Category: Crises in Love Novel Full Episode (Zora and Jaylan)

Chapter 301

Sleep had completely abandoned me. I quickly got out of bed and freshened up.

Hannah had prepared breakfast for me, but I was too worried to eat. “Hannah, we need to go to the

police station,” I told her.

She seemed slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered, fetched my clothes for me while I changed

from my pajamas. We both headed out with swift strides.

The call was from the police. They said they’d found some traces of Evan and wanted me to come in.

When I asked for more details, they simply replied, “You’ll know when you get here.”

That kind of answer left my heart hanging in my throat. What could be so serious that they couldn’t tell

me over the phone?

Upon reaching the police station, I was escorted to their visitors’ room. I couldn’t help but ask

impatiently, “What’s so urgent? Do you have any news about Evan?”

The two officers exchanged a glance. One of them, a female officer, got us some water and kindly told

me, “Please be patient, Ms. Wilburn. Just a moment.”

She then left the room and returned shortly, carrying two items sealed in plastic bags.

The officer came up to me, placed the two bags in front of me, and said, “Ms. Wilburn, we’d like you to

help us identify these two items.”

My eyes were glued to the sealed bags. One of them contained a shoe.

To be precise, a boy’s shoe. Yes, it was clearly a boy’s shoe.

A chill ran down my spine. My heart pounded wildly in my chest. I then felt as if it was being squeezed

tight. Pain spread across my chest.

I didn’t want to guess what was going on, so I looked at the female officer and asked, “What…what are

you implying?”

She looked at me and explained gently, “Ms. Wilburn, please don’t misunderstand. We just want you to

help us identify if you’ve seen this shoe before.”

I looked back at the shoe. It was like a spell had been cast on it, making me nervous. I had to look at

the officer again. “You… What…” novelbin

I felt overwhelmed. My mind went blank, uncertain of how to respond.

The two officers exchanged another glance, as if understanding my reaction. They confessed, “We

suspect this is Evan’s shoe, but we aren’t completely sure. That’s why we asked you to come and

identify if you’ve ever seen him wear this shoe.”

I looked at Hannah, feeling helpless. Could my worst fears be coming true?

Hannah came up behind me, her hands resting on my shoulders, giving them a reassuring squeeze.

“We just need to identify it. Don’t worry.”

Her calm demeanor made me realize that Hannah probably knew about this before me.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Reaching out, I picked up the shoe. My hand trembled

slightly.

Truth be told, at that moment, I wanted to run away. I didn’t want to help them identify anything.

I didn’t want any of this to be happening, especially not at this moment. Deep down, I had a feeling that

this shoe was linked to Evan. I just didn’t want to face it.

The next second, I took the shoe and brought it in front of me.

Although specked with dirt, this was a style popular among young boys. Despite the grime, it was

evident that it was relatively new. The unfastened design was commonplace, nothing else about it

stood out considerably.

The officer saw me studying the shoe but didn’t say anything. She asked cautiously, “Ms. Wilburn, have

you seen this shoe before? Or has Evan worn something like this?”

After staring at the shoe for a while, I looked up at the officer and asked back, “Are you sure this is

Evan’s shoe? Where did you find it?”

Chapter 302

The officer glanced at the other officer, their eyes clearly communicating before she spoke. “We’re not

sure that this is Evan’s shoe, but given the style and condition of the shoe, it doesn’t seem like it would

belong to an average kid.”

Hearing this, I looked at the shoe again, my heart sinking even further.

The officer continued, “We have asked around and confirmed that this shoe is pretty pricey. And from

the condition of the shoe, it seems like they’re practically new. They shouldn’t have been discarded,

especially since we only found one of them!”

“Where did you find it?” I asked urgently.

“We found it on the outskirts of the west side of town, on the fringe of the borough. It’s a bit remote, and

the area is mostly inhabited by farming families. It doesn’t seem like their kids would wear such shoes!

And there’s something else…”

She then handed me another plastic bag and said, “We also found this.”

I took a look and felt like I had been struck by lightning. My heart turned ice-cold, but I kept my

composure as I examined the contents.

Inside the bag was a crumpled piece of paper, apparently soaked in rainwater, the writing barely visible.

The paper had clearly been torn and was only a quarter of its original size.

But coincidentally, I could vaguely make out the name ‘Evan’ and a series of numbers. I looked at the

officers across from me, my eyes full of questions. “What is this…?”

“Can’t you tell what it is?” The male officer asked.

I shook my head, feeling a sense of foreboding.

I tentatively asked, “Is this shoe directly related to this piece of paper? It looks like Evan’s name is on it,

but…”

Before I could finish, the officer, perhaps misinterpreting my words or simply in a hurry, said directly,

“We had it examined and it’s a DNA test report. Unfortunately, we can’t confirm the other person’s

name!”

As she spoke, the male officer gave her a look, seemingly unsatisfied.

But I was certain that this was the report that had been missing from Clara’s bag. I hesitated,

wondering whether to tell the police what I knew.

But once I did, the implications would be enormous.

Moreover, my plan for revenge was already in motion, a point of no return.

Just a step away from making Jaylan pay, from making the Dawson family pay. This was the dream I

had longed for ever since awakening from the nightmare.

I was torn between revealing the truth and staying silent. As I was wrestling with this decision, the

officer spoke again, “We only suspect that this might be Evan’s shoe because we found this piece of

paper. Given that you have seen the child, we asked you here to help us confirm if you’ve seen him

wearing the shoe.”

I looked at the officer and said honestly, “Actually, I am still quite unfamiliar with the child. I have only

seen him a few times when picking up my own children from school. I’ve only had close contact with

him once.”

The officer immediately asked, “Can you describe in detail how you came into contact with him?”

Without hesitation, I said, “One time Marissa didn’t come to pick him up from school. I was afraid he

might get anxious or lost, so I held his hand and handed him over to his teacher. The other times, I only

saw him from afar, so I really can’t be sure if the shoe is his.”

“Can you think carefully about the time you had close contact with him? Was he wearing the shoe?”

The officer was persistent. “Ms. Wilburn, confirming the shoe is very important to us. It might help us

find the child quickly.”

Chapter 303

I closed my eyes and thought back carefully to that time when I held him by his tiny hand and handed

him over to his teacher.

But for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what kind of shoes he was wearing.

I opened my eyes, shaking my head helplessly, “I have no idea. I didn’t pay any attention to his shoes.”

My words were reasonable. After all, who deliberately observed a child’s shoes?

The two officers looked at me with disappointment.

I continued to stare at the shoe in silence.

Though I couldn’t be certain it belonged to Evan, it felt oddly familiar.

I was familiar with the shoe, yet the image of it on his foot was blurred.

It was like seeing Evan again. He was so close, yet so out of reach.

I was suddenly reminded of the scene in the storm drain.

Just like now, he was near me, crouched in front of me, but I couldn’t touch him.

The officers shook their heads regretfully, ready to take the shoe and end the conversation.

At that moment, the image of Evan in the drain flashed in my mind again.

I reached out abruptly, holding onto the shoe, “Wait!”

The officers turned their gaze towards me.

I closed my eyes again, recalling the moment in the drain. He was crouching before me, and his eyes

locked onto mine, full of confusion and helplessness.

Following my train of thought, I looked at him and then moved my gaze to his shoes. At that moment, I

saw clearly that he was wearing this exact shoe.

I broke down, crying out, “Officer, this is Evan’s shoe. I’m sure this is Evan’s shoe. It’s Evan’s shoe.”

Tears streaming down my face, I pleaded desperately.

The police looked surprised, slightly skeptical, “Are you sure? Didn’t you say you have no idea?”

Nodding frantically, I choked out, “I’m sure. Evan was wearing this shoe.”

The female officer stood up, comforting me, “Ms. Wilburn, take your time and don’t stress yourself.

Please answer my question carefully.”

With great effort, I composed myself and nodded solemnly.

“Are you sure this shoe belongs to Evan?”

I nodded seriously, saying, “I’m sure. It is Evan’s shoe.”

She paused for a moment before asking, “How are you so sure?”

I wiped my face, looking at her hesitantly, wondering if they would believe my words.

The female officer encouraged me with a nod, “Tell us the truth, and don’t worry.” novelbin

I then recounted the scene when I was kidnapped, the blurry vision of Evan in front of me.

After listening to my story, the officers looked surprised. They glanced at each other before again

asking me, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” I said with utmost gravity.

Hannah, who had been standing behind me, also nodded to the police, affirming the credibility of my

words.

I asked, “Officer, have you found any trace of Evan? You said this shoe was found in the outskirts, but

what about him? Haven’t you seen him?”

My questions were urgent and my tone was a little harsh. I was desperate to know what had happened

to Evan.

Hannah put a hand on my shoulder, urging me to calm down, but I was already trying my best.

The female officer looked solemn and regretful, “I’m sorry, Ms. Wilburn. We only found this shoe, no

sign of Evan. We suspect that he may have been killed.”

Chapter 304

Hearing her words, I fell apart once again, tears gushing from my eyes like a broken dam, “So, you’re

saying that he…”

“About 30 feet from where the shoe was found, there’s a storm drain and it’s uncovered.” A officer said

seriously. His words were a sledgehammer to my already shattered hopes.

Suddenly, it all made sense. When I saw him at that night, he was soaking wet and covered in filth,

even his eyelashes were beaded with droplets of water.

It was unbelievable, and no wonder his hands were as cold as ice.

“How could this happen? He’s just a child, so young. His life had barely begun. How could this be?” I

sobbed uncontrollably, muttering to myself.

As a mother, I couldn’t face this reality. He was only missing, and why was he taken to the outskirts of

the city? Why was he dead?

That word “dead” at this moment was too painful for me to bear.

Hannah tried to comfort me.

Suddenly, a question occurred to me, and I choked out to the officers, “Why did you go there all of a

sudden and find this shoe? What led you there? Was there a clue? Can you tell me? I want to know.” I

looked at them almost pleadingly, waiting for their answers.

The female officer who had been communicating with me glanced at her partner, seemingly asking for

his approval. After a moment of thought, he nodded, and she spoke, “A local from the village on the

outskirts of the city reported it. He said he saw a man in a raincoat with a child on the night of the 20th.

It was pouring, and the child wasn’t wearing anything to keep himself dry, just clinging tightly to the

man’s neck, drenched like a drowned rat.

According to the local, he initially cursed the man for being irresponsible, wrapping himself up while novelbin

letting the child get soaked in the rain. But then he thought it was odd for someone to be out with a

child so late in this weather, so he reported it.”

The words tore at my heart, and what had happened to Evan?

The image of Evan crouched in the drain, looking at me, kept flashing in my mind.

“Did he see what the man looked like?” I asked through gritted teeth.

The female officer shook her head, “According to him, the man was fully covered in a raincoat. Plus, it

was late and dark, and the rain was heavy. He didn’t get a clear look at the man’s face. He did say that

the man was carrying a little boy, who obediently rested on his shoulder, clinging tightly to his neck.

And he was drenched in the rain.”

An intense pain twisted in my chest. I pounded the table in front of me, crying out, “How could this

happen? What kind of sick person would do this?”

“Ms. Wilburn, don’t be too upset. We’re still speculating. We haven’t confirmed that Evan was harmed.

We have people searching the drains in that area. Let’s hope for a turn of events.” The officer tried to

comfort me, clearly still holding out hope.

I cleaned my face and fell silent. But my mind was racing. The 20th?

Wasn’t that the night we had the celebratory dinner at Medsafe Liyah Inc., the night Clara said Evan

disappeared? Everything seemed to line up. But who could have taken Evan?

I looked up at the officers, testing the waters, “If Evan was clinging tightly to the man’s neck, it’s clear

that he knew him.”

“Ms. Wilburn, rest assured. We’re investigating,” the female officer assured me. She then added with

an apologetic smile, “Let’s call it a day. I’ll keep you updated if there’s any good news.”

I nodded, understanding that regardless of how many questions I asked, they wouldn’t say any more.

As we all rose to leave, the female officer courteously escorted us out. Just as we were about to step

out, two excited young detectives rushed in from outside. They called out to everyone in the station,

“We’ve got a lead. We finally have a lead.”

Chapter 305

I abruptly halted, my gaze following their figures as they moved into the main hall. I perked up my ears

to catch what the officer was saying.

“A driving recorder inside a sedan parked on the slope, and it recorded everything.” A young policeman

in a casual shirt excitedly announced, pulling out a USB stick from his pocket.

People in the hall immediately gathered around, obviously excited by the news.

I turned to the female officer who had brought us in, “Did you find a clue about Evan? Can I see it too?”

The officer hesitated, so I quickly pleaded, “Maybe I can help identify something.”

At this, she looked unsure, but I didn’t give her time to respond, “Don’t worry. I know your procedures

are confidential. I won’t say a word to anyone.”

Without waiting for her approval, I walked further into the room. I was desperate to see what was going

on.

The female officer called after me, and the male officer who had questioned me earlier, obviously a

leader, looked surprised. He quickly understood what was happening and waved the female officer off,

indicating she should let me stay.

Hannah and I walked over. The leader instructed the young officer who had arrived last, “Take it to the

conference room, and put it on the big screen.”

We all moved to a larger conference room. The young man plugged in the USB stick and turned on the

large television screen.

The screen flickered a few times before a dark scene appeared, and the sound of a steady rain was

audible in the background.

My nerves immediately tightened, and my eyes fixed on the screen. novelbin

The scene was dimly lit, showing a curve in the road, a gentle slope extending into the distance.

Sparse lights twinkled in the darkness. The rain was heavy, and no one was around. The gathered

rainwater rushed down the slope in a swift and relentless torrent.

I gripped my hands tightly, hardly daring to breathe, afraid to miss any detail.

This went on for what felt like a long time, and then, finally, a figure appeared, ghost-like as it moved up

the slope.

The image was blurry, perhaps due to the angle, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

The leader ordered, “Zoom in.”

The image was enhanced, and though the figure was cloaked in a large raincoat with a hat covering his

face, it was clear that he was carrying a child. Evan was wearing light-colored clothing, which stood out

against the darkness. His legs dangled down, clearly lying across the man’s shoulders with his face

buried into the man’s neck.

Rain pounded relentlessly on them, his small body exposed to the rain.

Tears blurred my vision, and I trembled involuntarily. I quickly cleaned my tears, afraid to miss anything.

The man kept looking back as he moved, observing his surroundings.

A wave of despair washed over me as I recognized Evan in the video. I regretted not confronting Zora

earlier to get Evan back.

Warm tears streamed down my face, and my heart ached.

The figure paused, looking around. Evan in his arms squirmed, straightening up, and looked at the

person. He struggled.

The man appeared to mutter something, and Evan struggled more, one shoe falling off.

I held my breath, my eyes glued to the screen.

The man seemed to become angry, slapping Evan’s bottom. Evan immediately stilled, and a faint cry

could be heard.

The man quickened his pace, then suddenly stopped and looked back the way he had come. He then

lowered Evan from his shoulders.

I was so nervous, a bitter taste filling my mouth. I tried to hold back my tears, keeping my gaze on the

screen.

But the next scene that unfolded left everyone in the room stunned.

Chapter 306

In the scene, Evan was struggling in the man’s grasp, looking up as though saying something, but his

words were drowned out. In the next instant, the man stretched out a ghastly hand, seizing Evan and

propelling him forward.

Evan vanished from the scene.

I let out a startled cry, “Help!”

Everyone turned to look at me, but the man in the footage continued his actions. He paused, seeming

to pull something from within his coat, brutally tearing it to shreds and then tossing it aside. Without a

backward glance, he followed the path he had come from, disappearing into the rainy night.

I understood then, what he had torn and discarded was likely the DNA test report. It was this document

that led to Evan’s demise.

I slumped into the chair, covering my face, trying to control my sobbing and prevent any sound from

escaping.

Hannah stood by my side, speechless, “Aaliyah, it’s reality. You should grieve.”

I abruptly lifted my head, “Who is he? This beast, utterly heartless.”

A police officer sighed, “He’s truly inhumane. How could anyone harm an innocent child? It seems like

Evan knew him because Evan clung onto his neck so tightly.”

“But why didn’t he spare Evan? He’s so young, and what threat could he pose?”

The chatter and conjectures continued.

The leader clapped his hands, “We need to scrutinize this footage and find any trace of this man.”

“We should start with people Evan knew.”

“Judging by the figure, strength, and movements, it’s undoubtedly a male.”

The leader instructed the officer in the plaid shirt, “Play it again.”

The officer immediately complied, playing the footage once more.

Hannah whispered soothing words in my ear, “Aaliyah, why don’t we go back?”

“No,” I shook my head determinedly, “I want to watch it again.”

I wiped my face and moved to the front, my eyes fixed on the screen.

The shadow reappeared in my vision. This time, the footage wasn’t zoomed in, and I focused intently

on the person in the scene.

Honestly, there wasn’t a single glimpse of his face. It was as though under that hood was nothing but

darkness.

Even his movements were concealed by the oversized raincoat he wore.

I clenched my fist, my fingernails digging into my palm, but I didn’t feel any pain.

This time, with the scene not zoomed in, we could clearly see Evan being propelled into a dark

whirlpool by the ghostly man.

Everyone present knew that was a storm drain. It devoured Evan like a gaping mouth.

I felt as though my heart was being torn into pieces, the pain radiating throughout my body.

“He’s too cunning, not a single flaw.”

“There’s no such thing as no flaws. Even the most meticulous disguise leaves traces. If you say there’s

no flaw, it means we’re not trying hard enough. Keep going.” the leader ordered again.

After watching the footage several times, each time felt like torture.

I didn’t know how Marissa would react if she were alive and saw this.

After the footage played again, I asked the officer in the plaid shirt, “Could you play the part where he

walks away again, but zoomed in?” novelbin

The officer immediately did as I asked. I stared at the screen and murmured, “He looks like Jerome.”

My comment sparked a discussion among them, with some voicing their dissent.

“But he has an alibi,” one of them interjected. “He was at the Medsafe Liyah Inc. celebration that night.”

I immediately turned to the officer, “No, he left at one point.”

Then I recounted the events I had noticed that night.

The leader immediately dispatched someone, “Check all possible overlooked surveillance footage from

Medsafe Liyah Inc. that night, anything that can prove he left or stayed, find any overlooked evidence.”

I didn’t pay any attention to their arrangements and continued to watch the footage with a calm face.

My tears had dried up, making my face feel tight and uncomfortable, but I ignored it.

I was still looking for any clues that could prove this man was Jerome.

Suddenly, my eyes fixed on a point, and I called out, “Stop!”

Chapter 307

I quickly motioned to stop the video, pointing at a particular spot on the screen, “Zoom in. Right here.”

The young officer complied immediately, patiently enlarging the image as per my instruction.

I stared at the image, then turned to the other officers in the room, “Can you see what shoes he’s

wearing?”

The remaining officers in the room turned their attention to the image, scrutinizing it carefully. The

conference room was silent, and every eye was glued to the screen.

“It looks like canvas shoes.” Hannah, standing behind me, mused aloud.

Another officer agreed, “It certainly looks like a pair of canvas shoes.”

I slammed my hand on the table, “Exactly! Those are the shoes. Jerome’s particularly fond of these

shoes now. “

The room buzzed with renewed energy, everyone straining to confirm the suspect’s shoes.

The image was zoomed to its maximum. One officer, squinting from the back of the room, called out,

“Yes, those are the shoes.”

“And I noticed that, despite the oversized raincoat, the way he walks, it’s eerily similar to Jerome’s,” I

added.

