《Mommy锛學e Got a Husband》


 Chapter 4 Undress and Lie down on the Bed

    At a loss for a verdict, the police officers received a call.


    "Mr. Knight called. She''s not a kidnapper. Release her immediately!"


    After setting Gtea free, two female officers exchanged a nce and couldn''t help but sigh, "Rich people just do as they please. A couple''s quarrel that involved the police."


    Gtea, who just got out of the station, felt extremely unlucky. Her first day back in the country involved a trip to the police.


    She was about to call Harry when her phone rang; it was Elisa.


    "Mom, how are you? Why aren''t you back yet?" The fancy dinner is ready.


    "Where''s Harry? Did he make it home?" Gtea asked urgently.


    "Didn''t Harry go to the hospital to look for you?" Elisa exined her frustration. After settling into their new home, Mia insisted they take a nap. Harry couldn''t sleep and begged her to go to the hospital, but she was exhausted. After refusing, she fell asleep, and when she woke up, Harry was gone.


    "So, Harry hasn''te home yet?" Gtea''s heart leaped to her throat when she heard this. The cops are all about nailing traffickers, but what about the safety of the kids?


    "He''s back now!" Elisa barely got the words out when they saw Harry push the door open, "Mom, no need to worry, Harry''s back!"


    Gtea''s heart settled just as her temper was about to re!


    After Elisa got cut off on the phone, her worried gaze held a hint of amusement that her brother was in trouble, "Harry, Mom knows you sneaked off to the hospital."


    "How did she find out?" Harry, truly startled, quickly nced at his smartwatch. He was certain he had disabled the tracking feature.


    "Just know she knows, and she sounded really mad. You better watch out," Elisa said, a wary expression on her face. "If she docks your allowance, don''t even think about hitting me up I''m broke too." Harry smirked, "Elisa, always the little money miser!"


    With the assurance that Harry wasn''t after her piggy bank, Elisa leaned in, eager with her inquiry, "So, did you find any worthy prospects at the hospital? Any guy who''s handsome, loaded, and dad material?" "Forget it, I didn''t even get into the hospital," Harry deted, "Something crazy happened everything was locked down tight. Not just me, not even a fly could get in."


    "Wow, if I''d known, I would''ve skipped my nap and gone with you!"


    Just as Elisa finished speaking, they heard noises at the entrance. She hastily said, "Mom''s back."


    When Gtea entered, she saw two kids behaving exceptionally well at the dining table while Mia was setting down dishes, she had warmed up again.


    "Sten, dinner''s ready," Mia said with a smile.


    Gtea briefly acknowledged with a cool response, her stern gazending on Harry, who immediately hung his head in the admission of guilt, "I''m sorry, Mom."


    "Sten, don''t be harsh on him. It''s my fault," Mia hastily interjected, "It''s my fault for sleeping so deeply that I didn''t even notice him leave."


    Mia was getting older, and the recent toil had worn her down. How could Gtea fault her?


    "I don''t me you," Gtea quickly said, seeing Mia so full of self-reproach. "Let''s put this behind us and never speak of it again."


    Gtea then warned Harry, "If you run off on your own again, you''re really in for it!"


    "I got it, Mom. I promise it won''t happen again," Harry immediately raised his little hand as if taking an oath.


    With that settled, the two adults and the children joyously started their meal in their cozy, small home. Meanwhile, in a vast, empty mansion, Caspian had no appetite despite a tableden with delicacies before him. "What''s wrong, Caspian? Not feeling well?" ric inquired, noticing that he hadn''t taken a bite.


    Caspian shook his head and boldly met ric''s gaze, his lips pressing into a thin line. "No, it''s not that. I don''t want to eat this anymore. I long for the food that I truly enjoy." ric understood the meaning behind Caspian''s words all too well.


    "Caspian, your health is sensitive; you can''t just eat anything you want. Once you''re better, you tell me what you crave, and I''ll cook it for you."


    Caspian''s head bowed again, biting his lips, hands rubbing together restlessly. It wasn''t the barbecue that he yearned for; it was the feeling of sharing a meal with Gtea.


    "Come on, no sulking. Eat up, and afterward, I''ll take you out for some fun." ric served him another helping.


    "Dad, I want Mom," Caspian said with a look of longing, his eyes gazing into ric''s. Sensing what woulde next, ric interjected, "Not Orion-I mean my real mom. Can that woman from today be my mom?" The boy''s voice was soft, his bright eyes filled with pleading.


    He still hadn''t forgotten that woman!


    "You need to be a good boy first," ric murmured gently. "Eat your meal, and I''ll give it some thought."


    "Really?" Caspian''s eyes sparkled with hope upon hearing ric''s words.


    "Of course," ric replied calmly.


    After watching Caspian finish his meal, ric spent some time reading to him until he fell asleep. Once Caspian was tucked in bed, ric dialed Ss Moon, "I need details on the woman who took my son today."


    ---


    It was Gtea''s first official day on the job. She slipped into her whiteb coat and was about to make her rounds when she got called into Galen''s office.


    "You wanted to see me, Galen?"


    "Yes." Galen smiled warmly. "Gtea, your reputation certainly precedes you. Mr. Knight is here for a check-up and has specifically requested you."


    Gtea knew that Serenity Heights Medical Center was sponsored by Nexus Innovations. So, he meant ric?


    "Mr. Knight is our hospital''s silent benefactor. You''ll want to take very good care of him, Gtea," Galen instructed.


    "Understood." Gtea wasn''t sure if it was a stroke of luck or a sign of trouble, but she was going to follow through with Galen''s instructions.


    "Dr. Gtea, Mr. Knight is already in the consultation room." A nurse rushed up to inform her as soon as she stepped out of the elevator.


    "He''s already here?" Gtea straightened her coat and then headed into the consultation room. The moment she entered the room, she saw the man seated on the sofa.


    He was clothed in a sharp ck suit, legs crossed in a rxed pose. From her angle, she could perfectly see his face.


    With thick brows and a straight nose bridge, what truly captivated her were his deep, profound eyes. The early morning sunlight pierced through, casting a stark line of light across his strikingly handsome face, creating an intense visual impact. "Good morning, Mr. ric. I''m Dr. Gtea, the physician assigned to your examination."


    Hearing her, ric lifted his gaze to meet hers; her appearance was even more remarkable in person than on the security footage. Purely based on looks, one would never guess she was a woman of such intricate schemes.


    That gaze made Gtea ufortable, but since ric was a VIP at the hospital, she held her tongue and continued, "If Mr. Knight is ready, shall we begin?"


    "Sure," ric replied as he stood up. He was curious to see what tricks this woman might have up her sleeve.


    "Let''s start with some routine tests," Gtea said, reaching for the stethoscope. "Shirt off, please, and lie down on the bed."

 Chapter 7 She Had No Choice but to Make the First Move

    When Gtea arrived home, Mia had prepared a feast awaiting her, and Harry and Elisa greeted her with particrly good behavior.


    "To celebrate Mom''s first day on the job, Mia made lots of yummy dishes, and we helped too!" Elisa''s eyes crinkled into crescents, her shallow dimples making her cherubic face even more endearing. "It''s been a tough first day at work. Go wash up, and let''s eat," Mia offered with a warm, weing smile.


    Gtea forced a weary smile despite her growing difort at the scene before her, nodding in agreement to preserve the mood. "Sure."


    The atmosphere at the dinner table was cozy as the four of them began their meal.


    "Mom, are there handsome and wealthy bachelor doctors at the hospital?" Elisa was particrly interested in the subject.


    "If there are, Elisa and I could help you scout for one," Harry chimed in teasingly.


    "All you care about is stuff like that," Gtea scolded lightly, tapping Harry on the head, and continued, "Starting tomorrow, you two are going to practice the piano every day until school starts." Both kids pouted, deeply dismayed by the announcement.


    "Mom, we''re not really into piano," Harry protested.


    "Yeah, Mom, we''re not exactly rolling in dough, so let''s not waste the money," Elisa added.


    Gtea fell silent. She had always struggled to persuade her two children.


    "Seriously, Mom, didn''t youe back here to find us a dad?" Elisa inquired, leaning in closer.


    "I''ve already told you before, you don''t have a father."


    She had been legally married to that man, but she''d never met him - he had been in aa for three years by then, and now another six had passed.


    "Are we conjured up from dust by God?" Harry couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Thatment made both Gtea and Miaugh.


    After dinner, the two young ones obediently took their baths and settled down with their books and Legos, leaving Gtea alone in the study.


    Today was her first day on the job at Serenity Heights Medical Center, and she had been fired without even knowing where the obstetrics archive was located! ''My son, you must wait for me; I will find you!'' Gtea thought determinedly.


    Meanwhile, at the Knight''s residence, Caspian was calling out "Mom!" as if by telepathy, seeing Gtea''s face in his dreams.


    "Caspian?" ric had stayed up all night by his side and gently woke him as he started talking in his sleep at daybreak.


    Caspian slowly opened his eyes to ric''s soft voice, looking past him in a daze, only to realize it had been a dream - his mother wasn''t there.


    "Awake?" ric asked tenderly, cautious not to upset him further.


    During his sleep, Cormac had administered medication, and now his alternate personality hadpletely subsided.


    Caspian sat up slowly, his eyesnding on ric''s injured arm. With a heavy sense of guilt, he muttered, "I''m sorry, Dad."


    ric took a nce at his wound and reassured him, "It''s just a scratch, nothing serious."


    But Caspian remained downcast, as if he had made an unforgivable error, and stayed silent for a long while.


    "I was wrong too, for losing my temper with you yesterday," ric admitted softly.


    "No, it was all my fault," Caspian replied, still not lifting his head.


    "Let''s not dwell on the past, okay? Are you hungry?" asked ric gently. "What would you like to eat? I''ll whip something up for you."


    "I''m not hungry," Caspian said, looking at ric. "Can I sleep a little longer?"


    His dreams had been filled with Gtea''s warm embrace, a sensation he desperately wanted to cling to. Would he be able to slip back into that dream if he continued to sleep?


    "All right, get some more rest. I''ll make you something delicious and wake you up when it''s ready."


    "Thanks," Caspian said.


    Meanwhile, Gtea had spent a sleepless night, her mind preupied with Mrs. Marigold and her lost son.


    The only leads to finding her son were through Mrs. Marigold or the Serenity Heights Medical Center. Searching for Mrs. Marigold was like looking for a needle in a haystack, especially now that her suburban mansion had been demolished. Knowing that Mrs. Marigold was at a dead end, she had no choice but to start with the medical center. She couldn''t leave until she uncovered some information there.


    Determined, she decided to seek out ric once more.


    So, the next morning, she left early. Her son, Harry, woke from his sleep upon hearing her leave and rushed to awaken Elisa, who bunked below him. "Elisa, Elisa!"


    "What?" Elisa groaned, barely opening her eyes. She was still sleepy.


    "Mom''s left early again, but it doesn''t seem like she''s off to work. Should we follow her and see what she''s up to?"


    "I''m staying. I need sleep," Elisa muttered, then closed her eyes and dozed off again.


    After speaking, Harry nced out the window. Gtea was already moving away quickly, so he hurriedly got dressed and followed.


    Since the day his mother had made ns to return to their home country, he had sensed that something was off. She was hiding something, and he was intent on uncovering it.


    Gtea hailed a cab, and Harry, not far behind, did the same. When they reached their destination, Harry was shocked.


    "What a luxurious mansionmunity," Harry marveled. It was the kind of ce he''d only seen depicted on TV shows, home to the wealthiest of the wealthy. What could his mom be doing here? Could his father be living in one of these mansions?


    Gtea arrived outside the Knight family''s vi and took a deep breath to remind herself aloud, "You have to be patient to find your son. Don''t pick a fight, just bear with whateveres!"


    After mentally preparing herself, she rang the doorbell, and Liona answered the door.


    "Hello, does Mr. Knight live here?" Gtea knew she needed to be polite since she was the one asking for a favor.


    "Yes, how can I help you?" asked Liona.


    "My name is Gtea. I''m a doctor from Serenity Heights Medical Center. Mr. Knight had an examination with us earlier, and I was in charge of it. I''m here to deliver his medical report," Gtea exined, knowing that without this pretext, she wouldn''t be allowed inside.


    "Oh, you''re Dr. Gtea? Pleasee in." Recognizing her as a doctor from Serenity Heights Medical Center, Liona let her in.


    "Mr. Knight, Dr. Gtea from Serenity Heights Medical Center is here with your medical report," Liona informed ric, who was busy cooking for Caspian in the kitchen.


    Hearing this, ric came out of the kitchen dressed in casual home clothes and an apron.


    Gtea was taken aback - did this man actually cook for himself?


    "Why did you let her in?" ric despised Gtea now.


    "Dr. Gtea said she came to deliver your medical report, so I let her in," Liona quickly apologized.


    "Get out!" ric spat to Gtea, his tone exceptionally hostile.

 Chapter 10 After the Exchange

    Still uneasy even after hopping into the taxi with Gtea, Caspian couldn''t stop ncing back.


    "Mom," he called out to Gtea. "You love me, right? No matter what happens, you won''t abandon me, will you?"


    Hearing the question, Gteaughed gently, "Why the sudden doubt? I''m your mom. Even if the sky fell, I''d never leave you."


    Caspian felt a surge of emotion at her words, his eyes brimming with tears. Orion had never said anything like that to him. "Thanks, Mom!"


    Gtea chuckled and tapped the top of his head lightly.


    After getting out of the car, Gtea held Caspian''s hand as they entered the apartment building. Caspian had led a sheltered life, his world limited to a strict routine between school and home, and he hadn''t ventured much elsewhere. The modest apartment seemed foreign to him. Was this really where his mom lived? Was she living in poverty?


    Once inside, Caspian observed his surroundings. The ce was smaller than he had anticipated, but the thought of living with the mother he held dear in his heart made any ce eptable.


    "Mia, give me a hand. I''m going to grill some barbecue for Harry and Elisa," Gtea called out after changing her footwear.


    "Awesome!" Elisa burst out of her room at the mention of barbecued food. "Mom''s cooking-I can''t wait!"


    Caspian watched the joyous Elisa. Was this Harry''s little sister? She was so fortunate and incredibly cute, too.


    Gtea and Mia changed clothes and retreated to the kitchen, and a curious Elisa sidled up to Caspian, whispering, "Did Mom scold you?"


    Caspian didn''t quite grasp her meaning but shook his head anyway. "No, Mom''s really kind."


    "Really? She didn''t discipline you?" Elisa sounded genuinely surprised. "You''ve sneaked out twice already, and Mom didn''t even scold you? Has she gotten that mellow?"


    Caught off guard, Caspian grew more anxious. It wasn''t some delusion; his mother truly had a son who bore a striking resemnce to him. He realized that both times, his mom had mistaken him for her real son. What would happen if her actual son returned? His charade would be exposed then. How would he handle it?


    "You tracked Mom down in your pajamas?" Elisa inquired, touching the fabric of his nightwear. "I''ve never seen these before. They''re so soft. Did you buy them without telling me? Where did you get the money?"


    As Caspian grappled with the barrage of questions, Elisa suddenly sprang up. "Did you steal my piggy bank savings?"


    She dashed to her room, calling out, "Harry, if you dare to take my savings, I''ll tell Mom!"


    Caspian followed her into the bedroom to witness her pour a pile of coins from a piggy bank, counting them meticulously. He didn''t understand the fuss.


    "Do you really need to save this little amount?" he asked inly, puzzled.


    Caspian was insensitive to the concept of money. His allowances were always hefty sums, six figures, and always just numbers on a card-cash was an entirely alien concept to him.


    "Harry, I''m already over four hundred dors in the hole, and you''re calling it chump change?" Elisa was livid. "You said that fancy restaurants in Arizona have a starting price of $320 per person. We could have gotten a half-price deal for the two of us, and this money would have covered avish meal for both of us!"


    Could a meal for $320 be considered luxurious? Caspian had his doubts, but now wasn''t the time to voice them. After counting the money, Elisa found nothing missing and breathed a sigh of relief, considerably more at ease. "Harry, you sneakily bought yourself nice pajamas and didn''t get me any?" she used.


    "You like these pajamas?" he asked.


    "Yes, they''re so soft."


    "Then I''ll buy you some." Despite having left home with nothing, he knew his dad had set up a bank ount for him. He could simply go to the bank, use face recognition, and transfer money when it was safe. "How many do you want?" "Just one will do."


    "All right. Anything else you need? I''ll get it for you," he promised.


    Elisa fell silent.


    Then, scrutinizing him from head to toe with shock, Elisa inquired, "Harry, you seem like an entirely different person all of a sudden?"


    "Did she notice?" Caspian swallowed nervously, then quickly assured her, "No, you''re my sister. Of course, I want to spoil you."


    ''Would Harry say something like that?'' Elisa pondered.


    Just as Elisa was about to ask something else, Gtea called from outside, "Dinner''s ready!"


    Hearing this, Caspian let out a quiet breath of relief and hurried out. They sat down together, ready to eat. "It''s my first time making this-let me know what you think?" Gtea asked, eagerly awaiting their judgment.


    "It''s delicious," Caspian remarked after a taste, finding it even better than the barbecue he''d had before.


    "So good!" Elisa nodded enthusiastically. "Mom, you''re amazing-a one-in-a-milliondy, truly a rare find!"


    Hearing Elisa speak so fondly, Caspian couldn''t help but smile. The atmosphere was sofortable, unlike his own home, where strict rules forbade speaking at the dining table.


    Seeing the kids so content made Gtea happy, too, yet she couldn''t fully conceal her worries.


    She couldn''t get back into Serenity Heights Medical Center, and finding her son seemed only possible through Mrs. Marigold. But how could she approach her?


    "Is this my grandmother?" Harry was pointing to Mrs. Marigold''s photograph in an album, showing it to ric.


    "Yes."


    Harry had gone through the photos several times. There were not many photos of Caspian, but even he was startled at the resemnce-it was uncanny.


    No wonder ric was confused; he was reeling himself. Wasn''t that his own photo?


    "So, I have a grandma, a dad, and a mom?"


    "Yes."


    Harry fell silent. ''How is this different from the novels? This guy, Caspian, looks so much like him-I bet he thought he was his long-lost brother. And he has his own real parents?'' he wondered to himself. "Do you have a wife?" Harry asked seriously.

 Chapter 14 The Kids Hatch a Plan

    Swift as lightning, Harry dropped to the floor and burst into tears, a move that instantly caught Orion off guard.


    Hearing Harry sob, ric rushed upstairs, not even bothering to ditch his shoes or jacket.


    "Dad, she''s just a wicked stepmother; she hit me!" Harry wailed, pointing an using finger at Orion.


    "What the hell happened?" ric barked at Orion, "What did I tell you before I left, huh?!"


    "I didn''t! When have I everid a hand on him?" Orion exined.


    "She grabbed my shirt, trying to shove pills down my throat. Dad, I was terrified; when I fell, it hurt so bad," Harry cried out. ric had never seen Caspian break down like this before. Seeing his child so inconsbly upset naturally filled him with distress.


    "It''s okay now, Caspian, I''m here," ricforted as he swept Harry into his arms with a gentle voice.


    "And you, out of my house now! Don''t you daree near Caspian again!" ric was furious. He had hoped to give her onest chance to prove herself, especially since the kid had amnesia, but now things seemed worse than ever. ric was on edge. Thest thing he needed was another episode from the kid.


    Fury zed in Orion''s eyes - that little snake had the nerve to y the victim first! Orion, though fuming inside, dared not say more and had to leave.


    Once Orion had left, Harry threw himself into ric''s arms, his expression was one of hurt, "Dad, is she truly my mom? It feels like she doesn''t love me at all; in fact, it seems like she despises me."


    Orion never deserved to be a mother. Harry and Caspian, though strangers to each other, had somehow swapped lives. He feltpelled to set things right for Caspian and handle this stepmom situation. "She''s your biological mother." ric, having been in aa for three years due to severe injuries, woke up to find he had a son named Caspian. The first time he saw Caspian, tears welled up in his eyes.


    Being given a new lease on life, to see the lineage continue was an indescribable feeling. He never conducted a paternity test with Caspian, but not once did he doubt that Caspian was his son - perhaps it was the undeniable bond of blood. As for Orion, as much as he hated to admit it, the Knight and Nash families had been friends for generations. He and Orion were betrothed as children - Caspian''s mother could be no one else.


    "Dad, even if she is my real mom, you can change wives, and I wouldn''t mind a new mom either. Why don''t you divorce her, and I can go find one myself?"


    The old Caspian would have never spoken this way - had his personality changed with his memory loss?


    "Caspian, you mustn''t speak that way!"


    Harry pouted, feeling a touch of disappointment. ''He needed to find a way. ric seemed like a catch - it would be perfect to bring him and Mom together!'' Harry mused. Caspian must want the same, right? So, it was crucial to devise a n and coborate with Caspian.


    Elisa had been living the good life these past few days - Harry had suddenly turned from an irresponsible brother to a wealthy and doting one.


    "Elisa."


    Elisa was counting the gifts she had recently received from Caspian and asked, "Another gift for me, big bro?"


    "No, it''s about mom." Caspian leaned in closer and asked, "She works at Serenity Heights Medical Center, right? Why hasn''t she been going to work thesest couple of days?"


    "I guess she hasn''t," Elisa answered, not having noticed her mother''s absence.


    Caspian felt a knot in his stomach, the kind that warned of bad news toe. Had his mom lost her job because of him? After all, his father had been the silent partner pulling the strings at Serenity Heights Medical Center, and it was just a matter of him saying the word.


    ''He can''t drag Mom into his mess, but now that I''ve left the Knight family, how can I clear up this misunderstanding between her and Dad?''


    Just then, Elisa''s smartwatch buzzed-it was a call from Harry.


    "That little con artist still hasn''t given up," Elisa scoffed, ready to end the call. Caspian intervened, "Wait, let me answer!"


    Caspian knew it was the real Harry on the line. He''d been standing in for the guy for days, and with Harry''s absence, unease gnawed at him. "Hello?"


    Harry grinned from the other end, thrilled to hear a voice that wasn''t Elisa''s. "You''re Caspian? You''ve been impersonating me and living with my mom and Elisa?" Caspian nced at Elisa for approval without giving anything away. She nodded subtly. "Yes."


    "I''m in the same boat," Harry revealed, "currently living with your dad, pretending to be you. I''ve got something to discuss, and it''s got to stay between us for now." Caspian stepped into the bathroom, shut the door, and asked, "What''s your angle?"


    "I want to help you out," Harry said. "You''re into my mom, aren''t you? Don''t deny it! If not, you wouldn''t choose to run away from home just to be with her." "Yes," Caspian admitted, not denying it.


    "Good, because I quite like your dad. And what fate, huh? We look exactly alike. Bing a real family would be perfect."


    "You want to set up my dad with your mom?" asked Caspian.


    "Bingo!"


    "I''d love to, but it''s impossible," Caspian sighed. "My grandmother is domineering. Just seeing her sometimes intimidates me, and she''s set on Orion as her daughter-inw. She''s made that crystal clear." "Can''t your dad just stand up to her once he falls for my mom?" Harry asked.


    "I know my family better than anyone."


    "So, do you want them to be together or not? Want to see both your dad and my mom?" Harry asked again.


    "Yes!"


    "Let''s find a way to bring them together then," Harry suggested. "How?"


    "There''s this old saying, ''What''s done is done.'' What do you think?"


    Caspian fell silent.


    "That settles it!" Harry dered confidently. "We''ll hash out the details online. Don''t tell Elisa about this just yet. She''s not the most discreet, and if she spills the beans, our whole n could go south." "All right," Harry''s grasp of Elisa''s perception was spot-on.


    Knowing Harry was safely at the Knight family''s residence gave Caspian peace of mind, and now his focus shifted to bringing ric and Gtea together.

 Chapter 18 Father and Son Both Ailing

    His face was a shade paler than usual, sweat beading on his brow and breaking free in a steady stream. His breathing was visiblybored, a clear sign of difort.


    "Are you feeling unwell?" Gtea asked, rmed. Instinctively, she moved closer to examine him, but at her approach, he growled fiercely, "Get out!"


    Despite his condition, hismand carried an intimidating force that sent a shudder through her.


    "Listen, your body''s clearly in distress. I''m a doctor; I can help you. Just tell me what''s wrong," she insisted.


    "I said get out!" His voice boomed, almost predatory.


    Gtea was annoyed with the urge tosh out at his attitude.


    ''He asked for it, asking her to leave. Why bother with such a reckless man?'' Yet, as she opened the door to leave, her steps faltered. No, her oath as a doctor wouldn''t allow her to ignore a man in crisis unfolding before her eyes. She turned around and returned to find ric writhing in pain, curled up on the floor.


    "If you don''t want to die, then cooperate!" Gteamanded, falling back on her medical authority, "Lie down t."


    ric, gripped by pain,plied mechanically. Once hey still, Gtea quickly began to assess him.


    The exact cause of his condition eluded her, but it resembled symptoms of an underlying chronic illness.


    For nearly twenty minutes, she knelt by him, providing emergency care until his agony slowly subsided.


    "I''m calling an ambnce now. You''ll be better once we''re at the hospital." Even as a doctor, she knew their resources were limited; a thorough examination at a hospital was necessary.


    But as she reached for her phone, her wrist was seized by his firm grasp.


    "No!"


    He didn''t want an ambnce?


    "You need hospital care," she insisted.


    "If I say no, then it''s no!"


    ''This man is impossible,'' she thought with irritation.


    "Fine, it''s your life," Gtea said as she stood up, straightening her clothes and hair. "I just yed along with your scene and incidentally saved your life. If you have an ounce of gratitude, you''ll let me get back to my job at Serenity Heights Medical Center."


    ric remained silent.


    Gtea could tell he hadn''t fully recovered, and without the response she sought, she couldn''t leave just yet.


    An awkward silence hung in the air.


    Elsewhere, Harry was at ease. Cormac had lifted him into the car, and Orion had chosen, perhaps deliberately, to sit in the passenger seat to avoid being next to him.


    Harry smirked to himself. Orion''s seating choice suited him just fine.


    "Are youing over tonight too?" Cormac asked Orion.


    "At this hour, I''ve got nowhere else," Orion snapped back with annoyance.


    Cormac stayed silent to avoid further arguments with his sister. Once they got home, Cormac quickly sorted things out, "Orion, sleep in the guest room upstairs. I''ll bunk with Caspian on the first floor."


    But Orion wasn''t having it and turned to Harry with an usatory gaze, "I heard it clear as day, there was a woman in his room. Did you have a hand in this?"


    "Orion, give it a rest, will you? Caspian''s just a six-year-old kid. He doesn''t know about that stuff," Cormac immediately defended Harry, "It''ste, head upstairs to bed!"


    Orion shot Harry a venomous look before stomping upstairs. Harry, feeling helpless and scared, looked at Cormac and asked, "Did I do something wrong, Cormac? Why does Mom hate me so much?" "Nothing''s wrong with you. It''s your mom who''s got a short fuse, it''s not your fault." Cormac said and lifted him into aforting embrace.


    Despite Orion''s meanness, Cormac appeared to be quite friendly.


    "I like you, Cormac. Can I sleep with you tonight?" asked Harry.


    "You bet!" Cormac beamed at the thought of Harry wanting to spend the night with him.


    "Cormac, you''re so rich, just like my dad. You''re both loaded." The vi was decorated with such opulence.


    Harry was astonished. How could all of Caspian''s rtives be so wealthy?


    "You''ve really changed after your amnesia," Cormacmented.


    "Cormac, which me do you prefer, before or after the amnesia?"


    "Definitely, you right now-you''re more lively. The old you was a bit too standoffish."


    "Cormac, since I lost my memory, there''s a lot I can''t recall, and I have questions. Could you help me out?" Harry pleaded. "Fire away."


    "Is your sister truly my mom?" Harry questioned doubtfully, "I mean, something doesn''t add up. And if she is, how could she despise me?" "I can''t be entirely sure, but it seems to add up."


    "How can you not be sure? They say a kid''s mom''s a sure bet, even if his dad isn''t clear. Howe you can''t confirm if she is my mom?"


    "It''s a little moreplicated than that."


    "Spill it. I can handleplicated," Harry replied.


    Resigned to the situation, Cormac spilled the beans, "Your dad was in the military. During one of his missions, he got seriously injured and ended up in aa. At that time, I was at odds with my old man and stayed overseas. After I came back to the States, your dad had woken up, and by then you were already born. Everyone said that Orion had you through in vitro fertilization while your dad was unconscious. If that''s what your grandma and Orion are saying, it must be true, right?"


    So, it wasn''t a traditional pregnancy? That raised the possibility of foul y.


    "Have you ever had a DNA test done?" Harry inquired further.


    "Man, you think too much," Cormac admitted, "I don''t know if they did a DNA test. But look, your dad''s health was frail. The issues with your health have always troubled him. If you weren''t his biological son, he wouldn''t have been so patient with you."


    "My dad''s health is that bad?" Harry''s brow raised.


    "Yeah, didn''t I just tell you? He was out cold with major injuries for three years. Even after waking up, he has some severe lingering effects. They don''t show up often, but when they do, it can be lethal if not treated immediately." Cormac exined.


    "I hope my dad never has to face that," Harry said, visibly shaken by the news.

 Chapter 21 Bringing Mom Home, Would Dad Consider It?

    Caspian sent Harry a message.


    Caspian: [Harry, call me back when you can. It''s an emergency.]


    When Harry received the message, he nced at ric, who had just removed his coat, and swiftly deleted the text before ric could notice.


    "Dad, you must be tired from driving. Go rest, I''m just going to use the restroom," said Harry before darting into the bathroom and locking the door from the inside.


    Caspian was waiting anxiously for the call. As soon as his phone rang, he locked himself in the bathroom as well.


    "Caspian, what''s the emergency?" Harry asked worriedly.


    "It''s about the setup the other day. You probably don''t know yet. I''ll fill you in." Gtea had mistakenly thought he was Harry, and the dinner that ended in chaos was the start of their misunderstanding. Caspian knew he had to clear the air with Harry.


    Harry was dumbfounded after hanging up the call. "So, it was because of you that Mom got into trouble? No wonder she lost her temper with me that day."


    "It''s not the main issue, Harry. The thing is... their misunderstanding has blown way out of proportion. Mom even thinks Dad''s lost his mind - that is certainly going to block any chance they might have to patch things up. You''re the smart one. Think of something." Caspian requested.


    "Smart, you say?" Harry gloated.


    "Anyway, just figure out a way to clear up the misunderstanding between them," Caspian instructed.


    "What can I possibly do?" Harry was at a loss.


    Caspian hung up on him again, and Harry was ready to pull his hair out in frustration. Couldn''t the guy wait for someone to finish talking before hanging up?


    Sitting on the toilet, chin in hand, Harry mused. He had no clue about this past incident.


    How could one clear up such a misunderstanding without exposing the truth? Perhaps, the only way was to ensure ric spent more time with his mom and fall for her charm.


    Harry stepped out of the bathroom, to his surprise, and found ric cooking in the kitchen.


    "Dad, didn''t I tell you to rest? Why are you cooking?" Harry asked, rushing over.


    "It''s been a while since I''ve made you something. Let me cook for you today." Due to Caspian''s medication, he had been on a strict diet, with meals prepared by professional chefs ording to a nutritional menu. Seeing his son in good spiritstely, ric wanted to cook something Harry loved personally.


    ric, a prominent man, actually cooking for his son was an endearing sight.


    "Dad, you must''ve slept poorly in the hotelst night, and then you came to pick me up this morning. Cooking on top of that is too much. Let me cook for you, I''ll show you what I''ve learned," Harry offered.


    "You''re going to cook?" ric said, astonished. He had never let Caspian in the kitchen before; how could he possibly know how to cook?


    "Of course, I can cook. I''ve been taking care ofzy ''old'' Elisa since I was three. Don''t underestimate me Dad; I can honestly cook," Harry said as he gently ushered ric out of the kitchen. "Just give me ten minutes."


    Harry pushed ric out of the kitchen and closed the door, leaving ric with mixed emotions of amusement and exasperation.


    Indeed, ric was tired. After all, he had suffered an unexpected health scarest night and couldn''t recover that quickly. He settled on the sofa and closed his eyes to rest.


    About fifteen minutester, Harry emerged with a beautifully prepared breakfast.


    ric was surprised by the sight of the meal. His son Caspian genuinely possessed cooking skills. Since when?


    "Give it a taste, Dad. A breakfast made with love," Harry said with a mischievous grin.


    Though he hadn''t even tasted it yet, ric felt a sense of bliss just at the sight of the meal prepared by his son. Lately, the kid hadn''t only been free of illnesses but also seemed to be exceptionally thoughtful. "Caspian, when did you pick this up? Dad''s pleasantly surprised."


    "Surprise, huh?" Harry leaned on his hand and looked up at him somewhat coyly. "When I started feeling better, I discovered a bunch of new talents. Cooking is just one of them. Dad, see, you just kept the stepmom out of my hair, and look how much I''ve improved. Now, if you were to marry the woman of my dreams, I can''t even imagine how much more awesome I''d be. You might want to give it a thought, dear old Dad?"


    Even though he was still lobbying for Gtea to be his mom, his mix of cajoling and trickery made it hard for ric to get mad.


    "When did you get so crafty?" ric was genuinely baffled by Caspian''s change.


    Harry just gave him an innocent, cheeky grin.


    "School''s about to start. Get ready for it and let me know if you need anything."


    Right, school was indeed about to begin. He and Elisa had juste back to the States, and their mom had already enrolled them in a new school.


    Everything was new - the people, the routines. Caspian would likely breeze through, but what about him? He knew nothing about Caspian''s ssmates or teachers!


    He''d need to find a chance to grill Caspian for some info soon.


    "Caspian?" ric called out to Harry.


    "Huh?" Harry was still slow on the uptake with his new name, "What''s up, Dad?"


    "You used to board at school. If you want, Dad can arrange a driver instead."


    ''What, Caspian used to board?'' Now, he was staying with ric while Caspian and Elisa were with Gtea. If the two of them started interacting more, Harry''s and Caspian''s secrets might be exposed too soon. Perhaps it would be better to board at school and not be around ric too much?


    "Boarding school!" Harry said thoughtfully. "You''re always so busy, Dad, with thosete-night video conferences. I wouldn''t want to be a bother."


    Meanwhile, Gtea had already prepared everything Caspian and Elisa needed for the new school year.


    "School''s starting soon. As transfer students, you''ll be meeting new teachers and friends. Make sure to get along well with them, okay?" she advised them.


    "Don''t worry, Mom, we''re lovable wherever we go. Harry and Elisa charm everyone wherever they go," Elisa eximed.


    That came naturally to the socially savvy Harry and Elisa, but Caspian was different - always the aloof one. Even his teachers would say he had an air of distance that was unusual in a child.


    "Can I not board?" Caspian inquired. He had always been a boarding student, wanting to avoid Orion at all costs, but now he no longer wished to stay on campus.


    "No need. I can''t pick you guys up because of work. Mia will take care of the daily rides," she said.


    Speaking of her job, she was all set to return to Serenity Heights Medical Center when Galen, the epitome of politeness, rang her up personally.


    Being aware that her children''s school would be starting soon, he offered her paid leave, saying that everything had been arranged in the office. She could start working after sorting everything out with the school. ric''s influence was visibly strong; even without saying much, Galen was ready to pamper her.

 Chapter 24 What Did You Do to My Mother?

    Gtea stood silently on the sidelines, not understanding a word of ric''s exnation. She remained quiet to avoid blowing her cover.


    After hearing him out, the Nash couple fell into a heavy silence, unable to find words for a long time.


    "I''m truly sorry things didn''t work out with Orion, but I hope it won''t affect the rtionship between our families," ric added.


    "Of course not," Griffon Nash gave a pained smile and said, "We all understand. After all, you two weren''t truly husband and wife. If there''s anyone to me, it''s Orion for not stepping up."


    "Dad!" Orion had hoped they would help her salvage the situation, but to her dismay, Griffon saw no point in fighting a lost battle.


    "Enough, don''t say another word. You could have been a real family, but you blew it. This is all your fault, now go back to your room!" Griffon med her.


    "Dad, I''m the one who got dumped. How is this suddenly my fault? What did I do wrong?" Orion''s indignant response to her father.


    "That''s enough. If your dad says go, then go," Mrs. Ravenna Nash ordered. She feared that more trouble mighte from Orion''s words, and quickly pulled her upstairs.


    By now, the atmosphere had thoroughly soured. When Orion''s venomous gaze identally met Gtea''s, she hastily looked away.


    "She''s just spoiled," Griffon Nash said with a forced smile, turning to Gtea, "Don''t worry about it."


    Gtea nodded hurriedly.


    "ric, we all understand your situation. Just focus on being happy with Gtea and leave our daughter to us. We''ll make sure she doesn''t bother you anymore," Griffon Nash paused before adding, "but as for your mother, that''s something you''ll need to handle on your own. You know how she can be."


    "I understand, and I appreciate your understanding," ric replied.


    Griffon Nash smiled again, though it was strained, and then added, "I''ll instruct the kitchen to prepare for dinner tonight."


    "No need," ric, taking Gtea by the hand, stood to leave. "We have othermitments and can''t stay for dinner but thank you."


    "Of course," Griffon Nash said. "Just call me ahead of time, and I''ll have something delicious prepared for you."


    "Will do, thanks."


    Griffon Nash escorted them to their car and watched as it pulled away, his smile gradually faded as the vehicle was out of sight.


    "Neither my brother nor you two are on my side. Am I even your real daughter?" Orion was dragged back to her room, in tears and beyond constion.


    Griffon Nash entered the room, his face set in a stern expression. "Because you are our flesh and blood, we can''t stand to see you being taken for granted. He''s already brought another woman to our home. If you keep throwing yourself at him, aren''t you just insulting yourself? Where does the honor of the Nash family stand in all this?"


    "Honor? What''s more important, your honor or my happiness? I''ve loved him for so many years. Finally, I''m on the brink of sess, and then Gtea shows up out of nowhere. She has no right topete with me for him!" Orion eximed. The mention of her made Griffon Nash pause in thought, murmuring to himself, "Where have I seen Gtea before?"


    After ric led Gtea out of the Nash home, she let out a sigh, still feeling the awkwardness of the encounter.


    "You handled yourself pretty well back there,"plimented ric.


    "Thanks," she murmured.


    Although Gtea hadn''tpletely figured out theirplicated rtionship, she had a rough idea about it.


    ''Firstly, Orion was a famous TV star, the one she used to be incredibly infatuated with. And secondly, wasn''t ric sick? Not only does he have a severe physical illness but mental illness too.


    ''Delusions where he sees everyone as his son when an episode strikes. And yet, unbelievably, some female celebrity still pursued him! It''s a crazy world. Indeed, looks do matter a lot to some women.''


    "As a doctor, I genuinely advise you to get hospitalized for your condition as soon as possible. Your symptoms could reur at any time, it''s not responsible to drive by yourself - it''s a risk to both your life and others," she advised. Gtea truly meant well, knowing he appeared normal on the surface but was critically ill.


    "Thinking you''re my fianc¨¦e now, are you?" ric sarcastically teased her.


    "I''m clearly speaking as a doctor to a patient!" Gtea was frustrated, "What do I care about your well-being?" After saying this, she turned her head away.


    ric huffed coldly, "Just remember what your business is and isn''t. You did a good job earlier, and the Nash family is mostly settled. But dealing with my mother will be trickier. So, brace yourself."


    ''What? Like those dreadful mothers-inw from the TV shows?'' Gtea thought. "Why should I care about your mother? I''m not truly nning to be with you," she retorted.


    ric shed a smile in return. "Where do you live? I''ll give you a ride."


    "148 Maple Street, Springfield," she rpelied.


    "I''ve never heard of that ce," ric admitted, unfamiliar with the location.


    "Trust me, it''s the kind of neighborhood where everyone would stop and stare if your fancy car rolled in," Gtea remarked.


    ''That''s quite a description,'' he thought.


    ric genuinely had no clue where he was. He depended on Gtea to lead the way, but just minutes after she''d finished talking, she doze off.


    "Gtea? Gtea?" as he called out to her trying to illicit a response.


    She waspletely exhausted after doing multiple surgeries and putting on a performance for him that day. It was all too much.


    ric gave up and resorted to rely on his GPS, and sure enough, it led him to an area that looked like the projects. No wonder she was bending over backward to charm his son. She was probably just trying to snag a wealthy man. As they neared their destination, Gtea''s phone started to ring. Clutched in her hand, ric could easily see the iing caller ID.


    ''Elisa? Is that her kid''s name?''


    What frustrated ric even more was that her phone kept ringing twice in a row, and Gtea kept sleeping soundly. He had never seen a woman able to sleep like a log quite like her.


    Taking matters into his own hands, ric grabbed the phone and answered, "Hello?"


    Hearing a male voice, Elisa was startled, and Caspian was even more shocked. ''Isn''t that Dad''s voice?''


    ''What were they doing together sote at night? What was going on?!'' the children thought.


    "Are you a man?" Elisa was truly stunned.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" ric replied, his patience wearing thin.


    "My mom''s with a man at this hour? What''s your name? What''s your rtionship with my mom? Why are you answering her phone? What have you done to her?"


    ''This little girl has some guts,'' ric thought, but somehow, he found her feistiness kind of adorable.

 Chapter 28 I Will Protect My Mom!

    A self-mocking smile drew across ric''s face at Elisa''s words. Without another word to her, he reached for his phone with the intent to call Gtea, but Elisa promptly snatched it out of his hand.


    "What do you think you''re doing?" he questioned.


    "I''m obviously calling your mom toe get you," he responded matter-of-factly.


    Elisa scoffed at him. "Mom''s not in Arizona today. You''re not going to reach her. Besides, I''m here to deal with something between the two of us, do not involve her."


    ric raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her determination, and slid the phone back into his pocket.


    "Alright, let''s chat. What do you want to talk about?" ric asked, settling into the sofa and looking at her.


    "I just came to ask if you truly love my mom and when you''re nning to marry her."


    A silence fell over ric.


    "You''re in a hurry to get your mom hitched?" ric asked.


    "It''s not like that. I must consider who''s asking. My mom''s got a lot of admirers. She can''t just marry any guy. At the very least, I need to vet them for her," Elisa said.


    Her tone was surprisingly mature, and ric couldn''t help but chuckle as he teased, "Oh? So, there''s quite a lineup for your mom?"


    "Absolutely!" Elisa said with pride. "I mean,e on. It''s obvious. If you''re not blind, how could anyone not see that my mom is stunning?"


    "And she''s superpetent professionally. She entered the U.S. Medical Research Institute ranking first in both the written and oral exams. She was even up for a promotion before she decided toe back. If she hadn''t, she would''ve been the youngest leader at the institute!


    "Is that right? That''s impressive," Elisa boasted.


    "Of course! So, not just any guy is good enough for my mom. You seem okay, you''re quite handsome, in good shape, and you''ve got some money. You just might be good enough for her." Once again, ric was silent.


    ''Did this little girl really know who he was?''


    "You still haven''t answered my question. When do you n to marry my mom?" she repeated.


    ''Their rtionship was a sham to begin with. Marry her? Not in this lifetime.''


    "Are you saying you never intended to marry my mom?" Elisa''s frustration grew seeing ric''s silence. "You''ve been with her, and now you won''t marry her. That''s just ying dirty!"


    ''Did this kid even know what she was using him of?''


    "Ugh, you jerk!" she snapped.


    ''Jerk? No one had ever called me that before,'' he thought.


    "Kid, I''ve heard enough of your talk. Stop causing a scene," ric said firmly, picking her up and stepping out of his office. "Who did youe with? Go on home now!"


    "Don''t you carry me. I can walk myself!" Elisa wriggled out of his arms and hopped down. Afternding, she faced ric and said, "My mom is the best woman in the world. If you don''t marry her, you''re the one losing out. And if you have no ns of marrying her, stay away from her. If you dare to hurt her, I''ll punch you!"


    Elisa turned and walked away, leaving ric feeling helpless. No one had ever dared to threaten him, and yet today, a kid had done just that. It was quite upsetting.


    However, he found her tenacity surprisingly charming.


    Caspian had been hiding outside thepany, in a spot where the surveince cameras couldn''t detect him, waiting for Elisa. Seeing her emerge from the building, he quickly pulled her aside to a safe ce. "How did the talk go?" "Not good. After talking to him, I realized he''s nothing but a jerk!"


    ''What? Calling his father a jerk? How could this be?''


    "From what he said, he never even considered marrying mom. Isn''t that the definition of a jerk?" Elisa eximed, frustrated.


    ''His dad had no intention of marrying Gtea?! Was all their effort in vain?'' No, the n must continue. We can''t just get them together. We must make sure that they develop real feelings for each other!'' Caspian was resolute to push further. The following day, Gtea went to find Aminta Thorn, who worked at the hospital. She was scheduled to see patients that day, so Gtea had no trouble locating her.


    "We''re on lunch break right now. You''ll need to wait until the afternoon for appointments unless it''s an emergency," Aminta called out upon hearing someone enter.


    "Dr. Thorn, do you remember me?" Although Aminta had seen numerous expectant mothers, Gtea hoped she would be memorable. "My name''s Sten. Does that ring a bell?" "Sten?" Aminta replied, "I remember, and quite vividly at that."


    At that time, the mother''s death had been dered, and the records remained the same.


    "Do you remember me? That''s wonderful. I''vee to ask you where my first child is, the one I gave birth to back then. Do you know?" asked Gtea.


    "The child was taken by Mrs. Marigold," the doctor disclosed.


    ''What? Taken by Mrs. Marigold? How could she, out of the goodness of her heart, want the child?'' Gtea thought in disbelief.


    "And then? Do you know where she took the child?" Gtea pressed further.


    "I''m not sure about that. I just remember Mrs. Marigold seemed reluctant to take the child at first, then something changed, and she left with the baby," the doctor recalled, shrugging slightly.


    ''Changed? What could have happened?'' Gtea wondered, "Do you happen to know where Mrs. Marigold is now?"


    Gtea, although Mrs. Marigold was her mother-inw, knew virtually nothing about her or her family''s background. Mrs. Marigold was tight-lipped, and Mia even suspected that the name ''Mrs. Marigold could be an alias. "How would I know that?" Aminta replied, her eyebrows raised in confusion.


    "Is there anything else you can tell me?" Gtea prodded hopefully.


    "Miss Gtea, I''m just a doctor. How could I possibly know such things?" Aminta said with a hint of weariness.


    "I''m sorry to bother you today, Aminta. Thank you so much for telling me what you know," Gtea apologized and nodded her gratitude.


    Despite everything, the visit was not in vain-she at least learned that her child was taken by Mrs. Marigold.


    Stepping out of the hospital, Gtea sought out a professional sketch artist and described Mrs. Marigold''s appearance to him. He obliged and drew a portrait for her.


    Staring at the sketch on her desk, Gtea Hartley felt satisfied. The resemnce to Mrs. Marigold was uncanny as if the woman herself was trapped within the pencil lines. It was about time to track down Mrs. Marigold, but the real question was where to start her search.

 Chapter 31 He Gained a Private Physician

    Gtea''s medical malpractice case had be a public sensation, and even being one of ric''s people, Galen couldn''t protect her. He docked Gtea''s entire annual bonus, issued a hospital-wide reprimand, and offered to pay half of thepensation out of his pocket to the patient''s family.


    "I''m sorry, Galen Archer. It was my fault that the hospital got into this mess," Gtea Hartley said after she dried her tears. She refused to sumb to despair, seeking out Galen Archer in the hospital instead.


    Galen''s face was etched with concern. Ever since Gtea had arrived at the hospital, it seemed like they had been in a never-ending chaos.


    "You must be aware of the hospital''s decision regarding the sanctions. I understand that you acted out of professional duty, but the hospital has its regtions," he said solemnly.


    "I know, and I''m ready to face any consequences. I will find a way to repay the settlement to the hospital as soon as possible."


    Eventually, it was decided that thepensation would be a staggering million dors. If Gtea was to shoulder half of it, that meant five hundred thousand dors-an overwhelming debt for her, but she had no choice but to ept the burden.


    "The settlement has already been fully paid by Mr. Knight."


    ''ric? Was he always this generous?''


    "With everything that''s happened, I''m sure you''re distressed. Take a few days off. Once you''ve settled down, you cane back to work."


    "Okay, thank you, Galen."


    Gtea Hartley left the hospital with a sunken heart, baffled by ric''s unexpected kindness in handling the settlement.


    However, she had her doubts about his goodwill and decided to seek rity. Leaving the hospital, she went straight to hispany.


    Upon arrival, she was informed that he was busy with important clients, leaving her no choice but to wait in the reception room the entire morning.


    Finally, running out of patience, she nned to step out and inquire with his assistant, Ss Moon. Just as she reached the office door, without having the chance to speak, it suddenly swung open.


    ric was the first to walk out with the so-called important clients. Spotting him, Ss greeted him deferentially, "Mr. Knight, Mr. Cassius."


    The name ''Ss Moon'' drew the attention of others in the room, and suddenly all eyes were on Gtea. She found herself in an awkward position.


    "Mr. Knight, is this lovelydy also with yourpany?" asked Mr. Cassius with curiosity. The women at Nexus Innovations were always in business attire, and Gtea was visibly not. ric replied with ease, "No, she''s my fianc¨¦e, Gtea."


    "The future Mrs. Knight indeed possesses a unique grace and beauty,"plimented Mr. Cassius.


    Gtea offered a modest, thankful smile. "You''re too generous, Mr. Cassius."


    "Well, now that Mr. Knight''s charming partner has graced us with her presence, I''ll take my leave," Mr. Cassius said diplomatically.


    Ss, knowing his cue, promptly guided Mr. Cassius out. Once they were gone, ric turned to Gtea, who diverted her eyes and spoke, "I hope my sudden visit hasn''t interrupted your work." ric let out a scoff, his toneced with his usual sarcasm, "What happened to the feisty woman I encountered just the other day?"


    Having spoken his bit, ric turned and retreated into his office. Gtea, trailing behind him, cursed ric under her breath.


    If it weren''t for the fifty thousand that he had loaned her, she wouldn''t be humbling herself this way!


    "Did you tell Galen that you''ve already taken care of thepensation for me?" she blurted out before he could say anything else and quickly added, "Don''t worry, I''ll repay you." ric remained silent, just leaning against the window, casually sipping his coffee while observing her.


    Frustrated, Gtea had no choice but to approach his desk and, using his pen, wrote an IOU on a sticky note.


    "I hereby borrow $50,000 from Mr. ric with the promise to repay the full amount with interest. Borrower, Gtea."


    ric read the note and then looked up at her, "No mention of a deadline?"


    ''A deadline? Back when she was Sten''s, fifty grand was just pocket change to her, but now, with her modest sry and two kids plus Mia to support, it''s a whole different ballgame.'' "Can we agree on a three-year payback period?" Gtea offered reluctantly, barely believing her own words.


    "What if you can''t pay it back in three years?"


    Feeling trapped and all too familiar with the shame of debt, Gtea retorted, "Then what are you suggesting?"


    No sooner had the words left her mouth than ric tore the promissory note in half, prompting the startled Gtea to ask, "What are you doing?"


    "You don''t have to pay me back," he said.


    ''What? Don''t pay it back?''


    Gtea took a wary step backward, hastily asserting, "What are you up to? Remember, we''re just pretending to be a couple!" ric couldn''t help butugh, though there was a hint of mockery in his mirth. "Do you really think I''m interested in your body?" "So, what do you want, exactly?" she questioned.


    ric moved away from the window and settled onto the couch. He spoke slowly, "Not many know about my health. I''ve reviewed your resume. Your medical skills are more thanpetent. You can continue your work at Serenity Heights Medical Center, or you can quit. Whatever you decide, you will be my personal physician, on-call 24/7."


    "If I be your private doctor, the debt is forgiven?" she asked while doubting him.


    "Exactly."


    This seemed like a reasonable trade to Gtea, who was, after all, a doctor.


    "Agreed," Gtea replied. "But since I''ll be your personal physician, I have the right to know the full extent of your condition. What are you suffering from? You must tell me the truth."


    "I''m not sick," ric confessed. "I''m an ex-soldier. I was severely wounded in an anti-terrorism mission. Surviving was a miracle, ording to the doctors. However, what the world doesn''t know is that I''m left with severe side effects. When I have an episode, it''s like what you saw the other time."


    The realization that he''d been seriously injured during a military missionmanded Gtea''s respect. It meant he had nearly made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Truly, the valor of soldiers was immense.


    "How often do the episodes ur?" she inquired.


    "They used to be pretty frequent when it all started, and I was constantly on medication. But it has improved a lot in the past couple of years," ric responded.


    "Can I take a look at your previous medical records?"


    "Sure," ric replied, "I''ll have Ss Moon send them over to you."


    As ric reached for his coffee again, Gtea quickly intervened, advising, "Someone with a psychiatric condition would do well to avoid coffee."


    "Psychiatric condition?" ric was irked.


    "The aftereffects on you aren''t just physical. They''ve had a significant impact on your mental state as well," Gtea exined, pouring out his coffee. "Since you''ve hired me as your private physician, it''s my duty to take care of your health. Starting today, no coffee for you. I''ll create a n to manage your health."

 Chapter 34 The Man She Once Loved Deeply

    ric looked at the thick stack of documents with disbelief. Gtea exined,


    "Your condition is serious. You must adhere strictly to the regimen I''ve outlined. It''s a long process and requires ongoing, strict self-discipline. If the patient doesn''t cooperate, not even God can save them!" "I''m not just trying to scare you!" Seeing ric''s nonchnt attitude, Gtea reminded him again, "Yourst episode almost killed you, and your delusional disorder has reached a very severe stage." "I''ll say it again, I do not have a delusional disorder!" Every time Gtea mentioned it, ric got angry.


    "No one with a mental illness ever admits to having one," she rebutted.


    ric fell silent.


    "Don''t worry, though. I have strict professional ethics. I assure you that your reputation is safe with me. It''s just a delusion, treating someone else''s child as your own. It''s not yet a danger to society, something you can easily conceal," she reassured with a hint of sarcasm.


    ric was at a loss for words.


    "How''s your sleep been?" inquired Gtea.


    "Not good." ric had to admit the truth. Perhaps because he had beenatose for three years, he''d been gued by insomnia ever since. Add to that Caspian''s illness, and a good night''s sleep had be a luxury.


    "If you want to see an improvement in your health, better sleep is a top priority." Gtea swelled with pride as she continued, "You''re lucky to have me as your personal physician. I''ve got quite the knack for treating insomnia. Just two sessions a week, and you''ll notice a significant improvement."


    She was confident in her skills, regardless of the severity of the sleeplessness.


    "If I remember correctly, you''re a surgeon. Treating insomnia seems more like an internist''s job."


    "You''re right. Internal medicine is not my forte, but I''ve got practical experience with insomnia." Gtea couldn''t help but delve into her story. "Ambrose suffered so badly from insomnia that he could hardly sleep once a day. After my physical therapy, he began to improve within a week and significantly so within a month. He called me a once-in-a-century miracle worker."


