Seeing her being so calm and understanding only made Aren feel both angry and heartbroken. He remembered exactly what Aspen had been like back in university—sharp, lively, and fearless. He knew this version of her wasn't who she used to be. It had to be the years with Colin—it had drained her until her fire dimmed.Pushing through his fear of Dottie, Aren stepped forward and pulled Aspen into a hug. He lowered his voice and said, "You don't need to keep compromising. Do whatever you want."Aspen felt a strange mix of confusion and warmth. She gently patted his shoulder and replied, "I know. I've already outlined a solution, and you'll see it when you get back.""That's it? That's all you've got to say to me?" Aren looked at her, his eyes full of disappointment. "You're seriously only going to talk to me about work?"Aspen instantly understood what he meant. From the moment she had seen him again, she had known that deep down he had never left her heart. But what difference did
"Mr. Fuller, our top priority right now should still be the Crescent Holdings project. The tech department doesn't have a clear leader now. What are we supposed to do?" Riley shifted the topic immediately.Their personal drama could wait; the company came first.Colin said coldly, "The tech department isn't a leaderless mess. Zephyr will step up and handle things."Then, his temper flared again. "Aspen's unbelievable—even while lying in a hospital bed, she's still got the energy to flirt with another man!"Watching Colin spiral, Riley finally understood that he was a lost cause. Without saying a word, he gave a dry smile and turned to leave. He didn't feel like sitting around getting scolded for things that weren't his fault.Colin scoffed and ordered, "Make sure she gets the best takeout every day. I don't want it to look like the Fullers can't even afford to feed her." Riley knew exactly what this was—Colin's ego was bruised, and he was just trying to save face. He didn't ar
"Ms. Nicholls, didn't you know? Your child's condition is hereditary bone cancer. At most, she has six months to live. If I'm not mistaken, your mother passed away from the same disease. I advice you to get a thorough checkup yourself…"Aspen Nicholls felt like all the strength drained from her body. The doctor's words kept echoing in her mind as she stood there trembling uncontrollably."What's wrong, Mommy?" Sophie Fuller's sweet, gentle voice broke through Aspen's thoughts. The little girl looked up at her mother with concern. "Did I do something to make you unhappy?"Aspen's eyes fell on Sophie, lying frail and pale on the hospital bed. Guilt gnawed at her heart as she stared at her precious daughter's thin little face. She couldn't help but think Sophie didn't deserve such a fate."If it's my fault, I can apologize, okay?" Sophie forced a smile, trying her best to be brave.Aspen's heart twisted in agony. She couldn't believe her beloved child only had six months left. Aspe
Colin glanced at Gwyneth's hands on his arm, his expression growing darker. Finally, he said, "Fine. One month. But don't even think about pulling any tricks, Aspen. If you do, there will be consequences."Aspen gave him a faint smile. "As long as you spend time with Sophie, I'll fully cooperate." She paused and then added, "As her father, shouldn't you at least give her a birthday gift?"...Sophie lay quietly in Aspen's arms as the car headed toward the Fuller residence. Her voice trembled ever so lightly as she asked, "Mommy... is Daddy really coming?" Though she tried to hide it, the longing in her eyes was undeniable. Aspen gently patted her back and reassured her softly, "Of course he is, sweetheart."Sophie's eyes brightened for a moment before she hesitated. "Mommy, don't tell Daddy that I'm sick, okay? I don't want him to be upset."Aspen's eyes stung with tears, and her chest tightened painfully. She stroked Sophie's soft hair and whispered, "Okay, I promise."Sophi
Sophie suddenly smiled and said, "Because Mommy loves you. Daddy, you don't have to like me, but could you maybe like Mommy a little more? Can you be nicer to her from now on?"Her voice was soft, and her large, dark eyes gazed at Colin with hope. Colin's expression shifted subtly, and he scoffed internally. He had known from the beginning that Aspen couldn't possibly have pure intentions."Did she tell you to say that?" Colin asked coldly, his voice laced with condescension."No!" Sophie shook her head quickly.Colin didn't believe her and glanced dismissively at her. Sophie noticed the slight change in his demeanor and felt uneasy. She didn't want to upset him, but deep down, she knew the truth. She was like the sea princess in the story—her time was limited. Aspen kept saying she would get better, but Sophie could feel that her condition was serious.Still, if she was going to disappear like sea foam, she wanted Aspen to have someone who loved her after she was gone. With t
Apparently, Riley had forgotten to block Aspen from seeing that post. Aspen's eyes darkened slightly, and any trace of emotion faded from her face. Just yesterday, Colin had borrowed Gwyneth's diamond earrings and given them to Sophie. They had already been replaced with a new gift today.Aspen had to admit that Colin's efficiency was impressive. Then again, Gwyneth was the woman he truly cherished, so it was not surprising.Aspen chuckled softly. Just as she was about to close the social media app, a new message notification popped up. It read, "Aspen, I'm returning in ten days."The profile picture was blank, with the initials "A. J." displayed instead. It was someone who had been on her contact list for years—one she had not spoken to in six years. Aspen's breath hitched, but she didn't respond. ...At 4:20 pm, Colin had just wrapped up a grueling board meeting. It wasn't until Riley reminded him that he remembered he had promised to pick up Sophie. He got into his ca
