss again?


    "I... I''m not going to school these days!"


    Easton was a little stunned by the question. Although Meredith usually doted on him, she was always


    strict with his sses. He had to go to school when it was time and she never let him y truant.


    Even if Easton had said that he already knew what was being taught, he still had to go to school.


    "Why not?"


    Meredith asked seriously.


    Easton involuntarily shrank his neck and felt a little guilty. He answered, "Um... Because... I had a


    stomachache."


    Easton wanted to tell the truth, but Derek specifically told him not to betray him before he went to work,


    otherwise, he would definitely teach him a good lesson. Therefore, Easton could only find an excuse.


    "Stomachache?"


    Meredith was a little anxious.


    She remembered that Easton did go to the snack street yesterday and ate a lot of unhealthy food. The


    child''s stomach was weak and it was normal for him to have a stomachache after eating the food.


    She could not help but me herself. If she had known this, she should have stopped Easton even if


    she would make him unhappy. How ufortable would such a small child be when he had diarrhea?


    "Easton, did you have a stomachache because you ate too much yesterday? Where are you now?"


    Easton didn''t expect Meredith to think that much at once and immediately exined, "No, no, it''s not


    that serious. It''s not about the food yesterday."


    Yesterday, after eating those snacks, he took photos of each of them, posted them on his moment,


    showed them off among a group of students, and said he would take them out to eat from one end of


    the street to the other.


    If Meredith would never let him go again, he would have been dishonest and humiliated.


    "Maybe it''s just a little indigestive, haha..."


    When Meredith heard him say that, she was helpless. "Have you seen a doctor?"


    Just as the two of them were on the phone, a patient came over with soy milk in his hand. The man


    didn''t look where he was going and almost fell. The soy milk in his hand nted and almost spilled on


    Meredith.


    "Be careful."


    Parker went to get some food. As soon as he came back, he saw the scene and immediately reached


    out his hand to pull Meredith away.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I didn''t see the way."


    The man quickly apologized. Fortunately, it didn''t burn anyone. Otherwise, seeing the nervous look of


    this man, they were afraid something would happen.


    "Are you okay?" Parker didn''t look at the person who apologized, but only at Meredith, afraid that she


    might get hurt.


    "I''m fine."


    Meredith shook her head. "Thank you, Parker. I was making a phone call and didn''t pay attention."


    "Not at all."


    Although there was no danger, Parker''s hand did not let go.


    He was very greedy for this familiar temperature.


    But soon, Meredith took a step back and looked at the cramped man. She said to him, "It''s all right. Be


    careful next time."


    "Mom, are you ok?"


    Easton clearly heard the conversation between the two of them. Was there any danger just now?


    "It''s okay. It was only a patient who almost spilled soy milk on me, but I dodged it."


    Only then did Meredith remember that the phone hadn''t been hung up, and she quickly exined,


    afraid that Easton would be worried.


    "... Well, that''s good."


    That was what Easton said, but his brain was working fast. He heard a man''s voice just now. It


    sounded that they were pretty intimate...


    Besides, did mom call him Parker?


    Didn''t that mean that uncle Parker came to see her again?


    This man was really annoying.


    "Mom, you''re in the hospital, and maybe I''ll go find you. I can see a doctor too."


    Easton quickly came up with a solution. When they were together, he was going to be the third wheel.


    Then that man couldn''t do anything!


    "Well..."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Meredith thought about it and nced at Parker.


    Parker heard a child''s voice on the phone, so he had guessed that it was Easton. "It''s okay. Let him


    Easton''s importance to Meredith was well known to Parker. Although he felt that the child was not a


    person to coax easily, but if he really wanted to be with Meredith, he couldn''t avoid being with the child.


    Parker had never been an ostrich to avoid reality, so he agreed.


    More contact, more understanding.


    "Well, juste. Tell the driver to send you over. Don''t run around on your own."


    Given that Easton had run away from home and almost being kidnapped, Meredith immediately warned


    him.


    "Oh, I see. Don''t worry."


    Easton also promised, called the driver, gave him the address, and went to the hospital with high


    morale.


    "Easton will be here in a while. Maybe I''ll go with him and let him have a check, and I won''t be able to


    apany you."


    Meredith said apologetically.


    "Doesn''t matter. His health is the most important thing."

 Chapter 514

    Chapter 514


    Seeing that Parker was so understanding, Meredith was relieved.


    They sat down and had a quick breakfast. Easton called.


    "Mom, I''m here. Where are you?"


    "We''re on the fifth floor. You wait downstairs. I''ll take you to see a doctor."


    Meredith was worried about Easton''s health, so she insisted that he see a doctor.


    Easton was reluctant, but he had to do it properly, otherwise, he would definitely be exposed, so he


    agreed.


    "Okay, I''ll wait for you at the entrance of the hospital."


    Meredith responded and said she would go over immediately.


    "Parker, I may be busy today, maybe you should go back first?"


    Meredith thought for a while, It wouldn''t seem right for her to leave Parker here and take Easton to the


    hospital. But it would be a waste of time for him to keep himpany, so she should ask him to do his


    own thing.


    "Oh, it''s okay. I''ve only been back for a few days. I''m not busy."


    Parker''s words made it difficult for Meredith to ask him to leave again.


    It was hard to find a chance to spend time with her, so how could he bear to leave just like that?


    Meredith didn''t say anything more and hurried downstairs. When she reached the hall, she saw Easton


    standing at the door.


    He was wearing a red hoodie, ck pants, and a cap today. Although it was not aplicated outfit, it


    looked very good on him, so he was especially eye-catching, standing there like a model.


    "Easton, here!"


    Meredith waved her hand as she called out to him.


    Easton ran over and rushed into Meredith''s arms, but his eyes were looking at Parker.


    This man was literally everywhere and really annoying.


    He must find a way to get rid of him.


    Easton looked at Parker and thought of his evil ns, but he didn''t see that Parker was also looking at


    him.


    The two of them looked at each other, and Easton felt a chill out of nowhere. The child''s intuition told


    him that this man was definitely not to be trifled with.


    "This uncle looks so scary."


    Easton huddled in Meredith''s arms and pretended to be afraid.


    He thought that his mother would definitely ask Parker to go away since she loved him so much.


    "Scary? How?"


    Parker heard this and smiled. "Mer, it seems that Easton doesn''t like me."


    "No, he doesn''t."


    Meredith was a little embarrassed. She knew that Parker wouldn''t act all scary with a child, so she


    nced at Easton and whispered to him, "Have you forgotten what I said to you?"


    "... No, I didn''t forget" ...


    Easton was a little discouraged and did not dare to say anything else.


    "Then greet him."


    With Meredith around him, he could only obediently call Parker, "uncle Parker."


    How could this be so different from what he had imagined...


    "Hi, Easton. Nice to meet you again."


    Parker reached out to shake Easton''s hand.


    Easton looked at Meredith and saw the encouragement in her eyes. He could only shake hands with


    him. "Nice to meet you, too."


    "Last time we met in a hurry, this time we have plenty of time. Sorry I didn''t bring you any gifts. Maybe


    we could go out and pick some gifts for youter. I''ll pay."


    Parker didn''t know what Easton liked, so he didn''t prepare a present for him.


    He wanted to do this because he wanted to know the child''s preferences.


    "Oh, you don''t have to do that."


    Meredith quickly tried to refuse.


    Parker had done a lot for her, and now he wanted to give gifts to Easton. She couldn''t let him.


    "It doesn''t matter. This is my gift to Easton."


    Hearing this, Meredith could not refuse anymore. She could only look at Easton and whispered to him,


    "Easton, don''t pick anything expensive. Don''t cost your uncle too much."


    "Ok, I see."


    Easton agreed willingly, but he was thinking the other.


    He had the nerve to act all generous with him, then he had plenty of ways to make him want to cry.


    Sheldon even cried out because of him.


    Parker had been looking at Meredith and her son, so naturally, he did not miss the hostility on Easton''s


    little face.


    He didn''t know what to do, but he did not get too upset either.


    After all, he was Derek''s child. No matter what, he would not be close to him as soon as he met him. Or


    perhaps, Derek had told him to do so...


    Although that was what he thought, Parker didn''t show the slightest expression on his face. "Then let''s


    go and see a doctor. It will be crowded in a while."


    Meredith nodded. "That''s right. Let''s get in line."


    She took Easton to the pediatrics department.


    The three of them found the corresponding department, sat outside and waited for a while before they


    were called in.


    The doctor looked at the three of them, thought that they were a family of three, and casually


    Parker didn''t deny it. Meredith was embarrassed, but Easton almost exploded, "Hey, doctor, this isn''t


    my father!"


    He had never been in this kind of situation for so many years before they met. His father could only be


    Derek, okay?


    When the doctor heard this, he looked at them again and did not say anything. He just assumed that it


    was a reconstituted family and that the child had not yet epted the reality.


    "Okay, now, young boy, what''s the matter?"


    The doctor didn''t apologize, and Easton was upset.


    However, Meredith knew that the doctor was busy with work, and there were still a lot of people waiting


    in line behind them. "Easton, tell the doctor quickly what''s wrong with you, so he can help you."


    "My stomach hurts a little."


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    Easton pointed to his stomach.


    The doctor took out the stethoscope and listened to Easton''s stomach, but he didn''t notice anything


    unusual. So he gave him something to help his digestion.


    Then Parker offered to take Easton shopping.


    Meredith had already agreed and went along with them.


    "Parker, don''t take him to some expensive ces. He''s still a kid. He would choose something


    expensive."


    "Are you worried that I don''t have enough money?" Parker smiled and looked at the woman through


    the rearview mirror.


    "No, but I just don''t want you to spend too much."


    "It''s okay, Easton. You can buy whatever you want."


    Seeing Parker''s smug look, Easton clenched his little fists, He seemed obedient and nice, but the little


    devil beneath was already ready.


    "You can pretend to be generous. I''ll make you cryter!"

 Chapter 515

    Chapter 515


    Parker parked his car in the underground parking lot of a bustling department store.


    Easton jumped out of the car and looked around. He hade here many times and was familiar with


    the ce.


    "Easton, what do you want? Go buy it."


    Parker smiled at Easton who saw that Meredith had not gotten off the car yet and snorted coldly, "Can I


    buy anything I want?"


    Parker just nodded. "Of course."


    Only then did Easton press the elevator button with satisfaction. "Okay."


    Meredith had just tidied up her bag and got out of the car. When she saw the two of them talking, she


    thought they were getting along very well and asked with a smile, "What were you talking about?"


    "Nothing."


    Easton quickly waved his hand. "Let''s go up."


    Seeing that Easton was so anxious, Meredith nodded.


    Parker followed closely behind and looked at Meredith. "Do you need to buy anything?"


    Meredith immediately shook her head. She did notck anything, and she would not be so brazen as to


    spend Parker''s money.


    Easton just felt even more annoyed, immediately pressing the button and went to the fifth floor where


    imported toys were for sale.


    "Easton..."


    Seeing that he was in such a hurry to go shopping, Meredith became confused.


    He had already owned many toys. What he wanted to buy today?


    Easton pretended not to know what Meredith meant and looked at Parker innocently. "uncle Parker,


    can''t I go?"


    After saying that, he blinked his big eyes innocently.


    Parker, however, knew what Easton meant.


    "Of course."


    Although Parker felt not good, there was no displeasure on his face. He smiled and looked very kind.


    Easton happily entered the fifth floor, then ran straight to the most expensive limited edition Lego.


    "Easton, don''t run so fast."


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    Meredith couldn''t help shaking her head and was about to catch up when a girl got on the elevator


    while ying with her phone and her ice cream fell all over Meredith.


    "Are you okay?" Parker saw this and quickly pulled her over, seeing that Meredith''s clothes were dirty.


    "Sorry, sorry." The girl apologized immediately who saw Parker was so angry.


    Meredith saw that she was still a student, "It''s okay. I''ll go to the bathroom to wash it. You shouldn''t y


    with your phone while walking in the future. It''s dangerous."


    Hearing this, the girl nodded and left quickly.


    "Or I''ll take you to buy a new one."


    Parker immediately thought that he had never bought anything for Meredith.


    "No, no need. I''ll just go to the bathroom and wipe it."


    Meredith would not let him buy her anything, quickly waved her hand, and simply ran away.


    Parker shook his head helplessly.


    She was always so polite to him.


    But that was also what attracted him.


    ...


    Easton did not know what was going on here, who nned to buy a lot and ran into the toy store.


    "Let me see..."


    Easton ran in and did not look for the biggest and most expensive ones. He had been to this store


    before, and the owner liked to collect some limited edition toys which looked inconspicuous but more


    valuable.


    Easton found the owner. "I heard you have a lot of out-of-print good stuff here. Take it out and let me


    see."


    The owner looked at Easton, finding that he was from a rich family, so he nodded.


    "Wait a minute, I''ll find it for you."


    "Mmm, hurry up. The more, the better. The more expensive, the better."


    Easton hurriedly urged, and the owner immediately went to the storage room in the back and found a


    lot of his treasures.


    Parker reached the shop. Coincidentally, the owner came out with a big box.


    "I used to buy all these. Many of them are out of print. Even if you have money, you may not be able to


    buy them. Do you want them all?"


    "Okay, that''s all."


    Easton nced at them. "Thanks. The man in the back will payter. Just ask the price you want. "


    The owner nced at Easton, feeling puzzled.


    However, it was a fool not to make money.


    So, he called his salesperson to pack them up.


    "uncle Parker, that''s all."


    Easton pointed at the big box and smiled.


    Just now, Easton took a peek at the bills which told these toys would cost hundreds of thousands of


    dors.


    Easton remembered that Sheldon was so angry with himst time that he had spent much to buy toys.


    So he was wondering what Parker would do.


    He was looking forward to it.


    Parker did not hesitate. "I''ll buy them for you."


    After that, he handed over a ck bank card.


    He could afford the money.


    After all, Easton was Meredith''s child, so he was willing to do it.


    "Why don''t you ask me what I bought?"


    Easton was surprised.


    Why wasn''t Parker angry at all?


    It was nothing like what Easton had imagined.


    "Since you want it, it means you like it. It doesn''t matter. I''ll buy them for you if you like."


    Parker said calmly. After a while, the salesperson returned the card respectfully.


    At the same time, the salesperson also gave them a box of small Lego toys.


    A man like Parker who would spend money so generously may be a regr customer in the


    future, and it was necessary to win him over.


    "Thank you."


    Parker thanked politely. Just then, Meredith walked out of the bathroom. At a nce, she saw Parker


    and Easton standing at the door of the toy store to pay the bill.


    Just as she was about to ask what they had bought, she saw the big box.


    That box was at least half her height, and she did not know what was in it.


    Meredith became a little angry with Easton.


    "Easton, what''s wrong with you?"


    Meredith was serious.


    She even began to worry whether Violet who attached much importance to money had influenced


    Easton.

 Chapter 516

    Chapter 516


    Hearing Meredith call him ''Easton'', the boy knew she was angry.


    Meredith rarely got angry with him, and he would feel upset if he angered him.


    "I..."


    Easton bowed his head in grievance.


    He didn''t pretend. He really felt aggrieved.


    "For Parker, my mother scolded me in person. Is he more important than me?"


    "Don''t worry. They are not expensive."


    Seeing they quarreled, Parker quickly smoothed things over.


    He didn''t want to see them be at odds with each other due to money.


    "Really?"


    Hearing this, Meredith took a look at those toys.


    They really didn''t seem cheap.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    "It looks big, but it''s not expensive."


    Parker shrugged and pointed at therge toys in the store. Although the price was high, it was not


    beyond Meredith''s expectation.


    "Then... then all right."


    Meredith couldn''t say anything any more. She felt relieved, "Thank you, Parker."


    "It''s okay."


    Parker gentlemanly picked up the box, "I ask people to send them downstairs first. You guys can shop


    around here."


    Meredith nodded. She was about to say something to Easton, so she took him to the sweet shop.


    Easton was unhappy because of what happened just now. Although he was young, he was a man who


    didn''t want to lose face, but his mother embarrassed him, which made him very unhappy.


    Meredith wasn''t in a hurry to talk to him. She was thinking of a way to make Easton understand her


    thoughts.


    They went to the sweet shop in silence. Easton didn''t say a word. He found a seat to sit down, pouting.


    "Easton, are you angry with mom?"


    Meredith was helpless.


    It had to be said that although Easton was always a good boy in front of her, after all, he was a


    pampered child of the Xaviers, who behaved like a spoiled boy.


    "No."


    Easton didn''t want to admit it. He always felt ashamed to admit that he lost his temper for such trifle.


    "Do you know why I was angry just now?"


    Meredith was not in a hurry, "A long time ago, my family was poor. At that time, we didn''t have enough


    money for your grandmother to be hospitalized."


    Hearing Meredith talking about the past, Easton became interested and looked at her, "And then?"


    Easton, who grew up in the Xaviers, didn''tck anything. He couldn''t imagine what life it was.


    "Your grandmother had been cured. What I wanted to say was not how hard it was back then, but that I


    loved your grandmother very much and didn''t feel sad although we didn''t have much money.


    Sometimes, money isn''t that important."


    Money wasn''t that important?


    It was the first time that Easton had heard such words. He hadn''tcked money since he was a child.


    After all, as Derek''s only son, he would never fall into despair.


    But Meredith''s words were inspiring.


    "So, I don''t want you to judge a person by how much money his gift costs. It''s unfair."


    Meredith said seriously.


    Hearing this, Easton lowered his head, "I actually... didn''t think so, just..."


    He was just worried that Parker would take his mother away, and she would dump him and his father.


    What was he going to do then? He finally found his mother, so how could he allow her to be taken


    away again?


    "I was worried that mom would be with this uncle and leave me alone."


    Hearing this, Meredith was speechless.


    It turned out that he was worried about this.


    "Easton, don''t worry. No matter what happens, you are my baby and my favorite."


    Cupping his face, Meredith was about to exin that her feelings for Parker were not asplicated


    as he had thought. But Parker came back.


    "Why didn''t you order anything?" Parker saw them talking, he didn''t know what they were talking about,


    but he wanted to hear them.


    Seeing that he was back, Meredith swallowed back what she wanted to say, "Nothing, just have a small


    chat. What do you want to eat? I''ll treat you."


    Parker wanted to refuse, but Meredith was insistent, he had no choice but to agree.


    Meredith thought for a moment and ordered Easton a cup of warm milk, a cup of coffee for Parker, and


    a cup of sweet milk tea herself.


    They got along well, drinking their own things and chatting from time to time.


    Parker looked at Easton and suddenly thought of something, "I just checked the Legos that Easton


    bought, one of which was that I wanted to buy but I didn''t buy when I was a kid. I think we can y


    together."


    That was utter nonsense.


    He was in an orphanage when he was a child. He couldn''te into contact with such posh toys. And


    he even had to fight for food every day.


    However, since the money had been spent, how couldn''t he make the most of it?


    Parker knew Meredith well. She was embarrassed to refuse a legitimate request.


    "Oh, sounds good."


    Meredith didn''t think much and she agreed.


    The main reason was that with nine days'' wonder of Easton, who might dump them somewhere after a


    few days. what a waste!


    If he could be with Parker, she wouldn''t have to worry that his money would be wasted.


    Easton didn''t reply.


    Easton pursed his lips. He wanted to say no. Who wanted to y Lego with an unfamiliar uncle? Why


    didn''t he share the toys with the pretty girls in his ss?


    However, he knew that if he refused the uncle''s kindness without an appropriate reason, his mother


    would definitely be unhappy. So he had to agree.


    "Sure."


    Easton nodded with a half-smile and agreed.


    Parker smiled, "Then please kindly give me your advice."


    Meredith was pleased to see that they were getting along well.


    When they finished their drinks and were about to leave, Parker''s phone rang.


    He nced at it and frowned, hesitant whether to answer or hang up.


    Seeing this, Meredith hurriedly asked him to do his own thing. Parker thought for a moment. There was


    a big box of things for Easton in his trunk. It was too heavy for a woman or a child to carry.


    Therefore, he insisted on sending them to the hospital and carried the things upstairs then he left.


    Fortunately, the ward Amelia was staying at was veryrge, and it didn''t seem crowded with such a box


    in.


    "Parker bought for Easton?"


    Amelia was gratified. She had just talked with Parker who began to please Easton. It seemed that they


    could be a couple soon.

 Chapter 517

    Chapter 517


    "Well, it cost him a lot," Meredith nodded.


    Amelia pretended to say casually. "Parker has a good temper. He won''t mind such a minor issue. You


    should contact him more. Don''t get out of touch with him."


    Meredith was nodding, but somehow she felt something was wrong.


    "Mom, you seem to like Parker very much."


    "Well... kind of. After all, when you disappeared, he was always there for me. He''s a son to me."


    Hearing this, Meredith did not know what to say. She just echoed her and praised Parker.


    Easton also went into the ward. Because Amelia was much better and was not so weak, she allowed


    Easton to see her.


    Easton walked in and looked at Amelia sitting on the bed. "Grandma, I''m Easton."


    He had a vague impression of his grandmother. He only remembered that when he was a young kid,


    she often came to see him.


    Later, he heard that she had a strange disease. The disease was not contagious, but she didn''t want


    him toe to the hospital, so Easton hadn''t seen her for a long time.


    "Easton, you''re a big boy now."


    Amelia couldn''t help crying when she saw Easton.


    She had always missed her grandson, but she didn''t dare to get close to him because of her sickness.


    She didn''t want to leave the child with a sickly impression.


    Easton just worried about her. He frowned when he walked to the hospital bed and saw Amelia''s thin


    hands covered with pinholes.


    "Grandma, it must be painful for you to have injections every day."


    "It''s okay. It doesn''t hurt. I''m an adult, and I''m not afraid of pain."


    Hearing Easton''s words, Amelia felt warm. When Meredith saw this warm picture, she couldn''t bear to


    disturb them, so she stood aside and let them chat.


    Easton asked a few questions, and Amelia changed the subject and asked about his life.


    She hadn''t been out for a long time and wanted to know what was going on outside.


    Easton seemed to understand her thoughts. He thought about the interesting things in his life and tell


    them to grandma.


    The ward had been quiet and lonely, but Easton''s appearance brought joy.


    Meredith stood by without saying a word. She enjoyed such atmosphere as well.


    Meredith saw the joy in Amelia''s eyes, and she made up her mind to cure her mother no matter how


    much she had to pay.


    One day, she would take Easton out with her mother.


    They talked for a long time until the nurse came in to give Amelia a routine checkup every day.


    After the checkup, Meredith saw that Amelia was panting as if she was tired, so Meredith took care of


    her until she fell asleep and then left with Easton.


    Meredith grabbed Easton''s hand thoughtfully. Before she knew it, she extruded her strength. Easton


    noticed it. He looked up and saw that his mother seemed to be in a trance. He did not disturb her.


    He felt that his mom was worried about something.


    After a while, Meredith came back to her senses. "Easton, are you tired? Shall I take you home?"


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "No, I haven''t seen grandma for a long time. It''s nice to talk to her."


    Easton shook his head and said sensibly.


    Meredith smiled and touched his little face.


    Although Easton was sometimes naughty... Well, most of the time, he was adorable.


    "By the way, your toys..."


    Only then did Meredith remember what she had forgotten. Just as she was about to go back to get it,


    Easton stopped her. "How can a girl take such a big box, mom?"


    Although he was still young, Easton had received a gentleman''s education since he was a child, but it


    seemed that he could not rely on himself.


    "I''ll ask dad to pick me up."


    Easton immediately took out his phone and wanted to call Derek.


    Meredith thought she could take a taxi and ask the hospital security to help carry it down. That way,


    Derek didn''t have toe there.


    But Derek was Easton''s father. She couldn''t stop the child from calling his father, so she didn''t say


    anything.


    Derek was looking at the documents in his office. His expression was serious, but he was not


    He wondered how it was going between Easton and his grandmother.


    Derek knew very well what Parker was capable of. He was much more crafty than Sheldon.


    Although Easton was clever, he might not be able to win him.


    Just as he was thinking, his phone rang.


    Derek immediately answered the phone when he saw Easton''s number.


    "Easton, what''s wrong? Is everything going well?"


    "Not bad. I''m in the hospital now. I need to take away a big box. Come and pick me up, dad."


    He knew Derek would not reject him.


    That way, Derek coulde to see Meredith openly by picking Easton up...


    "Okay, I''ll be right there."


    Derek agreed without hesitation. He took the car keys and left thepany.


    "Dad said he''lle to pick me up."


    Easton hung up the phone, feeling pleased.


    After all, if he had said this before, Derek might have reprimanded him for causing trouble and called


    the driver to pick him up.


    Now, he had a perfect excuse.


    "Isn''t he busy?"


    Meredith didn''t really want Derek to appear in front of her. She felt disturbed to see him.


    She''d rather not see him.


    "I don''t know. Leave it be."


    Easton shrugged, and Meredith said nothing more.


    They waited outside for a while, and Derek''s car arrived.


    ording to Easton''s instructions, Derek became a porter and got the box into the car.


    After Derek had finished, Meredith handed him the medicine that the doctor prescribed to Easton this


    morning. "This is Easton''s medicine. Ask him to take it on time. He should eat something light these


    days."


    Derek reached out his hand. He didn''t take the medicine over but held Meredith''s hand.


    "What about the doctor''s orders?"


    Meredith blushed and tried to pull her hand out, but she failed. Derek held her hand so tightly.


    When she looked up and saw Derek''s expressionless face, Meredith couldn''t help but curse in her


    heart.


    Damn! Did he do this on purpose?


    However, he was so calm that she was too embarrassed to withdraw her hand.

 Chapter 518

    Chapter 518


    "It''s all in the instruction. Just check it yourself," Meredith said quickly.


    Derek looked at her anxious face and did not take it seriously. Instead, he raised his eyebrows. "Just


    check it myself? Easton is only five years old. We must be very careful about the dosage, or there will


    be bad consequences."


    The man spoke with conviction. What he said was irrefutable.


    Easton, on the other hand, was secretly worried. He wasn''t really sick; he just pretended to be. If he


    took the medicine and got sick, he would be shooting himself in the foot.


    "Then let go of me. I''ll recall it and write it on the paper so you won''t forget about it."


    Meredith said through gritted teeth. Derek saw that she was really annoyed and stopped teasing her.


    He loosened his grip.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "Okay, I''ll wait for you."


    Meredith took out a pen from her bag, thought about what the doctor said, wrote it on the back of the


    instruction, and handed it to Derek.


    "Okay, you guys go back."


    Meredith was not unhappy about Derek, so she said in a bad tone.


    However, she immediately squatted down and touched Easton''s head. "Remember to take your


    medicine when you go back. Don''t let me worry."


    Easton nodded. Derek saw her obviously different attitude and felt annoyed, but he couldn''t show it.


    The man touched Easton''s hand to indicate him to ask Meredith go with them, but Easton pretended


    not to notice.


    Easton had his own thoughts. He was feigning illness. If his mother went back with him, she would


    definitely supervise his medication very seriously, and things would then be difficult for him, so he


    wouldn''t do as Derek wanted.


    Seeing his son ignore him, Derek could not do anything but ask him to get in the car and get ready to


    leave.


    Just as they were about to leave, Derek received a call.


    "What? She''s awake? I''ll be right there!"


    The call came from the hospital, saying that Penelope had woken up.


    Derek immediately rolled down the window and called for Meredith, who was about to go back. "The


    hospital sent the news that Penelope was awake."


    "What? Really? Penelope is awake?!"


    Meredith was excited to hear it.


    These days, she would visit Penelope from time to time. There were Mrs. Garcia and Damian taking


    care of Penelope, but Meredith couldn''t just sit by and do nothing. After all, Penelope was in danger


    because of her.


    Now that Penelope was finally awake, and she finally felt relieved.


    "Get in the car. I''ll take you there."


    Penelope stayed in a brain hospital, which was located in the suburbs, far from here, and it would be


    difficult to take a taxi.


    "... Okay."


    Meredith hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and sat in.


    Now, it was not the time to make a fuss. She had to visit her good friend immediately.


    Derek also understood her anxiety and sped up. The car was heading as fast as it could towards its


    destination.


    ...


    It was a half-an-hour ride.


    Derek took Meredith and Easton to the hospital.


    Then they rushed to the ward without dy. When they reached the ce, they did not see what they


    had expected. Instead, Mrs. Garcia was sitting by the bed, wiping her tears silently.


    Penelope sat on the bed and looked terrified and helpless.


    "My eyes..."


    When Meredith and the people around her heard this, they all felt shocked, and the joy in their hearts


    instantly disappeared.


    With the meticulous treatment in the hospital, Penelope finally woke up. It was a great thing, but why...


    Meredith''s lips moved. After all, she could not say anything.


    "It''s night, or there''s a power failure, isn''t it?"


    Penelope could not help but cry. She was usually bluff, but after all, she was still a young girl in her


    twenties, and she had never encountered such a thing before. She had lost her mind and could only


    find excuses tofort herself.


    She wouldn''t be so unlucky to lose his vision.


    She was only twenty-four years old, and she hadn''t even dated a good man yet. How could she be


    blind?


    "Come on, turn on the lights. Come on, stop messing around, okay? I can''t stand being scared."


    Seeing that no one responded to her, Penelope groped to get out of bed. Seeing this, Meredith


    immediately stopped her.


    "Penelope, don''t get excited. You can''t get out of bed."


    "Mer, you''re here. Tell me what''s wrong with me? Tell me!"


    Penelope grabbed Meredith''s hand. Penelope was so emotional that she couldn''t care more and her


    nails cut several wounds on Meredith''s arm.


    Meredith couldn''t even feel the pain. No matter how much it hurt, it couldn''tpare to the pain in her


    heart.


    "No, you''ll be fine. You should rest for a while, okay? You can''t get excited now. Maybe if you wake up


    after a nap, you''ll find that everything is better again?"


    Meredith tried her best to cate Penelope, and Mrs. Garcia finally realized that she could not be so


    weak anymore. If no one supported Meredith, Penelope would copse.


    "Penelope, don''t worry. This is the best hospital. There will be the best doctors to treat you. When you


    wake up, you''ll be fine."


    Mrs. Garcia murmured as she hugged Penelope.


    Meredith took two steps back and looked at her in a daze.


    When Derek saw this, he reached out and held her shoulder. At this time, Meredith did not struggle.


    She suddenly felt very tired. If it hadn''t been for her, Penelope wouldn''t have had a car ident,


    wouldn''t have gone blind, and wouldn''t have had a breakdown.


    Meredith thought it was her who got Penelope into trouble.


    Seeing Meredith''s expression, Derek instantly understood what she was thinking and forcibly dragged


    her out of the ward so that she would not see this anymore.


    "Meredith, this is not your fault. Don''t me yourself!"


    "Mom, what''s wrong with you?"


    Easton tugged at the corner of Meredith''s shirt, worried.


    "I... I''m fine."


    When Meredith heard the father and son''s voices, she immediately reacted.


    Seeing Easton''s worry, she felt guilty. "It''s okay. I just... Suddenly had a special feeling."


    "Don''t be pessimistic. Let''s go to the doctor first and hear what he would say."


    After all, Derek had experienced a lot, so he immediately offered to ask about the situation first.


    Meredith nodded and followed Derek to find Penelope''s attending physician.


    "Doctor, how is the Penelope? Why can''t she see all of a sudden?"


    Meredith asked the doctor anxiously.


    The doctor looked at an X-ray and pondered for a long time. "We hadn''t expected the patient to go


    blind when she woke up. You can see that there was a blood clot in her brain. It was caused by the


    impact of the car ident. The blindness was caused by the blood clot pressing on the nerves. It was a


    low probability event."


    "...So, how to treat her?"


    Hearing about the blood clot, Meredith thought of her own business.


    Her memories could be retrieved, and perhaps there still might be hope for Penelope.

 Chapter 519

    Chapter 519


    "We have to wait until the patient is in a stable condition. The main thing now is to set the patient''s


    mind at rest so she could better receive treatment."


    After the doctor finished speaking, Meredith lowered her head.


    It sounded easy, but could Penelope bear such a huge blow?


    "Is there any other possibility?"


    Derek took Meredith''s hand and asked.


    The doctor thought for a moment. "Perhaps. My teacher is an expert in brain medicine. He has retired


    long ago and now lives in Capital City to do researches. If we can find him and let him treat the patient,


    maybe there is a better way."


    Meredith clenched her lower lip when she heard that. It sounded that it was hard to ask the old


    professor toe.


    However, for Penelope''s sake, no matter how hard it was, she was willing to do it.


    "I see."


    Meredith nodded, thanked him and left.


    Derek followed her and looked at her worriedly.


    Now, Meredith didn''t look panicky or helpless anymore. She was calm.


    However, that did not make him feel relieved. Instead, he was more worried.


    After all, Meredith was not the kind of person who didn''t offer help under such circumstances. And he


    was worried that she was hiding her thoughts and trying to be strong.


    "I''m going to find the professor. No matter what the price is, I''m going to get him toe over and treat


    Penelope."


    Meredith said word by word. She had experienced too much, and now, she was not the same


    ipetent woman that she used to be.


    It was not time for feeling sad. What was more important was to find a way to invite the expert over.


    What ever the result, at least she would try her best.


    "Okay, I''ll contact him for you too. I''ll definitely find a way to cure her eyes."


    Hearing Derek''s words, Meredith took a deep breath and stood outside for a while to calm down.


    She could not pass on negative emotions to Penelope, which would only make her worse.


    ...


    Mrs. Garcia stayed with Penelope for a long time. Penelope was tired from crying. After knowing that


    she was blind, she just sat in bed and no one knew what she was thinking.


    Mrs. Garcia felt as if her heart had been cut by a knife at the sight of Penelope''s dejected look. If she


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    could, she wanted to bear the pain for her daughter, but she couldn''t.


    "Penelope, you just woke up. Are you tired? Do you want to sleep for a while?"


    Mrs. Garcia perked up and wanted to talk to Penelope.


    Penelope was still immersed in her thoughts and did not answer.


    Mrs. Garcia''s heart sank. "Penelope, Penelope?"


    Penelope just opened her empty eyes and looked at the thing in front of her without any reaction.


    "Penelope, talk to your mother. Don''t scare her!"


    Mrs. Garcia was on the verge of breaking down. She would rather have Penelope cry and make a


    scene like she just did, than be as quiet and silent as a doll. It seemed that Penelope was in despair.


    After getting the news, Damian rushed to the hospital and heard Mrs. Garcia''s desperate cry. Before


    speaking to Derek, he rushed into the ward to check on the situation.


    "Something''s wrong. Let''s go in quickly."


    Meredith didn''t know what was going on either, so she quickly followed.


    When she entered the ward, she only saw Penelope sitting on the bed numbly, not responding to


    anything around her.


    She went from one extreme to another.


    She turned from irrational topletely numb.


    Damian''s hand trembled uncontrobly and he walked over. "Penelope, can you hear me? It''s me. I''m


    Damian. It''s all my fault. You can hit me and scold me, but don''t keep quiet..."


    Damian was no longer as calm as usual and his voice was trembling.


    Maybe he would go crazy if Penelope kept quiet for good.


    "Penelope, answer me."


    Damian called out her name, and Penelope suddenly frowned when she heard the noises in the room.


    Just now, she had the urge to give up being optimistic since she was blind. She was in a state of


    chaos.


    After hearing what they said, she slowly came to her senses.


    Penelope reached out and fumbled in front of her. Mrs. Garcia immediately held her hand. "Penelope,


    don''t scare mom. You''re mom''s only daughter. You have to be fine."


    "Mom, I''m fine..."


    Penelope forced out a smile, though it was uglier than crying.


    Her mother was in poor health with high blood pressure and heart disease. She could not let her mom


    worry anymore.


    There were a few people present who all knew that she was actually trying to be strong, but no one had


    the heart to say anything.


    Meredith was about to say something, but Derek stopped her. He shook his head seriously at her.


    Then Meredith lowered her head and did not speak.


    "Let them stay for a while."


    Derek felt that it was not a good time to visit, and Penelope didn''t necessarily want to expose her most


    vulnerable side in front of everyone.


    Damian was reluctant to leave, but he didn''t know what to do, so he had toe out.


    "I think it''s better for us to find the doctor and make sure we can talk to her after the surgery."


    Derek was calm. "Otherwise, it would be cruel to tell her a white lie and give her hope."


    Meredith''s eyes dimmed. Derek was right. She had almost told Penelope about it just tofort her for


    a while.


    By then, if Penelope found out how seriously ill she was, she would be devastated.


    "I will go to the doctor. No matter what the cost, I will try my best."


    Without hesitation, Damian said directly, "Boss, I may have to take a long time off from work."


    Hearing Damian''s words, Derek couldn''t help shaking his head. "What are you talking about? We''re


    going to look for the doctor too. We all worry about Penelope."


    "That''s right, I''ll go too. If I wait here any longer, I''ll go crazy."


    Meredith agreed.


    The three of them looked at each other with determination in their eyes.


    "Then I''ll make arrangements immediately."


    Damian was an impetuous person. Once he made a decision, he immediately went to investigate the


    relevant information and arrange a time.


    Derek nodded. "I''ll leave this to you. And I''ll take charge of anything else."


    When Damian heard that, he looked gratefully at Derek and then left immediately.


    "I''ll pack up too."


    J City was far from Capital City. She didn''t know how long it would take for her toe back. She had


    to tell her mother.


    "I''ll send you back."


    Derek supported her decision. They were about to leave when there was amotioning from the


    other ward.


    "What are you going to do?"

 Chapter 520

    Chapter 520


    Meredith turned around and saw the mess behind her.


    Andy woke up and was about to get himself out of bed.


    He came out and saw Meredith. He was stunned. "Are you..."


    He didn''t look at Meredith''s face carefullyst time. After taking a closer look, he found out that she


    really resembled that person.


    He didn''t mean facial features, but the eyes and temperaments.


    "You are... her daughter?"


    Andy staggered over. His tone sounded excited.


    "... I don''t know."


    Meredith shook her head. She really didn''t know who she was because Cali was dead and the girl''s


    blood type didn''t match.


    "No, you must be her daughter."


    Andy sighed. "You may have a lot of questions. Let''s talk about it, shall we?"


    Meredith and Derek looked at each other. Derek said, "Do you mind if I''m present?"


    Derek felt that Andy was not a decent person, so he was worried about Meredith''s safety.


    "Don''t worry. I''m too old to do any harm to her. I won''t run away or do anything dangerous. I just want


    to ask some questions."


    Hearing this, Meredith thought for a moment, "Okay, no problem."


    With that, she went up to hold Andy. "Don''t worry. It''s okay."


    Derek still felt uneasy. However, both of them wanted to talk alone, so he couldn''t meddle in.


    "May I ask what happened back then?"


    Meredith helped Andy to the bed. He had just woken up and was very weak. After a few steps, he was


    panting.


    "Since you are her daughter, you have the right to know."


    Andy was lost in thought and seemed to recall things that happened a long time ago.


    "I am an orphan. I was abandoned by my parents and grew up in an orphanage. Therefore, I am a


    loner, so no one is willing to adopt me."


    Andy began with his background. Meredith did not interrupt him but listened quietly.


    "Fortunately, my irresponsible parents gave me a good IQ. After I went to school, I was always at the


    top of the ss with excellent grades. I did well in the college entrance examination and went to


    medical university in Capital City."


    "At that time, I didn''t know that there were a lot of rich and powerful young men in that university.


    Because I was a loner since I was a child, I couldn''t please others, so I was treated as an alien and


    caused a lot of people''s hostility. Then, I began to lose things inexplicably, or I would be teased and


    bullied."


    Meredith felt the same way when she heard that.


    When she was in prison, she also lived miserably.


    She didn''t expect his past to be so painful.


    "Just when I couldn''t hold on, I met Cali. She was really nice. She backed me up once and told me not


    to worry. No one would dare to bully me because she''ll protect me."


    "Since then, I had followed her all the time. I knew that I didn''t deserve her, so I just wanted to stay


    behind her and help her when she was in need. I just didn''t expect that she would fall in love with a


    man she shouldn''t have."


    "I didn''t know who the man was. Those who knew it probably couldn''t live to this day. Anyway, Cali


    disappeared for a long time after being with him, and then she came back pregnant. She hid at my


    ce and gave birth to you, but she was worried that someone would continue to chase you who was


    still an infant. So she asked me to think of a way to save your life."


    Meredith suddenly fell silent.


    Needless to say, she understood what this method was.


    One baby from another family was turned into her scapegoat.


    "As a doctor, I shouldn''t have done such a vicious thing. However, seeing how weak she was, I couldn''t


    refuse her. After all, she was the person I loved the most in my life, so I thought of a way to exchange


    the two children."


    "I know that Derek is very resourceful. Maybe you don''t need to know those from me. So, I just want to


    ask, is that girl okay now?"


    Andy propped himself up and looked at Meredith.


    Meredith shook her head. "I don''t know. That girl''s blood type doesn''t match my parents at all. I don''t


    know if your n was wrong or..."


    The girl was dead, and the current Miss the Smiths was a fake.


    "What?"


    When Andy heard the news, he was shocked, then his face turned pale.


    Although he knew the consequences of his actions, he still found it hard to ept that he had killed an


    innocent girl.


    "It''s my fault."


    Andy kept shaking his head.


    "Maybe, there''s something I don''t know. Maybe the Smith family hid her to protect her. Anyway, I''m not


    sure she''s dead yet, right?"


    Meredith could only find a reason tofort herself.


    Andy nodded. "I will find a way to pay for my sins. I want to see your mother... And apologize to her. As


    for what you will do to me in the future, I will face it."


    "My mother is still in the hospital waiting for a bone marrow transnt. I don''t intend to let her know


    about this now."


    Meredith rejected him. Now Amelia was emotionally vulnerable, she couldn''t take the risk.


    "Then..."


    Upon hearing the news, Andy could not help but feel that it was fate that made her suffer from this


    disease. If not, perhaps this incident would be hid forever.


    "Then let me see her when she recovers."


    Looking at Andy''s pleading eyes, Meredith did not refuse.


    She was not qualified to forgive him on behalf of her mother. She had to leave it to her mother to make


    the decision.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "This is a token left by your mother to me. It''s a family heirloom of the Smith family. At that time,I didn''t


    have the chance to give it to you back then. Here you are."


    Andy handed over a box. Meredith took it, opened it, and saw an emerald pendant inside.


    It was green and was carved from an extremely high-quality raw material. The carving technique was


    very unique, and the patterns on it were not the usual auspicious decorations. The patterns were


    somewhat strange.


    "If you want to work in the Smith family in the future, it''s at least easier to have this."


    Andy coughed a few times.


    Seeing this, Meredith quickly called the doctor in and saw a group of people surrounding Andy to treat


    him. She didn''t want to stay here anymore. Therefore, she took the box and walked out thoughtfully.

 Chapter 521

    Chapter 521


    Derek watched Meredithe out with the box in her hand and hurried forward.


    "How is it? What did he say to you?"


    Meredith looked at him. "He just said that I''m Cali''s daughter, but he didn''t know why the blood type


    didn''t match. Maybe... the girl had an ident, or maybe she was hidden by the Smiths."


    "Hidden..." Derek was very sharp and immediately noticed the anomaly.


    Generally speaking, if there was no danger, one would not hide a person. Then, could Meredith''s


    identity bring danger to him?


    "I''m going to Capital City. I''m going to find that professor for Penelope to do the surgery. I also want to


    know what happened back then. I can''t just take everything away from that girl..."


    Meredith clenched her fist. This time, she had to go.


    Seeing her expression, Derek nodded. "I''ll go with you..."


    Meredith shook her head. "No need. Since Damian is going too, I''ll just go with him. There''s no need to


    get so many people involved."


    Hearing this, Derek could not help but raise his eyebrow. This woman now distanced herself from him


    so obviously. In her eyes, he was not even a better option than Damian.


    Did she know what she might encounter on this trip? The Smiths was not an ordinary family. If a


    woman suddenly appeared in front of them and told them that she was Cali''s daughter, even though


    she had physical evidence, she might not be believed.


    "I must go, even if you don''t agree."


    Derek said with absolute certainty. Meredith couldn''t do anything about it. "Fine. Whatever."


    Derek would not easily be swayed by others'' words.


    "Then I''ll go back and get ready. I''ll send you home."


    Meredith did not refuse. Derek drove her home.


    Meredith immediately began to pack up and find herself something to do so that she could think less of


    the things she could not change for the time being.


    Damian also went home to pack up after he had assigned the tasks.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Seeing this, his mother immediately asked him, "What''s going on? Why are you packing? Are you


    going on a business trip again?"


    These days, Damian stayed in the hospital with Penelope most of the time and dealt with some


    necessary work in thepany for the rest of the time, so he spent little time at home.


    His mother was naturally unhappy about his leaving.


    "Yes, I have something to attend to."


    Damian nodded, still thinking about Penelope.


    In order to find a doctor to see Penelope as soon as possible, he booked the earliest flight tomorrow


    and had to leave early in the morning, so he was wondering if he should visit herter and tell her


    about it.


    "Oh, why are you so busy with this job? The blind date I arranged for youst time was also disturbed.


    When can I have a grandson?"


    Hearing his mother''s words, Damian couldn''t help but sweat. Now that his mother had nothing to do at


    home after retirement, she had been nagging him about getting married and having children, but how


    could he have the time to think about these things?


    "I can''t talk now. I still have some unfinished work in mypany. I''ll go."


    Afraid of her nagging, Damian found a reason and ran away.


    His mother watched his back as he left and shook her head helplessly. "This won''t work out. I have to


    make an appointment with a few girls for him now. When hees back, I''ll send him on a blind date.


    Otherwise, he works outside all day long and does not care about his family at all."


    Damian drove to the hospital without stopping and went straight to Penelope''s VIP ward.


    Penelope''s mother was not around for the time being. Penelope was the only one in the room.


    She sat quietly on the bed, her face expressionless, staring nkly at the TV and listening to its noise.


    No one knew what she was thinking.


    Hearing footsteps, Penelope looked towards the door. She didn''t know if it was because she couldn''t


    see, but now her hearing was much sharper. She could hear every movement very clearly.


    "Mom, you''re back."


    Penelope pretended to be nonchnt and looked in the direction of the door.


    Looking at her expression, Damian suddenly felt very sad.


    She was clearly in pain and despair, but in order not to worry her family, she could only pretend that


    she didn''t care.


    His heart was throbbing with pain.


    "It''s me."


    Damian walked over and spoke softly, in such a tender tone that he had never used before.


    "Oh, you''re here."


    Hearing that it was Damian, Penelope no longer forced herself to pretend to be full of energy and


    answered tonelessly.


    She did not know why, but instead, in front of this man, she was more able to reveal her true side.


    "Well, after today, I''m going on a business trip. Maybe I can''t take care of you anymore. You should be


    careful in the hospital."


    Damian did not say his true intention. He was afraid that she would not be able to bear it if he gave her


    hope and disappointed her in the future.


    Penelope''s heart ached when she heard him say that.


    She remembered her mother saying that Damian came every day when she was unconscious, and a


    lot of his work was done here in the hospital.


    And now, as soon as she woke up, he said he was going on a business trip. Did he feel that he was no


    longer responsible and could finally get rid of her?


    "That''s your business. You don''t have to report anything to me."


    Penelope said calmly and her words made Damian put on a long face.


    Originally, Damian''s parents knew that he was going to be away for some time today, so they specially


    made a table of dishes for him, but he was worried about Penelope, so he refused and came over.


    He didn''t expect this woman to still be so mean.


    "I''m just here to say goodbye. You don''t have to think too much."


    When Penelope heard Damian say that, she was suddenly annoyed.


    "What did I think? Didn''t you feel guilty because I was in the car with you the other day, but I had an


    ident while you were safe and sound? Now that I''m awake, I''m just so unlucky that I can''t see


    anything, but you don''t have to worry about me pestering you. I''m not that brazen to burden you


    because of this."


    Penelope finished her words in one breath, her chest heaving incessantly, showing her restlessness.


    Hearing this, Damian was angry, even if he had a good temper. After so many days and nights of


    "Looks like we were born to be at odds. Forget it. I''ll leave now. Have a good rest here."


    Damian didn''t want to argue with her anymore, so he left the ce holding back his anger.


    Penelope heard his footsteps fade away, her hands clutching the sheets, her head lowered, and tears


    suddenly fell.

 Chapter 522

    Chapter 522


    She knew that Damian came here with kind thoughts, but...


    One day, Damian would think that she was a big problem. In that case, she would rather drive him


    away by herself.


    Instead of one day being told that she had caused trouble.


    Penelope had always been a tough woman.


    When she heard that the room was quiet again, Penelope wiped her face with the sheets in a mess.


    She didn''t want her mother to see herself like this and worry her.


    At this moment, her cell phone on the bed suddenly rang. Penelope got the phone but identally


    touched the kettle on the table.


    With a snap, the kettle hit the ground and the hot water sshed on the back of her hand, hurting


    badly.


    Penelope endured the pain and didn''t utter a word, but she was even more aggrieved. Now, she


    thought she had be such trash, not even able to do such an easy thing.


    She didn''t want to know that if anything else that might hurt her, Penelope kept flipping around on the


    table, losing control of her emotions once again.


    Just as she was venting her inner pain, a male voice came from behind. "Penelope, calm down."


    Damian wanted to leave, but when he went downstairs, he realized that he had forgotten to bring the


    things he had just bought for Penelope.


    After much thought, he returned.


    Although he didn''t know if Penelope would lose her temper again because of his appearance, he still


    appeared because he thought it might not be a problem to put down the things and leave immediately.


    Damian went upstairs, but before he could enter the room, he heard a loud sound in the room. He


    couldn''t think much and ran in immediately. What he saw was the way Penelope lost control of her


    emotions.


    Penelope did not expect Damian toe back. She froze for a moment, and then she felt even more


    ufortable.


    He must regard her as a crazy woman.


    However, it seemed that he had always felt that she was a crazy woman, so she didn''t care about it?


    "What are you doing back here? I said I don''t want you to care about me. You can go wherever you


    want. You don''t have to feel guilty about me. I''m doing this for myself. It''s none of your business."


    Damian saw that Penelope did not listen to him at all, so he could only use his hands to hold her hands


    down.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Penelope had been in aa for so long so it was impossible to fight against a young man. After


    struggling twice, she was so angry that she started kicking him.


    Damian was kicked twice and couldn''t help but grin. ''Although this woman had been unconscious for so


    long, she was still strong. It hurt to be kicked by her...''


    Damian didn''t care about anything. He used his hands and feet to hold Penelope down.


    "Can you please calm down for a while? When did I say that I don''t care about you? Who dares to say


    that you deserve it?"


    Seeing that Penelope couldn''t move any further, Damian could finally catch his breath and say a


    "Then why did you go on a business trip at this time? You ran away as soon as I woke up. Are you


    afraid that I would fall back on you?"


    Penelope couldn''t move at all, but she still said fierce words at all.


    "..."


    Damian felt helpless. So, this was the reason why Penelope suddenly said those things?


    Then he was really wronged.


    It was rare for him to go on a business trip, and this time it was because he wanted to find a doctor fro


    her.


    "What? If I really wanted to leave you alone, would I havee to tell you that? Am I that boring? This


    time, it was boss and Miss Mason who had to go together, so I had to go with them."


    Damian was very angry at first, but when he looked at Penelope''s nk eyes, his tone became much


    gentler.


    He thought that maybe because she was temporarily out of sight, she would think about all these things


    in a mess.


    So he decided to forgive her.


    "Oh..."


    Hearing that Derek and Meredith were going on the business trip as well, Penelope knew that it might


    be something important, so she didn''t say anything more.


    "Then get off me!"


    Although her mood improved a little, Penelope suddenly realized that something was wrong.


    She was lying on the bed with her limbspletely pressed down by Damian. Although she could not


    see it, she could imagine that it was not a very elegant movement.


    Damian''s blushed when he realized his current position.


    If people who didn''t know the truth would regard him as a rascal who did something indecent to


    Penelope instead of iming her down.


    Just as he was about to let go of his hand and get out of bed, the door was suddenly opened from


    outside. Mrs. Garcia had just returned from buying dinner. When she saw this picture, she was


    stunned, then felt embarrassed.


    "No... No, auntie!"


    Damian jumped off the bed like he was electrocuted.


    Mrs. Garcia stroke her chest. "It''s okay. I''m getting old. I''ve seen a lot before. Hehe..."


    Damian was speechless and Penelope''s face turned red. "Mom, can you stop talking nonsense? It''s


    not what you think!"


    Mrs. Garcia felt that she was shy and didn''t expose her. "Fine, fine, whatever you say. I bought you


    dinner. Damian, why don''t you take care of her and eat something together?"


    Then she left.


    After observing Damian for so long, Mrs. Garcia had a good impression of this young, promising and


    responsible man. If they could really be a couple, she would definitely support them.


    Damian felt that she had misunderstood something, but Mrs. Garcia walked so fast that he couldn''t


    leave Penelope here alone, so he had to stay.


    "You''d better go. It''s really... Embarrassing."


    Penelope''s face was still red, and when she spoke, it sounded strong.


    Damian nced at her. "I didn''t expect you to be shy."


    "What did you say?"


    Penelope was annoyed. She was a pure girl. She had charming figures, and he even saw it. Why did


    he say this?


    "I said you... Are more manly than a man. You have such a hard temper."


    "What? Try me?"


    Penelope, who was unwilling to admit defeat, started bickering with Damian again.


    Seeing that she was in a good mood to quarrel with him, Damian was not angry either, so he yed


    with her in this way.


    This was much better than seeing her curled up in bed in a dead daze.


    As Damian spoke to Penelope, he took a broom, cleaned everything she had taken off the floor, and


    tidied up the table.


    At this moment, he saw Penelope''s hand was scalded red on the back. Suddenly, he felt a little guilty.


    "When did you burn your hand? Why didn''t you tell me?"


    When Penelope heard this, she withdrew her hand but was held down by Damian. "Don''t move. I''ll give


    you the medicine."

 Chapter 523

    Chapter 523


    ¡°It''s fine. It''s not that bad anymore."


    Penelope wanted to pull her hand back, but Damian held it so tightly that she failed.


    "Your mom will see us when shees back. Aren''t you afraid that she will be worried?"


    Penelope felt lucky when she heard this.


    Fortunately, his mother had left because of some misunderstanding. Otherwise, she would be worried


    when she saw the mess in the room.


    "Fine."


    Penelope stopped trying. Damian took out the ointment for burns and scalds and carefully applied it to


    her hand.


    His movement was careful and gentle. She just felt a feather had fallen on her hand. It felt itchy, but


    Penelope didn''t hate the feeling.


    She didn''t know that the Damian she knew, who always argued with her, had such a gentle side.


    Damian finished applying the ointment to her hand. He saw her staying there so quietly but didn''t know


    what she was thinking.


    She was a little calmer than usual. He realized that she was a pretty woman. She was always so noisy


    that he didn''t have a chance to notice her beauty.


    Damian held Penelope''s hand and stayed in a daze for a while. He suddenly felt embarrassed when he


    realized what he had done. "Well, the ointment has been applied. Take a good rest here. Call me


    immediately if anything happens."


    Penelope nodded and didn''t argue with him.


    Damian was relieved and left. Mrs. Garcia was outside of the room. She said when she saw hime


    out, "Thank you, Chen."


    It was the nickname that Mrs. Garcia gave him after they''ve spent so much time together. She said that


    this made them closer. Damian didn''t refuse her.


    "No Problem. I bought her some supplements and some soothing music. She can listen whenever she


    feels like it. I''m going to visit that professor and ask him to be the surgeon of her operation. I won''t be


    able toe for a while."


    Mrs. Garcia nodded. "Okay, don''t worry. I''ll take good care of her. We''ll wait for your good news."


    She looked at Damian gratefully. "I felt bad troubling you."


    Damian shook his head and talked to Mrs. Garcia for a few more minutes. He checked his watch and


    said, "I have to go. I have an early flight tomorrow."


    "Okay, off you go."


    After seeing Damian off, Mrs. Garcia went back to the room and saw what he had left behind.


    Everything was arranged clearly. There was some imported food with trantedbels, perhaps


    because he was afraid she couldn''t understand. The usage and dosage were clearly written on the


    "What a great child..."


    Mrs. Garcia liked Damian a lot. She hoped that Penelope could recover her vision through surgery as


    soon as possible and have a rtionship with Damian.


    ...


    The next morning.


    Meredith got up early. She had been thinking all sorts of stuffst night. She couldn''t fall asleep when


    she thought that she might see her real family. Naturally, she saw two huge ck circles when she


    looked in the mirror.


    Meredith took out her makeup and wanted to cover it up, but she was not in the mood. Thus, she put


    on a pair of sunsses instead.


    She didn''t want to wear makeup now.


    She waited at home for a while and received a call from Damian. He told her to get ready and that


    someone woulde and pick her up for the 7 o''clock flight.


    Meredith said okay at once. She took the suitcase that was packed and was ready to leave.


    However, as soon as she went downstairs, she saw a familiar caring.


    It was Derek''s car.


    Meredith didn''t call him, but he still came.


    Derek was in the driver''s seat. He pulled over when he saw Meredith with a suitcase and said, "Get in


    the car."


    "You''re going as well?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but think, "Shouldn''t he be busy?"


    Besides, she heard that the Xaviers never had any branches in the Capital City. It wouldn''t help his


    business even if he went with her.


    She didn''t think he needed to go.


    "Of course." Said Derek.


    It had something to do with Meredith''s background, and it soundedplicated. How could he not go?


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "It''s 5:30 now. If you get in my car, you can still make it. Otherwise, you might miss the flight."


    Derek saw that she didn''t want to bring him along, so he deliberately reminded her of the time.


    Meredith felt she was ckmailed when she heard it.


    She didn''t expect the person Damian was talking about was Derek.


    She took a look on the street. It was too early to have any taxis around. She had no choice but to get


    on his car. "Fine, let''s go."


    Derek put her luggage into the trunk with satisfaction. "It is so heavy. What did you pack?"


    "Who knows how long I have to stay there? I have to settle everything before Ie back."


    Derek didn''t say anything, hearing Meredith''s answer. He started the car and sped towards the airport.


    There was no traffic in the early morning. They arrived at the airport very soon.


    When they found the gate, Damian was already waiting there. No one said anything. They took the


    boarding pass and waited for a while before boarding the ne.


    Meredith sat in her seat and took off her sunsses. Derek saw her ck circles and asked, "Didn''t


    you sleep wellst night?"


    Meredith nodded. "How could I sleep well?"


    "May I have a cup of coffee, please?"


    Meredith felt a little tired and wanted a cup of coffee to wake her up.


    "No, a cup of milk for her would be fine."


    Derek took Meredith''s coffee with hisrge hand. "Take a nap."


    Meredith thought for a moment. It would take three hours to the Capital City. It would be hard for her if


    she kept fighting her tiredness. She did not refuse his words.


    After drinking a cup of warm milk and covering herself with a nket, Meredith felt sleepy. She closed


    his eyes slowly and fell asleep.


    Derek tucked her in and went to sit with Damian to avoid disturbing her sleep.


    "Is the proposal done?"


    Derek looked at Damian and asked.


    Damian nodded and handed him a document. It was a partnership agreement with the Smiths.


    Derek scanned over the documents and stopped at the profit distribution section. "Here, we might need


    to give them more."


    Damian frowned a bit. "We''ve given them more than enough. We won''t have any profit left if we give


    them anymore."


    Derek started working on this agreement when Meredith thought it might be necessary to go to the


    Capital City.


    The Smiths had always had a grudge against the Xaviers because Derek refused to connect through


    marriage. He didn''t want to cause any trouble, so he kept his distance for all these years.


    But now, he had to deal with the Smiths. He could only repair the rtionship at the expense of his own


    profits.


    But even so, Derek was not entirely sure that the Smiths would forgive him.

 Chapter 524

    Chapter 524


    "It doesn''t matter. Just earn it back by other ways."


    Derek was very confident. Because of Meredith''s special identity, it was necessary to get along well


    with the Smith family.


    Although she had gotten the token from Andy, if she just went directly to say that she was Cali''s


    daughter, Old Master Smith would definitely doubt that and threw them out.


    "Okay, I got it."


    Damian began to modify the contract n, making the Smith family benefit the most.


    ...


    A few hourster.


    The nended smoothly at the airport.


    Meredith was woken up, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself in the first ss seat,


    covered with a nket.


    However, after a nap, she felt better. She stretched and looked to see Derek had already packed


    everything and looked vigorous.


    She wondered why he was so energetic.


    Derek noticed and walked over. "How are you? Did you rest well?"


    Meredith nodded. "Aren''t you tired?"


    Derek shook his head, who was used to working overtime at night and not resting for a long time.


    Seemingly, some people naturally did not need a lot of time to rest, because it will be easier to


    seed.


    Derek could be such a person.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    Derek reached out and knocked her on the head.


    "No... Nothing."


    Meredith shrugged. She would not say that she wasmenting the unfairness.


    Derek did not ask much. When the three of them got off the ne, someone came to pick them up.


    "Where are we going first?"


    Damian did not know if they nned to go to the Smith family first or find a doctor for Penelope first.


    "Let''s go find that professor first."


    Meredith felt it was not in a hurry to go to the Smith family, and the most important thing now was to


    treat Penelope.


    Hearing this, Damian breathed a sigh of relief. He also nned to do the same. After all, he did not


    want Penelope to wait alone in the hospital.


    The three of them immediately went to the Research Center where Professor Lee was staying.


    However, they were told that Professor Lee had gone out to talk about investing.


    Derek raised his eyebrows and asked, only to find out that the Research Center needed to be rebuilt


    and expanded, thus needing investment to upgrade the equipment.


    Obviously, this was a good opportunity. Derek took out his business card and handed it to the man.


    "This is my business card. I''m interested in investing."


    The Xaviers has always wanted to do something concerning the medical field, but there was no top


    hospitals in the city where Derek lived.


    So it would have a good profit to move the top medical Research Center to J City.


    "Okay, I''ll contact Professor Lee right away."


    The man immediately went to Professor Lee.


    He called Professor Lee, who was in the Smith family talking to Joseph, the only son of Old Master


    Smith.


    In the past, arge part of Professor Lee''s research funding was given by Cali. Cali had studied


    medicine herself, so she was particrly interested in this research, and the Smith family also funded a


    lot of money to his Research Center.


    But now that she has been dead for many years, the Smith family people paid less attention to his


    institute.


    Joseph felt that it was pointless to fund. The only thing he wanted to talk about when he called


    Professor Lee over was to buy the invention patent.


    Professor Lee naturally did not want to, but could notpete with the Smith family. So he had no


    choice but to go to the Smith family to talk about it.


    "Mr. Smith, what you said is really not in line with our research direction. I think..."


    "It doesn''t matter what you think. I think it''s okay, Professor Lee. You can only make money if you cater


    to the market."


    Just then Professor Lee answered a call.


    Professor Lee''s eyes lit up when he heard that a new investor was willing to help him.


    "Mr. Smith, a man said he was interested in continuing to fund our research. I''ll go back first."


    Joseph was very unhappy, but he could only let him go.


    However, Joseph was furious instead.


    Who dared to go against their Smith family?


    "Find out who he is."


    Joseph ordered someone to check it out.


    As a result, Joseph felt speechless when knowing the man was Derek.


    "This Derek..."


    Joseph remembered this name very well.


    Back then, it was Derek who rejected the marriage requested by Old Master Smith. Although Joseph


    had no feelings for his sister Cali''s daughter, he was even more annoyed with people who dared to


    defy the Smith family.


    "How dare the Xavierse to Capital City?"


    Joseph thought something was wrong and told it to Old Master Smith.


    He was the one who proposed this acquisition of the Research Center. If he could not finish it now, he


    would definitely be scolded. But if he told Old Master Smith it was Derek who made things difficult for


    him, he would not be scolded.


    Old Master Smith was drinking tea when he heard that Derek hade to Capital City and became so


    furious.


    "Derek rejected marrying with Evelyn and is now going against us. How dare he?"


    Derek, who was waiting for Professor Lee at the Research Center, sneezed violently.


    Meredith looked at him. "You don''t have a cold, do you?"


    Derek shook his head. He felt as if someone was talking about him.


    "Nothing."


    Derek was expressionless and indifferent.


    Meredith took out a box of cold medicine from her bag. "Take the medicine if you have a cold. Don''t


    push yourself."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Derek couldn''t help butugh. "What, are you worried about me?"


    Meredith was a little speechless. "I was just afraid that you might catch a cold and infect me!"


    "Don''t you know that if you catch a cold, it is better to infect others?"


    Derek said with conviction, "But how do you want me to infect you?"

 Chapter 525

    Chapter 525


    "Who told you that?"


    Meredith realized that Derek was teasing her again and couldn''t help but push him aside, regardless of


    whether he had a cold or not.


    Even if he had a cold, he was much more energetic than she was.


    Derek saw that she seemed to be very embarrassed and angry, and her ears were all red, so he did


    not say anything more.


    At this moment, Professor Lee finally came back.


    When he saw Derek and the others, he looked a little embarrassed. He was an academic who was


    addicted to scientific research, but he didn''t really know much about talking about business with


    people.


    If it weren''t for the fact that he needed money to upgrade the testing equipment, he wouldn''t be running


    around to collect money at the cost of his dignity.


    "Hello, Professor Lee, I''m Derek, and this is¡ª¡ª"


    He was about to say that this was his wife Meredith, but Meredith seemed to have read his mind and


    she said, "I''m Meredith."


    Derek was interrupted, but he wasn''t mad or something. He continued, "We''re here to talk about our


    cooperation."


    When Professor Lee heard this, he invited all three of them in.


    Derek got straight to the point and directly said that his purpose foring was to ask him to perform


    another operation for Penelope. In return, he was willing to sponsor the Research Center.


    Professor Lee felt that this exchange was much better than the Smiths'' request that asked him to do


    some research on health products, so after discussing the details, he agreed.


    Derek didn''t expect it to go so smoothly, so he asked Damian to prepare the contract immediately.


    Meredith was relieved to learn that Professor Lee was willing to give surgery on Penelope.


    They were waiting for the contract when Professor Lee''s cell phone suddenly rang.


    He picked up the phone and looked fine at first, but after a while, he became more and more


    depressed.


    Finally, after hanging up the phone, he spoke to Derek dejectedly, "I''m sorry. I''m giving a second


    thought on this."


    Derek could not help but frown, and Meredith became agitated. "Why?"


    The Research Center was short of money, and they were willing to help him only under one simple


    condition. Wasn''t this a win-win deal?


    "It was the call from the Smiths. In the past, the Smiths was the main funder of the Research Center.


    They said if I sign the agreement with you and ept your funding, I won''t be able to go back to


    Capital City to develop. In the future, the other institutes who are funded by them will no longer


    cooperate with us."


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "I can''t bear the consequences, so I''m sorry..."


    Professor Lee was also very regretful, but the Smiths meant what they said, and he did not dare to


    offend them.


    "Regardless of all these, you''re a doctor. Can you go to J City for an operation? We can still give you


    hefty payment for that!"


    Meredith was really in a hurry. She could not ept the fact that when she was about to seed, but


    someone crashed her hope!


    "Calm down, Meredith. You can''t force him on this."


    Derek did understand what was going on. He knew the Smiths called when they found out that he was


    here for help and threatened Professor Lee, whose Institute was originally funded by the Smiths.


    In this way, Professor Lee probably didn''t dare to have any cooperation with him.


    "Let''s go to the Smiths."


    Derek looked at Meredith with a firm but gentle tone.


    When she heard his voice, her worry eased and she nodded. "Okay, let''s go to the Smiths."


    They were all nning to settle the deal with Professor Lee before going to the Smiths, but little did


    they knew, they still couldn''t get pass the Smiths.


    Meredith couldn''t help but wonder if it was fate that forced her to go to the Smiths and find out the truth.


    "If the Smiths agrees, would you go to J City to operate on my friend?"


    Professor Lee nodded. "Of course, I would."


    Derek got his guarantee and then left for the Smiths with Meredith.


    ...


    In the Smiths'' house.


    At this moment, Old Master Smith was sitting on the chair and sipping tea.


    Next to him were two young women. One was his own granddaughter and also Cali''s daughter, Evelyn.


    The other was Ellie, the child he had happened to adopt in an orphanage.


    Ellie had just returned from abroad, and she had just learned that Joseph wanted Professor Lee''s


    Research Center to focus on the health product research, and make a fortune out of his fame in the


    country. So when she came back, she talked to her old man about it.


    In her opinion, this approach was too short-sighted and was killing the goose thatys the golden eggs.


    However, she was about to talk to him about this, he stopped her with a gesture.


    He let them sit here and drink tea with him. Ellie was puzzled.


    Evelyn was very happy. She was doted on by him since she was little. She had no interest in the


    "Grandpa, you just said that someone wille to uster. Who is it?"


    Evelyn acted coquettishly.


    "Keep it a secret for now, but they should be here soon."


    Old Master Smith held a cup of tea and tasted it slowly.


    At this time, someone outside came to announce, "Old Master, the young master of the Xaviers, Derek


    is here."


    Hearing his name, Evelyn stood up instantly.


    She had never met him, but she knew that he was the man Joseph liked and would have been her


    fianc¨¦.


    However, he unwittingly refused.


    Although only the members of the Smiths knew about this, Evelyn remembered it very clearly.


    It was mainly because she had been doted on since she was a child, and she was the apple in her


    grandpa''s eyes, and no one dared to reject her.


    However, this Derek made her look bad.


    "What is he doing? Is he regretting it?"


    Evelyn sneered, imagining a man crying in front of Smith family''s house and begging her to change her


    mind.


    "He came to Capital City today. And he even wants to cooperate with our Research Center without the


    Smiths'' permission. I won''t let him slide away easily."


    He looked at Evelyn lovingly. "I know you hold the most grudges of him. I''ll hand him to you. You let him


    know the consequences of rejecting the Smiths?"


    Evelyn was overjoyed.


    "That''s great, grandpa. I''m just waiting for this day."


    After that, she quickly went out to meet Derek.


    Ellie couldn''t help but worry. "The Xaviers is thriving now. What if she makes some trouble and offends


    the Xaviers?"


    "It''s all right. Evelyn is still a child. She can only y a prank on him. Just teach him a lesson."


    Hearing his words, Ellie couldn''t say anything more.


    Derek and Meredith waited outside for a long time. Although they were a little impatient, they didn''t


    show it.


    After all, they were here to ask for help now...


    Not long after, a voice came from inside. "You are Derek?"


    Meredith looked up and saw a young girl in expensive clothes standing at the door, her face full of


    arrogance.

 Chapter 526

    Chapter 526


    Meredith thought about it and found her a little familiar.


    When she looked at her again, she was sure that the woman was the daughter of the Smith family.


    Her heart beat a lot faster.


    Could this woman be the girl who had exchanged lives with her?


    It seemed that the woman was doing well.


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that Old Master Smith had no prejudice against his


    granddaughter and was rather doting on her.


    Evelyn kept staring at Derek instead.


    He was tall and had a good figure, seeming to be a really good man.


    But so what? He still had toe here to beg for help.


    Evelyn snorted at the thought that he had rejected her before. "Derek, you were so arrogant that you


    rejected the marriage. Don''t you think it''s funny toe here now?"


    Derek nced at Evelyn and ignored her. "I have something to talk to Old Master Smith."


    He had no interest in such an arrogant woman.


    "My grandpa won''t see you."


    Evelyn was angered. He should be so impolite to her.


    It was not like she had imagined that Derek would beg her to give him another chance.


    "Please inform Old Master Smith that I have something important to discuss with him."


    Derek pretended not to see her and continued to speak.


    Evelyn was so angry that she saw Meredith standing by.


    "Who are you? His date?"


    Seeing how Meredith was dressed, she could not help but sneer. It turned out that Derek was such a


    stingy man.


    "No, I am..."


    Meredith hesitated, not knowing how to introduce herself.


    "Humph, it doesn''t matter who you are. Anyway, I know you''re not Chloe."


    Evelyn remembered that Derek''s girlfriend was named Chloe. She looked up all the information about


    that woman.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She knew personally that she could notpete with Chloe who was very beautiful and talented.


    So, when she saw Meredith, she deliberately said that.


    Meredith felt bad when hearing the name of Chloe.


    "Derek, didn''t you say that you loved Chloe all the time? And you didn''t care about other women at all.


    Now... Why did you break up with Chloe?"


    Derek became annoyed.


    Especially when he saw Meredith''s expression, he was not interested in talking to Evelyn. "Since you


    don''t want to talk about business, we''ll go first. If Old Master Smith changes his mind, I''lle back."


    After that, he pulled Meredith away.


    Evelyn sneered.


    Meredith held back her anger. When she got to the car, she immediately said, "So, it is she who will


    bring trouble to us?"


    Meredith could clearly realize what Evelyn meant.


    Indeed, Derek and Chloe were deeply in love, and Derek refused to marry with Evelyn, which was why


    he offended the Smith family.


    Meredith felt very unhappy.


    However, she did not want to show it. "In that case, I think it''s more convenient for me to go to the


    Smith family myself. I don''t need to bother you."


    Derek knew she was angry. "I didn''t want to hide this from you, but..."


    However, Derek did not know how to speak.


    Chloe was a name he did not want to refer.


    "Oh? Why? Afraid that I''ll get angry if I know? I want to be angry, but it''s just because you kept it from


    me."


    ...


    Derek was about to be angrier.


    What Meredith said was indicating that as if he meant nothing to her. Only Penelope and her mother


    deserved Meredith''s attention.


    "I didn''t mean to hide this from you. I just didn''t think it would be such a coincidence. I''ll fix it as soon as


    possible and let Professor Lee treat Penelope."


    "No, I''ll figure it out myself."


    Seeing that Evelyn had already left, Meredith opened the door and got out of the car, leaving on her


    own.


    Derek sat in the driver''s seat and mmed the steering wheel.


    Evelyn was really hateful.


    Meredith got out of the car and walked along the highway. Although a taxi passed by, she did not wave


    and walked instead.


    She only felt that she needed to be alone.


    Chloe, what a familiar name.


    Although it had been five years, Meredith was still angry when she thought about what she had seen at


    the time.


    Chloe became Derek''s wife then while Meredith was going through such a difficult time.


    Was that woman still important to him?


    Meredith found that she had never thought about it.


    As she wandered aimlessly along the road, Derek chased after her.


    "Mer... I didn''t mean to hide this from you."


    But he did not know how to say it.


    After all, it was no good to say it.


    "There''s no need, but you are so charming that even Evelyn almost got married to you."


    Meredith nced at Derek, not wanting to talk to him.


    "Leave me alone for a while."


    "I never cared about Chloe since then. You know our purposeing here, don''t you?"


    Derek hated that he seemingly had nothing to do with Meredith.


    "Yes, indeed, but for the woman you once loved."


    "Mer! I have nothing to do with her for a long time. All these years, I''ve been taking Easton with me,


    waiting for you toe back..."


    "So, do you think you have to take responsibility because you have a child with me?"


    Meredith knew she was being unreasonable, but she just could not control herself.


    "If that''s the case, just in time, you give Easton back to me. I''ll take him away, and you can find the one


    you really love."

 Chapter 527

    Chapter 527


    Meredith knew she said that in a fit of pique.


    But she couldn''t help it.


    When he heard this, the expression on Derek''s calm face finally changed.


    "Meredith, don''t talk nonsense."


    He had waited for her for five years, like a walking corpse. She finally came back, but she wanted to


    take Easton away from him.


    He wouldn''t allow her!


    "Don''t force me anymore. Don''t remind me of the past. Otherwise, I might find myself disgusting."


    Meredith lowered her head and whispered.


    When he heard this, his hand stopped in midair.


    At this moment, a taxi stopped. She opened the door and sat in. "I''ll go back alone. Don''t worry. I won''t


    run away for Penelope''s sake."


    He hesitated for a moment and the car had already left.


    Sitting in the taxi, she stared nkly at the strange city.


    For Chloe, Derek could give up the business of Capital City and reject the tempting business marriage


    with the Smiths.


    It was hard for her not topare in her heart.


    Especially when she thought of difficulties Violet created, she felt even more agitated.


    "Sir, please show me around more. I want to see the scenery here."


    She didn''t want to go back to the hotel, for the time being, so she asked the driver to drive her around


    Capital City.


    When Derek returned to the hotel, he realized that Meredith was not back yet. He became anxious.


    At that time, he shouldn''t let her left alone. What could he do if she disappeared again?


    He immediately called her to ask where she was.


    However, she didn''t answer the phone. Just as some terrible things were emerging in his head,


    Meredith sent a text message back.


    However, it was not sent to Derek, but to Damian.


    "I''ll stay outside for a while. Maybee backter. Don''t worry."


    When Damian received the message, he felt strange.


    However, he still told Derek about it.


    Seeing Meredith''s message, he knew that she was angry.


    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have contacted Damian without calling him.


    Taking Damian''s phone away, Derek red at him.


    Touching his nose, Damian felt innocent.


    Derek sent her a message, "You don''t know a lot of people here. You''d bettere back soon."


    Seeing this, Meredith sighed and asked the driver to send her back.


    That''s right. She''s not here to quarrel with Derek. The priority was to invite Professor Lee back to J City


    as soon as possible.


