It took Colin a moment to realize his misstep. He instinctively glanced at Niall and said, "My apologies. The situation was urgent, and we hadn't discussed this internally yet.""Mr. Fuller, you don't seem to trust your own project lead very much…" Niall frowned slightly as he studied Colin. Something about the dynamic between these three felt off, to say the least.Colin quickly shook his head. "No, my team and I have excellent rapport."He wasn't exactly lying. He did have strong synergy with his team—just not with Aspen. Meanwhile, the corner of Aspen's mouth twitched into a faint, bitter smile."In that case, Mr. Fuller, you can go back and calculate the costs and get me a precise quote. As for the project itself, I'm very satisfied with this software." Niall agreed outright, clearly impressed. On the contrary, Colin was genuinely surprised by this. Had they succeeded just like that?Meanwhile, Gwyneth wasn't sure whether she should feel pleased or not. Colin stepped closer
Niall spoke with composed frankness. When his gaze landed on Aspen again, the earlier admiration in his eyes had vanished, replaced instead by puzzlement. He truly couldn't understand why a woman like her would remain tethered to a man like Colin.It made no sense at all. Knowing there was someone else who had pined for her for years only deepened his conviction that it wasn't worth it. She deserved so much better!Once outside, Aspen immediately shook off Colin's arm and snapped, "Are you out of your mind? Now our first impression is completely ruined. Are you proud of yourself?""I didn't realize he knew," Colin muttered while lowering his head in frustration.For the first time, it struck him that there might genuinely be something wrong with his judgment. Aspen rolled her eyes when she noticed his demeanor. "Did you really think a corporation that size wouldn't do their due diligence before securing partnerships? Or did you honestly believe your little affair with your chil
Aspen deliberately studied Niall's expression as she spoke, wanting to gauge his reaction. Sure enough, his face showed no trace of tension or surprise. That was clear proof that this had likely been planned between him and Aren."Two peas in a pod," she thought wryly.Yet strangely, this realization eased her mind. Before this, she had worried Aren might be fighting an uphill battle alone. She felt like she could relax now that she knew he had a formidable ally.Before long, Niall drove them to a restaurant. Aspen frowned at the unexpected detour as she stepped out of the car. She raised her brows and asked, "Why are we here?""I figured your useless husband wouldn't bother feeding you. My treat," Niall bluntly remarked without hesitation. After all, there was no need for formalities, given they were batchmates in university.Aspen made no pretenses either. She flipped open the menu and immediately picked the most expensive dishes. She fixed Niall with a pointed look after slammi
Though Aspen had mentally prepared herself beforehand, hearing this made her realize her preparations were far from adequate. She nearly sprayed out the red wine in her mouth as she stared at Niall in disbelief."Aren't you being a little too direct?""Why beat around the bush? You want Fuller Group to crash and burn, and we're just waiting to carve it up!" Niall grinned at her, his eyes gleaming with excitement.Watching him, Aspen instinctively turned to Aren, her gaze filled with confusion. Noticing this, Aren flushed with embarrassment and smacked Niall's arm. "Can you not sound like a villain?""Am I wrong? This is the reality. A golden opportunity is right in front of us—why not lay our cards on the table?"Back in the office, Aspen hadn't pegged Niall as someone so brutally straightforward.She chuckled, then nodded. "Fair point. Fuller Group is a prime target right now. But you know how business is. If it's valuable, we won't be the only ones eyeing it, right?"Niall's
Meanwhile, a hidden camera in the restaurant had captured the entire scene. Before long, Gwyneth received the video. Its contents were crystal clear.She immediately took it to Colin. "Colin, look! Ms. Nicholls is trying to sell her shares in Fuller Group!"The footage was obviously edited. Gwyneth knew Colin wouldn't care about the earlier parts, but Fuller Group was his lifeline.Colin's demeanor shifted instantly after watching the video. His hands clenched into fists, and he hurled his phone to the ground with a snarl before storming out.Gwyneth stood motionless as she stared coldly at the shattered phone. A smirk curled her lips. She had known all along that emotional entanglements were trivial. Only core interests could truly wound Colin. Aspen had struck a fatal nerve this time.Back at her hotel, Aspen promptly reported the cleaning lady who had entered her room that morning. She ensured the woman lost her job after presenting surveillance footage and evidence, and she
That single word—Pen—sent shivers of disgust down Aspen's spine. She stared at Colin before her in disbelief, unable to comprehend how such nauseating words could come from his mouth.Her brows furrowed tightly as she gritted her teeth. "My daughter is dead, and you still think everything I'm doing is just some tantrum? Where do you get that confidence? Colin, can't you afford a mirror with all your money?""I know the child's death is a wound for you. We can just have another if you like children that much."Colin spoke with forced patience. He had seen Aspen's brilliance and was now determined to keep her by his side.Aspen felt nothing but utter ridicule as she watched his self-assured and entitled expression. She didn't blame Colin—not really. She blamed her past self.There was a time when she thought Colin shone like the sun. But now? He was just an ordinary man. It had been her love that gave him that glow in her eyes.Now that the love was gone, so was the halo. He was ju
Aspen sat on the floor for so long that her legs grew numb. As she struggled to stand, the door suddenly burst open with a violent kick, sending her flying backward. She crashed to the ground, staring in shock at the four burly men who stormed in."Who are you people? What do you want?"The pepper spray flew from her hand from the impact. She instinctively grabbed a piece of broken wood nearby, ready to fight back.But the men didn't utter a word. One strode forward and kicked the wooden plank from her grip, then yanked her up by her hair to drag her out.Aspen felt like her scalp was being torn off. Tears streamed down her face as she thrashed, but it was useless. This was supposed to be a five-star hotel—yet now, no one came to her aid."Let me go! What do you want? Do you know this is illegal?" she screamed through clenched teeth as she struggled.Her shouts only seemed to irritate the men. One decided to silence her with a brutal punch to the face, knocking her unconscious.
