Wendy had been standing there for who knew how long, her clear, bright eyes silently observing Lilian's panic and embarrassment.Lilian froze on the spot.Ted quickly hurried over to Wendy, bending at the waist with a servile smile. "Ms. Crone."Wendy pulled out a pen and casually tossed it into the outdoor pool. "Dr. Whalen, I dropped my pen.""Ms. Crone, I'll retrieve it for you immediately!"Ted dashed outside, not caring about the chilly late-autumn water. Without hesitation, he jumped straight into the pool.Lilian walked over, staring at the scene in disbelief.Moments later, Ted surfaced, dripping wet, holding the pen in his hand like a prized treasure. He looked at Wendy with an ingratiating smile. "Ms. Crone, I've got your pen!"Lilian watched Wendy as if looking at something otherworldly.Wendy smirked. "What's wrong? Don't recognize me?"Lilian struggled to process what was happening. She couldn't understand what Wendy had done to Ted to make him so obedient—like a
Jessica and Lilian's expressions instantly changed.Wendy turned to Jessica, feigning surprise. "Oh, no! Don't tell me Mr. Hawk didn't mention he kissed me last night?"She pretended to recall thoughtfully. "Last night, when Mr. Hawk kissed me, it was so clumsy and rushed, completely lacking any skill. Honestly, I started to doubt if he even knew how to kiss."Jessica looked at Stanley in shock. Had he kissed Wendy?Stanley's handsome face turned ice-cold in an instant. It was unclear whether it was because Wendy had deliberately told Jessica about their kiss, or because she publicly criticized his kissing skills. Either way, his sharp eyes darkened and fixed on Wendy with a chilling intensity."Wendy!" he called her name, displeased.Wendy sneered. 'Oh?' Was he upset just because she said something about Jessica?Her clear, piercing eyes landed on Stanley's face. "Why are you yelling? With kissing skills that bad, I don't even want to spend another minute with you. Let's get
Sienna, Stanley's cousin, was particularly close to Jessica. When she spotted Wendy, her face immediately darkened with disdain. "Wendy, Stanley doesn't like you, and yet here you are cozying up to Grandma again? Honestly, in our family, only Grandma cares about you! Do you even know your worth? A country bumpkin who stood in as a replacement bride when Jessica wasn't around, and now you actually think you're the young madam of the Hawk family? You're not worthy of Stanley! Just hurry up and divorce him already!" she snarled. Wendy had grown used to it. Stanley's family members, much like his friends, had always looked down on her.Without sparing Sienna a glance, Wendy walked straight into the estate.Glinda, with her silver hair neatly combed, lit up with joy as soon as she saw Wendy. She reached out and clasped Wendy's hand. "Wendy, why haven't you come to visit me for so long? Don't you miss me?"This was the only warmth Wendy had ever received in the Hawk family. Glinda gen
'A blind date?'Stanley's aura turned icy in an instant. He raised a hand to undo the top button of his shirt, his jaw tightening.Ding, ding, ding!Cecelia had sent several consecutive WhatsApp messages, accompanied by voice notes that began playing automatically. Her voice filled the room."Wendy, check out this guy—eight-pack abs, a gym enthusiast. Do you like him? You could rest your head on his abs at night!"And this one—adorable, obedient, and shy. He looks like he'd be so much fun!"Oh, and this one, the gold-rimmed-glasses business elite—cold and aloof, a total dreamboat! Should we ask him to get on his knees and sing a song for you?"Wendy, all these men are your personal harem. Pick whoever you like!"Stanley's lips pressed into a thin, grim line. He truly hadn't realized that Wendy had an entire lineup of potential suitors vying for her attention.Wendy picked up her phone and casually sent a voice message back. "Got it, I'll be there soon."When she turned around
Stanley froze for a moment.Wendy lay beneath him, her silky black hair cascading over the crimson bedspread—a shade specifically chosen by Glinda for their wedding room. The red accentuated the creamy fairness of her skin, making her appear luminous, almost ethereal. There was an air of sensuality about the scene, but the thought of her lying like this beneath another man...Stanley's fists clenched involuntarily.He had intended to clarify that the 'delivery' last night was medicine, not a man. But as the words reached his lips, they refused to come out.Wendy's cold gaze met his. "Move."She had ordered him to move.Stanley didn't budge.Frustrated, Wendy began to struggle. The memory of him bringing Jessica into his private wing last night flashed through her mind, and it made her recoil from even the slightest physical contact with him."Stanley, get off me! After spending the night with Jessica, did you even bother to clean yourself?"Stanley stiffened in silence.In
Stanley pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing that he had forgotten.Nathan Lowe had returned to the country.The Hawk and Lowe families had long been the top aristocratic families in Hovendale, and they were also close friends. He and Nathan had grown up together and were good friends.Nathan was back in the country today, and now Jessica, Benny, and Sienna were all at 1996 Bar.Sienna's cheerful voice rang out, "Stanley, hurry up and come!"Sienna liked Nathan. Her dream was to marry him, but Nathan was very selective, and it was hard for any woman to catch his eye."I'll be there soon," Stanley said, standing.Honestly, Wendy going out to find a man had nothing to do with him. Why should he be angry?A small-town girl, who had nothing else to do besides playing with men, was indeed shallow. She couldn't compare to Jessica.Let her play. It didn't matter who she played with!-That night, a Ferrari sports car roared as it sped down the road.Cecelia, who sat in the pa