    Gtea was bubbly as she shared this but then abruptly stopped.


    ''What was she saying? How could she mention him so thoughtlessly?''


    Noticing Gtea''s expression change, ric casually asked, "Ambrose, was he yourte husband?"


    ''Late husband. That''s the lie she told ric, but it wasn''t true. Ambrose Vale, her fianc¨¦, the man she had loved with all her might. The same man who pushed her into hopelessness, back into hell. ''She could still vividly remember how happy she was on their engagement day, thinking she''d live in bliss every day henceforth. But the tragedy struck too fast, catching her off guard. ''Terrified, she called him immediately. There was no answering from his end. His house was empty when she checked.


    ''She was left alone, weeping over her father''s corpse all night. Alone, she dealt with her father''s affairs. Alone, she crouched in a dark room, listening to the relentless pounding of creditors at the door. ''That was the darkest time of her life when she needed him the most, and he vanished without a word, without any warning. Ambrose Vale, I gave you my whole heart. Why be so heartless?''


    As a tissue was offered to her, she snapped back to reality. Unaware, tears had once again streaked down her cheeks.


    "Thanks," Gtea said, hastily taking the tissue and lowering her head to dab her tears, "I''m sorry, that was my fault just now."


    It was the second time that ric had seen Gtea cry. Just moments ago, he had clearly seen her face shift from pride to sudden despondence and then to an overwhelming sorrow that she could not contain. ''Subconscious reactions don''t lie. She must have truly loved herte husband,'' he thought.


    "I apologize. Let''s continue with your situation," Gtea said, trying to regain herposure. "I can''t promise a cure, but it''ll definitely help. However, I need your cooperation."


    "Sure," ric agreed, finding no reason to doubt her assurance in treating his insomnia.


    "How about we schedule you for physical therapy sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, would that work?"


    "Sure."


    As the conversation ended, ric''s rm went off an rm he had set specifically for Caspian.


    Every Friday at 4:45 PM, because Caspian attended a boarding school during the week, ric would set this rm to remind himself to pick his son up, fearing he might forget amidst his busy schedules. "Come with me."


    "Where are we going?" she asked..


    "To pick up my son."


    "Why should I apany you to pick up your son?" she asked in confusion.


    "Don''t you like my son? You couldn''t wait to y mom to him, even going so far as to falsely use me of having delusions?"


    Gtea was silent.


    "I won''t argue with you. I''ll go with you now to pick up your son. If you don''t believe what I say, let your son tell you himself!" With that, she grabbed her purse and stormed out of his office ahead of him. ric snorted coldly in disbelief. ''So, she was stubborn even when she was about to be confronted?'' Well then, he thought, let Caspian do the talking.

 Chapter 38 Jacket Off, Time To Hit The Sack

    "That''s totally off the table!" To Harry''s surprise, Caspian shot down the idea firmly.


    "Why not?" Harry asked, puzzled. "Don''t you want to shake off Orion?"


    "As much as I can''t stand her, I can''t resort to lying. Besides, our families have been close for ages. If this blows up, it''d be a real mess. I can''t let that happen."


    Harry heaved a resigned sigh after hearing Caspian out. "Alright, you''ve got a lot on the te, so I won''t rock the boat."


    "We need to cook up something else," Caspian instructed. "We''ve got to get those two hitched pronto, or we''re toast when grandma gets back, and they''re still not married." "Why does everyone make her out to be the boogeyman?" Harry asked curiously.


    "You''d better brace yourself because if you''re not ready, she''s going to knock your socks off."


    The one person Caspian feared the most was Mrs. Carrington. Even though she was his grandma, she never took to him, always bearing her fangs.


    What''s even worse, she was his father''s mother, and even he held her in high regard.


    "Does anyone in your family y with a full deck?" Harry couldn''t help but give a snarky remark. "I''m second-guessing letting my mom marry into your n. Isn''t it like hopping from the frying pan into the fire?" Both Caspian and his dad seemed to be off their rockers, his mom was a piece of work, and his grandparents were total fakes. Not to mention, his grandma doesn''t even like him.


    "My mom''s the only one I want, and she has to marry my dad!"


    "That''s easier said than done."


    After hanging up, Harry was so frustrated he muttered to himself, "Caspian, the day I bump into you, you''re getting a piece of my mind first thing!" Harry knew he couldn''t stay put. He had to leave.


    Caspian''s maternal grandparents sided with Orion, and Harry couldn''t risk sticking around to have his mind warped by their influences.


    But his mom and ric were still in the early stages of their rtionship. He couldn''t meddle or ask ric to pick him up, which left him with just one option.


    "Cormac, I need a rescue!"


    Harry reached out to Cormac over the phone, his voiceced with desperation.


    Cormac paused in contemtion; the line had gone silent. It had been ages since he''dst set foot on the Nash family grounds.


    But there he was, steeling himself to answer Caspian''s seldom-heard call for help.


    "The prodigal son, Cormac, is back!" and the Nash family staff buzzed with excitement as they hurried to inform everyone.


    Griffon made his way down the stairs, his robe billowing around him, his gazending on Cormac standing in the main hall, his patience already running low. "Finally remembered your way back, huh?" he uttered, the irritation in his voice barely concealed.


    "Don''t be too harsh. He''se back after all," Mrs. Ravenna quickly interjected.


    "Mom, I heard Caspian''s here," Cormac addressed Mrs. Ravenna. "The kid tends to be restless at night, and I wouldn''t want him disturbing you or Dad, so I''vee to take him."


    "I thought you''de to your senses and were ready to make amends with us. Seems I was being overly sentimental," Griffon retorted with a touch of sarcasm when he heard it was about Caspian.


    Harry was stealthily listening from his room. His eye pressed against the thin gap in the door. The friction between his uncle and grandfather hung thick in the air, their words equipped with sharpness.


    "I don''t think I was wrong about the past. If you still believe the fault is mine, then there''s nothing left to say," Cormac dered before yelling upstairs, "Caspian! Let''s get out of here!"


    "Coming, Cormac!" Harry shouted in response, dashing out of the room.


    Griffon spun around, bitternesscing his words, "If this isn''t your home in your heart, then don''t bothering back!"


    "Griffon, please, softer," came a gentle plea.


    "Shut up and go to bed!" Griffon snapped at Mrs. Ravenna.


    "Mom, you better get some sleep. I''lle to visit when I can," Cormac said and then, without hesitation, scooped Harry into his arms and carried him out to the car.


    After Cormac and Harry had left, Griffon''s face was a stormy picture of dread, muttering angrily to himself, "I''ve truly underestimated Caspian!"


    "Thanks, Cormac," Harry said gratefully once they were away, "You''re the real MVP!"


    Cormac shed a wry smile, then asked in disbelief, "What''s going on with you? Not going to your dad, buting to me instead? I''m quite ttered, honestly."


    "I guess I just like you more. You''re the first person I think of when I''m in a jam."


    That truly made Cormacugh. "All right then."


    Harry grinned, then, driven by curiosity, leaned in closer and asked, "Cormac, what''s the real beef between you and Grandpa? Howe you guys just can''t see eye to eye?" "That''s grown-up stuff, kid. It''s not your concern," Cormac ended the conversation there.


    "Fine, if Cormac doesn''t want to talk about it, I won''t ask," Harry said obediently, to which Cormac responded with a fond smile, thinking how much more endearing the kid had be over time.


    Come Wednesday, Dr. Gtea will finish her hospital shift and head over to Nexus Innovations. Today marked the first time she provided physical therapy to ric.


    "Dr. Gtea, Mr. Knight is in a meeting. He asked you to wait in the lounge," she was informed.


    "Thank you, Ss," Gtea replied politely to Ss Moon, who made her a coffee before leaving the lounge.


    Looking around, Gtea assessed the room. So, this was ric''spany lounge? The d¨¦cor was the same style as the Knight family vi, characterized by its cool tones and sleek sophistication.


    The most striking thing in the room was a framed photograph of him in military uniform on the bookshelf.


    ''ric''s handsome in his own right, but in that uniform, he looks even more dashing and resolute a truly maic presence.'' A Colonel? Had he not been medically discharged, he''d probably be a General by now,'' she mused. After ncing at the photo, Gtea picked a book from the shelf and prepared for a long wait based on herst visit.


    ric walked into the lounge to find Gtea engrossed in her book, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, her features peaceful and rxing.


    Hearing ric arrive, Gtea put down her book and stood up. "If you''re all done, we can get started."


    "Sure," ric responded promptly.


    "Take off your shirt and lie down on the bed."


    These instructions were familiar. ric had resistedst time, but this time, heplied. He removed his shirt and got onto the bed. Just as Gtea approached, the door suddenly burst open. "Why aren''t you at your desk, kid? What are you up to here"


    Cormac barged in mid-sentence, only to catch the scene unfolding, quickly covering his eyes and blurting out, "Sorry, bad timing," before hastily shutting the door.

 Chapter 41 Waiting for Your Wedding Day

    "It''s noble of you to be so considerate," ric replied, picking up his coffee mug and taking a slow sip.


    "How could I not think about it? You''ve already had a brush with death. As a brother who''s grown up with you, it''s my concern," Cormac said, his forehead creased with a slight frown.


    "They''re responsible for your injuries and discharge from active duty. You harbor resentment towards them, and they reciprocate the animosity. After thatst showdown, their leader vanished and now lingers like a ticking time bomb." "I''m aware," ric responded.


    "Why be so conspicuous then? You could have kept a low profile after switching from military service to business. But no... you just had to be a household name, almost as if you''re taunting them," said Cormac. ric couldn''t help but smile faintly at Cormac''s gripes. He was genuinely touched by Cormac''s concern.


    "Don''t worry. The person who can kill me hasn''t been born yet!" ric took another sip of his coffee, his eyes sharpening. "Actually, I''m looking forward to them showing up. You know, as a soldier, notpleting your mission is a huge regret." It was an unresolved issue for ric that the leader of that organization went missing. He would be more than happy to personally take care of him within his lifetime.


    "All right, maybe I''m just being paranoid," Cormac sighed after expressing his doubt, and added, "It''s been nearly a decade, for all we know, those guys never showed up again, perhaps they might be long gone. Let''s not worry about them for now. But tell me, do you really like Gtea?"


    "Noment," ric responded swiftly.


    "I''m a doctor, and I''ve known you since we were kids. You chose her over me to be your private physician. That says a lot. I feel bad for my sister, you know. Gtea''s got two kids to look after. How is she better than my sister?" "She''s prettier than your sister."


    "Is that all it is?" Cormac was incredulous and shook his head,ughing. "My sister has always been loyal to you, never married, andes from a simr background."


    "She''s still prettier than your sister."


    "My sister is a famous actress adored by thousands, and she''s just a humble doctor," Cormacpared them.


    "She''s prettier than your sister."


    Unable to restrain himself, Cormac cursed, "And here I thought a well-traveled man of the world like you would have refined taste. Turns out you''re just shallow!"


    ric couldn''t help butugh. Indeed, Gtea was beautiful - undeniably the most beautiful woman he had everid eyes on. But it wasn''t just her beauty. She had other endearing qualities, no matter how subtle.


    After leaving ric, it had grown dark, and Gtea headed to the phone repair shop to fix her screen. While waiting, she decided to visit a portrait artist.


    Just likest time, she described Mrs. Marigold to the artist as he sketched.


    Yet once finished, Gtea frowned, "That doesn''t look like her at all."


    "I''ve drawn it based on your description, and this is what I got."


    No matter how Gtea looked at it, it just didn''t seem right - a regrettable oversight on her part for not taking a photograph when she had the chance. "Never mind, thank you." She paid for the work but left the portrait behind as it was of no use to her.


    After Gtea left, the stalker made a deliberate phone call, "Griffon, everything has been executed as you instructed."


    Once off the call, Griffon''s lips curled into a sly smirk as he looked at a photograph.


    Though the image was a bit blurry, it clearly showed Gtea pressed against ric''s chest in an intimate embrace.


    The sight of the photo filled Griffon''s eyes with ire. Taking a lighter, he set it aze and casually tossed it into the trash.


    Gtea sought out several other artists; but to no avail. The results were the same. Thest artist she visited was too far to reach on short notice, as it was near Aminta''s ce.


    When her phone was finally fixed, Gtea headed home. It waste by then; Mia, Harry and Elisa was already asleep.


    Restless and unable to sleep, Gteay in bed idly scrolling through her phone when a news headline caught her attention. "Nexus Innovations is poised to make a ssh. ric is set to invest a fortune in creating the nation''s premier entertainment hub, which will be a newndmark upon itspletion!"


    ''An entertainment hub?'' she mused. ''That man is truly in the spotlight.''


    As she pondered, her bedroom door creaked open. Gtea looked up and quickly sat up, "Harry, why are you up sote?"


    "I woke up and went to the bathroom," Caspian replied as he walked over and sat by her bed. "Mom, Elisa told me you had a date with ric tonight. Is that true?"


    "No," Gtea rified, "I''m his personal physician currently treating his insomnia. It''s not what you''re thinking."


    Caspian had been quite pleased when he heard from Elisa about the supposed date.


    Seeing his disappointed face, Gtea managed a bitter smile and said, "Do you really want me to get married?"


    "I just think it would be good for you to marry ric," Caspian blurted out. Then, immediately realizing his indiscretion, he quickly added, "I mean, with his background as a former soldier and a CEO, he seems like a good match."


    She couldn''t help but muse on the influence ric had on the kids, having them champion his cause.


    "Kids shouldn''t worry about adult matters," Gtea said as she scooped Caspian up, carrying him out of the room. "Marrying without love is a tragedy. When love is right, marriage wille naturally."


    Having settled him back in his room and tucked him into bed, she tried to leave, but Caspian asked anxiously, "So, is there a chance for you and him? Even just a little?"


    ''Is there a chance with him?''


    ''To be honest, not at all. They were worlds apart in every sense.''


    While Gtea momentarily hesitated, Caspian jumped in with, "No answer means there''s still a chance. I''ll keep an eye out for the wedding bells, Mom. Goodnight." And with that, he didn''t even give her a chance to speak. For the next month, Gtea was punctual for her twice-weekly visits to provide him with physical therapy, neverte, not even once.


    "How has it been after a month of treatment? Any significant improvement in your insomnia?" Gtea asked with a good dose of confidence.


    "Honestly, it''s been quite good."


    That was the truth. ric was able to fall asleep much faster these days.


    "Of course it is," Gtea said with a hint of pride. "I''ve spent a lot of time perfecting this treatment n for insomnia. It had to work."


    "Did you devise it specifically for Ambrose Vale?"


    After ric''s question, the room fell silent, and Gtea''s expression changed in an instant.

 Chapter 45 His Ruthless Tactics!

    The call was from Galen, who had heard about Gtea''s car ident and wanted to express his concern quickly. ric didn''t feel like answering, but he had some questions for Galen, so he picked up.


    "Was Gtea extremely busy at the hospital yesterday?" ric asked sharply, not allowing Galen a chance to speak first.


    Galen was notably anxious as he hurriedly exined, "Since that medical incident, I''ve made sure Gtea didn''t go near the operating room. Yesterday, we experienced a surge of patients from a brawl, and the ER was overwhelmed. Gtea spontaneously stepped in to help without my knowledge. It was her decision, which is why she was quite busy. It waste when she left the hospital."


    So, she had been tied up at the hospital untilte in the evening before rushing off to Nexus Innovations at his behest.


    Hearing the silence on the line, Galen, frightened to breathe, carefully continued, "Mr. Knight, I''ve arranged the best room and specialists for Gtea. If you allow her to be transferred, the hospital will provide her with the finest care." ric looked over at Gtea, lying unconscious. He had no intention of moving her. She wouldn''t want her former colleagues to see her in this state.


    "No need," ric said curtly before ending the call.


    After speaking with Galen, ric''s guilt deepened. Gtea was right. He was selfish and inconsiderate. Engulfed by thoughts of her still being unconscious, ric could barely consider confronting the driver responsible for the ident. His sole focus was on the silent form of Gtea, wishing more than anything for her to regain consciousness.


    Elsewhere, the phone rang, and the voice spoke with deliberate caution, "Don''t worry, it''ll look like a pure ident to anyone."


    Griffon remained silent, a sly smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.


    "Time for dinner. Who are you on the phone with now?" Mrs. Ravenna called out towards the living room.


    "Coming." Griffon put down his phone and headed to the dining room.


    "This is what dinner looks like tonight?" Griffon nced at the table with barely two dishes and a bowl of mashed potatoes.


    "It''s just the two of us. Simpler is better," Mrs. Ravenna said, her voiceced with sadness.


    "Who got under your skin today? You seem quite upset," Griffon inquired.


    That was the nudge Mrs. Ravenna needed to set aside her utensils and vent, "We used to be a family of four. Now it''s just us, so quiet and empty. You say Orion had to join the troupe, fine. But Cormac rarely returns from abroad, and when he does, you deliberately stop him froming home?"


    "Is it me stopping him? He clearly doesn''t want toe," Griffon retorted, visibly upset. "If he doesn''t want to be here, then let him stay away. Better yet, let him nevere back!"


    "Why can''t you two just talk things out? Do you bear no responsibility for this rift?" she argued.


    "He''s the one being rebellious. How is it my fault?"


    "And why is he rebelling? Could it be because you''re too controlling? Orion may be okay with mingling in showbiz as you arranged, but Cormac is different. He wants to study medicine. He dislikes the major you chose for him and the girls you approve of. What''s wrong with him wanting his own life?"


    "I''ve poured my heart into nning his future and his marriage, and if he can''t appreciate that, fine. But what does he do? Brings home a woman with no background, just to spite me."


    "And what about your tactics to break them up? Do you think he wouldn''t be heartbroken? Isn''t that why he stayed away for years?" Mrs. Ravenna grew increasingly upset. "And then there''s the issue with Orion, promised to the Knight family in an arranged marriage from the moment she was born. See the mess that turned into?"


    "You want to settle scores with me? Fine, get it all out. Don''t keep it bottled up and then me your illness on me," Griffon said defiantly, pushing his knife and fork aside, losing interest in his meal.


    "I''m just stating facts here. You''ve been telling Orion since she was little that when she grew up, she could marry ric, deeply ingraining that idea in her mind. And what happened? Isn''t Orion the one who ends up hurting? And don''t get me started on Caspian''s situation. It''s utterly ludicrous."


    Mrs. Ravenna had kept silent about Caspian''s issue over the years, and now, as she spoke, her voice was noticeably softer.


    "The whole Caspian debacle was orchestrated by Mrs. Carrington herself. You can''t me the Nash family for that," Griffon asserted with conviction. "She was the one desperate to secure a legacy for the Knight family, choosing a disloyal woman to bear ric''s child, and when it backfired, who else is there to me?"


    "If you ask me, a bastard like Caspian should''ve never been kept around. But she insisted, even consulted a fortune teller, iming that Caspian was the Knight family''s lucky star, promising he would ensure ric''s safety and the family''s prosperity. How can that not be nonsense?"


    "She wanted to keep Caspian, and then there was Orion, who wanted to marry ric. It was Mrs. Carrington''s idea to publicly dere Caspian as the child of ric and Orion. In hindsight, it truly did a disservice to Orion."


    Mrs. Ravenna''s expression grew pained as she slowly said, "The news of ric''s critical injury anda was certainly a blow to Mrs. Carrington. I can understand her desperation to secure an heir for the Knight family. At first, she approached me, wanting Orion to bear ric''s child.


    "I felt for ric, but Orion is my flesh and blood. What if she had a child for the Knight family and ric never woke up? That''s why I tactfully declined, thinking Mrs. Carrington would let the idea go."


    "Mrs. Carrington was thorough, finding a woman to secretly bear ric''s child without a hint of scandal. The identity of that woman remained a mystery until herst breath," Griffon replied.


    "But there''s something that doesn''t add up for me," Mrs. Ravenna continued. "A woman as meticulous and powerful as Mrs. Carrington, who handled the pregnancy arrangements herself, how could it have gone so wrong in the end? What kind of woman would dare betray Mrs. Carrington? The woman who died in childbirth was just as pitiful, with no answers given in death."


    "It was that wretched liar who deserved to die, you understand?" Griffon insisted. His fierce and sharp gaze suddenly met hers, instilling fear.


    "I don''t care what you think about this situation, but the fact remains, and it must never be discussed again. Regardless of what happens, Caspian will only ever be the son of ric and Orion. Watch your mouth. If you slip up in front of ric or Caspian, you won''t be able to handle the consequences."


    Mrs. Ravenna knew the severity of the matter. She could do nothing but guard the secret closely.


    "I''m just saying, if I can''t talk to you, who can I talk to?" Mrs. Ravenna said, "Let''s just never bring this up again, okay? Talking about ric and Orion''s issues, years of patching things up did no good, so let''s drop it. If ric wants to be with Gtea, let him be, and don''t interfere with them like you did with Cormac''s girlfriend back in the day."


    "Can we just eat and not talk?" Griffon snapped, tossing his silverware aside, "I''m done!" With that, Griffon stormed upstairs, leaving Mrs. Ravenna on the verge of a breakdown.

 Chapter 48 I Wont Let Anyone Bully My Fianc茅e

    ric had previously shrugged off the nderous online chatter with a firm belief in the court of public opinion that often required little from his part to set the record straight. However, seeing Gtea in anguish, receiving treatment, and being targeted anew by hurtful words, he couldn''t just stand by this time. Cormac, efficient as always, ensured that the trending news about Gtea was dealt with in less than half a day with a newer headline. "Dramatic Turn in Serenity Heights Medical Center Doctor Incident-Hospital Director and Several Colleagues Reveal the Previous Reality of the Situation."


    ric had called Galen exactly for this, and Galen, along with colleagues at Serenity Heights Medical Center, spoke out in Gtea''s defense. The sequence of events leading up to and including the day of surgery was revealed,plete with footage from the ward and operating room and with Andreas''s detailed medical records included.


    Onement read.


    [The situation has finally taken a turn for the better. All these video recordings and medical records must be convincing enough, right? I always thought the deceased''s son was a no-good ruffian and, sure enough, that''s the case!] Anothermenter said.


    [Turns out the female doctor is really a good one-prioritizing saving lives above all else and even footing the bill for $500,000 out of her own pocket. After enduring such a long time of cyberbullying, she truly is worthy of sympathy.] A sentiment echoed among the newestments.


    [Hope she recovers soon.]


    ric merely skimmed through a fewments. Whether these were genuine sentiments from the public or orchestrated by Ss Moon didn''t matter anymore. At least the hostility and curses were gone.


    This time, Gtea truly managed to sleep peacefully through the night, the severe pain that initially overwhelmed her upon awakening had finally subsided enough to afford her a proper rest.


    When she awoke again, while not feeling entirely better, the difort had lessened significantly.


    Just as Gtea was about to say something to ric, he quickly interjected, "You should save your strength and speak less for now. ording to the doctor, you still can''t consume food for the next forty-eight hours after waking up. If you''re feeling hungry, I''m afraid you''ll just have to bear with it."


    Indeed, she felt a gnawing hunger, yet at the same time, she waspletely devoid of appetite.


    "Are you still feeling any difort?" ric inquired once more.


    Gtea just shook her head.


    Her lips were still severely chapped, prompting ric to quickly dab them with a water-soaked cotton swab. Gtea seemed resistant when he moved to tend to her lips.


    "Just hold still. I''ll be done in a second."


    Gtea couldn''t really move much anyway, so she let him care for her lips.


    Having known ric for a while, she was used to his typicallymanding presence. His sudden gentleness was something she couldn''t quite adjust to.


    ''Had he been here the whole time these past few days?''


    "You''ve been feverish and sweating from pain. You must be ufortable. I''ve arranged for a nurse to help you clean up, all right?" ric suggested.


    Gtea was in a dismal state, and she felt quite embarrassed to be seen like this by him. Yet, immobilized and having sweated through moments of difort, she really couldn''t argue - she certainly wasn''t feeling great.


    Before Gtea could respond, ric instructed the nurse. Seeing that Gtea''s condition seemed stable, he advised, "Be gentle when you clean her. Make sure not to hurt her. I have to step out, and I probably won''t be back until this evening." "Of course, Mr. Knight."


    After leaving his instructions, ric departed from the hospital to meet with Orion. The film set where Orion was working was nearby in Arizona, just a half-day''s drive there and back.


    In ric''s absence, the nurse took extra care in giving Gtea a sponge bath. Afterward, she felt significantly morefortable.


    "Miss Gtea, Mr. Knight said he had to attend to something and would be backter in the evening. Let me know if you need anything in the meantime," the nurse mentioned. ''ric''s gone?''


    "Okay," Gtea replied slowly.


    "Miss Gtea, I observed everything while you were unconscious. Mr. Knight was quite concerned. He stayed by your bedside the entire time without taking a single step away," the nurse remarked. Gtea was surprised to hear that ric had been by her bedside this whole time.


    When ric reached the film set, Orion was in the middle of shooting a scene. Orion was pleasantly surprised to see him and performed energetically.


    She ran excitedly toward ric, asking, "ric, what brings you here? You didn''t tell me you were visiting the set. Is this a surprise just for me?"


    "Quit ying dumb, Orion!" ric whipped out his phone and pulled up her Facebook page, shoving it in her face. "Did you post these?"


    Orion''s heart skipped a beat when he confronted her, especially with the rest of the crew around. She didn''t want a public scene. "Let''s talk in my dressing room," she suggested.


    Once they were alone, she feigned innocence. "ric, did youe all the way here just because of my Facebook posts?"


    "You deliberately started an online outrage with that medical malpractice incidentst time, and I let it slide. Now you''re at it again," ric fumed, an anger swirling in his eyes that was truly frightening. "So, you''re here for Gtea''s sake?"


    "She is my fianc¨¦e. How could I stand by while you persistently harass her?" he said.


    "Yes, I posted both messages. So what? She''s the onecking medical ethics, causing a patient''s death. I was simply voicing for the victims. Is there a problem?" Orion spat, defiantly.


    "You know exactly what you believe!" ric''s tone carried an implicit threat. "The issue has been rified, and as a public figure, you''ve spread misinformation. I now demand you post an immediate apology to Gtea on Facebook!" "Apologize to her?" It sounded like a joke to Orion. "Why should I?"


    "If you still want a career in show business!" ric''s threat was tangible. "Sure, your current project is financed by Nash Entertainment, but I''ve got the means to rece you as lead. And if ites to that, our Knight and Nash families will be at each other''s throats.


    "Think about it, the Knight family has investments in Nash Group. If we pull out our funds, your Nash family will struggle too. The only reason I''m offering you this chance is out of respect for your parents." "ric, are you honestly willing to ruin our families'' friendship over her? Our families have been close for generations!"


    "If I don''t see your apology on Facebook by seven tonight, not only will you hear about the Knight family pulling our investment, but you''ll also receive a defamationwsuit for ndering my fianc¨¦e!" With that, ric turned on his heel and stormed out.


    Once he was gone, Orion, furious, knocked over the makeup on her table to the floor. The assistant director walked in. "Orion, we''re set for the next scene."


    "To hell with the shoot!" Orion exploded. "Nobody''s shooting today!"


    Being the daughter of an investor, Orion''s outburst meant that not even the director could dare to object.

 Chapter 51 Caspian and Harry Finally Meet

    "What''s up, Caspian? Are you crying?" Cormac was taken aback at the sight. ''Caspian crying?''


    Harry said nothing until they were in the car, and then he directed, "Take me to the WonderJoy Mall near the hospital." "The mall?"


    But at Harry''s insistence, Cormacplied. Once at the mall, Harry said, "I need some alone time. Don''t follow me." Harry disappeared into the restroom, leaving Cormac dumbfounded.


    ''How old is this kid? Wanting alone time?''


    Once inside the restroom, Harry dialed Caspian''s number. Caspian was helping Elisa with her math homework when the call came in, and he quickly excused himself to the restroom to answer.


    "I''m in the men''s restroom on the first floor of WonderJoy Mall. Come here now. I need to see you!" This time, Harry spoke before Caspian could get a word in.


    "See me?" Caspian''s anxiety rose at Harry''s tone. "Is something wrong? Why the sudden urgency to meet?"


    "You''ll find out when you get here. Juste alone. I came here with Cormac, and I don''t want him to see you." Harry hung up after his instructions.


    Caspian ended the call, perplexed by Harry''s urgency. Something must have happened.


    "Elisa, a buddy asked me to y some basketball," Caspian lied. "Work on the problems yourself. I''ll be back soon."


    "Who''s asking you to y basketball at this hour?" Elisa asked, her confusion apparent.


    "Just a friend."


    "You''re going out thiste?" Mia, overhearing the conversation, came out worried.


    "Mia, don''t worry, I''m just going next door," Caspian reassured her as he made a quick exit. "You stay here and take care of Elisa. I''ll be right back."


    Elisa shook her head with exasperation, "Harry always has a habit of wandering off on his own. Mia, you don''t need to bother about him. He''s sneaked out plenty of times before, and he''s proven that he won''t get lost."


    After Caspian left the neighborhood, he hailed a cab and headed straight to WonderJoy Mall. He had been constantly on the phone with Harry, switching identities, although the two had never actually met. The prospect of meeting his doppelganger face-to-face felt bizarrely surreal.


    Indeed, the moment Harry appeared before him, Caspian was struck by the illusion of looking into a mirror. They weren''t just identical in face, but it seemed even their builds matched. No wonder the adults got them mixed up. "Take off your shirt," Harry spoke up first, "it''s time we switched back."


    "Switchback?" Caspian was startled by the suggestion, "Why all of a sudden?"


    "It turns out we don''t need to anymore. Our goal was to bring our mom and your dad together, but that''s off the table now, so we need to switch back," Harry exined, barely masking his frustration.


    "Howe?" Caspian queried with a puzzled look.


    "Why don''t you go home and ask your dad?" Harry''s mood was visibly souring. "We thought they were dating. They seemed so close. But it was all a sham, and your dad doesn''t even think highly of her. So, what''s the point?" As Harry spoke, his irritation grew. He pulled off his jacket and vented, "My mom is incredible, she has plenty of suitors, she''s not desperate. Why should she marry your dad, especially when there''s not one sane person in your family?" "You and your dad are crazy. Your granddad never stops badmouthing my mom. And that Cormac of yours who looks all right on the surface also called her bad luck. And your grandmother, whom I''ve never met, is surely no angel. Why should my mom marry into your family and suffer? I''ll protect my mom myself. Tell your dad to stay away from her once you get back!"


    With that, Harry finished undressing and thrust the clothes into Caspian''s hands,manding, "Hurry up and strip. We''re switching back now!" Shocked, Caspian, who was usually in control of their interactions, suddenly felt at a loss, "What exactly happened? How did my dad hurt mom?" "My mom had a car ident and almost died, and it was your dad''s fault. Is that clear enough for you?" Harry barked.


    "A car ident?!" Caspian gasped in shock, "But how? Didn''t Dad say he was going on a trip?"


    "No kidding, you want the truth?" When Caspian didn''t undress, Harry took matters into his own hands, stripping off Caspian''s jacket and putting it on himself. "Let''s pretend nothing ever happened. Just stop looking for us, okay? Goodbye, Caspian."


    Annoyed, Harry bolted through the back door, leaving Caspian unable to catch up. Stunned, Caspian stood there, staring at his reflection in the mirror. It took him several seconds to realize that, somehow, he had switched from being Harry back to Caspian.


    Now wasn''t the time to think about that. The thought of Gtea being in an ident sent Caspian rushing out, and sure enough, he spotted Cormac not too far from the restroom entrance.


    "So, you''ve finally cooled down, Caspian?" Cormac asked anxiously as he approached.


    "My mom was in an ident?" Caspian asked, his concern palpable.


    Cormac was baffled by the question. Hadn''t Caspian just visited the hospital to see her? Why was he asking this now?


    "Which hospital? Hurry up and take me there!" Caspian felt his heart racing, desperate to see his mother and find out how she was doing.


    "No, Caspian, what''s going on? Memory issues again?" Cormac was confused. "Didn''t you juste from the hospital? As a doctor, I can tell you she needs rest. It''s not good for her recovery to have visitors all the time." ''Did Harry visit her at the hospital? That''s why I can''t go?''


    "Did my dad have something to do with my mom''s ident?"


    "What? Why would you think your dad had anything to do with it?"


    Without a word, Caspian turned and walked away, leaving Cormac with no choice but to follow. "What''s going on?"


    Caspian remained silent.


    "Car idents are tragic, but luckily she has a chance to recover-that''s a silver lining, right? She''ll get better, the doctors said there won''t be anysting effects," Cormac tried to reassure him.


    "I''ll never see my mom again!" Caspian stopped in his tracks, his emotions ring as he yelled at Cormac, "I hate you people! All I wanted was for Gtea to be my mom. Why can''t any of you agree to that? Why do you all have to hurt her? I hate you! I hate all of you!"


    With that, Caspian turned and ran off, his steps heavy, leaving Cormac with no choice but to chase after him.

 Chapter 55 Galatea, What Are You Thinking?

    "She''s from the Medical Research Institute of America," ric answered Mrs. Carrington nonchntly. "The American Institute for Medical Science?" Mrs. Carrington was caught off guard.


    "Surely you''ve heard of it, right? It''s the pinnacle of the medicalmunity. Gtea is the youngest medical professor there. True, there are many renowned doctors both here and abroad, but each has his or her specialty. Gtea''s focus is on post-traumatic conditions. It was Cormac who specifically rmended her to me, and I spared no expense to bring her over from the American Institute for Medical Science."


    He was confident Cormac would back up his lie.


    "Really?" Skepticismced Mrs. Carrington''s voice.


    "You can check for yourself," ric replied. "I said she''s my fianc¨¦e for two reasons; to get Orion off my back and to cover up the fact that she''s treating me. If word gets out that I suffer from after-effects that are getting worse, you can imagine the consequences."


    Mrs. Carrington fell silent, giving ric the opening he needed. "With the sharks circling Nexus Innovations, if they sniff out my weakness, they''ll throw everything they''ve got to thwart my recovery; or worse. Gtea is my lifeline. Should anything happen to her, I have no one else to address theseplications - not at the moment, anyway."


    "Enough," Mrs. Carrington cut in. "I''ll take your word for it. Focus on your recovery. Getting well should be your priority."


    "Will do." A sly chuckle escaped ric, who then added, "Aren''t you nning a world tour? Have fun out there, and don''t worry about me or thepany."


    "I hope to God you''re right," she retorted. "Once you''re better, we''ll settle this matter."


    With that, Mrs. Carrington hung up, and ric breathed a sigh of relief. Putting his phone into his pocket, he started to head back toward the hospital ward; but halted mid-stride, a sudden thought seizing him.


    He pulled out his phone again and dialed another number.


    "ric, what brings you to call me today?" Griffon answered promptly.


    "When you visited Gtea in the hospital, I happened to be out, so I wanted to give you a call to say thanks," ric said.


    Griffon''s expression darkened instantly. ''Happened to be out?'' He was fuming inside, recalling Orion''s tearful voice on the phone and the public apology his precious daughter had been forced to make to Gtea on Facebook. Nevertheless, facing ric, Griffon had to contain his anger, giving a forced smile, "How''s Gtea doing now?"


    "Much better," ric replied promptly, "My mom called me just a moment ago."


    "Oh? Is Mrs. Carrington enjoying her world tour?"


    "She was until she heard about Gtea''s situation," ric spoke candidly, "Our families, the Knights and the Nashs, go way back. Your brotherhood with my father was well-known, and in my heart, you''re like a father to me.


    "I''ve sincerely exined to you why it can''t work out with Orion, and you said you understood. When I mentioned Gtea was my fianc¨¦e, you offered your blessings, which I truly appreciate. I''m not asking you to exin things to my mother for me, but at least, don''t be two-faced."


    "What do you mean by that, ric?" Griffon retorted irritably.


    "Don''t get upset, I didn''t mean anything by it," ric said calmly, "I understand you''re a busy man, not idle like my mom now that she''s retired. Maybe it''s best if you cut back on the calls to her. She can be quite temperamental, and I wouldn''t want her to bother you."


    "All right, message received. Thanks for the heads-up, ric!" With that, Griffon ended the call and angrily threw the nket beside him across the room. ''ric, are you choosing Gtea over me?''


    After the call, ric felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. Returning to the hospital room, he found Gtea gazing out the window, her eyes holding a glimmer of hope. "It''s a nice day outside. How about we get some sunshine?" he suggested.


    Hearing ric''s words, Gtea shook off her daydream and came back to reality, ''Sunshine? She''d love that. Lying in this hospital bed for so many days, she felt stiff all over.'' She was feeling much better, yet she stillcked the strength to walk on her own.


    She was about to refuse, but ric quickly said, "Just wait for me."


    Gtea had no idea what he was up to when he stepped out, but in no time, he wheeled in a wheelchair and positioned it by the bed. He then walked over to her and bent down. "What are you doing?" Gtea tensed up, realizing his intention to lift her.


    "Obviously, I''m going to assist you so you can get down," ric replied with a mischievous grin, seeing her resistance. "Didn''t the doctor tell you that I was the one who cooled you down with a coldpress when you had that fever?" ''A coldpress? Like wiping her whole body down with a damp towel or alcohol?''


    "That''s taking advantage of someone when they''re down!" Gtea used.


    "You certainly have no appreciation, do you? I saved your life, and now you''re scolding me." Ignoring her protests, ric picked her up and carefully settled her into the wheelchair, saying, "Isn''t it the creed of you doctors to see only the patient, not the gender? You were just a patient, and I was merely helping you by bringing down the fever. What else are you thinking about?"


    After cing Gtea in the wheelchair, he gently covered her legs with a nket.


    Then, he wheeled her out of the hospital room. Once they reached the courtyard, Gtea took a deep breath, looked up at the sun, and felt its warmth on her skin, as if revived.


    The moment that the car was about to hit her, she thought she was a goner. She never expected to see the sun again, to breathe fresh air. It was wonderful!''


    ric watched her, witnessing the hint of a smile on her lips, and couldn''t help but smile slightly himself.


    He sat down on a nearby bench and after a moment of silentpanionship, he started the conversation, "Since we''re here, and it''s a rare quiet moment, why don''t we have a chat?"


    At that moment, ric sincerely wanted to understand her more, the woman who said her parents were deceased, and her husband had passed away during her pregnancy. ''If that were true, what kind of torment did she go through, and what kind of experiences did she have?''


    "Sure," Gtea agreed readily.


    Small talk was something foreign to her. Back when she was Sten, she had so many friends, most of whom were just ttering her for favors.


    Sincere conversations were nonexistent. Once she became Gtea, her life was consumed with work, her child, and taking care of herself, leaving no room for friends. Having a simple chat had be a luxury she longed for.


    "What would you like to talk about?" Gtea looked at ric.


    "Let''s talk about you," said ric bluntly. "Tell me about your past, your story."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 59 Covetous Glances and Forbidden Thoughts

    Mouthing the name, ric''s gaze instinctively shifted towards Gtea. Immersed in her book, she didn''t notice his watchful eyes. ''All I know about Gtea''ste husband is that his name was Ambrose.''


    ''Ambrose? It must be a coincidence,'' ric mused, gently teasing himself, as he chuckled at his initial tension upon seeing the name.


    ric had diligently reviewed the profiles of the sixpanies, and surprisingly, Far East International did indeed seem quitepetitive. Gavin''s personal involvement as the director demonstrated a high level of sincerity. ric set the papers down and nced at the clock, realizing it was already eleven at night. He stood up, approached the bed, and gently took the book out of Gtea''s hands.


    "It''ste. Time to get some rest," ric said.


    Gtea had been deeply absorbed in her book and hadn''t paid attention to the time, it was indeed veryte.


    Before Gtea could respond, ric carefully helped her lie down and tucked her in with the nket.


    They were in a VIP hospital suite with a dedicated caregiver''s bed for ric to sleep on. Separated by a curtain, their nightly routine was to draw the curtain and settle into their respective beds-tonight was no different. Normally, Gtea would fall asleep early, but she wasn''t feeling sleepy tonight. She turned to look at the curtain, illuminated by the light. She could see his silhouette changing his shirt, the contour of his muscr chest visibly casted upon the fabric.


    Gtea kept watching, her mind drifted back to a night in the past when Ambrose had stood by the bed and taken off his shirt in a simr way.


    It had been in a hotel room where she had made the crazy decision to give herself to him for the first time.


    "Sten, are you really sure about this?" Ambrose asked nervously.


    "Yes, I''ve thought it through. Dad will agree, and the worst he can do is ground me. Let''s do this!"


    Having said that, she tightly gripped the sheets and closed her eyes, nerves kicking in for the first time. That''s when her phone suddenly rang-it was her father. "Sten, are you at the Silver Star Hotel right now? Are you with Ambrose?"


    "No, it''s just me!"


    "If I find out that punk Ambrose is there, believe me, I''ll fire him, and you''ll never see him again!" he threatened.


    "There''s really nobody here, I''m heading home now."


    That evening''s n failed, and from that night on, her father watched her like a hawk, making things difficult for Ambrose at every turn.


    To win her father''s approval, Ambrose worked diligently. In just four years, he became the vice president and dad''s right-hand man.


    Ambrose had worked so hard to earn her father''s approval.


    At that moment, the curtain was abruptly pulled open. Gtea snapped back to reality and looked at ric, who stood there in nothing but his boxers. Before she could even react, ric''s voice hovered over her. "Why are you spying on me?" ''Spying?''


    "I wasn''t¡ª" Gtea blurted out, but ric was already leaning over her, his hands propped beside her pillow and his body pressing down so close it stole her breath away.


    "Fantasizing lewd thoughts while watching me undress, are we?"


    "ric, you truly are delusional!" She identally thought of her ex-boyfriend, but if she told ric the truth, he''d probably strangle her in his anger. "Lusting after my physique?"


    "What?" Gtea couldn''t help but feel speechless. ric''s vanity knew no bounds.


    "Don''t deny it. Your body never lies."


    Gtea fell silent.


    "Mr. Knight, I''m lying here in a hospital bed, weak,"mented Gtea with genuine frustration.


    ric cracked a sly smile, "You know what''s on your mind."


    With that, he stood up and walked away, leaving her to finally breathe deeply. Only then did she notice ric had settled onto the adjacent care bed.


    "Aren''t you going to pull the curtain?"


    "We''re not sharing the same bed, so why bother? From now on, the curtains stay open." After saying this, ric closed his eyes.


    "Jerk," Gtea cursed under her breath, resentful of her helplessness to leave the bed.


    Though ric appeared to be sleeping, Gtea couldn''t rest. Opening her eyes, she caught a glimpse of him on the care bed. Usually, he would sleep after her and wake before her, so she had never seen him asleep until now. ''He seems rather peaceful,'' she mused silently, ''doesn''t even snore and falls asleep so easily. Is his insomnia real?''


    Despite the high-end VIP hospital room, it couldn''tpete with theforts of home, yet aside from her days of being unconscious, ric was sound asleep..


    It waste when Gtea finally dozed off, causing her to waketer than usual the next morning when she felt the doctor''s needle.


    "Awake?" ric inquired.


    Gtea responded lightly. After the doctor left, ric gently wiped her face and hands with a warm towel and helped her rinse her mouth before handing her breakfast. "Woke upte today," he noted. It was already 9:30 a.m.


    "A good sleep is valuable," she replied.


    Gtea''s sleep quality was something ric envied. Like that other time in the car-she was out cold.


    Before Gtea had awakened, ric reviewed the files for six corporations again. Judging by their overall strength and bids, Far East International stood a great chance of winning the contract. "Ambrose?"


    ric felt a pang of unease at the mention of the name. As Gtea was finishing her meal, he asked, "So, I only know your kids by the nicknames Harry and Elisa. What are their full names?" "Rook Storm, As Storm," Gtea replied honestly.


    "Theirst name is Storm?" ric deduced, figuring it must be from their father''s side. "So, yourte husband was Alistair Storm?"


    Alistair Storm?


    Gtea paused momentarily and then grasped ric''s line of thought, ying along.


    "Yes, his name was Alistair Storm. You''re quite smart, Mr. Knight," she said with a smile. Alistair Storm? ric couldn''t help but let a slight smile curl at the corner of his lips. Why did the name Ambrose unsettle him?

 Chapter 62 You dont want to marry me?

    Realizing ric was serious, Gtea was genuinely scared and even more furious.


    "ric, we agreed that I would only pose as your fianc¨¦e, not actually get married. How can you break your word?" Gtea asked angrily.


    Hearing her usation, displeasure surged in ric. He emphasized, "I did ask you to pretend to be my fianc¨¦e, but it was you, not me, who said we weren''t getting the license. That doesn''t count for me!"


    "How can you twist my words like that? You never said it explicitly, but your previous actions made it very clear. You told me not to get any ideas about climbing thedder, so how can you not keep your word?" Gtea retorted with frustration written all over her face.


    Seeing that ric sped up without responding to her, she spoke up again, "Are you even listening to what I''m saying? Getting a marriage license is a choice made by two people in love. We''re just faking it, and I don''t want to go through it. Stop the car!"


    Before she had already gone through a marriage ceremony with a man, even though he was in a vegetative state and she had never met him, but the procedure was legally valid and arranged through special processing by Mrs. Marigold. Although she now bore the identity of a dead man, namely Sten Storm, she would eventually have to confront Mrs. Marigold about her child, and the fact that Sten Storm was not yet dead would surelye to light.


    She also didn''t know if that man was still alive. If he was, then he was still herwful husband. Therefore, from both a personal and a legal standpoint, she could not possibly get a marriage license with ric!


    ric''s face had darkened frightfully, and he remained silent, his driving speed increasing constantly.


    Gtea was somewhat scared by the high speed and clutched the armrest tightly, raising her voice, "ric, I know you''re used to giving orders, but getting a marriage license is a mutual decision, not something youmand, and I obey. I do not agree. I do not want to get a marriage license with you. Did you hear me? I want..."


    Before Gtea could finish her sentence, ric suddenly hit the brakes hard. Fortunately, she was wearing a seat belt, or her head would have surely mmed forward.


    "Is marrying me really so objectionable to you?" Gtea was still reeling from the sudden stop when ric loomed over her, his eyes burning with anger, "Do you know how many women dream of marrying me? Now, I''m offering you a status, and it''s your good fortune. Don''t be so ungrateful!"


    ric was truly angry. He had made up his mind to get a marriage license with Gtea, and her refusal infuriated him.


    "If there are so many women who want to marry you, why are you so intent on marrying me?" Gtea exined seriously, "All those things you thought before, about me wanting to climb the socialdder, ying hard to get, and manipting, those were just your malicious spections. I have never thought that way, not at all!"


    As Gtea finished speaking, the atmosphere in the carpletely shifted. His veins were visibly bulging, his expression ferocious like a bloodthirsty lion.


    "Gtea, I''m going to ask you one more time, are you going to get a marriage license with me or not?!"


    Gtea admitted that he was indeed frightening, but she couldn''t consent, not at all. "I won''t go!" Gtea said decisively, "Even if you bind me and take me to the county office, my answer is still the same. I won''t get a marriage license with you!"


    As her words fell, ric clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked crisply as if he were about to strangle her.


    Gtea felt a wave of fear and avoided his angry gaze as her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.


    "Get out of the car!" ric suddenlymanded harshly.


    "Get out?"


    Gtea had just been paralyzed with fear, so when she heard the two words, she hardly registered them. Then ric yelled at her, "I said get out!"


    That time, she heard him loud and clear. Since he had made his intentions so obvious, how could she just stay in the car? She immediately opened the door and stepped out.


    After Gtea exited, ric''s car sped away rapidly.


    "What a lunatic!" Gtea couldn''t help but curse.


    ric had already run through several scenarios in his head. He was certain that Gtea''s ttering behavior toward his son was just a ploy to climb the socialdder. She had been pretending all this time, but now that he had bluntly suggested getting a marriage license, she had definitely dropped the act.


    How many women dream of marrying him? And here he was, ready to give Gtea a title, to take her home and spoil her, and he had not expected to be... rejected! Crazy woman! An ungrateful, crazy woman!


    ric mentally cursed her with every insult he could think of, losing track of time, until the sound of raindrops hitting the window pulled him from his stewing anger. Was it raining now?


    Gtea''s words had indeed incited a rage in him, making him feel like he was going insane. Now, almost out of spite, he had driven so frantically far away, but his anger was starting to subside.


    As he noticed the rain intensifying outside, ric''s mind suddenly snapped back to reality. Gtea had just left the hospital today. Her health was already fragile.


    He fumbled for his phone to call her, only to hear it ringing from the passenger seat. She didn''t take her phone?


    Right, in his fury, he had practically chased her out of the car without her having a chance to grab anything. No phone, no cash on her.


    What a mess!


    Realizing this, ric swiftly turned the car around and sped back to where he had abandoned Gtea, only to find the spot empty. Where had Gtea gone?


    He drove from there to Gtea''s apartment, moving slowly, scanning everywhere along the way, but he never spotted her.


    With no other options left, ric headed to her apartment.


    "Knock, knock, knock!" He pounded on the door urgently.


    "Coming!" Mia''s voice answered, and she quickly opened the door. Having never met ric before, she didn''t recognize him and asked, "May I help you, sir?"


    "Is Gtea back?" ric asked hurriedly, dreading the possibility that she might not be.


    "Oh, yes, Sten just got back. She said she got caught in the rain without an umbre, was tired, and had gone off to bed."


    She''s back?


    Hearing this, ric felt a wave of relief wash over him. But she got caught in the rain? That only added to his worries, considering how weak she had been. If the rain led to a fever... "Mia, who''s here?" Elisa asked from inside the room.


    "Here''s my card. If Gtea has any health issues, call me immediately," ric, hearing Elisa''s voice, quickly thrust his business card at Mia, and then emphatically reminded her, "Don''t tell them I''ve been here. you mustn''t say a word!" After saying that, ric quickly closed the door.


    It was only after the door closed that he realized he still had Gtea''s cell phone. He instinctively wanted to knock on the door and return the phone, but just as he was about to knock, he pulled his hand back.


    He safely tucked Gtea''s cell phone away and turned to leave. After getting into his car, he didn''t start the engine right away. Instead, he sat there gripping the phone, worried about any health issues Gtea might face.

 Chapter 65 Alarics Dilemma

    Harry''s words rendered ric speechless and kept him awake all night as they reyed in his mind.


    He had decided to get a marriage certificate with Gtea and she had refused him. He was indeed angry, but now that he had calmed down, he realized that it was purely his own forceful decision. Regardless, Gtea had just been discharged from the hospital. It wasn''t right to leave her alone on the sidewalk, let alone in the rain.


    ric, what''s wrong with you? You''re worse than a child!


    Because of her frail health, Gtea slept until the next morning. Caspian, incredibly worried, had waited eagerly for her to wake.


    "Mom, you awake?" he asked as soon as he saw her stir.


    Gtea nodded.


    "Mom, how are you feeling? Are you still in pain?"


    "No, I''m alright now. Just need to rest and heal slowly," Gtea said slowly. "I''ll need to stay home for a while. Mia will definitely catch on, but I''ll find a way to keep it from Elisa. Don''t tell her, alright?" "I know," Caspian replied, pausing for a moment before gathering the courage to ask, "Mom, did you get the marriage certificate with ric?"


    "What? Why would Harry suddenly ask that?" Gtea wondered, noticing the reaction. Caspian seemed to already know the answer but quickly exined, "Mom, I was just asking."


    Gtea smiled and said, "Don''t worry, Harry. When I decide to get married, I''ll definitely let you know in advance, okay?"


    "Okay."


    Caspian did feel a bit down. He wasn''t sure whether his dad had changed his mind or if his mom hadn''t agreed. It wasn''t his ce to ask more.


    At least for now, he was content to be by his mom''s side. Since he became Caspian again, he had thought he wouldn''t see his mom anymore. "Come on, hurry up and have breakfast. Get ready for school, or you''ll bete."


    "Okay!" Now, back as Harry, Caspian looked forward to sitting next to Elisa in ss again.


    After the two kids finished their breakfast, Mia saw them out the door. Harry had also finished his breakfast, which ric had cooked himself.


    "Let''s go, Caspian. I''ll take you to school," ric said, reaching for the backpack, but Harry snatched it away, saying, "No need. You can assign a driver to me." "You don''t want Dad to take you?"


    "No more. I still prefer the driver Uncle to take me." Harry said, shouldering his backpack and walking out.


    ric had no choice but to arrange a driver as Harry headed to school. Meanwhile, ric, holding Gtea''s phone, felt vexed.


    He wanted to see Gtea, but after being rejected for a marriage certificate the day before, it would be too embarrassing to show up. Better to leave her alone for a day.


    So ric drove to the office. It had been more than a month since hisst visit and the sudden return had the employees on their toes. "Good morning, Mr. ric!"


    As he walked by, the employees greeted him respectfully. Once in his office, ric immediately instructed Ss Moon, "Send the word out. We have a meeting now."


    The bids for the entertainment city project had been dyed over a month and could not be put off any longer.


    The meetingsted three or four hours. After a thorough analysis of the remaining six firms and various dataparisons, three were eliminated, leaving Far East International among the final three. "The heads of our engineering department can meet with the respective heads from these threepanies," he announced.


    "Understood, Mr. ric," the head of engineering responded promptly. "After the meetings, I''ll report back to you as soon as possible."


    "Good, that''s it for today''s meeting."


    After the meeting, ric nced at his own cell phone and noticed there were no missed calls.


    That infuriating woman. Her phone might be here, but she had already gone home. She wouldn''t call him using someone else''s phone to ask.


    A day went by and apart from the meeting, ric felt like he''d aplished next to nothing at work. As the time to leave approached, he couldn''t sit still any longer. He grabbed his car keys and strode out. He drove to Gtea''s apartment. It took a while to psych himself up before knocking on the door, and Mia was the one who answered.


    "Is Gtea here?" ric asked, feeling somewhat awkward.


    "Yeah." ric called out to the study, "Sten, someone''s looking for you."


    "Oh,ing." Gtea emerged from the study and seemed just as embarrassed to see ric.


    "Mia, we''ve run out of groceries. Could you go to the market and buy some?" Gtea sent Mia away on purpose. ric was unpredictable, and in case he lost his temper again, she didn''t want Mia to witness it. "Sure, Sten. You two chat." With that, Mia left immediately.


    Once Mia was out, it was just the two of them. After what had happened the previous day, they truly didn''t know what to say to each other.


    "Let''s pretend yesterday never happened. Neither of us is allowed to bring it up again!" ric''s tone was as imperious as ever. Yesterday had been the most embarrassing day of his life, and it was something he never wanted to remember! "Fine." That suited Gtea just fine.


    "Here''s your phone." ric handed her cell phone back to her. "Try not to be so careless in the future."


    ming her for being careless? He was the one who had practically thrown her out of the car in his rush. How could she have remembered anything?