Aspen shrugged, and her expression seemed resigned. "Nothing else really matters compared to staying alive. Since we're meeting for the first time, let's skip the small talk and get straight to the point.""You really are sharp. I'm Chester Shaffer. Someone paid me two million dollars to have you killed. But now, I'm starting to think keeping you alive might be more interesting."With that, Chester pulled out a stack of IOUs from his pocket and tossed them at Aspen's face. The slips of paper fluttered down like snowflakes, scattering across the floor in front of her.Aspen lowered her head to examine them, and her vision darkened for a second when she saw the name "Joseph Nicholls" signed at the bottom. She couldn't help but laugh."Can't even cut ties cleanly, huh? Even when he's locked up, he's still dragging me into his mess. What a wonderful uncle I have."A cold smirk curled her lips. The disdain in her eyes was unmistakable.Chester studied her reaction, finding it odd. He
Colin opened his eyes and looked at the steaming bowl of soup, but not a single trace of appetite stirred within him. He muttered, "I'm not hungry. You should have it instead.""Colin, just have a little." Gwyneth persuaded him gently, lifting a spoonful and holding it near his lips. "It's good for your stomach."Colin glanced at her, and seeing the tenderness in her face, something inside him softened. He parted his lips and took a sip. The soup was mild, with a slight sweetness, but it tasted dull and lifeless to him."Aspen's cooking was better," he murmured under his breath.Gwyneth's face froze, and her hand trembled—she almost dropped the spoon. She forced a calm tone while rage surged beneath her skin, asking, "What did you just say?""Nothing," Colin said quickly, realizing his slip-up. "The soup's good. Really."Gwyneth said nothing, continuing to feed him spoonful by spoonful, though her jaw was tight and her smile had vanished. She felt intensely uncomfortable. In no
Gwyneth stood at the doorway, eyeing Colin's drunken state with a flash of irritation—but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by a gentle smile. She said in a sweet voice, "Colin, it's me. Why are you drinking so much again? Didn't the doctor say your stomach can't handle it?"The light in Colin's eyes dimmed. He looked at her and gave a bitter, mocking smile. "You're back."He set down the glass and stumbled to the couch, collapsing onto it with a heavy sigh.Gwyneth walked over and sat beside him, reaching out to massage his temples. She asked, "Colin, something's bothering you, isn't it? You can talk to me."Colin brushed her hand away, the edge in his tone unmistakable. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." He closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch, shutting himself off. Gwyneth's hand hung in the air for a moment before she slowly lowered it, her smile faltering.She took a deep breath and forced her voice to stay sweet. "Colin, I know things have bee
Colin's expression grew darker. He hadn't expected that, in just a few days of being hospitalized, his company would fall into such chaos. He paced back and forth in the room, seething with frustration. Deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that Aspen had something to do with all of this.That night, when Colin returned home, he found Gwyneth lounging on the couch, watching TV."Colin, you're back," Gwyneth said, rising to greet him. Her voice was laced with concern. "How are you feeling today? Any better?""I'm fine," Colin replied blandly. His mind was consumed with company issues, and he had no patience left for small talk."I heard about some things at the office today..." Gwyneth began carefully, testing the waters. "Sounds like things aren't going too well.""Yeah," Colin muttered, barely listening. "I heard Aspen's behind it," Gwyneth added in a cautious tone. "She and Aren are working together, trying to drive Fuller Group out of the market."Colin's eyes darkened
On the weekend, Aren took Aspen to the cemetery to visit Sophie's grave. Aspen crouched in front of the tombstone, gently caressing the photo on it as tears streamed down her face. "Sophie, Mommy's here to see you."Aren stood nearby, silently watching her with a heart full of sympathy. He gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders, offering wordless comfort. The two stayed at the cemetery for a long time, only reluctantly leaving as the sun began to set.On their way home, they passed by the hospital and happened to see Colin and Gwyneth walking in the corridor. Although Colin's face was still somewhat pale, his spirits had improved greatly. Gwyneth nestled close to him, and the two looked very intimate.Aspen felt a mix of emotions seeing this scene. She wasn't sure whether she felt sadness or acceptance. Aren noticed the change in Aspen's mood and squeezed her hand tightly.Colin also spotted Aspen and Aren. He paused for a moment as a strange sense of bitterness welled u
