"Anything else?" Derek had a playful look on his face, but Emily didn't notice it at all."You have to announce that Rose isn't Aaron and Ian's biological mother. She must not exploit the Scott family for her own benefit.""OK. I'll talk to her about breaking off the engagement now," Derek immediately took out his phone to call Rose.Though Emily was the one who brought it up, she didn't expect Derek to act so quickly. She thought, 'Doesn't he need any preparation?I figure that as the head of a family, he would weigh his interests and be fully prepped before making the next move.'Rose, who was facing Laura and Ash's questioning, received Derek's call.She interrupted, "Stop talking. It's Derek. He wants to talk to me."She couldn't help but think, 'It's been a while since he last contacted me. I guess he's calling to tell me not to be fooled by the media's irresponsible reports.'She clutched her phone with both hands.In a calm tone th

Unlike the warmth in the Scott's, the atmosphere in the Hopkinson's was thick with tension.The servants had been kicked out, and the hall was a mess. The floor was covered with shards, and there were signs of violence everywhere."You good-for-nothings!" Ash puffed for breath. He had been indulging himself all these years. So he could barely stand still after venting his anger.Laura's well-preserved face became haggard. Her face mirrored the quality of her life. Now she looked older than her age."We haven't lost yet. I don't think that we can't take charge of the Hopkinson Group without the Scott Group. After all these years, the shareholders are in our control. Plus, we've got the will. How's anyone gonna compete with us?"Laura was the first to pull herself together, and her words stopped Ash and Rose from feeling down."Bennett could make the Hopkinson Group better, so can I." Ash always considered himself better than Bennett. It was because of th

Emily and Derek's wedding was like a grand firework, slowly settling down as people marveled at the spectacle. Although the pace of Emily and Derek's lives remained unchanged, it was perhaps the so-called spirit of commitment that bound them even more closely after the ceremony.So, when Derek showed up at the diner to sit side by side with Emily, there were moments when she felt like they had been together for decades."Emily, could you pass the ketchup for me?" Derek smiled, casting a doting look at Emily that momentarily left her feeling a bit woozy."Okay, sure." Emily, a little flustered, handed the ketchup to Derek."Why do I feel like you're in need of more exercise..." Derek teased, his eyes lingering on Emily as he took a bite of his croissant.Emily, fully aware of his implication, blushed and pretended not to hear him, hastily turning on the TV to divert attention."The latest news from this station: Serena, the eldest daughter of The Sanchez family, returned home today. He

Emily's eyes slowly opened to find Derek staring at her with an expression she couldn't place. Her head rested against Derek's chest."Does it hurt?" Derek asked, breaking the silence between them.Emily blushed. "No.""Good," Derek replied, then gazed at the ceiling. Emily expected Derek to leave soon. Instead, he lay next to her for a moment, then slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom.Curious about Derek's actions, Emily sat up. When the sound of running water came from the bathroom, Emily saw Derek walk back in. Totally confused, she wondered, "What was Derek doing?"But Emily didn't bother to ask. Derek picked her up and took her to the bathroom.He put her feet on the floor and joined her. The hot water felt soothing on Emily's skin. Though she didn't understand what was happening, she refrained from saying anything to avoid ruining the moment, letting Derek do as he pleased.Derek's hands brushed over Emily's skin with a wet rag and s

After tucking a couple of kids into bed, Emily and Derek returned to their room."Derek, I wanted to ask you how it went with Serena," Emily inquired after much deliberation.Derek gave Emily a teasing look. "Are you jealous, honey?"Emily looked away, a little embarrassed. "No, it's just..."However, Derek suddenly interrupted her. "Look, it's all in the past between Serena and me. You're the only one in my heart right now, so don't worry about it. Serena's return isn't going to have any effect on our lives, okay?"After saying that, Derek reached out and touched Emily's head.Hearing Derek's sincere tone, Emily's face couldn't help but turn red. "No, Derek, I'm feeling a little off. Listen to me; I saw you tonight before we met at the bar, and you were talking to Serena.""What?" Derek frowned at Emily's words."Yes, but the next second, you were gone, and then I walked over to talk to Serena for a moment, only for you to suddenly come out t