    Gtea took her phone and said, "Thank you, Mr. Knight, for going out of your way to return my phone. Even though I can''t go to the hospital to work, I can still do some work. Like before, I''lle to your office for acupuncture every Wednesday and Saturday."


    "Good, you remember." ric acknowledged. "Also, this apartment is rundown and small, the amenities around here are subpar, and it''s not suitable for recovery. I''ve bought you a ce near Nexus Innovations. Pack up and move there as soon as you can."


    He bought her a house?


    "No need. Even though this ce is old, it''s quiet and suitable for recovery," Gtea assured him. "Don''t worry, even though it''s far from your office, I won''t bete for our acupuncture sessions."


    "You really don''t appreciate what''s good for you, do you?" ric couldn''t help but scold again. "Do you even know your status? Right now, to the outside world, you are my fianc¨¦e. If people found out that the woman I''m about to marry lives in such a dump, what do you think that says about us? So there''s no room for negotiation about the house. You need to move in immediately!"


    The man spoke with the same domineering tone, always so fond of barking orders!


    "Fine." Since he put it that way, if staying in this dump embarrassed him, what choice did Gtea have?


    "Just give me the address, and I will move in after I pack up my things," Gtea said. "If Mr. ric doesn''t have any more business, I''m going to get some rest." Was she really giving him the boot?

 Chapter 68 The Child Making Decisions on His Own

    Now, ric had carried Harold into the bedroom and had ced him on the bed. Harold felt especially guilty, scarcely daring to look at him directly. "Dad, why did you suddenly ask me that?"


    Seeing Harold''s nervous look, ric let out a bit of a mischievous smile and continued to question, "I just want to understand why you like her so much. Tell me, what did the two of you talk about the first time you met?"


    Ss Moon had informed him that Caspian was missing, and in his worry, he hadn''t thought much about it at the time. Now that he reflected on it, the surveince footage showed Gtea holding Caspian''s hand as they walked out of the hospital together.


    Gtea''s manner had seemed so natural, as if she were just holding her own son''s hand. Could it be that there had been a mix-up with the children?


    "It''s been so long, how can I remember what we talked about..." Harold trailed off and then feigned a yawn before speaking again, "Dad, I''m really tired. I have school tomorrow and if I don''t sleep now, I won''t be able to get up." "Just onest question," ric said. "Caspian, have you ever met Gtea''s son?"


    What? Gtea''s son? But that''s me!


    "No!" Harry replied very decisively, and then added with a feigned innocence, "Mom''s got a kid? That exins why she''s so nice to me. Maybe she''s just overflowing with maternal love, huh... heh heh."


    Overflowing with maternal love? That was a pretty urate description.


    "Alright, Caspian. It''s time to sleep. Goodnight," ric said gently, then walked out of the room.


    After ric left, Harry felt very anxious. He wanted to call Caspian, but looking at the time, it was alreadyte, and Caspian was probably already asleep.


    Well, he would discuss it tomorrow.


    After all, the world hardly ever hears of two identical children switching ces. It was all very magical. It was hard to believe such a thing without seeing it with one''s own eyes.


    The following morning, Gtea got up early to make breakfast for the kids. Mia, now aware of Gtea''s car ident, rushed into the kitchen to take over the work.


    "Sten, you''re still not well. How can you be cooking?" Mia insisted.


    "It''s fine, as long as I don''t do any heavy lifting, like cooking, it doesn''t affect me at all."


    "No way!" Mia said firmly, "You need to rest more and not do any work. If you end up with some long-term ailment, how am I going to face your parents?"


    When Mia mentioned her parents, Gtea also became emotional and even more appreciative of Mia.


    "Mia, thank you so much. I owe you a lot over the years."


    "I''ve watched you grow up since you were little. You''re like my own daughter to me. Don''t be so formal," Mia said while preparing breakfast. "I was an orphan who didn''t get much education, and I dropped out of school at sixteen to be a maid in your home. Your parents were especially kind to us staff, especially me, pitying me for having no family and paying me more than the others. But fate isn''t fair. Good people don''t always get good rewards!"


    Mia was indignant as she spoke up, "I don''t understand the ins and outs of the business, but I''ve been a nanny in your home for so many years; I know what kind of person your dad was. usations of illegal operations, selling substandard goods, and economic crimes, I think that''s all nonsense. Your dad would never do such things!"


    When the storm''s event urred, it was a sudden upheaval, seeming as if her father''s alleged crimes had surfaced overnight. Like Mia, she couldn''t believe her father was capable of such things.


    But the result was her father''s suicide. To others, it appeared like a suicide out of guilt.


    "And that Ambrose is just despicable! After the storm mishap, he fled faster than anyone else. Such an irresponsible man deserves what''sing to him!"


    After Mia fumed and spoke her mind, she suddenly realized something and looked at Gtea with an apologetic expression, "Sorry, why did I bring him up again?"


    "It''s okay, Mia. It''s been so many years, and I''ve moved on," Gtea said with a smile.


    "Yeah, moving on is good. That kind of scum is not worth your time," Mia responded.


    "What kind of scum?" At that moment, Elisa, driven by curiosity, poked her head in and asked, "What scum are you guys talking about? Tell me, too."


    "You little gossip!" Gtea tapped her on the head gently, "This is grown-up stuff, kids shouldn''t pry."


    Elisa pouted and said, "Okay, then what''s for breakfast?"


    "Mia''s unique beef sandwich," Gtea boasted, "It''s fantastic. I''ve loved it since I was young."


    "Yay!" Elisa cheered excitedly and then said to Caspian as he came out of the bathroom, "Harry, we''re having sandwiches for breakfast."


    "Alright," Caspian replied and then hurriedly pulled Gtea out of the kitchen and made her sit down on the couch, "Mom, you need to rest. Don''t stand for too long." "Got it," Gtea said with a contented smile.


    "Oh right, Mom, I forgot to tell you, the school is organizing an event. They say we''re going to the countryside for two weeks to experience life there," Caspian shared.


    "That sounds wonderful," Gtea responded. "When are you leaving?"


    "Tomorrow."


    "So soon?"


    "Yeah." Caspian was actually thrilled to hear about the activity, wishing he could leave that very day. He had agreed with Harry to switch ces for a few days, and if he and Elisa were to go on the trip, he could be Harry for a few more days. "I''ll pack for you two."


    "No need. We can pack by ourselves. Please don''t do any work," Caspian insisted. "Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll take good care of Elisa while we''re out."


    Gtea never worried about the kids'' ability to take care of themselves.


    After the kids packed their own bags, Mia drove them to the school bus the next morning.


    Only after they boarded the bus did Caspian send a message to Harry, who was about to burst with frustration.


    "Caspian, you jerk!" Harry texted back, "I told you I''d only switch with you for a few days. Now you''re taking my sister out for two weeks. That''s too much!"


    If Harry had been told about the event the day before, he would have definitely found a way to switch back.


    What was he to do? He felt that ric was starting to suspect something. And he still had to pretend to be Caspian and stay by his side for another half month? That was way too dangerous!

 Chapter 72 Alaric Starts to Suspect

    Therge study with its refined desk and all the new furniture and appliances felt somewhat alien to Gtea. She found it odd because ric''s decorating style usually featured a minimalist and cool color palette, yet this room felt surprisingly cozy.


    Since she was busy moving today and hadn''t had a chance to respond to a sick friend''s message, Gtea started replying to them one by one. She answered each message with patience and responsibility, suggesting medications, dosages, and precautions until one message caught her attention.


    "Always feelingzy and weak, no appetite, daydreaming - no cure and no doctor to turn to. Is there any hope?"


    Gtea furrowed her brow at this message. Was this another weirdo?


    "How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?" she asked.


    On the other end of the inte connection, ric''s eyes narrowed slightly, and then a sly smile crept over his face as he replied, "Been like this since birth."


    "May I ask how old you are?" Gtea queried.


    "Thirty-eight," ric responded flippantly.


    "Have you been like this for all thirty-eight years?"


    "Yes."


    ric couldn''t help but find amusement in his mischief, and after smiling again, he suddenly felt a shiver of thrill. He was someone who rarely made a joke, always serious and earnest, and it never crossed his mind that he would one day y such a prank online.


    "I suggest you go out and find a job. It might do you good not to be idle all the time," Gtea advised.


    Seeing Gtea''s reply made ric burst into fullughter, uninhibited and genuine.


    "Crazy!" Gtea muttered under her breath and closed the chat window, feeling slightly aggravated. "Lazy iszy, so there is no need to sugarcoat it. Some people have no shame."


    Harry had just finished showering and stepped out of the bathroom when he passed by the slightly ajar door of the study. He caught a glimpse of ricughing through the gap and was taken aback.


    Pretending to be Caspian for so long, he was used to ric''s stern manner and had never before seen himugh so freely. Curious about what was so entertaining, Harry quietly edged the door open and tiptoed in behind ric. Reading thest line of the chat window aloud, he murmured, "I suggest you..."


    "Snap!" Hearing Harry behind him, ric quickly closed hisptop and asked, "When did youe in?"


    "Just when you wereughing your head off," Harry asked curiously, "Dad, what were you watching just now? You seemed really happy."


    "It''s nothing."


    "Are you in love?"


    ric was taken aback.


    "I heard it from Cormac," Harry continued. "He said that people in love can''t help but smile stupidly like you just did."


    "What sort of nonsense is Cormac filling your head with? Go back to your room and sleep!" ric scolded Harry.


    "Oh." Harry slunk out of the study, still muttering under his breath, "He was so happy just a second ago, and now he''s all grouchy. So boring!"


    After Harry left, ric reopened hisptop, saw that Gtea had logged off, and then shut down hisputer, leaving the study.


    Once ric left the study, he went to rest, but Gtea couldn''t sleep. She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the beautiful night view.


    From this viewpoint, the city of Arizon seemed so vast, as vast as the ocean. To find someone in such a sprawling city was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Her poor son, where could he be?


    The next day, ric spent the whole morning in meetings. After hours of discussion, they finally decided that the contract would go to Far East International.


    "Get the contract draft to me first for review," ric instructed Ss Moon. "And arrange a time for the representative from Far East International. We need to discuss the specifics of the cooperation in person."


    "Of course, Mr. ric," Ss Moon replied. "From what I know, Mr. Gavin has been in Arizon since he returned to the country. He''s been waiting a long time for this meeting with you."


    ric found Gavin''s behavior puzzling, but he decided to wait and ask him in person when they met.


    "ric, you jerk." Cormac was cursing as he walked over. "You call me over just to wait on your meeting?"


    Before the meeting, ric had called Cormac toe to the office because he needed to talk to him about something. He hadn''t anticipated the meeting running so long, and he actually felt a bit bad for making Cormac wait. "What do you feel like eating? It''s my treat," ric said as he entered the elevator, with Cormac''s eyes lighting up as he followed.


    It wasn''t often that ric offered to buy him a meal, so Cormac nned to choose the most expensive restaurant with the costliest steak and wine.


    "It''s not every day Mr. Knight needs to see me," Cormac said as he sliced his steak, "What''s the matter?"


    "I''ve got a question for you. If there are two kids the same age who look almost exactly alike but aren''t twins, what are the odds of that happening?"


    Cormac paused in his cutting, thought for less than a second, and immediately responded, "Medically speaking, even identical twins aren''t going to look perfectly alike. As for two unrted individuals being indistinguishable, the probability is almost zero."


    "Almost zero?" ric murmured, repeating the phrase to himself.


    "Why the sudden curiosity?" Cormac asked, puzzled.


    "Just wondering," ric replied, taking a sip of his red wine and swallowing before continuing, "It''s nothing." "Have you be bored to this extent?" Cormac couldn''t help but ask, "Are you still the ric I know?" ric remained silent.


    When Cormac was about halfway through chewing a bite of his steak, he continued, "I''m speaking strictly in terms of medical probability. But the world is full of wonders, and not everything can be so absolute. It''s normal for there to be two highly simr people in the world, but notpletely identical. Any differences, however slight, may simply go unnoticed."


    Consumed by his own thoughts as he listened, ric put his cutlery down after a moment and looked at Cormac seriously. "You didn''t witness Orion''s pregnancy and the birth of her child, did you?"


    "Why are you asking about this now?"


    "Just answer me!"


    "I was abroad the entire time," Cormac replied honestly. "I didn''t even hear a whisper about it. By the time I returned, the child was already born."


    "Could it be possible, then, that the person who had my child was not Orion at all?"


    ric''s question startled Cormac. He asked anxiously, "ric, have you lost your mind? What are you talking about?"

 Chapter 076 Ambrose Vale

    Chapter 076 Ambrose Vale


    Gtea woke up to find herself alone in bed, clothes intact, a wave of relief washing over her. A frantic nce at the clock revealed it was just past seven.Where had that man gone?


    She got out of bed and walked out of the resting room, only toe face-to-face with the leading team at Nexus Innovations.


    Despite her clothes being in order, it was clear that she had just woken up. Emerging from ric''s room in this condition was sure to create the wrong impression.


    "Good morning, Dr. Hartley."


    Gtea wanted nothing more than to vanish into thin air, but at that moment, Ss Moon stepped forward and said, "Mr. ric is already in the conference room. We have a morning meeting starting soon, but Mr. ric has instructed the kitchen to prepare breakfast for you."


    "Oh," Gtea murmured, head hanging low, and quickly retreated back to her resting room, shutting the door behind her.


    This was mortifying!


    Her recent appearance in front of everyone, and they were all ric''s subordinates, was disastrous.


    Rubbing her hair frantically, Gtea was utterly embarrassed. Without a doubt, soon enough the whole of Nexus Innovations would hear about their night together.


    Afterposing herself for what felt like an eternity and making sure the coast was clear, Gtea went from the resting room to the dining room. There, just as Ss had mentioned, the chef had her breakfast ready. Filled with emotion, she grasped a fork and stabbed at her sandwich with unnecessary force.


    Soon enough, the dining room door swung open, and there stood ric, sporting a smile that clearly took pleasure in her difort. "Heard you made quite the sleepy-eyed impression on my staff this morning?" The urge to hurl the fork his way, aiming for his smug face, was strong, but Gtea restrained herself.


    "It does not matter," ric said casually, sitting down across from her. "It''s no secret that you''re my fianc¨¦e. Adults understand these things."


    "ric Knight, shut up!" Gtea snapped back, a mix of anger and embarrassment in her tone.


    ric couldn''t help butugh, then he added, "I have an important client to meetter, and I''ll probably have lunch with them. You''reing with me." Gavin had scheduled to meet with ric that morning to discuss the specifics of a coboration, and they were inevitably going to have lunch together. "I''m not going," Gtea dered. "He''s your business partner, what do I have to do there?"


    "As my fianc¨¦e, you should meet my business partners," ric countered.


    "Didn''t you say there will be some kind of opening ceremony or celebration banquetter on? I can go then. If I have to show up every time you have a meal with a client, I''ll be exhausted," Gtea muttered inint. "Alright then," ric acquiesced, raising a hand in surrender. "You''re not feeling all the way better yet. If you don''t want to go, I won''t force you."


    "Thank you, my dear and generous fianc¨¦!" Gtea said, intentionally stressing her gratitude.


    ''This sardonic little woman!''


    "Mr. ric, the front desk called to say Mr. Gavin has arrived," Ss reported respectfully as he walked in.


    ric nced at the clock, noting that it was still over forty minutes until the time they''d agreed on. The guest was obviously eager to start. "Tell the front desk to take him to the lounge," he instructed.


    "Sure, Mr. ric."


    After Ss left, ric said to Gtea, "Our client''s here. I have to go busy myself. Take your time with breakfast."


    "Mhm," was Gtea''s only reply. She didn''t even look up,zily acknowledging him as she continued her breakfast.


    Once ric had stepped out, Gtea immediately made a face and muttered, "Yeah, hurry off to your business!"


    Having finished her breakfast, Gtea intended to head home to continue responding to her online consultations when her phone rang with an unfamiliar number. "Hello?"


    "Is this Gtea Hartley?" The voice on the other end, belonging to Cormac Nash, sounded anxious. "I''m Cormac Nash. I''m in a bit of a bind and need to consult with you. Can we meet? Are you avable?" Cormac had an urgent issue to discuss with her?


    "Yes," she replied. "Meet me at the coffee shop downstairs from Nexus Innovations. I''ll wait for you there."


    "Okay, I''ll be right there."


    What could Cormac possibly need urgently? Gtea couldn''t guess. All she could do was quickly gather her things and leave the restaurant.


    After stepping out, Gtea pressed the elevator button.


    As the doors slid open, she entered. Simultaneously, the adjacent elevator doors also opened.


    "Mr. Vale, right this way."


    As the elevator doors closed behind Gtea, the receptionist apanied Ambrose Vale out of the other elevator and headed towards the reception room.


    He was quite interested in meeting ric and was somewhat surprised when he actually did.


    Ambrose stood tall in a slick ck suit,plemented by a light-colored tie and sses perched on his nose. He exuded an elegant, aristocratic charm that captivated those around him, embodying the sophisticated yet rebellious allure often admired by women.


    "Good to meet you, Mr. ric," said Ambrose as he entered the reception room, extending his hand to ric. "I''ve always wanted to visit Mr. ric. Finally, seeing you in person, I must say you''re even more impressive than the magazines suggest a hundred times so."


    "You''re too kind," replied ric, shaking his hand politely.


    After the handshake, ric gestured for him to sit down, and Ambrose took a seat across from him.


    "Mr. ric, here''s a detailed partnership proposal I''ve prepared for you to peruse," Ambrose offered as he handed over the proposal.


    ric nced at it and could tell how much effort had gone into it, with meticulous attention to all aspects of the architectural nning.


    "Quite good," ricmented approvingly, then set the proposal aside for the moment. "As far as I know, this is the first project operated by Far East International since its inception."


    "That''s correct," Ambrose responded. "Although Far East International is newly established, it''s part of therger Far East Group. Finding partners abroad isn''t exactly effortless, but it''s certainly within reach.


    "We had several projects set tounch simultaneously overseas, but when I heard Mr. ric was nning to build thergest amusement city in Arizona, I dropped those other endeavors.


    "I''ve dedicated all my energy to your project and am especially grateful for the trust you''ve ced in Far East International. Rest assured, we will deliver a result that will meet, if not exceed, your expectations."


    "I can tell you are reallymitted to this project," ric said. "What I''m curious about is why you would put all his eggs in one basket with Nexus Innovations, especially since Far East International isn''t short on projects."


    Just as Ambrose had indicated, he had turned down international projects to focus on the Nexus Innovations bid, and if he didn''t win the contract, it would be a double loss-like losing his wife and his soldiers.


    "Companies need to think about the long run if they want to develop," Ambrose answered. "Instead of sitting back and enjoying small,fortable profits, why not take a leap of faith? I believe if you were in my shoes, you would make the same choice."


    In just a few sentences, one could see the ambition and boldness hidden beneath Ambrose''s refined exterior.


    This man was no simple character...

 Chapter 79 You Cant Call Me Stellan

    Chapter 79 You Can''t Call Me Sten


    Gtea was taken aback by the nickname. She stood frozen for a few seconds before finding an excuse to leave the room. "Stay here and rest up. I''ll go get you a ss of water." Once she stepped out, ric shook his head again, trying to clear it.


    "Mr. Knight." It was then that Mia gently pushed the door open and walked in.


    ric jumped to his feet, greeting her politely, "Mia."


    He hadpletely forgotten that Mia was there, and the thought of having passed out drunk was quite embarrassing.


    "It''s getting dark. Why don''t you stay for dinner before leaving?" Mia offered warmly. "My cooking may not rival that of professional chefs, but after so many years, it''s quite good. Mr. Knight, you could give it a try." "That''s very kind of you, Mia. I''m sorry for any inconvenience," ric responded.


    After he spoke, Mia smiled gently. This man indeed had manners.


    Mia nced at Gtea, who was still in the living room, then turned back to ric with a direct question. "Mr. Knight, are you nning on marrying our Sten?"


    That question...


    How could ric respond? Could he admit he had already been rejected?


    Seeing the troubled look on his face, Mia smiled again and said, "If you''re really into her, you should genuinely pursue her, and I''m not just singing my family''s praises-our Sten really is a treasure. You''d be incredibly lucky to marry her. "Sten is a natural beauty, smart since she was young, and has a heart of gold; there are plenty of people falling over themselves to chase her."


    ric believed this to be true, and from Mia''s reference, he gathered some information and asked, "I hear you calling her Sten? Is that a pet name?"


    Caught off guard by the question, Mia paused briefly. Gtea''s birth name was Sten Storm, and Mia had grown ustomed to calling her Sten from childhood. Even after the name change, she continued to use it.


    "Right," Mia replied, needing to keep up the facade since they hadn''t had an open discussion about it, "Pet name."


    At that moment, Gtea came in with a cup of warm water in her hands.


    Mia quickly told her, "Sten, you take care of Mr. Knight for a bit. I''m going to make dinner, and I''ll call you both to eat when it''s ready."


    With that, Mia went to the kitchen to busy herself with cooking.


    "Mia insisted on having me stay for dinner," ric quickly exined.


    "Well, consider yourself fortunate. Mia''s cooking skills far surpass those of your chefs," Gtea said as she handed him the water.


    ric took a sip, then looked at her and said, "Sten."


    Hearing the name, Gtea was visibly shaken and looked at him with astonishment.


    Aside from her father and Mia, only Ambrose called her Sten.


    "What did you just call me?"


    "Sten, I just heard Mia say it. It''s your pet name."


    Upon hearing this, Gtea took a sharp intake of breath out of a momentary shock.ric said, "Sten? It does have a nice ring to it. I''ll call you that from now on."


    "Don''t!" Gtea quickly objected, her reaction more intense than she intended. She didn''t want to hear another man calling her by that name.


    She realized her impulsive response when she saw the bewildered expression on ric''s face and tried to cover it with augh. "Just call me Gtea, please."


    ric was puzzled by her strong reaction. His intuition told him it was definitely moreplicated than it seemed.


    "Oh, by the way, Cormac Nash came to see me today," Gtea quickly changed the subject, "He showed me Ravenna Nash''s medical report. She has mid-stage stomach cancer."


    "Is it really cancer?"


    "Yes." Gtea nodded. "But there''s still a chance for recovery. It''s just that the subsequent chemotherapy is going to be tough."


    ric sighed lightly, having hoped it was just a scare and nothing serious.


    "Cormac is a doctor; he must know a lot of specialists in the field. I''m sure he''ll find a way to cure her," Gtea mused. "Let''s hope so."


    Mia called out from outside, "You twoe out and eat."


    Gtea promptly responded, "Okay,ing Mia."


    "Let''s go have dinner first."


    Mia had prepared a spread of dishes. Upon seeing that they were seated, she said, "You two eat up, I''ll go out for a walk."


    "Mia, you haven''t eaten yet," Gtea said.


    "I had too much for lunch; my stomach is still full. I''ll walk it off. You two enjoy your meal." And with that, Mia changed her shoes and went out. How did Mia get so "observant"?


    Once Mia left, only the two of them remained.


    Looking at the dishes, Gtea said, "Today''s your lucky day. These dishes Mia makes are delicious."


    As a guest, ric was offered food by Gtea.


    "I''ve always been curious about your rtionship with Mia," ric asked while eating.


    "Mia has been working at my family''s house since she was young. To call her a nanny is more urate; she practically raised me."


    A nanny?


    Remembering how professionally she ordered at the Western restaurant, ric suddenly realized something. "Was your family wealthy before?"


    ric had met her when she lived in a modest apartment and knew her parents were deceased, so he had assumed Gtea came from a poor background. But now, it seemed that wasn''t the case.


    "You could say that," Gtea answered nomittally.


    "In that case, even with your parents gone, they must have left you a considerable inheritance."


    Hearing that, Gtea suddenly lost her appetite. She looked at him and said, "ric, are you doing this on purpose? Going from wealth to poverty obviously means the family fell on hard times. It''s not a difficult guess. You seem to enjoy rubbing salt in other people''s wounds."


    "I''m just genuinely curious; there''s really nothing to it." ric couldn''t help butugh as he saw Gtea''s indignant expression.


    The dining atmosphere at their table was pleasant, while elsewhere, things were a bit strange.


    ...


    Cormac had only Griffon to consult after Ravenna''s diagnosis. Eventually, they decided to keep the news between themselves, concealing it not only from Ravenna but also from Orion Nash, knowing all too well that Orion would not be able to keep it a secret.


    Thus, Cormac ended up staying for dinner with the Nash family that evening, which Ravenna found quite unsettling.


    "How many years has it been since you got angry with your dad? You rarely evene home, let alone stay for dinner. What brought this on today?" Ravenna asked as she looked at Cormac. "What''s the big deal if I want to stay for dinner? Are you not happy to see me?" he replied.


    "Of course, that''s not it. It''s just unbelievable to me," she said. Despite not having been told, she had her suspicions. "Is it because my test results were bad?"


    She couldn''t fathom any other reason for Cormac to sit down for dinner with Griffon.

 Chapter 82 I Need a Wife

    Chapter 82 I Need a Wife


    Was this man seriously burning money just because he could? That watch was so expensive, and just because she wouldn''t ept it, he threw it away?


    "It was custom-made just for you, with your name engraved on it," he exined. "If you don''t want it, the watch is worthless. What''s the point of keeping something that has no value?" Engraved with her name?


    Gtea quickly nced outside. ric had already tossed the gift box into the sea, and as a wave approached, it threatened to sweep the box away for good.


    Without a second thought, Gtea leaped off the yacht to retrieve it. Seeing this, ric immediately jumped in after her. As a wave loomed over them, ric quickly shielded Gtea. "Don''t you see the tideing in? Have you lost your mind?" ric scolded.


    Clutching the rescued gift box tightly in her hands, Gtea scolded back, "This is all your fault! You throw away an expensive watch and then me me for it? I''m not taking the fall for this!"


    Gtea then pressed the gift box back into his hands, saying, "If you''re going to throw it away, do it when I''m not looking. Don''t guilt-trip me!"


    With that said, Gtea climbed back onto the yacht, her clothes now half-soaked. She sat on the sofa, wringing out the water from her garments.


    ric was at a loss, amused yet frustrated by her unique nerve.


    "I picked out that gift for you with so much care. You really don''t want it?" he asked again.


    "If it were just an ordinary watch, I would have gratefully epted," Gtea replied, looking straight at ric. "But because it''s a special custom piece, I can''t. You being wealthy is one thing; you spending money on a watch like it''s nothing is your prerogative, but for me, it''s an unbearable burden.


    "There should be an equal exchange of gifts, but I can''t possibly reciprocate for something like this. epting it would leave me feeling endlessly uneasy.


    "While you might believe it''s worthless if I decline, you never sought my opinion before having it made, so you can''t force it upon me. You have the right to give, but I also have the right to refuse."


    ric was taken aback once more as he listened and let out a bitter smile. "All this over a birthday gift? Why do you have to make it sound like such a profound lesson?"


    Gtea exined, "Maybe you think I''m being dramatic, unappreciative, or just ying hard to get. Think what you want, but I''m really grateful that you were willing to give me a birthday gift."


    "Alright, after all this talk, I guess I''m not giving this present away." ric reluctantly took back the gift box.


    "I appreciate the thought, really, thank you." Gtea swiftly changed the subject. "Aren''t we heading out to sea? Shall we go?"


    "Sure." Seeing Gtea''s excitement, which seemed to bubble over with urgency, ric started the engine, and the yacht slowly drifted away from the coast.


    Gtea stood on the deck, watching the scenery unfold. Her heart swelled with joy.


    The moon over the sea looked exceptionally beautiful tonight, its reflection shimmering in the water, half-hidden. The soft moonlight spread across the sea''s surface, entuating the tranquility and harmony of the scene. It was truly breathtaking!


    Lost in admiration of the beautiful view, she felt a coat draped over her shoulders.


    Gtea pulled it tight around her, grateful for the warmth against the cool evening sea breeze.


    "Thank you," she said appreciatively.


    "I''ve heard those two words all evening. I''m getting tired of them," ricmented.


    Gtea couldn''t help butugh, replying, "But I really am thankful. This birthday will be unforgettable." "Even though you didn''t ept my gift, hearing you say that makes it all worth it," ric consoled himself. Gtea chuckled again, her gaze drifting back to the distant sea where it met the sky in an infinite horizon. ric just watched her, moonlight casting a rosy glow on her slightly flushed face, intoxicatingly charming. "Gtea Hartley."


    "Hmm?" She turned to him as he called her name, curiously asking, "What''s up?"


    "I need a wife," ric rified emphatically, "Not a pretend fianc¨¦e, but a legal wife, protected byw." "W-What did you say?"


    "Our families, the Knights and the Nashs, have been friends for generations and are entangled in a lot of business dealings. That''s why my mother insists I marry Orion. As long as I''m not truly married, she won''t give up on me marrying Orion. So, I need a woman to marry me, and considering my son likes you, you are the most suitable candidate."


    Marriage? The topic came up again. Was this the true reason he had wanted to get marriedst time?


    If she were alone, without the dark past she referred to jokingly as her "ck history," she might have agreed readily. But she had her reservations.


    "Last time, I admit I was a bit abrupt when I asked you to get the marriage license with me. I apologize for what happened then. This time, I am sincerely asking for your opinion."


    His attitude before had been demanding almost like an order. But now, he was polite and refined.


    "Is this one of those marriages of convenience, without love?" she asked.


    Marriages of convenience? Without love?


    The moment those words reached his ears, his expression darkened instantly. His gaze turned icy as he stared at her and asked, "Do you agree if that''s what it was?"


    Gtea bit her lip, thought for a moment, and then nodded. "You''ve helped me a great deal, and I have no way to repay that. If you want to use me topletely break away from the Nash family, I can do that. I''ll draft a prenup. When we divorce, I''ll make sure to leave without taking anything from the Knight family."


    Divorce? Leaving with nothing?


    These words were like a red g to ric, and in an instant, he pinned her against the railing of the boat with a suffocating proximity. His angry eyes bore into hers so closely.


    "Gtea, I really wish I could rip open your heart and see what color it is inside. Do you know how many women want to marry me? How many women dream of catching my eye?


    "Given my identity, I have never bothered to celebrate anyone''s birthday with such effort, and certainly never have I discussed marriage with anyone else! Nor has anyone had the audacity to talk about divorce at the mention of marriage with me!


    "Gtea, you truly amaze me with your definition of a virtuous widow. Your husband has been dead for years, yet you still remain pure and loyal to him. Is that it? Fine then, continue to keep your virtue for him. Forget everything I said before!" With that, ric turned and stormed back into the boat.


    Gtea was left utterly confused. Why was he so angry? Could it be true, as Mia had suggested, that he had developed feelings for her?


    Was his proposal serious? Was it love? Had ric fallen for her?


    If it wasn''t love, why else would he be so enraged? And if it was love, then what?

 Chapter 85 A Terrible Dream

    Chapter 85 A Terrible Dream


    Gtea was furiousst night when she said that even if he wanted to throw the gift box away, he shouldn''t do it in front of her. Upon his return to thepany, he promptly discarded it.


    For some inexplicable reason, seeing the gift box in the trash can filled Gtea with a sense of dread.


    From her own perspective, Gtea knew she couldn''t ept such a valuable gift. However, when considering ric''s point of view, his annoyance at his thoughtful present being rejected was understandable.


    At that moment, Gtea couldn''t help but regret her actions-if she had happily epted the gift the night before, maybe things would have turned out joyfully for both of them. She chastised herself for being so overly sentimental. Just as she was mulling over her dilemma, another knock on the door distracted her. Without thinking, Gtea hastily retrieved the gift box from the trash bin and stuffed it into her pocket.


    As she came back to her senses, intending to tell whoever was at the door to wait, ric spoke without dy. "Come in."


    Thepany''s vice president entered, and upon seeing Gtea, he greeted them with respect, "Mr. ric, Mrs. Knight."


    Mrs. Knight? Did thepany staff address her as Mrs. Knight?


    Before Gtea could respond, the vice president''s eyesnded on the stomach-soothing chicken soup she had ced on the coffee table, and he asked with noticeable nervousness, "Am I interrupting something?"


    "No, not at all," Gtea muttered, feeling another wave of social embarrassment wash over her. She shouldn''t have listened to Mia''s advice to bring ric the chicken soup during work hours. What was she thinking?


    "I''m fine. You all carry on with your work. I should go." She hoped that ric would say something to ease the awkwardness, but he simply kept his eyes on his documents, leaving her to deal with the difort on her own. "You guys are busy. I''ll leave first."


    With that, Gtea quickly exited ric''s office, but the embarrassment didn''t fade away.


    That man really could hold a grudge; if she ever upset him, he would go out of his way to make her feel ufortable.


    She sped out of Nexus Innovations, and once outside, she pulled out the gift box from her pocket.


    Why had she picked it out of the trash? She couldn''t tell.


    It was almost as if the knock on the door had triggered her impulse to leave. Leaving would mean no second chance to retrieve it, so...


    "Gtea, are you out of your mind?" she scolded herself. "You rejected his gift when he offered it, and now you''re picking it up after he threw it away?"


    Now, even she couldn''t make sense of her own actions. After a moment of contemtion, she tossed it into a nearby trash bin and walked away briskly. But just a few stepster, she found herself turning back again.


    "Gtea, you just have no self-respect! You''ve really outdone yourself!" Gtea steeled herself to pick up the gift box again, recognizing that it was an item of considerable value and it would be a shame to simply discard it.


    Last night, ric had merely opened the gift box, and Gtea had just nced at the watch inside. It wasn''t until she got home and took the watch out of its box that she saw something on the back-her own name. Was it a custom order? ric had said, "I have never bothered to celebrate someone''s birthday!"


    The memory of his words suddenly resurfaced as she looked at the watch, and she found herself quite annoyed with herself. If the roles had been reversed, she knew she would have been extremely upset.


    "Gtea, oh Gtea, why do you have such a disgraceful past?" she berated herself.


    It was her troublesome past that made her feel so constrained and ashamed to discuss with a man.


    She once married a man, essentially a stranger, in an attempt to ward off bad luck, without even knowing his full name or appearance. After bearing three children, who wereter proven not to be his, she endured severe humiliation from her mother-inw, lost one child, and ultimately had to stage her own death to flee desperately.


    Six years had gone by, and she had returned solely to find her lost son. Who would believe such a story if she told it?


    If only she couldpletely sever ties with her past, but she knew she had to find Mrs. Marigold. What if her husband was still alive? That wouldplicate things even further.


    Any normal guy would have trouble epting her past, wouldn''t he? And ric was no ordinary man.


    It was so frustrating!


    Bombarded by these recollections, Gtea felt a headacheing on; she decided to abandon everything and just go to sleep.


    But fate wouldn''t have it, as her thoughts infiltrated her dreams. In her dream, she wore a wedding dress and veil, clutching a bouquet as she glided over rose petals toward him.


    Under the sunlight, ric, dressed as a groom, was strikingly handsome, his smile captivating. As she drew nearer, he reached for her hand, pulling her gently closer, nting a sweet kiss on her lips. Oh, how sweet it was!


    Then, on bended knee, he slid a ring onto her finger and spoke earnestly, "Gtea, with me, you won''t face any difficulties in the days toe. I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world." Gtea burst into a joyousugh upon hearing those words, but her happiness shattered abruptly when-


    "Sten Storm, you vile woman!" Mrs. Marigold bellowed as she rushed forward and viciously pped Gtea''s face.


    "Everyone,e and see! This wretch isn''t Gtea Hartley! Her real name is Sten Storm! She married into my family to ward off bad luck, yet she dishonored herself, cheated on my son, and cuckolded him. I thought she died in childbirth, but she faked her death instead!


    And now, without a shred of remorse, she dares to deceive here in yet another marriage scheme. Don''t be fooled by her lies and shamelessness. She deserves to die!"


    In a sh, the guests began hurling objects at her, pointing fingers and cursing with indignation:


    "A married woman trying to trap someone in a fake marriage, she''s a con artist who deserves punishment!"


    "Isn''t she the daughter of a felon who took his own life in fear of punishment? Like father, like daughter-a rotten bunch, all of them!"


    "Right, a woman like her should be nailed to a pir of shame, beat her to death!"


    Suddenly, everyone was throwing punches at her while she desperately reached out for ric''s hand, urgently trying to exin, "ric, believe me, I''m no scam artist! I''ve never meant to deceive you¡ª" "Get away from me!" ric didn''t wait for her to finish and kicked her away, "Gtea, I never thought you''d be this kind of woman. You disgust me, you make me feel dirty!"


    "No, it''s not true, ric. Listen to me, let me exin..."


    "What''s there to exin, you vile woman?" ric thundered.


    The police arrived, and he told them, "Take this con woman away. I don''t ever want to see her again."


    "Sten Storm, you are suspected of bigamy and fraud. You need toe with us."


    "No, I haven''t..." Gtea struggled to reach for ric, but he walked away without looking back.


    Then she was forcibly dragged away by two police officers, one on each side, as she struggled and resisted with all her might.


    "No, don''t! Ah, don''t take me... I''m not, don''t!"


    Gtea cried out, waking from the nightmare, and then she heard Elisa''s voice.


    "What''s wrong, Mommy? Did you have a bad dream?"


    Elisa? Wasn''t she supposed to be living the country life?


    For a moment, the confusion made her wonder if she was still dreaming.

 Chapter 088 A Harmonious and Loving Father and Children Trio

    Chapter 088 A Harmonious and Loving Father and Children Trio


    Getting used to it?


    He had been calling ric "Daddy" since he was a little kid; he had been adapting to it for years.


    Though ironically, still pretending to be someone else''s son in front of his real dad was ratherical.


    "Daddy, can you take us to get something delicious?" Elisa asked, patting her belly.


    Eat?


    ric checked the time and noted, "But it''s not quite lunchtime yet."


    "Then it''s time for afternoon tea," Elisa said somewhat coquettishly. "A sweet treat, maybe some coffee, something like that, I''m craving it."


    This little girl really was a foodie, wasn''t she? She even knew about afternoon tea.


    "Alright, kids, let''s go grab some brunch," ric said as he scooped up Elisa in one arm and took Caspian''s hand in the other, leading them to the car.


    Caspian was trying his best to appear calm, but he felt guilty inside. After all, ric was his own father. He had to bite the bullet and keep up the fa?ade.


    ric took Caspian and Elisa to a ssy American diner for brunch, where he ordered a bunch of sweets for Elisa. She ate with great satisfaction, while Caspian just sat there politely, acutely aware of ric''s watchful gaze. Yes, ric hadn''t quite recovered from the shock; looking at Caspian, he couldn''t shake the feeling that he was looking at his own son.


    Feeling his father''s eyes on him, Caspian became even more anxious, and that''s when he spotted an item on the menu biscuits and gravy.


    He despised gravy and couldn''t stand the taste. But what if eating it in front of his dad would dispel any suspicions?


    Desperate times called for desperate measures.


    "I''ll have the durian cake!" Caspian blurted out.


    "You like biscuits and gravy?" ric asked, surprised, knowing all too well that Caspian hated gravy.


    "Yeah, I love gravy, its taste," Caspian lied.


    "Harry, you like gravy?" Elisa asked in shock. "Since when? I had no idea!"


    "It''s because I''ve been considerate of you," Caspian exined, guessing she must also dislike it since she''s never had it. "Since you don''t like the smell, I''ve refrained from eating it."


    "So now you''re not being considerate?" Elisa retorted. "If you eat it in front of me, I''ll still think it stinks."


    "Does that mean you disapprove?" Caspian silently prayed for her to stick to her guns.


    "Umm... maybe I could just hold my nose while you eat it?"


    "Never mind, I won''t have it then," Caspian quietly rejoiced. Elisa hade through for him.


    "It''s okay, I''ll take Harry out for some another day," ric said nonchntly.


    Caspian felt a mixture of relief and frustration inside. That was definitely something his real dad would say.


    "Sure, thanks... Dad," Caspian deliberately changed the way he addressed ric.


    ric just watched Caspian and Elisa continue enjoying their brunch, feeling the contentment of an old father watching his children''s happiness.


    "Hey, when are you finally going to marry my mom?" Elisa said, unable to hide her impatience. "Hurry up already."


    "Elisa, you''re in a rush?" asked ric.


    "Because I feel for my mom, you know? I don''t want her to struggle on her own anymore, so I want to find her a man who really loves and cherishes her. With you protecting her, she won''t have to work so hard," Elisa exined earnestly, her words tugging at ric''s heartstrings.


    Clearly, she was a thoughtful and caring child.


    "I have to ask you," Elisa said suddenly, turning to look at ric with a serious expression. "Do you truly love my mom?"


    Caspian had also been pondering this question. He watched ric intently, awaiting his response.


    "Yes," ric could only respond this way in the face of the children.


    "And no matter what happens, you will protect her?" Elisa pressed on.


    "Of course."


    "Pinky promise? You have to keep your word," Elisa insisted, extending her little finger toward ric. He extended his in turn and linked pinkies with her. "Alright, no backsies after a pinky promise," Elisa said with a giggle.


    "If you ever treat my mom poorly, I won''t forgive you," Caspian added with a threatening tone.


    "Understood."


    Right after ric spoke, Harry''s cell phone rang-it was a call from Gtea.


    "Hello, Mommy," Harry answered.


    "Harry, I just saw in the group chat that there''s an event at school today and you can get out early. Do you need me to pick you up now?" Gtea inquired.


    Before Caspian could respond, ric grabbed the phone and said, "Harry, Elisa, and I are already together."


    "ric?" Gtea was genuinely surprised. "H-Howe you''re picking up my kids?"


    "Elisa called me, and when I found out they could leave school early, I came straight here," ric calcted his move smoothly. "I will have my driver pick you up now. We''ll wait for you here." Wait for her?


    Before Gtea could react further, ric had already hung up.


    Harry and Elisa were currently with ric? And were those two a little too thoughtless? Not a word to her did they not care about their mom anymore?


    "Why does Mommy have toe too?" Caspian asked.


    "Because, Caspian, wouldn''t it be nice for the four of us to have dinner together tonight?" ric suggested with an inclusive smile.


    "Wow, yes!" Elisa cheered before Caspian could say anything. "Having dinner with the family before you guys get married, oh, by the way, Daddy, don''t you have another son? Invite him too."


    "No!" Caspian blurted out at the mention. Worried ric might grow suspicious, he quickly followed it up with a forcedugh, adding, "I don''t want to invite outsiders."


    "But once Daddy and Mommy are married, his son will be our brother. That''s not an outsider, we''re family," Elisa confidently exined to ric. "Don''t worry, Daddy, I promise to treat your son like my real brother. I''ll be a good sister for sure." "Alright," ric replied, smiling affectionately.


    Caspian was sweating bullets; now he had no choice but to struggle against the idea.


    "That''s a matter forter, I don''t want to meet him right now," Caspian muttered to himself.


    "If you don''t want to meet, we''ll talk about itter," ric said, seizing the moment. Harry had been begging him not to reveal their secret to Gtea, so he suggested, "Tonight it''ll just be the four of us for dinner."


    "Okay, we''ll be one family eventually, so there will be plenty of opportunities," Elisa said.


    Hearing that ric wasn''t calling Harry, Caspian finally felt a sense of relief.


    Afterward, Caspian quietly sipped his juice and said nothing more until Gtea entered the room. "Mommy!" Elisa greeted Gtea as soon as she walked in, and she walked over to them. Previously, ric had been eager to meet Harry, and now his wish was finally fulfilled. "Elisa has been especially good, I really like her," ric said, his eyes unable to hide his fondness.

 Chapter 92 Dont Worry, I Wont Embarrass You

    Seeing Elisa''s resentment, Gtea was bitterly disappointed and asked, "What''s wrong? Aren''t you happy to sleep with Mommy?"


    "I am happy, but on such a rare asion tonight, we have to watch the stars together, which is a romantic thing that a couple does. It feels like a waste for just the two of us, mother and daughter..." Gtea found her words both funny and annoying. These two children really wanted to send her to ric immediately. What heartless little rascals!


    "Well... it''s the wrong person to watch the stars with. I feel like the stars aren''t as beautiful anymore. Mommy, you can keep watching. I''m going to sleep." Elisa yawned and then crawled into bed, falling asleep immediately. Gtea shook her head helplessly andy down, looking up at the beautiful starry sky. Tonight''s stars were truly beautiful.


    As she looked at the stars, ric''s words came to her mind. The woman he wanted?


    Upon careful consideration, ric had the capital to be proud of in terms of his background and personal abilities. Although he had a bad temper, to be fair, he had been patient with her. Thinking about this, Gtea felt her heart in turmoil once again. Was she overthinking things?


    Should shepletely move on from the past? Should she start a new life?


    Thinking about these things made it even harder for her to fall asleep. She spent the entire night lost in thought...


    Because Elisa went to bed early, she woke up early the next day. The two of them quickly packed up and left the room.


    "Good morning, Mrs. Knight. Breakfast is ready. Please follow me this way," the waiter said respectfully and showed them the way.


    "Mommy, Elisa!" When they arrived at the restaurant, Caspian immediately called out to the two of them. It was a private dining room with a great ambiance.


    Gtea looked up and saw ric sitting at the table. This man always seemed to be in a good mood, but she didn''t look her best because she had not slept the entire night.


    "Good morning," Gtea sat down across from ric and politely greeted him.


    "Good morning," ric responded. Then he asked, "Did you sleep wellst night?"


    "Not really," Elisa said, "When I went to bedst night, Mommy was still awake. And this morning, she was lying there with her clothes still on, eyes wide open. I guess she didn''t sleep the whole night."


    "You naughty girl, why are you making up stories?" Gtea immediately felt guilty.


    "I''m not making up stories. It''s a logical deduction," Elisa continued to argue, "Just by looking at your dark circles now, I know you didn''t sleepst night. You two are about to get married. Why are you so shy? If you two slept together, you''d definitely sleep well, but you don''t want to..."


    "As Storm, if you continue talking, I''ll be really mad!" It was the first time Gtea scolded Elisa using her full name. Elisa immediately covered her mouth with her hand and stopped talking.


    Gtea unintentionally nced at ric and caught a mischievous smile on his face. She quickly lowered her head, feeling embarrassed.


    "Daddy, this ce is so nice. Can we stay here for a few more days?" Caspian tried to mediate.


    "Yeah, Daddy, we don''t start school until the day after tomorrow so that we can y here for two more days," Elisa quickly chimed in.


    ric smiled apologetically and said, "I''m really sorry, Harry and Elisa, but Daddy has some work to do at thepany today. We have to go back."


    Tomorrow night is the opening banquet, and there are still many things to take care of today.


    "But it''s okay. There will be many more opportunities like this in the future. I can take you out to y on weekends or holidays."


    "Yay, hooray for daddy!" Elisa immediately cheered.


    Meanwhile, Gtea kept her head down throughout the meal, too embarrassed to look up or say anything.


    After finishing breakfast, they nned to leave. ric drove, Gtea sat in the passenger seat, and the two children sat in the back.


    Gtea felt extremely embarrassed as she avoided eye contact with him because her panda eyespletely gave her away. After the car started, Gtea kept looking out the window.


    ric turned on the car stereo, and Taylor Swift''s "Enchanted" slowly yed. The melody was soft, with a lingering rhythm, like a cup of coffee lingering in the ears.


    "Hey, it was enchanting to meet you."


    "All I know is I was enchanted to meet you."


    All Gtea knew was that she was enchanted to meet him. Listening to this song gave her a different feeling. She didn''t know if ric really liked her, but he definitely wanted to conquer her and marry her. "Gtea."


    "Huh?" While Gtea was lost in her thoughts, ric called her name. Gtea quickly snapped back to reality and looked at him, asking, "What?"


    "There will be many nobles at the banquet tomorrow, and this will be your first public appearance as my fiancee. I hope you won''t look like you do now."


    As he said this, Gtea instinctively touched her face. Did she look particrly ugly right now with dark circles under her eyes?


    "I understand. Don''t worry, I won''t embarrass you."


    "I hope so," ric said.


    Throughout the journey, ric focused on driving while the two children fell asleep in the car after a while. There was nomunication between the two of them, and Gtea continued to look out the window. It felt like a long time before they arrived at her house. Before Gtea got out of the car, ric reminded her, "Get some rest early tonight. I''lle pick you up tomorrow afternoon."


    "Okay," Gtea replied.


    "Harry, Elisa, go home with Mommy. Daddy has to go to work."


    "Okay, Daddy, take care of yourself," Elisa kindly reminded.


    Gtea took the two children home, and as soon as she entered the house, Mia came over and told her, "Sten, there are guests at home. They have been waiting for you for a long time." Guests? Who could they be? And why so early?


    When Gtea saw Griffon getting up from the sofa and walking towards her, she was truly startled. And behind her, Caspian, who hadn''t even entered the house yet, was even more shocked. How did his grandfather-inwe here?


    "Elisa, I''ll take you to the children''s yground downstairs," Caspian quickly grabbed Elisa and rushed into the elevator. Fortunately, he acted fast and wasn''t noticed by Griffon. "Griffon?" Seeing him, Gtea felt scared.


    "Sorry to bother you so early in the morning," Griffon said politely.


    "Never mind," Gtea replied, adding, "If Griffon could give me a call in advance, you wouldn''t have had to wait for me for such a long time."


    "It''s my negligence. I didn''t expect you wouldn''t be home so early in the morning."


    The implied meaning was already clear. Did Griffon also know that she was with ricst night?

 Chapter 95 A Sweet Kiss

    "Mrs. Ravenna''s body is indeed very poor. Besides medication, she also needs emotional support. Good mood is an important factor affecting her condition," Gtea said slowly. "Naturally, I''ve canceled all my work and am staying at home to apany her."


    "That''s good, Gtea said, "Next time, when she has chemotherapy, I''lle again. During this time, if Mrs. Ravenna feels ufortable, you can call me." "Thanks a lot. I have told the kitchen to prepare lunch, and you can stay," Griffon said.


    "No need," Gtea quickly declined. She would rather be hungry than have a meal with Griffon and Orion. "I need to go home and take care of the children."


    "In that case, I won''t keep you." Griffon escorted her to the yard, then suddenly asked, "Gtea, are you and ric getting married soon?"


    Gtea didn''t know how to answer this sudden question. Before she could respond, Griffon continued, "If you two are getting married, I will give my blessings. However, I treat ric like my own son, and no one wants to see their son being deceived. I hope you can be honest with him."


    Herees this question again...


    "I understand," Gtea said slowly. "Well, I should go now, Griffon."


    "Alright, you go home first and rest. You''ve helped me a lot today," Griffon said, arranging a car for her and watching her leave.


    After seeing her leave, Orion still felt uneasy in his heart and looked at Griffon with concern. "Dad, are you sure there won''t be any problems with this?"


    "As long as you don''t feel guilty and don''t reveal anything, there won''t be any problems," Griffon replied.


    Orion fell silent, followed by anger and frustration. She angrily kicked over a flowerpot and cursed, "I feel so powerless right now! I''ve been Duke''s mother for so many years to be his real wife, but in the end, it was all in vain. I hate it! If I knew ric would be so heartless, I wouldn''t have done these stupid things for him."


    Orion truly regretted it now, but it was toote. Griffon said, "Since the situation has already arisen, what''s the point of saying these things? As long as we im ignorance, the me won''t fall on us. Just calm down."


    Hearing Griffon''s words, Orion felt slightly reassured. After all these years, as long as her Dad was with her, there was nothing they couldn''t handle.


    After returning home, Gtea couldn''t stop thinking about Griffon''s words. Did ric really want to marry her and treat her sincerely?


    She shouldn''t have deceived him about her past; it would have been unfair to ric. After careful consideration, Gtea decided to tell him everything that had happened before.


    If he epted it, she would finally be able to release the burden in her heart. If he didn''t, it was better to end things before they truly began.


    After returning from the Nash family, Gtea went to Nexus Innovations. As the Young Madam here, no one would stop her from looking for ric.


    She asked Ss and found out that ric was alone in his office, so Gtea gathered her courage and knocked on the door.


    Since she had decided to move on from the past, she would openly ept what happened. She would tell ric everything about her past without holding anything back. As she thought about it, Gtea felt very nervous and anxious about how he would react.


    "Come in."


    Hearing ric''s voice, Gtea pushed open the door and walked in. ric was surprised to see her. "Why are you here?"


    "I..." Gtea gathered her courage and said directly, "I came to talk to you about something. Do you have a moment now?"


    "Unfortunately, you couldn''t havee at a worse time. The director of the nning Bureau is about to visit the construction site, so I have to go there."


    "Oh, then you go ahead," Gtea replied absentmindedly. Why did shee to him during his work hours? Maybe she was afraid that the courage behind her impulse would disappearter.


    Seeing Gtea looking a bit disappointed, ric smiled indulgently. He got up and walked to her, saying, "I''m pleasantly surprised that you took the initiative toe to thepany. Have you realized and want to go get married to me?" Uh...


    This man really cared about getting married!


    "Don''t look like that, I''m just kidding." ric bent down, looking at her face up close, andughed again in a gentle tone. "Why are you so disobedient? Haven''t I asked you to go home and sleep? Look, you even have dark circles." Gtea hurriedly touched her own eyes, feeling a bit shy from his words. Did she look ugly like this?


    "Go home and get some rest. Take good care of yourself, and I''ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon," ric said, taking her hand. With his touch, Gtea felt a tingle all over her body, as if an electric current was touching her. She let him lead her out.


    "Since I''m going out now, I''ll take you home first." ric held her hand and walked out of his office, then entered the elevator.


    There were only the two of them in the elevator, and ric released her hand, saying, "Everyone in thepany knows that you are my fiancee. You should y this role well."


    With ric''s previous words and actions, his implication was very clear to her. Gtea moved closer, holding his arm with both hands, leaning her body against him.


    "Is this okay?" Gtea asked cautiously.


    "Not too bad," ric smiled satisfactorily. Then, the elevator door opened, and they walked out.


    "Mr. ric, Young Madam," everyone they passed greeted them respectfully.


    It was the first time they had been so intimate in thepany, and after they passed, there was a buzz of envy and discussions about her.


    After they left thepany, Gtea said, "If you have something to do, go ahead. I can walk back by myself."


    "Mhm," ric responded lightly. "As soon as you get home, go to sleep immediately. If you''re not obedient, I''ll have to punish you."


    "Got it." Gtea kindly reminded him, "You go first. Be careful at the construction site."


    Just as Gtea finished speaking, ric quickly pecked a kiss on her lips, then turned and got into the car. The car had driven away, and Gtea seemed to still be in a daze. Feeling particrly slow, she touched her lips with her hand and suddenly sensed a sweetness. She also felt the same excitement and itchiness as when she first fell in love. This man imed he wasn''t a yer, but every time he initiated something with her, he abruptly stopped at the crucial moment. Isn''t that exactly deliberate?


    Even though she had been in a rtionship before, she still couldn''t take the initiative in matters of the heart.

 Chapter 99 Argument

    Seeing Ambrose, Gtea stood there like a sculpture, stunned. She didn''t expect to meet Ambrose again so soon, and especially not alone with him.


    "Um... I''m here to see ric. Is he not here?" Gtea nervously asked, locking eyes with him.