"What rumors?" Colin frowned and asked."Well, they're saying... They're saying you might not have much time left," James stuttered.Colin shouted angrily, "That's absolute nonsense! I'm perfectly fine!"James replied, "That's good, then. But for the company's stability, you should return to take charge as soon as possible."Colin said, "I understand. I'll be back soon."Colin's face turned ashen with rage as he threw his phone across the room. He wondered who would dare spread such rumors about him at the company....Colin lay in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in boredom. The company matters were like a tangled mess, making him restless and irritable. Gwyneth sat beside the bed, peeling an apple while making small talk with him from time to time."Colin, you've been lying here for several days now. When will you be discharged?" Gwyneth's voice was soft and gentle, tickling Colin's heart like a feather."The doctor says they need to observe me for a few more days,
Gwyneth asked, "Colin, what's wrong? You never treated me like this before. Why are you being so harsh with me now?"Colin said, "Go home and get some rest. Stop bothering me." Gwyneth's tears burst forth. She hadn't expected Colin to be so cold-hearted. She ran out of the hospital room crying.Riley watched Gwyneth's retreating figure and sighed. He walked to Colin's bedside and said, "Mr. Fuller, please calm down. Ms. Sanders is just concerned about you."Colin felt hungry but had no appetite, which only fueled his anger. He shouted, "You get out too! I don't want to see you!"Riley couldn't help but roll his eyes. He had worked for Colin for so many years with little appreciation but plenty of hard work, yet Colin treated him this way. It was truly disheartening. He said, "Alright, I'll go. Get some rest."Then, he turned and walked out of the hospital room, gently closing the door behind him.Colin lay in his hospital bed, listening to the sound of the closing door. He fe
"I'm tired and need to rest." Colin closed his eyes, effectively dismissing her.Seeing this, Gwyneth had no choice but to wipe her tears and leave the hospital room, looking back several times as she went.By the time Riley returned to the room, Gwyneth had already left. He looked at Colin lying in the hospital bed and secretly lamented his situation. The company matters were already keeping him busy enough, and now he had to take care of this demanding boss. His luck couldn't get any worse."Riley, where did you go? Why did it take you so long to come back?" Colin opened his eyes and asked as he looked at Riley. Riley placed the takeout porridge on the bedside table. "I went to buy you something to eat. The doctor said you can't have solid food, so I bought you some soup."Colin glanced at the bowl of porridge and frowned. "I'm not eating this. It's full of artificial seasoning and tastes terrible.""What would you like to eat, then? I'll buy it for you," Riley asked patient
Aspen watched Aren's gentle manner and felt a warmth surge in her heart. She thought how wonderful it would have been if she had met Aren earlier. But this world had no room for "what ifs"—only results and consequences. All she could do now was cherish the person before her and build a good life with him.After they finished shopping, they returned home. Aren went straight to the kitchen to cook. Aspen sat on the living room couch, watching him work busily, her heart filled with happiness. She thought to herself that simply being with Aren like this, living a quiet, ordinary life together from time to time, was truly wonderful....Colin returned home and felt irritated at the sight of his cold, empty rooms. He remembered how clean and tidy the house had always been when Aspen was there. But now, it was cold and lifeless.He sat on the couch and questioned his current situation for the first time. He began to wonder whether his choice to be with Gwyneth had been right or wrong.
Colin remembered how good Aspen used to be and all the things she had done around the house. He suddenly sat up, feeling that he couldn't go on like this anymore. When he saw the empty space beside him on the bed, he realized that she was truly gone. Colin fell back onto the bed in defeat as tears slid down his face. He suddenly felt ridiculous—he had pushed Aspen away with his own hands, so what right did he have to try to win her back now?...Meanwhile, Aspen was busy in the kitchen. She was experimenting with new recipes, wanting to make something special for Aren.Aren leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching Aspen work, his heart filled with warmth. He asked softly, "Pen, what are you making?""I'm trying out some new recipes," Aspen replied without turning around. "I want to make something delicious for you.""You don't need to put in that much effort," Aren said, walking to Aspen's side, almost reaching out to hug her before pulling his hand back. "I'd be fine wi