At that moment came a melodious ringtone, signaling an incoming call. It was from Stanley.Nathan guessed that Stanley was probably urging him to come to 1996 Bar.Nathan turned his car around. Hovendale was Stanley's turf, and once he got to 1996 Bar, all he needed was for Stanley to help him find out who owned the Ferrari.-Wendy drove into the alley, and Cecelia said cheerfully, "Wendy, you shook him off!"Just as the words left her mouth, there was a loud collision, and the Ferrari crashed into the wall.Bang!Wendy's legs went weak. It had been three years since she last raced, and today, encountering such a tough opponent in a high-speed race made her heart pound.Wendy and Cecelia got out of the car. The front of the Ferrari had been dented."Wendy, what should we do now?" Cecelia said, her legs shaking.Wendy steadied herself. "It's fine. I'll call Stanley's secretary and have him handle it."She dialed Zayn's number.-Nathan arrived at 1996 Bar and entered a lux
Stanley lowered his gaze to the photo, and his deep, cold eyes narrowed sharply. He recognized this Ferrari.Looking at Nathan, Stanley asked, "Was the woman driving this car?"Nathan nodded. "Yeah, she even shook me off. She's quite interesting."Stanley, if he recalled correctly, had given Wendy this Ferrari. In addition to a huge check, he had also given her some cars and houses. At that time, Zayn had told him that she had only chosen a Ferrari. He had found it strange—why would she drive a sports car?Stanley knew about Nathan's driving skills. In fact, they occasionally raced cars together. But Wendy was from the countryside—how could she have driven a sports car and even shaken off Nathan?Just then, Zayn walked over. "Sir."Stanley stood up. "I'll step out for a moment."Stanley left the luxurious booth and stood in a dim corner. Zayn whispered, "Sir, Mrs. Hawk called earlier. She went out tonight in the Ferrari. It seems like she raced someone on the road, and the car c
Halsey was stunned, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Cyril. "Are you serious?"Cyril smiled lightly. "Of course I am. But like I said, you need to ask him if he's willing. Maybe he doesn't want to be your tutor, or maybe he doesn't want to manage the company."Halsey frowned, confused. "What are you really trying to say?"Cyril sighed softly. "Maybe Dwight's path in life is one of constant risk—always on the edge, unable to settle down. He might not be able to offer you the kind of stable future you're looking for."Cyril had personally recruited Dwight years ago, but once Dwight entered college, he began skipping classes. Cyril didn't want such a promising young man to waste his potential, so he had tried reaching out to him privately several times.With his connections and resources, Cyril could have helped Dwight enter academia or the business world. Dwight was smart; he could easily make a name for himself.Yet, Dwight had refused every time. That was when Cyril re
Dwight looked at Cyril and called out, "Hello, Professor Lincoln."Cyril was a professor, and Dwight was one of his students. They knew each other.Cyril gave a small nod and then extended his hand toward Halsey. "Let's go home."Halsey glanced at Dwight. She had planned on having him take her home, but now that her father was here, she had no choice but to go with him.Halsey walked over to Cyril's side.Cyril looked at Dwight and said kindly, "It's late. Why don't you come with us? I'll give you a ride."Dwight politely declined. "Thanks, Professor Lincoln, but I can head home on my own."Cyril nodded. "Alright. Be careful on the road. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me."With that, Cyril turned to leave, taking Halsey with him.Halsey turned her head and waved a small goodbye to Dwight, reluctant to part ways.Dwight stood there, watching them as they left.-Inside the luxury car, Halsey sat beside Cyril as the driver navigated the road ahead. Cyril broke t
Halsey's legs wobbled, and although her arms were still wrapped around Dwight's neck, her delicate body went soft against his chest.Dwight's arms tightened around her slender waist. He lifted her and pressed her gently against him.Halsey's face turned bright red as she pushed him away.Their lips parted, and Dwight looked at her, her lips glistening from the kiss. In a low voice, he asked, "What's wrong?"Halsey's big, watery eyes flickered nervously, and she quickly glanced at his pants. "You're pressing against me."Dwight froze, unsure of what to say.Halsey, to her surprise, noticed a faint blush spreading across his face. She never expected someone as stoic and cold as him to blush.She smiled mischievously. "Are you blushing?""I'm not," he replied quickly, trying to hide his embarrassment."You're definitely blushing!" she teased, reaching out as if to touch his cheek.Dwight moved back slightly. "Stop messing around."Halsey leaned in close to his ear, her voice dr
