I could see the jury trying to maintain a neutral expression. And given that divorcing Irvin depended on their verdict, I knew I had to win them over.Thus, I faced them as I continued my story. "Actually, he did come to see me once, but it wasn't to care for me. No, it was because he wanted to drag me out of bed to apologize to Julianne."According to him, it was my fault she had caught a cold, so I needed to apologize to her because she was too weak to come to me."Imagine that. My injuries were severe, and I was bedridden. Yet, he insisted I leave the hospital just to apologize to Julianne. He didn't care that I had called the police on him. He also didn't believe I was injured, despite reading my medical chart and seeing the state I was in."Instead, he thought I was faking it. He even threatened the hospital I was in and accused them of forging my medical chart. Unbelievable, right? He threatened the people responsible for saving me."Some jurors were openly looking at Irvin
Irvin had lost his memories and was replaced by a younger version of himself because he couldn't cope with what he had done. However, the same held true for his younger version too.He was the reason I had suffered such grave injuries, and yet he wasn't aware of it. Neither version of himself was able to deal with this fact.He couldn't believe he had tried to beg for my forgiveness, because even he couldn't forgive himself for what he had done to me.Plus, I had laid in a hospital bed for so long because of my injuries. It had taken almost three months before I could move again. And he hadn't even visited me once the entire time, let alone cared for me.Irvin shouldn't have ignored me like that if he truly loved me, especially when I was in that condition. It didn't matter how angry he had been at me.So, how could I possibly believe his claims of true love given the way he had acted? Forget me, even the judge wouldn't believe him. Even he couldn't believe he truly loved me, beca
"I'm sorry, Emi. I'm so, so sorry," Noah said in a remorseful tone.He was full of guilt because he had been too slow to return to Claudeville, and I had been gravely injured due to this.Noah hadn't dared to keep in touch with me ever since I had gotten married. Later, he had heard that I was living happily, so he couldn't even bring himself to ask how I was. He wouldn't have known I wasn't living happily at all if he hadn't seen the recent drama about Irvin and me online.Although Noah's apology was vague, I somehow understood what he was sorry for.He had been in the courtroom during the hearing, so he definitely saw the photos of my injuries. So, I thought he was beating himself up for not being by my side during my most painful time.Smiling, I patted his back gently. "It's alright. I'm okay now. It's all in the past," I said comfortingly.Noah didn't reply, but his eyes were red from unshed tears. I had a fragile body, so he didn't understand how I had managed to endure tha
So now, Irvin was back to his former self. And as he had personally caused all the harm I had been through, the pain he carried was more intense than that in his younger self. He was also even more clueless about how to face me.That being said, he still had to. He couldn't continue running away from all the hurt he had caused me.Mark moved to leave the room as Irvin wanted to speak to me privately. Before he left, he told me he would be right next door and I could call for him if need be.Irvin chuckled bitterly at Mark's words."Is that how little you trust me now, Emi?" he asked.He was offended that I thought he would harm me if we were left alone with each other.Shrugging, I plainly said, "I sure as hell don't want to risk you drugging and kidnapping me so you could exchange my life for someone else's again."Irvin instantly became misty-eyed. He started apologizing, "I'm sorry, Emi. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry—""Stop. Your apologies sound cheap," I quickly cut him off. "If
"Do you really think you have the right to sit here and apologize to me?" I shot back.Irvin's face turned pale at my words. It was almost unbearable to look at him.His mouth fell open as though he wanted to say something. However, his lips merely trembled for a long time—he couldn't form any words.Sure, he might never have intended to harm me. Yet, time and time again, I had nearly died because of him.Irvin let out a self-deprecating laugh. His eyes looked crazed. Never before had he felt more deserving of death than in this moment.Regardless of how helpless he had felt then, he should have never put me in such danger. He truly didn't deserve to live.He was so overcome with pain and guilt that he looked utterly shattered and broken.If this was the old me, I would have been so heartbroken that I wouldn't be able to resist forgiving him. However, the current me merely sneered at the state he was in.Irvin's remorse had come too late, so it was worthless. It was like crying
One of Irvin's secretaries had called Julianne and told her he was about to transfer all his shares to me. Thus, she frantically rushed over to Mark's firm.She genuinely liked Irvin and wanted to be with him. That was why she had returned to Claudeville. That being said, her desire for money was far greater. She couldn't allow him to be penniless.Given everything she had done, she knew she had no chance of being Irvin. So, she couldn't lose both him and his wealth.Before Irvin could say anything, Julianne rushed forward and clung to his arm.I braced myself for the nonsense she was about to spout."Irvin, the mastermind behind my kidnapping not long ago… is Millie! She had teamed up with Travis Walker and orchestrated the whole thing! Her main goal was to harm me. "Also, she's aware of how much you care for me. So, she knew you would follow the kidnappers' demands and exchange her for me."That way, she could create a fake scenario where she would almost die. She knew you wo
