LOGINMaeve received many gold items from Chris: a pair of gold bracelets, a gold bowl, a gold spoon, a gold cup, and, in addition, a hundred grams of gold bars.At the full-month celebration, he gave each of the two children a house as well.Milo received a modest three-bedroom apartment in an ordinary residential complex, while Maeve was given a luxury villa.The reason behind this was something they all understood without needing to say it aloud.Fortunately, Milo was still too young to understand anything, so Chris's favoritism could not hurt him yet. But once he grew older, that would no longer be the case.Still, Adriana had never planned to stay long-term at the Slater family estate. Once she returned to work, she intended to move out with the children, the nanny, and Heidi, settling into a newly purchased high-rise apartment in the city center.At dinner that evening, Bianca's constant chatter filled the usually quiet dining table, making it livelier than usual."Next time I c
The remark came out of nowhere, and all Adriana caught was the phrase, "like Cesco.""Looks like a photo?" she asked."Yes," Bianca nodded. "She looks like Cesco's photo."As she spoke, Bianca opened her phone gallery and scrolled before handing a picture over to Adriana. "Here, take a look."It was a photo of a tiny infant. At a glance, Adriana immediately recognized him—young Francesco.No wonder Bianca said Maeve looked like Cesco's photo. The resemblance in his brows and eyes was unmistakable.If she were to see Milo, she would probably think Francesco had turned back into a child—he was carved from the exact same mold."Isn't he very similar?" Bianca asked.Adriana looked up, her voice tightening almost imperceptibly. "Bianca, if Francesco ever asks you about my babies, don't tell him anything, alright?"Bianca frowned in confusion. "Why?"Francesco did, in fact, often ask her about Adriana and her children. But recently, she had hardly seen Adriana at all, and could onl
Adriana was worried that Bianca might notice how much the children resembled Francesco—and that it would somehow reach his ears.In the second week after being discharged, Bianca called her again via video."Adriana, can I come see you today?"Adriana hesitated. "Bianca, it's too cold. Wait until the weather gets warmer before coming."Bianca fell silent.A moment later, tears welled in her eyes as she choked out, "Adriana… do you not want to be friends with me anymore?"Adriana's heart tightened."Of course not. It's just that it's too cold—I'm worried you'll catch a cold. Didn't Francesco say your health isn't very good?""I can wear more clothes. The car isn't cold, and your house isn't cold either."Tears rolled down Bianca's cheeks in large drops."At the Stanley family home, besides Grandpa Scott and Papa Richard, there are only the housekeepers. I'm so bored here… I miss you too."Looking at Bianca on the screen—so wronged she looked like she might shatter—Adriana cou
Oliver did not insist. He only said that if she ever wanted to move in, she just needed to let him know.Back then, it was also Oliver who had helped her detect the surveillance cameras and listening devices. Of course, Adriana understood his kindness."Thank you, Oliver," she said again sincerely.In her most difficult moments, Oliver had always stood silently behind her. Whenever she needed it, he would immediately step forward to support her.Oliver smiled in understanding and changed the subject, not wanting that dark chapter of the past to affect her mood.As evening approached, Bella, Chris, and Oliver left the maternity ward one after another. The room gradually quieted down.Shortly after Adriana's friends left, Heidi came in and said the older baby had woken up. The nanny was feeding him milk, while the younger baby was still asleep.To prevent the two babies from disturbing each other when they cried, the nanny kept them in separate rooms."Would you like to see the l
"Chris, Oliver, please have a seat."Heidi brought water over, inviting them to sit on the sofa, then washed fruit and placed it on the coffee table.To avoid disturbing the new mother's rest, the babies had been temporarily taken to the next room. They had all already seen them.Bella sat down at the edge of the bed, sniffled, and said softly, "Adriana, the two babies are mixed-race. They're especially beautiful."Adriana had already seen them after giving birth.She had originally considered using the "artificial insemination" explanation to brush things off in front of Francesco.But the children's father's genes were too strong. The features on those tiny faces—the brows, the eyes, the hair color, the bone structure—could not be concealed at all.Anyone who knew them only needed one glance to guess who the father was.And this was only just after birth. As they grew, they would likely resemble Francesco even more.At the thought, Adriana lowered her eyelashes and took anot
Adriana had thought she would be able to work all the way up to her due date, but her belly changed day by day—growing larger at an unmistakable pace.Although her body was still holding up, walking around the company with such a pronounced pregnancy inevitably caused inconvenience for her colleagues.In the pantry, the corridors, even the cafeteria—whenever she passed by, she could see the tension in their eyes.So in her seventh month of pregnancy, she went on maternity leave.Before taking leave, she made a point of telling her colleagues that they could still come to her if needed; she would be working from home.She was not the type who could sit still for long. If she were truly confined to four walls all day, she would only feel more restless.Fortunately, her maternity leave was far from lonely.Bella often came to visit with Pomme in tow. Bianca also stopped by every few days, sometimes bringing flowers, sometimes pastries, always with endless things to talk about.For
After a while, Eileen returned to find Adriana."Francesco wants me to take you over," Eileen said.Adriana happened to be alone, and unease churned in her chest.She followed Eileen down the long corridor into the room opposite.Compared to the quiet chatter of the previous room, this one was l
Two tall, imposing bodyguards stood outside the door, guns holstered at their hips.When Francesco approached, one of them stepped forward respectfully to open the door for him.Adriana barely dared to breathe as she nervously stepped into the spacious room.Ever since the time she had been kidna
Francesco sent Adriana a location from the airport.Francesco: [Arrive before 10 a.m. Private jet.]He didn't mention who would be traveling with her—probably couldn't be bothered.Adriana checked with the company. Charlie confirmed that she would be the only one officially on the trip, though th
Oliver knew about their past and deliberately avoided Adriana's workstation."Mr. Este, this is the core laboratory of our building—the largest in terms of floor space."This machine was imported from Djarmany, worth over ten million dollars. Apart from me, it's the most valuable asset in this bui