    "Oh, Mr. ric just said he had a small meeting and asked me to wait here. We''ll have lunch together," Ambrose replied.


    What? A meeting?


    Wasn''t it ric who called her toe and see him?


    With this realization, Gtea''s mind buzzed, and she suddenly understood. She looked up and noticed the surveince camera in the corner of his office. ric must be watching them now. Her nose tingled, and tears welled up uncontrobly. She had nned toe and exin everything to ric, but now it seemed like this was just a test.


    Gtea quickly put on a smile, afraid that Ambrose would see her reaction. She said, "Sorry for the inconvenience. You can wait here. I''ll leave first."


    With that, Gtea turned around and walked out. Tears fell from her eyes at that moment, but she quickly wiped them away and hurried into the elevator.


    At this moment, she felt like a brainless fool. She had been so eager toe here after the phone call, but what did it result in? A trap. "Ding!"


    The elevator doors opened, revealing ric standing outside.


    He must have been watching her on the surveince camera; otherwise, he wouldn''t have appeared right as she was leaving.


    "What do you mean, ric?" Gtea looked at him, carefully asking each word. "Is this your idea of fun? Are you Enjoying the spectacle?" ric knew that what he did was not honorable, but...


    "I never thought it that way," ric replied.


    "So I forced you to do this?" Gtea continued. "What conclusion have you drawn now?"


    They had only exchanged a few words in the office with Ambrose. What conclusion could he have drawn?


    "Isn''t the conclusion obvious?" ric was also getting angry. "Do you think you''ve hidden it well, or do you think I''m a fool?"


    "I''ve never thought of you as a fool. If you want to know, you can ask. There''s no need to do this!" Gtea was truly furious.


    "Haven''t I asked these questions before?" ric countered the interrogation directly, "I''ve repeatedly reminded you not to falsify your resume, and I''ve asked you multiple times about your husband. But what did you say? You said that your husband''s name was Alistair Storm, and he had passed away. So what about now? Who is this Ambrose?!"


    ric would never resort to such measures out of absolute necessity, but despite his repeated questioning, the results were still lies.


    Gtea suddenly found herself at a loss for words. It was true that she had lied to him before, and she didn''t want to, nor did she have the courage to reveal the truth about her past. But now, it was toote for her to say anything. "Keep exining. Why aren''t you saying a word?" ric approached her, his tone bing even colder. "Or perhaps you''re going to make up more lies to deceive me? Gtea, ask yourself, how many of the things you''ve told me are true? It''s all been lies from start to finish. Are you happy deceiving me like a fool? Are you enjoying acting innocent in front of me?"


    These series of questions were like thrusting a de into her vulnerability, asking her how many of her words were true.


    Yes, how many of her words were true? But during those times, she never thought about genuinely having anything with this man. She never thought about truly deceiving him, and thus, she had no need to speak the truth. Now she wanted to be serious with him, but unfortunately...


    "Say something to me!" ric shouted at her when Gtea remained silent, startling her.


    Because they were at the elevator''s exit, in a public area, some employees happened to pass by, and their faces changed upon seeing the scene.


    "Mr. ric."


    "Get out of here!" ric yelled.


    Terrified, the employees immediately dispersed. Because this was a public area, causing a scene like this was inevitably not good. ric reached over and grabbed her wrist, pulling her forward, intending to drag her into a room. But Gtea resisted strongly, struggling not to go with him. However, in his anger, the more Gtea struggled, the stronger ric''s grip became.


    "ric, let go of me, let go!" Gtea fiercely resisted.


    Due to her intense reaction, ric let go of her with a flick of his hand, warning her, "You better behave yourself!"


    As he let go,bined with Gtea''s fierce struggle, her wrist slipped from his grasp, and she fell heavily to the ground due to inertia.


    Seeing this, ric instinctively felt sorry and wanted to help her up, but his body stiffened.


    Whether it was because of his behavior or because she truly felt pain from the fall, Gtea''s tears fell instantly. She struggled to stand up from the ground and looked at him, saying,


    "Yes, you''re right. Most of what I said to you before was not true. I was just a woman full of lies, hypocritical and dishonest.


    "What Alistair Storm, and the story about him being dead, it''s all a lie. The truth is, after our family''s downfall, he abandoned me. And what did I do? I was incredibly stupid!


    "After all these years, I still haven''t forgotten about him. I gave up on the Medical Research Institute in Country M and came back to Arizona, all to find him. But instead, I met you.


    "At first, I never thought about marrying you. But then I realized that I couldn''t find Alistair, and you had money and were good to my child, so why not? All my rejections were deliberate. All my arrogance was feigned. I am a despicable woman, a very, very despicable woman. Are you satisfied now?"


    Upon hearing these words, ric''s veins bulged as he had the urge to strangle her.


    Gtea couldn''t help but feel her emotions on the verge of breaking down. She trembled all over and couldn''t hold on anymore. She didn''t say anything else and ran out.


    However, she ran until she was out of breath and had no strength left in her body. She nearly copsed by the side of the road and had to stop and catch her breath. But then, a car stopped beside her, and the sound of the car door opening followed.


    "Are you okay?" Ambrose''s concerned voice sounded in her ears.


    Just before, Ss informed him that he didn''t have to wait and that their lunch meeting had been canceled. Ambrose promptly left.


    Now, Gtea was in a sorry state. Thest person she wanted to see was Ambrose, but now he exposed her in such a pitiful state.


    Was this ric''s arrangement? Does ric want to test whether Ambrose would not be able to resist seeing her like this?


    Hahaha...Gtea self-mockinglyughed in her heart, and as she looked at Ambrose in front of her, she suddenly understood the true faces of these men.

 Chapter 102 Mommy, Why are you Looking for My Grandma?

    "Drive slower." Ambrose, wearing sunsses, never took his eyes off Gtea outside the car.


    "Okay, CEO Ambrose." His assistant, Denny, who was driving at the moment, immediately reduced the speed upon hearing hismand.


    ''Sten...'' Ambrose called her name in his heart. ''I''m sorry, I can''t acknowledge you at this moment. I have no choice but to keep it a secret. I promise I willpensate you a hundredfold in the future!'' After saying these words to himself in his heart, he clenched his fist tightly, filled with anger, as he thought about Gtea''s disheveled appearance from yesterday.


    ric, you had established a rtionship with her, but you didn''t cherish her enough.


    "CEO Ambrose, she went into an alley, and we cannot follow her any further." Upon seeing Gtea enter an alley, Denny immediately reported to Ambrose.


    "No need to follow. Back to thepany." As they had won the bid for the project in the entertainment city, Ambrose had to stay in Arizona for a long period. He bought a building to use as his own office.


    After hearing Ambrose''s words, Denny turned the car around. Ambrose spoke again, "Denny, go find out what''s currently going on with Gtea and why everyone previously said she was dead. Also, why did she change her name?"


    In fact, a few years ago, Ambrose hade back to Arizona to find her, but all he heard was that she was already dead. However, nobody knew the cause of her death.


    When he heard that she had died, Ambrose was truly devastated. He never imagined that she was still alive.


    No one could understand the intense mix of joy and frustration he felt when his beloved woman stood right in front of him, yet he had to call her Mrs. Knight.


    "I understand, CEO Ambrose. I''ll figure it out." Denny said.


    "Denny, although you have been with Far East International for many years, I am the one who promoted you. You are the only person in the entirepany that I trust." Ambrose reminded him.


    "CEO Ambrose, how could I forget your kindness? Although I have been with Far East International for many years, I have always been at the bottom, wallowing in frustration. It was only because of you that I was able to rise to my current position as your executive assistant." Denny replied.


    "I, Denny, am yours, whether CEO Ambrose is alive or dead. If I ever betray you, let my whole family perish." Denny proimed, making a deadly oath.


    "There''s no need for such an oath. I understand your loyalty." Ambrose''s eyes changed at this point, filled with looming danger. "Just stay by my side and wait for me to be the CEO of the entire Far East International. As the executive assistant, you will be above all others."


    Denny was also confident in this, saying, "I naturally have faith in CEO Ambrose''s abilities. What can Todd Vale possiblypare to you? Your skills exceed his by miles. He''s nothing more than a fortunate heir, bing the young master of the Vale Family. Otherwise, he wouldn''t even be qualified to polish your shoes!"


    Yes, that arrogant fellow wasn''t even worthy of polishing his shoes! Eventually, he would bring down this ipetent heir, and then...


    "Sten, you must wait for me. Once I have aplished everything, I will have the most luxurious wedding in the world for you. I will make all the women in the world envy you, and you will be my First Lady! Wait for me... you must wait for me..." Ambrose repeated to himself once again.


    After going to all the major banks, Gtea only had a few setbacks. She also went to some smaller banks and credit institutions, where the approval process was rtively easier, but the interest rates were sky-high. She needed to go back and calcte everything again.


    As soon as she got home, she went straight to the study, ignoring her meal, and continuously calcted various data until Caspian walked in.


    "Mummy, are you still in a bad mood today? Why didn''t you eat dinner?" Caspian asked anxiously.


    "No, I ate too much for lunch. I''m not hungry right now, but I''ll eatter," Gtea replied.


    Caspian nced at what she was calcting and asked in surprise, "Mummy, are you trying to get a loan?"


    "How did you know I was trying to get a loan?"


    "It''s written right there, the interest rates. How could I not understand?" Caspian quickly asked, "Please answer me. Are you trying to get a loan?"


    "Yes." Gtea couldn''t hide it from her perceptive son. "I want to open my clinic. With my current situation, big hospitals won''t hire me, and I can''t just sit around and wait to die. So, I want to start my own business." "How much do you want to borrow then?"


    "At least one million, but the big banks are very strict, so nothing is certain," Gtea admitted truthfully.


    One million?


    Actually, Caspian could have provided the money that amount right away, but if he handed her so much money all at once, Gtea would have definitely suspected something.


    "Mummy, aren''t you about to marry my daddy soon? His money is your money. He''s so rich. Why do you need to borrow money instead of asking him for support?" Caspian panicked, afraid that he might lose everything just one step away from sess.


    Gtea smiled and exined seriously, "You said it yourself; we''re not married yet. Even if I were to get married to him, I can''tpletely depend on him. When a person''s worth relies solely on another person, their worth is greatly diminished. I don''t want that."


    "Are you saying he''s not reliable?"


    Upon hearing Caspian''s understanding, Gtea smiled again and continued to exin, "No, that''s not what I mean. What I mean is that every person is an independent individual. If you want to acquire wealth, you have to work hard and strive for it yourself. Only what you earn through your efforts is the most solid."


    "Oh..." Caspian felt a cold sweat in his heart. After exining for a while, didn''t they still say that he couldn''t be relied on and had to rely on himself?


    ric! It''s about to be a big sess, and what are you up to?


    "By the way, Harry, I happen to need your help with something." Gtea took out a portrait of Mrs. Marigold from her bag. "Your hacking skills are great, right? Help me find out her true identity." When Caspian saw this portrait, he suddenly shuddered. He almost blurted out, "Isn''t this my gran-"


    "What?"


    Caspian quickly covered his mouth. He still felt a bit frightened. He had almost exposed his identity just now. But why would Mommy have a picture of Grandma?


    "No, I mean, the person in this portrait is an olddy." Caspian quickly asked, "Mommy, are you looking for the person in this portrait?" "Yes."


    "Why are you looking for her?" Caspian asked again.

 Chapter 106 Ill Kill the Man Who Covets My Wife

    "I came here for Gtea," Cormac answered. Isn''t she currently doing chemotherapy for my mom? I wanted her to check on my mom again, but I couldn''t ask directly. Since today is the day shees to treat you, I decided to use that as an Cormac had no other choice. He and Gtea weren''t that close, and since she refused the money Griffon offered her, he didn''t feelfortable directly asking her.


    excuse to run into her. Then, she would ask about my mom, and I could casually mention it."


    "Does Gtea doing chemotherapy for your mom right now?"


    Seeing ric''s reaction, Cormac was surprised. "What? Didn''t she tell you?"


    Gtea hadn''t mentioned a word about it!


    "Cormac, I already told you before, this is not allowed! She''s currently in the recovery period and couldn''t exert herself. I''ve already declined her request. How dare you go behind my back and find her?"


    "Don''t me me. I didn''t look for Gtea behind your back. Griffon went to her, and she agreed."


    Hearing this, ric was truly angry. He thought that Griffon''s actions werepletely pressuring Gtea, and he was also furious that Gtea didn''t mention it to him!


    "I know you''re concerned about your mom''s illness, but there are so many good doctors. Why do you have to cling to her? She''s only been in the hospital for a short while, and she''s still a patient herself!" ric scolded angrily. Hearing ric''s words, Cormac regretted doing this.


    "I know you care about your wife, but I swear, I only asked Gtea to go for a round of chemotherapy," Cormac said.


    "If it affects her health, I won''t forgive you!"


    "..." Cormac was silent.


    "She didn''te here today. Don''t bother. Get out!" ric said disgustingly.


    "Didn''t shee?" It was impossible. Howe Gtea didn''t show up when it was time to treat him?


    "Did you... fight with Gtea?" Cormac guessed.


    "None of your business. I told you to get out!"


    "Well, that must be it." Cormac sighed helplessly and said, "Your fight is definitely not my business, but you didn''t have any friends except me. What''s the reason for your fight? As a rational observer, I can analyze it for you." ric''s face darkened further while Cormac hadn''t realized the seriousness.


    "Don''t look at me like that. Your fight isn''t because of me. I''m trying to help. As someone with experience in love, I cane up with solutions if you want to talk about it. If you don''t want to, that''s fine."


    One second was passed.


    Two seconds were passed.


    Three seconds were passed.


    ric still didn''t say a word. Cormac said directly, "You don''t want to talk, and I don''t want to listen either."


    As soon as Cormac took a step, ric stopped him and said, "Come back here!"


    He admitted to Cormac''s words that he really didn''t have any experience in love. After two days of insomnia and silent treatment, he was indeed annoyed. If Cormac coulde up with a solution, that would be good. So ric exined the cause and effect of the whole thing to Cormac. Cormac listened and only had a speechless expression!


    "ric, you''re so capable in themercial world. Why are you so stupid in rtionships? Why did you send your wife in front of her ex-boyfriend? What a stupid thing!"


    "Cormac, watch your words!"


    "I''m just talking about the facts, dude." Cormac said, "What kind of a job did you do? Wasn''t she angry at that time?" "Of course!"


    "Have you ever thought the reason why she was angry? Gtea wasn''t angry because of her ex-boyfriend. She was furious because you deceived her. She happily came to see you after receiving your call but ended up being deceived." "But she lied to me first, and she has been lying about her past rtionships."


    "ric, you blow me away. She''s your fiancee now. Why are you still clinging to her past rtionships? You keep probing her about past rtionships, especially the ones she doesn''t want to mention. She is resistant in her heart, and you should be content before she flips out on you."


    "But lying is still wrong!"


    "Gtea don''t want to talk. It''s you who keeps asking." Cormac said exasperatedly. He sighed deeply and asked, "What was Gtea''s reaction when she saw her ex-boyfriende back?"


    "She resisted a bit, but she had to face it."


    "That''s it. It means Gtea doesn''t want to see Ambrose, but Ambrose is now your business partner, so she has to face it. It was originallypletely beneficial for you, but you ruined it."


    "I..."


    "Isn''t that right?" Cormac continued, "Apologize to her properly. Girls are soft-hearted; she will forgive you."


    "Should I apologize?"


    "Of course. You annoyed Gtea. Am I supposed to apologize?" Cormac said angrily. "If you don''t want to apologize, that''s fine. Anyway, her ex-boyfriend is back, and they can rekindle the past feelings when you and Gtea can have a silent treatment."


    "How dare him!" ric immediately eximed in anger. "If Ambrose dares to make a move on Gtea, I will teach him a lesson!"


    Upon hearing this, Cormac shrugged and said, "Are you going to marry her or silently bless her with her ex-boyfriend? It''s your choice."


    ric felt in even more turmoil after Cormac left. He wouldn''t let Gtea return to Ambrose. Whether it was true or not, he is Gtea''s fiance now!


    ric angrily picked up his phone and called Gtea, who was currently discussing a redesignedyout with a designer.


    "I''m sorry, I have to take a call." Gtea took the phone and walked aside to answer it.


    She hadn''t said anything yet when she heard ric''s annoyed and questioning voice, "Gtea, do you know that it''s Wednesday today?" Hearing his words, Gtea also became angry, and she replied, "I know."


    "Then why aren''t youing? Do you remember what I told you before? You have toe to my office every Wednesday... Hello?"


    Gtea became angry upon hearing themanding tone from ric, and she hung up directly.


    Who does he think she is? A nanny?


    "Damn it! How dare you hang up on me!"


    After Gtea hung up on him, ric was exasperated. He immediately called her again, but this time...


    "Sorry, the number you dialed is powered off."


    At this moment, ric was fumed with rage.

 Chapter 109 Alaric Falls Ill Again

    After all, his mommy was a doctor, and Harry had imbibed some medical matters from a young age. Looking at ric''s expression, it was clear that he was not feeling well. "It''s fine," ric rubbed his head and said, "Go eat your meal and then do your homework."


    ording to Cormac, ric had suffered a serious injury before, which left him physically weak. Harry hadn''t really noticed it before, but today, it was too obvious. "Daddy, are you really okay? When you''re sick, you should go see a doctor or the condition will worsen," Harry said.


    "I know. Daddy is fine. Go eat," ric replied.


    "Okay." Harry cast another worried nce at ric and obediently went to wash his hands and eat. ric went into the bathroom and sshed water on his face. Looking at himself in the mirror, he was especially weak. Even when he had just woken up from a three-yeara, he felt better than this.


    What was happening to him?


    He returned to the bedroom, hoping to force himself to sleep, but no matter what, he couldn''t fall asleep. He started sweating profusely, and his heart palpitations became increasingly severe. Was he about to have an episode?


    ric reached for his phone and called Cormac without waiting. He said, "Come to my vi right away."


    Hearing that something was off from ric''s tone, Cormac immediately grabbed his car keys and ran out.


    Harry, who had finished eating, was also worried and hurried into his bedroom to check on him. He was genuinely shocked when he saw ric. His face had turned pale, and he was sweating heavily, looking very ufortable. "Daddy, what''s happening?" Harry was truly anxious and concerned. "You look really scary like this. We need to get you to the hospital immediately."


    As Harry was about to call 911 himself, ric hurriedly stopped him and said, "It''s okay, I''ve already called your uncle. He''ll be here soon."


    "Isn''t Uncle a psychiatrist? Can he treat your illness?" Harry suddenly remembered something as he asked, "Mommy is a doctor. I''ll call her right away."


    ric immediately took Harry''s phone away and said, "Don''t call her!"


    He was currently having a disagreement with Gtea and didn''t want her toe over.


    ''Why?'' Harry asked. ''Mom is a doctor. She can take care of you.''


    "I said No," ric insisted.


    "What happened?" Cormac hurried over. Seeing Cormac, Harry quickly said, "Uncle Cormac. Look at my daddy. He doesn''t look well."


    "Okay," Cormac said, Caspian, I''ll take a look at your daddy. You can go. Don''t worry. Your daddy has an old ailment. He''ll be fine soon."


    "Good boy. Go to do your homework," ric said.


    "Okay," Harry said, although He was concerned he couldn''t do anything here and would just be in the way. So he obediently went outside and closed the door behind him.


    Cormac was startled when he saw ric. He immediately opened his medical kit to examine him. He heard ric''s heartbeat fluctuating, his face getting paler, and his breathing bing more difficult. He was having an episode. "I have to give you a strong dose injection in this situation. The reaction to this injection will be intense, so bear with it," Cormac said.


    Cormac took out a thick syringe and injected it into ric. ric didn''t know if it was because he was feeling worse or if the medicine was working quickly. Suddenly, ric felt as if thousands of insects were crawling on him. Then, something forcefully gripped his heart, making it impossible to breathe. Because of this extreme pain, his consciousness drifted further and further away. Was he going to die?


    This suffocating feeling was so ufortable. ric couldn''t think of anything to say, and his whole body felt like a heavy object sinking rapidly into the sea. It got worse and number...


    He had even survived when a bullet nearly pierced his heart. Was he going to die now? In his fading consciousness, he seemed to see Gtea, and then...


    ric didn''t know how long he had lost consciousness. When he woke up, it gave him a sense of being in a different world.


    His mind was still empty; he couldn''t think of anything at all.


    "Damn it, you scared me to death!" Cormac finally released when ric woke up, and he cursed, "Do you know your heart stopped? You almost died!" ric stared at the room and asked, "Where is this?"


    "Hospital."


    "Hospital?" ric panicked upon hearing those words, and Cormac quickly reassured him, saying, "Don''t worry. It''s a secure ward. Only a few doctors and nurses know about it." ric had no idea about the progress that he had been brought to the hospital.


    "How long was I unconscious for?"


    "Two days and nights," Cormac answered.


    "Where is Caspian? He must have been scared when he saw me being taken to the hospital." ric said.


    "Don''t worry. I calmed Caspian down and told him that you woke up early," Cormac replied. Then he continued to ask, "How do you feel now?"


    "I won''t die."


    "I can tell you have a knack for survival. With what you''ve been through, most people would have died multiple times, but you keeping back to life. It''s truly a miracle." "Give me my phone." ric didn''t pay attention to what Cormac said.


    Cormac handed him his phone and said, "I already called Ss and told him that you''re on a business trip."


    ric also didn''t care to listen. He just checked the call log, and there were basically no missed calls, as Cormac had answered all work-rted calls on his behalf. Besides work calls, there was nothing else.


    "Did you want to see if Gtea had called you?" Cormac asked bluntly, "No, she didn''t."


    "Who wanted to look at her calls?" ric eximed, throwing the phone aside. Cormac chuckled.


    "Seriously, this time, your illness was exceptionally dangerous, worse than any previous ones. I''m wondering if each time you have an episode, it will be worse than the previous one. If that''s the case, how many times do you think you can survive? Isn''t Gtea an expert in this field? If she can treat you, then call her. Yesterday, you knew you would have an episode and called me instead of her. I''m a psychological therapist, not a specialist like Gtea. You should..." "Don''t mention Gtea anymore." ric interrupted Cormac sharply. "There are plenty of good doctors in the world. Why does it have to be Gtea? Haven''t I been living well all these years without her?"


    Based on ric''s tone, Cormac found it both funny and sad. Then Cormac asked, "Are you still in a silent treatment? Didn''t I tell you to apologize to her? Why is your rtionship getting more strained?"

 Chapter 112 A Disgrace

    Gtea waited untilte at night, but those bad guys never appeared. They must''ve just bluffed to scare her.


    She returned home and took a shower. Entering the bedroom, she noticed ric''s darkened lounge through the window. Had he been absent for the past few days? Another day passed, and Cormac didn''te today, either. ric was truly bored. He grabbed his phone and scrolled through it, but there was still nothing. "Gtea, you damn woman. You''re really carefree right now!"


    She said she''d end their rtionship, and now she waspletely ignoring him. What gave her the guts? Was she still thinking of getting back with Ambrose? No way! He grabbed his phone and called Cormac. Thetter had gone through a busy day, and he just fell asleep. Seeing that ric was calling, he was ready to curse. "Dude, can you let people sleep at this ungodly hour?"


    ric was now in the hospital, and there were experienced doctors taking care of him. He wasn''t worried about his health.


    "What about the information I asked you to find? Did you find anything?"


    Cormac replied, "I really was busy all day, and tomorrow is my mom''s chemotherapy day. I''ll call Gtea."


    "Okay, call me immediately once you find out." After saying that, ric reminded, "And if you mention my hospitalization to her even for a split secondd, I''ll ruin you!" "Got it." After hanging up, Cormac couldn''t help butin, "As if she''d care even if she knew."


    ---


    The next day, Gtea sent her children to school as usual. Then, she looked at the note on her phone calendar. She was supposed to handle Ravenna''s chemotherapy today. "Stanley, I can''t make it today. You can lock up the ce when you''re done," she called one of the construction workers and exined the situation.


    Afterward, she was about to go to the roadside to hail a cab when her phone rang again. It was Cormac.


    "Hello, Cormac," she said.


    "Gtea, today is my mom''s chemo day, I''ll need your help," Cormac said.


    She replied, "I know; I was just about to take a cab over."


    "You don''t have to. Where are you now? I''lle pick you up," he said.


    After thinking for a moment, she agreed, "Alright, I''m at the intersection near the school."


    She stood there, waiting. In truth, she didn''t really want to see Cormac now since he was ric''s friend. However, she didn''t want to be difficult. When Cormac''s car arrived, Gtea got into the back seat.


    "After you helped my mom with the chemost time, her mood improved a lot. She''s really grateful to you," he said appreciatively.


    "I just did what I should; you don''t need to thank me," she said.


    "I only asked for your help first because you''re good at medicine, but you refused anypensation. I feel embarrassed about that," he said, expressing his gratitude to her. "It''s just giving a chemo shot every few days; not something so tiring. Besides, I have spare time at home right now," she replied.


    "Although you say that, I still feel guilty for the constant trouble. Why don''t I treat you to lunch today?" he suggested.


    Since ric had entrusted him with a task, and most importantly, as his friend, Cormac felt like he needed to intervene and help them reconcile as soon as possible. "You don''t have to be so polite, Cormac. It''s really no big deal," Gtea directly refused. They weren''t close, so it''d be inappropriate to have a meal together.


    Despite that, he insisted, "It''s just one meal; take it as me showing my thanks."


    "Alright," she finally agreed.


    Later on, he dropped her off at the Nash family''s house. Orion wasn''t there this time, only Griffon. The father and son had deep conflicts, hardly ever speaking to each other. "Auntie, your mental state seems much better this timepared to before. You need to maintain this and not let your mind wander," Cormac said.


    Hearing this, Mrs. Ravenna smiled and said, "I finally understand why ric likes you. Orion has been spoiled since she was young, with a particrly bad temper. If only she had half of your gentleness, she''d be better." After a few interactions, Gtea quite liked Mrs. Ravenna. Likewise, Mrs. Ravenna also liked her.


    She lightly replied, "Everyone just has different personalities."


    "Cormac," Mrs. Ravenna said to Cormac, "I don''t have enough energy to thank Gtea properly. Make sure you do it for me."


    He quickly answered, "I will, Mom."


    After Gtea finished injecting Mrs. Ravenna, she had an unusually strong reaction this time. She vomited for a while, being too weak to stay awake afterward as she fell asleep.


    "Why was her reaction so severe this time?" Cormac was worried.


    "That''s normal; just let her rest well. After the first chemo phase, if the results are good, Mrs. Ravenna will gradually recover. Don''t worry," Gtea assured him. "Okay."


    With Cormac apanying her this time, Griffon couldn''t talk to her separately, which made her quite relieved. Every time she had one conversation with him, she felt like she was facing a strong enemy. After leaving the Nash family''s residence, Cormac asked her, "What do you feel like eating? Italian or Japanese cuisine?"


    "Either one is fine," Gtea replied.


    "Then let''s go for Italian food." The awkwardness could be avoided if each person was focusing on their dish.


    He brought her to an Italian restaurant, and they sat facing each other by the window.


    Once they were seated, Cormac began probing. "What have you been busy withtely? Since your body''s still recovering, you probably can''t work at Serenity Heights Medical Center anymore, right?" "Yes," she answered. "I can''t work there anymore, so I recently rented a shop and n to open a clinic."


    "You''re going to open a clinic?" he was surprised. "That''s great, but opening one needs a major investment, right? If you need any financial help, feel free to let me know."


    "Thank you, but that''s unnecessary. I already have the funds."


    "Look at me, going the extra mile. You''re ric''s fiancee, so why would you need my help with funds?"


    Perhaps not wanting others to think she was spending ric''s money, Gtea truthfully exined, "I didn''t tell him about opening a clinic."


    "But what about the money..."


    She replied, "A bank loan. I already got one, and the ce is currently being renovated."


    Hearing this, Cormac smiled-perhaps enjoying ric''s misfortune. If ric found out his woman would rather do a bank loan than spend his money, it''d be a great embarrassment. "Cormac, could you please not tell ric about this?" she asked.


    "No problem," Cormac agreed, then tentatively asked, "Did you fight with him?"

 Chapter 115 Whoever Humiliates Stellan will Pay the Price

    Since Harry wanted a seafood feast, Ambrose took him to his favorite ce.


    After the food arrived, Harry ignored his image and ate, with the meal truly delicious.


    "Why aren''t you eating, Uncle Ambrose?" he asked when he noticed Ambrose watching him without eating.


    "I''m not hungry. You eat first, Caspian." Ambrose replied.


    "Okay, then I won''t hold back," said Harry, eating even more heartily.


    "Caspian," Ambrose called out.


    "Hmm? What''s up?" With his mouth full, Harry asked while chewing.


    "Is your mommy Orion?"


    Harry didn''t walk to talk about the wicked woman, and he didn''t want to say yes. However, since he was currently posing as Caspian, he could only nod. "Yeah, what''s the matter?" "Nothing much. Your mom is a big star, and I''ve seen her movies; she''s a beautiful and great actress," Ambrose replied.


    "Is that so? Then, your taste isn''t that good. I think her acting is terrible."


    Ambrose smiled awkwardly, confirming their bad mother-son rtionship. So...


    "Caspian, do you know Gtea?"


    Hearing this, Harry''s nerves tightened. He didn''t care about what other people said, but why was he mentioning his mom?


    "I do know her," Harry said. "She''s currently my father''s fianc¨¦e and will be my future mom. So yeah, I do."


    "She has a pair of twins. Have you seen them?" Ambrose asked again.


    If the previous question only alerted Harry, this one annoyed him as if he was the victim.


    "Let me ask, Uncle Ambrose. Besides being my father''s business partner, do you have any other rtionship with him?"


    "Not yet."


    "Since that''s the case, your connection with him is only work-rted. However, you''re asking me about family-rted things. Isn''t that a bit weird?" This question left Ambrose speechless. He didn''t expect to be questioned by a child.


    He awkwardly smiled and exined, "Caspian, don''t think too much. I really admire your father and wanted to be friends with him, so I was curious."


    Harry seriously replied, "Well, you don''t understand him at all. He hates it when people inquire about him secretly. If you really want to be friends, just focus on your work. Anything else is unnecessary." Ambrose initially liked this child, but after a few sentences, he was a bit annoyed. This child''s personality was just like ric''s; speaking without restrain and being arrogant, keeping others at a distance. He remained silent after that, simply watching Harry finish the food. He had to admit; this kid had quite the appetite.


    "Uncle Ambrose, thank you for treating me today. I''m very satisfied with the meal."


    "As long as Caspian enjoyed it," Ambrose reached out to hold his hand. "Since you''re full, I''ll take you home, okay?" "Sure," Harry nodded and got in the car with Ambrose.


    "Do you know Gtea, Uncle Ambrose?" Harry asked proactively once the car started.


    "Yes, I do. I met her at the groundbreaking feast."


    "Oh, what do you think of her?"


    "Hmm?" Ambrose paused and continued, "She''s beautiful; stunningly so."


    "Did you fall in love with her, too?" Harry asked. This question startled not only Ambrose but also Denny, who was driving.


    Ambrose chuckled and asked, "You''re just a kid. How could you understand love?"


    "Uncle Ambrose, you''re being old-fashioned. We all understand that term nowadays; after all, several girls in my ss have crushes on me and even want to marry me." Ambrose and Denny were both baffled.


    "Well, she''s indeed perfect. It''s natural to fall for her, but she''s my dad''s girlfriend now. If you get any ideas, you''d be a homewrecker, and that''s immoral." Caspian said. Ambrose couldn''t find any words. The car finally arrived at the Knight family''s vi, and the little rogue got off.


    "Uncle Ambrose, I really enjoyed dinner with you today. If you ever need someone to eat with, feel free to ask me." he said before running into the hall. Seeing him back home, Denny turned the car around. After leaving the vi area, he said, "Kids are really naughty." "Don''t you think he looks just like Sten''s son?" Ambrose asked.


    "Yes, which genuinely shocked me. I thought you were bringing out Ms. Rook''s son," Denny said.


    "Is it possible for two people to look so identical? Even sharing the same age, too?" Ambrose asked.


    "It''s downright unbelievable," Denny couldn''tprehend it. "So, is it sheer coincidence or...?"


    "It can''t just be coincidence."


    "What do you mean, CEO Ambrose?"


    Ambrose fell silent into deep contemtion, focusing on something. After a while, he suddenly spoke up, "Do you think it''s possible Sten actually had triplets?"


    Denny didn''t digest the information for a moment and thought about it before answering, "So you''re saying those three kids are Ms. Rook and ric''s? That can''t be true; it''s widely-known that ric''s son came from Orion." "Caspian is six this year. If we calcte the time, he was conceived when ric was stitose."


    When Ambrose returned to Nexus Innovations for the bidding, he was thoroughly prepared and was well-informed about ric.


    "But if ric was in aa at that time, how could he have a child?"


    "There''s only one possibility, which is artificial insemination," Denny replied.


    Ambrose thought of the reason and suddenly connected them to something. "Is it possible Sten became a tool for the Knights to have children?"


    Asking this, he clenched his fists tightly. If it were true, he''d hate ric and feel heartbroken!


    "But if that''s the case, how did she live alone with two children for so many years abroad? Moreover, how could Mrs. Marigold let her grandchildren fall into such a situation?"


    "There''s a lot of inconsistencies here, so there must be many hidden facts unknown to the public. But regardless of those, if the Knight family dares to humiliate Sten, I won''t forgive them!" Ambrose''s expression was particrly fierce as he said this..

 Chapter 119 How Did Galatea Cure Your Illness?

    Harry found it unbelievable, "A picture of your grandma in my mom''s bag? Are you sure you didn''t make a mistake? How could she have a picture of your grandma?"


    "How could I not recognize my grandmother? It seemed like Mommy was looking for her in a hurry, but she didn''t tell me why when I asked. Anyway, my grandmother is particrly strong-willed and often unreasonable. Before figuring out what Mommy wanted with her, I didn''t dare give her any clues in fear she''d be disadvantaged once they met." Caspian replied seriously.


    Harry believed what Caspian said, but he was confused. Why would his mommy be looking for Caspian''s grandmother everywhere? Did they know each other or have some grudge?


    "Could they be enemies?" Harry spected, "Like that kind of story on TV, where they silently endure for years and only get revenge when the timees?"


    "I''m afraid of that too," Caspian admitted. "I''m worried there might be some resentment between them. If that''s the case, there''s no way my grandmother would let Daddy marry Mommy. That also means I won''t be able to be Mommy''s son!"


    "Does your daddy really listen to your grandmother?" Harry questioned. "If she doesn''t allow it, would he not marry my mommy?"


    Caspian emphasized, "Now isn''t the time to discuss obedience. We need to figure out the rtionship between your mommy and my grandmother quickly. Besides, my daddy isn''t like that!"


    Harry replied, "Well, let me think of something. You should do that as well. Since you''re with Mommy right now, try getting some information from her."


    "I know," Caspian responded, "I haven''t seen Daddy in a while, and I had a bad dream about him yesterday. I''m worried."


    It could be a telepathic bond between father and son, as his dad was currently in the hospital.


    To be honest, it was strange. Perhaps it was because they had spent some time together recently, but when ric was unhealthy, Harry was genuinely worried.


    That night, his dad almost died and was urgently rushed to the hospital. Harry was so scared that he cried, something he hadn''t done in his entire memory.


    He was also worried that if he told Caspian, thetter would definitely be concerned. Thus, he had to lie.


    "Your dad''s doing well. He''s working on a big entertainment city project. A few days ago, his business partner even took me out for dinner," Harry said. "Really? That''s good to hear." Caspian said.


    "Don''t worry. The most important thing now is to find out the rtionship between my mommy and your grandmother, and then..."


    Just as he was saying this, he heard Mrs. Marigold sternly scolding someone downstairs. The prating sound was exceptionally strong, and he could clearly hear it from the second floor. "Alright, that''s enough. I have to go." he hung up and quickly ran out of the study.


    In the living room, Mrs. Marigold was enraged while the servants cowered in fear with their heads hung low.


    Harry didn''t know what was happening, but he saw Caspian''s grandmother anger and worry. She called Cormac.


    "Cormac, be honest. Did ric have another episode?" she had returned by surprise, and ric had told everyone that he was on a business trip. That was including the staff at thepany, and he didn''t even coordinate with the vi''s servants.


    One of the staff identally came clean when Mrs. Marigold asked them, which left her concerned when she found out ric rpsed and was hospitalized. She wanted to call him, but she knew he wouldn''t be honest, so she called Cormac. Cormac answered the phone and felt a whirlwind of emotions inside.


    He had just arranged all of ric''s flights, thinking it could go by unnoticed. However, it turned out he couldn''t even hide it.


    "Mrs. Marigold, please don''t worry. ric did have an episode, but he''s okay now and will be discharged tomorrow." he had no choice but to tell the truth.


    "How can I not worry? Which hospital is ric in? Tell me!" Cormac had to tell her the address. After hanging up, Mrs. Marigold rushed out in a panic.


    Harry couldn''t understand it at this point. He thought this olddy was like a ruthless and ferocious predator who despised everyone.


    However, wasn''t she particrly concerned about her son? But then, why did she dislike Caspian?


    There must be a reason behind all this!


    After the call, Cormac had to let ric know, but thetter didn''t pick up even after a while.


    "This brat can''t stay put even in the hospital. Where did he go? Why isn''t he answering the phone?" ric had just finished the discharge procedures and left. Since it was an early discharge, there were some issues with the paperwork, and his health hadn''tpletely recovered yet. He was afraid Mrs. Marigold would notice, so he had to cooperate with the doctor and get his prescription quickly.


    After settling everything and returning to the hospital room, he saw Cormac''s missed call. He was about to call him back when Mrs. Marigold hurriedly rushed in.


    "Mom?" When he saw her rushing in, he was crestfallen. In the end, he couldn''t hide it from her.


    "You little brat, how could you not tell me you were hospitalized?" Mrs. Marigold saw him like this and felt especially distressed. "I''ve only been away for a short time, so how did you lose so much weight? And why do you look so haggard?" He replied indifferently, "It''s not that bad. Getting sick and being hospitalized is amon thing; nothing to fuss over."


    "Is this just a normal hospitalization? I''ve already talked to the doctor. They said your heart stopped this time, and they managed to save you from the brink of death. What if something had happened to you..." Mrs. Marigold trailed off. ric was also angry. The doctors were so dramatic!


    "I know my own body, and it''s not that serious." he quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, what did you gain from your trip abroad? Did you bring gifts for Caspian? He said he missed his grandma a few days ago."


    In truth, he never missed Mrs. Marigold. Moreover, she was infuriated with him when she returned.


    "Don''t try to change the subject. I''m talking about your health right now!" she carefully examined ric, feeling more and more upset. "Just thinking about how you narrowly escaped death this time, Mom is really scared. You really scared me."


    ric also apologized, "I''m sorry for making you worry, Mom."


    "What about Gtea?" Mrs. Marigold suddenly asked with anger.


    "Why are you suddenly asking about her?" he retorted.


    "Didn''t you say she''s from Country M''s Medical Research Institute and that she''s the only one who can cure your illness? So, is this how her treatment''s going? Didn''t she almost kill you?" she asked angrily.

 Chapter 122 Are You Concerned About Me?

    It was from Mrs. Marigold''s driver. He carefully reported, "Mrs. Marigold, the security guard here says that our car is blocking the fire exit and needs to be moved immediately." He had to inform her of this. Otherwise, she''d surely reprimand him if she returned and found the car missing.


    Hearing this, she ended the call and gave Auntie Lynn a sharp look. Then, she turned around and left.


    After she left, Auntie Lynnined, "Where did this barbariane from? She''s absolutely insane!"


    On the other hand, Ambrose was sitting in his car wearing sunsses. He saw Mrs. Marigold walk out and get into her car, driving away. He started his car and followed behind. He had just made aint call to the property management of the residential area, and they responded quite promptly.


    "Mrs. Marigold, where are we going now?" the driver asked cautiously after the car left the residential area.


    Mrs. Marigold didn''t expect she''d fail to find Gtea today. However, she already knew Gtea''s address, so she wasn''t worried about not being able to find her in the future. "Go home."


    "Okay."


    Ambrose followed her car all the way back home before turning around.


    ording to Mrs. Marigold, she didn''t know Gtea. Did she really not know Gtea, or did she not recognize Sten because she changed her name? This was interesting! "What did you say?" ric immediately stood up when he received Ss''s call. "My mom went to find Gtea? When did this happen?"


    "About ten minutes ago."


    "Why are you telling me now?" he scolded.


    He quickly called Gtea, but the ringtone indicated the call couldn''t be connected. This woman really angered him; she actually blocked him, and she hadn''t undone it! He was getting an IV drip at the moment, but he couldn''t care less. He removed the needle and ran out of the ward in a hurry.


    Knowing Mrs. Marigold''s personality, she''d definitely confront Gtea without considering any other factors. Now, all he could think of was the former secretary whom she drove to suicide.


    He couldn''t let Gtea experience the same thing, so he kept speeding up. Just as he was about to arrive at her house, he suddenly thought of a problem.


    ording to Cormac, she was now starting her own business and wouldn''t be at home during the day. Moreover, Ss also didn''t know her shop address, so Mrs. Marigold couldn''t find her. But just in case... Everpeace Street?


    ric immediately turned the steering wheel and headed toward Everpeace Street.


    Gtea spent her days here now, and it was close to noon. The construction workers had all gone for their lunch break while she was tidying up the debris, nning to finish cleaning up before lunch. However... "Bang!"


    Hearing a loud door mming, she was frightened. Were those hooligans here again?


    She hurried to check and never expected to see ric rushing in.


    "ric?" she asked in amazement. "Why are you here?"


    Seeing that she was fine, ric was relieved. He felt his body go weak, leaning against the door.


    "Are you alright?" he asked anxiously.


    "Are you okay? Why did you suddenlye here at this moment?" Gtea asked again. "How did you know where I am?"


    After she asked, she found her question pointless; it must be Cormac told him.


    Ambrose was watching clearly through his telescope. After tracking Mrs. Marigold down, he went straight home.


    He was worried she''d cause trouble for Gtea, so he kept observing through the telescope. Unexpectedly, it wasn''t Mrs. Marigold who came, but ric.


    Seeing the two together, he clenched his fists. He watched Gtea walking to the door to support ric. Was Sten being nervous?


    How could she be? Was it from love? Impossible! She has only loved him!


    "What happened to you?"


    ric''s health was already poor, and on top of that, he came rushing over in such a hurry. His heart was pounding, his breathing irregr.


    Seeing him like this, Gtea was startled. Thest time he had an episode, he was like this at the hotel.


    ric couldn''t answer her question due to hisbored breathing.


    She quickly helped him sit on a bench and noticed the needle marks on his hand.


    Realizing he was really unhealthy, she quickly got her medical box and then gave him an injection to help stabilize his breathing.


    Her ce was currently in renovations, so there wasn''t a proper ce. Thus, she had to let him lie down on a worn-out couch, which was where the construction workers rested. "Feeling better now?" she busily handed him a cup of water.


    "I''m fine." ric had recovered by now, standing up to take the cup.


    "Where did youe from? The hospital?" Gtea was a doctor, so she could tell he had pulled off an IV drip midway, even more so with the blood traces on the needle mark.


    He hadn''t been around for a while; was he in the hospital? Did he have another episode?


    "Do you really want to know?"


    "Now isn''t time for jokes. Tell me! Did you have an episode?" Gtea anxiously asked.


    ric stared at her, seeing the worry and anxiety in her eyes. He then smirked and asked, "Are you concerned about me?"


    "ric Knight!" Gtea was truly enraged. Was this a time for teasing?


    "Quickly answer me. Did you have an episode or not?"


    During his hospitalization, ric didn''t want her to know. But now, seeing how worried she was, he wanted to tell her.


    "Yeah," he said casually, "I almost died; they said it was a cardiac arrest."


    "Cardiac arrest?" Hearing that, Gtea was terrified, then anxious and angry. "What did you do? Didn''t I prescribe medication for you before? Didn''t you take it on time? Are you even..." Before she could finish, he hugged her tightly. He then stared at her intently and asked, "Are you worried?"


    "ric, I..."


    "I don''t want to hear anything else. Just tell me, are you worried about me or not? Hmm?" his tone was particrly seductive, his expression captivating.

 Chapter 125 Are you Reluctant to Let me Die?

    Before ric began, he took a light breath through his nose and slowly looked up at the ceiling. He gradually started telling the story.


    "My parents had an arranged marriage between two prominent families. They didn''t have any feelings for each other, and they had been arguing for as long as I can remember. Later on, my father had an affair, and their rtionshippletely soured. At that time, I was still immature, but the idea of marriage being terrifying was ingrained in me. Their marriage ended in failure, but they still arranged one for me from a young age- a childhood betrothal with Orion. I was particrly opposed to it. Afterward, when I had the opportunity to join the military, I went without hesitation to escape this family."


    "After joining the military, I felt like I was reborn. I found a career that I genuinely liked and was willing to protect with my life. However, my father passed away shortly after. My mother pressured me to leave the military in all types of ways. She even directly reached out to the higher-ups, so ourmanding officers were also in a difficult position."


    "At that time, there was an international organization called the Astral Innovations Group, which was particrly famous. Under my mother''s pressure, mymanding officer never allowed me to know of that organization. He always advised me toe back. At that time, I wrote a military order- if I could dismantle Astral Innovations, no one could make me leave the military. If I couldn''t, then I''d willingly take off my uniform and leave. The higher-ups agreed and promised that if I really did it, the highest levels of the military would personally talk to my mother."


    "So, for the next few years, I constantly dealt with this organization. The longer it went, the more I realized they weren''t as simple as I had imagined. They were like a never-ending ck vortex. It spent many years of painstakingly-searching for the organization''s more important base, and I led the team to eliminate the terrorists."


    "I''m not exaggerating when I say that the gunfightsted for a day and a night, with bullets flying and blood flowing like a river. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. The mastermind on the other side, known only by the code name Tiger, was never seen."


    "In the final moments of the gunfight, I found a guy named Tiger who had unparalleled skills and marksmanship. The fight went from guns to closebat, and in the end, I managed to stab him in the chest with a knife. However, to my surprise, Tiger had another gun hidden on him. He shot me in the chest, and..."


    At this point, ric paused for a bit before continuing, "I''ll never forget the mocking and triumphant gaze he had. He even smiled at me and said, ''Do you think I''m Tiger? The real one is long gone, and you''ll never catch him. However, he''ll return one day to kill your entire family and avenge us.'' Afterward, heughed at me until he fell with a smile still on his face. Shortly after, I lost consciousness and slept for a very long time. When I woke up, I was already back at home. I immediately contacted the military about Tiger, but themanding officer had already retired. They responded that Astral Innovations Group had beenpletely crushed, and those words Tiger said before his death were just his desperate struggle to scare me- nothing to be taken seriously."


    "What happenedter?" Gtea asked eagerly. "Did the real Tiger ever reappear?"


    "No," ric replied.


    "However, could it be that he intentionally scared you before his death? After all, those people were all psychopaths who wouldn''t let others off even when facing their demise. It''s not impossible," she spected.


    "That''s indeed true, but..." he hesitated and said, "I feel like what he said was true; the real Tiger isn''t dead."


    "But it''s been so many years. Do you think he''ll return for revenge?" she inquired.


    "Perhaps he will, perhaps he won''t," he said with a smile as he looked at her. "I''m telling you all this because I want you to know that, whether it''s my upbringing or the potential dangers, I''m resistant to marriage. In other words, the moment I don''t resist, it means the person I truly want to marry has appeared."


    ''Am I the one you really want to marry?'' Gtea thought in her mind.


    When he was talking about his past grievances, she was already on edge. Suddenly, he changed the topic and caught her off guard. Was this his true confession?


    Seeing her stunned look, ric chuckled and asked, "Even if you''re slow, you should understand what I mean now, right?"


    "Do... you really want to marry me?"


    "What do you think?" he retorted before continuing, "Of course, you can refuse. After all, I did mention that the real Tiger might not be dead, and I don''t know when he''ll return to seek revenge on me. Once he does, my family will be in danger. So, it''s up to you whether you want to take the risk of being part of it."


    Hearing this, Gtea snorted coldly. She looked at him and replied, "ric, I find you quite optimistic. On the surface, you''re a wealthy man that all women want to marry. But in reality, you''re not only a sick person in constant danger of losing your life, but also a dangerous man whom enemies can target at any time. It''s not a good deal to be your wife."


    "Thetter situation may not necessarily happen. And if only the former happens, if I die from my illness early on, then the Knight family''s fortune will be yours. How is that a bad deal for you?"


    "ric, could you please stop saying such gloomy things? What do you mean by dying early?" she scolded angrily. "What? You can''t bear to see me die?"


    "I''ve already said that I can cure your aftereffects, but you keep saying you''ll die from them. Isn''t that the greatest insult to my medical skills?" "Does that mean you''re willing to continue being my private doctor?"


    Gtea finally realized that he had tricked her, giving him a hard punch. "ric, you jerk. You tricked me!"


    ric pretended to be in a lot of pain, so she nervously unbuttoned his cor. But in the process, he pulled her into his arms.


    "I''ve been busy all along, and now I finally have the time to see you..." At that moment, Cormac opened the door and was about to walk in.


    Hearing himing in, Gtea hurriedly pushed ric away and stood up from his embrace.


    It was already the second time this happened, and Cormac was really regretful about that. Why did he forget to knock on the door at such a critical moment? "Sorry, it seems like I came at the wrong time..." he said with a smirk.


    Gtea''s face was now tomato red as she said, "I''ll go out and talk to the doctor; you take your time."


    She made an excuse and quickly ran out. After she did, ric''s face was immediately gloomy. He said, "Next time, call me before youe. Don''te if it''ll disturb me!"

 Chapter 128 Their Crazy Display of Affection

    Harry exined, "Dad, before anything else, I want to ask about your health first. Are you feeling better now? I wanted to call you earlier, but I was afraid of disturbing your rest. I kept asking Uncle Cormac, and he said you were doing better. Is


    that true?"


    "It''s true," ric said, lying in bed. Gtea was sitting beside him, peeling an apple. The two seemed like an old married couple.


    "Daddy''s fine now, so you don''t need to worry. Now, tell me, did something upset you?"


    ric had never heard Caspian speak in such a manner before, so he must be upset.


    "It''s Grandma," Harry said, sounding particrly sad. "The day she returned, I returned from school and told her I was hungry, but then she was furious and said I didn''t know the rules. I was quiet today, but she suddenly started yelling and calling me a bastard. I really don''t know what I did wrong. Why does she dislike me so much?"


    "A bastard?" ric''s heart tightened when he heard this word. "Did she really say that?"


    "Although not very loudly, I''m sure I didn''t mishear. Moreover, she even wanted to hit me. The household staff aunties can testify for me!"


    "Okay, I understand, Caspian. Don''t worry; this won''t happen again. Don''t take it to heart."


    "After talking to Daddy, I feel much better now. I was so sad just now."


    "Good boy. Daddy will be discharged from the hospital soon, so can you wait for me toe home?"


    "Okay!" Harry said obediently. "Take good care of yourself ande home soon. I love you."


    After saying that, he kissed ric through the phone, with ric returning the kiss before hanging up. "Your son called?" Gtea handed the sliced apple to ric and asked.


    "Yes."


    "Did his grandmother scold him?"


    "It''s not as simple as that."


    "A bastard? Is that what she called him earlier?" Gtea asked.


    ric nodded.


    "Did his grandmother say that? That can''t be true. Older generations are usually more affectionate toward their grandchildren, and your mom should treat your son even better than you." she said.


    "But the fact is quite the opposite. She has never liked Caspian since he was young, but I don''t know why. The only person she cares about in this world is me. Besides me, she can be cold and even heartless to anyone else." Originally, when Gtea heard them talking about how strict and fierce ric''s mother was, she didn''t think much of it. But now that ric also said so, she couldn''t help but feel a kind of fear deep down.


    Could there really be such a terrifying olddy in this world? Was she scarier than her former mother-inw, Mrs. Marigold?


    Mrs. Marigold was truly authoritative and decisive in her actions. Once the DNA test results came out, she didn''t even listen to Gtea''s exnation, as if she made a big mistake.


    Thinking of that face, Gtea shuddered. She quickly stopped her thoughts and returned to the present.


    "Your son is so pitiful. Neither his grandmother nor his mother loves him; it must be heartbreaking."


    Thinking back to before, ric even med Caspian for not epting Orion. From his perspective now, these people didn''t love him, so why should he?


    A child whose own grandmother and mother hated was indeed pitiful and heartbreaking.


    No wonder Caspian wanted to call Gtea ''Mommy'' after meeting her only once; it was because of the love and tenderness she showed him.


    "In a few days, I''ll take you to meet Caspian. You''ll definitely be shocked when you see him." ric said.


    Gtea will definitely be shocked when she sees his son, as both their sons looked almost identical. He couldn''t wait to see her reaction.


    She found his words quite funny and asked, "I''ve seen children before, so why would I be scared of seeing your son?"


    ricughed and teased her, "Because he takes after me, so he''s handsome."


    She was speechless. "ric, how did you be like this after getting sick this time? Stop talking and eat your apple."


    He smiled and started eating the apple. Whether it was just a psychological effect or not, he found it really sweet.


    Just then, there was a knock on the door outside the ward.


    Gtea turned her head, surprised to see that it was Ambrose. In truth, thetter had already arrived earlier and heard their conversation.


    It was like love was in the air, and he just couldn''t understand.


    How could Gtea, such a proud princess, forgive ric so easily after he made her cry?


    Meanwhile, ric also didn''t expect Ambrose''s visit. Although his lie about the business trip had been exposed, it shouldn''t have reached Ambrose''s ears so quickly. "Mr. ric, I heard you were unwell and got hospitalized, so I came to visit," Ambrose said, carefully cing supplements and a fruit basket on the coffee table. It was an awkward scene again. Gtea looked at ric, and this time, his eyes were firm, indicating he neither panicked nor avoided them.


    With his reassuring gaze, she felt more at ease. After all, Ambrose wouldn''t dare acknowledge her now, so she pretended not to know him.


    ric said, "CEO Ambrose, you have quite a knack for getting information. I didn''t publicize it since I didn''t want to cause trouble, but I didn''t expect you to find out."


    "I understand your thoughts, Mr. ric. Don''t worry, I didn''t publicize it either," Ambrose feigned concern while asking, "How are you now?"


    "It''s not a big deal," Gtea replied, "He has been overworking himself recently and asionally experiences dizziness. I was worried, so I forced him to stay in the hospital. Otherwise, he''d never take a break." "Yes, a wife who is a doctor has its pros and cons. The good thing is that she can take care of your health, but the bad thing is that she overreacts when you have minor difort," ric said.


    "I''m not overreacting; I just care about you. You don''t appreciate the good things in life. If it were someone else, I wouldn''t have bothered," Gtea replied.


