Candice stopped short when Justin, who was on the phone, shushed her with a finger. He listened to what the person on the other line had to say, then replied warmly, "Alright, I'll go over in a bit."After ending the call, he turned to look at Candice. He frowned at the dress she was wearing and said, "Change into something else. That looks terrible on you."Candice was so furious she could have combusted on the spot.…When they left the boutique, Justin did not go home but instead went to a high-end restaurant.Baffled, Candice asked, "What are we doing here, Justin?""My cousin's home, and my family is throwing him a homecoming party here. I'll have Zane drop you home," Justin explained.Candice knew Jenna didn't like her very much, so she did not insist on staying.At that moment, Jessica exited the restaurant. She was dressed in a professional-looking ensemble, and her eyes glittered when she saw Justin. "Mr. Farrow! Your mother and the rest of your family have settled int
Justin answered frostily, "Serena has left Farrow Corporation and no longer has anything to do with our family."Damian was about to press for more details when Mollie shot him a warning look. He wisely kept his mouth shut.Everyone began to dig into the food, making small talk with one another. Damian quickly tugged on Joseph's sleeve and asked, "Joseph, did something happen between Serena and Justin?""It's a long story," Joseph replied. With a sigh, he gave Damian a brief run-down of Serena and Justin's fallout.Damian's eyes flashed with interest. "So, what you're saying is, there's no way Serena and Justin will ever get together?""Pretty much. Justin's already seeing someone else, and Serena seemed to have made up her mind. I don't think they'd speak anytime soon, let alone date each other," Joseph pointed out.Upon hearing this, Damian held his wine glass by its stem and lowered his gaze in thought. A small smile curved his lips as he considered what Joseph told him.Half
Serena's hunch was right—something was going on between Lauren and her boss. She drew close to Lauren and said, "Show me a picture of him.""I don't know why you're so interested. He's not exactly handsome," Lauren grumbled even as she picked up her phone and pulled up a picture of her boss. "His name is Aaron Zimmers. I'd say he's around 30, and he took over the company from his father."In any case, he's got more money than I do."Serena took the phone and assessed the man in the photo. "He looks pretty decent to me. Kind of gentle-mannered, if you ask me.""That's great and all, but he's got nothing on Wilson," Lauren pointed out.Serena teased, "I think he'd be a good match for you, Laurie."Lauren hissed when the knife sliced across her fingertip. Blood beaded from the cut and rolled down her finger. Panicking, she quickly hid her hand behind her back and checked Serena's expression."Serena, maybe you should leave the kitchen until I've cleaned myself up…" she suggested, k
Surprised, Serena took a step back and said, "No, Mr. Quade, you shouldn't have…"She was starting to think that Wilson's kindness toward her was motivated by romantic feelings. Justin had hurt her too deep for her to even consider dating anyone, and she had no idea how she would face Wilson if he turned out to have feelings for her."It's just a box of chocolates. Why are you getting worked up all of a sudden?" Wilson asked, the cigarette dangling from his lips.As if reading her thoughts, he added for good measure, "I got them from the souvenir shop at the airport. Think of it as a token of thanks for celebrating my birthday. I got one for Jacob, too."He handed Serena the box of chocolates, and only then did she heave a sigh of relief. He did not leave after she took the box and instead asked, "Monique told me you ran into Shawn while you were trying on dresses at the boutique today. Is it true that he gave you trouble?""Yeah, but he backed off after Monique name-dropped you,"
Serena looked so stunning that Wilson fell speechless. He was suddenly seized with a primal urge to kiss her.…Meanwhile, Justin was sipping champagne in a resplendent banquet hall somewhere in Nocturna, occasionally glancing at the entrance. Several guests came up to him in hopes of making small talk, but he dismissed them after briefly humoring them.Candice could tell Justin's mind was far away. She pursed her lips as she looped her arm through his. "What a crowd, Justin. I don't know any of these people. Care to introduce me to some of them?"The Farrows were never ones to initiate small talk with other members of high society. It was always the other way around, and Justin was always their target. Unfortunately, Candice did not understand this unspoken rule.Justin pointed out with forced patience, "If you want to get acquainted with the other heiresses and socialites, have Mollie hook you up. I wouldn't know what young ladies talk about these days." He then turned to beckon
The crowd watched as a striking couple entered the hall.The man boasted a towering height, his tailored black suit accentuating his refinement and handsome features.The woman on his arm had the kind of beauty that kings would wage wars over. She wore a burgundy dress hugging her perfect figure. Her ruby necklace drew attention to her chiseled collarbones. She was dazzling, yet also surprisingly familiar."Is that Serena? How is that possible?" Lynn asked incredulously.Mollie and Candice couldn't hide their bewilderment, either.Standing nearby, Justin could feel his composure slipping away. He had expected Serena to show up, but he didn't think she would look so stunning. She was a vision, one that made the other socialites and ladies of leisure pale in comparison.He had forgotten how beautiful she was in the first place. There was a time when such a beauty had belonged only to him!Bitterness and resentment welled up in him at the thought. He was starting to regret kicking
