After a moment of silence, Levi replied, "You moron! Why didn't you tell me earlier? You're more trouble than you're worth. I ended up getting scolded by my dad. He even said that I'm trying to stir up internal conflicts!"Samantha laughed scornfully. "I wanted to tarnish Holly's reputation through you. I didn't expect you to be a paper tiger that's all bark and no bite as well."Levi pinched her plump bottom hard. "I'll show you who's all bark and no bite, bitch."Samantha asked warily, "What are you trying to do?"Lust clouded Levi's gaze as he flippantly replied, "Fuck you."Samantha became all hot and bothered by his teasing. "We shouldn't be doing that when we're not married yet."Levi mocked, "Why are you acting all pure when you've already had and aborted a child before? It's not even your first time with me."He then instructed his driver, "Go to the riverside."Samantha got a little scared. "Why are we going to the riverside?"Levi lifted his hand up and took a sniff.
After Levi sent her home, Samantha drank some cold remedy and took an hour-long hot shower. Only then did she regain her warmth.She lay on the bed, unable to sleep as a profound sense of emptiness befell her. The greater the satisfaction her body felt, the emptier she felt deep down.Humans were funny creatures. They wouldn't love something easily attainable and would only love something impossible or something they had lost.Bryce was someone Samantha had lost and couldn't get. The more unattainable he was, the more she missed him.After some contemplation, she took her phone and changed to a temporary SIM card. She then sent him a text message. "I still love you, Bryce."Bryce was currently in the shower. His phone was on the bedside table. Holly reached over for it and unlocked it with her birthday date. She was instantly disgusted upon glancing at the message.It didn't take Holly much to figure out that it was Samantha. There wasn't anyone else so despicable other than her.
Bryce got out of the shower and saw Holly sitting on the edge of the bed. She was holding his phone in her hands. He could feel that she was upset despite her stoic expression.He walked over to sit beside her and reached out to pinch her cheek. "What happened?" Holly returned his phone to him. "Look what your ex-girlfriend sent you."Bryce took it and glanced at his phone. He didn't find it strange, knowing that Samantha had always been cheesy.He replied without much expression, "Next time, don't reply to her and block her immediately. I'll block her every time she changes her number. I couldn't get rid of her no matter how I tried."Holly casually placed her arms on her lap. She asked nonchalantly, "Why did you like her back then?"Bryce replied, "It's not that I liked her that much. It's just that our families were friends. My dad and her father have been collaborating ever since they took up their family businesses."My mom and Aunt Queenie have always been close to each o
Holly hesitated. She didn't know what to do.Bryce calmly replied, "You should just go. I trust you. Nobody could take away what belongs to me."Holly smiled and replied, "Alright."…Holly, Yoel, and Abelin arrived at the reserved private room in the hotel on time the next day.Holly briefly introduced the two to each other.Abelin reached out to shake Yoel's hand. He was studying Yoel with a steely gaze. Yoel was also scrutinizing Abelin with the same, steely gaze.Holly had pre-ordered the dishes. They were served soon after all of them sat down. Holly was seated on Yoel's left, while Abelin sat on his right.As both Holly and Abelin were people of few words, Yoel was the one who livened up the atmosphere.No sooner than they started eating, Holly received a message on her phone. She glanced over and saw that it was from Bryce. His message read, "Is the food good?"Holly smiled before replying, "We're just at the Jardington Hotel and Restaurant. Their food is alright
Abelin went to the police station before he left the next morning. Yoel had already made arrangements in advance.Abelin got everything he needed to know about the case from the head of the criminal investigation department. He then took photos of the information before leaving.After leaving the police station, he made a call to arrange for two of his men to look for the Cott family's old household staff, who had resigned back then. He asked them to exercise due care not to expose themselves and alert their enemy. He also asked them to call him as soon as there were updates.Abelin wasn't free at the moment since Michelle was ill. He could only investigate personally after he took care of her.…Abelin suddenly got a call from Merope just as he was about to reach the airport. She asked, "When are you coming back?""I'm about to reach the airport now." He looked up, watching planes fly past above the far skies.Merope's hoarse voice sounded on the phone, "Your grandma wants to
Holly looked at her watch and asked, "How much longer before your flight?"Abelin replied, "I'm about to leave soon."He then looked at Bryce and said, "Protect her well."Bryce nodded. "All the best."Abelin looked at him with an intensive gaze. Suddenly, he walked over to Bryce and did something no one had expected—he hugged Bryce in a loose embrace.Bryce hesitated slightly. He instinctively recoiled from the hug. He wanted to push Abelin away, yet he gave up, worried that he might hurt Abelin's pride.Abelin whispered softly, "You saved my life in the plane crash previously. Just let me know if you need anything. I don't want to owe you favors."Bryce calmly replied, "You saved Holly's life, and I saved yours. We're even now.""No. Holly and you are different people. Just let me know if you need something. I'll stand by you no matter what," Abelin said before letting him go.He then walked away quickly and resolutely toward the boarding gate. It was as if he might be reluc
After a long while, Bryce said, "I've had someone investigate Whitney. She took a break from university back then because she fell ill, not because she was having a child."Yoel slowly clasped his hands together. His expression changed slightly. "Have you figured it out?"Bryce hummed and calmly replied, "Don't worry. I've already gotten someone to change Whitney's from gynecology to obstetrics. It'll seem more convincing that way."If someone were to investigate again, they'd find that she has had a child. No matter who looks into it, Holly will be the daughter of you two."Yoel's expression stiffened. He remained silent for the longest time. Various complicated thoughts and feelings flooded his mind. He didn't know how to respond to Bryce.Bryce calmly said, "Now that we're in the same boat, you don't have to hide it from me anymore."Yoel started smiling only then. "You're pretty smart, aren't you? It's all my fault for forgetting about the medical records."Bryce said, "The
The echoes of footsteps pulled Bryce out of his reverie. It was Linda Caroll, the nurse who took care of Queenie.Bryce handed the flowers over to her. "Please pass this to Aunt Queenie."He would visit her twice a month. Sometimes, he would pay for Queenie's medical bills, and other times, he would bring some daily necessities over. Linda was long associated with him. She took the flowers and smiled. "I'll thank you on her behalf, Mr. Gabelman."Bryce nodded slightly. Linda then opened the door and walked in.As the door crack grew wider, Yoel could now see Queenie's pale face clearly. Despite looking haggard, she still retained her looks from her youth.He played around with the jewelry box inside his pocket. The velvet edges of the jewelry box had turned white from countless touches. It bore the marks of aging.Kept within was a ring he bought many years ago.Since they were young, Yoel and Queenie had studied arts with a famous painter in Jardington. She was older than h