Irvin met my gaze upon hearing what Julianne said. When he saw that she was speaking the truth, his grip on the pen tightened.Julianne had always been good at noticing Irvin's subtle reactions. She felt a glimmer of hope when she saw the way he was acting. She thought Irvin had believed her again this time.Noticing the subtle movement too, I sneered and was about to say something.However, Irvin extracted his arm from Julianne's hold and stared at her. Then, he huffed and sardonically said, "Do you think I'm an idiot just because I treat you like a sister, Lianne?"Julianne froze. I, too, was shocked. Neither of us had expected Irvin to say that.Her eyes quickly filled with tears once she realized what was happening."How could you say that about me, Irvin? I'm only doing this for your own good!" she cried as her tears fell.Despite saying this, she couldn't resist cursing him inwardly. It wasn't that she thought he was an idiot—he actually was one!Other people fought vicio
"Irvin, I wasn't trying to accuse Millie," Julianne began. "I just… I just guessed that it was her from the signs…"Before she could finish her sentence, Irvin snapped angrily, "Enough, Julianne! I trust you like family, not for you to treat me as a fool!"They had grown up together, raised by the same mother. He had truly seen her as his sister. Yet she…"Irvin, I really…" Julianne tried to explain.But Irvin didn't want to hear another word from her. He had someone drag her out.I had clearly told him that I was innocent, the sufferings I had endured, and how many times Julianne had deceived him over the years.I also let him know that the reason Julianne had slandered me and manipulated our relationship wasn't solely because she misunderstood and thought I had drugged her.I had never wished her harm. It was she who couldn't stand seeing me happy.Even so, despite knowing everything, Irvin still didn't doubt what had happened back then because they had grown up together. He
William wasn't the type to repay a life-saving favor. So, for the past two years, Julianne had always wondered why he treated her so well and was especially attentive to her health.It was only after she returned to Claudeville that she finally understood.It turned out William had a sickly niece he cherished dearly—one whose survival depended on Julianne. Upon learning this, she suddenly felt she had the upper hand again.While she still couldn't figure William out entirely, she had come to understand him somewhat. She knew he would continue to tolerate her—for the sake of his sickly niece—as long as she didn't do anything out of line.To be clear, Julianne made my life difficult because she hated me. But as long as she didn't harm me, she knew no one would hold it against her. After all, William's niece needed her blood to live.The more she thought about this, the more pleased she became.I could see it plainly in her eyes. Her expression seemed to say that even after all thes
Seeing how determined I was, Emma didn't press any further.Just as we were about to leave in the car, another car pulled up beside ours. When I saw who stepped out of it, my eyes widened in shock.Emma saw them too and tugged at my sleeve in surprise. "Emilia, isn't that your ex-husband's brother and sister-in-law?"I was just about to say yes when Grace suddenly collapsed into Irvin's arms. He picked her up and rushed toward the hospital.Seeing this reminded me of how I had wished that Irvin would come and save me when I was drowning.I chuckled mockingly.Noticing something was off with me, Emma turned to me. "Emilia, what's wrong?"I withdrew my gaze. "Nothing."Then I told the driver to start driving.As the car drove out of the hospital, Emma stared at me. She hesitated at first, but then curiosity got the better of her "Emilia, looking at how you reacted to your ex-husband's brother… Is it true that he's actually not Timothy, but Irvin?" she asked.She had been with
Only after our car had driven far into the distance did William finally withdraw his gaze from Noah's car."Was Ms. Quill's assistant rescued?" he asked.Matthew immediately replied, "Yes, she's been taken to the hospital. She's out of danger."William hummed indifferently in response, then got into the car and left.…By the time I woke up in the hospital, night had already fallen.I was surprised to see Noah sitting at my bedside—surprised that I was still alive and that it was Noah who had come to save me.Seeing me awake, Noah stood up excitedly. "Emi, how are you feeling? I'll get the doctor!"I wanted to tell him I was fine, but my voice came out hoarse when I opened my mouth.Suddenly, I remembered something and quickly reached out to grab Noah before he could leave to call the doctor.Before I could even ask, he already knew what I was going to ask. "Your assistant's fine. She woke up even earlier than you," he said. Hearing that, I breathed a sigh of relief.Noah
