Beau couldn't help but complain and continued to grumble."Beau!" Niamh's voice rang out, and Beau instantly sprang up from his seat."Niamh! Why are you late?""Because I went to buy you this!" Niamh pulled out a mechanical crossbow from behind her back."Wow!" Beau's eyes lit up as he took in the sleek, all-black weapon.Niamh smirked. She knew exactly what he liked, and understood this was something Elara would never even let him touch."Don't you feel powerful with this crossbow?"Beau eagerly grabbed it, striking a cool archery pose. "Niamh, where are the arrows? Give me the arrows!"Niamh handed him a container filled with finely crafted metal arrows.Beau marveled at their cold, metallic surface, unable to hide his excitement. "Finally, real arrows instead of plastic ones! Niamh, I really love you!""Boys should play with real crossbows and real arrows—that's how they develop a true warrior's spirit!"Unable to contain his excitement, Beau placed an arrow into the cro
After seven years, Elara once again sat in Corona's driver's seat. It felt as if countless dormant cells in her body were suddenly reawakened, pulsing with energy in sync with the engine's roar.Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the wheel, and she could hear the rapid pounding of her own heart. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly alive.Seated in the passenger seat, Theodore relished the raw power of acceleration.Today, the Corona was different—it had been reborn in Elara's hands."Go ahead, speed all you want. I'll cover the tickets."Elara suppressed the thrill surging inside her. "No need. If I get caught speeding, it's my license that'll take the hit."Corona tore through the highway, its roar drawing the attention of pedestrians."What just flew past?""Was that a swallow? It zipped by in a flash!""In this season? No way! I think I just saw a ghost!"People on the sidewalks murmured among themselves.On the road ahead, a group of wealthy young
At the entrance of the classroom, a dozen bodyguards surrounded Finnegan. Standing at the foot of the steps, Harvey exuded an imposing aura, looking at Finnegan as if he were nothing more than an insignificant ant beneath his feet."Bambi, come here. You're coming home with me," Harvey commanded sternly. He had already lost patience when Bambi hesitated and moved toward Finnegan instead.Bambi shook her head at Harvey. "I want to go home with Uncle Finn."Harvey let out a cold, dismissive laugh. "And where exactly is he taking you? Does he even have a home? Bambi, if you go with him, you'll be sleeping on the streets!""Mommy!" Bambi's voice rang out as Elara appeared.Bambi waved excitedly upon seeing her mother, but with Harvey's bodyguards blocking the way, she couldn't run to her."Mommy!"Elara's heart ached with guilt. "Mommy got delayed. I'm so sorry, Bambi. I promise this will never happen again."Bambi, ever understanding, reassured her, "I know, Mommy! You had somethi
"Theodore!" Elara gasped in alarm.Still nestled in Theodore's arms, Bambi hadn't yet grasped what had happened.Theodore looked down at her with concern. "Are you hurt, Bambi?"She blinked her large, dark eyes and shook her head. Only when she got up did she finally see the metal arrow lodged in Theodore's back.Her pupils trembled, and she drew in a sharp breath. Looking up, she spotted Beau in the distance, instinctively hiding the crossbow behind his back.She recognized that arrow—Niamh had given it to him!Harvey hadn't expected Beau to do something like this either. His expression turned ice-cold, not just because his son had hurt someone, but because of who Theodore had instinctively protected.His hands clenched into fists as he bellowed, "Beau Fisher, get over here!"Beau flinched, visibly shaken. "I just wanted to help you, Daddy! Bambi wouldn't listen!"Bambi's shoulders stiffened. The Beau in front of her now felt like a complete stranger. Harvey snatched the cros
Theodore sighed dramatically. "By the time an ambulance arrives, I'll have bled out. Mr. Fisher, are you trying to get rid of me?"His condition was serious, and Elara had no patience to argue with Niamh any longer."Get off! Stop wasting time and running your mouth!""If you get into an accident…"Before Niamh could finish, an invisible pressure seemed to envelop her. When she met Elara's gaze, a chill ran down her spine, and she nearly lost her balance despite sitting firmly on the bike.She had never felt such an intimidating, almost chilling presence from Elara before. A sense of unease crept into Niamh's heart."Elara, I'm warning you—don't act recklessly.""You're the one dragging this out, Niamh! That's not like you."Niamh pouted. If Elara wanted to throw her life away, so be it. She wouldn't stop her. She even hoped she'd crash face-first and break her nose and teeth!Reluctantly, Niamh dismounted the bike.Elara then extended her hand. "Give me the keys."Niamh tos
Beau was so frightened by Harvey's overwhelming presence that his eyes filled with tears.Niamh quickly comforted him. "Beau, you and Bambi are siblings. She'll definitely forgive you!"She glanced at Harvey, and said in a light and teasing tone, "I always thought Theodore looked approachable, but his personality is even colder than yours."Who would've thought he'd risk his life to save someone? That's rare."Drawing out the last syllable, she then added, "By the way, I noticed Elara getting out of Theodore's car earlier. Since when did those two become so close?"Hey! Harvey, wait for me!"Niamh saw Harvey turn and walk away without even acknowledging her words. She quickly chased after him.…At the hospital, Theodore was placed on the operating table.Lying on his stomach, he smirked at the lead surgeon. "You can charge me double for the surgery—I'll make the Fishers cover the bill."The surgeon, who was an old acquaintance, sliced open Theodore's shirt with a scalpel whi