    As soon as she arrived at the hotel entrance, she saw Derek standing at the gate. He leaned against


    the door, looking very casual, but also very eye-catching.


    Some daring girls even chatted up to him and asked for his phone number.


    Meredith rolled her eyes. Standing here, this man could simply attract unwee attention.


    Although he was just waiting for her at the gate, there was no excuse for him in an angry woman''s


    eyes.


    Seeing that she was back, he hurriedly went over. "Why did youe back sote? The traffic system


    and people here areplex. It''s better not to stay alone."


    She ignored him and went straight to her room.


    Derek couldn''t stand her indifferent attitude. He would rather she fought with him than see her with a


    face like this and not talk to him.


    "Mer, can I interpret your expression as jealousy?"


    Seeing that she was so determined to ignore him, he could only use the unexpected tricky moves.


    Hearing this, she was furious, "Why do you always feel so good about yourself? I just..."


    Thinking the reason for a while, she could not find a reasonable one to exin the changes in her


    heart.


    She was unwilling to admit that she was angry at Derek and Chloe''s past.


    Because it''s not worth it, and it shouldn''t be.


    "Do you want to know about Chloe''s current situation?"


    He reached out and grabbed her.


    Although she was angry now, he did not want to increase the misunderstanding.


    "I didn''t care about her at all. Did you get in touch with her again? Or did you approve of what I said? If


    you want to be with her, don''t worry. I''ll leave with Easton and won''t cause you any trouble."


    Hearing Meredith said a bunch of words like a machine gun to choke him, Derek was helpless.


    "When your mother told me that you were gone, I canceled the wedding with Chloe. Then, because of


    some things, her face was disfigured and her hand was injured. Asher apanied her abroad. I


    didn''t know and I didn''t ask how they were."


    Her eyes widened in surprise at his words.


    She had never asked about Chloe, and she never expected it to be like this.


    She thought that with his feelings for Chloe, even if he was unhappy, he would let her go.


    "If you don''t believe me, Asher can tell you."


    He thought that there was nothing to hide from. There was no rtionship between him and Chloe.


    "I don''t care how she is..."


    The expression of Meredith''s face softened a little. But Derek insisted to call Asher.


    Asher was abroad. It was night. Seeing that Derek called him, he felt surprised.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Asher and Derek became estranged from each other because of Meredith. Now, Asher apanied


    Chloe to treat her abroad. They used to be good friends, but now, it seemed like they were strangers.


    However, Asher did notin about this. After all, he did a lot of wrong things in the beginning and


    helped Chloe bring a lot of harm to Meredith.


    "Asher, I''m Derek. How are you doing abroad?"


    After greeting, Derek switched his phone to hands-free mode.


    "It''s okay. Chloe''s facial surgery was done long ago. There won''t be any scars, but her hand..."


    With the advanced technology, the scar on Chloe''s face was not difficult to deal with. The only problem


    was her hand.


    It''s easy to return to a normal life, but it''s hard to engage in a sophisticated career like ying the


    piano.


    "Are you taking care of her?"


    She was in a daze when she heard what Asher said.


    She could still remember Chloe''s proud and bright look in front of her. She did not expect that Chloe


    could not y the piano now.


    "She is?"


    Asher could not help but frown when he heard the voice of a strange woman.


    "She''s Meredith."


    Derek didn''t hide it either.


    "Meredith? She''s still alive?"

 Chapter 528

    Chapter 528


    Asher had been abroad all this time, so naturally he had no idea what was going on in H Country.


    When he heard about Meredith''s death, he felt guilty for a while.


    Perhaps it was his help that made Chloe go to extremes that Meredith was killed.


    "That''s right, I''m still alive."


    Meredith said calmly. She no longer had a deep impression of Asher. She only remembered the scene


    of himing to protest for Chloe.


    However, after so many years, she was not interested in investigating the origin of those irritating


    things.


    In her opinion, Asher was also a poor person. He loved Chloe, but he could not win her heart. He even


    lost himself because of her.


    "It''s all my fault. I apologize to you."


    Asher lowered his head and sincerely made an apology.


    Knowing that Meredith was still alive, he felt much less guilty.


    "It''s all over."


    Meredith was magnanimous. They should never see each other again. She didn''t want to tangle with


    him.


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Asher suddenly felt a little ashamed.


    It was not easy for a woman who had suffered so much to be so magnanimous.


    "Don''t worry, she won''te back. I''ll keep an eye on her."


    Needless to say, Meredith knew who the "she" was he was talking about.


    She answered cooly and hung up.


    Derek heaved a sigh of relief and looked at Meredith with a slightly strained expression. "Are you


    relieved?"


    Hearing his question, Meredith turned away unhappily.


    She didn''t care what happened to him.


    It was just that she felt much better now.


    When Derek saw that she was still in a bad mood, he went crazy.


    Women''s minds were really hard to understand.


    He was helpless. He had done all he could. Meredith had to figure it out herself.


    ...


    After school was over, Easton was taken back to the Xaviers.


    When Violet saw himing back, she hugged him affectionately and asked the servant to make him


    something delicious.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Easton was not in the mood. Although he knew that his parents had gone out to work, he was really


    bored at home alone.


    He had a feeling of being left alone.


    Violet seemed to see through him, so she called over the girl she had carefully chosen.


    This girl, Luna, was the youngest daughter of Violet''s best friend''s family. She was in her early twenties


    and hadn''t graduated from college.


    Her family was not so rich as the Xaviers, but she was young and obedient. Besides, she majored in


    teaching, so she should like children.


    Since Derek was not there and Meredith also left, Violet wanted her to get acquainted with Easton first.


    After all, Easton was Derek''s only son. Whoever Derek married in the future would have to get his


    consent.


    "Easton, let this pretty sister y with you, okay?"


    Easton nced at Luna. "No, I want to stay by myself."


    Seeing his firm refusal, Luna stopped smiling. Violet dragged her out.


    "He''s a child who doesn''t get close to strangers. Be patient. One day he will ept you."


    Luna nodded. The ise family was declining. If there was no external help, it would notst long.


    Luna''s mother cried every day. Her only choice was to marry a capable man.


    Violet also needed a sensible and obedient daughter-inw, so they hit it off.


    Luna had no feelings for Derek, but she needed his money and power, or else she might have to marry


    a balding old man with a big belly.


    "Auntie, this is normal. After all, Easton has been raised by his father. A child who grows up like this will


    be more indifferent. I can understand that."


    Violet was pleased to hear her say so. "You need to get along with him."


    Luna nodded and agreed.


    Easton was alone in the room, shaking his little feet.


    Although Luna seemed quite approachable, he instinctively didn''t like her very much and always felt


    that the woman had some other purpose in getting close to him.


    "s. I really want to go y with them."


    Easton covered his head and racked his brain.


    He had been growing up abroad and had never been to Capital City at all. He heard that Capital City


    was very big and prosperous, much better than J City. He had long wanted to go.


    However, Derek felt that Easton might be a drag on him, so he let Easton stay at home and go to


    school.


    After thinking about it, Easton called Meredith.


    Meredith was waiting in her room. When she saw that it was Easton''s call, she answered it


    immediately.


    "Easton, what''s wrong? How was school today?"


    Although they had only parted for a day, Meredith missed him very much.


    "Not bad. It''s just..."


    Easton rolled his eyes. "Today, grandma found a young girl and asked her to take care of me in the


    future."


    A young girl?


    Meredith frowned. Nanny Zhang had been taking care of Easton for many years. Why did Violet


    asked someone else to take care of him?


    "I think she probably wants the woman to get more contact with my dad through me."


    Easton put forth his guess. He had to be on the same side as his mother.


    Meredith understood. Easton was really smart and got to the point.


    If the woman wanted to marry into the Xaviers, she must get Easton''s consent. It was the best time


    now since Meredith was not here.


    At the thought of Violet trying to find a stepmother for her son, Meredith became angry. No matter what,


    she would not allow anyone to take Easton away.


    If Violet insisted, she could only take Easton away.


    "Easton,e and live with me."


    That was why Easton called.


    "Really?"


    "Yes. I''ll get someone to arrange it right away."


    Meredith hung up the phone and immediately sent someone to pick up Easton.


    Easton packed happily. Then he slipped away while his family was not paying attention.


    Violet had been chatting with Luna all the time. After a lot of testing, she was sure that this woman was


    the one she wanted.


    Luna was well-bred and obedient, and she could suit her actions to the times. She could help Derek


    with his career. Compared to Meredith, who was hot-tempered, Luna was much better.


    "When it''s time for dinner, help Easton pick up more food. I''ve told you everything he likes."


    As Violet was giving instructions, the servants rushed over. "Madam, Little Young Master..."

 Chapter 529

    Chapter 529


    "What''s wrong with him?"


    "He just ran out while others weren''t paying attention to him."


    Violet''s expression darkened when she heard this.


    "You good-for-nothing. You can''t even handle a child."


    After that, she immediately sent someone out to look for him.


    "Is it because Easton doesn''t like me..."


    Luna lowered her head. Her tone was very aggrieved, but her expression was very cold. Sure enough,


    it was troublesome to deal with the child.


    But she had to speak and not let Violet down.


    Violet could not see her expression and patted the back of her hand. "That child is naughty. It has


    nothing to do with you."


    Luna breathed a sigh of relief.


    Easton didn''t care how messed up his home was. He just wanted to go to the airport and go out to y


    with his mom and dad.


    However, halfway through the tour, he was caught up by some people from the Xaviers.


    Violet didn''t know the person who picked him up. She thought that Easton had been tricked. "Easton,


    "I''m going to Capital City to find mom and dad. Grandma, you can stay at home."


    Of course, Easton didn''t agree. It was so annoying to stay with Luna.


    When Violet heard this, she looked at the people. "Are you working for Meredith?"


    After Meredith took over thepany, she also trained some of her own people, and she did not want


    to go to Derek for everything in the future.


    "Miss Mason asked us to send Little Young Master over."


    When Violet heard this, she was furious. Did Meredith know that she wanted Luna and Easton to get


    along well, so Meredith deliberately disturbed her?


    The more Violet thought about it, the angrier she became. She directly called Derek.


    Derek was revising his contract with the Smiths because he had been refused today and was


    wondering how to get them to let go of their prejudices as soon as possible.


    At this moment, the phone rang.


    The man was disturbed and looked a little impatient.


    But when he saw that it was Violet, he answered it.


    "What''s wrong, mom?"


    "Did you know that Meredith wanted to bring Easton to Capital City? Easton rarely apanies me.


    Now that you have just left, she wants to take the child away again. What does she mean? Does she


    think that I can''t take care of my grandson?"


    When Derek heard this, he got a headache.


    However, he really didn''t want Easton toe over. After all, Easton still had to go to kindergarten.


    Originally, he had already applied for a few days off for him and let him y around.


    Now, if he was back in Capital City, he wouldn''t be able to go to school for a long time. Come to think of


    it, Easton barely took sses in a semester.


    "Dad, I''m the one who wants to go."


    When Easton heard Violet say that, he was not very happy and immediately showed that he was very


    willing to go to Capital City.


    "Of course you would like toe. If youe, you can idle around again. You don''t have to do your


    homework or take sses."


    Derek knew his son too well.


    "That''s not true, I..."


    Easton was about to say that Violet had arranged for a woman to apany him when the phone was


    snatched back.


    "In that case, tell Meredith to let Easton stay at home for a few more days to apany your


    grandfather and me."


    At this point, Derek couldn''t say anything more. "Okay, Easton, you have to be obedient at home. We''ll


    be back soon."


    Easton was upset, but Violet hung up.


    "Easton, let''s go back."


    Seeing this, Luna came to hold Easton''s hand and wanted to take him home.


    Easton looked at her and thought that the smile on her face was fake. "I don''t need you to hold me. I''ll


    go by myself."


    It was all this strange woman''s fault. If it weren''t for her, he would have left.


    Luna froze, but quickly caught up.


    Violet nodded at the scene.


    That was right. Although Easton was a little strange, he was not a stubborn stone. If she coaxed him


    well, one day he would ept her.


    Meredith stayed in the room for a while, then received a call from her employee, saying that Easton


    was taken back by the Xaviers.


    Meredith frowned. "Okay, I got it."


    However, after hanging up the phone, she was obviously not so calm. With a bang, she threw her


    phone on the bed.


    While she was gone, Violet couldn''t wait to send someone to take Easton away. Her intention was too


    obvious.


    Meredith was in a bad mood when Easton sent a text message over.


    "Don''t worry, mom. I''m very strong. I''m definitely on your side. I won''t change sides."


    Meredith couldn''t help shaking her head when she saw this.


    This child...


    However, her heart was warm.


    After Derek hung up the phone, he was immersed in work again.


    Finally, the agreement was amended. This time, it was really changed to a point where there was no


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    more room forpromise.


    "Have you found their current location?"


    Damian nodded. "The Smiths usually go to the restaurant in the suburbs for afternoon tea."


    Derek stood up. "Then let''s go."


    After thinking for a moment, he didn''t call Meredith.


    She was tired after running all day, and she might meet Evelyn again.


    That woman was deliberately provoking her.


    Derek did not want to add to her unhappiness.


    He drove towards the ce Damian said.


    Soon, they reached their destination.


    Coincidentally, Evelyn was standing outside with a phone in her hand and talking.


    Derek was about to stop the car when a motorcycle came over from behind her.


    Because she was wearing expensive designer clothes, and the bag in her hand was the limited edition


    of Hermes that cost at least a few hundred thousand dors, which she paid no attention to as she was


    talking on the phone, she was targeted by the motorcycle thieves.


    By the time Evelyn came to her senses, the motorcycle had alreadye at an extremely fast speed,


    and the roar of the engine became so close that she did not even have a chance to react.


    In the blink of an eye, the bag in her hand was snatched away, and because her bag was on her


    shoulder, her whole body was pulled and followed the car.


    "Ah, help!"


    Evelyn had never experienced this. She screamed and begged for help.


    But the people around her were still in a daze and didn''t know what to do.


    Derek happened to have not turned off the engine. Seeing this, he immediately stepped on the gas


    pedal to the end and stopped on the escape route of the car.


    The motorcycle couldn''t dodge and crashed into Derek''s car.

 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530


    Derek''s car was cleverly parked, the car was just hit, but there was no strong shock from the collision.


    He immediately opened the door and got out of the car, trying to catch the robber.


    Seeing this, the man on the motorbike quickly got off the motorbike and ran away.


    He had only suffered a minor skin trauma and was still able to run. The thing he had snatched was held


    tightly in his arms.


    Evelyn was so scared that she sat on the ground. When she realized it, she screamed, "Catch the thief!


    Whoever catches the thief, I''ll give him a hundred thousand dors!"


    When they heard this, many people who had been watching indifferently became excited, especially


    when they saw that Evelyn looked like a rich woman and they chased after the thief.


    Derek frowned. Since many people had gone after the thief, he didn''t have to chase the thief anymore.


    He walked over and reached out his hand. "Are you okay?"


    The man''s tone was still faint, and there was no emotion on his face as if the person who had just done


    this was not him.


    Evelyn paused, looked up, and looked into Derek''s eyes.


    Her heart beat inexplicably happily. She reached out and Derek pulled her up.


    Evelyn felt the warmth in his hands and couldn''t help but blush.


    Derek saw her stand up and immediately let go of her hand.


    Evelyn could not help but feel a little disappointed, and at this moment, the robber was caught back.


    Although the robber ran very fast, there were so many people chasing him, he was still caught and put


    in front of Evelyn.


    Evelyn took out a check from her bag, wrote down the number directly, and gave it to a passerby who


    caught him.


    "Miss, are you sending him to the Police Station?"


    Seeing how generous she really was, the surrounding people were all envious. If they had known, they


    would have helped earlier, and they might have made a fortune.


    "No, leave this man to me."


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    Evelyn looked at him coldly. She thought sending him to prison was not enough for this kind of person.


    Just now, she almost got rolled under the wheel and lost her life. She couldn''t let him go easily.


    "Mr. Xavier, please take me back to the Smith family."


    Evelyn called others for help to tie up the robber and then looked at Derek.


    "You saved me. All your grudges with me will be erased. I''ll tell grandpa."


    Hearing this, Derek''s expression softened a little, and he nodded.


    Derek drove Evelyn home.


    "I''ll go in and talk to grandpa. Wait outside."


    Evelyn looked at Derek the whole way.


    Before this incident, she had no special thoughts about this man. Although he was indeed good-


    looking, capable, and of the best family background, she had met too many outstanding men since she


    was young and would not be infatuated with these few qualities.


    But...


    When she thought that she was almost dragged onto the road, this man saved her, and he looked


    really cool, like the hero in those TV dramas saving the beauty, Evelyn''s heart was in a mess.


    She had never been in a hurry to get married, she had been waiting for the best man in the world to be


    worthy of her.


    And now... She found out that this man was Derek.


    Derek could not help but frown when he saw Evelyn standing there motionless and staring at him, not


    knowing what she was thinking.


    "Miss Smith..."


    "Ah, I''m fine."


    Evelyn was embarrassed, coughed, and finally left.


    Derek stood outside. Today''s incident was a piece of cake. After all, Evelyn was a very important role. If


    he were to investigate Meredith''s background, she would definitely not be in trouble, so he went to


    save her without thinking.


    There were some unexpected gains.


    ...


    When Evelyn returned home, Old Master Smith saw her return and was about to speak when he saw


    that her clothes were torn and her hair was disheveled.


    Evelyn always paid attention to appearance, and he immediately realized something had happened.


    "What''s wrong? What happened?"


    Evelyn told everything in detail. When he heard that she almost had an ident, Old Master Smith was


    very angry.


    "That man, I will never spare him! However, is it true that you said Derek saved your life?"


    Evelyn nodded with a shy expression.


    How could she hide this little thought from the clever Old Master Smith? "Evelyn, do you like him a


    little?"


    Evelyn lowered her head and did not say anything, which was a tacit agreement.


    "This child..."


    Old Master Smith nodded. "I''ve always thought he''s a good person. If you like him, then let him agree


    to marry you."


    "No, grandpa, I want him to fall in love with me and then we get married."


    Evelyn rejected Old Master''s proposal. She had always dreamed of love, not a forced business


    marriage.


    Seeing how determined she was, Old Master Smith said nothing more.


    It was also a good thing to let the two young people develop their rtionship so as not to quarrel in the


    future.


    "In that case, call him in. Let''s talk."


    Old Master Smith didn''t reject. Evelyn happily went out and called Derek in.


    Because of Evelyn''s thoughts, Old Master Smith did not make things difficult for Derek anymore and


    quickly agreed to Derek.


    Professor Lee''s return to J City was immediately arranged.


    Moreover, the Smiths did not ask the Xaviers to surrender lots of profits but said they wanted to


    cooperate and win together.


    Derek couldn''t believe how well things went.


    "But I have a condition." Old Master Smith did not forget what Evelyn said.


    "What condition?"


    "Since you want to expand your business in Capital City, you have to stay here. I don''t trust someone


    else"


    What Old Master Smith was thinking was that if Derek returned to J City after the business deal was


    settled, then his precious granddaughter would have no chance.


    Therefore, he must create as many opportunities as possible for them to be together.


    "Okay... I agree."


    Derek pondered for a moment and did not refuse.


    After all, the newly drafted partnership with the Smiths had increased the share and the investment of


    the Xaviers had also increased, so it was necessary for him toe here to supervise.


    The matter was settled, and Derek had no intention of staying any longer, so he left directly and said


    goodbye to Old Master Smith.


    Not long after he left, Evelyn changed into a new set of clothes and came out. In such a short time, she


    did delicate full makeup and put on a charming dress.


    When Evelyn saw that Derek had left, she was very discouraged.


    Wasn''t she dressed for nothing?


    "I haven''t thanked him. I''ll go to his hotel to find him and treat him to dinner."


    Old Master Smith frowned, feeling that her attitude was too active.


    But, not wanting to make her feel bad, he could only call Ellie. "You go with her and watch her, lest she


    makes any mistakes."

 Chapter 531

    Chapter 531


    Ellie immediately agreed and found Evelyn, who did not leave yet.


    When Evelyn saw hering, she pursed her lips.


    It was an ident that Ellie was adopted by Old Master Smith. Back then when he went hiking, he had


    a heart attack. It was Ellie who found him and called someone to save his life.


    Later, Old Master Smith found out that Ellie was an orphan, so he adopted her.


    Ellie was very outstanding, ever since she was adopted by Old Master Smith, her academic


    performance and performance of work were very excellent. So Evelyn, who liked to y around, was


    not favored by her family.


    There were even rumors that Old Master Smith wanted Ellie to take over some of the shares and be on


    equal footing with Evelyn.


    "I don''t think you are trying to steal something from me again."


    Evelyn narrowed her eyes and spoke in a cold tone. The friendliness she showed in front of Old Master


    Smith was gone at this moment.


    Ellie immediately shook her head. "No."


    "That''s great. You should remember that you are just an outsider adopted by my grandpa. Don''t try to


    Ellie lowered her head and said nothing, but clenched her fist tightly.


    It took her a long time to force a smile. "I''ll drive you there."


    Evelyn snorted coldly and got in the driver''s seat arrogantly.


    Ellie took a deep breath and told herself not to argue with her.


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Last time, the man that chasted after Evelyn, somehow, turned to pursue Ellie because he thought


    Evelyn was too hot-tempered. Because of this, the stiff rtionship between the two of them turned


    worse.


    Perhaps, Ellie would be rxed until Evelyn married someone.


    Derek returned to the hotel and immediately contacted the Research Center.


    Because the Smiths finally agreed, Professor Lee also agreed to go to J City for surgery.


    Damian couldn''t wait any longer and offered to send him back.


    Derek did not refuse. He knew that Damian was missing Penelope now, and it was useless to force him


    to stay.


    And...


    Leaving him and Meredith alone would be great.


    However, Meredith did not get him. When she heard that Professor Lee could go to J City for surgery,


    she immediately wanted to go back with Damian.


    Derek stopped her in a hurry. "Don''t you need to check what happened in the Smiths?"


    Meredith thought for a moment. "Yeah."


    So, he just asked Damian to bring Professor Lee back. Meredith sent Damian away and kept telling


    him that when the surgery began, he should tell her in time. Then she would know the situation so as


    not to worry about it.


    When Damian left, Meredith finally felt relieved.


    Derek looked at the time. It waste.


    "Shall we go out for dinner?"


    After all, it is the biggest city in Z Country and the food here was famous.


    Hearing what Derek said, Meredith looked at the time and felt a little hungry, so she nodded and


    agreed.


    Derek went to drive and was about to take Meredith out to find a ce to eat when Evelyn rushed over


    in time.


    Her eyes lit up when she saw Derek.


    Although she didn''t have much contact with Derek, because he saved her life, Evelyn was determined


    to catch him.


    "Mr. Xavier, what a coincidence."


    Evelyn greeted him with a smile.


    Meredith could not help but frown.


    Evelyn obviously drove here on purpose.


    It was just rude to expose her since she came with a smile.


    "You have a date with her?"


    Meredith asked in an indifferent tone.


    "No, I didn''t know she wasing here."


    Derek quickly exined. He had nothing to do with Evelyn and was not interested in this wild richdy.


    Evelyn stared at Meredith, looking at her sitting in the passenger seat of Derek''s car, and recalling the


    scene that day when she saw the two of them getting along, she knew they were seeing each other.


    "Well, I was in danger this afternoon. Mr. Xavier saved me. After thinking about it, I thought I should


    treat him to a meal and thank him. Miss, do you mind?"


    Since she had already said so, Meredith could say anything rude but to say, "I don''t mind."


    Evelynughed in her heart and asked, "Ah, thisdy hasn''t introduced herself yet. Is she Mr. Xavier''s


    girlfriend?"


    Derek raised his eyebrows and was about to say that Meredith was his wife when Meredith looked


    over. "No, I''m not his girlfriend."


    It was so obvious that Evelyn was interested in Derek.


    Violet arranged for him a blind date with a well-educated woman, and during this trip, he attracted


    another woman to fall for him.


    This man was really popr.


    Inexplicably, she felt annoyed and said those words angrily.


    "Well, I see."


    Evelyn was delighted to hear Meredith say that she was not Derek''s girlfriend.


    Even if Meredith was, she wouldn''t give up.


    "In that case, can I treat Mr. Xavier to dinner alone?"


    Hearing what Evelyn said, Meredith didn''t want to stay here. "Whatever."


    After that, she unbuckled her seat belt and was about to get out of the car.


    Derek caught her hand and asked. "Where are you going? I was taking you out for dinner."


    Meredithughed angrily. With Evelyn as an eyesore, she lost all her appetite.


    It would be nice for her not to choke to death because of anger.


    "You guys go ahead and eat. I have no appetite."


    Meredith wanted to get rid of Derek''s hand, but the man refused to let go.


    He had no idea what she was angry about.


    Was this because Evelyn insisted oning over to eat with him? But he exined that he didn''t have


    a date with her.


    "I''m not interested in having dinner with her. Be good, stop messing around and calm down."


    "I''m messing around? How dare you ask me to calm down. Your mother had just arranged for a new


    woman to approach Easton in the morning, and you had an extra date at night. What a coincidence.


    Does she want him to get closer to another woman so she can chase me away, right?"


    Meredith suddenly felt very upset. Derek was stunned when he heard this. Easton was at home. When


    did his mother find someone to approach him?


    He immediately realized that there was a misunderstanding.


    However, Meredith did not want to hear his exnation at all.


    While he was in a daze, she shook his hand off and got out of the car.


    Evelyn watched her leave but chewed what she had just heard over.


    Easton... Who was that?


    It seemed she should investigate who was Easton.


    However, since Meredith was leaving, she couldn''t miss this opportunity to have a meal with Derek.


    "Mr. Xavier, I''ve booked the restaurant. Since she doesn''t want to go, let''s go first."

 Chapter 532

    Chapter 532


    Derek frowned and his tone became colder when Evelynpletely ignored his words.


    "I appreciate your kindness, but I don''t have time now. You can go by yourself."


    After that, he got out of the car and locked it.


    Evelyn was taken aback. She was used to men''s obedience because of her noble birth. It was the first


    time she had been treated coldly by a man.


    "I came here specially to treat you to dinner. Don''t you think you should have a better attitude to me?"


    Derek wasn''t in the mood to talk to her. "Sorry, I don''t have time today. Again, you can go by yourself."


    After that, he left.


    Evelyn was very unhappy and was about to chase after him. When Ellie saw it, she immediately


    stopped her.


    "Evelyn, since he''s not free today, just let him go. You can dine with him in the future."


    "Ellie, are you watching the fun? You''re happy to see me rejected by him, aren''t you?"


    Ellie didn''t know when she provoked Evelyn. "No, it''s just that I don''t think you two are familiar with


    each other yet. If you push him too hard, the result might be undesirable."


    After listening to her, Evelyn knew she had a point, but she didn''t want to admit it. "Mind your own


    business!"


    After that, she shook off Ellie''s hand and got into the car.


    After Ellie was scolded, she felt very ufortable. Still, she needed to drive back.


    Evelyn sat in the passenger seat. "Go and check the woman next to Derek, and that Easton. Find out


    who they are!"


    Her tone was arrogant. It seemed that she was ordering her subordinate.


    Ellie smiled bitterly. "Okay."


    Although she was adopted by Old Master Smith, he treated her as his own kid. And many outsiders felt


    envious.


    But she still was not a member of the Smiths. Besides Old Master, everyone else in the family wanted


    to kick her out. Even Evelyn, who was like a sister to her at first, treated her badly now.


    Now, she had to give in to Evelyn as much as possible and not sh with her.


    She called her men and asked them to check Derek''s detailed information.


    "I warn you! Don''t have any thoughts about him. If you dare, I will never spare you."


    Arriving home, Evelyn warned her coldly, then left without looking back.


    ...


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    After Evelyn left, Derek immediately went to find Meredith, but she locked the door of the room and did


    not want to talk to him.


    Therefore, he could only call Easton and ask what was going on.


    Easton was doing his homework at home, and Luna walked in with the fruit. "Easton, are you tired from


    your homework? Do you want to take a break and eat some fruit?"


    "No, I''m good."


    He answered her with the simplest words.


    She saw that he didn''t really want tomunicate with her, so she put down the fruit. "Easton, do you


    have any problem in homework? You can ask me. I''ll help you."


    Easton only found she was annoying. Clearly, he had given her attitude from the beginning, but she still


    stuck here.


    Besides, she asked for information about his parents from time to time. Her intention was known to


    everyone!


    However, because Violet wanted her to stay, he could not drive her away, so he could only give her


    cold shoulder.


    "I''m fine with my homework. It''s none of your business. You''d better go out."


    He said impatiently.


    "Then let me see if there''s any error on the answers. I remember that the school now requires parents


    to grade homework."


    Luna was rejected several times by Easton. Her patient was wearing thin, and the smile on her face


    was fading.


    She contacted with many children. And most of them would listen to her when they saw her beauty and


    gentle, but Easton was very difficult.


    She wanted to ask him what he liked, and he would pretend that he didn''t understand her question. In


    this way, she would never let him say something nice about her.


    "But you''re not my parent. I have my father and mother to help me with the homework. Or even my


    grandmother and great-grandfather could help. I don''t need an outsider to worry about me."


    The word "Outsider" stung Luna right in the heart. She gritted her teeth and just as she was about to


    say something, Easton''s phone rang.


    Seeing that it was Derek calling, he immediately ran to the balcony with his phone in his hand.


    "Dad, you still remember you have a son?"


    He didn''t make it to cheng Capital City, so he kept that in mind.


    Derek raised an eyebrow. He felt that this little guy was a little presumptuous when he wasn''t home.


    How dare he talk to him like that?


    "Easton, are you with someone now?"


    Derek just wanted to know what Meredith was talking about.


    "You just found out? Grandma hired a young college girl and said she was here to take care of me. Not


    only did she watch me eat and help my homework, but she also wanted to share the bed with me..."


    Easton felt terrible at the thought of sleeping with a strange woman.


    "What?"


    Derek finally understood what Meredith meant by those words.


    In her eyes, Easton was always the most important person. It was really hard for her to let a strange


    woman contact with Easton.


    "Why didn''t you tell me earlier?"


    "I''m going to, but I have no chance. Grandma won''t let me say it."


    Easton looked innocent. "Why, dad, did you call because mom was angry and you didn''t know how to


    coax her? See? It''s absolutely impossible that you can coax her without using me!"


    Derek didn''t want to talk to him, but on second thought, it was true.


    After some thought, "Do you want toe over?"


    Easton was waiting for him to say, "Hee hee, I''ll go under one condition. You need to promise me that


    you won''t let me make up for the lessons I miss."


    Derek was speechless. His son was negotiating with him.


    "Okay, but I''ll do a spot check on your homework. If you don''t finish it, I won''t let you get away with it."


    Only then did Easton hang up happily.


    Derek immediately asked the driver to pick up his son and send him over.


    Now that Easton had his father to back him up, he started packing up in his room.


    Well, his drones, cameras, and all sorts of game consoles were all stuffed into the suitcase.


    Luna saw him packing up and couldn''t help but ask, "Easton, what are you doing?"


    "I''m going back to my parents! Oh, right, didn''t you say you need parents to correct your homework? I''ll


    take it with me too, and let my mother check it for me, so I won''t bother you."


    His words almost made Lunapletely lost it.


    "This damn kid, he was definitely doing it on purpose!"

 Chapter 533

    Chapter 533


    After Easton finished speaking, he took the suitcase and ran away without any hesitation.


    Luna was furious, but she couldn''t say anything to teach Easton a lesson.


    As an outsider, she had no right to speak.


    Seeing Easton running out with his suitcase, Violet stopped him unhappily, "Easton, where are you


    going?"


    "I''m going to find my parents."


    Violet''s face darkened. "Meredith still refused to give up," she thought.


    "I told you to stay here."


    "But dad agreed to let me go to find them."


    Easton didn''t listen to her, wishing he could fly there right now.


    "Derek agreed?"


    Hearing this, Violet immediately med Meredith for all these.


    She must have said something behind so that changed Derek''s mind.


    "I''ll call him to ask what''s going on."


    Violet immediately called Derek. Seeing that it was a call from home, Derek answered it with


    annoyance.


    "Derek, why are you taking Easton over again? Didn''t you promise me that he would stay with me and


    your dad?"


    "Mom, who did you find for Easton?" Derek felt tired.


    Violet had been prejudiced against Meredith from the very beginning. Now, she directly looked for


    someone to rece the mother''s position in Easton''s heart.


    "I..."


    Violet was speechless for a moment. But soon, she regained her usual arrogance, "I found a more


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    suitable person to take care of Easton. Isn''t it for Easton''s good?"


    "Mom, I know what the ise family is up to to get the support of the Xaviers, and you know better


    than me. Besides, I remember that Miss Balise is only in her early twenties. Is it okay for her to take


    care of Easton?"


    Derek was helpless. He tried to change Violet''s attitude, but it was in vain.


    They had misunderstood each other from the beginning. And it hadn''t ended until now. Sometimes


    even Derek felt a headache when he was sandwiched in the middle.


    "It¡¯s a deal! I''ll bring Easton over. You should take advantage of this time to send that Miss Balise


    back."


    "Derek, don''t you see my painstaking efforts?" Violet not only did not listen but also felt particrly


    aggrieved.


    All she wanted was for Derek''s sake. She didn''t want her son to be fooled around by a woman.


    Besides, the woman was close to Parker, the person she hated the most.


    "I don''t need any other women. In this life, I only love Meredith. I don''t want to argue with you about


    this. After all, I won''t change my mind no matter what you say."


    After that, Derek hung up.


    Hearing the busy beep, Violet was so angry that she almost threw her phone.


    At this time, Derek sent someone to pick up Easton.


    Seeing that Violet''s expression was not right, Luna went over tofort her, "It''s okay, aunt. I should


    be med for Little Young Master not liking me."


    Violet shook her head, "I didn''t think it through properly. I''m sorry you had a wasted journey. Just go


    back first."


    Luna nodded obediently and left.


    Violet sighed and went back to her room. She was wondering if she was really wrong. She was always


    thinking from Derek''s perspective. Why couldn''t he understand his painstaking efforts?


    In particr, Violet felt very aggrieved when she saw a picture of a family of three hanging on the wall.


    As it was gettingte, the city''s lights lit up one by one.


    They looked prosperous and gorgeous.


    Meredith was not in the mood to appreciate it at all. She just stood by the window in a daze.


    After a while, there was a knock on the door.


    Meredith ignored it.


    Only Derek woulde to see her here.


    She didn''t want to see him now.


    However, the knock on the door did not stop. Meredith had to walk over but heard Easton calling


    "mom" as he knocked.


    Meredith immediately opened the door and saw Easton standing outside with a big suitcase. She was


    surprised.


    "Easton, why are you here? Didn''t you say you would stay at home?"


    Easton hugged Meredith''s neck, "Dad took me here, of course."


    Then he pointed to Derek who was behind him.


    Meredith didn''t want to talk to him. She only answered lightly and said that she knew. And she pulled


    Easton into the room and closed the door.


    She had no intention to talk to Derek.


    Derek was locked out of the door, helpless. But on second thought, Easton was here with her, maybe


    he shouldn''t disturb them.


    Anyway, he had told Easton to remember to cheer Meredith up and didn''t forget to put in a good word


    for him.


    Now, it seemed that he could only pin his hopes on Easton.


    Meredith took Easton into the room and checked the time, "Why did he bring you here sote? If you


    want toe, tomorrow is fine."


    "But, mom, don''t you miss me?"


    Easton looked at Meredith with a smile, "So, Ie to see you as soon as possible."


    "Thank you, Easton."


    Holding Easton in her arms and feeling the warmth of his tiny body, Meredith calmed down.


    Although she knew that Easton would not be easily fooled by other women, she was still uneasy.


    The memory of being separated from her child was too painful for her to bear again.


    Easton quietly let Meredith hold him.


    After a while, Meredith let go of her hand and said, "Easton, if your father and I separate someday and


    not in the same city, would you like to go with me?"


    Hearing this, Easton looked at her in puzzlement, "Why are you separated? Mom, don''t you like dad?"


    Meredith shook her head, "It''s just a hypothesis. It is not true."


    Easton thought for a long time and finally said, "I''ll be with you, mom."


    Although he didn''t know what happened, Easton felt that his mother needed him more than his father


    did.


    Therefore, he could only say sorry to Derek in his heart.


    Meredith looked down, "Thank you, Easton. Thank you."


    Easton shook his head, but he could feel the inexplicable uneasiness.


    He was wondering what dad had done that made mom ask such a question.


    He wanted to ask, but he didn''t know how to bring the matter up.


    After a while, there was a knock on the door.


    Easton ran to the door and opened it. It was Derek who brought some food.


    "You haven''t eaten yet. I went to buy some. It''ste now. Why not have some first?"


    Derek felt that the vibes in the room weren''t right. He looked at Easton and hinted that he came out


    with him.

 Chapter 534

    Chapter 534


    But Meredith stopped him.


    She had been escaping from the reality. Finally she made up her mind. They shouldn''t continue.


    "Easton, stay in your room. I''ll go out with your dad."


    Meredith put the snacks that Derek bought on the table and went out with Derek.


    Easton wanted to follow them, but Meredith refused.


    "I have something to tell your father. Good boy, stay here, okay?"


    She was serious, so Easton nodded and didn''t insist on going with them.


    Meredith led Derek to the coffee shop not far from the hotel and got a quiet table.


    Derek followed her, wondering what she was going to say, but his instinct told him that maybe he


    wouldn''t be happy to hear her words.


    "I''m sorry about what happened today. I didn''t know that my mother had asked someone else to take


    care of Easton. It was my fault."


    Derek guessed that Meredith was hurt because of that.


    So he took the initiative to apologize and exin to her.


    "No, I''m not going to talk about that."


    Meredith took a deep breath, "I think we shouldn''t continue."


    "I''ve fought for my love five years ago, but in the end, I was hurt. Now, I''m not in the mood to have a


    rtionship, nor do I know you stay with me because of love or guilt."


    "Don''t you know my heart?"


    Derek became anxious. He really hoped Meredith could understand his love for her no matter what he


    needed to do.


    "Maybe yes..." Meredith lowered her eyes. "But will your mother support us? She never likes me. Will


    your love for me fade? I''m not sure, and I don''t want to gamble."


    Meredith had never told him her thoughts.


    Now she felt much better after telling him.


    "I know she hurts you, but..."


    ''But I do love you.''


    But Derek suddenly held back his words.


    Because Violet was his mom even though they kept arguing.


    Just as Meredith was Easton''s mom, Violet was his mom.


    It was impossible for him to ignore his mother because he wanted to be with Meredith.


    "You know that well... Don''t you?"


    Meredith smiled faintly. Derek was smart enough to know what she was talking about.


    She was no longer a naive girl, who thought that as long as she tried hard, she could win others'' favor.


    She knew that was impossible. Prejudice was always there, making her unable to breathe.


    She no longer wanted to have that experience again.


    She was mature now.


    "Yes..." Derek murmured.


    And that was why he had swallowed his words.


    Because he knew very well that if Violet didn''t change her attitude towards Meredith, they could never


    live a peaceful life.


    But, should he let her go?


    Derek saw Meredith was calm and organized even though they were talking about breaking up.


    She was no longer the woman totally dependent on him five years ago.


    "But what''s your feeling? Mer, do you love me?"


    Meredith was silent and her face darkened.


    She didn''t want to lie, because the man knew her so well that he would know she was lying.


    The answer was obvious.


    She still cared about him, even though she could not let go of the past. But she indeed had feelings for


    him.


    Their past was unforgettable.


    The man had protected her and helped her out.


    However, she had lost the courage to go through all the difficulties with him.


    "I care about you. I feel sad when I see you being with other women."


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Derek felt surprised and happy.


    "But I''m mentally exhausted because of the appearance of those women. I''m happy to be with you, but


    I always felt uneasy because I''m afraid I have to leave you."


    Meredith lowered her head, stirring the coffee. She felt insecure.


    Derek could give her anything, but not a sense of security.


    Of course, it wasn''t all his fault. But she didn''t want to share him with others.


    She wanted a peaceful life.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t know... So that''s how you feel."


    Derek looked at her and feltplicated.


    He had tried to treat her well, tried to make amends for the past.


    But now...


    But it seemed he failed.


    "You don''t need to say sorry. I just feel like we''re from different worlds. Maybe we shouldn''t continue.


    So...I quit."


    Meredith felt pain.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    However, she told herself that she should bite the bullet.


    Stunned, Derek was unable to react.


    Meredith forced herself to leave after paying the bill.


    Derek didn''t follow her out.


    He wanted to, but his mind stopped him.


    Meredith''s words echoing in his ears.


    He had thought that Meredith would be happy if he gave everything to her, but he had never thought


    that maybe she didn''t want that at all.


    Did he really know what she wanted?


    Derek was lost in thought, but his mind was in a mess.


    He didn''t know what to do now.


    By the time he regained his senses, Meredith had already left.


    He smiled bitterly at the empty seat.


    That was their rtionship. She was the one who left him and he tried to get her back... But no one


    was happy.


    Now, he didn''t even have the courage to chase after her.


    If he made Meredith unhappy and uneasy, should he let her go?

 Chapter 535

    Chapter 535


    Meredith walked back to the hotel room.


    She resisted looking back and kept walking.


    Derek didn''t follow her. Although he knew that it was her purpose, he still felt ufortable.


    Her eyes turned red.


    It turned out that she cared about him more than he ever imagined.


    Meredith wiped the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath expressionlessly, and then returned to the


    room.


    She didn''t want Easton to see anything strange.


    However, as soon as she pushed the door open, he saw Easton sitting on the bed in a daze.


    He didn''t eat a single bite of all the snacks she bought him, and he looked worried.


    Meredith hurried over. "What''s wrong, Easton? Why didn''t you eat? You should be hungry."


    "I have no appetite."


    Easton looked at Meredith''s face. He always felt that something bad was going to happen, so it was


    natural that he didn''t have any appetite.


    "Mom, did you fight with dad?"


    Meredith shook her head. They didn''t quarrel and they were both calm throughout, but...


    Perhaps the fact was much more serious than Easton had imagined.


    "What about my dad? Why didn''t hee back together with you?"


    Easton grabbed the corner of Meredith''s shirt. "Let''s go find him, shall we?"


    Meredith picked him up. "Easton, he''s tired today. You stay here with me and let him be alone, okay?"


    She sounded gentle but determined.


    Easton calmed down. He sensed that something was wrong, but he didn''t know what to do.


    However, seeing the slight sadness in Meredith''s eyes, he nodded, "Okay, I''ll look for him tomorrow."


    Meredith smiled and touched his head, messing up Easton''s neat hairstyle. "Go eat something. I''ll give


    you a bath. You should take a break too."


    Meredith ate with Easton, showered him, told him a story. When he finally fell asleep, she sighed with


    relief.


    If she could, she wanted Easton to be happy forever, but it seemed that reality was not always what


    she wanted.


    ...


    Meredith was in the room with Easton for a while when the phone suddenly rang.


    She didn''t want to wake Easton up, so she went out to answer the phone.


    It was Amelia who called. Today, Parker visited her. Only then did Amelia knew that Meredith was going


    out for a while.


    Parker subconsciously thought that Meredith was going out with Derek.


    Amelia only knew that Meredith was going out. In order to make Parker stop feeling worried, he


    specially called to ask about the situation.


    "Mer, what are you doing?"


    "Nothing. I''m in the hotel now. Mom, are you okay today?"


    "Not bad. Parker came to see me today and asked me where you were. Didn''t you contact him in


    advance? He''ll worry about you."


    "I... I was in a hurry and didn''t have time to talk to him."


    "But why did you have time to tell Derek? Mer, do you still have feelings about him?"


    "I don''t."


    Meredith immediately denied it. "I told him today to make a thorough break. He agreed."


    Amelia was surprised to hear that.


    However, she quickly guessed if something had happened, which made Meredith make up her mind.


    "What happened again?"


    Meredith lowered her head. She knew that she couldn''t manage to hide it from her mother, so she told


    her mother everything.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Amelia sighed when she heard that. She knew that would happen.


    With the family background of the Xaviers and Violet''s personality, how could Meredith be so easily


    epted?


    As a mother, she didn''t want her daughter to fight with a group of covetous women every day to snatch


    a man. That would be too tiring.


    Otherwise, she wouldn''t have urged Meredith to break up with Derek for good.


    "That''s great. It''s just that Easton may feel sad for a while."


    "I will apany him more."


    Meredith sighed too. The mother and daughter talked for a while and hung up.


    Amelia shook her head and looked at Parker, who came in from outside with water in his hand. "Parker,


    Mer has finally changed her mind. Grab your opportunity."


    Parker was stunned. "Did she speak to Derek about the breakup?"


    Parker was in sudden ecstasy.


    "Well, I guess so. Parker. In that case, I will seriously ask you to take good care of Mer."


    Parker nodded solemnly. "I promise you, I won''t disappoint you. And I will make Meredith happy."


    Amelia smiled. "I trust you. She''s in Capital City now. I asked her to send me the address of her


    residence. It''s up to you whether you want to go or not."


    "I''ll be right there."


    Of course, Parker wouldn''t miss the opportunity. He would never do nothing when he knew that Derek


    was there. It wasn''t his style.


    ...


    At the Smiths.


    Ellie organized the materials that she had about Derek. There was no expression on her face.


    Naturally, she found out about Meredith and Easton.


    As an outsider, she knew clearly that their rtionship was steadfast.


    Suddenly, the door was rudely opened from the outside. "Did you find out what I want to know? Hurry


    up."


    When no one else was around, Evelyn didn''t care to hide her rudeness.


    "I..."


    Ellie thought for a while, but in the end, she said, "Derek and the girl she met today have a good


    rtionship. Besides, they have a son named Easton. I don''t think it''s wise for you to pursue him..."


    Ellie tried to be as tactful as possible. However, when Evelyn heard what she said, she suddenly


    became very angry. "Ellie, don''t talk to me in that tone. They have children, but they''re not married. It


    just means that the woman is not worthy of being his wife. I don''t think it''s unwise."


    "But... Are you going to be a stepmother to that child? I checked. He''s already five years old, and it''s


    hard for him to ept a stranger..."


    "No buts."


    Evelyn narrowed her eyes and looked at Ellie. "Don''t think that you''re popr after a few men pursued


    you. As long as I don''t like the man, it''s okay for me to give him to you.


    Or do you think you can find fault with me after a few years in the public rtions department?"


    Ellie''s face turned pale. Before she could refute, a gentle and maic voice suddenly sounded behind


    her.


    "Evelyn, are you throwing a temper again?"


    Hearing this voice, Evelyn, who had just been angry, immediately adjusted her mood and walked over


    gently.

 Chapter 536

    Chapter 536


    "Big brother, you''re back?"


    The man Evelyn called big brother touched her head lovingly. "Yes, I just came back from a business


    trip. Why? Did you miss me?"


    "Of course I do. I misses you as well. She keeps asking me when you''ll be back..."


    Hearing such a loving conversation, Ellie''s face darkened but she made no interruptions though.


    No matter how nice her words sounded, she was not one of the Smith family. There was no ce for


    her to stay.


    Just as she was about to leave, Charles stopped her.


    "Wait a minute. You want to leave without even saying hello to me?"


    Squinting at her slender back, the man stopped her with a subtle tone.


    "Big brother."


    Ellie turned around with an awkward expression on her face and greeted him respectfully.


    Charles turned to Evelyn. "Evelyn, you could visit the Old Master first. I have something to say to Ellie."


    "Got it, brother."


    A glint of gloat shed in Evelyn''s eyes.


    Her big brother was surely about to teach that bitch a good lesson. She was no doubt very happy to


    see it happen. Evelyn left them.


    "Come here."


    Charles said in amanding tone. He walked into the room and displeasedly noticed that Ellie did not


    follow.


    Now they were both in the room. He untied a few buttons on his shirt and showed his strong chest.


    That was a strong hint of sex appeal that she couldn''t ignore. Ellie lowered her head and avoided his


    gaze.


    "What are you lowering your head for? Are you guilty? Did you seduce someone when I wasn''t


    around?"


    The man stared at the woman in front of him, smiling. But it''s not a true smile.


    Ellie felt sad hearing his words.


    Charles treated her well at first after she had been adopted by the Smith family. He was so kind, taking


    care of her as if she was his own sister. That was undoubtedly the happiest day of her life.


    Things changed when the Old Master suggested, in return for her saving his own life, that Charles


    should marry her.


    Charles refused, because he already had a girlfriend. The suggestion was temporarily put aside.


    The rest of the Smith family began to keep a wary eye on her ever since, convinced that she was


    greedy for the family''s property.


    Evelyn mentioned her in front of Charles''s girlfriend, calling it a reminder... This lead to so many


    conflicts between them but only Ellie was med.


    To remove their doubts, Ellie chose to work in the public rtions department, which had the least


    power in thepany. She depended on herself and finally managed to make some achievements.


    But the rumor just wouldn''t let her go. People said that she seeded only because she flirted with her


    clients and the only reason she worked hard is that she needed her sess to please the Old Master.


    It was even harder for her to defend herself when the man from Evelyn''s blind date fell in love with her


    at first sight and relentlessly asked for her love.


    Even Charles no longer trusted her.


    "I didn''t, big brother. I..."


    "Forget it, I''m not interested. All I want to say is that nominally you are still a member of the Smith


    family. What you do concerns the family''s honor. So, don''t do anything that will affect us and don''t ever


    give a thought of fighting with Evelyn. You know the result."


    Charles interrupted her.


    The thought of her flirting with those men inmercial world when he was not here made him angry.


    And his words were no longer under control.


    The expression on Ellie''s changed.


    But she didn''t say anything in the end.


    "I see."


    What else could she say? She was just an orphan and an outsider. There was no point in saying


    anything.


    Seeing Ellie suddenly drooped, Charles got upset for no reason. "Get out."


    Ellie left.


    Evelyn waited outside, rolling her eyes provocatively at her. "How does that feel? My brother taught you


    a lesson, huh? Tomorrow, you go to Meredith and make things clear for me."


    "Why me?"


    Ellie was already tired. Evelyn''s words just made her mood even worse. She was unwilling to do that.


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    They were fine. Why did Evelyn have to get involved and make her a viin?


    "Because I told you so. Don''t you dare disobey me? The Smith family didn''t raise you up for nothing."


    Evelyn stopped her retort with short and harsh sentences.


    The point that she should be thankful to the Smith family left her no choice but to endure and ept it.


    ...


    Derek had been sitting in the coffee shop for a long time before he came to his senses.


    By the time he realized it, Meredith had already paid the bill and left for a while.


    As he walked out, a cool night breeze touched his face. The strange city made he lonely.


    His cell phone rang at the moment.


    It was Asher.


    Now that Meredith had cleared up the misunderstanding, Asher and Derek slowly regained contact.


    asionally they made phone calls and talked about their recent life.


    "What''s up, Asher?"


    Asher hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Derek, Chloe and I are getting engaged."


    Derek raised an eyebrow.


    It was only after Meredith left that he knew that Asher loved Chloe to this degree.


    However, he did not care about it.


    "I thought about it, but I still want you to know it."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t mind. I just want you to be happy."


    Derek replied peacefully.


    Asher heaved a sigh of relief.


    There was a time that he thought about giving up on Chloe. But it was too much for him to see her


    suffering and breaking down and to see that no one else was there to support her. He loved her for so


    many years and cares so much about her. So for another time, Asher decided to stay by her side.


    He thought that maybe he would leave when she got better.


    He didn''t expect it when Chloe told him that she wanted to be with him too.


    Unexpected as it though, Asher said yes after a long consideration.


    Perhaps it was because Chloe had already be an important part of hie life, and he would be at a


    loss without her.


    "Derek, I really hope that everything''s fine between you and Meredith."


    Asher sighed. This was his most sincere wish for the two of them.


    Derek chuckled. "Well, it seems a littlete now..."


    "We just agreed that we should no longer interfere with each other."


    It''s a little sarcastic, Derek thought to himself.


    He couldn''t even use the word "breakup" to describe his rtionship with Meredith, because they never


    said "I love you" to each other nor called each other boyfriend and girlfriend.


    Everything seemed to be his one-sided wishful thinking.


    "So, what are you going to do?"


    Derek didn''t answer.


    Asher knew that the Xaviers wasplicated.


    It was understandable for Meredith to retreat.


    No one would like to make the same mistake twice.


    However, it would be a pity if they just gave up on each other.


    "Derek, don''t let her go. You''ll never meet someone like her that you love so much. That''s my advice."

 Chapter 537

    Chapter 537


    "Maybe I should learn from you?"


    Derek chuckled. He never wanted to give up.


    No matter what, everything was much better than when he thought Meredith was dead.


    As long as she was alive, there were always many possibilities.


    He wouldn''t just walk away, but he might have to change his ways.


    "Your situation is much better than mine."


    Asher smiled bitterly. At least, they were in love, but they couldn''t be together because of some


    external factors.


    As for him, he could not be sure of his feelings for Chloe, nor did he know that she was going to be


    engaged to him out of love or that she just needed someone to take care of her.


    But it didn''t matter anymore.


    "Asher, if you don''t want to engage with her, then reconsider it. You''ve taken care of her a lot. You don''t


    need to force yourself."


    "I see."


    Asher didn''t want to talk about it, so he gave a simple reply.


    Hanging up the phone, Derek was absorbed in thought.


    ...


    The next morning


    Easton didn''t sleep well. He felt something was wrong.


    When he woke up, Meredith was not up yet, so he got up quietly, opened the door, and went to find


    Derek.


    Easton knocked on the door. Derek came over and opened the door and let Easton in.


    "You got up so early."


    There was nothing unusual about Derek''s expression. He looked calm.


    Easton looked at Derek a few times and still couldn''t hold back his words. "Dad, what happened to you


    and mom? I''m worried."


    Derek''s hand, which was pouring water, paused and spilled some water on his finger. He pretended


    that nothing had happened. "Nothing. It''s just that I might need to give your mother some space from


    now on."


    "Space? What do you mean?"


    Easton was smart, but he did not understand the entanglement only belonged to the adult world.


    "Do you want to separate?"


    Derek smiled, "I don''t think so. Your mother has a lot of things to deal with right now, and so do I. I have


    to handle those things before I see her. Otherwise, she''ll be unhappy."


    Last night, Derek couldn''t sleep either.


    He had been thinking about what Meredith said and the way she looked at him.


    Only then did he realize that the entanglement between them might bring her more unhappiness.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    If so, perhaps he should reflect on whether he had done something wrong in the past.


    "When will you handle them..."


    Easton pouted and dangled his short fair legs.


    He felt that things between adults were tooplicated.


    Couldn''t they be simpler?


    "Anyway, I''m still your father, and she''s still your mother. Our feelings for you won''t change. Easton,


    don''t think too much."


    Derek touched Easton''s head, squatted down, and looked at him.


    Easton listened to him. "You have to figure it out quickly, deal with your things, and pursue mom."


    Easton nodded. "I promise."


    "Pinky swear."


    Easton was still moring for Derek to give him more serious assurance.


    Derek couldn''t help butugh at Easton''s rare childishness.


    Easton was still a child. Didn''t he know that they could break the promise even if they pinky swore?


    He didn''t want to say anything to disappoint Easton. Instead, Derek reached out his hand to his son. "I


    promise you, and I will do it."


    "Deal!"


    Easton mumbled for a while, relieved.


    "Go back. If she doesn''t see you when she wakes up, she must be worried."


    "Okay. I''m going to buy breakfast for mom."


    Easton nodded sensibly and went out with Derek to buy breakfast before returning to his room.


    As soon as he opened the door, he noticed that Meredith was anxious and was about to go out.


    She heaved a sigh of relief to see Easton. "Easton, where have you been? When I woke up and saw


    you gone, I thought..."


    Meredith was still in shock.


    "I''m fine. I ... bought you something."


    Easton was embarrassed. He scratched his head and showed Meredith what he was holding.


    He ran out in a hurry.


    He didn''t expect his mother to be so worried.


    "He''s fine. He just came to me because he was hungry."


    Derek looked at Meredith and said as gently as possible.


    Hearing the man''s voice, Meredith was stunned for a moment. She looked up and saw that there was


    nothing wrong with his expression. She had mixed feelings. "I know."


    Derek stopped pestering her and patted Easton on the shoulder. "Stay here with your mother, okay?"


    Easton nodded, and Derek left trustingly.


    Meredith looked at his back and was slightly lost in thought.


    It felt like everything was changing so fast. Derek would have asked the family to eat together in the


    past.


    But now...


    It seemed that he was much more rxed than she had imagined.


    "Mom? What are you looking at?"


    Easton tugged at the corner of Meredith''s shirt to bring her back to her senses.


    "Nothing."


    She smiled. Maybe she should learn to be rxed. After all, she said it herself to separate.


    She had to adapt to this change as soon as possible.


    Meredith took Easton into the room, and they ate something together.


    "Easton, do you have anywhere you want to go?"


    Meredith knew that Easton was a restless child, so she asked him if he wanted to go somewhere.


    Although it was her first time in Capital City, she was not interested in such a prosperous city.


    "Well, let me see. I''ll find out what''s funter."


    When Easton heard that he was going out, he forgot his unhappiness.


    "Can we ask dad toe with us?"


    Easton quickly finished his breakfast, ran to turn on hisputer, and began to search for bucket lists.


    After searching, there were really many attractions here, and there were many of them that he wanted


    to go to.


    He wanted to go with his parents.


    "Your father may be busy. We can go there, just ourselves."


    Meredith sat beside Easton and patiently enlightened him.


    Easton nodded and didn''t say anything, but it was obvious that he lost his interest.


    Meredith looked at him with mixed feelings, but that was all she could do.


    If she and Derek were separated, and Derek was married to another woman, this would be normal.


    Perhaps it would be better for Easton to get used to it in advance.


    In this way, neither of them spoke again. Easton looked up where he was going, but he was absent-


    minded.


    Meredith looked at him, not knowing how to cheer him up.

 Chapter 538

    Chapter 538


    In J City.


    Damian took Professor Lee to the destination, but it was already dark.


    The professor was in his sixties and could not stand the constant trips, so Damian settled him in the


    hotel.


    Then Damian went to see Penelope.


    Things went smoothly this time, so it only took a few days.


    But even so, Damian was still thinking about Penelope. He wondered if she was throwing a tantrum.


    He called home and said he had arrived in J City and would go hometer tonight. Then, Damian drove


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    to the hospital.


    When Mother of Ann received the call, she muttered, "Is he busy with work or something? Why doesn''t


    he go home right after he gets back to J City? Is... Is he dating someone?"


    Thinking of this, Mother of Ann ran into the room and muttered to the photo of her husband, "I don''t


    know when your precious son will give me a grandchild. I know you won''t be relieved until he has his


    own children."


    ...


    Damian arrived at the hospitalte.


    He thought about it and decided to take a look. If Penelope was fine, he would leave quietly.


    Damian walked to the door of the ward and gently opened the door. He saw that Mrs. Garcia was


    already asleep on the bed beside her daughter.


    Just as he was about to go over, Penelope said warily, "Who''s that?"


    Damian was startled. He didn''t expect that she wasn''t asleep.


    "Keep your voice down. Your mother is still sleeping."


    Hearing a familiar voice, Penelope rxed. "You''re back so soon..."


    "I just got here. I want to see you."


    "Oh, I see."


    Although her tone was calm, Penelope was delighted.


    Damian walked over. "Are you awake? Or did I wake you up?"


    "I can''t sleep. I lie in this room every day. I''ve had enough sleep."


    Penelope was telling the truth, but Damian felt pity for her.


    "In the next few days, doctors wille over to examine you. Maybe you''ll have an operation and see


    the light again soon."


    "Really?"


    Penelope was happy at first, but soon she forced herself to calm down.


    Now, she did not dare to have any expectations for the future. She was afraid. The greater the hope,


    the greater the disappointment.


    "Then... What if I never get better?"


    "Then I''ll keep looking until we find a doctor to help you get better."


    Damian answered without thinking.


    He didn''t want to see Penelope, who was as depressed as she was now.


    "I don''t even know if I can persevere that long."


    Penelopeughed bitterly.


    Her parents were getting old, and she didn''t want them to worry, so she always pretended to be


    optimistic.


    But for some reason, with Damian here, she didn''t want to pretend anymore.


    She was exhausted to hide her feelings all the time.


    "Then I will be here for you all the time and make sure you persevere."


    Damian sat aside and peeled an apple for Penelope.


    "If you have your own family, I guess you will feel troublesome..."


    Penelope turned her face to Damian. She wanted to see his expression and know what he would say.


    "No, if you''re worried about this, I can assure you that I won''t get married or have children until you fully


    recover. Are you at ease?"


    Penelope did not expect Damian to say it so decisively, and she had unspeakable mixed feelings.


    "It''s not your fault that I be like this. You don''t need to feel guilty."


    Damian put the peeled apple aside. Was he guilty?


    Perhaps, he was. After all, Penelope was with him when it happened.


    But only then did he realized that he cared so much about her not just because of guilt.


    If he did this only out of guilt, he wouldn''t go straight here aftering back. He didn''t even go home...


    Damian was silent, so Penelope took it as his acquiescence and felt bitterness. "Forget it. It''ste. You


    must be tired. Go home."


    "Penelope."


    Damian suddenly stood up. "What I''m going to say may surprise you. Can you be quiet and not wake


    your mother up?"


    "What?"


    Penelope tilted her head and promised.


    "I thought about it. You said I felt guilty and responsible for you. I don''t deny it, but it doesn''t seem like


    that''s all."


    Penelope''s heartbeat hastened for his words.


    "So?"


    "I think I like you. Could you give me a chance to be with you?"


    Damian didn''t care about anything or did anything romantic. He just said it out loud.


    Penelope was sitting on the hospital bed with confusion.


    She thought Damian was going to say something else...


    So, he said he liked her?


    Wait... He said he liked her?


    "Is today April Fool''s Day?"


    Penelope suddenly asked.


    Damian was waiting for her answer. When he heard this, he wanted to knock her on the head.


    "No."


    "Are you kidding?"


    Damian was annoyed. "Penelope, you are not a whim when you screwed up my blind dates. Do you


    ept it or not?"


    "Does anyone ask a girl like that?" Penelope lowered her head and mumbled.


    However, she could feel the heat on her face.


    Clearly, she did not hate Damian. Instead, she was joyful because he was here.


    This was probably the feeling of liking someone?


    "You don''t usually act like a woman..."


    Damian roasted her.


    "You''re not romantic at all..." Penelope bickered with him. "If you want me to agree, you have to bring


    flowers, right?"


    This was awkward.


    But her meaning was obvious.


    That meat "yes."


    Damian beamed. Just now, he thought Penelope was going to reject him.


    "I owe you that. There''s no flower shop opening now. I''ll make it up to you next time."


    Damian reached out and held Penelope''s hand. Although he looked calm, his face was a little red.


    He had been busy with Derek and had never been in a rtionship.


    Fortunately, Penelope couldn''t see his embarrassment.


    After they finished talking, Mrs. Garcia turned over.


    In fact, she woke up as soon as she heard Damiane in, but she pretended to be asleep when she


    saw that they seemed to be talking.


    Little did she know that there was a piece of good news.

 Chapter 539

    Chapter 539


    After eating breakfast alone, Derek stayed in the room for a while.


    Although he wanted to go around with Meredith, he didn''t know how to invite her given their current


    rtionship.


    However, the journey that he had been looking forward to turned out to be dull.


    Just as he turned on hisputer and was getting ready for work, his phone rang.


    It was a call from the Smith family Old Master.


    "Derek, about yesterday''s contract, there are something I would like to discuss with you. Are you free?"


    With nothing else to do, Derek agreed and went over.


    However, he arrived at the Smith family, only to see Evelyn waiting for him.


    Derek immediately realized that the so-called contract negotiation was just a cover. He immediately put


    on a long face.


    "Mr. Xavier, you don''t have to look at me like that. I can talk business with you, too."


    Evelyn did not care. Instead, she kept him with an excuse that he could not refuse.


    "..."


    Derek was speechless and looked at her. "So Miss Smith, what are you going to say?"


    "Let''s get a ce and talk about it. Take it slow."


    Evelyn was certain that Derek would not ignore a big contract. Sure enough, he agreed despite his


    unwillingness.


    ...


    In order to cheer Easton up, Meredith went online and carefully checked the local tourism strategy.


    At the thought that Easton was very happy thest time when he went to the food street, she decided


    to take him out to eat the special food here.


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    "Easton, how about we go out for a walkter and get something to eat at a restaurant? The snacks


    here are very famous."


    Easton was not in high spirits, displeased at the thought that his parents couldn''t be with him together.


    However, seeing how serious Meredith was trying to make him happy, he nodded and agreed.


    "Okay, get your clothes changed. Let''s go to the park not far away and have a walk before we eat."


    Meredith stroked Easton''s head, found him a set of loose clothes to change into, and left hand in hand.


    They wondered around until Easton felt tired before Meredith took him to a restaurant.


    However, as soon as they entered, they saw Derek and Evelyn sitting opposite him.


    Meredith was out of sorts.


    "Easton, let''s go somewhere else."


    Meredith''s heart was filled with mixed feelings.


    Although she made things clear to Derek, the sight of him with Evelyn diforted her.


    She could not help but wonder if Derek had already thought of a way out before he agreed so readily.


    Speaking of which, Evelyn''s status was beneficial to Derek''s future career development in Violet''s


    mind. It would not be surprising if Derek considered her.


    "Hey, but mom, didn''t you say that the special food here is delicious?"


    Easton, who was short, didn''t see where Derek was. He was confused.


    His voice came to Derek.


    His eyes fell on them.


    When Evelyn saw this, she knew exactly what was going on.


    She immediately felt fidgety. She obviously asked Ellie to go to Meredith and hold her back.


    "What a waste!" she thought.


    However, she was not rmed. Seeing Derek who was distracted, she picked up a piece of cake from


    the te and put it to his mouth.


    "Derek, try this. It''s delicious."


    Her words was happened to be heard by Meredith.


    It was only then that Easton realized that his father was there too. Taking a look, he saw that a strange


    woman was about to feed his dad.


    The little guy went into furious immediately.


    He wondered what she was doing.


    Derek''s face darkened immediately. "I don''t know you that well," he rejected.


    He was here because Evelyn wanted to talk to him about the contract here.


    He didn''t expect Meredith toe.


    Now, there was a big misunderstanding.


    Being rejected, Evelyn was a little embarrassed and the smile on her face froze, but she chuckled,


    "Don''t be a stranger, Mr. Xavier."


    Her words sounded like flirting.


    Meredith didn''t want to stay here anymore.


    "Easton, let''s get out of here. Let''s go."


    With that, she took Easton was about to leave.


    "No, I want to eat here."


    Easton didn''t understand why Meredith wanted to leave. But he seemed to know she cared about it.


    She should have gone up and imed that she was Derek''s wife.


    Women''s minds were always hard to guess.


    Easton felt that his mother might be too embarrassed to do such a thing, so he had to do it for her.


    He was five years old anyway, so anything he did could be forgiven.


    "Easton..."


    Meredith was helpless, but Easton put on a pitiful look. "But, mommy, you''ve been telling me for so


    long that the food here is so delicious. Now that we''re here, you''re taking me away. You''re kidding me."


    Easton blinked his big eyes, looking very aggrieved.


    Meredith blush with embarrassment. Indeed, she had talked so highly of the restaurant just to get him


    out.


    Easton must be disappointed if they left.


    "Well... Okay."


    Meredithpromised. The waiter was about to lead them to a seat, but Easton had already figured it


    out. He dragged Meredith directly to the table where Derek was.


    "Right here."


    "Easton..."


    Now Meredith really couldn''tpromise. Sitting next to Derek and Evelyn might suffocate her. She


    was not going to making things difficult for her.


    "Look, here, by the window, you can see the river view. It''s the best seat in this restaurant, and..."


    Easton tilted his head and looked at Derek. "Dad, do you mind?"


    Derek wanted to knock his head after hearing his words.


    His words implied that he had an affair and would disown his son because of Evelyn.


    "Of course not. Come and sit down."


    Derek called the service staff and asked them to add a child seat.


    "By the way, auntie, is it okay for me to sit here?"


    Before Easton seated himself, he looked at Evelyn.


    Hearing that she was called auntie, she pulled a long face.


    Auntie?


    She was an unmarried girl who was only in her twenties.


    "Easton, right? I''m not an auntie. I can be your sister."

 Chapter 540

    Chapter 540


    Easton pretended not to understand and tilted his head. "No way. You''re about the same age as my


    mother, but my mother looked much younger than you!"


    Evelyn froze after hearing that.


    Evelyn had always felt that she was young, so she replied coldly.


    "He he, but I have never had a child."


    "Oh, really? If I call you sister, then what do you call my mother? Didn''t my father be your uncle?"


    Easton smiled and said something that rendered Evelyn speechless.


    When she asked Derek for dinner, she naturally wanted to be with him more. In the end, Easton should


    say that coldly.


    "Then you can call me auntie."


    Evelyn stopped talking to Easton.


    She would have been furious if she talked much with him.


    Easton was overjoyed to see that she was so angry.


    Meredith felt a little embarrassed and she didn''t even know where to take a seat.


    "Easton, don''t talk so much. I''ll take you upstairs. Don''t you want to see the scenery?"


    Easton shook his head and looked at Derek.


    Coincidentally, the staff brought the children''s seat over.


    "Just sit here. Stop messing around."


    Hearing what he said, Meredith could not say anything.


    She was not a troublesome person.


    But, in that case, where she was about to sit became a problem.


    Evelyn had just been angered by Easton. Meredith did not want to ask for trouble.


    And by Derek''s side...


    She did not want to sit beside him.


    "Sit here." Derek pointed directly at the position beside Easton.


    Although it was a little crowded, it was still able to sit.


    Evelyn saw this and immediately said, "No, let her be my side."


    After that, she smiled at Meredith.


    Of course, it was because she did not want to see the three of them sat happily together.


    Meredith felt helpless. On the one hand, she did not know if Evelyn was Amelia''s daughter.


    But on the other hand,she realized that Evelyn who was hostile should be interested in Derek, which


    made her unwilling to approach Evelyn.


    "Okay." After thinking about it, Meredith sat next to Evelyn.


    Easton pursed his lips, so he lowered his head and began to look at the menu.


    "You can order whatever you want to eat."


    Meredith focused on Easton.


    Easton ordered some delicious snacks and a special hot drink.


    Easton was curious about everything here, and he did not want to give Evelyn a chance to interrupt, so


    he kept talking to Meredith and Derek.


    Meredith just kept chatting with Easton all the time. Derek did not say anything, but became much


    gentler.


    He even forgot Evelyn who was sitting beside him.


    Evelyn wanted to butt in, but she did not know what to say.


    Evelyn lowered her eyes, clenching her fist instead.


    Didn''t Meredith just give birth to a child?


    Meredith should show it off in front of Evelyn.


    Evelyn had always been used to the feeling of being loved by others because of her outstanding family


    background and beautiful appearance. Now, she became very angry.


    Just as she was trying to hold back her unhappiness, the waiter came over and brought them their


    order.


    When the waiter was about to hand Meredith a hot drink, Evelyn suddenly reached out her foot to the


    waiter.


    The drink spilled on Meredith.


    "Ah!"


    Meredith was startled and screamed unconsciously.


    Fortunately, the drink was not so hot. Still, her clothes were wet.


    "I''m going to the bathroom."


    Meredith looked at the stain on her body with annoyance. One could almost see the underwear inside.


    "Wear my clothes."


    Derek immediately handed over his coat. Meredith took a look and did not take it.


    Evelyn, on the other hand, put her shawl in front of Meredith. "Use this."


    Meredith looked at her in surprise, and Evelyn stood up, "I''ll go to the bathroom with you."


    With that, she pushed Meredith away.


    Derek wanted to stop them but gave up.


    So he just watched the two women leave.


    When Easton saw this, he shouted, "Dad, what''s wrong with you? You should ask another woman out."


    "Easton, mind your tone. I''m here to talk business with her."


    Derek raised his eyebrows and thought that Easton was too presumptuous now.


    Derek did not want Easton to say like that.


    "Humph, you didn''t see how weird mom looked just now?"


    Easton said unhappily. Unexpectedly, Derek was very happy to hear him say that.


    "Really?"


    Derek also felt that Meredith was a little strange, but he was worried that he was too sentimental, so he


    did not think much about it.


    But Easton felt the same way, which meant that she really cared about Derek.


    So... He really meant a lot to Meredith.


    It was just that she usually disliked to show it.


    "I really have nothing to do with this woman. When you go back, remember to ask your mother more to


    see if she cares about me."


    Easton mimicked Derek to leaned back in his chair and raised his eyebrows. "Yes, but I have to get


    some rewards."


    Derek took a look at him speechless.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    How dared he negotiate with people?


    "What reward do you want?"


    Easton thought about it, "Not now. I need a guarantee. You have to promise me one thing in the future,


    unconditionally."

 Chapter 541

    Chapter 541


    Derek nced at him, "Did you watch too many TV shows?"


    Easton smiled, "Anyway, tell me if you agree or not."


    Derek thought about it and thought that it didn''t matter to agree him one thing. After all, Easton didn''t


    have the guts to ask for anything too much.


    "Okay, I promise you."


    ...


    In the washroom


    Meredith walked to the mirror and wiped the shallow mark with a wet tissue.


    As soon as Evelyn entered, the smile on her face disappeared. She looked at Meredith coldly, without


    any warmth in her eyes.


    "You are Meredith, right?"


    Meredith replied coldly and did not look at her. Instead, Meredith continued to go about her own


    business.


    "What''s the rtionship between you and Derek? Aren''t you boyfriend and girlfriend now?"


    "No."


    Meredith answered her honestly.


    The rtionship between them seemed to be beyond the rtionship of boyfriend and girlfriend.


    "Oh, so Easton is your and Derek''s child, right?"


    Meredith paused. She didn''t answer Evelyn but nced at her.


    Seeing that Meredith didn''t speak, Evelyn continued to say, "I have checked you. The Masons is just a


    small family, and it almost went bankrupt. The gap between your family and Derek''s is too big, and you


    won''t be happy."


    Seeing Evelyn mentioned about family background repeatedly, Meredith bit her lower lip as if she was


    thinking about something.


    "Before I answer all your questions, may I ask you a question first?"


    "Well." Evelyn looked indifferent.


    "What if, I mean, one day you find that your family that you are proud of doesn''t exist?"


    After saying this, Meredith felt a thinyer of cold sweat on her palm.


    "Are you looking for psychologicalfort for yourself? I don''t know why you have such an idea. The


    Smiths won''t fall down no matter what happens, so your hypothesis is invalid."


    "If you want to ask me something, you must answer my question. If your biological parents are others


    because you are given to the wrong parents, would you be willing to ept your former family?"


    Meredith was persistent.


    Seeing Meredith like this, Evelyn looked confused, "Why should I ept them? Since I was a child, it


    was the Smiths who raised me up. Moreover, I have no reason to lower my quality of life to ept the


    so-called parents who arepletely like strangers."


    Evelyn''s words made Meredith''s mood beplicated.


    Perhaps, it was difficult to go from extravagance to frugality.


    Having gotten used to the life of the Smiths, it might be hard for her to ept a mediocre family.


    "I''m done. Answer my question."


    "Easton is my and Derek''s child. That''s right, but now we have nothing to do with each other. What you


    want to do is your choice, and it is none of my business."


    Meredith said this as calmly as possible.


    "Really?"


    But Evelyn didn''t believe it.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "I don''t have to lie to you. As you said, there are people in the Xaviers who don''t like me, and I don''t


    want to please them anymore. So that''s just how it goes."


    Hearing this, Evelyn believed it, "In the future, pay more attention to disciplining your child. His family


    education is really bad."


    Evelyn still hated Easton for calling her aunt, which made her ten years older.


    Meredith frowned slightly. Because Evelyn might be Amelia''s daughter, Meredith was already very


    polite to her.


    However, her arrogance and willfulness still made Meredith dislike her.


    "I will discipline my son by myself. If you really marry Derek, I will take my son away, and I don''t need


    anyone to have a hand in his education."


    Then, Meredith returned the shawl to Evelyn and left the bathroom.


    "Hmph..."


    Evelyn looked at her back and snorted.


    It sounded nice, but Meredith''s attitude did make her feel better.


    Meredith returned to her seat. Easton looked at her and pouted, "Mom, why have you been away for so


    long?"


    "Well, the stain on the clothes is not easy to clean, so Ie back a littlete. How about the food


    here? Is it good?"


    Meredith didn''t want Easton to know too much about the things of adults so she changed the subject.


    "Not bad. The pea flour cake is quite good. Mom, try it."


    Easton reached out his little hand and picked a snack for Meredith.


    However, since he grew up abroad, he was not very skilled in using chopsticks, so he did not pick it up


    several times and instead broke the pastry.


    Evelyn could not help but despise him. Derek saw that he had been trying for a long time and was


    about to ruin a te of pastries. Helplessly, he reached out and wrapped Easton''s small hand, helping


    him to pick up the pastry.


    "Here you are, mom."


    Easton smiled, looking innocent and cute.


    Meredith looked at his happy face and felt much more rxed. She leaned over and took the thing he


    was holding.