The leader seemed pleased, extending a hand to me, “Thank you, Ms. Wilburn. You’ve saved us a lot

of time. Now we know who to focus our investigation on.”

Eagerly, I asked, “Now that we have this evidence, shouldn’t we arrest him?”

“We need solid evidence. If we can prove he left the celebration early and found Evan. We can arrest

him. ” the officer replied, his voice revealing a hint of compassion.

I understood what he meant. He was suggesting that we need to find Evan’s dead body.

It seemed no one wanted to face that harsh reality.

As I was about to leave, he handed me a business card. His name was Dalton, the leader of the

criminal police group.

He courteously walked me to the door, and I turned to him, “If you find Evan…”

I paused, then forced out the words, “Could you let me know? I’d like to see him one more time.”

Dalton nodded, “Okay. Wait for my news. We’ll do our best to find him.”

I thanked him and left with Hannah.

Once in the car, I told Hannah, “Let’s go home.”

I leaned back in my seat, feeling defeated. Even if they found him, it wouldn’t bring back the sweet,

smiling baby boy.

Hannah tried to comfort me, and I murmured, “Zora and Clara are responsible for Evan’s death. I won’t

let them get away with it.”

“Yes, if Zora hadn’t taken Evan… If Clara hadn’t forged the DNA report… If Zora hadn’t used the

report… But there are no ‘ifs’ in this world… Don’t even think about it. Just think of it as him coming to

earth to experience a short life. It was his fate,” Hannah replied.

Her words left me speechless, and I could only whisper, “Such a shame…”

I was struggling to accept the fact that Evan was gone. novelbin

“Aaliyah, do you think that man is Jerome?” Hannah asked while she was driving the car and glancing

at me, “That would mean Zora or Clara must be involved with Jerome.”

“At the very least, it confirms that Zora is connected to Jerome. Otherwise, the report wouldn’t have

ended up in Jerome’s hands. I suspect Zora gave the fake report to Jerome, which led to his

murderous intent,” I speculated.

“That jerk Jerome is so cruel. Now, he’s killed his son. I’d love to see his face when he finds out!”

Hannah spat angrily.

“Punishing him shouldn’t involve taking a child’s life. It’s too heavy a price,” I sighed, “There’s no more

sweet and angelic Evan in the world.”

Chapter 296

As soon as Jaylan found a topic that piqued my interest, he immediately became animated. “It’s

officially confirmed,” he said enthusiastically, “that the property manager was bribed. He let Marissa

and those reporters into the community to stir things up. He admitted it himself.”

“I knew it,” I scoffed, “He’s a rotten apple. Those people found our house so accurately. It had to have

been an inside job. How else could so many strangers have gotten in?”

“You’ve got such a sharp mind, honey!” Jaylan said, grinning and tightening his arm around me.

I struggled a bit, “Watch it, this is a hospital, not our living room!”

Laughing mischievously, he said, “Well, let’s save the cuddling for when we’re back home!”

I almost gagged. Did he really think he was off the hook? I rolled my eyes, wishing I could spit at him.

Seeing my cold expression, he quickly changed the subject. “Marissa was just playing the victim,

manipulating public opinion. She wanted people to think that you were the villain who took her child

away. Oh… and the person who smashed our window? That was also related to the property manager.

The authorities have released a statement saying the case is under investigation.”

“No wonder,” I muttered in agreement, feeling a surge of satisfaction. I had known all along that the

manager couldn’t be innocent. His arrest signaled that things were turning around.

“And now the internet trolls have flipped again, starting to blame Marissa!”

“Do you feel bad for her?” I shot back.

“Heavens no, she got what she deserved! She was nothing but trouble!” Jaylan spat out bitterly.

Internally, I scoffed at him. Men’s hearts, as fickle as the changing winds.

“Don’t you dare mention her in front of me again!” I declared, ice in my voice.

“Alright! Won’t happen again!” Jaylan responded quickly.

Back in the hospital room, I took a shower. Once I had a moment of quiet, shadows began to creep into

my mind, casting an uncomfortable pallor over my entire being. I could not seem to shake the memory

of that dirty sewer where I was held captive and the feeling of filth crawling over my skin.

A scrape on my arm throbbed with pain. It was red and swollen, a ghastly sight.

I couldn’t help but wonder, if Marissa’s death was a murder, then who would’ve orchestrated my

abduction?

Probably hearing that the shower had stopped, Jaylan called out from outside.

Pulling my thoughts back, I got dressed, opened the door, and stepped out.

Once out of the bathroom, Jaylan was fussing over me, drying my hair and buzzing around me like.

Giving in, I quickly lay down and told him, “You should head home! Don’t stay here. It’ll disturb your rest

and mine!”

He looked at me with deep concern, saying, “But I’m worried about you!”

“I’m in a hospital, what’s there to worry about? If I’m discharged, it won’t be until tomorrow anyway. Go

home!” I said, my tone unintentionally hardened.

Finally, he murmured, “Alright, you sleep. I’ll come see you once I’m done with work tomorrow.”

“I’m going home tomorrow, so don’t bother running around.” I quickly rejected him, “You should focus

on your work. You are busy, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes! But I can’t neglect you! Or else, how could something like this happen?” Jaylan looked

genuinely remorseful.

“Crap! Didn’t I get drugged at home too?” I shot back, “You see me lying there, but you don’t bother to

find out what happened exactly?”

“I…” Jaylan was at a loss for words.

I gave him a disdainful side glance. “Get your affairs in order and report to me. I want to clean up.”

I decided to put my cards on the table, done with beating around the bush, and wanted to see how he

would handle this situation.

Chapter 297

I watched as he stared at me in silence, then decided to hit him where it hurt. “You don’t need to feel

aggrieved. Do as you wish. I have no objections! But if you want to continue as the CEO of Medsafe

Liyah Inc., you’ll need to keep your nose clean. No more scandals. No more stirring up a storm.”

“I won’t!” Jaylan immediately promised. novelbin

I coldly retorted, “You’re not afraid of losing face, but Medsafe Liyah Inc. is. Don’t think that signing

international contracts will solve everything. No conglomerate would want to collaborate with a

company that’s constantly involved in scandals. Being globally renowned conglomerates, their leaders

are anything but ordinary. You’d better be honest and straightforward in your dealings, not resorting to

cunning.”

He nodded repeatedly, seeming genuinely submissive.

I continued, seizing the opportunity, “You should focus on the company’s affairs! There’s no point to

constantly buy more properties. Don’t play the game of having multiple hideouts with me!”

“Honey, I’m not! I just wanted to keep a few more…”

“Cut the crap! Keep a few more for what? For your secret dating?” I bluntly rebutted, then brought the

topic back, looking at him and asking, “Have you lost your mind investing in real estate at this point?”

“Property values have plateaued and prices are on a downward spiral. The golden era for property

speculation has passed. Are you sinking money into properties to hemorrhage it?” My words were

sharp, but they were undeniable truths, leaving him no room for argument.

Seeing him silently taking my reprimands, I went on, “You have such a large corporation in Medsafe

Liyah Inc., and now there’s an international order. Isn’t that enough for you to make a profit? Besides,

isn’t our villa big enough? If you think it’s not, you can sell off those insignificant properties and buy a

bigger one.”

“I’ll do whatever you want, okay?” Jaylan reached for my hand, caressing it, which irritated me.

I snapped, “But the thought of those properties just reminds me of unpleasant things. Don’t try to play

any tricks. I don’t tolerate that. Since I’ve decided to leave you a way out, you’d better behave and fulfill

your role as the CEO of Medsafe Liyah Inc. If you don’t want to, let me know in advance. Don’t make it

hard for yourself!”

“Honey, rest assured. I’ve learned my lesson this time, and I’ll never disappoint you again!” Jaylan’s

words, I must say, were less than convincing.

“That’s enough! I’m tired!” I withdrew my hand, stretched lazily, and yawned.

Jaylan immediately stood up. “Then you better get some sleep! It is getting pretty late, and since you

don’t want me to stay here, I’ll take my leave!”

“Mm-hmm,” I responded indifferently. But he didn’t leave immediately.

I glanced at him and asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Oh, right! When you’re feeling better, we need to go back to Silverdale City!” Jaylan cautiously brought

up the subject.

Casting a glance his way, I noticed his fists clench nervously, revealing his eagerness to return

“Mm-hmm, we’ll talk about it when I get home!” I closed my eyes again and lazily said, “I do miss Carl!”

Jaylan’s voice immediately brightened. “Yes, I miss Carl too! Okay, honey, I’ll go now. Have a good rest!

I’ll pick you up tomorrow!”

I didn’t respond, pretending to be asleep. I didn’t want to talk to him anymore, just hoping he’d leave

soon. Seeing me silent, he stood by my bed for a while before turning and instructing Hannah, “Take

good care of her, and let me know if anything happens!”

Then I heard the sound of his footsteps leaving.

I suddenly opened my eyes and said to Hannah, “Have someone follow him See where he goes.”

Chapter 298

Hannah flashed me an ‘okay’ sign and immediately sent off a text.

I hurriedly got up and went to the bathroom to wash my hand that Jaylan touched, then pointed outside.

Hannah stepped out, and in no time, she returned and replied, “He’s left the hospital. There’s someone

following him, so you can relax!”

I sat back down on the bed with relief, picking up my phone to check the trending topics. Just as Jaylan

had said, there had been a shocking reversal online. The internet mob that had been going after me for

days had finally shifted direction.

The web was now rife with speculation about Marissa’s real cause of death.

There were those clever enough to steer the conversation, saying that if Marissa could frame and harm

me, it meant she must’ve known about the child’s whereabouts. Framing me, the wife, had been her

own downfall.

How about that now?

The netizens were utterly rational this time, presenting logical arguments, listing Marissa’s countless

transgressions, naturally exonerating me from the situation. Some attentive individuals also outlined my

whereabouts, showing that I was nowhere near Goldenvale Town when the child went missing.

Were there any doubts remaining? This could confirm my alibi, clearing me of all suspicion, even faster

than the police could.

I put down my phone, my eyes fixated on the ceiling, a tad irate. These netizens were really something,

always ready to condemn someone, without a single soul genuinely concerned about the child.

I sighed. People could be so unpredictable!

Seeing me silent, Hannah walked over and asked, “Miss Wilburn, you’re still awake? What’s on your

mind?”

I took my eyes off the ceiling and said to Hannah, “I wonder who could have kidnapped me? Could it be

the same group that killed Marissa?”

Hannah chuckled, “Don’t overthink it. Sooner or later, it’ll all be clear. The driver might be dead, but

there must be traces of him, which will eventually lead us to his hideout.”

“But don’t you find it strange? The driver is dead, and Bald’s whereabouts are unknown. Who could be

so meticulous? Aside from Jerome, I can’t think of anyone else who would target me. All these years,

I’ve been minding my own business. I haven’t offended anyone, so how did I attract so much trouble?”

Hannah comforted me, “Life is unpredictable! As they say, ‘the best-laid plans often go awry.'”

I broke into a grin at her words, “You’re right! I keep thinking about the AzureEnchantress that Marissa

mentioned during her last call to me. It has to be the same AzureEnchantress from Jaylan’s phone. But

who is this AzureEnchantress? Marissa must’ve known something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have

mentioned this person. Maybe she was killed because she knew too much!”

Hannah calmly said, “That woman wasn’t really smart! If she had stayed out of trouble, she might’ve novelbin

had a chance for a better future. But she chose the wrong path.”

I looked at Hannah, my thoughts whirling, murmuring, “How can we find out more about this

AzureEnchantress?”

“Logan and his team are also tracking this person but…” Hannah shook her head helplessly, “No luck

so far.”

“I just don’t understand how Jaylan could’ve gotten in touch with such a mysterious figure. And from

what Marissa implied in her last call to me, it seemed like she was certain that this person would take

care of me!” I sighed, “Marissa really left too soon!”

Hannah confidently stated, “Her death was no coincidence!”

“What about the child? I mean, Evan! Was he relocated by Zora, or was he stolen? Could Clara have

been used?” I asked Hannah, puzzled.

“That’s entirely possible.” Hannah nodded in affirmation.

The more we talked, the more excited we became, yet we couldn’t find a single lead.

After talking with Hannah a bit more, just as I was about to sleep, Hannah received a phone call. After

hanging up, she frowned and shared some news with me…

Chapter 299

I looked at her curiously and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Jaylan didn’t go home after leaving the hospital. Instead, he went to a private residence. We’ve

confirmed that Jerome is there!” Hannah said, looking serious as she spoke to me.

I was startled, bolting upright from my bed. “What? He went to see Jerome?”

Hannah nodded solemnly. “Yes, he went to see Jerome.”

I found it hard to believe, muttering, “That’s impossible… Why would he go see Jerome? Didn’t they

have a falling out? Why would he go see him in the middle of the night?”

I looked at Hannah and said, “This doesn’t add up.”

Hannah agreed, “It certainly doesn’t, especially at this hour. It’s very telling.”

I started to feel worried. “Could their feud have been fake? That would be terrifying!”

The more I thought about it, the more it scared me. If that was the case, it meant they had a sinister

plan, and I was undoubtedly their target.

I immediately dialed Logan’s number, and he answered it quickly. His deep voice came through, “Hello,

darling.”

Hearing his voice was immensely reassuring. I wasn’t sure when, but Logan had somehow become a

pillar of support for me.

I didn’t beat around the bush. “Logan, I need to ask you something. Can you still eavesdrop on Jaylan

like you did before?”

He quickly responded, “The bug I used was basic, with a low battery life to avoid detection. It’s not

working anymore. What’s up? Why do you want to spy on him?”

I sighed in frustration. “I’m in a bit of a situation.” Then I explained how Jaylan had met with me and

then immediately went to see Jerome.

He paused for a moment before responding, “If it’s necessary, we can plant another bug.”

“I need to know why Jaylan went to see Jerome. That’s pretty scary if they’re playing me,” I said,

struggling to keep my composure. The whole situation sent chills down my spine.

“Don’t worry, Allie. You stick to your plan, and we’ll handle the rest. Even if they’re putting on a show,

we’ll break it,” Logan assured me confidently.

“Really?” I asked, excited.

He responded lazily, “What else? We can’t let them string us along, can we? You’re smart. You’ll be

fine. You got this!”

His words made me laugh, and I suddenly felt a little more at ease. “You’re such a joker! Kidnappings

are becoming routine for us, so how can I be calm? And ‘got this’? I’m the one being played!”

“No way, this was just a fluke. It won’t happen again,” Logan reassured me, “No matter what happens, novelbin

don’t panic. Stay calm. Remember when you gave me the Tylenol? You handled that perfectly.”

His words made me burst out laughing. That memory was still fresh.

“You’re grossing me out again?” I said, laughing so hard that I was crying. “There’s one more thing!”

“Even if there were a dozen more, they’d be nothing. Go ahead.”

I smiled, feeling warm. I then told Logan about my encounter with Janetta today, and how Catherine

and I managed to get information out of Olivia.

He listened without interrupting. Once I was finished, he chuckled, “You women are something. You

can get top-secret information as easily as picking up a burger at a drive-thru. I’m impressed!”

His praise made me feel even more proud. “Right?”

“With your brains and Catherine’s gift of gab, you two could con anyone!” Logan knew us too well. “You

two should team up. You could make a killing. We’re talking seven figures!”

“Really? Then Catherine and I won’t starve in the future!” I joked.

“No way, my cousin and I won’t let you two starve! We’ve got enough to get by,” Logan’s words were a

little cryptic.

“What do you mean?” I asked, instantly wishing I hadn’t. Did he mean that Ronan would take good

care of me for a lifetime? A swift blush spread across my face.

Chapter 300

Sure enough, Logan seized the moment to continue his banter, “You can’t crack it? You are kidding,

right?”

“I can fend for myself and I won’t starve!” I retorted stubbornly.

“True, you won’t starve, but you’re bound to cause some trouble!” Logan exaggerated.

Despite Logan’s chatty nature, I had to admit, his words always brought me a sense of security.

“What are you talking about? If they didn’t harm us, we wouldn’t have to cause trouble. We specialize in

uncovering secrets!” I laughed proudly, my words confident and bold.

In the end, he generously claimed, “I’ll handle this task for Janice, so just relax! Better catch some

sleep. Staying up late won’t do your beauty any good!”

After hanging up, my worries from earlier vanished. Logan was right. Fear gets me nowhere. I have to

tackle problems as they come. Respond to changes on the spot. That’s all.

I cheerfully said to Hannah, “Hannah, let’s get some sleep! Tomorrow is a new day! I, Aaliyah, won’t be

defeated! At this point, there’s no use being scared! The priority is to get a good night’s sleep to have

the energy to deal with those two. Otherwise, sleep deprivation will cause brain hypoxia, dulling our

senses!”

My words successfully amused Hannah. She exaggeratedly said, “Oh, give me a break! Allie, are your

senses dull? I was totally stunned by your sharp comments on Dawslug earlier! You were hitting hard,

and from where I was watching, Jaylan’s face was beet red!”

“Did he expect anything less when he turned my world into endless prairies? Making him embarrassed

was the least I could do. What more does he want?” I snorted dismissively, continuing my bold stance,

“Is it easy to be the president of Medsafe Liyah Inc.? If he wants to keep a clean image outside, he has

to get down on his knees at home. It’s not me being unreasonable, it’s just that I’ve been too lenient

with him before. He’s forgotten his place!”

“Absolutely, this man is totally ungrateful!” Hannah chimed in, “But his grovelling today made me

instantly sick of him!”

“I know how you feel,” I glanced at Hannah’s focused gaze and sighed, “To be honest, I was totally

fooled by him before. I noticed his flaws, but I always thought that since he came from a poor

background and wasn’t exposed to the larger world, these faults were normal!”

“He’s definitely an exception! I must say, he must have had his merits to be able to marry you!” Hannah

analyzed.

“You’re right. His merits were precisely his ability to bend, plus his sweet-talking mouth. He may not

have been able to offer any substantial gifts, but he was willing to bend his knees! So he was always

attentive and considerate.”

I analyzed my past self, “Imagine, he took me as a pursuit, putting all his heart into it, could he possibly

fail? That’s how I ended up in his trap.”

Hannah pondered, listening attentively.

“I always foolishly thought that as long as I created opportunities for him, with his intelligence and

insight, he would quickly get rid of his petty greediness. But instead, he became even more vulgar and

his actions became bolder. A complete lowbred upstart!”

Hannah burst into laughter, “Speaking of that trait, your mother-in-law is the best example!”

Her words successfully made me laugh, “See, you’ve only met her twice and you’ve already seen

through her!”

Hannah added, “Jaylan is too soft-kneed and he lacks courage. He doesn’t deserve you, Miss

Wilburn!”

I smiled bitterly, “Thant’s for sure.”

Hannah looked at me, wanting to say something but hesitating. She just gave a dry laugh.

“Just say it!” I encouraged her.

“Well… I wanted to ask you, our ‘boss’ is so deeply in love with you, but how did you end up with

Jaylan?” Hannah finally asked the question she wanted to ask.

I fell silent, a wave of bitterness washing over me.

I glanced at her and replied, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you when we have more time. Let’s sleep now.”

Without a word, Hannah turned off the light and went to bed.

I found the most comfortable position and fell asleep almost instantly.

The next day.

A series of urgent phone rings pulled me from my dreams, but when I answered the call, a sense of novelbin

foreboding overwhelmed me.