"A good heart, huh?" Wilson returned Damian's card to Serena as something flashed in his eyes. He had caught Damian looking at Serena like she lit up his world.The sound of glass shattering cut through the hall, and everyone turned toward the noise. Wilson and Serena glanced over their shoulders to see a man with salt-and-pepper hair glowering at an indifferent Jacob, wine and shards of glass littered by his feet.Noticing everyone's stares, Jacob smiled at the older man and said, "Now, Dad, it's one thing to smash up wine glasses, but to throw a fit like that could shave years off your life."David Smith snapped, "I don't need your false concern!"Wilson led Serena toward the father-and-son duo, grabbing a glass of wine from the tray of a nearby attendant and handing it to David. His courteous tone belied the warning in his eyes as he said, "Now, Mr. Smith, surely your tantrums are better reserved for days when we aren't at a charity gala."David was silent for a few seconds bef
Wilson explained, "Jacob's mom was David's first wife. When Jacob was four, David threw him and his mom out of the family and remarried within a month. As a result, Marcus Smith, David's youngest son, was born."David had planned on letting Marcus take over the family business, but Marcus was a lost cause. On top of being talentless, he also got into fights. He broke his leg during a recent racing incident and is now receiving treatment abroad."Wilson continued emotionlessly, "Several years ago, Smith Group ran into a crisis. David's ailing health kept him from handling it, and with a few senior directors pressuring him, he had no choice but to call Jacob in for help."So while Jacob looked like he was inheriting his birthright, he was actually made to straighten out the company's mess."A wry smile curved Wilson's lips as he concluded, "I reckon David and Jacob never had much of a father-son relationship, to begin with. So, no, they don't get along at all. If Marcus had lived up
Justin was seated at a table in a high-end restaurant in Nocturna as he stared at the phone in his hand. The news about Ronald was displayed on the screen.Surprised that Ronald had been imprisoned, Justin read the article carefully, then closed the page. The Quades' affairs were none of his concern. With his company recently gearing up to bid on a large project, he'd painstakingly drafted the tender proposal and planned to submit it for the bidding."Aren't you going to eat, Mr. Farrow?" Lila asked softly from across the table."I was checking the news," Justin said, pocketing his phone.Lila poked at the steak on her plate. "Mr. Farrow, this is my first time dining at such a fancy restaurant… I never had a chance to come to such places before.""I gave you money, didn't I? You can eat whatever and wherever you want.""You've been incredibly kind to me, Mr. Farrow… I must have saved the universe in my past life to meet you in this one," Lila said.Justin fell into a momentary d
Willow's voice trembled slightly, followed by a bitter smile. "Arthur, what do you think she was trying to do? I'd already given up on our relationship. And now, she dies right in front of me. Do you know what her last words to me were? She said she's sorry."She lowered her head, hands digging into her hair. She looked completely drained, both physically and emotionally. "I don't understand. Did she love me or not? If she did, why was she always siding with Ronald? Why didn't she ever stand up for me? But then, there were so many times I felt like she did love me."Tears slid down her cheeks. "I remember when I was little and had a fever. She stayed up the whole night with me, didn't sleep a second. When I got beaten, she'd secretly put medication on me. When I went overseas, she used to call and ask how I was doing. But after a few minutes, she'd start scolding me, saying I never called Ronald."If she really loved me, why didn't she protect me when he hit me? Why did she want me
Willow rushed forward and caught Carmen just before she collapsed.A nearby officer tackled Ronald to the ground.Carmen fell into her arms, tears streaming down her face. Her hand trembled as she reached up and gently touched Willow's cheek. There was sorrow and guilt in her eyes.Her vision blurred as her consciousness faded, but in that haze, she saw a memory—Willow as a child. Back when she first gave birth to her, Ronald and his mother, Sarah Pattinson, were furious that it was a girl. They didn't even bother to visit.For those first few years, it was just her and Willow getting through one sleepless night after another. It was Willow who filled the emptiness and pain in her heart.She used to hold that tiny child in the dark, press kisses onto her soft little face, and dream that one day her daughter would grow up to be poised and happy, with a good life ahead.However, the moment Ronald came back into their lives, fear returned with him. She feared him and ultimately ga