Bambi stood frozen, her young heart reeling from the shock.Had she done something wrong?If she had obediently gone back to the Fisher family with her father, Theodore wouldn't have been hurt.But the one who had shot an arrow at her was her own brother, someone she had once been so close to. Over time, as their physical differences grew, Beau's attitude toward her had worsened.And she had realized that, within the Fisher family, aside from her mother treating them equally, even her father favored Beau more."Beau! Even if you apologize, I will never forgive you!" Bambi shouted.She turned to Harvey. "Daddy, can I stop being your daughter? What do I have to do to never go back to the Fisher family again?"She longed to break free, but she didn't know how. Harvey's face turned as cold as if it had been sealed under layers of frost."Bambi! Your last name is Fisher! You will always be my daughter! You are a part of the Fisher family!""Then… Then can I change my last name?" Ba
"Theodore, you—" Niamh was stunned as she exclaimed in disbelief.Her eyes darted around before she smirked. "Are you interested in my sister as a person, or are you more interested in her as Harvey's wife?"Elara and Harvey are still in the process of divorcing—do you think this is the perfect time to enjoy the thrill of an affair without facing too much criticism?"She wore an expression that suggested she had seen right through Theodore.At that moment, the entire hospital room felt like a walk-in freezer. The oppressive aura radiating from Harvey was so intense that even Beau's legs trembled.Theodore's sharp, fox-like eyes turned cold. "Did you crawl out of a history museum? You could conjure up more stories than a medieval tapestry."Niamh stammered, "I—""Funny how some people blurt out their own thoughts as if they're exposing someone else's."Niamh's face stiffened, and she retorted weakly, "You're obviously talking about yourself!""You'd know best, wouldn't you?" Th
Theodore was truly a frightening man! Yet Elara didn't find this off-putting.Wasn't this exactly the sort of thing he would do? She had sensed this man's calculated advances from the moment he began appearing frequently in her life.Soon, Cassie left, and Elara sat in her office chair, moving back slightly."You can come out now," she commanded.Her voice had regained its composure. "You should have recovered by now, right, Mr. Snapp?"Theodore emerged from under the desk, which had been relatively cramped for someone of his size. He blinked at her, his eyes brimming with amusement as he asked, "Was that fun?""I almost fell for you," Elara blurted out, her voice carrying a more teasing tone.The man looked slightly disappointed. "So, you didn't fall for me after all?"Persistent, he leaned forward and lowered his voice to ask, "Did it feel good when you touched me earlier?"Elara's bright eyes sparkled with light as she had to admit, "I didn't expect you'd feel so nice to to
If one word could describe Theodore, it would be "insatiable!"The spasms emanating from Elara's abdomen made her aware of the unusual sensations in her body. In the warm early summer afternoon, even the air in the office seemed to grow heavy and humid.She felt as if an electric current had struck her, sending a tingling sensation up from the base of her spine. Her lips parted slightly, and she couldn't help but feel an intense curiosity about Theodore."Why would someone like you be interested in someone like me?" Elara's voice fell from above him."Hmm? Someone like me? What kind of person am I?"Theodore looked up at her with an expression that seemed completely vulnerable, as if offering himself to be commanded by her.Seated in her office chair, Elara lowered her gaze. As she looked down at this man, a strange and subtle thrill arose in her chest.She finally understood what it meant to gaze down from a position of power. It felt as though butterflies were dancing wildly i
Harvey was annoyed by Ethel's interference in his love life. Elara's decision to divorce him undoubtedly had something to do with Ethel's meddling."I recall that Uncle Leonard has been looking after the Shelton family. Didn't the Sheltons' daughter go abroad to study with Uncle Leonard's letter of recommendation?" Harvey asked."That's ancient history," Ethel replied. "I hear she has done quite well for herself in Melcina. She's returned and taken a position at Quantum Tech under Price Nation."Harvey was about to leave, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard a certain phrase from Ethel."What position does Ms. Shelton hold at Quantum Tech?"Ethel was delighted—Harvey was showing interest in Angie.She described enthusiastically, "I heard she's highly regarded by Priscilla. Since she's joined Quantum Tech, she must be in a top position.""Isn't Elara the one in charge?" Harvey thought. He quickly realized this meant Elara's position at Quantum Tech wasn't secure.Harvey re