    "Thank you, Easton."


    Easton was ted.


    Evelyn looked at them with mixed feelings.


    Although she was sitting opposite Derek now, he didn''t even look at her. The three people were a


    happy family, and she seemed to be redundant here.


    "Miss Mason, Mr. Xavier and I still have business to discuss."


    Evelyn was so upset that she began to chase them away.


    Hearing what she said, Meredith lowered her eyes and said, "Well, in that case, we''ll leave first.


    Easton, let''s pack up the rest and eat at home, okay?"


    Easton wanted to refuse. If he left like this, wouldn''t he give them a chance to be alone...


    "After all, there are still some secrets that can''t be heard casually. I think Miss Mason must understand


    this as well."


    Meredith stood up, looking very serious.


    "Easton, let''s go."


    Easton saw that she was serious, so he didn''t make any more trouble. He winked at Derek, meaning


    that Derek should be good and didn''t do anything he shouldn''t do.


    When Derek saw the mother and son leaving, his expression suddenly became much colder.


    "It''s been a long time since we got here. Miss Smith should get down to business."


    Evelyn was helpless, but she didn''t know what to say. She was never interested in business matters.


    "I forgot to bring the documents. I''ll ask you out next time."


    Derek frowned at her, "If Miss Smith doesn''t know anything about thepany, you can call someone


    else to talk to me instead of using this excuse. It''s really not a good excuse."


    After saying that, Derek got up and left directly.


    After being lessoned face to face, Evelyn''s expression was not very good. But when she saw the man


    leaving with a straight figure, she felt even more excited.

 Chapter 542

    Chapter 542


    That''s her man. He had a unique personality.


    Only in this way, when she really got him, would there be the pleasure of conquest.


    Evelyn''s expression showed that she was determined to win.


    ...


    Meredith took Easton back to the hotel. On the way, she didn''t say anything because she was thinking


    about Evelyn.


    Meredith could tell that Evelyn was a spoiled youngdy. Judging by her character, she probably


    wouldn''t give Meredith''s mother a bone marrow transnt for no reason.


    Meredith even felt that Evelyn would not be willing to recognize her biological mother.


    At the thought of this, Meredith felt her head almost explode.


    "Mom, what''s wrong?"


    Easton saw that she was in a bad mood and thought it was because she was jealous.


    "Nothing."


    Meredith shook her head and said nothing to Easton.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    They got out of the taxi and were about to enter the door of the hotel when they were suddenly stopped


    by a familiar voice.


    "Mer, and Easton."


    After Amelia told Parker that Meredith was here, he rushed over.


    But, they weren''t there, and Parker didn''t want to miss them, so he waited outside.


    "Parker? Why are you here?"


    Meredith smiled when she saw Parker.


    She didn''t expect him toe to Capital City.


    Parker looked at her. Of course, he came for her. But if he said it, it would only embarrass Meredith, so


    he smiled. "Auntie cares about you. She let me look after you so that you won''t run into any danger."


    "What kind of danger can I run into?"


    Meredith thought it was quite interesting. She had no money, and she was not a famous person. Who


    else could hurt her?


    "Mothers are always concerned about their children."


    Parker sighed. Meredith agreed with him very much.


    She had only been here for a few days but she missed Easton so much.


    "Will it dy your work?"


    Parker shook his head.


    Easton saw them talking, and he couldn''t interrupt. He couldn''t help but bite his finger and look at


    Parker angrily.


    Why was this annoying uncle here again?


    Thest time he went out with Parker, he wanted to y a trick on Parker but failed, which made


    Easton more alert to Parker.


    "Mom, I''m tired. I need to go back and rest."


    Easton finally found a chance to get Meredith''s attention back.


    "Really? We had walked a lot today. Come on, let''s go back now."


    She was about to pick Easton up.


    Easton red at Parker. Look, mom still loved him.


    Other men could just go away.


    Parker chuckled inwardly. This kid was so cute and funny.


    "Mer, you''re too tired. I''ll hold him."


    As soon as Parker said this, Easton''s expression changed.


    Damn, why was this man so brazen?


    "No." Easton refused decisively.


    "Your mother is so skinny. It''s hard for her to hold you in high heels, Easton. You''re a good and sensible


    child. You love your mother, don''t you?"


    Parker was not angry. Instead, he praised Easton.


    If he didn''t let Parker hold him, it indicated that he didn''t care about Meredith.


    Sure enough, Easton looked at Meredith''s shoes with high heels. Besides, like himself, she had also


    walked for a long time...


    "I''m okay."


    Meredith didn''t care much about this. She was just about to pick Easton up, and he refused.


    "No, mom."


    Parker walked over and picked him up.


    Meredith saw that Easton didn''t refuse this time, so she didn''t let him down.


    "What an annoying man."


    Easton muttered in a low voice. Parker heard it and wanted tough.


    "Really? I don''t hate you. I don''t think you should hate me. I''m good to your mother, too."


    "I don''t believe you."


    Easton covered his ears directly.


    This man was eloquent. Easton couldn''t even convince him. In order to avoid being influenced by him,


    Easton decided not to listen to him.


    Parker didn''t mind being scolded. Just as he was about to enter, a young girl came over and looked at


    them with a surprised face.


    "Hello, I am a student of the photography academy. I am preparing my work for an exhibition. Could we


    please take a photo of you?"


    "What photos?"


    After all, Easton was still a child, so he asked curiously.


    "Well, it''s a photo exhibition of happy families. You''ll be put on the big screen of the city. Besides, your


    family of three will probably turn into Inte celebrities with such nice appearances."


    Easton''s face darkened when he heard she said "the family of three".


    He was about to say no when he heard a familiar voice.


    "Sorry, they''re not a family."


    Derek had just finished speaking with Evelyn when he hurried back.


    However, he didn''t expect to see such a scene.


    When he saw the three people at the door, he felt a sharp pain in his eyes.


    Why was Parker here?


    Besides, why was he holding Easton?


    At first nce, they looked like a family. Someone even said something about taking pictures of them.


    Derek''s face was very gloomy. "Mr. Hill, please let my son go."


    Derek said coldly.


    Easton was so sensible that he immediately reached out his hand. "Dad!"


    Parker did not force Easton into his arms and returned Easton to Derek.


    The girl who was about to take a photo saw this inexplicable development and she was stunned.


    What the hell... She just saw that the family of three had nice appearances, so she ran over to ask if


    she could take a picture and return to the student union to hand in her work.


    She didn''t expect to see this.


    However, this woman was quite lucky. Two handsome men were fighting for her.


    Meredith saw the envy in the girl''s eyes and Meredith looked helpless. "I''m sorry, you can''t take photos


    of us."


    "Well, it''s okay."


    The girl looked at them regretfully and wanted to see how things went.


    After the girl left, Meredith felt the tense atmosphere between Derek and Parker. "I''ll go back first."


    Seeing them, she felt inexplicably tired.


    This time, she even did not care about Easton.


    Derek''s eyes dimmed and he nced at Parker. "Aren''t you leaving yet?"


    Parker also hid the smile on his face. "It seems that I am not forbidden to visit here."


    After that, he entered the hotel.


    Derek looked at his back and was extremely upset.


    Evelyn was annoying enough to him, but he didn''t expect there was a more troublesome person.


    At first, he wanted to stay in a hotel when staying in Capital City. But now, he really needed a private


    ce to stay so that no annoying people woulde and disturb him.

 Chapter 543

    Chapter 543


    Meredith went back to the room. She was upset.


    After a while, Easton still didn''te back.


    Meredith felt that she shouldn''t have left him there alone. Just now, seeing Derek and Parker at


    loggerheads made her feel helpless.


    She was really not interested in getting involved in that, and the scene just reminded her of the past.


    Just as she was thinking, someone knocked on the door. When she opened the door. She saw Parker


    standing at the door.


    "I''m staying at this hotel too. After all, I have to listen to auntie."


    As soon as Parker spoke, he mentioned Amelia. So Meredith didn''t know how to reply.


    "I just got here. I''m not familiar with the ce. I want to go out for a meal. Can you rmend a


    restaurant for me?"


    Meredith knew clearly what Parker meant.


    She was silent for a moment and then said, "Parker, you don''t have to do this. You''re busy. Don''t waste


    time on me."


    The smile on Parker''s face froze. He looked at Meredith''s face seriously. "Now, even if you''re not with


    him anymore, can''t you give me a chance?


    For the past five years, I have been frantically looking for you. Dennis survived, so I thought that you


    could luckily survive too, but I searched everywhere and found no trace of you.


    Later, I gave up. My only thought was to help you get back at the Xaviers as well as Violet. I wanted to


    make her pay for your death. "


    Parker sounded very calm. That was a secret that he had never told Meredith.


    He didn''t want to win sympathy from her, but he just wanted her to stop being so distant from him.


    "Parker, I''m sorry. I didn''t know how you spent your days that way..."


    Meredith looked at his expression and felt sorry for him only because she treated him as her friend.


    If she hadn''t lost her memory, perhaps things wouldn''t turn soplicated.


    Looking at Meredith''s guilty face, Parker felt guilty. What he said was true, but it wasn''t just for Meredith


    that he took revenge on the Xaviers.


    He also did that for himself and for his dead mother.


    But he resisted the urge to exin. "I''m not saying this to make you feel guilty. Now that you''re


    separated from Derek, don''t ignore my concern unless you really hate me so much that it hurts to even


    see me."


    "Parker..."


    Of course, Meredith didn''t hate him, but she didn''t want to waste his time.


    She thought that Parker deserved a better woman, a woman who was devoted to him.


    "I just don''t want you to waste your time."


    "Time is mine. I''ll know if it''s a waste."


    Parker insisted, so Meredith sighed helplessly.


    After all, she could never control other people''s thoughts.


    "If you insist, I can''t say anything, but maybe I''ll never ept your feelings for the rest of my life. I''m


    sorry."


    Parker''s eyes dimmed when he heard that, but he didn''t look away. "I don''t care. I can wait."


    "I don''t think it''s necessary."


    Derek brought Easton here.


    Easton was still throwing a tantrum, saying that his mother had just left without him.


    But seeing that Meredith had been waiting for a long time, he came back quickly.


    As soon as he got here, they saw Parker.


    Derek heard Parker''s affectionate confession just now, something about waiting for her, which made


    him especially unhappy.


    Did Parker treated him as a dead man?


    "Mr. Hill, don''t be so affectionate. People will feel hard on the eyes."


    Derek was so sharp-tongued that average people could never bear it.


    Parker''s face darkened. Still, he looked cynically at Derek. "What I''d like to do has nothing to do with


    you. It''s more important to mind your own business."


    After Parker finished speaking, Meredith said, "Parker, aren''t you going out to eat? Go."


    Parker was in anger. After seeing that Meredith looked embarrassed, he didn''t want to put her in a


    dilemma. "Okay, I''ll go first, Easton. I''ll bring you food."


    Easton really wanted to say that he didn''t need it. He didn''t care about this evil man''s food.


    However, since his mother was polite to the man, he held back.


    Parker left, and Derek remained serious.


    Meredith wanted to bring Easton over, but Derek stopped her.


    "Wait, I want to talk to you."


    Meredith nced at Derek and saw that he was serious. She nodded. "Okay."


    Then he turned to Easton and said, "I''ll go out with your father. You stay here and don''t run around,


    okay?"


    Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Easton nodded obediently and watched the two adults walk out.


    Derek walked ahead and they went up to the rooftop. It was a huge viewing tform and there was no


    one there.


    "Parker came here for you, right? What are you going to do?"


    Derek cut to the chase.


    Meredith nced at him. Although she could exin, she was suddenly too angry to say anything


    when she thought that he and Evelyn were dating.


    "It''s his business. What can I do?"


    Derek, who had been restrained, could not bear to hear this.


    It had to be said that Meredith knew him very well... Every time, she could find the most unpleasant


    part of him and poke it hard.


    "Are you looking for a stepfather for Easton so soon?"


    "Derek, what are you talking about?"


    Meredith''s eyes widened, feeling as if she had gone back to the days when he didn''t believe that


    Easton was his own child.


    Looking at Derek''s face, Meredith said, "If anything happened between me and Parker, it would have


    happened five years ago. You''re not in the position to judge me."


    Derek''s face turned livid.


    "So, now that you regret it, and you want to be with him when you see his fake feelings for you?"

 Chapter 544

    Chapter 544


    Meredith was almost speechless with anger.


    "First of all, you should not antagonize Parker. It''s he that saved me from your mother when you didn''t


    care about me. Otherwise, I was already dead, or I''ve been infertile."


    "Besides, I made it very clear to you a few days ago that we are over. You don''t need to care about me,


    and I won''t care if you marry ady from a rich and eminent family."


    Derek''s anger dissipated when he saw the pain and hatred in Meredith''s eyes. He was heartbroken.


    She never talked so much about the past.


    Derek never knew that she might be infertile.


    "What happened that year? What did she do to you?"


    Derek was suddenly very upset. He only knew that Violet had taken Meredith''s child, but he didn''t


    expect that Violet would have caused such a serious injury to Meredith''s body.


    "If you want to know what happened back then, you can ask her. I don''t want to say anything more."


    Meredith did not want to recall the past in detail. The past was so overwhelming.


    "That''s it."


    Watching Meredith leave, Derek had the illusion that if he didn''t catch her, she would leave him.


    Derek reached out and grabbed her wrist. But this time, Derek didn''t dare to use much force, as if he


    was afraid of destroying some precious treasure.


    "I remember everything you said to mest time, but I''m not going to give up. I''ll ask my mom what she


    did to you. I won''t pester you until it''s settled, but I won''t stand by and watch Easton call someone else


    dad."


    "Just as you don''t ept me finding a stepmother for Easton, I also can''t ept you finding a


    stepfather for him, especially Parker. "


    Derek was very serious.


    Meredith looked at him and suddenly felt confused. "Why do you have such a strong bias against


    Parker?"


    Her sixth sense told her that it was not just because Derek was jealous. He was being wired.


    ...


    Derek gave her a meaningful look. "You don''t know Parker much."


    Parker was his father''s illegitimate son. That is to say, Parker was his half-brother. But Parker did not


    contribute anything to the Xaviers. In recent years when he was abroad, he had been thinking about


    how to destroy the Xaviers.


    Parker''s actions caused a lot of damage to the Xaviers, and he was a thorn in Derek''s flesh.


    Therefore, he always felt that Parker pursued Meredith was not because he liked her a lot. He must


    have some plots.


    "I think you''re trying to gauge the heart of a gentleman with your own mean measure. No matter what,


    he didn''t hurt me."


    Meredith took her hand out of Derek''s. "If everything''s done, I''ll go back."N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    After that, Meredith left without looking back.


    Derek wanted to chase after her, but when he thought of what she said, he stopped.


    Perhaps, in her heart, he was just a person who would bring her a lot of pain and entanglement.


    He did not intend to go for her until he had dealt with the family trouble.


    Derek looked down and called Violet.


    Violet was enjoying Luna''s skincare service at home. Luna, affable and obedient, served her well and


    that made her satisfied.


    Meredith never treated her like this?


    Every time she saw Wening, Meredith looked arrogant, as if she was really someone.


    When she heard the call, Violet nced at it. It was Derek. She sat up immediately.


    Luna''s face darkened when she saw it, but she did not take the initiative to speak. She just sat there


    quietly.


    "It''s not convenient for me to answer the phone right now. You pick it up."


    Seeing that Luna was so thoughtful, Violet gave her a chance to talk to Derek.


    "I see, auntie."


    Luna obediently took the phone over and pressed the answer button. "Hello, is that Mr. Xavier? Now


    that auntie is having skincare, it''s not convenient for her to answer the phone. What can I do for you?"


    Luna lowered her voice. Her voice was so gentle and graceful that people might gravitate to her after


    hearing her voice.


    But Derek winced when he heard the voice of a strange woman. "Who are you?"


    Derek''s tone was not friendly, but Luna was not discouraged. "I''m Luna. I''m here to apany auntie."


    Derek remembered that Violet had found a woman to supervise Easton. It seemed that she was that


    one.


    "There are servants in the Xaviers. Miss Balise should go home as soon as possible and do something


    more important."


    Luna''s expression froze. She had not expected Derek to drive her away so rudely.


    Seeing this, Violet sighed and picked up the phone. "Derek, now that Easton has been picked up by


    that woman, can''t I even have someone here with me?"


    Hearing that Violet didn''t even want to call Meredith by her name, but called her by "that woman,"


    Derek felt tired.


    He didn''t understand why Violet was so stubborn and why she prejudiced against Meredith that much.


    Meredith was better and stronger than many people, and she would not scheme. But Violet would


    never see these qualities.


    "Mom, I know what you''re thinking as your son. I think it''s okay for you to go out with friends of the


    same age."


    "In this family, do I not even have the right to decide a person whether to stay?"


    Violet stubbornly rejected Derek''s proposal.


    "Mom, I have something to ask you. Meredith almost lost her ability to have a child. What happened?"


    At the mention of this topic, Violet''s expression changed.


    Of course, she would never forget that scene. There was so much blood. She would never forget that


    horrible image for the rest of her life.


    But why would Derek suddenly question her this?


    There is only one possibility that Meredith told Derek something.


    "Meredith told you that? That happened so long ago and she still mentions that to you?"


    "You just need to tell me if it''s true."


    Hearing Violet''s me, Derek was indescribablyplexed.


    He did not expect his mother to be a cold-blooded and heartless person, but her attitude showed that


    she really did not care about the lives of others. She almost let a woman lose her ability to have a child.


    But even after doing serious damage to a woman, she did not feel guilt at all.


    "Yes, but that was only an ident. I didn''t mean it. Isn''t she all right now? I also gave her a sum of


    money at that time, so that she could livefortably even if she couldn''t have a child. What else did


    she want?"

 Chapter 545

    Chapter 545


    After hearing her words, Derek was angry and sad.


    It seemed that feelings just didn''t flow freely from one individual to another.


    It was a fatal blow to another woman. In Violet''s eyes, it was just something that could be settled with


    money.


    "Mom, maybe we all need to reflect on ourselves. I won''t take Easton back with me until you kick Miss


    Balise out of the Xaviers."


    After that, Derek hung up.


    Because no matter how wrong Violet was, she was his mother, and he could not use any harsh


    methods on her, so he could only resist passively.


    At the very least, he wouldn''t let a stranger get in touch with Easton easily.


    "Bastard!"


    Violet listened to the busy tone on the phone and was so angry that she wanted to m her phone.


    All she did was for the good of everyone.


    Not just for Derek and his son, but also for the Xaviers.


    "Auntie, calm down. Maybe it''s because he doesn''t like me so that he... Otherwise..."


    Luna had just listened to Derek''s words on the side, and her heart suddenly turned cold.


    She was a proud woman. After being despised by Derek like this, she wanted to leave, but she held


    back.


    Because she knew she had no right to do so.


    If she couldn''t let the Xaviers invest in the ise family, then she could only marry the old man in his


    sixties...


    "No need, just stay here. His father and I are both here. I don''t believe that woman has such great


    ability to keep them not meeting each other for the rest of their lives!"


    Violet had a temper. She simply asked Luna to stay here with her.


    Seeing this, Luna breathed a sigh of relief.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    As long as she could stay, there was a chance.


    When Meredith returned to her room, Easton looked at her nervously. "Mom, you didn''t argue with dad,


    did you?"


    Meredith shook her head. "No, we are just chatting."


    Easton looked at her suspiciously, feeling that something was wrong.


    However, she was unwilling to say, and Easton had no choice but to worry.


    Meredith felt a little tired, so she went into the bathroom and washed her face. The cold water hit her


    face and cleared her confused mind for a moment.


    At this moment, Meredith''s cell phone rang and she took a look. It was an unfamiliar number.


    After a moment of hesitation, Meredith picked up the phone.


    "Hello, is this Miss Meredith? I''m Ellie, the manager of the public rtions department of the Smith


    Group, and Evelyn''s sister."


    Ellie had a palm print on her face, but her tone was calm.


    Because Evelyn had suffered a setback in Derek, she was angry when she came back, so she vented


    her anger on Ellie. Ellie coaxed her for a while but suffered a p as a reward.


    "You''re happy to see me being rejected, aren''t you? I''ve asked you to talk to Meredith and let her quit.


    Why don''t you go? You really failed our the Smiths."


    Ellie''s eyes darkened as she heard what Evelyn had said.


    She nned to meet Meredith and ask her about the situation.


    "Oh, what''s the matter?"


    Meredith wiped the water off her face with a towel. This woman must have a purpose in calling her.


    "Well, there''s something I want to know. Is it convenient for you toe out and meet me?"


    Meredith thought about it. She was curious about the Smiths. After all, they were probably her real


    family.


    So Meredith didn''t refuse and nodded. "Okay, send me the location. I''lle for you."


    Ellie did not expect Meredith to be so forthright. "Then tonight, I''ll treat you to dinner at the Story


    Restaurant in the west of the city."


    Meredith agreed and hung up.


    After thinking about it, she didn''t want Easton to know about it, so she asked him to go to Derek first.


    Easton obediently called Derek.


    When Derek heard that Meredith was going to leave Easton behind and go out alone, he immediately


    became alert.


    Did she go out with Parker?


    "Easton, you said you were going to find Parker."


    Derek immediately asked his son to do something and inquire about the situation.


    Easton soon understood what he meant. "Mom, I want to y with uncle Parker."


    Meredith was putting on makeup and was a little surprised to hear him say that.


    "Oh? When did you get so close to him?"


    "Hahahahaha, after all, he bought me a lot of toys..."


    Easton was saying in his heart that he would never get along with that cunning man, just to bite the


    bullet for his father.


    "Then you go. He should be free now. You go to him and be a good boy. Don''t make trouble for him,


    okay?"


    Meredith thought that since Easton was willing to go, there was no need to stop him, so she agreed.


    Before she left, she took Easton to Parker. "Parker, I have something to do. Can you take care of


    Easton for me?"


    Parker could not refuse Meredith''s request, but he looked at Meredith who dressed up. "Where are you


    going? Do you need someone to apany you?"


    Meredith smiled and shook her head. "I was not born yesterday. Don''t worry. I''ll be back soon."


    After that, she waved at Parker and Easton and left.


    Parker nced at Easton. He didn''t believe that the little bastard woulde to him voluntarily.


    As expected, as soon as Meredith left, Easton took his hand out of Parker''s hand and made face at


    him. "I''m going to find my father."


    Parker didn''t say anything to him. After hearing what he said, so did Derek not go out with Meredith?


    That might not be too bad.


    "No, your mother entrusted you to me. If you want to go to him, I''ll go too."


    Parker was worried that Derek would take Easton to Meredith. Although he did not want to meet Derek,


    he still grabbed Easton and refused to let him go.


    "What?" Easton was speechless. After struggling, he couldn''t shake off Parker''s hand. "Put me down.


    I''m going to find my father."


    Easton ignored his manners and shouted loudly.


    "What is Mr. Hill going to do to my son?"


    Derek heard the sound and came out. When he saw that Parker carried his son and did not let him go,


    he immediately spoke.


    "Nothing. It''s just that Easton is not very obedient. Since Mer asked me to take care of him, I have to


    keep an eye on him."


    Parker did not listen to Derek at all. His tone was cool and indifferent, and he did not take his


    threatening tone seriously.


    Derek narrowed his eyes. If there was someone in this world that he hated the most, it would be


    Parker.


    In particr, every time he saw Parker, he could see something simr to himself in Parker because of


    his irresponsible father, which made him very disgusted.

 Chapter 546

    Chapter 546


    Parker, who was standing opposite him, felt the same way.


    When he saw Derek, he would think of the ipetent man who brought disaster to his mother. That


    man, his biological father, did nothing right except to let him be born, which caused his mother''s death.


    Because of his disgust of this man, Parker didn''t even want to take hisst name, but followed his


    mother''s.


    Not to mention, Derek''s mother was the ruthless woman who ruined her mother''s life.


    He hated everything about this man.


    "Then, as Easton''s father, that you take Easton alone will make me worried."


    Derek couldn''t give in. No matter what, he was Easton''s father, the closest person to Easton by blood.


    Who was Parker to Easton?


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    The two of them looked at each other and then moved their eyes away.


    Easton was sandwiched between the two of them and suddenly sighed with exhaustion.


    "I want ice cream, fries, and hamburgers."


    Seeing that Easton wanted to eat, the two of them stopped staring at each other. Parker let go of his


    hand. "Okay, I''ll take you out. There seems to be a Mcdonald''s not far away."


    Easton nced at Derek.


    Derek also said, "I''ll go with you."


    Parker ignored him and pulled Easton to leave.


    Meredith followed the address that Ellie sent her. As soon as she arrived, she saw a woman standing


    alone outside waiting for her.


    "Are you Miss Meredith?"


    Ellie recognized Meredith at a nce, looked at the woman in front of her, and was inexplicably fond of


    her.


    Although her makeup and clothes were very simple, she looked very elegant and gentle.


    "Yes."


    While Ellie was looking at Meredith, Meredith was also looking at her.


    Unlike Evelyn''s mboyant style, this woman was obviously a lot more low-key, and she didn''t wear


    anything exaggerated. She looked easy to get along with, which made Meredith breathe a sigh of relief.


    "Have you been waiting for a long time?"


    "No, let''s go in."


    Ellie led Meredith into the dining room and the two of them sat down.


    "I will introduce myself again. My name is Ellie."


    Meredith nodded, wondering why she said she was from the Smiths, but her surname was not Smith.


    "Are you worried about who I am?"


    Ellie took out a business card and handed it to Meredith. "My surname is Soong, because I am an


    orphan adopted by the Smiths."


    Meredith nced at the business card. Indeed, she was the manager of the public rtions department


    of Smith Group.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean that."


    Meredith apologized, Ellie shook her head, and the waiter served coffee to the two of them.


    "So Miss Soong, why are you inviting me here?"


    Meredith didn''t want to waste her time, so she asked directly.


    "Now that you asked, I will stop talking nonsense. Miss Mason, what''s your rtionship with Mr.


    Xavier? Are you going to get back together with him?"


    When Meredith heard this, she raised her eyebrows. He had to say that this was a very rude question.


    "I can answer your question, but I have something to ask you. How about we exchange answers?"


    Meredith still had many unanswered questions about the Smiths, so she came up with this solution.


    "Yes, as long as it doesn''t involve the Smiths'' trade secrets."


    Ellie agreed.


    Meredith took a deep breath. "Cali, what kind of woman is she? And Evelyn, where was she born?"


    At the mention of Cali''s name, Ellie''s expression changed. Unexpectedly, Meredith would ask her about


    that.


    However, Cali had been dead for many years.


    It was onlyter that Ellie heard that after she ran to J City to give birth to a child, her condition became


    worse and worse. She didn''t even make it back to Capital City, but died on the road.


    Evelyn was brought back by her uncle.


    Ellie told Meredith about the situation and Meredith was lost in her thoughts.


    So it sounded like Evelyn was Wesley and Amelia''s child, but why didn''t her blood type match?


    "There''s another question. Evelyn''s blood type, is it..."


    Ellie frowned for she thought Meredith''s question was really strange.


    It wouldn''t be surprising to ask her family if she thought Evelyn was her rival in love, but what''s the use


    of asking about blood types?


    "I have no malice, just..."


    "It''s okay. I can tell you that she''s an Rh-negative trait."


    Meredith frowned, but it didn''t seem to be the case.


    "That''s because this blood type is very rare, and Old Master Smith cares about her mother the most, so


    in order to protect her from some bad people, her blood type has been changed."


    Meredith nodded.


    "Now, you should answer my question."


    "Derek and I broke up. It should be impossible to make up."


    "Why?"


    Ellie found it strange that an extraordinary man like Derek seemed to be nice to her. Didn''t she want


    him anymore?


    "His mother couldn''t ept me, and I''m not interested in fawning on her, so..."


    Ellie nodded and understood. Many things were like this. The reality would force you to give up even if


    you didn''t want to.


    Just like her, that man was someone she could never approach...


    "Actually, after asking so many questions, I''m afraid you know why I came. Evelyn is the apple of the


    eye of the Smiths and my sister. She hasn''t been in good health because she was born prematurely


    and traveled a long way back. We will satisfy her request no matter what.


    And now, she''s in love with Derek, so I hope you can quit. If you agree, I''ll do my best to fulfill all your


    requirements. "


    Ellie took out a stack of documents from her bag. "I''ve checked that your mother has a rare disease


    and needs a bone marrow transnt. Coincidentally, the Smiths'' sponsorship of the medical world over


    the years has given us unparalleled resources in this area.


    Although the Xaviers is a big family, they can''tpare with us. As long as you are willing to leave


    Derek, I will let them do their best to help you find the bone marrow that matches your mother. "

 Chapter 547

    Chapter 547


    "Miss Soong, are you threatening me?"


    Meredith became upset when she heard Ellie mention her mother.


    The woman in front of Meredith was really hard to deal with.


    However, Meredith felt unhappy thinking that Ellie was investigated her.


    "I''m just giving you a win-win opportunity. If the Smith family intervenes, even if you don''t want to leave,


    the Xaviers may take all kinds of measures to make you go. After all, the benefits brought by the


    marriage between the two families are very considerable. The two families might even be the


    most powerful ones in H City."


    Ellie believed that Meredith was smart enough to realize that.


    Meredith did understand what she meant. In the face of great interests, people would change. Just


    taking Violet for example, she would only be more crazy facing great interests. Besides, Mr. Xavier


    ,who began to like Meredith recently, would he change his mind?


    However, she could also rely on the thing that she was most likely the granddaughter of the Smith


    family. Ellie could never have imagined that.


    However, she would be too pitiful to rely on this to be epted by the Xaviers.


    She should live her life instead of being so humble in front of the Xaviers.


    "But if you want me to make it a deal, at least you do have the ability to find someone who could


    donate bone marrow."


    Meredith was not in a hurry to answer, but spoke that.


    When Ellie heard this, she took a deep look at her. It seemed that Meredith was not that easy to fool


    with.


    Generally, under such circumstances, average women would go mad. She never expected that


    Meredith would negotiate with her.


    "Well, Professor Lee is in J City now. When hees back, I''ll have him bring back the blood sample


    and send someone to look for the bone marrow immediately. If I find it, I''ll contact you again."


    Meredith shrugged. "Okay."


    Anyway, Meredith could still use the Smith family for her own sake.


    Then they had nothing to talk about and left.


    Meredith left the store and immediately called Easton to ask where he was.


    Easton was at his favorite fast food restaurant, but now he was not in the mood to enjoy it at all.


    Derek sat on the left while Parker sat on the right, which made Easton feel awkward.


    But what made him speechless the most was that they attracted a lot of attention.


    A group of more infatuated young girls saw two handsome men with different styles, looking here


    constantly and doubting their rtionship.


    As a result, Derek and Parker became much colder.


    Easton was really speechless that some even said he was the child of Derek and Parker.


    It was too embarrassing.


    So, upon receiving Meredith''s call, Easton felt relieved. "Mom, I''m at Mcdonald''s not far from the hotel.


    Come and find me."


    When they heard it was Meredith, both men looked at Easton.


    Easton was embarrassed for a moment and hung up the phone.


    Meredith thought it was a little strange. Easton would always pester her to talk when he called her.


    What happened today?


    Was he unhappy with Parker?


    Meredith did not think much about it, so she took a taxi and rushed to the shop that Easton said.


    Meredith pulled the door open and saw that the fast-food restaurant was crowded with people. She


    couldn''t help but frown. It did not seem like time to eat now. Why were there so many people?


    "Did you see them? The two of them."


    "Yeah, they''re all so handsome and different types."


    "He he, do you think they are a couple..."


    Hearing this, Meredith was just speechless feeling that people were too crazy.


    Derek and Parker did not like each other at all.


    "Excuse me."


    Meredith waved at Easton to signal him to hurry over.


    Easton immediately perked up when he saw her and ran away.


    Seeing that Meredith was back, the two men both stood up.


    Meredith had wanted to take Easton away, so as not to be targeted by these strange girls.


    "Mer, you''re back?"


    Parker immediately walked over.


    Suddenly, the eyes of the crowd stopped on her.


    Meredith felt awkward.


    "I was just passing by, passing by."


    Meredith quickly dragged Easton to leave.


    "Easton, what''s going on?"


    Meredith walked out of the fast food restaurant and saw that no one was looking at her anymore, so


    she asked Easton what had happened.


    "Well, the group treated them as a couple and said I was their child..."


    Easton frowned. "I can''t even eat my favorite fried chicken."


    Poof...


    "It''s okay. I''ll take you to eat when those people leave."


    "Yes."


    "Mom, what have you been doing? It''s been a long time."


    "I talked to someone about something."


    Meredith touched Easton''s head and did not tell him what happened.


    Meredith was about to take Easton back to the hotel when Parker caught up from behind.


    "Easton, I bought it for you."


    Just as he went to pay the bill, he remembered that Easton did not eat much, so he bought some for


    him.


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    "Easton, here."


    Derek also bought it for Easton.


    But it was a coincidence that the two of them bought exactly the same thing.


    "This..."


    Easton looked at Meredith for help.


    Meredith wanted tough, "All the things you bought here are the same. I think you can just stay


    together."


    With that, Meredith held Easton to leave.

 Chapter 548

    Chapter 548


    The J City


    When Professor Lee arrived, Damian arranged for him to rest in the hotel. The next day he quickly took


    him to the hospital.


    He didn''t want to dy the operation for a second.


    Professor Lee, asked by Meredith and Derek, cooperated very well. He came there the next morning.


    First, he checked the CT scans of Penelope''s brain and found the location of the blood clot, "This


    position may havepressed the visual nerve, causing her to lose her sight now. She can have an


    operation, but it may be dangerous. This position, where the nerves are densely distributed, is


    important."


    Hearing this, Penelope''s parents and Damian did not dare to make the decision. After all, if the


    operation could not restore her vision or other problems urred, they could not bear the


    consequence.


    "You can think about it. If the patient is willing to go the operation, I will choose the proper time."


    "Thank you."


    Damian was helpless. Anyway, they had to be patient.


    Damian had to send Professor Lee back to the hotel first. But on the way, he suddenly remembered


    that he was going to another local hospital to see an old friend. Damian had no choice but to send him


    there.


    Just as he was on his way to see Penelope, Mother of Ann called.


    "Chen, why did you go out so early in the morning? Aunt Zhang introduced you to a girl who is a


    university teacher. If you have time, go meet her."


    Hearing this, Damian was fretted. He had been busy with Penelope''s affairs and had not had the


    chance to tell his family that he had a girlfriend now.


    But ording to Penelope''s present situation, it didn''t seem like a good time to meet his family.


    "Mom, I''m very busy right now. I don''t have time to meet her. Just refuse her."


    "What? How busy are you? You don''t have time to have dinner?"


    "I''m busy anyway, and I''m not interested in that girl. That''s it. I gotta go."


    Damian quickly hung up the phone and went back to the hospital.


    Mother almost blew up. Was the Xavier Group a sweatshop


    Was Damian working day and night, not having time to go out on a blind date?


    Thinking for a while, to avoid her son bing an old bachelor and beingughed at by her friends,


    Mother of Ann went to thepany, intending to seek justice.


    Damian did not know about these things. When he returned to where Penelope was, he saw Mrs.


    Garcia sitting outside with a sad face.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    "Damian, what should we do?"


    Now Damian and Penelope were in a rtionship, and he was reliable by his usual performance, so


    Mrs. Garcia gradually preferred to listen to him on Penelope''s matter.


    "I think Penelope should make the decision herself."


    After getting along with Penelope, Damian felt that she was not a fragile person, and this thing that


    mattered her life, not letting others make decisions for her.


    "Aunt, don''t worry. I won''t leave Penelope no matter what the result of the operation is."


    Hearing what Damian said, Mrs. Garcia nodded with relief. She was relieved that her daughter had


    such a man to take care of.


    Damian walked into the ward and looked at Penelope''s expression. Her mood seemed normal.


    "Penelope, I have something very important to tell you."


    Penelope turned to him, "What''s the matter?"


    When Damian was thinking about how to exin to her the pros and cons of the surgery, he received a


    call from Mother of Ann, "Chen, where are you now? I''m in yourpany. I didn''t see you."


    Hearing this familiar voice, Damian felt boggled.


    When Mother of Ann couldn''t find Damian when she got to thepany, she was so angry. She asked


    someone to find out that Damian hadn''t been working at thepany recently and spent a lot of time


    at the hospital.


    They said he was taking care of a woman.


    When she heard that it was a woman, Mother of Ann became uneasy. Her son was not a nanny, why


    asked a special assistant to take care of a patient?


    Did he have a special rtionship with that woman?


    The more she thought about it, the more curious she became. So, she called to ask him.


    "Mom, why did youe to thepany?"


    Damian walked to the side to answer the phone. Penelope had actually just heard their talks on the


    phone.


    Damian''s mother called?


    However, he didn''t want to introduce her to his mother.


    Penelope''s face darkened.


    "I wonder what you are up to as you don''t go home all day."


    Damian had always listened to her, but now he lied to her for a woman, which made her ufortable.


    "Mom, I''ll exin this to youter."


    Damian said a few words tofort her, and then immediately went back to the ward.


    "Penelope, I didn''t finish talking just now. This operation..."


    "Don''t you have anything to do? Aunt just called you. Otherwise, you can go home first. I have nothing


    to do here."


    Penelope said this, pretending not to care.


    But she didn''t show the sadness in her heart.


    ording to her situation, she could nothing but be a drag. It seemed nothing wrong for Damian not to


    introduce her to his family.


    But why did she feel so upset?


    Damian wanted to say something more, but Penelope suddenly interrupted him, "I''m a little tired. I want


    to take a break."


    Seeing this, Damian could only let her sleep first. He felt something was wrong, but he didn''t know why


    Penelope was angry.


    ...


    After Professor Lee was sent to the hospital by Damian, he immediately looked for Amelia followed


    Ellie''s instructions.


    He needed to get her blood sample before he could go look for a match.


    Because of his seniority, everything went smoothly. The blood samples had been sent to the Research


    Center in Capital City for extensive screening soon.


    When Ellie heard about this, she immediately called Meredith, "Your mother''s blood sample has been


    obtained. There should be news soon. When the timees, don''t forget your promise."


    Meredith was ying with Easton and her eyes darkened when she checked the message.


    "OK. I''m waiting for your good news."


    After replying, Meredith pretended nothing had happened and continued to apany Easton.


    "Mom, who are you texting?"


    Easton felt something was wrong, and Meredith shook her head.


    In fact, she didn''t know if the Smith family could find a bone marrow match. But she had no reason to


    refuse the gift.


    And her condition was no more than ask her to leave Derek, which she had made up her mind.

 Chapter 549

    Chapter 549


    After the call, Ellie went out.


    She had to go to the airport to get the blood samples herself. It was very important.


    Coincidentally, as soon as she left the house, Evelyn asked who hade to look for her, "How is it?


    Have you done what I asked you to do? Is the woman willing to leave or not?"


    "I''m looking for a bone marrow match for her mother. As long as I find it, she''ll promise to give you


    Derek."


    Ellie said truthfully.


    "What? Looking for a bone marrow match? Ellie, you''re not fooling me, are you? If you can''t find it,


    wouldn''t she have never left Derek?"


    "Evelyn, you can''t be too anxious about it..."


    "I think you''re just trying to y me off. Forget it. It''s useless to talk to people like you. I might as well


    ask my friends to help me."


    "Wait, what can they think of?"


    Ellie suddenly had a bad feeling that when Evelyn grew up, she was more rebellious, so there was a


    group of so-called friends who always encouraged her to do bad things.


    She was worried that Evelyn would think of something extreme and harm her.


    "It''s none of your business."


    Evelyn ignored Ellie and pushed her away, leaving the house.


    Looking at her back, Ellie was very helpless. Evelyn, an adopted girl, would not listen to Ellie.


    ...


    Meredith was at the hotel with Easton.


    She ignored the other two men.


    "Easton, what are you looking at?"


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    Meredith took a shower and came out of the bathroom to see Easton watching an ipad seriously.


    "I want to go to thergest amusement park in the country!"


    Easton looked at the promotional photos in the picture with a look of longing.


    Seeing how much he wanted to go, Meredith walked over and looked at the promo. "If you want to go


    so much, we''ll go tomorrow."


    "Really? That''s great."


    Easton jumped up happily. "Let''s call dad and go with us."


    Meredith sighed. "Can''t I take you there?"


    Easton tilted his head and looked at her. "Mom, have you been arguing with dadtely?"


    Easton knew that Meredith was unwilling to see Derek.


    But why?


    "No, it''s just that I can take you out on my own, and your father is very busy with work."


    Meredith did not exin much. She actually hoped that Easton would get used to life without Derek.


    "Well then..."


    Easton could only agree, but he became a little unhappy.


    Meredith felt helpless. After all, Derek was his father. It seemed that doing so would make him


    unhappy, but she had to do so.


    Just as Meredith was trying to find a way to make Easton happy again, the phone rang again.


    She nced at it, and it was from J City, so she went out to pick it up.


    The person on the phone told her something about Amelia and Penelope.


    Meredith then called Penelope.


    She had not contacted Penelope for a few days, not knowing how she was doing or whether she was


    mentally prepared for the operation.


    The phone got through after a while. "Auntie? This is Meredith. I''m looking for Penelope."


    "Mer? Okay, I''ll call her. She''s been in a bad moodtely. Mer, you should talk to her more."


    Amelia felt that Penelope was not in a good mood yesterday who had been in a daze for a long time


    every day, so she asked Meredith tofort Penelope.


    Meredith agreed and spoke to Penelope.


    "Penelope, how are you feeling now? Did Damian take care of you?"


    Although she was far away from Capital City, Meredith already knew Damian was with Penelope.


    She always felt that Damian and Penelope were like a pair of enemies, and now Damian was willing to


    take responsibility at this time. She felt that it was fine to entrust Penelope to him.


    "Yes, but I let him go."


    Penelope had mixed feelings.


    What happened yesterday made her did not sleep well all night.


    She couldn''t help but wonder if she would never be able to regain her sight in her life. Would Damian


    never tell others that she was his girlfriend?


    After all, having a blind girlfriend was also very embarrassing for him.


    "What''s the matter? Something wrong?"


    Penelope was silent for a moment. "He didn''t want to tell his mother about me. Maybe he felt ashamed


    now."


    "How is that possible?"


    Meredith immediately denied that Damian was not such a person. These days, he did a lot for


    Penelope.


    "Maybe he has his own considerations. If he doesn''t like you, why is he confessing to you now?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe he likes me now, maybe he will changeter."


    "Penelope..."


    Meredith felt very sad.


    However, she could not say anything to advise Penelope, because she had been the same before.


    Feeling was really a torturous thing.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll get better. If he doesn''t like you, you can just cause him trouble."


    Meredith made a joke. Atst, Penelope felt better.


    The two of them talked for a while and then hung up.


    ...


    Ellie personally sent the blood samples to the Research Center to look for a suitable match.


    She did not expect to find a suitable match so soon, but surprisingly, not long after, the staff inside


    walked out.


    "I found a suitable match."


    "Really? Can you contact the person as soon as possible to donate? No matter how much it will cost."


    "You are the person."


    Ellie waspletely stunned.


    What a coincidence.


    She had participated in a Smith family charity called for bone marrow donation, hoping that she might


    be able to find her family in this way.


    But she did not expect that.


    That was impossible.


    Ellie could not help but be in a trance. Could there really be such a coincidence in the world?


    Could that sick woman be rted to her?

 Chapter 550

    Chapter 550


    Evelyn was in a bad mood, so she hung out with friends, including her cousin, Alice.


    The Old Master of the Smith family had only one son and one daughter. Cali, the daughter, had passed


    away for many years. Evelyn, daughter of Cali, had lived with her uncle Kai Smith and aunt Stary since


    she was young. Naturally, she was very familiar with the Cullen Family.


    However, they never took her to any ces good for kids, but to ces such as nightclubs and so on.


    Over time, Evelyn formed a lot of bad habits.


    "Evelyn, have you got the young Mr. Xavier?"


    Seeing that Evelyn was unhappy, Alice took the initiative to talk to her.


    The question reminded Evelyn that she had been rejected by Derek. She suddenly sshed her wine


    onto Alice''s face. "Since I didn''t mention it, shut up, please. You''ve got too many questions."


    Alice did not expect that Evelyn would embarrass her in the public. But she could not get angry. She


    has to put up with it, and then talk to Evelyn with patience.


    "Why not let me find someone to give that woman a lesson? This is our territory after all. Isn''t it easy to


    attack a woman?"


    Evelyn was silent for a moment. She had thought of this method before, but it would cause big trouble if


    the Old Master found it out.


    While thinking about it, Evelyn''s phone rang. It was Ellie.


    "What, the matched bone marrow has been found?"


    Upon hearing the news, Evelyn replied immediately, "I will go back now. Who is that person? Let her


    If everything went well, the matched bone marrow would be the most useful weapon she could use to


    threaten Meredith.


    Evelyn stopped drinking at once. She informed her friends and left. As soon as she left, Alice smashed


    the bottle on the floor.


    "Evelyn, the fake richdy! How dare she treat me like that..."


    Alice got on very well with Evelyn''s aunt. So she knew more about what had happened in the Smith


    family than the family members.


    Back then, the Smith family sent someone to J City to bring Cali''s child back to Capital City. However,


    Stary was worried that the Old Master would love the granddaughter more than other offspring because


    the passed daughter used to be his favorite kid. Maybe he would give too much family heritage to this


    girl. So she found an orphanage to rece her.


    When the day the Old Master passed away, they would expose the truth that Evelyn was not rted to


    the Smith family. Thus, they would get the entire fortune.


    However, the Old Master was very healthy in recent years, and no one would know when will he


    distribute his property. So, the Cullen Family asked Alice to entice Evelyn to hung out everywhere,


    making her too stupid to be able to get the property.


    "Well, when your dear grandpa dies, Evelyn, I will definitely make you cry."


    Alice''s face was twisted, looking very scary.


    In another ce.


    Evelyn returned home quickly, but only saw Ellie at home alone. "What''s going on, where is the


    donator?"


    Her first reaction was that Ellie was ying with her again and was about to give her a p.


    "That person is me. I matched her sessfully."


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    Ellie dodged her hand and said calmly.


    However, she felt bad. After Evelyn started to fool around with Sia and her friends, their rtionship got


    increasingly worse.


    She really wanted Evelyn to get back on the right track, but her younger sister always misunderstood


    that she was showing off.


    "What? Really?"


    Was there such a coincidence in the world?


    Evelyn was skeptical, but Ellie showed her the report. Indeed, her bone marrow was exactly what


    Meredith''s mother needs.


    Evelyn narrowed her eyes and thought about something.


    Now, she found someone who could save Meredith''s mother. God blessed her.


    But...Evelyn couldn''t trust Ellie. So he nced at her and asked, "Did you tell it to Meredith?"


    "Not yet."


    Ellie cared more about her family, after all. So she informed Evelyn first.


    "That''s good. Tell her that I am the one who matches the bone marrow."


    Only in this way could Evelyn make the best use of this opportunity to separate Meredith and Derek.


    "But..."


    "I ask, and you do. Do you want to refuse?"


    "Okay... But, Evelyn, this is rted to someone''s life. Don''t go too far."


    Evelyn snorted. "That makes you a great good guy, doesn''t it? I just want to separate her from Derek.


    As for her mother''s life, I''m not interested."


    At thest words, Evelyn couldn''t wait to return to her room. She had to n seriously about how to


    take good advantage of this opportunity.


    As for Meredith.


    Meredith knew nothing about what had happened at the Smith family.


    Easton ate something wrong when he had midnight supper secretly with his dad Derek yesterday. Now


    he was lying on the bed whining.


    Meredith knew nothing to do but gave Easton a hot water bag and let him hold it for temporary relief.


    She was anxious.


    "Mom, I''m fine."


    Easton was looked guilty.


    For the past few days, he stayed with his mom Meredith. But he thought that he should not leave his


    father alone. So, after Meredith got tired and slept early at night, he left alone and found his dad Derek.


    Derek wouldn''t have allowed Easton''s request for the midnight snakes before. But since they had been


    separated for a few days, he could not refuse the request from the naughty son.


    But he didn''t expect that Easton ate the food from the snack street again, which really upset his


    stomach.


    "You are not fine. You looked pale. Well, I''ll take you to the hospital."


    Seeing Easton pretending to be fine, Meredith was much worried. She thought for a while and found


    that it was the safest choice to get him to the hospital. So she helped Easton get dressed and nned


    to send him to the hospital.


    Easton hated the hospital most, but when he felt the pain in his stomach, he stopped refusing and


    allowed Meredith to pick him up.


    But he was already a five-year-old child. Meredith found it hard to carry him alone.


    She managed to carry him out of the hotel. However, it was rush hour and was hard to take a taxi.


    Meredith had a headache. She should have learned how to drive. In the past, it was convenient to call


    a driver to pick her up in J City, but now she was helpless.


    Determined to go to the driving school in the future, Meredith looked at Easton and said, "Easton, wait


    for a moment. I''ll be at the hospital soon."


    Founding Meredith was sweating and exhausted, Easton said, "Mom, how about calling dad here."


    Meredith hesitated. She knew it would be faster to seek help from Derek now, but...

 Chapter 551

    Chapter 551


    But now she didn''t want to go to Derek now. If she went to him easily, that would make her


    determination seem ridiculous.


    However, she could not bear to see that Easton was ufortable. She thought about it and was


    about to call Derek when a hand reached out from behind and picked up Easton.


    "Where are you going?"


    Derek had just nced outside when he saw Meredith holding Easton, waiting for the car.


    For a moment, Derek did not know what it felt like.


    Why was this woman so stubborn at this time and refused to ask for help from him?


    "To the hospital, Easton has a stomachache."


    When Meredith saw himing, she did not notice that her expression was much more rxed.


    "Dad, you''re here."


    It was the first time Easton desperately wanted to see Dereke. His stomach was rumbling now,


    and he had a feeling that he might not be able to stop getting a run if he didn''t go to the hospital.


    "Well, I''ll send you there right away."


    Derek carried Easton to the car and looked at Meredith, who was standing still. "Why are you still


    standing there?"


    Only then did Meredith react and get into the car.


    She sat in the back seat with Easton in the safety seat, then couldn''t help but look at Derek in the


    driver''s seat.


    The line on the man''s face was very tight, and his thin lips were now slightly pursed, forming a nervous


    arc.


    Although he didn''t say anything, Meredith could still sense that he was angry.


    Inexplicably, she felt a little guilty. Meredith didn''t dare to say anything but keep quiet.


    Easton got into Derek''s car and looked a little better. Fortunately, it was his father''s car. If anything


    embarrassing happened, no one would see it.


    Meredith felt a little guilty when she saw that Easton''s face was covered in sweat.


    Was she putting the cart before the horse? To prove that she didn''t need Derek''s help, it was really


    wrong for Easton to suffer so much.


    "Mom, I''m fine."


    Eastonforted her. He knew very well that he had a stomachache because of those snacks. In the


    end, it was because he didn''t listen to Meredith, so she didn''t have to me herself like that.


    "I''m sorry, Easton."


    When Meredith heard this, her nose felt a little sore. Her baby was really too sensible, and why was


    she still so childish?


    Just as Meredith was reflecting on herself, the car stopped.


    Derek ignored her and carried Easton directly to the hospital.


    Meredith followed him obediently and closely.


    However, Derek was too fast for her to catch up.


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    She wondered if it was because the man was angry, so he didn''t wait for her.


    Derek sent Easton to the doctor, who gave him a simple examination.


    "Doctor, how is he now?" Meredith asked anxiously.


    Easton was treated by a middle-aged woman. When she saw Meredith, she said in a very impolite


    tone, "You are such a terrible mother. Don''t you know that you can''t feed your child too much junk


    food? Now it''s just he''s lucky. If he gets appendicitis because of this, you will regret."


    The doctor rambled on and on, but Meredith didn''t refute her at all. Instead, she lowered her head and


    kept saying she was sorry.


    "It''s not that she fed him junk food, it''s me."


    Derek couldn''t stand it any longer. Although he was a little annoyed that Meredith would rather take a


    taxi than call him, it wasn''t really her fault.


    Because Easton had been begging him yesterday, hepromised.


    The doctor took a look at Derek and found that the man didn''t look like an ordinary person, and he was


    very handsome, so she resisted the urge to continue preaching.


    "All right, I''ll prescribe him some medicine and give him an injection hereter. He should be fine by


    tomorrow."


    Meredith thanked the doctor immediately, then led Easton out for an injection.


    Not long after, the nurse came.


    Easton was lying on the hospital bed, having an intravenous drip, and he looked much better than


    before.


    Meredith sat by the bed and watched Easton. Just then, she heard the nurses chirping outside.


    "Wow, did you see that man just now? He''s so handsome."


    "Yes, and he looks like a rich man. That woman is really lucky."


    "I want to have a husband like him who rushed over so quickly and didn''t let anyone scold her. I''m so


    envious."


    Meredith was a little embarrassed by what these people said, but she couldn''t deny her rtionship


    with Derek.


    Derek came back with the medicine and some food. He didn''t hear what they said. He just walked in


    and looked at Meredith. "Come out with meter. I have something to say to you."


    Meredith nodded and looked at Derek. He must have something to say to her.


    After a while, Easton seemed to be a little sleepy. Meredith saw that he was asleep, and called the


    nurse to watch for him, then walked out with Derek.


    "What do you want to say to me?"


    Derek stood in the corridor and nced at her. "Why didn''t youe to me directly today?"


    Meredith''s expression froze and didn''t know what to say.


    "I just don''t want to trouble anyone."


    This made Derek want tough. How could she say so? Were they that distant?


    It seemed that this woman was really determined to chase him out of her life.


    But that was impossible.


    "Even if we don''t have anything to do with each other right now, can you erase my rtionship with


    Easton? No matter what you think, he''s my son. It''s my responsibility for me to take care of him."


    Meredith didn''t know how to answer. She felt as if she had done something wrong, so she apologized.


    "I see. It will not happen again. But you''re wrong. Why did you take Easton out to the junk foodst


    night? Didn''t you know he had a bad stomachst time?"


    Meredith thought for a moment and felt that Derek was wrong, and that she was not the only one who


    should be med.


    When Derek heard this, he raised his eyebrows. "Isn''t it because you haven''t let Easton see me past


    few days? I''ve finally met him. Can I refuse his request?"


    Although it was his fault, Derek still found a very dignified excuse.


    Meredith looked at him speechlessly and closed her eyes. So it was all her fault.


    "Then what is the right thing to do?"


    "At the very least, you can''t shorten our time together. You care about Easton, and so do I."

 Chapter 552

    Chapter 552


    Hearing this, Meredith opened her mouth and wanted to refute him, but she could not think of any


    words.


    She had wanted Easton to get used to the life without Derek. But now, that seemed to be a selfish thing


    to do.


    After all, the father would y an important role as a child grew up.


    "We''ll talk about itter..."


    Meredith didn''t say anything and just avoided the topic.


    After thinking for a while, she said, "Easton is alone inside. I''m going to apany him."


    After that, she walked over and avoided Derek.


    Seeing her escape, the man sighed helplessly. He had many ways to make others surrender, but he


    could do nothing to her.


    Meredith went into the ward and touched Easton''s hand which was a little cold. She noticed that the


    infusion seemed to be a little fast.


    As she slowed down the speed of infusion, Derek came in.


    Meredith nced at him. "I''ll get a hot water bag to warm the medicinal liquid."


    He nodded. Meredith went out and asked a nurse to take her to a shop for she didn''t know where to


    buy it.


    The nurse was genial when Meredith talked to her.


    "I''ll take you there."


    After Meredith thanked her politely and followed her, the nurse kept gossiping with Derek.


    "Is that man your husband? He looks so handsome. How do you know him?"


    "Well, we... are divorced."


    Meredith was a little embarrassed but still talking with the nurse for she still needed help.


    "What?" The little nurse heard this and felt sorry for her. "But, I think he''s still very good to you? You


    know, a lot of sessful men don''t care about their children at all. They let you raise children alone.


    So, if he doesn''t make any serious mistakes, you should reconsider the rtionship with him."


    Meredith was embarrassed and just wanted to get to the shop quickly for the little nurse was a little too


    gossipy.


    "Then why are you divorced? Did he keep a mistress outside?"


    Meredith shook her head. Although she didn''t want to answer such a personal question, she still


    needed to rify it.


    After all, Derek never cheated on her.


    "No, it''s not like that."


    Hearing Meredith''s denial, the nurse widened her eyes. "Then how did you..."


    "We are not the right one for each other. You only see the benefits of marrying a man like him, instead


    of the difficulties behind this marriage."


    When finishing her talking, Meredith was a little surprised.


    When did her state of mind be like this? She had lost the courage to pursue love for a long time.


    Perhaps, she became more experienced or more timid.


    "Is that so..."


    The nurse thought for a moment and said nothing. She seemed to be deep in thought. Meredith


    breathed a sigh of relief, bought a hot water bag, filled it with hot water, and went back to the ward.


    "Easton, warm your hands."


    Meredith adjusted the bag so that it would warm the potion but not scald Easton.


    The infusion ended soon.


    The doctor came to check o Easton. "If you don''t have anything to do, let him stay in the hospital for


    one night, to avoid the need of seeing a doctor if he has a stomachache."


    "Okay."


    Meredith didn''t care. She had nothing to do here anyway.


    "If you''re busy, go back first. I''ll just stay here."


    However, Meredith said naturally when she felt that Derek might be a little busy.


    Derek nced at her. Did this woman listen to what he just said?


    "I have nothing to do."


    Derek sat there and looked at Easton. "Besides, Easton wants me to be with him, doesn''t he?"


    Easton nodded especially cooperatively.


    Meredith took a look at the ward. It was just an ordinary ward with a small bed, which was not regarded


    as afortable environment like in J City.


    Derek stayed. Where did he sleep?


    How could Derek not see what she was thinking?


    "It''s okay. I can sleep here."


    He pointed to the chair beside him and refused to leave.


    "Then, whatever."


    Hearing Derek''s words, Meredith could do nothing but to agree.


    At night, when Easton''s stomach stopped hurting, he said he was hungry. But Meredith did not dare to


    give him pungent food but made him eat some mild porridge or something.


    "Easton, are you afraid to eat those food next time?"


    Meredith couldn''t help teasing the little guy as she fed him porridge.


    This child, unexpectedly, was a greedy pig.


    As a result, he had diarrhea twice.


    "You can eat less next time."


    Easton did not panic at all. After all, thest time he pretended to have a stomachache was aimed to


    sabotage Parker''s scheme.


    He just needed to be careful next time.


    "Awesome."


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    Meredith couldn''t help butmend Easton on his courage.


    Seeing the mother and son chatting, Derek did not interrupt and sat quietly.


    He treasured the peaceful moment of family reunion.


    When Meredith finished feeding Easton and was about to wash her hands, Derek stopped her. "You


    only remember to feed Easton. How about yourself?"


    Meredith looked at the leftovers of Easton''s meal. "Forget it. I''ll eat those. If you want to eat, go to the


    restaurant and get some food..."


    Meredith was always very casual about her own affairs and didn''t want to waste food.


    Derek looked at the leftovers, only including a little porridge and nd dishes. Could she eat enough?


    "I don''t know where the canteen is," the man said boldly.


    "Then you can ask a nurse to take you there."


    Meredith didn''t believe that no one would take him there if he asked someone for help.


    Those young nurses were captivated by him and couldn''t wait to get along with him for a while.


    "It is troublesome."


    Derek still didn''t want to go.


    Easton could figure out Derek''s intention that Derek just wanted to have dinner with his mother?


    "Mom, you can take dad with you. He has no sense of direction and can''t find it."


    Easton couldn''t help but tease Derek, although he was trying to speak up for him.


    Meredith couldn''t help but raise her eyebrows. Did Derek had no sense of direction?


    Really?


    She didn''t seem to notice it before.


    When Derek heard this, he couldn''t help but grit his teeth. This guy...


    However, he still nodded. "It''s difficult for me to find direction in an enclosed space, so I need you to


    lead the way."

 Chapter 553

    Chapter 553


    Meredith seemed disbelieving. She remembered that Derek could drive or something. Could someone


    just get lost indoors?


    Thinking about it, she felt that they were fooling her.


    However, after thinking about it, it wasn''t a big deal to take him to a restaurant, so Meredith nodded


    helplessly.


    "Okay,e with me."


    Derek responded and looked at Easton, "Easton, it''s okay for you to stay here alone?"


    Easton thought about it. It was getting dark now. If he was alone in a strange hospital ward, he felt


    scared, "I want to go with you."


    Meredith took a look at the little guy. She didn''t expect that Easton, who was usually fearless, to be


    scared now.


    "Easton, are you afraid?"


    "No, I''m not."


    How could Easton admit that he was scared? He was stubborn, "If I''m here alone, you''re not at ease


    with your meal, right? I''m cute and handsome. If anyone likes me and kidnaps me, you would cry."


    Hearing this, Meredith shook her head helplessly. The boy was always like this. She could not even


    refute him.


    "Okay! We''re worried about you. Let''s go. Your stomach is fine now. It doesn''t matter if you go with us."


    After that, Meredith went over to carry Easton.


    Seeing this, Derek quickly walked over, "Let me do this."


    Meredith thought for a moment. Holding Easton was a little bit hard for her, so she didn''t insist.


    Meredith walked ahead and Derek followed her, holding Easton in his arms.


    Derek''s eyes were on Meredith, never moving away.


    Seeing this, Easton witnessed PDA, "Dad, did you do something to my stomach on purpose. Look how


    happy you are now."


    Derek immediately looked at the little guy in his arms, "Easton, do you think I dare not hit you because


    you have a stomachache now."


    This little guy really deserved a beating when he was joking. That night, he begged him to take him out


    for supper in all sorts of cute and pitiful ways.


    Unfortunately, he made unfounded countercharges.


    "I was joking."


    Hearing he would be beaten, Easton became well-behaved.


    They were outside. If the nurses found out that he was beaten by his father, he would felt embarrassed.


    "What are you talking about?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but ask when she heard them whispering.


    "No, nothing."


    Easton immediately waved his hand.


    Meredith didn''t ask anymore and walked to the entrance of the restaurant. Because it was dinnertime,


    there were a lot of people inside.


    "Easton, you and your dad go find a seat. I go buy something to eat."


    Meredith was familiar with the hospital the most. Without much thinking, she let them find seats first


    and she went to buy food.


    Derek took a nce, there were a lot of people waiting in line and said. "I will go to buy something to


    eat. Take care of him."


    After that, he handed Easton to Meredith. Before she could answer, the man had left.


    "Dad must be afraid of those people squeezing you. He seemed to have learned to be tender from me,


    knowing to love you."


    Seeing this, Easton nodded with relief. Although he was trying to put in a good word for Derek, he did


    not forget to praise himself.


    Seeing Easton be like this, Meredith shook her head.


    Why exactly did this little guy be so narcissistic? She wasn''t narcissistic, and Derek was cold and aloof.


    Could it be that Derek was like this when he was young?


    Imaging that, Meredith couldn''t bear it.


    "Mom, what are you thinking?"


    Seeing Meredith distracted, Easton could not help but ask.


    "Nothing."


    Meredith shook her head, repelling this weird image from her mind.


    At this time, Derek came back and bought some food ording to Meredith''s taste that he


    remembered.


    Seeing the food, Meredith felt distressed, not expecting that Derek remembered what she liked to eat.


    "What''s wrong? You don''t like it? Why don''t you eat?"


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    Seeing Meredith in a daze, Derek reminded her to eat.


    "Oh, OK."


    Meredith lowered her head and hid her emotion.


    For a moment, she faltered.


    Meredith kept eating with her head down. Derek thought that she was weird, but he picked up some


    food for her from time to time, looking sweet.


    After dinner, Derek carried Easton back to the ward.


    Meredith walked behind him, staring nkly at his back.


    It seemed that she couldn''t stay with this man for too long. Any of his actions could change her mind.


    Back in the room, Easton rubbed his eyes, looking sleepy.


    "Easton, I''ll sleep with you here."


    Meredith looked at the bed. Although it was a little small, it should be big enough for her and Easton.


    "Good!"


    Easton made space for Meredith.


    Derek frowned, "Maybe we should change the ward."


    Because they came hastily, here was not like J City where they could go to a hospital invested by the


    Xaviers. The conditions in this hospital were really primitive.


    He couldn''t bear to see them suffering.


    "It''s fine. We just stay here one night."


    Meredith waved her hand and refused. Easton didn''t say anything. Seeing that they had no objections,


    Derek couldn''t say anything, so he gave up his idea.


    They washed up and went to sleep.


    Derek did not fall asleep fast, looking at the two people by the moonlight.


    At this moment, Easton began to move restlessly.


    He didn''t behave well when he was sleeping. It was fine if he didn''t sleep sound at first, but he started


    to move around when he was asleep.


    It seemed that he would fall out of the bed at any moment.


    Derek sighed, got up, got a chair, sat beside the bed, pulled up the covers on them, and then closed his


    eyes.


    The night passed like this.


    The next morning, Meredith opened her eyes as she felt the sunlighting in.


    However, it was Derek''s face that came into view.


    It was only then that she realized that the man had been sleeping in a chair by the bed all night.


    What happened?


    Meredith sat up, and Derek opened his eyes. After all, it was notfortable to sleep on the chair. And


    he was not dead to the world when he slept, so he woke up as soon as there was some noise.


    "Are you awake?"


    Derek nced at Meredith and spoke in a low, hoarse voice that was because he just woke up.


    Meredith''s heart skipped a beat for no reason, "Yes. Why are you sleeping here? Isn''t there a bed


    there?"


    "I sleptte and saw Easton moving around on the bed. I was afraid that he would fall."

 Chapter 554

    Chapter 554


    Easton blushed. "Am I such a naughty boy while I''m sleeping?"


    But then, he thought to himself and realized he was. But he had never fallen out of bed at home.


    "Then go to bed and rest for a while."


    With mixed feelings, Meredith looked at Derek who looked tired.


    Derek shook his head. "Forget it. I''m fine."


    After that, he got up and went to the bathroom to wash up. He was used to spending all night working


    at thepany. He just went to wash his face.


    Seeing him enter the bathroom, Meredith tidied up Easton''s clothes. "Easton, how do you feel now?"


    she asked.


    Easton shook his head. "My stomach doesn''t hurt anymore. It should be fine."


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    "I''ll let the doctor check on youter. We''ll go back if there''s nothing wrong."


    Easton nodded. He didn''t want to stay in the hospital anymore.


    Meredith tidied herself up and went out to buy breakfast for Easton.


    At this moment, a cell phone rang in the room.


    Easton nced at it. It was Derek''s phone by the bed.


    Easton thought about it before he took a look at it. It was a call from Evelyn.


    Easton snorted. He didn''t expect her to appear again.


    He reached out and answered the phone.


    "Mr. Xavier, long time no see. Are you free recently?"


    Evelyn didn''t have many words for Derek, but she took every chance talking to him to prove her


    existence.


    "No, my dad is busy."


    Easton said bluntly.


    Her intention was known to everyone.


    "You are?"


    "I''m his precious son, Easton. Auntie, who are you?"


    Knowing that he was talking to Evelyn who didn''t seem to like being called auntie, Easton did it on


    purpose.


    Sure enough, Evelyn''s face turned red with anger, but she couldn''t lost temper. Instead, she managed


    to say with patience, "Easton, I have something to talk to your dad about. Where is he?"


    "He''s with my mom. He doesn''t have time to talk to you."


    Evelyn clenched her phone.


    "Meredith, as expected, was lying to me. Can''t she let Derek go?" thought Evelyn.


    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up."


    Easton was very pleased to hear that there was no response on the other side. He hung up the phone


    directly.


    Evelyn was not in the mood to scold Easton for being rude.


    She had to do something to break them up, or else she wouldn''t even have a chance to get close to


    Derek.


    Derek came out of the bathroom and saw Easton''s smug smile. He asked with a frown, "What did you


    do? Look how happy you are!"


    From what he knew of his son, he was sure that he must have done something bad.


    "Well, nothing."


    Derek didn''t believe it. He took the phone and unlocked it. Seeing that Evelyn''s phone was answered,


    he looked at Easton.


    Easton felt a little guilty. "I was just driving away some annoying flies."


    Derek snorted without caring it.


    Anyway, he wasn''t interested in Evelyn, and it would be best if she could give up after hearing Easton''s


    words.


    Seeing that Derek didn''t care about it, Easton was relieved.


    If his dad scolded him for another woman, he would have toin to his mom.


    Fortunately, he didn''t. This meant that it was the woman''s wishful thinking.


    At the thought of this, Easton was in a good mood.


    ...


    The doctor said after doing the check-up for Easton, "He''s fine. Stick to a light diet these days and keep


    away from unhealthy snacks."


    Meredith nodded repeatedly and promised to keep the doctor''s words in mind. She then left the


    hospital with Easton.


    Just as she was about to get in the car, her phone rang.


    Meredith motioned to answer the phone and walked to the side.


    "Meredith, right? I''m Evelyn. We found the match to your mother''s bone marrow."


    Upon hearing this, Meredith did a double-take before she said, "Are you telling the truth?"


    "Yes. If you want to know the details, I''ll send you the address. Time waits for no man."


    After that, Evelyn hung up the phone, as if she was venting her unhappiness about being hung up by


    Easton.


    Meredith felt that she was dreaming. They had been searching for this match for too long, and now she


    was unable to believe the good news.


    But...


    She wondered whose bone marrow was match to her mother''s. If it was Evelyn''s, wouldn''t it mean that


    she was rted to her mother by blood?


    Meredith''s heart was in a mess.


    Seeing that she hadn''t returned for a long time, Derek got out of the car and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Meredith shook her head. As Evelyn had a crush on Derek, she didn''t want to make things


    "It''s okay. The hospital just told me about mom''s condition."


    Derek looked deeply at Meredith, feeling that things were not as simple as she said.


    "Let''s go back. I want to take a shower and change."


    Meredith noticed that Derek didn''t seem to believe her, so she gave him a push and signaled him to


    hurry back.


    Derek could only get in the car.


    The car drove very fast and soon they arrived at the hotel.


    After they went back to the hotel, Meredith said, "Easton, I''ll be busy. You can stay here for a while. If


    you need anything, go to your dad or uncle Parker."


    "Mom, what are you doing?"


    Easton felt something was wrong, wondering why she was so secretive.


    "Nothing. I''ll go out."


    Without exining much, Meredith got changed and went out.


    She took a taxi to the address Evelyn gave her.


    It was a very high-end restaurant. Meredith took a deep breath and walked in. Then she saw Evelyn


    sitting on the side, waiting for her.


    "Miss Smith."


    Meredith said hello and sat across from her. "Let''s get to the point. What''s going on?"


    Evelyn took out a test report. "Take a look."


    Without hesitation, Meredith took it over. As she looked through it, her breathe quickened.


    The match was sessful and the match rate was 99.99 %.


    This meant that as long as this person agreed to donate bone marrow, then her mother would be


    saved.


    "Where is this person now?"


    Meredith asked anxiously.


    "Right in front of you."


    Evelyn looked at Meredith with a half-smile, expecting her reaction.

 Chapter 555

    Chapter 555


    Meredith stared at Evelyn''s face for a long time, as if trying to find something simr to her mother''s.


    However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t find out any simrities.


    Perhaps, subconsciously, she felt that a gentle and strong mother''s biological daughter would not be so


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    unruly and willful.


    Meredith thought for a moment, but in the end, she managed to suppress the uneasiness in her heart.


    "Then, what do you want?"


    Evelyn was not a nice and generous person. Meredith did not believe that she hade to her


    specifically to tell herself that she was willing to donate her bone marrow.


    Although the bone marrow aspiration would not destroy the body, it is very painful, and also would


    affect the immune system.


    With Evelyn''s arrogant personality, if she didn''t want something, Meredith didn''t believe that she would


    agree to donate.


    And the only thing she could trade with her was...


    A figure shed through his mind. Meredith''s heart sank and she looked over.


    "Miss Mason is indeed a smart woman. That''s great. I don''t like dealing with the stupid. As long as you


    agree with my request, I will immediately agree to donate the bone marrow until your mother is fully


    recovered."


    Evelyn said casually because she was not the one but Ellie who needed to do the bone marrow


    aspiration. Evelyn didn''t care about Ellie at all.


    "I want you to break up with Derek and let him get engaged with me."


    Evelyn said slowly.


    Meredith wanted to appear indifferent, but her expression and eyes showed her emotions.


    Even if she knew what her request was, she couldn''t help but feel irritated while hearing it.


    "Miss Smith, feelings don''t seem to be something that people can control."


    With Derek''s personality, who could force him if he didn''t want to?


    Meredith didn''t think she was capable of forcing him to marry a woman he didn''t like.


    "But that''s the only way I can rest assured. After all... Miss Mason said you wasn''t interested in Derek


    anymore, but you were with himst night, right?"


    Evelyn gnashed her teeth at the thought of Easton''s rude sarcasm on the phone today.


    She had never been insulted in her life, but now even a little brat could insult her.


    Meredith was his mother, so Evelyn naturally took it out on her.


    "How did you know..."


    Meredith frowned, only then did she realize that Evelyn had investigated her, or Derek.


    This feeling of being monitored made her feel ufortable.


    "Easton was sick yesterday. Derek sent us to the hospital. We were in the hospital. It wasn''t what you


    thought."


    "It doesn''t matter, but I don''t want this to happen again."


    Evelyn didn''t care if the child was sick or not. What she wanted was that Derek couldn''t be involved


    with other women.


    "That''s my condition. I''ll wait for your answer. I hope you''ll agree."


    After Evelyn finished speaking, she left. Meredith sat there alone, lost in her thought.


    She didn''t know how long she had been sat there alone. Until her cell phone rang, she came to her


    sense.


    Parker called her.


    "Mer, where are you now?"


    Just now, when he went to look for Meredith, he only found that Easton was ying video games in the


    room alone. He asked him where she was, but Easton didn''t know either.


    Parker waited for a long time, but she didn''t return. So he called her.


    "I''ll be right back."


    When Meredith spoke, she was startled by her own voice. Her voice was hoarse, and it didn''t sound


    right.


    "What''s wrong? What happened to you?"


    Parker sensed it and immediately became worried. "I''ll pick you up."


    She took a few deep breaths. "It''s okay, I''m fine."


    After that, she got up to pay the bill and walked out of the restaurant.


    As soon as she stepped out the door, a cool breeze blew in, making her shudder.


    Standing beside the road, she looked at the carsing and going. She was very tired and needed


    time to clear her mind.


    She then returned to the hotel by taxi.


    As soon as she got off the taxi, she saw Parker waiting outside.


    "You''ve been waiting for me here?"


    She felt guilty, and it was her fault for worrying him so much.


    "I''m afraid that something might happen to you, but you won''t tell me where you are. So I can only wait


    for you here."


    Parker looked at her helplessly. "What''s wrong? You look tired."


    "I found the matching bone marrow."


    He couldn''t help but look surprised. "Really?"


    But soon, he felt something was wrong.


    After all, it was a good thing, but Meredith looked very strange.


    "What''s wrong? Is that person unwilling to donate or something? You give me his information and I''ll


    talk to him."


    Parker immediately said, intending to find that man.


    No matter that man wanted money or status, he could give it to him as long as he cooperated.


    "No, it''s not like this..."


    She shook her head and noticed his anxiety. She was moved. "Let''s go back and I''ll tell you."


    She thought for a moment. There was no need to keep her secret from Parker. After all, he saved her


    life back then, and she now really didn''t know what to do.


    Meredith told him the whole story.


    "Parker, I haven''t told my mom about this yet. I''m afraid she''ll find it hard to ept. I want you to keep it


    a secret from her, too."


    Parker nodded and fell into deep thought. It turned out that Meredith was not her biological daughter,


    but was actually the granddaughter of Joseph?


    The point is, that Evelyn actually fell in love with Derek and even used her bone marrow to make


    Meredith agree to her request.


    Parker thought that maybe the god was helping him win Meredith back.


    But he couldn''t show his excitement. "So, what are you going to do?"


    Meredith remained silent for a while, then smiled bitterly. "Do you think I have other options?"


    Originally, it was because her biological mother had swapped out two children secretly that their lives


    had changed dramatically.


    Although Evelyn lived a good life now, Meredith still felt a little guilty for her. After all, ording to Andy,


    Evelyn took the possible risks for her.


    Her mother''s illness worsened. If she did not have a bone marrow transnt now, she might not have


    time to wait for the next matching bone marrow.


    Meredith thought about it and couldn''t help but feel dispirited.


    Perhaps, this was fate. Fate had made everything so wrong and made Cali fall in love with Derek.


    "I intend to agree to her request."

 Chapter 556

    Chapter 556


    Parker suppressed the surprise in his heart and looked at Meredith seriously. "What are you going to


    do?"


    What was she going to do...


    Meredith didn''t know. They separated, but because of Easton, they were always entangled with each


    other from time to time.


    If Evelyn married Derek, Meredith wouldn''t leave Easton to Evelyn.


    Evelyn and Easton could never get along well.


    Then her concern was how to take Easton away from the Xaviers.


    "Mer, are you thinking about Easton?"


