I couldn't help taking a few steps back.Seeing this, Henry said, "Is that necessary? I'm still your biological father, no matter what. Do you really think I'd hurt you? Besides, if I wanted to, do you really think you'd still be alive right now?"The corners of my mouth twitched involuntarily. I wanted to retort, but upon remembering the numerous instant-kill drugs he had access to, I ultimately bit my tongue."Why are you here?" I asked."Ava's recovery should be proof enough that I can cure her. So, have you thought about the research project I mentioned before?" Henry answered.I set my bag down on the side cabinet. "I recall already turning you down."Henry frowned. "You should know, Emilia, that I can just as easily kill Ava if I can heal her.""I do, but what's that got to do with me?" I quipped.I knew Henry couldn't do anything to Ava with William around.He clearly hadn't expected me to say that. He shot up from the couch in disbelief. "How can you be so unabashedly
In his entire life, William had never spoken so much in one go, nor had he ever been this earnest.I looked at him and was about to respond.But then, he said, "Don't be so quick to turn me down. Go home and think it over—I'll send you home."Grace and the Hardwells came to mind. At this thought, I didn't say anything else.I didn't know if William was just that good at reading people or if it was something else. It had never once crossed my mind that anything could happen between us, and I felt nothing possibly could.The idea of marrying him seemed like pure fantasy. But now that I was thinking about it, I felt I should give it some serious thought.After we got in the car, William tried to start a conversation with me. But no matter what he said, I didn't seem to be paying him any mind. Not only that, I even seemed more distant than before. Seeing this, he felt regret for the first time in his life.William regretted talking about his feelings and sharing so much. He should'v
"Not good enough for me?" William huffed in amusement before continuing, "You see yourself as a divorcée—then, what about me? "I'm in my 30s. And with my status, do you think I've never been with a woman before? Not only have I been with women, but I've been with several."William wasn't the affectionate type. But we all knew this world wasn't black and white.When his brother and his wife died, they had left him to carry the Ashford family at a young age. Barely a teenager, William had to fight tooth and nail to survive.For him to have reached his current position, he couldn't possibly have remained pure. William had used everything he could, so he was never a good man to begin with."As for your babies, it's precisely because you're pregnant with them that I decided to propose to you," William added.I was dumbfounded. I didn't understand why my pregnancy would make him decide to marry me.Squaring his shoulders, William said, "My brother and his wife died saving me. They co
After a prolonged silence, I finally found the words. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ashford. Like I said earlier, I just want to focus on my children and research moving forward. I have no interest in getting married or romance."William was breathtakingly handsome. When someone like him confessed so sincerely, it was hard not to be moved.If I had never been with Irvin, in the face of this kind of confession, I probably would've fallen for William in a heartbeat.But I had loved Irvin deeply. So, even though I had let that go, it didn't mean I could love that way again.Plus, I also couldn't start a new relationship so soon. Right now, all I wanted was to give birth safely and dedicate myself to my research.William wasn't surprised by my rejection, nor did he acknowledge it. Instead, he said confidently, "You're carrying Irvin's babies. These couple of days, you've been looking for someone who resembles him. It's because he doesn't know your babies are his, am I right?"I had kept my pregnan
"Yes," I answered.William stared at me—just stared unreadably at me for a long while. Suddenly, his expression broke into a devastatingly charming smile."Then, let's get married," he said.I was taken aback at first. Then, my eyes widened in shock. It was as though I had just heard the most ridiculous suggestion.No, I really had! Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined something like this happening.I stood frozen for a very long time before I returned to my senses."You must be joking, Mr. Ashford," I said.Naturally, I assumed William was kidding. Never mind everything else—he had just been trying to persuade me to give Noah a chance. So, how could he possibly turn around and want to marry me now? Hence, no matter how I looked at it, William was just joking with me.I looked at him with a gaze that said not to make jokes like this.However, when William met my gaze, he spoke with complete seriousness. "I'm not joking—I meant every word."I was stunned again by h
When I had seen how stubbornly Noah loved me, I did once consider being with him, just as William had suggested. Maybe once Noah had me, he would finally stop obsessing over me and want me no more than he would boiled chicken.However, I couldn't even imagine having a romantic relationship with someone I viewed as a younger brother, let alone going through with it in reality."I'm sorry, Noah. I'm truly sorry," I said.I was about to turn away and leave when he suddenly grabbed my arm."Could you try again, Emi? Please? Please try giving me a chance! Even if you're pregnant with someone else's children, please just try being with me. I really just want to be with you, Emi. If I can't be with you, then I don't know what meaning my life has left," Noah begged.Being kidnapped as a child had psychologically traumatized him. Because of this, Noah's emotional development was a little unhealthy. Even though he had grown into a strong man, he still hadn't completely healed from that trau