Chapter 286

Jaylan pleaded with me, his eyes full of desperation. “But, babe, if you really call the cops, I’m done for!

Our family will crumble, our kids will become the talk of the town, and our business will be under

someone else’s control! My brother has been waiting for this to happen and I can’t just hand over our

business to him. Honey, I made a huge mistake, I messed up big time!”

I suddenly raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

“You should have thought about the consequences! I trusted you, supported you, and even praised you

to others, giving you opportunities to rise to prominence. And what did you do? Not only did you cheat

on me, but you also drugged me with the help of a nanny!”

“Honey, that drug was provided by Jerome, he…he said it was just a kind of sedative that would help

you to rest…”

I gave him another slap, “What a great husband you are, you just listen to anyone, even when they are

harming your wife, right? What about all those promises of love? You pursued me relentlessly, always

coming up with new ways to win me over, was it all just for my business? Uh…how foolish I’ve been,

blinded by love, believing your lies!”

“Honey, that’s not fair! I really do love you. From the first time you came into the salon and I did your

hair, I fell for you. I…”

“Shut up!” I kicked him, “Tell me, why did Jerome want you to drug me?”

“I…I didn’t think too much about it at the time. After all, he’s my older brother and seemed to be

genuinely caring about me, saying the drug was soothing, but not to use too much, just a drop each

time, saying health issues can be healed with rest. So I let her…”

He pointed at Zora, “I told her to add just one drop each time she made your tea, to help you rest and

recover!”

“I ended up being a walking corpse in her eyes!” I laughed in anger.

He sure could talk his way out of anything, treating me like a fool! Now he was pushing the blame onto

Jerome, like a weasel!

So, he’s claiming he’s an innocent victim, with no responsibility at all. But I didn’t have the energy to

spar with him verbally. I decided to let him talk his silver-tongued way out of it, this time.

“Babe, everything I’ve said is true, I didn’t lie, I really didn’t know that the drug could harm you. And I

certainly didn’t know that this witch would secretly harm you!”

Seeing his earnest expression, I was about to explode with anger. I really wanted to ask about those

insurance policies. But I reminded myself, it’s not the time yet.

“Why does Jerome want to do this to me? What’s his motive?” I stared at Jaylan and pressed him for

answers. Although I couldn’t fully trust his words, I wanted to hear his explanation.

“He…” He hesitated.

I immediately followed up, “Are you still trying to deceive me?”

“No…I’m not sure.” Jaylan paused, and continued, “He seems to be part of some organization. Jerome

has always been ambitious, and seeing my success with your support, becoming the boss of a big

company like Medsafe Liyah Inc., he’s probably jealous.”

I listened quietly, and indeed, Jaylan’s assessment wasn’t wrong. He knew the Dawsons well.

Jaylan added with a sneer, “He dreams of becoming the leader of that organization, only then can he

be the revered figure in the eyes of the Dawson family, and everyone else.”

This was indeed Jerome’s mentality; he always wanted to dominate the top position, even within the

Dawson family.

As I was pondering Jaylan’s words, he continued, “But running that organization is like bleeding money,

so he always wanted to drag me along, saying that united we stand, divided we fall. Once successful, it

would be the Dawson family’s world, and…and we wouldn’t have to live in your overbearing shadow,

being trampled under your high and mighty demeanor!”

I scoffed at his words and asked indifferently, “Your older brother had the right idea, so why didn’t you

go along with it?”

“Honey, I realize my mistake, I knew it wasn’t the right path. I’m not that stupid. Why would I give up

being the CEO of Medsafe Liyah Inc. to join in his nonsense?” Jaylan looked remorseful, his words

sounding so sincere, “Now I see things more clearly. He dares to seduce my woman, there’s nothing he

wouldn’t do.”

“Huh…you’re something else, your woman?. You sure have a lot of women!” I sneered dismissively.

Chapter 287

Jaylan quickly sought to reassure me, “Don’t be mad. Marissa is gone. I’m not going to mess up like

before.” novelbin

I pointed arrogantly at Zora and asked him, “And what about her?”

Without hesitation, Jaylan said firmly, “I’ll make her leave, completely out of your sight!”

I sneered inwardly, “Leave? Don’t even think about it, my revenge hasn’t been served yet! She cannot

go anywhere, and especially not out of my sight.”

I didn’t rush to make a statement. Instead, I asked, “Do you know much about the organization your

brother is involved in?”

“That organi…” Jaylan cut himself off abruptly, glancing at me before changing his tune, “I don’t know

much about it. He never tells me about it, only that it always requires money!”

I saw through his cunning, but didn’t expose him.

“So, you’ve become his bank, then?” I sneered coldly. “I can’t believe my beloved Medsafe Liyah Inc.

has become the Dawson family’s piggy bank! You take what you want without any regard. My initial

intention for Medsafe Liyah Inc. was not only to realize my own value but also to improve the quality of

life for my family, including the Dawsons. How did I become the one who trample you in a high and

mighty demeanor as you claimed? So, I am expected to bow down like Camilla, while you spend my

money?”

Mentioning Camilla reminded me of Fidelia’s situation.

“Darling, don’t think about unpleasant things!” Jaylan crawled over to me, took my hand and looked at

me with affectionate eyes, in a way that was truly revolting.

I composed myself, eager to end the current discomfort and no longer share a room with him. “If you’re

so determined to make amends, let me see your sincerity!”

Zora’s face turned pale in an instant. She looked at Jaylan incredulously, her lips twitching, “What…

what do you want?”

Jaylan turned to her, his eyes filled with menace. “What do you think? Will you leave on your own, or

should I force you? Zora, know your place. You don’t stand a chance!”

I watched the scene unfold with a cold heart. This man was truly ruthless! In the face of interests, he

was always clear-headed.

Zora’s eyes were filled with malice, but she turned to me and smiled. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as

she said ominously, “Aaliyah, don’t get too comfortable. I’ll make sure you never have it easy in

lifetime!”

Without any hesitation, she turned around and left, showing a surprising amount of grace.

As I pondered her words, I had to admit that they were harsh.

But what could possibly make me never have it easy in lifetime? Her words were indeed ruthless!

As Zora disappeared from our sight, Jaylan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to me, his face

full of concern, “Darling, let’s go home. You’re still recovering, you must be tired after being out so

long.”

He knelt before me, his handsome face full of concern. But in my eyes, his face was as revolting as a

pile of manure.

I said indifferently, “Now that everything has been said, you should know what I’m thinking, Jaylan. Just

because I don’t say it doesn’t mean I don’t know it. You better be careful. You should know what to do

next. I don’t want to waste my breath.

As for the people and things outside, you handle them. Don’t let there be any more drama that makes

us the laughing stock and sets a bad example for our children. As parents, it’s our duty to ensure they

grow up happily. Don’t let their start in life be affected because of us.”

Speaking of this, I suddenly laughed. Of course, my children wouldn’t lose at the starting line. They had

already started their journey, and they had the best and most clear-headed grandparents in the world.

All this talk was merely to put Jaylan at ease for a moment. The real reckoning was to come next. I

couldn’t alert him this soon! So I continued, “Forgiving you doesn’t mean I still love you. I’m doing this

for our three children. You’ve truly disappointed me! I also have self-respect, and you’ve truly slapped

my face!”

“Darling, I’ll cherish this chance to make things right. Trust me. I won’t disappoint you this time. Give

me another chance to love you properly!” His tone was gentle and he was kneeling, which was quite

touching. Anyone who didn’t know the truth would be envious!

I looked at him briefly, said nothing, turned to Hannah and instructed her, “Can you help me list this

place and the suite where Marissa used to live? Sell them off! I don’t want them weighing on my heart!

Let’s go back to the hospital!”

Chapter 288

Jaylan broke into a radiant smile, “Alright, let’s head back to the hospital! I’ll accompany you.”

As I stood up, a wave of dizziness hit me, probably from standing up too quickly. Jaylan was quick to

catch me, concern filling his eyes as he suggested, “You’re feeling dizzy, aren’t you? You’ve been

sitting for too long. How about you lie down and rest a bit before we head back?”

His gaze was filled with concern, his tone incredibly tender.

I slowly opened my eyes, turned to look at him, and said firmly, “We’re going back to the hospital. I

can’t stand the filth here..”

His face twitched slightly at my words, but I chose to ignore his reaction.

Turning around, I headed for the exit with Jaylan following closely behind, like a faithful companion,

taking care to protect me.

In the car, I didn’t feel like speaking to him, choosing to remain quiet, my eyes shut as I leaned back

into the seat. I was contemplating the strange encounter with the two sisters, something about it didn’t

feel right. Zora didn’t know where the child was, and that was incomprehensible.

Since Clara’s report was taken by Zora, it was crucial to know where the report was now. But who

could she have given this report to?

Suddenly, an image of Jerome flashed in my mind. His gloomy face and sinister eyes stared back at

me, and it sent chills down my spine. I gasped and opened my eyes.

Jaylan, who was seated next to me, immediately put his arm around me, asking with concern, “Are you

okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

I let out a breath, leaning back into my seat and murmured, “Just had a dream.”

“You see, I told you, you’re just tired. You fell asleep so quickly. You really need to rest more,” he

chattered away like a buzzing bee, it was extremely annoying.

I opened my eyes again, shot him a glance, and said, “When we get back to the hospital, you should

get a check-up too. I still don’t know what caused the sudden fever you had last time. You need to take

care of yourself too.”

At my words, Jaylan was left speechless, his smile stuck on his face as he replied, “Thanks, dear. I’m

fine now. You don’t need to worry.”

Hearing his response, I closed my eyes again and continued my rest. This time, he finally stopped novelbin

talking.

Back in the hospital room, I was genuinely tired so I laid down on the bed and was soon lost in slumber.

Before I drifted off, I told Jaylan, “You don’t need to stay here. I’m going to sleep. You should go and

handle whatever you need to. You know what I’m talking about, right?”

Jaylan immediately agreed, “Alright, sleep well. Once you’re asleep, I’ll go.”

I thought to myself, with Hannah around, he wouldn’t dare do anything to me. I turned over and fell

asleep almost instantly.

I slept for almost eight hours, and by the time I woke up, it was already late at night.

Hannah had prepared a bountiful dinner for me. She handed me a towel to wipe my hands and then

adjusted the bed so I could sit up comfortably. As she laid out the food, she said, “Jaylan left after you

fell asleep. He told me to call him once you woke up.”

“I forgot to tell you, have someone tail him. See what he’s up to,” I said to Hannah, accepting the spoon

she handed me.

Hannah gave a mischievous smile, “Don’t worry, miss. I’ve already arranged it.”

I was delighted by her quick action and remarked, “Impressive! Keep it up. I need to know his every

move. Everything from now on is critical. We can’t overlook anything he does.”

Hannah raised an eyebrow, “Don’t worry! Have some food!”

Her smile was incredibly infectious, and her little tiger teeth were quite charming.

I took a bite of the food and didn’t hide my praise, “This is delicious. I was starving!”

“I knew you’d be hungry. Here, have some chicken soup,” she said, pushing a bowl of soup towards

me. “Mr. Richardson sent this over.”

I was taken aback. Ronan sure was considerate. Without any hesitation, I took a sip of the soup. It was

fragrant and smooth.

“I haven’t asked you yet, but are you part of Bennett Richardson’s staff?” I asked Hannah, setting down

the soup bowl. This was the first time I had asked her this question.

Chapter 289

My question seemed to catch Hannah off guard as she turned to me, asking in return, “You didn’t

know?”

“Hmm!” I nodded, “I don’t remember asking. You said you were here because of my parents’

arrangement, I assumed it was Bennett’s doing. I trust him, so naturally, I trust you! No need for further

questions.”

Hannah chuckled mischievously, “And now you’re asking?”

“By curiosity!” I didn’t hide my thoughts, “With such impressive skills, you can’t be just an ordinary

person! How would my parents know someone like you?”

“Yes, I work for Mr. Richardson!” Hannah replied confidently, “For 8 years!”

“Oh wow!” I exclaimed, thinking to myself, I’ve been away from Ronan for twelve years, but this girl has

been working for him for 8 years. Somehow, it felt odd that during the years I lost, she had always been

there.

“That long?” I commented, a little late on the uptake.

“Yes, I was assigned to him right after my special training ended!” She disclosed my curiosity without

any hesitation, and it sounded so grand.

Just the term ‘special training’ sounded cool, especially coming from a woman like her.

“Working in his company?” I was genuinely surprised, looking at her enviously, “May I ask your age

then?”

“I turned 26 this year.” Hannah answered straightforwardly, without any hint of evasion, “To be precise,

I follow his orders as a part of his special team, not just the company!”

My appetite suddenly faded. This was too enviable, being able to be by his side, knowing all his

secrets, “You…do you know about him…” I found myself unable to continue, after all, Ronan was a man

of secrets. I didn’t know if Hannah knew about Bennett’s hidden identity. novelbin

Seeming to understand my thoughts, Hannah directly answered the question I was about to ask, “I’m

his off-the-books team member.”

I asked in confusion, “What does that mean?”

She pondered a moment, as if thinking about how to answer my question, then smiled and said

seriously, “That means I am part of his entourage, but my identity is not publicly disclosed.”

I understood at once, looking at her and confirming seriously, “So, ordinary people don’t know you

exist, but you are under his secret command, right?”

She looked at me and nodded in satisfaction, “Smart! That’s exactly it!”

Something struck me, and I looked at Hannah and asked, “Then you must know, how did he get

injured?”

Hannah’s expression faltered, seemingly surprised by my question.

I hurriedly said, “You don’t have to answer!”

Then I pretended to be calm and continued to eat my meal, but I was extremely curious inside,

anxiously waiting for Hannah’s reaction.

I guessed this might be a sensitive topic or a special no-go zone for them, with certain secrets involved.

Otherwise, I remembered when I asked Logan, he simply avoided answering. But I think Logan must

know the details.

Sure enough, Hannah pondered for quite a while before looking at me, a hint of difficulty in her eyes.

I quickly reassured her, “Never mind, pretend I didn’t ask, I…I was just curious.”

Seeing me say this, Hannah seemed a bit embarrassed and quickly explained, “I can’t go into specifics,

but I know he was injured while saving a friend. He was badly hurt, face even unrecognizable.

Afterwards, he became as you see him now!”

Hannah’s explanation was very general, but I was still very satisfied.

She continued, “Afterwards, the higher-ups had no choice but to play along, giving him a new identity, a

complete makeover! Almost no one knew his original identity, but you’re an exception.”

“Oh…” I listened, shocked, what kind of comrade required him to sacrifice himself so? I didn’t dare to

ask.

I knew I couldn’t show too much interest, after all, they have their own rules. Since they keep this

matter confidential, there must be a reason for it.

Chapter 290

I quickly changed the subject, turning to Hannah and saying, “Don’t you think that one of these sisters

is lying today?”

I asked this with certainty, knowing that Hannah wasn’t just an ordinary soldier. She must be an astute

warrior, her insight incredibly sharp.

Otherwise, as she said, they wouldn’t have let her stay by Ronan’s side, acting as a secret aide, whose

identity information wouldn’t be shared externally.

Unexpectedly, my heart warmed towards Ronan a little more. He’d dispatched a confidant for my sake.

This special treatment touched me deeply.

Without missing a beat, Hannah said, “Zora’s not being truthful. She took the report, which means it’s

been used by her!”

Hannah’s thoughts aligned with mine. I chuckled, teasingly saying, “Great minds think alike. That’s

what I was thinking too, that the child’s disappearance is directly linked to this report!”

I put down my spoon, my appetite waning at the thought of this matter. I was thinking about how I was

here, enjoying the fine cuisine, but what about the child? I couldn’t even be sure if he’d had a meal. The

dream always haunted me, making me restless.

Seeing my worry, Hannah spoke to comfort me, “Miss, don’t stress too much! The police are on it, so

rest assured. There will be an outcome!”

I took a sip from my water glass, but secretly thought that the police had been investigating for days,

yet there was still no result. God knows what the child was going through. If it were my child, I swear I’d

go mad.

Marissa, the only person who truly cared for him was gone. I sighed involuntarily. People who aren’t

born with responsible parents can have a rough go of it!

I looked up to see Hannah studying me intently, and I casually asked, “What’s up?”

“I was thinking about Marissa,” Hannah surprisingly was thinking about Marissa too. It seemed like we

really were in sync.

“Miss, if only that child had a decent mother, he wouldn’t have met such a fate!” Hannah’s eyes were

filled with pity and sorrow.

I looked at her, “From now on, don’t call me Miss. Call me Aaliyah like everyone else. Miss sounds too

formal.”

I thought to myself that since Ronan had sent her to protect me, she was like family. Plus, being

inseparable these past few days, we’d developed an understanding.

Moreover, I knew the importance Hannah placed on me wasn’t just due to Ronan’s orders, but also a novelbin

mutual fondness that sprung up. Just like my trust in her, she gave me a strange sense of security.

At my words, Hannah smiled broadly, “Sure thing! From now on, I’ll call you Aaliyah. I would like to treat

you as a sister, as I only have a brother.”

“You have a brother?” I asked, feeling a tinge of envy, “It’s nice to have siblings!”

Hannah’s face stiffened momentarily but quickly returned to normal.

She pushed the food towards me, “Aaliyah, eat up! You’re not eating enough, Mr. Richardson won’t be

pleased. He specifically got this for you!”

I smiled at her, teasing, “So if he buys it, I have to stuff myself?”

Hannah grinned back.

Though I said this, I obediently continued to eat. But it didn’t taste as good as before!

I looked at her while eating, “Don’t you think that Zora and that Jerome must be connected somehow?”

“Jerome has been on our radar for a while now. He’s ruthless!” Hannah said with certainty, proving that

they’ve been watching him for some time.

“Why don’t you take care of him then?” I asked, puzzled.

“We don’t know who his big boss is yet, this man is very cautious, we haven’t been able to find out,”

Hannah seemed to trust me, not hiding the details from me.

Just then, Hannah’s phone rang. She quickly pulled it out of her pocket, glanced at the screen, and

furrowed her brows. Looking at me, she said, “It’s Jaylan!”

Chapter 291

Hannah glanced at the screen and said to me, “It’s Jaylan. He’s probably wondering if you’re up.”

I quickly instructed Hannah, “Just tell him I’m still sleeping!”

Getting my drift, Hannah picked up the phone and said in a casual tone, “Ms. Aaliyah is still sleeping.

No need for you to come over. I’ll call you when she’s awake.”

I gave Hannah a thumbs up.

After hanging up, Hannah turned to me and chuckled, “He was planning on coming over but after

hearing what I said, he decided to head home first and wait for you to wake up.”

“He’d better not come at all. Seeing him kills my appetite. I finally managed to eat a decent amount and

if he comes, I’ll probably end up throwing it all up! He’s like an emetic to me!” I said indifferently,

causing Hannah to burst into laughter.

I looked at her sincerely and said, “It’s so good to have you around. You brighten up my mood!”

I couldn’t eat anymore so I pushed the tray away, grabbed a napkin to clean my mouth and said to

Hannah, “I’m serious. Seeing him makes me feel nauseated, it’s suffocating!”

Hannah giggled, her smile warm. It was a sight that made you feel happy.

After eating so much right after waking up, I felt a bit bloated. Looking at the clock, it was late but in the

hospital, it was still early.

I suggested to Hannah, “Let’s go and visit Janice.” novelbin

Hannah quickly agreed, “Sure! Just give me a moment to clean up and we’ll be on our way!”