Halsey was sure Dwight understood what she meant. And yet, he had the nerve to proudly admit he had taken more than one girl on his bike!Dwight didn't move, and Halsey's fist landed directly on his chest.It was solid.Halsey winced, feeling the pain in her hand. She quickly pulled it back, annoyed. "Are you made of stone or something? Your muscles are so hard. My hand hurts now."Dwight looked at her delicate hand, noting the slight redness on her fingers. He gave a small smirk. "Why did you hit me?"Halsey shot him a glare, still fuming. "What do you think?""I don't know," Dwight replied.Halsey raised an eyebrow. "Playing dumb, huh? Tell me: who are the girls you've taken on your bike?"Dwight looked at her, his expression unreadable. "My mom and my sister."Halsey's breath caught, and her face, usually pale, immediately turned bright red. She had thought he meant other girls, but instead, it was his mother and Madeline.Halsey was at a loss for words.Dwight watched
Jessica and Lilian were already daydreaming about the future.Jessica's smile could light up the room. "This is amazing! I can't wait for Wendy to perform my surgery," she said, her voice full of excitement.-Stanley stood alone in the corridor, not leaving right away. Instead, he lingered, standing there in silence.The light in the hospital corridor was dim, casting a soft glow on his broad shoulders, enveloping him in a faint shadow. Just then, Zayn approached. "Mr. Hawk, are we heading back to the company tonight or to Royale Residences?"Stanley barely moved, his lips curling slightly. "You head back first.""Alright, Mr. Hawk," Zayn responded, then turned and left.Stanley walked over to the window. His mind echoed with the memory of Wendy and Samuel's phone call. Wendy had said she didn't want to stay in Hovendale anymore. She was leaving, and Samuel would take her away.She was carrying Samuel's child. They would be happy together, wouldn't they?On the other hand
Halsey was thrilled. She knew Wendy had a way of dealing with Jessica, the impostor.Just thinking about how Jessica had been pretending to be Wendy and throwing her weight around infuriated Halsey. The day Wendy exposed Jessica for who she really was would be nothing short of spectacular.But...Halsey looked at Wendy, a serious expression crossing her face. "What about Mr. Hawk? What are you planning to do with him?" Stanley still had no idea that the girl who had saved him all those years ago was actually Wendy. How would he react when he found out? What would Wendy do when that day came?Wendy's voice was soft as she answered, "I'm tired. Loving Stanley all these years has been exhausting."She wanted to leave. She had never really belonged here, but because Stanley was here, she had stayed. Now, she was ready to go."But for all these years, he's been completely deceived by Jessica. He's been blind to the truth, but he's also a victim. He doesn't know it's you," Halsey s
"Are you okay, Samuel? Have you been eating well? Is anyone bothering you?" Wendy asked.Stanley watched Wendy as she spoke, her face filled with genuine concern for Samuel. The worry and care were unmistakable, no trace of it being forced.Stanley turned away, unwilling to look or listen."I'm fine. Don't worry." Samuel's voice came through the phone, light and teasing. "Mr. Hawk has been treating me really well since he brought me here. I think I've even gained a little weight."Wendy knew Samuel was just trying to comfort her. A small smile tugged at her lips. "Hang in there. I've agreed to perform the surgery on Jessica. Once it's done, you'll be free."There was a pause on the other end. Samuel didn't ask why—he always supported whatever decision Wendy made. "Alright. Don't worry about me. I'm doing just fine."Wendy held the phone, her eyes lost in the view of the twinkling city lights outside the window. "After the surgery, let's get out of Hovendale. I don't want to stay
At the mention of those past events, Stanley's usually sharp features softened. "Yes, it was many years ago. I was severely injured and wandered into a forest. It was Jessica who saved me. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here today. She's the one who gave me a second chance at life."Wendy couldn't help but laugh, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips. She couldn't even put her feelings into words, only feeling a deep ache in her chest; a mixture of sharp pain and a strange, tingling sensation.She had always thought he had forgotten.She had always believed he had forgotten her.In reality, he had never forgotten.He still remembered her.All these years, he had kept her in his heart.To know that the love had been reciprocated—it was such a beautiful thing, even if he had mistaken the person.Wendy tilted her head back, her small face gazing up at him. "Do you remember the words you said in that cave?"Stanley nodded. "I told her I would take her with me, that I would gi
Stanley tried to gently push Jessica away, but she held on tightly. She tilted her head back, offering Wendy a bright, triumphant smile as she lay in his arms. It was both a taunt and a display of her smug satisfaction.Wendy's expression remained neutral, giving nothing away.Jessica continued to look at Wendy, a playful edge in her voice. "Did you come to see me?"Wendy didn't respond. Instead, her gaze shifted to Stanley. "Mr. Hawk, I need to talk to you."Stanley hadn't expected Wendy to approach him so directly. He started to rise from the bed.But Jessica clung to him, not letting him go. "Stanley, don't leave me! My heart's still bothering me..."Halsey, growing impatient, snapped, "Enough with the theatrics!"Still, Jessica wouldn't let go of Stanley. "Please, you promised you'd stay with me. I don't want you to leave."Stanley frowned, clearly frustrated. "Let go. I'll be back in a minute.""No," she whined. "I won't let you leave."Jessica threw a defiant look in