    "Yes, thank you, Darling," ric said.


    Ambrose was annoyed by their deliberate disy of affection. What''s most disgusting was that he couldn''t show it and had to say insincere words.


    "Mr. ric and Mrs. Knight''s rtionship is really good," he said.


    "Well, of course. After finding a good wife like Gtea, it''d be a disaster if I don''t treasure her," ric replied.


    "Alright, enough with the wisecracks. We have guests here," Gtea pretended to be coy and said.


    Ambrose was exasperate. Should he even stay here any longer?


    "Now that Mr. ric''s fine, I can rest assured. I won''t third wheel here any longer, so I bid you farewell," he said. "Alright, thanks for your visit," she replied.


    Ambrose left the ward by himself. Once outside, he clenched his fists. ''Damn it! ric, I''ll never let you have Sten!''

 Chapter 130 I Will Never Forgive You If You Hurt Him Again

    After hearing Mrs. Marigold''s words, Cormac fell silent. He realized that speaking up for Gtea would only bring her more harm. "Mrs. Marigold, you''re right; I was wrong," Cormac had no choice but toply. "I''ll keep an eye on ric, so you don''t have to worry."


    Mrs. Marigold sighed. She was now worried about ric''s health, but even more concerned about how she''d tell him about Caspian''s origins. "Cormac, has your father said anything to you recently?"


    Cormac was a close friend of ric, so if Griffon told him about Caspian''s origins, he''d certainly pass the information to ric. That would leave Marigold in a passive position.


    "Mrs. Marigold, you know well enough about our rtionship. We barely talk on a regr basis; he wouldn''t tell me anything." Cormac replied.


    "Is your rtionship still so strained after all these years?"


    Cormac could only awkwardly smile without saying a word.


    "On this matter, I must speak for your father. As parents, we all want our children to have a good life. However, you''re too young to understand love and emotions. Moreover, youe from a noble and wealthy family. Unless you find someone from a simr background, those from lower sses are simply after your money. Such women should only be avoided."


    The two surprisingly agreed on this point. Cormac wondered what kind of life their children would have if they were a couple.


    "Mrs. Marigold, I understand what you mean, so... I''m just asking out of curiosity." Cormac took the opportunity to probe, "If ric insisted on marrying Gtea, what would you..."


    "He wouldn''t dare!" she was furious upon hearing this. "Unless he disowns me as his mother, I''d never allow that kind of woman into our family."


    Cormac felt sorry for ric, praying that Gtea wouldn''t end up like his unfortunate girlfriend.


    Gtea slept for a long time and was particrly deep asleep. Not only was she deep in slumber, but she also had a beautiful dream.


    She dreamt of their wedding before, but she was arrested by the police and forced to wake up from the nightmare. This time, her dream was exceptionally blissful.


    At the end of it, they kissed each other, and she couldn''t help but smile. As she kept smiling, she actually woke upughing.


    When she opened her eyes, she saw ric observing her closely. After all, she was lying in his arms, which left her embarrassed. "Awake?" he asked gently.


    "Yeah," she nodded and felt saliva hanging from the corner of her mouth. She hurriedly wiped it off and said embarrassedly, "Sorry."


    He smiled affectionately and asked, "You wereughing just now. Did you have a nice dream?"


    If she told him that she dreamt of them getting married, wouldn''t he make fun of her?


    "Not at all," Gtea looked outside and realized it was almost dark. She quickly asked, "Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"


    "I want to eat the noodles you cook. They were really delicious."


    It was just a bowl of in noodles. Was it really that delicious?


    "Then I''ll buy some and cook them for you." The hospital room had a kitchen, so Gtea could buy ingredients and cook for him.


    "It''s my fault; I should''ve bought you a car a long time ago. What kind of model do you like? I''ll buy it for you."


    "No, please don''t!" she hurriedly said, "We haven''t formalized our rtionship yet, and your mom is back. I''m already anxious about living in the house you arranged; if you buy me a car, wouldn''t she me me?" "Moreover, I actually have money to buy a car, but I find it unnecessary. I don''t need one in my daily life, since taking public transport or a taxi is more convenient."


    "You''re my fianc¨¦e. Spending my money is a small matter."


    Gtea said, "That''s your thought, but your mom won''t think the same. I don''t want to be a sinner. Alright, I''m going out to buy noodles. I''ll be back soon."


    After that, she walked out, and ric watched her leave before looking away after a while.


    She was right. He thought it was natural to spend money on his lover, but Mrs. Marigold wouldn''t agree. He was still angry when he thought about her, so he took out his phone and called her.


    "Hello, ric," Mrs. Marigold answered, "I went to the hospital to see you today. However, your door was locked and you were asleep, so I didn''t disturb you."


    Did Mrs. Marigolde when he was sleeping with Gtea? It was a good thing she didn''t see them. Otherwise, she would''ve exploded on the spot.


    "Mom, I''m already fine in the hospital. You can rx and don''t need toe often." he went straight to the point, "Also, I''m calling you over Caspian''s matter." "Caspian?" Mrs. Marigold immediately felt guilty when she heard this. Did he already know?


    "What''s the matter with Caspian?"


    "How can you treat him like that? You ignored him when he was young, and I didn''t say anything then. However, calling him a bastard is excessive. He''s just a child, and he''s also your grandson. How could you say those words?" When she realized this wasn''t about Caspian''s background, she immediately calmed down. However, her anger soon resurfaced.


    "Did that brat whine to you? Such a young child already knows how to tattle!"


    "Mom, instead of reflecting on the harm you''ve done, you me him for telling on you. You''re so unreasonable!"


    "ric, how dare you speak to me like that? I am your mother!"


    "I know you are, and I know your care and love for me. However, I really don''t understand why you treat Caspian so poorly. He''s just your grandson!"


    The more ric spoke, the angrier he was. In this family, he was the only one who treated Caspian well, while the rest of his rtives didn''t care at all. When he finished speaking, Mrs. Marigold felt a sense of guilt.


    ric was a particrly judgmental person, but considering Caspian''s background, he had never once doubted her words in all these years.


    His unwavering trust made it even harder for her to find the right thing to say.


    "I... I just don''t like him." Even now while on the phone, Mrs. Marigold was still unsure of what to say. It felt like she was just making excuses to dismiss the matter. However, ric wouldn''t give up and continued asking, "Caspian is so well-behaved and talented. Why don''t you like him?" "There''s no reason; I just don''t!"


    "I can''t understand how you can dislike him for no reason. Isn''t he your grandson?"


    When ric asked this, she Marigoldpletely panicked. She felt guilty and had no idea whether he was saying it offhandedly, or if he already knew something!

 Chapter 133 Could Caspians Mama be Her?

    Ambrose had returned from the hospital and was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, using a telescope to watch Gtea''s clinic. The workers had already left after finishing renovations, but Gtea hadn''te back yet. So, she spent all night taking care of ric at the hospital? The thought of them shamelessly disying affection in the ward made him feel resentful.


    He clenched his fists tightly until his palms were sweaty, then looked down at his hand. The wounds from smashing the ss yesterday had reopened.


    When they were together before, she could notice even a mosquito bite on him, let alone an injury. But now, she didn''t pay attention to his bandaged hand, only focusing on ric.


    He took a sharp breath and threw the telescope aside before sitting on the couch, his mind filled with Gtea.


    ''Sten, do you really not love me anymore?'' The thought pierced his heart like a knife, but he immediately rejected it. ''No, I don''t believe it. I absolutely don''t!''


    Yes, he didn''t believe it!


    They were together for so many years; how could she just stop loving him?


    "Sten, I''m the only one in this world who can make you happy. Don''t worry, I won''t let go of anyone who forced me to leave you back then!"


    Just then, his phone rang, and it was Denny calling. Ambrose adjusted his emotions and answered the call.


    "CEO Ambrose," Denny reported, "After the Storm family went bankrupt, we still haven''t found Ms. Sten''s whereabouts. However, I discovered that she paid off all her debts one month after the bankruptcy and then disappeared. Less than a yearter, news of her death spread."


    "She paid them off one month after the bankruptcy? And then died in less than a year..." Ambrose muttered. Wasn''t this the exact timeline?


    "What about Harry and Elisa''s birth dates?"


    "It coincides with the date when news of her death came out."


    Everything started to make sense.


    "I understand now." he hung up the phone and thought about what happened to her back then.


    At that time, she was desperate for money due to debts and had no choice but to have ric''s child. Mrs. Marigold must''ve nned the whole process, and Sten waspletely unaware of the Knight family''s background. Perhaps Mrs. Marigold initially only wanted an heir and abandoned Sten, or maybe something happened halfway through that led to Sten''s eventual "fake death".


    Even though she miraculously survived, one could only imagine her pain then.


    It was his forced departure that left her with no other choice, and Mrs. Marigoldpletely stepped on her dignity!


    Harry and Elisa were ric''s children. At this moment, they probably still didn''t know since Mrs. Marigold was lying in the middle.


    Thinking of this, Ambrose quickly grabbed his phone and called Denny. Denny asked hurriedly, "CEO Ambrose, what are your instructions?"


    "Immediately assign bodyguards to protect Sten secretly. I''m afraid that if Mrs. Marigold finds out she''s still alive, it might be to her disadvantage."


    That old witch only wanted a child; she didn''t care about Sten''s life or death. If she finds out Sten didn''t die but didn''t want ric to marry Sten, who knew what extreme measures she might take? "I understand, CEO Ambrose."


    "Make sure to protect her safety. If anything happens to her, I won''t forgive you!"


    "I understand," Denny said firmly.


    After ending the call, Ambrose sighed and said, "Sten, I won''t let anything happen to you again."


    In the hospital room, ric was lyingfortably on the bed with Gtea beside him. When one was sick, seeing a doctor gave them psychological security.


    Moreover, Gtea was now his fianc¨¦e. She didn''t need to take care of other patients except for him. He felt calm, not worrying about any issues with his health.


    "The IV is finished, so you should rest," Gtea said. "I slept a bit too much today, so I''m not tired now. I''ll carefully consider your treatment n."


    "My treatment n?"


    "Yes, we only treated your insomnia before, but now we have to start treating the aftereffects. You had a cardiac arrest this time, and I dare not imagine what might happen next, so we need to treat you as soon as possible," she exined. "Well then, thanks for your hard work, Dr. Gtea," ric said mischievously.


    She joked, "It''s nothing. Alright, you''re recovering now and need more rest; sleep well. I''ll work on the n and then sleep."


    "Okay," ric replied softly and closed his eyes.


    Afterward, she sat down at her desk, and ric opened his eyes again. From this angle, he could see her face perfectly, looking even more enchanting in the light.


    The hospital room was tranquil, and all he could hear was the sound of scratching on paper. Watching her, he wondered about something.


    If Mrs. Marigold had really lied about Caspian''s parentage and his mom wasn''t Orion, could it be Gtea?


    Otherwise, why would Caspian and Harry look so identical?


    Thinking about it, ricughed. Was it possible?


    Now, he couldn''t fall asleep as well. He just kept watching her, lost in his thoughts. When he saw her about to turn around, he quickly closed his eyes.


    Gtea nced at ric, who seemed like he had fallen asleep. She checked the time, noticing it was already early morning. Due to the time difference, it was noon in M Country at that moment. She picked up her phone and walked to the window, dialing a number. The call was quickly answered.


    "Hello, Josep? It''s Gtea. I''m really sorry for disturbing you during your lunch break."


    Upon receiving a call from Gtea, Josep was quite surprised and hurriedly responded, "You know I''m old and don''t really take catnaps. Why did you suddenly remember to call me? Are you thinking of returning?"


    "No, it''s not that. I need some help from you. Here''s the thing; I have a friend with a special condition. He has post-traumatic seque, and experiences intermittent attacks, but each one is particrly dangerous. I''ve written a treatment n for his condition, but considering my limited experience, I haven''t tried it before. I''m afraid there might be side effects, so I wanted to ask if you could take a look when you''re free."


    "Now that you''ve asked, of course I will. Send me his medical records and your treatment n, and I''ll get back to you after reviewing it."


    "Thank you so much, Josep."


    "It''s no big deal, so no need to thank me." he then asked, "It should be veryte in your country now. Studying a treatment n in the middle of the night, what kind of friend is this? Your rtionship must be special."

 Chapter 136 DNA Test

    "ric!" Mrs. Marigold was furious upon hearing ric''s words. "ric, are you using me of disregarding life by saying that?" "Yes." ric replied.


    Mrs. Marigold retorted angrily, "I won''t give her a grand burial, nor will I have her tombstone ced in the Knight family''s cemetery. She was just a woman who sold her body for money. It was her fortune to bear Caspian for you. Her death was worth it, and there''s nothing pitiful about it!


    That despicable woman isn''t even worth mentioning her name and letting the world know her name! You keep asking me why I''m not good to Caspian, it''s because I know Caspian was born from that despicable woman. Every time I see Caspian, I think of that despicable woman, so I dislike Caspian!"


    In the midst of the argument, Mrs. Marigold didn''t mention the DNA matter, nor did she dare to mention that Gtea was pregnant with three children at the time, losing two along with Gtea. If ric found out, he would have considered her a heartless old witch.


    "Since the child she bore disgusts you, then you shouldn''t have asked her to bear a child for me in the first time. Mom, it is too contradictory."


    "Yes, I am a contradictory, malicious, and heartless woman. The more I look at Caspian now, the more displeased he bes. I even suspect that Caspian is not a true descendant of the Knight family!"


    "Go and have a DNA test with him immediately. If it proves he''s not a descendant of the Knight family, kick Caspian out right away!"


    Mrs. Marigold, in her rage, didn''t care about consequences anymore. Just because ric cherished Gtea so much, she was ready to kick Caspian out without hesitation.


    "Fine!" ric said, "I will go and do a DNA test with Caspian today. I will show you the results, and I hope you won''t regret all these years of your actions toward Caspian when you see them!"


    After saying that, ric turned and walked out inrge strides. After he left, Mrs. Marigold covered her heart directly, and Joe immediately supported her, helping her sit on the sofa.


    "Mrs. Marigold, didn''t you decide to talk to ric nicely? How did it end up in an argument?" Joe asked.


    "I didn''t want to argue with ric either, but you heard what he just said. I''ve worked hard for so many years. Even without achievements, one has exerted effort! In the end, it''s all my fault, and ric even defies me for that dead despicable woman! Shouldn''t that despicable woman have died?"


    "She deserved it!" Joe echoed whileforting her.


    "Alright, Mrs. Marigold, ric said he''s going to do a DNA test with Caspian. If the results show they''re not father and son, ric won''t me you." Joe reassured her.


    Mrs. Marigold was too angry to say anything coherent at this point. After a while, she said. "I hope so. It''s infuriating. I''ve raised this ungrateful and vicious son for so many years."


    ric was also deeply upset. After returning to his car, he couldn''t calm his emotions for a long time, feeling more and more enraged.


    Just then, his phone rang, and Cormac was calling.


    "Are you out of the hospital?" Cormac had gone to the hospital to see ric but only found out he had been discharged. "You''re so inconsiderate, not even telling me you were discharged, making mee here for nothing." "Coming to Gloria Winery have a drink with me." ric hung up after saying that.


    Cormac was stunned. ric invited him to Gloria Winery, which meant something was wrong.


    Cormac immediately drove to Gloria Winery, where ric was already waiting, and the wine sses were all set up.


    "What''s wrong with you today? You just got out of the hospital. Don''t you know you''re not supposed to drink?" Cormac quickly took away the tall ss in front of ric.


    ric didn''t react much to Cormac''s actions, visibly showing his irritation.


    "What''s wrong? Did you have a fight with Gtea again?" Cormac couldn''t help but specte upon seeing his state. "Is it a real breakup this time?"


    "It''s not about Gtea."


    "Then what could make you like this? Tell me, it might cheer me up."


    Upon Cormac''s questioning, ric sneered. Cormac was also a fool in this matter.


    ric then told Cormac about Caspian''s parentage. After listening, Cormac was stunned for ten seconds.


    "Orion isn''t really Caspian''s birth mother?" Cormac couldn''t believe it.


    "Yes, is it ridiculous?" ric found it all too absurd.


    "I can''t believe it. Orion said those things just to marry you, there is just one thing, but my parents, and Mrs. Marigold, and they''re all elders, why would they lie like this? My God, is this a movie? This is too absurd. The nephew has been calling me for so many years, and it turns out we''re not rted at all. This is too absurd!"


    "That''s the truth." ric was truly angry now, but mostly at himself. "It''s also my fault, I never bothered to confirm all these years."


    "How can this be your fault? Who would have thought they woulde up with such a lie together? It''s too ridiculous. Has Caspian''s biological mother indeed died?" Cormac eximed.


    "I am uncertain. Mrs. Marigold said that. I will investigate further." attested ric.


    Upon hearing this, Cormac found his mind momentarily paralyzed. "Should we reveal this matter to Caspian?"


    "Caspian has no affection for Orion. Informing him that Orion is not his birth mother will probably bring him joy. As for his biological mother, let''s reserve that when he is more mature." ric opined.


    "Yes, considering his age, we fear Caspian might struggle with such a revtion." Cormac eximed. "This is preposterous! The people involved are crazy to make such a lie." "Help me with something."


    "What do you need, checking Caspian''s birth mother?" Cormac asked.


    "No, it''s to do a DNA test with Caspian."


    "Why do you need a DNA test with Caspian? Caspian isn''t Orion''s, so he must be your son. He looks so much like you."


    "Caspian is indeed my son. I know he''s my son. That''s why I want to do it. I want all those who doubt to shut up!"


    "I got it. Leave this matter to me. You just need to give me a strand of Caspian''s hair with the follicle." Cormac said.


    "Okay." ric replied.


    After talking to Cormac, ric returned home. At that moment, seeing Caspian, he felt particrly heartbroken, feeling that Caspian was the most hurt in this whole situation. "Daddy, you''re out of the hospital. How about you?" Harry''s words were cut off as ric immediately hugged him, making Harry astonished.


    "Daddy, what''s wrong with you?" Harry was particrly bewildered.

 Chapter 140 Accompany me Tonight

    "Griffon, don''t you think you''re being too light-hearted about this?" Since Griffon''s wordscked sincerity, ric didn''t need to be so polite either.


    "If you truly cared about me, you wouldn''t tell such lies. The lies were only for Orion. Now that I have no results with Orion, you are afraid she will continue to bear an undeserved identity, which will affect her future. That''s why you are so eager to clear things up. Griffon, you are indeed a father who loves your daughter!" ric mocked.


    Upon hearing this, Griffon coldly chuckled, "ric, I understand that you are emotional right now, but it''s the Nash family that has always been at a disadvantage in this matter. When Mrs. Marigold found a woman to bear your child, it wasn''t until Caspian was born that the Nash family found out. Unfortunately, that woman hadplications during childbirth and passed away."


    "Orion stood up and imed that Caspian was hers because she loved you so much, ric. At that time, Orion was at the peak of her career. You know how cruel the entertainment industry can be, especially for an actress during those crucial years. When Orion made that choice while her career was thriving, you can imagine how much she loved you. At that time, all of us had good fantasies, thinking that you, Orion, and Caspian could be happy together forever. Who would have thought this situation would arise?"


    ric retorted, "So all of this is the fault of the Knight family. Mrs. Marigold shouldn''t have gone behind the Nash family''s back to find a woman to bear my child, and I shouldn''t have disappointed Orion, right?" "ric, you''re getting emotional with these words. You know that I didn''t mean it that way. Now that you and Orion have no future together, let''s just rify things and move on. Isn''t that better?" Griffon smiled. "We can rify things, and I also want to rify. Is it hard for Orion to give me a heads-up before rifying?"


    Orion''s sudden rification caught everyone off guard, and the news immediately exploded, with all sorts of online attacks resembling cyberbullying targeting ric and Gtea.


    Orion managed to clear her namepletely, portraying herself as a great, innocent and kind-hearted figure, while ric and Gtea were painted as a scoundrel and a mistress. Absolutely ridiculous!


    "Didn''t Mrs. Marigold tell you?" Griffon pretended to be innocent. "I mentioned this matter to Mrs. Marigold before, and she agreed to let Orion rify things. I didn''t expect Mrs. Marigold didn''t inform you." Since childhood, Griffon had been a close friend of ric''s father, and ric respected Griffon as a father. However, after all these years, ric never realized that Griffon was such a selfish and cunning person.


    "Griffon, you''re right. Since Orion and I have no future together, let''s each go our separate ways." ric continued. "If we''re cutting ties, let''s do it thoroughly. The economic cooperation between the Knight family and the Nash family will be terminated directly. When I return to thepany, I will instruct the finance department to settle everything, withdrawing investments where necessary and selling off shares."


    "ric, the economic cooperation between the Knight family and the Nash family hassted for many years. While it''s not always a case of prospering together, suffering together. Your actions will harm both the Knight family and the Nash family. Don''t be so ruthless!" Griffon said angrily.


    "This is what you wanted, Griffon." ric smiled. "You care about me, so I should also consider your interests. Bypletely separating the economic ties between the Knight family and the Nash family, we can prevent any further losses on your part."


    Griffon''s expression now was particrly unpleasant. He never expected ric to act so decisively.


    "Fine, since you have said so, I have nothing more to say." Griffon stated, "I will immediately instruct the finance department to settle everything." "Good." ric replied cheerfully.


    "It seems ric is here." At this moment, Mrs. Ravenna, supported by a servant, trembled down the stairs. "Griffon and ric, are you two arguing?" "Mom, why are you out of bed?" Orion hurried forward and also helped Mrs. Ravenna.


    "I''ve been lying down these days, and even though I wasn''t sick, lying down made me ill. I''ve been feeling much better since Gtea came to see me." Mrs. Ravenna looked at ric and said, "ric, didn''t Gteae with you?" Seeing Mrs. Ravenna still unaware of what had happened, they had deceived her together. ric was also upset about it, but seeing Mrs. Ravenna''s weak state at the moment, his difort immediately overcame his anger, and he quickly stepped forward to support Mrs. Ravenna.


    "Gtea is busy, so I came alone." ric replied.


    "Next time, bring Gtea with you. I enjoy talking to Gtea now." Mrs. Ravenna smiled.


    "Okay."


    "What happened just now? I couldn''t quite hear what you and Griffon were discussing, but it seemed like you were about to argue."


    "No." ric quickly replied, "I was just discussing business matters with Griffon."


    "As long as there''s no argument," Mrs. Ravenna patted ric''s hand, saying, "Although things didn''t work out between you and Orion, the rtionship between the Knight family and the Nash family has been strong for so many years. Don''t let your issues with Orion cause a rift."


    At this point, ric also felt uneasy. He didn''t want to create a divide, especially since the Knight family and the Nash family were long-time allies.


    But sometimes, different paths must be taken.


    "Okay." It was a sight that tormented ric, watching Mrs. Ravenna in such a state, embroiled in deception with the Nash family, an act that tormented him more. Rapidly, he fabricated an excuse. "Mrs. Ravenna, some businesses require my attention at the office. I must take my leave."


    "Indeed, work is important." she responded.


    "Take care of yourself." he implored, "I wille to visit you when time permits."


    "Okay, I shall maintain my well-being. Hurry to your work." Mrs. Ravenna urged him forth.


    ric felt a mix of emotions. After leaving the Nash family, he drove for a while before stopping.


    ric felt an indescribable sense of oppression.


    The saying is true: human growth often involves losing things. Those feelings and affections he once believed in now seemed fragile.


    Perhaps ric felt a strong sense of loss.


    ric took out his phone and called Gtea, saying only one thing. "Apany me tonight."

 Chapter 143 DNA Results

    ric didn''t expect Gtea''s reaction to pregnancy to be so intense, and that kind of fear couldn''t be faked. Gtea was genuinely terrified.


    This also puzzled ric. As Gtea mentioned, she was a bold female surgeon and had already given birth, yet she was so afraid of having another child.


    "It''s okay." ric held Gtea,forting her, "I was just joking. We already have Caspian, Harry, and Elisa. I will treat Harry and Elisa as my own, and you will surely treat Caspian as yours. That''s enough." Gtea still looked at ric with disbelief, "Don''t lie to me. I am not joking, either. I won''t have another child, absolutely not."


    "No jokes, no more children, absolutely not."


    Gtea didn''t say anything, just nodded, and ric, afraid of saying anything more to upset her, immediately hugged her and said, "It''ste, let''s sleep."


    "Okay." Gtea nodded and closed her eyes.


    ric turned his head, kissed Gtea on the forehead, and then watched her. He didn''t know why Gtea reacted so strongly, but he knew Gtea must have some psychological trauma.


    ric tightened his grip on Gtea''s arm a bit more. He couldn''t imagine what she had been through before. All he could do was use his love for Gtea to heal her woundspletely.


    When he heard Gtea''s steady breathing, ric knew she had fallen asleep. He kissed her on the face again, her fragile appearance stirring a strong protective instinct in him. He vowed not to let Gtea be hurt again. ric reached out and turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness.


    Seeing the darkened room, Ambrose''s heart also darkened.


    Gtea and ric had already fallen asleep. Although Ambrose couldn''t see what had happened between them, he could guess.


    ric hadpletely won the Gtea. Would Gtea and ric get married and live happily in the future?


    The thought made Ambrose particrly resentful. No, absolutely not! He wouldn''t allow such a thing to happen!


    Sten belonged to him. Sten could only be his!


    Last night, Gtea slept soundly in ric''s arms. The next morning, she was awakened by a phone call, her phone ringing, showing it was Cormac calling.


    "It must be mine." ric took Gtea''s phone and hung up her call, then turned on his own phone.


    Indeed, there were missed calls from various people, including Mrs. Marigold and Cormac, with Mrs. Marigold calling the most.


    "Mrs. Marigold is looking for you. You should call her back; she''ll worry if she can''t reach you all night." Gtea said anxiously.


    ric knew Mrs. Marigold wouldn''t be calling for good news, but he couldn''t avoid it, so he returned her call.


    "You finally answered the phone. Where were youst night?" Mrs. Marigold had been calling ric all night, and his phone had been off.


    "I found a quiet ce to sleep. What''s the matter?"


    "What''s the matter? Griffon told me you want topletely cut off economic ties with the Nash family. Do you know this will be mutually detrimental and will also cause losses to the Knight family?"


    "What else can we do? Should we continue to cooperate with the Nash family as if nothing happened? Sorry, I can''t do that!" ric said coldly.


    "ric, can''t you separate personal matters from business? You''ve let your personal emotions interfere with work."


    "I haven''t let any personal emotions interfere with work. I made a rational decision. Cooperation must be based on mutual trust, but it''s clear that Griffon doesn''t trust me, and I can''t trust Griffon either. Terminating the cooperation is the most rational choice."


    "You''re driving me crazy. Such a big matter, and you didn''t discuss it with me." Mrs. Marigoldined.


    "You didn''t discuss Caspian''s matter with me either, Mrs. Marigold. I am now a director of Nexus Innovations, and I have the power on anypany matters. My decision has made, and no one can change it!" ric said firmly. "You''re pissing me off. Fine, you''re now a director of Nexus Innovations. I can''t do anything about it. Do whatever you want to do!"


    After that, Mrs. Marigold angrily hung up the phone, and ric angrily tossed his phone aside.


    Gtea didn''t dare say anything and just quietly stayed by ric''s side. Later, her phone rang again; this time, it was Cormac calling. "It seems Cormac also has urgent matters to discuss with you. You should take the call." Gtea handed him her phone. ric took Gtea''s phone and answered the call. When Cormac realized ric had finally answered, he was truly exasperated.


    "ric, how old are you this year? Still ying the childish game of disappearing with your phone off!"


    "Why are you looking for me? Is it about terminating the cooperation between the Knight family and the Nash family?"


    "I''m not idle. I''ve said it before, I don''t interfere in Nash family''s business matters, and I''m not interested in them. I have a legitimate reason for calling you. Caspian''s DNA results are out." "I''lle right away."


    "Don''t you want to know the results?"


    "I already know the results, and there is no need to ask." ric said. "Alright, see you soon."


    Although Gtea didn''t hear what they were talking about, she knew ric was about to leave.


    "ric, go take care of your business. If you need anything, give me a call."


    "Okay." ric said, "There''s something urgent I need to attend to. I''ll find you after I''m done." "Okay." Gtea nodded.


    "Don''t rush, have breakfast first before you leave, and call meter." ric reminded.


    After that, ric left first, and Gtea went to the hotel restaurant to have breakfast. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Ambroseing out of another elevator. "Mrs. Knight, what a coincidence." Ambrose spoke first.

 Chapter 146 Harry Gets Injured

    Harry was really about to cry.


    Harry had thought of various ways of exposure, but he really hadn''t expected this one - ric actually did DNA test with him!


    The result was that he and ric were not biological father and son. What should they do? Then Mrs. Marigold would definitely be even more excited. The key is that he had made trouble for Caspian! Seeing Harry''s strong reaction, ric was also taken aback and then hurriedly squatted down tofort his emotions.


    "I''m sorry, Caspian, it was wrong of me to do this without your permission. I didn''t want you to know."


    "You did DNA test behind my back and didn''t want me to know, ric, you never really treated me as your son!" Harry had no choice but to morally condemn ric and then express various grievances, heartaches, and sorrows. "Daddy, you''ve hurt my heart, how could you do this behind my back, I''m so sad, I feel like I can''t breathe from the pain in my heart, I can''t take it, my heart is aching!"


    Harry had no choice but to resort to extremely exaggerated acting. Otherwise, he was afraid he couldn''t fool ric.


    Seeing Harry like this, ric was really worried and hurriedly asked, "Caspian, I''m really sorry. It''s all my fault. Where does it hurt now? I''ll take you to see a doctor."


    Saying that, ric was about to pick up Harry and take him to see a doctor, but Harry quickly refused, saying. "No need to see a doctor, I can handle it myself, as long as you leave now, don''t go get that result, I''ll be fine, I will forgive you." "But the result is already out, Mrs. Marigold is waiting too, I have to get it."


    "Daddy, do you really not care about my feelings at all?" Harry tried hard, tears welling up.


    "I''m sorry, Caspian, I didn''t mean to hurt you. Daddy will make it up to you when he gets back. Daddy needs to tell you that I never doubted that you were not my son. I did this DNA test just to shut up those who doubted, you know?" Harry knew nothing, Harry only knew he was in trouble!


    "Daddy, do you really have to get that result?"


    "Of course, Cormac just called me, he''s waiting inside, even if I don''t go get it, Cormac will deliver the result to the Knight family."


    This means Harry is at a dead end.


    As ric led Harry inside, Harry felt like he was being led to hell, his mind turned to mush, no way out! Otherwise, he''d better leave first, me himself for being coward, and let Caspian handle the rest.


    Harry thought, ''Sorry, Caspian, ric decided to do DNA test with me. Don''t me me.''


    "Daddy!" Halfway through, Harry suddenly stopped. ric also stopped, looking at him and asking.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I need to pee."


    "Okay, go, I''ll wait for you."


    Harry hurried into the bathroom, and once inside, he looked around to see where he could escape. Unfortunately, there was absolutely nowhere to escape, not even a mouse hole.


    Harry had to think of another way, and when Harry came out of the bathroom, ric asked, "What''s wrong with you? Caspian, are you feeling sick?"


    "No." Harry said weakly.


    Later, ric took Harry to the elevator, but Harry quickly said, "I don''t want to take the elevator. Can we take the stairs?"


    "The stairs?"


    "Yes, to exercise. Always taking the elevator will make peoplezy." Harry had to find ways to dy time.


    "Alright." Since Harry wanted to take the stairs, ric had to agree and take him to the stairs.


    Harry said after passing another bathroom."I need to pee again."


    "Didn''t you just go to the bathroom?"


    "Yes, but I suddenly need to go again."


    "Fine, go ahead." ric said helplessly.


    Harry quickly ran into the bathroom and was pleasantly surprised to find a small window above the bathroom and pipes on the wall. Harry looked at the window above, it was climbable, just a bit high, with a little safety risk. But Harry had to escape. Otherwise, he was in trouble! He decided to climb!


    Harry adjusted his posture and started climbing up the pipe step by step. ric looked at the time. Harry had been inside for more than ten minutes and still hadn''te out.


    "Caspian." ric was afraid that Harry was really unwell, so he went into the bathroom and called out. "Caspian, where are you?"


    Hearing ric''s voice, Harry was like a startled rabbit, he panicked and hastened his movements, he had to escape quickly, and then Harry''s phone slipped out of his pocket and fell into the toilet, adding to his troubles, but he had to climb out quickly.


    Hearing the sound, ric found thepartment where Harry was and knocked on the door. "Caspian,e out quickly. Daddy''s here."


    Harry hadn''t expected ric to find him so quickly, and he had to speed up his actions.


    "Caspian, are you in there? Why aren''t you speaking? Are you feeling unwell? Daddy ising in."


    Because thepartment door was locked from the inside and couldn''t be opened from the outside, ric decided to break it open directly. This sudden action scared Harry, and he let go of his grip. Harry was about to climb to the window, but this time he fell directly from above, feeling like his butt had split open; it was painful!


    "Caspian!" Hearing the sound inside, ric was more anxious. He kicked the door open, went in, and found Harry lying on the ground in pain. ric was terrified.


    "Caspian, what''s wrong with you?" ric quickly picked up Harry.


    "My butt hurts, my legs hurt." Harry felt like he was suddenly paralyzed from the waist down, he couldn''t move his body at all, it is too painful!


    Was he going to be disabled like this? He was only six years old, still a child, and he was young, handsome, and had a bright future. If he became disabled, it would be over!


    ric was scared and immediately took Harry to see a doctor. At this moment, ric''s phone kept ringing. It was Cormac calling. ric should have already arrived, but he hadn''t shown up. ric couldn''t answer Cormac''s call now. He was busy taking Harry to get an X-ray, which showed a minor bone fracture. Harry wouldn''t be able to walk for a while and needed to rest. "How are you, Caspian, still in pain?" ric asked with concern.


    "It''s okay. I''m not disabled. That''s a relief." Harry was actually quite relieved that he wasn''t disabled. He had thought he would be disabled for life.


    "Caspian, you won''t be disabled." ric had just finished speaking when his phone rang again, and it was Cormac.


    "ric, where are you?"


    "I''m at the orthopedics with Caspian, he''s injured."


    Cormac was shocked, "How did Caspian get injured?"


    "He slipped and fell in the bathroom and got a bone fracture. Stop talking nonsense, hurry up, and bring the DNA results." ric said.


    At this moment, Harry could only mourn for himself. He might as well confess everything, the identity between him and Caspian, it shouldn''t be a capital offense.

 Chapter 149 Are You Trying to Strangle Me?

    In the deste cemetery, with only the sound of the wind in her ears, Gtea''s phone kept ringing in her bag, but she didn''t hear it.


    Before her were the graves of Brennan and Mom Storm, Mom Storm had passed away early, and Brennan had always said that he wanted to be buried with Mom Storm after his death. Brennan had a tragic demise, finding sce only in beingid to rest alongside Mom Storm.


    "I''m sorry, Brennan, for not showing respect earlier;ing to see you now."


    Gtea knelt before the gravestones of Brennan and Mom Storm, gazing at their photos on the tombstone, where Brennan''s perpetual smile was captured.


    Seeing that smile now, Gtea was heartbroken even more. Her mind was filled with the words Ambrose had said to her.


    "Brennan, you didn''tmit suicide, right? You couldn''t bear to leave me, right? Who really harmed you?"


    For so many years, Gtea had been unable to understand this question, even harboring resentment. She resented Brennan for leaving her, for leaving her in debt and desperate, turning her into an orphan.


    It had never urred to Gtea that Brennan might not have taken his own life..


    Gtea''s heart felt unbearably painful now. She couldn''t imagine the despair and reluctance Brennan must have felt when he was pushed down the stairs. She couldn''t imagine the pain and regret Brennan experienced in his final moments as he took hisst breath.


    "I''m sorry, Brennan, it''s my ipetence. I''m useless." Gtea couldn''t help but cover her face and cry in pain.


    Gtea''s pain was now a hundred times worse than when Brennan had just passed away. She felt that she was foolish. It had been seven years since Brennan''s unjust death, and she still had no idea who the murderer was.


    Brennan was murdered, and the killer was still atrge. Gtea had never known of such a killer''s existence. She had even resented Brennan for his cruelty and selfishness.


    ric called Gtea again, but the phone kept ringing as Gtea didn''t answer.


    Later, ric''s phone rang again. He thought it was Gtea calling back, but it was Ss.


    "Mr. ric, do you need to reschedule the 2 p.m. meeting?"


    ric hadn''t arrived at the office yet, so Ss called to inquire.


    ric checked the time and said, "No need, I''ll be there right away."


    It was noon now, and Gtea should be busy with the renovation or perhaps sleeping. Once she fell asleep, she was like a log, unable to hear the phone even if it rang. Okay, let Gtea sleep.


    So ric put down his phone and hurried to the office for the meeting. At the same time, Mrs. Marigold had also arrived at the Knight family vi. "Where is Caspian?"


    As soon as Mrs. Marigold entered the vi, she asked the servants. The servants knew Mrs. Marigold mistreated Caspian, and now that Caspian was injured, they were worried that Mrs. Marigold might harm him. When Mrs. Marigold asked, the servants didn''t know how to respond.


    "Why are you all silent? Where is Caspian?" It was the weekend, and Caspian didn''t have to go to school.


    "Mrs. Marigold, Caspian is injured and currently asleep in bed."


    Upon hearing this, Mrs. Marigold was swept with a wave ofpassion. "How did Caspiane to be injured?"


    "We''re uncertain as to the cause of Caspian''s affliction, and he has been diagnosed as a fracture."


    Upon hearing that, Mrs. Marigold said angrily. "How painful that must be! Will Caspian have anysting effects? My poor Caspian, how could he suffer like this? You fools, how have you been taking care of Caspian? If anything happens to Caspian, I will skin you alive!"


    After saying this, Mrs. Marigold hurriedly ran to Caspian''s room. Hearing Mrs. Marigold''s words, the servants looked at each other in disbelief.


    Mrs. Marigold, who usually disliked Caspian, was suddenly showing concern for him.


    Mrs. Marigold rushed into Caspian''s room and saw him sleeping peacefully in bed. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.


    "Caspian, my poor grandson, it''s my fault. You''ve been by my side all this time, but I didn''t even know you were my flesh and blood."


    At this point, Mrs. Marigold couldn''t control herself, and tears streamed down her face.


    Mrs. Marigold remembered ric''s words before, he said that the spiritual connection between biological father and son, and he knew Caspian was his son without the DNA test.


    She didn''t have such a connection with her grandson, and she realized how much Caspian had suffered and been neglected over the years.


    It was all her fault!


    "Caspian, I know I was wrong. I will take good care of you."


    As Mrs. Marigold spoke, she stroked Harry''s face, her hands trembling uncontrobly, filled with excitement.


    Harry had been sleeping soundly but suddenly felt someone touching his face, tickling him!


    Harry was disturbed and woke up, opening his eyes to see Mrs. Marigold touching his face and about to reach his neck. He quickly sat up and moved away quickly. "It hurts!"


    His bottom!


    "What''s wrong, Caspian? Did I touch the injured area?" Mrs. Marigold asked anxiously, her hands trembling. "What are you feeling? Doctor, doctor!"


    "Mrs. Marigold, please don''t call the doctor. I''ll be fine in a moment." Harry quickly stopped her.


    The doctor arrived and began various examinations, asking him to take off his pants and inspect his bottom. Although Harry was only six years old, he still had his dignity! "What were you doing just now? Were you trying to strangle me while I was sleeping?" Harry questioned Mrs. Marigold.


    "Caspian, you''re injured. I am just worried about you. How could I bear to strangle you?"


    Hearing Mrs. Marigold say this, Harry waspletely stunned. What was going on? Mrs. Marigold had suddenly changed tactics and was now expressing concern for him.


    "Mrs. Marigold, what kind of act are you doing now?" Harry didn''t believe it at all. "You used to curse me, and now you''re suddenly concerned about a bastard. If I fell and died, wouldn''t you be even happier?" "Caspian, it was all my fault before. I was foolish and mistaken. I actually believed you weren''t my grandson. I waspletely confused."


    "Wait a minute, Mrs. Marigold, you''vepletely confused me now. You used to think I wasn''t your grandson, and then you treated me badly?"


    "Yes, I was deceived by bad people."


    "So now I''m your grandson again?"


    "Yes, it''s clearly written in the DNA results."


    As soon as Mrs. Marigold finished speaking, Harry felt like he had been struck by lightning. What did Mrs. Marigold just say?

 Chapter 152 My Real Name is Stellan Storm

    Gtea took a bath first, then wrapped herself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom. ric had prepared hot cocoa for her. "Drink this."


    Gtea obediently drank the hot cocoa, then pursed her lips tightly after finishing it, looking like she had done something wrong, and slowly sat down on the sofa.


    Seeing Gtea like this, ric sighed helplessly, frowned, and said to her, "What am I supposed to do with you? You''re not a three-year-old child anymore, making people worry like this." ric felt more worried about Gtea than he did for Caspian.


    Gtea hung her head tightly, still saying. "I''m sorry."


    ric squatted down in front of her, trying to find her gaze, and asked very gently. "What happened? Why did you suddenly go to the cemetery to see Brennan?"


    As ric asked this, Gtea suddenly felt her nose tingling, looked up at him, and her eyes became moist.


    "Yes, I suddenly missed Brennan, so I went there and stayed until evening, and my phone ran out of battery. I didn''t mean to disappear."


    Seeing Gtea about to cry, ric quickly hugged her, let her lean on his chest, and then gently patted her back,forting her.


    "I know, but next time, don''t be so careless. I worry about you a lot."


    Gtea now felt full of guilt, just leaning on ric''s chest, feeling particrly secure at this moment.


    They maintained this posture for a long time before Gtea slowly moved away from ric''s embrace, then looked at him and asked. "Aren''t you going to ask why I suddenly missed Brennan?"


    To this, ric smiled indulgently and said, "A daughter missing her father doesn''t need a reason. Even if there are reasons, if you don''t want to say it, I won''t ask."


    This response made Gtea feel even more guilty. ric said he wanted to protect her and wanted her to be his wife, but she had been lying to him all along.


    "ric."


    "What?"


    "In fact, my name is not Gtea. That''s a name I changedter. My real name is Sten Storm."


    Gtea couldn''t convince herself as easily as before to keep this from ric. After speaking, Gtea was nervous, blinking her eyes and waiting for his reaction.


    Upon hearing this name, ric was stunned for a moment. Why did this name sound familiar to him?


    Seeing ric''s reaction, Gtea felt anxious. ;"I''m sorry, ric, I didn''t mean to deceive you. I changed my name to start over."She quickly exined.


    "I know." ric said calmly, "I had already guessed that Gtea wasn''t your real name. It''s okay. I can understand that you want to start a new life and not face the past. I just felt that the name Sten Storm sounded familiar." But ric had always been in the military, and there was no connection between them before.


    "My father''s name is Brennan Storm." Gtea said.


    ric was surprised. "You''re Brennan Storm''s daughter?"


    "Yes, do you know my father?"


    "No, I don''t." ric shook his head. "I''ve always been in the military, so I know very little about business matters. But even with limited knowledge, I''ve heard of Brennan''s name before. He used to be a well-known entrepreneur in the country." Previously, Gtea had mentioned that she was born into a wealthy family, butter, the family went bankrupt.


    ric thought it was just an ordinary wealthy family, not realizing that she was Brennan''s daughter. The Storm''s Family from before was no less prestigious than the Knight family.


    "No wonder your name sounded familiar, Sten Storm, once hailed as the number one debutante in Arizona."


    "It''s all gossip, surprising that you know about that." Gtea didn''t expect ric to know about this.


    "I was in the military before, then got seriously injured and was in aa for a while. When I woke up, I vaguely heard about the downfall of the Storm''s Family. I wasn''t interested at the time and didn''t delve into it. What exactly happened? How could a top-tier family like the Storm''s Family copse overnight?" ric felt a sense ofment as he spoke.


    "I don''t know the specifics either." Recalling it, Gtea felt like she had been through a nightmare. "Before the incident, I was studying abroad. I was supposed to return home that month, but one day, Brennan called me and told me to stay abroad temporarily, not toe back to the country. He didn''t give a reason, just told me to stay abroad and then hung up.


    I felt uneasy at the time. Later, when I called Brennan, he didn''t answer. I had a premonition that something had happened. I immediately flew back to the country. The Storm Family was running a foodpany, which was reported to have a serious overdose of additives in the food, causing deaths.


    They also said the Storm Family was involved in tax evasion, and Brennan was used of bribery, maliciouspetition, disrupting the normal market order, and economic crimes. In short, he was used of many offenses all at once. Thepany was sealed off at the time, Brennan was under investigation, and I thought everything would be fine after the investigation.


    But after more than twenty days of investigation, all the charges were proven true. I was thunderstruck. I knew Brennan would never do such things, but the investigators said the evidence was overwhelming, and he might end up in prison for a long time.


    With the assets seized and suppliers demanding payment, plus the media portraying Brennan as a viin who deserved it, the public pressure was immense. I was really overwhelmed at that time. Brennan was in custody, waiting for trial. Later, they said Brennan could be released on bail. Finally, the bail procedures werepleted, and he could temporarily leave the detention center, but..."


    At this point, Gtea choked up, suppressing her emotions, she continued. "But during the bail period, Brennanmitted suicide by jumping off a building."


    Upon hearing this and seeing Gtea''s state, ric''s heart was also crushed, feeling a deep ache.


    He quickly hugged Gtea again, unable to say anything, because any words at this moment would be inadequate.


    Gtea was grateful that ric didn''t say anything but provided her with a shoulder.


    After calming down for a while, Gtea spoke firmly, "It''s not because he''s my father that I believe him. It''s because I know him. He would never do those things, and as for my father''s death, I don''t believe he would leave me andmit suicide."


    Gtea didn''t know what Ambrose had in his hands, but Ambrose was right. Under those circumstances, Brennan would never leave her andmit suicide.


    "Do you think the Storm''s Family was framed, and there''s more to Brennan''s death?" ric asked.


    Gtea nodded heavily, then looked straight at ric and asked, "Do you believe it?"

 Chapter 155 My Marriage is Up to Me

    Ambrose was feeling extremely irritated at the moment, with a deep sense of resentment.


    ric was clearly being deliberate, but what surprised him the most was Sten. She seemed indifferent to the past events involving Storm''s Family and now was so in love with ric! Impossible!


    Sten had only known ric for a short time, whereas she had been with Ambrose for so many years before.


    It couldn''t be true. Sten must be intentionally trying to provoke him!


    His Sten couldn''t have changed her heart!


    Gtea was now regretting her past blindness. She had loved Ambrose to the point of obsession before but now realized he wasn''t worth it.


    Fortunately, her rtionship with Ambrose hade to a definitive end; there would be no possibility of any future connection. Since she was now with ric, she would devote herself wholeheartedly to him. Gtea had put a lot of effort into preparing a loving lunch for ric, filled with all his favorite dishes.


    "Do you make all of this?" At lunchtime, ric arrived at the dining room and was genuinely surprised to see the table full of food.


    "Yes, try it and see if it suits your taste?" Gtea smiled tenderly.


    "I''m not a pig. Why did you make so much?" ric teased.


    "Just wanted to pamper you a bit, ended up making too much by ident." Gtea chuckled.


    "Caspian told me to be frugal, and it''s a waste to have so many dishes that we can''t finish." ric suddenly remembered Caspian''s advice.


    "Mr. Knight Junior saying such things really reflects the good upbringing he''s received from you." Gtea remarked. "I did make a bit too much this time, and it''s wasteful. I''ll be more careful next time."


    ric couldn''t help but smile and then sat down at the table with Gtea.


    "When you mentioned Caspian earlier, when do you n to introduce me to him?" Halfway through the meal, Gtea looked at ric and asked.


    "Caspian is currently injured and confined to bed rest, with Mrs. Marigold by his side."


    ric had already called the mansion, and the staff confirmed that Mrs. Marigold was with Caspian, showering him with affection.


    ric understood Mrs. Marigold''s intentions. Despite her stern demeanor, she doted excessively on the Knight family''s children, confirming that Caspian was indeed a number of the Knight family and thus subject to her indulgence. What puzzled him was that Mrs. Marigold had previously doubted Caspian''s lineage.


    "Caspian is injured. How did it happen?" Gtea was surprised to hear this and quickly inquired.


    "He slipped in the bathroom and fell, resulting in a fracture."


    "A fall causing a fracture?" Gtea found it unbelievable. "Usually, such incidents happen to elderly people, not to a young child like Caspian, who has had good nutrition since childhood. How could he fracture a bone from a simple fall?"


    "I don''t know the details of how Caspian fell. Despite his young age, he''s quite proud and won''t disclose the specifics."


    "Isn''t that just like you?"


    ric smiledwryly. "Yes, he takes after me."


    "Caspian is injured. Should I go see him?" Gtea asked anxiously, genuinely concerned about Caspian''s condition.


    "Let''s wait until Caspian is better before visiting. Mrs. Marigold is there, after all." ric pondered for a moment, replying.


    ric hadn''t informed Mrs. Marigold about his intention to marry Gtea yet. Regardless of Mrs. Marigold''s approval or not, he was determined to go through with it.


    However, considering Mrs. Marigold was his mother, he felt it necessary to inform her in advance about such a significant decision. He was concerned that abruptly bringing Gtea to the Knight family might strain the rtionship between Gtea and Mrs. Marigold.


    "Alright, that was my oversight."


    Gtea had been fearless in her interactions with Mrs. Marigold before, but now she was genuinely nervous.


    "ric, they say Mrs. Marigold is very strict and has high expectations for your wife. Given the current situation, she might strongly oppose our rtionship, right?"


    After asking this, Gtea''s anxiety grew even more. If Mrs. Marigold strongly objected, it wouldn''t bode well.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll convince Mrs. Marigold. Even if I can''t persuade her, I decide to find a wife, not hers. No one can interfere, even my mother."


    "While that''s true, marriages without parental blessings are iplete. Besides, you mentioned that Mrs. Marigold is quite authoritative. If you confront her like this, she might cut ties with you. If my presence affects your rtionship with Mrs. Marigold, I''ll be a sinner." Gtea expressed her concerns.


    "Why carry such a burden? These are not your concerns. Leave everything to me, and I''ll handle it." ric reassured her, holding Gtea''s hand andforting her. "Trust me."


    Those words provided Gtea with a great sense of security, instantly calming her nerves.


    "Alright." Gtea smiled and then said, "I''ll start your treatment now. Arrange your work first. Normally, this kind of treatment would require hospitalization, but considering your workload and my avability, I''ll treat you at the office. You must cooperate well."


    "Don''t worry, I''ll cooperate well."


    "There''s one thing I need to mention beforehand. The treatment won''t be easy, even though I''ve minimized the side effects of the medication." Gtea cautioned.


    ric chuckled and said, "I''m not a three-year-old child. You don''t have to be so cautious. I could bear the pain of this treatment."


    "I know you''re tough." Gtea said. "I''ll go home now to prepare and gather the necessary treatment tools."


    "Alright, I''ll also go home first to see Caspian."


    "Okay, please give my regards to Caspian."


    After finishing their meal, Gtea and ric went their ways. ric returned to the Knight family vi, expecting to find Harry receiving treatment in considerable pain.

 Chapter 159 Her Initiative Kiss

    Yes, ric certainly knew this. Mrs. Marigold was just like Griffon!


    She cared deeply only for her own family, could be indifferent to others without blood ties, and was even cold-blooded.


    Just like Caspian, because Mrs. Marigold didn''t know he was her real grandson, she could say things like "bastard" to Caspian.


    She would show no mercy to Gtea.


    "Don''t worry. I will definitely protect Gtea well, and I won''t let her be the second Rowena."


    Upon hearing this, Cormac smiled, then sighed, "I feel truly ipetent, unable to even protect the woman I love. I just hope Rowena can move past those shadows from the past and truly live well." On this point, ric actually admired Cormac.


    He only had Rowena. Even after breaking up for so many years, he never sought another woman.


    This was not just Rowena''s psychological shadow but also Cormac''s evesting psychological shadow.


    "Since we''re at the Winery, let''s drink. I won''t go home sober tonight, cheers!"


    After saying that, Cormac finished his drink in one go. ric also felt a sense of guilt, inadvertently stirring up Cormac''s sad past.


    "Alright, I''ll join you. But I have to drive to pick up Gtea tonight, so I can''t drink. I''ll just use coffee as a substitute for alcohol."ric said.


    "ric, you''re heartless. If you''re not drinking, why did you insist on inviting me to the Winery? You''re just a jerk!"


    Cormac harshly scolded ric, who would usually retort, but seeing Cormac in a bad mood today, he let it go.


    Gtea had been in the shop all afternoon, the renovation was nearingpletion, and she felt a great sense of aplishment looking at the almost finished clinic. "Reassuring Clinic."


    The sign was already up, a name chosen by Gtea, straightforward and easy to understand.


    With the renovation almost done, she was just waiting for Harry and Elisa to give her the good


    date, then she could open it.


    While Gtea was recording the necessary medical equipment, she heard the clinic door open, and someone walked in.


    "Sorry, the clinic isn''t open yet. Please wait until the opening."


    As Gtea spoke and walked out, before she could finish her sentence, her expression changed as soon as she saw the person who entered.


    "How did you find here?"


    The person was Ambrose, and Gtea didn''t hide her disgust when she saw him.


    "Ambrose, I''ve already told youst time if you keep tracking me, I will call the police!"


    Faced with Gtea''s firm attitude, Ambrose was genuinely puzzled and asked, "Sten, have you forgotten what I told you at the hotelst time? Don''t you want to know the real cause of Brennan''s death?" "I''ve already told ric about this. ric will help me investigate."


    Upon hearing this, Ambrose burst intoughter without restraint and asked, "You actually believe ric will help you investigate? Do you think he''s a god? It''s been seven years. What can ric find out? Sten, I''m not lying to you. I have evidence. As long as you''re willing to be with me, I''ll show you the evidence right away."


    "Why should I believe you?" Gtea asked Ambrose, looking at him with hostility.


    "Because you also don''t believe Brennanmitted suicide, Gtea. As long as you have doubts, you can only choose to believe me."


    "Fine, I can believe you. I believe you really have evidence. So I ask you!" Gtea approached, ring at Ambrose with intense hatred. "Why do you have evidence? Why do you know the hidden truth behind my father''s death? If you had evidence, why didn''t you bring it out back then? Why did you leave without a word when I needed you the most, and why, after seven years, after I found a new lover, did you bring out this evidence to threaten me? Tell me why?" Faced with this series of questions from Gtea, Ambrose was momentarily at a loss for words.


    Seeing Ambrose speechless, Gtea smiled, then the smile vanished, and she asked sharply, "Or perhaps I should ask in a different way, what role did you y in the bankruptcy and framing of Storm''s Family, Ambrose? If you arepletely innocent, why do you know the hidden truth behind this event?"