She swiftly cleaned up the trays from the table and brought me my shoes.

I got out of bed, put on my shoes and we headed towards Janice’s room.

As we passed the third floor’s lobby, I suddenly remembered Camilla.

I smacked my forehead, realizing I had forgotten something. I quickly took out my phone and dialed

Camilla’s number. I needed to ask her if Fidelia wanted to go to Silverdale City. Otherwise, it would be

rude not to follow up.

Regardless of how Jerome was, Camilla and I were sisters-in-law after all. If I said something, I had to

keep my word.

The phone was answered and I realized it might be too late, but before I could decide whether to hang

up, I heard Camilla’s voice on the other end, “Is that you, Aaliyah?”

I quickly responded, apologizing, “Camilla, it’s me! Is it too late? I didn’t check the time!”

“Hey, it’s not late!” Camilla quickly reassured, “You can call anytime!”

“I just wanted to ask if you talked to Fidelia. Does she want to go to Silverdale City? I might be able to

go back to Silverdale City in a couple of days! If she wants to go, I’ll come and pick her up before I

leave.”

Camilla seemed pleased that I took the initiative to ask about this. Her voice sounded cheerful as she

responded, “Aaliyah, you’re so thoughtful. I did ask Fidelia when I got back, and she said she wants to

go!”

Hearing her response, I inexplicably felt a sense of relief and cheerfully replied, “That’s great! I’ll let you

know when I’m leaving!”

Camilla quickly agreed, “What should I prepare for her?”

“What to prepare? Everything’s there, no need to bring anything! Just have her ready to go with me!”

We both laughed, Camilla sounded genuinely happy. It was the first time I had heard her laugh so

heartily.

“Thank you so much, as long as her arrival doesn’t bother your parents!” Camilla said cautiously.

“Of course not! Don’t be so formal with me, we’re family!” I replied, “that’s settled then. It’s getting late, I

won’t keep you. Get some rest!”

“Aaliyah, thank you!” Camilla’s tone was truly sincere.

“We’re sisters-in-law, why are you being so formal?” I said somewhat reproachfully, but I knew she was

truly happy.

“Alright, I won’t be formal anymore! You should get some rest too, oh… I almost forgot to ask, how’s

your health lately?”

“I’m fine, don’t worry!”

After hanging up, Hannah commented, “Camilla doesn’t seem too introverted!”

“It’s a long story!” I sighed.

When we reached Janice’s room, it was quiet. There was not a single soul in sight.

Chapter 292

I paused for a moment before turning to walk away, saying to Hannah who followed behind, “She must

have gone to see Janetta. Let’s go check on her too!”

As soon as we entered the hallway leading to Janetta’s room, we were stopped by two men. After

explaining who we were, they consulted with the people inside before letting us in.

Before I even made it to the room, Janice greeted me, her face full of joy, “Aaliyah, what brings you

here?”

“I haven’t been here for a while, thought I’d drop by!” I responded, taking her hand. “How is Janetta?”

She hushed me and quickly led me past the nurses’ station.

Her room had been moved to a private one around the corner of the hallway, completely isolated with

bodyguards stationed at the entrance. They were taking precautions seriously.

As we entered, I saw several people giving Janetta a massage.

Relieved, Janice turned to me, shaking her head. “You’re back in the hospital?”

I said with a smirk, “I’ve made this place my second home!”

My comment prompted laughter from the group, and Janice sincerely added, “Thank goodness, it was

a close call. You’ll have good luck in the future!”

“Give me a break! I’d rather not have this luck than be subjected to this torment,” I retorted, causing

more laughter. “If I die before I enjoy my luck, the Grim Reaper himself will be reluctant to take me!”

As I spoke, I moved closer to Janetta’s bed. Despite her pale face, her eyes were open and she was

staring at me in surprise.novelbin

I quickly went over to her, asking, “Janetta, do you recognize me?”

At my words, Janetta became teary-eyed and emotional.

“Janetta, don’t get worked up!” I called out in alarm. “Janice, what’s…”

Janice rushed to my side and tried to calm Janetta. “Janetta, take it easy. If you have something to say,

take your time.”

Janetta composed herself, then looked at me and managed to say, “Aaliyah!”

Tears sprung to my eyes as I tightly grasped her hand, nodding heavily. “Yes, Janetta. It’s me, Aaliyah.

I came to see you.”

But Janetta’s next words broke me.

“You’ve… lost weight!”

These words unleashed a flood of emotions, and I couldn’t hold back my tears.

Through my sobs, I nodded. “Janetta, you’re sharp as ever. I have lost weight. Did you know, you have

lost weight, too. Now you’re the same as me.”

My words were lighthearted, and to my surprise, Janetta cracked a smile.

Janice hugged me, expressing her gratitude. “Aaliyah, I can’t thank you enough. If you hadn’t brought

Dr. Dailey that day, and stayed with my sister, I don’t know if she would have woken up!”

I patted Janice’s back, comforting her. “It’s fate. It was meant to happen. Don’t cry, you’re still

recovering.”

Janice nodded and cleaned her tears. “I’ve told Janetta everything these past few days. She

understands. The doctor said her speech and movement are still affected by the accident. But she’ll get

better.”

I reassured her, “Everything will be alright. The universe is fair. Those who hurt us will face their karma.

We’re still here, aren’t we?”

Janetta nodded, indicating she understood.

I squeezed her hand. “You’re doing great, Janetta. We believe you’ll recover soon. Janice, Gevena,

Catherine, and I are all here for you.”

She managed to utter a word, “…sit.”

I nodded and sat by her bed, watching her intently.

She was thin, but her complexion had improved since I last saw her. She had a slight blush, indicating

she was well taken care of.

I turned to Janice and whispered, “Has Irving visited in the past few days?”

Chapter 293

Janice nodded. “Yeah, he’s been here, but we didn’t let him get close. Baber has guards stationed

outside, keeping an eye out. He couldn’t get in! And he didn’t dare to force his way in. He knows that

once Baber is involved, it wouldn’t end well for him if he tried anything.”

“He’s afraid of trouble then!” I sarcastically commented.

“It’s not that Baber didn’t care before. I just didn’t want him involved in our family matters!” Janice

explained, “I didn’t want to burden him! But now…”

I patted her shoulder. “Bad guys need a nemesis! Irving is a sly one. It’s good for him to know that you

have support! He’s not to be underestimated!”

“I’m fed up with it all. He checks in here every day, but he has no idea what’s going on inside.” Janice

looked disgruntled.

“Did Nettie come?”

“Yes! Like father, like daughter. I just can’t…” Janice sighed. “Thankfully, Dr. Dailey has been very

responsible. He not only switched our hospital room, but also arranged for specific doctors and nurses.

This room is now restricted. Only those he approved can come in!”

I nodded in approval. “That’s good. At least it’s safe for now. When you guys are better, we can move

you somewhere even safer.”

“How’s your baby these past few days?” I asked Janice.

Janice sighed, “My baby was born prematurely, so he’s a bit weak. The doctor said he needs to stay in novelbin

the incubator for a while. I visit him every day. He’s so tiny, it’s heartbreaking.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she said it. A mother’s love was indeed profound.

To be honest, I had never seen Janice so emotional before.

“It’s going to be okay! This is already a blessing in disguise!” I comforted her, “Don’t worry, preemies

are quite common, and modern medicine is advanced. He’ll get stronger, you’ll see!”

She sniffled and looked at me. “I hope you’re right. Now, tell me about you. I heard from Geneva that

you got back all the assets that were mortgaged, even the ones in the joint account. Is that true?”

I gave her a satisfied smile, replying, “Yes, everything’s back. Not only that, but I’m also working on

liquidating Jaylan’s secret assets. I believe it won’t take long!”

Janice grabbed my hand and said, “Allie, I really admire you. You’re decisive and ruthless. You do what

needs to be done. You didn’t give them any opportunity. A quick victory is the key! Otherwise, if they

had time to regroup, it wouldn’t have been so easy!”

“Actually, he lost because of his greed! He was eyeing the mine. He wanted to take it all.” I chuckled,

“But greed is a trap, a deadly temptation! He’s fallen into it now!”

Hearing my words, Janetta, whose hand I was holding, stirred. She gazed at me as I turned to look at

her. She blinked, clearly wanting to say something.

“Do you want to say something?” I asked, understanding her cues.

She nodded vigorously.

I quickly glanced at Janice, then encouraged Janetta, “Go ahead, we’re listening!”

She swallowed, her lips trembling, clearly anxious to speak.

“Easy now, take your time. We’ll understand!” I stroked her hand, signaling her to relax.

Janice also moved closer to her. “Janetta, take it easy. Speak slowly. We’re listening.”

She stuttered, then finally managed to spit out two words, “Key… Key!”

“Key!” I repeated, and she nodded. I quickly asked, “Your key, right?”

She nodded again!

Janice and I shared a glance, then Janice leaned over to her and asked, “Is the key what you wanted

to give me all those years ago?”

She nodded again.

Janice and I shared a moment of excitement, both asking in unison, “What key?”

We both turned to Janetta. She swallowed again, then looked at Janice, hope in her eyes.

Janice looked surprised and asked, “You mean, you wanted to give me a key? But after your car

accident, I didn’t find any key!”

“Bag!” she said clearly.

I guessed, “Did you put the key in your bag?”

Janetta nodded vigorously. I turned to Janice, “When you arrived at the car accident scene, did you see

her bag?”

Chapter 294

Janice shook her head. “No, when I got there, I was so focused on Janetta that I just followed the

ambulance to the hospital.”

At this, I saw Janetta close her eyes, looking disappointed.

Janice, frustrated, shook her head vigorously. Then, suddenly, she said, “But later, Irving did come and

ask me if Janetta’s stuff was all there. He even asked if she’d called me before the accident, and what

she had said.”

Both Janetta and I listened to Janice’s words. novelbin

“I told him she hadn’t called, and I hadn’t seen any of her stuff!” Janice recalled, “But I never did see

Janetta’s bag! I asked the police handling the case later, and they said they hadn’t seen any of

Janetta’s belongings either.”

“Was Irving there when you arrived?” I asked Janice.

“We basically arrived at the same time!” Janice replied, frowning.

“That means someone else took Janetta’s bag!” I voiced my thoughts, and we all felt a chill run down

our spines.

Janice turned to Janetta, “Sis, are you sure you had your bag with you that day? And that the key was

in it?”

Janetta nodded, “…Yes.”

“What key?” Janice pressed.

Janetta closed her eyes weakly, letting out a breath, looking slightly defeated.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find it out!” Janice hurried to comfort her.

Janetta shook her head, her lips moving, “Evidence… conditions!”

I watched her closely. Her eyes were filled with resentment. She added, “Negotiated… conditions!”

I immediately understood her meaning, recalling the conversation I had with Catherine during the

cocktail party.

“Do you mean the agreed divorce conditions and evidence of Irving’s infidelity?” I quickly asked

Janetta.

Janetta nodded, relieved.

Janice asked in confusion, “Allie, what’s going on?”

I guessed that Gevena didn’t tell her, fearing she would panic. So, I went ahead and explained to

Janice how Catherine and I got Olivia to spill the beans at the party. Janice seemed to finally

understand.

It dawned on us that Janetta meant to give the key to Janice for safekeeping before her accident.

When the accident happened, the key was in her bag. But after the accident, Janice never saw

Janetta’s bag. The bag vanished!

Janice and I exchanged glances. “It seems that the bag ended up with Irving,” I said, shuddering.

“I’ll ask Barber to look into it again tomorrow. See if any of the officers at the scene remember seeing

the bag!” Janice said, her voice filled with anger.

I comforted her, “Don’t worry. Now that Janetta is awake, there is no need to rush things. What I mean

is, once Janetta recovers a bit more, she can explain everything herself.”

I turned to Janetta and said, “Don’t worry. the bag won’t disappear! If you were able to find it back then,

others can find it too!”

Then I said to Janice, “Janice, Logan should have an easier time looking into this than Mr. Forrest.

Plus, didn’t Logan promise to help you out? He’s a man of his word. There is no use rushing now. You

both need to focus on getting better!”

Janice nodded and comforted Janetta, “Sis, Allie is right. Focus on getting better. We’ll get our stuff

back. Irving will get what he deserves!”

Janetta nodded, a tear trickling down her cheek.

We talked for a while longer before someone came in saying they were looking for me.

I glanced at Hannah, who had been by my side the whole time. She turned to leave.

Janice and I exchanged glances. “Could it be Jaylan? We can’t let him in!”

I nodded and said, “Don’t worry. I’m leaving now.”

With that, I gestured to Janetta and said, “I’m going now, I’ll come see you

I’ll come see you again soon!”

As I got up to leave, Hannah returned. “It’s Jaylan!”

Chapter 295

I exchanged a glance with Janice and let out a sneer, “I’m out of here!” Then I walked out with Hannah.

At the end of the corridor, I saw Jaylan standing tall and handsome, wearing a white silk shirt and grey

trousers with his hands shoved into his pockets, looking cool and aloof.

This attracted the attention of the nurses at the nurse’s station, who were drooling at his appearance,

their faces full of infatuation!

It’s true that good looks can be quite deceiving. With his pretentious demeanor, he was easily able to

attract these love-struck nurses.

Seeing me walk out, Jaylan immediately dropped his cool facade, breaking into a smile as he strode

over and pulled me into his arms, starting a public display of affection.

Instantly, I felt goosebumps all over my body.

Hannah, standing to one side, pursed her lips and quickly stepped back.

I knew exactly what he was up to, trying to portray himself as the perfect man.

I glanced at him. As long as he didn’t overdo it, even if I felt nauseous, I had to reassure him, letting

him believe that I was willing to forgive him. I wanted him to fall hard without seeing it coming.

“Honey, why didn’t you tell me you were awake?” he asked softly, without a hint of blame in his voice.

“Luckily, I decided to come and check on you.”

“I thought you could use some rest!” I replied kindly.

Hearing my words, he immediately played up his response, “Being at home alone is too lonesome!”

As I cursed him silently, I thought, of course, having a maid at home would make it less lonely.

“Why are you here?” he asked casually. “I heard that Janetta is showing signs of waking up. Is she

awake now?”

On hearing it, I became alert. It seemed he knew about Janetta’s condition. Clearly, Irving didn’t hide it

from him. Maybe he was trying to test me.

“She’s not bouncing back just like that!” I sighed and said quietly, “Being in a coma must be hard!”

“Oh, I thought she had woken up. That would be a miracle!” Jaylan agreed. “I was wondering why your

ward was empty when I came.”

“I woke up and was hungry, so Hannah got me some food. I ate a bit too much and wanted to take a

walk, so we came here,” I explained casually. “After all, with Janice’s status, I have to come and visit.”

“Why didn’t you wait for me to come?” Jaylan asked.

I scoffed silently, thinking, what the hell does he think he is?

“It’s late, and besides, all the patients are women. It wouldn’t be appropriate,” I replied nonchalantly.

“Don’t you have things to deal with tomorrow? There’s no need to rush over here.”

I spoke lightly, without showing any emotion.

“Without you, it’s not a home!” he said so naturally that I wondered if there was something wrong with

his brain. Or maybe he was so into his role that he had convinced himself.

After all that had happened, I would be stupid if I still believed his lies.

“That’s good enough to fool yourself,” I thought.

“Oh… have you checked the trending news?” he asked me excitedly.

“No, what’s up?” I asked nonchalantly.

“The internet has cleared your name,” he said casually.

I stopped in my tracks and looked at me coldly. “Was I ever guilty? Don’t you know why all this

happened, Jaylan? Do you think I deserve to die?”

The moment I said this, he realized his mistake and immediately pulled me into his arms. “I misspoke. I

was wrong… I was just repeating what people on the internet say! The situation has turned around!

That’s what I should have said!”

He was very apologetic, repeatedly admitting his mistake and trying to pacify me. Then he said

ingratiatingly, “There’s more good news. You’ll be pleased to hear!”

He intentionally left me hanging, looking at me with an expectant smile.

“Well, don’t keep me waiting!” I said, rolling my eyes at him.

He grinned, clearly satisfied, and said, “The property manager of our estate has been arrested!”

Chapter 276

Hearing her talk like that, to be honest, I wanted to slap her right across the face. But I held back my

urge. She held grudges, so I couldn’t afford to offend her.

“Who else knows you’ve moved Evan?” I asked, staring at her. This was the crux of the matter, “And

don’t tell me no one knows.”

“Only Maddox and I knew about it.” Clara raised her head to look at me, “So, I was puzzled and dared

not make it public. But the only person I could tell was you.”

I stood up, towering over her, “You’d better tell me everything. If Evan is in danger, you are just as

culpable as Zora.”

Clara suddenly looked up, her face pale and her eyes filled with fear.

I stared at her for a moment, then bent down to meet her gaze, “When did you meet Renata?” I asked

unexpectedly.

Her pupils contracted in surprise and her lips trembled, avoiding my gaze.

“Speak!” I demanded forcefully.

“I don’t know her. She… I…” Clara stammered, clearly lacking confidence.

“You don’t know her, yet you dare plot against me for her. Do you think I’m oblivious to your actions?

And you dare to lie to me, so is this your idea of trust? Should I trust you?” I stepped forward, “Clara, I

really underestimated you. Do you know your actions are even more devious than Zora’s?” I was

gritting my teeth as I said this, realizing Clara was a nuisance.

“No, Ms. Aaliyah. I really didn’t know the medicine she gave me was for you.” Clara tried to justify

herself and reached out to grab my hand.

Hannah snorted, “Remove your hand.”

Forced to let go of my hand, Clara continued to plead her case, “I’m telling the truth, and I didn’t mean

to harm you, Ms. Aaliyah. You’re the kindest, most trustworthy, and reliable person in my heart.”

I gave a cold, sarcastic laugh, as though listening to a joke.

“When she gave me the medicine, she said to wait for her instructions. I had no idea she wanted to

harm you. So when this lady…” she pointed at Hannah, “She signaled me not to mess things up, so I

switched the drinks and made her drink it herself.”

“And if she hadn’t signaled you?” I asked, seizing the opportunity.

“Then I wouldn’t have given it to you either.” She claimed sincerely.

I gave a cold humph. I didn’t believe her at all.

“You say you don’t know Renata, yet you followed her instructions. Do you think your explanation is

convincing?” I challenged, “Do you take me for a fool to believe your words?”

“Ms. Aaliyah, I really didn’t lie. I was puzzled when she came to find me.” Clara whispered.

“Clara, you know if you’re lying or not, and I’ll find out too, depending on whether I want to investigate.

If I find out you’re lying, Clara, think about what will happen to you.” I warned, my tone icy.

Her face stiffened, seeming a bit shaken.

I was certain she was still hiding something from me.

“Do you think the issue with Renata is over? Don’t be delusional. Disrupting Goldenvale Town’s

international trade gala, such an important event isn’t the same as a private party hosted by Medsafe

Liyah Inc. She won’t get off the hook this time, and do you think you can escape responsibility?”

My words were like a boulder bearing down on her, her face growing paler by the second.

Then I added, “Now tell me, who do you think took Evan? Don’t tell me you have no idea.”

Clara looked at me, visibly less composed, and stuttered, “I truly don’t know, but I’ve lost something.”

Chapter 251

In the instant he neared closer and closer, I suddenly pushed him away, hastily turned around, flung

open the door and escaped as swiftly as my legs could carry me.

I could hear my heart pounding like a drum!