Sophie coughed violently again. This time, the force of it left her unable to stay upright. She collapsed to her knees, and with a sickening sound, blood spurted from her mouth."Sophie!" Aspen's voice shook as she rushed to her side.Sophie's face was burning with fever, and her lips were deathly pale. She whispered weakly, "I'm okay, Mommy..." Aspen immediately scooped her up. "No, sweetheart. Mommy's taking you to the hospital."Sophie clung tightly to Aspen, her tear-filled eyes red. Aspen rushed to the hospital, barely stopping for breath. After a blood test, they sat outside the examination room, waiting for the results."Mommy... does Daddy hate me?" Sophie's small, fragile voice finally betrayed her inner fear.Aspen froze, unable to answer. The question tore her apart. She wanted so badly to say, "No, Sophie, Daddy doesn't hate you."However, the truth was far more cruel. If Sophie had been Gwyneth's child, Colin would have adored her. Aspen blinked away tears and fo
"Colin, since Ms. Nicholls wants to talk, take your time and have a conversation. You shouldn't argue in front of Sophie," Gwyneth said as she caressed Colin's cheek.Though her expression hinted at suppressed hurt, she maintained an air of understanding. Colin was obviously unwilling, but he ultimately nodded and stepped aside with Aspen.It had been so long since they had last been alone together that Aspen found herself unsure of how to begin. However, Colin clearly had little patience for her.He asked, "What is it that you want to say? You brought Sophie here to cause a scene. Are you even fit to be a mother?"His words cut deep, his disgust palpable. To him, Aspen had always been a woman willing to use any means to get what she wanted, even if it meant exploiting their own daughter.Aspen said flatly, "You promised to spend a month with Sophie. All I'm asking is that, during this time, you keep Ms. Sanders away from her."Colin's eyes hardened. "I promised to spend time wit
"Mr. Fuller, our top priority right now should still be the Crescent Holdings project. The tech department doesn't have a clear leader now. What are we supposed to do?" Riley shifted the topic immediately.Their personal drama could wait; the company came first.Colin said coldly, "The tech department isn't a leaderless mess. Zephyr will step up and handle things."Then, his temper flared again. "Aspen's unbelievable—even while lying in a hospital bed, she's still got the energy to flirt with another man!"Watching Colin spiral, Riley finally understood that he was a lost cause. Without saying a word, he gave a dry smile and turned to leave. He didn't feel like sitting around getting scolded for things that weren't his fault.Colin scoffed and ordered, "Make sure she gets the best takeout every day. I don't want it to look like the Fullers can't even afford to feed her." Riley knew exactly what this was—Colin's ego was bruised, and he was just trying to save face. He didn't ar
Seeing her being so calm and understanding only made Aren feel both angry and heartbroken. He remembered exactly what Aspen had been like back in university—sharp, lively, and fearless. He knew this version of her wasn't who she used to be. It had to be the years with Colin—it had drained her until her fire dimmed.Pushing through his fear of Dottie, Aren stepped forward and pulled Aspen into a hug. He lowered his voice and said, "You don't need to keep compromising. Do whatever you want."Aspen felt a strange mix of confusion and warmth. She gently patted his shoulder and replied, "I know. I've already outlined a solution, and you'll see it when you get back.""That's it? That's all you've got to say to me?" Aren looked at her, his eyes full of disappointment. "You're seriously only going to talk to me about work?"Aspen instantly understood what he meant. From the moment she had seen him again, she had known that deep down he had never left her heart. But what difference did
"Dottie, oh my sweet baby! I missed you so much!" Aspen cooed.The moment Dottie saw her, the little fluffball started meowing nonstop and rubbed against her side over and over, clearly just as thrilled. Meanwhile, Aren stood several feet away, keeping a safe distance and looking absolutely pitiful as he called out, "So, are you still gonna eat the ribs or not?"Only then did Aspen remember that Aren was afraid of animals. Hugging Dottie, she turned to him with a smile. "Aren, you can come pet her. Dottie's super sweet, I promise."It was obvious Martha had taken great care of Dottie over the past few days. When Dottie had first been brought back, she had been scraggly and skinny. Now, she was a round, glossy ball of fluff. Aren did everything he could to keep his distance as he placed the food container down across from Aspen. He sighed helplessly. "I'm seriously scared of that thing.""Alright, fine then." Aspen's smile faded as she lowered her eyes, a little disappointed. S