Perhaps it was because he had spent recent days shoveling manure for fertilizer, cleaning pigpens, and herding cattle and sheep, but Harvey's germaphobia seemed to have been cured.He crouched down and began searching through the pile of garbage.Seeing Beau standing idly nearby, he sternly commanded, "What are you standing around for? Help me look! If we don't find the stethoscope, you won't be eating dinner!"Beau finally understood the gravity of the situation. With fear and trepidation in his heart, he looked at the garbage scattered on the ground with a miserable expression."Daddy, can I at least have a pair of gloves?""Look!" Harvey roared. "If we don't find it, I'll throw you in the trash can!"For the first time, he had completely lost patience with his son. Flames seemed to shoot from his eyes, and the features of his face were tense and sharp.Beau trembled, held his breath, and crouched down. With a disgusted expression, he began searching through the garbage while
Harvey froze in shock. He pulled back the covers, finding nothing on the bed. He spun around and darted out of his room, leaving a sharp, cold breeze in his wake.Outside his room stood a bodyguard assigned by Leonard. Harvey then grabbed the bodyguard by the collar."Where's my stethoscope? Who told you to touch my stethoscope?" he demanded.The bodyguard was bewildered. He gripped Harvey's hand in displeasure. "Mr. Fisher, please calm down. I don't know what you're talking about."Hostility flashed in Harvey's eyes as he breathed heavily and questioned, "My stethoscope that I put under my pillow—who took it?"The bodyguard thought for a moment. "I did see Mr. Beau playing with a stethoscope this morning. I'm not sure where he got it from."Harvey's pupils constricted sharply. Beau had entered his room and taken his stethoscope?That little brat!Beau, dressed in a gray monk's robe, was surrounded by visitors who had come to the chapel to pray. These past few days, he had been
This time, Harvey very clearly saw Elara's face deepen from a light pink to a rich, blooming rose—visibly, and in real time.Her beauty blossomed like a peony in full bloom. Her long lashes trembled several times, and her dark eyes shimmered as if brimming with tears.She looked as if… She was lovestruck. The moment that phrase crossed Harvey's mind, he was so stunned that his eyes widened in disbelief.Was Elara suddenly getting shy because of him?A strange flutter rippled through his chest. He sat at his desk, staring at the high-definition monitor in front of him, where every detail of Elara's face—even each individual eyelash—was crystal clear.He shifted his gaze to the upper-left corner of the screen to glance at the small preview of himself.After Leonard had driven him up to the mountains, the priest at Atkina Church had given him a haircut. Since he was neither a monk nor formally ordained, it was just a close-cropped cut, not a full shaving of the head.He looked at h
Theodore's eyes gleamed like sunlight shimmering over a lake. He looked like a large dog trapped in a cage, gazing at Elara with unwavering intensity. If he had a tail, it would have been wagging wildly like a windmill spinning at full speed.Elara screamed internally. This had gone a little too far! Her eyes then dropped to the tip of her own shoe. The place she had kicked… had grown!"Oh!" She quickly jerked her foot back, only to feel her body tip backward uncontrollably.Just as she was about to fall, Theodore reached out and grabbed her ankle.The moment his fingers touched her skin, her heart skipped a beat. Theodore pulled her back toward the desk.Elara froze in place like a statue. Her entire body was tense, her eyes were wide, and her pupils were unfocused."Elara, what's wrong?"Harvey had seen her suddenly lose her balance and fall backward. It startled him so badly, he looked as if he wanted to jump through the screen.A wave of helplessness washed over him. Luckil
Elara looked under the desk. What on earth was going on?Meanwhile, Harvey observed Elara in her formal women's suit on the computer screen—an attire he'd never seen her wear before.Her hair was pulled back into a bun secured by a simple ebony hairpin. A few strands, gilded by sunlight, curled against her porcelain cheeks.Though she appeared to be looking down at something, Harvey's gaze and thoughts remained completely captivated by her face. Only months had passed since their divorce, yet seeing her now felt like encountering someone from another lifetime.Had time stretched endlessly during his days at Atkina Church?"El—" Harvey's throat tightened as if stuffed with paper.But he quickly regained his usual composed tone. "Elara—no, I should address you as Ms. Jones now. Had Sam not called me, I wouldn't have known you'd assumed Quantum Tech's CEO position."His voice carried that innate condescension of the privileged, laced with unmistakable mockery."Why are you hiding
Elara stood still as she gazed at the tall, distinguished man before her. Meanwhile, Theodore looked up and smiled at her against the light."Why are you so far away?"Elara stepped toward him, teasing lightly, "I wanted a good look at you.""Then you'll need to come closer." Theodore leaned forward, closing the distance between them.Though she stopped a step away, their faces nearly touched. Elara instinctively held her breath as her eyes locked on him."Can you see clearly now?" Theodore asked."Mm," Elara replied."And?""So handsome." Elara praised him sincerely. "You're one of the most attractive men I've ever seen!"She truly meant it. Theodore chuckled through his nose. She'd seen plenty of handsome men in her life—Finnegan, Harvey, and Leonard. Especially Leonard, whose looks even made Theodore feel somewhat threatened."My face is the least remarkable part of me." He declared confidently.Images of those shirtless photos Theodore had sent flashed through Elara's mi