My legs felt weak and shaky. This abrupt escape, for some reason, left me with a pang of regret. Why

did I push him away? Was it because the unfamiliarity of his face, or his sudden display of affection that

was too abrupt, or a grudge that I was unable to let go, or perhaps the resentment towards his abrupt

departure years ago…

I didn’t know, but at that moment, I felt inexplicably helpless. I even wanted to run back and throw

myself into his arms to vent my pent-up emotions.

If he hadn’t left without saying goodbye, without uttering a single word, would I have ended up in my

current state?

Even if he had given me a glimmer of hope back then, I wouldn’t have shifted my affections! You must

know, back then, my heart was filled with him. His sudden dropout and subsequent disappearance left

me in despair.

I was full of him, filled to the brim. But suddenly, he was gone, nowhere to be found. Only I knew how

much pain I was in. If not for my childish intention to revenge him, why would I went for Jaylan

Dawson?

Back then I foolishly thought, “you didn’t want me getting close to Jaylan, right? You said he wasn’t my

type, right? You said this man wasn’t reliable, right? I was determined to get close to handsome Jaylan,

as a declaration of war.”

I thought that by doing so, he would definitely come back. But he disappeared for twelve years,

vanished into thin air.

I gave a bitter laugh, choked back a sob, and now when I think back, can I blame him?

Even though he left abruptly back then, he never rejected me, never said he didn’t love me. I only have

myself to blame, for being whimsical, capricious, seeking comfort in Jaylan, leading myself into an

irreversible situation.

That regret, from the moment I saw him again, tormented me, especially his unfamiliar face, and the

bracelet on his wrist that I gave him, that he would never take off.

I have no right to blame him anymore, especially considering his extraordinary secret identity.

Is this really my fate? They say, the gentleman does not quarrel with fate, but I’m unwilling!

How blind was I to fall for Jaylan, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And how different am I from his other

women?

The only difference is that I’m his legal wife, but the price I paid for this is just too high.

If not for my three intelligent and adorable children as well as Milo, this price would be even more

exorbitant. I might as well be no different from Marissa.

I felt confused and dazed, as if my soul had been sucked out, to the point where I nearly bumped into

Hannah, who had come out to look for me. I didn’t even notice her until she grabbed me and cried out,

“My lady, what’s wrong?”

I stared at her blankly, my gaze scattered. She shook my arm a little, and I tried hard to concentrate, to

pull myself out of my complex thoughts. I fixed my gaze upon Hannah’s anxious face.

She was scrutinizing me anxiously, “My lady, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Only then did I see her clearly, and I hurriedly shook my head, saying quietly, “No… I… I’m okay, where

were you just now?”

She whispered a few words into my ear, and my eyes widened, “Really?”

Hannah nodded firmly, “Yes, you must be careful!”

“Okay!” I clenched my fist, gritted my teeth and strode back towards the hall, “Let’s go in!”

I returned to the hall, having composed myself, and carefully scanned the entire room. But I couldn’t

find Jerome.

I couldn’t help but wonder, had he not returned?

For some reason, I had a strong premonition that this rainy night wouldn’t be a peaceful one. My heart

gave a painful jolt.

Chapter 252

The voice I had heard earlier was still echoing in my ears, and I was convinced it belonged to a

foreigner. Could they possibly be at the same event?

I composed myself and headed towards Gevena.

Approaching her, she looked at me, “Where did you go? You were gone for quite a while.”

I shrugged, “Just stepped out for a bit.” novelbin

I didn’t tell her the truth. After all, anything involving Jerome was of no concern to Gevena.

“Where’s Jessica?” I asked.

Gevena smirked, “She’s busy.”

I noticed Ronan Stewart hadn’t returned to the hall.

“Your mother-in-law is the star of the show tonight!” Gevena said, eyeing Hazel. Following her gaze, I

saw Hazel in a lively conversation with an older businessman, her corpulence shaking with laughter.

Jaylan was huddled with Renata in a corner, whispering about something. Renata didn’t seem pleased.

Remembering something Catherine had said, I took out my phone and searched for some scandal

about Renata.

Wow… impressive!

A bunch of news articles popped up. I clicked on one to get the gist of it, and couldn’t help but chuckle

at the soap opera-like drama unfolding.

What was more surprising was that someone had dug up her extravagant spending habits. Most of it

was spent on her appearance, clearly, she was heavily invested in climbing the social ladder.

The man at the center of the scandal was a rather unremarkable older man. It seemed this Miss

Renata wasn’t picky.

After reading up on the man, it turned out he was quite wealthy. However, following the scandal, he had

lost everything to his wife and was kicked out of the business.

Reading all this was incredibly satisfying. This woman was really something, ruthless and accurate!

I put away my phone, and Gevena gave me a knowing smile, subtly indicating Renata, “She’s

something, isn’t she?”

I chuckled at Gevena, “Looks like her days are gone.”

Catherine joined us, wrapping an arm around each of us, “What’s so funny?”

“Renata’s scandal,” I said casually.

Catherine turned to look at Renata, “Well, she sure dug her own grave.”

“No wonder she’s so aggressive. The guy in the scandal is definitely not as loaded as Jaylan!” I

smirked, “If she wants to catch this opportunity, she’ll have to pull out all the stops.”

“Considering his standard, she won’t have to try too hard. As long as she’s a woman!” Catherine,

always the one with the sharp tongue.

Gevena nudged her, “Watch your mouth!”

I knew what she meant. She was worried about my feelings. So I reassured her, “Don’t worry about me,

I’m enjoying the show!”

“Exactly, our girl is strong. This is nothing! You have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince,”

Catherine dismissed Jaylan with a flick of her gaze.

Just then, Jaylan seemed to sense our stares and looked over. His eyes darkened, and he said

something to Renata before parting ways.

I couldn’t help but laugh, “Did you see that? He’s got no guts, not trying to flirt right in front of me!”

We all laughed heartily, and surprisingly, I didn’t feel bitter at all.

I had to admit, Renata had some nerve. She sashayed over to us, strutting like a runway model. I

couldn’t tell if she was trying to show off to the men in the room or provoke me.

Hannah snorted softly and asked me in a low voice, “Miss, who’s performance are you interested in?

Your mother-in-law’s or this one’s?”

Chapter 253

I shot her a glance, nonchalantly saying, “Obviously her. What’s so interesting about the older ones?

Besides, we’ll have our chance to deal with her later, there’s no rush. Don’t forget, this is our night!”

Hannah laughed, revealing two small, sharp teeth. They were quite charming, a detail I had previously

overlooked.

Renata was already strutting up to us, her face adorned with a flight attendant’s smile. She scanned us novelbin

all before finally resting her gaze on me…

I saw the way Renata’s gaze finally settled on me and knew that the show was about to begin.

Sure enough, Renata flashed me a charming smile, elegantly saying, “Mrs. Dawson, what a pleasure it

is to meet you! I didn’t realize your wit was so sharp, you put even a professional host like me to

shame!”

“You’re too kind, Ms. Renata! You’re just being modest! There’s no comparison between us!” I replied

with a warm smile and a pointed comment, “Ms. Renata, your professional skills are unmatched! I

could never hope to compete!”

“You’re too modest, Mrs. Dawson!” she returned the compliment.

“Enough with the mutual flattery!” Catherine chimed in, “We each have our specialties. Allie is all about

her business, unlike Ms. Renata who excels in every field and is always in the limelight. Leave some

room for the rest of us, don’t hog all the headlines!”

Catherine, noticing Renata’s growing rapport with me, naturally couldn’t stand idly by. Her words were

loaded with innuendo.

Renata shifted her gaze to Catherine, still smiling her calm smile, and shot back, “Ms. Damon, as

expected of a media personality, always chasing rumors!”

It seemed they knew each other well, and their barbs were pinpoint accurate.

“Call me a gossip, why don’t you! I admit, I love a good piece of gossip. Allie always scolds me for it,

says I live off gossip! But what can I do? It’s my profession, and I’m dedicated…sigh…I just can’t seem

to make it to the top!” Catherine’s words had a hint of sour grapes, “I just can’t compare to you

celebrities!”

“That’s not necessarily true. Thanks to gossip experts like you, everyone gets a chance. Look, even

Mrs. Dawson can make headlines!” Renata skillfully changed the topic, her smile concealing a razor-

sharp wit, blatantly pointing out my weakness.

Indeed, the online bashing hadn’t ceased, and the methods had been refreshed, constantly increasing!

If I couldn’t find Evan, I wouldn’t be able to catch a break.

I looked at Renata, not taking the bait. I thought to myself, I won’t compete with you for a moment of

satisfaction, you can continue to ride the wave! Just remember, provoking me always comes with a

cost.

Renata probably thought that my silence was an admission of defeat, so she gestured to someone.

I saw Clara, carrying a tray, immediately start to walk towards us. I squinted at Clara’s familiar and

innocent face.

She seemed thinner than a few days ago, probably due to her illness. Even though the current

medication for her condition was highly effective, it was probably not something she could afford.

Clara seemed to notice my attention. She hesitated for a moment, avoiding my gaze, standing a little

distance away from me.

Renata, with a perfectly charming smile, announced to us, “I am honored to meet everyone at Medsafe

Liyah Inc.’s victory party. The opportunity is rare, so why don’t we share a drink?”

I saw Hannah standing next to Clara, who held the tray straight, her eyes still not daring to meet mine,

looking down.

After Renata finished speaking, she turned around, beckoning with her finger. Clara immediately

stepped forward. Renata handed out a drink to each of us, introducing herself as she did so, “I’m

Renata, nice to meet you!”

I took the glass she handed me, casually swaying it, feigning nonchalance.

Renata finally picked up the last glass on the tray, raising it to us, “Ladies, it’s my pleasure to meet you

here. Let’s toast to everlasting beauty!”

I saw Clara quietly retreat with the tray.

Hannah raised her eyebrows at me, and I responded with a smirk.

Gevena laughed, “Renata, you’re really good at ingratiating yourself! Making friends with a single drink,

and it’s even a drink from the Dawson family. You’re really crafty!”

“Hey, I’ve already said, it’s just a friendly gesture!” she replied with a blush, “Are you refusing the

toast?”

“How could we?” Gevena replied with a light laugh, looking at me, “But Aaliyah isn’t feeling well, so

maybe we should skip the drinks. A cup of tea will do just fine!”

I remained silent, looking at Renata as if asking for her opinion.

Chapter 254

“Really?” Renata looked slightly taken aback, studying me. “Not a sip? It’s red wine, a little can be good

for your health.”

“Just this once, then! Can’t go against Ms. Renata’s wishes, can we?” I replied casually, “And best of

luck to you, Ms. Renata!”

Renata’s face lit up in delight. She raised her glass and we all mirrored her gesture, clinking our

glasses together before taking a sip.

I watched them all drink before reluctantly raising my glass, I took a small sip.

It had been a while since I had tasted this stuff, sour and unpleasant, hard to swallow.

My reaction, however, was calculated.

Sure enough, Renata noticed my tiny sip and instantly protested, pointing it out, “You can’t be serious,

Mrs. Dawson! We all drank, it’s not right!”

Catherine seemed a little irritated, reaching for my wine, “Don’t push yourself.”

I evaded her, “No need. I’m just not used to this stuff anymore.” With that, I raised my glass and

downed it in one gulp, then looked at Renata. novelbin

“Mrs. Dawson, you’re a sport!” Renata applauded immediately.

“If I weren’t, you wouldn’t let me be!” I added with a laugh. I was being rather blunt.

Her laughter grew brighter, “Men are talking about business, while we women have to enjoy ourselves!”

Catherine shot back, “You sure are comfortable with this, always accompanying men in business, huh?

Oh… by the way, where did you get that dress? It’s quite pretty.”

Renata flinched slightly, her gaze fixed on Catherine’s face. She probably didn’t expect Catherine to be

so forthright.

Everyone understood the unspoken joke, suppressing their laughter. Everyone knew the dress

Catherine was referring to, was the one that had become popular after Renata’s scandal.

Though Renata didn’t respond, her face paled slightly, and her gaze towards Catherine held a hint of

hostility.

Just then, Jaylan walked over with Jesper and Caleb, looking triumphant as he moved to my side,

wrapping his arm around my waist, showing off our affection. “What’s this? Honey, you’re drinking?

Don’t drink too much!”

“For Ms. Renata’s hospitality, just this once!” I replied softly, looking at him. “Just a little to lighten the

mood!”

Jaylan laughed, reaching up to pinch my cheek affectionately, “Cheeky! One is enough! Don’t drink

anymore!”

His tone and words were utterly indulgent, even listening to it could melt you.

I had to swallow my disgust.

A flash of light passed by, probably a media outlet capturing the moment.

I had forgotten, there were many media outlets here. I had to make good use of this.

I looked at Jaylan, feigning shyness, “Stop it, everyone’s been drinking, not just me! If you keep this up,

what will Ms. Renata think? It was her suggestion!”

I intentionally put the ball in Renata’s court.

Jaylan looked at me with indulgent affection, “Honey, everyone else is fine, but you’ve been weak.

Don’t push yourself! You need to take care of yourself, no arguing!”

Catherine joined in the fun, “Instead of blaming her, why not keep an eye on Ms. Renata? Always

stirring the pot! Her generosity might lead people to believe she’s the hostess!”

Renata offered a dismissive laugh, “Ms. Damon, don’t make a fuss over nothing!”

“Am I?” Catherine looked at Renata, her laugh sincere, “I haven’t mentioned your intentional spiking

yet!”

Renata looked innocent, “Mr. Dawson, I had no idea your wife couldn’t handle her drink!”

“Only when Mr. Dawson says so, you believe, huh?” Catherine didn’t let her off, exposing her without

hesitation.

Chapter 255

Renata carried an air of elegance about her, “Oh, Ms. Damon, you’re really blaming me unfairly! It’s just

one glass of wine. Do we really need to make a mountain out of a molehill? Are we protecting our

friends a bit too zealously? Even if Mr. Dawson was present, I would still sincerely hope to make friends

with Mrs. Dawson. You’re not going to block that too, are you?”

After her speech, she lifted her eyes to Jaylan, her lips curling into a smile, her voice tinged with

flirtation, “Mr. Dawson, I really wanted to toast sincerely!”

“Hey! …Speak properly, will you? Is it really about one glass of wine? You’re forcing your will upon

others, definitely not with good intentions!” Catherine retorted without any filter, laughing as if she found

the situation entertaining, “Flirting with Mr. Dawson is useless here, this is a business cocktail party, not

a bar!”

I was inevitably amused by Catherine’s words, and when everyone saw me laugh, they joined in too.

Renata’s face finally flushed a tad, “Catherine, how can you speak like that? Can’t you ever stop?

Since Mrs. Dawson already drank the wine, what’s there to fuss about?”

“Fine, let’s not fuss about it then!” Catherine squinted her eyes, a knowing smile on her face.

“Right! Just over one glass of wine, you attribute so much to it? You’re really making things difficult!”

Renata licked her lips, seemingly eager to escape the situation, “Alright, …I was wrong, I shouldn’t

have toasted Mrs. Dawson! Ms. Damon, is this alright?”

The two women had been subtly challenging each other, but it seemed like the situation was finally

settling down.

I just stood by, watching with a smile. I was calculating time in my mind, waiting for a miracle to

happen!

Jaylan knew Catherine well enough to fear that their bickering might spark a problem. He hurried to

mediate, “You women are too dramatic, is it wrong for me to protect my wife? I’m scared of you lot, all

sharp-tongued? Anyway, no more alcohol for my Allie!”

Jaylan’s words were indeed reasonable and perfectly reflected a sense of prioritizing the bigger picture.

After finishing, he softly said to me, “I’ve got to get back to work. If you’re tired, rest a bit and grab a

bite!”

“Alright! Go ahead!” I replied with a compliant smile, “Don’t worry about me!”

Unexpectedly, just as our conversation moved on, Renata tried to get the last word. Seeing Jaylan

about to leave, she quickly stepped forward, “Mr. Dawson, no matter how busy you are today, you need

to have a drink with me. Consider it as drinking on behalf of your wife!”

Just as Catherine was about to step in, I gave a slight cough. Catherine immediately understood and

held back.

“Ms. Renata, since you’re insisting, I’ll have a drink with you.” Jaylan responded, gesturing for a waiter

to bring over drinks. He handed one to Renata, and picked up one for himself.

As Renata took the drink, she glanced at me, a mischievous smile in her eyes.

I silently cursed at her, she was pushing her luck!

Holding her glass, she turned to me, “Mrs. Dawson, I came today for Mr. Dawson, but don’t get me

wrong! I usually don’t take up such hosting duties, but when Mr. Dawson called and asked me to spice

up the event, I had to come! So, I really don’t have any other intentions!”

“I understand! I’m not misunderstanding! You’re overthinking!” I responded graciously, my smile warm

and generous.novelbin

Pleased with my reply, she raised an eyebrow at me, “So, it’s not too much if I ask Mr. Dawson for a

drink, right?”

I continued to smile, “Not at all, it’s appropriate!”

Hearing my response, Renata grinned smugly, turning to Catherine, “See, Ms. Damon, Mrs. Dawson is

very generous, unlike you, always thinking the worst of others!”

With that, she looked back at Catherine, now turning her attention to Jaylan, her eyes twinkling with

flirtation, “Mr. Dawson, I wish you every success and may all your wishes come true!”

Jaylan’s lips twitched, he lifted his glass and downed the drink, clearly eager to excuse himself from the

situation. However, Renata seemed oblivious to his intentions. Seeing him finish his drink, she burst out

laughing, “Mr. Dawson, you’re really straightforward! I hadn’t even finished speaking!”

Jaylan’s face turned a bit stern, he looked at Renata, his voice cold, “You sure have a lot to say!”

Chapter 256

Clearly, Jaylan had seen enough of Renata’s foolishness and decided he was no longer going to humor

her.

I must admit, I was taken aback by his reaction. Renata, too, seemed unprepared for Jaylan’s abrupt

dismissal. Her face alternated pale, indicating her indecision.

Jaylan turned to Jesper, his voice holding a meaningful tone, “Jesper, take Ms. Renata home, she

seems to have had a bit too much to drink.”

Jesper responded promptly, “Sure.”

He got up and walked over to Renata, extending his hand, “Ms. Renata, let me take you home.”

Renata, however, dodged Jesper and kept her gaze fixed on Jaylan, her eyes brimming with unshed

tears. She maintained her composure as she said, “Mr. Dawson, I beg your pardon… I didn’t drink at

all, how could I possibly be drunk…” novelbin

“Ms. Renata, a wise person knows when to advance and when to retreat,” Jaylan spoke, intending to

leave, but Renata grabbed his arm.

“I only wanted her to have a drink. You’re so protective of her! What about me? I came here for you

today, and I am the hostess today. I…”

“Enough!” Jaylan cut her off, shaking her hand off his arm and glared at her, “Take care of yourself!”

Renata stubbornly clung to Jaylan’s arm, “Don’t leave!”

Jaylan glanced around, coldly shook off Renata’s grip, and turned to Jesper, “What are you waiting for?

Take her home!”

Jesper, realizing the situation was escalating, grabbed Renata by her slim arm, causing her to yelp,

“You’re hurting me! What are you doing?”

Everyone’s attention was drawn to Jesper’s hand gripping Renata’s arm.

Behind Jesper’s glasses, his eyes were icy, menacing. It was the first time I had seen such a terrifying

side of him.

When everyone turned to look, his face instantly resumed its usual polite demeanor, even appearing

somewhat helpless towards Renata, but his grip on her arm didn’t loosen.