Eric was baffled by Aren's response. Was this really the time to be worrying about whether he could get married? No matter how important getting married was, it couldn't possibly top what they were dealing with now.Seeing how defeated he looked, Aren couldn't help but grin smugly. Then, he said, "Don't worry, I've got this under control. I already passed the issue to Aspen—if all goes well, I should be getting good news tonight when I drop off her dinner."Eric felt like he was about to explode. He stared at Aren in disbelief and snapped, "Mr. Jefferson, do you even know what you're doing? We're direct competitors with Fuller Group! What you're doing now is a breach of confidentiality! You realize I could have you arrested for this?"Aren laughed out loud at his outrage. With a completely relaxed tone, he replied, "Calm down. She would never betray me. Sure, we're rivals with Fuller Group, but Aspen isn't Fuller Group—she's our partner. That's a pretty clear distinction, don't you
"Gwyneth called me a lapdog, and Colin just let it happen, even threatening me!" Riley's voice trembled with barely contained outrage.He graduated from a well-known college and had devoted years to Colin, only to be humiliated without recourse. What kind of twisted corporate hell was this? Employees had their limits too."Huh?" Aspen was taken aback when she heard Riley's reply. Of all the reasons she had imagined for his defection, this wasn't it.Colin had truly lost it for Gwyneth. The man's logic circuits were obviously fried since he had actually let Gwyneth verbally assault his most loyal aide.Aspen thought he was definitely out of his mind. She said, "Don't worry. I'll make sure you get your justice. But first, I need Fuller Group's core data for the past five years. Can you access it?" Now that they were officially allies, Aspen saw no need for formalities.Riley nodded immediately. "I can get it. I'll need some time, but you can expect it by tomorrow night." He stoo
Gwyneth was no fool and immediately recognized Riley's thinly veiled contempt. She shot to her feet, teeth clenched. "You're nothing but Colin's lapdog! How dare you give me an attitude? Do you even want to keep your job?"Riley replied flatly, "My apologies, Ms. Sander, but I'm Mr. Fuller's assistant, not his pet. If you're fond of dogs, I'm sure he'd be happy to buy you one."Gwyneth's eyes widened, shocked that he was actually speaking to her in that tone. She lunged forward, hand raised to strike. However, Riley was no delicate flower and caught Gwyneth's wrist mid-swing. He said, "Control yourself, Ms. Sanders."Colin arrived just in time to see the confrontation. He strode forward, intercepting Riley with a glare. "What the hell is going on?""Ms. Sanders attempted to assault me," Riley stated matter-of-factly, releasing Gwyneth's wrist. "I merely defended myself. No aggression intended."Gwyneth seized the moment, throwing herself against Colin with theatrical sobs. "I di
"Move aside!" Colin roared, his face twisted in fury.Maria was unfamiliar with Colin or his status, and she stood her ground. "Sir, I must protect my patient. Leave now, or I'll call security.""Maria, it's fine. He's my husband," Aspen said, her voice dripping with sarcasm at the word "husband". Maria stared in disbelief. She had been caring for Aspen for weeks, and Aren was the only visitor she had ever seen. She couldn't believe this snarling stranger was Aspen's husband.She eyed Colin suspiciously and asked, "Ms. Nicholls, are you sure you don't want me to call the police?""No need. Thank you." Aspen smiled and gave Maria's hand a reassuring squeeze.Maria glared at Colin and scoffed, warning him, "I'll be right outside that door. Lay one finger on her, and I'm dialing 911 myself. He's got a fancy suit but can't keep his hands to himself… How disgraceful."Then, she shoved past him and headed outside.Watching Colin's thunderous expression, Aspen almost laughed. She dou
"Aspen said Zac did it. What does that have to do with you? Your brother's always been reckless and undisciplined—him doing something outrageous isn't exactly a stretch," Colin said calmly, trying to stay rational.But Gwyneth, sitting beside him, already understood something crystal clear—her place in Colin's heart wasn't what it used to be.Before this, Colin had never approached her issues with reason. He had always been impulsive, acting purely on emotion. And now? He could actually stay level-headed when it came to her. That only meant one thing—he didn't care anymore."Colin… do you not love me anymore?" Gwyneth's voice trembled with hurt, and tears began to stream down her face.She cried, "I know I've been a mess lately, and I'm sorry. But I can't help it. I love you too much—I can't live without you. I can't lose you!"As she spoke, she curled up in the passenger seat, trembling all over.Seeing her like that, Colin's heart softened, and his tone eased. "I'm not blaming
Right after stepping out, Colin grabbed Gwyneth by the arm and dragged her straight to his car. He frowned at her and said coldly, "Call Zac."Gwyneth stared at him in disbelief. "Colin, do you really believe what Ms. Nicholls said? You actually think Zac did it?""Call him!" Colin didn't bother responding to her questions. This time, it wasn't a suggestion—it was an order.Gwyneth didn't dare argue. Her eyes welled up with frustration as she pulled out her phone and started dialing Zac's number....At that moment, Zac was hanging from the ceiling, being whipped mercilessly. He howled in pain, sounding like a pig being slaughtered, thrashing around helplessly. When his phone suddenly started ringing, it felt like the light at the end of the tunnel."Sir, please—I've got money! Just let me answer the call, I'm begging you!" Zac pleaded over and over. He couldn't take it anymore.Kian shook out his sore hand with a grimace of disgust. "You're a grown man, yet all you do is bully