"Is that so? This is the same gown a top international model just wore on the runway. How is it tasteless? Some people just can't let go of outdated ideas," Aspen shot back, rolling her eyes. It was the first time she had ever pushed back against Colin's criticism. In the past, no matter how harshly he judged her, she would stay silent, even questioning herself. But now, she knew better. She hadn't done anything wrong—it was Colin who was the problem.Even Howard had praised her look, but Colin, as usual, had nothing positive to say. His lack of taste and constant negativity were exhausting.Colin hadn't expected that his single comment would spark such a sharp response. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at her. "Aspen, is this your new strategy? Are you trying to get my attention by acting out? Pathetic.""And yet, who exactly is the one obsessed with this?? Are we going or not?" Aspen snapped, losing patience. If she hadn't spent so much time perfecting her look, she might ha
It was exactly what Aspen wanted. There was no way Gwyneth could just move on and live a peaceful life now—not after what she had done to them. She had made their lives a living hell, so it was only fair for her to finally experience what it felt like to lose sleep over it.When the reporters bombarded her with questions, Aspen handled it with grace and poise, earning plenty of praise. She took this opportunity not only to officially acknowledge her identity but also to send a clear message—she was exceptional. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and she was determined to make sure the whole world knew her name—she was Aspen Nicholls, not some pathetic caged canary or Mrs. Fuller.Watching her effortlessly take control of the situation, Colin found himself seeing her in a new light. He had always assumed she was just a woman who only cared about grocery store prices, but clearly, he had underestimated her.It almost felt like Aspen was a completely different person. The old As
Facing the cameras, Aspen carried herself with confidence and grace, showing no sign of embarrassment despite the personal nature of the questions. It was as if none of this had anything to do with her. Colin had always wanted to see this composed and professional side of her. Yet, when he met her cold, emotionless gaze, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of irritation. He had hated how she focused all her attention on him in the past, but now that she seemed completely indifferent, he found it even harder to accept. "Mrs. Fuller, what exactly is the relationship between Ms. Sanders and Mr. Fuller?" a reporter asked."Ms. Sanders is just Ms. Sanders, and I am Mrs. Fuller. Colin is right here beside me—isn't that answer enough?" Aspen replied with a soft smile. She took Colin's hand, interlacing their fingers in front of the cameras and proudly displaying their wedding rings. In reality, Aspen's original ring had been discarded long ago, and the one she wore now was a ch
What was supposed to be an urgent matter suddenly didn't feel so urgent to Colin. Puzzled, he stood there, glancing at Aspen and wondering why she wasn't making a scene like she used to. Sensing his confusion, Aspen looked back at him with the same questioning expression before finally waving him off. "Take your time. Don't let me keep you.""Wait for me," Colin said firmly before turning and striding away. Aspen watched him go, letting out a scoff of disdain. Then, she turned to Riley, who was still standing there, and snapped, "What are you staring at? Get the car ready. We can't be late.""But Mr. Fuller told you to wait for him," Riley replied, clearly confused. When had Aspen become so decisive?Aspen gave him a look that was both amused and exasperated. "You've worked for him for years, and you still don't know him? Do you really think he's coming back?" It wasn't like this had never happened before. The only difference was that back then, the empty promises had been mad
As soon as Gwyneth stepped out of the car, she leaned heavily into Colin, making sure everyone could see how close they were. Colin wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her toward the entrance. There, they ran into Aspen, who was just about to step inside. When he met Aspen's knowing, half-smiling gaze, he felt a sharp pang of discomfort, as if his hand holding Gwyneth's suddenly burned."Ms. Nicholls, please don't be mad. I've never been to an event like this before, so I begged Colin to bring me," Gwyneth said, her voice trembling. "I was so bored in the hospital, and I just wanted to get out for a bit. I-I didn't know you'd be here." Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke.In the past, Aspen would have made a scene, but now she simply smiled faintly and replied, "Ms. Sanders, you've had a tough time recovering in the hospital. Since you're here, make sure to enjoy yourself. Colin, take good care of her. If she sees anything she likes, make sure to buy it for her." H
Yet, because Aspen had never attended an event like this before, no one recognized her. Everyone was quietly asking around about the origin of this "wild rose".Aspen, on the other hand, carried herself with grace. After signing her name, she walked straight over to greet the familiar faces."Mrs. Canfield, Mrs. Watson, it's me—Aspen." Aspen approached with a cheerful smile and gave Rebecca Lawson a polite nod. "I was the one who made the desserts at your last birthday party, remember? What, you don't recognize me?"Of course Rebecca remembered. It was just that she truly hadn't recognized the radiant woman standing before her as Aspen.Three months ago, Aspen had happily joined the celebration at Rebecca's birthday, only to end up stuck in the kitchen all day making desserts. She hadn't even gotten the chance to sit at the table and eat. Meanwhile, Gwyneth had fluttered around like a social butterfly at Colin's side, stealing the spotlight entirely.It wasn't until after the pa
The matter could have ended there. Although Aspen had suffered a bit of indignity, it wasn't anything humiliating or disgraceful.But unfortunately, Gwyneth was the type to cause drama wherever she went. She immediately stepped in front of Aspen and blocked her path."Ms. Nicholls, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to follow Colin here—it's just that my depression relapsed, and I've been feeling awful. Colin only brought me along because he felt sorry for me. Please don't blame him. Besides, the two of you are already going through divorce proceedings. I... I mean, Colin and I, we…"Aspen, who had been struggling to find a proper reason to make her exit moments ago, would have never imagined Gwyneth could be so foolish.She looked at Gwyneth's heavily suggestive words and couldn't help but laugh. "Ms. Sanders, don't you read the news?"News? Gwyneth had been tied to a hospital bed all this time, completely cut off from any outside information.Aspen, ever so thoughtful, pulled out her pho
Even though everything that happened today was the result of his own choices, Colin couldn't help but feel that his humiliation was somehow tied to the woman standing beside him.And yet, he had no proof. Every time he looked into Aspen's eyes, he couldn't find a trace of scheming within them. He could only grit his teeth and swallow the disgrace in silence.He gave Rebecca a casual smile and spoke as if nothing had happened. "Just a minor hiccup. Gwen acted out of line; I'm sorry for the spectacle.""If she acts out at home, that's one thing. But don't bring her out only to have her act so foolishly in public. Everyone here has a reputation to uphold," Rebecca replied pointedly, then turned and walked away.After all, it was still someone else's family matter. Even if she had her opinions, there wasn't much she could say. It wouldn't be appropriate to affect the couple's relationship.In wealthy circles, feelings were never the priority—benefits always came first. While they all
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