    Ambrose hadn''t expected Gtea to think this deeply.


    "Why aren''t you answering, Ambrose? Tell me, are you going to keep making excuses to deceive me!" Gtea''s eyes grew increasingly hostile.


    But in Ambrose''s eyes, there was only pain as he moved forward, gripping Gtea''s arm excitedly and saying, "Sten, it''s not as you think, I was forced by others, I never wanted to hurt you."


    "you never wanted to hurt me, but the fact is you''ve hurt me deeply, Ambrose. I won''t believe a word you say anymore. My father was right, and you approached me with ulterior motives."


    "I thought you were just after my status, wanting to climb up using me in Storm''s Family, but now it seems it''s not simple. In fact, you''ve been using me from start to finish. You never truly loved me."


    "No!" Ambrose was particrly agitated upon hearing this. "Sten, you can hate me, you can even kill me, but you can''t say I don''t love you. I love you, and you''re more important to me than my life. If you''re in danger now, I would die for you immediately. Can ric do that? Can he die for you?"


    "Because I love ric, I can''t bear for him to die for me, but for you, the thought of you dying for me disgusts me."


    This statement was incredibly cutting, like a sharp de piercing Ambrose''s heart.


    "Sten, do you just say you love ric?"


    "Yes, I love ric." After saying that, Gtea nced at the time and then asked, "ric is about toe pick me up, Ambrose, are you sure you want to stay here? Think carefully, if ric sees you, your project might really be in jeopardy." "Sten, I can leave now, but remember my words, you belong to me, only belong to me!"


    With that, Ambrose turned and mmed the door as he left, his final words making Gtea feel sick to her stomach.


    Later, Gtea stood at the door waiting for ric. When she saw ric''s car, her mood instantly lifted. As she got into the car and saw ric, she felt like her mind was clouded, possibly stirred up by Ambrose, or something else. Completely irrational, just as ric was about to speak, Gtea impulsively leaned in and kissed him.

 Chapter 162 This Old Witch Actually Insulted His Mommy!

    Upon hearing these words, Mrs. Marigold immediately became uneasy, staring straight at Harry.


    Caspian was so clever. If he found out that she had caused the deaths of Sten, as well as his siblings, Caspian would hate her. Thinking of this, Mrs. Marigold couldn''t help but tremble. She had already lost two grandsons. Only Caspian remained.


    She couldn''t lose him, absolutely couldn''t lose him!


    "What guilt, what guilt could I have done? It''s just a nightmare, scared by that nightmare."


    "Really?"


    Harry''s mind spun. He couldn''t understand why if he was ric''s biological son.


    Then, he, Caspian, and Elisa were triplets. Since they were triplets, why was Caspian with Dad while he and Elisa were with Mommy? And his dad and mommy didn''t even know each other.


    This was not logical!


    "Of course!" Mrs. Marigold replied, "I haven''t done anything guilty."


    "Grandma, can I ask you a question?"


    "Sure."


    "Since Orion isn''t my real mom, where is my real mom?"


    Upon hearing this question, Mrs. Marigold became particrly nervous again, as if she had heard an extremely terrifying question.


    "Caspian, what did you just ask?"


    "Where is my real mom?"


    "You don''t have a real mom!"


    "If I don''t have a real mom, how was I born? You said I was a super genius before, now you''re treating me like an idiot." Harry questioned.


    And Harry''s question left Mrs. Marigold at a loss for how to respond.


    "Grandma, Isit difficult to answer?"


    Since this question couldn''t be avoided, Mrs. Marigold had to lie. "Your real mom doesn''t deserve to be your mom at all. After giving birth to you, she ran off with another man, never fulfilling a day of motherly duty. Such a mother is better to forget."


    Harry was angry. Mrs. Marigold actually said his mom ran off with a man after giving birth to him. Outrageous!


    Mrs. Marigold said his mother with these absurd words.


    "Grandma, do you know that lying makes your nose grow long?" Harry quickly denied it after saying it in a more serious tone. "No, not just a long nose, but also not admitting to wrongdoing will bring retribution." Retribution.


    Upon hearing this word, Mrs. Marigold also panicked but could only pretend to be calm.


    "I told you, I haven''t done anything wrong. I won''t have retribution." Mrs. Marigold, afraid that Harry would ask more questions, quickly said, "Caspian, I am indeed affecting your rest here, so I''ll go stay in the next guest room. Call me if you need help."


    After saying that, Mrs. Marigold quickly left, and Harry sneered. Mrs. Marigold was just like the incredibly malicious mother-inw on the TV shows.


    Wait, he needed to think carefully.


    Cormac told him that Orion gave birth to him when ric was unconscious, so if Cormac wasn''t Orion''s child, then it must be Mommy.


    Mommy gave birth to ric''s child and was then driven away by Mrs. Marigold, but it was also wrong.


    Seeing how doting Mrs. Marigold was on him, she must have valued the bloodline of the Knight family very much. Driving away from Gtea, he could understand, but being driven away with Elisa was impossible. "What''s going on? The adult world is soplicated." Harry really couldn''t figure it out, no matter how hard he tried.


    "I''ll stop thinking about it, and my head is about to explode." Harry decided to give up after a while. "I''ll talk to Caspian when I get the chance, why should I bear everything, I should be his little brother, Caspian should be my big brother, if the sky falls, he should be the one to bear it for me. Yes, I''m not in a hurry. I''ll sleep well."


    After saying that, Harry closed his eyes and went back to sleep.


    At this moment, Mrs. Marigold couldn''t sleep at all. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Sten Storm and the other two children covered in blood, looking at her with intense hatred as if they wanted to strangle her, it was especially terrifying. "Rook, Rook!"


    Mrs. Marigold quickly called for Rook, who hurried over and asked, ;"Mrs. Marigold, what''s the matter?"


    "I dreamt of Sten Storm and those two children." Mrs. Marigold spoke with fear in her voice. "They were covered in blood, looking at me with intense hatred, as if they wanted to strangle me. It was so scary, so scary."


    "Mrs. Marigold, as you said, it''s just a nightmare. Sten is already dead, and she won''te back. Don''t scare yourself."


    "No." Mrs. Marigold was truly scared now. "I''m panicking. What if she was wronged by me when she died? She must have resented me. Will she really turn into an evil spirit ande back for me?"


    "Mrs. Marigold, the person is already dead, that''s impossible."


    "I''m afraid, what if, not just Sten, but the other two poor children too." The more Mrs. Marigold thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, particrly unsettled.


    "No, I''m really uneasy. You should go to Serenity Heights Medical Center tomorrow, find out where Sten was buried after she died, I should also know where the other two poor children were buried, I''ll find a priest tofort their souls, so they won''te back to find me."


    Mrs. Marigold was a devout believer in God, and Rook didn''t dare to say anything against it. He could onlyply with the arrangement.


    "Alright, I''ll go find the doctor who delivered Sten tomorrow and ask about what happened after she died."


    "Okay." Mrs. Marigold nodded, still feeling very uneasy.


    "Alright, Mrs. Marigold, it''s veryte now, don''t overthink it, go to sleep quickly."


    But she couldn''t sleep at all.


    "Okay, okay, you go and do what I asked, and report back to me promptly, no matter how far you''ve progressed."


    "I got it, Mrs. Marigold."


    After Rook left, Mrs. Marigold sped her hands together and prayed to the sky.


    "Sten Storm, I didn''t mean to harm you, it was just your misfortune, don''te back to me, please don''te back to me!"


    Mrs. Marigold kept saying this.


    Just as she felt cursed, Gtea sneezed loudly and woke up from her dream.


    She felt like she had a dreamst night but couldn''t remember what it was about.


    "Why are you waking up so early today?" ric asked when he saw her awake.

 Chapter 166 See You in Court

    Griffon was afraid that Orion would expose the truth, so he immediately said, "I know. I heard it from your mother. At that time, she was furious, saying that that despicable woman deceived her, and then she was superstitious, insisting on keeping Caspian after listening to that priest''s words."


    "Orion really loves you so much, agreeing to be Caspian''s stepmother. Now that this matter hase to light, there is no gratitude at all. Instead, it''s all her fault."


    Griffon''s using skill was really impressive. He could turn ck into white!


    "If Caspian really wasn''t my son, and this matter had so wronged Orion, I would naturally be grateful. But a few days ago, I did a DNA test with Caspian, and the results proved that he is my son." "In that case, congrattions."


    "Griffon, don''t you have anything to say?" Clearly, it was Griffon''s doing, yet he still pretended it had nothing to do with him.


    "ric, I really don''t understand what you mean. What exactly do you want me to say? What do you want to hear from me? I really have nothing to say, but I''m curious to hear what you want me to say." Griffon said.


    "It''s simple, both DNA tests were done, so why are the results different? This can only be due to human intervention. If it was intentional by that doctor Aminta, it would serve no purpose for him,pletely unnecessary." "Are you implying that I orchestrated this?" Griffon asked, pretending to be very angry.


    "You know better than I do."


    "ric, everything requires evidence. using me of instructing someone to tamper with DNA results without any basis is defamation. I could easily sue you for that!"


    "If my actions are defamation, what about yours?" ric didn''t back down either, approaching Griffon and locking eyes with him. "If you want to keep something hidden, unless you haven''t done it, there''s nothing in this world that is hidden forever. I will thoroughly investigate the matter of the DNA tampering."


    "It has nothing to do with me. Investigate all you want, but I won''t let this defamation slide."


    "Griffon, the Nash family and the Knight family have been close for generations. Even if things sour in the end, I never wanted it toe to a court, but it seems inevitable now."


    "Fine, we''ll see in court. I don''t believe that a person like ric can easily convict others with just your words!"


    It was quite ironicing from him.


    "Alright, I''ll see you in court!" ric said.


    "Since it hase to this, there''s no need for a show. Mr. ric Junior, please leave. The Nash family does not wee you. Gtea is thest time to treat Ravenna. After this, I will change doctors. I can''t afford your services, ric." "Alright, let me thank you in advance." After saying that, ric turned and left.


    Gtea finished administering chemotherapy to Ravenna, conducted a thorough examination, inquired about her current health condition in detail, and exined how to take care of herself, what to pay attention to, and dietary rmendations.


    "I''ve been feeling much better since you started treating me." Ravenna truly felt much better than before and expressed her gratitude. "Thank you so much, Gtea."


    "It''s nothing, just doing my job. Just focus on taking care of yourself."


    "Alright. By the way, have you and ric set a date?" Ravenna then asked.


    "What date?"


    "Of course, the wedding date, Gtea."


    Upon hearing this, Gtea felt a bit shy and said. "Not yet."


    "If you''re already in amitted rtionship, why wait? Hurry up and set a date. I''ll take care of myself these days, and when you have the wedding, I''ll be there." "Okay, as soon as we set a date, I''ll inform you first."


    "Alright." Ravenna said with a smile.


    "Ravenna, you rest up. I have to go now."


    "Okay, take care on your way out."


    Gtea always found it easy tomunicate with Ravenna. However, as soon as she left the room, she could sense that something was amiss.


    ric''s form was no longer to be found within the grand hall, leaving only Griffon, visibly vexed, perched upon a sofa.


    As she descended, Griffon''s incisive gaze fell upon her. "Dr. Gtea, you have indeed done us considerable favor these few days, but the Nash family is ill-equipped to cater to the needs of the Knight family. Henceforth, I shall change a different physician for Ravenna, and you will be spared the inconvenience of attending further."


    What did he mean?


    Gtea, who was not married to ric, had seemingly been marked as a member of the Knights by Griffon.


    Inevitably, after all this time, her unwavering dedication to the Nash family was markedly devoid of any genuine gratitude. In the end, her final moment was apanied by such dubiously contemptuous remarks.


    "I got it. I have made Ravenna Nash aware of all necessary precautions. Should any situation arise, I implore that you articte these explicitly to the new physician. I take my leave now." Gtea said with a doctor''s duty. ric was waiting for her outside in the car.


    Upon getting in the car, ric could tell what had happened from Gtea''s expression.


    "Did I guess right? Not only were you not appreciated, but you were also given a hard time."


    "Yes, I''m really upset. I put in so much effort and yet received such treatment."


    "After all, not everyone in this world is kind, Gtea. Let''s go, and I''ll take you to eat something delicious to lift your spirits."


    "You want to eat out again? I am going to start your treatment."


    "Today is almost over. Let''s start fresh tomorrow. What would you like to eat tonight, Gtea?"


    "ric!" Gtea was exasperated, "This is about your health. Can''t you be more considerate? Tomorrow, it''s always tomorrow."


    "Tomorrow, I promise!"


    "Just tomorrow. If youe up with excuses again tomorrow, I''ll take you straight to the hospital."


    "I got it, Gtea."


    The two of them left with smiles, leaving behind the unpleasantness that had urred in the Nash family, but the lingering emotions in the Nash family couldn''t be easily dismissed. "What should we do, Dad? ric said he''s going to thoroughly investigate the DNA matter from back then."


    "I''ve told you, he won''t find anything."


    "Really? But I''m so anxious. Robert went abroad, and he didn''t die. What if ric finds him?"


    "You showed your hand when you got so nervous just now. Learn from this. Trust me, keep calm. ric won''t find that doctor Robert."


    Seeing Griffon''s confidence, Orion was puzzled. "Dad, isn''t Doctor Robert already abroad?"


    "Orion, stop overthinking. Starting tomorrow, focus on your work and stop bothering me at home."


    "I''m not overthinking. I just can''t shake this feeling, especially dealing with ric, and this Gtea, I find her very strange. She didn''t die in the delivery room back then, survived a car ident, and even with all your efforts to arrange things, she''s still alive. What else is possible?"


    "I''ve told you there''s nothing to worry about!"


    At that moment, a noise from the stairs caught Orion and Griffon''s attention. They looked up to see Ravenna sitting on the floor, looking terrified. She had heard everything they said.

 Chapter 169 I Thought You Both Eloped

    Upon hearing Griffon''s words, Orion burst into tears instantly.


    "I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong, but I can''t go back. If time could go back seven years, I would never force you to help me with that kind of thing again. I was wrong."


    Griffon was also annoyed. He shouldn''t have helped Orion with this confused thing, but at that time, she was really pushed to the brink!


    "Stop crying. Even if you cry to death, there''s no chance for you to re-choose." Griffon said, "Things have already happened. Your mother is already in the intensive care unit. If you don''t want things to get worse, keep your mouth shut. Keep these truths buried deep inside, especially from your brother. Don''t let him know."


    "Okay." Orion nodded with tears. It hade to this point, she couldn''t let Griffon go to jail again, and her future was ruined in an instant.


    Cormac didn''t sleep all night, staying outside Ravenna''s intensive care unit. He was also particrly afraid.


    Due to his quarrel with Griffon, he had gone abroad for many years. Even though he had returned now, he rarely went home because he didn''t want to see Griffon.


    He rarely took care of Ravenna. If something happened to Ravenna, it would be a lifelong regret for him.


    As dawn approached, Cormac''s phone rang. It was ric calling.


    "Hello." Cormac answered, dragging out his words wearily.


    "How is Ravenna Nash now?"


    "Still unconscious."


    After Cormac finished speaking, ric sighed as well. It was indeed a sudden and hard-to-ept situation. "Did you go to the Nash family yesterday?" Cormac asked.


    "Yes."


    "What happened?" Something must have happened yesterday to lead to Ravenna''s current condition.


    "It''s hard to exin in a few words. Let''s meet in a few days and talk then." ric said slowly. "Ravenna Nash was fine when Gtea left yesterday."


    "I see."


    As Cormac was about to hang up, ric hurriedly said, "If there''s anything you need help with at the hospital, call me anytime."


    "Okay."


    Although ric had a falling out with the Nash family, it was only with Griffon and Orion. ric knew it had nothing to do with Ravenna and Cormac, and he wouldn''t hold a grudge against them. Gtea also faintly heard the contents of the call. Like ric, she was feeling very upset at the moment.


    "Yesterday, Ravenna Nash even said she would attend our wedding. I never expected it to turn out like this."


    "Things are unpredictable. No one knows what wille first, tomorrow or the unexpected." ric sighed.


    Gtea was also feeling down. ric hugged her and gently patted her shoulder tofort her. Gtea managed a weak smile.


    "You go have your meal. I''ll go for the morning meeting ande find youter."


    "Okay," Gtea nodded. When youe back, I''ll give you proper treatment. Your health is the most important thing."


    Thinking back to ric''s previous heart attack, Gtea was also worried. She had to treat him quickly. If he had another heart attack, she didn''t dare to think about it.


    "Alright, please wait me for a moment."


    Previously, ric could be reckless with his body, but this was not possible anymore. He has Caspian, the Gtea he wants to marry, and Harry and Elisa.


    He had to take care of his health to protect them better.


    After that, ric went for the morning meeting, and Gtea confirmed the medications for the uing treatment. When everything was in order, ric hadn''t finished his meeting yet. Gtea took out her phone and called Harry and Elisa. They were having breakfast and getting ready for school.


    "Mom, do you remember you have two children? You seem to have abandoned Harry and me to elope with ric." Elisa immediatelyined.


    Upon hearing Elisa''s words, Gtea couldn''t help but smile and apologize, "I''m sorry, Elisa. I''ve been very busytely and haven''t had time to spend with you."


    "It''s okay, Mom. If you''re not here, I''ll take care of Elisa." Caspian said sensibly. "You go ahead and do your things. We''re fine at home."


    Harry was a true young man, showing such responsibility in his words.


    "With Harry around, Mom can rest assured." Gtea reminded again, "I''ll be very busy in the next few days."


    "We''re used to it." Elisa said quickly. "Women in love always dislike having others around, especially two children. We understand you. Go ahead and enjoy your love, don''t worry about us." Elisa''s words made Gtea helpless.


    "Alright, finish your breakfast and go to school."


    "Yes, Mom."


    After hanging up, Elisa couldn''t help but say, "They say men prefer beauty over family. Turns out they can also prefer beauty over children. It''s rare for Mommy to call and check on us in the midst of her busy schedule. I''m touched." Upon hearing this, Caspian couldn''t help but smile indulgently, then patted Elisa''s head and said, "Don''t worry, I am here, and today after school, I''ll buy you a gift. Choose whatever you like."


    "Hooray for big brother!"


    Seeing Elisa happy, Caspian would be happy, too. After they left the house and got into the car, Caspian took the opportunity when Elisa wasn''t paying attention to call Harry, but the call went straight to voicemail. Caspian had been calling Harry these days, but his phone was always switched off. Something must have happened.


    It shouldn''t be anything serious. If something did happen, it shouldn''t be calm.


    "Harry, who are you secretly calling?" Elisa immediately leaned over curiously when she saw him hang up. Caspian reflexively hid his phone and said, "No one."


    "You''re so suspicious. You were secretly making calls in the bathroom before. Do you think I didn''t know it?" Caspian had made a call to Harry in the bathroom before, and Elisa had overheard.


    "Harry, tell me the truth. Are you hiding something from me?" Elisa leaned in to interrogate.


    Caspian wasn''t a liar, especially to Elisa. He nned to tell her the truth, andat least they were not strangers.


    "Are you secretly dating someone?" Caspian''s words weren''t finished when Elisa immediately guessed. "You must be. Let me see what my future sister-inw looks like. I need to see if she''s worthy of you." Secretly dating? future sister-inw?


    "Elisa!" Caspian was speechless for the first time with Elisa. "What are you thinking all the time? Be simple!"


    Caspian was truly at a loss. Elisa''s thoughts were too imaginative.


    It was all Harry''s fault for being out of touch for so long.


    Harry indicated that he didn''t want to, but with eyes watching him twenty-four hours a day staring at him, watching him intently.

 Chapter 173 The Nash familys Bad Intentions

    Ambrose nced at the announcement from Nexus Innovations, then closed hisptop and said, "ric is so confident because of Sten. Sten will definitely cure him." "ric has been seriously injured for six or seven years. This is a stubborn illness. Can Ms. Storm really cure him?"


    "I believe in Sten''s medical skills, but this will take time, a very long time."


    As long as Ambrose needed time, he was not afraid.


    "But CEO Ambrose, this time, we deliberately spread the news that ric has a terminal illness. Now that he has denied it, in a few days, the heat will pass, and no one will ask about it. Is it really necessary for us to spread this news intentionally?"


    "Spreading this news is not about making people believe it immediately, but about nting seeds of doubt in their minds."


    Ambrose''s dark eyes narrowed as he continued. "Besides, if ric will take Sten away from me, I will never let him cure the illness."


    Upon hearing this, Denny seemed to understand something and praised. "CEO Ambrose''s n is meticulous. By the way, CEO Ambrose, there is something else to congratte you on. This is because you have won the Nexus Innovations Entertainment City project this time, and you have done an excellent job. Mr. Todd Senior is very pleased and has given you high praise andpliments at the board meeting. I heard that Todd Vale had been blue in his face with envy." Upon hearing this, Ambrose couldn''t help but smile proudly, but the smile at the corner of his mouth transformed into a sense of crisis.


    "Far East International''s board of directors and Sten are essential to me. No one canpete with me!"


    "Yes, CEO Ambrose, you will reap both professional sess and romantic love. I congratte you in advance, CEO Ambrose." Denny confidently echoed.


    A day passed, and Ravenna stilly in the ICU, relying on a venttor to survive.


    The doctor said Ravenna had entered a deepa state, with only a heartbeat remaining, everything else resembling that of a dead person.


    "Brother, you go back to rest. I''ll stay at the hospital with Mom." After returning home, Orion''s eyes were swollen from crying, and she was especially afraid that something might happen to Ravenna.


    Cormac looked up at Orion and asked, "I asked the doctor. Mom''s sudden deterioration is due to an emotional outburst. What happened to make Mom so emotional?"


    When asked this, Orion felt guilty, but Griffon had always warned her not to tell Cormac about it.


    "It must be Gtea saying something to deliberately provoke Mom." Orion could only say with a stiff face. "That day, ric came to investigate because the Nash family lied to him about Caspian''s background. We argued about it, and Gtea is on ric''s side. Poor Mom became the most innocent victim."


    "Really?" Cormac expressed doubt about Orion''s words. Although he didn''t interact much with Gtea, he felt she was kind and wouldn''t do such a thing.


    "If you don''t believe Orion''s words, do you believe Gtea?" Griffon walked over at this moment.


    Orion came alone, and Griffon was afraid she couldn''t handle Cormac''s questioning, so he followed along.


    "Cormac, I know you''ve med me all these years, and you don''t want to listen to what I say. But after all, I''m your father. I can''t harm you." Griffon continued. "I know you and ric grew up together since childhood, and you have a good rtionship. But now, the Nash family and the Knight family havepletely fallen out. ric insists on ming the Nash family for Caspian''s background and wants to take us to court. The enmity between us is set, so you should stay away from him."


    "I''ll choose my friends. You don''t need to worry about that." Cormac said, then instructed Orion. "Take care of Mom. Call me immediately if anything happens."


    After saying that, Cormac walked away.


    Once Cormac left, Orion said, "It seems like my brother doesn''t believe what I said."


    "The situation is already like this, and he canonly believe it."


    Orion fell silent for a moment, then hurriedly said, "By the way, Dad, have you seen the news? It says ric is terminally ill and undergoing secret treatment." "Yes."


    "If it''s true, that would be great. I used to love ric so much, but now I hate him so much. I wish he would die right now!" Orion''s love for ric had turned into hatred. She wished for his immediate demise.


    "Although the terminal illness is fake, ric does have seriousplications. Each time he falls ill, it''s very dangerous. He may not be so lucky every time."


    "But Gtea is treating ric. If she really cures him, ric will cause a lot of trouble for the Nash family. And now, I hate him whenever I see him. The thought of him getting better, marrying Gtea, I can''t stand it!" Orion said with intense hatred.


    "Then don''t let him get better. That''s it."


    "How can I do that?" Orion asked in confusion.


    "We may not have the ability to do it, but someone does." Griffon had a sinister idea. "Marigold Rogers from the Knight family is suspicious by nature and selfish. If she finds out that Gtea is the Sten Storm who almost killed her in the past, and now not only has Sten Storm returned but has also stolen ric''s heart, how do you think Marigold Rogers will react?"


    "She will definitely be very worried, worried that Gtea has ulterior motives in approaching ric, and even more worried that if Gtea enters the family, and ric protects her so much, Marigold Rogers will surely fear retaliation." "Yes." Griffon said, "Marigold Rogers only cares about her people and is ruthless toward those without blood ties."


    "I got it. I''ll visit Marigold Rogers tomorrow." Orion felt happy after thinking about this."Gtea, you despicable woman, taking away what should have been mine. If I didn''t get it, you won''t either. And ric wasted so many years of my youth, and I want him to pay back double!"


    If Orion couldn''t have it easy, then no one else should either!


    The next day, Orion carried many gifts and went to visit Marigold at the Knight family mansion.


    But what she didn''t expect was to see Harry lying on the sofa as soon as she entered the hall.


    Some were fanning him, and others were offering him fruits.


    Why was Harry here? He should be at school.


    "Fake mommy Orion is here." Harry saw Orion and immediately showed his dislike, then said to Marigold, "Grandma, the fake daughter-inw who lied to you and whom you like so much, has arrived." Upon hearing this, Orion really wanted to p him. Harry''s mouth was really venomous!

 Chapter 176 I Met Stellan Storm!

    "Mrs. Marigold specifically instructed that she didn''t want Mr. ric to know about this and wanted to meet with you alone." Met with her alone.


    "Now?"


    "Yes, Mrs. Marigold is on her way. She said she''s waiting for you at table number one in the coffee shop downstairs at Nexus Innovations." Gtea nced around the lounge, not wanting ric to know, so she needed a reason to keep ric from getting suspicious. "Young Madam, Mrs. Marigold is known to be domineering and strict. She gave the order, and I dare not disobey."


    "I got it."


    Marigold deliberately didn''t want ric to know, perhaps she didn''t want them to go together, and she was being protected all the time.


    Although Gtea was feeling uneasy now, she had already decided to marry ric in the future. Marigold was her future family, no matter how strict she was, Gtea would have to meet her.


    Hiding behind ric was not a solution, and she would have to face Marigold alone eventually.


    "Alright, I''ll inform ric. Ss, you go ahead to deal with your things."


    "Of course, Young Madam."


    Gtea had to return to the lounge. ric asked, "Who has such bad timing to disturb during the break?"


    "It''s Ss." Gtea exined quickly, "but it''s not his fault. Mia Reed said she needed to talk to me about something, and she''s waiting downstairs now. ric, you go ahead and rest. I''ll be back soon." "Alright." ric didn''t suspect Gtea''s words.


    "Even though I''m leaving, you must follow what I say, obediently close your eyes, and sleep." Gtea instructed.


    "I got it." ric held Gtea''s hand again, pulled her closer, and kissed her on the lips. "Come back soon."


    ric was being overly affectionate now, making Gtea feel exasperated.


    "Okay, go to sleep." After saying this, Gtea gently pushed ric''s hand away, then left and closed the door behind her.


    After leaving the lounge, Gtea took a deep breath, feeling nervous, then quickly tidied her hair and clothes.


    As a junior, she should have visited first, but unexpectedly, she was being passive. It was already impolite, so for their first meeting, she had to leave a good impression on Marigold. Marigold was now sitting at table number one in the coffee shop downstairs, furious and cursing Gtea in her mind.


    Marigold checked the time again, she had been waiting here for ten minutes, and Gtea still hadn''t shown up!


    If Gtea had told ric and they came together, Marigold would have vehemently opposed it!


    After two more minutes passed without Gtea''s arrival, Marigold went to the restroom. Just as she went in, Gtea arrived.


    Seeing that there was no one at table number one, she asked a waiter.


    "Thedy at this table has arrived, she just went to the restroom."The waiter replied.


    "Alright, thank you."


    Gtea tightly held the water cup in her hands, sweating profusely in her palms, feeling extremely nervous.


    "Don''t be nervous, don''t be nervous!" Gtea kept encouraging herself in her mind. "Rx, rx."


    Aftering out of the restroom, Marigold saw Gtea sitting at table number one from a distance. At that moment, Gtea was looking down, appearing somewhat reserved.


    Just one nce and Marigold already felt a deep sense of disgust for no reason without even seeing Gtea clearly.


    Marigold approached, and as she got a clear view of Gtea''s face, she was instantly shocked, her pupils dting. Gtea, it was Gtea!


    This was clearly Sten!


    Just as Gtea was about to look up at her, Marigold quickly hid behind ant called Bird of Paradise.


    Then she slowly peeked out to look at Gtea. By now, she hadpletely recognized her. It was Sten, indeed Sten!


    So now, after changing her name, Sten was called Gtea.


    And now Sten was by ric''s side, having already captured ric''s heart. What a coincidence!


    It must be Sten''s back for revenge, starting by seducing her son ric first and then nning to take Caspian back. Thinking this, Marigold couldn''t help but shiver.


    It was truly terrifying to think about!


    Looking at Gtea''s face up close, all Marigold could see in her mind was Sten''s face from her nightmares, filled with blood and hatred.


    With that thought, Marigold''s body went weak, and when Gtea wasn''t looking, she hurriedly ran out of the coffee shop.


    Gtea was already nervous, and as she waited for Marigold to return, her anxiety increased. Checking the time, she found that it had been over ten minutes since she had entered.


    "Could you please check on thedy, Mrs. Marigold, in the restroom for me? She''s been in there for quite a while, and I''m getting worried."


    "Of course, please wait."


    The waiter went to the restroom and returned to tell Gtea. "Madam, we checked the restroom, but there''s no one there. Has the person you were meeting already left? Maybe you should give her a call?" She had left. Marigold had left without meeting her. How could she have Marigold''s number?


    Just as Gtea was about to say something, her phone rang. It was ric calling.


    "Hello."


    "Why did you take so long?"


    "I told you to sleep, but you never listen to the doctor." Gtea scolded.


    "It''s not that I don''t listen. I just can''t sleep without you here." ric said, "You''ve been gone for almost twenty minutes. It''s really a long time."


    Gtea was now feeling extremely helpless. ric was just like athree-year-old clingy boy.


    "I got it, and I''ll be back soon." Since Marigold had already left, there was no point in staying there. Gtea settled the bill and left.


    As she walked out of the coffee shop, Gtea felt utterly bewildered. If Marigold had already arrived, why did she leave without meeting her?


    Marigold had seen her from a distance aftering out of the restroom, didn''t like her daughter-inw, and simply couldn''t be bothered to talk to her before leaving.


    Gtea absentmindedly touched her face. As her appearance was impable, there was no reason for someone to be dissatisfied with just one nce.


    It was truly iprehensible!


    After Marigold left the coffee shop, she could be said to have left in a somewhat chaotic state, thoroughly frightened.


    Upon returning to the Knight family mansion, her expression was particrly grim. Joe, seeing this, hurriedly asked, "Mrs. Marigold, what''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"


    "I met Sten Storm, I met Sten Storm!" Marigold clutched Joe''s clothes tightly, speaking with extreme nervousness.

 Chapter 179 Marigold in Panic

    Chapter 179 Marigold in Panic


    The next day, Caspian and Elisa had breakfast. When Auntie Lynn was about to take them to school, they saw a luxury car parked in front of the building. The driver stood respectfully in front of the car. Upon seeing Caspian and Elisa, he bowed directly to them.


    "Good morning, Mr. Knight Junior and Ms. Knight Junior."


    Upon hearing this, Elisa looked back, but there was no one behind them, so she wondered who the driver was addressing.


    "Mr. Knight Junior, Ms. Knight Junior, Mrs. Marigold ordered me to pick you up for school especially. My name is Richard Weaver; you can call me Richard." Caspian and Elisa looked at each other, and Elisa waspletely stunned.


    "Who is Mrs. Marigold? You are calling me Ms. Knight Junior?"


    "Yes, you are, Ms. Knight Junior." After saying this, Richard walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk, which was filled with clothes and toys. "Mrs. Marigold personally selected these presents for you. I hope you like them."


    Originally, Marigold wanted toe as well, but Joe stopped her to prevent scaring the children, so she didn''te.


    Seeing so many toys and clothes, Elisa was dumbfounded and asked in confusion, "When did I be Ms. Knight Junior? Are you mistaken?"


    "Mrs. Marigold would never make a mistake." Richard opened the car door with a respectful gesture. "Mr. Knight Junior, Ms. Knight Junior, please get in the car." "No!" Caspian immediately held Elisa back. "Mommy said we shouldn''t get in a stranger''s car."


    After that, I don''t want to see her again. Otherwise, we will call the police. Let''s go, Elisa."


    Harry led Elisa away. Elisa looked back again, feeling incredulous. It felt like a scene from a TV drama.


    Elisa asked, "Harry, do you think we might really be children from a wealthy family, like in the TV shows? Maybe I''m a lost little princess?" "You are indeed a little princess, but not of the Knight family," Caspian said, "Elisa, remember, unearned good fortune is always a big trap." "I see," Elisa replied.


    Although they didn''t get in the car, Richard didn''t give up. He drove slowly behind them, escorting them all the way to the school. "Harry, should we tell Mommy about this thing?" Elisa asked.


    "No need; Mommy is too busy toe home now. She must be dealing with something important, so let''s not bother her," Caspian replied. "Okay, Mommy is indeed very busy."


    Gtea was so busy that she almost forgot her children.


    Because ric promised to take Gtea to the Knight family today, Gtea couldn''t sleep well all night and woke up feeling conflicted.


    She said, "For the first time meeting your family, what should I wear? What kind of dressing does your mom like on young girls?"


    "You look beautiful in what you''re wearing," ric smiled helplessly. "With your beauty, if my mom still doesn''t like you, then it''s her problem."


    Upon hearing this, Gtea couldn''t help but yfully hit ric and said, "Stop misleading me like this. Also, don''t overpraise me in front of your mom; it might make her dislike me.". It "Got it. Anything else?"


    "Just go with the flow. If I get along well with your mom, you should talk less. If things don''t go well,e out to ease the tension."


    "Okay."


    Gtea took a deep breath, feeling really nervous.


    "You look like you''re going to battle," ric teased.


    "Almost, meeting your family for the first time, I''m definitely nervous," Gtea joked. "You are so lucky that you don''t have inws to deal with; no need to experience this kind of tension." ric just chuckled mischievously, finding Gtea''s nervousness adorable.


    "Gtea, canwe go now?" ric asked.


    Gtea took a deep breath and said, "Yes, let''s go."


    Gtea got into the car with ric, feeling nervous the whole way, and not saying much.


    Just as they were nearing their destination, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Did you tell your mom about the visit today?" "No."


    "ric!" Gtea was exasperated at his response. "Why didn''t you give her a heads-up in advance? If I show up out of the blue like this, your mom might get angry." "Isn''t it a surprise for her?"


    "Nonsense surprise," Gtea retorted. "Do you have any social skills? You''re supposed to help improve my rtionship with your mom, but you''re not doing anything. Quickly call your mom." "Okay." ric had no choice but to pick up his phone and call Marigold.


    "Hello." Marigold answered the phone in a bad mood, saying in a strange tone, "You already have a wife; do you remember me?"


    "I''m busy with work. It''s not what you think," ric got straight to the point. "Gtea and I are about to arrive."


    "What? Where are you going?"


    "The Knight family mansion," ric replied. "We''re about to get married. You should have a chance to meet each other. Besides, you and Caspian are both at home."


    "What are you saying? You''re bringing Gtea here, and she''s going to meet me and Caspian?" Marigold was thunderstruck at this revtion. Gtea must have found out and wanted to snatch her grandson! She shouted, "Who allowed you toe? I never said I wanted to see her. Get her out of here quickly. I don''t want to see her!"


    "But Gtea and I are already here. Let''s talk when we meet." ric hung up the phone.


    Marigold saw ric''s car driving into the yard and was instantly thrown into a panic. She and Caspian were at home.


    Sten would know everything once she saw her and Caspian. This was too terrible.

 Chapter 182 The Girl You Like is My Wife

    Chapter 182 The Girl You Like is My Wife


    When Gtea heard these words and saw ric''s posture, she was stunned. ric was going to carry her.


    "ric, don''t act like a child. You''re still saving face at this point!"


    Upon hearing this, ric exined helplessly, "Honey, I want to carry you because I''m really fit. It has nothing to do with saving face."


    Seeing that Gtea still didn''t believe him, ric smiled wryly again and said, "I used to be a special forces soldier. I carried weights twice your weight during training. Hurry up!"


    This time, ric was giving a direct order. Gtea could tell that if she didn''t let him carry her, it would hurt his pride.


    "Fine, but you really need to be careful. If you can''t carry me, just put me down."


    "If I can''t carry you, I''ll put you down. Come up quickly."


    Gtea could only obediently climb onto ric''s back, feeling very rxed as he lifted her up. She naturally rested her head on his shoulder.


    ric couldn''t help but smile at this, proceeding to walk forward with her on his back.


    "Is carrying me morefortable than carrying those heavy weights during your training?" Gtea asked.


    "How can carrying weightspare to carrying my wife? That was hard work. This is happiness," ric said.


    "You''re getting more and more smooth-talking."


    "That''s only for you. No one else will see this side of me," ric replied.


    "Alright, I''m honored to see this side of Mr. ric," Gtea''s eyes curved into a crescent moon as she smiled happily.


    After that, ric continued to carry Gtea back to Nexus Innovations. When they returned to the rest area, they found that her home was already dark.


    Harry and Elisa were already asleep, always so reassuring.


    Back in the rest area, ric and Gtea took a bath together, which was veryfortable after the long journey back. Gtea eventually becamezy in the tub, and ric carried her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.


    cing Gtea on the bed, ric propped his hand on the side of her face, his gaze incredibly captivating.


    "What are you up to now?" Gtea said, "You just got better today, don''t mess around."


    "Sometimes, Mrs. Knight, you really have a short memory. I''ve said it before: thest thing a man wants is to be doubted," ric replied.


    Gtea was truly exasperated. She now understood ric''s thought process, but it seemed toote.


    When she realized that ric really had those intentions, Gtea was at a loss for words.


    "Once you start in that thing, can you stop?" Gtea asked.


    "Are you being so direct?" ric pretended to think for a moment and answered seriously, "It just means that you are so charming that I can''t resist."


    Gtea was speechless.


    She couldn''t resist what followed, but ric had learned his lesson. Last time, she asked him to take precautions, and this time he did.


    After it was over, Gtea said, "Alright, let''s just sleep. The medication reaction is gone; there is no need for this."


    "Yes, no need for it. Let''s sleep."


    After saying that, ric hugged Gtea, and they both closed their eyes.


    They slept embraced, always having very good sleep quality, waking up when it was light out.


    It was the second day without medication reactions, and ric was back to his usual self, needing to attend to some work.


    "I have some work to take care of today; you rest here," ric said.


    "You go ahead with your work; I n to go find Cormac and ask about Ravenna Nash," Gtea said. "Although Orion and his daughter aren''t friendly to us, Ravenna Nash is genuinely kind. It''s troubling to see her suddenly like this, and Cormac has always been good to me."


    "Alright, have James Smith apany you. Call me if you need anything," ric instructed.


    "Got it," Gtea nodded.


    After Gtea contacted Cormac, James escorted her there. Once Gtea left thepany, ric pondered for a moment and then instructed Ss to bring Ambrose over.


    Ambrose arrived promptly, maintaining his usualposed and serious demeanor.


    "Mr. ric, what can I do for you?" Ambrose asked.


    "Yes, Ss mentioned that you came to see me when I wasn''t in the office before."


    "Yes, because the project deadline was moved up, so some progress schedules were readjusted. I wanted to show them to you, but you weren''t there that day."


    "Such minor matters should be coordinated with the head of the engineering department; there is no need for you toe personally."


    "I see; I made a big deal out of it," Ambrose said. "If there are simr issues in the future, I''ll directly coordinate with the engineering department and won''t bother you."


    "Okay," ric added directly, "Ambrose, weren''t you previously employed at the Storm Group? I recently came across the Storm Group''s bankruptcy. It is quite a pity that such a prominentpany copsed."


    ric brought up the Storm Group again, and Ambrose naturally understood his implication.


    "The bankruptcy of the Storm Group happened seven years ago. Why was there a sudden interest in events from seven years ago, Mr. ric?" Ambrose inquired.


    "As businesspeople, we must always be prepared for the worst. Whether it''s sess or failure, there are lessons to be learned. The bankruptcy of apany as influential as the Storm Group teaches valuable lessons," ric exined.


    "Mr. ric, your foresight is truly admirable. The bankruptcy of the Storm Group was due to Mr. Storm Senior''s mismanagement andck of integrity. It proves that honesty is crucial in any endeavor, or consequences will follow," Ambrose remarked.


    "You phrase it well, CEO Ambrose. But there''s one thing that truly amazes me. At the time of the Storm Group''s copse, Brennan Stormmitted suicide, other shareholders went to jail, and everything fell apart. How did you manage to walk away unscathed?" ric''s tone was probing.


    Ambrose''s smile faltered at this point. "It was just luck. I happened to resign a few days before the Storm Group''s troubles began, so it was purely fortunate."


    "To resign just before the troubles started, you were indeed lucky," ricmented.


    Ambrose didn''t want to delve into the matter, but ric''s insinuations were bing more direct, so beating around the bush was pointless.


    "Mr. ric, your words seem to carry implications; why not be direct?" Ambrose asked.


    "In that case, let''s be direct. The current Gtea is the former Sten Storm, your ex-girlfriend," ric stated inly.


    "I remember when we first dined together, you mentioned your special feelings for Arizona because the girl you liked was there. At that time, I never imagined that the girl you''ve always liked turned out to be my wife."

 Chapter 185 Are you the ex-boyfriend of Stellan Storm?

    Chapter 185 Are you the ex-boyfriend of Sten Storm?


    Seeing the call from Gtea on the screen, Marigold felt guilty. The person she feared the most now was Gtea, afraid that Gtea would know she was the "Marigold Rogers" from back then. "Alright, I go first. When Ie back in a few days, you must be careful on the way, pay attention to your diet, get enough sleep, and don''t tire yourselves out."


    Marigold repeatedly reminded them, but Caspianpletely ignored her reminders, directly holding Elisa''s hand and walking away.


    Afterpletely leaving Marigold behind, Caspian finally answered Gtea''s call. "Hello, Mommy."


    "I''m sorry, honey, Mommy hasn''t been home for several days, do you miss me?" Gtea asked apologetically.


    "We miss you very much, but for the happiness of you and Daddy ric, we can endure the days without Mommy for now." Elisa said at this moment, "Mommy, you should have a sweet time with Daddy during this period." Gtea continued, "Elisa, you are always talking nonsense. How have you both been recently? How is your health? How are your studies? Have you made any new good friends?"


    "We''ve been doing well recently, Mommy. You don''t need to worry."


    After Caspian finished answering, Elisa looked at him and asked softly, "Should we tell Mommy about the this matter?" Caspian shook his head, saying to Gtea, "Alright, Mommy, you''re busy. We''lle home after school for dinner."


    After hanging up the phone, Elisa asked in confusion, "Harry, why didn''t you tell Mommy? That grandma is very strange."


    "If we tell Mommy, she will worry and definitely go find thatdy. She is so fierce, I''m afraid she will harm Mommy. It''s better to tell Daddy directly and let him handle it."


    Marigold was ric''s mother. If they tell ric to deal with it, he won''t lose out, but it''s different for Mommy. She''s so kind and wouldn''t be a match for Marigold.


    "Fierce?" When Caspian described Marigold like that, Elisa didn''t understand. "Thatdy is very kind, always smiling at us; she bought us many toys and clothes, although we didn''t ept them, she''s very kind."


    "Kind has nothing to do with her." Marigold was his childhood nightmare, and she was much more horrible than Orion. When he sees Marigold, he feels uneasy. "She''s both fierce and unreasonable. Being suddenly nice to us definitely has some ulterior motive. Don''t be deceived by her appearance. She''s like the wicked stepmother in fairy tales, very scary."


    After Caspian finished speaking, Elisa was stunned and looked at him puzzled. "Harry, did you know her before? Why do you say that?"


    Caspian felt a bit guilty. He said too much just now. This was terrible!


    "No, you are too naive. Just by looking at her face, you can tell that Marigold is not a good person."


    "What?" Elisa was even more puzzled. "Harry, when did you start understanding this?"


    Caspian could only reluctantly respond, "I just know a little bit. Anyway, she''s definitely not a good one. We shouldn''t get close to her; it''s dangerous to be near her."


    Although Elisa couldn''t fully understand, she still believed him. "Even though I don''t quite understand, I trust you. Let''s leave it at that."


    Upon hearing Elisa''s words, Caspian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, Elisa''s intelligence was traded for her looks, making her easier to deceive.


    By now, Caspian and Elisa had already walked far away, while Marigold remained at the school gate, looking worried.


    She didn''t expect Harry and Elisa to be so vignt, not giving her a chance to get close. Moreover, if they told Gtea, then the whole family of five would reunite. And Gtea would be the Young Madam of the Knight family. If Gtea sought revenge, the Knight family would no longer have a ce for Marigold.


    "Mrs. Marigold, the children have gone quite far. Shall we go back, too?" Joe asked from the side.


    "There''s been no progress at all. If this continues, my grandson won''t recognize me, and Gtea wille looking for me again." Marigold was also worried, as the truth that she wanted to hide came out easily.


    "Yes, Mrs. Marigold, Gtea is already with Mr. ric Junior., It''s too easy to know that you are Mr. ric Junior''s mother. She might not have seen you yet, but she might have already seen your photo from Mr. ric Junior." Hearing Joe''s words, Marigold red at him with special anger and reprimanded him, "Old fool, shut up. You always say these unpleasant things. Alright, let''s go home."


    Marigold was about to get into the car after saying that, but a voice behind her stopped her. "Marigold."


    The voice sounded familiar, and when she turned around, it turned out to be Ambrose.


    "Mr. Todd, this is the school. Why are you here?" Marigold was also particrly surprised by Ambrose''s sudden appearance.


    "I''m here to find you on purpose. I have something to talk to you about," Ambrose said with a faint smile.


    "Find me to talk?" Marigold was very uninterested in this. As she was about to close the car door,saying, "ric is back at thepany now, so if you have any work-rted matters, talk to him." Ambrose stopped her.


    "Mrs. Marigold, today I''m not here as a partner of Nexus Innovations, nor for business. I have some personal matters to discuss with you."


    "Not here as a partner of Nexus Innovations, but what capacity are you in wanting to talk to me about personal matters? What personal matters do I have to discuss with you?" Marigold felt absurd, telling Richard to go. At this moment, Ambrose spoke again.


    "Today, I''m here as Sten Storm''s ex-boyfriend. Can we talk now, Mrs. Marigold?"


    Sten Storm''s ex-boyfriend.


    Upon hearing this, Marigold;was shocked and hurriedly instructed Richard. "Stop."


    Marigold looked at Ambrose in disbelief, asking, "You said you''re Sten Storm''s ex-boyfriend?"


    Ambrose, the partner of Nexus Innovations this time, turned out to be Sten Storm''s ex-boyfriend! Ambrose came to talk to her in this capacity. Did it mean he knew everything about the Knight family and Sten Storm? Thinking of this, Marigold felt a chill. Seeing Marigold''s terrified expression, Ambrose just smiled calmly and asked, "Mrs. Marigold, can we have a chat now?"

 Chapter 186 Conspiracy

    Chapter 186 Conspiracy


    After all, the things they were going to discuss were somewhat shady, so they met in a private room at a coffee shop.


    Once inside the room, Marigold looked around anxiously while Ambrose reassured her. "Don''t worry, Mrs. Marigold. Then surveince in this coffee shop and the surrounding area for several kilometers is not working today. Our meeting today will remain a secret if we don''t tell others."


    Marigold asked, "Why are you being so mysterious? What do you want to talk to me about?"


    Ambrose didn''t immediately respond. Instead, he leisurely sipped his coffee.


    "I know about the past between you and Sten Storm, as well as your current troubles. I also have a significant problem now. If we want to solve our issues, we must cooperate."


    Upon hearing Ambrose''s words, Marigold felt panic and asked, "How do you know about my past with Sten Storm? Did Sten tell you?"


    She couldn''t believe that Ambrose knew about her past as Marigold Rogers, who helped Sten have children for ric, a fact that even ric himself was unaware of.


    "I guessed," Ambrose replied truthfully.


    "You guessed?" It was clear that Marigold didn''t believe him.


    "Of course, I guessed," Ambrose exined. "As I mentioned earlier, I am Sten''s ex-boyfriend, not her current one. How could she have told me about her past? When I came back to find Sten, I heard that she had already passed away. Now that I''ve met her again, she is alone with two children and has changed her name."


    "Then I saw Caspian, who looks exactly like Harry, so it was easy to guess."


    After Ambrose finished speaking, Marigold was speechless.


    Indeed, Ambrose had guessed correctly.


    "Now that you''ve guessed correctly and understand the situation, what do you propose?"


    "Mrs. Marigold, I know that you only want children back and not Sten. On the contrary, I only want Sten. If we cooperate, we can both get what we want. Isn''t that a win-win situation?"


    "Easy for you to say. You''re just Sten''s ex-boyfriend. How could she possibly reconcile with you? Besides..." Marigold''s pride and disdain were evident in her eyes, "any fool would choose ric over you. How can youpare to my son?" Upon hearing this, Ambrose clenched his fists in frustration.


    He couldn''tpare to ric?


    ric was just a sickly child, while he was clearly superior to ric in every way.


    Ambrose smiled wryly and said, "I came here today with a solution to help alleviate Mrs. Marigold''s current troubles. It seems you don''t believe me, so let''s just forget about today. Pretend I was never here."


    With that, Ambrose stood up to leave. Seeing him about to go, Marigold hurriedly said, "Wait."


    Marigold was deeply troubled by the situation and couldn''t think of any other solutions. Since Ambrose imed to have a solution, she was willing to listen.


    "What solution do you have? Tell me first."


    In response, Ambrose smirked and sat back down.


    Gtea returned to Nexus Innovations, where ric was still busy.


    ''His spirits are up today, and with all this work to do, let''s keep him busy for a while.'' Gtea thought.


    Gtea went back to the lounge, where the quiet environment always led her to deep contemtion.


    She reopened the post she anonymously made to find Marigold Rogers. Initially, there seemed to be some progress, but now it was as if everything hade to a standstill.


    "My son, you must wait for mommy. Mommy will find you," Gtea whispered to herself.


    Just as she finished that thought, her phone rang, and it was Josep calling.


    "Hello, Josep Watkins."


    "Gtea, did you use the treatment n I showed you on your friend?" Josep Watkins inquired.


    "I did. He just had the first injection and is nning for the second one tomorrow. But he had a strong reaction to the first one and was bedridden for two days."


    Gtea had also considered calling Josep but was hesitant not to bother him. Since Josep called to ask, she decided to share the update.


    "Josep, do you have a more refined treatment method to make it easier for him?"


    "Feelingpassionate now?"


    At Josep''s teasing remark, Gtea couldn''t help but smile wryly. "Josep, please don''t tease me."


    "Alright, no more jokes. Let''s talk business," Josep said, "Our institute has been researching a capsule recently. We justpleted a rat experiment for it, and while it needs some adjustments, if sessful, this capsule will be very effective for your friend''s condition."


    "Really?" Gtea''s eyes lit up at the news. "If a simple pill can cure him, that would be amazing. When do you expect this capsule to be ready for development?"


    "You seem excited. This is a specialized medicine forplex conditions. Developing it isn''t easy. The adjustments I mentioned are quite challenging."


    Upon hearing this, Gtea''s enthusiasm waned. It was true that developing a new drug required meticulous experimentation and precise ingredient ratios, and any slight deviation in efficacy would be difficult to adjust.


    "So, by calling me, are you giving me hope only to take it away?"


    "Gtea, are you ming me?"


    "I wouldn''t dare."


    "I called to inform you about this, hoping you''d return to your roots. The currentposition and ratios of this capsule will be sent to you shortly. You have yourclinic now, so setting up ab shouldn''t be difficult for you. Look into it and figure out what adjustments need to be made with these ingredients."


    "Me?" Gtea replied,cking confidence.


    "You were the top graduate of the American Medical Research Institute for five years and had the highest admission scores in nearly twenty years. You can do it. Your friend''s recovery depends on you."


    Gtea felt the weight of responsibility upon her.


    Josep instructed, "Until the research is sessful, continue his treatment as usual."


    "I see."


    After the call, Josep sent the form for the drug to Gtea, who began her research.


    As Gtea pondered how to adjust the proportions of these ingredients, she was so engrossed that she didn''t notice ric entering the room behind her.

 Chapter 189 Please Return My Son to Me

    Chapter 189 Please Return My Son to Me


    "Are you Marigold Rogers?"Gtea was particrly excited, unable to believe that Marigold Rogers, whom she had been looking for, would actuallye to her. Marigold Rogers even had her contact information.


    "Are you Marigold Rogers?" Gtea was so excited.


    Marigold on the phone said. "Yes. I know you are looking for me now, and I happen to be looking for you, too."


    Marigold Rogers was looking for her as well?


    Why did Marigold Rogers look at her?


    "Where is my son? Is my son with you?" Gtea''s heart raced as she asked this question.


    She was so afraid, truly afraid!


    She feared that Marigold Rogers might say that her son was not with her at all, or worse, that her son had already passed away.


    If that were the case, she would truly be better off dead.


    Marigold said, "If you want to know about your son,e see me alone. Send me your current location, and I will send a car to pick you up immediately. But the fact that you are meeting me must be kept secret, or you won''t find out where your son is."


    Gtea said, "Well, then..."


    Marigold interrupted her, "No more nonsense. Quickly tell me your location, or you won''t see your son."


    "I will." Since the Marigold Rogers she was looking for had contacted her, Gtea couldn''t miss the opportunity to meet her.


    She immediately told Marigold her current location.


    "Alright, wait by the roadside. My car wille to pick you up. "Before Gtea could ask anything else, Marigold had already hung up the phone.


    After hanging up, Gtea looked at the number again, still unable to believe it, and then gave herself a pinch.


    It wasn''t a dream; it really wasn''t a dream.


    The Marigold Rogers she had been looking for had actuallye to her, which was simply unbelievable.


    Just the thought of soon knowing her son''s whereabouts made Gtea extremely impatient.


    She had no appetite at all, so she hurried back to the lounge, intending to find an excuse to tell ric that she was going out.


    But when she went in, she found that he had already fallen asleep. ric had been in great difort earlier, and after Gtea left, he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.


    "ric, ric,"Gtea called him softly several times, but he still didn''t respond, apparently sound asleep.


    So Gtea left a note for ric and then hurried out.


    After leaving Nexus Innovations, she stood by the roadside and waited. It didn''t take long for a ck car to stop in front of her.


    "Are you Sten Storm?" Hubert Diaz asked.


    Gtea replied "It''s me."


    Once it was confirmed that she was Sten Storm, Hubert opened the car door for her, and Gtea got in.


    As soon as she sat down in the car, Hubert handed her a blindfold and instructed. "Put it on!"