    Parker looked at Meredith. It seemed that he had seen through her mind.


    He had thought of this too. Since they had a child together, they would never be able to separate.


    After all, Easton was their biological child.


    "Let me think about it."


    Meredith sighed and returned to the room.


    Only then did she see Easton swinging his fair calves and focusing on the game console.


    Meredith stared at him for a long time. She wished Easton would grow up as happy and carefree as he


    was now.


    But it seemed that there were some things he needed to face after all.


    "Mom, hey!"


    Easton heard the door open and threw the game console aside. "Where have you been?"


    "Nowhere. I went out to meet someone."


    Meredith smiled wearily. Although she had done nothing, she felt physically and mentally exhausted at


    the moment.


    "I felt the person you met was not a good person."


    Easton was always sharp. When he saw Meredith''s expression, he felt something was wrong.


    "Why do you think so?"


    Meredith couldn''t help but look at Easton. Sometimes this little guy would say something unexpected.


    "It''s just a feeling."


    Easton was speechless. He approached Meredith and sniffed at her, which made herugh.


    Did this kid think he was a police dog? Could he smell it and tell who it was?


    "Well, disgusting perfume."


    Easton wrinkled his nose and said so.


    His nose was sharp, and he was sensitive to the smell of perfume. He would often get a headache


    when he met people who liked to spray perfume.


    The perfume smelled familiar. Anyway, he didn''t like it.


    "Forget it, stop fooling around."


    Meredith shook her head and sat on the bed, tidying up the bed that Easton had messed up.


    Then, as if by ident, she said, "Easton, what do you think if we leave J City and go somewhere


    else?"


    "Where? Is it fun?"


    Easton didn''t know what Meredith meant. His first thought was that Meredith wanted to travel.


    He was too willing to go for a trip so that he didn''t have to go to school or do homework. There was


    nothing better than this in the world.


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    "Can dad go with us?"


    Easton was naive enough to think that traveling together would help his parents be closer.


    Meredith was surprised and did not know how to answer.


    When children thought of anything, they naturally felt that they should be with their parents.


    But...


    "No, he''s not going with us."


    "Why not?"


    Easton was confused. Was it because dad was too busy with work?


    It was impossible. No matter how busy dad was, he never neglected his family.


    "Mom, are you in trouble?"


    Easton guessed something at once.


    "No, nothing. Just asking."


    Meredith quickly denied it. She didn''t expect Easton to look so careless on the surface, but he turned


    out to be so sensitive.


    "Oh..."


    Easton nodded, but he was still suspicious.


    Meredith had expected this result, but she did not know how to deal with it. S


    he was upset.


    ...


    After Parker sent Meredith back to her room, he found someone to ask for Evelyn''s contact information.


    Although he had no good feelings for Evelyn, they were at least on the same side now, so it was okay


    to make use of her for the time being.


    He was never an honest man who followed the rules. He would do anything to achieve his goal.


    Evelyn was going to ignore Parker. She didn''t even know who he was.


    But Parker sent her a message. "If you want to know how to get Derek to ept you as soon as


    possible, then find me."


    Evelyn thought about it, but she could not resist the temptation.


    She called Derek again just now, but he didn''t answer.


    This man was colder than anyone she had ever met. He was an iceberg, but he was also more


    attractive to her than the people she had met before.


    After all, it was fun to conquer someone like this. She would be filled with aplishment when she


    conquered such a person.


    "Okay, tell me the ce."


    When Parker saw the message, he made a reservation and drove over.


    He arrived early. After about half an hour, Evelyn finally arrived.


    Parker nced at her and noticed that she seemed to have some bodyguards with her.


    Was she afraid that he was a bad guy and would harm her?


    But even so, she still came. It seemed that this woman really wanted to be with Derek.


    This was even better.


    Evelyn entered the restaurant and quickly found Parker''s location.


    She was surprised to see him.


    The man was dressed in casual clothes, with a few buttons unbuttoned at the cor, revealing a solid


    chest. He held a china spoon and fiddled with the coffee. He looked casual, but his aura showed that


    no one should underestimate him.


    He was not inferior to Derek, and they had two different styles: one was upright, the other was evil, but


    they were both attractive.


    "Sir, are you the one that texted me?"


    Evelyn sat opposite Parker, her tone reserved.


    "Yes, it''s me. My name is Parker."


    Parker looked at Evelyn and frowned slightly.


    He thought he could see the resemnce between this woman and Amelia, but they actually didn''t


    look much alike.


    Maybe it was an illusion.


    Parker stopped thinking about that and said, "Miss Smith, I won''t keep you in suspense. I like Meredith.


    I have the same purpose as you. I hope they can separate. That''s why I came to see you today."


    Evelyn was surprised. What the hell? Did this mane to her for Meredith?


    Meredith looked ordinary, and so was her family. How could she make two excellent men so obsessed?


    "Oh? Why do you think I would agree with you?"


    Evelyn was jealous, and her tone was inexplicably angry.

 Chapter 557

    Chapter 557


    "Because we share the same purpose. I think you don''t want to get involved with other women after


    you''re with Derek. Likewise, I don''t want Meredith to think about another man all the time."


    Parker made it very hear.


    He believed that people like Evelyn, who grew up in a big family, should weigh up the pros and cons.


    It was far better to cooperate than to act separately.


    Evelyn thought for a moment. Indeed, she agreed with what Parker said.


    Obviously, One wanted to be loved by the one he or she loved.


    "What are you going to do? What do you want me to do?"


    Evelyn felt that he needed her to do something.


    "You convince the Xaviers to let Meredith raise Easton, and I''ll take them out of here, settle abroad,


    and nevere back."


    Evelyn frowned.


    Parker continued to persuade her, "If you get what you want and really marry Derek, you will always


    have children with him, and Easton is the eldest grandson of the Xaviers. Do you ept that?"


    Big families like the Xaviers still thought that elders were superior to youth. If Easton were here, the


    Xaviers would give everything to him in the future.


    N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    Evelyn also thought so.


    "Also, if Easton stayed at the Xaviers, Derek and Meredith would definitely meet frequently and fall in


    love with each other again. I don''t think there''s any need to take the risk."


    Parker lowered his head to sip the coffee in his cup.


    "That''s all I have to say. You can think about it yourself. I''ll wait for your answer."


    After that, he got up to pay.


    Evelyn sat there, deep in thought.


    What Parker had said really moved her.


    Thinking about it carefully, she believed that it was not sensible to leave Easton in the Xaviers.


    She was still angry with Evelyn who treated her so rudely.


    This child must be sent away.


    But... What was she going to do?


    Evelyn did not dare to act rashly. She did not want Derek to hate her.


    After thinking about it for a while, Evelyn called Parker.


    "I ept your proposal, but...waht to do?"


    Parker sat in the car with a smile.


    It was only half an hour before he left. Evelyn should call him soon.


    "Derek''s mother has always disliked Meredith. She has always wanted to find a powerful daughter-in-


    Parker talked in detail to Evelyn and hung up.


    Derek''s mother...


    Looking at the phone, Evelyn was lost in thought.


    It seemed that she needed to go to J City to find out.


    ...


    J City


    Penelope sat on the hospital bed with a nervous face.


    Today was the day of her surgery. Now, it was just the time to do the surgery.


    "Are you nervous?"


    Damian looked at Penelope, worrying.


    Was she a little too nervous now? It might have a bad effect on the operation.


    "I''m... Scared..."


    Penelope grabbed the sheet in her hand very nervously.


    She was really scared, not of pain or anything, but of not being able to see after the surgery.


    Then she might never be able to see again for the rest of her life.


    In that case, maybe Damian would leave her, too. After all, no one wanted to a blind woman all the


    time.


    Penelope was still upset that Damian did not tell his mother she was his girlfriend.


    "Don''t be afraid. I''ll wait for you outside. If it still doesn''t work, I''ll continue to find you a better doctor


    until you recover."


    To reassure Penelope, Damianforted her again and again.


    "Then, when I get better, will you introduce me to your family?"


    Damian was stunned, not expecting her to say that suddenly and hesitating for a while. Penelope


    suddenly waved her hand. "I just asked casually. You don''t have to take it to heart."


    Penelope was worried that he would never answer, or give an answer she disliked.


    "Of course I will introduce you to my family, but not now."


    Damian thought for a moment and answered truthfully.


    His father died early, so Damian was almost raised by his mother alone.


    Because of this, his mother cared much about his future life, and had been asking him to find a virtuous


    wife to help him.


    But Penelope has not recovered yet. So he did not introduce her to his mother.


    Therefore, Damian felt that it was not in a hurry.


    Perhaps it would be better for Penelope to face those things when she recovered.


    Hearing this, Penelope lowered her head and clenched her lower lip. It seemed that his mother would


    not ept her now.


    She felt a little ufortable for no reason.


    At this moment, the nurse came in. "Miss Garcia, your surgery is almost ready. We should go to the


    operating room."


    Penelope nodded, and Damian bent down and carried her to the wheelchair. "I''ll go with you."


    Penelope did not resist. She obediently let Damian pick her up and pushed her into the operating room.


    "Next, please wait outside."


    When they reached the operating room, the nurse took the wheelchair and said to Damian.


    He nodded and stopped. "I''ll be waiting for you outside. Don''t be afraid."


    Penelope nodded and the nurse pushed her into the operating room. In order tofort her, the nurse


    couldn''t help but tease. "Miss Garcia, you are so happy to have such a handsome and outstanding


    boyfriend, and he cares so much about you. When you get better, don''t miss such a good man."


    Penelope blushed at her words, but at the same time, she couldn''t help but clench her fist. She had to


    get better, she had to.

 Chapter 558

    Chapter 558


    After meeting Parker, Evelyn went home and went straight into Old Master Smith''s study.


    "Grandpa, I need your help."


    Old Master Smith looked at Evelyn helplessly. Although she was not young now, she was still very


    reckless in her daily life. In his mind, she was still like a child.


    "What''s the matter now? Why do you need my help?"


    "Grandpa, I''m going to J City to meet Derek''s mother and grandfather."


    Evelyn thought about it and thought that Parker''s method was the most reasonable.


    She did not believe that the Xaviers would not want her to marry into their family.


    It would be much easier to get Derek''s family to help her no matter what she wanted to do.


    "You are really naive."


    When he heard this, he shook his head repeatedly. "You are ady. If you take the initiative to go to


    meet them, it will show that you are eager to get married. They will look down upon you!"


    He had experienced so many things, so he had a long view.


    He could tell now that Evelyn really loved Derek and was nning to marry him.


    He would not object to their marriage. But he did not want his precious granddaughter to suffer any


    grievances.


    Evelyn''s mother died at an early age. So he loved her with all his heart, naturally hoping that she would


    get the best.


    "Then, what should I do?"


    "I''ll take care of this. If you really want to be with him, you should get along well with him recently."


    "Grandpa, I love you!"


    Evelyn was relieved to hear this. With his help, she didn''t need to worry about anything else.


    Evelyn stayed with him for a while longer before leaving.


    Old Master Smith checked the number of the Xaviers and immediately dialed it.


    Mr. Xavier was ying chess with a friend in his study. When he heard that there was a call from


    Capital City, he picked it up.


    "Hello, who is that?"


    "It''s me, Smith."


    Mr. Xavier was a little surprised to hear this.


    They had no contact for many years because Derek rejected Evelyn. Also, he had even set a


    hindrance to the expansion of the Xaviers in Capital City.


    "Why does he contact me?" Mr. Xavier thought.


    "Why do you call me?" Mr. Xavier asked indifferently.


    "Of course there is a good thing. My granddaughter was saved by Derek by identst time. Now,


    she has a crush on him. She really wants to marry him. Don''t you think it''s fate?"


    Hearing this, Mr. Xavier raised his eyebrows.


    The little girl from the Smiths had a crush on Derek?


    He really hadn''t heard of that yet.


    In the past, Mr. Xavier might have thought that it was not bad. After all, the two families'' businesses


    wereplementary, and if they were to join forces, they would certainly seed.


    But now...


    Thinking about Derek''s affection for Meredith, Mr. Xavier thought it hard to intervene in Derek''s


    marriage.


    "Let young people decide on their own."


    "You are his grandfather. I believe that he will consider your suggestion. If my granddaughter and he


    get married, the benefits will be immeasurable."


    Mr. Xavier was silent for a moment. If it was before, perhaps he would agree.


    However, in the years that Meredith left, when he saw his most proud grandchild living unhappily, Mr.


    Xavier felt terrible. He did not want to be a viin again.


    "Although that''s the case, rtionships are not something that external forces can force. Unwillingness


    can not produce desired results. Well, if Derek is willing to be with your granddaughter, then I will


    support him strongly. If he is not willing, then I will not force him. I haven''t cooperated with your Smith


    family for many years, and it''s okay."


    Old Master Smith wanted to say something more, but he could only give up because of Mr. Xavier''s


    reply.


    Outside the study, Violet, who was supposed toe in with tea, heard Mr. Xavier''s words clearly.


    When she heard the words Smith family, she was excited.


    Violet had lowered her standards because she was desperate. She hoped there was a decent girl from


    a decent family, who was obedient and sensible, as long as it wasn''t Meredith.


    How could she not know Evelyn?


    Evelyn was the apple of the eye of the Smiths. Many decent men were pursuing her. After all, she


    would get much when her grandfather divided up the assets.


    As long as Derek married her, he would have a bright future.


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    So, after Violet heard that Mr. Xavier had rejected, she couldn''t help but walk in.


    "Dad, did you reject the girl who likes Derek again?"


    Mr. Xavier nced at her. "You heard everything?"


    Violet nodded. "Dad, that''s the Smith family. We missed an opportunity a few years ago. Are we still


    going to miss it this time?"


    "Violet, don''t you understand Derek''s thoughts? Do you think he can ept other women? I advise you


    not to meddle too much in the affairs of their young people, lest he mes you."


    Seeing his serious expression, Violet did not dare to argue with him, but she was very dissatisfied.


    She meddled with this because she wanted Derek to be happy and have a bright future.


    Why couldn''t they understand her?


    Violet walked out of the study but did not stop thinking.


    She must drive Meredith away and let Derek marry Evelyn.


    In the Capital City.


    Derek didn''t know anything about what happened in J City, and he was annoyed by Evelyn''s


    messages.


    Now he had figured it out that Evelyn didn''t have the ability to work at all, and her mind was full of


    fantasies about romantic love.


    Derek helped her because he wanted to stop the robber dragging a woman who was robbed of her


    bag.


    So now he simply avoided Evelyn and ignored all her invitations.


    However, he had a serious matter to handle recently. Because he did not know how long he would stay


    in Capital City, he had someone help him find a house.


    Staying in a hotel all the time was not good. And Parker usually appeared.


    Derek chose a quiet area. Although it was not downtown, the environment was very good. ording to


    Meredith''s preferences, he chose the elegantly simple style in the decoration.


    However, he didn''t know what to do to get Meredith to move in.

 Chapter 559

    Chapter 559


    After thinking about it, Derek decided to rely on Easton.


    He called Easton. "Easton, is your mother here now?"


    Easton was speechless. He was such a big boy, yet he felt like he did not exist. The first thing his father


    asked was how his mother was.


    "Yes."


    Easton looked at Meredith, who was processing some files in front of theputer. "What do you want,


    dad?"


    Derek thought for a moment and asked, "Easton, do you want to move somewhere else?"


    Easton''s eyes lit up. He had long been fed up with staying in this kind of hotel. Although he lived in the


    best hotels, the cold, mechanized interior design, coupled with all kinds of formic service, made him


    annoyed.


    He knew that Derek was looking for a suitable house. Now that he finally found one, of course Easton


    was happy.


    "Of course I do. Have you found a house?"


    "Yes, do you want to see it?"


    Derek tried to persuade him. Easton was so smart that he immediately understood what Derek was


    thinking. "Do you want me to ask mom to go there together?"


    Derek couldn''t help butugh. His son knew him so well.


    "I''ll think of a way, but mom seems weirdtely as if she has something on her mind."


    Easton said worriedly, "Is grandma not well?"


    Derek frowned. "Your grandmother''s condition is stable now."


    Easton said, "Okay, then I''ll find a way to get her to take me out. You can wait for us outside."


    Derek naturally agreed, but couldn''t help but think about what Easton had just said.


    Meredith was in a bad mood now. Because he knew that she was on bad terms with Violet, he didn''t


    dare to disturb her to make her unhappy.


    But now, she still didn''t seem happy.


    Derek was deep in thought. Was it because of the Smiths?


    Meredith didn''t want to talk to him, and it was hard for Derek to get involved.


    Because of Evelyn, this matter had be even moreplex.


    Easton thought for a while and felt that he couldn''t say it so directly.


    "Mom, are you busy this afternoon?"


    Meredith was in a daze. She seemed to have been reading the reports on theputer. In fact, her


    mind had long been lost.


    The Smiths, Evelyn, mom, Derek. These people''s affairs were like threads entangled in her brain,


    making her very annoyed.


    So, when Easton called her, she didn''t even hear him.


    "Mom?"


    Seeing that Meredith waspletely distracted, Easton jumped off the bed and touched her arm.


    Meredith came to her senses and looked at Easton. She smiled and said, "What''s wrong, Easton?


    Mom didn''t hear you just now."


    "I, I feel bored in the hotel."


    Easton looked pitiful. "It''s all ck and white and gray. It looks so cold. I''m not feeling well."


    Meredith''s heart ached when she heard this.


    After all, the hotel was not home, and even if it was luxurious, it was far fromfortable.


    Easton was still so young, so it was totally normal for him to feel ufortable.


    "Then, how about I send you back to J City for a few days? Your great-grandfather probably misses


    you too."


    When Easton heard this, he shook his head immediately. "I want to stay with you, mom. Why don''t we


    go to view houses?"


    Easton''s big eyes blinked at Meredith. After so much preparation, his real purpose was finally revealed.


    View houses?


    Meredith pondered on it. In the future, if she was going to find her family, she might have to spend a lot


    of time in Capital City, and staying in a hotel all the time was not a good choice.


    "Why did you think of viewing houses?"


    Meredith thought for a moment, nodded and asked.


    Easton chuckled. "It''s just that I received some relevant ads."


    Meredith heard this and did not ask anymore. After all, Easton was a precocious and intelligent child,


    so it was not surprising that he would know about this.


    "Okay, then which house wins your favor? Let''s go and have a look."


    Now that Meredith had taken over thepany of the Masons, plus the bonus she received in the


    designpetition a while ago, she could afford a house.


    "Okay."


    Easton nodded and ran into the bathroom with some clothes. "I''m going to wash my face and change."


    Meredith could not help shaking her head when she saw him run in a hurry. He was indeed a child.


    Easton went into the bathroom and sat on the toilet to send a message to Derek.


    "Done. I said I was going to view houses. Mom agreed."


    Derek was in a good mood when he saw this. "That''s my son. Smart enough."


    "That''s right. I''m always smart. Just wait for us at the door."


    After Easton finished speaking, he changed his clothes and cleaned himself up.


    When he went out, he saw that Meredith was ready to go. "Mom, let''s go."


    As he spoke, he took Meredith''s hand and walked out.


    Outside, Meredith was about to reach out for a taxi when Easton pointed to Derek''s car, which was


    already waiting outside. "That''s dad''s car. Why don''t we take his car?"


    Meredith hesitated. "Easton, let''s go by ourselves. Your father is very busy."


    She still remembered Evelyn''s words and did not want to have unnecessary contact with Derek.


    Derek saw that they did note over, so he got out of the car and walked over just in time to hear


    Meredith''s words.


    "It''s okay. I''m free now. Get in the car, Easton."


    Easton happily followed. The father and son walked in front, while Meredith hesitated behind.


    "Dad, did you do something to upset mom? Why didn''t she even want to take your car?"


    Derek shook his head. "It''s a long story. You just need to know that you should help set up your mother


    and me."


    Although Derek had let go on the surface, he had no intention of giving up.


    Now that Parker was coveting Meredith, he couldn''t let her have any feelings for the man.


    Now it was Derek''s n to keep Meredith first, then solve the troubles of the Xaviers and Meredith''s


    issues, and finally propose to her.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "I understand." Easton patted Derek on the arm. "I''m your son. If I don''t help you, who can I help?"


    Meredith watched from behind as the father and son left, her heart full of mixed feelings.


    They looked so harmonious and close. How could Easton ept being separated from his father?


    However, she must get the bone marrow that could save her mother.


    Perhaps, before they werepletely cut off, letting them get along with each other for a while longer


    could make a precious memory.

 Chapter 560

    Chapter 560


    Meredith didn''t say anything and got into Derek''s car.


    Derek was relieved to see how cooperative she was.


    Fortunately, she hadn''t taken a dislike to him that much yet.


    Easton blinked at Derek, as if he was taking credit for it.


    Sitting in the car, Meredith didn''t notice their interactions and felt a little uneasy. She simply looked out


    of the window, not allowing anyone to know what she was thinking.


    Soon, the car arrived at the destination.


    Easton looked out of the window, amazement gleaming in his eyes. "Wow, mom, look, it''s so beautiful


    here."


    Meredith got off the car and looked at the house in front of her. It wasn''trge, but very unique and


    ssic.


    There was a courtyard in front of the house, surrounded by red brick walls with a door richly


    ornamented with carvings.


    As a designer, Meredith walked over to take a closer look at the details by instinct and found that those


    were ancient patterns. Now that vintage style was so popr, simr elements were also used in


    fashion design.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Easton was also very satisfied with this ce. Growing up abroad, he was amazed to see a house with


    such national characteristics.


    Derek was not surprised to see the expressions on their faces. After all, this was the house he had


    chosen very carefully.


    Just as Meredith was studying the details at the door, the owner of the house walked out immediately


    at the sight of them. When he was about to greet Derek, Derek winked at him, signaling him to talk to


    Meredith.


    The owner caught on at once, impressed by Derek. Since this house was both well-located and


    beautiful, it would cost the buyer a bundle.


    However, the owner didn''t expect that this man to leave the decision to his wife. What a good husband!


    The owner walked up to Meredith and asked, "Lady, are you here to see the house?"


    "Yes, we are. Sir, you have such a beautiful house."


    Honey-lipped, Easton made the owner of the house beam.


    "Then let''s go in and have a look."


    The owner of the house quite liked this family. After all, the husband was sensible, the wife pretty, while


    the child was smart.


    Meredith couldn''t help but shake her head seeing Easton running so fast. "Easton, don''t run so fast.


    What if you break something or fall?"


    "Well, it''s fine. I''m not a kid anymore. I won''t fall."


    Easton said righteously, while Meredith felt helpless at that. Easton was only five years old, but he


    actually didn''t think himself as a kid anymore.


    "It''s okay. He knows what to do."


    Derek said behind Meredith.


    Hearing the man''s voice, Meredith wanted to run away, so she simply replied okay before trotting up to


    Easton.


    Derek was a little disappointed, but he didn''t take it seriously and followed them.


    "This is the courtyard. Look, this tree has been here for decades. It''s a pleasure to drink tea and rx


    here in summer."


    The owner of the house was a man who knew how to enjoy life, so he would only sell the house to the


    buyer he liked. It was Derek''s sincerity and manners that had touched him the other day.


    The owner''s words reminded Meredith of her own house. Although it was not so beautiful as this


    house, there was also a tree at the door. During her childhood, she and her mother had often rxed


    under the tree. At that time, she was just like a carefree princess.


    "I used to have a tree like this in front of my house. When my mother scolded me, I would climb up the


    tree and hide myself. But once, I was bitten by a caterpir, and I never dared to be naughty again."


    Meredith said as if she had fallen into memories.


    It was the first time Easton had ever heard Meredith talking about her childhood, and he muttered, "So


    mom used to be a naughty girl too. Comparing to mom, I''m a good boy."


    Easton''s words made everyoneugh.


    The owner stared at Meredith. "I can tell you know how to enjoy life,dy. I like people like you."


    Meredith smiled and said, "You''re interesting, too. If you don''t love life, you won''t have put so much


    effort into decorating your own ce."


    Derek couldn''t help shaking his head when seeing the two having a good time chatting with each other.


    Luckily, the owner of the house was now in his fifties and his child was at the same age as Meredith.


    Otherwise, he didn''t know if he should be jealous.


    The owner and Meredith had a good chat and he showed them around the house. Everyone was


    happy with it.


    "If you''re satisfied, let''s talk over the contract."


    Meredith nodded and the group of people entered the study on the side.


    "I inherited this house from my ancestors. Normally, I shouldn''t sell it, but my son is running his


    business abroad now, and he feels worried about leaving me alone here, so we can only put it up for


    sale. Since I find you guys congenial to me, I won''t overcharge you. Look, how about this price?"


    The owner wrote down the price on the paper. Meredith took it over and nced at it, astonished.


    Although the owner said he wouldn''t overcharge them, but the price was...


    Meredith counted. The price shot into nine figures.


    Even though Meredith was aware that the house must be expensive at the moment she saw it, she still


    needed some time to think it over at the sight of the price.


    "Buying a house is a big deal. I might..."


    "Deal. I''ll buy it."


    Derek saw the price clearly from behind Meredith.


    Derek had done some background check recently. The owner didn''t overcharge them indeed, and the


    house was worth this price.


    More importantly, both Meredith and Easton loved it and this was the most crucial.


    Therefore, Derek agreed on the price without hesitation.


    Meredith looked back at him. "You don''t have to pay for it."


    If Derek paid for the house, she wouldn''t move in.


    "Leave her alone. Let''s sign the contract."


    Derek raised his eyebrows when hearing what Meredith said.


    The owner looked at them in confusion.


    What was going on? Weren''t they a couple? Why were they fussing about who should pay for the


    house?


    However, since Derek had already offered to buy it, the owner might as well not interfere in other


    people''s domestic affairs. "Then let''s draw up the contract."


    Derek nodded and was about to go with the owner, while Meredith was at loss for words. "No, I''m


    buying the house, not him."


    "We''re a family. Why so fussy about who''s going to buy it?"


    The owner nodded with approval when hearing Derek''s words. "Miss Mason, as a youngdy, you


    might want to be an independent woman. But since you''re a family, why bother fussing over such a


    detail? That''s not cool."


    Meredith was even more speechless after hearing that. She and Derek had divorced a long time ago,


    and they were not a family at all.

 Chapter 561

    Chapter 561


    However, before Meredith could exin, the two men had already gone to talk about the contract and


    transfer procedures.


    Easton saw the situation and walked over. "Dad is going to pay. He is rich. Don''t save it for him."


    Meredithughed bitterly. Easton was Derek''s son, so Easton could spend his money, but she...


    Since she had already said that she would be separated from Derek, how could she still use his


    money?


    "Easton, let''s buy a smaller house."


    Meredith didn''t want to buy a house with the money her mother had saved up, but she could use the


    money she earned from her previous job to buy a smaller apartment.


    She was not a materialistic person.


    "Mom, why? I know that you like this house too."


    When Easton heard this, he knew that Meredith did not want to live here.


    Just as Meredith was about to say something, her phone rang.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "I''m going out to answer the phone."


    Meredith walked out. It was a call from the nurse who was taking care of Amelia.


    "Miss Mason, your mother suddenly fainted today. There are no her rtives here. You shoulde


    back as soon as possible!"


    Hearing this, Meredith was a little dumbfounded, holding the phone and standing there for a while.


    Why did her mom suddenly faint? Wasn''t her mom still fine when she left?


    "Miss Mason, Miss Mason?"


    The person on the other side of the phone called loudly as Meredith didn''t say anything.


    Meredith came back to her sense and quickly replied, "I see. I''ll be right back!"


    After that, she walked out and realized that Derek had already driven away, probably going out with the


    owner to do some paperwork.


    The area she was in was so remote that it was impossible to get out without a car.


    Just as Meredith was anxious, Parker called.


    "Mer, I heard that auntie fainted. Where are you now? I bought the first flight back to J City. We have to


    go back now!"


    The person who was taking care of Amelia was arranged by Parker, so he was the first to know the


    situation. When he went to find Meredith, he found that she was not there.


    "I''m in the north of the city. I''ll send you the address. Parker, please pick me up!"


    Meredith was not in the mood to stand on ceremony. All she could think of was to return to J City


    immediately and stay with her mother.


    If something happened to her mother while she was away, she would be guilty for the rest of her life.


    Besides, her mother hadn''t seen her biological daughter yet, so she wouldn''t let anything happen to her


    mother.


    "Did something happen to grandma?"


    Easton came out to look for Meredith. When he saw that she didn''t look well and was talking about the


    hospital, he guessed what had happened.


    "Easton, we''re going back to J City immediately. You''reing back with me."


    Meredith didn''t want to let Easton go with her at first. However, Derek had left, and she didn''t have time


    to wait for him toe back. Besides, there was no one in Capital City she could trust. So she had to


    take him back.


    "I''m fine. I''m not airsick. Mom, don''t worry too much. Grandma will be fine."


    Easton, on the other hand, appeared calmer than Meredith, holding her hand andforting her.


    Meredith forced herself to calm down when she heard Easton''s words.


    Not long after, Parker''s car stopped at the door.


    "Mer, Easton, get in the car."


    Parker rolled down the window and urged them.


    Neither Meredith nor Easton dared to dy and got into the car immediately.


    Parker told them to buckle up and drove as fast as possible to the airport.


    Fortunately, although this ce was remote, it was just in the same direction as the airport. It would


    take a few more minutes to get there, and they could catch the fastest flight.


    "Thank you, Parker."


    Meredith sat in the car and watched the scenery outside the window. She could not help but feel a


    lingering fear.


    Fortunately, Parker arrived quickly enough, or else she would really be extremely worried and anxious


    there.


    "This is what I should do."


    Parker shook his head and sped up the car.


    Soon, they arrived at the airport, checked in and got on the ne.


    Derek negotiated the price with the house-owner and went straight to the real estate bureau for


    formalities, so that Meredith and Easton could move in tomorrow.


    There was a soft smile on his face at the thought of a warm home for them.


    However, when he drove to the house, he did not see Meredith or Easton.


    The man couldn''t help but frown. "Easton? Mer?"


    He shouted several times, but no one answered him.


    Derek took out his cell phone to call them, but no one answered and both of their phones were turned


    off.


    Derek frowned and suddenly thought of many bad possibilities. Could it be that they were kidnapped?


    Just then, he saw a message from Meredith on his phone. "My mom fainted. I''m going back to J City."


    Derek was relieved to see this message, but he soon realized how serious the problem was.


    Without hesitation, he drove to the airport.


    He couldn''t leave Meredith alone.


    A few hourster, the nended.


    Meredith did not dare to dy and quickly got off the ne. Parker had already arranged for someone


    to pick them up.


    They got into the car quickly.


    "Hurry up, hurry up."


    Meredith couldn''t help but feel anxious. She wanted to have wings and fly straight to the hospital.


    "Mer, don''t be too anxious. We are already very fast now. Don''t be in such a hurry. What if something


    bad happens to you?"


    Parker held Meredith''s hand and calmed her down.


    If it was in the past, Meredith might have taken her hand away, but now, she was not in the mood. She


    was filled with fear and guilt.


    When Easton saw Parker holding Meredith''s hand, he was furious. Parker was taking advantage of


    Meredith''s difficulties.


    "Mom, don''t worry. It''s okay."


    Easton reached out his hand, tried to move Parker''s hand away, and red at Parker a few times.


    Parker didn''t take it seriously. Easton had little strength. Parker held Easton''s little hand too.


    Although Parker''s hand was very warm, Easton was still very unhappy when his hand was held by


    Parker.


    Parker made him annoyed.


    Easton was very dissatisfied, but seeing that Meredith was in such a hurry, he knew he could not argue


    with Parker, so he could only endure with a sullen look.


    After about half an hour, they finally reached the destination and Parker let go of his hand.


    Easton quickly wiped his hand on his clothes, but Meredith did not notice it at all. She quickly jumped


    out of the car and ran towards the emergency room.

 Chapter 562

    Chapter 562


    Not long after Meredith ran over, Amelia was wheeled out of the emergency room by the doctor.


    "Doctor, how is my mother now?"


    Meredith asked anxiously, clutching at the doctor''s sleeve.


    "Now the patient is out of danger. Luckily, she was sent to the hospital in time, so she''s okay and will be


    fine in a few more days."


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the doctor say so.


    Fortunately, there were no irreversible consequences.


    Meredith followed the doctors and nurses and sent Amelia back to the ward.


    Then she found the attending doctor. "Why did my mother suddenly faint? Isn''t the medicine prescribed


    some time ago very effective?"


    "It''s effective, but the human body is constantly changing, and the effects will weaken over time.


    Ultimately, it can only cure the symptoms, not the disease. The only way to cure her is a bone marrow


    transnt."


    Meredith''s heart sank when she heard this.


    She understood that the bone marrow transnt was inevitable and could not be dyed any longer.


    "I see. Please take good care of my mother. I''ve found a bone marrow match for her. It shouldn''t be


    long before I can bring the donor here."


    Then Meredith walked out.


    When she returned to her mother''s ward, she saw Amelia get intubated. Because of her illness, she


    was very thin, very thin, almost to a bone.


    Meredith looked at Amelia and the past shed through her mind.


    Amelia was a strong woman. After marrying Wesley, she never spent a day at home enjoying the rich


    life. Instead, she spent every day in the workce fighting with those men.


    But even so, she had always been very attentive to her daughter.


    Perhaps Meredith was not as rich as Evelyn was, but she was satisfied with her mother''s unselfish


    love.


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mom, I won''t let anything happen to you. You''ll be fine."


    Meredith held Amelia''s pale and thin hand, and she finally made up her mind.


    Meredith closed her eyes and an idea came to her mind.


    As long as she did that, Evelyn would be satisfied.


    When Meredith walked out of the ward, Parker and Easton looked at her worriedly.


    "Auntie is fine. Don''t worry too much. You must take good care of yourself now, or she''ll worry."


    "Mom, why don''t you go take a rest? I''m here to look after grandma for you."


    Looking at Meredith''s pale face, Easton was also very upset.


    If he had grown up and be a strong man, he could have sheltered his mother.


    "Easton, go in and see grandma."


    Meredith nodded and Easton obediently walked in.


    Meredith and Parker were the only people left in the corridor.


    Meredith wished to speak but stopped on a second thought.


    Parker looked at her, and he could already guess what she was trying to say.


    "If I''m right, you should have something to ask for my help."


    Meredith sighed helplessly as Parker spoke.


    This man really knew her too well, or rather, he had seen through her before she could figure out her


    own mind.


    "But maybe I''m being selfish... I..."


    Parker smiled faintly. "You''re still too kind. I''ll answer you first. I''ll do whatever you want, even if you''re


    just using me."


    Meredith looked up and looked into the man''s serious eyes. "You''ve guessed what I''m going to do,


    haven''t you?"


    Parker nodded. He had already thought of it and he was even looking forward to it.


    With Meredith''s character, it was impossible for her to give up the possibility of Amelia''s recovery.


    Then, the only thing she could do was to agree to Evelyn''s requirement.


    However, that woman was not so easy to fool.


    Derek had to bepletely disappointed in Meredith to convince Evelyn to agree to donate her bone


    marrow.


    Then, the only way was to let Parker act in a y with her thatpletely disappointed Derek.


    Parker didn''t care if he was being used. He was happy to be used by the woman he loved.


    Just as they were talking, Derek finally came back.


    As soon as he reached, he saw Meredith and Parker standing together. He had no idea what they were


    talking about.


    Derek couldn''t help but frown and walk over. Suddenly, Parker reached out his hand and hugged


    Meredith.


    Meredith was also caught off guard and subconsciously wanted to push Parker away.


    However, Parker, who was holding her, whispered in her ear, "Mer, if you can''t make up your mind, I''ll


    take the lead in this show. You just have to cooperate."


    Meredith hesitated and put her hand down.


    When Derek saw that Meredith did not push Parker away, his face darkened. He walked quickly to


    separate them.


    But Parker said at this moment, "Great, you finally agreed to my proposal. When auntie gets better,


    let''s go abroad and start a new life together."


    Derek was stunned, as if he could not believe what he had heard.


    Meredith didn''t expect Parker to go too far.


    She only wanted to let Parker act with her to make Derek hate her.


    However, she didn''t expect him to propose to her.


    However, Meredith was in a dilemma now.


    If she refused, everything would be in vain.


    Meredith could not find another person to act with her.


    Derek was not easily fooled.


    "Get your hands off her. Get lost!"


    Derek did not hear Meredith''s voice, so he was furious. He reached out and pulled Meredith out of


    Parker''s arms.


    Derek''s hands were so strong that they were like steel pliers. He held Meredith''s wrists so tightly that


    she felt a bone-crushing pain.


    "Mr. Xavier, you''re hurting Mer."


    Parker was also pushed and took two steps back, but he quickly regained his bnce and looked at


    Derek''s expression leisurely.


    It was the first time he had seen Derek wear such an expression, and he was used to seeing Derek''s


    calm and indifferent look. Sometimes he almost forgot that Derek was also a living person, and people


    had weaknesses.


    Derek''s only weakness was Meredith.

 Chapter 563

    Chapter 563


    Derek couldn''t help but grit his teeth. If he weren''t in the hospital now, he might have punched Parker


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    already.


    Parker was so defiant that Derek was easily irritated.


    However, Derek loosened his grip. Meredith, who had been pinched so badly by him, breathed a sigh


    of relief.


    However, when she was about to wrench herself free, she was caught by Derek.


    "What exactly were you talking about just now? If I am not mistaken, today is not April Fool''s day."


    Derek took a deep breath to calm himself down.


    Meredith thought for a moment. She saw Parker mouthing to her, saying, "Don''t talk." In the end, she


    didn''t say anything.


    In fact, however, this silence could be more torturous than a direct answer.


    "Didn''t Mr. Xavier hear it clearly? That''s it."


    Parker smiled and looked at Derek.


    "Is that so? Are you going to marry this person?"


    Derek looked at Meredith and ignored Parker.


    Now, all he needed was an answer from Meredith.


    She always said he didn''t believe her. Now, he only believed her words, but she didn''t say anything.


    "I..."


    Meredith hesitated for a moment. She didn''t even dare to look at Derek.


    She never thought of being so ruthless but...


    As Parker said, if she wasn''t cruel enough, Derek wouldn''t believe her.


    If he didn''t believe her, then she would never be able to meet Evelyn''s requirement.


    Meredith refrained from feeling sad and looked up at Derek, pretending that nothing had happened.


    "It''s true. What he said is true."


    Derek loosened his grip on Meredith''s wrist.


    At this moment, he didn''t know what to say.


    "A few days ago, you said you needed space and asked me to leave you alone. Was it because of


    him?"


    Derek''s expression made Meredith a little afraid to look straight at him.


    She seemed to have seen her previous self, who had been so stubborn to get an answer.


    But now that she had told him, she could no longer hesitate.


    "Yes, that''s it. Ever since he came back, I''ve been wanting to get rid of you. And I''m too tired when I


    stay with you. I can''t forgive what the Xaviers did to me in my life. I don''t want to live my whole life with


    resentment towards them."


    Meredith said these words seriously.


    She was so serious that Derek would almost believe her.


    Yes, she had said it many times. She hated Violet and could never forgive what she had done to her.


    However, Derek had always thought that he could think of a way to make his mother apologize and


    restore their rtionship to a state of mutual respect.


    It turned out that he had overestimated what he meant to her.


    "What about Easton? What are you going to do with him?"


    Derek mentioned Easton as if he had caught a lifeline.


    That was their child. Did she not even want him?


    "As to Easton, I''m taking him away. You''ll definitely marry a woman who deserves you some day. I don''t


    want him to have a stepmother who doesn''t love him."


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Derek felt heartbroken.


    He had told her so many times, but she had never believed him. And she also wanted to take Easton


    with her.


    How long had she nned to leave him?


    Derek left.


    Meredith looked at his back. This was the first time she saw Derek like this and felt heartbroken.


    She even wondered if Derek had felt the same way when he was lying to her to protect her.


    He appeared calm, but really he was very sorrowful.


    "Mer, he''s gone."


    A few minutester, Parker came over.


    As Meredith had been in a daze, he could not help but interrupt her thoughts. She looked in the


    direction of Derek''s departure as if her soul had also gone with him.


    Meredith became calm and gave Parker aplicated look.


    "You did it on purpose, didn''t you?"


    She just wanted Parker to help her to cheat Derek. She just wanted to let Derek down. She didn''t


    expect that Parker would propose to her.


    Marriage was not such a ything.


    There was no response.


    Parker was silent for a moment.


    He did it on purpose. And he admitted it was actually quite despicable that he had said these words on


    purpose in that situation.


    However, he did not regret it.


    Sometimes, he had to be shameless to get what he wanted. He didn''t want to see Meredith and Derek


    together anymore.


    He wasn''t in the mood to bless them.


    "Will you me me?"


    Parker softly asked.


    Meredith was stunned for a moment, and then shook her head.


    She had no right to resent Parker or anything. He just went a little overboard.


    Moreover, she made the request.


    "No, I just want to tell you that I... can''t marry you. I''m not interested in marriage. In the future, I just


    want to live a good life with Easton, that''s all."


    This was another tactful way of telling Parker that he should not waste too much time on her. She was


    not interested in getting married.


    "It''s okay. I don''t care."


    Parker looked at her. "I told you, you can use me, and I''m willing to be used by you."


    When Meredith heard this and did not answer.


    After a while, Easton came out of the ward.


    After all, he was still a child. It was difficult for him to stay in the ward for a long time without talking to


    anybody.


    "Mom? Where''s dad?"


    Easton remembered receiving a message from Derek that he woulde to the hospital to see


    grandma.


    Now, where was he?


    "He went back early."


    Meredith didn''t want to talk about these things. Now, she just felt a little tired.


    So lying was such a tiring thing.


    "What''s more important than seeing grandma? Humph, I will talk to him after I go back."


    Easton didn''t notice anything wrong and thought it was unbelievable that Derek had left.


    "He really has something to deal with. Easton. You''re here with me these days. Don''t bother him,


    okay?"


    Easton looked at tired Meredith and nodded.


    "Okay, I''ll stay with you, mom."


    Meredith smiled. Parker saw her. "You should go back and rest when you''re tired. I''ll take care of him


    here. It''ll be fine."


    Meredith shook her head. "I''ll just find a ward to rest in."


    Parker could not persuade her to have a rest. So he could only agree. He called the medical staff and


    found the best ward for Meredith so that she could have a good rest.


    This time, Meredith did not refuse. Parker saw that she was resting and left the ward alone.


    Instead of going back to rest, he took out his cell phone and made a call.

 Chapter 564

    Chapter 564


    The call was to Evelyn.


    Thest time they met, they left contact information with each other.


    Seeing Parker''s call, Evelyn picked it up immediately.


    "When are youing to J City? Now, Derek may be sad and need somefort."


    Parker didn''t have any emotions in his eyes, and his tone was calm.


    He did not like Evelyn, but he could still use her to achieve his goal.


    "What? What happened to him?"


    Evelyn frowned. When did Derek return to J City? She had no idea at all.


    Did something happen to Derek, and that was why Parker said he neededfort?


    "Nothing. Maybe he just had a breakup."


    Parker said indifferently. He didn''t care what happened to Derek.


    Evelyn perked up. "I''ll be right there."


    A person who had fallen out of love was the most vulnerable. If she could seize this opportunity, Derek


    would probably look at her in a new light. Moreover, she had always wanted to visit Derek''s mother in J


    City.


    "I''ll go today." Evelyn got someone to buy her the earliest ticket.


    After getting the answer he wanted, Parker reminded her, "Don''t forget about the bone marrow. We


    can''t wait any longer. Be cooperative if you don''t want more trouble."


    Evelyn didn''t like to be threatened, but after thinking about it, it wouldn''t do her any good to antagonize


    Parker. This man was worth using.


    "Okay, I got it."


    So she called Ellie. "Where are you now? I''m going to J City. Go with me."


    Ellie was in the middle of a meeting. She left the meeting to answer Evelyn''s call, looking troubled. "I


    have something to do at work right now... Or else..."


    Before she could finish, Evelyn was displeased and said sarcastically, "Do you think you''re superior


    now? How dare you refuse me when I ask you to go out with me?"


    This matter was about Derek, and Evelyn would not allow anything to go wrong, especially with Ellie.


    Ellie was just an adopted orphan. How dared Ellie disobey her?


    Hearing what Evelyn said, Ellie replied with resignation, "Okay, I''ll get ready right away."


    "Go to the airport when you''re ready. Hurry up. I don''t have time to wait for you."


    After that, Evelyn hung up.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Ellie held her cell phone and was agitated. She was tired of being called around by Evelyn, but she


    could not get away with it.


    She had topromise again and again because the Smith family had raised her.


    She was exhausted. Ellie wondered where her biological parents were now. If they knew that she had


    grown up, would they want to find her?


    But if they wanted to, they wouldn''t have abandoned her, right?


    With a sigh, Ellie went in to talk to tell her colleagues before packing her simple luggage and going to


    the airport.


    ...


    After Derek left the hospital, he didn''t know where to go. He didn''t want to go back home. He was in a


    bad mood and didn''t want to argue with Violet.


    So, he called Jameson and went to the bar for a drink.


    Derek had ordered a lot of drinks when Jameson arrived, and Jameson was nervous to see them on


    the table.


    What was wrong with this guy again?


    Jameson could easily guess that it was a rtionship issue. After all, the Xavier Group was growing


    rapidly, and Derek wouldn''t get drunk because of that.


    "What''s wrong? Why do you go for drinks again? It reminded me of some bad memories from the


    past..."


    Jameson remembered that every time Derek had a rtionship problem, Derek woulde out to


    drink with him and Asher. Now Asher went abroad, and only he could be there with Derek.


    Jameson still had the memory of almost being hospitalized when he was drunk.


    "You have a good memory. Let''s consolidate it now."


    Derek pretended not to hear Jameson''sint.


    Although Derek was not a drinker, there were times when alcohol was the only thing that could make


    him let go of dignity and say something without fear.


    "Did you and Meredith quarrel again?"


    Jameson knew that Meredith had returned, and he was happy for Derek when he knew about it.


    After all, Jameson knew best how his best friend had gone through those five years.


    But now that she was back, and they had a child. Couldn''t they live a good life?


    "She''s going to marry another man."


    Derek felt a little drunk. He looked at his good friend and said something that almost scared Jameson


    to death.


    What was going on?


    Jameson pinched himself to make sure he wasn''t dreaming, then looked at the calendar, and it wasn''t


    April Fool''s Day. Wasn''t it a joke?


    "Impossible."


    Jameson remembered that Meredith used to like Derek very much. Why would she marry another


    man?


    "She told me herself. She said that everything in our family made her tired. She didn''t want to be so


    tired, so she had to be with another man. Parker, you remember him, don''t you?"


    Derek held the ss and looked at the liquid inside. The light reflected on his face and made it


    enchanting.


    Parker was famous in J City, and Jameson knew about him. Jameson didn''t expect that after so many


    years, Parker was still chasing Meredith.


    Jameson sighed. "Derek, I don''t think it''s that simple. Besides, you have a child. I don''t believe she can


    leave her own child behind. Keep Easton with you, and she can''t leave with Parker without Easton."


    Derek chuckled. Indeed, this was a solution, but it might only deepen the gap between them. Meredith


    never liked being threatened.


    Moreover, Derek was afraid. If he pushed her too far, and she decided to leave him and Easton, what


    should he do by then?


    Seeing that Derek did not answer, Jameson sighed and sat aside, drinking with him. At worst, he would


    get drunk together with Derek since they were friends from childhood.


    However, just after a ss of wine, Jameson''s cell phone rang.


    It was his wife.


    "Yang, where are you now? Why aren''t you going home?"


    Hearing this, Jameson''s expression softened a little, but he still cleared his throat. "I''m with Derek. I


    don''t think I can go back tonight. Don''t wait up. Go to bed."


    "You''re not drinking again, are you? Is your stomach getting better? Why don''t you take your body


    seriously?"


    Jameson looked a little embarrassed, but Derek was lost in his thoughts.


    Sometimes, it seemed happy to be henpecked.

 Chapter 565

    Chapter 565


    It seemed that Meredith never cared about him this way, perhaps because she never wanted to, or


    perhaps, their rtionship had never been so close that they could speak their minds so freely.


    "You go first. I''ll be back soon."


    Derek patted Jameson on the shoulder. Now that Jameson''s wife was pregnant, it might not be proper


    to call him out.


    "I''ll call thepany and let someone pick me upter."


    Derek said calmly, and there was no difference in his expression.


    Jameson thought for a moment. "Then I''ll go back first. You, take care of yourself. Don''t drive."


    Derek nodded and watched Jameson leaving.


    Then, he sat down on the sofa, lost in thought.


    He wasn''t in the mood to drink either, he was just in a daze.


    The past of Meredith and him shed through his mind. He remembered it so clearly. How could she let


    it go so easily?


    Thinking about it, Derek felt dizzy. Perhaps it was not the wine that intoxicated but he got himself drunk.


    He didn''t want to go back, and he could just sleep here.


    However, just as Derek was half-awake, a woman''s voice came from outside.


    "Is Derek here?"


    As soon as Evelyn got off the ne, she immediately asked Parker about where Derek was.


    Coincidentally, Parker had invested in this bar, so he sent the address directly to Evelyn.


    "I''m sorry, Miss, this is the privacy of the guests..."


    Hearing the waitress'' words, she took out a gold card. "Where is he now? Tell me, then this is yours."


    Looking at the card with a minimum credit limit of several hundred thousand, the waiter swallowed.


    How long would she have to work to earn so much money?


    After thinking about it, she led Evelyn to the box where Derek was. "He''s here."


    Evelyn threw the card to the waitress and gently opened the door.


    Originally, she was wondering how to greet Derek, but when she opened the door, the man actually


    closed his eyes, as if he was drunk, and fell into a deep sleep.


    Evelyn got excited and walked over carefully, sat on the sofa in front of Derek, and looked at him


    affectionately.


    It was the closest moment between them, and even she could feel the man''s breath clearly, with a faint


    smell of alcohol. But Evelyn didn''t dislike it at all. Instead, she was attracted.


    Even if he was drunk and asleep now, he was so handsome, as exquisite as a sculpture, and could not


    find any w.


    Evelyn reached out and gently touched Derek''s facial features. Just as she was a little stunned, Derek


    suddenly grabbed her hand. "Mer..."


    Derek wasn''t awake yet, but he felt someone touched him and subconsciously made this move.


    Maybe Jameson told Meredith that he was drunk here, so she came.


    Thinking of this, Derek held the woman''s hand and refused to let go.


    Evelyn was very happy that Derek held her hand. But when she heard him saying Meredith''s name,


    she was irritated.


    What was so good about that woman?


    In terms of appearance and figure, Evelyn thought that she was no worse than Meredith, and their


    family background was even more different.


    But even if Derek was drunk, he still called out Meredith''s name.


    However, Evelyn did not dare to say anything. She was afraid that if she said who she was, Derek


    would push her away.


    Forget it. Anyway, she could get close to the man she loved, even if he mistook her for another woman,


    so what? The one whoughed bestughedst.


    "Yes, I''m Meredith. Derek, you''re drunk now. I''ll stay with you."


    Evelyn thought about Meredith''s usual tone and imitated her.


    Derek, whose mind was already in a mess, didn''t think much. He wanted to open his eyes and look at


    "Meredith" in front of him, but he was too drunk to see anything clearly.


    Without thinking, Derek pulled "Meredith" into his arms. "I knew it. I knew you wouldn''t leave me so


    easily. You wouldn''t be with Parker, would you? He wasn''t as innocent as you think..."


    Evelyny on Derek, feeling his powerful heartbeat.


    Although she had borrowed Meredith''s identity, she was still very excited.


    Hearing Derek''s words, she was stunned and then smiled.


    So, did Meredith say to Derek that she wanted to be with Parker and break up with him?


    It seemed that the woman was not too stupid and did not continue to sway between the two men.


    However, he said that Parker was not innocent...


    Evelyn was lost in thought. In fact, from Parker''s style of doing things, she could see that he was not a


    kind person, and he had a clear purpose in doing things.


    However, didn''t Parker like Meredith? He seemed to be good to her and cared about her so much. Why


    did Derek let Meredith be careful of Parker?


    Evelyn couldn''t figure it out and didn''t bother to think about it.


    It was a rare opportunity. How could she just miss it? She reached out and took out her phone. Evelyn


    took a picture and wanted to send it to Meredith. But after thinking about it, she decided to send it to


    Parker.


    That man called her over and made use of her, so she had to make good use of him too.


    Parker was at the hospital with Amelia. After receiving the message, he narrowed his eyes.


    In the photo, there was a man and woman hugging each other tightly. The man''s arms were around the


    woman''s waist, and they looked very intimately.


    However, Parker could probably guess what was going on. It was just that Derek was drunk and Evelyn


    took a picture.


    But...


    This was a good opportunity.


    Parker thought about it and went to Meredith''s ward.


    "What are you doing here? My mom went to buy dinner. She''s not here."


    But only Easton was here.


    He did not wee Parker at all. This man mighte to court her mother again.


    Parker smiled. "Easton, you''re a little too hostile to me."


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Easton rolled his eyes. Parker was really talking nonsense. He was a bad man who was always eyeing


    his mother. He must be careful about Parker


    "Your father is in a bar now. He''s drunk. My subordinate saw him. Do you want to go and see him?"


    Parker''s words made Easton''s eyes widen.


    Dad was drunk?


    Easton remembered that dad rarely got drunk.


    Was dad in a bad mood because he quarreled with mom?


    Easton immediately became anxious. He usually made fun of Derek, but in fact, he was very cared


    about and respected Derek.

 Chapter 566

    Chapter 566


    "Where is he?"


    Easton immediately asked. Was be drunk and left alone by the roadside.


    Parker looked at him, "You are too young to go there alone. I''ll take you there."


    "No, thank you. I can go with my mother."


    Easton red at Parker and was watchful.


    When Parker heard it, he chuckled in his mind. They had the same thoughts.


    Easton didn''t trust him and wouldn''t agree to go with him. So he would look for Meredith.


    He just needed Meredith to go over and to see Derek and Evelyn for herself.


    "Okay, I''ll give you the address."


    Parker gave the address to Easton.


    Easton didn''t suspect and watched him leave.


    Not long after, Meredith came back with the dinner that she had just bought for Easton in the dining


    hall.


    But Easton was not in the mood to eat. He held Meredith''s hand and said, "Mom, take me to a ce at


    once. It''s an emergency."


    Meredith had trouble with Derek so he didn''t dare to say that he was going to look for Derek directly. He


    was afraid that Meredith would refuse to go with him.


    "Where? Easton, what''s wrong?"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Meredith looked at him. He was anxious but he said it vaguely. She couldn''t help but feel strange.


    "Anyway, just go with me, please."


    Easton thought that his dad was drunk and his mother would take care of him. And then they could


    exin the misunderstanding. It was a perfect n.


    Seeing that her son was anxious, she didn''t ask more. Her mother was out of danger and Parker was


    here, so she was relieved. It didn''t matter to go with him.


    "Okay, let''s go over now."


    Meredith walked out with Easton. She first looked for Parker, "Parker, I''ll go out with Easton. Please


    help me look after my mother. I am sorry to trouble you."


    Parker shook his head, "My pleasure. Go ahead. I''m here. Don''t worry."


    Meredith nodded and thanked him gratefully before leaving.


    They went downstairs and took a taxi. Easton gave the driver the address.


    Neither of them spoke along the way.


    Soon they arrived at the bar.


    "Miss, the boy can''te in."


    When the waiter saw Easton, he came over and stopped him.


    "I''m here to look for someone. I''ll be leaving soon."


    Easton said as he took out the card that the Xaviers gave him. He showed it.


    The waiter found that he was not ordinary and said, "Hurry up. Children aren''t allowed toe in."


    Easton nodded and dragged Meredith in.


    As soon as he entered, they heard the music and the noise. Meredith frowned.


    It was hard for her to get used to it.


    "Easton, why do yoe here..."


    Meredith had never liked ces like the bar since she was a child. Easton insisted oning, and she


    couldn''t help but frown.


    Did anyone misguide him?


    "Dad''s drunk. I''m here to pick him up."


    Easton thought that since his mother was here, he couldn''t just leave. So he told the truth.


    When Meredith heard it, she changed her expression.


    Was Derek drunk?


    Meredith seldom saw him drunk. Was it because of what she said today...


    She had mixed feelings.


    Easton quickly dragged Meredith to where Derek was. He was worried that Meredith would change her


    mind after a while.


    "Easton, call the Xaviers to pick him up. I..."


    Meredith hesitated for a long time and finally said it.


    They had done it and she didn''t want to cause more trouble.


    "But aren''t you afraid that dad might be hurt by bad guys? I''m worried about him."


    Easton said so, and Meredith had no choice. It was natural that he worried about his father.


    "Okay, I''ll watch outside. You go in and look for him."


    Easton nodded. Just then, he saw the door sign of the box, "Here!"


    After that, he ran over immediately. The door was open, and Easton pushed it. He was surprised.


    Derek was half lying on the sofa with his eyes closed and a woman was snuggling up to him. They


    looked intimate.


    Easton was angry. He thought that only his mother could be so close to his father.


    "Who are you? Get out!"


    Meredith heard Easton''s voice and walked over to see what happened.


    She was stunned to see it.


    Derek was holding a woman in his arms. The woman heard Easton''s shout and looked over. She was


    beautiful with exquisite makeup.


    Evelyn...


    Meredith didn''t know if she should think so.


    Should she be happy? After all, it seems that they were much closer now. Soon Evelyn would agree to


    transnt bone marrow to her mother.


    However, Meredith was not happy at all.


    She stared at Evelyn''s hand on Derek''s waist for a long time.


    Evelyn seemed to see through Meredith''s thoughts. She pretended to be weak. Derek, who was


    already half-asleep, thought that Meredith was in his arms and would leave again. He subconsciously


    hugged her tightly in his arms.


    Meredith looked at it. It was ridiculous.


    Maybe even if she didn''t act with Easton, Derek would do it sooner orter.


    Easton didn''t think so. He gritted his teeth and red at Evelyn as if he would tear her apart, "Are you


    shamed? Get off my father. He''s drunk. Don''t try to take advantage of him!"


    Evelyn''s face darkened when she heard Easton''s words.


    Easton was so annoying. If he woke Derek up, she wasn''t sure if Derek would push her away.


    "I want to get off, but your father has been holding me. Besides, don''t forget that your parents are


    divorced. It''s his freedom to be with anyone."


    "Forget it, Easton. Since someone is here, let''s go."


    Meredith couldn''t stand it any longer. They were intimate and she didn''t have the right to say anything.


    After all, she asked for the separation.


    They had divorced and she had no right to interfere in his affairs.

 Chapter 567

    Chapter 567


    With that, Meredith turned around.


    It broke Easton''s heart to see her leave.


    He red at Evelyn who threw herself on Derek. "Evil woman, wait and see!"


    After that, he quickly followed Meredith out.


    "Mom, mom, wait for me."


    Easton managed to catch up with Meredith who was striding forward. It had never happened before.


    Normally, Meredith would hold Easton''s hand whenever they were, afraid that she would lose him.


    But now her mind was in a whirl and she forgot about it.


    Hearing Easton''s footsteps, she stopped. "Easton, I''m sorry."


    Meredith suddenly felt that she was an irresponsible mother.


    "Mom, are you angry?" Easton held Meredith''s hand and said cautiously.


    "Let''s go back and teach that bad woman a lesson. She dares to lie in dad''s arms... Dad must be drunk


    so that she took advantage of it!"


    Easton clenched his fists in anger, ready to teach Evelyn a lesson as long as Meredith agreed.


    "Easton, that''s your dad''s business. Maybe he''ll be with her. Let''s go."


    Meredith shook her head. Although she knew that Easton stood up for her, she didn''t want to go back


    and see the scene again.


    Besides, she had no position to mind their business.


    With that, she took Easton''s hand and left.


    Easton was both anxious and helpless.


    He didn''t know who to choose. However, if he went back alone, he wouldn''t have been able to get rid of


    Evelyn...


    Easton looked sullen, thinking that he might as well hire a few bodyguards for himself and those bad


    women would be scared away.


    Easton had made up his mind to ask Grandpa Xavier for help. He wanted to ask him to get him a few


    reliable people. It was time to train his confidants.


    Meredith took Easton back to the hospital.


    Knowing that Meredith was not in a good mood, Easton remained in silence on the way to the hospital.


    When they got to the hospital, he found a chance to call Damian with the excuse of going to the


    bathroom.


    "Little Young Master, what''s wrong?"


    Penelope''s surgery was done, but she was under anesthesia, and she wasn''t awake.


    Damian had been watching over her in the hospital.


    "My dad was drunk, and then there was a woman hanging around him. You''d better pick him up."


    Easton sent the address to Damian.


    Although Damian was worried about Penelope, he was Derek''s assistant and had to work for him. He


    did as he was told and rushed over immediately.


    Upon arrival, he saw Evelyn lying beside Derek. His shirt was unbuttoned, and she was taking liberties


    with him, without the reserved manner of ady.


    Damian couldn''t bear to look straight at the picture.


    He coughed and woke Evelyn up. She wanted to take Derek away, but she didn''t dare wake him up for


    fear that he would drive her away.


    Looking at his handsome face, she couldn''t help but fantasize.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    She didn''t expect to be seen.


    "Miss Smith, boss is drunk. I''ll take him home."


    Evelyn got up awkwardly. "Okay, I''ll go with you and send him back."


    Not in the position to judge, Damian didn''t say anything. He bent over and pulled Derek up from the


    sofa.


    Derek recovered from drunkenness after sleeping for a while, and he opened his eyes in a daze.


    "Damian?"


    "Boss, you''re drunk. I''ll take you home."


    Derek nodded and got up, only to find Evelyn standing beside him. He couldn''t help but frown. "Why


    are you here?"


    "I just happened to see you drunk."


    Evelyn lied with calm.


    Derek frowned, wondering why would she be here.


    But he didn''t want to talk to her anymore. "In that case, please help yourself."


    After that, he got up without looking at Evelyn.


    Damian quickly helped Dereknd and walked out.


    Taking a few deep breaths, Derek stumbled from dizziness.


    It seemed that he was really drunk.


    "How did you know I was here?"


    He knew that Damian was with Penelope recently, so he didn''t ask him to pick him up.


    Unexpectedly, he still came.


    "Boss, Little Young Master called me and asked me to pick you up."


    Damian told the truth.


    He frowned and didn''t know why Easton knew he was here. Besides, a child had no ess to here


    unless he was here with Meredith.


    "What exactly did Evelyn do just now..."


    Derek sniffed his shirt. A strong smell of perfume came. It was so strong that he had a headache. It


    must have been left by that woman.


    What did she do when he was drunk?


    "When I went there, she was leaning against you. You two looked... Uh... Very close."


    Damian thought for a moment and told the truth in full.


    Derek''s face darkened.


    Did she do it on purpose?


    But how did she know where he was? Someone tipped her off?


    Derek''s face turned sullen at the thought of that.


    "Check who Evelyn contacted recently."


    Damian nodded.


    Derek took out his phone and called Easton.


    Easton, who was absent-minded, ran out to answer it upon seeing that it was a call from his father.


    But he was a little uneasy.


    He was afraid that the woman took Derek''s phone and called him to piss him off.


    "Easton, you just came to see me?"


    Derek''s voice was exceptionally hoarse from drunkenness.


    "Well, I went with mom. She was angry, very mad."


    Easton looked unhappy. "Dad, what happened between you two? You don''t even know how annoying


    she was."


    "She threw herself on me. Don''t worry. It won''t happen again. Your mom was furious to see that?"


    Derek was a little d to hear that Meredith was angry. Did this mean that she still cared about him?

 Chapter 568

    Chapter 568


    Or, had he misunderstood her rtionship with Parker?


    "Of course! She was so angry that she almost wanted to leave me there and go alone."


    Easton wasn''t exaggerating at all.


    "Then why didn''t you wake me up and drive that woman away?"


    Although Derek was secretly rejoiced, he had a headache when he thought that it would be difficult to


    exin the thing clearly if she had misunderstood, especially when his rtionship with Meredith was


    already cold.


    "Oh, she''s an adult. How can I drive her away? I''m only five years old. I''m not that capable, but..."


    Easton thought of what he had just nned. "Dad, in order to avoid the same situation, you can assign


    me a few men."


    With no one at his disposal, Easton was not very confident in his n.


    Derek thought for a moment. "Why do you need them? Why don''t you ask Damian for help?"


    "Because if the same thing happens again, I can ask someone to check for me first, right?"


    For the Xaviers, finding subordinates for Easton was not a problem, but Derek had been worried that


    he would take his men to swagger about.


    But now hearing his words, Derek agreed after a moment of hesitation, "Okay, I''ll send some men over


    tomorrow. They''ll only listen to your orders."


    Easton''s spirits rose up at his words. "Call me a few more so I can pick."|


    Derek shook his head resignedly. "How about your mother? Where''s she now? Is she still angry?"


    "She''s with grandma now. Dad, are youing over?"


    Derek thought for a moment. "I''ll be there in a while. Can you take that guy outter? I don''t want him


    to mess things up."


    Easton immediately understood who Derek was talking about. "I''ll ask him to buy KFC with meter.


    Call me when youe."


    The father and son reached an agreement.


    "Boss, where are you going now? Home or..."


    Derek sniffed his body, and a mixed smell of alcohol and perfume made him ufortable.


    If Meredith smelled it, she might think he was to show off on purpose, which would make things worse.


    "Go home and leave me there. Then you deal with your things. I''ll call the driverter."


    Damian nodded. It was his job to pick up Derek, but when thinking about Penelope who was having an


    operation, he wished he could have a pair of wings so that he could fly back to her as soon as possible.


    "How''s she doing now?"


    Derek did not forget about Penelope. Professor Lee hade to perform the operation on her. If it


    went well, she should be able to see things soon.


    "It is unclear yet, but the operation was sessful."


    Derek nodded. "Tell me if you need any help."


    "Yes, boss."


    Damian answered. Soon, the car stopped at Derek''s manor.


    Derek got out of the car in a slight stumble.


    Damian helped him in and called the nanny to make sobering tea before leaving.


    Derek took a shower to wash off the discordant perfume first and changed his clothes. Then he drank


    some tea to clear his mind before calling the driver.


    Easton was in the hospital. Calm as he seemed, he was running out of patience while waiting for


    Derek.


    Meredith sat in front of Amelia''s bed in a daze.


    Although she said she didn''t care about Derek, her heart ached when she saw him being close to


    another woman.


    Perhaps, she needed to get used to it. And maybe she would if she saw it many more times.


    Parker stood outside the ward. From a distance, he could guess from her expression what she was


    thinking and why she was in a daze, but he said nothing.


    This was the result he wanted the most.


    As Parker was standing quietly and watching Meredith, Derek called.


    "Easton, I''m downstairs at the hospital. You can move now."


    "Okay, I got it."


    Easton nodded and walked up to Parker. "uncle Parker, I want to eat KFC."


    Parker raised his eyebrows and nced at Easton.


    He knew clearly that if this little brat came to him, he must be nning something.


    "Sure."


    Parker smiled and took out his phone. "Your mother didn''t eat anything tonight. Let''s order takeout."


    Easton was speechless. Why didn''t this man respond as he had expected?


    If he wanted to order takeout, he didn''t have to turn to Parker.


    "No, the takeout food will be cold after it arrives. It won''t taste good. I want to eat in the restaurant."


    Parker narrowed his eyes. Now, he was sure what Easton was up to.


    "You asked me out, because... someone''sing?"


    Parker asked casually, but Easton turned vignt instantly. He didn''t know that this reaction had


    exposed his trick.


    "Derek is here?"


    Parker said almost certainly.


    Derek was the only person who could make Easton work so hard to distract him.


    He didn''t expect that man to be quite persistent.


    "So what? Are you going to get in the way here?"


    Easton saw that his little trick had been seen through, so he stuck his little chest out and stared at


    Parker.


    "They''re divorced. I don''t think I''ll get in the way."


    He irritated Easton by one sentence.


    Derek had been awaiting Easton''s call for a long time. He could guess what might be going on.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Parker was probably not that easily fooled.


    But he also thought that he didn''t have to be afraid of Parker, so he got out of the car and went


    upstairs.


    When he reached the floor, he saw Easton talking to Parker.


    "Anyway, I''m here. Don''t think abouting between them. There''s no ce for you, do you


    understand?"


    Parker looked at him with calmness. "Don''t you respect your mother''s thoughts? If she doesn''t like your


    father, will you let them be together to fulfill your own wishes?"


    Easton''s face darkened. When... When did he have such a thought? Parker said it as if he didn''t care


    about his mother''s feelings at all.


    "Parker, don''t apply the way you do business to Easton."


    Derek walked over, patted Easton on the shoulder, and looked at Parker with a cold expression.

 Chapter 569

    Chapter 569


    Parker looked over and shrugged. "No wonder Easton called me out in such a hurry. It is because


    you''reing. Mr. Xavier, is it appropriate to always involve children in adult matters?"


    Derek''s face darkened. Easton only felt that Parker was so difficult to deal with after hearing his words.


    It seemed that no matter what others did, he always had his ways to refute.


    "Then what you did was right? Who are you to lecture us like that?"


    Easton said, unconvinced. Parker nced at him.


    Just as he was about to say something, Meredith heard the noise and walked out. She couldn''t help


    but frown when she saw Derek.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Shouldn''t he be staying with Evelyn and having fun with her now?


    "I have something to tell you."


    Derek looked into Meredith''s eyes and said seriously.


    Parker suddenly had an ominous feeling. Just when he was about to remind Meredith not to listen to


    Derek''s lies, Meredith looked at him and said, "Parker, take Easton out for a while."


    It might be better to put everything on the table than to keep avoiding them.


    Parker hesitated for a moment. Finally he nodded. "Let''s go."


    Easton looked reluctant, but he knew that it was not the time for him to lose his temper, so he left.


    However, he refused to hold Parker''s hand and left on his own.


    "What do you want to say?"


    Meredith looked at Derek calmly. She had thought a lot earlier, but now she was quite calm.


    At the very least, Derek could not see any anger or jealousy on her face.


    He began to panic for no reason.


    "I didn''t know why Evelyn was there. I hadn''t contacted her. I..."


    "It doesn''t matter. None of these matters to me. Even if it does, I don''t care."


    Before he could finish his words, Meredith interrupted him.


    Derek suddenly didn''t know what to say.


    He would rather see Meredith be angry at him than be so indifferent.


    It was as if everything about him was none of her business, and she didn''t care about him at all.


    "Easton just called me and said you were upset, so Ie. I want to exin this to you."


    "Don''t bother. It''s your freedom to be with Evelyn. Even if you are with anyone else, it''s none of my


    business."


    Meredith did not dare to look into Derek''s eyes. She was afraid that she would weaken.


    She just said coldly.


    Derek''s expression changed.


    He wanted to exin, but she didn''t want to listen to him.


    He felt very powerless.


    The dignity of a man made it impossible for him to continue.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    The two of them were just facing each other, not saying any words, and the atmosphere was awkward.


    After some time, Meredith sighed. "I still have to go back to take care of my mother. You go back first


    and have a good rest."


    Derek did not know how to answer her.


    All his words seemed to have sunk into a ck hole and get no response.


    Maybe it was because she didn''t care about him anymore.


    "Okay, I got it."


    Derek didn''t say anything else. He didn''t want to humiliate himself anymore.


    He turned around and slowly walked away.


    Meredith looked at his back and for the first time felt that Derek could be so downcast.


    She felt heartbroken, but she did not catch up.


    Derek left the hospital and it suddenly began to rain outside.


    He was not in a hurry to go back, so he walked slowly. Not long after, his clothes were drenched, as


    well as his hair.


    It was really a weather that suited his mood.


    Seeing this, the driver of the Xaviers rushed over and held up an umbre for him. "Young Master, get


    in the car quickly. Don''t catch a cold."


    Derek smiled, looked up at the floor where Meredith was, but saw nothing. He shook his head and left.


    It was so obvious just now that she didn''t care what happened to him. So Meredith wouldn''t care


    whether he got wet or not.


    What he didn''t know was that Meredith was really looking at him just now. When she saw him in the


    rain, she even wanted to let him take the umbre with him, but she controlled herself.


    When Derek looked up, she quickly hid.


    She was afraid of being seen by Derek, and then everything she had just done would be in vain.


    Not long after Derek left, Easton came back. Parker held an umbre for him. He was not wet at all, but


    Parker''s clothes were almost soaked.


    Because Easton didn''t want toe into contact with Parker, Parker could only cover Easton with the


    umbre.


    As soon as they came back, they saw Meredith in a daze at the window. Parker walked over and saw


    Derek''s car leaving.


    It seemed that she still cared about him.


    "He''s gone?"


    His voice brought Meredith back to her senses.


    "Yes."


    Meredith replied indifferently, "Maybe he won''te back to me again."


    Parker didn''t say anything, just standing aside quietly.


    Meredith stood in front of the window and thought of something.


    Perhaps she was just used to having Derek in her life, so she could not adapt that he left so suddenly.


    But she would get used to it after a long time.


    The driver sent Derek back to the old residence.


    Derek kept his eyes closed when he got into the car. He didn''t tell the driver where he wanted to go.


    The driver was afraid that something would happen to him in the apartment because he was alone, so


    the driver brought him here.


    When the car stopped, Derek saw the old residence and frowned. "Who told you toe here?"


    He said he wouldn''te back until Violet made a concession.


    But did her opinion make sense now?


    Anyway, Meredith no longer needed him.


    "Never mind. It''s good toe back."


    Derek didn''t say anything. He got out of the car and walked in.


    The servants immediately gave him a dry towel when they saw hee back drenched.


    Violet heard the noise outside and walked out to see Dereking back.


    Violet smiled in surprise. She thought that Derek would note back after that argument.


    "Derek, youe back. Why are you so wet? Go and make ginger soup for Derek now. And you, go


    and prepare the bathwater."


    Violet quickly made the orders to the servants and then looked at Derek.


    He didn''t look well. It was like that...he was back to the state he was when Meredith just "died".


    Violet seemed to have guessed what happened.


    There might be something wrong between him and Meredith, and it was a serious problem.


    "Derek, did you... break up with Meredith?"

 Chapter 570

    Chapter 570


    Breakup...


    Derek turned up the corners of his lips, showing a self-mocking smile.


    It was not a breakup, but it was that he had been dumped.


    "I''m fine. Don''t worry about me."


    Derek waved his hand and went back to his room.


    Looking at his back, Violet couldn''t help but sign.


    Derek didn''t tell her his feelings anymore.


    It was all Meredith''s fault for distancing her son from her.


    The more Violet thought about it, the angrier she got. She immediately called Meredith.


    When her phone rang, Meredith was in a daze. She hesitated for a moment and finally picked it up.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Meredith was toneless. She had never deliberately pleased Derek before, and not now, not ever.


    "Did you break up with Derek? Finally you let him go."


    Violet was aggressive.


    Meredith sneered. "It''s not me who refused to let go. The Xaviers means nothing to me. I''m not that


    forgetful. I''ve never forgotten everything you did before."


    Meredith''s tit-for-tat words made Violet''s face darkened, but she still put on airs. "In that case, I hope


    you don''t go back on your word. Derek deserves a peaceful life, so never appear in front of him again.


    Of course, you can havepensation if you want."


    "Compensation..."


    Meredith felt her words disgusting, but soon she thought of something. "I do want something from you."


    Violet was disdainful of her. So the stubborn Meredith would ask forpensation.


    "Tell me, how much do you want?"


    "I want Easton''s custody!"


    Meredith was determined. She said that word for word.


    "Meredith, you''re dreaming!"


    When Violet heard this, she was irritated.


    Although Easton was not close to her, he was Derek''s first child, the eldest grandson of the Xaviers.


    But Meredith wanted to take him away so that she could obtain the Xaviers''s property?


    "Ms. Garcia, I''m not joking. I must take Easton away. He can''t live with you, who only cares about


    profits and power. And I don''t want him to fight for inheritance with the children of other women in the


    future. You don''t want to see your grandchildren fight against each other for the inheritance, do you?"


    Violet was struck dumb by Meredith''s words.


    "That''s what I want. I don''t need you to give me an answer right away, but please remember, Easton


    must live with me!"


    After that, Meredith hung up.


    Listening to the busy tone, Violet was so angry that she couldn''t breathe properly.


    She did not expect that the submissive woman would be so overwhelming now.


    But what Meredith said hit the nail on the head.


    Easton was now a big boy, and he was more sensible than other children, so he may hate his step-


    mother if Derek married another woman.


    If there was a fight then, it would only hurt the Xaviers.


    Violet felt annoyed. Just then, the ginger soup was ready, so Violet immediately took it over and said,


    "I''ll deliver it myself."


    So that she wouldn''t worry about those things.


    ...


    After Meredith hung up, the nurse came over and said, "Miss Mason, your mother is awake."


    Meredith''s face lit up with joy and she immediately ran to her mother''s ward.


    Amelia had just opened her eyes. Seeing Meredith, she forced a smile. "Mer, why do you look worried?


    I''m fine.


    Meredith felt sad. "Mom, I was afraid you would leave me alone."