I was utterly confused!

Normally, Renata was a seasoned socialite, adept at handling unexpected situations with grace and

composure.

Yet today, her behavior was far from commendable. It reeked of pettiness, which was completely out of

character for her.

I silently watched, feeling that something was amiss. Even if she had drunk the drink intended for me,

she seemed sober. But my assumption was soon proven wrong.

Renata, probably uncomfortable from the grip on her arm, struggled to look at Jesper, “Do you know

who I am? How can you treat me…” Her voice lacked any hint of authority. Instead, it was laced with a

seductive tone, her eyes were glazed over, and she even tugged at her collar.

This action caused an immediate hush in the crowd, all eyes fixed on Renata.

I silently cursed, realizing she must be unconscious now.

“Don’t go, I don’t want to leave… let me hold you, you feel so good…”

Renata was murmuring, continuing to tug at her collar, exposing her fair skin. She was relentless.

“…so hot!” She spun around, suddenly wrapping herself around Jesper, her body clinging to his like a

snake. Her expression and posture were so outrageous that it shattered my perception of her.

The entire hall was silent, everyone staring in shock.

Meanwhile, the journalists present were ecstatic. They wouldn’t miss such an exciting scene.

The sound of cameras clicking filled the air.

Not just the journalists, but also the guests who were fond of their smartphones, began to record every

detail of the unfolding drama!

Renata, however, had completely lost her self-control. Despite Jesper’s anger and his attempts to

shake her off, she clung to him like a magnet and mumbled, “Jerome… hold me…”

I was stunned. What did she just call him?

Jerome?

Chapter 241

I gave Catherine a slight nudge, after she had her fill of chastising. It was time to make our exit!

I didn’t bother with Olivia’s mood, motioning for Catherine and Hannah to follow me through the crowd.

As we walked, I turned to Catherine, “You’ve got some nerve! You didn’t even use any explicit words.

Had your fill of the drama?”

Catherine, a wicked grin on her face, whispered, “I just wanted to let it simmer a bit. How’s that for a

ticking time bomb?”

I shot her a glance, but held back my laughter.

“Boom! Stirred the pot, didn’t I? If I could stir thing up for the Bradlee family and teach that bitch a

lesson, then it’s all been worth it!” Catherine chuckled mischievously.

Suppressing my laughter, I said, “That’s a Molotov cocktail!”

We all burst into laughter.

Hannah chimed in, “But I feel like there’s something off about this Irving guy, and their divorce terms

are the key!”

I shot Hannah a quick look, praising, “Smart! But, the truth won’t stay hidden for long. Now that Janetta

is conscious, all will be revealed!”

“That should give the mistress something to think about!” Hannah laughed, clearly enjoying the

situation.

“Let the joke sink in, it’ll hit harder! I just want Irving to be under siege!” Catherine added, then turned to

me, “Why is Ronan here?”

“He’s from the Richardson Group, and his name is Bennett now!” I quickly whispered, reminding her,

“Be careful not to mention his name as Ronan. Watch your tongue!”

Catherine nodded solemnly.

Just then, I saw Jaylan weaving through the crowd, making a beeline for us, extending a hand in

greeting from afar. Interestingly, by his side was the event’s female host!

Catherine was not pleased, “What the hell is this? Changing his partner on the spot? He’s moving too

fast, isn’t he? The audacity!”

I pulled her back a bit, saying, “Shh… let him make a fool of himself.”

“Do you know her?” Catherine asked me.

“The host?” I replied, “Do you know her?”

“Hah… know her?” Catherine scoffed, “Of course I do! I was too caught up with Olivia earlier, forgot to

give you the rundown on her. She’s a TV host from Goldenvale Town, goes by Renata. Quite the drama

queen! There was a scandal about her a while back, just got swept under the rug, and here she is

stirring things up again. She really has no shame!”

“What’s the story?” I asked Catherine in a hushed voice.

“You haven’t heard about her affair?” Catherine seemed surprised, “You really don’t keep up with the

gossip, do you?”

“Who has time for that, constantly stirring the gossip pot to make a living? I don’t have that sort of time!”

I retorted, slightly annoyed.

“Hey! If you had the time to dig into this matter, you’d know. She made quite a spectacle of herself.

Apparently her dress went viral, even had a flash sale! People joked it was the ‘mistress cloth’!”

Catherine revealed, making me wish I could look it up right then and there to understand this drama

queen.

“What kind of values are these?” I complained, sure it wasn’t anything good.

Catherine looked in the direction of Renata and Jaylan, ” Birds of a feather flock together!”

“Seems they’ve been in cahoots for a while!” I noted, casting a glance at Renata.

Catherine turned to me, scrutinizing, “You’re just going to see him flirting with that bitch?”

“Let him. Whoever starts the fire gets burned. You have to give him the opportunity, right?” I reassured

her, “We just need to keep our distance to avoid getting scorched.”

Upon hearing my nonchalant response and calm expression, Catherine finally relaxed, “Let’s just watch

the drama then! As long as you’re not upset, I’m at ease!”

“Right, there are still people who won’t stand for this!” I added quietly, noticing Geneva’s figure among

the crowd.

Tonight was indeed a celebration. Even the higher-ups were in attendance with their wives.

In such a setting, anyone who dared to challenge the status quo would face backlash. I was curious to

see the consequence of Renata’s impatience.

Chapter 242

It was quite the grand affair today, with the influential figures of the city all gathered under one roof.

Noah Atwood, Geneva’s husband, was in charge of business affairs, so it was expected that he would

attend, and naturally, Geneva would accompany him.

This grand event only inflated Jaylan’s already inflated ego. Such a gathering was an unexpected

delight. Medsafe Liyah Inc. had hosted countless parties over the years, but in terms of prestige, this

one was unrivaled.

Jaylan was particularly vivid, his greetings and interactions full of etiquette. He not only gave a

comprehensive update on Medsafe Liyah Inc. to the high-ranking officials but also introduced them to

key executives of the company.

The officials seemed pleased, their eyes naturally drifted to Renata, who was inseparable from Jaylan’s

side.

Renata, looking stunning and radiant, was a picture of perfect poise. As the hostess, she played her

role to perfection, an exquisite accessory to the event.

Jaylan quickly introduced Renata to the officials, clearly accustomed to using beauty as a gift.

But then things took an unexpected turn.

Mayor Arlen, after listening to Jaylan’s introduction, gave him a sharp look, and rather than engaging

with Renata’s friendly smile and extended hand, he asked Jaylan pointedly, “I’ve heard much about

your astute and capable wife, who is said to be the true founder of Medsafe Liyah Inc. Why isn’t she

here today?”

The mayor’s query caught everyone off guard, including me!

Jaylan’s face turned from an exuberant red to a ghostly pale, his smile frozen on his face.

Ignoring Renata was a prudent move on Mayor Arlen’s part. After all, this was a formal business event

filled with international guests. Every official was accompanied by their spouse, as were the foreign

guests. In such a setting, it was indeed foolish for Jaylan to introduce a woman of questionable

reputation to the mayor.

Jaylan’s blunder was not due to ignorance but rather a result of his vanity.

After all, no man would willingly flirt with another woman in front of his wife, right?

The mayor, being the top official of Goldenvale Town, would certainly not make such a low level

mistake, as would any gentleman. Especially in such a formal setting, such a move was blatantly

inappropriate.

At this moment, I felt a sense of secondhand embarrassment for Jaylan.

I kept my eyes on Jaylan, his smile painfully frozen on his face.

He quickly scanned the crowd, explaining, “She’s here, Mayor Arlen. My wife has been busy greeting

the guests, oh… there she is…” The moment he spotted me, he smiled with relief.

Renata, who was still standing beside him, followed his gaze towards me.

With a graceful smile, I walked over, extending my hand, “You flatter me, Mayor Arlen. Any success

Medsafe Liyah Inc. has achieved is due to the collective effort of all our employees.”

Mayor Arlen’s face lit up with approval as he shook my hand, he then turned to his wife and introduced

me, “This is the true leader of Medsafe Liyah Inc., a woman who is every bit as capable as any man.

I’ve heard so much about her, and she’s indeed extraordinary! You should definitely get to know her

when you have the chance!”

His introduction undoubtedly drew much attention, with many media cameras focusing on me. It was

indeed ironic. While I was being lambasted online, I was hailed as an elite by the mayor here. Isn’t that

ironic?

The translators quickly relayed the mayor’s words to the foreign guests.

Immediately, exclamations of admiration could be heard from the wives of the foreign guests.

The mayor’s wife, a woman of no ordinary stature, held my hand and smiled, “Indeed, I’ve heard about

you. You were one of the top ten young entrepreneurs in Goldenvale Town, one of the few women in

business. I remember you clearly from my time at the city’s labor union!”

Mayor Arlen laughed heartily, telling the foreign guests, “Our city, Goldenvale Town, has many young

female entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions. We have a wealth of talent that should novelbin

not be underestimated!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a glint of darkness flash through Renata’s eyes.

Chapter 243

After his declaration, Mayor Arlen, accompanied by a group of followers, briskly stepped inside,

heading straight for the podium. There was no need for a host; his style was decisive and swift.

Renata stood there awkwardly, glancing at Jaylan.

But Jaylan had no time for her emotions. He took my hand and followed in the Mayor’s footsteps to the

front of the stage.

The celebration party tonight was swarmed with media from all walks of life. After all, this wasn’t just a

celebration for Medsafe Liyah Inc. but also a thank-you reception for the city’s recent investment

project.

Naturally, all the major radio and television stations were present.

Mayor Arlen ascended the stage and got straight to the point, reporting on the results of the investment

conference to the media and public below. His speech was brief and concise, presenting only

successful data, without a shred of superfluous talk.

You had to give it to him; Mayor Arlen was a man of action.

Then, he invited the representative of the foreign guests to share their impressions of Goldenvale Town

and their investment plans and objectives for cooperation.

This representative was none other than the Regional CEO of the Wilson Group, who had just signed a

cooperation contract with Medsafe Liyah Inc.

He was a hulking, suave and competent man, his speech making everyone’s eyes gleam. He

mentioned his strong belief in Goldenvale Town’s investment environment and his desire to build a

medical transit station here for all of country, and even the world, providing timely treatment for patients

worldwide.

So, his primary purpose for coming to Goldenvale Town, was to invest in healthcare. He stated that this

was the Wilson Group’s direction for development in the coming years.

His speech inspired many, not just those in the medical industry, but also those in related sectors,

revealing potential business opportunities.

Attracting a famous consortium like the Wilson Group was undoubtedly a pioneering move for

Goldenvale Town, naturally leading to a chain reaction.

I couldn’t help but be shocked. No wonder Ronan was here; his public identity was that of a major

boss, and he wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this. novelbin

I couldn’t help but glance at him. He was attentively listening to the speech of the Regional CEO of the

Wilson Group. Noticing my gaze, he turned to look at me. Our eyes met, and I felt a sense of mystery

about him. He was so unpredictable!

Honestly, what made him a stranger to me wasn’t just his face, but the experiences he’d had during our

years apart. His disappearance over those years was extremely intriguing to me.

He subtly raised an eyebrow at me, prompting me to quickly avert my eyes. After all, in this setting, I

was supposed to not know him.

Jaylan, sitting next to me, was also intently listening to the speech, although his focus was different

from mine. He leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, “Dear, did you hear that? We’re on board this

ship now. We’re set for life. Admit it, your husband has an eye for opportunities!”

His words were so outrageous that I wanted to slap him. Couldn’t he show some decency? His ‘eye for

opportunities’? How shameless could he be?

I glanced at him, smiled faintly, and said, “Then make sure to seize this opportunity. It’s easy to get on a

big ship, but surviving the storms is the real challenge.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, confidently saying, “Don’t worry! I won’t miss any opportunity!”

I didn’t catch what he meant by ‘any opportunity’. But the hand he placed on my waist made me stiffen

instinctively. I was at a point where I found his touch extremely repulsive. Every time he touched me,

those nauseating images would resurface, making me incredibly uncomfortable.

Not to mention, he was infected with a loathsome disease, making me avoid him at all costs.

Meanwhile, I noticed another gaze fixed on me. Instinctively, I scanned the crowd around me…

Chapter 244

Indeed, my gaze met with Renata’s eyes. Seeing my unexpected glance, she swiftly responded with a

subtle nod and a smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I reciprocated with a polite smile and averted my eyes. But in that fleeting moment, I locked eyes with

Jerome’s hawk-like, ominous stare. Undeterred, I maintained eye contact before subtly shifting my

gaze away.

Yet, for some reason, I felt a lingering sense of unease. Jerome was not an employee at Medsafe Liyah

Inc., yet he seemed to know the ins and outs of the company. As Jaylan had accused him, he had

become the puppet master behind the scenes at Medsafe Liyah Inc., which I found deeply unsettling.

I didn’t even feel like scolding Jaylan for his incompetence anymore. I initially thought he had finally

gotten a grip on managing Medsafe Liyah Inc. over the years, only to discover he had let such a

significant threat slip under the radar. If this wasn’t incompetence, what was?

His wife’s hard-earned empire was manipulated by outsiders. An impressive feat indeed.

Of course, who knew how many traitors lurked behind the scenes? Covet gained ahead without being

aware of danger behind. How many beasts might be lurking behind the darkness?

It was only now that I realized how blind I had been to Jaylan’s flaws, his ostentatious behavior, and his

superficiality. It wasn’t that I was oblivious to these traits, but rather, I had chosen to turn a blind eye. I

used tolerance and avoidance as an excuse for his behavior.

Yes, there was an element of escapism.

Only at this moment did I realize how foolish, ridiculous, and tragic I’ve been! I was merely deluding

myself, using his shamelessness as a reason to tolerate him!

I was truly grateful that I finally woke up and understood that an angel could never dwell in a filthy soul!

He was nothing more than a maggot in a gutter, fit only to associate with flies.

From the moment I saw his obscene photos, my heart turned cold, and I felt utterly disgusted.

It was then that I realized how challenging it would be to root out the Dawson family’s infestation. My

intuition told me that Marissa’s death was their doing, but I couldn’t find a shred of evidence. This

realization sent chills down my spine. I felt a pang of regret, thinking Marissa might have died too soon.

If she had held on a little longer, I would have been able to discover who this AzureEnchantress truly

was from her.

I had an ominous feeling once again.

The speech by the Regional CEO of Wilson Group was met with enthusiastic applause. After all, those

attending the cocktail party were influential businessmen and entrepreneurs from Goldenvale Town.

They could smell the business opportunities hidden in every word spoken by these key figures.

It was clear that another wave of commercial chance is about to hit Goldenvale Town!

As the foreign guests left the stage, I saw Renata preparing to ascend the stage, only to be halted by a novelbin

voice.

“I suggest we invite the original founder of Medsafe Liyah Inc., Ms. Aaliyah Wilburn, to share her

entrepreneurial journey in Goldenvale Town. Her experiences, the highs and lows, will undoubtedly be

of great help to our local business development and upcoming economic construction!

As administrators of Goldenvale Town, we should listen to their real thoughts and needs, which will

help us improve our service quality, fix the gaps and provide more practical business opportunities!

Let’s welcome our young female entrepreneur!”

The voice belonged to Mayor Arlen. With his words, who wouldn’t play along? The room instantly filled

with enthusiastic applause!

Chapter 245

This was completely unexpected. I never thought that Mayor Arlen would throw in such a proposal,

catching me off guard.

Even Jaylan, who was standing next to me, looked at me in surprise.

I mean, this was supposed to be his celebration party, and yet, I seemed to be stealing his thunder!

To be honest, hearing that proposal all of a sudden left me feeling flattered. I hadn’t been in the

spotlight for quite some time, let alone making speeches. I was definitely nervous.

But when all eyes were on me, I gathered up my courage, took a deep breath, and waved back at

everyone.

Jaylan quickly whispered in my ear, “Aaliyah, can you handle it?”

His question clearly held doubt. His limelight would be taken away if I took the stage, after all.

I smiled confidently at him, not hesitating as I strutted towards the podium.

I muttered to myself, determined to show him that I was more than capable of handling the situation.

Renata, for her part, probably didn’t expect Mayor Arlen to change the course of events. She was

completely overlooked, reduced to a mere bystander.

Seeing me confidently making my way onto the stage, she awkwardly stepped aside.

Once I was on the stage, a wave of nostalgia hit me. This stage was rightfully mine, and it was my poor

choices that almost made me lose it.

I took a moment to look at the crowd, which fell quiet instantly. I gathered my emotions and started my

speech, expressing my genuine feelings.

I began by talking about the initial purpose of my business. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. From the

inception of the company to its growth and finally the establishment of the corporation, I covered all the

issues raised by the mayor. I discussed the challenges encountered during the process and the plans I

had as a businesswoman, hoping for government support…

I boldly shared everything, my eloquent speech earning enthusiastic applause, because I was voicing

the concerns of all the businessmen present.

In the midst of the applause, I saw their approving nods and praises.

The hall was filled with deafening applause – all for me.

At that moment, I felt reborn, like I found myself again. As I stepped down from the stage, Catherine

quickly came over, hugged me, and whispered, “You’re finally back!”

I confidently smiled at her and said, “I never left!”

Indeed, I never did. The days spent lying in bed were because I was too naive, believing there were no

evils in this world. Since I’ve already faced death once, what more do I have to fear?

It’s only when we are desperate that we find hope!

Mayor Arlen certainly made things interesting. After my speech, he took the stage again for a closing

remark, announcing cutting off the tedious procedures. He left more time for the businessmen to

network.

This was undoubtedly a huge relief. With such a good opportunity, who would want to listen to endless

speeches? Everyone was eager to seize their opportunity.

Many people came over to chat with me, but I didn’t receive any praise from the Dawson family, not

even from Jaylan.

At that moment, he was busy networking with Mayor Arlen, basking in the glory of his family’s business.

Ronan came over, deliberately shaking my hand, whispering, “I see the confident you again, but more

mature, steady, and assertive!”

Finding my voice, I replied, “I have to be strong, for I am a mother now. I am not the same person as

before. I will protect my children and my interests, and I will not back down.” After saying this, I realized

that my words might not have sounded too pleasing to the ears for him.

Chapter 246

Feeling that I had spoken out of turn, I quickly glanced at Ronan.

Ronan was beaming, completely unaffected. “I can’t wait to see this,” he chuckled.

At that moment, Mayor Arlen, accompanied by Noah Atwood, approached. He introduced Bennett to

Jaylan, who had been loyally by their side, emphasizing Bennett’s important status.

Jaylan looked flattered and quickly shook hands with Bennett. From his fawning expression, it was

clear that Bennett was the person Jaylan had been most eager to meet.

Because Jaylan had known all along that this was the key figure my father had been privately

discussing. He and Irving had even plotted an exciting plan because of him.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of intentional matchmaking in the air. Could it be…

I quietly excused myself from their conversation, my suspicions growing heavier.

Gevena walked over with Mayor Arlen’s wife and gave me a discreet thumbs up. “Well done! You’ll be

front-page news tomorrow!”

I shrugged, light-heartedly retorting, “We’ll see about that. Don’t forget I’m still wearing the label of a

potential suspect.”

They all laughed. Mrs. Arlen looked at me with trust in her eyes. “The innocent shall be proven so. I

trust our police officers won’t wrongly accuse a good person. They’ll prove your innocence!”

“Mrs. Arlen, more than my innocence, I hope we can find the child soon. He’s so young and innocent.” I

expressed my heartfelt concern.