    She had to wear a blindfold. Now, Gtea was passive and eager to know her son''s whereabouts, so she had toply.


    After Gtea put on the blindfold, Hubert started the car, and Gtea felt like they had been driving for at least forty minutes before the car finally stopped. Hubert said, "Mrs. Marigold is inside, pleasee in."


    Gtea looked around and saw that it was a mansion.


    With each step she took inside, Gtea''s heart beat faster, feeling very nervous.


    Marigold, the mother of her former husband.


    Gtea was also afraid of Marigold. Although she didn''t know her true identity, she knew that she was very strict and fierce.


    Gtea walked into the courtyard and saw an old woman sitting with her back to her.


    Gtea''s heart was beating uncontrobly, and she found it difficult to breathe. "Mrs. Marigold?"


    When she finally saw Marigold''s face, Gtea breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still nervous and didn''t know what to say for a moment.


    She opened her mouth several times, but Gtea couldn''t say a word.


    Marigold sneered. "You''re really lucky. The doctors dered you dead, yet you managed toe back to life."


    Marigold was displeased that Gtea was still alive. It would have been so much better if only Gtea had died back then, leaving only Harry and Elisa alive.


    Gtea not only survived against the odds, but now she was also seducing ric,pletely maddening him. It was outrageous!


    Gtea didn''t care about anything else; she only cared about her son. She asked, "Where is my son?Did you take my son away back then? Where is he now?" "Why are you yelling at me? It''s been six years, and your temper seems to be bad."


    Marigold scolded Gtea. The more she looked at Gtea, the more she disliked her andhated her!


    With Marigold''s words, Gtea dared not say anything more and could only try to calm down first.


    If it had been six years ago, she would have definitely tried to exin to Marigold that she really hadn''t done anything wrong to their family; the child she bore must belong to their family. But now, after six years, she depended on Harry and Elisa. If she really rified things and proved that Harry and Elisa belonged to their family, she was afraid that Marigold would take them away.


    So, she stopped exining and just kept making misunderstandings.


    Gtea calmed down and said calmly, "I''m sorry, I was too excited just now. Mrs. Marigold, please tell me where my son is. Since he is not your family''s child, can you return him to me?" Upon hearing this, Marigold became even more angry. This Gtea was indeed cunning! She still refused to tell the truth!


    "Please, you can make any request, the child support for these years, ten times, a hundred times; I will agree to any conditions you have; just please return my son to me."


    After hearing this, Marigold''s expression became even more unpleasant. Ten times, a hundred times the child support for these years?


    Gtea simply didn''t have that much money, she must have been using ric''s money to repay! It was ridiculous!


    A despicable woman. If she wasn''t seducing ric to get back at Marigold, then it was for ric''s money!


    Marigold said coldly, "I have raised the child for six years; now, you want to take away him casually. You are dreaming!."


    "So, my son is really with you?" When Gtea heard this, she finally felt at ease.


    Thank goodness her son was not abandoned by Marigold and her son was still alive.


    After being excited for a while, Gtea told herself to calm down. She must stay calm.


    Gtea said, "Marigold, you came to me on your own. There must be something you want to discuss with me. If you didn''t intend to return my child to me, you wouldn''t have contacted me, right?" Marigold mocked, "You''re quite optimistic."


    Nervous, Gtea couldn''t speak and just waited for Marigold to continue.


    Marigold asked, "Do you want to see your son?"


    Gtea replied, "Of course!"


    Marigold continued, "If you want to see your son, do as I say."


    "What do you want me to do?" Gtea asked, her voice trembling.

 Chapter 192 Alaric, Why Are You So Clueless?

    Chapter 192 ric, Why Are You So Clueless?


    Caspian came over this time just to walk into a trap. As soon as he stepped out of Nexus Innovations, he felt particrly depressed.


    Caspian thought, ''Harry, why are you so unreliable? Such a big deal like a bone fracture, and you don''t even think to check in with me! Oh no, this is aplete giveaway.''


    After Caspian left, ric fell into contemtion. After a while, he called the Knight family mansion and asked, "Where is Mr. Knight Junior?"


    The servant replied, "Mr. Knight Junior has been taken to the Knight family manor by Mrs. Marigold."


    Taken to the Knight family manorl


    Now, Marigold spoiled Caspian so much. His bone fracture couldn''t have healed so quickly. Mrs. Marigold definitely wouldn''t let Caspian run off alone.


    But the child who just came must be Caspian. If this Caspian was not the same as the Caspian with the bone fracture, then it meant that the one staying with Mrs. Marigold was actually Harry.


    Thinking about this, ric felt confused. In other words, the current Harry was Caspian, and Caspian was Harry!


    The identities of Harry and Caspian had been swapped, but when did they switch?


    It''s quite a skill to y this game with them. ric tried hard to figure out when Harry and Caspian swapped identities.


    He thought back a long time, considering the differences between Harry and Caspian. The most obvious change should be when Caspian''s personality disorder ispletely cured and his character suddenly bes "My name is Caspian. I hit my head just now, I have amnesia, and I can''t remember some things."


    ric suddenly understood when this sentence popped into his mind. It was from the first time Gtea came to the Knight family mansion, so long ago!


    So, for all this time, neither he nor Gtea noticed that the child by their side had changed.


    The person who did the DNA test with him before was actually Harry!


    So he panicked and tried to escape, which led to the bone fracture. Harry turned out to be his biological son!


    It''s all so chaotic.


    ric calmed down and thought. Caspian and Harry looked exactly alike, and Harry was his biological son.


    He murmured, "ric, how could you be so clueless?"


    After suddenly realizing this, ric felt he was incredibly foolish, only discovering it now.


    He quickly called Ss on the phone and instructed, "Go to Serenity Heights Medical Center immediately. Look up a case from six years ago named Sten Storm, check if the cause of death listed is difficult childbirth, and if there were two children who died?"


    Ss replied, "Alright, Mr. ric, I''ll check right away."


    ric didn''t want to ask Gtea because it would be painful for her.


    It''s been confirmed that Gtea was the one who gave birth to his child, but Mrs. Marigold said she was dead.


    Who was lying?


    When he thought of Gtea, ric couldn''t help but smile. There was a special excitement when he thought about her; that''s fate.


    The woman he always wanted to marry turned out to be the mother of his child. No wonder Caspian liked Gtea so much from the beginning.


    And Harry and Elisa, triplets? He not only had Caspian but also a son and a daughter. How miraculous!


    Suddenly, ric felt hopeful. With his mood lifted, the medication''s side effects didn''t bother him as much.


    As ric contemted, the door to the lounge was pushed open. Gtea walked in with her head down. She had walked back all the way, her mind in chaos, just wanting some fresh air, but she couldn''te up with a solution. ric asked softly, "How are you?" He felt a sense of seeing a past lover when he saw Gtea again. From Sten Storm to Gtea, it felt like their fate had spanned two lifetimes.


    "Fine." Gtea, still feeling disheartened, exined, "I stayed a bit longer at the shop. How are you feeling now? Is the difort easing?"


    "I feel great now, I don''t even feel any medication side effects." ric''s words were true. It turned out that being in a good mood could really speed up recovery.


    "Don''t try to be brave. Your reaction this time is clearly more significant thanst time." Despite Gtea''s heavy heart, she didn''t want it to affect ric.


    She nced at the time and said, "It''s almost evening. You didn''t eat lunch. If you''re not hungry, I''ll make some cream of mushroom soup for you. Didn''t you say you liked the cream of mushroom soup I madest time?" ric refused, "No need for cream of mushroom soup, I think..."


    "Even if you don''t want it, you should eat." Gtea interrupted ric directly. "I''ll go make the cream of mushroom soup for you. Wait for me, it''ll be ready soon."


    After saying that, Gtea walked out of the lounge, leaving ric feeling helpless. He actually wanted to say that he was feeling much better now and didn''t want cream of mushroom soup; a regr dinner would suffice, but Gtea didn''t let him finish.


    Well, let Gtea do as she pleases. He knew that Gtea was his for life now; she couldn''t run away.


    While ric was feeling happy, Caspian couldn''t find joy. Although he liked ric a lot, he preferred being with Gtea and Elisa. He would rather be Harry than Caspian.


    Thinking about the impending reveal and having to go back to the Knight family mansion, even though ric and Gtea were always together now, the adults'' words couldn''t always be trusted. They talked about getting married, but there was still no news. If they didn''t get married in the end, he wouldn''t see Gtea and Elisa again.


    It''s so sad.


    "What''s wrong, Harry, did you lose miserably ying basketball outside?" Caspian entered the house, and Elisa saw his dejected look and asked quickly.


    "No." Seeing Elisa at this moment made Caspian feel sad; he couldn''t bear to part with her.


    Elisa asked "Then what''s wrong, did someone beat you up?"


    Caspian said, "No."


    Seeing Elisa''s innocent look, Caspian thought about how ric would soon bring the real Harry back to exchange with him, and Elisa would surely be frightened. "Elisa." Caspian pulled Elisa into the study and closed the door, saying seriously, "I need to tell you something."


    Elisa said, "What''s up? Why are you being so mysterious? Did you really have a girlfriend?"


    Caspian was exasperated. "Can''t you think of something else? It''s not about that. I need to tell you something incredibly bizarre. You might be shocked and find it unbelievable, but it''s true."


    Elisa asked curiously!"So, what is it?"


    "The truth is, I''m not Harry. We look exactly alike, so we swapped identities. Your brother is at my ce now, and my real name is Caspian." Caspian kept his eyes on Elisa, expecting her to be shocked by his revtion, but she remained calm, so calm that Caspian doubted if she had even heard him.


    Caspian asked, "Did you hear what I said, Elisa?"


    Elisa nodded. "I heard you. You said your name is Caspian."


    "Yes," Caspian said, apologizing. "I''m sorry, Elisa. I didn''t mean to deceive you; I was..."


    "Harry, Stop boasting." Elisa couldn''t bear to listen anymore and interrupted him, leaving Caspian stunned.


    Elisa continued, "Caspian is Dad''s biological son. He''s Mr. Knight Junior. A few days ago, I asked you if I might be a lost little princess, and you said I''m not a princess from a wealthy family, I''m your little princess. If I''m not a princess from a wealthy family, then you''re a prince from a wealthy family? Just because you were born a few minutes earlier, you''re nobler than me?"


    Caspian was shocked.

 Chapter 195 Your Son Isnt Worthy of Stellan

    Chapter 195 Your Son Isn''t Worthy of Sten


    Marigold originally wanted to fake illness to make rice back first, but she didn''t expect him to say he wouldn''t marry anyone other than Gtea. It seemed that a despicable woman had confused ric again. "Bastard, his father passed away early. I raised him with great effort, and now he wants to go against me for Gtea. It''s simply outrageous!"


    The more ric defended Gtea, the more Marigold''s hatred toward Gtea grew. She was also uneasy about ric saying he woulde back to talk to her tomorrow. So she quickly picked up the phone and called Ambrose, who was still at the construction site at the moment, almost spending all day there due to the tight deadline.


    Ambrose answered, "Mrs. Marigold, why are you still not resting at this hour?"


    "Too many worries. How can I sleep?" Marigold said anxiously. "I''ve followed your advice. Gtea is likely to leave Arizona for the sake of the child, but just now, ric said he wouldn''t marry anyone other than Gtea. If Gtea leaves Arizona, ric will find her back. How can this seed?"


    Marigold continued, "Ambrose, you are Gtea''s ex-boyfriend. You were together with Gtea for so many years. Use some means to coax her back. Quickly take Sten Storm away. Don''t let her seduce ric again." Ambrose said, "Mrs. Marigold, I just gave you a small suggestion, and the sess rate of this suggestion was not high to begin with. Now that you''ve done it, just leave it to fate. Also, Mrs. Marigold, since you said ric won''t marry anyone other than Sten, then it''s ric taking the initiative. Why use Sten of seducing ric? You think ric is excellent, but not everyone sees it that way. My Sten is outstanding. ric isn''t worthy of him." After saying this, Ambrose hung up the phone.


    Marigold was already on the verge of a heart attack from her call with ric earlier, and now she was even more infuriated after talking to Ambrose.


    Marigold muttered, "What does he mean? He came to me first, I did as he said, and now he''s denying it, saying ric isn''t worthy of that despicable woman. He''s talking nonsense!"


    "Mrs. Marigold, calm down. Ambrose is just a jerk. Don''t get angry, don''t get angry," Joe hurriedly advised.


    After hanging up the phone, Ambrose threw his phone aside.


    Denny didn''t quite understand Ambrose''s words just now, asking, "Ambrose, weren''t you supposed to team up with Marigold? How did you offend her so quickly?"


    Ambrose exined, "She has already done as I said, so she is of no further use to me."


    "But you also said the sess rate of her actions was not high."


    In response to Denny''s question, Ambrose stopped his work and exined, "It may not be useful to her, but my goal has been achieved. Just like when I had the media expose ric''s terminal illness, it wasn''t about immediate results, but about nting a seed in people''s minds. It''s the same this time. As you heard earlier, after Marigold met Sten, she deeply despised her. This is the effect I wanted. ric defends Sten, I side with her, but in Marigold''s eyes, it''s all Sten''s fault. She will never let Sten into the Knight family, and although ric ims to love Sten, Marigold is still ric''s biological mother. If she really pushes it to the extreme, or if she has a heart attack because of this, ric won''t remain indifferent. Alternatively, even if ric can, Sten won''t. Sten is very soft-hearted and has a strong sense of morality. Once there is a rift between them, there will be emotional barriers." Denny praised, "Ambrose, you are truly insightful."


    Ambrose said, "These things take time, so I need to stay calm and patient. I will wait, one year, two years, even ten years. Sten will eventually be mine. She can only be mine."


    "Of course," Denny said. "Ambrose, your love will surely move even the God, and Ms. Storm will ultimately be yours."


    Ambrose smiled confidently.


    Early the next day, Gtea returned home because she had decided to let Harry and Elisa stay at the boarding school first.


    Now, with Marigold''s threat, she didn''t dare let Harry and Elisa go to school alone. She had to personally escort them to feel at ease.


    Seeing her return early in the morning, Caspian felt particrly guilty.


    He thought, ''Daddy must have already told Mommy. Mommy came back so early, it must be to drive me away.''


    Caspian walked up to Gtea with a look of guilt, waiting for the storm toe.


    "Harry, why are you standing there? Quickly finish breakfast and go to school. I''ll take you to school today," Gtea asked. "You''re going to the boarding school today. Is everything packed?" Upon hearing Gtea''s question, Caspian was truly stunned. "Mommy, what did you just call me?"


    "Harry." Gtea looked puzzled at this question.


    "You''re still calling me Harry?" Caspian was truly dumbfounded. Yesterday, ric already knew the truth. How could ric not have told Gtea?


    "Harry, are you running a fever?" Gtea quickly felt Caspian''s forehead. "I''ve always called you that since you were little. What else should I call you now?"


    "Mommy, you don''t need to worry about him. He went out to y basketball yesterday and hit his head. Yesterday, he even told me he was..." As Elisa was about to speak, Caspian hurriedly covered her mouth. He shouted, "It''s nothing. I''ve lost my mind. Let''s go, Elisa. Let''s go eat and then go to school."


    It seemed that ric really hadn''t said anything, so Caspian continued to pretend to be Harry and stay in this house for the time being.


    After Caspian and Elisa finished their meal, Gtea escorted them to school, watching them enter the school building before she felt relieved.


    Then she took out her phone and called Marigold, who had been waiting for this call.


    Because ric had said he woulde over today, looking at the time, he should be arriving soon. So she wanted to hear Caspian''s answer before ric arrived.


    "Marigold Rogers, I''ve made my decision on the matter you asked me to consider." After the call connected, Gtea said calmly.

 Chapter 198 Calling My Name While Unconscious

    Marigold clearly felt guilty about ric''s question, and Joe felt even more guilty.


    Observing their responses, ric realized something. In the previous moments, as Marigold expressed her grievances, ric felt a deep sense ofpassion and understanding.


    ric questioned, "Mom, you insisted she seek revenge on you, but who''s actually plotting against whom? As a mother yourself, you should grasp a mother''s emotions. Now, by concealing the child to prevent her from locating them, don''t you feel that''s going too far?"


    "What proof do you have to use me of hiding the child?" Despite feeling guilty, Marigold would never confess. "Caspian is my grandson. How could I possibly endanger him? And as you''re aware, Caspian is incredibly sharp-witted. How could I possibly keep him hidden? It''s just that Caspian''s bone fracture hasn''t healed yet, so I found a ce suitable for his recovery. And you use me of deliberately hiding him? Do you really think I''m so vicious that I would imprison my grandson?"


    After saying this, Marigold clutched her chest, looking particrly distressed. Joe hurriedly soothed her, "Mrs. Knight, please don''t get angry; calm down."


    "Mom, I won''t say more. I''ll talk to Gtea properly. Next time, I''ll not only bring Gtea back but also Harry and Elisa. I also want Caspian to be here. If I can''t see him next time, I''ll search for him and take him with me. At that time, you won''t see the three children anymore."


    After saying this, ric turned and walked out. As he left, Marigold watched his back and said to Joe, "Did you hear what he said? Sten threatened me, and now he''s threatening me too. It''s outrageous. The son I raised from childhood is nothing but an ingrate!"


    After saying this, Marigold felt she could hardly breathe from anger. Joe quickly advised, "Mrs. Knight, take care of yourself."


    As ric left, he got into his car, feeling particrly hesitant. He had never found business matters as troublesome as this. He never thought he would be troubled by the conflict between Marigold and Gtea. Meanwhile, Gtea was particrly anxious.


    She had threatened Marigold just now, but since her child was in Marigold''s hands, Gtea was also afraid that if she provoked Marigold too much, Marigold might harm her child.


    So, Gtea could only hold on to a glimmer of hope that Marigold wouldpromise.


    Suddenly, Gtea''s phone rang, startling her. She thought it was Marigold calling, but it turned out to be Cormac. Why was Cormac calling her?


    To be honest, Gtea was already on edge and was in no mood for anything else, but a call came at that moment.


    Gtea answered, "Hello, Cormac."


    "Gtea, I''m really sorry to bother you again." Cormac felt really sorry about calling Gtea again for Ravenna, but he was truly at his wit''s end.


    Gtea asked, "What''s wrong, is it Ravenna''s condition..."


    "Yesterday, she went from a deepa to a semia. She''s also been moved from the ICU to a regr ward." Cormac found it strange, so he had no choice but to contact Gtea. "But after my mom regained some consciousness, although she was still in aa, she started mumbling like she was talking in her sleep. We couldn''t hear clearly what she was saying, but we could tell she kept calling your name and looked very distressed. It''s been a day, and the doctors here said there''s nothing they can do, so I had no choice but to call you."


    "Ravenna is calling my name in hera?" Gtea was extremely shocked to hear this. Although Ravenna liked her, they didn''t have a deep rtionship.


    Ravenna didn''t call for Orion or Cormac in hera but called her name instead. How could that be?


    Gtea said softly, "Cormac, could you have misheard? Why would Ravenna keep calling my name?"


    Cormac affirmed, "I''m sure I didn''t mishear. My mom has been calling your name. I don''t know why, either. I''m just really worried."


    Gtea nodded. "I understand."


    Cormac was a very respectful person. Seeing Ravenna in such pain while in aa must have made him very anxious.


    After that, Gtea looked at the time. She had given Marigold a day to consider, and Marigold probably wouldn''t respond so quickly.


    Waiting for a response was also torturous, so she might as well do something else to distract herself.


    Gtea uttered, "Cormac, tell me Ravenna''s current room number. I''ll head over now."


    "Thank you so much, Gtea." Cormac was extremely grateful to Gtea, and then he told her Ravenna''s current room number.


    After hanging up, Gtea let out a long sigh. She admired herself for still having the energy to deal with other people''s matters despite her troubles. Well, let it be a good deed.


    Just as Gtea was about to go to the hospital, ric''s call came in. She quickly answered, "Hello, ric."


    Today, ric was heading home to visit Marigold. Whenever they crossed paths, arguments ensued, and this time would likely be no exception. "Where are you now?" Returning to the lounge, ric found that Gtea was not there.


    "I''m outside." Feeling restless, Gtea had gone out for a walk. She continued, "I''m nning to go to the hospital."


    ric asked with concern, "To the hospital? What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"


    ric thought, ''Is Gtea also feeling unwell because of Marigold?''


    Gtea exined, "It''s not me, it''s Ravenna. Cormac just called and said Ravenna has been calling my name in hera and asked me toe over." ric mused, ''Ravenna calling Gtea''s name in hera? How could that be?''


    ric said, "Share me your whereabouts. I''ll pick you up. I haven''t visited Ravenna since she was hospitalized, so I''ll go with you."


    "Okay." After sending her location to ric, Gtea''s heart started pounding again.


    She told Marigold that if Marigold didn''t return Harry to her, she would hold a press conference and reveal everything that had happened back then.


    At this point, Gtea no longer cared about her reputation, but she cared about ric''s.


    She was afraid ric wouldn''t ept it, so she had to tell him everything.


    But how should she start?

 Chapter 201 Griffon Was Now Panicking

    "ric?" Gtea softly called out to him, but ric was so deep in thought that he didn''t hear her. So Gtea didn''t say anything further.


    Gtea mentioned that Griffon had long known she was Sten. If he tampered with the DNA test results as well, then Griffon must know about the whole situation. Ravenna kept muttering...


    It seemed like ric had figured something out. He shuddered in shock, startling Gtea, who quickly asked, "What''s wrong, ric?"


    "Nothing." ric was truly astonished by his thoughts and couldn''t believe it.


    Could Gtea''s car ident be rted to Griffon?


    If so, how malicious must Griffon be, the uncle he called and treated as a father since childhood?


    Just then, the director walked in, holding Gtea''s examination reports. ric snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "How is my wife''s recovery?"


    The director replied respectfully, "Not bad. However, recovery is not a short-term process. She still needs to take it easy and maintain a good mood."


    "Okay, thank you." Gtea took the director''s reports and then asked ric, "Are you feeling better now?"


    "Well," ric responded perfunctorily, then led Gtea out.


    As they passed the inpatient department, ric couldn''t help but nce in the direction of Ravenna''s room. Griffon should still be there.


    "Gtea, I''ll have a driver take you back. I need to take care of something and wille find youter."


    If Gtea''s car ident was really rted to Griffon, and if Griffon caught wind of his suspicions, it would be challenging to gather evidence after such a long period. If Griffon acted first, there might be no traces left at all.


    "Where are you going?" Gtea asked hurriedly, seeing ric so anxious. "But I haven''t finished talking to you."


    ric said urgently, "I''ll talk to you when I get back. Wait here; the driver will be here soon."


    Before Gtea could say anything more, ric had already driven off. Gtea felt helpless; she hadn''t even told him about her fallout with Marigold.


    Gtea took a deep breath and checked the time on her phone. The day was almost over, and she was really nervous. What if Marigold remained stubborn?


    Soon, the driver arrived to pick up Gtea. Ambrose had assigned bodyguards to her, who were in the shadows. Because Gtea had been in the hospital for so long, the bodyguards reported to Denny.


    "Mr. Vale," Denny reported after Ambrose had taken a nap in the rest area, exhausted from working day and night.


    "What is it?" Ambrose askedzily.


    "The bodyguards assigned to Ms. Storm reported that she spent a long time in the hospital today. I had them find out that Ms. Storm was there for a follow-up after a car ident."


    Since Ambrose was particrly concerned about Sten''s matters, Denny felt it necessary to report this to him. As expected, Ambrose was shocked. "Sten had a car ident?"


    He had thought Sten''s near-death experience six years ago was harrowing enough, but now she had also been in a car ident?


    Denny replied, "Yes, she was seriously injured at the time."


    Ambrose''s expression was a mix of pain and anger. He mmed his hand on the table and shouted, "ric is a jinx! Sten had a near-death experience during childbirth, and now she had a car ident after being with him! Sten. Why do you still stay with him?"


    Ambrose med everything on ric, but he couldn''t do anything to him. He felt a surge of anger building up inside, ready to explode.


    "What about the perpetrator?" Ambrose asked Denny.


    He needed to vent his anger, and if he couldn''t do it on ric, he would do it on the perpetrator who hurt Sten.


    Denny answered, "The perpetrator has already been sentenced."


    "Even if they''ve been sentenced, they shouldn''t get off easy for hurting Sten. Get me the perpetrator''s information immediately."


    Denny nodded. "Yes, Mr. Vale."


    In such traffic idents, the sentence wouldn''t be too long. The perpetrator would serve a few years and be released, but the harm they caused Sten was irreversible. Ambrose had to vent his anger!


    ric drove quickly to the police department to re-investigate Gtea''s ident case in detail.


    "Is the surveince footage from the time of the incident still avable?" ric asked.


    Someone answered, "Yes, it''s all preserved."


    "Show it to me again."


    "Okay."


    The surveince video wasn''t very clear, but it was enough to see the general situation.


    The ident car made a sharp turn, blocked by another vehicle. Due to the high speed, the perpetrator, Jason Gray, swerved and hit the side railing before crashing straight into Gtea.


    It was possible that Jason''s initial target was Gtea, and he was just identally blocked by that car. This led to him hitting the railing first, which was why Gtea survived by a stroke of luck.


    Unfortunately, ric initially thought it was just an ident and had been busy caring for Gtea in the hospital, never thoroughly investigating it.


    So much time had passed, and the surveince footage along the route was long gone. If he could trace the ident car''s movements and confirm that Jason''s car had been waiting for Gtea, everything woulde to light. But it was toote now.


    At least the perpetrator, Jason, was still in prison.


    "Thank you." After that, ric went to prison. He had wanted to see Jason when Gtea first had the ident, and now, after all this time, he finally did.


    Since ric and Gtea visited Ravenna, Griffon had been uneasy, especially hearing Ravenna muttering those few words.


    Griffon questioned, "Cormac, how many times have I told you to stay away from ric, but you wouldn''t listen? You even let ric visit your mom. Do you want to drive me and your mom to our graves?"


    "Think what you want. We''re in the hospital room; I don''t want to argue," Cormac replied, not bothering to engage with Griffon.


    Griffon was speechless with anger, and his anxiety grew. He instructed Orion, "Orion, watch your mom. No one but doctors and nurses are allowed near her."


    After that, Griffon drove to the prison to check on Jason, only to be told that ric had already been there.


    Griffon said anxiously, "What did you say? ric was here?"


    "Yes, Mr. ric just left."


    Griffon''s heart sank. This was bad!

 Chapter 204 Your Ex-husband Is Coming to See You

    "Cormac, I know you find it hard to believe, and you don''t want to believe it, but it''s the truth. If Jason Gray''s confession isn''t enough, I''ll find other evidence. And I''ll also pursue the matter of Griffon tampering with DNA results six years ago." Hearing ric''s words, Cormac''s whole body trembled, and he became extremely nervous. He looked at ric and asked, "What are you nning to do? How will you pursue it?"


    ric added, "What do you think? Six years ago, Griffon tampered with DNA results, causing irreversible damage to the Knight family. Gtea almost died in the delivery room. For so many years, I didn''t even know I had two children out there!"


    ric sighed, "And Caspian is clearly my son, who was estranged from my mom for so many years. Our family has been separated for so long because of Griffon''s selfishness. And Griffon even wanted Gtea dead. Moreover, Griffon''s crimes don''t stop there. What about the doctor he bribed to alter the DNA results back then? Why is it that even now, I still can''t find him?"


    After hearing what ric said, Cormacpletely broke down. Did Griffon really do all this?


    Cormac murmured, "How could he be so heartless? Why would he do such heinous things?"


    "Cormac, the facts are right in front of us. We can''t deny them." ric stood up, patted Cormac on the shoulder, and said, "Whether he did these things or not, thew will give us the fairest answer."


    With that, ric was about to leave. Gtea was still waiting for him in the lounge. But Cormac hurriedly called out to him.


    "Are you nning to sue him?" Cormac''s voice trembled.


    ric retorted, "Do you think I shouldn''t? He''s done so many heinous things. I''ve let him get away with it for so many years. It''s enough!"


    Cormac whispered, "If all the charges are proven, he..."


    ric looked at him. "If Griffon already killed that doctor from six years ago, and if all the charges are proven, then a life for a life is the fairest oue."


    A life for a life?


    Although Cormac also hated Griffon, Griffon was still his father.


    "ric, is there no room for mercy? Must it end in his death?"


    ric said, "I have no choice. Cormac, I know it''s hard for you to ept. No matter how much you hate him, he''s still your father, and you don''t want him to die. But don''t expect me to let him go. Griffon did all these heinous things ultimately for Orion. But he never thought that while Orion was his daughter, Gtea was also someone''s daughter. Gtea almost died in the delivery room six years ago. How heartbroken would Brennan be if he knew? And for so many years, she has been raising Harry and Elisa alone, struggling so much. Griffon caused all of this."


    ric added, "And Griffon had shown no remorse. He even orchestrated a car ident to try to kill Gtea. Griffon could go to any lengths to make Orion happy. But Griffon never thought that Gtea was also a cherished daughter to her parents and a mother to three children. If she died, those three children would lose their mother forever. He never thought about that, so he deserves to die!"


    With that, ric walked away briskly, while Cormac''s body hadpletely given out. He didn''t even have the strength to stand up from his seat.


    Was this all true? Did Griffon really do all these terrible things?


    ric admitted that he was too emotional just now because he was filled with hatred. He had always seen Griffon as his father, and the Knight family and the Nash family were old friends.


    But what had Griffon done to the Knight family? They could have been a happy family, but Griffon''s selfishness caused them to miss out on so many years together.


    When ric returned to the lounge, it was alreadyte. Gtea hadn''t slept either. Seeing him return, she quickly approached him, but the smell of alcohol hit her immediately.


    Gtea was really angry. "ric, you''ve been drinking? I just gave you a treatment shot yesterday. Do you know..."


    Before Gtea could finish her sentence, ric pulled her into a tight embrace. Gtea could feel the heaviness of his heart at that moment.


    "What happened?" Gtea was momentarily stunned. "Did something happen?"


    "I''m sorry, Gtea." ric felt a deep sense of guilt. He felt like he had failed her. "I''ve caused you so much pain, and I haven''t protected you well."


    If it weren''t for Ravenna, he would never have suspected that car ident. He would never have known that the ident Gtea experienced was not an ident.


    He brought all these disasters upon Gtea.


    "What exactly happened? Why are you suddenly saying this?" Gtea asked again.


    "Nothing." ric decided not to tell her about these things. He then changed the subject and asked, "Didn''t I tell you not to wait for me and to go to bed early? Why are you still up?" Gte said, "I can''t sleep if you''re not back."


    And she had something to tell ric.


    "By the way, didn''t you say you had something to tell me? What is it?" ric didn''t want to think about Griffon anymore.


    Seeing that ric was not in a good mood, Gtea suddenly hesitated about whether to tell him. "Do you want to know now?"


    Seeing Gtea''s hesitant look, ric smiled and said, "If it''s something you want to tell me, I''m always willing to know."


    Gte sighed, "I''m afraid that if I tell you, you''ll feel even worse."


    ric said gently, "Now I''m even more curious and want to know what you have to say. Go ahead."


    "I contacted Marigold again today, but it wasn''t Marigold who answered the phone; it was her butler. He said that the man also knows about this matter and that he wille to talk to me." ricughed and teased, "Oh, your ex-husband ising to see you?"


    "Yes." Gtea was really nervous. She didn''t know who that man was.


    "Are you looking forward to it?" Although ric knew the truth, he couldn''t help but tease Gtea, seeing her so clueless.


    "Looking forward to meeting that bad man?" ric asked deliberately.

 Chapter 207 Prosecution

    ric held Gtea as they slept, and they slept particrly well, not waking up until after nine the next morning.


    Gteazily opened her eyes and looked at ric. No matter the angle, he was always so charming.


    Waking up to see his face was truly a pleasure.


    "Awake?" ric asked, then lowered his head to kiss her forehead. Gtea smiled sweetly and nodded.


    "That was such a good sleepst night. I can''t believe it''s already thiste," Gtea said.


    ric smiled. "That''s good."


    With so many worriestely, it was indeed nice that they could still get a good night''s sleep.


    Gtea said in surprise, "You look pretty refreshed. That''s not bad; it seems the treatment shot only had a big reaction on the first day. These past two days, it hasn''t affected you much."


    ric got up and said, "That''s because you''re a good doctor. You''ve been taking care of me these days; you must be tired. Wait here, I''ll make breakfast for you."


    "Okay." Since ric wanted to do it, Gtea didn''t stop him.


    Watching ric walk out of the lounge, Gtea felt very puzzled. She had told ric that her ''husband'' wasing to see her, so why didn''t ric have any reaction?


    Did hepletely not care about that man?


    Gtea couldn''t figure it out.


    After ric made breakfast, Gtea and ric sat down at the dining table to eat together.


    ric said, "Gtea, let''s take Harry and Elisa and go back to my ce this weekend?"


    ric had already told Marigoldst time. Next time, he would bring Gtea, Harry, and Elisa to his ce, and they cleared things up face-to-face.


    Gtea felt really troubled. "Go again? ric, did you even listen to what I said before? I told you, I have had a lot of troubletely. I haven''t dealt with Marigold and my previous husband. And you still want to take me to your ce? Why? Your mom already doesn''t like me, and knowing my current situation, she''ll dislike me even more."


    Seeing Gtea so anxious, ric just smiled. It was so satisfying to look at problems from God''s perspective.


    Gtea questioned, "ric, what are youughing at? Can you be serious?"


    "Okay, okay, I''ll be serious." ric got serious and said, "Since your issues can''t be resolved for now, let''s put them aside and go back to my ce first. Maybe once you''re there, all your troubles will be solved?"


    "What does going to your ce have to do with resolving my troubles?" Gtea was really frustrated. "Are you still drunk fromst night? What nonsense are you talking about?"


    Hearing this, ric couldn''t help butugh. It was too funny.


    This feeling was just too amusing.


    "ric, if youugh again, I''ll really get mad!" Gtea felt like she was about to explode with anger.


    "Alright, don''t be mad, I won''tugh." But ric couldn''t help butugh.


    He had a lot of worriestely, too, but luckily he had Gtea. Seeing her so anxious and angry, he found her both adorable and hrious.


    Gtea asked, "Let''s not talk about this. Do you have any work ns today? If not, can you apany me for a walk? I''ve been feeling stifled these past two days."


    ric refused, "I don''t have any work ns today, but I don''t have time to apany you for a walk."


    Gtea asked, "If you don''t have any work ns, howe you don''t have time?"


    He replied, "I have a meeting with awyer."


    Gtea was scared. "Awyer? What''s going on? Are you going to court? Are you being sued?"


    ric was helplessly, "Can you think of something positive?"


    "Isn''t seeing awyer about going to court? Are you seeing awyer for a medical check-up?"


    ric smiled again and gently pinched Gtea''s cheek. He didn''t want to tell Gtea about Griffon, but since he decided to sue Griffon, it was hard to keep it from her.


    ric said directly, "Yes, it''s about going to court, but it''s not that simple. Your car ident wasn''t an ident. Griffon orchestrated it."


    "What did you say!" Gtea was shocked. She suddenly felt a chill. Her car ident wasn''t an ident; Griffon wanted to kill her!


    "How could that be? I have no enmity with the Nash family. Why would Griffon want to kill me?" Gtea couldn''t believe it. She couldn''t think of any motive Griffon would have to kill her. She asked again, "Is it because Orion likes you and I''m your fianc¨¦e? No way, that motive is too far-fetched. How could it be?"


    ric sighed, "Good people find such motives absurd, but evil people see human lives as worthless."


    Gtea asked, "Have you confirmed it? Is it true?"


    ric said, "I met with the perpetrator, Jason Gray. He confessed. It''s true."


    ric sighed deeply. He was also heartbroken. Their families used to be so close. Even if they fell out, they could have gone their separate ways.


    ric exined, "I could just report it and let the police handle it, but I find it too disgusting. I''d rather leave it to thewyer."


    It wasn''t just the car ident; Griffon also tampered with DNA results six years ago. Since both civil and criminal cases were involved, he would leave it all to thewyer. Gtea still hadn''t processed it. She couldn''t believe Griffon was so ruthless.


    Griffon wanted to kill her. It was terrifying.


    ric said seriously to Gtea, "I''m sorry. He hurt you because of me."


    Gtea suddenly couldn''t say anything. The saying "the human heart is unpredictable" was indeed true.


    After a long time, Gtea sighed and said, "I didn''t do anything to wrong them. Why does he want me dead?"


    It was too scary. These people were too frightening.


    "I''m sorry." ric quickly hugged Gtea tofort her. "It''s my fault. Don''t be afraid. It''s all over. He will pay the price, and I won''t let anyone hurt you again. Don''t be afraid." Gtea was indeed frightened by this. The pain from the car ident had already passed, and now it was being brought up again. It was very cruel to her.


    So ric wouldn''t show any mercy to Griffon.


    After fully entrusting thewyer, he also applied to the court to reopen Gtea''s traffic ident case. For the suspect Griffon, the police would conduct an immediate interrogation. When the police arrived at the Nash family home, they said seriously, "Mr. Cormac, we suspect you are involved in a previous traffic ident. Please cooperate with the investigation." Orion was really scared when she saw the police. She hurried over and worriedly called out, "Dad?"


    Griffon said calmly, "It''s okay. I just need to cooperate with the investigation. I''ll be back soon."


    Since ric already knew, this day was bound toe. Griffon had thought it through. As long as ric had no concrete evidence, he couldn''t do anything to him!

 Chapter 210 I Cant Believe Harry, Elisa, and I Are Actually Triplets

    Seeing Caspian like this, ric couldn''t help butugh gleefully; it made Caspian even more anxious.


    ric teased, "Caspian, didn''t you always say you liked Gtea? Wanted her to be your mommy?" Caspian nodded. "Yes."


    ric continued, "Then, as your daddy, I must fulfill your wish. From now on, you''ll stay by Gtea''s side as her son, Harry, forever. Isn''t that what you want?"


    Anyway, he and Gtea would get married, and Caspian would be with Harry and Elisa. As for who Harry was and who Caspian was, ric didn''t really care; they could do as they pleased. Since Caspian wanted to be Harry so much, let him be. ric was okay with it if they swapped identities for a lifetime.


    But Caspian waspletely panicked. He looked at ric and asked, "Daddy, you want me to be Harry forever?"


    ric retorted, "Yes, don''t you want to?"


    Caspian had no idea what ric was thinking now.


    "Daddy, please don''t joke with me like this. If you''re mad at me, scold me harshly. I know I was wrong," Caspian apologized sincerely.


    ric said seriously, "I''m not mad. I actually find it quite fun. You and Harry look the same. Swapping identities would be so much fun."


    Caspian waspletely stunned by these words. Was this really something ric would say? It didn''t fit his character at all.


    ric added, "From today on, you''re Gtea''s biological son, and Harry will be my biological son. Everybody wins."


    Caspian was on the verge of tears. Was ric abandoning him? Was he really that angry?


    Seeing Caspian like this, ric couldn''t help butugh. The recent events had really stressed him out, but seeing Gtea and Caspian''s reactions lightened his mood considerably. Caspian was about to say something when Gtea returned with Elisa, so he had to keep quiet and continue eating.


    Although he was teasing, ric was also afraid Caspian might take it seriously and overthink it, as children are sensitive and have many thoughts.


    ricforted him, "Caspian, you''ll always be Daddy''s good boy. Daddy will never abandon you."


    After dinner, Gtea and ric took Harry and Elisa to the amusement park. Gtea yed with Elisa while ric talked to Caspian.


    When they got to this point, ric pretended to be mysterious and whispered to Caspian.


    "Daddy, what did you just say?" Caspian was shocked by ric''s words; he couldn''t believe it.


    ric exined, "I said you don''t need to recognize Gtea as your mommy or Elisa as your sister because Gtea is your biological mother, and Elisa is your biological sister."


    "How is that possible?" Caspian waspletely stunned. "Mommy is my biological mother? I''m triplets with Harry and Elisa?"


    ric affirmed, "Yes, but it''s a long story. I''ll exin it to you slowly when you''re older. But this fact is absolutely true; you don''t need to doubt it."


    Hearing this, Caspian was overjoyed. He had always felt lonely growing up, and after meeting Harry and Elisa, he liked them very much.


    Thinking about going back to the Knight family and growing up alone made Caspian very sad. He never imagined he was triplets with Harry and Elisa!


    ric continued, "That''s right, but Gtea and Elisa don''t know about this yet. We need to keep it a secret for now. You know your grandmother can be difficult. We need to work together. When the time is right, we''ll tell them and give them a surprise, okay?"


    Caspian agreed enthusiastically, "Okay! I''ll definitely protect Mommy and Elisa."


    "Good, it''s a deal," ric agreed with Caspian.


    Since they had spent little time with Caspian and Elisately they yed untilte. Caspian was very happy afterward.


    Gtea was puzzled. "What''s up with Harry? He was so down earlier, but now he''s so happy?"


    "Kids get upset quickly but also get over it quickly," ric said.


    Gtea nodded. "That''s true."


    ric smiled. "Alright, let''s take them home. I can only stay at your ce for tonight."


    Before Gtea could speak, Elisa shouted, "I agree! I want to sleep with Daddy!"


    "You''re so big now; you should sleep by yourself," Gtea retorted, and Elisa pouted immediately.


    They were really tired from ying today. After getting home, Caspian and Elisa quickly fell asleep, and ric also fell asleep holding Gtea.


    But tonight was the most painful night of Cormac''s life because he lost so much. From that night on, his life changed dramatically.

 Chapter 213 Just Let Me Die

    ric turned to look at Cormac in the hospital room, then said to Gtea, "Gtea, you stay in the hospital. I''m going to the police station." "Okay." Gtea responded, but as she saw ric about to leave, she hurriedly grabbed his clothes, looking like she had something to say, "ric."


    "I know." ric gently patted the back of her hand to reassure her, "Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing."


    After saying that, ric strode out.


    When Griffon first entered the prison, his attitude was particrly tough. He acted like everything had nothing to do with him and urged them to finish the investigation quickly and let him go.


    But after learning that Ravenna and Orion had both died, Griffon''s emotions copsed. He cried and shouted to be released, but since he was still under investigation, the police couldn''t let him go.


    Griffon went from stubbornly refusing to admit anything to aplete emotional breakdown, as if he saw no hope in life and was determined to die.


    When ric saw Griffon, it was a Griffon he had never seen before. Griffon was in utter despair.


    "ric!" Griffon was unusually agitated upon seeing ric. No, it should be said he was furious, as if he wanted to kill him immediately.


    "Did you kill my daughter? Was the car ident your doing? ric, I tampered with the DNA results back then, and I arranged Gtea''s car ident. Yes, it was all me. If you want revenge,e at me. Why did you harm my Orion? I''ll kill you!"


    Griffon was extremely agitated, and two police officers immediately pinned him down on the table and handcuffed his hands to the table, making him unable to move.


    ric said, "I''m not as despicable as you. Even if I really wanted revenge, I wouldn''t use underhanded tactics like you!"


    Hearing ric say this, Griffonpletely broke down, as if thest string of hatred supporting him had snapped.


    All that was left was pain and regret, infinite pain and shame that had destroyed him.


    ric said bluntly, "Ravenna''s death and Orion''s death are both your fault. The person who deserves to die the most is you, but you caused their deaths. You can''t me anyone else; this is your retribution!"


    Griffon cried bitterly, "My retribution? My retribution? Yes, it''s my retribution. I shouldn''t have spoiled Orion so unconditionally. I shouldn''t have agreed when she insisted on marrying you. I shouldn''t have proposed the engagement in the first ce. I killed Orion, and you killed her, too!"


    At this point, Griffon looked at ric with intense hatred.


    Griffon roared, "ric, you bastard, you''re a bastard! Orion loved you so much. She waited for you for three years while you were in aa. She knew Caspian wasn''t her child, but she was willing to be his stepmother to marry you.


    If you had cherished her, if you had treated her well, would she have ended up like this? We could have been happy. We could have been a family.


    ric, it''s all your fault. You indirectly caused Orion''s death. You destroyed the Nash family. Why didn''t you die when you were severely injured back then? If you had died, none of this would have happened! Why did you survive? Why didn''t you die?"


    ric remained silent.


    He didn''t know why the Nash family and the Knight family hade to this point. The two families would have been old friends.


    Griffon cried in agony, utterly despondent, "ric, kill me. Just kill me."


    Griffon initially thought that ric wouldn''t find any evidence and that he couldn''t be convicted without evidence.


    After all the investigations, the police would have to release him, and he would go back to living as he did before. The Nash family would be the same as before.


    But suddenly, the Nash family was destroyed, and Griffon''s faith was shattered. He couldn''t bear the pain of Orion''s death.


    "Orion is dead, and you want to die. You went from refusing to confess to wanting to die. Have you thought about Cormac?" ric questioned loudly.


    ric continued, "What have you given him from childhood to now? Only unreasonable demands. He had a serious rtionship, and you broke it up. Now, he''s alone in the hospital, not eating or drinking. Have you asked about him?"


    "Cormac?" Griffonughed again upon hearing this. "Is Cormac my son? He''s one of the Knight family, right? That foolish; he always followed you around, thinking of you in everything he did. I repeatedly told him not to get too close to you, but Cormac wouldn''t listen. And now? The Nash family is destroyed. Who''s to me? It''s you!"


    ric snapped, "Is it really me who destroyed the Nash family, or did you bring this upon yourself? You''re still deluding yourself!"


    Griffonughed again, "Yes, I brought this upon myself. I deserve to die. ric, hurry up, let the judge sentence me to death. Let me die, let me die!"


    ric said viciously, "I won''t let you die, even though you truly deserve it! I''ll make sure you spend the rest of your life repenting in prison, living a life worse than death."


    Griffonughed and then began to cry uncontrobly, "Let me die, just let me die."


    ric said nothing and got up to leave.


    In fact, he really wanted Griffon to die because Griffon deserved it. But he kept Griffon alive not only to make him repent for the rest of his life but also for Cormac. Ravenna and Orion were both dead. Although Cormac didn''t get along with Griffon, Griffon was still his biological father.


    If all three of them were gone, Cormac would have no reason to live. Keeping Griffon alive was also keeping Cormac''sst rtive, hisst bit of hope.

 Chapter 216 Do you Really Not Understand, Harry

    "Yes." ric exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. "I dreamt that Cormac fell from a tall building."


    "Isn''t it said that dreams are the opposite of reality? Although the Nash family incident was a huge blow to Cormac, I believe he wouldn''t do anything drastic. Judging from what Cormac has said in the media, although he was deeply affected, he is also very strong-willed. He shouldn''t be on the path to suicide, right?"


    ric sighed, "I''m still a bit worried."


    After all, Cormac lost everything overnight, going from a wealthy heir to having nothing. It was just too hard to ept.


    Maybe he woulde to terms with it with time, but he might not be able to cope during this period.


    But now Cormac didn''t want to see him, and there were no family or friends around Cormac to talk to him. What should he do? Who else was there?


    Suddenly, ric thought of someone, and that was Caspian, no, to be precise, Harry, who was ying the role of Caspian.


    The real Caspian wasn''t that close to Cormac; in fact, Caspian was quite resistant because Cormac was his therapist.


    But Harry got along very well with Cormac, and Harry was particrly good at persuading people.


    Just then, Gtea''s phone rang. It was Elisa calling.


    Gtea said, "Hello, Elisa."


    "Mommy, where have you guys been these past few days? Didn''t you say you would take us out to y? Howe you were gone when we woke up?" Elisa asked.


    Before Gtea could respond, ric quickly took the phone and said gently, "Elisa, something came up suddenly, and Daddy still needs to be busy. Your mommy will take you out to y. I will make it up to youter, okay?" Elisa said, "Alright. We are waiting at home for Mommy. Mia was old, and she couldn''t take us far. We want to go to the amusement park."


    ric said, "Okay, then let Mommy take you first, alright?"


    Elisa agreed, "Okay!"


    After ric hung up the phone, Gtea was puzzled. She quickly asked, "Why did you suddenly ask me to leave? What are you going to do?"


    ric replied, "I''m still worried about Cormac, but he doesn''t want to see me now, so I can''t go to him. After thinking it over, only Caspian can go. A child is easier to talk to, and they have a good rtionship." Gtea said, "I see. I''ll take the kids out to y, and you take Caspian to find Cormac."


    ric nodded. "Okay."


    With everything being so chaotic, it wasn''t the best time to exin the identity swap between Caspian and Harry to Gtea.


    After that, Gtea took the two kids to the amusement park, and ric called Marigold. Marigold had just seen Harry and left Tranquil Valley mansion.


    Seeing it was ric calling, Marigold was nervous. She didn''t know whether to answer or not.


    Joe gave her a look, signaling her to answer.


    "Hello, ric." Marigold''s tone was particrly good now.


    ric questioned, "Where is Caspian?"


    Marigold''s heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Why? Did you bring that woman back?"


    ric continued, "No, there are a lot of things going on recently, so that has to be postponed. I''m asking where Caspian is now."


    Marigold snapped, "What kind of tone is that? Are you interrogating me?"


    ric said, "Mom, I''m not in the mood to argue with you right now. I''ll ask onest time; where is Caspian?"


    Marigold was about to say something when Joe gave her a look, carefully reminding her, "Don''t anger Mr. Knight."


    Since this matter couldn''t be hidden anymore, Marigold said it even though she was very unwilling.


    Marigold said, "At Tranquil Valley mansion. I''ll have Joe send you the location. Since bringing that woman back is postponed, don''t bother me during this time. I finally feel better, don''t upset me again." After saying that, Marigold hung up the phone. If it weren''t for finding Harry, ric wouldn''t have bothered to make this call.


    After Joe sent him the location of the Tranquil Valley mansion, he immediately drove there. Due to the exact location, ric was sure that Marigold had deliberately hidden Harry, not wanting Gtea to find him. Moreover, since Marigold and Gtea had already met and their conflict seemed to be escting, their issues would be very tricky in the future.


    But now, ric didn''t have the mind to think about these things; he needed to solve the immediate problem first.


    ric felt like he hadn''t seen Harry in a long time. When he saw Harry, he was still the same as before, lying under a patio umbre in the yard, with someone fanning him and someone offering snacks, thoroughly enjoying himself! "Daddy? Why are you here?" Harry was particrly surprised to see ric.


    ric smiled. "I missed you, so I came. How''s your bone fracture healing? Does it still hurt?"


    Harry said, "With over twenty doctors around me every day, treating me, it hasn''t hurt for a long time. Marigold just came to see me, and I said I wanted to leave here, but she insisted I stay here for two more days. This ce ispletely isted, there''s not even cell signal."


    ric nodded. "Well, you must be feeling wronged. I will take you down the mountain now."


    Harry agreed, "Great, I feel like I haven''t seen Mommy in a long time. I miss her."


    "I''ll take you to see her." ric carried Harry into the car. After getting in, the driver started the car, and ric sat with him in the back seat.


    ric asked, "How have you been living here?"


    Harry answered, "Like a primitive person. It''s been fine."


    ric snorted coldly and asked, "So you feel bored?"


    Harry was helpless. "Of course, the environment is good, but being in apletely closed ce, how could I not feel bored?"


    ric continued, "But you have always endured loneliness. No matter what environment you are in, you won''t feel bored."


    Right, Caspian indeed had a quiet personality. Caspian wouldn''t feel bored, but Harry wasn''t Caspian.


    Harry exined, "I have grown up. I''ve changed. I didn''t feel bored before, but I do now. Is that not okay?"


    ric smiled. "Really? Then you''ve changed quite a bit. Your previous illness also healed on its own, and you didn''t like to talk before, but now you do."


    What did ric mean by this? Why was ric speaking so sarcastically? Did he reveal something?


    Harry asked, "Daddy, why are you suddenly saying these things?"


    ric smiled at Harry and then directly said, "You should know very well why I''m saying these things."


    Harry shook his head. "I don''t understand."


    "Really?" ric then made it clear. "You''re so smart. How could you not understand? Right, Harry?"

 Chapter 219 Dont Worry, I Wont Drag You Down.

    Gtea was fuming. ric had known about this for ages; he should''ve sorted it out. Now, her rtionship with Marigold was beyond repair.


    "I didn''t know at first," ric exined. "I found out during the second treatment. My mom wronged you from the start. I get that. Don''t worry, I won''t let her push you around." Her rtionship with Marigold was in shambles; they were practically enemies now.


    "What about the DNA test?" Gtea asked urgently.


    "Griffon messed with the results," ric said, still angry. "That''s why we lost so many years. But hey, fate brought us back together."


    Gtea was stunned. Griffon had tampered with the DNA test?


    "Did your mom know?"


    "Not for long."


    "She knew before she came to me, right?"


    "Yeah."


    It all clicked. No wonder Marigold wanted to take Harry and Elisa and urged her to leave Arizona. She wanted Gtea away from ric.


    Marigold really didn''t like her. She went to great lengths to separate them.


    ric added, "I should''ve told you sooner, but I swear, I won''t let my mom bully you. If she can''t ept you, then fine. We won''t live with her or see her." Was it that simple? Could Marigold ignore ric, Harry, Caspian, and Elisa?


    "So Caspian is the son I''ve been looking for?" Gtea asked.


    ric smiled. "You just realized? Caspian is our eldest son."


    "Where is he now?" Gtea was desperate. She hade back to find Caspian, and he had been right under her nose.


    Where was Caspian now?


    ric almostughed. Caspian was right beside Gtea. The son she had been searching for had already returned to her. It must be fate.


    "Take me to see him right now!" Gtea couldn''t wait any longer. She felt so guilty toward Caspian.


    "It''ste," ric advised. "Let''s sleep first. When you wake up, I promise you''ll see him first thing." "But..."


    "Don''t worry. I''m here, and Caspian is here. He won''t run away," ric said with a happy smile. "Just like it was meant to be that you''re my wife. Even though we didn''t know and were separated for years, you were always meant to be my wife." Gtea found it incredible that her legal husband and the ric she fell in love with seven yearster were the same person.


    It was unbelievable!


    "You''ve suffered all these years, especially during childbirth six years ago. It was a life-and-death situation. It was Griffon''s fault and my mom''s fault."


    ric didn''t dare recall those events. After surviving that ordeal, Gtea must have developed a strong aversion to childbirth.


    Gtea couldn''t speak anymore. She wanted to cry.


    ric took her hand and gentlyforted her, "We have three smart and adorable kids. I feel very fulfilled."


    Tears streamed down Gtea''s face. She had never hoped to find the children''s biological father and give them aplete family.


    "Alright, don''t cry," ric quickly wiped her tears. "Our family is reunited. We should be happy. Let''s go to sleep. When you wake up, you''ll see Caspian."


    "Okay." Gtea still couldn''t say anything, but she nodded obediently.


    ric carried Gtea to bed. Once there, she was too excited to sleep. She kept looking at him and asked, "What does Caspian look like? Does he look like Harry? Do you have a photo? Let me see it first."


    "Sleep first," ric said.


