ログインAdriana removed Anna's number from her blacklist and immediately called her.Anna's leisurely voice drifted through the line."Adriana, to what do I owe the pleasure?"Keeping her guard up, Adriana discreetly turned on the call recorder.Then she got straight to the point."Why did you secretly photograph my children?""The whole world says they're Chris's children. As their grandmother, isn't it perfectly normal for me to go take a look?"Remembering Francesco's warning, Anna kept the truth to herself.Adriana's tone turned icy."My children are not Chris's. Stay away from them from now on. Do not go near them again."Anna let out a mocking laugh."Adriana, where is all this hostility coming from? Don't tell me you're the one who encouraged Chris to cut ties with me.""Anna, Chris cut ties with you because of your own actions. I'm not being hostile. I'm being cautious. After all, you're the one who secretly took photographs of my children first."If Anna merely wanted to
Anna didn't dare say another word. She could only send him the original photos.The moment his phone vibrated, Francesco snatched it up.As soon as he saw the children's picture, pure elation swept through him.Throwing himself back against the sofa, he burst into loud laughter.The sound drew Bianca over."Cesco, what are you laughing about?"Francesco immediately locked the screen and pressed the phone against his chest, laughing so hard he could barely stop.They were his children. His and Adriana's children.Bianca stared at him as if he'd lost his mind."Cesco, is something wrong with your brain?"Francesco sat upright, his face glowing with delight."Bianca, I'm in a great mood today. Whatever you want, just name it. I'll buy it for you."Without hesitation, Bianca blurted out, "I want an amusement park! A cute, magical amusement park!"Francesco agreed immediately."Done. I'll have people start planning it.""That's wonderful! When it's finished, I'm going to invi
Surrounded on all sides, Anna quickly realized there was no way she was leaving without handing over her phone.Reluctantly, she pulled it from her bag and opened the photo gallery."See for yourselves. Aren't these just pictures of the landscaping?"One of the men snatched the phone from her hand and scrolled through the album."There really aren't any photos of children."Anna's eyes reddened instantly. Her voice trembled as she choked back tears."I was asking about this neighborhood because I want my son to buy a home here. If my son can afford property in a place like this, how could I possibly be a child trafficker?"Noticing the crowd's expressions beginning to soften, she pressed on."You've falsely accused me like this. How am I supposed to face anyone after today? I might as well die."As she spoke, she suddenly pulled a utility knife from her bag and raised it toward her wrist.The people around her panicked and rushed to stop her."It was just a misunderstanding,
When Anna had been detained at a casino in Benice City, she had spent some time assisting the casino's landscapers and picked up a few basic gardening skills. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough for temporary maintenance work in a residential complex.As a result, she passed the interview without difficulty and started work that very day.Using her breaks and trips to the restroom as cover, she quietly gathered information around the neighborhood, identifying the places where children usually gathered.Not long after the lunch break ended, parents and nannies began bringing children out one after another.Anna approached a friendly-looking middle-aged woman and struck up a conversation."Are there a lot of children in this community? I'm thinking about buying an apartment here for my son, but I'm worried my grandson won't have anyone to play with.""There are plenty," the woman replied. "How old is your grandson?""A little over a year old. Are there any foreign children
Adriana took Chris's cold hand in hers and gently patted it."If someone isn't good to you, then we don't need them."Chris looked at her and chuckled softly."Like how you treated Francesco?"Adriana neither confirmed nor denied it, smoothly steering the conversation elsewhere."You're doing much better now. There's no need to rush into making a will. Maybe one day you'll get married and have children of your own. The kids and I aren't short on money."Chris caught the deliberate distance in her words."I won't get married or have children," he said quietly. "Your children are my children."Even though both children resembled Francesco, especially Milo, who looked almost identical to that man, making it difficult for Chris to feel any affection toward him.But Maeve took after Adriana much more.To him, the little girl was a priceless treasure.Not wanting to continue the conversation, he picked Maeve up and carried her out of the dining room."Come on, Maeve. Let's put on
When Adriana received Anna's message, she was having dinner with Chris at the Slater family estate.As long as she wasn't too busy on weekends, she would bring Milo and Maeve over to spend time with Chris.Sometimes, when she saw him standing alone beneath the old tree in the courtyard, his figure carrying a sense of desolation and loneliness, it felt as though she was looking at someone abandoned by the entire world.Anna: [Adriana, when do you have time? Would it be convenient for us to meet?]Adriana: [Is something wrong?]After sending the message, Adriana looked up at Chris.He was eating while teasing Maeve, his entire being filled with a rare sense of vitality."Chris, has your mom been doing well recently?"Chris frowned."Why are you suddenly asking about her?""It's been a long time since I heard from her. Just asking."Adriana didn't know why Anna wanted to see her, so she didn't rush to tell Chris.Although mother and son had reunited, their relationship still s
In the blink of an eye, the day of Grandma Rosie's memorial arrived. Adriana got to the cemetery early, confirming the arrangements with the staff.Dew clung to the grass beside the graves, soaking her pant legs as she walked. She settled on a bench to dry off, lifting her gaze to a sea of headston
Of course it wasn't fine. Even a man who kept a mistress wouldn't bring her to an occasion this respectable.Chris was a well-known figure in their circle, and Joan came from a good family herself. Back then, the prospect of a marriage alliance between the Slater and Hill families had been common k
"Oh—Edward, did you just tap the voice recorder?"Joan snatched the phone away, uneasily glancing at Chris."Chris, I'll delete it right now. Edward was fiddling with my phone while he was eating. Who knew it would record Adriana's words?"Chris said nothing. His expression tightened, his eyes li
"I tripped and fell. It's nothing serious."Daisy smiled, but the movement tugged at the injury on her face, making her wince.Adriana leaned in for a closer look. Besides the bruising, it was visibly swollen."You really have to be careful. You're so beautiful—can't risk damaging that face," Adr







