Irvin was a very handsome man.In fact, he still seemed like the better-looking one, even when compared with Noah's uncle. This was especially so when Irvin was well-dressed because he looked so attractive that it was hard to focus on anything else.The whole world seemed to brighten when he smiled. However, now that his brilliant smile had suddenly disappeared, the world seemed duller. It was enough to make one's heart ache.There was a saying online that good-looking people could never sin. No matter what they did wrong, their faces were enough to make one's mind go blank. Hence, it was advised to avoid falling in love with someone who was too good-looking.My heart ached involuntarily when I saw the happy look on his face shatter and his smile vanish. Perhaps it was because I had been vividly dreaming of our past affection these past few days after being hypnotized.Irvin handed me the flowers.Then, he laughed bitterly and said, "You know, don't you?""Yes," I replied evenly
After being together for seven years, Irvin was the person who understood me the most. He knew I tended to push unimportant people away. Bit by bit, I'd moved them to the edge of my life. Then, it would eventually reach a point where I would forget about them altogether.Previously in the lab, I had treated him distantly, like an acquaintance. Before then, he had still been deliberating on whether to proceed with his hypnotist plan. After that, he immediately decided to put his plan into action.Without waiting for my response, he looked me in the eye and said, "But Emi, I really can't allow you to forget me completely. I can't stand you looking at me like I'm a stranger—I just can't. "I don't know what I would do if there's truly no chance for us to be together again. I know what I did was wrong, but I couldn't help myself."Irvin wouldn't be able to control himself unless he was dead.I didn't know which of these was true—did he love so much that he couldn't bear to lose me?
Many companies regularly engaged in charity work, so I didn't read too much into Gideon's words.I simply said, "Then we should donate it under your company's name if you plan on doing charity."Gideon would be bearing all the cost, after all. Additionally, donating under his company's name would enhance its image. Not only that, it would also strengthen the company's brand and entitle it to tax benefits.Hence, it didn't feel right for me to take credit for the donation too. Besides, I wouldn't benefit from it in any way.Gideon chuckled softly at my words. "Do you really not understand what I was implying, Emi?" he asked.I stared blankly at him—I honestly had no clue.Realizing this, Gideon sighed and said, "Looks like I haven't made myself clear enough."His words made me think back to when I was treating Louis to a meal for helping me get released from the detention center. Back then, Louis had brought him along.I recalled the words Gideon had said to me at the time and w
I put my phone away and was about to get in the car.But then, I heard someone say, "Tsk, what a busy girl."The male voice was laced with sarcasm, which made me reflexively turn toward it.I froze when I saw who was leaning against the wall—it was Noah's uncle, Mr. Ashford."First, you managed to coax your ex-husband into willingly working for you for free. Next, you had the owner of a small pharmacy chain donate medical equipment for you. "Then, you spent the whole night conversing with an academic professor. And lastly, you still remembered to buy food for your 'little brother' before you went home."Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your methods and time management skills are truly impressive, Ms. Quill," Mr. Ashford stated.I was stunned. His comment about my time management skills wasn't wrong—my day had indeed been packed.But still…"Why do you know what I've been doing all day, Mr. Ashford?" I questioned.Had he been monitoring me?Mr. Ashford seemed to be able to tell what I was thi
The success of our experiment meant the AI chip we had developed was able to stimulate damaged nerves, similar to how a pacemaker worked. This also meant we would be able to help those who were paralyzed due to nerve damage. Our AI chip could help them walk again!"I knew you could do it, Emi! I always did!" Mr. Holland exclaimed.He was usually calm and composed. However, right now, he was so emotional that he hugged me. His eyes were even glistening with tears.Tears welled up in my eyes too. I finally felt I had lived up to Mr. Holland's confidence in me and the ambitious person I once was. I also hadn't let down the people who trusted and believed in me.Irvin had been keeping a close eye on our lab, so he was the first outside of it to hear about our success. When he did, he was even more excited than I was."You're truly amazing, Emi!" he exclaimed.Now that I had completed my research, he was happy because he could resume helping me regain my memories through hypnosis. B
The cruise ship was already in international waters.I knew my kidnapper. He was Leo Kade.Leo was an investor who had repeatedly approached our research lab in the past. However, I kept rejecting his offer as I sensed he had ill intentions. We didn't lack funding, either. Thus, we never accepted his offers, regardless of how many times he approached us."You really are a genius among geniuses, Ms. Quill. In just a year, you've created a miracle. But it's such a waste to use your impressive breakthrough on disabled paraplegics. So how about you work with us instead? Together, we could make a lot of money in the future!" Leo said.He was a bad person, as I had suspected.Leo belonged to a major criminal organization. Their group wanted me to use my research to develop a chip that could control the human central nervous system. They intended to use it to infiltrate certain places. Then, it would be easier for them to carry out their criminal activities."Forget it!" I replied.It
Irvin's expression tensed, and he immediately grabbed me and started running toward the main deck.Unfortunately, I couldn't see clearly and stepped on a nail as we ran. The pain instantly paralyzed me. Seeing this, Irvin quickly hoisted me into his arms and continued running.People started to surround us from all directions. Irvin's men swiftly cut the power on the ship, plunging it into darkness. However, our opponents were well-prepared because the lights soon came back on.We were trapped!As I watched Irvin's men fall one by one, I urged him to put me down."They won't kill me because they need my expertise, but that isn't the same for you. You have to run!" I cried.With his skills, Irvin wouldn't have a problem escaping if he left me behind."No!" he firmly replied.Instead of releasing me, he tightened his hold and sprinted toward the main deck.I was about to struggle against him when he spoke again."These people belong to the largest criminal organization in the w