    "Just let me see. I haven''t even met him. I don''t know what my son looks like yet."


    "Tomorrow, when you see him, you''ll understand."


    "But I can''t wait."


    "Even if you can''t wait, you must."


    "So, Caspian is with Cormac now? Shall we go together to pick him up tomorrow?"


    "No need."


    "Why not? We need to bring him back so I can see him."


    "I said there''s no need."


    "But..."


    "Go to sleep!"


    Gtea couldn''t argue with ric; he was being so uncooperative, and it really infuriated her!


    ric held Gtea in his arms. She tried to sleep, but she was too excited.


    Meanwhile, Harry, disguised as Caspian, had already fallen asleep on the couch without a nket, so he had to sleep in his clothes.


    It waste at night. Cormac came out of the bedroom and saw Harry sleeping on the couch covered with a white cloth. He couldn''t bear it.


    He gently picked up Harry and carried him to the bedroom, where heid him on the bed and covered him with a nket.


    Afterward, Cormac walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the bedroom. It was hisst night here; how could he possibly sleep?


    Simrly, someone else couldn''t sleep tonight, and that was Marigold. She knew that ric had taken Harry from Tranquil Valley mansion and would soon bring Gtea and the three children to see her. "Mrs. Knight, it''s only five in the morning. Why are you up so early?" Joe asked.


    Marigold said angrily, "ric is about to bring Sten and the three children here. How can I sleep? Sten must know everything. She must have spoken ill of me to ric, and he''sing to take it out on me. She hasn''t even married into the family yet, but she''s already trying to suppress me. No way!"


    Joe added, "Mr. ric Knight will definitely bring her, but not today. He took Caspian Knight to Mr. Nash''s ce and didn''t go to see Sten."


    Marigold was furious. "What did you say? ric took Caspian to Cormac''s ce. This is outrageous! Everyone knows how unfortunate the Nash family is, and he actually took Caspian there. What kind of father is ric!"


    Marigold immediately called Cormac, surprising him.


    "Hello, Mrs. Knight." Cormac wasn''t keen on answering, but Marigold was an elder, after all.


    Marigold said, "Cormac, I''ve heard about what''s happening with your family. I feel so sorry. How are you doing now?"


    "I''m fine."


    "If you need any help, just ask. I''ve watched you grow up since you were a child. How can I not help you in times of need?" "Thank you, Mrs. Knight. I don''t need any help." Cormac was surprised and touched.


    "Okay. If you do need anything, feel free to ask. Is our Caspian with you?"


    "Yes."


    Marigold continued, "Cormac, you know how busy ric is with work. The entertainment city project is about to bepleted, and he has so much to do. If you really need help,e to me. And Caspian''s got a broken bone. I''ve repeatedly told him not to run around. Now ric has sent him to you again, this..."


    Cormac was touched initially, but when he heard Marigold''s words, he realized everything. This was truly the vicissitudes of life.


    "I got it, Mrs. Knight. Don''t worry, the Nash family''s affairs won''t affect the Knight family," Cormac said and hung up the phone.

 Chapter 222 He Has Nothing Left

    Elisa''s scream jolted Harry awake.


    "Elisa, can''t you see I''m sleeping? Quit making all that noise!" Harry snapped.


    "What''s wrong, Elisa?" Caspian rushed in, hearing themotion.


    Elisa was in shock. How could there be a Harry in front of her and another on the bed?


    Was she hallucinating? Was she sick?


    Terrified, Elisa started crying uncontrobly.


    This was too much. What kind of illness made her see two Harrys?


    Harry was now fully awake. "Elisa, you''re so annoying. I just wanted a nap."


    "Elisa''s scared, and instead offorting her, you''re scolding her. What kind of brother are you?" Caspian retorted.


    "Indulging her won''t help, don''t you get it?" Harry shot back.


    Elisa cried even louder. "The two Harrys, I imagined, are even arguing. This is so scary!"


    Hearing Elisa''s cries, ric and Gtea rushed over. ric picked her up, worried. "What''s wrong, Elisa? Why are you crying?" Elisa sobbed, "Daddy, I''m sick."


    "What happened? Are you feeling unwell? Where does it hurt?"


    Elisa said, "Everything feels fine, but my mind is messed up. I saw two Harrys, and they were arguing. Am I sleepwalking or delusional?"


    ric and Gtea couldn''t help butugh. They had forgotten to tell Elisa.


    ric exined, "You''re not delusional, and you''re not hallucinating. There are indeed two people in front of you, but they''re not both Harry. One is Caspian, and the other is Harry. They are both your brothers. You have two brothers." Elisa was stunned for a moment, then cried even harder. ric was very worried and quickly asked, "What''s wrong now, Elisa?"


    "Not only are there two Harrys, but Daddy is also starting to talk crazy."


    Harry said, "Daddy, Elisa wasn''t smart. I suggest you take a day to exin it to her, and then give her a year to think about it and ept it. I really need to catch up on my sleep. I''m exhausted."


    With that, Harry crawled back under the covers. Caspian agreed with Harry.


    "Daddy, you take your time exining to Elisa. I''ll go make breakfast," Caspian said and returned to the kitchen.


    Then, ric and Gtea began exining the situation to Elisa together. It was indeed quite difficult.


    "I''m really a little princess?" Elisa didn''t hear anything else; she only heard that she was ric''s biological daughter. "I''m a little princess in a wealthy family?" "Yes," ric said with a gentle smile.


    "Does that mean I can inherit your fortune?" Elisa''s eyes sparkled.


    "Of course, it''s all yours."


    Elisa shouted, "Oh my God, this is so wonderful. I''m finally rich!"


    ric and Gtea were quite helpless about this. Elisa''s mind was entirely focused on money.


    "And besides Harry, I also have a Caspian as my brother?"


    "Yes."


    Caspian spoiled Elisa just as much as ric did.


    By this time, Harry was already awake, and Caspian had finished making breakfast. Elisa looked at the two of them; they really did look exactly alike. "How do I tell the two identical brothers apart?" Elisa wondered, resting her chin on her hand. Then, she suddenly had an idea. "I got it!"


    She dashed into the study, grabbed a pen, and came back. She wrote a number one on Caspian''s forehead and a number two on Harry''s.


    Elisaughed, "Now I know which one is Caspian and which one is Harry!"


    "Elisa, can you not drag us into your stupidity? Why do I have to have a number two on my forehead?" Harry snapped.


    "You''re right; marking just one is enough," Elisa said.


    "Good, now wipe mine off," Harry demanded.


    But instead of wiping off the number two on Harry''s forehead, Elisa wiped off the number one on Caspian''s.


    Harry fumed, "Elisa, can you exin why, if only one person is marked, it has to be me?"


    "Because it suits you better. Writing on Caspian''s forehead would ruin his image," Elisa said seriously. "Elisa!"


    "Elisa is our sister. How can you be so mean to her?" Caspian interjected, displeased.


    Elisa smiled. "You should learn from Caspian. Both of you are brothers, but why aren''t you as nice as him?"


    Harry was exasperated. "Daddy, please take me back to the Knight family," he pleaded with ric. "I think I can still tolerate that bad grandma. Take me away."


    ric just smiled. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Ss calling.


    "You guys eat first. I need to take this call," ric said, leaving the dining table with his phone.


    On the other end of the line, Ss spoke in a guilty tone. "Hello, Mr. Knight. I made a mistake earlier. When I went to the Nash group, Mr. Nash saw me. He asked me to tell you that you don''t need to interfere with the Nash family''s affairs anymore. As for the Nash family''s debts, he said he would pay them off even if he had to sell his organs. He won''t use a penny of yours. He was very adamant. I''m sorry, Mr. Knight. This was my fault."


    "I understand," ric said. He had anticipated this.


    Regarding the Nash family''s debts, he knew as much as Cormac did. Trying to help secretly was simply impossible.


    After finishing the call, ric let out a long sigh. Things had gotten to this point; he and Cormac probably couldn''t go back to the way they were.


    No matter what, in his heart, Cormac was his only friend.


    Cormac had paid off all the fines and debts the Nash family owed. Unlike Sten back then, he wasn''t heavily in debt; he just had nothing left.


    Cormac truly had nothing left. His house, car, and hospital were all mortgaged. He had also emptied his savings.


    Overnight, he went from being wealthy to having nothing. After dealing with the debts, he took onest look at the Nash group and then turned and walked away.


    After stepping outside, Cormac looked up at the sun. Suddenly, he didn''t know where to go. He had no home and no money.


    Where could he go?


    At that moment, a car stopped in front of Cormac. The window rolled down, and the person in the back seat was Ambrose.

 Chapter 225 Was There No Place for Him in This World Anymore

    Beforeing here, Cormac was fuming, but he never expected to walk into this mess.


    "I just came to understand the situation," Cormac said, ncing at Aurora. She was tiny, at least twenty pounds lighter than other kids her age, looking malnourished.


    "I don''t have any money right now, so I can''tpensate you," Cormac admitted, looking down at himself. He took off his watch and handed it to Aurora. "Take this. You can sell it for some cash." Aurora hesitated, stepping back. Cormac ced the watch on the table and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, his phone rang.


    The screen disyed "Gtea." Cormac hung up, then turned off the phone and removed the SIM card.


    "I''ll give you this phone, too," Cormac said, cing the turned-off phone on the table. "I won''t be needing it soon anyway."


    With that, Cormac walked out.


    After the call was disconnected, Sten tried calling Cormac again, but it went straight to voicemail.


    "What should we do? Cormac''s phone is off," Sten said, feeling a bad premonition.


    "Off?" ric, hearing this, quickly called Cormac, but no one answered.


    "Does Cormac have another phone number?" Sten asked urgently.


    ric was really worried. "No. I was careless. I should have had someone follow him."


    "What should we do? Cormac won''tmit suicide, will he?" Sten was genuinely worried now.


    With the Nash family ruined, Cormac had nothing left, not a penny to his name. He might take his own life in a moment of despair. ric quickly grabbed the car keys, and Sten said, "I''ll go with you."


    Mia and the others were taking care of the kids, so they didn''t need to worry. Sten got in the car with ric to look for Cormac.


    It was already dark, and at this moment, Cormac stood on the rooftop of a tall building, overlooking the city.


    He had looked down on this city countless times before, but back then, he enjoyed it. Now, his feelings were entirely different.


    The city was still as beautiful, still filled with countless lights, but the difference was that none of those lights were from his home. None were waiting for him to return.


    All the former glory was gone, just like his future life. Cormac still had a glimmer of hope, believing that Orion''s car ident had hidden truths.


    It was as if a sense of vengeance was driving him to uncover the truth, to get justice. But when Cormac saw Aurora, that drive vanished.


    Calming down, Cormac realized that no matter how much ric hated Griffon, he wouldn''t do such a thing. So, the anger in his heart was actually baseless.


    There was no hidden truth, no conspiracy he imagined. This was fate, making him lose both Ravenna and Orion at the same time.


    Was this retribution? But what had he done wrong? He had wronged no one, yet now he was in dire straits, with no one reaching out to help him, avoiding him like the gue. The world was so big, yet it seemed there was no ce for him.


    "Cormac! Cormac!" At this moment, ric and Sten arrived at the former Nash familypany.


    Thepany was now sealed off. ric barged in, thinking Cormac would be there, but after searching everywhere, it was empty.


    "We''ve checked all the ces Cormac used to frequent, but we couldn''t find him," Sten said, genuinely worried after searching everywhere and not finding Cormac. ric said, "Check the surveince. I''ll have someone review all the surveince in Arizona."


    Arizona was vast, and this was a huge task, but there was no other option.


    It was already past midnight. Cormac watched as the lights in his view gradually went out. The people in this city were all asleep, right?


    Every family was warmly embracing each other while asleep But unfortunately, he no longer had a home.


    As a psychologist, Cormac had never understood why someone would choose tomit suicide. If they dared to die, why didn''t they have the courage to live? But at this moment, he couldn''t convince himself otherwise. How ironic!


    Cormac took one step after another toward the edge of the rooftop. He stood still, looking down at the dozens of floors below. If he jumped, it would be quick, right?

 Chapter 229 Give up Everything

    "Mrs. Knight, please calm down," Joe said, stepping forward tofort Marigold. He turned to ric, "Mr. Knight, Mrs. Knight''s heart isn''t in good shape. You shouldn''t..." "That''s none of your business. Back off!" ric snapped. Joe had no choice but to leave.


    ric continued, "Mom, I didn''t act without telling you. I''ve mentioned more than once that I want to marry Gtea. You never respected my wishes, and..."


    ric''s tone grew firmer. "If you''re going to use your heart condition to threaten me, I''ll do the same. My health isn''t great either. Are you worried about your heart but not mine? If my condition worsens, it could be fatal too." "ric! Are you threatening me with your health?" Marigold clutched her chest, stepping back.


    Sten moved to support her, but ric stopped her. "Mom, I just want to marry the woman I love. Why can''t you ept that? I don''t get it."


    Marigold sneered, "You don''t get it? You''ve been bewitched by Sten, so of course, you don''t."


    She pointed at Sten. "ric, ask her why she agreed to marry you and had your kids. Isn''t it for money? The Storm family was drowning in debt, and I paid it off."


    "Your marriage is a business deal. I paid her to have three kids for the Knight family. If she had any self-awareness, she''d know she''s just a tool, not someone who should be scheming to marry you and use the kids to manipte you!" "Mom!" ric said, emotional. "What are you talking about?"


    "Am I wrong?" Marigold pointed at Sten. "Tell me, where did I go wrong? Didn''t you agree for the money? You knew the kids were ours but still lied to me. Sten, how have I wronged you? You sold yourself for money, and now you im to truly love ric?"


    Marigold tried to grab Sten, but ric stopped her, shielding Sten.


    "Mom, I know you''re angry, but show some respect for Sten. I''m her husband now. I know who she is, and I didn''te here for your approval. Your opinion doesn''t matter to me!" ric took Sten''s hand and led her out. At the door, he turned to Marigold,


    "Mom, whether you acknowledge Sten or not, she''s my wife. If you don''t like her, at least don''t insult her. This is thest time. If you use such words again, we''re done. Take care."


    "What do you mean, ric?" Marigold was shocked. "Are you really going to disown me for Sten? Look. It''s not that simple. The Knight family is still under my control. If you cut ties with me, you''ll lose everything. Do you hear me? ric!" Marigold chased ric from the hall to the yard, but he didn''t respond. He just got into the car with Sten and sped away.


    "ric is really rebelling!" Marigold trembled with anger and copsed to the ground. "Is he really nning to give up everything for Sten?"


    "Mrs. Knight, please don''t get angry," Joe advised and then quickly instructed the maid, "Get the medicine. Hurry."


    Meanwhile, ric was driving so fast that it scared Sten. She had expected a rough encounter with Marigold, but it was worse than she had imagined. Marigold''sst words echoed in her mind. If ric cut ties with Marigold, he''d lose everything.


    Marigold might really force ric to leave her. If it came to that, she believed Marigold would go through with it. ric would no longer be the boss of Nexus Innovations and would end up with nothing, just like Cormac. "I''m sorry."


    As Sten was thinking, the car suddenly stopped, and she heard ric''s apology. She snapped back to reality and looked at him. "I should be the one apologizing. It''s all because of me..."


    "Sten!" ric called her by her name for the first time. "I don''t want you to think that way. At first, it was my decision to marry you. It has nothing to do with you. Don''t take my mom''s hurtful words to heart. She''s just like that; once she believes something, she won''t ept any other exnations. This time, I miscalcted. I shouldn''t have brought you here."


    ric thought Sten must have felt very upset because of Marigold''s words.


    "No, we had to face it sooner orter," Sten said with a smile. "I''m fine. Don''t be upset."


    ric pinched her cheek and sighed, "I feel helpless having a mom like this. Despite the Nash family''s example, she refuses to take a step back so we can be a happy family. She''s so stubborn and unyielding." ric had always disapproved of Marigold''s mindset and behavior, but he couldn''t change her.


    Sten remained silent. When it came to stubbornness, Marigold and Griffon were truly alike.


    "Alright, today is a good day. Let''s forget these unhappy moments," ric said. "I''ve said what I needed to say to her. As for the hrest, let''s just go with the flow."


    Go with the flow? Could they really just let it go with the flow?


    Sten murmured, "ric, if Mrs. Knight really cuts ties with you and makes you leave the Knight family, then you..."


    She wanted to ask if ric would regret it. What would he do if that day really came?

 Chapter 233 I Just Like Sleeping Cuddled Up with You

    "Yeah," Sten nced at the building and said, "Across the street is a residential area."


    ric looked again and smiled, "That''s great for foot traffic. The location is perfect, the shop space is big, and the decor is inviting. It''s an ideal setup."


    "Right? I think so too." Sten looked around, feeling more satisfied.


    ric smiled and said, "Reassuring Clinic opens tomorrow. There''s still a lot to organize. Let''s stay here tonight."


    "Stay here?" Sten was surprised. "There''s only a small bed on the second floor."


    "No problem, we can squeeze in," ric insisted. "The servants can take care of the kids, no worries."


    Sten was confused. "There''s nothing left to do here; it''s all set. If you want to be with me alone, we can go to my ce or your office lounge. Why squeeze into a small bed?" "I like it." ric pulled her close and kissed her. "I just like squeezing into a small bed with my wife."


    "You''re crazy," Stenined. "It''s hot today, and you want to cram into a tiny bed. What''s wrong with you?"


    "I just like it," ric said, acting cute.


    Sten sighed, "Alright, if you like it, as you wish, then."


    "You''re so nice," ric kissed her again. "Last time I was here, you made me some food. I''m craving it again. Can you make it for me?" "Sure, wait a moment."


    Sten went to make food, and ric walked out of Reassuring Clinic, observing the residential building across the street.


    He thought about what Sten had said earlier. From the loan to renting the ce, everything went so smoothly. How could it be so smooth? "Food''s ready,e and eat," Sten soon brought the food to him.


    "Smells great," ric said, taking a whiff.


    "Hurry up and eat."


    ric started eating. Watching him enjoying the food, Sten thought the food looked more delicious than it really was. ric had a way of making food look appetizing. This was one of ric''s advantages. Having been in the military and endured hardships, he wasn''t picky about food.


    Meanwhile, Ambrose was still standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. He hadn''t seen Sten in a long time and was thrilled to see the lights on at Reassuring Clinic.


    But he didn''t expect that besides Sten, ric was there.


    Using binocrs, he saw ric on the couch with Sten on hisp. They were chatting,ughing, and asionally kissing.


    Sten''s face was glowing with happiness, with smiles Ambrose had never seen before. Even when she was with him, her smile had never been so bright.


    Were they already married?


    Sten was sitting on ric''sp, leaning against him. "Reassuring Clinic opens tomorrow, and I''ll be busy. If the special medicine for your aftereffects isn''t ready in a month, we''ll stick with the current treatment. Your condition is unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Better to treat it early."


    "Alright, I''ll listen to you."


    Sten joked, "You''re not just my husband, you''re also my patient. No matter the role, you have to listen to me."


    "Yes, honey, you''re right." ric picked her up. "Carrying you to bed. You need to sleep early to be the boss tomorrow."


    Sten let him carry her upstairs. "See? This bed is really small. I just wanted a ce to lie down when tired, so I got this small bed."


    "It''s not big, but it''s just right for us," ric said, lying down beside her.


    "I don''t get it," Sten leaned against him and closed her eyes. "I really need to sleep early. Tomorrow''s the clinic opening, and I''ll be busy all day."


    "Yes, wish you a good sleep. Good night." ric turned off the light and held her closer.


    When Ambrose saw the shop''s lights go out, he felt a sense of loss. Was Sten leaving?


    But after waiting a while and not seeing theme out, he wondered if they were staying there tonight.


    Ambrose waited longer, but no one came out. It seemed they were staying there, right under his nose. His beloved Sten was sleeping in ric''s arms. Thinking about this made Ambrose feel a surge of uncontroble anger.


    "Gtea?" ric gently called her after a few minutes, but Sten didn''t respond.


    Confirming she was asleep, ric carefully got out of bed.


    He didn''t turn on the light and walked to the window in the dark, looking at the residential building across the street. It wasn''t toote, and many residents still had their lights on. ric scanned the lit floors, standing by the window, deep in thought untilte at night.


    The lights in the residential building gradually went out, leaving only a few still on.


    From this angle, three apartments still had their lights on. ric took a photo with his phone, circled the three apartments, and sent it to Ss.


    [Find out the owner information of the shop Gtea rented and the owners of these three apartments.]


    Ss quickly replied: [Got it, Mr. Knight.]


    ric nced at the lit apartments again, then drew the curtains, turned back to the bed, and held Sten close.


    The next day was the opening of Sten''s Reassuring Clinic. As ric''s wife, many people came to support her.


    Many media reporters also came, creating a lot of buzz and attention.


    "Isn''t that Mommy?"


    Since it was the weekend, Caspian, Harry, and Elisa wanted to join the fun, but ric refused, saying they were too noticeable and there were too many people, fearing they might get lost. "Mommy is on TV!" Elisa eximed excitedly.

 Chapter 235 Take Us Away

    Marigold had always met Caspian and Harry separately. Seeing them together now, looking identical, threw her off.


    "Which one of you is Harry, and which is Caspian?" Marigold asked, rubbing her eyes.


    "You don''t need to know. Just answer me, are you here to take us away while Mom and Dad aren''t here? Are you a trafficker?" Harry demanded.


    Marigold replied, "No way! How can you say that? I''m your grandma! How could I be a trafficker?"


    "Stop acting all high and mighty. You say you''re our grandma, but we have to ept you first," Harry shot back. "Last time you took me to Tranquil Valley mansion to hide me from Mom. How can I ept a grandma like that?" Marigold quickly said, "Caspian, I took you to Tranquil Valley mansion to help you recover. You got me wrong."


    "I''m Harry, not Caspian," Harry corrected, annoyed.


    Marigold was stunned. Harry said he had been to Tranquil Valley mansion, but wasn''t it Caspian who had been there?


    "Then you are Caspian?" Marigold asked, turning to the real Caspian. "I took you to Tranquil Valley mansion because of your bone fracture..."


    "I don''t have a bone fracture," Caspian interrupted. "I wouldn''t do something as dumb as falling and breaking a bone."


    Harry was speechless..


    Marigold was confused. Who went to Tranquil Valley mansion, and who had the bone fracture?


    "Don''t mess with me," she said.


    "No tricks, it''s all true," Caspian said. "We know you don''t like Mom. So, as her kids, we don''t have to like you."


    "Yeah, we don''t ept you," Harry added. "I''ve called you grandma enough times already."


    "I am your grandma. If you don''t ept me, do you know how sad I''ll be?" Marigold was getting desperate.


    "We''ll ept you when you ept our mom. Simple as that," Harry said.


    "Exactly!" Elisa chimed in. "Anyone who bullies our mom doesn''t deserve to be our grandma. We won''t acknowledge you!"


    Marigold was on the verge of tears. Her hatred for Sten deepened. Sten had taken ric away, and now her grandkids didn''t ept her because of Sten. What could she do?


    "I didn''t bully your mom. How could I?" Marigold lied, trying to appease them.


    "Caspian, Harry, Elisa, I made mistakes before. I was wrong. But please ept me. If you don''t, I''ll be really sad."


    Marigold started to sob. Elisa felt a bit sorry for her and looked at Caspian and Harry, whispering, "She seems really sad. Should we..."


    "Elisa, don''t be fooled," Caspian warned. "She''s very malicious."


    Caspian had seen too much like this as he grew up. Marigold had always hated him. If ric hadn''t protected him, Caspian believed Marigold would have hurt him.


    "Crying won''t work," Harry said. "Unless you apologize to our mom in front of us, ept her, and treat her well, we can''t forgive you."


    "You want me to apologize to her?" Marigold was shocked. "What? I apologize to that bi..."


    "Mrs. Knight," Joe quickly reminded her.


    Marigold bit her tongue. Reluctantly, she said, "Even if I have to apologize, I''ll wait until she''s less busy. Her Reassuring Clinic just opened, and she''s swamped. I can''t disturb her, right?"


    Marigold continued, "Your dad''s project is almost done, and ric is very busy. Your mom has the Reassuring Clinic and works every day. She can''t take care of you. Why don''t youe back to the Knight manor with me? I built a yground in the backyard. It''s really fun."


    "yground? What kind of yground?" Elisa''s eyes lit up, but Harry cast her a sharp look.


    Harry mocked, "Haven''t you seen a yground before?"


    Elisa shut up. Caspian quicklyforted her, "I''ll take you to a yground next time."


    "Okay." Elisa smiled.


    "So, you''re still here to take us away?" Harry said, trying to get rid of her. "You better leave now, or I''ll call Dad."


    "I haven''t had a close look at you yet. You don''t have to go back with me, but let me stay here and look at you. I''ll leave when it gets dark, okay?"


    Marigold yed pitiful. "I really miss you. I want to make it up to you. Give me a chance."


    Seeing Marigold''s emotional act, the kids exchanged nces. Except for Caspian, Harry and Elisa seemed less firm.


    "Don''t be fooled," Caspian said, taking Elisa''s hand and leading her upstairs. "If you really don''t want to leave, Harry will stay with you."


    Harry cursed under his breath. What kind of brother was Caspian? So irresponsible!


    Clearly, they should share the suffering, but now it was all on him.


    Sten was exhausted today. She had been bombarded by reporters and attended a banquet, staying busy untilte. Her feet hurt so much that she didn''t want to take another step. They were staying at the Reassuring Clinic tonight. Sten kicked off her high heels and copsed onto the bed. ric quickly got on the bed to massage her legs.


    "Standing all day in those heels, of course, you''re tired," ric said.


    Sten sighed, "You think I wanted to? As your wife, I have to look elegant and beautiful."


    "Yes, you worked hard," ric said. "The Reassuring Clinic is open. Starting tomorrow, you''ll be going to work?"


    Sten nodded. "Of course."


    ric advised, "Hire a few more doctors, or you''ll be worn out."


    "I think so too. I''m on it."


    "Okay." ric continued to massage her.


    "Massage my shoulders. They''re so sore."


    ric started massaging her shoulders. Sten closed her eyes and enjoyed it. "I have to say your massage skills are quite professional. It feels really good."


    "d you enjoy it." While ric was massaging, his phone buzzed with a message. He nced at it.


    [Mr. Knight, we found the information on the shop owner. It''s Ambrose, and one of the three tenants is also Ambrose.]

 Chapter 237 Concession

    Marigold and Joe were echoing each other, and Marigold pretended to sob, looking really sorrowful.


    ric sighed, "Kids are the purest. If they''re against you, Mom, have you thought about why?" he asked.


    Marigold sobbed, "The kids said if I don''t apologize to Sten and ept her, they''ll never acknowledge me. What can I do?" "They mean everything to me now. If they don''t ept me and never see me again, it''s like killing me."


    ric and Sten finally believed Marigold. She valued family ties and doted on her grandchildren.


    If the triplets didn''t ept Marigold and never saw her again, it would be more painful than death for her.


    Marigold added, "Honestly, I can''t ept Sten, but the kids are forcing me. I have no choice."


    "Joe kept persuading mest night, and I figured it out. For my grandchildren''s sake, I won''t oppose your marriage anymore."


    "I just hope, Sten, that you can consider me their grandmother and let bygones be bygones. Let the kids ept me, or I can''t go on."


    ric and Sten exchanged nces, surprised by Marigold''s sudden change of mind.


    ric said, "Last time I brought Sten home, you reacted so strongly, said harsh things, and even wanted to cut ties with me. Howe in just two days, you''ve changed your mind?"


    "Mom, such a big change is hard to believe. I''m your son; I know your temper and character. You''d never make concessions unless you had some ulterior motive."


    ric really understood Marigold. When he said this, Marigold felt restless.


    But she pretended to be heartbroken and said, "I''m your mother. Do you really think I''m that vicious? What ulterior motive could I have?"


    "ric, raising a dog would be easier than raising you. A dog shows gratitude, but you always suspect and hurt me. Do you still see me as your mother?"


    ric was about to say something when Sten quickly tugged at his clothes, signaling him to stop. If he continued, Marigold might start crying.


    Joe said, "Mr. Knight, your words really hurt Mrs. Knight. No matter how heartless she is, she has vulnerabilities, which are those kids."


    Joe continued, "If they don''t ept Mrs. Knight, what should she do? She''s doing all this for the kids."


    "Yes, for the kids, I can make any concession," Marigold said to Sten. "Sten, although I don''t like you, I''m willing to ept you. Anyway, you two are already married and announced it. Even if I threaten you with my life, it''s useless."


    "You two can live in the Knight mansion. I won''t bother you unless necessary. We don''t get along, so we won''t see each other. But I need to see the kids regrly."


    Marigold added, "If you agree, let''s move on. If you agree to let the kids visit me regrly, then take these flowers I brought for the Reassuring Clinic''s opening."


    If Sten agreed to Marigold''s terms, she would take the flowers from Marigold''s hands?


    Sten wanted Marigold to ept her. This seemed like the best oue. But as ric said, Marigold''s sudden change of attitude made Sten uneasy, unsure of her true intentions.


    Sten looked uncertainly at ric, while Marigold quickly said, "You don''t need to look at him. It''s up to you. If you don''t ept, our rtionship stays strained."


    "Or we canpromise. We don''t need to see each other unless necessary, but you must let me see the kids."


    This was Marigold''s way of pressuring Sten. Whether sincere or not, Marigold showed she was willing topromise. If Sten didn''t, the worsening rtionship would be entirely her fault.


    "If you''re serious, I''m willing to ept it," Sten said. "You''re the kids'' grandmother. Visiting them is understandable. If you can do what you promised, I can persuade them to visit you regrly. I swear!" Seeing Sten was about to agree, Marigold pressed on. "As long as you can persuade them to ept me and visit me regrly, I can do what I said."


    "Alright." Sten then took the bouquet and said, "I''ll take these flowers. Thank you."


    After Sten epted the flowers, Marigold and Joe looked particrly happy.


    "Since that''s settled, it''s a deal," Marigold said. "I won''t oppose anymore. You can live your life, and I won''t interfere. Alright, go on with your business. I''ll be off."


    Joe helped her into the car. After Marigold''s car left, ric and Sten still hadn''t processed what had just happened.


    Marigold felt utterly disgusted. "It was like swallowing a fly. I actually bowed down to that bitch. It''s so disgusting!"


    "Endure it first. It''s all for the kids," Joe said.


    Marigold was too angry to speak.


    Meanwhile, ric had taken Sten to a barbecue ce. After sitting down, ric said, "Don''t worry. Whether my mom is sincere or not, I''ll protect you and won''t let her bully you again." "Okay. I hope it''s true," Sten said, feeling particrly happy at the thought. "If Mrs. Knight can ept me and we can lead our own lives, that would be wonderful."


    Sten naturally hoped all these beautiful thoughts woulde true, but little did she know how unpredictable people''s hearts could be.

 Chapter 240 Nothing on Cormac

    Aurora had been with Cormac for days but still knew nothing about him.


    She was afraid that asking him about his past might upset him, so she never did.


    "I''m a psychologist, but I know some surgery basics. Treating minor injuries is no big deal."


    "Wow, that''s awesome!" Aurora''s eyes lit up. "You can do both surgery and psychology. That''s incredible!"


    Aurora was amazed. "It''s not that impressive, just a bit of knowledge."


    "Why aren''t you practicing as a doctor anymore?" Aurora asked, confused. "Being a doctor is so noble. Why do hardbor now? My dad had to because he didn''t study much. But you''re so talented; why?" Aurora couldn''t get it. Honestly, no one would.


    "No special reason. Just didn''t want to be a doctor anymore," Cormac said.


    Aurora didn''t know the details but sensed asking more would make him sad. So she quickly said, "If being a doctor isn''t for you, then forget it. Your happiness is what matters." Cormac was surprised. He smiled, tapped her head, and said, "You''re quite the smooth talker."


    Aurora just giggled.


    "But don''t overwork yourself. If you get sick, it''ll be a problem." Aurora was genuinely scared because of her dad, Matthew.


    Cormac nodded. "Got it."


    "My schooling doesn''t cost much now. When I get to high school, I can work part-time, and you won''t have to worry about college. I''ll get a schrship."


    Aurora was always diligent and believed she''d get a full schrship.


    "So don''t overwork. My dad got sick from overworking and staying upte. I don''t want you to end up like him. I want you to live a long life."


    Cormac smiled warmly. "Alright, with your blessings, I will."


    "Yes." Aurora nodded firmly.


    For Cormac, these days, though tough, felt more meaningful.


    In his past luxurious life, he didn''t know his goals. He was just getting by, which was dull.


    After a long day, ric went to Reassuring Clinic to pick up Sten. When he arrived, she was still busy with patients.


    ric watched her work. Seeing her in her white coat was captivating.


    Finally, Sten finished and stretched. ric asked, "Busy day?"


    "Yes, lots of patients today, some from out of town. It''s ttering," Sten said.


    "Your reputation as a healer is growing. More people wille to you," ric said, pulling her close. "You need help. You can''t do it all alone, or you''ll wear yourself out." "You''re right," Sten said. "Let''s go home. We haven''t seen Caspian, Harry, and Elisa in two days. I miss them."


    "Me too," ric replied. "I think about the kids all the time."


    Sten closed the clinic, and they got in the car.


    "Gtea, remember Brennan''s old assistant, Derek?" ric asked.


    "Yeah, did you find him?"


    "We know where he works now. It''s a bit far, but I can have someone contact him," ric said.


    Sten was surprised they found Derek so quickly. She was nervous, wanting to uncover the truth about the Storm family''s bankruptcy but also scared of what they might find. "Your clinic just opened. We can wait a few days. Derek won''t disappear," ric said.


    "Let''s see him this weekend," Sten decided. "It''s better if I go personally. Your people might scare him."


    "I get it," ric said. "I''ll go with you this weekend."


    "No need, you''re busy with the entertainment center opening. I can go alone..."


    "Nothing''s more important than this. It''s settled."


    Sten was pleased with ric''s insistence. "Alright. Thanks, honey."


    ricughed, "My pleasure."


    Sten then remembered something. "Any news about Cormac?"


    They had found Derek, but still no word on Cormac.


    "No," ric sighed. "Nothing on Cormac."


    "Arizona''s tough for Cormac. Maybe he really left," Sten said.


    "Griffon''s case goes to trial next month. I wonder if Cormac wille back," ric added.


    "Next month? So soon?"


    "Yeah, with my influence, the court sped things up."


    "Any idea on Griffon''s sentencing?" Sten asked.


    "No, but it won''t be light," ric sighed. "Griffon doesn''t care about the sentence. Since Orion died, he has no will to live."


    "He only cares about Orion, not Cormac. He doesn''t even ask about Cormac after the bankruptcy."


    ric had asked Griffon about this during hisst visit. He felt it was unfair to Cormac and felt guilty.


    "Let''s not talk about Cormac. No news is good news," Sten said, noticing ric''s difort. "Cormac is a good guy. He''ll be okay. Let''s go home and see Caspian, Harry, and Elisa."


    ric agreed and drove home. When they entered, they didn''t see the kids. Instead, they saw Marigold.


    Marigold looked gloomy. Sten was a bit flustered. Marigold had just epted her in the morning. Had she changed her mind already?

 Chapter 244 Such a Secretive Matter

    "Mr. Vale, I heard ric and Ms. Storm went to the airport early this morning. Any idea where they''re headed?"


    The entertainment center was almost done, and Ambrose needed it perfect, so he was worried about ric''s whereabouts.


    Ambrose pressed on. "They went early, just the two of them, no kids?"


    "Yes."


    Vacation? No way. Sten''s Reassuring Clinic just opened, and ric''s swamped with work.


    So, it must be a business trip. But what kind of business?


    Ambrose ordered, "Get some Nexus Innovations employees to dig up info."


    "Yes, Mr. Vale."


    Early this morning, ric and Sten boarded the ne. After settling in, Sten leaned on his shoulder.


    "It''s a three to four-hour flight. If you''re tired, take a nap," ric said, pulling her closer.


    Sten shook her head. "I can''t sleep. I''m nervous. I hope this trip pays off."


    "If it does, great. If not, we''ll try another angle," ric reassured. "I have friends at the DA''s office, so getting the old case files isn''t hard. But for a retrial, we need evidence. So, we start there." "Yes," Sten nodded. "It''s an old case. A retrial won''t be easy. Thanks for your caring, ric."


    "If you''re sure Brennan wouldn''t do anything illegal, then it''s a wrongful conviction. We need to clear it up!" ric said firmly. "This is about justice. We can''t back down."


    ric''s words hit Sten hard. She nodded with renewed confidence. "You''re right!"


    "Don''t worry. Even if the truth is hidden now, it wille out eventually."


    "Absolutely," Sten said, feeling ric''s presence was grand.


    "Rx. We got up early. Take a nap."


    "Okay," Sten nodded, theny in his arms and closed her eyes.


    Seeing Sten asleep, ric leaned back and closed his eyes, hoping this trip wouldn''t be in vain.


    Denny asked around but found nothing.


    "So secretive?" Ambrose was surprised. If it were business, Nexus Innovations staff would know.


    If not business, then personal. And if Sten''s involved, it''s likely about her.


    Something rted to Sten?


    ric was really helping Sten re-investigate the Storm family''s bankruptcy from seven years ago? Did ric have so much free time for that? Meanwhile, Ambrose already had enough evidence to apply for a retrial.


    But Sten chose to trust ric over him. Damn it!


    Damn it!


    If this kept up, his chances of winning Sten back were zero.


    Thinking this, Ambrose called Marigold. She was busy trying to get the kids to go out and y.


    Elisa was up for it, but Caspian and Harry preferred staying at home over going out with Marigold.


    Marigold tried hard to convince them but failed. Seeing Ambrose''s call just added to her frustration.


    "Caspian, Harry, don''t you want to go to the amusement park? I can book the whole ce so it won''t be noisy." She ignored Ambrose''s call and kept trying to win them over.


    "No," Harry said. "Going out should be lively. Just the three of us is boring."


    Marigold added, "Then we won''t book the whole ce. You can y with other kids. How about that?"


    "No," Caspian said seriously. "More people mean more germs. It''s noisy and annoying."


    "Then one of you can have a private session, and the other can y with others."


    "Boring!" Caspian and Harry said together.


    Marigold was helpless.


    "Just so you know, we''re only here because Mom told us to. It doesn''t mean we ept you as our grandmother," Caspian said seriously. "Yeah. Over time, we''ll be influenced by you. Unless youpletely change, don''t y with us. We''ll be led astray," Harry added.


    Elisa shrugged and said, "If you guys aren''t going, I won''t either. I''m going back to sleep."


    With that, Elisa went to her room and locked the door. Caspian and Harry went to their study rooms to do homework. Marigold''s efforts were wasted.


    "Mrs. Knight, you need to take it slow," Joe advised.


    "Didn''t I just do so?" Marigold snapped. "It was fine before, but ever since ric married Sten, Caspian, Harry, and Elisa have be more disrespectful to me. They''ve been corrupted by Sten." Joe had no solution and stayed quiet.


    Marigold''s phone rang again. It was Ambrose.


    "What does Ambrose want now? Can''t he see I''m annoyed?" Marigold was about to hang up again, but Joe said, "Maybe he has another idea?"


    Marigold snorted, "Hisst idea failed and backfired. How can I trust him?"


    Joe advised, "People on the same side can be temporary friends. You both want Mr. Knight and Ms. Storm to split. Two minds are better than one." "That makes some sense."


    "Just hear him out," Joe urged.


    Under Joe''s persuasion, Marigold reluctantly answered the call.


    Ambrose said, "Mrs. Knight, I''m honored that you answered."


    "Cut the crap. What do you want?"


    "It''s important. Can we meet to talk?"


    Meet to talk?


    If the kids had agreed to go out, Marigold wouldn''t have met Ambrose. But since they ignored her, she had nothing else to do.


    "Fine," Marigold agreed. "You pick the ce, and we''ll talk."

 Chapter 247 Ambrose Still

    Derek''s cautious reaction gave Sten a glimmer of hope. Did he know something?


    "Ms. Storm, do you want to know about the Storm family back then?" Derek asked directly.


    "Yes," Sten replied nervously. "Mr. Ronald, do you know anything?"


    Derek frowned deeply.


    Sten pleaded, "Mr. Ronald, if you know anything, please tell me. I promise to keep it a secret. No one will know it was you who told me. I won''t get you involved."


    Derek sighed, "To be honest, Mrs. Sten has always treated me well. I''m sorry for what happened to the Storm family. I''m not afraid of getting involved; it''s just that I really don''t know." Sten''s hope faded with Derek''sst sentence.


    Seeing her disappointment, Derek sighed and handed her a ss of water. "Ms. Storm, where did youe from?"


    "From Arizona."


    "Are you still in Arizona?"


    Derek thought she would have left Arizona, just like he did after the Storm family went bankrupt.


    "My home is there. How could I leave?" Sten said sadly. "It''s my fault for realizing it toote. It''s been seven years, and I just started investigating."


    Derek sighed again. "Mr. Storm was such a good guy. It''s really unfair."


    Sten was surprised. "Mr. Ronald, do you also believe the Storm family was wronged?"


    "Of course. I worked with Mr. Storm for five years. I know what kind of person he was. He wouldn''t do those illegal things."


    Sten felt warm and grateful. "Thank you."


    "I''m just telling the truth, Ms. Storm. You don''t need to thank me. Honestly, I''m just an ordinary person. Even knowing the Storm family was framed, I couldn''t do anything." Sten pressed on. "Mr. Ronald, do you really not know anything? Even a small detail before the incident?"


    Derek continued, "Before the incident, everything seemed normal. Thepany was operating as usual. Then suddenly, one day, there was a report about serious quality issues with our food products. An investigation team came and ordered thepany to stop all operations."


    "They checked the food quality in the workshop, and over sixty percent of the products on the production line were found to be substandard. They immediately shut down thepany for a full investigation. After that, things happened so quickly that no one could react."


    "After the full investigation, they listed all thepany''s problems, and Mr. Storm was taken away. Once Mr. Storm was arrested, thepany naturally fell apart. That''s when I was forced to leave."


    When the incident happened, Sten was abroad. By the time she returned, everything had already ended.


    For what Derek just said, she already knew. It was all useless information to her at this point.


    Sten pleaded, "Mr. Ronald, I know I''m being presumptuous, but after so many years, you''re the only important employee from the Storm Group I could find. Could you please think carefully again, even a small detail?" "Okay, let me think, let me think."


    Derek was very cooperative, trying hard to recall something. After a while, his eyes suddenly lit up as if he had thought of something.


    "Right, I just remembered someone who definitely knows."


    "Who?" Sten asked eagerly.


    "Ambrose."


    Sten felt deted. She didn''t want to turn to Ambrose, which was why she came to Derek. It seemed she was back to square one.


    "Speaking of anomalies, now that I think about it, it''s Ambrose," Derek said, recalling. "Just a few days before the Storm family''s incident, Ambrose suddenly submitted his resignation. At that time, Mr. Storm said he wasn''t feeling well and hadn''t been at thepany for days. The resignation wasn''t processed, and not many people knew about it."


    "I was shocked. Ambrose was your boyfriend. The entire Storm Group would be his in the future. Why would he resign? Did he break up with you, Ms. Storm? But Ambrose denied it. He said he was under too much pressure and didn''t want people to say he relied on a woman."


    Derek continued, "Ambrose also said you were studying business management. The Storm Group would still be yours, and he wanted to start his own business and be your partner. I admired him for that. After that, he never came back to thepany. During that time, Mr. Storm also didn''te to thepany, and then the incident happened."


    "After I was forced to leave, I was always worried about Mr. Storm. I heard he was released on bail, and I wanted to visit him but never got the chance. I went to thepany to take onest look before leaving. Oh, right, on the night Mr. Storm fell, I did see Ambrose."


    "I went to thepany to take a look, and Ambrose did too. We didn''t talk much, and then he left. As I recall, Ambrose definitely hid something. He must know something."


    Ambrose had said he had important evidence, too. Since Ambrose dared to present the evidence, it must have nothing to do with him. So what role did Ambrose y? Did Sten really have to do as Ambrose said and be his woman for him to talk? Thinking of this, Sten couldn''t help but curse.


    "I understand. Thank you so much, Mr. Ronald, for telling me all this," Sten said gratefully.


    Derek sighed, "Ms. Storm, please don''t say that. I''m very sorry that I didn''t really help much."


    "No, this is enough for me. Thank you very much. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, Mr. Ronald. I''ll take my leave now."


    After leaving Derek''s office, Sten''s expression was very serious. She didn''t leave with nothing useful, but it was close.


    "How did it go?" ric asked as soon as he saw Stene out. Seeing her dejected expression, he guessed the result and quicklyforted her, "It is no big deal. After all, it''s been seven years. It''s not easy to investigate. It''s normal to hit some roadblocks. It''s okay, we''ll try another direction and slowly investigate. We''ll eventually..."


    Before ric could finish, Sten kissed him.


    Sten was indeed very dejected abouting up empty-handed and frustrated about not being able to avoid Ambrose. But hearing ric''sforting words, she couldn''t hold back. She felt an indescribable sense of gratitude and love for him.

 Chapter 250 Was that the Rowena

    Ambrose couldn''t help but feel smug. "Todd''s just a fool. He only relies on his background; he can''t manage apany." Denny nodded. "You''re right, Mr. Vale."


    "I''d love for him toe to Arizona. Without Stuart, he''s much easier to handle."


    "Yeah, Todd being away from Stuart would be a great opportunity," Denny agreed.


    Ambrose grinned. "I can''t miss this chance. Denny, get someone to gather more info from headquarters. I need urate news." "Got it."


    ric and Sten flew back to Arizona by noon. After grabbing a bite, ric dropped Sten off at Reassuring Clinic.


    "Don''t overwork yourself. I''ll pick you up in the afternoon," ric reminded.


    "You, too. I''m mainly focused on drug research now, so it''s not too tiring. You have a lot on your te; take care of yourself," Sten advised.


    "Don''t worry," ric said, giving her a kiss.


    With the entertainment center nearingpletion, ric was swamped. Once finished, it would be thergest in the country, drawing a lot of media attention.


    Even though it hadn''t opened yet, some design details had leaked, sparking widespread interest. Everyone was eager to check it out once it opened.


    "Mr. Knight, here are the promotional materials and the opening day schedule for the entertainment center, ready for your review."


    ric skimmed through the documents. "Not bad."


    "Mr. Knight, even though our entertainment center is already popr, the operations department suggests hiring some famous stars as promotional ambassadors to boost its reputation." "Sure, let them handle it."


    "Okay, I''ll inform them."


    "Alright," ric said, getting back to work.


    The entertainment center project was famous both domestically and internationally. The media predicted it would be a newndmark in Arizona.


    For such a big project, hiring a few stars for promotion was a good idea.


    In the following days, ric was busy every day, and Sten often saw him exhausted.


    This time, Sten gave him a massage. ricy on the bed while Sten worked on his shoulders.


    "I told you not to overwork yourself, but you still take on so much," Sten scolded.


    "I can''t help it. The entertainment center is about to open, and there''s a lot to do," ric said.


    Sten retorted, "Even though this project has been going on for a long time, I haven''t visited it once. Today, I saw some photos online, and it looks amazing." Sten was really impressed by the photos. "The facilities look fantastic. Once it officially opens, the kids will be thrilled."


    ric smiled. "Before the official opening, I''ll take you guys for a tour. There are many parks and fun activities inside."


    "Sure, that sounds great," Sten said excitedly. "Not just the kids, I''m quite excited too."


    Seeing her like this, ric smiled warmly. "Since you like it so much, I''ll let you have fun before the opening."


    "Really?"


    "Of course, sweetheart. It''s the least I can do."


    Sten teased, "ric, you''re getting more and more charming."


    ricughed, "Only for you. I wouldn''t bother with anyone else."


    Sten couldn''t help butugh. The moment was perfect, and she leaned over to kiss ric. Just as their lips were about to meet, the door burst open, and Elisa ran in. "Daddy, Mommy, Caspian and Harry are fighting again. You need to..."


    Elisa stopped mid-sentence, seeing the awkward scene. She quickly said, "I didn''t see anything!"


    She hurriedly closed the door, leaving ric and Sten extremely embarrassed.


    A few secondster, Elisa opened the door again, covering her eyes. "Daddy, Mommy, can you lock the door next time you want to kiss?"


    "Didn''t you know to knock before entering?" ric asked.


    Elisa replied, "I forgot it this time, but you should lock the door to prevent me from seeing such scenes. It''s better for everyone."


    ric and Sten were left speechless. Elisa kindly locked the door for them and walked away.


    "I forgot the kids were still at home," ric said.


    "Next time, we really need to be careful. They are too smart."


    ric said proudly, "Yes, they''ve inherited our high IQ. Really impressive."


    He tried to kiss her again, but Sten pushed him away. "Being interrupted, I''m not in the mood anymore."


    ric sighed, "But it''s not my fault. You can''t punish me for that."


    Sten shrugged. "Don''t you know? A child''s mistake reflects a father''s failure to educate them properly. So, it''s your fault." "Alright, I ept that."


    Just as ric finished speaking, his phone rang. It was Ss. Seeing that, Sten couldn''t help but feel annoyed. "Reporting work sote?" she asked.


    "The entertainment center is about to open. Can''t help it. Forgive me," ric said as he answered the call.


    "Mr. Knight, regarding hiring stars as promotional ambassadors, the operations department decides it''s best to hire one male and one female. I''ve sent the preliminary candidates to your email. Please make the final decision." "Got it."


    After hanging up, ric told Sten about it while opening his email. "You get to decide which two stars we hire."


    Sten hesitated, "But I don''t watch many shows, so I don''t know many stars. I can''t help you."


    ric said, "It doesn''t matter if you don''t know them. Just pick the ones you like at first nce."


    "Are you sure?"


    "The operations department has already screened them thoroughly. Any choice would be reasonable. It''s up to you," ric said. "Alright then."


    ric sat with Sten, looking through the list of stars. Suddenly, they saw a name.


    Rowena!


    Was that the Rowena?

 Chapter 252 Dont Take Yourself Too Seriously

    "Sorry, Aurora." Cormac noticed Aurora looked scared and quickly apologized. "I was too harsh earlier. My bad."


    "No, it''s my fault for upsetting you," Aurora replied. "You said you didn''t want to go, and I kept pushing. Of course, you''d be mad. I won''t bring it up again. We''re not going." Seeing Aurora so sincere, Cormac felt guilty. This was about him and ric, not about her. She was just a kid wanting to visit the entertainment center. "Cormac, it''s hot today. I''ll make some soup," Aurora said, running to the kitchen.


    Cormac felt even worse. Aurora was always so thoughtful and frugal, never wasting a penny.


    "Aurora," Cormac called, walking into the kitchen. "Do you really want to go to that entertainment center?"


    Aurora quickly denied it. "No, there''ll be too many people on the free day, and it''s so hot. We wouldn''t have fun. I wasn''t thinking. It''s morefortable at home." Cormac felt sorry for her. Why was she so mature at her age? The more sensible she was, the guiltier he felt.


    "If you want to go, we''ll go," Cormac said. "I have a day off, so I can take you there."


    He didn''t want to go, but he couldn''t crush her curiosity. Plus, the grand opening was only on the first day. With so many people, ric wouldn''t notice him. Aurora smiled. "No need. With everyone at the amusement park, the mall will be less crowded. We can enjoy the air conditioning there."


    "But the mall doesn''t have a science museum or free exciting games," Cormac teased.


    Aurora''s eyes lit up. She''d never been to a science museum or yed high-tech games. Seeing her fall silent, Cormac smiled and asked, "So, do you want to go? It''s all free."


    The thought of free games excited Aurora. She nodded honestly. "Yes."


    Cormac smiled. Kids never hid their emotions, always so sincere and pure.


    "Then, deal."


    "Thank you, Cormac!" Aurora was thrilled.


    Seeing her so happy made it worthwhile for Cormac.


    "But Cormac," Aurora worried, "since it''s free, there''ll be a lot of people. I heard there''s a limit, and they might not let more in."


    "I''ll line up at midnight, and you can join me in the morning," Cormac suggested.


    "I want to line up with you. I won''t be able to sleep from excitement anyway," Aurora said.


    "You really want to go there so much?" Cormac teased.


    "Yes! The pictures look amazing. I can learn and y things I usually can''t. Of course, I''m excited."


    Aurora sighed, "That ce must''ve cost a fortune to build. The person who built it must be super rich, like a king."


    As rich as a king?


    Back then, the Nash and Knight families were neck and neck. Now, the Knight family was thriving while the Nash family had fallen apart. Cormac gave a bitter smile. "Aurora, you''re so good at studying. You''ll definitely be sessful and make a lot of money."


    "If I make a lot of money, I''ll open a charity hospital so people who can''t afford treatment won''t lose their lives because of short of money." Cormac was deeply moved. Aurora always turned pain into kindness, facing the world''s hardships with grace andpassion. "It will definitelye true," Cormac assured her.


    The entertainment center was now fully built and in the final inspection phase. ric had said he would personally inspect it.


    Today, the ce was cleared out, with only ric, Ambrose, and a few inspectors present.


    "Mr. Vale, you''re meticulous. The project is wless," ric said, looking around the amusement park.


    "Mr. Knight, you said you''d personally inspect it. How could I ck off?"


    ric snorted and kept walking, with Ambrose following.


    "Once the inspection is over, our cooperation is done," ric said. "Leave Arizona forever, or face the consequences."


    "Mr. Knight, you''re married to Sten. Why are you still wary of me?" Ambrose replied. "Even if I leave Arizona, Sten will find me if she keeps investigating the Storm family incident."


    ric''s eyes turned cold. "Ambrose, do you think you''re that important? Even if you have decisive evidence, so what?"


    Ambrose didn''t get what ric meant and just waited for him to continue.


    ric snorted. "From the time you and Sten met, she told me everything. She said she fell into the water, and you saved her."


    "She wanted to repay you but couldn''t find you. Later, she met you again at Brennan''spany, where you were a new employee at the Storm Group."


    "Doesn''t this sound like a romance drama? Coincidence? More like you orchestrated every detail to get close to Sten and make her fall for you."


    ric continued, "Your goal was to get close to Sten, right? If you were just an ordinary employee trying to use her status to climb up, it would make sense. But you''re not; you''re an illegitimate child of the Vale family." "After the Storm family went bankrupt, you disappeared and returned to the Vale family. Stuart Vale initially ignored you butter admitted you into the Vale Group. Why the change?"


    "Especially after you went to the Storm Group, which went bankruptter, you returned to the Vale family, and Stuart Vale epted you. Does that make sense?"


    ric snorted. "Unless you had a mission from Stuart Vale. He sent you to the Storm family, and after youpleted it, he was so satisfied that he acknowledged you."


    "That''s why you told me you and Sten were forced to separate because the Storm family fell. If you stayed in Arizona, you''d expose yourself, so you had to leave as per Stuart Vale''s orders. Right?"