"What the hell is going on?" Ronald's face twisted with anger. He saw the door of the Cullinan swing open.Out stepped Wilson, his every move calm and deliberate.Ronald's expression darkened instantly. Wilson again? The nerve of that bastard, barging right into his house as if he were already dead.Wilson strolled into the room, barely glancing at the others before a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Uncle Ronald, what's all this?""Wilson, shouldn't I be asking you that? You drove straight into my house. That's trespassing. What the hell do you think you're doing?" Ronald snapped.Wilson's eyes turned cold. "You're about to kill someone, and you're worried about trespassing?"Ronald sneered. "Are you here to save Willow? I never expected someone cold and heartless like you to actually care about her.""Of course. I'm just emotionally detached, not a monster like you," Wilson said.Ronald nearly choked on his fury. When it came to words, he couldn't match Wilson i
Willow was shaking with rage. "Ronald, you're disgusting. Hitting a woman? You're nothing but trash!""Hah!" Ronald's face twisted with fury. However, instead of lashing out, he suddenly calmed. "I see. No matter what, you still care about the woman who carried you for ten months, don't you? But do you think she cares about you?""What do you mean?" Willow frowned."She's been lying to you this whole time!" He jabbed a finger at Carmen. "This woman has been weak her whole life. She lives to serve me. I tell her to do something, and she does it. No questions asked!"Ever wonder how I found you in the Mardenes so quickly and easily? Your bracelet. There's a tracker inside! You idiot! Do you really believe she loved you?"Let me make this clear. No one has ever loved you. Not since the day you were born!" His voice thundered through the massive villa, every word like a hammer pounding into Willow's chest.Her face went pale. All the strength drained out of her.That one sentence wa
Arthur didn't say a word. He walked up to the table, picked up the pen, and signed his name on the document without hesitation.Ronald took the papers, and the joy on his face was unmistakable. It actually worked! Just like that?Nine percent of Collinsworth Group's shares would make him the biggest shareholder now. Arthur had lost his mind, giving up Collinsworth Group like it was nothing. What a delightful surprise."Let's go, Willow." Arthur reached for Willow's hand and was ready to go. They made it to the door, only to be blocked by two buff bodyguards.Arthur frowned. "What's this?"Ronald gave him a harmless smile. "You can leave. She stays.""Ronald, you promised to let her go once you got the shares!" Arthur rarely raised his voice, but now his anger flared.Ronald snorted. "Let her go? What the hell are you talking about? This is her home. Isn't it normal for her to stay here?"Willow turned around, eyes burning with fury. "You're a liar, Ronald. You're old enough to
"Don't you think this is ridiculous?" Willow's tone dripped with mockery. "My own parents locked me up, treating me like a hostage just to make a deal. And the one who's trying to save me? He's not even related to me by blood. Do you really think you deserve to be my parents?""If Arthur hadn't tricked your dad, he wouldn't have resorted to this… Lo, your last name is Quade. Don't you care that the company's in trouble?" Carmen asked.She laughed coldly. "If Ronald hadn't been so eager to sell off his own daughter, he wouldn't have fallen for it in the first place. I don't just want to see his company struggle. I want it to go bankrupt!"Watching the reputation and wealth he cared about most crumble right in front of him would be real pain. He deserved every second of it!"You're insane. Forget it. I'm done talking to you." Carmen shook her head like she couldn't be bothered anymore.Willow sat alone in the attic. Not long after, one of the housekeepers brought in a bowl of spaghe
At the hospital, Willow stared at the dozens of missed calls flashing on her phone. Her eyes darkened slightly.Arthur had already told her that Ronald's project had blown up. He was bound to be furious, maybe even come looking for her. So, Arthur bought her a plane ticket. He told her to leave town for a while and let the storm pass. He would take care of everything and call her back when it was safe.Willow agreed without hesitation. A little vacation sounded good anyway.She left the hospital, headed straight to the airport, and flew to the Mardenes. That evening, she checked into a six-star hotel. While enjoying a quiet dinner, she heard a sudden commotion outside the room. When she opened the door and saw who was standing there, her heart stopped. It was Ronald.He let out a cold laugh before lunging forward, his hand tightening around her throat as he forced his way inside.Willow had no idea how she had been taken. Ronald knocked her out the moment he entered.When she
There was still no answer. "What's going on with Lo? Why won't she pick up her phone? Honey, is something wrong?"Before Carmen could say more, Ronald's hand shot out. He seized her phone and smashed it violently against the floor.Carmen shrieked in shock. "Honey, what happened?""It's all because of your perfect daughter!" he roared, slapping her hard across the face.Carmen stumbled backward, clutching her cheek as tears welled in her eyes. "What… What did I do? What are you talking about?""Willow, your precious daughter, teamed up with that bastard Arthur to screw me over! The project he handed to me was a damn scam. It just got shut down by the authorities. Do you even know how much money I've lost?" Ronald snapped."Arthur… scammed you?" Carmen was in disbelief."He said it was a prime piece of land with a great location, perfect for a wellness retreat, full of natural resources… and it turned out to be nothing but a fantasy!" Ronald was practically roaring at this point.