Irvin thought this wasn't all bad. Now that he was about to die, he could finally allow me to be happy and would never make me suffer again.He looked at the men charging toward him. With no strength left to run, he slumped against the railing and slid to the floor.Irvin's smile became rueful as he pulled a remote out of his pocket.He had his men install bombs all over the cruise ship. Initially, he had planned on detonating them after we had successfully escaped so they couldn't chase after us.He had also had two remotes made, just in case. One was with Quinton, who would immediately detonate the bombs once they had escaped. Irvin had kept the other as a backup should the rescue mission fail.Now, it was time to put his backup into play. He would do one last thing for me, ensuring I would escape safely, once and for all.…Someone grabbed me as soon as I fell into the water and swam with me in tow toward a speedboat.My mind was still in disarray when I realized the person
These prominent scholars might be able to speak eloquently during academic discussions, but they weren't fond of socializing. Hence, when invited to dinner, their first instinct was to decline.It wasn't until Professor Weiss explained that we would simply be continuing the day's discussion while eating—rather than it being a formal meal—that the scholars finally agreed to join us later that evening.Hungry for more knowledge, my attention was fully focused on these professors. All I could think about was what questions I could ask them over dinner. I was so focused that I didn't even notice Irvin repeatedly glancing at me as we left.We took a shuttle back to the official conference hotel. Then, after saying temporary goodbyes, we headed to our respective rooms to change.Once inside the room, Emma couldn't hold it in any longer."Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "I thought I was pretty smart because I had a high IQ. I had always been a top student and managed to get into one of the to
While I couldn't completely let go of Irvin, I was no longer the person I once was.Back then, I had placed love above all else, so loving Irvin had been the most important thing to me. I'd devoted myself to him and treated him like he was my entire world. He had been the source of all my emotions—from happiness to anger, and from sorrow to joy.Now, my top priority was my studies and research. I would never again give up the academic path I loved so deeply for anyone.…Julianne watched as Mitchell apologized to Professor Weiss and tried to curry favor with him. Then, she saw the way Professor Weiss treated me with warmth and respect. Hatred simmered behind her eyes. She felt life was so unfair. She had to work hard for everything she wanted, and yet those very things seemed to fall effortlessly into my lap. She didn't want to take any more risks. But despite this, she was so furious that she couldn't resist the urge to. She wanted to destroy me once and for all.Grace obse
Mitchell felt humiliated from having to apologize to me so publicly, so he was already in a bad mood. And when he heard the tone Julienne used with him, his expression soured even more."Who told you Ms. Quill is an academic fraud, Ms. Calder?" he shot back.Julianne clearly hadn't expected that. She was caught off guard by the question. Then, as though sensing someone's gaze on her, she turned her head. And when she spotted Irvin, she froze.Julianne had kept tabs on Irvin, but they hadn't seen each other face-to-face ever since she faked her death. So, their sudden encounter shook her.I lowered my gaze when I saw Julianne and Irvin lock eyes.I had recognized Julianne the moment I saw her. My family had too. Thus, I believed it would be the same for Irvin as well.Our relationship problems started because of Julianne, so they should end with her too.Having grown up together with Irvin, she knew she couldn't hide who she really was from him. Regardless, she couldn't admit she
"Ms. Quill, you—" Grace sputtered.From her expression, I could tell she wanted to say, "You really will say anything to save your pride. How will you get in if you won't follow us?"Just then, a few people walked out of the hall. At the lead was an elderly man with white hair.Upon seeing me, the elderly man's stern expression morphed into a smile. "Emilia! You're here!"I returned the smile and walked up to greet him, "Hello, Professor Weiss."I had met several influential figures during the Global Technology Forum in Lestoria. Among them, I had gotten along best with this man, Professor Richard Weiss.After exchanging pleasantries, Professor Weiss turned to Mitchell and asked, "Who is this man? What gives him the right to bar you from attending the conference and call you an academic fraud?"Professor Weiss was the biggest name in the physics field. He was someone everyone respected and dared not offend.Hearing this, Mitchell quickly explained, "It was a misunderstanding! I
"Of course!" Grace said.Moving to my side, she linked her arm with mine in a friendly gesture. It was as though we were on very good terms.She continued, "Not only is she an incredibly skilled researcher, but she's also my sister-in-law—which means she's also a member of the Hardwell family. So, Mr. Slate, any accusations of her being an academic fraud must be a misunderstanding!"Upon hearing how solemn Grace was, Mitchell couldn't help but look at me."If you aren't an academic fraud, then why would Ms. Calder say that about you?" he asked.I coolly returned his gaze. "That's a question for Ms. Calder, not me."Mitchell frowned and looked displeased. He clearly hadn't expected that answer.Grace turned to me and said, "Alright, Emi. Let's go inside together!"Her expression read, "Come on. I'll bring you in."Irvin didn't understand why I hadn't been allowed in despite having an invitation. He also didn't know why I had been mistaken for an academic fraud and was being bar
I looked down at my phone and was zooming in on the image of the data. But before I could even take a good look at it, Emma squeezed my arm."Holy crap! Emilia. Isn't that your ex-husband's brother!" she exclaimed.I instinctively looked up—just in time to see Irvin opening the car door and courteously helping Grace get down.Grace flashed a gentle smile at Irvin, then linked arms with him. To onlookers, that intimate gesture made them look like a loving married couple.I thought back to how Irvin had been near tears when we had met on the first snowfall of the season. Yet now, he was holding another woman's arm and playing the role of her devoted husband.I couldn't even describe how I felt at that moment.Then, I recalled how much Irvin had despised Grace before. Yet, in just a month, he managed to make it look like they were happily married. I feared it wouldn't be long before he began to feel sympathy for her. And then, per Grace's scheme, Irvin would eventually truly becom
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