    Amelia coughed. "Don''t be afraid. I''ll be alright before you get married. s, if you have a happy family,


    I could die happily."


    Amelia''s words made Meredith moved but helpless.


    And she felt a little guilty because she was not her mother''s biological daughter at all.


    She thought she didn''t deserve Amelia''s love, but she didn''t dare to say that. Instead, she joked,


    "Nonsense. If that''s the case, I''ll be single for the rest of my life so that you won''t die."


    "Silly girl..."


    Amelia shook her head.


    "Mom, the bone marrow has been found. Soon, you will recover."


    Meredith chatted with her for a while, then left the ward after seeing that Amelia was tired and asleep.


    As soon as she went out, She saw Parker standing outside the door like a guard.


    "Parker, you''ve been here all day. If you''re tired, go home and have a rest. Don''t worry, everything''s


    fine."


    Meredith felt sorry to bother Parker.


    "Mer, are you driving me away because you don''t need me anymore?"


    Parker raised an eyebrow, dissatisfied with her words.


    "I don''t mean that. I''m just afraid you''re tired."


    Meredith shook her head Parker walked over and said, "I''m a man, I won''t be tired. But you seemed to


    be worried about something. Do you want to tell me? Maybe I can help you."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Meredith thought for a moment and said, "I am thinking I should arrange a meeting for my mother and


    her biological daughter. It''s unfair that we don''t tell her the truth."


    "Are you worried that Evelyn won''t cooperate?"


    Parker understood Meredith''s concerns.


    Evelyn was not like the one who put family first.


    Meredith nodded and Parkerforted her, "It''s okay. After all, she needs your help now. You can


    discuss itter. I don''t think it''s difficult to ask her to meet your mother."


    "That''s right. Now her donating her bone marrow is urgent. I don''t want to wait any longer."


    Meredith shook her head helplessly. She checked the time and found it waste. "I''ll contact her


    tomorrow."


    Parker nodded. "If you''re tired, go back to sleep. I''ll stay here."


    Meredith feltplicated to see Parker''s insistence. "Parker, I feel sorry... You can go back. Let me


    stay here."


    Perhaps because of today''s unexpected "proposal," Meredith now felt uneasy to stay with Parker.

 Chapter 571

    Chapter 571


    Parker knew why Meredith looked uneasy.


    Perhaps he was a little too hasty.


    Pushing her too hard could backfire. So Parker did not insist on asking her to stay.


    "Okay, but if you''re in trouble, remember to call me. I''ll be right over."


    Meredith nodded and watched Parker leave the hospital.


    Fatigued from running about all day, Meredith walked into the ward andy down on a nursing bed.


    She closed her eyes.


    But in her mind, she seemed to see Evelyn in Derek''s arms, gloating at her...


    Meredith took a deep breath and quickly emptied her mind. She struggled to fall asleep.


    ...


    The next morning, at the Xaviers''s mansion.


    Derek woke up with a headache, for he drunk too muchst night.


    He was impatient. As he wanted to sit up, a sudden dizziness overcame him and he fell down.


    He didn''t drink the ginger soup that Violet ordered the servants to prepare for him yesterday.


    He reached out and stroke his forehead. A faint sneer hangs on the lips as he felt the scorching


    temperature.


    Derek rarely got sick. Probably because he was drunk and drenched in the rain yesterday, plus he was


    in a bad mood, he had a fever.


    However, he did not take it seriously. Instead, he struggled to stand up and walked out calmly.


    Maybe he was angry with himself or something.


    As soon as he left, Violet, who was sitting in the living room, stopped him. "Why are you in such a hurry


    to leave? I just asked the nanny to make you something you like. You can go to work after you finish


    eating."


    Derek was about to refuse when Violet added, "You haven''t ate at home for a long time. Just stay here


    with me."


    Violet''s expression made it impossible for Derek to say no.


    They sat at the table and ate breakfast.


    Looking at him, Violet said with concern, "Derek, are you feeling unwell? You don''t look well. Why don''t


    you stay at home and rest today?"


    Derek shook his head.


    Now, he needed to do something to divert his attention. Otherwise, his mind would be full of things


    rted to Meredith, making him unable to calm down.


    Knowing there there was no use in persuading him, Violet asked the servant to bring Derek the


    medicine.


    She saw Derek off with a worried look.


    She wondered if Meredith was so important to him, so much so that his health was affected.


    Just as she was thinking about it, the servant suddenly hurried over. "Madam, a woman who ims to


    be from the Smiths is outside and wants to see you."


    the Smiths?


    Violet remembered the phone call that Old Master had with Capital City.


    Was that thedy from the Smiths here?


    Violet''s face lit up with joy. "Invite her in."


    After thinking about it, she decided to go out and see what the person looked like.


    Evelyn sat in her limited edition global car and saw a dignifieddying out of the door. Talking a


    closer look, she found there was some resemnce between her and Derek.


    Evelyn immediately walked over with a smile. "Hello, I''m Evelyn," she said politely.


    Violet sized up Evelyn. From the way she was dressed, and the luxurious car, she was sure Evelyn


    was from a wealthy family.


    More importantly, she was satisfied with her attitude.


    Violet took to Evelyn immediately.


    "You must be Miss Smith. I heard Old Master mention you."


    Evelyn was ttered. "Really? I''m here to visit some elders today."


    With that said, she took out a carefully prepared gift. Seeing how polite she was, Violet immediately


    invited her in.


    They hit it off and had a great conversation.


    In the middle of their conversation, Evelyn ''s phone rang. It was from Meredith.


    Amelia was examined again today. The doctor said the operation must be put into agenda after a few


    more days of stable treatment. Otherwise, there would be risks.


    So Meredith immediately asked her about the bone marrow donation.


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Seeing that it was Meredith''s call, Evelyn went out and answered it.


    "When exactly are youing to the hospital to give my mother a bone marrow transnt? There''s no


    time to dy now."


    "I told you, when Derek and I get engaged, I will donate her bone marrow."


    Meredith clenched her lower lip. Whether they would get engaged was still unknown.


    "What if you two can''t get engaged? Will you never transnt bone marrow for my mom? In that case,


    she will die!"


    "That''s your mother, not mine. What about her has nothing to do with me."


    Evelyn said indifferently. Spoiled by the Smiths, she did not know suffering of the world, nor would she


    stand in other''s shoes.


    "But she is..."


    Meredith was so angry that she almost blurted out the truth.


    Amelia was her birth mother.


    But she held back.


    "She is. What is she?" asked Evelyn.


    Evelyn frowned, feeling that Meredith had something to say.


    "Nothing."


    Meredith felt that it was not a good time to tell the truth, so she bit the words back. "Please get


    engaged to Derek quickly. Time waits for no man!"


    After that, Meredith hung up.


    Evelyn took a look at the number. She wanted to settle the matter as soon as possible, but Derek was


    too cold to her. She had to make sure Meredith stayed sway from him so that she could have a chance.


    "Evelyn, are you in trouble?"


    Seeing that Evelyn had not returned for a long time, Violet walked out.


    In just a short while, Violet was very satisfied with Evelyn, who had a good family background, good


    looks, and was very obedient to her. In her mind, the Xaviers would be benefited a lot because of


    Evelyn. In short, she was much better than that troublemaker, Meredith.


    Evelyn shook her head. "It''s from my family. It''s okay."


    "If you''re not busy in a while, I''ll bother you to send some medicine to Derek. He was drenched in the


    rain yesterday, and now he has a cold. I prepared some medicine for him, and he may not have taken


    it. I''ll be relieved if you''re with him."


    Evelyn was overjoyed. Violet''s words showed that the elders of the Xaviers expected to see things


    work out between her and Derek.

 Chapter 572

    Chapter 572


    "Aunt Violet, leave this matter to me. Don''t worry. I''ll make sure Derek take his medicine and take care


    of himself."


    Then Evelyn took the medicine and left.


    ...


    It was in a hospital.


    After Meredith called Evelyn, she went to the bathroom to wash up and saw herself in the mirror with


    big dark circles under her eyes.


    Yesterday night, she was tossing and turning, and it was almost the second half of the night when she


    fell asleep in a daze.


    With a bitter smile, Meredith found the concealer and covered her dark circles. Otherwise, her mother


    would notice it.


    Meredith went to see Amelia. Amelia was in stable condition. And it looked as if thea that scared


    Meredith to death was just an ident.


    But Meredith knew that she couldn''t drag it on any longer.


    The more Meredith thought about it, the more worried she became. But she also knew that it was


    useless to rush into this matter herself. She had to consider Evelyn''s thoughts.


    Meredith sighed and went back to wake Easton up. Yesterday, because Meredith didn''te home,


    she told him to stay in the hospital for the night.


    After thinking about it, Easton still had to go back to school. It wouldn''t be good for him to grow up if he


    didn''t meet his peers at school all day.


    "Easton, get up."


    Meredith gently shook his body. Easton opened his eyes and yawned.


    Meredith looked at his little face. "Easton, mom will take you hometer. You take a bath and I''ll take


    you back to school."


    School?


    Easton didn''t want to go to school, but when he saw Meredith''s tired face and knew that grandma was


    sick and that bad woman Evelyn was making trouble everywhere, he felt very upset and so he didn''t


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    say anything against it.


    However, he could not help but whisper, "Mom, I will go back to school obediently. Can you stop being


    angry with dad? I think he didn''t mean to do it. If not, you can make him kneel on durian. Don''t leave


    him."


    Hearing Easton''s words, Meredith felt a little sad. Sure enough, every child, no matter what, did not


    want their parents to separate.


    But...


    The adult world was veryplicated. Even if Easton was smart, he might not fully understand it.


    "Easton, I am not the only one to decide that, but even if mom and dad are divorced, you''ll still be our


    favorite baby in the future, okay?"


    "But I don''t want you to get divorced."


    Easton felt that something had quietly changed, but he was powerless to change it.


    "Let''s not talk about this. After school I will take you to buy new toys. What do you want?"


    Meredith stiffly changed the subject, and Easton did not ask about it anymore. He just lowered his head


    and looked like he was not in the mood.


    Meredith sent Easton home. The house was clean and tidy thanks to the housekeeper, but it didn''t look


    like a cozy home.


    Meredith asked Easton to take a shower and put on a clean school uniform before sending him to


    school.


    After sending Easton away, Meredith went to the hospital where Penelope was.


    On the way, Meredith couldn''t help butugh at herself. She couldn''t do anything else in a whole day


    except from going to the hospital.


    If possible, she really hoped that everyone around her was healthy, without any physical problems.


    When she arrived at the hospital, she saw Damian in the corridor talking to a doctor.


    Meredith walked over and looked at Damian''s face. Now he looked much more haggard than usual. He


    probably hadn''t slept well for several days in a row, taking care of the sick.


    "How''s it going?"


    Damian shook his head.


    The surgery was over, and Penelope was awake, but... She still didn''t regained her vision.


    Professor Lee said that all the blood clots in Penelope''s brain had been removed. The reason why she


    could not see was unclear. After all, the current technology was not so advanced that doctors could not


    But Professor Lee said that she could not undergo any surgery now. She had to wait. Maybe one day


    she would be suddenly able to see, but maybe the day would nevere.


    After Meredith heard this, she felt sorrowful.


    She thought she would get a good result soon, but now... It was a fruitless result.


    Who knew what the future would hold?


    "What are you going to do?"


    Meredith looked at Damian, and now he was taking care of Penelope. The two of them were still


    boyfriend and girlfriend. Naturally, his opinion was very important.


    "When she''s almost fully recovered, I''ll take her out of the hospital. It''s not a good idea to stay here any


    longer. Maybe we should prepare for the worst."


    Damian shook his head helplessly. After Penelope woke up, she was in a bad mood and didn''t show


    her emotions for everyone was there.


    However, Damian could tell that it was a big blow to her. He thought that maybe a different environment


    would be better for her. She always stayed in a closed environment like the hospital. Even a normal


    person might be depressed.


    Hearing Damian''s arrangement, Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that he really wanted to


    take good care of Penelope.


    "Damian, there''s something I want to ask you for Penelope. She''s in a situation. I appreciate your


    willingness to take care of her personally, but what are you going to do with your family?"


    Thest time Penelope called, she was very uneasy. This matter must have troubled her. But with her


    strong character, maybe she wouldn''t say it. Meredith decided to ask this question for her.


    If Damian could not insist on taking care of her because of the opposition of his family, perhaps it would


    be better for him to leave early.


    After all, a quick decision would save people from long-term pain. She didn''t want to wait for Penelope


    to fall in love with Damian and be hurt by itter.


    Penelope had been through a lot of hardships in the prime of her life.


    Damian hesitated for a moment as if not expecting Meredith to ask these questions. He looked at her.


    "Did she mention anything?"


    "Thest time you called your mother, she heard it and told me about it. Because she didn''t know what


    your family members were thinking, she was always very upset, so I hope you give it a think.


    In the future, you may have a lot of trouble together. If you can''t hold on, then don''t give her hope.


    Otherwise, it is too cruel when you leave after she getspletely dependent on you. I''m afraid she


    won''t be able to bear it. "


    Meredith said it word by word. Damian was silent for a moment. No wonder Penelope was so


    depressed these days. It was because he didn''t introduce her to his family?


    Damian was silent. His father died early when he was a child, and his mother raised him. His mother


    was straight-tempered and would not approve of their marriage when Penelope was in this situation.


    Damian had nned to wait until she recovered before telling his family about it...


    But now...

 Chapter 573

    Chapter 573


    Seeing Damian''s look, Meredith knew that he might not be able to give an answer in a short time.


    Although it was understandable, she did not want to see her best friend getting hurt at this time. That


    was why she was being so nosy.


    "I''m not pushing you. I just want you to think about what I said carefully. Considering Penelope''s


    condition now, she will only feel worse if you continue to keep her away from meeting your family."


    "Well, what you said makes sense. I''ll think about it."


    Damian said seriously. Meredith nodded. "You surely need time to think about it, but I hope you can


    make the decision as soon as possible, whether you choose to take the possible risks in the future, or...


    to give up this rtionship. Just don''t waste her time."


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Meredith said seriously. She really hoped that her good friend would be happy.


    It was rare for Damian to show his confusion. He needed to be alone and think about it.


    "Go in and see her. Have a chat with her. I''m leaving for now."


    Damian left after saying that. Staring at his back, Meredith sighed. She really wished that Damian could


    her.


    If he did, Meredith would not worry about Penelope anymore.


    Meredith walked into the ward. Penelope was sitting on the bed. Feeling someoneing, she looked


    over, although she could not see anything now.


    "Penelope, I''m here. I just came back from Capital City yesterday. I''m sorry that I wasn''t here with you."


    Meredith said guiltily. She had wanted toe back to take care of Penelope but failed to do that due


    to the situation.


    "It''s okay. My parents are here. I don''t need so many people."


    Penelope shook her head. "I heard what you said just now."


    "Do you think I''m a little nosy?"


    Meredith made a joke. It seemed like she was being a busybody by saying all those things. But the only


    reason she said that was she did care about Penelope.


    "Of course not. Actually, I was thinking about saying those things to him by myself. I just didn''t know


    how to start."


    Penelope looked a little upset.


    In fact, she had wished that Damian would choose her no matter what his family thought.


    But he didn''t say that.


    After they had spent so much time together, Penelope had learned a lot about Damian. She knew that


    he had lost his father when he was only a kid and was raised by his mother alone. As an ordinary man


    without a family background, he worked so hard to get in the position of Derek''s assistant. He had a


    bright future.


    Even when she was healthy, his mother might not ept her, let alone the way she was now.


    Therefore, it was totally understandable that Damian hesitated. But why did it still hurt her so much...


    Penelope couldn''t help butugh at herself. In the past, she would never have cared about a man so


    much. If any man dared to offend her, she would just kick him away directly.


    "Penelope, if you''re going to be together, sooner orter you will have to face these problems. I would


    rather let him make a choice earlier so that you won''t get more hurt in the future, just like what I''m


    going through now..."


    Somehow Meredith thought of herself.


    She shared too many memories with Derek. They even had a child. It was hard to cut off their


    rtionshippletely.


    "Are you going to break up with Derek?"


    Penelope reached out to her. Meredith grabbed her hand quickly. The back of her hand was cold.


    "I suppose so. It turns out that we are just unsuited to each other."


    Meredith calmed herself down. "Let''s move on, Penelope. Do you want something to eat? I''ll stop at


    the market on the way to take Easton home today. Let me know if you want anything."


    Penelope shook her head. She didn''t want anything now. All seemed to be over to her.


    Seeing Penelope getting upset again, Meredithforted her at once. "Don''t be anxious. Now that the


    operation is a sess, it''s only a matter of time for the recovery of your eyes. My lost memories came


    back eventually for no reason. You will be fine too."


    Knowing that Meredith was trying to help, Penelope nodded. "I''m fine. Don''t worry about me."


    Meredith stayed for a while. They chatted till the time for Meredith to pick up Easton from school.


    "You can go take Easton home first. The others will take care of me. Don''t worry."


    Meredith nodded. "Okay, I''ll go back first. Just call me if you need anything. I''ll be here as soon as


    possible."


    After that, Meredith left the ward.


    Silence returned to the room. Penelope sighed.


    Damian hadn''te back yet. Was he going to give up?


    ...


    The ss was over. Easton stood outside the ssroom with lots of books and papers in his hands. He


    hadn''te to school for a long time, so the teacher assigned him a lot of homework to finish and told


    him to make up for the lessons he missed at home.


    It gave Easton a headache. He wouldn''t be able to finish so much homework until next semester. An


    idea urred to him. Why not throw them away to a ce that no one could find and tell the others


    those books were just lost. In this way, he wouldn''t have to make up for his homework.


    It made more sense every time he thought about it. Before anyone could pick him up, he sneaked to a


    distant trash can. As he was about to throw his books away, someone spoke to him in a sweet voice.


    "Excuse me, are you going to throw these things away?"


    A girl dressed in in clothes looked at Easton timidly. She stared at the book in his hand with a look of


    envy.


    "No... No!"


    Easton didn''t know her, but he felt that what he was about to do wasn''t something to be proud of. So he


    lied, pretending nothing happened.


    "Oh, really? I thought you didn''t want them. Can you give them to me if you don''t want them?"


    The little girl hesitated for a moment and asked eventually in a low voice.


    Easton thought about it for a moment. Of course, he didn''t want them. These books were useless to


    him, but maybe they were useful to her. "Well, here they are. Don''t tell anyone I gave them to you. I will


    be in trouble if my teacher knows."


    "Thanks, I got it. I''ll say I pick them up in the street."


    The little girl nodded obediently and took over the books. She checked them over, tore off the pages


    with him name on them, and put them in her school bag.


    Seeing her behavior, Easton heaved a sigh of relief.


    "Well, your name is Easton, right?"


    Easton nodded.


    "Thank you. My name is Fiona."

 Chapter 574

    Chapter 574


    Easton looked at the little girl in front of him carefully. She was a little shorter than him and looked a


    little thin.


    But her eyes were gentle and nimble. She was timid and nobody could bear to refuse her.


    Easton nodded. She looked much prettier than the most beautiful girl in his ss. So he was a little


    curious about her.


    "What do you need them for? Didn''t your school distribute them to you?"


    Fiona felt sad. Of course, the school had distributed books to them for free, but these extra workbooks


    were for sale.


    After her mother left home, she lived with her father, who found her a stepmother. She had a half-


    brother now.


    And she rarely had any more pocket money. She didn''t dare to tell her family about such things,


    because she knew they would not give her money.


    Easton looked at the sad girl in front of him and sighed. "Well, just let it go if you don''t want to tell me.


    They are useless to me. Take them back if you need them. It''s good not to waste these books."


    Hearing what Easton said, the little girl looked up at him. She now felt that the boy in front of her was


    not only good-looking, but also very nice.


    "Thank you. I will repay you."


    Easton coughed.


    Easton was a little shy to hear her say this seriously. He cleared his throat. "Then let''s exchange phone


    numbers. We are friends now and I''ll protect you."


    After saying that, Easton found that his phone was in the pocket of his changed clothes. Instead, he


    took out a piece of paper from his pocket, wrote down his number, and handed it to Fiona.


    Fiona was about to pick it up when suddenly, there was a woman shouting and swearing from behind.


    "Where the hell is the girl going? I asked her to buy something for me and she''s still dawdling. Did she


    run away with the money? She''s such a money-losing bitch."


    Easton had never heard anyone speak so vulgarly. He looked over and saw a woman with a fierce look


    came over.


    The woman also saw Fiona standing next to Easton, and immediately came over angrily, "Well, I asked


    you to buy milk for your little brother but you ran out to talk to others. Do you want to starve your


    brother to death? You are really heartless."


    Then she reached out to pinch Fiona. Fiona shivered with fear and was about to apologize. Easton


    said, "What are you going to do,dy? "


    Although he had only said a few words to Fiona, Easton had a good impression of her. Besides, he had


    said that he would protect her, so how could he see her being bullied?


    "Who are you? It''s none of your business. Don''t interfere while I''m teaching my daughter!"


    "You abused a child in front of me. Why is it none of my business?"


    Easton was not afraid of her at all. He didn''t care about anyone who was much more powerful than this


    woman. How could he care about what she said?


    "Well, am I bullying her? Her mother left her alone and eloped with another man. I''ve been good to her


    by feeding her and clothing her. You brat, mind your own business. Fiona,e here quickly!"


    Fiona''s eyes turned red when she heard this.


    When her mother left, she was too young to remember anything. When she grew up, the adults told her


    that her mother had cheated on her father and eloped with a wild man.


    It was a huge shock to a child that her mother didn''t want her anymore.


    "My mother must have left for some reason. You are lying."


    "How dare you talk back to me? Go back quickly and I''ll punish you."


    Then the middle-aged woman grabbed Fiona''s thin wrist and tried to pull her away.


    Easton knew Fiona would be beaten after going back. So he immediately pulled her hand and kept


    them from leaving.


    However, Easton was a child after all, and couldn''t match the strength of an adult, so he slowly lost his


    grip on her hand.


    Easton was worried and suddenly thought of a way. He held Fiona''s hand and cried loudly.


    "Help! Someone here is going to abuse children. Help us call the police!"


    His voice attracted the eyes of the passers-by who had been indifferent. Many people took out their cell


    phones and called the police when they saw the scene.


    Fiona had never met such a situation and was startled. "Don''t do that."


    She had never been to the Police Station. Although Easton was doing it to protect her, asking the


    Police for help could only solve the difficulties for a while. She might have been bullied even worse by


    her family afterward.


    "Don''t be afraid. Do you want to find your mother? My father is great. He will definitely help you find


    your mother!"


    Easton immediatelyforted her. When Fiona heard this, she wavered and thought about it. She


    really missed her mother. In this family, she seemed like an unnecessary person, so she nodded and


    said nothing.


    "Fiona, how dare you call the police?"


    The middle-aged woman was a little flustered. Although she was mean to her children, she was just an


    ordinary person who had never dealt with the police. She felt that something bad was going to happen.


    "I, I want the policeman to help me find my mother."


    Fiona summoned the courage and looked at the woman in front of her.


    She couldn''t stay at this home anymore. This woman often beat and scolded her, calling her a money-


    losing person. Sometimes when her father would also beat her when he was drunk, saying that she


    was the same as her mother.


    Easton nodded with satisfaction when he saw that she had finally given up onpromise.


    After a while, the police came and saw a lot of people watching. In case causing a bad impact, the


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    police directly brought the three people back to the Police Station.


    ...


    Meredith didn''t find Easton when she arrived at school.


    She immediately became nervous. Although Easton was usually naughty, he rarely wandered off.


    Did he get left behind by his teacher? Meredith consoled herself.


    Meredith immediately asked the teachers, but they said that Easton left the school as soon as school


    was over.


    Only then did Meredith realize that something must happen.


    A lot of bad thoughts came to her mind, and she even thought that he might have been kidnapped by


    bad people.


    After all, Easton was from the Xaviers, and it was possible for him to be kidnapped.


    Meredith called Easton, but no one answered. So she went out to look for him and asked a few


    teachers to help, but Easton was nowhere to be found.

 Chapter 575

    Chapter 575


    Meredith think of Derek. He was the one who could find Derek back fastest.


    However, Meredith feltplicated if she asked him for help whenever she was in trouble. Besides, he


    now... must be spending his time with Evelyn. She should be sensible and not disturb him.


    However, as time passed, Meredith became more and more anxious.


    What if Easton was kidnapped? Then the dy may cause unbearable consequences.


    Just then, her phone rang.


    "Hello, is this Ms. Meredith? The call is from J City Police Station. Your son is here."


    Hearing that Easton was in the Police Station, Meredith was so surprised that her hair almost stood up.


    "What, what happened to him?"


    Meredith had imagined a lot. Did something bad happen to Easton or he did something bad? She


    thought something serious must have happened. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been in the police


    station.


    "Oh, don''t worry. Your son is fine. He had reported to us that a woman abused a child. So we''ve


    brought him here for further information."


    Hearing this, Meredith heaved a sigh of relief. "I''ll be right there."


    After that, she thanked the teachers who helped her and hurried to the Police Station.


    ...


    In Xavier Group


    After Evelyn left the Xaviers, she headed here with the medicine for Derek.


    However, someone stopped her. "Miss, do you have an appointment?"


    Evelyn felt annoyed. She was from the Smith family. When did she need to make an appointment to


    meet someone?


    "Call your boss and tell him that his mother asked me to deliver the medicine for him. My name is


    Evelyn. He''ll understand."


    Evelyn said impatiently.


    Seeing that Evelyn was wearing expensive clothes and driving a limited edition car, the receptionist


    thought she must be a richdy, so she told Derek.


    When Derek heard that, his already gloomy face became even darkened.


    What did this womane here again?


    He hadn''t even settled the score with her after what happened in the bar, but she dared toe here?


    Besides, she said his mother asked her toe here...


    Had his mother seen her?


    "Tell her I''m not here."


    Derek didn''t want to waste his time, so he asked his subordinates to tell her that he had gone out for a


    meeting.


    Then, he picked up the phone and called his mom.


    Violet was drinking tea in the living room when the butler came over with the phone. "Mr. Xavier''s call."


    "Mom, what the hell are you doing?"


    Last time, she asked Luna, who he had never known before, toe to him, and now Evelyn. Derek


    was really annoyed.


    "Derek, could you please be polite to your mom? I''m worried that you''ll forget to take your medicine.


    Miss Smith happened to visit me, so I asked her to bring it to you. Did you say thank you to her?"


    Thank you?


    Derek didn''t want to say anything to her at all. Evelyn only brought him trouble.


    "I''m not interested in her. In the future, please don''t meddle in my rtionship."


    Derek said that stiffly, then hung up the phone.


    Violet was irritated by the busy toneing from her phone.


    "Is he crazy? Not only did he not thank the youngdy for running errands for him but he''s being rude."


    Violet''s expression was full of dissatisfaction. But she thought Derek must have seen Evelyn and that


    was why he called her.


    It was less than half an hour before Evelyn left here, which meant that she had rushed to deliver the


    medicine as quickly as possible.


    Violet nodded. So Evelyn was quite sincere. If they could get married, she may get more benefits than


    she had thought.


    So even though Derek did not like Evelyn, she would try everything to get their marriage done.


    Violet made up her mind.


    ...


    Evelyn didn''t know what was going on. When she heard from the front desk that Derek was not there,


    she frowned suspiciously and was about to barge in, but she was stopped.


    "I''m sorry, but you can''t go in without our boss''s instructions."


    The security guard was responsible.


    "Don''t you know who I am?"


    Evelyn had never suffered such embarrassment since she was a child. She asked arrogantly.


    "No matter who you are, as long as our boss doesn''t allow you, you can''t go in."


    Evelyn almost lost her temper, but she thought if she made a scene here and was seen by Derek, he


    thought she was unreasonable, so she had to hold back her anger.


    "Then I''ll wait here. Is that ok?"


    Evelyn said angrily. The staff did not drive Evelyn out but led her to the lounge.


    Evelyn had aplicated expression. She could tell that Derek must be here, but he didn''t want to see


    himself, so he made up an excuse to fool her.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. After thinking about it, she took out her cell


    phone and called Parker.


    "Derek doesn''t want to see me. It''s all your fault."


    Evelyn med him unreasonably and his eyes turned slightly cold. He really didn''t want to deal with


    such a single-celled creature, but he restrained himself because he had to take advantage of her.


    "You didn''t reject my idea at the time, but now you''re throwing a tantrum at me. Don''t you think you''re


    unreasonable?"


    They were just using each other, so he didn''t need to please her. Moreover, he didn''t like her at all.


    "What should I do now? If he keeps avoiding me and doesn''t want to be with me, Meredith''s mother


    won''t have the bone marrow transnt."


    Parker narrowed his eyes when he heard this.


    "I have an idea to make him get close to you or get engaged to you, but..."


    "But what?" Hearing Parker said that, Evelyn was very excited. She urged him.


    "You can''t dy the bone marrow transnt any longer. Tomorrow, I want to see you in the hospital to


    check your health."


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Evelyn hesitated. The bone marrow transnt was her trump card, but Meredith''s quitting was not


    enough. She had to make Derek epted her.


    Evelyn weighed the pros and cons and finally agreed reluctantly. "Okay, I agree. What is your idea?"


    Parker smiled and told Evelyn his n. Evelyn frowned whiling listening to his n. "Okay, let''s start."

 Chapter 576

    Chapter 576


    In the Police Station, as soon as Meredith went in, she saw Easton sitting inside. She hurriedly stepped


    forward and check him carefully. After finding that his clothes were not torn and he was fine, she finally


    felt relief.


    Easton had said that he saw someone physically abusing a child and he was going to save her. She


    worried that if he would be beaten as well. Now, she finally felt relief.


    "Mom, I''m fine, but this woman was going to hit my friend on the street. I had no choice but to call the


    police."


    Hearing the word friend, Meredith was curious.


    Easton was precocious and thought other children of his age were naive. He didn''t like to y with


    them. It was unexpected that he made a friend.


    Meredith looked at the position Easton was pointing at and saw a little girl sitting on a chair, with


    uneasiness and fear in her big eyes. Unlike Easton who had a plump and fair face, the little girl looked


    skinny. Her dress was too big for her so that she looked more emaciated in that dress.


    Meredith felt pity for her. She felt so familiar with the little girl''s expression, which reminded her of


    herself in the past when she was alone and helpless.


    "We found out that thisdy has indeed beat the child. And we have already criticized her. Now, this


    thing is over."


    Hearing what the police said, Fiona couldn''t help but tremble.


    Easton saw the girl''s reaction and unhappily shouted, "What kind of solution is this?"


    He had just noticed that there were a lot of bruises by ps or pinches on Fiona''s body. It looked


    shocking. It was obvious that when Fiona was at home, that woman often violently beat Fiona.


    If her punishment was just scolding. She, such a shameless woman, would never take it seriously. As a


    result, her friend would be beaten again when they returned home.


    "Mom, we can''t let her go back that home. Look."


    Easton grabbed Fiona''s hand to show Meredith the scars on her body. "I don''t believe that vicious


    stepmother will ept the criticism and change. We have to find a way to help my friend."


    Seeing so many scars on the little girl''s fair arms, Meredith, as a mother, knew what happened to this


    girl. She agreed to what her son said.


    "That''s right. Officer, this matter can''t just end this way. If the little girl goes back home and that woman


    beats her again, I''m afraid such a young child won''t even be able to call the police. What if tragedy


    really happens?"


    "What''s your rtionship with them? I suggest you not to meddle in others'' family''s business."


    When the police heard that Meredith didn''t want to leave but to pursue the matter, he became


    impatient.


    Isn''t itmon for parents to educate their children with a rod? If everyone pesters him with such


    Meredith frowned and was about to say something more, but the police did not want to listen. "Lady, it''s


    not a thing that can be solved in one step. Are you responsible for her whole life?"


    After the police finished speaking, he drove them out.


    Hearing what the police said, the woman in the corner was not dejected anymore. She gave Fiona a


    warning look and pulled her away.


    Fiona was scared. She had reported her stepmother''s guilt to the police but her stepmother only got


    oral criticism. Obviously, her stepmother didn''t take it seriously. What was waiting for her was her


    stepmother''s fiercer abuse.


    So she cried out, "No, I don''t want to go home. I''m scared!"


    "Where else do you want to go if you don''t go home? Your mother abandoned you a long time ago.


    Come on,e home with me."


    When the woman found that the police wouldn''t interfere, she took her original violent way to dragged


    Fiona.


    Seeing that Fiona was crying so miserably, Meredith stopped that woman. "Thisdy, she doesn''t want


    to go home with you. Please let go of her hand. You''re hurting her!"


    Hearing this, the woman became even angrier, and at this time, her husband came.


    When the husband heard that his wife and daughter went to the Police Station, the man felt


    embarrassed.


    "Hubby, it''s all because of this little bitch. I asked her to go out and buy something. But she called the


    police to arrest me."


    Hearing this, the man red at Fiona and pped her without saying a word. When Meredith saw this,


    she stepped forward and tried to stop him.


    However, her strength was no match for a robust young man.


    She was pushed. Then she staggered a few steps and fell to the ground.


    Easton saw the scene and was extremely angry. He went to help and said, "Do you know who my


    father is? He''s the president of Xavier Group, Derek. How dare you do this to us now? Aren''t you afraid


    of our retaliation?"


    "Derek?"


    Hearing the name, the man paused for a moment.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    Of course, he knew Derek. Although he was just an ordinary employee, he knew how powerful the


    Xaviers was in J City.


    If he really offended Derek, he even could not get an ordinary job in J City.


    So, the man scanned Easton a few times, and he actually thought that this child really looked like


    Derek on TV.


    "Are you really Derek''s son?"


    Easton red at him. "Or you are? Tell that shrew to let go of her hand!"


    The man hesitated for a while, but in the end, he did not dare to act rashly but pulled the woman away


    and left quickly.


    Fiona was thrown to the ground by them as if she were a dispensable object.


    Fiona watched them drove the car and left. Though she hoped to leave that family, now she felt sad


    being abandoned like this.


    Seeing this, Meredith felt pitiful. He walked over and said, "Don''t be afraid. Go home with me first. If


    you have anything want to say, I will listen to you. Don''t worry."


    Fiona looked at Meredith, then at Easton, and finally nodded heavily.


    Easton was relieved that he had finally saved his little follower from the devil''s den.


    He held Fiona''s hand and got into the car together.


    Meredith was behind them.


    The two children wanted to talk, so they sat in the back seat. Meredith sat in the front passenger seat.


    Listening to their chatter, she thought of what Easton said.


    At that time, if not Easton said that his father was Derek, perhaps Fiona would have been pulled back


    home and have to suffer physical abuse.


    Although she was unwilling to admit it, Meredith clearly felt that the gap between her and Derek was


    indeed very big.


    Would Easton be happy with her?

 Chapter 577

    Chapter 577


    Derek stayedte at thepany. He didn''t leave until the employees were almost off work.


    When something upset him, he was used to indulging in his work, which would give him a sense of


    being in control.


    As soon as Derek went downstairs, Evelyn, who had been waiting for him below, stood up and hurried


    over, in fear that she couldn''t catch up with him.


    "Mr. Xavier, didn''t you say that you went out for a meeting? It doesn''t seem to be the case now."


    It was impossible for Evelyn to have no grudge.


    Everyone in the Capital City feared the clout of the Smith family, so that it seemed impossible to have


    someone keep her waiting for almost a day.


    But Evelyn held back her grudge and waited.


    She wanted to see how Derek would exin.


    "Oh? Really? Maybe some employees made a mistake."


    Derek opened his mouth without a blush. The receptionist at the side turned pale, but she didn''t dare to


    say anything.


    One was a rich girl who didn''t look easy to mess with, the other was her boss, and none of them could


    be offended by an unimportant figure like her.


    How could Evelyn not know that he was offhand with her? Peering at the panicked receptionist, she


    said, "Does that mean you need to do something to her?"


    "I''ll find someone more suitable."


    Derek looked at the ashen-faced receptionist and called for the secretary. The two of them whispered a


    few words.


    "Transfer her a logistics position and double her sry."


    Derek lowered his voice. He had no habit of letting others take the me for him. The receptionist was


    unlucky. He would give her a raise in sry aspensation.


    "Is that all?"


    Evelyn was not satisfied.


    "What do you want, Miss Smith?"


    Derek looked at her. If it weren''t for the fact that Smith and Xavier families were partners and he


    couldn''t offend Smith family openly, he wouldn''t have stayed here to have such a meaningless


    conversation with her.


    "I just came to J City, and knew nothing about this ce. But I''ve heard the food here is good. Since


    Mr. Xavier wants to apologize, why don''t you treat me to a dinner?"


    Derek frowned. So that was her real intention after a long conversation.


    The man subconsciously wanted to say no, but Evelyn looked at him. "Won''t the Xaviers treat a guest


    and partner from afar to a dinner?"


    Hearing this, Derek resisted the thought of refusing.


    He is now representing the Xaviers. If his partner personally came to J City to discuss business, but


    wasn''t treated by him with courtesy, the Xaviers''s reputation would be blotted once words get out.


    "Miss Smith, what do you want to eat?"


    Derek stopped talking to Evelyn, took out the car keys and walked out.


    Evelyn understood that he agreed. "Anything will be fine, as long as dining with you."


    Derek raised his eyebrows. Since that was the case... he had an idea, but he didn''t know if Evelyn


    could handle it.


    The two of them walked out the door of the Xavier Group. Followed by Evelyn, Derek, probably


    dissatisfied with her forceful invitation, walked very fast, without any intention of taking care of her


    inconvenient walking in high heels.


    Evelyn bit her lips. As she was about to speak, she caught a glimpse of light shing through the


    corner. Instead of revealing her resent, she rushed a few steps with a smile and took Derek''s hand,


    swepting his arm with her long hair and rubbing her breast against his back.


    "What are you doing?"


    Derek was suddenly touched, almost pushing Evelyn away with a fit of cleanliness.


    "My shoes don''t fit. Hold me please."


    Evelyn said pitifully, pointing at her seven-centimeter heels.


    Derek nced at her shoes. "If it''s not convenient for Miss Smith, I can get someone to take you back


    to the hotel and have a good rest. Your feet won''t hurt if you don''t walk."


    Evelyn''s face turned red with anger and embarrassment.


    She thought that as a gentleman, Derek would never reject her, but she did not expect that this man


    coulde up with a good excuse, which did not damage his demeanor, but also cleverly rejected the


    invitation to go out with her.


    "I can hold it back."


    Evelyn could only let go of her hands. She looked into that corner. Although she could not let Derek


    help her walk, the contact between them just now was intimate. Though it was only a second, but once


    the photos get out, the public would believe whatever they wanted to.


    Derek was even more guarded after the incident. He called the public rtions manager of the


    Evelyn didn''t want to, but Derek insisted. She could only endure it.


    Derek drove to a local restaurant.


    It served one of the most popr local dishes in J City, which is famous for being spicy. If people are


    not used to eating spicy food, their faces would turn red after taking a bite.


    Meredith liked to eat here. After all, she was born and raised in J City and was used to the taste since


    she was young. Moreover, she enjoyed the lively atmosphere here.


    Because of her, Derek also got used to it and was trained to eat spicy food.


    However, Evelyn was a northerner. Even if she had eaten spicy food, Derek expected that she was not


    so capable, so he brought her here on purpose.


    After all, the woman said that she could go anywhere he wanted.


    Derek nned to let her back off just this once.


    Evelyn didn''t know what she''s going to face. She observed the restaurant behind Derek.


    It was different from what she had imagined Derek would take her to. She thought that he would take


    her to a Michelin restaurant, but she didn''t expect it to be such a local lively one.


    "Do you like to eat here?"


    Evelyn looked at the group of people sitting in the hall eating and felt disgusted.


    She didn''t expect Derek to like such amon ce.


    Seeing this, Derek guessed what she was thinking. "Well, if you don''t like it, we could leave."


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "No, no, I can try it."


    Evelyn didn''t want to miss such a good opportunity to know about Derek and immediately shook her


    head.


    The three of them entered the box.


    "You are the guest, you can order."


    Derek was confident that Evelyn would fall for it. There was not a single dish in this restaurant that was


    not extremely spicy.


    Evelyn didn''t know what to order, so she randomly ordered some of the most expensive dishes.


    Returning the menu to the waiter, Evelyn sat opposite Derek and looked at his face in a daze.


    Soon, the dishes began to arrive.


    Evelyn''s face turned purple with anger when she saw the dishes.

 Chapter 578

    Chapter 578


    Each dish was covered with a thickyer of peppers and Zanthoxylum. Looking at the red color, one


    could easily know that people who couldn''t eat it if he didn''t have spicy teeth.


    Evelyn couldn''t help but look at Derek and got angry. It was obvious that he was trying to intimidate her.


    She didn''t think that Derek could stand this spicy food.


    "The dishes are served. Won''t you try them?"


    Derek took a look at Evelyn''s expression and could guess what she was thinking. He calmly picked a


    spicy chicken and ate it without changing his face.


    "..."


    Evelyn saw that his expression did not change, as if it was delicious, she didn''t say anything more.


    Plucking up the courage to take one piece, Evelyn almost spat it out.


    This spiciness felt like the abnormal spiciness that you only tried when you wanted to taste something


    different. After taking it, Evelyn''s face turned red from the heat.


    She didn''t have the courage to eat more, so she could find an excuse, ran to the bathroom, and quickly


    spat out the food in her mouth.


    Seeing Evelyn leave in such a mess, Derek shrugged.


    Although it seemed too immoral to do so, it was necessary to employ some special means to deal with


    such people.


    In the bathroom, Evelyn was rinsing her mouth and looking at her lips which were swollen because of


    spiciness. She couldn''t help but feel angry and threw the tissue on the floor.


    She had never suffered such grievances since she was a child.


    Now she understood why Easton had so many bad ideas. It turned out that he had learned them from


    his father.


    Evelyn tried her best to calm down. She couldn''t lose her temper. It wouldn''t do her any good if she


    fought with Derek now.


    Just as Evelyn was getting upset, her phone rang.


    She opened it and immediately saw a link to the news. When she clicked it, the anger on her face


    faded a lot.


    After putting on some makeup, Evelyn walked out of the bathroom with a smile and returned to the


    private room.


    Evelyn could not eat these dishes, and Derek was not interested in eating them with her. After a while,


    he took the initiative and said, "Miss Smith doesn''t seem to have any appetite. In this case, why don''t I


    send someone to take you home first? I got something to do at mypany."


    When Evelyn heard this, she didn''t say anything or ask Derek to see her off in person. She readily


    agreed.


    Derek drove away, feeling incredulous.


    How could this woman have such a good temper? It wasn''t her style.


    However, since he needn''t force himself to duck and dive, Derek did not do anything. He called the


    driver to drive Evelyn home and he went back to thepany.


    ...


    Meredith brought Easton and Fiona home.


    Along the way, the two children got along well, she had no chance to interrupt.


    As soon as Easton got home, he pulled Fiona around and showed her around his home. Seeing he


    was passionate, Meredith said, "Easton, you can y with Fiona for a while. I''ll prepare clothes and so


    on for her."


    "Okay, mom."


    Easton nodded and pulled Fiona, "This is my room. You can y with my toys."


    Looking at the colorful toys, Fiona showed a trace of envy in her eyes.


    She had never yed with toys since she grew up. Her parents hated her. How could they buy these


    things for her?


    "Easton, your parents are nice to you."


    Fiona couldn''t help but say.


    Hearing the disappointment in her words, Eastonforted her, "When you find your mother, she will


    be good to you. My mother and I have been separated for several years."


    Hearing this, Fiona''s eyes lit up, "Really?"


    Although she had always wanted to find her mother, she did not know if her mother would like her or


    treat her well.


    "Of course. After all, she''s your mother. Blood is thicker than water."


    Easton smiled and gave a doll to Fiona, "This is my favorite doll. Here it is. You can tell her if you are


    afraid or have something on your mind."


    Hearing this, Fiona nodded heavily, but she felt a little upset.


    No one had been so nice to her since she was a child.


    "Easton, I hope you will always be so happy. I hope your parents will always be together and treat you


    well."


    Easton was happy to hear this.


    "Well, as you say this, I''m worried."


    Easton''s good mood became worse instantly.


    The rtion between father and mother was strange now. Seeing this, he became anxious. However,


    even if he was anxious, he couldn''t meddle things between adults.


    "What''s wrong? Are you in trouble?"


    Fiona thought she had said something wrong, looking at Easton with a look of annoyance.


    "It has nothing to do with you. My parents have been having a cold war recently, and I don''t know how


    to make them get back together."


    Hearing this, Fiona sighed.


    The two kids were more mature than normal children, so they sat together, sighing.


    Meredith looked around, finally found a set of clothes that both boys and girls could wear, and found a


    set of pajamas for Fiona, and then came in to see them.


    She thought that although she had a general understanding of the situation, she should ask the child


    what she was thinking.


    This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    When she came in, she saw the two kids sitting together, looking sad, not knowing what they were


    talking about.


    Seeing this, Meredith was torn between annoyance and a desire tough, "Easton, what are you doing


    with this expression?"


    "Nothing. We just have a chat."


    When Easton saw Meredithing, he stopped worrying, "Mom, why are you here?"


    "I''ll take Fiona to take a bath."


    Meredith was interested in Easton''s strange behavior, but Fiona was around, it was hard for her to


    ignore her, so she said and took her to take a shower.


    "Fiona, aunt will take you to have a shower, okay?"


    Meredith was afraid of scaring Fiona. She squatted down and asked cautiously.


    "Yes, okay."


    Fiona nodded and looked at Meredith. She couldn''t help but think that if her mother was as gentle as


    this aunt, then she would be the happiest girl in the world.


    The more Meredith looked at Fiona, the more she liked her. She wanted to have a daughter, good and


    sensible. Now a little girl visited her family, so she was exceptionally gentle.


    "Mom, I don''t think you can do this. You''re not gentle to me."


    Easton couldn''t help but ask. Although he wasn''t jealous, he wanted to talk about the treatment


    discrimination.

 Chapter 579

    Chapter 579


    Meredith looked at Easton speechlessly. She was very gentle with him at first, for fear of hurting his


    little heart.


    But after a long time of contact and familiarizing herself with Easton''s mischievous and narcissistic


    nature, Meredith could not help but burst out. Otherwise, she might not be able to deal with this little


    naughty boy.


    "Hmph, my heart is hurt. I have to go out and eat something I love to make up for it."


    Easton couldn''t help but look up at the sky when he saw that Meredith didn''t allow herself to be pushed


    around.


    Meredith didn''t know whether tough or cry after hearing this. But she thought that Easton had indeed


    been running around recently and had never eaten anything he liked. Besides, Fiona had just arrived,


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    so she had to perform the duties of the host.


    "Okay, I promise you. Easton, You can y by yourself for a while. I''m going to bathe Fiona. You''re a


    boy. You can''te with us."


    Fiona was watching them quietly aside. After Meredith finished speaking, she took Fiona''s hand and


    walked out.


    Fiona held Meredith''s hand, feeling warmth and softness, and her expression rxed a lot.


    Meredith brought her to the bathroom. Fiona hesitated for a moment and slowly took off her clothes.


    Meredith''s expression changed as soon as she saw Fiona''s small body.


    She was just a four-year-old child, but she was already very thin and her ribs were particrly


    prominent. Moreover, there were many scars on her fair skin, which showed that she must often be


    beaten.


    What could such a little child do to make those people beat her so heavily...


    The more Meredith looked at her, the angrier she felt. Fiona saw Meredith''s expression and thought


    Meredith was angry because of her. She immediately said weakly, "I''m... sorry, auntie. Am I too ugly?"


    After that, she was about to take the clothes over and put them on to cover the wounds on her body.


    "No, you aren''t."


    Seeing this, Meredith stopped her immediately, "I just think those people are too bad. Fiona is a good


    child. How can they be so cruel to you?"


    Meredith gently stroked the little girl''s hair. She had read some books before and said that such gentle


    movements could make people rx.


    After a while, Fiona calmed down and was relieved to realize that Meredith really did not despise her.


    "Come and take a shower, or the water will get cold."


    Seeing that Fiona was not so vignt, Meredith quickly led her to take a bath.


    Then she wiped Fiona''s body as gently as possible.


    Fiona felt Meredith''s kindness to her and rxed gradually, "Auntie, you''re so good to me. It would be


    nice if my mother was so good to me."


    At the mention of mom, Meredith remembered the business, "By the way, Easton said that you wanted


    to find your mom, right?"


    Fiona nodded, "My mom left before I could remember. Now I don''t know where she is, but I still want to


    see her..."


    "Yes, I understand."


    Meredith nodded. Because she also had a mother who loved her deeply, she understood Fiona''s


    feelings very well.


    Moreover, in Meredith''s opinion, the man who was called father did not fulfill his obligation to raise her


    daughter but even abused her. So she couldn''t send Fiona back to the fire pit.


    "Auntie will ask someone to help you find your mother as soon as possible. Do you have any other


    rtives? Or do you want to stay here and be with Easton?"


    Fiona shook her head, "I don''t know if I have any other rtives. Grandma and uncle don''t like me..."


    "You can stay here until you find your mother."


    As soon as Meredith heard about this, she could only do this.


    Fiona nodded. After Meredith asked what she wanted to know the most, she began to scrub Fiona


    carefully. After thinking about it, she went to get the medicine box and put some medicine on some of


    Fiona''s wounds.


    After all were done, Meredith breathed a sigh of relief. Although Fiona was quite obedient, it was not


    easy to bath a child and to apply medicine for her.


    Meredith took the clothes and put them on Fiona. As she put them on, the little girl said with soft voice,


    "Thank you."


    Meredith''s heart was melting and she was about to send her out when Fiona held her hand, "Auntie,


    can I ask you something?"


    Meredith was a little surprised and immediately squatted down, "Of course. If I can do it, I will help."


    Fiona hesitated for a moment. She thought of the sad look on Easton''s face in his room just now.


    She had suffered so much because of the separation of her parents, so she didn''t want Easton to


    encounter this kind of thing.


    "Auntie, please don''t separate with Easton''s father, okay? If you do, Easton will be like me. I don''t want


    him to be like this."


    Meredith was stunned when she heard this.


    She didn''t expect the child to talk to her about this.


    "Did Easton say something to you?"


    Fiona nodded, "He was so worried when he thought that his parents would separate with each other,


    but he didn''t want to show it and make you worry."


    Meredith felt guilty when she heard this, "Okay, I know. I''ll talk to him about itter."


    Fiona nodded. Meredith took her to her room and knocked on Easton''s door.


    "Come in."


    Easton thought it was Fiona who came to y with him, so his tone was casual.


    As a result, it was Meredith who came in. He quickly put away the game console in his hand.


    "Mom, have you finished bathing her?"


    Meredith did not pursue his small movements but sat by the bed, looking straight into Easton''s eyes,


    "Easton, Fiona just told me that you don''t want me to separate with your father."


    "Did she tell you?"


    Easton did not deny. As their child, shouldn''t he hoped that they would always be together and that the


    three of them would be fine?


    "Well, I''m sorry, Easton. I''ve been neglecting your thoughtstely."


    Meredith apologized immediately, but then said, "But your father and I should not be like as you hope.


    Before we were equal, our rtionship would never be equal."


    These words made Easton dizzy.


    Meredith thought for a moment, "Just like today, when you introduced yourself to people, you said that


    you were Derek''s son. If you said that you were Meredith''s son, no one would talk to you. So, I want to


    wait until one day when you can subconsciously say that you are my son, then we can talk about so-


    called feelings."


    Easton understood a little, "But, I think everyone else wants their husband to be as strong as possible."


    "But if they don''t have the ability, then their awesome husband will dislike them gradually."

 Chapter 580

    Chapter 580


    Meredith didn''t expect Easton to understand what she said.


    In fact, she just didn''t know how to exin to a five-year-old child the problem between her and Derek,


    so she could only tell him that.


    It was very likely that she would never be as good as Derek was. After all, Derek''s starting point was


    much higher than the average person. So it was very likely that no matter how hard she tried, it


    wouldn''t work.


    Meredith thought about it and felt a little upset. Then, she thought about her background.


    Perhaps, with the help of the Smith family, she could achieve this goal.


    But She didn''t do it out of pride. Also, the fact that her biological mother would rather give her to


    someone else than let her go back to the Smith family showed that things were definitely not that


    simple.


    So, Meredith never thought of using the power of the Smith family.


    "Is it when you''re as famous as dad, and everyone knows you, that you want to be with dad?"


    That was all Easton could understand.


    "Sort of. I have to wait at least when your grandmother doesn''t belittle me any more and stops finding


    some strange woman to be your stepmother."


    Hearing this, Easton suddenly seemed to understand something. "I see. Then I support you, mom."


    He still didn''t understand why Meredith was so insistent. However, if it made grandma stop bringing


    women he didn''t know into the house, he thought her persistence made sense.


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Easton say that.


    "Then don''t think too much. Go to school and don''t fall behind, okay?"


    At the mention of his studies, Easton could not help but feel guilty.


    Fortunately, Meredith didn''t see him throwing away his homework today. Otherwise, he would definitely


    suffer.


    "Got it, mom."


    After Easton said these, Meredith left with satisfaction.


    Seeing this, Fiona walked into Easton''s room with Easton''s homework in her hand. "Here''s your


    homework. I can''t take it. You should go on with your homework."


    Easton looked at her and was speechless. "Didn''t you say you wanted to take it away? Why did you


    bring it back?"


    "I heard what Aunt Mer said. She told you not to fall behind. How can you keep up if you don''t do your


    homework? Well, let''s do it together. I''ll write the answers on paper, and you''ll write them on your


    exercise book, okay? You''re so smart, and you''ll definitely do it."


    Easton looked at Fiona''s serious look and had only one thought in his heart, "What she said is so


    reasonable that I''m speechless..."


    "Well then..."


    Easton was also stressed by Fiona''s serious gaze. If he refused, it would appear that he was very


    stupid, so he took back his homework.


    They sat in front of arge desk, each writing their own answers and asionally talking.


    After Meredith came out of Easton''s room, she called again to ask how Penelope was doing. When she


    came back, she saw that Fiona wasn''t there.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She then found the two kids sitting together and seriously writing something on the exercise book. She


    couldn''t help but smile.


    Suddenly she didn''t want the little girl to leave. After all, Easton never liked to do his homework.


    Meredith could not help but smile. She did not disturb the two children''s study and quietly returned to


    her room.


    She was gonna have someone find out about Fiona''s biological mother.


    The next morning


    Easton got up from the bed and stretched himself.


    He didn''t finish his homework until ten o''clock yesterday, and he was tired out. At least he had done


    most of the homework he left behind.


    He was extremely smart and a fast learner.


    Easton looked at the homework on the desk with satisfaction, took out his cell phone, and nned to


    y for a while before getting up.


    As soon as he turned on the mobilework, a flood of news came in.


    Easton''s expression changed immediately.


    The headlines were all about Derek.


    "Derek went to Capital City for more than a few days to run after her?!"


    "The president of the Xavier Group will announce a marriage with the Smith Group today. It''s an


    alliance between giants!"


    A lot of messy news made Easton hold the phone tightly in his hand.


    What the hell was going on?


    Easton thought, "Evelyn is so annoying! And why does dad keep getting involved with her? Is he doing


    this because my rtionship with mom is so good?"


    Easton held back his anger and continued to read all the news. "Maybe the reporters made it up. That''s


    what they like to do."


    Eastonforted himself, but when he saw those photos, he couldn''t calm down.


    In the photo, Evelyn and Derek were very close. The woman''s body weight was almost all on the man.


    Evelyn clung to Derek. Her breast was rubbing the man''s arm. They were very intimate.


    "What the hell is going on?"


    Easton immediately called Derek.


    He didn''t know if his mom was mad about it, but he was furious now.


    It was a waste of his efforts to reconcile them. Wasn''t that an internal contradiction?


    When Derek received the call, he had juste out of the bathroom and saw that it was Easton''s


    number, so he answered it directly.


    Easton showered a lot of questions upon Derek, "Dad, what the hell are you doing? Do you really want


    to find me a stepmother? Are you in love with Evelyn? What''s on your mind?"


    Even though Derek had always been calm, he was still somewhat puzzled by the questions. "What are


    you talking about? When did I..."


    "Read the news. Today''s front page is upied by you and that woman. Mom probably hasn''t read it


    yet. When she reads it, I won''t be able to help you."


    Easton looked helpless. Why did these grown-ups bother him so much?


    Hearing Easton''s tone, Derek knew that he was not joking. He opened the web page and took a look.


    The man''s face darkened.


    All this fucking news was bullshit.


    However, the angle made them look so intimate in the photo.


    Although Derek immediately dodged it after he caught on, that was not what the photo showed.


    "I''ll get someone to take care of it right away. And this photo was taken by the paparazzi on purpose. I


    didn''t do anything I shouldn''t have done and I''m faithful to your mom."


    Derek exined it to Easton very seriously.


    Hearing his tone, Easton heaved a sigh of relief. "Then I''ll try my best to keep mom from using her


    phone. Dad, delete those news quickly."


    Derek immediately agreed, and then checked who had issued the news.


    The man''s brow furrowed deeper.

 Chapter 581

    Chapter 581


    The media in J City had a good rtionship with the Xaviers. Without the approval of the Xaviers, no


    one would dare to post such ridiculous gossip.


    Since they post it, it could only mean that the person who posted it promised them a greater benefit or


    something.


    Derek thought for a moment. Evelyn was not likely to be able to deal with the media people.


    So, maybe someone was behind her?


    Derek tapped his fingers on the table. He first called his men to deal with the fake news, and then fell


    into deep thought.


    "Find out who Evelyn has been in contact with recently. Keep a low profile and don''t let anyone find


    out."


    Derek also asked someone to keep looking into other things, and snapped out of it and prepared to go


    to work.


    ...


    In the Masons''s residence


    After hanging up the phone, Easton sneaked into Meredith''s room.


    And he found out that Fiona slept in Meredith''s room yesterday.


    "Good morning, Easton."


    Meredith had already woken up, but when she saw that Fiona was still asleep, she didn''t want to wake


    her up.


    "Mom, why did you sleep together?"


    Curling her lips, she didn''t expect their rtionship to be so good in less than one day.


    "I was a little scared yesterday."


    Fiona spoke in a small voice. After all, she was a five-year-old child. Although she always pretended to


    be mature, she was still a little scared when in apletely unfamiliar ce.


    Originally, Fiona wanted to sleep with Easton, but then she remembered the old saying that a hedge


    should be kept between men and women. When she was struggling, Meredith saw her and took her to


    her room.


    "I was going to find you, but you''re a boy, and I''m a girl."


    Hearing this, Easton was amused, and a pang of jealousy had dissipated.


    "Well, then, you can stay with my mom for a few days."


    Easton said generously. Meredith took out her cell phone and was about to read today''s news, and only


    then did Easton remembered the important thing. He quickly walked over and took Meredith''s phone


    away.


    "Mom, stop fiddling with your phone. I''m hungry. I want to eat buns."


    Easton was worried that Meredith would see the news, so he made up an excuse.


    Meredith didn''t think much and put down her phone. "Okay, I''ll heat them up for you. Fiona, what do


    you want to eat?"


    "Whatever."


    Fiona usually ate her brother''s leftovers at home, so she wasn''t a picky eater.


    Hearing what she said, Meredith thought she was very cute. "Okay, then you and Easton eat the same


    food. You go wash up, and it will be ready in a minute."


    When done speaking, Meredith went to the kitchen.


    Easton heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that she didn''t look at her phone.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Easton, what happened? You look so nervous."


    Fiona asked as she saw he was so anxious.


    "If my mom wants to look at her pher, you must stop her. Don''t let her see the bad news, or she


    will be sad."


    Easton thought about it, and asked Fiona to help him. He had to prevent his mom from browsing the


    news.


    "Yes, I''ll try."


    Fiona did not know the so-called disturbing news, but now that Easton has asked, she had to help.


    After all, Meredith brought her home and took care of her so carefully, so she had to repay her.


    Easton breathed a sigh of relief.


    It wouldn''t take long for the news to be deleted.


    Meredith knew nothing about what they had done. She took Easton''s favorite pig buns from the


    refrigerator, put them in the microwave, and made milk oatmeal.


    "The food is ready."


    Meredith walked into the room and called the two little guys.


    Easton didn''t expect it to be so soon. He was wondering where to hide her phone.


    Easton looked a little embarrassed. "Well, it''s all done so soon..."


    Meredith looked at him with a strange look. "Easton, didn''t you just say you were hungry? Why don''t


    you want to eat when I made it?"


    "I''m hungry. I''ll eat now."


    Easton gave an awkward smile. Meredith nodded and thought for a moment. She was used to looking


    for her cell phone. Fiona suddenly sneezed, grabbed her clothes, and trembled.


    As soon as she saw Fiona, Meredith forgot about her phone and said, "What happened? You feel cold?


    Did you catch a coldst night?"


    Fiona shook her head. Meredith was already distressed that Fiona had suffered so much, and she said.


    "I''ll get you some medicine. Easton, go to eat first."


    Hearing this, Easton breathed a sigh of relief and ran away with Meredith''s phone.


    Meredith didn''t notice these little moves, so he quickly took the cold medicine for Fiona and fed it to


    her, and then she took her to the dining room.


    During the meal, the two children were noisy, and Meredith didn''t think of anything else.


    Finally, it took about half an hour for the two children to have breakfast. Easton looked at it and found


    that the news had been deleted, so he gave the phone to Meredith with relief.


    Meredith didn''t think much, sent them to school, told Easton to take good care of Fiona, and then went


    to the hospital to see her mom.


    As soon as she entered the ward, Amelia stared at Meredith''s face for a long time.


    She was relieved to find that there was nothing wrong with her.


    Meredith could not help but wonder at her strange reaction.


    "Mom, what happened? Is there anything on my face?"


    "No, no."


    Amelia saw the rumor that spread all over the city by chance today. Seeing that Derek was hooking up


    with another woman she didn''t know, she was subconsciously worried whether Meredith would be sad


    to see it.


    Now she looked okay?


    "Mom, you must have kept something back. Don''t keep it secret, or I''ll keep thinking about it."


    Amelia thought about it again, saw Meredith''s expression, and finally said, "I saw the news about Derek


    and a woman I don''t know. I''m afraid that you..."


    "I''m fine."


    Meredith didn''t know what the news was, but when Amelia said that, she understood why Easton was


    so strange today. He was usually a good eater, but today he made a fuss and kept her busy all the


    time.


    So that was the reason?


    "I''m afraid you''ll feel sad."

 Chapter 582

    Chapter 582


    "No, I''m not sad." Meredith waved her hand with an indifferent expression.


    Amelia looked at her for quite a while before smiling. "It couldn''t be better if you could really let it go.


    After all, that''s what I''ve always been worried about. There will always be countless women paying


    court to him. If you meet a woman with a hot temper, you might get hurt."


    "I know. Don''t worry, mom. I know what''s the best for me."


    Meredith nodded, slightly absent-minded.


    After a while, the doctor came in for a daily checkup. Meredith took an excuse to go out. She took out


    her cell phone, and opened the browser to check the news her mother talked about.


    She searched for quite a while, but she could not see any relevant content no matter what keywords


    she used. It was so strange.


    Did Derek delete the news?


    Meredith made a guess. But she became more anxious for being not able to reach the news.


    There were two voices in her heart. One said that since she had decided to let it go, she shouldn''t have


    watched the news about him, or it has nothing to do with her.


    The other one said that reading the news was of minor importance to her after she decided to let it go.


    Otherwise, when she thought of itter, she would feel more panicked.


    Thinking over this question, Meredith clenched her lips. Coincidentally, two nurses came over. The two


    young girls were all talking about thetest gossip of the day.


    "Did you see the news that Derek went out on a date with the youngdy of the Smiths?"


    "I saw it, but somehow it was deleted. It is weird."


    "Hehe, do you remember? There was a rumor that Little Young Master''s mother of the Xaviers was


    back. Maybe Derek deleted the news because he didn''t want her to see it."


    "He can delete the news but not the memories of others. That woman is really pitiful. She gave birth to


    children but ended in this situation. Tsk tsk, tsk. It''s not easy to be a wife in a rich family."


    Listening to their words, Meredith came to feel heartbroken.


    She had thought that after she prepared herself mentally for so long, she would not be very sad about


    the gossip.


    But she still felt very sorrowful when she heard others tantly talking.


    These rumors hurt her self-esteem and made her a pitiful person in the eyes of others, that is, a


    scheming girl who attempted to marry into a rich family but in vain.


    She was more eager to know about the news, which lead to those rumors.


    "Did you see the news? I didn''t see it. Can you show it to me?"


    Meredith thought about it and went over to talk to the nurses.


    The nurses didn''t know who Meredith was either. Seeing that she seemed innocent, a nurse took out


    her phone and said, "Hey, I like to read gossip news and save them in time. Now you know I''m so


    smart. Look at the photo. The people on it look like lovers in an idol drama."


    Meredith took the nurse''s cell phone, and her hand trembled slightly with no one noticing it.


    She opened the page only to see the deleted news, which was about how powerful the two families


    were and how many benefits they would obtain if the two young people get married.


    Meredith nced over and saw the picture below.


    Immediately, the light in her eyes dimmed a lot.


    A man and a woman in the picture were extremely intimate and physically close to each other.


    Normally we just can''t take it, not to mention a man having cleanliness like Derek.


    Hehe, he just said some sweet words. He could not resist the temptation of beauty and money...


    Meredith had a mixed feeling, but she smiled faintly.


    "Can you send me a copy? I want to keep it."


    "Ah? Well okay."


    The nurse didn''t expect her to make such a strange request. But looking at Meredith, she didn''t say no


    for some reason. "Okay, but don''t talk nonsense. If my leader know about it, I''m done."


    Meredith nodded and transmitted the web page file to her phone by her Bluetooth.


    She had to keep these things well and reminded herself not to be swayed by Derek''s momentary


    tenderness.


    It was meaningless for her to be with such a man, because she was low in socialdder.


    ...


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Derek was at thepany. Although all the damn fake news had been cleared by the Xaviers, he was


    still very annoyed.


    Just as every colleagues was under the influence of the boss''s bad mood, an unexpected person


    came.


    The other protagonist of the gossip, Evelyn, actually took the initiative toe here.


    "I want to see Mr. Xavier."


    Evelyn was straightforward as usual.


    Derek was uneasy when he heard a subordinate''s report. He had to admit that he could not fathom this


    woman.


    She published this fake news about him without his permission and even took the initiative toe to


    his door. Did she really think that because she was supported by the Smiths, he would never dare to do


    anything...


    Derek became solemn. Whether this woman was the youngdy of the Smiths or not was uncertain.


    Besides, even if she was the youngdy, it did not mean that he would tolerate her misdeeds again and


    again.


    "Let here up."


    Derek spoke faintly. The receptionist at the front desk was surprised.


    Yesterday because of Miss Smith, her colleague was relocated to a more rxing position at the


    Logistics Department with doubled sry. She was also waiting for Evelyn to lose her temper today.


    Unexpectedly, the boss actually allowed her to go in. It seemed there was no chance of sry raise.


    With an inexplicable regret, the receptionist politely said to Evelyn, "Miss Smith, pleasee in. The


    president is waiting for you upstairs."


    Smiling, Evelyn took out her makeup mirror and looked at herself. Beforeing here, she had


    especially worn very delicate makeup. She looked gorgeous but not gaudy, which could definitely


    impress a normal man.


    Stepping into the VIP elevator, Evelyn looked at the changing numbers on the elevator, and her heart


    was pounding faster.


    With a ding-dong, the elevator stopped on the top floor.


    Stepping out and taking a few steps, Evelyn saw Derek sitting on the sofa.


    At this moment, the man faintly smiled with a seemingly innocent evil charm. Through the brown ss,


    others could feel he boasted the inexplicable charm that made Evelyn''s heart beat faster.


    "Mr. Xavier, you finally answered to see me."


    Evelyn refrained her emotions, walking in and talking gracefully.


    Derek looked up at her. "Ah, after all, I was curious how Miss Smith is going to see me after a self-


    conducted gossip."

 Chapter 583

    Chapter 583


    He spoke unkindly.


    The smile on Evelyn''s face froze. But she soon calmed herself down, "I just want to make a bet with Mr.


    Xavier. I don''t know if you want to."


    Derek raised his eyebrows. Sure enough, she came prepared. Then he would like to see what kind of


    games she was ying.


    "What?"


    "I bet you, whether Meredith wille back to you or not."


    Hearing Meredith''s name, Derek frowned slightly and looked at Evelyn, whose sharp eyes seemed to


    see through his mind.


    "I know that Mr. Xavier and Meredith had a rtionship before and had a child, but are you sure she


    still loves you now?"


    Evelyn''s words made Derek''s heart sink.


    Although he didn''t show any emotion out, in his mind he was in a mess.


    That was right. That was exactly what he had been wondering about.


    What did Meredith think of him now?


    Meredith''s actions made Derek wonder if she cared for him or not. She even constantly asked him to


    let go of her and leave her quiet life alone...


    Seeing that Derek did not immediately refute herself, Evelyn was overjoyed, "So, don''t you want to test


    it? During the half month of my bet with you, as long as shees to you, I will immediately leave.


    Besides, the cooperation between the Smith family and the Xaviers will be the same, I will ask grandpa


    not to stop it."


    Derek narrowed his eyes and looked at Evelyn, "That sounds good, but it seems that Miss Smith didn''t


    get any benefits from this n, did you?"


    Derek did not believe that this woman would be so kind as to help him test Meredith''s mind.


    "Of course, I have ns too... I have ns for you, Mr. Xavier. If Meredith doesn''t make any gestures in


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    half a month, then you have to get engaged to me."


    Derek heard this and snorted. Was that her real purpose?


    "I''m sorry. I''m not interested in such a boring bet."


    Without thinking, Derek stood up and said, "If Miss Smith doesn''t have anything else, I''ll go out first. I


    happen to have to attend an investment meeting."


    With that, Derek turned to leave.


    "Mr. Xavier, you don''t have to rush to refuse. I''ll wait for your reply."


    Evelyn saw that things did not go as smoothly as she thought, but she was not angry. Instead, she said


    calmly.


    Her attitude, on the contrary, made Derek more vignt.


    Derek didn''t think her brain coulde up with such a solution, judging by his staying with this woman


    during these days.


    So... Who on earth was the person behind her?


    Just as he was thinking, his men came over and said, "Boss, I have found some clues about what you


    asked me to investigate."


    Derek nodded and the two of them walked to an empty office. "Recently, Evelyn did have close


    telephone contact with a number she has never contacted before, but that person is very canny. The


    number he used was registered with a fake identity he bought on the ck market, so the person we


    found does not exist."


    When Derek heard this, a cold gleam shed in his eyes.


    "Keep investigating. Be careful, and don''t make the person aware of it and gets cautious."


    The man nodded and left quietly.


    Derek tapped his fingers on the table and looked out the window at the traffic.


    No matter who that person was, if that person dared to plot against him, he or she must pay the price.


    After Evelyn left the Xavier Group, she went to visit Ellie who was still at the hotel.


    After all, Meredith gave her a final offer yesterday, saying that Ellie had to go for a physical examination


    today to make sure she could donate healthy bone marrow.


    Now Derek was still thinking about that woman, so Evelyn couldn''t openly break up with that woman.


    Evelyn had to maintain their mutually beneficial rtionship.


    When Evelyn returned to the hotel, she saw Ellie sitting in the coffee shop owned by the hotel, typing


    on the keyboard and working hard.


    There were a few young men beside her, who seemed to be attracted by her beautiful appearance and


    capable temperament. They looked at her from time to time.


    "Hehe, you really know how to act."


    Evelyn sneered disdainfully and walked over. Without saying anything, Evelyn closed Ellie''sptop


    screen.


    Ellie frowned. She was preparing for thepany''s public rtions n for the next quarter when she


    was suddenly interrupted. She was very unhappy.


    "You don''t have to work so hard. It''s only two of us here now. No one can see us."


    What Evelyn said was a burst of sarcasm.


    Ellie smiled reluctantly, "I''m just used to the rhythm of my work. If I suddenly have nothing to do, I''ll be


    bored."


    "Thene with me to the hospital. She''s asking for a physical examination. You might be donating


    bone marrow soon."


    Hearing this, Ellie''s expression froze. She had actually been waiting for this day. Because she had


    asked carefullyter the probability of two strangers being able to urately match bone marrow,


    which was about one in a hundred thousand.


    She happened to grow up in an orphanage, so she wanted to know if the sick woman was rted to


    her by blood, or if it was just a simple coincidence.


    "Okay, I''ll pack up now. We''ll be right there."


    Thinking about the mystery of her family background, Ellie immediately sent theputer back to her


    room and followed Evelyn to the hospital.


    To avoid being seen through the lie, Evelyn took Ellie to another hospital.


    Ellie did a blood test, went through a lot of trouble, and finally walked out and asked cautiously,


    "Evelyn, that patient, is she in this hospital now?"


    "Why are you asking this?"


    Evelyn raised her guard.


    Evelyn didn''t like Ellie ever since she was a child. They were brought up in the same environment, Ellie


    always performed better in ss than her, attracted the attention of more male students than she did.


    Even her grandfather often said that Ellie was better than her.


    In addition to the fact that her uncle''s family often said that Ellie was scheming to take her ce,


    Evelyn''s vignce against Ellie was very high.


    "I just..."


    "You don''t want to find Meredith''s mother and tell her that the bone marrow is yours. You want to ruin


    my n, right?"


    "I didn''t!"


    Ellie was so anxious when she was being misunderstood for no reason. Then she quickly exined, "I


    am just eager to know if she could be my lost mother, I..."


    "You are an unwanted orphan. How can it be so coincidental that she is your mother? I warn you, this


    matter concerns my happiness for the rest of my life. Don''t try to use this excuse to gain sympathy and


    then sabotage my n.


    I won''t tell you where she is. Just wait for the day of the bone marrow transnt. "


    With that said, the doctor came out and told the two of them that the medical report would be taken in


    the afternoon. When Evelyn heard this, she did not have the patience to waste time here, "You will pick


    the medical report in the afternoon, and I have to leave for other matters to attend to."

 Chapter 584

    Chapter 584


    After that, Evelyn didn''t want to stay here with Ellie, so Evelyn turned around and left.


    Ellie looked at her back with mixed feelings.


    She had thought that if she agreed to donate, Evelyn would treat her better. At least, Evelyn wouldn''t


    be at loggerheads with her. It seemed that this was just her wishful thinking.


    Ellie hid the disappointment on her face and sat down, waiting for the results of the physical


    examination.


    Ellie was bored and could only stare nkly. At this moment, she suddenly saw a familiar figure


    appear.


    Meredith came to visit Penelope with a bunch of flowers.


    Coincidentally, the hospital that Evelyn chose was the one where Penelope had her surgery.


    The hospital Amelia was in specialized in blood surgery, but this hospital specialized in brain surgery.


    That was why they lived in different hospitals.


    When Ellie saw Meredithing, her heart beat faster for no reason. She thought about it, stood up


    quietly and followed Meredith.


    Meredith didn''t notice. She went into Penelope''s ward with the flowers and asked Penelope how she


    was feeling.


    They chatted for a while. Meredith looked at the ward and frowned when she found that Damian was


    not there.


    Did Damian really give up?


    Meredith did not dare to ask Penelope what was going on, for fear of making her sad.


    In order not to let Penelope''s imagination go wild, Meredith told her about saving a little girl, and said


    some other trivial things. Seeing that Penelope was in a good mood, Meredith was relieved and stood


    up.


    Just as Meredith was about to leave, she saw Ellie standing not far from the door. It seemed that she


    was in a daze.


    Ellie heard everything Meredith had just said.


    When she heard Meredith say that she brought a little girl home who was abused, Ellie couldn''t help


    but look at her in a new light.


    Nowadays, most people were indifferent. It was rare to see someone like her spared no pains to do


    such a thankless task.


    Ellie had been bullied by older children in the orphanage before, so Ellie had a good opinion of


    Meredith.


    "Miss Soong, why are you here?"


    Meredith was surprised to see her.


    "Oh, I''m here for a physical examination. Recently... I''ve been feeling unwell."


    For some reason, Ellie stumbled over her words.


    Ellie had been a public rtions manager for so long that she had developed strong interpersonal


    skills. She had the confidence that even if she lied, no one would catch her.


    But for some reason, the thought of deceiving a good, kind woman and separating her from her son''s


    father made Ellie feel uneasy.


    "Oh, I see. How is it? Are you okay?"


    Meredith could not help but ask. Although they were unfamiliar, she did not feel antipathy against Ellie.


    In any case, Ellie was much easier to get along with Evelyn, who was unruly and arrogant.


    "I should be fine."


    Ellie quickly replied. Seeing that Meredith was leaving, she asked tentatively, "Are you going back to


    take care of your mother?"


    Meredith nodded. Now that her mother was about to have an operation, she basically pushed


    everything off her te and focused on taking care of her mother.


    Now, it was almost lunchtime, so she had to go back.


    "Can I go and visit your mom?"


    Although Ellie found it brusque to ask that, she still said it.


    As soon as she finished her words, her ears turned red from nervousness and her heart beat faster.


    "I''m very touched by your kindness. Sure, you cane with me."