Emma was also quite smart. Once she calmed down, she immediately understood what I meant. She wanted to say something, but I had already opened the car door and pushed her out.Seeing several people swimming toward us, I shoved her again, urging her to leave quickly.In the face of life and death, survival would become an instinct for everyone. So even though she didn't wish me harm or want to leave me behind, she swam away with tears in her eyes. Not long after she left, those so-called "rescuers" surrounded me.When they noticed someone had swum away, they exchanged hand signals underwater, planning to send some after her and others to capture me. Realizing this, I quickly pointed at myself, trying to tell them that I was the one they were looking for. Then I turned and swam in the opposite direction, hoping to lure them away and buy her more time to escape. But even though they understood my gesture, they didn't believe me. They still sent people after her.They were very
There was only one road from the airport to the city, and William's car was right behind ours.Matthew, who was driving, immediately sensed something was wrong when he saw our car suddenly accelerating at an alarming speed.He quickly said, "Mr. Ashford, something's wrong with Ms. Quill's car!"William, who was busy reading the documents, immediately looked up. His gaze darkened when he saw how recklessly the car in front was moving."Catch up with them!" he ordered. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Noah calling, and he sounded anxious on the other end. "Uncle Will, are you with Emi right now? I just heard that Madeleine is planning to kill her! "I don't know the exact plan, but I heard they're making a move on the way from the airport to the city. You need to be careful! I'm heading to the airport right now!"Noah's words made William's expression grow even darker. …While Emma was still processing the situation, I noticed something strange about the driver. If the
Just like that, we came back alive from the brink of death in an instant. It felt like we were in hell one moment and in heaven the next.Perhaps I was still too scared. So scared that even after the plane had stabilized for a while, I still couldn't find any strength in my body. I was still shaken by the fear and couldn't fully snap out of it.William was also holding me tightly the entire time, not letting go. The softness of my body in his arms stirred something in him that he couldn't describe. He instinctively didn't want to let go.It wasn't until a flight attendant knocked on the door to check on us that I finally returned to my senses.William also let go of me instantly. The sudden emptiness in his arms left him feeling rather hollow.He came to realize something, and his already deep gaze darkened even more, making it even harder to read.After the flight attendant tidied up the cabin and left, William, who had been perfectly fine and warm just moments ago, suddenly tur
The flight attendant knocked on the entrance to the suite to signal her arrival and served our meal. Then, she left swiftly.William and I were eating and discussing our AI chip factory when his face suddenly turned red. He couldn't say a word.The moment I saw that, I immediately realized what was happening and rushed over to him.I moved behind him, wrapped my arms around his abdomen, and clenched my fists. With my palm facing upward, I tightened my arms and pressed my left fist forcefully into his upper abdomen again and again, until he finally spat out the seed of a fruit.He had accidentally swallowed the seed while eating dried fruit, and it had gotten stuck in his throat.William stared at the seed he'd just coughed up, looking flustered. A man like him, who was so strong and composed, had choked while eating. He couldn't believe it had actually happened.Especially in front of me!William, who was usually composed no matter the circumstances, now had a face flushed wit
William handed me a glass of champagne and said, "I heard Grace gave you a hard time again at the airport lounge."I hummed in response, confirming it. At the mention of Grace, a thought struck me, and I turned to him. "Mr. Ashford, many of your company's products seem to compete directly with the Hardwells'."Although most of my focus had been on research, I did know a little about the business world. After all, I had a company myself. "Yes, why?" William raised an eyebrow at me."If you're planning to enter the mainland market, wouldn't the Hardwells be your biggest competitor?" I asked.Upon hearing that, William's dark eyes lit up with interest. "Are you trying to join forces with me against the Hardwells?"I knew that I couldn't hide my intentions from someone like William, so I answered honestly, "I'm just thinking ahead. I wanted to see if you had similar plans. If so, maybe we could work together in the future."Going against the Hardwells alone was definitely impossi
At the same time, the same video was also delivered to Noah's grandfather, Mr. Hull Senior."This is the woman Noah's interested in? He refused a marriage alliance with Ms. Charter because of her?" Mr. Hull Senior questioned incredulously.His butler, who had been by his side for decades, lowered his head respectfully and answered, "Yes."Mr. Hull Senior scoffed. "What kind of judgment does he have? It's no wonder he doesn't measure up to his uncle."Noah might be excellent, but at his age, William had already built up the Ashfords into the wealthiest family in Redwood. In terms of cunning or any other aspect, he was still far behind William.The loyal butler remained silent as he respectfully stood off to the side."If anyone else was still left in this family, I'd never even consider passing it to Noah!" Mr. Hull Senior exclaimed, pounding his cane hard against the floor.The Hulls had built their fortune from casinos. Their business had shady beginnings, which meant they also