Recently, I had been having an uneasy feeling about Evan, so I genuinely hoped we would find him

soon.

Mrs. Arlen glanced around before whispering, “Marissa’s suicide has been ruled a homicide. I believe

the matter of the child will be resolved soon.”

“A homicide?”

Gevena quickly shushed me. “The conclusion hasn’t been officially released yet. It’s not the right time.”

I was a bit shocked. Even though I had had my suspicions, hearing it confirmed still sent chills down my

spine.

Just as I was about to say something, Jessica sauntered over, grinning from ear to ear and warmly

greeted me as “sister-in-law.”

Her lips were addressing me, but her gaze was on Gevena and Mrs. Arlen. I knew she wasn’t here to

greet me, but to meet these two women. novelbin

Gevena gave me a knowing look, and I immediately understood.

I put on my act, warmly taking Jessica’s hand and introducing her to Mrs. Arlen and Gevena. “Ladies,

this is my only sister-in-law from my husband’s family. She’s very capable, currently managing Medsafe

Liyah Inc.’s finances, and is a whizz at household affairs! She’ll be interacting with you more in the

future, so please take care of her!”

Jessica was obviously pleased with my introduction, and her attitude towards me warmed considerably.

She clung to my arm even tighter!

Gevena knew what I was doing and quickly added to Mrs. Arlen, “Aaliyah is famously virtuous. She

gets along very well with her in-laws. Don’t let her career-oriented personality fool you, she manages

both work and home very well!”

Jessica merely smiled, not adding anything. She wasn’t about to help me out, the ungrateful wretch.

Gevena continued, “Jessica, right? Aaliyah has actually mentioned you before. She said you’re very

smart and an excellent assistant. It’s just a shame she fell ill before she had a chance to meet you!”

Gevena was clearly trying to elevate my status. The implication was clear: without me, Jessica had no

chance of meeting them.

Jessica, always the opportunist, quickly clung to my arm. “Mrs. Arlen, Mrs. Atwood, you flatter me.

Aaliyah has always spoken highly of you two. She’s always encouraged me to network more with you,

but due to work, I rarely get the chance. Today, it’s my honor to finally meet the two of you!”

You see, the Dawsons all had a knack for flattery.

“Hey… there’s no need for such formalities. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future.

Just like Aaliyah said, we should all network more. You never know what opportunities might come up!”

Gevena’s words were like bait, hooking Jessica, the catfish in the mud.

Sure enough, Jessica looked flabbergasted. “I definitely will!”

Then she turned to me, ” Aaliyah, take me with you to the next gathering!”

Gevena added, “Yes, Aaliyah, bring her along more often!”

I quickly interjected, “Just remember not to leave me behind!”

I then smoothly handed Jessica over to Gevena.

Chapter 247

Then, I retreated into a corner with Mrs. Arlen, chatting for a while. She asked me a lot of questions

about Evan – more questions than the police had asked.

What surprised me more is that she didn’t hold back and asked about the scandal between Jaylan and

Marissa!

Clearly, she already knew about my ordeal.

Surprised as I was, I had to tell her the truth. She also asked about my condition when I was ill, and I

didn’t hide anything.

Her face turned grim, “I didn’t expect Jaylan to be so audacious. Why would you tolerate such

arrogance? Why didn’t you call the police!”

I chuckled lightly, saying seriously, “It’s not that I could tolerate it, the matter is complicated and

involves a lot. There are many mysteries that I can’t explain.”

Mrs. Arlen looked at me with confusion, her eyes full of questions. So, I briefly explained the strange

things that couldn’t be explained.

Mrs. Arlen was shocked and looked at me incredulously, “Are you saying that even public officials are

involved?”

I nodded solemnly, “Probably!”

She swore fiercely, “Those bastards! They dare to ignore the law!”

“That’s why I’m worried, the child may be in danger!” I hinted anxiously, “The one who took the child

should be someone familiar!”

“So, the child’s mother should know the child’s whereabouts?” Mrs. Arlen was clever, “Otherwise, she

wouldn’t have confronted you so aggressively!”

“But now, Marissa is dead without any evidence!” I spoke bluntly, “All this indicates that there must be a

mastermind behind the scenes!”

“It seems like there’s no smoke without fire!” Mrs. Arlen muttered, which made me jump. It seemed that

Mrs. Arlen knew something, but I didn’t think it appropriate to inquire further.

While we were talking, I noticed Jerome, with his hands in his pockets, weaving his way through the

crowd and heading outside.

Just then, someone came over to greet Mrs. Arlen. We exchanged pleasantries, and when I looked up

again, I saw Clara, like a sprightly goldfish, also slipping out of the hall. From Clara’s cautious

expression, it seemed she was trying to keep a low profile.

An idea flashed in my mind. Was it Jerome who had called Clara away?

I quickly signaled to Hannah, and quietly instructed her to check if it was Jerome who had called Clara.

Hannah accepted the task and leisurely left the hall.

Just then, Hazel strutted over. I knew exactly what she was up to.

Honestly, her nouveau riche attitude made me nauseous, but it was too late to avoid her. I forced a

smile and greeted her with a saccharine, “Hazel!”

Oddly enough, she didn’t act as strange as usual, but stood beside me with a full-faced smile, giving

the impression of a harmonious mother-daughter-in-law relationship.

I was puzzled. Who had coached Hazel? She had even learned how to play both sides.

Gevena, a smart person, knew the tension between Hazel and me. She quickly stepped in to smooth

things over, “Mrs. Dawson, you’re so lucky to have such an outstanding daughter-in-law like Aaliyah.

Look how she’s taken the whole family to new heights!”

“Yes, our Aaliyah is quite outstanding! She’s the lucky one, having such distinguished friends. It’s all

thanks to your support that we have what we have today!”

After saying that, she lavished praise on Mrs. Arlen, which gave me goosebumps.

Seeing that they were getting along, I quietly exited their circle, keeping an eye on the door, but

Hannah had yet to return.

Curiosity was getting the better of me, and I made my way towards the door, greeting the guests along

the way.

Chapter 248

The corridor was fairly bustling with guests, chatting away in small groups.

This was a circular balcony on the top floor. I scanned the area, finding several multifunctional halls.

Through the corridor, there were restrooms, lounge areas, changing rooms, an electrical room, and a

storage closet.

I looked down the corridor, catching sight of a few guests sneaking off to the restroom. But there was

no sign of Jerome or Clara, and certainly no sign of Hannah, who had followed them earlier.

Mildly puzzled, I headed towards the restrooms.

It had been a while since I had worn heels. Walking was genuinely tiring, especially on the soft carpet.

It was like walking through sand.

The further I moved down the corridor, the fewer people there were. The noise from the main hall faded

to a faint murmur. It was eerily quiet.

The restroom area was open plan, with a large mirror dividing it into two. On the left was the men’s

room, and on the right was the ladies’. novelbin

I stopped by the sink and looked at myself in the mirror. My makeup was untouched, effectively hiding

any signs of fatigue. It was an understatement to say I was glowing.

I was particularly pleased with the dress I had chosen for the night. It was understated yet luxurious,

the perfect complement to my radiant complexion.

But my focus wasn’t on my appearance. I rinsed my hands under the tap, straining to hear any sounds

from the restrooms.

A man entered the restroom area. He saw me and greeted enthusiastically, “Mrs. Dawson!”

I nodded in response and he entered the men’s room. I was pretty sure that all of the guests knew who

I was, so his greeting wasn’t surprising.

I entered the empty ladies’ room. After waiting a few minutes to make sure the man had left, I stepped

back out into the corridor.

I was puzzled and wondered if they had left the area.

I stepped out of the restroom and looked down the corridor again. It took a sharp turn, leading to the

lounges. I wasn’t ready to give up just yet, so I moved further down the corridor. I thought I heard

voices. I looked back; the restroom was out of sight.

I hesitated, contemplating whether to continue. I could hear faint voices, but they disappeared and

reappeared unpredictably.

I leaned against the wall to ease my fatigue and anxiety. I held my breath and listened, but all I could

hear was my own heartbeat.

I laughed at myself. There were no voices, just echoes from the main hall.

Just as I was about to turn around and head back, I heard a low growl. It startled me. The voice was

deep and muffled, but I couldn’t make out what was being said.

Chills ran down my spine and goosebumps sprouted on my skin. There were definitely people in there.

But I had no idea which room they were in.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.

I managed to calm myself down. I thought, since I’m already here, I might as well check out who’s in

there. Since someone had growled, it was clear that the situation inside wasn’t cheerful.

Driven by curiosity, I took a few more steps forward. Sure enough, I could hear voices. “You already

missed one opportunity! Don’t tell me… give you another chance.”

“I want to see…”

Two men were speaking. Their words were incoherent and I couldn’t understand what they were

saying.

I was confused. Who were they?

It was definitely not Clara.

“Jerome, don’t you…”

Jerome? It was definitely Jerome.

I felt a surge of adrenaline and tiptoed a few steps further in. The voices were coming from one of the

rooms. I mustered up the courage to get closer.

“…Use this opportunity, gain momentum, you stupid… someone, dead…” This voice was strange. I

guessed it was a foreigner speaking in broken English.

I held my breath and leaned closer. The door wasn’t fully closed. There was a small crack. I dared to

take a peek inside to see who the other man was.

Just as I reached out to push the door slightly open, a thunderous sound startled me. I almost let out a

scream. My foot hit a trash can by the door, making a loud ‘thud’.

“Who’s there?” a voice from inside asked.

Frightened, I quickly stepped back, but footsteps from inside indicated someone was coming to check

the door.

Chapter 249

Just then, the door behind me swung open, and a big, strong hand yanked me inside…

Before I could even scream, my mouth was covered, and my body, now beyond my control, was

dragged into the room. The door slammed shut and locked, all in the blink of an eye. I had no time to

react, no time to understand what was happening.

I heard the door to the adjacent room being pulled open, and my heart pounded in my chest.

“Who’s there?… Who’s out there?”

The voice belonged to Jerome. Who was he shouting at? Had he noticed us?

I was so terrified that I barely dared to breathe. My heart ached from the rapid pounding, and my body

felt like jelly.

The large hand held me up, pulling me into a broad, comforting embrace. The hand that had covered

my mouth moved to cradle my head, pressing it against a masculine chest. My face was buried into his

shirt, and the scent of him filled my nostrils, making my head spin.

But I ignored all these sensations, focusing on the sounds outside.

My head was held tight, immobilized, and I didn’t dare to move for fear of being discovered.

Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I heard the doorknob behind me being twisted.

“Who’s in there? Open up!”

Jerome’s voice was sharp and intimidating. I shivered instinctively, closing my eyes and burying my

face deeper into the stranger’s chest.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen if the door was opened.

Suddenly, thunder cracked the sky. The deafening sound nearly made me shriek. Two knocks outside

the room followed, and the doorknob rattled again.

I felt like the world was about to end, my hands clutching the man’s shirt in desperation.

After a moment of silence, the footsteps moved away from the door and I crumbled, leaning against the novelbin

door to catch my breath. I could feel him relax as well.

Before I had a chance to see who he was, voices echoed from outside again. “Who’s there?”

“I thought I heard something,” Jerome’s uncertain voice said.

Suddenly, I was spun around and pressed against the door. I was about to protest when the man

whispered, “Listen!”

His breath tickled my ear and I held still, pressing myself against the door and holding my breath.

“I don’t see anyone,” Jerome finally said.

A rough voice replied, “You’d better handle this yourself. We’re running out of time. Do whatever you

think is best.”

Then I heard footsteps moving towards the interior safety exit and then fading away.

It seemed the man had left.

Just as I was starting to relax, the doorknob rattled again and I tensed up.

With a loud bang, the door was kicked. The man behind me immediately pulled me against him.

I flinched, pressing myself against him as his arm wrapped around my waist.

I was certain it was Jerome venting his frustration by kicking the door. That lunatic! I cursed in my mind.

The next second, I finally heard the fading footsteps outside.

After straining my ears for what seemed like an eternity, I was sure that they were gone.

I collapsed against the door, completely drained.

Only then did I realize the danger I was still in. I spun around, pushing the man behind me away, and

yelled, “You…”

Chapter 250

My gaze faltered, and I was left speechless as I realized that the man holding me was none other than

Ronan. This totally threw me off!

“You… what are you doing here? You…” I stammered, full of confusion as I quietly asked him. Could it

be that he was here to eavesdrop too?

Moreover, it seemed like he had been here longer than I had. How come I had not noticed when he

came out?

Upon seeing my intense stare, Ronan simply shrugged, wrapping his arms around himself, not backing

down. “What do you think?” he asked, his voice tinged with annoyance. “You’re too reckless. Don’t ever

do such risky things again!” novelbin

“How was I supposed to know it was going to rain and thunder so heavily?” I argued, feeling a bit

defiant. If he could do it, why couldn’t I?

“What’s rain got to do with anything? Do you even know what kind of person you’re dealing with?

Jerome is a lot more ruthless than you think. Curiosity killed the cat, you know?” His voice grew stern,

his face hardened.

I snorted dismissively at his words, rolling my eyes at him. Remembering the way he held me close

earlier, my cheeks inexplicably flushed. I was speechless. What the hell was this?

I was still in marriage with three children, for heaven’s sake. Wasn’t this practically committing a sin?

I knew the scent I had smelled earlier was familiar! We had spent so much time close to each other

back in the day, that scent was unmistakable.

“Hmph… Speaking of which, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you stumbled upon this by

accident?” I countered, before asking curiously, “Did you hear what they were saying?”

He looked at me and smirked. He leaned in closer, his hands resting on the door, trapping me against

his body. His eyes were fixed on my face, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re trembling, yet you still

dared to get close to a man. You’ve got quite some nerve, right?”

He continued to stare at me, his questioning gaze almost intimidating. “What if I hadn’t been the one

here today? What do you think would have happened?”

I was so irritated by his words that I rolled my eyes again. When had he become so shameless? I was

still getting used to the unfamiliar face before me, yet he had the audacity to say such things.

I stared back at him, my mind racing, trying to figure out how to counter this familiar stranger.

Without warning, he leaned in and quickly pecked my nose.

Boom… My brain went blank.

I stood there, leaning against the door, staring blankly at him. He gazed back at me, our eyes locked. I

felt like I was about to lose my breath.

This had never happened before. If he had dared to do this back in the day, I… I would have followed

him to the ends of the earth, waiting for him, no matter how long it took, without any regrets. But now,

his actions had come twelve years too late. What was he trying to achieve now? This was rude!

My mind was a whirl of protest, excitement, and regret…

His eyes lit up with a passionate glow as he slowly leaned closer. His familiar scent enveloped me,

filling my nostrils.

Just when his lips were about to meet mine…

Chapter 231

I overheard my dad talking about the kids getting involved in some sort of surveying project, and it took

me aback. I couldn’t help but ask him about it.

My dad was quick to fill me in, “They’re learning about the history of Oldtown Avenue, the size and

location of each house, how long each family has been living here…”

“You’re having them do this?” I was taken aback, “They’re just kids!”

“You’re underestimating them,” my dad confidently responded. “They’re the future, you know, and their

brains are capable of far more than you might think. Just wait and see what they come up with!”

“Wow, dad… You really think big!” This really surprised me. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what that

would look like.

“Just you wait and see!” he said confidently. “They won’t disappoint you. They’re already equipped for

this. After all, Oldtown Avenue is their future too, they might as well start getting to know every inch of it

now. They’ll be the ones to continue its story!”

My dad’s words got me cheer up. I couldn’t wait to fly back to Silverdale City to see how my kids were

doing.

“By the way, dad, I might bring another kid back with me – Fidelia Dawson. Do you remember her?” I

felt the need to give my dad a heads up, not because I was afraid he wouldn’t accept her, but to

prepare myself.

“Seems familiar. The quiet, well-behaved one from their oldest son, right?” My dad’s memory was

always good.

“That’s right, you remember correctly. I ran into Camilla today, and she told me that Fidelia is often

alone at home and feels lonely. I mentioned Silverdale City, and she seemed okay with the idea. She’s

a good woman, doesn’t get along with the Dawsons, and can’t look after Fidelia. She’s been having

some health issues lately, and I feel sorry for her,” I explained.

“Well, bring her along then. The vacation has just started! It’s good for the kids to spend time together.

They’re family after all. They’re the ones who will inherit this world, so the more relatives, the better.”

As expected, my dad accepted the idea without any complaints and even supported me.

I couldn’t help but think of Evan Dawson, and I felt a pang of sadness. I wondered how he was doing,

with his mom gone and no idea where he was now. He was a poor kid as well.

With that thought, I lost my enthusiasm and lazily told my dad over the phone, “I’ll hang up now.

Whether Fidelia comes or not depends on her. If she wants to, I’ll bring her.”

“Good, don’t force her,” my dad said affectionately, and then he quickly asked, “Oh, have they found

that kid yet?”

“Not yet,” I said, feeling a bit heartbroken. “The police are doing their best.”

My dad didn’t say anything else, and we ended the call.

Holding my phone, I paced around the room for a while, picturing Evan’s chubby, innocent face.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself not to think about it. Some things were out of my control.

Then I thought about Irving Bradlee. I wasn’t afraid of any tricks he might play with Jaylan Dawson, but

I was worried about something else.

What if – and I’m just saying what if – Irving did something to Janetta Makynzie? How would I deal with

the situation with Irving then?

I needed to plan ahead. I didn’t want to have a falling out with the Makynzie sisters over this, so I had

to be prepared for it.

What I didn’t expect was that my concerns would soon become a reality, creating a huge uproar. But

that’s a story for another time.

Chapter 232

The thought of those mortgaged contracts suddenly hit me, and I hurriedly spun on my heels towards

the study. I found the key and opened the safe, only to find it empty. Just as I had suspected, the novelbin

contracts were indeed gone.

For good measure, I rang up my friend who worked at the bank to double-check things for me. She told

me that the repayment process was actually set in motion a week ago, and the final procedures were

just completed yesterday.

I asked her to keep a special eye on my account and notify me immediately of any activity. Having dealt

with banks multiple times, I knew their procedures well. Large transactions needed appointments, so

there would be enough time to prepare.

She told me that each bank had its own rules, and her bank recently introduced a new one. Customers

who had just repaid their mortgage needed to wait a full payment cycle before they could apply for

another one.

So, there would be no new mortgages in the near future!

Upon hearing this, I breathed a sigh of relief. The wait would be stress-free for me, and I wouldn’t give

Jaylan any chance to act.

When I returned downstairs, I found the new glass installed. My heart lightened.

I checked the time and called Catherine, asking her if she was going to the celebration party tonight.

“Of course, I’m going! I can’t miss such a big event. I just got the company’s invitation to dress up and

show up,” she replied immediately.

I chuckled, “Then I am heading to the salon, do you want to join?”

“Absolutely! Who will entertain you if I’m not there? I need to cover you in case something happens!”

She replied, teasingly. “Which one? Mane Event?”

I nodded in agreement. Catherine was always the best wing woman for things I couldn’t handle myself.

“Alright, I’ll book it now, and then head out with Hannah!” I replied.

“Sounds good! I’ll come straight from the hospital!” Catherine hung up after that.

As regular customers and premium members of Mane Event, we were greeted by professional stylists

upon arrival.

I had my short hair trimmed and got my makeup done to match my champagne-colored dress.

Catherine arrived before I was even done.

She gave me an appraising look and pointed at my dress, “You’re the boss lady, aren’t you dressing a

bit too plain?”

