LOGINThe last half of the maid's sentence made Diana go rigid. She turned sharply. "Where did it come from?""Downstairs!" With her son's future at stake, the maid's panic rose. Her words tumbled out. "That day, I stayed on the third floor in Ms. Megan's room and waited for her. When she came up from the banquet hall downstairs, she already had the hair sample she wanted me to switch."Diana's gaze narrowed. "You are certain?""I'm absolutely certain."The clear answer deepened Diana's conviction that she was close to finding Vee.She remembered that night well. After Leon picked up the hair sample, Megan had found an excuse to return to her room. That must have been when she delivered the switched sample to Gilda.Eager to prove she was telling the truth, Gilda fumbled for her phone and opened a message. "Ms. Hutton, look. Ms. Megan sent this before giving me the sample. I had just stepped out of the room when she hurried up the stairs."[Come out. Don't wait in my room.]The messa
Leon's words carried a chill that spread through Diana's eyes.Of course. If Helen was involved, his first instinct was to doubt someone else. It was how Leon operated. He trusted his secretary far more than he trusted his own wife.Diana had no intention of arguing. She asked only what mattered. "Do you have time to come and finalize the divorce now?"She sounded almost eager to complete it.Leon frowned. "What is the rush? Do you already have another marriage alliance lined up?"The remark cut sharper than his usual calm tone. Even he seemed surprised he said it. Maybe because Diana stayed too calm.During the marriage, no matter what happened, even when Helen behaved in obvious provocation, Diana stayed composed. Even now, with divorce in front of her, she remained calm enough to unsettle him.Leon still did not understand why she insisted on divorcing him. Their marriage had been stable. They had barely argued.He did not expect her to laugh."I have no interest in flirtin
Diana had always known the kind of man she needed for life. A partner with equal background, a clear head, and enough discipline to keep their marriage respectful and balanced.Leon failed the second requirement.She did not fully understand his relationship with Helen, and she did not care enough to investigate. Political work already drained her. In her private life, she valued simplicity and clarity. She avoided impulsive scandals and expected the same from her spouse. Their marriage needed mutual benefit and dignity.She had told him before the wedding that she would not interfere in his private life as long as he respected boundaries. But his involvement with Helen felt dangerous.Diana had always treated her life like a tower under construction. No deviation was allowed. No cracks were permitted. If she ever saw one, she'd resolve it with clarity and reason, even if it meant ending her marriage.Thus, even though they had not yet collected the divorce papers, she had already
After they discussed the progress at Alan's place, Marcus stood and left.Since no extra patients had come in today, Sydney did not linger at the clinic. After lunch, she drove to Seraph Villa.She had barely stepped into the courtyard when Diana strode out through the front doors.Sydney usually visited on fixed days to treat Florence, so Diana was not surprised to see her. Still, the change in her expression was clear. The cold edge faded, replaced by a gentle smile, as if she were greeting a younger sister. "You're here. Why so early today?""Yeah." Sydney had worried she might run into Penelope or the others. Seeing Diana instead lifted her mood.She explained softly, "Starting today, I'll have fewer patients at the clinic. I should be able to come earlier from now on."Her obedient, mild tone eased the frustration that had lingered in Diana's chest. "Good. Then come home for lunch from now on.""No need." Sydney wanted to avoid crossing paths with Penelope. "I can come afte
Sydney nodded. "Yes.""I'll go with you," Julian said.He paused, then asked about Jeremiah, "If you meet him again in the next few days, take me with you."Something about the situation unsettled him. Still, Jeremiah had done nothing to harm her so far. Maybe he was overthinking it.Sydney agreed at once. "Alright."They finished breakfast and headed out together. At the courtyard, they split. Julian went to Sterling Corp. while Sydney went to the clinic.She had slept in for once, and when she reached the clinic, she arrived right on time.Seeing her rush through the entrance, a familiar patient called out, "Dr. Wilson, slow down. We are not in that much of a hurry."Sydney used to start calling numbers half an hour early, sometimes even earlier. Now that she was pregnant, her patients understood and felt protective."Okay." She smiled, though her pace did not ease. She strode into the consultation room, shrugged off her trench coat, pulled on her white coat, and began calli
Given where they stood now, Julian had every right to know her background, even if she still did not know who her biological parents were.Her explanation was brief, but Julian caught the real point at once. He asked, sharp and direct, "So if it truly became a burden to me, you planned to end things with me?"His gaze was too clear, too incisive.Sydney felt her confidence falter. She looked away and changed the subject without thinking. "Do you remember Jeremiah? I asked you to help check on him last time. It seems he figured out my background."She had confirmed more than once that her biological parents were not drug traffickers.Watching her tread so carefully, as if every word mattered, Julian almost wanted to laugh but could not. He kept his voice as gentle as possible. "Answer my question first."Sydney knew him well. The calmer he was at moments like this, the less pleased he felt underneath.She wet her lips, drew a silent breath, and lifted her eyes to him again. "When