    Meredith didn''t say anything, just thinking that maybe it was because Ellie was well-bred. When Ellie


    heard that her mother was sick, she went to visit her out of courtesy.


    "That''s great."


    Ellie heaved a sigh of relief when Meredith agreed.


    Meredith looked at her nervous look and couldn''t help but feel a little strange.


    Ellie offered to visit her mother, and it was impossible for her to refuse out of courtesy. Why was Ellie


    so nervous? There must be something wrong with it.


    However, Meredith could not figure out anything for a moment, so she did not show anything.


    They got in the car one after the other. Soon, the car stopped in the parking lot of the hospital.


    "I''m going to buy some presents over there."


    Ellie was almost upstairs when she realized that she had forgotten to buy something and almost went


    to visit Amelia empty-handed.


    "Please don''t bother."


    Meredith didn''t care about that. Anyway, her mother didn''t need anything, but Ellie insisted on buying


    gifts, and there was nothing Meredith could do.


    Ellie went to the supermarket and bought a few of the most expensive tonics while Meredith was


    waiting outside. When she saw what Ellie was holding in her hand, she hurriedly said, "You don''t have


    to buy such expensive things..."


    "It''s okay. It is a token of my regard."


    Ellie went to the bathroom to wash her face when she was in the supermarket just now. She told


    herself to calm down.


    Seeing that Ellie was stubborn, Meredith had no choice but to take her upstairs. They walked into the


    ward and Meredith introduced her, "Mom, this is a friend of mine. Her name is Ellie. She''s here to visit


    you."


    "Oh, I see. I''ll call you Ellie. You don''t have to buy anything."


    When Amelia heard that she was Meredith''s friend, she greeted Ellie warmly.


    Ellie mustered up her courage and looked at Amelia, then lost in her thoughts for a moment.


    Although Amelia looked haggard and thin from illness, Ellie could tell that her features were exquisite


    and she must be beautiful when she was young.


    Ellie looked into Amelia''s eyes and inexplicably felt as if she herself was a little like Amelia.


    When Amelia saw Ellie, she also thought Ellie was familiar somehow. When she looked again, she


    realized that Ellie''s features were really simr to hers.


    It must be destiny.


    Amelia could not help but feel a little closer to Ellie.


    "Ellie,e on. Have a seat."


    Amelia beckoned Ellie over. Meredith was happy to see that they seemed to be on good terms.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Amelia used to enjoy the hustle and bustle of life, but she could only stay in the hospital now and could


    not get in touch with outsiders. Finally, there was someone else to apany her. It was obvious that


    she was really happy.


    "I''ll leave you to your chat. I''ll go out and talk to the doctor."


    Ellie nodded and Meredith left.


    Ellie introduced herself, and then chatted with Amelia about some trivial things. Then, she said


    cautiously, "Auntie, is Meredith your only daughter?"


    "My ex-husband and I only have one daughter, Mer. Why do you suddenly ask this?"


    Hearing this answer, Ellie was inexplicably disappointed.


    After chatting with Amelia for a while, she felt Amelia matched her expectations of her mother. Amelia


    was gentle and kind, but she had a power that could not be ignored.


    But now Ellie learned that Amelia only had one daughter, she thought she was probably thinking too


    much.

 Chapter 585

    Chapter 585


    "Ellie, what''s wrong? You look a little strange."


    Ellie shook her head and felt helpless and lost.


    In fact, she was already mentally prepared. Perhaps, everything was just a coincidence, but she had


    long wanted to know who her parents were.


    Back then, she was picked up from the forest by a viger. In that forest, wild animals would appear


    from time to time. She was left there, which indicated that her parents did not want her to live.


    Usually, if a baby was left at the entrance of a hospital or a welfare home, it would still be likely to be


    saved. However, she was abandoned in that kind of deserted forest. If she hadn''t been so lucky to be


    discovered by someone, she would have starved to death or been eaten by wild animals.


    So all these years, Ellie wanted to find her parents and ask them why they abandoned her, or they just


    carelessly lost their children.


    But for so many years, she had found nothing about them.


    Talking with Amelia made Ellie veryfortable. She thought that if this woman were her mother, there


    might be some stories about what happened back then.


    "You can tell me if you have any difficulties. Although I can''t help you, I can at leastfort you. After


    all, I''m so old and have experienced more things than you have."


    "It''s nothing. I just thought of something troubling me at work."


    Ellie shook her head and said nothing more.


    Amelia did not force her to speak when noticing her unwillingness.


    After a while, the hospital called and said that the physical examination report hade out. Ellie stood


    up and said, "Mrs. Flores, I still have something to do. I wille to see you again when I''m free."


    Amelia nodded and also felt very close to the girl in front of her and naturally weed her visit.


    Ellie rushed to the hospital and took the physical examination report. Everything was normal. As long


    as the time was right, she could have a bone marrow transnt at any time.


    However, she did not know when Evelyn would agree.


    Just as Ellie was thinking, her cell phone rang. It was from Joseph, Evelyn''s uncle.


    "Ellie, I heard you are in J City now. Why haven''t youe back yet?"


    Ellie was surprised that Joseph would call her, since the people of the Smiths never liked her.


    "It might take some more time. What''s the matter?"


    "It''s okay. I just want to ask about how things are going with Evelyn and Derek?"


    At first, Joseph didn''t take the affair between Derek and Evelyn seriously. After all, Old Master had


    always opposed it.


    But now, Evelyn went straight to J City to pursue Derek, which could only prove that she was very


    serious.


    If Evelyn married Derek, she would probably have a higher position in the Smiths.


    Instead, Joseph wanted them to stay away from each other so as not to influence the heirship of his


    son Charles. After all, he had known how tactful Derek was.


    If Evelyn, who was usually stupid and arrogant, had such a brilliant helper, there would be endless


    trouble for him.


    "Not bad now..."


    Ellie knew that Meredith would definitely agree to leave Derek for the sake of her mother''s illness . If


    so, it might work out soon between Derek and Evelyn.


    When Joseph heard this, he hung up with mixed feelings.


    Stary, Joseph''s wife, saw this and quickly asked, "How is it? Is she sessful now?"


    "No, but it seems that everything is going well. If she really marries into the Xaviers, it will threaten


    Charles..."


    "So, fortunately, I was careful enough to have prepared for this situation."


    Stary patted her chest in fear. That year, Cali passed away shortly after giving birth to a child in J City.


    When the Old Master knew, he asked others to bring the baby back.


    At that time Stary was worried that the Old Master would leave more property for his beloved daughter


    and then had already changed the child.


    In that harsh ce, a baby couldn''t possibly survive and must die.


    "But I always feel uneasy."


    Joseph sighed and what he had done was for his son.


    ...


    In the afternoon


    Derek''s subordinates finally found some clues.


    The person who spoke to Evelyn shared the same location with Meredith.


    In other words, this person went to Capital City a while ago and came back to J City during this time.


    Although he didn''t use this phone number every day, this strange coincidence was still worth noting.


    Derek narrowed his eyes and probably knew who that person was.


    It was not surprising that Parker did this.


    That man was not kind or honest. He started from scratch and used whatever means he could. To


    achieve his goal, he even made friends with the enemy, which was something usual to him.


    "There''s no need to check. I know who it is. I''ll deal with it."


    Derek sent them down and sneered at the schedule.


    It seems that Parker has been busy these days and had made much trouble for him. No wonder that


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Evelyn suddenly became smarter.


    After thinking about it, Derek asked someone to check Parker''s current location. And then at about the


    end of the day, Derek drove over alone.


    Parker was working at thepany. When he got off work, he saw Derek''s car parked downstairs.


    He felt it was wired. This person woulde to look for him on his own initiative. There was absolutely


    nothing good about it.


    Parker went around in order to evade Derek, but he hadn''t expected him toe here.


    "Mr. He, long time no see." Derek greeted him with a fake smile.


    "I have seen you a few days ago. A long time?"


    Parker was toozy to pay attention to him and was just about to go around and get into his car. Derek


    coldly said behind Parker. "You have been in contact with the youngdy of the Smithstely. Why do


    you have nothing to say when meeting me?"


    Parker was startled. He had been very careful to contact Evelyn these days. He did not expect that


    Derek would find any clues.


    It had to be said that Derek was indeed tactful and the strongest opponent he had ever met.


    "So you found out."


    Parker didn''t want to deny it. After all, he had already been found out by Derek and it was meaningless


    to deny.


    They were all smart people, so there was no need to y tricks.


    "But even if you find out, what can you do? You''re gonna expose my tricks to Meredith? Will she


    believe you?"

 Chapter 586

    Chapter 586


    Parker looked at Derek with a half smile and his tone was very firm.


    Derek stared at Parker''s face with icy eyes. He''d expected to see a panicked expression on his face


    when he uncovered his plot.


    But he''d got an unexpected answer.


    Was Parker so confident that he believed Meredith wouldn''t have any doubts about him?


    Such confidence somehow annoyed Derek.


    Because he was well aware that Meredith had never fully believed his words.


    This was the karma of all his mistakes in the past, which he would bear withoutining, but it was


    intolerable for him that another man had gained her unconditional trust.


    "It''s her decision to believe you or not, not yours."


    Derek spoke slowly after a long time.


    Perhaps he really needed to find out how important Parker was in Meredith''s heart.


    Parker shrugged, his face indifferent. "Then go ahead and tell her. You don''t have to forewarn me,


    because... I don''t care at all."


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    After that, Parker got into his car and drove away.


    Derek clenched his fists and stared after the car until it was gone. He felt a suffocating feeling that he


    didn''t know how to unleash.


    After deliberating for a moment, Derek called Meredith. Escape was not a solution. He needed an


    answer.


    Meredith was in the hospital and about to leave for the school to pick up Easton. Her eyes dimmed


    when she received Derek''s call.


    She wondered why he called her. Wasn''t he supposed to be busy dating Evelyn?


    With a wry smile on her lips, she connected her phone. "What''s wrong?"


    Meredith''s voice inexplicably unsettled Derek. "I need to have a word with you, face to face. It''s


    something really important."


    "I''ll go to pick up Easton in a minute. Just say it on the phone."


    Meredith rebuffed Derek without hesitation. Gossips about his love affair with another woman had just


    spread this morning and now he called to say he wanted to meet her? What was he doing?


    Derek frowned and perceived reluctance in Meredith''s voice. "Then I''ll wait for you outside Easton''s


    school. We can talk while waiting."


    After saying that, Derek hung up without giving Meredith the chance to refuse. Then he directly drove


    to Easton''s school.


    Meredith looked at her phone and her brows puckered uncontrobly.


    Notwithstanding, she had to pick up Easton no matter what.


    She pondered and couldn''t think of anything she''d done wrong. There was nothing she should be afraid


    of. Meredith then asked the driver to send her to school.


    On the way to school, Meredith looked out the window, abstracted.


    After a while, her phone rang. It was Parker.


    "Evelyn has had the result of the physical check-up sent over. Everything is fine. She can have the


    surgery at any time."


    "Really? That''s great." Meredith heaved a sigh of relief.


    "I''ll talk to her and get her to agree to the operation as soon as possible."


    "Okay. That''s very kind of you."


    Meredith did not have any doubts. After all, Parker was the person her mother trusted the most besides


    herself. She was very reassured to leave this matter to him.


    Parker''s lips curled into a smile because of her words.


    He was not surprised to get such an answer, because Meredith was never on guard against him.


    Thinking about this, Parker felt a little guilty. After all, he indeed had done something underhand this


    time, but¡­


    He recalled the five years when she''d been gone; when he''d lived in agony every day; when the future


    had seemed so bleak and he''d worked non-stoppingly to numb himself; when he''d been hellbent on


    avenging her on the Xaviers.


    He didn''t want to live like that again.


    Therefore, he could only choose to be selfish. Only in this way could he get everything he wanted.


    After about ten minutes, Meredith arrived at the school.


    She easily spotted Derek''s limited edition Rolls-Royce by the school gate which attracted a lot of


    attention.


    She took a deep breath and then walked over calmly.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Derek grabbed Meredith''s wrist in a haste. "Let''s find a ce to talk. What about the cafe over there?"


    "No, we''ll talk here. Let go of my hand."


    Meredith didn''t want to be snapped quarreling with Derek on the street by the paparazzi. Otherwise, a


    sensation would be caused again.


    However, Derek''s hand was so strong that she could not break free, so she was dragged into that cafe


    despite herself.


    As soon as Derek release her after they got into the cafe, Meredith drew away from him. She didn''t


    know what the hell this man wanted.


    "Do you know that Parker is in contact with Evelyn?"


    Derek cut to the chase.


    "Does that matter?" Meredith answered without thinking, her attitude indifferent.


    "There might have struck a deal..."


    Meredith''s eyelids twitched at the word "deal."


    She measured Derek''s expression, wondering whether he had found out anything¡­


    But it was impossible that her deal with Evelyn got divulged.


    "I believe he won''t do anything to hurt me."


    Meredith considered her words and answered ambiguously.


    Derek suddenly clutched the cup in his hand. The veins on the back of his hand popped up.


    He had thought that his words would at least make her ask questions or raise doubt in her heart, but


    her answer just pricked thest bubble of hope remaining to him.


    She believed that Parker wouldn''t do anything to hurt her...


    This kind of trust was an unattainable luxury between them.


    "So you think he''s more trustworthy than I am, right?"


    Derek asked in a very low voice, suppressing waves of restlessness.


    Meredith looked down. "Yes."


    "In other words, no matter who he is and what he did, you believe him unconditionally?"


    "At least he didn''t betray me. He was the one who saved my life when I was dying on that uninhabited


    ind."


    Derek had a lot to say but the mention of the past left him tongue-tied.


    Meredith saw the man''s face slowly sink. No one had ever seen this expression on Derek''s face. He


    looked dispirited, even a little helpless.


    For an instant, Meredith felt her heart softened because of his dejection, but she pinched herself hard


    under the table on her thigh.


    Thinking about what she''d seen today and those harsh remarks, she made up her mind to get rid of the


    distressing entanglement with him.

 Chapter 587

    Chapter 587


    Derek lowered his head. He should have said something tough to deny Meredith.


    However, he couldn''t say it out.


    He didn''t want Meredith to think that he was a control freak anymore.


    She kept asking him for respect, so he couldn''t be like who he used to be.


    Parker was indeed much gentler than him.


    If it hadn''t been for him, she wouldn''t have suffered so much. He wanted to abort their child, which


    drove her crazy. And at her most difficult time, it was Parker who saved her and took care of her after


    she got postpartum hemorrhage.


    At that time, he was still careless and casual at the engagement. Although it was held for her, this could


    not be his excuse.


    So, Parker deserved Meredith''s trust.


    However, he was reluctant to let her go.


    The silencested a long time. As Meredith was almost having difficulty breathing due to the


    embarrassing atmosphere, Derek looked up at Meredith''s eyes and said, "Okay, I ept what you


    said."


    Meredith''s eyes shed with surprise when she heard this.


    She knew that Derek had always been suspicious about Parker. If it had been before, he would have


    been furious and questioned their rtionship. However, he was calm to ept it now.


    Meredith clenched her lower lip subconsciously.


    She found that this man was the same as before, who always made her confused and puzzled.


    "I know he did a lot of things for you in the past, so it''s okay if you believe him, but what I want to say


    is... Mer, I''m willing to do anything to win your trust, as long as you ask."


    "As long as you ask..."


    This should be the biggest promise Derek had ever made. As long as he could, no matter what


    Meredith asked, he was willing to do it.


    As long as she would believe in him more, it was worthy.


    It was also the first time Meredith had seen Derek say something like this. Although there were too


    many conflicts between them, she knew that Derek was not a boastful person.


    As long as he promised, he would do it.


    Meredith squeezed the bag in her hand, her nails were flushed with a faint greenish-white because of


    the force.


    After a long time, she said, "No, you don''t have to."


    What was the point of saying this now?


    For the sake of her mother, she would never make any mistakes at this crucial time. Besides, it took


    her a long time to make up her mind to leave him, so she could not turn back.


    Meredith''s tone was tactful and gentle. But in Derek''s ears, her words were more sarcastic than


    anything else.


    The most resigned thing in the world was that he desperately wanted to prove himself, but she was


    unmoved.


    Meredith looked at Derek''s expression. At this moment, she had no idea what to say.


    Comfort was useless and redundant.


    She could only look at him in silence.


    "Is that what from your bottom of heart? Is it true that you don''t care at all about what will happen to me


    in the future?"


    Derek''s murmur came into Meredith''s ear and made her breath stopped for a second.


    A man had always had a strong sense of self-respect. She had never heard him speak his mind so


    honestly.


    She hesitated for a moment, and then there was some noise from the children outside.


    It turned out that it was time for the children to leave school.


    "I''m sorry, Easton is out of school. I''ll pick him up first."


    With that, Meredith almost ran away.


    She did not know whether she would waver or not if the talk continued. She could only escape so as


    not to have any new decisions.


    Derek smiled bitterly as he watched her back.


    Compared to the intense hatred and resentment she once had towards him, her attitude was as mild as


    water now.


    The hatred was gone, which meant that she no longer loved him. Naturally, she wouldn''t care about


    him anything.


    Derek sat there and watched Meredith leaving from afar. She didn''t even look back once.


    He showed a wry smile, then checked out and left.


    After Meredith left the coffee shop, she took a few steps and felt something appeared in her eyes.


    She wiped her face and found herself crying.


    When she faced Derek just now, she had been holding back. But now, she couldn''t resist anymore.


    They couldn''t go back anymore...


    Meredith took a deep breath and patted her cheek. She knew that Easton wasing out soon, and


    she couldn''t let him see her sadness.


    Meredith calmed down for a while, then went to the school gate. Easton and Fiona had already been


    waiting there. When they saw that she waste, they pouted. "Mom, why are you sote? All the other


    children were taken home."


    "I''m sorry, Easton. Something just happened to mom." Meredith apologized immediately, took their


    hands, and walked towards the car.


    Easton was not really annoyed. The teacher checked his homework today. Easton was d that he did


    it yesterday, otherwise, the teacher would call Meredith.


    Because of this, he had only been out for a few minutes. He just wanted to take this opportunity to act


    coquettishly.


    They got into the car.


    "Then let''s go out for dinner tonight. I want to go to KFC..."


    Easton knew that with Meredith''s usual personality, if she felt that she did something wrong, she would


    make it up to him. It was just as well that he wanted to go out for something else.


    However, Meredith didn''t answer.


    She was staring out the window in a daze. No one knew what she was thinking, but she looked a little


    worried.


    "There seems to be something wrong with aunt Mer."


    Fiona had not said a word until just now, and she was originally not a talkative child. It was interesting


    enough for her to listen to Easton''s chatter.


    "You can tell it, too..."


    Easton nodded. Normally, Meredith would not be like this. She was so dazed that she didn''t even hear


    what Easton said.


    Was she in trouble?


    Just as he was thinking, Easton suddenly saw a familiar car passing by.


    He called out immediately. "It''s dad''s car."


    Only then did Meredithe to her senses.


    "Mom, did you quarrel with dad?"


    Meredith didn''t want to talk about what happened today. She couldn''t think about it, or she would feel


    her chest be stuffed up.


    "No, you''re mistaken, Easton. If your father were here, why didn''t hee to see you?"


    Easton was bewildered. He was too familiar with the car, which was rare for only several around the


    world. So he couldn''t have been wrong.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    But how could dad note to see him?


    Thinking of this, Easton was confused.


    Seeing that he was thinking nonsense, Meredith said, "It''s really not your father''s car. It was so fast, so


    it''s possible for you to misjudge it. What did you just say? To KFC?"


    Easton thought for a moment. Maybe he was mistaken, so he stopped struggling. "Yeah, I want fried


    chicken and drumsticks."


    "Fiona, would you like to go?"


    Meredith looked at the little girl who was silent next to her. She agreed until Xin Ran nodded.

 Chapter 588

    Chapter 588


    She took the two children to the fast food restaurant. But Meredith was unable to immerse herself into


    the happy atmosphere even though she was with these cute children.


    Whenever she thought of Derek''s expression today and the words he said to her, she felt heartbroken.


    After all, he was the person she had loved so deeply...


    Perhaps, even now, her feelings for him had not changed.


    ...


    After having dinner, Meredith brought them home. After a while, the private investigator she found sent


    her a file.


    It was information about Fiona''s mother.


    The woman''s name was Lydia. Meredith looked at the photo and saw that she was indeed a very


    beautiful woman. Her appearance was no worse than those celebrity models she had seen before.


    Now, she had been married to a rich family, and had a pigeon pair. She led the life that everyone would


    envy.


    Meredith frowned.


    She was not sure if this woman would take her daughter away.


    The reason why she was so anxious to find this woman was that Meredith was afraid that they would


    find her again. If only she stood out and cope with it, those people would not have given up.


    "Forget it, I''ll just ask her about it."


    Meredith took out her cell phone and wrote down the number. Perhaps there was something unknown


    about the woman leaving her daughter.


    Meredith didn''t call her directly but sent a message. "Your daughter is abused by her family now. If you


    want to pick her up, please contact me."


    After sending the message, Meredith put the matter aside for the time being. If Lydia didn''t reply to her


    in two days, she would go to find her.


    After doing this, Meredith was free, but when she had nothing to do, she would think of Derek.


    Meredith couldn''t help scratching her hair and trying to get those scenes out of her mind, but she


    couldn''t make it.


    In the end, she had no choice but to take out the paper and pen and start drawing the design.


    These days, she had been running around looking for Fiona''s mother and hadn''t painted for a long


    time. She didn''t know if her drawing ability had declined.


    Immersed herself in the drawing, Meredith gradually calmed down...


    ...


    The next day.


    Meredith opened her eyes and realized that she had fallen asleep on the desk. She had been working


    non-stopst night, trying to get rid of all the sad things in her head. Unexpectedly, she was so tired


    that she fell asleep here.


    Meredith smiled bitterly and looked at the designs on the table. Every one of them was filled with


    depression and sadness. The colors she used were not as bright and cheerful as her previous designs.


    Instead, they were all cold colors, looking very desert and impersonal.


    Meredith looked down and put away the drawing paper. It seemed that she was really not in the mood


    for drawing.


    Someone once said that the best part of her design was that it was full of human feelings and


    emotions, but now, there was nothing of them in her drawing.


    Looking at the time, she realized that it was time for Easton to go to school. Meredith sighed and got up


    to wake them up.


    After Easton was woken up, he looked sleepy. "Mom, what''s wrong with you? Why do you call me up


    so early?"


    "What''s wrong? You''re going to school." Meredith thought Easton didn''t want to go to school again and


    couldn''t help but get serious.


    "But today is Saturday..." Easton looked helpless.


    Meredith froze and looked at the calendar on the wall. Oh, it was indeed Saturday. She was out of her


    mind that she forgot the days of the week.


    "Mom, what''s wrong with you? I feel like something''s wrong with you."


    Easton asked worriedly. From yesterday until now, he felt that something was wrong, but Meredith


    refused to say it.


    "Nothing, just a little tired."


    Meredith shook her head. "Since it''s the weekend, you just rest at home for one day."


    After that, Meredith walked out.


    Easton was awakened and couldn''t sleep, so he came out and knocked on Fiona''s door.


    Fiona had already gotten up. Not only was she up, but she had also folded the quilt neatly and was


    reading a book.


    Seeing her like this, Easton felt a lot of pressure in his heart. She worked so hard. Inparison, he


    was sozy.


    "Wow, you actually folded your quilt. I can''t even do that."


    Easton had someone serving him since he was a child to help him do everything. He didn''t know how


    to do the household chores at all.


    "Well, I just don''t think it''s good to mess up your house."


    Fiona said shyly.


    When she was at home, she would be beaten if she messed up the room, so she developed this habit.


    Seeing that both children were up, Meredith began to make breakfast.


    After breakfast, Easton and Fiona went back to their room to y. Easton was holding his cell phone


    and ncing over the news of the day.


    A piece of news about Derek made him shudder.


    "The president of the Xavier Group was in an ident because something suddenly fell at the


    construction site. The situation is unknown now!"


    Easton was in a panic. Although he usually looked like he didn''t care about anything, this was the first


    time he felt anxious.


    Easton immediately went to Meredith with his cell phone. "Mom, mom, something''s wrong."


    Meredith was tired and was about to take a break when she heard Easton''s anxious voice and


    immediately sat up. "What''s wrong?"


    Easton showed her the video on his phone.


    It was a video taken by a mobile phone. The picture quality was not high. All she could see was Derek


    following a man with a helmet. It looked like he was inspecting. After the two of them walked a few


    steps, a piece of building material suddenly fell from the roof and smashed in the direction of where


    Derek stood.


    Then, the scene was a mess, and the whole video stopped abruptly.


    Meredith''s face turned pale.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    She immediately took out her cell phone and called Derek, but no one answered.


    Her heart was pounding like it was about to jump out. After thinking about it, she immediately called


    Damian.


    However, she couldn''t get through him either.


    Perhaps it was because this ident happened so suddenly that everyone called them at the same


    time and the line was busy.


    Meredith bit her lower lip and thought about it. She guessed that Derek might receive treatment at the


    hospital under the Xaviers. After all, it was a big deal. There was the only ce where he could get the


    best rest and protection.


    "Easton, I know where your father is. Let''s go."


    Easton nodded. Meredith looked at Fiona. "Fiona, are you staying at home or are you going with us?"


    "I''m going with you!" Although she didn''t know what happened, she felt it must be very serious. Fiona


    immediately asked to go with them. Even if she couldn''t help, she couldfort Easton and aunt Mer.

 Chapter 589

    Chapter 589


    Meredith nodded and immediately left the house with the two kids, then they headed straight for the


    hospital.


    As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the hospital, Meredith saw many bodyguards dressed in


    ck hovering around the hospital, as if they were on guard against the people outside.


    So Meredith was more certain that Derek must be receiving treatment here.


    After all, Derek was now in charge of the Xaviers, and every move would pose a great impact. If any


    bad news came out, the stock price of the Xaviers would definitely fluctuate.


    Therefore, in order to avoid the worst scenario, many bodyguards stood here, allowing no suspicious


    people in.


    Meredith took Easton there and Damian came up. Although he hadn''t been with Derek for a long time


    recently, how could he note back after something so serious happened?


    "Hello, Miss Mason."


    Damian also looked tired and remorseful.


    These days, he had been thinking about his rtionship with Penelope, so he just used the annual


    leave he had never taken in the past few years to give himself a long vacation so that his mind could be


    free and he could find the answer deep in his heart.


    However, he didn''t expect this to happen.


    Derek was the one who recognized Damian''s talent. Although Damian graduated from a prestigious


    university, he was still an ordinary man with no background. In the workce, he did not seem to have


    many advantages over others.


    There was even a time when Damian stayed up all night to work out a n for a week and a substitute


    who relied on connections stole his work.


    Damian was so angry that he went to talk to the director first, but he was told that the substitute''s


    rtive was the finance manager of thepany. Even if he made a fuss, it was useless.


    Just when Damian thought he could only swallow the bitter pill in silence, Derek called him to the office.


    Derek pointed out the shorings of his n and told him that the two men who relied on nepotism to


    bully others had been fired.


    Then, because of his outstanding working abilities, Damian followed Derek and became Derek''s


    special assistant.


    "If I had been there, maybe I could have saved my boss, maybe this wouldn''t have happened..."


    Hearing Damian''s remorse, Meredithforted him. "You didn''t know this would happen, and it was


    me you."


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Damian felt much better and nodded. "Let''s go in quickly. The doctor should


    give the results soon."


    Meredith nodded and quickly followed Damian inside.


    However, Violet, who had been waiting outside the operating room, saw Meredith after a few steps.


    Seeing Meredith, Violet was filled with anger.


    Since yesterday, when Derek came home, his expression has been very strange. Violet asked him


    many times, but he was not willing to say anything.


    It was obvious that this must have something to do with Meredith.


    And today, this ident happened.


    The resentment in Violet''s heart deepened. If this woman hadn''t always disturbed Derek''s mind, how


    could he have been absent-minded and hurt by a falling object from the sky?


    "Meredith, what are you doing here? Do you think you didn''t hurt Derek enough?"


    Meredith really didn''t want to talk to Violet. This woman''s thoughts were different from normal people.


    No matter what happened, even now, Derek was obviously injured by an ident, and she could


    me Meredith.


    However, seeing that she was in a bad mood because of her son''s ident, it was rare for Meredith


    not to argue with her, so Meredith pretended not to hear her.


    Violet was even angrier when she saw Meredith ignoring her.


    She didn''t know when the change started. Meredith was no longer the pushover she remembered.


    Meredith was like this, even though Meredith didn''t say anything, she felt it was very difficult to control


    Meredith.


    "Grandma, can you not say that... Mom didn''t know this would happen either. She knew that dad was


    hurt, so she came over first because she cared about him."


    Although Meredith did not speak, her precious son Easton could not bear to see her suffer a little.


    Standing directly in front of Meredith, Easton stared at Violet. He looked like a little adult.


    Fiona also came. Although her strength was very small, aunt Mer had protected her and said to help


    her find her mother, so she could not let outsiders bully her.


    When Violet saw this scene, she felt even worse.


    Speaking of which, she had brought Easton for five years, and Meredith had only been back for less


    than a year, and the two of them had not been together for long. However, this child was naturally close


    to his mother, and now, he was challenging her for his mother.


    And the little girl beside, who looked timid at first nce, but now stared at her fiercely like a little wolf.


    This woman really was really good at winning popr support.


    "Easton, you''re still a child, so you don''t understand. Your father is usually so smart and quick-witted. If


    he hadn''t been distracted by her affairs, he would have been able to escape."


    "No, I don''t believe you. No one saw what was going on. Why should mom take all the responsibility?"


    Easton had been arguing with Violet like a little man.


    Meredith''s heart warmed up when she saw him.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "Forget it, Easton. Your grandmother is just worried about your father''s injury. Stop arguing."


    "Mom..."


    Meredith shook her head at him. This was not the time to argue. The most important thing was Derek''


    conditions.


    Easton felt aggrieved at the sight of this, and suddenly he seemed to understand why his mother had


    been unwilling to marry his father.


    If anything happened in the future, grandma was so indiscriminately criticized his mother, even the


    most good-tempered people could not stand it.


    Violet heard Meredith say this, but she didn''t feel sorry at all. She didn''t appreciate Meredith at all.


    Instead, she felt that Meredith was pretending to be pitiful, pretending to be knowledgeable and


    reasonable, so that everyone could sympathize with Meredith.


    However, many people sympathized with Meredith.


    Violet''s heart was filled with indignation, and they just stared at each other. When everyone was


    awkward, the lights in the emergency room went out a few times, and finally, the door was pushed


    open.


    Derek was pushed out.


    "Doctor, how''s my son?" Violet asked anxiously.

 Chapter 590

    Chapter 590


    "Fortunately, when the patient was hit by a falling object, he extended his hand to block it. The force


    that hit his head was rtively light, so there was no concussion or other symptoms. It was just that his


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    hand was broken and he needed to rest for a period of time."


    Hearing this, everyone was relieved.


    After all, it was fortunate that under such a dangerous condition, Derek just had a fracture of a hand.


    "When will he wake up?"


    "Now that he''s under anesthesia, he won''t be able to wake up until early tomorrow morning. You can


    take turns to take care of him. When he wakes up, you can call the doctor for further examination."


    "I see, doctor. Thank you."


    Violet thanked the doctor and breathed a sigh of relief.


    Fortunately, nothing serious happened. If Derek had been in aa for a few more years like before,


    she might not have been able to hold on.


    Meredith stood at the door of the operating room, her clenching hands loosening a little. And she


    realized that her palms were wet with sweat, perhaps because she was too nervous to see the doctor


    and didn''t even notice it.


    After a while, he was pushed out.


    Meredith looked at him with a thick bandage on his head and a ster on his hands. She felt terrible.


    Even if they had already broken up, she still didn''t want him to get hurt.


    And just as Meredith was staring at him with worry, Evelyn received this news from Violet.


    When Evelyn arrived at the hospital and saw him unconscious on the bed, she immediately lunged at


    him. "Derek, Derek! Is he okay?"


    Meredith frowned at her exaggerated actions.


    "What was wrong with her?" Meredith thought.


    "Was she worried about him or trying to aggravate his injury? What was with the exaggerated actions?


    He was not dead yet."


    "Don''t press his hand."


    Meredith knew she shouldn''t have said this, but she had nursed her mother for years, she knew very


    well that Evelyn would cause the wound dehiscence if she continued to do so.


    So she reminded Evelyn.


    And Meredith also took a nce at Violet.


    "It was so strange. Wasn''t she usually the one who cares about Derek the most? Evelyn might have


    pressed his wound now, but she didn''t say a word."


    "Perhaps this was the benefit of a good family background and power."


    Meredith sneered in her heart, but there was no expression on her face.


    Hearing her words, Evelyn came back to her sense from the shock and sadness she had just


    experienced. She had never taken care of a patient so she did not know the consequences of her


    actions.


    "Why are you here, Meredith?"


    Evelyn''s tone was unkind.


    Didn''t she say she was going to break up with Derek? But now, when something happened to him, she


    got to the hospital faster than her!


    "I''m just here to check on him. Don''t worry. I won''t do anything."


    Meredith said calmly, "Since I know he''s fine, I''ll leave now."


    After that, she went out to look for the two little guys who had just said they were going to the


    bathroom.


    Evelyn felt Meredith didn''t take her words seriously. She was in fury.


    Violet saw this andforted her. "Don''t be angry with her. As long as she''s gone, everything will be


    fine. If Derek wakes up and sees you first, he will definitely be moved."


    Hearing this, Evelyn suppressed her anger and nodded politely at Violet. "I know, auntie, I was just too


    worried about Derek. I''ll calm down."


    "Yes, I know. You have good nature."


    It is not known how sincere the two women are when they talk to each other.


    ...


    When Meredith went out, he saw Easton running back while shaking water off his hands.


    Fiona followed behind him, holding a few tissues in her hand. "Wipe your hands before you go back!"


    "Why so troublesome? They are going to dry soon."


    Easton, after all, was a boy. He didn''t pay much attention to these small things and not so particr


    about them.


    When Fiona heard this, she felt helpless.


    Seeing the two little fellows, Meredith''s unhappiness had lessened a lot.


    She couldn''t help but wonder how good it would be if Fiona could live with her. Fiona was so sweet and


    sensible. She always wanted a daughter like her.


    Seeing Meredith standing outside, Easton ran over. "Mom, why are you standing here? You don''t want


    to look after dad inside?"


    Instead of answering, Meredith changed the subject and said, "Let''s go back now. There are too many


    people here."


    "Too many people?"


    Easton frowned. There were only five people here, the three of them, grandma and Damian, and who


    else inside?


    Unable to contain his curiosity, he walked into the ward and saw Evelyn sitting by the side.


    "Oh, so this annoying woman was here. Why was she always trying to get between my mom and dad?"


    He thought.


    "Why are you here again, auntie? Don''t you have anything to do yourself? You pester others every day!


    Cheeky!"


    Every time Easton spoke to her, he wouldn''t be polite. He didn''t want to be nice to a bad woman who


    wanted to steal his father from them.


    "Easton, don''t be so rude. Apologize!"


    When Violet heard this, she could not help but feel a headache. She was clear about Easton''s


    stubbornness, but as an elder, seeing her grandson talking like this made her very embarrassed.


    He must have learned these impertinent words from his mother, Meredith.


    "It''s okay, auntie. Easton is just a child..."


    Evelyn was very angry. But in order to show her magnanimity in front of Violet, she forced himself and


    resisted the anger, smiling andforting.


    Seeing that she was so generous, Violet liked her even more. "I know you are generous, but Easton is


    now in an important growth stage. He can''t learn some bad habits from some bad people. I''m afraid it


    will harm him for the rest of his life."


    When Easton heard Violet said about bad people, his small face turned red with anger.


    He was not a fool. He could tell that she meant his mother. He didn''t have a negative opinion of his


    grandmother at first, but now that he viewed her as the vicious mother-inw in those TV dramas.


    "Grandma, I think you may be a little tired recently. Your eyes are tired as well. You can''t tell the good


    from the bad. My mother is the best woman in the world. Am I right?"


    After that, he looked at Fiona and asked her to speak up for him.


    Fiona thought about it. Although she had a mother, she had never seen her. She didn''t know if she was


    good or not. Then the best woman in the world was aunt Mer, who treated her best.

 Chapter 591

    Chapter 591


    "Well, Easton is right." Fiona supported him, looking especially agreed.


    Hearing this, Easton became more confident.


    Look, everyone thought so. Only grandma was deceived by that bad woman and believed that Evelyn


    was a good person.


    Evelyn was in a worse mood. It was okay she was judged by Easton. After all, he was Derek''s son, but


    who was this little girl?


    The girl was cute and had an innocent face, but how dare she treat her with disrespect?


    "Easton, who is this little girl? Do you know the situation now? How could you bring a person of


    dubious background here!"


    Violet saw that Evelyn was unhappy, she couldn''t help but scold Easton.


    In particr, she did not know Fiona and only knew that the girl seemed to be very close to Meredith,


    so subconsciously, she did not like the girl.


    "I..."


    Fiona had never seen such a scene before. When Violet looked at her, she thought of her stepmother


    who often scolded her. She couldn''t help but hide behind Easton.


    Easton noticed it and stood forward, blocking Violet''s eyes. "Grandma, even if she''s just a passer-by,


    she has the right to speak. Unptable advice always benefits conduct, you can''t stop people from


    telling the truth, right?"


    Easton was young, but he was smart, and he was good at talking. In a short while, he found many


    reasons to stop Violet from reprimanding them.


    Violet took a deep breath. If Easton stayed here any longer, he might ruin the marriage between the


    Xaviers and the Smith family, then she said, "Easton, just take her with you. You two children can''t help


    much here, but only will mess things up."


    "No, I''m not leaving."


    Easton was not leaving. He could see that Evelyn was going to drive them all away and stay here.


    Then she could twist the truth and say that she was the only one who cared about him the most.


    She was naive to y such a trick in front of him.


    Seeing that Easton was so disobedient today, Violet was almost fuming.


    However, she could not do anything disrespectful in such a public ce, so she could only endure her


    anger and go out to find Meredith.


    Only in front of Meredith, Easton was a good and obedient boy.


    "Meredith, take Easton back. There''s no need for so many people in the ward now."


    Violet''s tone wasmanding.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    In fact, Meredith wanted to take them back. After all, with Evelyn here, she didn''t want to stay here any


    longer.


    But when she heard this from Violet, she would inexplicably not want to do as she said.


    In Violet''s eyes, the rtionship between Evelyn and Derek was closer than that between Easton and


    Derek?


    She actually wanted to get rid of Easton for that woman...


    Was this what the Xaviers called etiquette?


    She didi it just for her own benefits. It was really disgusting.


    When Easton heard this, he couldn''t help but look at Meredith, his palms sweating because of


    nervousness.


    He was worried that Meredith would really take him away, so he would have to listen to her.


    After all, Easton always listened to Meredith.


    "Miss Garcia, Easton is Derek''s biological son. If he wants to stay here with his father, shouldn''t you be


    happy that he is so filial? Why do you have to chase him away?"


    Meredith narrowed her eyes and spoke in an unfriendly tone.


    She was no longer the person she used to be. She did not need to obey Violet in everything. So


    naturally, she would only speak her mind.


    "You..."


    Violet wanted to say something, but she didn''t know how to refute Meredith.


    Indeed, if Easton wanted to stay, she would only think that he was sensible and considerate. But now,


    he disliked Evelyn and spoke ill of her, Violet could only drive him away and let Derek and Evelyn have


    a chance to develop their rtionship.


    Unexpectedly, she waspletely seen through by Meredith. Moreover, Meredith talked in such a


    direct statement that made her embarrassed.


    "Meredith, you didn''t want them to have a chance to get along with each other, so you taught Easton to


    say these words, didn''t you?"


    Meredith sneered. "I''m sorry, I''m afraid you''re thinking too much. Your son is excellent, but not every


    woman has to fight for him. I''m not interested in doing this, and Easton is not a pushover."


    After saying that, Meredith looked at Easton. "Easton, what do you think?"


    "I... I want to stay."


    Easton indeed cared about his father''s health, but he was also afraid that Evelyn would turn the facts


    upside down, so naturally, he did not want to leave.


    Meredith nodded. "Well, you stay here. You are his son. You have the right to stay here. No one can


    drive you away."


    This was all for Violet.


    In order to arrange a woman for Derek, Violet took the liberty to find those beautiful teachers for


    Easton. Meredith remember it and was angry about it all the time.


    Now she even ignored her grandson''s filial piety for the so-called marriage, Meredith could not bear it


    any longer.


    "Then I have to stay here and watch dad wake up so I can rest assured."


    Easton heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that Meredith would not back down this time.


    Violet was speechless, but there was nothing she could do but watch Easton go back to the ward.


    Evelyn thought Easton was going to be driven away, but she didn''t expect him toe back. Her facial


    muscles were all twitching. After spending so much time with this brat, she was afraid that she would


    get a few new wrinkles from anger.


    Walking to the side, Evelyn sent a message to Meredith. "Meredith, what do you mean? Take your son


    and that hateful girl away."


    Meredith was already angry because of Violet''s actions, and when she saw this message, she was


    even more furious.


    "Miss Smith, we seem to have only agreed on matters between us. As for what the child thinks, I can''t


    force him away. It''s normal for him to care about his father. I hope you understand."


    Meredith had finally figured it out. She couldn''t be too cooperative with people like Evelyn, or she


    wouldn''t donate her bone marrow to her mother.


    "Of course, if Miss Smith could donate your bone marrow quickly and let the Xaviers give up Easton''s


    custody, I would take him with me and disappear before you."


    Meredith finished typing and locked the screen.


    She had made it clear. If Evelyn asked her to do something, she had to show some sincerity. Although


    she had the bone marrow to save Meredith''s mother, it didn''t mean that Meredith would be led by the


    nose.


    Evelyn looked at the message on the phone and gritted her teeth.


    Was Meredith telling her that she could take away everything that she had worked so hard to get at any


    time?

 Chapter 592

    Chapter 592


    Evelyn ground her teeth with hatred. But she knew it well that she was not Meredith''s match for Derek


    cared about Meredith so much.


    So, she could only restrain herself and pretend not to see Meredith''s text.


    Anyway, the two kids wouldn''t bear to stay in such a quiet and boring ce for long.


    Violet couldn''t say anything to Easton anymore. After all, Meredith had warned her, and she was afraid


    that the boy would be colder to her if she forcibly took him away.


    "Ms. Garcia, you can go back and have a rest. Don''t worry, I can handle it."


    Evelyn persuaded Violet to have a rest sensibly.


    "Thank you for your kindness. I''ll go back now. After all, Mr. Xavier is anxious to know what had


    happened."


    Evelyn nodded, watching Violet leave.


    Now only Evelyn and the two kids were in the room.


    Easton saw through Evelyn. He even took out today''s homework from his bag.


    "Let''s do our homework together."


    Fiona nodded. Anyway, they had nothing to do now. It was a good choice to do the homework.


    So, they got two chairs from a nurse, sat together and did their homework.


    Itsted several hours.


    Easton was determined to stay here so that this bad woman wouldn''t be able to y tricks, so he was


    focusing on the homework than ever.


    At first, it was Fiona who was teaching Easton something he had never learned before, butter on,


    Easton could tutor the girl.


    "Easton, you''re amazing. We haven''t learned that, but you know how to do the homework."


    Fiona couldn''t help but praise him, which made Easton proud. "That''s right, it only costs me two hours


    to learn that."


    "Wow, you''re awesome!"


    Fiona pped her hands in admiration.


    The children were enjoying themselves while Evelyn was annoyed.


    With the kids around, she could do nothing but only sit beside Derek and be annoyed by their chirping.


    "You''re noisy. Can''t you go back home to do your homework?"


    Evelyn couldn''t stand it anymore.


    "What''s wrong? We''re learning while waiting for my dad to wake up. Isn''t it a good thing? If my dad


    wakes up and sees I''m diligent, he must be very happy and even recovers immediately."


    Easton turned to look at her, not afraid at all. His words left Evelyn speechless.


    "Take your time, then. I''m going to eat something."


    Evelyn said with clenched teeth, without any intention of taking the two children out to dinner.


    "Brats, you gotta find yourselves something to eat."


    Fiona looked at Easton worriedly when she heard this. It didn''t matter to her because she was not


    allowed to have dinner if she had done something wrong, but what about Easton?


    "Hehe, you''re outdated. Don''t you know we can order a takeout?"


    Easton said disdainfully. Did this woman think they wanted her to treat them to dinner? He was afraid


    that she would poison them!


    "Fiona, let''s order a lot of food and red bull drinks. We sleep in turns so we won''t miss my dad''s waking


    up."


    Easton quickly ordered some food by his phone. There were two of them so they had an advantage


    over Evelyn.


    Anyway, he wouldn''t allow her to show her tenderness.


    Fiona didn''t quite understand what he meant, but she nodded. "Okay, don''t worry, I won''t fall asleep."


    When Evelyn heard that, she became even more annoyed.


    She thought she would be the only one who stayed with Derek after Meredith and Violet left.


    Then, he must be touched when he woke up and saw her, no matter how cold he was to her. Besides,


    she could say that Meredith didn''t care about him at all so that Derek would give up on her.


    But the kidspletely ruin her dream.


    The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. Evelyn stormed off.


    "Hehe, stupid woman, you can''t win."


    Easton snorted. His mother didn''t want to waste her time fighting her. But he wouldn''t let her go.


    "Okay, let''s take a break. Takeout will be here soon. I ordered milk tea and fried chicken."


    Fiona had no objections. She put away the books on the table.


    "Let''s return the chairs."


    Fiona looked at the chairs and said.


    Easton nodded. "Okay."


    So they went out with chairs, but the hospital was veryrge, and they didn''t know who the nurse was,


    so they just walked around aimlessly.


    ...


    Evelyn came back and found that the two annoying kids had left. She was about to breathe a sigh of


    relief, but she found that their bags were still here. It seemed that they were just leaving temporarily.


    Maybe they went to get takeout?


    Evelyn felt annoyed again. Just then, someone knocked on the door. "Hello, your takeout is here."


    Evelyn was about to ask the delivery to go because she didn''t want the annoying kids to have their


    dinner.


    But she caught a glimpse of the medicine on Derek''s bedside, and all of a sudden, a terrifying idea


    came to her mind.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    After some thought, she went out and brought in the takeout. Then, she found the milk tea inside.


    What if she mixed some medicine in it...


    That evil thought came out again.


    Even Derek was lying on the bed, the man was so good-looking, as perfect as a prince in a fairy tale


    who fell asleep.


    And she was the princess who would save the sleeping prince...


    The evil thought erased her uneasiness. She took out a transparent medicine, opened it, mixed it into


    one of the milk tea, and was about to do it again, but she heard a gentle footsteping from outside.

 Chapter 593

    Chapter 593


    Hearing footsteps, Evelyn immediately stepped back and hid the small bottle in her pocket.


    As she was nervous, some of the medicine spilled out and made her clothes wet.


    Easton finally returned the stool to the nurse. As soon as they returned to the ward, they saw Evelyn


    standing there, not knowing what she was doing.


    Easton immediately felt that she had done something bad.


    "What are you doing? Do you want to throw away our takeout?"


    Easton did not expect her to do something terrible. He just thought that this bad-tempered woman was


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    going to throw their things away.


    Hearing this, Evelyn, who had just been guilty, was much calmer.


    No matter how smart he was, he was still a five-year-old child.


    "The food you ordered smells terrible. What''s wrong with throwing it out? Don''t make your father


    disgusted."


    When Easton heard this, he quickly held the food in his arms and put it aside like something he


    cherished. "If it smells bad, then you can go out. You''re the only one who will cause trouble. My father


    is not so delicate."


    Besides, he didn''t buy anything that smelled bad. This woman was just trying to find fault with him.


    Evelyn left the room. Surprisingly she didn''t get angry and just snorted because she had just done


    something bad.


    However, she did not go far. She went to the room next to the VIP ward, where there was a small


    window that could clearly see what the two children were doing.


    Seeing her leave, the two children rxed again.


    "Eat something first."


    Like a master, Easton put a bunch of snacks on the table, because no one cared about him now. He


    ordered a lot of things that he was not allowed to eat at home.


    Fried chicken. burgers, grilled gluten, barbecue, etc., they definitely couldn''t have so much food.


    "Let''s eat this first."


    Easton looked at it and thought it would be better to eat fried chicken first. If it was put for a long time, it


    would be too soft and didn''t taste good.


    "I remember they had fried chicken together with beer in TV shows, but we''re still kids. We can''t drink.


    We can have juice instead. It''s all carbonated anyway."


    Easton usually liked to watch TV, and then imitated the scene in it. When he saw the fried chicken, he


    immediately thought of this.


    Fiona didn''t understand, but when she heard him say that, she nodded. "Yeah, okay."


    Both children had fried chicken in one hand and carbonated drinks in another hand. Since there was no


    adult around, they really enjoyed eating.


    Evelyn hid in the room and watched them have carbonated drinks. She was very anxious.


    Because the carbonated drinks were sealed, if she opened them, Easton would definitely find it, so she


    didn''t do anything. If the two brats were full and didn''t want to drink milk tea, wouldn''t she just waste


    her time?


    However, after waiting for a long time, she only saw two children eating fried chicken there. She was so


    angry that she didn''t eat just now, but now she looked at them and was hungry.


    Forget it, the two brats were just lucky. Evelyn''s stomach growled. After thinking about it, she went to


    eat.


    ...


    With Fiona around, Easton ate happily.


    After a while, Easton was almost full, but looking at the rest of the food, he was still reluctant to stop


    eating them.


    In particr, he liked milk tea the most, but Meredith always said that there were too many additives in


    it, which was harmful to a child like him who hadn''t grown up, so he was not allowed to drink it.


    He finally had a chance to order it, but there was no room for it in his stomach.


    Easton suddenly regretted having eaten too fast and too hastily. Now, he couldn''t have the milk tea.


    "Easton, what are you looking at?"


    Although Fiona was also eating, she was an introverted girl and still had room in her stomach.


    She could not help but ask with concern when she saw the look of frustration on his face.


    "I want milk tea, but I''m full. Oh, my milk tea!"


    Easton couldn''t help but shake his head and sigh.


    Fiona was confused. She had never drunk milk tea before. She had only seen some rich ssmates


    have it. She had no pocket money, so she would not want to buy such luxurious things.


    Seeing Easton liked to drink it, she was curious. "Is that milk tea that good?"


    "Of course, the sweet and appetizing milk tea. I like it best. Oh right, you didn''t drink it either. Do you


    want to try it?"


    Easton couldn''t drink anymore, but he thought it would be good to share it with his friend, so he brought


    it over and put it in front of Fiona.


    Fiona looked at it, took it, and took a sip.


    It was indeed very sweet, but for some reason, there was a strange bitter taste in it.


    Fiona immediately frowned, then she saw Easton''s expectant eyes. He was kind enough to share the


    milk tea with her, she couldn''t let him down...


    Thus, Fiona endured the strange taste and took a few more sips before revealing a bright smile.


    "Easton, it''s really sweet and delicious!"


    Hearing what Fiona said, Easton couldn''t help but nod. "Indeed, you think so too."


    Fiona nodded, but suddenly she felt a pain in her stomach. "I need to go to the bathroom. Wait for me."


    Easton didn''t think much about it either. He told her where the bathroom was and made sure that she


    was full, so he tidied up the table.


    Otherwise, dad would scold him if he woke up and saw the mess.


    Fiona walked out of the ward, not sure if it was because of the strange taste of milk tea, she felt that


    something was wrong all over her body, and her vision blurred.


    She thought about it, maybe she would get better after throwing it up, so she staggered to the


    bathroom. But although she felt disgusted, she could not throw it up.


    She tried to stand up again, but she couldn''t make it.


    Her tiny body fell to the ground. It was night, and there weren''t many people on the entire VIP floor. No


    one noticed that a child had passed out.


    ...


    After dinner, Evelyn returned to the ward.


    As soon as she entered, she found that all the food had been cleaned up.


    She could not tell whether she was feeling regretful or relieved. She had just checked and found out


    that the medicine she had taken out on impulse would cause allergy if it was taken by a child. And it


    would cause serious consequences.


    It would make a child difficult to breathe, nauseous and vomit, and if the situation was worse, it would


    even be life-threatening.


    Evelyn didn''t want them to die. She just wanted to make them feel bad and stop messing around.


    Easton sneakily threw the leftover away and went back to the ward.


    He thought Fiona had been gone for so long and must be back by now, but when he opened the door,


    he only saw Evelyn there.

 Chapter 594

    Chapter 594


    Easton frowned when he saw that Fiona was not around.


    She said she was going to the bathroom, but it had been almost half an hour. Why hadn''t shee


    back yet?


    "Did you see that little girl with me?"


    Easton thought for a moment, then asked. Evelyn nced at him. "No."


    Easton felt that something was wrong and wanted to find Fiona, but she went to thedies'' room, which


    he couldn''t get in.


    He had no choice but to find another nurse.


    However, it was veryte now. Most of the nurses were off work, and only a few were on duty. Easton


    couldn''t find anyone to help him for a while.


    After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and walked to the door of thedies'' room. Easton


    called out cheekily, "Hey, Fiona, Fiona, are you in there?"


    No answer.


    But for some reason, Easton felt that she must be here. After making sure that there was no one inside,


    he sneaked in.


    Soon, he saw that a door was locked.


    Easton immediately reached out his hand and knocked hard a few times, but there was no sound


    inside.


    If there was no one inside, it would not be locked up, nor would it be anyone else. After all, if an


    outsider heard that there was a boy, even if it was a little boy running in, she would probably get angry.


    The only possibility was that Fiona was inside, and she was unconscious, so she couldn''t answer him.


    Easton was panicking. Did she have food poisoning?


    Thinking of this, Easton was so anxious that he didn''t care about anything else. He ran straight to the


    ward and pressed the emergency button.


    Every VIP ward had a button for emergency calls. As long as you pressed it, all the avable medical


    services in the hospital would be gathered.


    Evelyn was angry. "Easton, what the hell are you doing?"


    "Something''s wrong. I need to get someone to help."


    Easton was very calm. Although he knew that this thing could not be touched randomly, the situation


    was urgent. If Fiona really fainted in the toilet and no one went to save her, maybe her life would be


    gone tomorrow.


    So, even if it turned out to be a false rm, Easton did not hesitate at all.


    "What happened? That little girl?"


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    An idea suddenly struck Evelyn. Did the little girl drink the milk tea mixed with medicine just when she


    left?


    Easton was in no mood to answer her. After ringing the emergency bell, he ran to the door and waited


    for someone toe.


    Evelyn looked at his back and couldn''t help but mutter, "Is it that serious? It''s just a little medicine."


    Easton stood outside for a while. Soon, a few doctors rushed over.


    They thought something had happened to Derek, who was the biggest shareholder in the hospital. If


    something had happened to him here, none of them would have been better off, so they all ran over


    very quickly.


    However, as soon as they reached the hallway, Easton stopped them. "It''s not my father. Someone


    fainted in the toilet. Now she''s unconscious. Go and help."


    Easton said anxiously. Several doctors looked at each other. A child suddenly came out and said this,


    making them feel like they were being fooled.


    "Boy, we are all very busy. There may be patients waiting here at this time. Stop fooling around."


    Several doctors did not believe a child''s words and were about to take Easton away when one of them


    recognized that this was Derek''s son, Little Young Master of the Xaviers.


    His attitude immediately improved. "Are you Easton, Derek''s son?"


    "Yes, I am."


    Easton lost his temper and became impatient because of the doctors'' dy.


    But this time, they weren''t as tough as they had been. If it was Derek''s son, then he wouldn''t be pulling


    a prank here.


    "Then take us there."


    Seeing that these people were finally willing to help, Easton was relieved and quickly led the way. "She


    said she wanted to go to the toilet, but she hasn''te out yet. By now, I''m afraid it''s been more than


    40 minutes."


    After a few people went in, they saw that the door was locked, and they were also embarrassed.


    At this moment, a taller male doctor said, "Well, you sit on my shoulder, I''ll lift you up, and you see if


    there''s someone inside."


    Easton thought about it and nodded.


    The doctor lifted Easton up and he climbed on top of the door. Sure enough, Fiona was inside. She fell


    to the ground, her face pale, and he didn''t know how long it had been like this.


    "Oh no, she''s inside. She''s fainted!"


    Easton was so anxious that he immediately cried out.


    Hearing this, several doctors had a discussion. They immediately called the property management


    guards and forced the door open.


    As soon as they opened the door, they saw Fiona''s tiny body lying on the ground, her little face ghastly


    pale, and there seemed to be a few traces of blood around her mouth.


    "Quick, send her to the emergency room."


    Seeing this, the doctors immediately took action.


    Such a small child was unconscious here for so long. Fortunately, Easton insisted that theye to


    find someone, otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable!


    Easton was so anxious that he almost cried out. He had never seen such a situation before. Fiona was


    unconscious and there was blood at the corner of her mouth. Was she poisoned by the food he


    bought?


    However, they ate together. Why was Fiona like this while he was fine?


    Easton was so anxious that his mind was not as bright as it used to be. He just ran behind the doctors,


    afraid that he would be left behind.


    Fiona was pushed into the emergency room and Easton was left outside. He looked at the closed door


    and suddenly felt lonely. A feeling of fear enveloped him.


    If it was really because of what he bought that hurt her, what would he do...


    After a while, a nurse came out. "Boy, where are your parents? They need to sign the notice of critical


    illness. Hurry up and call your parents over!"


    When Easton heard the notice of critical illness, it was like a bolt from the blue and he was so scared


    that he couldn''t speak for a long time.


    "How could she be in critical condition? What happened to her?"


    "We still have to investigate the details, but she has symptoms of allergic shock. She might have eaten


    or touched something."


    Hearing this, Easton was like a deted ball.


    So, it was really his fault.


    "Boy, your parents shoulde over quickly, or they will dy the time for emergency treatment. The


    consequences are very serious."


    The nurse couldn''t bear to see Easton so sad as if he had lost his soul, but they couldn''t operate


    without the signatures of his rtives, so she urged him again.

 Chapter 595

    Chapter 595


    "I... I know. I''ll call my mother right away."


    Although Easton was also afraid that his mother would scold him, now was not the time to worry about


    that. If he didn''t hurry up, something bad would happen to Fiona.


    After that, he immediately ran out and called Meredith.


    Meredith was restless at home. It was because she was angry, she said she left the two children alone.


    It was all because Violet was too snobbish to care about Easton''s feelings, Meredith did this.


    But now, thinking about the two little children in the hospital and not knowing if they had eaten well,


    Meredith regretted it.


    Although, Meredith thought that even if Violet was snobbish, she wouldn''t do anything bad to her own


    grandson.


    And just as Meredith was thinking about whether to go back and pick up the children, Easton''s call


    came.


    Meredith immediately picked it up and was about to speak when Easton''s crying voice came through


    the receiver. "Mom,e quickly. Something bad happened. Fiona, something bad happened to her!"


    Easton rarely cried, but when he thought that his mistakes made Fiona be like this, he felt anxious


    and guilty, and couldn''t help but cry.


    When Meredith heard this, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Something bad happened?


    She had been gone for only a few hours. What happened?


    For a moment, Meredith was in a daze, and there was cold sweat in her palm.


    However, she quickly realized that now that Easton was panicking, she could not panic anymore, or


    they were done.


    Meredith pinched her leg and used the pain to clear her confused brain. "Easton, what happened?


    Don''t worry. I''ll be right there. Don''t cry. I will solve every problem!"


    After that, she immediately changed and went downstairs to call a cab to the hospital.


    As soon as Meredith arrived at the hospital, the nurse rushed over. "Are you the parent of that little girl?


    She''s in critical condition and is in emergency treatment. Come and sign!"


    Meredith''s legs softened when she heard this.


    Critical condition?


    How could it be so serious?


    Even though Meredith tried to be mentally prepared, she was still scared.


    However, she hesitated for a while, then walked over and said, "Okay, I''ll sign it right away."


    Although Meredith was not Fiona''s mother, it was toote to wait for her family toe. Every second


    of first aid was precious and they could not afford to dy it.


    Moreover, since Fiona had an ident when being with her, Meredith felt that no matter what


    happened, she would take responsibility.


    So, she signed it immediately. "Nurse, please, you must cure her, no matter how much it costs, you


    must save her!"


    The nurse saw the first aid notice was finally signed and the nurse nodded. "Don''t worry, we will try our


    best to save her."


    With that, the nurse went into the operating room.


    Meredith looked at the lights and she was nervous.


    Easton had been concentrating on the situation here. He was relieved to see that the first aid was


    finally avable, but there was still guilt in his heart. It was as if he was pressed by a mountain and he


    couldn''t breathe.


    "Mom, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I didn''t know this would happen. It''s all my fault..."


    Easton lowered his head and apologized incessantly.


    Meredith saw the tears on his face and immediately squatted down to ask him, "Easton, don''t cry. What


    happened?"


    Now that Fiona''s condition was uncertain, Meredith was also a little angry, she was angry that she did


    not stay to take good care of them, she made a good child get hurt because of grudge.


    But seeing how sad Easton was, she still felt bad.


    "I don''t know. I just ordered takeaway and we ate together. I''m fine, but she... She bes like this."


    Meredith could not help but frown when she heard this.


    Easton was usually very naughty, but Meredith knew that he wouldn''t lie in such a situation, that was,


    they ate something, and Fiona became like this?


    Could it be food poisoning?


    But if it was food poisoning, why did only one child have a problem?


    Meredith felt that something was wrong.


    "Easton, don''t cry. No one knows what happened. Tell me what you ordered first. Do you still have the


    food?"


    Hearing Meredith''s voice, which was gentle but soothing. Easton slowly calmed down and wiped away


    his tears. "The delivery order form is there, but I threw away the leftovers."


    "Let''s go first and pick the leftovers up. We''ll get someone to test themter."


    Meredith thought that this matter was so serious that she had to find an exnation, so she


    immediately asked Easton to take her to the trash can where he threw the leftovers.


    However, by the time they got there, the things had already been cleaned up by the cleaner.


    Meredith asked someone about it. The contents had been sent to the garbage dump, they could not be


    found.


    Meredith could not help but frown. What could she do? The most direct evidence was gone.


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t know..." Easton could not help but feel guilty again.


    At that time, he didn''t know that something like this had happened to Fiona. Otherwise, he wouldn''t


    have thrown the leftovers away no matter what happened.


    "It''s okay. There must be another way. Forget it. Let''s go back and wait for Fiona toe out of the


    operating room."


    Although Meredith had some regrets, she didn''t want to make Easton feel bad, so sheforted him.


    They returned to the operating room and waited for a while before the operation stopped.


    Fiona was pushed out of the room with a pale face, and she was still unconscious.


    "Doctor, how is the child?"


    "Luckily, she was sent here early, and her life was saved by gastricvage and blood transfusion. But


    are you her parent?"


    The doctor said seriously, and Meredith nodded.


    "You, as a parent, have to be careful. This child is severely allergic to the contents of the medicine in


    the ward. For such a young child, the parents must keep an eye on her. This time, she is also lucky and


    the dosage is not very big. If she drinks a little more, I''m afraid we won''t be able to save her!"


    The doctor reproached Meredith. Meredith didn''t dare to contradict the doctor and kept nodding and


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    apologizing.


    Seeing that her attitude was still good, the doctor did not say anything more. The doctor gave her some


    instructions to keep an eye on Fiona and left.


    Meredith looked at the little girl''s thin, pale face on the hospital bed and med herself.


    Easton also heard the doctor''s words.


    He thought about it and felt something was wrong.


    He and Fiona had been together in his father''s ward all along, and they had never been apart except


    when she said she was going to the bathroom.


    He had no recollection of what kind of medicine Fiona had drunk in the ward.

 Chapter 596

    Chapter 596


    Easton had thought that Fiona had gotten food poisoning after eating what he had bought. But after


    hearing the words just now, he now thought the cause was the medicine that had been prepared for


    Derek. She might take that by ident.


    "Mom, I''m sure she didn''t touch anything in the ward."


    In fact, Meredith also found it very strange. After all, Fiona had always been very obedient and smart.


    She should not be so silly to drink the liquid medicine.


    "That means..."


    A terrible and bold guess popped up. "Did someone put anything in your food?"


    Easton also made such a guess, and he immediately remembered that Evelyn was standing in front of


    them, looking sneaky.


    But at that time, he didn''t think too much.


    "Maybe it''s Evelyn."


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    Easton suddenly lowered his voice. "Fiona and I went out together for a while. When we came back, I


    saw her standing beside the table with a slightly awkward expression, but I didn''t think of this at the


    time!"


    When Meredith heard this, she clenched her fist and squatted down. "Easton, are you sure?"


    If Evelyn really did so, Meredith wouldn''t spare her.


    Evelyn was most likely going to do drug the two children, but somehow, Easton was fine, but Fiona


    wasn''t that lucky.


    If this was true, it could only mean that this woman was so vicious that she wanted to hurt two five-


    year-old children.


    Meredith had always been a good-natured person. If things were not serious, she would not take to her


    heart. But the child was the most important part of her life. She would never spare anyone who dared


    to do anything to her child.


    She thought for a moment. "We will immediately transfer to another hospital. I can''t let Fiona stay here


    any longer. She might do it again."


    Easton heard this and nodded. "You''re right, mom."


    After that, she immediately went to the doctor and said that she wanted to transfer Fiona to another


    hospital.


    Now that Fiona was out of danger, the transferred formalities were quicklypleted.


    She sent Fiona to the hospital she frequented to keep Fiona safe.


    After finishing the formalities, she couldn''t help but look at the ward upstairs.


    She wondered if Derek was awake.


    "Mom, let''s go upstairs and see dad."


    After finishing Fiona''s things, Easton remembered what he was here for.


    After thinking about it for a while, he felt guilty. He had promised to wait for his father to wake up, but


    this happened.


    Meredith had always wanted to avoid seeing Derek. But when she saw how depressed Easton was,


    she couldn only say, "Okay, let''s go take a look. Your father will be fine."


    Easton nodded. She took the elevator holding his hand and they went to the VIP floor where Derek


    was.


    As soon as they entered, they saw Evelyn sitting by the bed, her eyes glued at Derek.


    Seeing this scene, Meredith felt a pain in her heart.


    Then, she thought of what the doctor had just said to Easton, and she became wary of this woman.


    Easton saw Evelyn''s nonchnt expression and looked at her angrily. With all clues, he was sure that


    Evelyn must have put drug in his food.


    Evelyn saw Easton''s expression and felt guilty for no reason. With another nce, she noticed the little


    girl wasn''t with them.


    "Did she drink the milk tea with drugs in it?"


    "It wouldn''t be so coincidental that she''s allergic to drugs. Was she really dying now?"


    Thinking of this, Evelyn''s face gradually turned pale. She didn''t even ask Meredith why she ran over


    here again. Instead, she said that she had a stomachache and left quickly.


    Meredith watched her leaving in a hurry, and she was certain that she drugged the two children.


    Evelyn must be guilty! Otherwise, with her overbearing and unreasonable character, she would not be


    nice to Meredith when she saw her here.


    "Mom, there must be something wrong with her."


    Easton said with certainty.


    "Well, we have to wait for an opportunity to find evidence."


    Meredith replied, "Go and see your father. He should be waking up soon."


    Easton nodded and walked over.


    She followed. At that moment, she noticed that the quilt on Derek had slipped down a little. She


    immediately walked over and pulled the quilt up.


    After seeing he seemed to be fine, she was relieved and was about to leave. The man on the bed''s


    eyshes trembled a few times and opened his eyes slightly.


    Cough, cough.


    Derek coughed a little. Because of the anesthetic, he was still a little confused, but his intuition told her


    that the person who was taking care of him was Meredith.


    "Mer, is that you?"


    He spoke with difficulty. He did not know whether he was dreaming or whether Meredith was really


    here.


    But if it was a dream, he hoped it wouldst forever.


    Meredith didn''t know how to answer. She subconsciously wanted to run, but just as she was about to


    leave, she heard him started coughing.


    "I want some water."


    His voice was very low and husky. He had not drunk water for more than ten hours, and his lips were a


    little dry and cracked.


    She hesitated for a moment. She then stopped and opened a bottle of mineral water.


    She saw him lying on the bed so weak that he needed someone to take care of him. She really couldn''t


    turn around and leave.


    It was just that he just had the operation, so he couldn''t drink water at this time. She could only wet his


    lips with a cotton swab.


    "You can''t drink water yet. I''ll give you a little water to moisten your throat. You''ll have to endure for a


    few more hours until the doctor permitted."


    Meredith said as she wiped his lips with water.


    Derek did not speak, just felt the woman''s movements. Her every move was very gentle, without the


    recent cold and resistance, as if they had returned to the best period of their rtionship.


    Meredith felt the same. She focused on taking care of him and seemed to have forgotten that they had


    just experienced such a fierce argument two days ago.


    Just as they felt that they seemed to go back to their happy life before, Evelyn came back.


    Seeing that Derek was awake and Meredith was taking care of him, Evelyn was furious and dragged


    her out.


    "Meredith, what are you doing? You promised not to stay close to him! But I waited for him to wake up


    the whole night, and now you show up when he just awakes?"


    Meredith was in no mood to talk to her because of Fiona being poisoned.


    "I''ll keep my promise. If Fiona hadn''t been poisoned, I wouldn''t havee here."

 Chapter 597

    Chapter 597


    Meredith said this on purpose. After she finished, she looked into Evelyn''s eyes.


    Upon hearing the word "Poisoned, Evelyn couldn''t help but reach out and touch her nose." Poisoned?


    What happened?" she asked.


    Seeing her movements, Meredith was much more convinced of her guess. People touched their noses


    subconsciously when they were guilty of lying. Therefore, the medicine that Fiona drank must have


    something to do with Evelyn.


    "We''ll figure it out after investigation. If I find out who that person is, I won''t let it go."


    Meredith''s words panicked Evelyn.


    Evelyn wondered if there was any evidence she left inadvertently. When she came back, she found that


    the leftovers had been thrown away. Just in case, she went to check and found the trash can clean.


    Moreover, there were no surveince cameras in the ward.


    Even if Meredith wanted to investigate, there was no physical evidence.


    The thought of this relieved Evelyn. "Well, check it out, but now you can leave!"


    Meredith didn''t mean to stay, either. "I''ll leave without you telling me."


    Then she walked in and told Easton to leave.


    Easton was excited to see Derek wake up, but the he effects of the anesthetic had yet to wear off. After


    waking up for a while, he fell asleep again in a daze.


    "Dad, you must get better soon."


    After that, Easton reluctantly left.


    Meredith didn''t want to separate them, but she had to busy herself with Fiona''s transfer. With Evelyn


    here, she couldn''t leave Easton alone in the hospital.


    Easton, who was sensible, followed Meredith instead of insisting on getting his way.


    Derek was in aa, he he seemed to have noticed something and lips'' moved. "Don''t go... Mer..."


    Evelyn was pissed off to hear that he was calling Meredith''s name when he was in a daze.


    She couldn''t figure out what was so good about that woman.


    ...


    On the way to the other hospital Fiona was going to stay, sitting in the ambnce, Meredith felt worn


    out but she dared not to rx.


    Easton fell asleep from weariness.


    Meredith took off her coat and covered him. She was seized with mixed feelings.


    She wished that Easton could stay innocent and happy forever.


    To her dismay, his innocence was staying away from him.


    Meredith sighed and took a look at Fiona lying there.


    Now that she was out of danger, but she hadn''t woken up yet, Meredith felt an immense sense of guilt


    for this little girl. She thought that bringing her out of that stepmother who abused her would make her


    happier.


    But such tings happened unexpectedly.


    Her mind was in a mess, which exhausted her.


    After about half an hour, the ambnce stopped at the entrance of the hospital.


    Meredith perked up and settled Fiona in the intensive care unit before she made sure Easton get a


    ce to sleep well. Then she breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was safe here. It was almost dawn when everything was settled.


    Only then did she realize that she hadn''t slept all night and she was hungry.


    However, Meredith was too tired, so she found an empty ward and fell asleep.


    ...


    When Meredith woke up again, Parker stood by the bed and looked at her with concern. "Mer, why


    don''t you take care of yourself? You fainted from low blood sugar and have a fever. Hadn''t the nurse


    Only then did Meredith see a needle inserted into her hand, and she was dizzy.


    "Me, I fainted? I thought I was asleep."


    Meredith touched her forehead and it seemed a little hot.


    "Can you take care of yourself?"


    Parker couldn''t help shaking his head. "Did something happen to you yesterday? Why didn''t you call


    me?"


    Parker saw that Easton was there too, which perplexed him because it was time for him to go to


    school. He knew something was wrong from Easton''s expression.


    Although the boy didn''t want to talk to himself, Parker could guess that something must have


    happened.


    "I was too careless. I shouldn''t have left the two children alone."


    Meredith gave a general idea of what happened. She still med herself for Fiona''s poisoning.


    "Did Evelyn do it?"


    Parker''s eyes dimmed at the words.


    He thought her was just stupid, but he didn''t expect her to be so ruthless.


    "I suspect it''s her. She''s acting really weird, but the stuff has been thrown away. The physical evidence


    is gone."


    Meredith felt terrible.


    Parkerforted, "It''s not all your fault. No one would have expected her to be so crazy. The most


    important thing is to wait Fiona to recover before we settle ounts with her."


    Meredith nodded. "Parker, you''re right, but I was wondering if I should find her mother. If she wakes up


    and sees her mother, she should be happy, right?"


    Now Meredith was still thinking about how topensate Fiona and make herself feel better.


    "I see. Leave this to me. Have a rest here. You can''t leave without the doctor''s permission."


    Parker was unusually strict, and his tone was overbearing and irrefutable.


    Meredith was helpless. "Okay, I got it."


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Parker was slightly relieved and said, "Don''t worry. Since you have found out who that woman is, leave


    the matter of bringing her here to me."


    Meredith nodded and took a long breath in the bed after seeing Parker off.


    Only then did she feel dizzy with her movements. She began to take it seriously.


    There were a lot of things remain to be done, but she was not in a good condition.


    Meredith was so upset and she couldn''t help but think about Derek''s situation. She was worried about


    him.


    She wondered if Evelyn would be crazy enough to do something to Derek.


    Yet Meredith felt uneasy that such a crazy woman stayed by his side.


    But it might not be her turn to take care of it.

 Chapter 598

    Chapter 598


    In the hospital.


    After a few more hours of sleep, Derek finally woke up.


    He looked at the bedside the moment he opened his eyes.


    A woman seemed to be sleeping at the end of his bed.


    "Mer?"


    Without thinking, Derek called Meredith''s name and was about to ask her to lie on the bed when the


    woman raised her head. Surprisingly, she was not Meredith.


    Evelyn had fallen asleep because she had been too tired and sleepy. She stayed here all night.


    But when Derek woke up, he called Meredith''s name again.


    Evelyn was jealous, but she couldn''t show her feelings. "It''s me, Derek. Do you feel unwell anywhere?


    I''ll call the doctor to check you out."


    When Derek saw that it was Evelyn, the joy on his face disappeared immediately.


    He clearly remembered that Meredith had been here. She poured him some water and carefully looked


    after her.


    But now it was not Meredith but this woman who was right here.


    What the hell was going on?


    "Why are you here?"


    Derek asked coldly.


    Evelyn answered wrongly, "Why can''t I be here? I''ve been taking care of you all night. Why do you


    dislike me so much?"


    "I didn''t ask you to take care of me here. I have a family and I don''t need anyone else to take care of


    me. You can leave now."


    Evelyn''s pitiful voice didn''t move Derek at all.


    He didn''t ask her to stay here and he was upset to see her.


    Hurt by his cruel words, Evelyn finally abandoned all pretense of being kind and gentle.


    "Derek, do you really have a heart? I''ve been here with you all night. And what about that woman? She


    doesn''t care about whether you are alive or dead at all. Maybe she''s flirting with other men right now.


    Why are you still thinking about her? Can you be more sensible?"


    But Evelyn regretted her words the moment she finished speaking.


    These days, she had been trying to maintain her elegance and gentleness in front of Derek.


    Having just been satirized by Derek, she surprisingly spoke her heart out.


    "It''s none of your business."


    Derek showed anger on his face for a moment when he heard her words. He nced coldly at Evelyn,


    and she was too scared to speak anymore.


    But he thought back on her words.


    Did Meredith really never visit him?


    Did he really mean nothing to her?


    Derek felt heartbroken at the thought of that, but he refused to believe Evelyn''s words so easily.


    This woman can''t be trusted.


    Derek turned on his cell phone, sent a few messages, and then closed his eyes andy down.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Although he was awake now, he was still weak, but he had already asked someone to find out what


    Meredith was doing, and all he had to do was wait for the results.


    Seeing that Derek didn''t want to talk to her, Evelyn didn''t know what to do. She was embarrassed to


    continue sitting here. Besides, she had been sitting there for a day and a night, and she couldn''t stand


    it any longer.


    At this moment, Violet came in. As soon as she came in, she saw Derek lying on the bed with his eyes


    closed. She was shocked. "Derek, what''s wrong?"


