Chapter 171That night, Nathan sat in his study, his face expressionless but his eyes sharp. In front of him stood Chintya, her hair disheveled, her face pale, and her body trembling."I don't want to!" Chintya snapped, her voice shrill.Nathan remained silent. His hands were clasped together on the table. A few seconds later, the door opened. Sonia entered, followed by Grandmother Clara, who walked slowly with a cane."Why are you still here, dear?" Clara asked in a soft but clear voice.Nathan stood up. "I've decided, Grandma. Chintya will be sent abroad. I've arranged everything—accommodation, care, even supervision." "I said I don't want to!" Chintya shouted again. The woman's eyes widened, then she burst into laughter. “Do you think you can just get rid of me like that? Hah? I'm Nathan's fiancée! I should be staying here, not Elena!” Clara turned to Sonia. “Look at that. This child has lost her mind.” Sonia sighed deeply. “I used to feel sorry for her. But now... I think yo
Chapter 170The evening sky began to turn orange as Damian and Tamara drove Katty, Delya, and Alva back to the Drake family residence. Damian's car slowed to a stop in the front yard. As soon as the door opened, the three children jumped out excitedly."Yay, we're home!" Katty exclaimed, holding Delya's hand.“Thank you, Aunt Tamara!” Delya said, turning back with a wide smile.Tamara waved goodbye with a smile. “You’re welcome, dear.”Alva, who had been carried by Damian throughout the journey because he had fallen asleep, began to wake up and rubbed his eyes.“We’re here, Boy,” Damian whispered softly.Alva nodded slightly, then suddenly turned to Tamara. “Aunt Tamara, don’t go home yet.” Tamara looked at Damian, then back at Alva. “Auntie has to go home, dear. But Auntie will come back to play here again, I promise.” Damian leaned down and whispered in Alva’s ear. “Let’s give Aunt Tamara a hug first.”Alva immediately hugged Tamara with her small arms. “I love you, Auntie...”
Chapter 169That afternoon, the atmosphere at the Drake family mansion was a bit tense. In Nathan's study, a female nurse stood with her hands fidgeting, staring at Nathan, who sat with a clenched jaw and an unusual look in his eyes."I'm sorry, Mr. Nathan... I've thought this through carefully before deciding to speak. But I think you should know," the nurse said cautiously.Nathan glared at her. "What is this about?"The nurse swallowed. “It’s about Miss Chintya. A few days ago, she approached me. Miss Chintya brought a liquid—a high-dose sleeping medication. She asked me to add that liquid to Mrs. Elena’s IV.”Nathan stood up abruptly. The chair behind him scraped loudly. "What?!" Nathan's voice erupted. The nurse stepped back nervously. “I refused, Mr. Nathan. I said it was dangerous, and I wouldn't do it. But Miss Chintya insisted. She even threatened to fire me if I reported this.”Nathan’s face paled. His pulse was racing at his temples. His hands clenched tightly. “Why a
Chapter 168The sound of a baby crying echoed throughout the Drake family home. Ellyn and Edward were fussing more than usual. Sonia tried to rock Ellyn while pacing back and forth in the living room, while the babysitter struggled to calm Edward, who was crying even louder."Gosh, what's wrong with them, crying like this together?" Sonia complained, trying to pat Ellyn's back.“They’re usually not this chaotic,” the babysitter said anxiously. “They’re full, and their diapers are clean. But they’re still fussy.”Nathan had just come down from the second floor and heard the commotion. He immediately approached.“I’ll take Edward,” Nathan said, lifting the baby boy from the babysitter’s arms.Nathan hugged Edward tightly, trying to calm him down. But the baby’s crying didn’t subside. Ellyn also started crying louder, as if demanding more attention. “Oh, why are these twins so in sync?” Nathan muttered, holding Edward tighter. “Maybe... they miss their mother.”Sonia nodded slowly. “Ye
Chapter 167Meanwhile, in a quiet village on the outskirts of New York, the autumn air was beginning to bite. Maple leaves were falling, forming a reddish-orange carpet in the front yard of a simple wooden house. The house belonged to a married couple, Nana and Hans, who had been married for ten years but had not yet been blessed with children.In a small room on the second floor, a young girl lay in a coma on a bed facing the window. Her body was thin, her face marked with scars that had not fully healed, and parts of her skin appeared to be grafted. A breathing apparatus was neatly attached, and the sound of medical machinery filled the silence of the room.“Darling,” Hans called softly from the doorway. “Have you eaten yet?”Nana, sitting beside the girl’s bed, turned and shook her head. Her eyes were weary but full of tenderness.“This girl is still warm... her hand just moved a little,” Nana whispered, as if hoping the girl could hear her.Hans entered and sat down on the chair b
Chapter 166Two days after their conversation in Elena's hospital room, Damian and Tamara stood side by side on the main road in the city center. In front of them was a vacant lot that used to be an old bakery. The location was strategic—it was on a busy street corner, surrounded by offices and international schools.“What do you think?” Damian asked, folding his arms across his chest as he looked out at the open space.Tamara looked around. “The location is great. It’s on a corner, easy to access, and there’s plenty of parking. Perfect for a café.”Damian nodded. “I agree. I’ve checked the status of the land. The owner is willing to rent it out long-term. We just need to sign the contract and start building from scratch.”Tamara glanced at Damian. “Did you bring the initial design?”Damian opened his bag and took out the black sketchbook he always carried. He flipped through the pages filled with hand-drawn sketches—the building’s facade, table arrangements, an open kitchen, even a s