LOGINThey were set to leave at dawn, but Vanessa hadn't returned all night.Cameron had called countless times, but there was no word from her even in the early hours. Vanessa wasn't picking up.Left with no choice, he managed to get Adrian's number. It was an ungodly hour to call, but fortunately, Adrian was still awake."Who is this?" His voice was slurred, hoarse with drink, and a woman's murmur could be heard beside him.Cameron's tone was grave. "Mr. Voss, it's me. Did you take Vanessa? She hasn't been back all night, and we have an early flight tomorrow, so...""Who?"Adrian shoved the woman off him, fastening the buttons on his shirt. "Who did you say was missing? Vanessa was perfectly fine with you; how could she vanish? Is this how you look after her?""I'm sorry, but Mr. Voss, I called you to resolve a situation, not to argue." Cameron, only a few years Adrian's senior, found his childish impulsiveness utterly exasperating.By comparison, even Harvey was far more mature.Adrian s
With dawn marking her departure from M City, Vanessa returned to the hospital before nightfall, specifically to see Evelyn.Her condition had deteriorated severely. What began as an old ailment, prompting her admission for treatment at Adrian's urging, unexpectedly revealed a far more serious problem during her stay.Carrying her favorite lilies, Vanessa found her way to the hospital room door.Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this would be the last time she saw Evelyn. Once she returned to Dublin, she would never come back to the country.Arriving at the door, she noticed it wasn't fully closed. A sliver of light peeked through, suggesting someone else was inside. Vanessa paused, intending to wait, then heard Evelyn's cough. Evelyn sat up, leaning on the bed's edge, tears in her eyes, looking towards her husband.“I just want my Vanessa. Give Vanessa back to me.” Her hand was weak, but she tried to tug at Cameron’s clothes. He caught her hand, holding it gently.A layer of sorro
A force from behind seized Adrian, dragging him back and pushing him away. In the evening breeze, bathed in the setting sun, Vanessa gently helped Cameron, patting his back with a tender heart to ease his breathing. Her gaze, fixed on Adrian, was filled with resentment."What do you think you're doing? Trying to kill someone?"Adrian casually brushed dust from his sleeve, unfazed. "He dared to trick you into marriage, so I'll kill him. What's wrong with that?"He said it with absolute righteousness.Vanessa was furious, her heart pounding erratically with anger. "My marriage to him is my business. What does it have to do with you? Who do you think you are to me? Don't be so conceited!"Supporting Cameron, Vanessa turned to him, her voice soft. "Let's go. Ignore him.""Vanessa, you can't leave. You're coming home with me." Adrian took two steps forward, reaching for Vanessa. But this time, Cameron was no longer frail; he shielded Vanessa behind him, protecting her fiercely.Adrian drop
The evening light, a hazy, golden filter, enveloped the hotel terrace. It bathed Cameron, merging with his sickly complexion, yet paradoxically making his gaze appear even more resolute.Adrian, however, was at a loss. "Vanessa was with Julian, and they had a child. She can't have kids now. There are plenty of better women in the world; why are you clinging to her?""These things don't prove Vanessa isn't a good woman. To me, she's exceptionally good, nobody's better than her." Cameron was a good actor; he could portray the image of a deeply in love fiancé with vivid authenticity.He'd been acting for a year, completely immersed in the role.He was almost at the point where he couldn't distinguish between his own genuine feelings and his performance.Adrian suddenly took a step forward. Soft tactics weren't working, so he had to resort to force. "Then let me tell you plainly, I will not let my sister marry a man who's been married and has a child. And you're so much older than her – h
She was getting married to Cameron and returning to Dublin the day after tomorrow. To prevent things from going awry, Vanessa could just keep up the deception. After all, once married, she'd be in Dublin and Julian in M. They might never see each other again in this lifetime.But she forgot, Julian wasn't someone to be easily fooled.His eyes held confusion and suspicion, as if he didn't quite believe her words. “A marriage of convenience? But you and Cameron are staying in the same hotel room.”“I slept on the sofa. He broke a bone and can't move around easily; he needs help.”Vanessa looked up, her clear eyes reflecting Julian's grim face, shadowed by a dark aura. “Julian, what happened between us is in the past. Whether it was real or not, we'll both have our own families now. Let's not see each other again.”“Don't call me that.”When she used to call him that as a child, it was a pet name, filled with affection.Now, it was only distant and sarcastic.It grated on his ears.“Fine
After her injuries had healed, she was to return to Dublin, so Vanessa specifically went to buy a new suit. Before leaving, she had to pick up Lily, and Cameron always needed to look presentable. Vanessa remembered his measurements perfectly, reeling them off one by one, and chose a stately black.After ordering the suit, she noticed someone had been watching her the entire time.It was Julian's wife.It was just a cup of coffee, and Vanessa wasn't that stingy. Stacey still wore her familiar gentle smile, but after three years, there was a touch more pretense, less of the pure innocence she once had."You don't know, in the three years since you left, Julian has always been so regretful."She didn't need Julian's regret.Vanessa let out a short laugh. "By my reckoning, your child should be two years old now?""You don't know?" Stacey's eyes widened slightly, a look of profound surprise on her face. "That child was accidentally miscarried. I was in a bad place then, emotionally, and th
Even after waking, she felt little more than a pervasive numbness, as if needles were pricking every bone joint in her body. The slightest movement sent agonizing pangs through her internal organs. She stared blankly at the ceiling. In the hospital room, faint sounds of movement and hushed voices d
Perlman didn't have many hospitals. They'd visited every single one, but there was no sign of Vanessa. Just like that, they hit another dead end.Felix pondered, then spoke with a serious tone, "No matter what, falling from the third floor would definitely injure bones. Go look for clinics, or orth
"Vanessa isn't with you?""She was, but now she's gone. Besides Aunt Evelyn, I can't think of anyone else who would help her leave."Just as Adrian was about to speak, Cameron cut him off. He had an upright expression. "Julian, do you have proof? If you come here without any evidence, isn't that a
Flying through the night, Julian returned to M. He couldn't focus on the wedding preparations without seeing Vanessa with his own eyes; peace of mind was impossible.His flight landed in the morning.Julian hadn't closed his eyes for a second. He rushed straight back to Rosewood.A chilling gust of