    Violet didn''t know that Derek had woken up.


    "Mom, I''m fine."


    Derek opened his eyes and looked at her. "I''m just a little tired."


    Hearing this, Violet was relieved and looked at Evelyn. "Derek, she''s been taking care of you for so


    long. Haven''t you thanked her? I was at home with your grandfather yesterday, so I didn''t have time to


    <pe over, thanks to Evelyn."

 Chapter 599

    Chapter 599


    When Derek heard that, he was in no mood to respond.


    He didn''t understand why his mother was so fond of Evelyn. Couldn''t she see how arrogant and willful


    Evelyn was?


    Or did his mother think that nothing was important since the Smith family could bring them benefits?


    Derek put on a mocking smile.


    "In that case, mother, find a servant here next time. Don''t bother Miss Smith."


    Violet was awkward. She looked at Evelyn''s expression. Obviously, Derek''sparison between


    Evelyn and the servant hurt Evelyn''s self-esteem.


    "Stop it!" Violet red at Derek. She then took Evelyn''s hand and said, "Evelyn, Derek always talks like


    this. Don''t get mad at him. Come on, let''s go out and eat something."


    With that, she led Evelyn away.


    Derek took a long breath as he watched the two women leave.


    Finally, they left. He was losing his patience.


    ...


    Meredith slept in the hospital bed for another two hours, and when she woke up, it was already nine in


    the morning.


    She moved her body, feeling less weak than before, and slowly sat up.


    Meredith walked into the bathroom, washed up, looked at her pale and lifeless face in the mirror, and


    couldn''t help shaking her head.


    If her mother saw it, she would definitely guess what was wrong and kept worrying.


    Meredith had to take out her lipstick and applied it to her pale lips and her cheeks. Finally, she looked


    better.


    Meredith walked out and wanted to see Amelia. Before she could enter the ward, she heard Easton''s


    voice.


    "Get out. You''re with Evelyn. Stay away from my grandmother!"


    Easton woke up early and saw that Meredith wasn''t up. He knew that she was tired, so he didn''t bother


    her.


    Instead, he went to take care of Amelia. Although he couldn''t do much, he could still chat with his


    grandma to cheer her up.


    However, he didn''t expect Ellie to be here.


    Easton had a good memory. It urred to him that Ellie was with Evelyn. Evelyn dared to poison him,


    and this woman might harm his grandmother as well.


    So, no matter how gentlemanly and polite he was, he drove Ellie out.


    He would not make the same mistake again.


    Ellie was resigned. In fact, she often visited Amelia recently. Although they were not rted by blood,


    they were very close.


    Amelia had been in the hospital bed for many years, but she still had many years of experience. Ellie


    liked Amelia''s words and her independent attitude towards life.


    Ellie came to J City only to donate her bone marrow, and she often came here to visit Amelia.


    She didn''t expect Easton to kick her out today.


    "Easton."


    Meredith knew what Easton was thinking, but it was strange for the people in the hospital to see a child


    and a woman argue, so Meredith stopped Easton.


    Easton looked at Meredith''s expression and saw no reproach on her face, so he unwillingly released


    his hand. "Mom, I''m just worried..."


    "I know you mean well."


    Meredith smiled and pulled Easton over. "Miss Soong, it might be rude to say this, but can you please


    stoping here to see my mother?"


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Although Meredith smiled politely, she was determined.


    She had a good impression of Ellie and didn''t think she was a bad person. Now that the situation was


    special, she didn''t dare to risk anyone around her.


    When Ellie heard this, a trace of disappointment shed across her face.


    "Why? Ms. Flores and I actually hit it off. I..."


    "Your sister almost killed Fiona. How dare youe here? I''m afraid that you have other tricks to y!"


    Meredith didn''t say anything, but Easton cut in.


    Right now, he was full of loathing for Evelyn. He didn''t like anyone rted to the Smith family.


    Therefore, he just said it out low and didn''t care if it embarrassed Ellie.


    Ellie had thought there was some misunderstanding and nned to exin it. When she heard this,


    she was confused.


    Almost killed Fiona?


    Evelyn?


    Ellie felt dizzy. She knew that Evelyn had a bad temper and was spoiled by her family, but she still felt


    Evelyn was not a bad person.


    "Boy, you can''t use somebody of murder casually."


    "I didn''t."


    Easton was dissatisfied. Meredith had to look at Ellie. "Anyway, don''te anymore. I appreciate your


    kindness. I will tell mom."


    Meredith did not say that Easton was right or wrong, but Ellie could guess out of her attitude.


    Meredith agreed with what Easton said. Otherwise, she would have stopped him.


    Did Evelyn really do something outrageous?


    At the thought of this, Ellie had no intention of staying here. She needed to investigate this matter


    thoroughly.


    If Evelyn did anything to murder others, it would be huge news, which would cause a devastating blow


    to the reputation of the Smith family.


    Easton curled his lips when he saw her leave.


    "She must be guilty. I know she''s hypocritical."


    Meredith looked at Ellie''s back as she left. "Easton, stop talking nonsense. She didn''t do anything after


    all. Don''t mention to grandma that she was here, or grandma will be suspicious."


    Easton nodded. "I know. I won''t say anything."


    They went in and looked at Amelia. Her condition was still stable, so there was no need to worry too


    much.


    They chatted with Amelia for a while, then went to see Fiona in the children''s ward.


    Fiona was out of danger, but she still needed to be observed.


    "Doctor, when will she wake up? Will this incident leave her with any seque?"


    Meredith looked at Fiona lying on the hospital bed and med herself.


    She could not rest assured until Fiona woke up.


    "The treatment was in time, so there should be no seque. She might wake up in two days."

 Chapter 600

    Chapter 600


    Meredith was relieved to hear the doctor say so.


    At least there wouldn''t be any irreversible consequences.


    When she was thinking of this, Easton, who had been looking at Fiona in front of the hospital bed,


    suddenly said, "Mom, mom, she''s talking."


    When Meredith heard this, she thought Fiona was going to wake up, so she immediately walked over. It


    turned out that Fiona was calling her mother.


    She couldn''t help but feel sad. Sure enough, the children needed their mother.


    No matter how well she treated Fiona, she was not her mother.


    "Mom, have you found Fiona''s mother? I hope she can see her mother when she wakes up."


    Easton was also sad to hear that.


    He couldn''t help but think of himself. Before he found his mother, he had been thinking every day about


    what his mother would look like. Sometimes, when he wasughed at by other children for not having a


    mother, he wouldin in his heart, "Why doesn''t my mother stay with me?"


    Therefore, he felt empathy for Fiona. Also, he felt very guilty, so he tried to make it up to her.


    Meredith checked her cell phone. She asked Parker to find Fiona''s mother. Perhaps he had found it.


    "Easton, wait a minute. I''ll call and ask."


    Meredith walked out and called Parker.


    Parker had already found Fiona''s mother, Lydia. However, when she heard that she needed to see her


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    daughter, she was so scared that she blocked him.


    Parker understood what she meant. She didn''t want to admit what she had done in the past at all. So


    she probably wouldn''t want to ept Fiona either.


    However, Parker didn''t want to disappoint Meredith, so he asked someone to find out where the


    woman was and decided to persuade her by making a deal.


    If she wasn''t touched by the mother-daughter bonding, then he would have to let her see some profits.


    Lydia brought her children to the amusement park this day. Parker simply waited for her, lest she


    should run away again.


    Just as Parker was waiting, he received the call from Meredith.


    "Parker, is everything going well? Lydia, would she like toe and see Fiona?"


    Parker was silent for a moment. "I''m waiting for her now. I haven''t talked to her about this yet. Can you


    give me some time?"


    When Meredith heard this, she almost knew what was going on.


    If Lydia really cared about her daughter, she woulde to the hospital as fast as she could.


    In any case, if Easton fell ill, Meredith would not hesitate to see him. For a mother, the safety of her


    child was more important than anything else.


    So...


    Meredith suddenly felt a headache. "Parker, you don''t have to hide it from me. Is she unwilling to


    ept Fiona?"


    Parker thought for a moment. "Sort of."


    Meredith sighed. Fiona was such a sweet and considerate girl. It was unfortunate that she had such


    parents.


    "Let me go to talk to her."


    Meredith thought about it and wanted to make thest try.


    After all, she was also a mother. Maybe she could change Lydia''s mind.


    "You''re not recovered yet. Don''t run around."


    When Parker heard this, his tone immediately became serious.


    She just passed out this morning, and now she has to worry about these things. Wasn''t she afraid of


    fainting again?


    "But I am so anxious to stay here. It''s too torturous. Just let me go. If I''m not feeling well, I''ll tell you


    right away."


    Hearing Meredith''s pleading tone, Parker could not bear to refuse. After all, she had good intentions,


    which he didn''t want to discourage.


    "Well, I''ll send you her location. Call me when youe over. Don''t run around, okay?"


    Meredith agreed, got the address, and was ready to go.


    Easton followed her. "Mom, I''ll go too."


    Meredith did not let him this time, because she was probably going to have aplicated conversation


    with Lydia. She did not want Easton to see the dark side of the adult world, so she pointed to the bed.


    "Easton, you stay here to look after Fiona, okay? She''s here alone. If she wakes up and finds that no


    one is with her, she''ll be afraid. Besides, I''m not sure to let her alone here."


    When Easton heard this, he thought for a while, "Well, I''ll stay here and take care of her."


    "Good boy."


    Meredith kissed Easton on the forehead. She watched him ran to Fiona''s bed again. He looked at


    Fiona seriously and doing what she had just said. Meredith smiled with relief and left.


    Following the address was given by He Parker, Meredith immediately rushed there.


    The destination was thergest children''s park in J City. Easton used to ask her to take him there from


    time to time before.


    However, it was a little ironic that Fiona was still waiting for her mother to visit her while her mother was


    bringing her siblings to have fun here.


    Meredith thought for a moment but managed to calm herself down.


    Meredith went to find Parker first. Parker looked at her face and found that she was still not in good


    health. He let here only because she insisted.


    "Mer, if you don''t feel wellter, you have to tell me immediately. I don''t want to see you faint or


    anything."


    "I know. Don''t worry. I''m not a child anymore. I''ll take good care of myself."


    Meredith nodded gratefully at Parker''s concern, then asked, "Is that woman Lydia?"


    Meredith pointed to a woman with two kids.


    Although she had already given birth to three children, you could not tell from her appearance. Her face


    was still beautiful and moving, and her figure was well maintained. Moreover, she had a mncholy


    temperament, which could inexplicably arouse the others'' desire to protect her.


    "That''s right."


    Meredith looked at the woman. The two children beside her looked no different from Fiona. She didn''t


    know if it was because Fiona was malnourished that she looked thin.


    "I''ll talk to her."


    Meredith said.


    Parker thought for a moment. "Okay, you try first. If you can''t, I''ll think of another way."


    Meredith grunted and walked over to Lydia.


    Lydia was busy taking care of the two children and didn''t notice that someone wasing.


    "Miss Jacob, right? Can I talk with you?"


    Meredith walked over and said politely.


    Lydia nced at Meredith. "Sorry, I''m busy now."


    "I want to talk to you about Fiona."


    Seeing that she was leaving, Meredith spoke again.


    Hearing Fiona''s name, the woman''s face turned pale.

 Chapter 601

    Chapter 601


    Fiona brought Lydia back to her old days.


    Back then, she and Fiona''s father met at school. She was in the art department. Because of her


    outstanding appearance and unique temperament, many people courted her, including some rich


    businessmen.


    But because Fiona''s father was handsome and especially good at making girls happy, she married him,


    who was just from an ordinary family.


    However, she did not expect that after they got married and had a child, his attitude hadpletely


    changed, from obedience to irritability.


    Whatever grievances he suffered at work, he would vent to her and their child.


    After Lydia gave birth to the child, she was already a little depressed. She was tortured by her husband


    and gradually lost hope of living.


    Later, she really couldn''t stand it, so she secretly ran to the dam and nned to end her life. However,


    she met her current husband, Shawn, and was rescued by him.


    With the help of Shawn, she sessfully got rid of her failed marriage and married him after getting


    pregnant again.


    However, because the Lee family was also a wealthy family, Shawn asked her to hide her past. She


    could only say that she was an ordinary university student.


    Because of this, she couldn''t fight for Fiona''s custody, because she couldn''t raise her. If she wanted to


    keep Fiona, she wouldn''t be able to marry Shawn, and she wouldn''t live a wealthy life that was envied


    by everyone.


    Lydia still felt guilty about Fiona at the beginning. She knew that her daughter would not be happy living


    with her father, but she was selfish after all. She didn''t want to lose everything she had now, so she


    simply forced herself not to think about her daughter.


    She even hypnotized herself from time to time that Fiona was the daughter of that scumbag and she


    didn''t need to care about her!


    Originally, her days had been peaceful for a long time. But unexpectedly, someone suddenly came to


    her and wanted to disturb her life.


    "She''s fine with her father now, and I''ve formed a new family. What do you want?"


    Lydia forced herself to be tough, and her tone was not friendly.


    "But her father doesn''t treat her well. He often beats her up and scolds her. He even doesn''t give her


    food. How old are your two children now? Do you know that Fiona is older than them, but her figure is


    like your two babies? Because she is not well taken care of."


    Lydia was silent for a moment when she heard this, but she didn''t say anything.


    She knew this would happen, but she never thought much about it.


    "Well, even if you don''t care about what happened before, now that she''s in an ident and in the


    hospital bed, calling her mother, why can''t you go see her? She really needs her mother''spany


    now..."


    Just as Meredith begged her and Lydia was about to change her thought, her two children tugged at


    the corner of her clothes. "Mom, dad called and said he would pick us up."


    Lydia immediately realized that if she stayed here longer, Shawn would know this. "I''m sorry, you are a


    kind person. In this case, I believe you can take good care of her."


    After that, she hurriedly left with her two children.


    "Wait a minute."


    Seeing this, Meredith hold the corner of her clothes, but Lydia seemed to be afraid that Meredith would


    continue to pester her, so she pushed Meredith away.


    Meredith did not expect this. She was pushed to the ground and hit her head on the table. She felt


    dizzy.


    Seeing this, Parker hurried over.


    It all happened so fast that he didn''t have time to react.


    "Mer, are you okay?"


    Meredith was not feeling well. Now she fell and became dizzier.


    Seeing that she was not fine, he did not chase after Lydia, but immediately picked her up. "Let''s go


    back to the hospital."


    "No, it''s more important to bring her back..."


    She said, enduring her dizziness.


    "Forget it. She doesn''t want to see that girl at all. Won''t it be even worse if she goes there and says


    some nasty things?"


    He said and carried her out.


    "Wow, what''s going on over there, romantic hug?"


    "That woman is quite happy. I''m so envious."


    At this time, a few young girls saw them and thought they were couples, so they couldn''t help but


    gossip.


    Only then did Meredith realize that their current position was very dubious.


    "Put me down. I''ll just find a ce to rest for a while."


    Parker refused her suggestion this time. "I just listened to you, but you were pushed to the ground. If I


    listen to you again, will you fall?"


    He then carried her directly into the car.


    Derek''s subordinates who had been watching them outside, couldn''t help but get angry when they saw


    the scene.


    Those who could be told to do such things were all confidants that Derek had developed from the


    beginning. They were absolute loyalty to him.


    They, of course, knew best how much Derek loved Meredith, and never expected to see such a scene.


    Their boss was still in the hospital.


    After thinking about it, a man took a picture of this scene and sent it directly to Derek.


    It might be a better thing for the boss to break up with Meredith.


    The man thought and drove away.


    Derek was working via theputer in the hospital. Although the doctor told him to take a good rest,


    he didn''t want to. Moreover, if hey down and rested, that shameless Evelyn woulde and want to


    take care of him.


    So, he worked. Having work as an excuse, he could avoid Evelyn''s pestering.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Just as Derek was seeing the file, his phone rang.


    Several photos were sent to his mailbox.


    After reading the e-mail, his eyes lit up with anger.


    In the picture, Parker was hugging Meredith and they went to an amusement park.


    For a moment, he felt as if his heart was being stabbed by countless knives.


    Even if he saw Meredith taking care of her mother in the hospital, or taking care of Easton at school, he


    wouldn''t feel so bad.


    Because he might be able to console himself that she was just too busy to see him or call him.


    However, she was at the amusement park with Parker.


    "Boss, I don''t think such a woman is worth your love and waiting."

 Chapter 602

    Chapter 602


    His men tried their best to persuade him.


    After all, they thought it was easy for Derek to find a girlfriend, but he still stuck to chasing her.


    He was determined even when she got entangled with other men.


    "It''s none of your business. Where are they now?"


    Derek deleted the photos directly. He didn''t believe it and thought that maybe there was some


    misunderstanding. He would not believe unless he saw it.


    "Boss, are youing here, aren''t you?"


    Hearing this, the man at the other end of the phone became anxious. Strong as Derek was, he had just


    had a bone fracture. What if he got injured again after he went out of the hospital recklessly?


    "No, you should recuperate in the hospital. It won''t be toote for you to settle a score when you


    recover."


    "Tell me the address!"


    Derek turned a deaf ear to his advice, even if he knew that it was risky to go out now. However, he


    could not stay sane in the face of this situation.


    He could sense Derek''s resolution, and he knew his temper. If he didn''t tell Derek the address, he


    would run out and look for it himself, which would be even worse.


    "I''ll pick you up."


    So he had topromise.


    Derek hung up the phone. He was no longer in the mood to read the notebook in his hand, and threw it


    to the ground.


    Before long, someone arrived to pick him up.


    Derek didn''t even change his clothes and got into the car in his hospital gown.


    ...


    Meredith sat in the car, still feeling dizzy.


    Parker saw this and brought her a small nket. "Just sleep for a while. Maybe you''ll feel betterter.


    It''ll take a while to get there."


    Meredith answered in a soft voice, "Okay." She continued, "It''s all my fault. Fiona would be very sad if


    she couldn''t see her mother after she woke up..."


    "Don''t worry. There are other solutions."


    Parker investigated Lydia. Since she didn''tpromise on ount of the bond between the mother


    and daughter, he had to think of other ways.


    She gave no answer.


    Hearing this, Meredith was a little relieved and crashed out.


    Seeing that she was asleep, Parker slowed down the car and turned on the heater in time to prevent


    her from catching a cold.


    About half an hourter, the car stopped at the entrance of the hospital.


    After parking the car, he saw that she hadn''t woken up, so he just sat there for a while rather than get


    out of the car in haste.


    The delicate feeling of sitting with her without disturbance calmed him down gradually, so he wanted to


    enjoy this peace for a while more.


    When Parker was sitting in a trance, Meredith frowned as she was still in the car which was not


    spacious enough for a deep slumber.


    Only then did Parkere back to his senses and smiled with resignation. He walked over and gently


    picked her up.


    As he was so gentle, and Meredith was sleeping soundly, he didn''t wake her up.


    Parker carried Meredith back to the hospital, but he didn''t know that Derek had seen what he did.


    Watching Parker carry Meredith out of the car so naturally, and Meredith did not struggle, he felt more


    pain in his heart than in his injured arm.


    However, he did not look away, but just looked at them square in the eye.


    In the end, the person who brought him couldn''t stand it anymore. "Boss, if you can''t endure it, I''ll go up


    and give him a lesson."


    He had been working for Derek for so long but had never seen Derek like this, who was dazed and


    seemed to have lost all of his usual energy.


    "Forget it."


    Derek remained silent for a long time before finally answering in a low, husky voice.


    Even if he did go, Meredith would still defend Parker.


    Derek didn''t want to see it. "Let''s go back."


    With that, Derek turned around, and Parker and Meredith were already out of his sight.


    Maybe, he really should let go. In the past, he would have gone up and fought with Parker, but now, he


    wasn''t confident.


    He would be devastated if watching Meredith protect Parker in front of him by then.


    Seeing that Derek was so insistent, he had no choice but to drive him back.


    As soon as Derek returned to the hospital, Violet and Evelyn rushed up and pulled him to examine him


    from head to toe for a long time. "Derek, where have you been? You''re not a child anymore. How could


    you run around when injured?"


    Violet came with Evelyn today and brought the chicken soup she cooked. However, when she arrived


    at the hospital, the bed was empty. She had searched everywhere but didn''t find him.


    The two women panicked and thought that Derek had been kidnapped. They were relieved to see him


    "I went out to deal with something."


    He sounded very tired and didn''t want to respond to others.


    "What can be more important than your health? Don''t mess around anymore. Got it?"


    Violet scolded Derek, but he did not respond.


    Now, although he dide back, his thoughts had long been wandering around.


    What he saw today was seared into his brain and kept reying. Sick at heart, he didn''t want to do


    anything.


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    "Derek, Evelyn specially made the soup for you. Try it."


    Seeing that Derek didn''t take her words to heart, Violet sighed and could only shift the topic.


    Derek nced at Evelyn and was about to rush them away when a thought struck him.


    "Mom, I want to talk to her."


    Violet didn''t know why, but she thought it won''t be a bad thing if Derek wanted to talk to Evelyn. She


    nodded and said, "Okay, you can talk."


    After Violet left, there were only Derek and Evelyn in the room.


    Derek rubbed his aching temples and asked, "Is your betst time still in force?" His tone could tell his


    bewilderment.


    Evelyn was stunned for a moment, then she was overjoyed.


    She thought Derek had long forgotten about it, but she didn''t expect him to remember it.


    "I always keep my word, so do you want to bet?"


    A dim light shed in his eyes. His sense told him that this choice was advisable and probably a trap,


    but his sensibility told him to try.


    At least, he could know whether Meredith is so heartless and didn''t care about him at all.

 Chapter 603

    Chapter 603


    Just as Evelyn was nervous and waiting for him to speak, Derek''s phone suddenly rang.


    Derek looked at his phone. It was from Easton. He stopped talking, lowered his head and answered the


    phone.


    "Easton."


    When Evelyn heard that it was Easton who called, she was so angry. At such a critical moment, she


    was disturbed by that damned kid again.


    Why wasn''t he the one who fainted from the poisoning?


    Derek was talking to Easton without noticing Evelyn''s emotions at all.


    "Dad, you''re awake. How are you feeling now? Do you still hurt?"


    Easton was taking care of Fiona. He was afraid that something bad would happen again, so he didn''t


    dare to leave at all. He could only make a phone call to ask about Derek first.


    He hoped that dad didn''t get angry when he found they didn''t go to visit him.


    Hearing Easton''s childish voice and his concern, Derek was in a slightly better mood.


    No matter what, his son still missed him.


    "Dad is fine."


    "Okay! Mom and I had an ident yesterday, so we left the hospital. Don''t think too much. We really


    care about you!"


    Hearing this, Derek suddenly raised his eyebrows.


    Easton just said that Meredith also came to the hospital yesterday.


    Derek suddenly looked sullen. He realized that the sadness he had just felt might have been due to


    some misunderstanding, which was all Evelyn''s fault.


    "I see. Don''t worry, I''m fine."


    Derek didn''t want Evelyn to hear what he wanted to say next, so he hung up the phone first, and then


    began typing to Easton to ask what happened yesterday.


    Evelyn didn''t notice it either. Instead, she waited for Derek to continue the conversation.


    However, Derek was using his phone, and everything just happened was like Evelyn''s dream, leaving


    no trace.


    "What you just said..."


    "I need to go to the bathroom. Sorry."


    Derek knew what Evelyn was going to say. At this moment, he was especially d that he didn''t finish


    his sentence, because he was a person who would keep his promise.


    If there were any misunderstandings, it would be difficult to turn back.


    Derek got up and walked into the bathroom.


    After turning on the tap to make sure the water was loud enough to cover his voice, he called Easton


    again.


    He had just sent a message to Easton to ask about what he wanted to know, so now Easton just had to


    answer his questions.


    "Yesterday, when I heard that you had an ident, I was so anxious. It was mom who guessed where


    you were and then we went over. But then, grandma and that bad woman appeared and drove mom


    away... I had no choice but to stay by your side with my friends so that the bad woman couldn''t achieve


    her goal."


    When Derek heard that Meredith had been chased away, he became so angry that he subconsciously


    moved his broken left hand and almost cried out in pain.


    It turned out that Meredith dide to visit him. He wasn''t dreaming. Evelyn lied to him...


    "Dad, you have to be careful of Evelyn. It might be her, no, no, it must be her who added the medicine


    you were injected with into the milk tea she ordered for me. Now my friend is still unconscious in the


    hospital bed. That woman is evil..."


    Easton was afraid that Derek would believe Evelyn and fall into her trap again, so he immediately


    warned his dad.


    "What?"


    When Derek heard this, his eyes shed with a murderous look.


    He thought that Evelyn was just pestering him, but he hadn''t expected that she would actually hurt


    Easton.


    She always pretended to be kind and honest in front of his mother. He hadn''t expected her to be so


    vicious.


    "Mom worked all nightst night because of this. Today, she went to see my friend''s mother again to


    fulfill their wish to reunite, but she was so tired that she fainted. It was all the fault of that bad woman."


    Easton was afraid that Derek would be unhappy with that woman by his side, so he told all the truth.


    After hearing this, Derek immediately asked with concern, "Fainted? Is she all right now?"


    Now he knew why Meredith was carried down by Parker. She had lost consciousness at that time.


    At this thought, Derek felt eased.


    It seemed that they went to the amusement park to help the child find her mother, and that was all. It


    was not the sweet date he had imagined...


    "I''m having a rest and getting a fluid drip. That... Dad, can you do me a favor and ask that woman to


    visit my friend..."


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Easton said sheepishly. Now Derek was hurt, but he still made this request, which he felt might be


    inappropriate.


    However, seeing Fiona calling for her mother all the time, he couldn''t bear it and could only force


    himself to ask Derek for help.


    Derek thought about it and agreed immediately.


    After all, that child was in trouble because she was with Easton. It was a kind ofpensation to let


    her meet her mother.


    In this way, it would prevent Meredith from going out with Parker. If he saw that scene a few more


    times, Derek would feel that he was going to have a heart attack from anger.


    "Give me the information about the child. I''ll send someone to settle this."


    "Thank you, dad."


    Easton felt relieved and sent Fiona''s information to Derek.


    Derek immediately asked someone to investigate, and soon found out about Fiona''s mother.


    Derek thought about it. The Lee family seemed to have an investment project to cooperate with the


    Xavier Group. But because there were so manypetitors, there was no advantage for them.


    Derek immediately asked someone to meet Lydia with the contract, promising that the contract would


    belong to her as long as she could fulfill Fiona''s wishes.


    Not long after, Lydia called and said she was willing to visit Fiona.


    After resolving this matter, Derek immediately sent a message to Easton to reassure him and told him


    to wait for someone toe over.


    Easton received this message and ran happily to Fiona''s bed. "Fiona, your mother wille to see you


    soon. You have to cheer up. Wake up quickly."


    Derek settled all of these andy in bed with his eyes closed.


    Evelyn saw that he had returned to his earlier indifference, so she said a few words. Seeing that no one


    paid attention to her, she could only leave in a fit of anger.


    That damned kid... She really should hurt him directly, otherwise, there wouldn''t be so much trouble.

 Chapter 604

    Chapter 604


    When Derek saw Evelyn leave, he put down the things in his hand and began to think.


    This woman, in his mind, had always been brainless. He did not expect that she would dare to hurt


    Easton.


    This also showed that she was not a good person.


    She might have a conversation with Meredith before.


    Derek thought about it carefully. Suddenly, he seemed to think of something. He couldn''t help patting


    the bed under him, but he touched his wound, and it hurt so much that he bared his teeth.


    But Derek didn''t care much about the pain in his body. What he had just thought of made him feel


    suddenly enlightened.


    He immediately called the doctor and asked a question, "If the child''s blood type does not match the


    parents'' and she is indeed biological, how likely is this?"


    The doctor thought for a moment. "It''s rare, but it''s not impossible. After all, Rh-negative blood is a rare


    blood type."


    Hearing this, Derek immediately knew what was going on.


    If Evelyn had Rh-negative blood, it wouldn''t be unusual for the Smith family to lie about her blood type


    in order to protect her.


    And if Evelyn was Amelia''s biological daughter, it meant that Evelyn''s bone marrow could save her


    life...


    Using this to threaten Meredith was actually very easy.


    Derek felt that this was very possible, especially since Parker was involved, and perhaps some of the


    scenes he saw at that time were also not the truth...


    However, there was no evidence yet.


    "Check and see if any hospital has done a bone marrow match with Amelia recently."


    Derek made a phone call and asked his subordinates to investigate these matters.


    If it was really Evelyn, he would never let her go easily.


    Evelyn went back to the hotel in a fit of anger. Although she was angry that Easton had messed up her


    n again, she didn''t dare to do anything now because that little girl was in hospital.


    "If that little girl dies, will the police find me?"


    As soon as she was free, Evelyn began to mutter to herself.


    Feeling uneasy, Evelyn called a few of her former friends.


    "I''ll send you a phototer. You help me to search what the consequences of taking this medicine will


    be and whether the person who takes this will die."


    Evelyn was talking with friends but didn''t know that Ellie was waiting for her in the room.


    After being chased away, Ellie had been thinking about it. She couldn''t believe that her sister, who grew


    up together, could do such a thing.


    So, she went to Evelyn''s room and waited for her. She wanted to find out what had happened as soon


    as Evelyn came back.


    However, she knew everything now.


    It was clear that Evelyn had done it.


    Ellie felt confused in her heart. Evelyn used to do things too much, but they all thought it was because


    she was young and spoiled by her family. At least, they thought Evelyn was not bad.


    But now, she suddenly felt lost.


    Now that Evelyn had done this for a man, did she really have to help her to do this...


    Just as Ellie was thinking, Evelyn finished the call.


    She had already known that although some people would be allergic to that medicine, the reaction was


    not too strong, so it would not cause any disability. Moreover, as long as she insisted that the little girl


    drank the medicine mischievously, no one would be able to know it was her who caused this.


    Evelyn calmed down and went into the bedroom. She was about to take a bath when she realized that


    Ellie was inside.


    "What are you doing here?"


    Ellie had always been cautious, but when she heard the news, she was so shocked that she stayed


    here.


    "I''m here to talk to you."


    Ellie pretended to be calm. "My medical report is out. I am very healthy. I can have a transnt


    anytime."


    "I see."


    When Evelyn heard this, she did not react.


    "Shouldn''t we hurry up and get the operation done? That patient can not wait that long, right?"


    Ellie couldn''t help but ask. After spending so much time with Amelia, she had an inexplicable feeling for


    Amelia. She really didn''t want to see Amelia suffer from injections every day.


    She thought that if Evelyn was kind enough to get her a bone marrow transnt right away, instead of


    ckmailing someone else with Meredith''s mother''s life, she would believe that Evelyn was still a good


    Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    person.


    "I''m not in a hurry. Why are you in a hurry? Do you want to show your kindness?"


    Evelyn refused Ellie. Now it was the crucial moment. How could she lose the leverage to ckmail


    Meredith?


    Ellie''s heart sank when she heard this.


    It turned out that Evelyn, her sister, had be such a selfish person that she could even hurt a child.


    All of a sudden, she didn''t want to continue to deceive others.


    "I see."


    Ellie clenched her fist and walked out without saying anything.


    Evelyn watched her leave and snorted coldly, not taking her seriously.


    However, Ellie had already made up her mind.


    She felt that there was no need to curry favor with Evelyn anymore. Evelyn had such a personality, and


    even if she did anything, it would be useless.


    Instead of helping Evelyn and being tortured by the conscience, it would be better for her to say


    everything. She wanted to let Evelyn learn a lesson, and then start a new life.


    While thinking, Ellie went straight to the hospital with the medical report and went to meet Meredith.

 Chapter 605

    Chapter 605


    Meredith rested in bed for a while. She was injected with glucose and felt better.


    "Miss Mason, you''re are too skinny. You are much thinner than normal people. Eat well and exercise


    more, and it won''t happen again."


    The doctor examined Meredith and suggested her.


    Amelia had been in the hospital for a long time, so the doctors and nurses knew Meredith. It was not


    easy for her to take care of her mother and her son. So they said it.


    "I see. I''ll pay attention." Meredith nodded. She was grateful for the doctor''s concern.


    Just then, she heard Easton, who was impatient.


    "Why are you here? We just kick you out. Why do youe here again?"


    Easton had just gone out to the restroom. When he came back, he saw Ellie at the door of his mother''s


    ward. He didn''t know what she was doing.


    She looked sneaky. She looked suspicuous, so he directly asked her to leave.


    "I have something important to talk to your mother."


    Ellie had just arrived. When she was about to enter, Easton found her.


    "What? My mother doesn''t feel well. She has no time to see you."


    Easton was impatient. Why did she pester them? Was every woman of the Smith family like her?


    When they were at loggerheads, Meredith said, "Easton, let her in. She might have something


    important."


    Meredith was on guard against the Smith family. But it seemed that Ellie had something to say.


    They could listen to her. It would take just a few minutes.


    Hearing this, Easton became kind. But he still looked at Ellie to warn her. He said, "Don''t try any tricks,


    or I will not let you go."


    Ellie shook her head helplessly. Although Easton was a kid, he sounded a little scary.


    It was said that an eagle did not hatch a dove. Derek''s son was not ordinary either.


    Ellie walked into the ward. She knew that Meredith didn''t trust her. She directly took out the medical


    report and said bluntly, "Ie here to tell you that I am the one who can transnt bone marrow for


    your mother."


    The news was like a thunderbolt. Meredith was stunned.


    "How is it possible..."


    Meredith didn''t believe her at first. After all, the chances of a bone marrow match were one in a


    hundred thousand. Derek looked for it for a long time with much money.


    "It''s my medical report. If you don''t believe me, you can read it. If you aren''t willing to believe me, I can


    take the match test again now."


    When Meredith heard this, she came to herself. She took the medical report in doubt and read it


    carefully. It was the same as that which Evelyn gave herst time. But the name was Ellie.


    She thought about it carefully. The name was stained in thest medical report. Evelyn said that she


    identally spilled coffee and Meredith didn''t think much about it.


    It seemed that it was most likely that it was not Evelyn''s medical report.


    Meredith clutched the report and lookedplicated.


    Evelyn kept ckmailing her with it. But actually she couldn''t help her mother at all...


    She didn''t care about her mother''s life at all.


    The more Meredith thought about it, the angrier she became. She was even a little angry at Ellie.


    Ellie often visited her mother before. They seemed to be close. She didn''te today and Amelia kept


    nagging that Song didn''te to see her.


    Meredith didn''t expect that Ellie knew that her mother needed the marrow but she still helped Evelyn.


    Now she actively came over. Meredith did not think she was kind.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Why did youe to me?"


    Meredith sounded cold.


    She could not help but wonder what they wanted to do to torment her after changing their minds.


    If it was true, she would rather force her to finish the bone marrow transntation with special


    methods.


    "I lied to you with Evelyn. I''m sorry."


    Ellie said apologetically, "As you know, I was adopted by the Smith family. They taught me to take good


    care of Evelyn since I was a child. I should try my best to help her get whatever she wants. So I lied to


    you for her...


    When I heard her call to drug the little girl, I realized that I couldn''t continue to help her. So I came to


    you.


    I am willing to transnt my bone marrow as soon as possible. If possible, I can do it in two days as


    Ellie sounded sincere. She was nervous and didn''t know if Meredith would believe her.


    Meredith stared into Ellie''s eyes and wanted to see something. But Ellie didn''t lie or plot anything. She


    was sincere and apologetic.


    Meredith thought for a while. She couldn''t resist the transntation of bone marrow and said, "It''s my


    have the operation as soon as possible."


    Ellie nodded. "Okay, I''ll go now."


    Meredith watched Ellie leave with mixed feelings.


    Ellie found the doctor. She was drawn blood and began the test. Soon, it turned out that her bone


    mallow matched Amelia''s.


    "That''s great. She can be saved."


    The doctor said happily, "Let''s tell them the news."


    Ellie thought about it. She was embarrassed to see Amelia. If she figured it out earlier, Amelia wouldn''t


    have suffered so much. She asked the doctor to tell the news by himself and looked for Meredith first.


    Just as she reached the door, she heard Meredith''s words. Her face became pale.

 Chapter 606

    Chapter 606


    Not long after Ellie left, Meredith asked Parker toe.


    About her mother''s affairs, she had been discussing with Parker all along. So Meredith informed him


    immediately after learning that Evelyn and her mother''s bone marrow were not matched.


    "Parker, can you help me do the paternity test of Evelyn and my mom?"


    She didn''t do the paternity test of them because the bone marrow could be matched at the beginning.


    After all, it was almost unlikely that two strangers could match the bone marrow, so she acquiesced


    that Evelyn was the baby girl who was reced.


    Now it seemed that there are still variables.


    This made Meredith make up her mind. Originally, if Evelyn was Amelia''s biological daughter, she had


    to tolerate Evelyn''s behaviour. After all, she didn''t want to hurt Amelia''s own daughter.


    But if Evelyn wasn''t Amelia''s daughter, she would let her pay the price for drugging the two children.


    "What''s wrong? Have you found something?"


    Parker was confused.


    She nodded and told him what happened today and then handed him the medical report that Ellie had


    brought to her.


    "I suspect that Evelyn is not the girl who was reced..."


    Parker looked at the report. For a moment, he didn''t know what to say. He didn''t expect that Evelyn


    wasn''t the girl they wanted to find.


    In other words, Meredith couldpletely disregard the original agreement with Evelyn and didn''t have


    to leave Derek.


    At the thought of this, he couldn''t help but clench the medical report in his hand.


    He almost wined her back! Almost! This thing would ruin his n.


    "Parker, what''s wrong with you?"


    Meredith asked with concern when she saw the anger on his face.


    .


    "It''s nothing. I''ll get someone to look into it right away."


    He saw the concern in her eyes and couldn''t help lowering his head.


    He was afraid to look her in the eye. Seeing her unreserved trust and concern on him would make his


    conscience uneasy.


    They were so engrossed in their conversation that none of them noticed that their entire conversation


    was overheard by Ellie.


    Ellie was smart. When she heard they mention the words "rece the child," "paternity test," she


    immediately understood.


    Maybe Meredith and another girl were carried home by the wrong parents. And they thought that


    another girl was Evelyn, so they went all the way to Capital City.


    "I just didn''t expect that I would be the one who seeded in the match."


    "What a coincidence! Or this was the fate?"


    Ellie was in a state of confusion, but there were also waves of excitement.


    "What if Amelia was my biological mother I had been looking for for a long time?"


    In that case, it was likely that the family abandoned her after they found out she was not their daughter.


    Then she was not an orphan that her real parents abandoned. Because the parents that had


    abandoned her weren''t her biological parents.


    At the thought of this, Ellie even trembled a little due to the excitement. She gave up the idea of going


    to Meredith and turned to look for the doctor who had just done the bone marrow matching.


    "Doctor, I need to ask you something... It''s very important for me. Can you do a paternity test with that


    patient and me?"


    Because both of them had just taken blood samples, if they were to do a paternity test, it was ready.


    "The paternity test requires the consent of both parties. I can''t test for you with the patient''s blood


    without permission."


    "Doctor, I know this is difficult, but I am an orphan. I have been looking for my own parents for so long.


    Please, help me with this..."


    The doctor couldn''t bear to hear her humble implore.


    "Okay, fine. If this''s the case, I''ll make an exception for you."


    After that, the doctor sent the blood samples of her and Amelia to the appraisal center.


    Not long after, the results came out.


    "The result of the paternity test is out. You are 99.99 % simr to Amelia''s DNA, so it''s confirmed that


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    you are her daughter."


    After hearing it, Ellie''s heart finally rxed.


    She had been worried about what if the result was negative and she still couldn''t find her own mother.


    Fortunately, the result did not disappoint her.


    "Thank you, doctor."


    She took over the paternity test report and carefully stuffed it into her purse.


    Now, she could not hold back her delight and immediately wanted to see Amelia.


    And she did what she thought.


    With excitement, Ellie walked to the door of Amelia''s ward and knocked gently.


    "Come in."


    Hearing Amelia''s gentle voice, Ellie''s eyes were red.


    In the past, she only felt that she liked Amelia very much, but she didn''t go deep into the reason.


    Now, it was clearly the magical yet undeniable blood rtionship between mother and daughter that


    made them like each other.


    "It''s me, Ellie."


    She walked in and looked at Amelia''s thin face. Her heart ached. She really regretted not making up


    her mind earlier. Otherwise, the operation would have already been done and her mother would have


    recovered.


    "Ellie? Youe just in time, I have a good news to tell you. They finally found a matched bone


    marrow for me. I might be discharged pretty soon after the operation."


    Amelia was genuinely happy. Although she had been sick for so long and had always said that she


    didn''t care about life or death, now that she had a great chance of recovery, she was naturally very


    happy.


    Seeing how happy she was, Ellie felt even more guilty.


    She didn''t even know how to tell her the truth that she was her daughter...


    Ellie apanied her for the whole afternoon. Until it was night and Meredith came over to ask her


    what she wanted to eat, they ended their conversation.


    "So you''ve been here with mom all day Stay and have dinner together."


    When Meredith saw Ellie, she was nice to her, because she agreed to donate bone marrow to her


    mother. So Meredithid down her guard on her.


    "Okay."


    Ellie nodded. She wanted to take this opportunity to spend more time with her own mother.


    "Then what do you want to eat? I''ll go out and buy itter."


    "Let''s go together."


    Ellie was not picky about food, but now she wanted to know what Amelia liked to eat. And she wanted


    to tell Meredith she was Amelia''s real daughter. After all, it was not a small matter.


    Meredith heard this and did not refuse. The two of them left the ward together.


    Ellie hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Meredith, I have something very important to tell


    you."

 Chapter 607

    Chapter 607


    When Meredith heard this, she thought that something happened in terms of the bone marrow


    donation. She immediately became nervous.


    However, she couldn''t bring this topic to Amelia.


    So the two of them went out. Ellie hesitated for a long time. She didn''t know how to speak up the truth.


    Such silence, however, tormented Meredith.


    She was worried that Ellie would go back on her word.


    "What the hell do you want to say... You''d better say it now. You get me nervous."


    Meredith could not stand the torture of silence anymore.


    When Ellie heard this, she finally made up her mind and took out the paternity test report. "I told you


    that I was an orphan. I grew up in an orphanage and never met my parents.


    Actually, I''ve been looking for them all these years, and I finally found them. "


    Meredith looked at Ellie''s expression and a bold guess suddenly popped into her mind.


    ''She found them just now... And Ellie and my mother''s bone marrow just matched.


    There were no coincidences in this world for no reason.


    Could it be that...


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "You''re smart, too. I guess you''ve guessed it already... Yes, I just asked the doctor for a paternity test.


    The results are out. Amelia is my biological mother."


    Hearing this, Meredith did not know how to answer.


    Even though she was mentally prepared, Meredith still found it hard to ept that all of her previous


    guesses had been overturned in an instant and the real truth was not what she had guessed.


    "For so many years, I have always hated my biological parents. They abandoned me in a deste


    forest. If it weren''t for the vigers who happened to pass by and saved me, maybe I wouldn''t be here


    talking to you now.


    However, after this period, I think she is not that kind of person, so I want to know what exactly


    happened in the past. Why were we exchanged? Was it an ident or was it intentional? "


    Ellie gritted her teeth and told Meredith all about her miserable past.


    Being abandoned had always been the biggest scar in her heart, and Ellie had neverined to


    anyone.


    But now, in order to know what the truth was, she told her past without reservation, so that she could


    gain Meredith''s trust and let Meredith tell what she knew.


    After hearing what Ellie said, Meredith clenched her lower lip.


    Unexpectedly, the girl who was reced by her mother had such an ident.


    Fortunately, Ellie was safe now, otherwise, they would owe an innocent girl a life.


    "This is the case... Because my mother was sick and my bone marrow waspletely ipatible,


    the doctor told me that we had no blood rtionship. After a series of investigationster on, I learned


    that it was Cali who had asked her acquaintance to exchange us. She seemed to try to avoid


    something bad."


    Speaking of this, Meredith couldn''t help but feel a little sorry for Ellie.


    "I''m sorry. I have lived your life. A lot of the suffering you''ve suffered is also due to me and my mother.


    If possible, I''ll do everything I can to make it up to you, but please don''t resent your biological mother.


    She doesn''t know anything. She''s also a victim of this. If you are angry, you can take it out on me."


    After Meredith finished speaking, Ellie remained silent.


    She should have been angry. If Meredith''s mother hadn''t taken the initiative to rece the two babies,


    perhaps her childhood would have been better and she wouldn''t have been bullied in the orphanage.


    But hearing Meredith''s humble apology, Ellie couldn''t vent her anger.


    After all, Meredith was just a baby at that time. How could she control so many things?


    No one seemed to be the winner in this matter.


    And the one who nned this had passed away, and no one knew what she was thinking at that time.


    "I won''t me her. I''ve been resenting my biological parents all these years because I think they don''t


    want to raise me and even try to kill me. Since that''s the truth, I''m not interested in angering anyone. I


    just want her to get better and make up for the time we''ve lost in the past years."


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Ellie say that.


    However, she couldn''t help but think. Back then, if Ellie was raised as the only daughter of the Smith


    family''s eldest daughter, it was impossible for Old Master Smith to let her suffer.


    In that case, how could Ellie be thrown into the forest? What about this Evelyn?


    Was her mother nning to rece two babies because of this?


    The more Meredith thought about it, the more horrified she felt.


    How many secrets and conspiracies were hidden in that huge Smith family...

 Chapter 608

    Chapter 608


    The men Derek sent out soon found the clue. After all, the bone marrow matching is not something


    anyone can do.


    "Boss, you guessed right. About a week ago, Meredith''s mother did find a matched bone marrow."


    A week ago...


    Isn''t that the time when Evelyne to J City?


    In this way, everything made sense.


    Evelyn made a deal with Meredith about the bone marrow match, and that''s why the conflict happened


    yesterday.


    It was clear that Meredith had rushed over as soon as she knew he was injured, which meant that she


    was caring about him. But she never showed it. Instead, she repeatedly rejected him.


    At the thought of this, Derek felt a little happy and sad.


    The happy thing was that Meredith did not fall in love with other men as he had imagined.


    The sad one was that in Meredith''s heart, their rtionship was always ced at the lowest priority.


    Derek knew that Amelia''s health was more important, but he was upset by the fact that when


    something happened, Meredith would rather make deal with a stranger than seek for his help.


    Was he that untrustworthy?


    Derek''s eyes dimmed a little, but he quickly hid the expression.


    "Send someone to keep an eye on Evelyn. No matter what she does next, report to me in time."


    After Derek gave the order, hey down on the bed, closed his eyes, and fell into deep thought.


    As for Meredith, after dining with Amelia, Meredith and Ellie went to the doctor to discuss the time and


    n of the operation carefully.


    Because of Ellie''s cooperation and Amelia''s stable physical condition, the operation was quickly


    scheduled for tomorrow night.


    As the long battle in the hospital was finallying to an end, Meredith was quite relieved.


    "What are you going to do next?"


    Ellie looked at Meredith. "Aren''t you going to recognize your family?"


    Meredith hesitated for a moment.


    For so many years, she had not had the enviable power and money as Smith family had, and suffered


    a lot, but she hade to this.


    Now she had a lovely child, and her life and career are on the right track.


    Meredith had always been an insecure person, or it could be said that she did not like to rush for


    change.


    What''s more, Ellie was once thrown into the remote mountain to grow or die, which showed that the


    Smith family was not a ce for anyone.


    Meredith was worried that if she returned to the Smith family, she would not be used to the intrigue of


    the big family, and even get into troubles.


    "I haven''t thought about it yet."


    Ellie learned Meredith''s worry. "I''m not trying to rush you. I just want to know your thoughts. I can


    understand if you don''t want to acknowledge them."


    "I''ll think about it... But I suppose it''s safer to do a paternity test first, in case that I wasn''t the blood of


    the Smith family, or I''ll be humiliated when Ie to them."


    Meredith was much more cautious now after the mistake involved Evelyn.


    Ellie felt that it made sense. "Then leave this to me. I usually apany Old Master to the hospital for


    examination. After the operation, I will find a chance to give you a paternity test, so that there would be


    no mistake."


    Meredith nodded. "You''re right. This can only be done by you."


    The more she spoke, the more guilty Meredith felt.


    Ellie had already suffered a lot because her mother had changed the babies. Now that she was willing


    to donate her bone marrow and help her find out who she was, she owed Soong too much.


    "It doesn''t matter. I also want to know the truth. You don''t have to feel burdened."


    Hearing what Ellie said, Meredith''s more fond of her.


    Meredith heard that Ellie was talented in managing and was also a good hand in the Smith Group.


    Perhaps she should find a time to return everything that should belong to Ellie to her.


    Now that all the assets that belonged to the Masons were in her hands, Meredith nned to return


    them all to Ellie.


    When the time came, she would take Easton abroad to continue her career as a designer. That kind of


    life would be pretty good.


    It''s just...


    That man would be missing.


    Meredith''s heart still ached at the thought.


    As she was lost in thought, there was a knock on the door.


    Meredith walked over and opened the door, seeing Lydia standing outside with anxiety.


    Meredith didn''t expect her toe here at all. Did she suddenly change her mind?


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    But thest time they met, she was so resistant.


    "Miss Mason, I''m here to see Fiona. When she recovers, I''m going to take her away and make up for


    the pain she''s suffered during this time."


    Not long after Lydia returned home, her husband, Shawn, rushed back from thepany and asked


    her what happened to her former daughter.


    Lydia was shocked and thought that Meredith had spread the news that she had a child with another


    man. If the Lee family knew, she would be finished.


    After an inquiry, however, she knew that Derek came forward and offered to cooperate with the Lee


    family in exchange for her visit to the daughter she had not seen for many years.


    Lydia never expected that the daughter who had been abandoned by her for years would somehow get


    to know the Xaviers, and even let Derek personally make such a tempting offer.


    Naturally, the Lee family would not miss such a good opportunity and agreed immediately.


    Shawn also felt that since Fiona''s rtionship with the Xaviers was good, it would be better to bring her


    back, so he would get more benefits in the future.


    Hearing what Lydia said, Meredith did not dare to agree without hesitation. She felt that there was


    something fishy about it, for Lydia''s attitude changed too fast.


    Could it be that Parker had offered something to her?


    Meredith called Parker to ask about the situation.


    "Parker, did you persuade Lydia to visit Fiona?"


    Parker frowned. "No, I''m going tomorrow."


    Since the year Meredith disappeared, Parker was afraid that the familiar sight would stir up his feelings


    for her, so he left J City directly. After all these years, most of the connections and foundations that he


    had built here were dispersed.


    Therefore, Parker couldn''t do things as he wishes.


    "Oh, I see."


    Meredith touched her chin. Did Lydia sting by conscience?

 Chapter 609

    Chapter 609


    Meredith thought for a while, but in the end, she still did not agree. She always felt that there was


    something weird about this. She did not want to let anyone take Fiona away.


    Meredith would feel guilty if Lydia treated Fiona unkindly.


    Knowing that Meredith disagreed, Lydia was anxious. After all, it was Shawn''s request to take Fiona


    back. If Lydia failed to take her back, he would get angry.


    However,Meredith was determined, and Lydia did not dare to act too hastily for fear of being noticed.


    Thy two were locked in a stalemate outside, and inside the ward, Fiona opened her eyes slowly.


    Fiona had just woken up and was still in shock.


    All she could remember was that she went into the bathroom alone, trying to spit out the strange milk


    tea. But as soon as she entered, she lost consciousness.


    She knew nothing about what happened afterward.


    "Where am I now?"


    Fiona said with a nk face.


    "You''re in the hospital. You''re fine now."


    Easton stood aside andforted her. "I''m sorry. It''s all because of my negligence that you met with


    something like this."


    Fiona looked at the surroundings. Doctors came and go in white. It turned out that she was saved.


    Fortunately, she was still alive. She could not die because she had not seen her mother ever.


    "Easton, it''s not your fault." Fiona saw Easton who was guilty and took the initiative tofort him.


    Seeing her like this, Easton felt even more guilty.


    At this moment, he heard another woman''s voice outside. He had an idea. Could it be Fiona''s mother?


    If she saw her mothering to see her, she should be better soon.


    Easton hurried out and saw that it was Fiona''s mother.


    Easton immediately ran over. "Mom, mom, Fiona woke up."


    Hearing this, Meredith got excited and relieved.


    After thinking about it, she looked at Lydia and said, "You should go in and see her, too."


    Lydia naturally would not refuse. So the three of them rushed into the ward.


    After the gastricvage, Fiona was still not feeling well. She was dizzy.


    At this moment, she saw a strange womaning in behind Meredith and could not help but look at


    the woman a few more times.


    This woman was so beautiful, and Fiona seemed to see her somewhere before...


    Fiona was in a daze for a moment. Soon, Fiona remembered that this woman was exactly the same as


    the people in the few photos that her mother had left.


    In other words, mom came to see her.


    Fiona was so excited that she forgot the needle of the syringe and struggled to sit up.


    Seeing this, Easton quickly held her down. "Don''t move around. You''ll get the needle out of ceter.


    The doctor will give you another shot. Your mother won''t run away. I''ll keep an eye on her for you."


    Only then did Fiona realize how excited she was, and thanked him awkwardly. Then, she looked at


    Lydia.


    She looked at the woman she had met for the first time with great seriousness. Although she had never


    seen her before, she still had a natural affinity for the woman in front of her.


    Meredith saw her like this with mixed feelings.


    Sure enough, Fiona yearned for motherly love.


    After thinking for a while, Meredith took Easton out. "Let''s go out and wait. Let them have a good talk."


    Easton also understood why Fiona was so excited, nodded, and followed Meredith out.


    Lydia and Fiona were soon left alone in the room.


    Fiona could not help but look at Lydia and say excitedly, "Mom, are you my mom? You came to see


    me. I finally saw you."


    Lydia looked at Fiona who was so happy, feeling a little uneasy. She had deliberately forget about


    Fiona for too long, and now became very ufortable seeing Fiona like this.


    Looking at Fiona''s face that resembled that man partially, Lydia seemed to remember her failed


    marriage, as well as those dark days.


    So, it was really hard for Lydia to love Fiona.


    But now she could only walk over with a smile regardless of those dark days. "Yes, I''m your mother. I''m


    sorry I only came to see you after such a long time."


    After hearing this, Fiona could not control her tears and threw herself into Lydia''s arms. "Mom, I thought


    you didn''t want me anymore. I thought I''d never see you again."


    Lydia stroked Fiona''s long hair with a loving tone but a cold expression.


    "I want you. It''s just that your dad who only wanted a son. After you were born, he used to beat and


    scold me and I had no choice but to leave. At first, I almost killed myself, but fortunately, I was saved by


    a man. Later, I lived with him in order to repay him. It''s not that I don''t want to see you. I was just afraid


    of being beat again by your father."


    Lydia told half the truth about the past.


    Although Fiona''s father was irresponsible, he had never abused Lydia. But only by saying so could


    Fiona let go of the thing that Lydia had abandoned her in the past.


    When Fiona heard this, she did not doubt it at all. Instead, she felt sorry for her mother and even


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    med herself. If she had not been born or she had been a boy, maybe her mother would not have left.


    Seeing that Fiona who was self-me, Lydia said with satisfaction, "I knew you were sick, so I came to


    find you immediately. And my current husband also knew you were a good and sensible child, willing to


    ept you. Fiona, would you like to go back with me?"


    Lydia felt that Meredith did not believe in her just now, so she tried to say that to take Fiona away.


    Fiona was so eager for motherly love that she might agree to go with Lydia if Lydia talked with Fiona


    with seriousness and kindness.


    Sure enough, Fiona hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously, "Really?"


    Lydia nodded. "The man who save me must have been a good man, right? If that''s the case, what are


    you afraid of?"


    Hearing this, Fiona could not resist the temptation to be with her every day. "I want to go back with you,


    mom. I want to be with you all the time."

 Chapter 610

    Chapter 610


    Lydia was inside, while Meredith and Easton were waiting outside.


    The time had been set for her mother''s operation, and her mother''s biological daughter had finally been


    found after they had been apart for years. Moreover, Fiona had woken up and found her mother.


    Everything was getting better.


    Meredith couldn''t help but sigh.


    During these days, she was overwhelmed by such things. Fortunately, she still waited until the dawn of


    new hopes.


    After her mother finished the operation, she would have to take a good rest for a while.


    "Mom, if you''re tired, please go and rest for a while."


    Easton knew that Meredith had been very tired these days, so he said, "I''m keeping an eye on her


    here."


    Meredith shook her head. She understood what Easton meant, but she could not leave at this time


    however tired she was, since she had made the same mistake before.


    "No need, Easton. I can still hold on."


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Seeing that Meredith insisted, Easton didn''t ask anymore.


    Meredith wondered whether Easton would feel upset if Fiona was taken away since they were so close


    right now.


    "Easton, Fiona''s mother just said that she would take her back. What do you think?"


    "Hmm?" Hearing this, Easton thought for a while with his chin on his hand and looked at Meredith


    guiltily. "Well... Mom, I have something to tell you. Actually, I asked dad to help me find Fiona''s mom."


    Easton knew that his mother didn''t like his father to meddle in her affairs, so he was a little afraid of


    being scolded.


    When Meredith heard that it was Derek who had helped, he got stunned for a moment and then had


    mixed feelings.


    For the past few days, she had given him the cold shoulder and kept refusing him.


    In the end, it was he who solved the matter, even when his hand was injured.


    Meredith looked down as if she had been lost in thought.


    Her silence got Easton confused. Was his mother going to me him for this?


    "Mom, it''s not that I don''t believe in your ability, but..."


    "No, Easton. I don''t mean to me you. I know you did it out of kindness."


    Easton''s voice pulled Meredith back from her thoughts. She looked at him and smiled, "Your father is


    injured now. We should try our best not to bother him."


    Hearing this, Easton breathed a sigh of relief. "Mom, actually, you still care about dad, don''t you?"


    Hearing this, Meredith got stunned and did not answer.


    But Easton could tell what she was thinking from her reaction.


    She did care about his father, but she had misgivings.


    What should he do to help his mother get rid of such resistance...


    "Mom, I''m going to see dadter. Would you like to go with me?"


    Easton thought that he was their child so that he should act as a bond between them. So he invited


    Meredith to visit Derek together.


    After hesitating for a while, Meredith refused, "I... Never mind. Your grandmother will have an operation


    tomorrow. I have to apany her today."


    Meredith''s mind was in a mess. She had made up her mind to cut off all contact with Derek due to


    Evelyn.


    But now, Meredith knew about the things Evelyn had done and that Derek helped her secretly even


    when he was injured. Meredith wondered if she would regret her ruthlessness in front of him.


    So she simply chose to escape.


    Seeing that Meredith was unwilling to go, Easton felt a little helpless. Afraid that he would pester her to


    go there, Meredith wavered again. She quickly called the driver to send Easton there.


    Easton arrived at the hospital where Derek was. As soon as he entered, he saw Derek sitting on the


    bed and flipping through the documents with his right hand, not idle at all.


    "Dad,e on. You''re still working. Are you a workaholic?"


    Easton couldn''t help butin that his father should be dealing with business in such a situation


    like an iron-made robot. Anyway, he couldn''t learn this kind of spirit.


    "Aren''t you a little presumptuous because you have been with your mother recently and no one


    disciplines you?"


    Hearing Easton tease him, Derek could not help but retort, though he was not angry.


    This kid had been a little arroganttely.


    "Dad. I just want you to rest well."


    Easton immediately became timid and walked over with a smile. "Fiona''s mother came to see her


    today. Thank you, dad."


    Derek nodded. As soon as Easton finished his words, he immediately had someone do it. How could


    that woman refuse to negotiate with a project and the conditions of priority cooperation with the


    Xaviers?


    "Yes, I see." Derek didn''t take it too seriously.


    "I told mom about it, but she behaved strangely."


    Hearing this, Derek looked up. His face that had been expressionless suddenly put on a serious look.


    "What happened?"


    "I thought mom would be angry at me for asking you to get involved in this matter, but she didn''t.


    Instead, she said she wanted to thank you."


    Derek became restless.


    He hadn''t intended to tell Meredith about it. It was a piece of cake for him. Moreover, he was afraid that


    if she knew it, she would think that he was officious.


    Now it seemed that Meredith didn''t really hate everything about him from the bottom of her heart.


    Did she have to do that because of Evelyn?


    Thinking of this possibility, Derek felt better.


    "Well, Easton. What do you think of your mother''s attitude to me now?"


    "I think mom still cares about you. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have taken us to see you in such a hurry


    that day. And she just said that you were hurt so that we shouldn''t bother you. But now she seems to


    be a little embarrassed. Dad, please think of a way. After all, you''re a man, right?"

 Chapter 611

    Chapter 611


    Derek heard Easton''s words, but he didn''t jump into action as quickly as Easton thought.


    On the contrary, he seemed overly calm.


    "Dad, what''s wrong?"


    Easton suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Derek couldn''t tell what was going on either. Maybe it was because he had talked to Meredith many


    times in the past few days, but she turned him down every time.


    Now, he didn''t know how to say it.


    If he talked to Meredith again and got the same answer, then he really had no hope at all.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Therefore, the man who had always been fearless had some concerns at the moment.


    Perhaps it was because he cared so much about her that he was so concerned.


    When Easton saw that Derek was silent, he suddenly became nervous.


    What was going on? They were on the verge of reconciliation, but neither of them wanted to take a


    step forward.


    It would be a pity if they missed each other like that.


    The more Easton thought about it, the more he was convinced there was something fishy about it. He


    touched his chin and suddenly came up with an idea.


    Anyway, he must help them. Even if he lied, they wouldn''t be angry, would they?


    Derek did not notice Easton''s change. Derek looked at the snow-white wall and seemed to be lost in


    his thoughts.


    After Easton came up with the idea, he was not in the mood to waste time here. Moreover, he knew


    that the person his father wanted to see most now was not him, but his mother.


    "Dad, have a good rest then. I''ll go back first. Don''t worry. I''ll find a way to get mom toe and see


    you."


    After that, Easton ran away in a hurry.


    Derek looked at his back and couldn''t help shaking his head. This kid talked like a grown-up.


    Easton returned to the hospital. Meredith had juste out of Amelia''s ward.


    Ellie came to visit Amelia today. Meredith left, so that Amelia could talk to her long-lost daughter.


    As soon as Easton left the house, he cried and threw himself into Meredith''s arms.


    Meredith was shocked.


    Easton had high self-esteem. He wouldn''t be like this if something serious hadn''t happened.


    "Easton, what''s wrong?" Meredith immediately asked worriedly.


    Easton just went to see Derek. Why did hee back like this?


    Could something have happened to Derek?


    But Easton didn''t say anything and kept crying. His strange behavior made Meredith very anxious.


    "Easton, what''s going on? Don''t cry. Tell me what''s wrong. If you don''t tell me, I won''t be able to help


    you."


    Meredith was flustered by Easton''s cries.


    Easton felt guilty when he heard Meredith''s anxious voice. Of course, nothing had happened to him.


    The reason why he was crying so sadly now was that he had just steeled himself to eat a tube of


    mustard, and tears were streaming down his face.


    However, thinking that if Meredith and Derek divorced, he would be a child with a single-parent,


    and maybe he would be bullied and abused like Fiona, he held back his guilt and continued to cry.


    Easton cried for a while and stopped. "Mom, I heard from the doctor that dad hurt his hand pretty bad.


    The nerve has been damaged and there might be a sequ."


    Hearing this, Meredith was stunned.


    She had always thought that Derek''s injury was not serious, so she could stay here at ease.


    Now that she heard Easton''s words, she felt restless and unsettled.


    Even ordinary people couldn''t ept such things, not to mention Derek, who had always been proud.


    "Easton, what''s going on? What did the doctor say? What kind of sequ will he have?"


    Easton lowered his head and wiped the corners of his eyes. "The doctor said dad might not be able to


    use his injured arm like a normal person in the future, but he hasn''t told dad yet. I don''t know what will


    happen if dad finds out."


    After Meredith heard Easton''s words, her hand trembled slightly.


    He couldn''t use his arms like a normal person? Would he be disabled?


    Meredith''s heart ached at the thought of what had happened to Derek, who had always been very


    demanding of himself.


    Only then did she realize that she had neverpletely got over Derek.


    Seeing Meredith''s expression, Easton felt that his n worked. Obviously, when Meredith heard the


    news, she was very anxious and worried about Derek.


    "I don''t know what to do either. I just hope dad is okay."


    After Easton finished his words, he wiped his tears and left.


    Meredith bit her lower lip, her eyes darkening.


    Hearing what Easton said, she immediately wanted to go over and ask if Derek''s injury was really that


    serious.


    However, she had said so many heartless things to him not long ago.


    Meredith hesitated for a long time, but in the end, she couldn''t make up her mind.


    At this moment, Ellie came out of Amelia''s ward and saw Meredith standing in the hallway with a


    troubled face. "What''s wrong, Meredith? Why do you look so worried? Is there something wrong with


    the surgery?"


    Hearing this, Meredith immediately shook her head. "No, it has nothing to do with that..."


    Ellie was relieved when she heard this. Then, seeing that Meredith was still absent-minded, she said,


    "If you have anything you want to do, just do it. I''ll stay here. You can rest assured."


    "I''m not worried about my mom, but..."


    Meredith trusted Elliepletely. "There''s something going on with Derek."


    She could not make up her mind right now, so she would rather say it out and listen to other people''s


    opinions.


    Hearing this, Ellie nced at Meredith, encouraging her to say it.


    "Let me be frank with you. Although Evelyn has been running after that man with all kinds of means


    recently, he has not been tempted at all. He has been waiting for you to be with him. Such infatuated


    men are rare nowadays.


    I heard he''s hurt now. If you''re still worried about him, you can go and see him. Don''t wait until you''ve


    lost him for good. Then it will be toote."

 Chapter 612

    Chapter 612


    Meredith heard this with mixed feelings.


    She thought that Derek would not love her so much because she was so cold to him while Evelyn was


    doing a lot to win his heart.


    In the end, Ellie told her that this was not the case.


    Meredith couldn''t help but think about what Derek asked her at the coffee shop the other day "Am I that


    untrustworthy?".


    Did he keep trying to convince her of their feelings again...


    The more she thought about it, the more upset Meredith felt.


    Seeing she was gradually depressed, Ellie persuaded her, "If you really have any ideas, just say it in


    time. Don''t keep struggling. When the surgery is done tomorrow, you have a long time to think about it."


    Meredith nodded. Since she had no idea for a while, she should give herself some time.


    After Ellie finished talking to Meredith, she was about to go back to stay with Amelia when she heard


    Easton mumbling in the bathroom.


    "Oh, my stomach hurts so much. Eating too much mustard will kill me. If the two of them don''t make up,


    then what I did was in vain."


    After he finished talking with Meredith, Easton''s stomach ached a lot. After all, he was still a child. His


    stomach couldn''t stand the ache it after eating so many spicy food in one go.


    The point was, Easton didn''t dare to tell anyone about it because he was afraid that Meredith would


    find out that he was eating mustard and pretending to cry, so he had to endure it.


    Ellie froze when she heard this. Then, she quickly guessed something.


    She guessed Meredith felt uneasy by what the little guy said.


    This little guy was really smart although he was so young.


    Easton stayed in the toilet for a while, but it was of no use. He came out again with his stomach in his


    hands. As soon as he went out, he saw Ellie standing not far away looking at him.


    "Why are you here?"


    After learning that Ellie was actually a good person and donated bone marrow to his grandma, Easton


    apologized to her seriously, and now the two of them got along very well.


    Ellie had a strong and intelligent personality, but she got along well with Easton.


    "Easton, did you say something to lie to your mother?"


    Ellie looked at Easton''s pale face and asked directly.


    Easton took a step back in fright. Looking at Ellie''s expression, he knew that she had guessed what he


    had done, so he could only nod his head.


    "Please, don''t tell my mother."


    Easton immediately pretended to be pitiful and looked at Ellie pleadingly.


    His mother would be very angry, and then what he had done would just be in vain.


    "I just want to help my father and mother make up. You can understand that, right?"


    Easton did everything he could to stop Ellie from telling that to Meredith.


    He was originally cute and inherited the characteristics of Derek and Meredith, and now he pretended


    to be pitiful on purpose, which made Ellie hesitate for a while.


    Ellie couldn''t help butugh. "Easton, I didn''t expect you to be so smart as usual, and now you''re


    stupid, too. And you should think I''ll tell your mother. Don''t worry, I know what to do and won''t tell your


    mother."


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    Ellie had searched a lot about what had happened between Derek and Meredith and knew that they


    had experienced a lot. It was a pity that they were separated.


    Therefore, she understood why Easton lied to Meredith.


    Sometimes it was necessary to tell a white lie.


    "But what exactly did you say? Meredith just felt distracted. What you said didn''t scare her, did it?"


    "Ahem, I said my father is seriously injured and will have seque... I don''t mean to curse him, just..."


    "I see. You definitely don''t mean to curse him."


    Ellie nodded.


    What she did not expect was that Meredith had always been determined to break up with Derek, but


    had wavered when hearing that Derek might have a sequ for the rest of his life.


    It waspletely different from the way one would not show any concern for the one he or she had


    broke up with in the face of a trouble. So she really loved Derek, or else she wouldn''t be so worried and


    uneasy.


    "That''s good, that''s good."


    Easton was relieved to hear this.


    Ellie looked at his pale face and was afraid that he was still ufortable. "Come on, Easton, I''ll take


    you to the doctor to prescribe some medicine. I''ll pay the bill then. Your mother won''t find out."


    Hearing this, Easton nodded gratefully, followed behind Ellie and hurried to the doctor.


    Easton was lucky to meet Ellie who took him to the hospital. Otherwise, he would have stayed in the


    bathroom until dawn the next day.


    Ellie took Easton to the doctor and watched him take medicine.


    lfter taking the medicine, Easton rested for a while and was much better. He looked at Ellie gratefully.


    "Thank you a lot."


    Ellie shook her head. "You''re wee, but don''t do this again. If you''re really sick, your grandmother


    and mother will be worried."


    Easton nodded shyly after listening.


    ...


    The night passed quickly.


    The next morning, Ellie washed up and prepared to go into the operating room for the bone marrow


    surgery.


    At this moment, her cell phone rang.


    It was Evelyn.


    "I want to eat at the restaurant today. Make a reservation in advance."


    Evelyn didn''t even notice that Ellie hadn''t been back for two days, because she would only contact Ellie


    voluntarily when she needed Ellie to do something.


    Ellie clenched her phone. "I have something to do now. Do it yourself."


    After that, she hung up the phone.


    In the past, she had tolerated and indulged Evelyn because she was nurtured by the Smith family, so


    even if Evelyn went too far, she would not say anything.


    But now, knowing what happened in the past, Ellie only felt that it was fate. She did not owe the Smith


    family anything, but was the victim of Cali''s own decision.


    So now, Ellie decided not to tter anyone as before and chose to be herself.


    Besides, Ellie was actually looking forward to it that what Evelyn would do after knowing that she had


    donated the bone marrow directly.


    After all, Ellie had been bullied for so many years, and she had her own ideas.


    Evelyn was surprised that Ellie hung up the phone.


    Ellie rejected her and hung up on her. Did Ellie, an unwanted orphan, be independent and strong-


    minded?

 Chapter 613

    Chapter 613


    Evelyn was very angry, so she kept calling Ellie, intending to scold her to vent her anger.


    However, no one answered the phone.


    After she hung up the phone, Ellie went into the operating room.


    Everything was going ording to n, so she couldn''t hear anything.


    Evelyn had been on the phone for a long time and couldn''t get through. Suddenly, she had a bad


    feeling.


    So, she rushed to the hospital where Amelia was.


    As soon as she arrived, she saw Ellie being helped out of the operating room.


    After a bone marrow extraction operation, Ellie''s face turned pale and she looked very haggard.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Evelyn was not in the mood to care about her. When she saw her like this, she immediately guessed


    something.


    "Ellie, did you donate her bone marrow?"


    The thought of Ellie donating bone marrow to that woman on her own ord was driving her crazy.


    This was her only and most important trump card, and now it was gone. She wanted to kill Ellie.


    "Her body can''t stand you wasting time like this. I''m just trying to save her. Is there a problem?"


    Ellie said calmly, not as carefully as she usually did.


    "You... You... As my uncle said, you are such an ungrateful woman, and now you are helping outsiders


    to sabotage my n. I will tell grandpa about this and let him kick you out of thepany."


    When Ellie heard this, she did not show the fear Evelyn imagined. Instead, she smiled indifferently.


    In fact, even if she did not work for the Smith family, she could still live a good life on her own. On the


    contrary, because she wanted to repay the kindness of the Smith family, her sry was far lower than


    normal people''s.


    But she did not care before, thinking that they were her family.


    But now, she understood that they had never been a family. She was just a dog kept by them. When


    they were happy, they would give her a few bones and make her happy.


    And if they were unhappy, just like Evelyn just now, they would scold her with harsh words.


    "If you want to, then go ahead and tell him. I''m just tired, and I''m going to quit and take a break. If you


    say it, then I don''t have to."


    "You bitch..." When Evelyn heard this, she was so angry that she rushed up to give Ellie a p.


    At this moment, her hand was gripped so tightly that she could not move at all.


    It was Meredith.


    Just now, Meredith apanied her mother into the operating room. As soon as she came out, she


    saw Evelyn making a scene here. It was their family business, and she didn''t want to interfere.


    But seeing that Evelyn was going to hit Ellie who had just had a bone marrow operation and was very


    weak, so Meredith immediately rushed up to stop her.


    "Evelyn, what are you doing here? All the things you did, and you yed me like a fool. I haven''t even


    had a bone to pick with you, and now you dare to be here to hit her?"


    Evelyn knew that what she did had been exposed, so she stopped pretending to be innocent, but


    snorted coldly and withdrew her hand.


    "Yeah, you know, but so what? I have the Smith family behind me. What about you? What can you do


    to me?"


    Meredith could not help but clench her fist as she watched her gloating.


    She thought she had a good family background so that she could y with others without fear. She


    didn''t even care about the life of a dying patient.


    Meredith could not understand this kind of thought, but Evelyn''s action suddenly made her a little


    curious. What would she be if she knew that she was not the granddaughter of the Smiths?


    "So, do you think you will always stand higher than me? I advise you to keep a low profile so that you


    won''t be humiliated then."


    Meredith nced at Evelyn and held Ellie. "Let''s go back."


    After that, neither of them paid any attention to Evelyn and left.


    Beingpletely ignored, Evelyn stamped her feet in anger, but she was not in her territory and could


    do nothing.


    "You two wait and see. Don''t think it''s over like that."


    ...


    Amelia''s operation went well, and the bone marrow transnt was soonpleted.


    The doctor told Meredith that now as long as Amelia was recovered and taking her medicine on time,


    she could slowly return to normal life.


    Meredith wept with joy at the news.


    She had been waiting for this day for too long.


    Meredith heaved a sigh of relief when weight was lifted off her mind. Then, the matter that she had


    been thinking about could not be held back.


    What was going on with Derek...


    Meredith had been forcing herself not to think about Derek''s injury because her mother was about to


    undergo surgery. Now that everything was over, it was hard for her to pretend not to know about it.


    After thinking about it, Meredith took out her cell phone and called the hospital.


    She couldn''t go, but she could at least call a doctor to know what was going on.


    Meredith called and the call went through quickly.


    "I want to ask, how is Derek now?"


    When the doctor heard this, he immediately became alert.


    Now that Derek was injured in the hospital, many people called to get information.


    As a hospital invested by the Xaviers, they had to keep the news to themselves.


    "I''m sorry, we can''t divulge the patient''s privacy at will."


    When Meredith heard this, she sighed in her heart.


    It seemed that she had to make a personal trip to find out what was going on.


    After thinking about it, Meredith decided to go back when the doctor was off work. She didn''t want


    Derek to know that she was secretly asking about him.


    After all, she used to be the one who said that they were over, but now she was asking for information


    about him. Wasn''t that a p in the face...

 Chapter 614

    Chapter 614


    The doctor thought it over and still found that Meredith''s phone call was very suspicious. He told Derek


    about it while he came here for a routine examination.


    "Mr. Xavier, someone who refused to tell me her name was asking me about the details of your injury.


    Maybe there was a hidden agenda."


    Derek frowned slightly at his words.


    He was recuperating. It was reasonable that people spected about his physical condition, but the


    spection had stopped recently. He didn''t expect there would be another suspicious person inquiring


    about him.


    "Give me the person''s number."


    Derek decided to have it checked. He regarded his injury as a chance to check out who was nning


    on taking over his position. He would get rid of them in time, preventing any trouble in the future.


    The doctor nodded, wrote down the number on the paper, and handed it to Derek.


    Derek took the paper. What he saw bemused him. His face was filled with disbelief.


    There was no way that he would forget about this number. It was Meredith''s phone number.


    His strange expression made the doctor a little anxious. Could it be that this person really had some


    bad intentions?


    "Are you sure you remember it right?"


    Derek couldn''t believe his eyes. He couldn''t even believe in Easton when he told him that Meredith


    really cared about him.


    He knew his son well. The boy would make up anything to get them back together.


    Derek didn''t want to be rejected by her again, so he didn''t take any action.