I looked at myself in the mirror and retorted, “Plain? Does a boss lady need to be all glammed up? I

prefer to keep it simple, since I’m not fighting for attention.”

Bob, the stylist, chuckled at my response. When I gave him a look, he quickly covered up his laughter.

“Champagne is a color of elegance. Its understated luxury suits your complexion perfectly. Combined

with your chic short hair, it’s definitely a fashion-forward look.”

I smirked, “You guys are too sweet. This dress is something I bought a while ago. I was in a rush today

and didn’t have time to shop. I’m just showing up, why should I dress up like a peacock?”

Catherine snorted, “Well, you never know. Your husband Dawslug has his own fan club, you think you

can keep a low profile?”

I glared at her through the mirror and she quickly shut up, realizing her slip.

Catherine is like my other half, always speaking her mind. The fact is, most people in the beauty

industry knew Jaylan.

He was a model example of a successful transformation and rapid rise, a famous figure in the

Goldenvale Town beauty industry. Everyone knew his Cinderella story of marrying me and his sudden

rise to fortune. It was the hottest gossip among them.

Many were envious of his good luck, feeling off-balance whenever they saw him. Jaylan was always

proud of his story, and whenever he came to the salon, he was dressed in his finest – as if he was

about to walk the runway at Fashion Week.

Chapter 221

Irving, using his classic passive-aggressive tone, continued to speak, “Well, if Gevena says so, I must

adhere! I’ll just head out for now. But I’ll still do what I want to do!”

Saying so, he threw a provocative glance at a noticeably riled up Janice, adding fuel to the fire.

Addressing Janice with pretentious sincerity, he continued shamelessly, “Janetta and I have been

married for years. There’s a solid emotional foundation between us. Even if she wakes up, she may not

necessarily drive me away! I just want to tell Janice to try to see things from her sister’s perspective.

Our kid is grown up. What’s the point of making things hard for yourself or for someone who genuinely

cares, right?”

What the hell! I couldn’t believe Irving was such a tough nut to crack. What a terrible man!

Even as an outsider, I wanted to kick his ass.

“Irving, don’t sugarcoat your words. Stop giving me crap like ‘we’ve been married so long’. It’s ages

ago, and your new wife is becoming an old one. Who are you trying to fool with this pretense of deep

affection? If you’ve truly had a heart, the best course would be to play dead! Get lost and stopping

showing up in my face to make me sick!” Janice, despite her anger, was quick-witted and sharp-

tongued.

Everyone overlooked Nettie’s combativeness. She resumed in a disdainful tone and spoke again.

“Aunt Janice, mind your own business! Stop acting like a savior. You can’t represent my mom, and you

definitely can’t represent me!”

Nettie’s words were harsh. I couldn’t help but stare at her, thinking how Janetta had such a mean

daughter. She was so much like her bastard father. It must be in their genes!

I was so thankful for my loving parents. Otherwise, I couldn’t guarantee my Monique wouldn’t be

corrupted by the Dawson family! That would be truly horrifying.

Janice suddenly stood up, taking a large step forward. No one expected her to slap Nettie across the

face.

Nettie was left dumbfounded, staring at the furious Janice.

The room fell silent.

The next moment, Janice clutched her stomach, letting out a low groan, and collapsed.

Catherine screamed, “Oh my… Blood! She’s bleeding. Janice!”

I was shocked, looking at the red stain spreading across Janice’s dress.

“Doctor, doctor! Someone help!” I ran out of the room, my voice trembling and breaking.

The chaos in the room was only interrupted when Gevena roared, “Irving, look what you’ve done! Get

the hell out! Janice… are you okay?” She held Janice, calling her name anxiously.

Janice was groaning in pain, her face pale. The situation looked dire.

Nettie, still reeling from the slap, had turned ghostly pale. She kept stepping back, seemingly forgetting

the slap.

Holding Janice, Gevena reassured, “Don’t panic. I’m here. Don’t be afraid!”

She tried to sound confident, but her voice was shaking as if she had freaked out.

After calling for the doctor, I mustered my strength to run back into the room, my legs barely supporting

me.

At that moment, others in the room slinked away silently, too afraid to approach.

I joined Gevena in supporting Janice. Blood was dripping down her legs and pooling on the floor

beneath her.

Catherine, a young unmarried woman, had never seen such a gruesome sight. She was terrified and

dazed.

I shouted to her, “Catherine, call Baber quickly.”

She snapped out of her daze and fumbled with Janice’s phone to dial.

Meanwhile, medical staff rushed in. A muscular doctor lifted Janice onto a stretcher and instructed her

to control her breathing.

We were all focused on Janice, whose condition was worsening rapidly. Her bleeding was

uncontrollable.

Suddenly, someone yelled, “Look, the patient moved. Look…”

Chapter 222

Janice grabbed the gurney that was about to wheel away and sat up, straining to look at Janetta on the

bed.

We all followed her gaze.

Indeed, Janetta’s hand was clenched into a fist, shaking continuously. At that moment, I almost broke

into tears. It meant that Janetta was conscious. She must have sensed that her sister was in

danger,which lead to her agitation.

The monitor on the bedside table started beeping, sending a panic through the room.

Janice gritted her teeth, grabbed me by my arm, and said anxiously, “Aaliyah, please watch over my

sister for me. I beg you!”

I nodded fervently. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she’s okay! Doctor, please save her! Go…”

After saying this, I pushed the gurney. The medical staff quickly started wheeling Janice towards the

emergency room.

Gevena gave me a look. We exchanged glances, and she followed Janice.

I stood rooted to the spot and watched them disappear from sight before rushing to Janetta’s bedside.

“Janetta!” I called out, clutching her trembling hand. Regardless of whether she could hear me, I tried

to soothe her, “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine!”

By this time, Irving had called for the medical staff of this ward, and was instructing them about

something.

Catherine had also finished her call and returned, looking at us helplessly.

Seeing Irving reaching out to touch Janetta, I barked, “Don’t touch her!”

Everyone in the room was stunned by my outburst, all eyes on me. Irving stared at me, his eyes filled

with confusion and a hint of menace. I didn’t hesitate. “Since Janice has entrusted Janetta to me,

nobody can touch her in my presence! Mr. Bradlee, you’ve promised Gevena to leave, and you’d better

keep your word!”

At this point, I was truly furious. I had had enough of their father-daughter drama and didn’t want to give

them any leeway.

“Mrs. Dawson, do you know what you’re doing?” Irving questioned me coldly.

“Of course I do!” I replied righteously, “You don’t need to worry about anything here! You should leave

now! If there’s any news, Janice will inform you if she feels the need!”

“Don’t act high and mighty here. You’re an outsider. It would be wise for you to shut up!” Irving snarled

at me, his eyes filled with hostility. novelbin

“What if I don’t?” I stood my ground, unyielding, facing him head-on. “Don’t forget that you’re also an

outsider here!”

On hearing my words, Irving was clearly displeased. His gaze became even more piercing and his tone

more sinister. “Mrs. Dawson, I didn’t expect you to be such a busybody! This woman is the mother of

my child. It’s perfectly justified for me to be involved. Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think

you can handle the consequences if something happens to her?”

“If you’d get lost, nothing would happen to her!” I stood in his way, “I, Aaliyah Wilburn, will take care of

this today! But I’m curious why you’re so bothered by whether Janetta wakes up!”

“You…” Irving glared at me, his jaw clenched, his eyes bloodshot.

“Get out of the way!” I barked. Then, without paying him any heed, I instructed Catherine, “Call Dr.

Dailey immediately and tell him to check on Janetta!”

I had to prepare for an emergency. I couldn’t let Janetta out of my sight. The only person I trusted was

Dr. Dailey.

Catherine immediately took out her phone and called Dr. Dailey as told. By this time, the medical staff

had brought another gurney and moved Janetta onto it, wheeling her out.

I hurriedly followed them. Although my legs felt like jelly, I gritted my teeth and kept moving.

In the back of my mind, Logan’s words echoed. Anything could happen, and I had to be ready.

Fortunately, Catherine was always by my side. When we got to the emergency room door, Dr. Dailey

and his assistant had already arrived.

Without hesitation, I approached him, grabbed his arm, and whispered, “Dr. Dailey, I beg you. Don’t let

this patient out of your sight. She’ll be in danger otherwise. Please ensure her safety!”

Dr. Dailey nodded solemnly. Without saying a word, he went straight in with his team.

Chapter 223

Seeing Dr. Dailey enter the room with his assistant, I felt relieved. I felt my legs buckle after settling

everything. Catherine was there to catch me, her voice filled with concern, “Allie, are you okay?”

I pointed to a chair nearby. Catherine, understanding my unspoken request, helped me sit down. I

watched as Irving and a group of people, including Nettie, followed us.

I took a long look at Nettie. Her face was unreadable, eyes filled with indifference. Perhaps the sudden

and gory event had taken their toll on her. Her face was pale, and her fists clenched. She seemed on

edge.

Feeling my gaze, she turned her head towards me. Annoyance flashed in her eyes as she met my

gaze defiantly.

I held her gaze, pressing her with my own.

After a while, she looked away with her back to me, revealing a hint of guilt in her retreating eyes.

I sneered silently. “You must be guilty, haven’t you?”

She had it coming for being so heartless. No wonder Janice slapped her. She deserved it!

Meanwhile, Irving was busy on his phone, creating an annoying din.

Catherine asked worriedly, “Allie, do you think Janice will be okay? She lost so much blood… I’m

worried.”

I turned to Catherine, instructing her, “Go check on her. I’ll call Hannah to come back. If there’s any

news, let me know immediately. I’m worried, too.”

Catherine nodded. “Alright, I’m on it.”

As she started to leave, I called after her, “Wait…”

Catherine halted in her tracks as I continued, “Tell Janice not to worry about anything here. I will do

everything in my power to protect Janetta. She’s my friend, and I won’t let anything happen to her.”

My words were loud enough for everyone to hear. I saw Nettie glance at me, her expression

inscrutable.

As for Irving, he wore a mocking smile, his eyes filled with disdain.

I had seen him speaking to Janetta’s doctor earlier, so I told Catherine to get Dr. Dailey. I had to ensure

that I could hand over Janetta safe and sound when Janice was out. That was the least I could do to

honour the trust Janice placed in me.

Catherine looked at me anxiously. “Call Hannah to come back quickly! I’ll go to the obstetrics and

gynecology department after she arrives. I can’t leave you here alone.”

I urged Catherine. “I’ll be fine. Go on. Let me know if anything happens!”

Before I could call Hannah, she walked in. I was stunned and asked, “How did you know I was at the

hospital?”

She hummed in response and looked towards the emergency room. “Who’s in there?”

“Janetta!” I also looked towards the emergency room, growing increasingly anxious. I had no idea if

she would wake up.

“Is she waking up?” Hannah sat next to me, studying my face, and asked, “What happened?”

“Janice is in trouble! I don’t know how she’s doing now!” I expressed my worries, “I hope both of them

can get through this safely.”

I wanted to ask Hannah how she got back so quickly, but with Irving and others around, I didn’t want to

cause unnecessary trouble. novelbin

Waiting was agonising. I was nervous and restless. I walked over to the patio railing to get some fresh

air. I looked down and found Camilla rushing out of a corridor on the opposite side and taking the

escalator downstairs.

I was a little confused. Wasn’t she having stomach issues? Why was she on the second floor? If I

remembered correctly, the entire first floor was all operating rooms. Was her condition bad enough to

require surgery?

I asked Hannah to come over and pointed to the corridor opposite. I whispered a few words in her ear,

and she immediately went downstairs.

Chapter 224

Hannah was quickly back at my side, shaking her head at me. “I just checked. No patient is with that

name! Besides, the direction she went in is the urology ward.”

“Urology?” I was puzzled, wondering why Camilla would go to the urology ward.

Just then, there was a movement at the emergency room door, and I quickly looked over to see Dr.

Dailey coming out.

I hurriedly strode over to him and anxiously asked, “How’s the situation?”

Dr. Dailey shook his head solemnly. “It’s just a case of nerve spasms, a sign of coming to wake up. But

she hasn’t woken up yet. It might be a reaction to external stimulation. We have to keep observing!” His

gaze at me was a bit strange. I was puzzled, so I asked again, “Do you have to keep Janetta here for

observation?”

“Yes, she’ll be taken back to the ward later! It’s a good sign, but we’ll have to check on her later state novelbin

and various indicators.” Dr. Dailey explained in detail.

“How much longer will it be until she wakes up?” Irving chimed in from the side.

I glanced at him, thinking to myself that he really concerned about whether Janetta would wake up or

not. I wonder what his intentions were.

“Let her rest well! As for when she will wake up, it’s hard to tell.” Dr. Dailey couldn’t give us an accurate

answer. But somehow, I had a feeling he wasn’t telling us everything.

Twenty minutes later, Janetta was back to the ward.

Irving and Nettie both came by for a look, especially Nettie, who had observed carefully. I didn’t bother

to care about them, and sat down to watch Janetta closely.

For some reason, I felt like Janetta looked more lively than when she was initially back. Her complexion

no longer seemed so pale.

Just then, Janetta’s attending doctor came in. Irving immediately followed him to ask about the

situation. I pricked my ears to listen, and the doctor’s words were same as Dr. Dailey’s.

Irving seemed a bit disappointed. After giving a perfunctory reply, he turned to me and said, “Mrs.

Dawson, you are so dedicated, and I don’t know how to thank you more. I have something to do at the

company, so I’ll take my leave first! Mrs. Dawson, please keep looking after her!”

Without lifting my eyelids, I watched him awkwardly laugh and head for the door, but suddenly he

turned back, leaning in to me. “Oh, Mrs. Dawson. I forgot to share a news with you.”

I instinctively recoiled, looking at him with annoyance. “If you have something to say, say it. And keep

your distance!”

Nettie was standing not far away, watching me.

Irving looked at me with a smirk, straightening his portly figure as if waiting for my response or

attention. But my eyes were only on Janetta.

Seeing I wasn’t paying attention, Irving didn’t seem embarrassed. He laughed in a pretentious manner.

“Mrs. Dawson, I’m afraid you are unaware yet! Elixir Pharma Limited is about to become a major

shareholder of Medsafe Liyah Inc. We will be working closely together. So, Mrs. Dawson, we’ll have to

share the glory and the shame from now on! I’m off to Medsafe Liyah Inc. to celebrate the successful

signing of the contract overseas!”

I was shocked. What? Did he say Elixir Pharma Limited would work closely with Medsafe Liyah Inc.and

become its shareholder? Did I hear it correctly?

Seeing my distraction, Irving laughed. “So, I’ll have to trouble you to take care of things here, Mrs.

Dawson!”

With that, he walked out like a victorious general, laughing out loud as he strode off.

I caught a glimpse of Nettie out of the corner of my eye. She hesitated slightly before turning to follow

Irving out.

Hannah snorted coldly, muttering, “Jesus! What kind of person is he?”

Listening to Irving and Nettie’s receding footstep, a smile spread across my face. “Well, wish him all the

best then.”

I hadn’t expected Jaylan could still pull someone down with him before he was doomed. It would be

best if Irving had become a strong shareholder of Medsafe Liyah Inc.

I had indeed underestimated the bond between Jaylan and Irving. These two were good buddies, in

collusion with each other, and were even willing to die together.

This news was too delightful for me! I looked at Janetta, unable to resist reaching to touch her hand.

She immediately responded as if trying to grip my hand back. Startled, I leaned in closer to observe her

face.

Her eyelashes fluttered a few times, but her eyes remained closed.

“Hannah, can you keep an eye on her for me? I need to go out for a bit!” I immediately stood up,

instructed Hannah, and headed out the door.

Chapter 225

I rushed out of Janetta’s ward, a whirlwind of urgency, seeking out Dr. Dailey. My gut was telling me

that the doctor hadn’t been completely honest with me about Janetta’s condition.

Sure enough, upon seeing me, Dr. Dailey greeted me with a warm and knowing smile. “You figured it

out, didn’t you?” he asked.

“Really? Is she awake?” I asked hastily, my heart pounding with anticipation.

“Yes, she is awake. She’s currently just sleeping normally,” Dr. Dailey confirmed without hesitation.

My heart soared with relief. “What wonderful news! How is she doing, though? Are her vital signs all

right?”

“She’s doing quite well. She’s lucid, although her body’s functions, which have been dormant for a long

time, will need some time to fully recover. But I believe she’ll adapt quickly and be ready for a normal

life soon,” Dr. Dailey reassured me. “What happened to her?”

I briefly explained Janetta’s situation to Dr. Dailey, who listened with a grave expression.

“Good Lord, what a mess. Was that her ex-husband by the door earlier?”

“Yes, he’s the big shot at Elixir Pharma Limited. I’m worried that Janetta’s attending doctor will…” I

trailed off, feeling uncomfortable suggesting any impropriety. I’d just exposed a lab technician for

misconduct earlier that morning. And I didn’t have the heart to accuse another medical professional of

bearing ill intentions.

Dr. Dailey seemed to understand where I was going with my statement. “Your concerns aren’t

unfounded,” he said solemnly. “That’s why, in the emergency room earlier, I instructed all medical staff

involved to keep Janetta’s awakening a secret. I don’t think they’ll disobey my orders.”novelbin

I suddenly realized why the other doctor’s report to Irving matched Dr. Dailey’s. He had given the order.

“As long as this stays under wraps until she’s awake enough to see her sister, we’re golden.”

“I’ll handle this,” Dr. Dailey assured me confidently. “I’m quite familiar with her attending doctor.”

I understood his implication immediately. He must have some leverage over Janetta’s attending doctor.

“I’ll go check on her sister’s condition,” I said, bidding Dr. Dailey goodbye and heading to the maternity

ward.

Stepping out of the elevator, I bumped into Catherine.

“How’s Janice?” I asked anxiously, grabbing her by the arm.

Catherine looked shaken. “I was just coming for you. Thank God! It happened in a hospital and could

be taken care in time. Otherwise, it would’ve been too late…”

“Get to the point!” I couldn’t contain my impatience.

“She went into premature labor. It’s a boy. They are both safe… I suppose.”

“What do you mean ‘you suppose’?” I asked, not quite calm. I pressed the elevator button, pulling her

with me. “Let’s go. I need to see for myself.”

Catherine hurriedly explained, “Well, we barely managed to save them in time. The baby needed

resuscitation, but he’s out of danger now and in an incubator. Janice lost a lot of blood and is currently

receiving a transfusion. She’s a bit weak and unconscious.”

“Talk about a silver lining,” I muttered, patting my chest as the elevator doors opened.

“How did you get out?” Catherine asked, sounding worried. “Who’s watching Janetta?”

“Hannah’s in the room, and Irving and his daughter have left. Janetta’s awake,” I shared the good news

with Catherine.

Catherine clapped her hands in joy. “That’s wonderful! Janice was worried about her, even when she

was coming in and out of consciousness.”

Hearing her talk about Janice like this made my heart ache.

We continued our conversation as we made our way towards Janice’s room.

Her room was spacious and cozy, almost hotel-like. Janice lay on the bed, receiving a transfusion. Her

face was still deathly pale, and she was unconscious.

A man was seated by her bed, holding her hand with a painful expression. He gently kissed her hand,

his affection for her clear. I didn’t need to ask to know this was Janice’s husband, Baber.

Upon hearing us, Geneva quickly turned around and came over. “Aaliyah, how’s everything on your

end?”

Baber, hearing the noise, turned to look and then stood up. It was my first time to see Baber, and

honestly, I felt a little disappointed.