Jacob stood frozen in his spot. He couldn’t believe that Steve was now Clara’s husband, and also that she was cured.Just then, he laughed sarcastically, as though he’d gone mad.“Oh, you think you’re wise? It makes sense that you’d make up a fake report and claim you’re pregnant, just to try and save your family’s name from humiliation, huh?” he said. He couldn’t take the disbelief of what he was hearing and seeing in the papers.It all didn’t sit well with him. How could she be pregnant? he asked himself.Not even in another lifetime did he ever think Clara would find a cure to her strange illness that couldn’t be diagnosed.Back then, when he traveled to deepen his knowledge of medicine, he met an old man considered a miracle doctor. He told him about Clara’s situation, describing everything in detail.The man had made him believe there was no possible way she could be cured. That it was no longer a medical issue—tha
“Are you giving up your so-called legacy that’s been since your father’s time, huh?” Jacob’s face brightened in a smirk.“I’m not yet done with you, old man. I’ll make sure you plead for your life on your knees,” he muttered in a disdainful tone.Mr. Smith sat quietly on the couch, his pale face impossible to ignore.He didn’t say a single word, as Steve had asked him to stay quiet.“Are you so afraid for your life that you can’t say anything?” Jacob said, laughing at him, thinking he was too weak to even look him in the face.“That’s right. That’s the kind of sad look I expected. The renowned doctor of Vereluxe City?”“You brat. If not for me, who worked everything for you, do you think you deserved to be called that at all? I did all that because I was in love with Clara and I wanted to support her family in every way I could.” He continued in a raging tone, speaking without getting a response, but still feeling his presence was significant enough to terrify the old man.“I was the
Vivienne’s eyes narrowed as she searched his, trying to detect if he was joking in a serious moment like that.How could he ever pull such an amount himself? she thought. His words and the way his expression remained quite serious suggested that he’d be the one giving them the money, of course.Seeing the tension, Vivienne and John intentionally didn’t break it. Despite the questions and doubts in them, they chose to just not say anything because it felt as though they didn’t understand what he was trying to say.“Actually, I’m working with a team now and the company is capable. Since I have some position with them, I think it’d be enough to convince them to invest in this business, right?” he said, now even letting his expression ease deliberately, showing a softer edge.He was sure they’d first wonder if he was joking because they didn’t even believe he could pull up such an amount of money himself. Of course, he was always acting broke, so it was just normal they saw him that way.
“Except this is a trap,” she said. And in that instant, John’s expression switched instantly.“What? Vivienne, what do you mean this is a trap?” he asked curiously.“No, think about it… Dr. Foster, this doesn’t seem right, does it?” she asked, looking at Adrian as if seeking to be enlightened.But Adrian remained calm and didn’t say anything.“If Mr. Antony really means for someone or a business to be destroyed, he’d be sure to ruin all of their hopes of rising again.” She muttered, her voice turning sharper as her eyes began to redden.“It must be Mr. Antony’s trick. He wants us to believe we’re rising again, then he’ll crush us into the mud once more and make us fear ever trying to rise again.” She muttered.And just then, a beep entered on the screen.Now it was a new investor, investing a million dollars in their business.“No, no, this doesn’t make any sense,” she said.She felt as though no o
Adrian, realizing that the Xanders are now after the Smiths family, knew it could only mean one thing—the Smiths family were nothing in comparison to the Xanders group.The Xanders had a group whereby each of the family members headed some branch in different parts of the world, meaning the Xanders was a big corporation. And if Jacob somehow convinced them to see the Smiths family as a threat in one way or the other, it was over for the Smiths—because they were like ants under a truck’s weight if the Xanders’ wrath was forced on them. Adrian thought for a moment.No, I can’t let them suffer such wrath. Thinking that Jacob was even more angry because Clara had broken off their relationship—and that he himself was involved—he was sure that on the day Clara broke things off, Jacob suspected she had feelings for him. Although Adrian dismissed such thoughts then and defended himself that he had no feelings for her, he was certain Jacob wouldn’t care about such word
Adrian had no choice but to receive the embrace as Vivienne hugged him tightly without warning. It was as if she had found a place where she could reduce the heavy burden in her chest, as though it helped her breathe better. She held on tight, as if any attempt from him to let go might make her sink. “Dr. Foster, I’m tired of everything,” she said as tears dropped from her eyes, soaking Adrian’s shoulder and wetting his shirt. It was as if a connection to her emotions began to surge through him as the tears touched his shoulder. Still, Vivienne wasn’t ready to let go of the warmth in his embrace, as it made her dizziness feel lighter. “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve all this. Mr. Antony now punishes me because I’ve refused to accept his offer of marrying his son, and I can’t sacrifice my whole life just to please a man’s request. But he’s just too powerful, and he destroyed the legacy my dad suffered to b