    He had his pride as well, which stopped him from begging for Meredith''s love after being rejected so


    many times.


    However, the call from Meredith made him feel alive again.


    "The number can''t be wrong. I copied it from the phone."


    The doctor shook his head and muttered to himself as he stared at Derek''s face.


    Why didn''t Mr. Xavier look angry, but rather happy?


    Who the hell was this woman on the phone? Why did Derek, who had always been as cold as ice, care


    about her so much?


    "Okay, I see. Thank you."


    Thest shred of suspicion disappeared in Derek''s heart when he heard this. He couldn''t wait any


    longer to ask Meredith what was actually going on in her mind.


    Fortunately, he still had some of his usual sanity. He remembered that Easton had promised to do


    something to help him.


    He had to find out what was going on first in case the two of them would say something contradictory


    and make Meredith angry again.


    With this thought, Derek called Easton first.


    "Dad? Why did you call me? I was just thinking about visiting you tomorrow. Also, there''s some good


    news I want to share with you. Grandma''s surgery was sessful. Maybe she''ll wake up tomorrow."


    It was unexpected good news. Derek was overjoyed to hear that. Meredith would no longer have to be


    so anxious about her mother. She could finally have a great rest.


    However...


    Evelyn''s prerequisite hadn''t been met. How was the surgery done?


    Was there anything else he didn''t know?


    "It''s hard to exin on the phone. Dad, I''lle to see you."


    Derek agreed. He waited here in peace.


    Easton arrived soon. "Dad, how are you feeling today?"


    "Not bad. There''s no need for you to worry about me. Tell me what''s going on?"


    Easton nodded and told Derek everything he knew.


    Including that Ellie was Amelia''s daughter. Easton knew it because they decided to announce their


    rtionship to others as soon as possible.


    "In other words, Evelyn is not your grandmother''s daughter at all. The imposter is always her?"


    Easton nodded. "I''m afraid yes."


    Derek pondered for a moment after hearing this. He didn''t know what happened in the past that had


    made things soplicated.


    The good news was that Amelia''s biological daughter is Ellie, who had no feelings for him. Meredith


    wouldn''t feel guilty and give up on him now.


    "What exactly did you say to your mother the other day and made her ask about my condition?"


    Derek asked the most important question after consideration.


    His question made Easton a little embarrassed. "Well...You promise not to be angry at me first."


    Derek nced at Easton. Had the boy said something he shouldn''t say again? How could he be so


    scared?


    "I told mom that your hand had been severely injured and that there might be someter effects. She


    freaked out and came to you. I didn''t mean to curse you, Dad. I just couldn''t think of any other way..."


    Derek was a little speechless.


    He had made many guesses and none of them was like this. Maybe adults really couldn''t understand


    the world of children.


    However, Easton''s words were unexpectedly useful.


    Derek was a little helpless. Meredith made no reactions no matter how much effort and how many


    promises he had made. It was only when she heard that he was injured that she began to take the


    initiative to care about him.


    Did this also mean that the woman did care about him and that what Meredith cared about was him as


    a person, not his possessions and power?


    This idea made Derek feel much better.


    Easton heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that his dad wasn''t going to scold him.


    "Dad, when are you going to make up with mom?"


    Derek pondered for a moment. The sound of someone walking in high heels came in before he could


    answer the question.


    Violet came to visit Derek.


    Her appearance reminded Derek that Meredith wouldn''t ept him if Violet kept making troubles, even


    if Meredith still loved him.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.

 Chapter 615

    Chapter 615


    When Violet came in and saw that Evelyn was not here, she couldn''t help but say, "Derek, are you


    being unkind to Evelyn again? Shees to take care of you, and can''t you be kind to her?"


    "Grandma, why do you like that bad woman so much? She''s really not a good person."


    When Easton heard Violet ask about Evelyn, he felt very annoyed.


    He didn''t know why grandma, who was usually very smart, became stupid when she saw that woman.


    Couldn''t she see how bad that person was?


    "Easton, what are you talking about? You were rudest time and infuriated her. Did you learn to talk


    rudely like this from Meredith?"


    "Mom, Easton has his reasons for saying this. Don''t always scold him indiscriminately."


    When Derek heard this, he couldn''t help but refute. What did she mean by saying that Easton learnt


    this rude manner from Meredith? Easton was just telling the truth.


    "Yes, grandma. You all left that day, and Evelyn mixed the medicine of my father into my milk tea and


    poisoned my friend. Do you still think she''s good?"


    As soon as Easton heard that his father was supporting him, he immediately became bolder and told


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    the truth that he had been holding back for a long time.


    Derek actually wanted Easton to tell the truth. No matter what, Easton was Violet''s grandson. He didn''t


    believe that Violet would be indifferent to the fact that the woman murdered the grandson of the


    Xaviers.


    Unexpectedly, Violet''s face was full of disbelief when she heard that. "Easton, what are you talking


    about? Evelyn is a girl from a noble family. How could she do such a thing? Do you want your parents


    to reconcile so that you say that, or did someone taught you to say that?"


    Hearing this, Easton darkened his eyes.


    Violet still doubted him about such a thing, which extremely disappointed him.


    Could it be that grandma didn''t even care about her life in order to marry that rich and powerful woman


    into the family?


    "I''m telling the truth. Why don''t you believe me? Grandma, you''re so bad."


    Easton got angry and ran out of the ward.


    "Mom! How could you say that to Easton?" Derek was also very anxious.


    He did not expect Violet to say that. She had just known Evelyn for a few days, could it be that Evelyn


    was more important than her own grandson in her heart?


    "Easton is a precocious child, and he has always disliked Evelyn. It was not surprising that I said that."


    Violet didn''t feel guilty at all.


    Derek looked at her with disappointment and said, "Mom, no matter what kind of person she is, as long


    as her family background is good enough to make you proud, you can ept her, even if she doesn''t


    really love me. Am I right?"


    "Derek, what are you talking about? Evelyn hase here and taken care of you for a long time, can''t


    this show her love to you?"


    Derekughed angrily. Evelyn was obviously acting, but Violet just believed her.


    "We can make a bet and see if Evelyn really likes me as you say. If so, I will agree to your request and


    get along well with her. If not, you can not interfere in my emotional life again."


    Hearing this, Violet frowned. Then she thought for a while and agreed.


    "What are you going to do?"


    Derek had already thought of a way. Seeing that Violet agreed, he immediately said, "I will announce to


    the public that my injuries are very serious and I will be a lifelong disability. We can see who will


    Derek dared to say this because he believed that Meredith would definitelye.


    But Evelyn, who was very arrogant, might note. Derek thought that she could not be willing to


    share the sorrows with others.


    When Violet saw the result, she would have to ept it no matter how many reasons she had.


    "You are kicking up a row."


    Violet couldn''t help but speak, trying to dissuade him.


    "Mom, do you also think that the woman you like can only share happiness but can not share sorrows


    with others?"


    Derek rebuked Violet''s rebuttal.


    Violet saw that Derek was determined and didn''t say anything more.


    After all, this bet was fair, and if she refused again, it would only make Derek feel that she didn''t care


    about his lifelong happiness, but only about money.


    "Okay, I promise you."

 Chapter 616

    Chapter 616


    Seeing that Violet agreed, Derek immediately asked someone to secretly spread the news through the


    people around him.


    Everyone was inquiring about his injuries, so everyone in the upper echelons of J City would know his


    situation soon.


    By then, he would know who really cared about him.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "Mom, since you''ve agreed to my bet, I hope you don''t talk to Evelyn and let everything go fairly."


    When Violet heard that, she felt a little sad.


    She didn''t expect that she had be such a person in her son''s eyes. Didn''t she want him to find a


    woman who could really share weal and woe with him?


    "Don''t worry, I also hope that your wife is a good woman who can share weal and woe with you, so I


    won''t do anything to interfere. But remember your promise that if Evelyn is still willing to be with you in


    this situation, you must marry her!"


    Derek agreed without hesitation.


    The reason he was so resolute was because he was sure that Evelyn''s feelings for him were not that


    deep.


    Seeing that Derek was so forthright, Violet did not say anything more. She put down the thing in her


    hand and left.


    Dereky on the bed and closed his eyes, deep in thought.


    It was indeed a gamble. If he lost, he would lose his life''s happiness, but he was still willing to try.


    At the very least, he wanted to know if Meredith''s feelings for him were that deep.


    ...


    The next day, Amelia woke up on the hospital bed.


    Meredith and Song Ellie stood by her bed and almost cried with joy when they saw her wake up.


    But they didn''t dare to say anything casually but immediately called the doctor in for an examination.


    After the doctor finished the examination, a smile appeared on his serious face.


    "The operation is sessful. As long as you take a good rest, you will probably be discharged soon."


    Hearing this, three people finally stopped being so nervous.


    Tears welled up in Amelia''s eyes. She was free to move around now.


    "Mom, you''re finally getting better. That''s great." Meredith couldn''t help but say happily.


    Ellie wanted to call her mother, too. She had always wanted to call her own mother, but now they still


    didn''t recognize each other, so she had to hold back.


    Meredith noticed her expression and immediately understood something.


    But now that Amelia had just woken up, Meredith was too afraid to tell the truth to provoke her, so she


    had to hold back for the time being.


    After a while, Ellie said she was going out to buy something, and Meredith immediately followed her.


    "Ellie, wait a minute."


    Ellie was stopped and forced a smile on her face.


    Just now in the ward, although she also spoke, but after all, she was an outsider. The iparable


    intimacy and trust between Meredith and Amelia was something she had never experienced before.


    "I know you''re not feeling well right now, but don''t worry. I n to tell the truth in these two days, but I


    want our mother to think that what happened in the past was just an ident. I don''t want her to worry


    about me anymore."


    "I just want to recognize her as my mother as soon as possible. That''s all. Your consideration is


    reasonable so I''m willing to cooperate with you."


    Ellie felt much better when she heard Meredith''s constion.


    She knew that there was no rush, and she calmed down gradually.


    Forget it. Even if she wanted to recognize her mother, she should be patient.


    Meredithforted Ellie a little more, and then Ellie thought of something, "Do you know the thing


    about Derek? It seems that it has got around now."


    When Meredith heard this, she immediately had a bad feeling.


    Thest time she called the hospital, the doctor refused to reveal anything. And her mother had just


    finished her operation, so Meredith hesitated for a long time, but she didn''t go to find him in the end.


    Unexpectedly, it was Ellie who told her the news.


    "What''s wrong with him? Is something serious?"


    "I heard that the ident had damaged his nerves and his life in the future might be affected."


    Ellie hesitated for a moment, but she felt that Meredith should know about it, so she told the truth.


    Meredith''s eyes darkened when she heard the news.


    Originally, when Easton said this, she was still having luck. Maybe the child heard it wrong, or


    remembered it wrong. But now Ellie knew it and it had got around. So Meredith couldn''t lie to herself


    anymore.


    Derek was really in trouble, and it was so serious.


    Meredith was terribly upset.


    "I told you this news because I just want you to see your heart clearly. I will take care of mom and you


    don''t have to worry. The problem now is how you think."


    Seeing Meredith''s current state, Ellie reminded her helplessly.


    This was all she could do, and it was up to Meredith to decide what to do next.


    Meredith nodded, "I see. I''ll think about it seriously. I want to find a ce to calm down."


    Ellie did think so. So she didn''t say anything more but let Meredith leave alone.


    Meredith walked out of the hospital in a daze. She never thought that what happened to Derek would


    be so serious. She thought that she could be indifferent to his affairs, but she didn''t expect it to be like


    this at all.


    It was impossible for her to be indifferent to this man. After she knew that he was hurt, her heart was


    still hurting badly.

 Chapter 617

    Chapter 617


    In the hospital, Derek sat on the bed, looking through the newspaper.


    Because of the news he released, almost everyone in J City knew that he was in predicament now.


    Some people were waiting to look on, while others took the opportunity to get closer to the Xaviers.


    However, Derek did not care about these people at all. The only person he cared about had not


    reacted.


    He couldn''t help scratching his hair. Although he knew to be patient, he would always feel worried if


    Meredith didn''t say anything.


    He thought he had to find a way to let Meredith know about this so that she wouldn''t forget about him


    while she was busy with other people''s affairs.


    Just as he was thinking, Mr. Xavier came in.


    Old Master knew that it was unreal, but the news had already caused the stock price of Xavier Group to


    fall, so he came to Derek to ask him what he was thinking.


    There must be a time limit for this farce. He couldn''t let Derek continue to kick up a row endlessly.


    "So, Derek, did you get the answer you wanted?"


    Derek shook his head, and Old Master sighed.


    "Although you are in charge of the Xaviers now, I should also remind you that you can''t do as you


    please and bring harm to the Xaviers."


    Derek looked at Mr. Xavier and said, "I''ve been paying close attention to the situation at the Xaviers all


    the time. Although the stock price is going down, it''s still stable. As for the losses caused during thisContent rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    period, I''ll make up for them in the future."


    Hearing this, Old Master felt even more helpless.


    Although he believed in Derek''s ability, Derek would have to take much more energy to make up for


    this loss in the future.


    "Do you think it''s worth it to pay such a huge loss for an answer?"


    Derek didn''t answer immediately. He thought for a while and said, "It''s worth it. If I don''t get an answer,


    I''ll regret it for the rest of my life."


    "Well, in that case, it''s up to you."


    Hearing what Derek said, Old Master stopped trying to persuade him.


    After all, Derek was his only grandson. As long as he lived happily, it was worth losing some money.


    ...


    The news of Derek''s injury not only spread around J City, but also spread to the Smith family in the


    Capital City through the mouths of some talkative people.


    Old Master Smith had never supported Evelyn to chase after Derek. Now hearing that Derek was


    disabled, he immediately disagreed with their marriage.


    He called Evelyn and said, "Evelyn,e back as soon as possible. You have to give Derek up right


    way."


    "Grandpa...You know about this too?"


    Evelyn was also shocked to learn that Derek was seriously injured.


    She did not expect that the perfect man she picked was wed, and it was a w that couldn''t be


    ignored. It made her very ufortable.


    After all, her originally thought that she would marry the best man. In that case, no matter where she


    went, she would always have the honor, and she would be envied by all women.


    But once that person was disabled...


    Evelyn also hesitated.


    "Although Derek is really good, he is now disabled. You are the daughter of Smith family, are you still


    afraid that you can''t find a better one? Don''t make trouble for yourself."


    Evelyn originally wanted to give up, and she immediately made up her mind when she heard Old


    Master Smith''s words. "Okay, grandpa, I''ll give up, and I''ll be back in two days."


    Evelyn hung up the phone and started packing her suitcase.


    At this moment, Violet called her.


    Ever since Derek released the news, Evelyn, who had alwayse to the hospital, suddenly


    disappeared.


    At first, Violet persuaded herself that it was because Evelyn was busy, but she also understood it after


    some time.


    It was the same as Derek''s words that Evelyn could only be willing to share weal with him, but was


    unwilling to share his woe.


    "Sorry, I have something to do at home, so I have to go back. As for Derek, I think the Xaviers can find


    someone better to take care of him."


    Evelyn had no longer wanted to pursue Derek, so she was no longer as cautious and respectful as


    usual.


    When Violet heard this, she could not help but get angry.


    Even if her son really hurt his hand, it was just a small w. What did this woman mean?


    How could she despise him so directly?


    "Evelyn, you mean you don''t n to be with Derek anymore?"


    "Auntie, to put it bluntly, he is no longer worthy of me."


    Evelyn pursued Derek because of two reasons. On the one hand, he saved her and fulfilled her fantasy


    of being saved by a hero, on the other hand, she felt that such an excellent husband could satisfy her


    unting heart.


    But if that hero was disabled, she would lose interest immediately.


    What''s more, she was so warm to him before, but he refused her again and again. Evelyn wanted to


    say more harsh words and vent her anger.


    "Well, you said he was not worthy of you. Don''t regret it."


    Violet was so angry that she said this coldly and hung up the phone.


    She had been trying hard to make Evelyn her daughter-inw. Now it was fortunate that she didn''t


    be her daughter-inw.


    "Will I regret it? Dream with your disabled son."


    Evelyn was hung up and cursed unhappily. She was not in the mood to pack up and directly called a


    car to take her to the airport.


    She even didn''t want to stay in this little ce.


    As soon as Evelyn left, Ellie got the news.


    Ellie couldn''t help but shrug her shoulders. She was not surprised by the result. ording to Evelyn''s


    character, how could she lower her head to take care of a disabled person? It was obvious.


    But her love was really short.


    Ellie could not help but feel a little more sarcastic.


    Just as she was thinking about it, Meredith came over and said, "Ellie, I just asked the doctor. He said


    that mom''s condition was good. I n to tell mom the truthter."


    Hearing this, Ellie stopped smiling and became nervous.

 Chapter 618

    Chapter 618


    "Are you sure you want to tell everyone today? I''m going to see if my makeup smudged or not..."


    Ellie was so nervous that she started muttering.


    Meredith was amused. It turned out that the person who was always perfectly calm would have a panic


    moment.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    "It''s all good. Don''t be nervous. We''ll say it sooner orter."


    Meredith patted Ellie on her back tofort her.


    Ellie nodded and the two of them walked into the ward.


    Amelia was watching TV. She smiled at them as she saw theming in.


    Meredith walked to Amelia. "Mom, I have something important to say."


    Amelia was watching the TV show and didn''t pay much attention to her words, but when she saw


    Meredith''s serious expression, she began to listen. "What''s wrong, Mer? Why are you so serious?"


    "Mom, the thing is, on the first day I found out that you were sick, I went for a bone marrow test. But I


    found that we couldn''t match at all, and even the match was simr to that of a stranger. The doctor


    suggested we have a paternity test and the result was... I''m not your daughter."


    "Wait, wait, Mer, what are you talking about? This is not funny."


    Amelia was a woman who loved her children more than her own life. When she was suddenly told that


    Meredith was not her daughter, she couldn''t believe it at all.


    "Mom, don''t worry. Keep listening. I finally found your child through tireless efforts. She donated her


    bone marrow for your bone marrow transntation."


    Now Ameliapletely understood and immediately looked at Ellie.


    She knew that Ellie was the bone marrow donor, but she thought that it was because Ellie was kind-


    hearted.


    However, it turned out that she was her own daughter.


    "Ellie... Ellie is my own daughter?"


    Amelia looked at Ellie''s face carefully, and tears welled up in her eyes.


    In that case, it was true that the first time they met, she felt that Ellie looked familiar. It made sense if


    Ellie was her daughter.


    "Mom, that''s all I want to say. I''ll leave it to you."


    Under the circumstance, Meredith knew that she didn''t have to stay here, so she went out and left the


    space for the mother and daughter who had been reunited after a long time.


    After doing this, she felt relieved, though, it was mixed with a little upset.


    She had upied Amelia''s love for so many years, and it was time to return to Ellie. But from her


    heart, she was reluctant to part with it.


    But soon, Meredith hid the gloom in her eyes and went straight to the hospital where Derek was.


    The answer was obvious though she had been struggling for so long.


    There was no way she could leave Derek alone.


    If she left without saying and doing anything, her heart would stay here.


    Moreover, seeing Ellie and her mother recognize each other, she realized that once you missed


    something, you could never make it up. She didn''t want to have any regrets.


    Meredith strengthened her resolve. When she reached the hospital, she immediately went upstairs and


    visited Derek''s ward.


    However, before entering, Meredith grew a little nervous. Her hand paused by the door for a long time


    before she made up her mind to knock.


    Derek heard a knock on the door and answered faintly, "Come in."


    Meredith pushed the door and walked in.


    Once entered, She saw Derek leaning against the headboard with aptop in front of him, busy with his


    work.


    Meredith frowned and took his things away quickly. "You''re hurt. Can''t you rest for a while? Is work that


    important?"


    Derek was taken aback when he heard this, for he had never expected Meredith to rush up


    straightforward.


    However, he was not irritated at all. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised.


    In the past, Meredith would never have shown so much concern for him. She was always polite and


    reserved, and he couldn''t get rid of a faint sense of alienation.


    But now that she''s willing to give him rules, does that mean that she cares about him?


    Derek stared at Meredith without answering.


    Meredith felt a little ufortable when he looked at her. She looked into his dark and deep eyes.


    In those eyes, there was a deep affection for her, without disguise.


    Meredith''s heart beat fast. She bit her lip and sat down beside the bed. "I''m here to say something to


    you."


    "Tell me, I''m all ears."


    Derek nodded quickly.


    "I heard about your injuries..."


    Meredith didn''t finish her sentence. She was afraid that repeating this would hurt Derek''s confidence.


    After all, this man had always been proud. And now as he remained so nonchnt faced with such a


    thing, Meredith was afraid that he was pretending.


    "So, I''m not thinking about leaving. I''m going to stay and take care of you until you recover."


    Although Meredith''s tone was calm, her heart was in turmoil. As soon as she finished speaking, her


    ears turned red.


    She said it would be until Derek recovered, but ording to the news, his injury would probably never


    be cured in his life.


    That was to say indirectly that she wanted to stay and be with him forever.


    She had actually considered this decision for a long time and had only recently made up her mind.


    She felt that Derek was no longer the wless man he used to be. As long as she worked hard, one


    day she would reach a simr height.


    In this way, they would not be so tired when being together.


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Derek had mixed feelings.


    On the one hand, he was moved, for he didn''t expect that Meredith would like to look after him for the


    rest of his life.


    How lucky he was to have her stay with him.


    On the one hand, it was guilt.


    After all, the injury was fake. He didn''t know if Meredith would be angry when she found out the truth.

 Chapter 619

    Chapter 619


    Seeing that Derek had not spoken for a long time, Meredith immediately felt uneasy.


    She wondered if her words had hurt his overly high self-esteem.


    Just as she was about to say something to exin her intentions, Derek said, "Do you not care if I don''t


    get well for the rest of my life?"


    Meredith nodded without hesitation.


    If she cared, she wouldn''t havee here.


    This decision was made after careful consideration.


    Seeing Meredith''s reaction, Derek looked down to hide theplicated look in his eyes.


    Did she know that this kind of reaction would make him want to tell her the truth right away? This silly


    woman, he couldn''t bear to deceive her...


    However, Derek did not know how Meredith would react if he told her. If she left in a fit of anger, he


    would be doomed.


    So, he had to continue the show.


    Meredith saw his expression and thought that he had suffered too much because of this incident. She


    felt sorry for him immediately.


    "I think medical advance is developing so fast now that you might be able to fully recover one day.


    Don''t be too upset. It''s useless to worry about it all the time."


    Meredithforted Derek. When he heard her, he looked up at her. "If I were better, would you leave?"


    Meredith was stunned for a moment.


    One of the important reasons why she came was that she couldn''t bear to leave him alone since he got


    hurt.


    If he was better and she kept staying by his side, would it bepletely unnecessary?


    "Maybe, when you get better, you won''t need me anymore, and then you don''t care if I leave or not."


    "Of course I do."


    When Derek heard Meredith''s words, he couldn''t help but get angry.


    Why did this woman deny herself and his feelings for her?


    "From beginning to end, no matter who I am, you are the only woman I want."


    Derek''s eyes were fixed on Meredith''s eyes, and he spoke very seriously.


    Meredith looked at the man''s dark eyes, which were not as unpredictable as they used to be. At this


    moment, they were full of sincerity.


    Her heart suddenly went haywire. She was never good at dealing with this kind of situation, especially


    now that the man''s eyes were extremely affectionate, just looking at them, she had the illusion of


    drowning in it.


    "I... I''ll go out and get you some water."


    Meredith really didn''t know how to face him, so she hurriedly found an excuse and ran out.


    As soon as she went out, she could not help but touch her burning cheek, which was very hot.


    As soon as she came out, she realized that she didn''t carry any sses with her...


    Meredith couldn''t help but get a little annoyed. Why was she so defenseless against that man''s serious


    gaze...


    However, going back now would only make her look even sillier. Meredith stayed outside for a while,


    found a bathroom, went in, and washed her face with cold water to calm down a little.


    After a while, Meredith looked at the time. It was almost lunchtime. She went to the canteen to buy


    some dishes that Derek liked, and then went back.


    Derek had been waiting for her toe back, but he didn''t expect it to be so long. He almost went out


    to look for her. When he saw Meredithe in, he didn''t mention what happened just now, so that she


    wouldn''t be embarrassed. "You''re back."


    "Well, I bring you something to eat. You must be hungry too, right?"


    Meredith also pretended to forget what happened just now and put the food on the bed.


    "I don''t know if you like it or not. If not, I''ll go to buy again."


    Meredith always felt that if they didn''t talk, the atmosphere was so weird that she couldn''t help but find


    topics to talk about.


    "I like it."


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    Derek looked at the food that Meredith brought back. They were all his favorite dishes.


    Unexpectedly, she remembered it very clearly.


    This made Derek feel much better.


    She kept saying that she didn''t care about him, but she didn''t act like that at all.


    "I like everything you bought for me."


    Derek said calmly, the expression on his face was still indifferent, but what he said almost made


    Meredith''s mood, which had just calmed down, chaotic again.


    When did Derek be so good at sweet talks and say things that were not his style?


    "You''d better hurry up and eat."


    Meredith blushed slightly and handed the chopsticks to Derek, telling him to eat and not to say anything


    more.


    Derek looked at Meredith''s embarrassed face and suddenly thought of teasing her. "My hand hurts.


    The doctor said I can''t use chopsticks recently."


    When Meredith heard this, she looked at Derek apologetically. "I''m sorry, I didn''t expect..."


    "If you don''t mind, you can feed me."


    Derek immediately opened his mouth and said this before Meredith apologized.


    Meredith was stunned when she heard this. She did not expect Derek to make such an "unreasonable"


    request.


    However, looking at the man''s bandaged hand, Meredith still couldn''t bear to refuse. "Then... Well..."

 Chapter 620

    Chapter 620


    Meredith looked at the things she bought. There was a porridge and a few small dishes. They were all


    very mild.


    She thought about it, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, and blew it with her mouth to cool it down.


    After she felt the temperature was proper, she passed it to the man''s mouth.


    Derek stared at Meredith''s movements. For a moment, he forgot to follow her hint. Instead, he was


    obsessed with looking at her.


    After being stared at by those dark eyes for a long time, Meredith felt ufortable.


    Seeing this, she coughed softly. "Aren''t you going to eat?"


    Derek looked away. "I''m sorry."


    Just as Meredith lowered her head to get food for him, he saw her fair neck that was exposed, and he


    was lost in thought staring at it.


    This kind of scene must be what people described as harmony.


    Derek hoped that this peaceful but harmonious way of getting along with each other wouldst forever.


    Meredith felt ufortable when Derek looked at her. The man looked at her with his deep eyes


    without blinking. Even if she had seen such eyes a thousand times, it was difficult for her to remain


    unmoved.


    "Think of it as feeding Easton. Calm down."


    Meredith could not help but mutter to herself in order not to think too much.


    "Am I scary now? Why do you keep your head down? You may feed the food to my nose."


    As Derek looked at Meredith''s slightly embarrassed face, he couldn''t help but open his mouth and


    tease her.


    Seeing this, Meredith rolled her eyes at Derek." I think you''re quite well. How about you eat by


    yourself?


    "No, it''s not convenient for me to use my hands, and you just promised me."


    Derek saw that Meredith seemed to want to run away, so he put away his joking attitude and said


    seriously.


    Seeing that Derek was so insistent, Meredith acted as if she was satisfying a patient and did not say


    anything more. She continued to "Feed" Derek with a spoonful of porridge and chopsticks.


    This time, Derek was not distracted, but very obedient. The two of them had a tacit understanding.


    After a while, most of the things that Meredith bought were finished by him.


    Perhaps she was getting used to the atmosphere, Meredith was no longer as paranoid as she had just


    been. Instead, she showed her patience to take care of this patient and did her work very seriously.


    Just as the two of them were quietly enjoying their time together, the sound of high heels colliding with


    the ground came from outside.


    Violet came. She was so angry with Evelyn that she rushed over without eating. She was just about to


    make it clear to Derek that the woman was not trustworthy and she was not going to let them marry


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    again.


    But, unexpectedly, the moment she entered the room, she saw Meredith sitting in front of the hospital


    bed, taking care of Derek.


    Violet''s face froze and she was suddenly speechless.


    Violet always held a condescending attitude towards Meredith. She never thought that Meredith really


    loved Derek. It was just because she wanted the money of the Xaviers and her son was excellent.


    However, Meredith was the first to arrive after Derek was said to be disabled, and she was still taking


    care of Derek carefully.


    This undoubtedly mmed Violet in the face, proving that her previous impression of her was stupid.


    Meredith, who was previously rxed, was now stiffened when he saw Violeting.


    Even though she decided to stay and take care of Derek, she had no intention of getting along with


    Violet at all.


    Seeing hering, she stood up subconsciously. "Since auntie is here, I''ll go first."


    After that, Meredith was about to leave. Derek wanted to ask her to stay, but Meredith walked very fast


    and did not give him a chance to speak. He could only give up.


    Violet watched Meredith leave, but she didn''t believe it. She thought that Easton must have leaked the


    news, or she wouldn''t havee.


    So she chased after her. "Meredith, wait a minute."


    When Meredith heard Violet''s voice, she could foresee theing trouble and reluctantly stopped.


    "What can I do for you?"


    "You came here because you heard about Derek''s injury? You know all about it?"


    "Yes, I know, but I came anyway. I can''t leave him alone after such a big incident."


    Meredith spoke faintly, but Violet''s heart trembled.


    She thought she could see any trace on Meredith''s face, but no matter how she looked at it, she could


    not find a single w.


    Could it be that Derek was right? In fact, was there something wrong with his own observation?


    "You know everything about Derek? If he doesn''t recover, can you take care of him for the rest of your


    life? What do you want?"


    Meredith was amused to hear this.


    In Violet''s eyes, she did everything with ulterior motives, and elegant noble like Evelyn did all the good


    things with a kind heart.


    How ridiculous.


    However, she was no longer the same Meredith who would be emotionally affected by Violet''s attitude.


    "Whatever I do, I did it right without any regret. As for the rest, please do not measure another''s corn by


    one''s own bushel."


    After that, Meredith left.


    Violet looked at her back as she left, but she could not calm down.


    At that moment, her cell phone rang. It was Mr. Xavier.


    Although the Old Master was ostensibly conniving at Derek''s rarely willful decision, in order to control


    the overall situation of the matter, he still sent someone here.


    Just now, his men had told him everything that had happened.


    The Old Master could not help but sigh. He felt that there was no need to drag on like this.


    At a time like this, Meredith didn''t run away and took the initiative to take care of him, which was quite


    self-evident.


    "Come back. I wanted to talk about the things of these two kids."

 Chapter 621

    Chapter 621


    Naturally, Violet could not disobey the Old Master''s orders and she immediately returned to the Xaviers


    mansion.


    As soon as she entered, Mr. Xavier was already waiting in the living room. When he saw her, he


    waved. "My men told me about what happened just now. I think Meredith is a good kid. All sorts of


    misunderstandings happened between us in the past, but they have nothing to do with their rtionship


    after all. Now, it''s time for us to let go of our prejudices."


    Hearing this, Violet suddenly had a bad feeling. Could it be that the Old Master was determined to let


    Meredith and Derek be together?


    In the past, although Mr. Xavier had the idea, he didn''t make any final decisions because Violet had


    always strongly opposed it.


    But now...


    "Dad... Is this decision too hasty? Even if Evelyn can''t pass Derek''s test, I don''t believe that no other


    girl can. I..."


    "Violet, don''t you understand? Derek wants Meredith, and Meredith didn''t disappoint him. In this case,


    they still didn''t give up on each other. Their rtionship is too rare. I know you had a lot of conflicts with


    Meredith before, and she had some opinions about you, but after all, you''re the one who made more


    mistakes back then..."


    Now that Mr. Xavier had figured it out, he rarely said a word of justice.


    Back then, Meredith didn''t do anything wrong. Instead, the Xaviers hurt her again and again.


    However, when she heard that her dad had used her, Violet suddenly felt extremely aggrieved.


    "Dad, all these years, even if I have made no big achievements, I''ve worked hard for our family. I didn''t


    expect that in the end, I wouldn''t be as good as a junior like Meredith. She hasn''t even been a member


    of our family yet. Maybe when she marries in, there won''t be a ce for me in this family!"


    With that, Violet grabbed her handbag on the sofa and ran out.


    "That''s not what I meant, Violet..."


    Seeing this, the Old Master hurriedly tried to stop Violet, but she walked very fast, and the several


    servants did not dare to force her to stay, so they could only let her go.


    "s..."


    When Violet left, Mr. Xavier couldn''t help but sigh.


    In the past, he didn''t discover that it was hard to deal with the matters between the mother-inw and


    daughter-inw. Now he understood.


    When the butler saw him sighing, he couldn''t help but persuade him, "Old Master, you know madam''s


    character. She cares about what others think of her. If you say that she has made mistakes, she would


    feel humiliated. Perhaps, you should talk with Miss Meredith. She has a gentle nature. You may have


    some room for discussion with her."


    The butler was an old man who had followed Mr. Xavier for many years, and he knew what had


    happened when Meredith was in the Xaviers.


    He felt that Meredith was more reasonable. Because she had suffered a lot in the past, she was very


    resilient. He really had a good impression of her.


    "That''s right. I remember that she is going to set up a designpany?"


    Mr. Xavier saw that he couldn''t persuade Violet, so he began to think about other methods.


    After a while, he called someone to draft an agreement.


    "Take this with you. We''ll go to find Meredith. Things will work this time."


    ...


    Meredith returned to the hospital and went to the ward to see her mother.


    Ellie was talking to Amelia. Although they had only known each other for a short time, they did not feel


    estranged at all. They seemed to have a very good rtionship.


    "Is Mer back?"


    As soon as Meredith entered, Amelia greeted her with a smile.


    Meredith nodded. "Mom, how are you feeling?"


    "I feel much better. After the operation, I am not that tired, and my bones won''t hurt anymore. I think


    they will soon discharge an old woman like me."


    "Mom, you are not old!"


    When Ellie heard this, she said with a smile.


    Meredith couldn''t help butugh.


    Now, although Meredith''s mother found her biological daughter, she did not neglect Meredith because


    of this. Ellie was also a very easy person to get along with. Meredith felt like she had another sister.


    In the past, although she had Ava as her sister, Ava had always schemed against her, making it


    impossible for Meredith to experience the happiness of having a sister. Now it was different.


    No matter what, she could discuss it with Ellie, which made her feel that perhaps this ident was not


    entirely a bad thing.


    Just as Meredith was chatting andughing with them, her cell phone rang.


    Meredith looked at the number and immediately walked out.


    It was Mr. Xavier.


    The old man was getting older and older, and he rarely showed up in person. Was there something


    important?


    "Hello, Grandpa Xavier, what''s the matter?"


    "I do have something I want to talk to you about. I''m just downstairs at the hospital. You cane


    down here for a while."


    Mr. Xavier was sitting in the back of the car with an agreement in his hand.


    He directly funded Meredith''s designpany and did not interfere with her creative freedom at all. In


    addition, he would also promote Meredith''s design to the maximum extent through the existing


    connections of the Xaviers.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    With these resources, Meredith would be able to gain a reputation in the world in less than three


    months as long as she could show her normal abilities.


    Mr. Xavier was extremely sincere, trying to let Meredith and Derek be together.


    Meredith did not know what was going on, but when she thought about it, she was afraid that


    something important must have happened that the Mr. Xavier was here. It must have something to do


    with Derek, or Easton. Either way, she couldn''t just ignore, so she went down.


    When she came downstairs, Meredith walked over to the Xaviers''s luxurious elongated Lincoln that


    was parked in front of the hospital.


    "Grandpa Xavier, what''s the matter?"


    "Meredith, have you heard about what happened to Derek? I heard that you went to see him. I know


    you still have feelings for him, and Derek has been waiting for you for so many years. I don''t think I can


    watch you two waste the next five years.


    "So today, I came here personally to apologize to you on behalf of the Xaviers for what we did to you


    before. In the past, we hurt you, but Derek was always on your side. He just did a lot of things he didn''t


    want to do when he was forced by us. If you want to me someone, me us. Don''t sabotage your


    rtionship because of these things."


    When Meredith heard this, she was shocked.


    The people from the Xaviers always put on airs in front of her. They looked down upon her all the time.


    She had never thought that Mr. Xavier, a proud man, would personallye to apologize to her.

 Chapter 622

    Chapter 622


    However, Meredith did not immediately agree even if she was surprised.


    "Grandpa Xavier, if it weren''t for you, I probably wouldn''t have been who I am now."


    Meredith''s tone was calm. If Mr. Xavier hadn''t listened to the fortune-teller and saved her from prison,


    she might not have been there now. Although he was only doing it for his grandson, Meredith was still


    grateful for him and hadn''t forgotten his kindness.


    Hearing Meredith''s words, Mr. Xavier felt that this matter was going to work, and his serious expression


    softened a lot. "What do you think? If you agree, take a look at this contract. I guarantee that you will


    be famous all over the world in the shortest time."


    Meredith took the contract but didn''t read it.


    She knew that at Mr. Xavier''s age, he wouldn''t deceive her. He would do what he said, so she didn''t


    need to check it.


    This was probably a way for the Xaviers to show their sincerity, but it wasn''t enough for Meredith.


    "I appreciate your kindness, but there are many things that cannot be offset like this. Unless Derek''s


    mother apologizes to me for her actions and sincerely reflects on them, I won''t agree to your request.


    I''m sorry."


    Meredith carefully put the papers back, but her attitude was neither servile nor haughty.


    She admitted that she was not cool enough to let go of Derek, nor could she force Easton, who


    yearned for his father''spany, to leave with her.


    But that didn''t mean she could forgive everything.


    If Violet didn''t change, she would neverpromise.


    "You''ll live with Derek in the future, and you won''t have much time to go back to the Xaviers. It''s better


    not to waste each other''s precious time because of this small problem."


    Meredith shook her head. "No matter how unfamiliar they are, Derek is her son, and Easton is her


    grandson. I don''t want my son to hear his grandmother despise his own mother all day long."


    After hearing this, Mr. Xavier knew Meredith''s attitude.


    However, it was difficult to change Violet''s mind. Mr. Xavier could only sigh helplessly. After all, if


    Meredith did not agree, he could not force them to be together.


    "Since you said so, I understand. I''m too hasty today. I will go back and persuade Violet."


    Mr. Xavier shook his head and returned to the car.


    Meredith looked at his slightly staggering steps and realized that the old man who had once made her


    extremely revered got much older, sighing that time and tide waited for no man.


    However, it was only a sigh. She did not sacrifice her own happiness to make others happy.


    Meredith watched the Xaviers''s car drive away before returning.


    But this time, she met Parker before she entered the door.


    Seeing her, Parker came over and handed her some documents. "Mer, auntie has almost recovered.


    This is the immigration information I prepared. Look, which country do you prefer? I think F Country is


    good. You can continue to study your favorite fashion design there. It''s the holynd in the hearts of all


    fashion designers..."


    Meredith suddenly felt guilty when Parker said so much.


    If she told him that she didn''t want to leave for the time being, would Parker be angry?


    But Meredith knew that it was better to tell him than to keep it a secret. She took a deep breath and


    calmed down before she said, "Parker, I''m sorry. Maybe I can''t leave here."


    Parker''s words were stuck in his throat. When he saw Meredith''s guilty expression, he just wanted to


    say that what he wanted to hear was not sorry, but the words that she was willing to leave with him.


    Parker''s face became gloomy.


    This morning, he came to see Meredith, but he didn''t see her. He asked the driver who came back first


    and found out that Meredith had gone to another hospital.


    And that was where Derek was being treated.


    Meredith probably wouldn''t go there for nothing. The only possible reason was that she went to find


    Derek.


    Of course, he was unhappy. Everything was going well. Why... Why did it happen at a time like this?


    So, he would rather pretend that he didn''t know anything and ask Meredith what she was going to do.


    He even had a fantasy that Meredith just went to say goodbye to Derek.


    However, things went contrary to his wishes.


    Seeing Parker suddenly be silent, Meredith felt even more guilty. She lowered her head. "It''s all


    my fault. I went back on my word and wasted your time and energy. I''m sorry..."


    "You promised me that you would leave here with me and start your new life. Now, what made you give


    up?"


    Parker didn''t bear to see Meredith sad usually, but now, he had almost copsed, and his tone was no


    longer as gentle as usual, but with a bit of depression.


    "I..."


    Meredith looked at the man in front of her. Inexplicably, she felt that Parker was like a stranger now.


    He was not as gentle as usual, but a little gloomy and perverse, which was the other side that she had


    never seen.


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    "I can''t leave Derek who is injured. I... can''t."


    Hearing this, Parker couldn''t help but sneer.


    It was as expected.


    It was obviously as expected, but he still felt heartbroken because of this answer.


    He did not understand where he was worse than Derek and why he was always a little worse than


    Derek, in terms of both his career and his feelings.


    "Back then, he ignored you who was giving birth to a child, but now you are going to give up all these


    years'' wishes just because his hand was broken. Don''t you really care about yourself?"

 Chapter 623

    Chapter 623


    "I''m sorry, Parker, but the situation back then wasn''t as simple as you think. I just..."


    "Forget it, I don''t want to hear it anymore, Mer. I''ll continue to arrange for you to go abroad. As long as


    you change your mind, look for me immediately, and I''ll wait for you."


    Parker didn''t want to listen anymore. Anyway, Meredith would only continue taking Derek''s side.


    Meredith grew more and more upset as she heard this. She watched Parker leave angrily, then she


    lowered her head and remained speechless.


    She decided to stay, and her decision would upset Parker the most, because he had been arranging all


    the immigration procedures for her.


    But...


    Since she had already made up her mind, she could not regret it.


    Meredith stayed outside for a while longer, calmed down, and returned to the ward.


    Seeing Meredithing back, Amelia remembered something. "Where''s Parker, Mer? He just called


    and said he wasing and he was downstairs. Why isn''t he here yet?"


    Meredith was embarrassed when she heard this. "He... He has something to do. He''s going back first."


    However, Amelia knew Meredith''s character well. After hearing her mumble for so long, Amelia


    immediately understood something. "You quarreled with him? Mer, I told you that Parker was a good


    man. Don''t break his heart."


    Hearing this, Meredith couldn''t help but sigh. She didn''t want to make Parker sad, but...


    In the end, she could not ept him. Instead of keeping close contact with him, she might as well


    reject him as soon as possible because she could not give him wholehearted love.


    Ellie sat aside, looking at the embarrassment on Meredith''s face, and said, "Mom, why are you always


    trying to get Mer and Parker together? I don''t think Mer has any feelings for that man."


    Ellie had investigated Parker before, and she had found out that the man had experienced all sorts of


    things before. Having been a nobody, he had taken painstaking efforts to gain his status. Although he


    had a good reputation now, he was still a ruthless man.


    However, what he showed to Meredith and her family waspletely different. Ellie felt that he might


    have hidden a part of his personality.


    If he really wanted to be in a rtionship with Meredith, but he was not honest enough to even show


    his true self, then what was the point?


    "Ellie, you''re still young. Sometimes, feelings don''t matter. I once suffered because I cared too much


    about my feelings."


    Amelia felt disgusted at the thought of what Wesley had done.


    Back then, she had been blind and fell in love with Wesley, who was poor and had no status. She


    thought that if she worked hard with him, she would be able to stay by his side for the rest of her life,


    but in the end, she was kicked out of the house by him.


    So now, Amelia only wanted her daughters to have a marriage in which their husbands and they could


    help each other. She didn''t want them to pursue the so-called love.


    "Mom, I know what you''re worried about. You''re worried that if Mer and Derek were together, she would


    be bullied, right?"


    Amelia nodded.


    Ellie smiled. "But I don''t think Mer is the kind of girl who relies on men. She already has a choice in her


    heart. Even if you force her to marry someone who you think is a better man for her, she will never be


    happy. What''s the point?"


    Ellie actually wanted to say that Meredith was most likely the daughter of the Smith family now. To be


    honest, when she had this identity, she would definitely be a match with Derek. She had never seen


    anyone who dared to despise the Smith family.


    However, now that the paternity test was not done, Ellie still didn''t say it out loud. She just said, "Don''t


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    worry, mom, I''ll be by her side. If Derek really dares to bully Mer, I''ll be the first to punish him."


    "Ah, you..."


    Hearing Ellie speak for Meredith and Derek like this, Amelia was helpless.


    "Are you familiar with Derek? Why are you always defending him? Did he bribe you?"


    Ellie shook her head. She and Derek seemed to havemunicated a few times, and they only talked


    about business. Ellie only felt that Derek was an outstanding and capable man.


    However... Easton had been getting to know Ellie recently and had been telling her about Meredith and


    Derek. When Ellie found out about those things, she was touched.


    After all, they had gone through so much, had each other in their hearts, and had a cute and smart


    child. If they had to be separated, it would be such a pity, so she kept supporting them.


    "Of course not. It''s just that I think Mer is still young and she should try what she wants to do the most.


    Otherwise, it would be toote for her to regret when she''s old. Besides, mom, you and I will always


    support her. If anything bad happens, will we just sit back and do nothing?"


    Hearing Ellie''s constant persuasion, Amelia could not say anything more.


    Perhaps, only when one experienced things by himself could he know the results. Meredith was


    somewhat stubborn. She would insist on her ideas and never give up.


    "Well, I can''t force you young girls to make decisions, so I''ll leave it to you. But, Mer, if you are bullied,


    you muste back to us immediately. I won''t sit back and do nothing."


    After hearing what they said, Meredith was deeply moved.


    How fortunate she was to have a mother who had always loved her and such a close sister after going


    through so much!


    "I see. Mom, Ellie, thank you."

 Chapter 624

    Chapter 624


    Parker drove out alone after leaving the hospital.


    He forcibly pressed the car elerator to speed up, as if he had to release his anger. Within a minute,


    his car reached the fastest speed.


    He didn''t stop until the car ran out of gas, and then he parked the car at the door of a bar.


    When he looked at the shing neon signs of the bar, Parker raised a sarcastic smile.


    He didn''t expect to stop here in such a coincidence. Could it be fate to tell him that he was hopeless


    and needed to drink some wine to dispel his worries?


    If that was the case, then let it be.


    Parker walked into the bar in a low mood. He ordered some of the strongest spirits and sat down to


    drink.


    Before long, the man was a little drunk. But his mind was still clear and he kept repeating what


    Meredith said today.


    "Why? Is he that good..."


    Parker held the wine bottle, with his red eyes that indicated his unwillingness.


    Only then did he realize that he had finished his drink. "Waiter, bring more."


    As Parker just said that, a pair of slender, fair hands suddenly appeared to hold his hand.


    "Parker, stop drinking. You''re already drunk."


    Jenny looked at Parker''s dispirited face and felt sad for him.


    Parker had not been in contact with her recently. She was so worried that she came to J City to see


    how he was doing.


    Unexpectedly, when she arrived, she could not contact Parker at all. So she had to ask someone to


    check his cell phone''s location. Then she came here, only to see his drunk and numb face.


    "I''m not drunk. I''m very sober now. If I were drunk, I wouldn''t be as heartbroken as I am now."


    Parker wanted to get rid of Jenny''s hand with impatience, but Jenny became very hard with him, which


    was very rare. "Parker, you can''t drink so much. This ispletely not you. It is cowardly to numb


    yourself with alcohol."


    "Well, it''s my business, Jenny. Don''t get in the way. You go back first. I''ll see you tomorrow."


    Parker was still stubborn. Seeing that he didn''t listen to her, Jenny sat down and said, "Well, if you want


    to drink, I''ll apany you."


    After that, Jenny ordered a few bottles of wine. After opening them, she poured them into a ss and


    wanted to drink them all in one gulp.


    Seeing that, Parker snatched the ss away and threw it to the ground. "Are you crazy?"


    Jenny paid much more effort that was beyond imagination so that she reached this high position she


    deserved. Her stomach went wrong due to alcohol long ago as she had to socialize with various


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    partners. If she really drank this, she would probably have stomach bleeding and be sent to the hospital


    soon.


    As her ss had been snatched away, Jenny looked at Parker. "If you still want to hurt your body like


    this, I''ll stay with you. After all, this is my body. You can''t stop me if I love to do so."


    Parker was silent for a moment when he heard this. In the end, he couldn''t watch Jenny hurt her body


    in front of him. "You win. Forget it. That''s all for today."


    Seeing this, Jenny breathed a sigh of relief and immediately called the waiter to help drunk Parker get


    into the car.


    Parker was almost drunk. As he had to go back, he could only choose to close eyes, and soon fell


    asleep.


    Jenny saw him fall asleep and the worries on his face faded a little. She looked at Parker''s face


    through the rearview mirror, which was still so handsome and charming, but with a little more sadness.


    Jenny sighed and was about to drive when Parker talked in sleep.


    "Mer... Mer, why are you... not keeping your word..."


    Hearing this, Jenny''s expression changed and a hint of cruelty shed in her eyes.


    She never wanted Parker to be with Meredith. That woman did not like him at all, and could not help his


    career at all.


    However, as Parker insisted, she could only let it go.


    She thought this time Parker could realize his dream. But it was just an illusion.


    Jenny clenched her fist and watched Parker frown in pain behind her. She wouldn''t let this go.


    Meredith stayed in the ward with Amelia for a while and then walked out.


    Fiona was about to discharge today, so Meredith was going to help her pack.


    As soon as Meredith entered the children''s ward, she saw Easton sitting by the bed, saying that he


    would peel a fruit for Fiona.


    Meredith could not help shaking her head. It was the first time she had seen Easton so diligent. But


    because there were children here, there was no fruit knife at all.


    Seeing that Easton was looking for a peeling knife, Meredith walked over and said, "Easton, put the


    fruit down. The doctor said Fiona could go home today. Let''s go back and I will peel fruit for you two."


    Easton was very delighted to hear that Fiona could leave the hospital. "Really? That''s great."


    Fiona also smiled. And then, thinking of what her mother told her to do, she hesitated for a moment and


    slowly said, "Aunt Mer, I... I want to go back with my mother."


    Hearing this, Meredith was surprised. Looking at Fiona''s expression, she knew that Fiona wanted to be


    with her mother.


    But...


    That woman was also ordered by Derek toe here for benefit and interest. Meredith was still not at


    ease to let Fiona''s mother take Fiona away.


    "Ah, why do you want to leave so soon? Don''t you feel good to stay at my home?"


    Easton was a little unhappy to hear that Fiona was leaving. It was not easy for him to have a partner to


    y with, and now the only one would leave so soon.


    "No, it''s just that mom said she was willing to take me home. I''ve met that uncle. He''s very nice. So I


    want to be with mom."


    Afraid that Easton would be angry, Fiona quickly exined. The more she spoke, the lower her voice


    became.


    Hearing this, Meredith could not refuse her, so she patted Easton on the back. "Easton, don''t make a


    fuss. Even if Fiona really goes to her mother''s ce, it''s not like you won''t see each other anymore.


    There will be plenty of opportunities for you to y together.


    But... Fiona, have you really thought about it? I want you to stay with us. And you can live with us as


    long as you want. "


    Fiona was very touched when she heard this. She liked Aunt Mer very much, but now her mother finally


    showed up and was willing to be with her so she didn''t want to miss this opportunity.


    "I''ve made up my mind. I want to be with mom, Aunt Mer. Thank you for your help these days. I''ll never


    forget it in my life."


    Seeing how determined the little girl was, Meredith would not force her to stay any longer. After all, they


    were not rted by blood. If things went wrong, she would have no advantage in court.

 Chapter 625

    Chapter 625


    "Well, after I discuss with your mother, I''ll send you back."


    Meredith smiled and touched Fiona''s head. She would send her back, but she should do something to


    show that the girl couldn''t be bullied. Otherwise, it would be difficult for her to live with her stepfather.


    She was only five years old.


    "Yes, I see."


    Fiona was sensible. She knew that Meredith was good to her. She nodded obediently.


    Easton sighed when he saw this.


    Meredith couldn''t help shaking her head after she saw it. After a while, Lydia came to see Fiona again.


    Meredith and Easton went out, leaving them alone.


    When Easton walked out, he didn''t speak. He lowered his head and kicked the ground from time to


    time.


    Seeing this, Meredith felt helpless.


    "Easton, what''s wrong? You lose your temper again. You walk like this. Aren''t you afraid of falling?"


    "Mom, you agreed to let Fiona move away. What if she is bullied?"


    "Fiona misses her mother so much. She was so happy when she saw her mother. We can''t force her to


    do what she doesn''t want to do."


    Meredith knew it was because of this. She reached out and pinched Easton''s chubby cheeks,


    "Besides, we''ll still keep contact with her. If she is bullied, we won''t stand by."


    "Well, okay..."


    When he heard it, Easton could only ept it temporarily.


    He checked the time. It was time for dinner. Easton thought about it and said, "Mom, let''s visit dad. I


    don''t know if anyone sends him dinner."


    He should be taken care of, but Meredith nodded when she heard Easton. She would discuss


    something with him.


    Seeing that Meredith didn''t refuse, Easton was a little happy. It seemed that they made up. He felt


    better now.


    Meredith and Easton asked someone to send them to the hospital where Derek was.


    They bought food and went upstairs.


    Easton was worried that Derek was doing something and was found by his mother. He deliberately


    spoke in a loud voice, "Mom, I don''t know what dad is doing."


    His voice was so loud. Meredith heard him and became serious, "Easton, we are in the hospital. Don''t


    talk so loudly. What if you disturb others?"


    "Hehe, only my dad is on the floor. I didn''t do it on purpose. I won''t do it again." Easton was worried


    about his father. He admitted his mistake immediately.


    And Meredith didn''t say much.


    Derek was looking through the documents. When he heard Easton''s voice, he immediately put away


    the documents.


    If Meredith saw it, she would be angry.


    Meredith entered with Easton. When she saw that Derek was watching TV in the bed, she shrugged...


    It was rare to see him watch TV. It seemed that she didn''t find what entertainment he liked.


    "Easton and I are here to see you."


    Meredith walked over. She put the food on the table and put away the documents.


    When Easton saw it, he was still a little nervous. After all, she stayed here because his father was hurt.


    If she knew the truth...


    He didn''t know what would happen... He sighed.


    Easton felt bad. It was right that a lie should be covered up with a hundred lies.


    Meredith didn''t notice him. She put the things away and looked at them, "Dinner is ready."


    Then she nced at Derek again. She picked up the chopsticks and handed them to Derek. She raised


    her eyebrows.


    She wanted to see if he was so thick-skinned to let her feed him in front of Easton.


    Derek understood her. He was helpless that she was angry for such a long time.


    But she was cute and was like a lively girl. She didn''t pretend to be mature and calm.


    "If you must feed me, I won''t refuse."


    Derek said faintly and smiled slyly.


    "Cough cough..."


    Meredith was drinking water. When she heard it, she almost choked.


    What did he mean? She didn''t have any fetish. She didn''t like feeding other people, especially a man


    who was almost thirty.


    She had never noticed that Derek was so thick-skinned.


    "Huh? What are you doing? Are you lovey-dovey? I can''t stand it."


    When Easton heard this, he didn''t want to be outdone. He said immediately.


    Hearing Easton said it, Meredith was a little embarrassed, "Your father is talking nonsense. He can eat


    by himself. He''s not a child."


    After that, she put the chopsticks in front of Derek and didn''t talk to him.


    Seeing that Meredith was embarrassed and annoyed, Derek did not say anything more. He lowered his


    head and ate carefully.


    They had dinner and asionally talked. It was harmonious.


    After dinner, Meredith packed up the garbage. Derek said that he was too full and wanted to go out for


    a walk. Meredith thought of it when she asked someone to apany him.


    "Fiona said that the Lee family agreed to take her over. Although I agreed, I haven''t told Lydia. I want to


    know what you promised them before. They had such a good attitude."


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Hearing this, Derek frowned.


    After he thought about it, he was not surprised.


    After all, the Lee family got a rare investment opportunity after he visited the girl. It was not hard to


    guess that they wanted to gain more benefits from this rtionship.


    "Are you afraid that she will suffer over there?"


    Derek knew Meredith very well. She had empathy for children and didn''t want children to suffer.


    Perhaps, it had something to do with her experience.


    Meredith nodded.


    "If you don''t want her to be taken away, I have a way to keep her. And they won''te back to look for


    her."


    Derek didn''t mind having one more child at home. He could afford to raise more children.


    Anyway, they just wanted money. As long as they got enough money, they would agree.


    Meredith hesitated for a moment, "But she misses her own mother very much. It''s not good to force her


    to stay..."


    Meredith could not help but sigh. She couldn''t find a perfect way.


    Seeing that Meredith puckered, Derek reached out and pinched her face.


    "Don''t worry. I have a solution."

 Chapter 626

    Chapter 626


    Meredith was pinched and reached out to p his hand. "What do you think?"


    "Since they are only willing to take the Fiona back for the benefit I have given them, then I will let them


    understand that only by treating her well will the Xaviers continue to work with them in the future. If they


    dare to bully her, I can also find a way to make them lose everything they have now."


    Derek spoke calmly. Sometimes, it was easy to deal with those who cared only about benefit not


    feelings.


    After all, this kind of person knew the stakes and would not make any decisions that would caused


    them trouble.


    "What you said makes sense, but unfortunately..."


    Meredith knew that Derek''s method was the most reliable. But when thinking of that Fiona was so


    happy that Lydia wanted to take her back because Lydia liked her, Meredith felt a little sad because of


    the truth.


    "You don''t think that''s good, but maybe for Fiona, even if her mother was just pretending to love her, it


    would be enough to make her happy."


    Derek reached out and held Meredith''s hand. There were never so many perfect things in this world.


    "I see."


    Meredith nodded and thought optimistically. "She is smart and sensible. Maybe they''ll get along well


    when they get home for a while."


    Derek nodded and held Meredith''s hand tighter. Just then, Easton came back and saw they holding


    hands with an evil smile, and he said, "Oh, is it not the right time for me toe back? I go out for a


    walk?"


    When Meredith heard this, she immediately withdrew her hand. "Easton, don''t talk nonsense. Your


    father and I are discussing something about Fiona."


    Hearing that it had something to do with Fiona, Easton asked seriously. "What did dad say? Otherwise,


    let her stay at our house, and she can do it for me... Oh no, she can help me with my homework."


    Easton sensed he said something wrong and quickly made up for it.


    "You just want her to stay to help you with your homework, is that all?"


    When Meredith heard this, she was very speechless.


    Although Easton was very smart, he just did not like to work hard.


    "Of course not. I just don''t want her to be bullied."


    Easton immediately retorted that he was not so utilitarian. He just didn''t want the person he had made


    efforts to save to be bullied in another ce.


    "Don''t worry."


    Derek was relieved to hear that his son was so righteous. "You should keep in touch with her and call


    me if anything happened. Those people don''t have the guts to dare to bully her. If they do, just call me."


    "Dad, that''s great. I''m relieved to hear that from you."


    Hearing Derek say this, Easton felt relieved. Derek always did what he said. With his promise, Easton


    was much more confident.


    When Meredith heard this, she felt happy that Easton was not so worried about Fiona. She had


    advised Easton for a long time, and he still looked worried. Now what Derek had said made him


    relieved.


    Maybe as expected, the role of the father was still very important for his growth...


    Meredith thought for a while. After a while, she nned to take Easton home. He had to go to school


    tomorrow.


    After saying goodbye to Derek reluctantly, Easton obediently followed Meredith and prepared to go


    home.


    The two of them went downstairs and the driver sent them home.


    They got off the car and was about to go upstairs when suddenly, a white sports car came over at a


    very fast speed, as if it was aimed at they two.


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Meredith was startled and immediately pulled Easton to take a step back. Luckily, they dodged.


    The car also stopped.


    Meredith became very angry. She looked angrily at the sports car that had stopped now. "How did you


    drive the car? Do you want to hit someone?"


    If she hadn''t reacted quickly, the car would have hit or scratch them. If anything happened to Easton,


    she would have fought with the ipetent driver.


    "Mom, are you okay?" Easton was also taken aback. He squinted at the car, finding a strange license


    te. It seemed not to be a car locally.


    However, whoever it was, if the driver did not apologize soon, he would definitely ask the police to


    solve it.


    Jenny heard the sound and slowly opened the car door. She didn''t seem to realize how dangerous


    about what she had done. Instead, she was graceful and calm.


    "Sorry, I didn''t see you guys just now."


    Jenny got out of the car with a sneer. She had just seen Meredith and Easton appear, and for a


    moment, she really wanted to kill them.


    If they were dead, would Parker be the same as before?


    But in the end, she still did not kill them, because she knew that if she did, Parker would hate her for


    the rest of her life. She was not afraid of being hated, but she was worried that Parker would be


    decadent.

 Chapter 627

    Chapter 627


    Easton looked at the blonde woman in front of him. His sixth sense told him that this woman was not


    simple.


    Immediately, he took out his phone and pressed the emergency contact button.


    The several people Derek sent himst time were not far away. This woman''s background was


    unknown, he had to be prepared in advance.


    As Meredith looked at the woman in front of her, she couldn''t help but frown.


    Although her memory had been restored, thest time she met Jenny was five years ago. She only had


    a vague impression of her, not remembering quite well.


    Jenny walked over with a smile. Her high heels were more than ten centimeters long, but she didn''t


    shake at all. She was still graceful, but with an obviously dangerous aura.


    "Don''te over!"


    Easton inexplicably thought of the beautiful killer in the movies he once watched. He always felt that


    this woman was not simple.


    Seeing that she was a foreigner, she might even have a gun on her.


    "What''s wrong, little friend? Are you afraid of me?"


    Jenny looked at Easton, who looked almost exactly the same as Derek, only that his face was smaller


    and his eyes were cold.


    Easton could sense that danger grew stronger. He held Meredith''s hand and was about to pull her out


    of here as soon as possible when his men finally arrived.


    "Go get her."


    Easton did not hesitate to give the order. Now he would rather kill all the dangerous factors than


    missing one. He would not allow such an obviously dangerous factor.


    A few people immediately went up and caught Jenny, and just as Easton was about to ask what she


    was up to, Meredith finally remembered who she was.


    "Are you... Jenny? The person next to Parker?"


    Jenny then smiled coldly. "You finally remember me, but I... Haven''t forgotten you for a moment."


    Although she was held down by several tall and powerful men, Jenny did not show any panic.


    Meredith thought for a moment. "Release her. I think she has something to tell me."


    "Mom, this woman doesn''t look like a good person..."


    "Easton, I''ve known her since before. Let me handle this on my own."


    Meredith insisted, speaking seriously to Easton.


    Hearing this, Easton bit his lower lip. After a long time, he grudgingly said, "Okay, let her go."


    Hearing Easton''s instructions, Jenny was released and she nced at Easton with interest.


    He was indeed the kid from the Xaviers. He was still so young, but he handled things like an adult.


    "Thank you, Easton."


    Meredith patted Easton on the head and smiledfortingly.


    "Mom, if anything goes wrong with that woman, yell immediately. I''lle to save you with others."


    "Got it."


    Meredith smiled helplessly, not expecting her five-year-old son to worry about her now.


    However, Easton''s words still warmed her heart.


    Meredith and Jenny walked to a certain distance from the others.


    "Why are you looking for me here?"


    Meredith''s tone was not polite either. After all, even Easton was almost hit together just now.


    If it wasn''t because Jenny was an old friend Parker had known for many years, she wouldn''t have let


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    her go so easily.


    "Why am I here? Don''t you know? You tricked Parker, and now he''s still drinking to drown his sorrows."


    Hearing about Parker, Meredith was speechless.


    When he left, Parker was just depressed and was not very emotional. She didn''t expect him to go out


    and be so drunk.


    "Is he... Okay now?"


    "Heh heh, don''t pretend. Since you''re just ying with him, don''t pretend that you care about him. Did


    you do the same thing before, not giving him an answer, but also giving him some hopes from time to


    time to make him keep thinking about you?"


    "I didn''t."


    When Meredith heard this, she couldn''t help but frown.


    When did she y hard-to-get on Parker as she said? She really had no other feelings for him.


    "I admit that because of my limited ability, he did help me a lot. I have always been grateful, but I never


    thought about being with him, and I never promised this kind of thing. It''s impossible between me and


    him.


    I''m sorry about this. If there''s anything I can help with, I''ll help, as long as it''s not about rtionships. "


    Meredith tried her best to make this statement as sincere as possible. Although Jenny was very hostile


    to her, she was wholeheartedly devoted to the wellbeing of Parker. Perhaps it would be better for her to


    leave this matter to Jenny.


    Jenny looked at Meredith''s expression. She wanted to find traces of Meredith''s lies, but the woman in


    front of her looked so sincere that she could not tell that she was lying to herself.


    Could it be that all this was really due to Parker''s unrequited love?


    "Then don''t contact him anymore. Can you do that?"


    Meredith hesitated when she heard this.


    Even if it wasn''t love between her and Parker, there was still a lot of gratitude and friendship in their


    rtionship.


    But if it was better for Parker, perhaps, it would be better.


    "Okay, I promise you, I won''t contact him again."


    Seeing that Meredith agreed and that she didn''t seem to be lying, Jenny believed her.


    Asking this question was also a test for Meredith.


    If she really wanted to have a backup boyfriend, she would argue with herself, but she agreed.


    "Well, I believe you."


    But that was not enough.


    After a moment of silence, Jenny finally made up her mind to say, "Maybe I should tell you a secret."

 Chapter 628

    Chapter 628


    When Meredith heard this, she had an inexplicable premonition.


    "If it''s about Parker''s privacy, you can keep it to yourself."


    Meredith was not a person who liked to pry into other people''s privacy, so she immediately said so.


    Jenny shook her head and looked into Meredith''s eyes. "Haven''t you ever thought about why Parker


    was so good to you from the very beginning and could even sacrifice so much for you?"


    Meredith was stunned.


    She thought about how they meet. From the beginning, Parker had been very good to her. Sometimes,


    he was too nice.


    At first, Meredith didn''t get used to it, but then she became numb. Now that she thought about it, it was


    strange.


    "Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful and outstanding girl in college,


    who was named as the most beautiful girl in the university. When she attended a school event, she met


    a man by ident. He was very handsome, and his family background was strong. He fell in love with


    her at first sight. After a period of pursuit, the two of them were together.


    She thought she had found her true love. But one day in ss, a richdy found her and pped her. It


    turned out that the man was already married, and she had be a mistress without knowing it. Then


    she broke up with that man, but she was pregnant.


    She wanted to abort the child, but the man refused. He said that his marriage was for family interests at


    first, and he didn''t love his wife at all. That girl couldn''t believe him, so she dropped out and left the city


    where she grew up. When the man found out about this, he immediately chased after her, but nobody


    expected to have a car ident and he died. "


    Meredith listened to Jenny with a frown. It was a tragic story, but it didn''t seem to have anything to do


    with Parker.


    "Don''t worry, you keep listening. That girl gave birth to a child in a remote town, but because she was


    weak and died on the operating table due to dystocia, she didn''t meet the man who ruined her life until


    the end, and the man''s wife became a widow because of this. She hated that girl who had destroyed


    her family to the bone, and when she learned that the girl was dead, she started targeting the child.


    Under her intervention, the child had moved through many orphanages but had never settled down and


    lived a vagrant life all day long. In order to survive, he had to choose to enter the dark underground


    world to seek a possibility. He was very lucky to seed. He found out that everything that had


    happened in the past had been done on purpose, so he decided to retaliate. In order to make the rich


    When Meredith heard this, she vaguely guessed something, and her heart beat very fast.


    Could it be that...


    "However, the woman''s son was difficult to deal with, so the child put the idea on hold. At this time, one


    of his contacts was killed by the mistress that the man kept, and he found the woman. The woman


    begged him for mercy that she could do everything as long as he could let her go. He asked her to let


    that woman deal with Derek. If she seeds, he will spare her.


    He didn''t have any hope at all, but he didn''t expect that woman to actually seed. She hit Derek with


    her car, ran away, and then made her sister take the me... "


    Meredith''s face turned pale after hearing this.


    She never thought the truth would be like this.


    It turned out that Parker was the man who caused all her misfortunes back then.


    No wonder, he was so good to her at first when they weren''t even familiar.


    "That''s all. I know it''s hard for you to digest, but as the person involved, you have the right to know, so I


    told you, I just wanted to let you know. Even if you really want to be with him, can you be sure that you


    don''t care at all? I don''t think so, so it might be the best option for you to break off contact."


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Leave me alone."


    Meredith was unable to digest this fact for a moment. The person she had always trusted the most was


    the source of her misfortune, which made it hard for her to ept.


    "Okay, think about it."


    Jenny did not continue to say anything to Meredith. She really needed some space to think about such


    a big thing.


    After Jenny left, Meredith was in a daze for a long, long time.


    It was Easton who felt something was wrong. When he looked for her, he found that Meredith had been


    standing there motionless for a long time.


    Easton panicked immediately and walked over to touch Meredith''s hand. "Mom, mom, what''s wrong?


    What did that woman say or do to you? I''m going to get her back!"


    Easton saw that Meredith was fine, but after a few words with the woman, she was stunnedpletely,


    and he immediately became anxious.


    Was that woman some kind of demon and summoned his mother''s spirit?


    Hearing Easton''s anxious voice, Meredith suddenly woke up from her confused thoughts. She endured


    the grievances and sadness in her heart and hugged Easton.


    At this time, only by holding her son, her own blood could she gain some sense of security and


    strength.


    "Mom, what''s wrong..."


    Easton was held by Meredith, and her strength was a little strong, making him feel a little pain, but he


    was obedient and did not move, looking at Meredith with his dark eyes.


    "I''m fine. I just want to hold you."


    Meredith murmured.


    When Easton heard this, he calmed down.


    He didn''t know what had happened, but if holding him made her feel warm and powerful, she could


    hold him as long as she wanted.

 Chapter 629

    Chapter 629


    After a long time, Meredith slowly let go of Easton. "I''m fine. I just have heard something I never knew."


    Meredith looked at the worried Easton and forced a smile.


    After all, she had trusted Parker so much, but now she was told that he might have approached her just


    to atone for his sins. Her feelings were mixed.


    Easton nodded when he heard what Meredith had said, but he was still concerned.


    After considering for a while, he called Derek and told him about it.


    Derek was shocked when he heard about it. "Were they discover that I pretend to be hurt?"


    He thought for a while and felt that he must do something, so he asked someone to send him to the


    ce where Meredith was staying.


    Downstairs, Derek considered for seconds. Instead of going straight in, he picked up a few small rocks


    to knock on the window.


    Meredith, who lived on the second floor, was in a daze. She was even more upset when she heard the


    sound of the window being knocked on. She thought it was a child who was messing with her. She was


    going to open the window to give a warning but found Derek standing downstairs.


    Meredith frowned at once and went down immediately even did not change her clothes.


    As soon as she got downstairs, she couldn''t help butin, "What''s wrong with you? You were


    injured and now it''s evening. You think you have recovered and you are fit, right?"


    "Did you hear of something today?"


    Derek asked directly.


    Meredith hesitated for a moment and nodded.


    "I''m sorry."


    Derek suddenly apologized. "Actually, my hand isn''t that serious. As long as it''s treated properly, it''ll be


    fine in a while.


    The only reason I said that to the public was that I made a bet with my mother. We agreed that I would


    marry someone who would ept me at a time like this. As you know, you were the only one who


    stayed. "


    When Meredith heard this, she didn''t know whether to be angry or happy.


    She was happy that Derek''s hand was fine and he was healthy. She was angry that she was fooled by


    him without knowing anything.


    But she didn''t expect that the joy in her heart was more than anger.


    After seeing so many illnesses and death, Meredith now felt that as long as people were healthy, there


    was still hope.


    Seeing that Meredith did not leave immediately, Derek was overjoyed. Then, he knelt on one knee and


    took out a ring. "I know I am wrong. I want to use my life to make up for it. I don''t know if you want to."


    Derek said solemnly. He had secretly bought the ring, but it was not given to Meredith all the time. He


    originally wanted to design a grand proposal ceremony before proposing.


    However, he was worried that Meredith would get angry and leave him alone, so he had to make it


    now.


    "Right now, there may not be any romantic proposal ceremony, but with my sincere heart, I will be


    willing to give you any ceremony in the future..."


    The more Derek spoke, the less confidence he had.


    The man, who was usually confident, really didn''t have the same kind of dominance when it came to


    romantic rtionships.


    Meredith looked at the man kneeling on one knee. He was looking up at herself. She could see the


    sincerity and hope in his eyes.


    "You stand up."


    Meredith lowered her eyes. Her long eyshes hid the emotions in her eyes.


    Derek hesitated for a moment and got up. He didn''t want to push her on this matter.


    "I can''t say yes so hastily, but..."


    Meredith''s refusal upset Derek, but when he heard that she said a but, his eyes lit up with hope again.


    "You once said to let me trust you. Thus, the lie you just told me was thest lie between you and me.


    Can you promise?"


    Derek nodded without any hesitation. "Of course."


    "In that case, I promise to give you a chance to begin again. In the future, I will not look at your every


    move with prejudice, and I will treat you as a new person."


    After hearing this, Derek was ecstatic.


    He never thought that Meredith would say so. He was confident to let Meredith forget the unhappiness


    of the past, which meant that she would let go of the past.


    "Why did you suddenly change today..."


    After Derek and Meredith finished speaking, he guessed that he was wrong just now. He was afraid the


    news that made Meredith so confused had nothing to do with himself.


    He really wanted to know what it was that changed her so much.


    Meredith hesitated and told Derek what Jenny had said.


    "I just suddenly felt that maybe I didn''t know the whole world and the people around me, so I said I


    wanted to know you again."


    Meredith was so emotional. She had no hatred for Parker, because that man had paid too much for her


    although he was just making up for it. She could not hate him, but she found it difficult to face him.


    "At first, I thought he approached you for revenge. I didn''t expect there were so many deeper reasons."


    Derek was also very emotional after hearing it. He originally hated the culprit who made him in aa


    for three years.


    But knowing that Parker''s past was caused by his mother and that it was so tragic, he had no intention


    of pursuing it.


    "In fact, he''s a poor man."


    Derek shook his head. It was not fair that he avenged his mother on Derek.


    "It''s strange that you stand by his side."


    Meredith looked at the man in surprise. Wasn''t this man always at odds with Parker?


    "I used to think of him as my rival in love, and he always used you to provoke me. Now that I hear what


    you have said, I''m just saying something fair. Let''s not talk about it. What are you going to do?"


    Meredith thought for a moment. "I don''t me him. What''s past is past. I think he is repenting now. I


    just want to see him and get things off the ground."


    Derek hesitated for a moment and nodded. "Okay, I agree, but I want to go with you."


    Meredith wanted to refuse, but Derek was determined, besides, he was also affected by these things,


    so she agreed.


    The next day, they went to find Parker.


    Parker had just woken up from a hangover when he saw Meredith. He immediately ran over. "Mer?


    Why are you here?"


    He thought that Meredith would never see him again after getting back together with Derek.


    Meredith saw the joy in his eyes and bit her lower lip. "I have known everything, Parker, about why you


    helped me so much, about your deal with Ava..."


    Hearing this, Parker, who was still a little drunk, was fully sober.


    He saw Jenny on the side. "You said that?"


    Parker''s voice and eyes were murderous and icy.


    "Don''t me her. You can keep it a secret for a while. Can you keep it for the rest of your life?"


    Meredith said faintly.


    Parker had no idea how to face her. He grabbed Meredith''s shoulders. "Mer, I..."


    Meredith interrupted him. "Let me say first. I don''t me you, Parker. Really, even though you did


    something wrong in the past, you''re still my friend."


    "I don''t me you, even though you almost killed me."


    Derek had been watching them from a distance. When he saw Parker getting a little emotional, he


    came over and said.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "Derek?"


    "You put me in aa for three years. I know all the circumstances. Don''t worry, I won''t take revenge


    on you, just think of it as me paying for my mother''s sins back then."


    Parker was surprised to hear this.


    They were used to being at loggerheads, so he did not expect Derek to say that.


    "But, I won''t leave Meredith to you."


    Derek shrugged. Maybe it was a long time ago that he could say it in such a calm tone now.


    Parker narrowed his eyes. "I will win her by myself."


    When Meredith heard this, she was speechless. "What is going on? Why did they talk about me


    again?" She thought.


    "If you want to talk about this boring topic, forget it. But, Parker, I really don''t me you for what


    happened back then. We are still friends."


    With that, Meredith turned and left. Seeing this, Derek quickly chased after her.


    Parker looked at her back. "Friend..."


    In fact, he could see that Meredith''s feelings were nothing more.


    He lost to Derek in the end, but unexpectedly, he was not as sad as he thought.


    Meredith was walking fast in front of Derek, and he followed behind her, not as cold as usual, but rather


    as loyal as a dog.


    They walked a long way.


    "Mer, when will we apply for our marriage license?"


    "Let''s wait until everything is settled."


    Meredith was not in a hurry about this at all. After all, there was still the matter of the Smith family that


    remained unresolved.


    Hearing this, Derek gave a bitter smile resignedly.


    He knew he would get such an answer, but he was not disappointed. He took two quick steps and


    grabbed Meredith''s hand."Then I will apany you for the rest of my life. Also, I will resign myself to


    your guidance."


    The end.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!