Chapter 251

Sasha pressed her lips together, the color slowly draining away.For the past few days, Winter had been unconscious. Sasha had not left her side for a single moment.Worried Blake might come searching for her, she had kept her phone turned off the entire time.Only today—after Winter's condition had finally stabilized—did she dare to turn it back on.Her silence had done nothing but stoke Blake's anger. He gritted his teeth, his voice quivering with fury. "Where the hell have you been these past few days?"Sasha bit her lip."Sassypants, you'd better start talking!" Blake roared."Being at Thomour Estate was suffocating. I only stepped out for a walk," Sasha said, waving it off as if it were nothing."So you just 'stepped out for a walk,' huh?" Blake shot back. "A walk that lasted days? What, did you wander all the way to Sibersky to see the woolly mammoths?"He clenched his teeth, practically itching to tear her apart. "Where are you right now?""Outside.""Sassypants, are

Chapter 252

Ezekiel had shoved the spoon too far into Winter's mouth.He wasn't inexperienced when it came to taking care of others. After all, he had practically raised Alistair on his own.But with Winter, he couldn't help feeling a little on edge, unsure of exactly how to act.Winter's tender lips brushed against his rough fingers. They seemed to cling to his fingertips before winding their way into his heart.A faint, almost imperceptible desire stirred in him.Winter couldn't hold it in and began coughing."Sorry, I went too deep." Ezekiel paused, his Adam's apple moving slightly.Winter's face reddened with each cough. She shook her head quickly. "It's okay…"Standing by the door, George's cheeks turned bright red. He couldn't believe he was overhearing their conversation for free."I've tried the dishes from The Sovereign Grill before, but this soup tastes a little different… Did you get a new chef?" Winter asked, savoring the fresh flavor lingering in her mouth.Ezekiel lowered h

Chapter 253

Joshua's expression remained cold and indifferent."A hairpin? What kind of hairpin is worth 220 million bucks?" Florence frowned in confusion. "What's the big deal about emeralds? It's just a stone, after all."From the time we got married until now, your grandfather has given me countless boxes of gold, silver, and emeralds."They're all just gathering dust in the storage room. Some are even antiques from the 17th and 18th centuries, yet not a single piece is worth 220 million dollars."Florence and Horace had a whirlwind romance in their youth. Born into a lineage of performers, Florence was the family's youngest daughter.Though she had been the least cherished, she blossomed into a vision of beauty. Her charm and wit were matched only by her talent and striking appearance.Horace and Florence first met at a prestigious wedding in Jeston. He was a groomsman, and she was a bridesmaid. The moment their eyes met, it felt as if fate had intertwined their lives forever.At the ti

Chapter 254

Florence continued, "Jessica wants the world to see that she's the one you cherish most. She wants them to know that her place as Mrs. Stroud is unquestionable!""Grandma, aren't you blowing this out of proportion?" Joshua frowned, disbelief darkening his expression. "You may dislike Jessica, but there's no reason to paint her as some kind of villain. It's only a hairpin—""Only a hairpin?" Florence staggered to her feet, her eyes blazing with fury. "If it had been anything else, I wouldn't have said a word. But of all things, it had to be a hairpin!"Do you even know what a hairpin represents? It's a token of love between husband and wife!"Joshua's expression stiffened. At the time, his mind had been consumed with anger toward Winter. Knowing Jessica liked the hairpin, he had given it to her without hesitation. He had been unaware of its deeper significance."In ancient times, when a man offered a hairpin to the woman he adored, it was a pledge to dedicate his entire life to her

Chapter 255

Jasmine hurriedly spun around and forced a smile. "Come on, Joshua. Who else would it be but Jessica?"Joshua turned to Evan, his voice sharp and cold. "Evan, can you get your wife to shut that damn mouth of hers?"Jasmine's heart skipped a beat.Evan smiled awkwardly. "I… I…""If you can't control her, then I'll handle it myself."As soon as the words escaped, Joshua raised his hand and pinched the corner of Jasmine's mouth.The force was brutal. It felt as though he were trying to wrench her face apart."Joshua… Stop, it hurts!" Jasmine winced sharply, tears springing to her eyes.When they were young, Joshua often pinched her cheeks too. But back then, his touch had been gentle, no more than a brother teasing his sister. His eyes had always been filled with affection.But now, there was not a trace of that warmth in Joshua's gaze. His dark eyes were heavy with hostility, as if they could freeze into shards of ice.Looking into Joshua's unreadable gaze, Evan felt his heart

Chapter 256

Suddenly, Sasha felt a chill run down her neck.As a professional bodyguard, she was always alert, every sense finely tuned to her surroundings.Her eyes snapped open. Faster than her mind could process, her hands shot out, gripping the man's shoulders in front of her.With a swift motion, she flipped him over, pinning him to the couch. Her hands closed around his neck like a vice.Now on top, Sasha got a clear view of the man's flushed face. Her breath caught."M-Mr. Thorne?""Damn it… let… go!" Blake gasped, nearly on the verge of passing out.Sasha released him instantly, but her hips were still pressed against his muscular torso.Blake seized the opportunity. Without a word, he flipped her over, pinning her beneath him.His left hand trapped her slender wrists high above her head, while his right hand clamped around her fair neck.His fingers tightened slowly. The lethal fire in his eyes seemed ready to burn Sasha's pale face."Sassypants… I've shown you plenty of mercy.